RU2835880C1 - Method of processing communication line, device with multiple communication lines and machine-readable medium - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: wireless communication.

SUBSTANCE: first device with multiple communication lines (MLD) receives the first information of the second communication line along the first communication line, wherein the plurality of communication lines between the first MLD and the second MLD comprise a first communication line and a second communication line. First information is used by the first MLD to determine whether the configuration of a basic service set (BSS) of the second communication line is updated. If the configuration of the BSS of the second communication line is not updated, the data frame is transmitted by the first MLD along the second communication line, to which the switching is carried out, or via a second communication line, the status of which is transitional from a sleeping or disconnected state to an active or enabled state.

EFFECT: higher rate of switching between communication lines.

25 cl, 15 dwg, 5 tbl

Description

[0001] This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202010308652.7, filed with the National Intellectual Property Administration of China on April 18, 2020, and entitled “LINK PROCESSING METHOD, MULTI-LINK DEVICE, AND COMPUTER-READABLE STORAGE MEDIUM,” which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

AREA OF TECHNOLOGY

[0002] This application relates to the field of communications and, in particular, to a method for processing a communication line, a device with multiple communication lines and a machine-readable data carrier.

LEVEL OF TECHNOLOGY

[0003] In order to achieve extremely high throughput, the next-generation Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) standard uses multiple link technology as a key technology. The multiple link is that each WLAN device has the capability of multi-band transmission and reception to increase the throughput at a larger bandwidth. The multiple band includes, but is not limited to, 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, 6 GHz, etc. Access and transmission over multiple frequency bands is called multiple link. In addition, a device that supports multiple link is called a multi-link device.

[0004] The device with multiple communication lines includes a device with multiple communication lines with multiple radio channels and a device with multiple communication lines with one radio channel. The device with multiple communication lines with multiple radio channels has a plurality of radio frequency modules, and the radio frequency modules can operate separately on different frequency bands or channels. When the channel spacing between the separately operating radio frequency modules is large enough, the communication lines can operate independently of each other without mutual interference. The device with multiple communication lines with multiple radio channels operates in a power-saving mode. The communication line without data transmission may be in a sleep or disabled state. The communication line with data transmission may be in an active or enabled state. That is, the communication line must go from a sleep or disabled state to an active or enabled state. A device with multiple communication lines with a single radio channel, having one radio frequency module, can operate on different frequency bands or channels, but at any time can only operate on one frequency band, that is, it needs to switch from one communication line to another communication line.

[0005] For a communication link whose status is transitional or a communication link being switched to, in order to transmit a data frame, it is necessary to additionally receive a beacon frame on the communication link whose status is transitional or on the communication link being switched to in order to obtain the latest BSS configuration required for transmitting data on that communication link.

[0006] It can be understood that this process results in an excessively long waiting time required from the moment when it is determined that it is necessary to transmit the status of the communication line or to switch to the communication line, until the moment when the data frame can be transmitted. In other words, it is impossible to implement a fast transition between the statuses of the communication lines or a fast switch between communication lines.

ESSENCE OF THE INVENTION

[0007] This application provides a method for processing a communication line, a device with multiple communication lines, and a computer-readable medium for implementing a fast transition between communication line statuses or a fast switching between communication lines.

[0008] According to a first aspect, this application provides a method for processing a communication link. In the method, a plurality of communication links between a first MLD and a second MLD may include a first communication link and a second communication link. The first MLD may receive first information of the second communication link over the first communication link. The first information is used by the first MLD to determine whether the BSS configuration of the second communication link is updated. If the BSS configuration of the second communication link is not updated, the first MLD may transmit a data frame over the second communication link to which they are switching or the second communication link whose status is transient, and it does not need to transmit the data frame until a beacon frame is received and the latest BSS configuration parameter is obtained over the second communication link to which they are switching or the second communication link whose status is transient. Therefore, the method reduces the waiting time required before the data frame is transmitted over the second communication link to which they are switching or the second communication link whose status is transient.

[0009] Furthermore, if a data frame on the first communication link needs to be switched to the second communication link, in the method, before switching from the first communication link to the second communication link, the first MLD can learn that the BSS configuration of the second communication link is not updated. In this way, the first MLD can directly transmit the data frame on the second communication link to which it is switched, and it does not need to transmit the data frame until a beacon frame is received and the latest BSS configuration after the switching is obtained. Therefore, in the method, the duration of the impact of the link switching process on the transmission of the data frame is shortened. If a data frame on the first communication link needs to be offloaded to the second communication link, in the method, before the status of the second communication link becomes transient, the first MLD can learn that the BSS configuration of the second link is not updated, and can directly transmit the data frame on the second communication link whose status is transient, without waiting for the reception of a beacon frame. Therefore, the duration required for the offloading transmission of the data frames is shortened.

[0010] The first communication line is the communication line in the on state. The second communication line is the communication line to which the switching is performed or the communication lines whose communication line status is transitional.

[0011] Optionally, the data frame may be an uplink data frame, a QoS NULL frame, or a link status notification frame. The link status notification frame indicates that the second communication link is in an awake or enabled state, so that the second MLD sends a downlink data frame on the second communication link in a timely manner. In addition, the uplink data frame and the QoS NULL frame may also notify the second MLD that the second communication link is in an awake or enabled state.

[0012] In another optional implementation, if the BSS configuration of the second communication link is updated, the method further includes: the first MLD sending second information on the second communication link. The second information is a BSS configuration sequence number, an access point configuration sequence number (AP-CSN), or a check beacon value that is stored in the first MLD and that identifies the second communication link. The first MLD receives an updated BSS configuration parameter of the second communication link on the second communication link. The updated BSS configuration parameter of the second communication link is determined based on the second information.

[0013] Optionally, the second information of the second link is carried for sending in a unicast probe frame over the second link. The updated BSS configuration parameter of the second link is carried in a probe response frame that is received over the second link. The probe response frame is returned based on the unicast probe frame. That is, if the BSS configuration of the second link is updated, the first MLD can obtain the updated BSS configuration parameter of the second link through a unicast probe frame and a probe response frame over the second link. The unicast probe frame carries the second information. The second information is used by the second MLD to determine the parameter that needs to be updated in the BSS configuration. In some implementation, the first MLD sends the unicast probe frame over the second link. The unicast probe frame includes the second information. The first MLD receives the updated BSS configuration parameter of the second link over the second link. The updated BSS configuration parameter of the second link is obtained by the second MLD by comparing the second information with the first information.

[0014] It can be understood that in this implementation, although the BSS configuration of the second link is updated, the first MLD can also obtain the updated parameter through one unicast probe request frame and one check response frame, and there is no need to transmit a data frame until the beacon frame is received and the entire BSS configuration is obtained. This helps to reduce the waiting time before transmitting the data frame and reduce the signaling overhead. In addition, the first MLD sends a unicast request frame only after it knows that the BSS configuration of the second link is updated. Compared with the method in which the first MLD directly sends a check request frame without knowing whether there is an update, this can reduce the waiting time required before transmitting the data frame in link processing.

[0015] Optionally, the first information is a BSS configuration sequence number, an access point configuration sequence number (AP-CSN), or a check beacon value that is in the second MLD and that identifies the second communication link. The second information is a BSS configuration sequence number, an access point configuration sequence number (AP-CSN), or a check beacon value that is stored (or recorded) in the first MLD and that identifies the second communication link. In this way, the first MLD compares whether the first information agrees with the second information. If the first information agrees with the second information, this indicates that the BSS configuration of the second communication link is not updated. If the first information does not agree with the second information, this indicates that the BSS configuration of the second communication link