Wireless communication method and communication device

Abstract

Provided are a wireless communication method and a communication device. The method comprises: when a first device initiates a P-EDCA mechanism, the first device accesses a first channel using a first channel access parameter, a second channel access parameter or an enhanced distributed channel access parameter. When the first device initiates the P-EDCA mechanism, a greater variety of channel access parameters that can be used by the first device are provided, thereby helping to balance channel access between a device that uses the P-EDCA mechanism and a device that does not use P-EDCA mechanism, making the channel access fairer.

Description

Wireless communication methods and communication devices Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of communication technology, and more specifically, to a wireless communication method and a communication device. Background Technology

[0002] Priority enhanced distributed channel access (P-EDCA) is a channel access mechanism in wireless local area networks (WLANs). By adjusting parameters, P-EDCA allows high-priority services to use a shorter arbitration interframe space number (AIFS) and a smaller contention backoff time, thereby acquiring the channel faster and reducing latency.

[0003] When competing for a transmission opportunity (TXOP), a site using the P-EDCA mechanism is very likely to start sending its first transmission earlier than a site not using the P-EDCA mechanism. This reduces the probability of a site not using the P-EDCA mechanism obtaining a TXOP, which is not conducive to maintaining fairness among different sites. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This application provides a wireless communication method and a communication device. The various aspects covered by this application are described below.

[0005] In a first aspect, a wireless communication method is provided. The method includes: when a first device initiates a P-EDCA mechanism, the first device accesses a first channel using a first channel access parameter, a second channel access parameter, or enhanced distributed channel access parameters.

[0006] In a second aspect, a wireless communication method is provided, the method comprising: a second device sending first indication information to a first device; wherein the first indication information is used to indicate one or more of the following: some or all parameters in a first channel access parameter, some or all parameters in a second channel access parameter; parameters related to a first condition; duration of use of the first channel access parameter; the first channel access parameter or the second channel access parameter being a channel access parameter used to access a first channel when the first device initiates a P-EDCA mechanism; and when the first device initiates a P-EDCA mechanism, and the first condition is met, the first device accesses the first channel using the first channel access parameter within a first time window.

[0007] Thirdly, a communication device is provided. This communication device is a first device. The communication device includes: an access unit, configured to access a first channel using first channel access parameters, second channel access parameters, or enhanced distributed channel access parameters when the first device initiates a P-EDCA mechanism.

[0008] Fourthly, a communication device is provided. This communication device is a second device. The communication device includes: a transmitting unit, configured to transmit first indication information to a first device; wherein the first indication information indicates one or more of the following: some or all parameters in a first channel access parameter, some or all parameters in a second channel access parameter; parameters related to a first condition; the duration of using the first channel access parameter; the first channel access parameter or the second channel access parameter being a channel access parameter used to access a first channel when the first device initiates a P-EDCA mechanism; and, when the first device initiates the P-EDCA mechanism, and the first condition is met, the first device uses the first channel access parameter to access the first channel within a first time window.

[0009] Fifthly, a communication device is provided, including a processor and a memory, the memory for storing one or more computer programs, the processor for calling the computer programs in the memory to enable some or all of the steps of the methods described in the preceding aspects of the communication device.

[0010] Sixthly, embodiments of this application provide a communication system that includes the aforementioned communication device. In another possible design, the system may further include other devices that interact with the communication device as described in the embodiments of this application.

[0011] In a seventh aspect, embodiments of this application provide a computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program that causes a communication device to perform some or all of the steps in the methods described above.

[0012] Eighthly, embodiments of this application provide a computer program product, wherein the computer program product includes a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program operable to cause a communication device to perform some or all of the steps of the methods described in the foregoing aspects. In some implementations, the computer program product may be a software installation package.

[0013] Ninthly, embodiments of this application provide a chip including a memory and a processor, the processor being able to call and run a computer program from the memory to implement some or all of the steps described in the methods of the foregoing aspects.

[0014] In related technologies, if the P-EDCA mechanism is activated, a site can access a channel using the P-EDCA mechanism. For example, traffic that meets the requirements of the P-EDCA mechanism can access the channel using P-EDCA parameters; traffic that does not meet the requirements of the P-EDCA mechanism can access the channel using EDCA parameters. In other words, if the P-EDCA mechanism is activated, related technologies can use two types of channel access parameters to access the first channel. In this application, if the P-EDCA mechanism is activated, the first device can use at least one of the following three parameters to access the first channel: a first channel access parameter, a second channel access parameter, or an enhanced distributed channel access parameter. Therefore, when the first device activates the P-EDCA mechanism, the channel access parameters that the first device can use are more diverse, which helps to balance channel access between devices using the P-EDCA mechanism and devices not using the P-EDCA mechanism, making channel access more equitable. Attached Figure Description

[0015] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the wireless communication system used in the embodiments of this application.

[0016] Figure 2 is an example diagram of a distributed coordination function (DCF) process.

[0017] Figure 3 is an example diagram of another DCF process.

[0018] Figure 4 is an example diagram of an enhanced distributed channel access (EDCA) process.

[0019] Figure 5 is a format example of an EDCA parameter set element.

[0020] Figure 6 shows an example format of the AC_BE parameter record field, AC_BK parameter record field, AC_VI parameter record field, or AC_VO parameter record field.

[0021] Figure 7 is a sample diagram of the ACI / AIFSN format.

[0022] Figure 8 is a sample format diagram of the ECWmin / ECWmax fields.

[0023] Figure 9 is a format example of a MU EDCA parameter set element.

[0024] Figure 10 shows example formats for the multi-user (MU) AC_BE parameter record field, MU AC_BK parameter record field, MU AC_VI parameter record field, or MU AC_VO parameter record field.

[0025] Figure 11 is an example diagram of the P-EDCA mechanism.

[0026] Figure 12 is an example diagram of a non-primary channel access (NPCA) scheme.

[0027] Figure 13 is an example diagram of a dynamic power save (DPS) process.

[0028] Figure 14 is an example diagram of the communication process when the site is in limited operation mode (LO mode).

[0029] Figure 15 is a schematic flowchart of a wireless communication method provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0030] Figure 16 is a format example diagram of a beacon frame provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0031] Figure 17 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0032] Figure 18 is a schematic structural diagram of another communication device provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0033] Figure 19 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device provided in an embodiment of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0034] The technical solutions in this application will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0035] Communication system

[0036] The technical solutions of this application can be applied to various communication systems, such as wireless local area networks (WLAN), wireless fidelity (WiFi), high-performance radio local area networks (HIPELAN), wide area networks (WAN), cellular networks, or other communication systems. For example, the technical solutions provided in this application can be applied to communication systems using the 802.11 standard. Exemplarily, the 802.11 standard includes, but is not limited to, the 802.11ax standard, the 802.11be standard, the 802.11bn standard, and the next-generation 802.11 standard (post802.11bn).

[0037] Figure 1 shows a schematic diagram of a communication system applicable to an embodiment of this application. Referring to Figure 1, the communication devices in the communication system 100 may include access points (APs) 111 and 112, as well as stations (STAs) 121 and 122. STA 121 can access the network through AP 111, and STA 122 can access the network through AP 112.

[0038] In some implementations, a STA can establish an association with one or more APs, after which the associated STAs and APs can communicate with each other. As shown in Figure 1, AP 111 and STA 121 can communicate after establishing an association, and AP 112 and STA 122 can communicate after establishing an association.

[0039] In some implementations, the communication in the communication system 100 can be communication between an AP and a non-AP STA, communication between two non-AP STAs, or communication between a STA and a peer STA. Here, a peer STA can refer to a device that communicates with the STA's counterpart. For example, a peer STA may be an AP or a non-AP STA.

[0040] It should be understood that Figure 1 exemplarily shows two AP STAs and two non-AP STAs. The communication system 100 may also include more AP STAs, or the communication system 100 may include other numbers of non-AP STAs. This application embodiment does not limit this.

[0041] In addition, the above-mentioned communication system can be applied to scenarios involving multi-device collaboration, such as multi-AP (multi-access points) collaboration or multi-site collaboration.

[0042] In the embodiments of this application, the names of AP and / or STA are not limited. In some scenarios, AP can also be called AP STA, that is, in a sense, AP is also a kind of STA. In other scenarios, STA can also be called non-AP STA (non-AP STA).

[0043] In some scenarios, the aforementioned communication equipment can also be a "multi-link device (MLD)," meaning a device that can communicate through multiple communication links. These multiple communication links can include communication links in different frequency bands, such as millimeter-wave bands and / or low-frequency bands. Typically, if the multi-link device is an access point (AP), it can also be called an "AP MLD." If the multi-link device is a non-AP STA, it can also be called a "non-AP MLD."

[0044] In this application embodiment, the AP can be a device in a wireless network. The AP can be a communication server, router, switch, bridge, or other communication entity. Alternatively, the AP can include various forms of macro base stations, micro base stations, relay stations, etc. Of course, the AP can also be a chip, circuit, or processing system within these various forms of devices, thereby implementing the methods and functions of this application embodiment. APs can be applied in various scenarios, such as sensor nodes in smart cities (e.g., smart water meters, smart electricity meters, smart air quality monitoring nodes), smart devices in smart homes (e.g., smart cameras, projectors, displays, televisions, audio equipment, refrigerators, washing machines, etc.), nodes in the Internet of Things (IoT), entertainment terminals (e.g., AR, VR, and other wearable devices), smart devices in smart offices (e.g., printers, projectors, etc.), vehicle-to-everything (V2X) devices, and some infrastructure in daily life scenarios (e.g., vending machines, supermarket self-service navigation kiosks, self-service checkout machines, self-service ordering machines, etc.).

[0045] In some implementations, the role of the STA in the communication system is not absolute; in some scenarios, the STA can act as an AP. For example, in a scenario where a mobile phone connects to a router, the mobile phone can be a non-AP STA, while when the mobile phone acts as a hotspot for other mobile phones, it takes on the role of an AP.

[0046] In the embodiments of this application, 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.

[0047] 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 or other processing devices connected to a wireless modem, in-vehicle devices, wearable devices, terminal devices in 5G networks, or future evolution of public land mobile communication networks. Terminal devices in a network (PLMN) can also be televisions, refrigerators, washing machines, kitchen appliances, door locks, fish tanks, robot vacuum cleaners, game consoles, cameras / camcorders, etc. with wireless connectivity, but this application embodiment is not limited to these.

[0048] By way of example and not limitation, in this embodiment, the STA can also be a wearable device. Wearable devices, also known as wearable smart devices, are a general term for devices that utilize wearable technology to intelligently design and develop everyday wearables, such as glasses, gloves, watches, clothing, and shoes. Examples include smartwatches or smart glasses, as well as devices that focus on a specific type of application function and require cooperation with other devices such as smartphones, such as various smart bracelets and smart jewelry for vital sign monitoring.

[0049] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the STA can also be a terminal device in an Internet of Things (IoT) system. IoT is an important component of future information technology development, and its main technical feature is connecting objects to networks through communication technologies, thereby realizing an intelligent network for human-machine interconnection and object-to-object interconnection. In this embodiment, IoT technology can achieve massive connectivity, deep coverage, and low terminal power consumption through technologies such as narrowband (NB).

[0050] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the STA can be a device in a vehicle-to-everything (V2X) system. 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.

[0051] In addition, in the embodiments of this application, the STA may also include sensors such as smart printers, train detectors, and gas stations. Its main functions include collecting data (some terminal devices), receiving control information and downlink data from the AP, and sending electromagnetic waves to transmit data to the AP.

[0052] In addition, the AP in this application embodiment can be a device for communicating with the STA. The AP can be a network device in a wireless local area network, and the AP can be used to communicate with the STA through the wireless local area network.

[0053] From the perspective of the communication standards supported by the AP, in some implementations, the AP can be a device that supports the 802.11be standard. The AP can also be a device that supports various current and future 802.11 family WLAN standards such as 802.11ax, 802.11ac, 802.11n, 802.11g, 802.11b, and 802.11a.

[0054] From the perspective of the communication standards supported by the STA, in some implementations, non-AP STAs can support the 802.11be standard. Non-AP STAs can also support various current and future 802.11 family of wireless local area networks (WLAN) standards, such as 802.11ax, 802.11ac, 802.11n, 802.11g, 802.11b, and 802.11a.

[0055] In this application embodiment, the frequency bands supported by WLAN technology are not limited. In some implementations, the frequency bands supported by WLAN technology may include, but are not limited to: low frequency bands (e.g., 2.4GHz, 5GHz, 6GHz) and high frequency bands (e.g., 45GHz, 60GHz).

[0056] It should be understood that the specific forms of STA and AP are not specifically limited in the embodiments of this application, and are merely illustrative examples.

[0057] EDCA

[0058] Distributed coordination function (DCF) is a basic channel access method. When a station detects that the channel has changed from busy to idle during clear channel assessment (CCA), it needs to continue detecting whether the channel remains idle for the distributed inter-frame spacing (DIFS) period. If the current random backoff counter value is 0, the station acquires channel access, immediately transmits, and resets the random backoff counter value. Otherwise, the station continues to detect whether the channel remains idle. For each slot where the channel remains idle, the station's random backoff counter value is decremented by 1 until it reaches 0. At this point, the station acquires channel access, immediately transmits, and resets the random backoff counter value. If another station acquires the channel first during this process, the random backoff counter value of the previously acquired station remains unchanged. The next time CCA detects that the channel has changed from busy to idle, the random backoff counter value of the previously acquired station will remain the same as the previous value.

[0059] The fundamental access method of the MAC used by non-DMG STAs is DCF, namely carrier sense multiple access with collision avoidance (CSMA / CA). DCF should be implemented in all STAs.

[0060] For a station to transmit, it first needs to sense the medium to determine if any other stations are transmitting. If the medium is not determined to be busy, transmission can proceed. The CSMA / CA distributed algorithm specifies that there must be a minimum specified interval between frame exchange sequences. A transmitting station should verify that the medium is idle for this required duration before attempting to transmit. If the medium is determined to be busy, non-DMG stations should postpone until the current transmission ends, and DMG stations may also postpone until the current transmission ends. After the postponement, or before retrying transmission immediately after a successful transmission, the station should initialize a backoff counter to a random backoff count value and decrement the backoff counter by 1 every aSlotTime (one backoff slot) interval when the medium is idle.(For a STA to transmit,it shall sense the medium to determine if another STA is transmitting.If the medium is not determined to be busy,the transmission may proceed.The CSMA / CA distributed algorithm mandates that a gap of a minimum specified duration exists between frame exchange sequences.A transmitting STA shall verify that the medium is idle for this required duration before attempting to transmit.If the medium is determined to be busy,a non-DMG STA shall defer until the end of the current transmission,and a DMG STA may defer until the end of the current transmission.After deferral,or prior to attempting to transmit again immediately after a successful transmission,the STA shall initialize a backoff counter to a random backoff count and shall decrement the backoff counter once per interval of aSlotTime(a backoff slot)while the medium is idle.)。

[0061] DCF allows for automatic medium sharing between compatible physical layers (PHYs) by using CSMA / CA and a random backoff count following a busy medium condition. Furthermore, all individually addressed traffic uses immediate positive acknowledgment (Ack frames), in which retransmission is scheduled by the sender if no Ack frame is received.

[0062] As shown in Figure 2, under certain conditions, access to the channel can be achieved after DIFS.

[0063] As shown in Figure 3, stations B to C back off based on different random backoff counter values.

[0064] The EDCA mechanism, based on DCF, adopts different access categories and channel access parameters for different services.

[0065] As shown in Figure 4, in the DCF mechanism, the site needs to begin backoff after DIFS. In the EDCA mechanism, the site needs to begin backoff after AIFS. The value of AIFS is determined by the access category (AC). Different ACs correspond to different AIFS values. ACs can include, for example: best effort (AC_BE); background (AC_BK); video (AC_VI); and voice (AC_VO). AIFS can be equal to DIFS. That is, the shortest AIFS can be DIFS.

[0066] The EDCA mechanism provides differentiated, distributed access to the wireless medium (WM) for STAs using eight different user priorities (UPs). The EDCA mechanism defines four access categories (ACs) to support traffic transmission with different UPs at the STAs. Six transmit queues are defined when `dot11AlternateEDCAActivated` is true, and four transmit queues are defined otherwise.

[0067] For each AC, an enhanced variant of DCF, called the Enhanced Distributed Channel Access Function (EDCAF), uses a set of EDCA parameters to compete for TXOPs. When transmitting data frames outside the context of the basic service set (BSS) (dot11OCBActivated is true), the EDCA parameters are either the corresponding default values ​​or values ​​set by the SME in dot11EDCATable. For STAs running OCB, the AC transmit queue of the STA can be cleared by calling the MLME-CANCELTX.request primitive. For non-AP STAs communicating within a non-mesh quality of service (QoS) BSS, the EDCA parameters used are derived from the EDCA parameter set elements, or (for mesh STAs or STAs running OCB) from the default values ​​of the parameters before association with the AP of the infrastructure BSS. The parameters used by EDCAF to control its operation are defined by the AP's dot11QAPEDCATable and by the non-AP STA's dot11EDCATable.(For each AC an enhanced variant of the DCF,called an enhanced distributed channel access function(EDCAF),contends for TXOPs using a set of EDCA parameters.When communicating Data frames outside the context of a BSS(dot11OCBActivated is true),the EDCA parameters are the corresponding default values or are as set by the SME in dot11EDCATable.For a STA operating OCB the STA’s transmit queue for an AC may be cleared by the invocation of the MLME-CANCELTX.request primitive.For a non-AP STA communicating within a non-mesh QoS BSS,the EDCA parameters used are from the EDCA Parameter Set element or(for a non-AP STA prior to associating with an AP of an infrastructure BSS,a mesh STA,or a STA that operates OCB)from the default values for the parameters.The parameters used by the EDCAF to control its operation are defined by dot11QAPEDCATable at the AP and by dot11EDCATable at the non-AP STA.)。

[0068] The QoS AP shall announce the EDCA parameters in selected Beacon frames and in all Probe Response and (Re)Association Response frames by including the EDCA Parameter Set element, using the MIB entry information from the dot11EDCATable. If no such element has been received (e.g., prior to association in an infrastructure BSS), the non-AP QoS STA shall use the default values ​​for the parameters.

[0069] An AP or PCP may use a different set of EDCA parameters than it advertises to the STAs in its BSS.

[0070] Each EDCAF should maintain a MAC variable CW[AC], which should be initialized to the value of the parameter CWmin[AC] corresponding to that EDCAF's AC.

[0071] When the backoff procedure is invoked, the backoff counter is set to an integer value randomly selected from the range 0 to CW[AC], with a uniform distribution.

[0072] The duration AIFS[AC] is derived from the value AIFSN[AC] by the following relation: AIFS[AC] = AIFSN[AC] × aSlotTime + aSIFSTime.

[0073] In an infrastructure BSS, AIFSN[AC] is advertised by an EDCA AP in the EDCA Parameter Set element in Beacon and Probe Response frames transmitted by the AP. For non-AP STAs, the value of AIFSN[AC] should be greater than or equal to 2. For APs, the value of AIFSN[AC] should be greater than or equal to 1 (i.e., corresponding to PIFS).

[0074] The EDCA parameter set element provides the information needed by STAs to correctly operate the QoS facility. The format of the EDCA parameter set element is shown in Fig. 5. The formats of the AC_BE, AC_BK, AC_VI, and AC_VO parameter record fields can be shown in Fig. 6. The format of ACI / AIFSN can be shown in Fig. 7.

[0075] For an infrastructure BSS, the EDCA parameter set element is used by the AP to establish policies (by changing default MIB attribute values), to change policies when accepting new STAs or new traffic, or to adapt to changes in offered load. The most recent EDCA parameter set element received by a STA is used to update the appropriate MIB values.

[0076] The Access Category Index (ACI) value references the AC corresponding to all parameters in this record. The mapping between ACI and AC is defined in 1 (ACI to AC encoding). The Admission Control Mandatory (ACM) subfield indicates that access control is required for this AC. If the ACM subfield is equal to 0, the corresponding AC has no access control. If the ACM subfield is set to 1, access control must be used before transmission using the access parameters specified for this AC. The AIFSN subfield indicates the number of time slots the STA delays after the Short Interframe Space (SIFS) before it invokes backoff or begins transmission. The minimum value for the AIFSN subfield is 2. (The value of the AC index(ACI)references the AC to which all parameters in this record correspond.The mapping between ACI and AC is defined in Table 1(ACI-to-AC coding).The ACM(admission control mandatory)subfield indicates that admission control is required for theAC.If the ACM subfield is equal to 0,then there is no admission control for the corresponding AC.If the ACM subfield is set to 1,admission control has to be prior used to transmission using the access parameters specified for this AC.The AIFSN subfield indicates the number of slots after a SIFS a STA defers before either invoking a backoff or starting a transmission.The minimum value of the AIFSN subfield is 2.)

[0077] Table 1

[0078] Figure 8 is a sample format diagram of the ECWmin / ECWmax fields.

[0079] The ECWmin and ECWmax subfields encode the values ​​of CWmin and CWmax, respectively, in exponential form. The values ​​of ECWmin and ECWmax are defined as follows: CWmin = 2. ECWmin -1; CWmax = 2 ECWmax -1.

[0080] Therefore, the minimum encoded value of CWmin and CWmax is 0, and the maximum value is 32,767.

[0081] The TXOP limit field is specified as an unsigned integer in units of 32 microseconds. Setting the TXOP limit field to 0 has special meaning.

[0082] Table 2 (Default EDCA Parameter Set element parameters if dot11OCBActivated is false and the STA is a non-sensor STA) defines the default EDCA parameters used by a non-AP STA when dot11OCBActivated is false.

[0083] Table 2

[0084] If dot11OCBActivated is true, then the default EDCA parameter set for STAs transmitting QoS frames is given in Table 3 (the default EDCA parameter set for STA operation if dot11OCBActivated is true).

[0085] Table 3

[0086] MU-EDCA

[0087] High-efficiency (HE) APs should set the QoS information field of the MU EDCA parameter set element (if present) to the same value as the QoS information field of the EDCA parameter set element (if present). HE APs can change the MU EDCA parameters by including updated MU EDCA parameters in the MU EDCA parameter set element within their transmitted beacon frames and probe response frames. The EDCA parameter set update count subfield in the QoS information field of the EDCA parameter set element and the MU EDCA parameter set element increments whenever any EDCA parameter or MU EDCA parameter changes. (An HE AP shall set the QoS Info field of an MU EDCA Parameter Set element(if present) to the same value as the QoS Info field of an EDCA Parameter Set element(if present). An HE AP may change the MU EDCA parameters by including the MU EDCA Parameter Set element with updated MU EDCA parameters in the Beacon frames and Probe Response frames it transmits. element and MU EDCA Parameter Set element is incremented every time any EDCA parameters or MU EDCA parameters change.)

[0088] Non-AP HE STAs, within a time interval equal to one beacon interval after receiving an updated EDCA or MU EDCA parameter set from their associated AP, should update the dot11EDCATable and dot11MUEDCATable corresponding to the fields in the EDCA or MU EDCA parameter set element. When updating their MIB attributes, the HE STA stores the value of the EDCA parameter set update count subfield in the QoS information field of the received EDCA or MU EDCA parameter set element. (A non-AP HE STA shall update the dot11EDCATable and dot11MUEDCATable that correspond to fields in an EDCA Parameter Set element or an MU EDCA Parameter Set element within an interval of time equal to one beacon interval after receiving an updated EDCA or MU EDCA parameter set from its associated AP.When updating its MIB attributes,an HE STA stores the value of the EDCA Parameter Set Update Count subfield in the QoS Info field of the received EDCA Parameter Set element or MU EDCA Parameter Set element.)

[0089] Upon receiving a basic trigger frame containing user information fields for the STA, a non-AP HE STA should update its CWmin[AC], CWmax[AC], AIFSN[AC], and MUEDCATimer[AC] state variables to the values ​​contained in dot11MUEDCATable for all ACs that have successfully transmitted at least one QoS data frame in a HE TB PPDU. If the QoS data frame requires immediate acknowledgment and the STA receives that immediate acknowledgment, or if the QoS data frame does not require immediate acknowledgment, then the STA has successfully transmitted the QoS data frame for the AC in the HE TB PPDU. (A non-AP HE STA that receives a Basic Trigger frame that contains a User Info field addressed to the STA shall update its CWmin[AC],CWmax[AC],AIFSN[AC], and MUEDCATimer[AC]state variables to the values ​​contained in the dot11MUEDCATable,for all the ACs from which at least one QoS Data frame was transmitted successfully in an HE TB PPDU in response to the Trigger frame.A QoSData frame is transmitted successfully by the STA in an HE TB PPDU for an AC if it requires immediate acknowledgment and the STA receives an immediate acknowledgment for that frame,or if the QoSData frame does not require immediate acknowledgment.)

[0090] The MUEDCATimer[AC] state variable is updated using the value contained in the MU EDCA Timer subfield of the MU EDCA parameter set element. The backoff counter maintenance corresponding to the updated state variable should follow the rules of the EDCA backoff process, but if AIFSN[AC] is 0, the EDCAF corresponding to that AC should be paused until MUEDCATimer[AC] reaches 0 or is reset to 0. The updated MUEDCATimer[AC] should begin at the end of the immediate response of an HE TB PPDU containing at least one QoS data frame requiring immediate acknowledgment, or at the end of the HE TB PPDU if the transmitted HE TB PPDU does not contain any QoS data frames requiring immediate acknowledgment.(The MUEDCATimer[AC]state variable is updated with the value contained in the MU EDCA Timer subfield of the MU EDCA Parameter Set element.The backoff counter maintenance corresponding to the updated state variables shall follow the rules in EDCA backoff procedure,except that if AIFSN[AC]is 0,then the EDCAF corresponding to that AC shall be suspended until the MUEDCATimer[AC]reaches 0or is reset to0.The updated MUEDCATimer[AC]shall start at the end of the immediate response if the transmitted HE TB PPDU contains at least one QoSData frame for that AC that requires immediate acknowledgment,and shall start at the end of the HE TB PPDU if the transmitted HE TB PPDU does not contain any QoSData frames for that AC that require immediate acknowledgment.)。

[0091] In anon-AP HE STA,each MUEDCATimer[AC]shall uniformly count down without suspension to 0when its value is nonzero. (在非AP HE STA中,每个MUEDCATimer[AC]在其值非零时应均匀倒计时至0,且不暂停。)

[0092] If the MUEDCATimer[AC] of a non-AP HE STA reaches 0, whether by counting down or due to a reset following the reception of a MU EDCA Reset frame, the STA shall update CWmin[AC], CWmax[AC], and AIFSN[AC] to the values ​​contained in the most recently received EDCA Parameter Set element sent by the AP with which the STA is associated.

[0093] A non-AP HE STA (as defined in Section 26.9.3 (Transmission Operation Mode (TOM) Indication)) that sends a frame with the OM control subfield where the UL MU Disable subfield is set to 1, or the UL MU Disable subfield is set to 0 and the UL MU Data Disable subfield is set to 1, may set the MUEDCATimer[AC] of all ACs to 0 upon receiving an immediate acknowledgment from the OMI responder. The STA continues the current EDCA backoff procedure without modifying the QSRC[AC] or backoff counter of the relevant EDCAF, regardless of whether MUEDCATimer[AC] reaches zero, until the STA invokes a new EDCA backoff procedure. The STA updates the CWmin, CWmax, and AIFSN of the AC according to the rules defined in Section 10.23.2.2 (EDCA Backoff Procedure).(A non-AP HE STA that sends aframe with an OM Control subfield with the UL MU Disable subfield set to 1or with the UL MU Disable subfield set to 0and the UL MU Data Disable subfield set to 1as defined in 26.9.3(Transmit operating mode(TOM)indication)may set the MUEDCATimer[AC]for all ACs to 0on receiving an immediate acknowledgment from the OMI responder.The STA continues the current EDCA backoff procedure without modifying the QSRC[AC]or the backoff counter for the associated EDCAF,regardless of whether the MUEDCATimer[AC]has reached zero,until the STA invokes a new EDCA backoff procedure.The STA follows the rules defined in 10.23.2.2(EDCA backoff procedure)for updating CWmin,CWmax,and AIFSN for that AC.)。

[0094] A non-AP HE STA that receives a separately addressed MU EDCA reset frame from its associated AP may reset the MUEDCATimer[AC] of the affected AC to 0 if the bit corresponding to that AC in the affected AC subfield is equal to 1, provided that MUEDCATimer[AC] is not 0. The STA may invoke a new EDCA backoff procedure in response to the MUEDCATimer[AC] reset after the MUEDCATimer[AC] of the affected AC is reset and after updating the CWmin[AC], CWmax[AC], and AIFSN[AC] of the affected AC according to this document. (A non-AP HE STA that receives an individually addressed MU EDCA Reset frame from its associated AP may reset the MUEDCATimer[AC]to 0for an AC if the bit corresponding to that AC in the Affected ACs subfield is equal to 1when the MUEDCATimer[AC]of the STA is not equal to 0.The STA may invoke a new EDCA backoff procedure after the MUEDCATimer[AC]is reset for that AC and after CWmin[AC],CWmax[AC],and AIFSN[AC]are updated for that AC,as per this subclause,in response to the MUEDCATimer[AC]reset.)

[0095] In an infrastructure BSS, the MU EDCA parameter set element is used by the AP to control the use of EDCA by non-AP HE STAs following particular UL MU HE TB PPDU transmissions. The most recent MU EDCA parameter set element received by a non-AP HE STA is used to update the appropriate MIB values. The format of the MU EDCA parameter set element is shown in Fig. 9.

[0096] The QoS Info field contains the EDCA Parameter Set Update Count subfield, which indicates when the EDCA parameters and, for an HE BSS, the MU EDCA parameters have changed.

[0097] The format of the parameter record fields for MU AC_BE, MU AC_BK, MU AC_VI, and MU AC_VO is the same, as shown in Figure 10.

[0098] A value of 0 in the AIFSN field indicates that EDCA is disabled for the duration specified by MUEDCATimer for the corresponding AC.

[0099] The MU EDCA Timer field indicates the duration of time during which the HE STA uses the MU EDCA parameters for the corresponding AC, in units of 8 TUs.

[0100] P-EDCA

[0101] The P-EDCA mechanism allows stations with low-latency traffic or latency-sensitive traffic to use the AC_VO access class to initiate channel contention by sending a short signal after the channel idle DIFS duration (i.e., the AIFSN is 2 and the backoff counter is initialized to 0 for the AIFS[AC_VO] duration). This allows them to obtain TXOPs before other traditional stations using the EDCA mechanism.

[0102] Prioritized EDCA (P-EDCA) is an enhancement of the EDCA mechanism that reduces the access delay distribution tail for low-latency AC_VO traffic. When an ultra-high reliability (UHR) STA uses P-EDCA, the impact on STAs that do not use P-EDCA should be balanced.

[0103] P-EDCA is a mechanism in a UHR where a STA with low-latency traffic may be allowed to send a deferred signal (CTS or RTS may be used) to initiate a protected short contention for pending low-latency data.

[0104] In P-EDCA, the STA always uses RTS / CTS as the initial frame exchange and retry.

[0105] The protected short contention duration is 97 microseconds, which allows for AIFSN[2]+7 slot contention.

[0106] This solution would provide control over the degree of collisions that may occur when it is used, and allows for autonomous randomness or control by the AP.

[0107] During the protected short contention period, the default parameters for P-EDCA for AC_VO are as follows: P-EDCA CWmin = 7, P-EDCA CWmax = 7; P-EDCA AIFSN = 2. A UHR AP may advertise values ​​other than the defaults.

[0108] A STA that transmits a Defer Signal but fails to win the protected short contention will initiate a new retry.

[0109] Low-latency traffic is treated as AC_VO traffic.

[0110] There are no new mandatory synchronization requirements on the STA side.

[0111] STAs in a BSS only use P-EDCA if the AP has this feature enabled. STAs can use P-EDCA if the AP to which they are associated has the P-EDCA option enabled.

[0112] Figure 11 is an example diagram of the P-EDCA mechanism. STA3 and STA4 access the channel based on the P-EDCA mechanism.

[0113] NPCA

[0114] Communication devices can determine whether to access a non-primary channel (i.e., the NPCA primary channel) based on the channel status of the primary channel (i.e., the basic service set (BSS) primary channel). For example, when the primary channel is idle or not occupied, the device can communicate on the primary channel. Conversely, when the primary channel is busy or occupied, the device can switch to a non-primary channel for communication. Figure 12 illustrates one NPCA scheme.

[0115] The NPCA primary channel can also be called the 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 current 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.

[0116] In some embodiments, NPCA APs and NPCA STAs need to send a BSRP GI3 trigger frame on the NPCA main channel to initiate a TXOP. The BSRP GI3 trigger frame is a BSRP trigger frame with a GI and HE / EHT LTF type field value of 3. It requests the other party to send a multi-STA block acknowledge (BA) frame in response, carried in a non-HT or non-HT duplicate (dup) PPDU.

[0117] Dynamic power save (DPS)

[0118] DPS technology provides a dynamic power-saving method. As shown in Figure 13, access points or stations are mostly in a lower capability mode (only able to receive specific version types of PPDUs, such as non-HT PPDUs and non-HT duplicate PPDUs), unless requested to switch to a higher capability mode (able to receive PPDUs using more available bandwidth, a larger number of spatial streams, and more version types). Access points or stations switch to a higher capability mode upon receiving a specific initial control frame (e.g., an RTS frame carried by a non-HT PPDU or non-HT duplicate PPDU, an MU-RTS trigger frame, or a BAR frame). To provide sufficient handover time for the access point or station, the initial control frame needs to carry sufficient padding.

[0119] An AP that supports Dynamic Power Save (DPS) assistance is a DPS-assisted AP. One or more non-AP STAs in the BSS that support and enable DPS mode and are associated with an AP are DPS non-AP STAs. When operating in lower capability mode, a DPS non-AP STA can only receive specific versions of PPDUs with lower rates and fewer spatial streams, such as 6Mbps and / or 12Mbps and / or 24Mbps rates, one spatial stream, non-HT PPDUs, and / or non-HT duplicate PPDUs.

[0120] Coexistence

[0121] Coexistence refers to the phenomenon that allows WiFi technology and non-WiFi technology (such as Zigbee, Thread, and Bluetooth) to coexist without interference from a signal from one radio source to adjacent wireless signals.

[0122] An AP that implements the limited operation mode (LO mode) or reduced operation mode (RO mode) is a LO responding AP. One or more non-AP STAs in the BSS that support the limited operation mode and are associated with the AP are LO requesting non-AP STAs. When a non-AP STA (Location Requesting Station) operates in restricted mode, its operating parameters are limited. For example, one or more of the following parameters may be changed: the number of spatial streams that can be transmitted and received is reduced; the maximum duration of transmit / receive PPDUs is reduced because other radio frequencies consume memory and processing time, thus reducing its own memory and processing requirements, and / or reducing its transmit / receive duration is beneficial for time-division multiplexing between different radio frequencies; the maximum modulation and coding order (MCS) of transmit / receive PPDUs is reduced because other radio frequencies consume memory and processing time, thus reducing its own memory and processing requirements, and / or using a more robust signal is beneficial for resisting interference from other radio frequency signals; low-density parity check code (LDPC) encoding is not supported because other radio frequencies consume memory and processing time, thus reducing its own memory and processing requirements; high-throughput immediate block acknowledgment (HT-immediate) is suspended. The BSS (Band of 20 MHz) protocol reduces the received signal, thus avoiding interference from other radio frequency signals; one or more 20 MHz sub-channels in the BSS operating bandwidth are unavailable, thus avoiding the use of sub-channels that are subject to interference from other radio frequency signals.

[0123] As shown in Figure 14, ICF can indicate that the maximum received NSS is 4 (Max Rx NSS = 4), and ICR can report that the maximum NSS after the node is 2, and subsequent transmission is carried out through 2Nss.

[0124] According to the P-EDCA mechanism, if the P-EDCA mechanism is activated, a site can use the P-EDCA mechanism to access the channel. For example, services that meet the requirements of the P-EDCA mechanism can use the P-EDCA access parameters to access the channel; services that do not meet the requirements of the P-EDCA mechanism can use the EDCA access parameters to access the channel.

[0125] Sites using the P-EDCA mechanism are very likely to start sending their first TXOP earlier than sites that do not use the P-EDCA mechanism. This reduces the probability of sites that do not use the P-EDCA mechanism acquiring the TXOP, which is not conducive to maintaining fairness among different sites.

[0126] Figure 15 is a schematic flowchart of a wireless communication method provided in an embodiment of this application to solve the above-mentioned problems. The method shown in Figure 15 can be executed by a first device. The first device may include, for example, a non-AP STA. The non-AP STA can be a STA that supports UHR, i.e., a UHR STA.

[0127] The method shown in Figure 15 may include step S1510.

[0128] In step S1510, if the first device enables the P-EDCA mechanism, the first device accesses the first channel using the first channel access parameters, the second channel access parameters, or the enhanced distributed channel access parameters.

[0129] Both the first and second channel access parameters are used to access a channel or obtain a TXOP. For example, the first channel access parameter may include one or more of the following: AIFSN, minimum contention window (represented by CWmin), and maximum contention window (represented by CWmax). Similarly, the second channel access parameter may include one or more of the following: AIFSN, CWmin, and CWmax.

[0130] The first channel access parameter, the second channel access parameter, and the enhanced distributed channel access parameter (EDCA parameter) are channel access parameters with different values ​​or types. For example, the EDCA parameter may include some or all of the contents shown in Table 2. Similarly, the second channel access parameter may include some or all of the parameters in the P-EDCA parameter from related technologies. Furthermore, the first channel access parameter may have a value different from both the enhanced distributed channel access parameter and the P-EDCA parameter. Exemplarily, the first channel access parameter may include parameter values ​​newly defined in this application. Exemplarily, the first channel access parameter may include the MU-EDCA parameter.

[0131] As mentioned above, in related technologies, if the P-EDCA mechanism is activated, a site can access a channel using the P-EDCA mechanism. For example, traffic that meets the requirements of the P-EDCA mechanism can access the channel using P-EDCA parameters; traffic that does not meet the requirements of the P-EDCA mechanism can access the channel using EDCA parameters. In this application, if the P-EDCA mechanism is activated, the first device can access the first channel using at least one of the following three parameters: a first channel access parameter, a second channel access parameter, or an enhanced distributed channel access parameter. Therefore, when the first device activates the P-EDCA mechanism, the channel access parameters that the first device can use are more diverse, which is beneficial for balancing channel access between devices using the P-EDCA mechanism and devices not using the P-EDCA mechanism, making channel access more equitable.

[0132] As one implementation, the probability of successfully acquiring a TXOP when accessing the channel using the first channel access parameter is called the first probability; the probability of successfully acquiring a TXOP when accessing the channel using the second channel access parameter is called the second probability; and the probability of successfully acquiring a TXOP when accessing the channel using the EDCA parameter is called the third probability. In this application, the first probability can be less than the second probability; and / or, the first probability can be less than the third probability. Taking the second channel access parameter as the P-EDCA parameter as an example, in this application, the first device can use the first channel access parameter, which has a lower probability of acquiring a TXOP, to access the first channel. This allows the first device to not always use the P-EDCA parameter to access the channel, thus enabling other devices to access the channel more fairly.

[0133] In some embodiments, if both the first channel access parameter and the second channel access parameter include AIFSN, the values ​​of AIFSN in the first channel access parameter and AIFSN in the second channel access parameter are different. For example, the value of AIFSN in the first channel access parameter is greater than the value of AIFSN in the second channel access parameter. If both the first channel access parameter and the second channel access parameter include CWmax, the values ​​of AIFSN in the first channel access parameter and CWmax in the second channel access parameter are different. For example, the value of CWmax in the first channel access parameter is greater than the value of CWmax in the second channel access parameter. If both the first channel access parameter and the second channel access parameter include CWmin, the values ​​of AIFSN in the first channel access parameter and CWmin in the second channel access parameter are different. For example, the value of CWmin in the first channel access parameter is greater than the value of CWmin in the second channel access parameter.

[0134] The following example illustrates how to determine the channel access parameters used by the first device when the P-EDCA mechanism is activated.

[0135] In some embodiments, the channel access parameters used by the first device can be determined based on a first condition.

[0136] In some embodiments, if the first condition is not met, the first device accesses the first channel using a second channel access parameter or an EDCA parameter. The first device can determine whether to use the EDCA parameter or the second channel access parameter based on related technologies. Taking the P-EDCA parameter as an example, where the second channel access parameter is the P-EDCA parameter specified in related technologies, if the first condition is not met, the P-EDCA parameter can be used for low-latency traffic or latency-sensitive traffic, while the EDCA parameter can be used for non-low-latency traffic and non-latency-sensitive traffic.

[0137] In some embodiments, if a first condition is met, the first device accesses the first channel using the first channel access parameters within a first time window.

[0138] Taking the example of the first probability being lower than the second probability and / or the first probability being lower than the third probability, if the first device initiates the P-EDCA mechanism when the first condition is met, the first device can attempt to access the channel within the first time window using the first channel access parameters with a lower channel access success rate. By adopting this scheme, some restrictions can be imposed on sites using the P-EDCA mechanism, and certain compensation can be provided to sites not using P-EDCA (compensation may include one or more of the time domain, frequency domain, and spatial domain). After such restrictions or compensation, for a period of time, sites using the P-EDCA mechanism have a higher probability of obtaining the TXOP, while sites not using the P-EDCA mechanism have a lower probability; for another period of time, sites using the P-EDCA mechanism have a lower probability of obtaining the TXOP, while sites not using the P-EDCA mechanism have a higher probability, thus achieving relatively fair channel access for both sites using and not using the P-EDCA mechanism.

[0139] The first condition will be illustrated with an example below.

[0140] The first condition can be related to one or more of the following: first cumulative duration, second cumulative duration, first count, and second count. These will be explained below.

[0141] The first cumulative duration is used to indicate the cumulative duration for which the first device acquires a TXOP using the second channel access parameters. As one implementation, the first cumulative duration is used to indicate the cumulative duration for which the first device continuously acquires a TXOP using the second channel access parameters. For example, if the first device acquires a TXOP N times consecutively using the second channel access parameters and the cumulative duration is T, then the first cumulative duration can be T. If, in the N+1th attempt, the first device accesses the channel using a non-second channel access parameter (e.g., EDCA parameter) or successfully acquires a TXOP, then the first cumulative duration can be reset to 0. If, after N attempts, the first device continues to access the channel using the second channel access parameters or successfully acquires a TXOP, then the first cumulative duration can continue to accumulate based on T. As another implementation, accumulation can be performed directly regardless of whether it is continuous. For example, if the first device acquires a TXOP N times consecutively using the second channel access parameters and the cumulative duration is T, then the first cumulative duration can be T. If, in the N+1th attempt, the first device accesses the channel using a non-second channel access parameter (e.g., EDCA parameter) or successfully acquires a TXOP, then the first cumulative duration remains T. If, after N+2 times, the first device continues to use the second channel access parameters to access the channel or successfully acquires TXOP, then the first cumulative duration can continue to be accumulated based on T.

[0142] The second cumulative duration is used to indicate the cumulative duration during which the first device uses the second channel access parameters to acquire a TXOP within the first duration. As one implementation, the second cumulative duration is used to indicate the cumulative duration during which the first device continuously uses the second channel access parameters to acquire a TXOP within the first duration. If the first device acquires a TXOP N times consecutively using the second channel access parameters within the first duration, and the cumulative duration is T, then the second cumulative duration can be T. If, N+1 times, the first device accesses the channel using non-second channel access parameters (e.g., EDCA parameters) or successfully acquires a TXOP within the first duration, then the second cumulative duration can be reset to 0. If, N+1 times, the first device continues to access the channel using the second channel access parameters or successfully acquires a TXOP within the first duration, then the second cumulative duration can continue to accumulate based on T. As another implementation, accumulation can be performed directly regardless of whether it is continuous. For example, if the first device acquires a TXOP N times consecutively using the second channel access parameters within the first duration, and the cumulative duration is T, then the second cumulative duration can be T. If, within the first time period, the first device accesses the channel or successfully acquires the TXOP using non-second channel access parameters (e.g., EDCA parameters) N+1 times, the second cumulative time period remains T. If, within the first time period, the first device continues to access the channel or successfully acquires the TXOP using the second channel access parameters N+2 times or more, the second cumulative time period can continue to accumulate based on T.

[0143] It is understandable that the calculation of the second cumulative duration is limited by the first duration; that is, only the duration of TXOPs acquired within the first duration can be accumulated to the second cumulative duration. When the first duration ends, the second cumulative duration can be reset to 0. Hereafter, T1 will be used to represent the first duration.

[0144] The first duration can occur periodically. That is, the end of one first duration can be the start of the next first duration. For example, at the end of each first duration, the second cumulative duration is reset to 0, and the timing of the first duration and the statistics of the second cumulative duration restart.

[0145] The start time of the first duration can be triggered by a first event. That is, in response to the occurrence of the first event, the timing of the first duration can begin. For example, the first event may include the first device successfully acquiring the TXOP of the first channel using the second channel access parameters. Exemplarily, without timing the first duration, the timing of the first duration can begin at the moment the first device successfully acquires the TXOP of the first channel using the second channel access parameters. After the first duration ends, the timing of the next first duration can be determined based on the first event. Another example is that the first event may include: the first device enabling the P-EDCA mechanism. That is, the start time of the first duration can be the moment the first device enables the P-EDCA mechanism. Yet another example is that the first event may include: the second accumulated duration being reset to 0. That is, the start time of the first duration can be the moment the second accumulated duration is reset to 0.

[0146] As one implementation, the cumulative duration of the TXOP obtained by the first device using the second channel access parameters includes: the cumulative duration of the TXOP successfully obtained by the first device using the second channel access parameters on the first channel. That is, the initial TXOP duration can be accumulated to obtain the cumulative duration. For example, if the first device successfully obtains TXOP 1 using the second channel access parameters, and the initial duration of TXOP 1 is set to 2080 microseconds, but it terminates prematurely after 1800 microseconds, and then the first device successfully obtains TXOP 2 using the second channel access parameters, and the initial duration of TXOP 2 is set to 2000 microseconds, and it also uses 2000 microseconds, then the cumulative duration is 2080 + 2000 = 4080 microseconds.

[0147] As one implementation method, the cumulative duration of the first device acquiring TXOP using the second channel access parameters includes: the cumulative duration of the first device actually using the first channel's TXOP using the second channel access parameters. That is, the actual usage time of the TXOP can be accumulated to obtain the cumulative duration. For example, if the first device successfully acquires TXOP 1 using the second channel access parameters, and the initial duration of TXOP 1 is set to 2080 microseconds, but it terminates prematurely after 1800 microseconds, and then the first device successfully acquires TXOP 2 using the second channel access parameters, and the initial duration of TXOP 2 is set to 2000 microseconds, and it also uses 2000 microseconds, then the cumulative duration is 1800 + 2000 = 3800 microseconds.

[0148] The first count indicates the number of times the first device successfully acquires a TXOP using the second channel access parameters. In one implementation, the first count indicates the number of consecutive successful TXOP acquisitions using the second channel access parameters. If the first device successfully acquires a TXOP consecutively using the second channel access parameters N times, the first count is N. If, in N+1 times, the first device accesses the channel using non-second channel access parameters (e.g., EDCA parameters) or successfully acquires a TXOP, the first count can be reset to 0. Alternatively, the success rate of acquiring a TXOP consecutively using the second channel access parameters can be disregarded. If the first device successfully acquires a TXOP consecutively using the second channel access parameters N times, the first count is N. If, in N+1 times, the first device accesses the channel using non-second channel access parameters (e.g., EDCA parameters) or successfully acquires a TXOP, the first count can remain at N. If, in N+2 times or later, the first device successfully acquires a TXOP consecutively using the second channel access parameters, the first count can be incremented based on N.

[0149] The second count indicates the number of times the first device successfully acquires a TXOP using the second channel access parameters within the second time period. In one implementation, the second count indicates the number of times the first device consecutively and successfully acquires a TXOP using the second channel access parameters within the second time period. If the first device consecutively and successfully acquires a TXOP using the second channel access parameters within the second time period is N, then the second count is N. If, N+1 times, the first device accesses the channel using non-second channel access parameters (e.g., EDCA parameters) or successfully acquires a TXOP, then the second count can be reset to 0. Alternatively, the consecutive success of acquiring a TXOP using the second channel access parameters can be disregarded. If the first device consecutively and successfully acquires a TXOP using the second channel access parameters within the second time period is N, then the second count is N. If, N+1 times, and within the second time period, the first device accesses the channel using non-second channel access parameters (e.g., EDCA parameters) or successfully acquires a TXOP, then the second count can remain at N. If, N+2 times or later, and within the second time period, the first device consecutively and successfully acquires a TXOP using the second channel access parameters, then the second count can continue to accumulate based on N.

[0150] It's understandable that the second count is limited by the second duration. That is, only the number of times a TXOP is acquired within the second duration can be accumulated to the second count. At the end of the second duration, the second count can be reset to 0. Hereafter, T2 will be used to represent the second duration.

[0151] The second duration can occur periodically. That is, the end of one second duration can be the start of the next second duration. For example, at the end of each second duration, the second count is reset to 0, and the timing of the second duration and the counting of the second count restart.

[0152] The start time of the second duration can be triggered by a second event. That is, the timing of the second duration can begin in response to the occurrence of a second event. For example, the second event may include the first device successfully acquiring the TXOP of the first channel using the second channel access parameters. Exemplarily, without timing the second duration, the timing of the second duration can begin at the moment the first device successfully acquires the TXOP of the first channel using the second channel access parameters. After the second duration ends, the timing of the next second duration can be determined based on the second event. Another example is that the second event may include: the first device enabling the P-EDCA mechanism. That is, the start time of the second duration can be the moment the first device enables the P-EDCA mechanism. Yet another example is that the second event may include: the second count being reset to 0. That is, the start time of the second duration can be the moment the second count is reset to 0.

[0153] The timing of the first duration can be implemented using a timer corresponding to that duration. For example, the timer corresponding to the first duration can count down evenly to 0 and then reset to the first duration. For instance, when the first device initiates the P-EDCA mechanism, it can reset and start or resume / resume / continue the timer corresponding to the first duration. Similarly, when the first device disables the P-EDCA mechanism, it can suspend or pause the timer corresponding to the first duration.

[0154] The timing for the second duration can be implemented using a timer corresponding to the second duration. For example, the timer corresponding to the second duration can count down evenly to 0 and then reset to the second duration. For instance, when the second device initiates the P-EDCA mechanism, the second device resets and starts or resumes the timer corresponding to the second duration. Similarly, when the second device disables the P-EDCA mechanism, the second device stops or pauses the timer corresponding to the second duration.

[0155] For example, when the first device completes its association with the access point, the P-EDCA mechanism is enabled, and the timer corresponding to the first duration and / or the timer corresponding to the second duration is started.

[0156] For example, when the first device disables the P-EDCA mechanism, the timer corresponding to the first duration and / or the timer corresponding to the second duration is paused, and when the P-EDCA mechanism is re-enabled, the timer corresponding to the first duration and / or the timer corresponding to the second duration is restored.

[0157] In some embodiments, after the first device and the second device are associated, the first device can dynamically enable or disable the P-EDCA mechanism, and / or the first device can enable or disable the P-EDCA mechanism based on the instructions of the second device. For example, the second device can enable or disable the P-EDCA mechanism through one or more of the following: a P-EDCA notification frame, an Operating Mode Notification frame (OMN frame), a frame carrying an Operating Mode Notification element (OMN element), or a frame carrying an Operating Mode Control (OM Control) field, i.e., an Operating Mode Indication (OMI).

[0158] In some embodiments, the first condition may include one or more of the following: a first cumulative duration greater than or equal to a first duration threshold; a second cumulative duration greater than or equal to a second duration threshold; a first count greater than or equal to a first count threshold; and a second count greater than or equal to a second count threshold. It should be noted that the first condition may include one or more of these conditions, i.e., multiple conditions may be combined.

[0159] For example, within the first duration T1, if the first device successfully acquires TXOP using the second channel access parameters on the first channel and the cumulative duration D2 of the TXOP actually used reaches the second duration threshold, and the first number C2 of the first device successfully acquires TXOP using the second channel access parameters on the first channel reaches the second number threshold, then the first condition is satisfied.

[0160] In some embodiments, the first time window can be timed by a first timer. The duration of the first timer can be the duration of the first time window. Exemplarily, if a first condition is met, the first device can start the first timer. During the duration of the first timer, the first device can access the first channel using the first channel access parameters.

[0161] In some embodiments, the duration of the first timer may be a multiple of a first duration or a second duration; or, the duration of the first timer may be a multiple of a first duration threshold and / or a second duration threshold.

[0162] In some embodiments, the first timer is a countdown timer. When the value is non-zero, the first timer must count down uniformly to 0 without pausing.

[0163] In some embodiments, a first timer may correspond to an access category. A first device may maintain one or more first timers. One or more first counters may correspond one-to-one with one or more access types.

[0164] In some embodiments, the first condition may correspond to an access category. Different access categories may correspond to different first conditions. Based on this, the time at which the first condition is met may be different for different access types, and the start time of the first timer corresponding to the access type may also be different.

[0165] In some embodiments, the first timer may include MUEDCATimer. The duration of the first timer is the duration indicated by the MUEDCATimer[AC] state variable corresponding to the corresponding AC, which is equal to the duration indicated by the value contained in the MU EDCA Timer subfield of the MU EDCA Parameter Set element for the access category.

[0166] Access categories may include one or more of the following: access categories for voice; access categories for video; access categories for low-latency traffic; and access categories for latency-sensitive traffic. For example, the access category for voice may be AC_VO as described above. The access category for video may be AC_VI as described above. Access categories for low-latency traffic or latency-sensitive traffic can be considered as AC_VO as described above.

[0167] In some embodiments, the method shown in FIG15 may include step S1505. Step S1505 may be performed by a first device and a second device. The second device may, for example, include an AP.

[0168] In step S1505, the second device sends the first instruction information. Correspondingly, the first device receives the first instruction information.

[0169] In some embodiments, the first indication information may be used to indicate one or more of the following: some or all of the parameters in the first channel access parameters; some or all of the parameters in the second channel access parameters; parameters related to the first condition; and the duration for which the first device uses the first channel access parameters.

[0170] Optionally, some or all of the parameters in the first channel access parameters can be indicated by the first indication information. Optionally, some or all of the parameters in the first channel access parameters can be predefined or preconfigured. For example, some parameters in the first channel access parameters, such as the number of inter-frame intervals for arbitration, the minimum contention window value, and the maximum contention window value, are indicated by the first indication information, while other parameters are predefined or preconfigured. Alternatively, the number of inter-frame intervals for arbitration, the minimum contention window value, and the maximum contention window value in the first channel access parameters can all be indicated by the first indication information. Alternatively, the number of inter-frame intervals for arbitration, the minimum contention window value, and the maximum contention window value in the first channel access parameters can all be predefined or preconfigured.

[0171] Optionally, some or all of the parameters in the second channel access parameters can be indicated by the first indication information. Optionally, some or all of the parameters in the second channel access parameters can be predefined or preconfigured. For example, some parameters in the second channel access parameters, such as the number of inter-frame intervals for arbitration, the minimum contention window value, and the maximum contention window value, are indicated by the first indication information, while other parameters are predefined or preconfigured. Alternatively, the number of inter-frame intervals for arbitration, the minimum contention window value, and the maximum contention window value in the second channel access parameters can all be indicated by the first indication information. Alternatively, the number of inter-frame intervals for arbitration, the minimum contention window value, and the maximum contention window value in the second channel access parameters can all be predefined or preconfigured.

[0172] The parameters associated with the first condition may include one or more of the following: first duration, second duration, first duration threshold, second duration threshold, first count threshold, and second count threshold.

[0173] In this application, the unit of the duration-related parameters may include milliseconds, time units (TU), or beacon intervals (BI), etc. One TU can be 1024 microseconds. One BI is approximately 60 to 200 milliseconds, and the specific value can be set by the access point. Based on this, the unit of the duration-related parameters indicated by the first indication information can be milliseconds, TU, or BI, etc.

[0174] For example, the first or second duration is 50 milliseconds. Or, the first or second duration is 2 BIs. Or, the first or second threshold is 10 milliseconds. Or, the first or second count threshold can be 5. Or, the first timer duration can be 8 milliseconds. Or, the first timer duration can be 8 TUs.

[0175] The first indication information may indicate a multiple of the first parameter relative to the second parameter. For example, the first indication information may indicate: a multiple of the first timer duration relative to a first duration or a second duration; or a multiple of the first timer duration relative to a first duration threshold and / or a second duration threshold.

[0176] Optionally, some or all of the parameters related to the first condition can be indicated by the first indication information. Optionally, some or all of the parameters related to the first condition can be predefined or preconfigured. For example, some parameters among the first duration, second duration, first duration threshold, second duration threshold, first count threshold, and second count threshold can be indicated by the first indication information, while other parameters can be predefined or preconfigured. As another example, all parameters among the first duration, second duration, first duration threshold, second duration threshold, first count threshold, and second count threshold can be configured through the first configuration information. As yet another example, all parameters among the first duration, second duration, first duration threshold, second duration threshold, first count threshold, and second count threshold can be predefined or preconfigured.

[0177] The duration for which the first device uses the first channel access parameters is the duration of the first time window or the duration of the first timer mentioned above. The duration for which the first device uses the first channel access parameters can be indicated, pre-configured, or pre-defined by the first indication information.

[0178] In some embodiments, the first indication information may be carried in one or more of the following frames: beacon frame, probe response frame, association response frame, reassociation response frame, and P-EDCA notification frame.

[0179] In some embodiments, after the first device and the second device are associated, the first device and / or the second device may carry first indication information in one or more of the following: P-EDCA notification frame, operating mode notification frame (OMN frame), frame carrying operating mode notification element (OMN element), and frame carrying operating mode control (OM Control) field, i.e., operating mode indication (OMI).

[0180] In some embodiments, some or all of the parameters in the first channel access parameters indicated by the second device may be carried in the MU EDCA parameter set element.

[0181] For example, after the first device uses the P-EDCA mechanism, if the first condition is met, the first device needs to update the state variables CWmin[AC], CWmax[AC], AIFSN[AC], and MUEDCATimer[AC] corresponding to one or more ACs to the values ​​of the corresponding variables in the dot11MUEDCATable. The values ​​of the variables in the dot11MUEDCATable of the first device are set according to the values ​​of the corresponding fields in the MU EDCA parameter set elements sent by the second device and received by the first device. In some embodiments, the access category is AC_VO, that is, one or more of the access categories corresponding to voice, low-latency traffic, and latency-sensitive traffic.

[0182] In some embodiments, the first indication information is directed to the first device. That is, the first indication information may be effective for one or more first devices. Alternatively, the first indication information may be directed to a site (per STA). Other devices within the BSS of the second device that are not the first device may not parse the first indication information or may ignore it. The second device may send corresponding first indication information to different devices within its BSS. Different devices have different needs for using the P-EDCA mechanism (e.g., different devices have different amounts of low-latency data or latency-sensitive data). Providing corresponding first indication information to different devices allows different devices to use different channel access parameters and / or thresholds, thereby specifically meeting the transmission needs of each site and, to some extent, balancing the impact on other sites that do not use P-EDCA.

[0183] For example, one or more of the first channel access parameters CWmin, CWmax, and AIFSN, one or more of the second channel access parameters CWmin, CWmax, and AIFSN, the first channel access parameters, the first timer duration, the first duration, the second duration, the first duration threshold, the second duration threshold, the first count threshold, and the second count threshold are different for different sites in the BSS that have enabled the P-EDCA mechanism; that is, these parameters and / or thresholds are for each site.

[0184] In some embodiments, the second device may proactively send first indication information to modify relevant parameters for the first device. In some embodiments, the first device may request the second device to send first indication information to request the second device to instruct or modify relevant parameters for the first device.

[0185] In some embodiments, the first instruction information applies to all communication devices within the BSS of the second device that have enabled P-EDCA. That is, the first instruction information can enable P-EDCA communication devices throughout the entire BSS. This implementation is relatively simple.

[0186] For example, one or more of the first channel access parameters CWmin, CWmax, and AIFSN, one or more of the second channel access parameters CWmin, CWmax, and AIFSN, the first channel access parameter, the first timer duration, the first duration, the second duration, the first duration threshold, the second duration threshold, the first count threshold, and the second count threshold are the same for different sites in the BSS that have enabled the P-EDCA mechanism, that is, these parameters and / or thresholds are for the BSS.

[0187] In some embodiments, the second device may actively send a first instruction message to modify the relevant parameters of the entire BSS.

[0188] In some embodiments, the first indication information can be targeted at either the BSS or the first device. This balances the impact on other sites that do not use P-EDCA functionality while also better meeting the transmission needs of the sites. For example, the second channel access parameters indicated by the first indication information may exist in a set applicable to the entire BSS within the BSS to which the first device belongs, meaning the first channel access parameters indicated by the first indication information are specific to the first device. Alternatively, if the second channel access parameters indicated by the first indication information exist in a set applicable to the entire BSS within the BSS to which the first device belongs, after the first device and the second device have established association, the first device can request the second device to modify and resend the first indication information to indicate the second channel access parameters specific to this first device. The second device can also proactively modify the second channel access parameters specific to this first device. If the first device does not request or the second device does not proactively modify the parameters, the first device can use the second channel access parameters specific to the BSS.

[0189] In some embodiments, the first device may send second indication information to the second device. This second indication information may be used to indicate whether the first device supports the P-EDCA mechanism.

[0190] In some embodiments, the second indication information may be used to indicate one or more of the following information suggested by the first device: some or all parameters in the first channel access parameters; some or all parameters in the second channel access parameters; parameters related to the first condition; and the duration for which the first device uses the first channel access parameters. The second device may determine the first indication information based on the second indication information. The first indication information may be exactly the same as or partially the same as the second indication information.

[0191] Optionally, the second indication information may be carried in one or more of the following frames: probe request frame, association request frame, reassociation request frame.

[0192] The following example, using a beacon frame and Figure 16, illustrates the format of a frame carrying the first indication information.

[0193] As shown in Figure 16, the beacon frame may include a P-EDCA parameter element. The P-EDCA parameter element may include one or more of the following fields: P-EDCA parameters and compensation parameters.

[0194] The P-EDCA parameter fields may include one or more of the following fields: P-EDCA inter-frame interval number (P-EDCA AIFSN), P-EDCA contention window minimum (P-EDCA CWmin), P-EDCA contention window maximum (P-EDCA CWmax), P-EDCA duration (P-EDCA Period), P-EDCA duration threshold (P-EDCA Duration Threshold), and P-EDCA count threshold (P-EDCA Count Threshold).

[0195] The P-EDCA AIFSN field indicates the number of inter-frame intervals for arbitrating the second channel access parameters when using the P-EDCA mechanism. The default value for this field is 2.

[0196] The P-EDCA CWmin field indicates the minimum contention window value for the second channel access parameters when using the P-EDCA mechanism. The default value for this field is 7.

[0197] The P-EDCA CWmax field indicates the maximum contention window value for the second channel access parameter when using the P-EDCA mechanism. The default value for this field is 7.

[0198] The P-EDCA duration field can indicate either the first duration T1 or the second duration T2. ​​The unit can be milliseconds, TU, or BI. One TU is 1024 microseconds. One BI is approximately 60 to 200 milliseconds, with the specific value set by the access point.

[0199] The P-EDCA duration threshold field can indicate either the first duration threshold or the second duration threshold. The unit can be milliseconds, TU, or BI.

[0200] The P-EDCA count threshold field can indicate either the first count threshold or the second count threshold.

[0201] The compensation parameter field may include one or more of the following fields: the number of arbitrated inter-frame intervals for compensation (compensate AIFSN), the minimum compensation contention window (compensate CWmin), the maximum compensation contention window (compensate CWmax), and the compensation timer (compensate timer).

[0202] The inter-frame interval digital field of the compensated arbitration can indicate the number of inter-frame intervals for arbitration in the first channel access parameters.

[0203] The minimum contention window field for compensation can indicate the minimum contention window value in the first channel access parameter.

[0204] The maximum contention window field for compensation can indicate the maximum contention window value in the first channel access parameter.

[0205] The compensation timer field can indicate the duration of the first timer.

[0206] It should be noted that some or all of the subfields in the P-EDCA parameter field may also appear in one or more of the probe response frame, association response frame, reassociation response frame, and P-EDCA notification frame. Similarly, some or all of the subfields in the compensation parameter field may also appear in one or more of the probe response frame, association response frame, reassociation response frame, and P-EDCA notification frame.

[0207] It should be noted that the names of the fields in Figure 16 are just examples and can be changed to other names.

[0208] In some embodiments, the duration or number of times associated with the first condition can be represented by a first variable. For example, the first variable may include one or more of the following: a first cumulative duration, a second cumulative duration, a first count, and a second count. The first device may reset the first variable to 0 or increment it at an appropriate time.

[0209] As one implementation method, if the first condition is met, the first device can reset the first variable to 0. Resetting the first variable to 0 in a timely manner facilitates the next judgment of the first condition.

[0210] In some embodiments, the moment when the first device resets the first variable to 0 includes: the moment when the first time window timing begins; or, the moment when the first channel access parameter begins. For example, the moment when the first time window timing begins may be the moment when the first timer starts or restarts.

[0211] For example, after the first device enables the P-EDCA mechanism on the first channel, if the first condition is met, the first device can reset the corresponding variable of one or more of the recorded first cumulative duration, second cumulative duration, first count, and second count to 0 when starting the first timer.

[0212] For example, after the first device uses the P-EDCA mechanism on the first channel, if the first condition is met, the first device can reset the corresponding variable of one or more of the recorded first cumulative duration, second cumulative duration, first count, and second count to 0 when changing the channel access parameter to the first channel access parameter.

[0213] As one implementation method, when the P-EDCA mechanism is disabled, the first device can reset the first variable to 0.

[0214] As an alternative implementation, if the first device disables the P-EDCA mechanism, the first variable can remain unchanged. When the first device re-enables the P-EDCA mechanism, it can continue to use the value of the first variable before the P-EDCA mechanism was disabled. For example, when the P-EDCA mechanism is disabled, the variables corresponding to one or more of the following—the first cumulative duration, the first count, and the second count—can remain unchanged.

[0215] In some embodiments, the P-EDCA mechanism can also be enabled on the NPCA main channel. When the P-EDCA mechanism can be enabled on the NPCA main channel, some sites switching to the NPCA main channel may have low-latency data or latency-sensitive data, and the P-EDCA mechanism can be used to further reduce transmission latency.

[0216] In some embodiments, on the NPCA main channel, the first device uses BSRP GI3 trigger frames and Multi-STA BA frames to interact as the initial control frame interaction in the P-EDCA mechanism.

[0217] For example, in the P-EDCA mechanism, if it is executed on the BSS primary channel, the station always uses RTS and CTS frames for initial frame exchange and retry; if it is executed on the NPCA primary channel, the station always uses BSRP GI3 Trigger and Multi-STA BA frames for initial frame exchange and retry.

[0218] For example, in the P-EDCA mechanism, if it is executed on the BSS primary channel, the station always uses CTS as the first defer signal, and then uses RTS and CTS frame exchanges as the initial frame exchange and retry. If it is executed on the NPCA primary channel, the station always uses CTS as the first defer signal, and then uses BSRP GI3 Trigger and Multi-STA BA frame exchanges as the initial frame exchange and retry.

[0219] In some embodiments, the first channel may include the BSS main channel and / or the NPCA main channel. That is, the method shown in FIG15 can be applied to a scenario where the first device is on the BSS main channel; and / or, the method shown in FIG15 can be applied to a scenario where the first device is on the NPCA main channel. In other words, the aforementioned limiting or compensating technical solutions can affect both the BSS main channel and the NPCA main channel.

[0220] In some embodiments, the P-EDCA-related parameters used on the NPCA main channel are the same as those used on the BSS main channel. For example, the NPCA main channel and the BSS main channel share a set of P-EDCA-related parameters. For example, one or more of the following are satisfied: the first channel access parameter used on the NPCA main channel is the same as the first channel access parameter used on the BSS main channel; the second channel access parameter used on the NPCA main channel is the same as the second channel access parameter used on the BSS main channel; the first condition used on the NPCA main channel is the same as the first condition parameter used on the BSS main channel; the duration of using the first channel access parameter on the NPCA main channel is the same as the duration of using the first channel access parameter on the BSS main channel.

[0221] For example, one or more of the first channel access parameters CWmin, CWmax, and AIFSN, one or more of the second channel access parameters CWmin, CWmax, and AIFSN, the first channel access parameters, the first timer duration, the first duration, the second duration, the first duration threshold, the second duration threshold, the first count threshold, and the second count threshold share a set with the P-EDCA parameters on the NPCA main channel.

[0222] In some embodiments, the P-EDCA-related parameters used on the NPCA main channel are different from those used on the BSS main channel. For example, the NPCA main channel and the BSS main channel each use two sets of P-EDCA-related parameters. For instance, the first channel access parameters used on the NPCA main channel are different from those used on the BSS main channel; the second channel access parameters used on the NPCA main channel are different from those used on the BSS main channel; the first condition used on the NPCA main channel is different from that used on the BSS main channel; and the duration of using the first channel access parameters on the NPCA main channel is different from that used on the BSS main channel.

[0223] For example, one or more of the first channel access parameters CWmin, CWmax, and AIFSN in the BSS main channel, one or more of the second channel access parameters CWmin, CWmax, and AIFSN, the first channel access parameters, the first timer duration, the first duration, the second duration, the first duration threshold, the second duration threshold, the first count threshold, and the second count threshold can be used in two separate sets compared to the NPCA main channel.

[0224] In some embodiments, the number of occurrences and / or cumulative durations related to the first condition counted on the NPCA main channel (e.g., including one or more of the first count, second count, first cumulative duration, and second cumulative duration) are counted separately from the number of occurrences and / or cumulative durations related to the first condition counted on the BSS main channel, i.e., two sets of counts and / or cumulative durations are maintained. This makes implementation more flexible.

[0225] For example, if the first device successfully acquires a TXOP once using the second channel access parameters on the NPCA main channel, then one or more of the first cumulative duration, second cumulative duration, first count, and second count of the first device continuing to use the BSS main channel will increase accordingly.

[0226] In some embodiments, the number of occurrences and / or cumulative durations related to the first condition counted on the NPCA main channel (e.g., including one or more of the first count, second count, first cumulative duration, and second cumulative duration) are statistically analyzed in the same way as the number of occurrences and / or cumulative durations related to the first condition counted on the BSS main channel; that is, the same set of occurrences and / or cumulative durations is maintained. This makes implementation simpler.

[0227] For example, in some embodiments, if a site successfully acquires a TXOP once using the second channel access parameter on the NPCA main channel, the first cumulative duration, second cumulative duration, first count, or second count of the site's NPCA main channel will increase accordingly. The first cumulative duration, second cumulative duration, first count, or second count of the BSS main channel will remain unchanged.

[0228] In some embodiments, when the first device initiates the P-EDCA mechanism, the first device prohibits access to the NPCA main channel using the first channel access parameters. For example, information related to the first condition and / or the first channel access parameters indicated by the first indication information is invalid on the NPCA main channel and is only valid on the BSS main channel.

[0229] In some embodiments, when the first device initiates the P-EDCA mechanism, the first device prohibits access to the NPCA main channel using the P-EDCA mechanism. In other words, the first device must not use the P-EDCA mechanism to access the channel on the NPCA main channel. Firstly, most sites switching to the NPCA main channel for channel access are UHR sites; traditional sites (sites older than UHR) typically do not perform NPCA operations, thus there is no need to use the P-EDCA mechanism to reduce conflicts caused by traditional sites. Secondly, the number of sites switching to the NPCA main channel for channel access is less than the total number of sites in the BSS, resulting in a relatively low probability of access conflicts, thus also making the use of the P-EDCA mechanism unnecessary. Furthermore, there may be traditional sites from other BSSs on the NPCA main channel; using the P-EDCA mechanism might reduce the probability of traditional sites from other BSSs accessing the channel, which would be unfair to traditional sites from other BSSs.

[0230] In some embodiments, if the first device initiates the P-EDCA mechanism and operates in a lower capability mode, the first device prohibits the use of the P-EDCA mechanism. That is, DPS sites operating in a lower capability mode must not use the P-EDCA mechanism to access the channel. On the one hand, if a DPS site operating in a lower capability mode has low-latency data to transmit, it should preferentially switch to a higher capability mode to improve transmission efficiency and reduce transmission latency. On the other hand, DPS sites operating in a lower capability mode use less bandwidth and / or have lower transmission rates, resulting in lower overall transmission efficiency. In this case, using the P-EDCA mechanism would reduce the overall system throughput.

[0231] In some embodiments, the first device may include a device operating in a restricted operating mode. That is, a station operating in a restricted operating mode can access the channel using the P-EDCA mechanism. For example, if a station initiates the P-EDCA mechanism, a station operating in a restricted operating mode can access the channel using a first channel access parameter, a second channel access parameter, or EDCA parameters.

[0232] Sites operating in restricted mode may need to transmit low-latency data. In cases where the operating mode cannot be changed, using the P-EDCA mechanism can help reduce transmission latency.

[0233] The method embodiments of this application have been described in detail above. The apparatus embodiments of this application are described in detail below. It should be understood that the descriptions of the method embodiments correspond to the descriptions of the apparatus embodiments. Therefore, any parts not described in detail can be referred to the foregoing method embodiments.

[0234] Figure 17 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device 1700 provided in an embodiment of this application. The communication device 1700 is a first device. The communication device 1700 includes an access unit 1710.

[0235] Access unit 1710 is used to access the first channel using the first channel access parameters, the second channel access parameters, or the enhanced distributed channel access parameters when the first device starts the P-EDCA mechanism.

[0236] In this embodiment, the communication device 1700 can be used to execute some or all of the method steps executed by the first device in the above method embodiments. The communication device 1700 includes units or modules for executing the aforementioned method steps. The method flow has been described in detail in the foregoing embodiments. The modules in this embodiment have the same function or perform the same steps, and will not be described again here. However, those skilled in the art should know that the textual descriptions corresponding to the foregoing method embodiments can be incorporated into this embodiment, corresponding to the modules in the communication device 1700.

[0237] In an optional embodiment, the access unit 1710 may be a processor 1910. The communication device 1700 may also include a memory 1920 and a transceiver 1930, as specifically shown in FIG19.

[0238] Figure 18 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device 1800 provided in an embodiment of this application. The communication device 1800 is a second device. The communication device 1800 includes: a transmitting unit 1810.

[0239] The sending unit 1810 is used to send first indication information to the first device; wherein the first indication information is used to indicate one or more of the following: some or all of the parameters in the first channel access parameters, some or all of the parameters in the second channel access parameters; when the first device starts the P-EDCA mechanism, the first channel access parameters or the second channel access parameters are the channel access parameters used by the first device to access the first channel; parameters related to the first condition; and the duration of using the first channel access parameters.

[0240] In this embodiment, the communication device 1800 can be used to execute some or all of the method steps executed by the second device in the above method embodiments. The communication device 1800 includes units or modules for executing the aforementioned method steps. The method flow has been described in detail in the foregoing embodiments. The modules in this embodiment have the same function or perform the same steps, and will not be described again here. However, those skilled in the art should know that the textual descriptions corresponding to the foregoing method embodiments can be incorporated into this embodiment and correspond to the modules in the communication device 1800.

[0241] In an optional embodiment, the transmitting unit 1810 may be a transceiver 1930. The communication device 1800 may also include a memory 1920 and a processor 1910, as shown in FIG19.

[0242] Figure 19 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication apparatus according to an embodiment of this application. The dashed lines in Figure 19 indicate that the unit or module is optional. The apparatus 1900 can be used to implement the methods described in the above method embodiments. The apparatus 1900 can be a chip or a communication device.

[0243] Apparatus 1900 may include one or more processors 1910. The processor 1910 may support apparatus 1900 in implementing the methods described in the preceding method embodiments. The processor 1910 may be a general-purpose processor or a special-purpose processor. For example, the processor may be a central processing unit (CPU). Alternatively, the processor may be other general-purpose processors, digital signal processors (DSPs), application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), or other programmable logic devices, discrete gate or transistor logic devices, discrete hardware components, etc. The general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor or any conventional processor.

[0244] The apparatus 1900 may further include one or more memories 1920. The memories 1920 store a program that can be executed by the processor 1910, causing the processor 1910 to perform the methods described in the preceding method embodiments. The memories 1920 may be independent of the processor 1910 or integrated within the processor 1910.

[0245] The device 1900 may also include a transceiver 1930. The processor 1910 can communicate with other devices or chips via the transceiver 1930. For example, the processor 1910 can send and receive data with other devices or chips via the transceiver 1930.

[0246] This application also provides a computer-readable storage medium for storing a program. This computer-readable storage medium can be applied to the communication device provided in this application, and the program causes a computer to execute the methods performed by the communication device in various embodiments of this application.

[0247] This application also provides a computer program product. The computer program product includes a program. The computer program product can be applied to the communication device provided in this application embodiment, and the program causes a computer to execute the methods performed by the communication device in various embodiments of this application.

[0248] This application also provides a computer program. This computer program can be applied to the communication device provided in this application, and causes the computer to execute the methods performed by the communication device in various embodiments of this application.

[0249] It should be understood that the terms "system" and "network" in this application can be used interchangeably. Furthermore, the terminology used in this application is only for explaining specific embodiments of the application and is not intended to limit the application. The terms "first," "second," "third," and "fourth," etc., in the specification, claims, and accompanying drawings of this application are used to distinguish different objects, not to describe a specific order. In addition, the terms "comprising" and "having," and any variations thereof, are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion.

[0250] In the embodiments of this application, a "field" may also be referred to as a "domain", "subfield", or "subfield". A field may occupy one or more bytes (byte / octet), or a field may occupy one or more bits (bit).

[0251] Unless otherwise stated, this application does not restrict the position of each field, that is, the position of each field can be adjusted.

[0252] The field names defined in the embodiments of this application are merely examples, and the field may have other names.

[0253] In the embodiments of this application, the term "instruction" can be a direct instruction, an indirect instruction, or an indication of a relationship. For example, A instructing B can mean that A directly instructs B, such as B being able to obtain information through A; it can also mean that A indirectly instructs B, such as A instructing C, so B can obtain information through C; or it can mean that there is a relationship between A and B.

[0254] In the embodiments of this application, "B corresponding to A" means that B is associated with A, and B can be determined based on A. However, it should also be understood that determining B based on A does not mean that B is determined solely based on A; B can also be determined based on A and / or other information.

[0255] In the embodiments of this application, the term "correspondence" can indicate a direct or indirect correspondence between two things, or an association between two things, or a relationship such as instruction and being instructed, configuration and being configured.

[0256] In this application embodiment, "predefined" or "preconfigured" can be implemented by pre-storing corresponding codes, tables, or other means that can be used to indicate relevant information in the device (e.g., including AP and STA). This application does not limit the specific implementation method. For example, predefined can refer to what is defined in the protocol.

[0257] In the embodiments of this application, the term "and / or" is merely a description of the relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent: A existing alone, A and B existing simultaneously, or B existing alone. Additionally, the character " / " in this document generally indicates that the preceding and following related objects have an "or" relationship.

[0258] In the embodiments of this application, "comprising" can refer to direct inclusion or indirect inclusion. Optionally, "comprising" mentioned in the embodiments of this application can be replaced with "indicating" or "used to determine". For example, "A includes B" can be replaced with "A indicates B" or "A is used to determine B".

[0259] In the various embodiments of this application, the order of the above-mentioned processes does not imply the order of execution. The execution order of each process should be determined by its function and internal logic, and should not constitute any limitation on the implementation process of the embodiments of this application.

[0260] In this application embodiment, the "protocol" may refer to a standard protocol in the field of communication, such as the WiFi protocol and related protocols applied to future WiFi communication systems, and this application does not limit it.

[0261] In the several embodiments provided in this application, it should be understood that the disclosed systems, apparatuses, and methods can be implemented in other ways. For example, the apparatus embodiments described above are merely illustrative; for instance, the division of units is only a logical functional division, and in actual implementation, there may be other division methods. For example, multiple units or components may be combined or integrated into another system, or some features may be ignored or not executed. Furthermore, the coupling or direct coupling or communication connection shown or discussed may be through some interfaces; the indirect coupling or communication connection between apparatuses or units may be electrical, mechanical, or other forms.

[0262] The units described as separate components may or may not be physically separate. The components shown as units may or may not be physical units; that is, they may be located in one place or distributed across multiple network units. Some or all of the units can be selected to achieve the purpose of this embodiment according to actual needs.

[0263] In addition, the functional units in the various embodiments of this application can be integrated into one processing unit, or each unit can exist physically separately, or two or more units can be integrated into one unit.

[0264] In the above embodiments, implementation can be achieved entirely or partially through software, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof. When implemented using software, it can be implemented entirely or partially in the form of a computer program product. The computer program product includes one or more computer instructions. When the computer program instructions are loaded and executed on a computer, all or part of the processes or functions described in the embodiments of this application are generated. The computer can be a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a computer network, or other programmable device. The computer instructions can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium or transmitted from one computer-readable storage medium to another. For example, the computer instructions can be transmitted from one website, computer, server, or data center to another website, computer, server, or data center via wired (e.g., coaxial cable, fiber optic, digital subscriber line (DSL)) or wireless (e.g., infrared, wireless, microwave, etc.) means. The computer-readable storage medium can be any available medium that a computer can read or a data storage device such as a server or data center that integrates one or more available media. The available media may be magnetic media (e.g., floppy disks, hard disks, magnetic tapes), optical media (e.g., digital video discs, DVDs) or semiconductor media (e.g., solid-state disks, SSDs), etc.

[0265] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of this application, but the scope of protection of this application is not limited thereto. Any variations or substitutions that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art within the scope of the technology disclosed in this application should be included within the scope of protection of this application. Therefore, the scope of protection of this application should be determined by the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A wireless communication method, characterized in that, include: When the first device initiates the priority enhanced distributed channel access (P-EDCA) mechanism, the first device accesses the first channel using the first channel access parameters, the second channel access parameters, or the enhanced distributed channel access parameters.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first device accesses the first channel using either the first channel access parameters or the second channel access parameters, including: If the first condition is met, the first device accesses the first channel using the first channel access parameters within the first time window. If the first condition is not met, the first device accesses the first channel using the second channel access parameter or the enhanced distributed channel access parameter.

3. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that, The first condition is related to one or more of the following: The first cumulative duration is used to indicate the cumulative duration for the first device to acquire a transmission opportunity (TXOP) using the second channel access parameters; The second cumulative duration is used to indicate the cumulative duration during which the first device uses the second channel access parameter to obtain transmission opportunities within the first duration; The first count indicates the number of times the first device successfully obtained a transmission opportunity using the second channel access parameter; The second count indicates the number of times the first device successfully acquires a transmission opportunity using the second channel access parameter within a second time period.

4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that, The first condition includes one or more of the following: The first cumulative duration is greater than or equal to the first duration threshold; The second cumulative duration is greater than or equal to the second duration threshold; The first number of times is greater than or equal to the threshold number of the first time; The second number is greater than or equal to the threshold of the second number.

5. The method according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that, The first device uses the second channel access parameters to obtain the cumulative duration of the transmission opportunity, including: The first device successfully obtains the cumulative duration of the transmission opportunity for the first channel using the second channel access parameters; or The first device uses the second channel access parameters to actually use the cumulative duration of the transmission opportunity of the first channel.

6. The method according to any one of claims 3-5, characterized in that, At the moment when the first device initiates the P-EDCA mechanism, the first device resets and starts or resumes the timer corresponding to the first duration and / or the timer corresponding to the second duration. When the first device disables the P-EDCA mechanism, the first device stops or pauses the timer corresponding to the first duration and / or the timer corresponding to the second duration.

7. The method according to any one of claims 2-6, characterized in that, When the first condition is met, the first device accesses the first channel using the first channel access parameters within a first time window, including: If the first condition is met, the first device starts the first timer; During the first timer duration, the first device uses the first channel access parameters to access the first channel; The duration of the first timer is the duration of the first time window.

8. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that, The first timer corresponds to the access category.

9. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that, The access categories include one or more of the following: The access category corresponding to the voice message; The access category corresponding to the video; Access categories corresponding to low-latency traffic; Access categories corresponding to latency-sensitive traffic.

10. The method according to any one of claims 7-9, characterized in that, The first timer includes: a multi-user enhanced distributed channel access timer MUEDCATimer.

11. The method according to any one of claims 2-10, characterized in that, The method further includes: The first device receives the first instruction information sent by the second device; The first indication information is used to indicate one or more of the following: Some or all of the parameters in the first channel access parameters; Some or all of the parameters in the second channel access parameters; Parameters related to the first condition; The duration for which the first device uses the first channel to access parameters.

12. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that, The first indication information satisfies one or more of the following: The first instruction information applies to all communication devices within the Basic Service Set (BSS) of the second device that have started P-EDCA. The first instruction information is directed to the first device.

13. The method according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that, The first indication information includes one or more of the following: The number of inter-frame intervals for arbitration in the first channel access parameters; The minimum contention window value in the first channel access parameters; The maximum value of the contention window in the first channel access parameters; The number of inter-frame intervals for arbitration in the second channel access parameters; The minimum contention window value in the second channel access parameters; The maximum value of the contention window in the second channel access parameters; Parameters related to the first condition; The duration of using the first channel access parameters.

14. The method according to any one of claims 11-13, characterized in that, The first indication information is carried in one or more of the following frames: Beacon frames, probe response frames, association response frames, reassociation response frames, and P-EDCA notification frames.

15. The method according to any one of claims 11-14, characterized in that, Some or all of the parameters in the first channel access parameters are carried in the Multi-User Enhanced Distributed Channel Access Parameter Set (MUEDCA) element.

16. The method according to any one of claims 2-15, characterized in that, Some or all of the parameters in the first channel access parameters are predefined; and / or, Some or all of the parameters in the second channel access parameters are predefined; and / or, Some or all of the parameters related to the first condition are predefined.

17. The method according to any one of claims 2-16, characterized in that, The method further includes: If the first condition is met, the first device will reset the first variable to 0; The first variable includes the duration and / or number of times related to the first condition.

18. The method according to claim 17, characterized in that, The times when the first device resets the first variable to 0 include: The moment when the first time window begins timing; or The moment when the first channel access parameters are started.

19. The method according to any one of claims 2-18, characterized in that, The method further includes: when the P-EDCA mechanism is disabled, the first device resets the first variable to 0; The first variable includes the duration and / or number of times related to the first condition.

20. The method according to any one of claims 1-19, characterized in that, The probability of successfully obtaining a transmission opportunity when accessing the channel using the first channel access parameters is the first probability; the probability of successfully obtaining a transmission opportunity when accessing the channel using the second channel access parameters is the second probability; and the probability of successfully obtaining a transmission opportunity when accessing the channel using the enhanced distributed channel access parameters is the third probability. The first probability is less than the second probability; and / or The first probability is less than the third probability.

21. The method according to any one of claims 1-20, characterized in that, The first channel includes the BSS main channel and / or non-main channel access to the NPCA main channel.

22. The method according to claim 21, characterized in that, On the NPCA main channel, the first device uses BSRP GI3 triggering and multi-site block acknowledgment frame interaction as the initial control frame interaction in the P-EDCA mechanism.

23. The method according to claim 21 or 22, characterized in that, The channel access parameters used on the NPCA main channel and the channel access parameters used on the BSS main channel satisfy one or more of the following: The first channel access parameters used on the NPCA main channel are the same as those used on the BSS main channel. The first channel access parameters used on the NPCA main channel are different from the first channel access parameters used on the BSS main channel. The second channel access parameters used on the NPCA main channel are the same as those used on the BSS main channel; The second channel access parameters used on the NPCA main channel are different from those used on the BSS main channel.

24. The method according to any one of claims 21-23, characterized in that, When the first device initiates the P-EDCA mechanism, the first device prohibits access to the NPCA main channel using the first channel access parameters.

25. The method according to any one of claims 1-20, characterized in that, When the first device initiates the P-EDCA mechanism, the first device prohibits access to the NPCA main channel using the P-EDCA mechanism.

26. The method according to any one of claims 1-25, characterized in that, If the first device initiates the P-EDCA mechanism and is operating in a lower capability mode, the first device shall disable the use of the P-EDCA mechanism.

27. The method according to any one of claims 1-26, characterized in that, The first device includes a device operating in a restricted operating mode.

28. A wireless communication method, characterized in that, include: The second device sends a first instruction message to the first device; The first indication information is used to indicate one or more of the following: some or all parameters in the first channel access parameters, some or all parameters in the second channel access parameters; parameters related to the first condition; the duration of using the first channel access parameters; the channel access parameters used to access the first channel when the first channel access parameters or the second channel access parameters are the first device's priority enhanced distributed channel access (P-EDCA) mechanism; when the first device activates the P-EDCA mechanism, and the first condition is met, the first device uses the first channel access parameters to access the first channel within a first time window.

29. The method according to claim 28, characterized in that, The first indication information includes one or more of the following: The number of inter-frame intervals for arbitration in the first channel access parameters; The minimum contention window value in the first channel access parameters; The maximum value of the contention window in the first channel access parameters; The number of inter-frame intervals for arbitration in the second channel access parameters; The minimum contention window value in the second channel access parameters; The maximum value of the contention window in the second channel access parameters; Parameters related to the first condition; The duration of using the first channel access parameters.

30. The method according to claim 28 or 29, characterized in that, The first indication information satisfies one or more of the following: The first instruction information applies to all communication devices within the BSS of the second device that have started P-EDCA; The first instruction information is directed to the first device.

31. The method according to any one of claims 28-30, characterized in that, The first indication information is carried in one or more of the following frames: Beacon frames, probe response frames, association response frames, reassociation response frames, and P-EDCA notification frames.

32. The method according to any one of claims 28-31, characterized in that, The first channel includes the NPCA main channel.

33. The method according to claim 32, characterized in that, The channel access parameters indicated by the first indication information satisfy one or more of the following: The first channel access parameters used on the NPCA main channel are the same as those used on the BSS main channel. The first channel access parameters used on the NPCA main channel are different from the first channel access parameters used on the BSS main channel. The second channel access parameters used on the NPCA main channel are the same as those used on the BSS main channel; The second channel access parameters used on the NPCA main channel are different from those used on the BSS main channel.

34. A communication device, characterized in that, The communication device is a first device, and the communication device includes: The access unit is used to access the first channel using the first channel access parameters, the second channel access parameters, or the enhanced distributed channel access parameters when the first device initiates the priority enhanced distributed channel access (P-EDCA) mechanism.

35. The communication device according to claim 34, characterized in that, The first device accesses the first channel using either the first channel access parameters or the second channel access parameters, including: If the first condition is met, the first device accesses the first channel using the first channel access parameters within the first time window. If the first condition is not met, the first device accesses the first channel using the second channel access parameter or the enhanced distributed channel access parameter.

36. The communication device according to claim 35, characterized in that, The first condition is related to one or more of the following: The first cumulative duration is used to indicate the cumulative duration for the first device to acquire a transmission opportunity (TXOP) using the second channel access parameters; The second cumulative duration is used to indicate the cumulative duration during which the first device uses the second channel access parameter to obtain transmission opportunities within the first duration; The first count indicates the number of times the first device successfully obtained a transmission opportunity using the second channel access parameter; The second count indicates the number of times the first device successfully acquires a transmission opportunity using the second channel access parameter within a second time period.

37. The communication device according to claim 36, characterized in that, The first condition includes one or more of the following: The first cumulative duration is greater than or equal to the first duration threshold; The second cumulative duration is greater than or equal to the second duration threshold; The first number of times is greater than or equal to the threshold number of the first time; The second number is greater than or equal to the threshold of the second number.

38. The communication device according to claim 36 or 37, characterized in that, The first device uses the second channel access parameters to obtain the cumulative duration of the transmission opportunity, including: The first device successfully obtains the cumulative duration of the transmission opportunity for the first channel using the second channel access parameters; or The first device uses the second channel access parameters to actually use the cumulative duration of the transmission opportunity of the first channel.

39. The communication device according to any one of claims 36-38, characterized in that, At the moment when the first device initiates the P-EDCA mechanism, the first device resets and starts or resumes the timer corresponding to the first duration and / or the timer corresponding to the second duration. When the first device disables the P-EDCA mechanism, the first device stops or pauses the timer corresponding to the first duration and / or the timer corresponding to the second duration.

40. The communication device according to any one of claims 35-39, characterized in that, The access unit includes: If the first condition is met, the first device starts the first timer; During the first timer duration, the first device uses the first channel access parameters to access the first channel; The duration of the first timer is the duration of the first time window.

41. The communication device according to claim 40, characterized in that, The first timer corresponds to the access category.

42. The communication device according to claim 41, characterized in that, The access categories include one or more of the following: The access category corresponding to the voice message; The access category corresponding to the video; Access categories corresponding to low-latency traffic; Access categories corresponding to latency-sensitive traffic.

43. The communication device according to any one of claims 40-42, characterized in that, The first timer includes: a multi-user enhanced distributed channel access timer MUEDCATimer.

44. The communication device according to any one of claims 35-43, characterized in that, The communication device is also used for: Receive the first instruction information sent by the second device; The first indication information is used to indicate one or more of the following: Some or all of the parameters in the first channel access parameters; Some or all of the parameters in the second channel access parameters; Parameters related to the first condition; The duration for which the first device uses the first channel to access parameters.

45. The communication device according to claim 44, characterized in that, The first indication information satisfies one or more of the following: The first instruction information applies to all communication devices within the Basic Service Set (BSS) of the second device that have started P-EDCA. The first instruction information is directed to the first device.

46. ​​The communication device according to claim 44 or 45, characterized in that, The first indication information includes one or more of the following: The number of inter-frame intervals for arbitration in the first channel access parameters; The minimum contention window value in the first channel access parameters; The maximum value of the contention window in the first channel access parameters; The number of inter-frame intervals for arbitration in the second channel access parameters; The minimum contention window value in the second channel access parameters; The maximum value of the contention window in the second channel access parameters; Parameters related to the first condition; The duration of using the first channel access parameters.

47. The communication device according to any one of claims 44-46, characterized in that, The first indication information is carried in one or more of the following frames: Beacon frames, probe response frames, association response frames, reassociation response frames, and P-EDCA notification frames.

48. The communication device according to any one of claims 44-47, characterized in that, Some or all of the parameters in the first channel access parameters are carried in the Multi-User Enhanced Distributed Channel Access Parameter Set (MUEDCA) element.

49. The communication device according to any one of claims 35-48, characterized in that, Some or all of the parameters in the first channel access parameters are predefined; and / or, Some or all of the parameters in the second channel access parameters are predefined; and / or, Some or all of the parameters related to the first condition are predefined.

50. The communication device according to any one of claims 35-49, characterized in that, The communication device is also used for: If the first condition is met, reset the first variable to 0; The first variable includes the duration and / or number of times related to the first condition.

51. The communication device according to claim 50, characterized in that, The times when the first device resets the first variable to 0 include: The moment when the first time window begins timing; or The moment when the first channel access parameters are started.

52. The communication device according to any one of claims 35-51, characterized in that, The communication device is also used for: If the P-EDCA mechanism is disabled, the first variable is reset to 0; The first variable includes the duration and / or number of times related to the first condition.

53. The communication device according to any one of claims 34-52, characterized in that, The probability of successfully obtaining a transmission opportunity when accessing the channel using the first channel access parameters is the first probability; the probability of successfully obtaining a transmission opportunity when accessing the channel using the second channel access parameters is the second probability; and the probability of successfully obtaining a transmission opportunity when accessing the channel using the enhanced distributed channel access parameters is the third probability. The first probability is less than the second probability; and / or The first probability is less than the third probability.

54. The communication device according to any one of claims 34-53, characterized in that, The first channel includes the BSS main channel and / or non-main channel access to the NPCA main channel.

55. The communication device according to claim 54, characterized in that, On the NPCA main channel, the first device uses BSRP GI3 triggering and multi-site block acknowledgment frame interaction as the initial control frame interaction in the P-EDCA mechanism.

56. The communication device according to claim 54 or 55, characterized in that, The channel access parameters used on the NPCA main channel and the channel access parameters used on the BSS main channel satisfy one or more of the following: The first channel access parameters used on the NPCA main channel are the same as those used on the BSS main channel. The first channel access parameters used on the NPCA main channel are different from the first channel access parameters used on the BSS main channel. The second channel access parameters used on the NPCA main channel are the same as those used on the BSS main channel; The second channel access parameters used on the NPCA main channel are different from those used on the BSS main channel.

57. The communication device according to any one of claims 54-56, characterized in that, When the first device initiates the P-EDCA mechanism, the first device prohibits access to the NPCA main channel using the first channel access parameters.

58. The communication device according to any one of claims 34-57, characterized in that, When the first device initiates the P-EDCA mechanism, the first device prohibits access to the NPCA main channel using the P-EDCA mechanism.

59. The communication device according to any one of claims 34-58, characterized in that, If the first device initiates the P-EDCA mechanism and is operating in a lower capability mode, the first device shall disable the use of the P-EDCA mechanism.

60. The communication device according to any one of claims 34-59, characterized in that, The first device includes a device operating in a restricted operating mode.

61. A communication device, characterized in that, The communication device is a second device, and the communication device includes: The sending unit is used to send first indication information to the first device; The first indication information is used to indicate one or more of the following: some or all parameters in the first channel access parameters, some or all parameters in the second channel access parameters; parameters related to the first condition; the duration of using the first channel access parameters; the channel access parameters used to access the first channel when the first channel access parameters or the second channel access parameters are the first device's priority enhanced distributed channel access (P-EDCA) mechanism; when the first device activates the P-EDCA mechanism, and the first condition is met, the first device uses the first channel access parameters to access the first channel within a first time window.

62. The communication device according to claim 61, characterized in that, The first indication information includes one or more of the following: The number of inter-frame intervals for arbitration in the first channel access parameters; The minimum contention window value in the first channel access parameters; The maximum value of the contention window in the first channel access parameters; The number of inter-frame intervals for arbitration in the second channel access parameters; The minimum contention window value in the second channel access parameters; The maximum value of the contention window in the second channel access parameters; Parameters related to the first condition; The duration of using the first channel access parameters.

63. The communication device according to claim 61 or 62, characterized in that, The first indication information satisfies one or more of the following: The first instruction information applies to all communication devices within the BSS of the second device that have started P-EDCA; The first instruction information is directed to the first device.

64. The communication device according to any one of claims 61-63, characterized in that, The first indication information is carried in one or more of the following frames: Beacon frames, probe response frames, association response frames, reassociation response frames, and P-EDCA notification frames.

65. The communication device according to any one of claims 61-64, characterized in that, The first channel includes the NPCA main channel.

66. The communication device according to claim 65, characterized in that, The channel access parameters indicated by the first indication information satisfy one or more of the following: The first channel access parameters used on the NPCA main channel are the same as those used on the BSS main channel. The first channel access parameters used on the NPCA main channel are different from the first channel access parameters used on the BSS main channel. The second channel access parameters used on the NPCA main channel are the same as those used on the BSS main channel; The second channel access parameters used on the NPCA main channel are different from those used on the BSS main channel.

67. A communication device, characterized in that, The device includes a transceiver, a memory, and a processor. The memory stores a program, and the processor invokes the program in the memory and controls the transceiver to receive or transmit signals so that the communication device performs the method as described in any one of claims 1-33.

68. An apparatus, characterized in that, Includes a processor for calling a program from memory to cause the device to perform the method as described in any one of claims 1-33.

69. A chip, characterized in that, Includes a processor for calling a program from memory, causing a device on which the chip is mounted to perform the method as described in any one of claims 1-33.

70. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that, It contains a program that causes a computer to perform the method as described in any one of claims 1-33.

71. A computer program product, characterized in that, Includes a program that causes a computer to perform the method as described in any one of claims 1-33.

72. A computer program, characterized in that, The computer program causes the computer to perform the method as described in any one of claims 1-33.

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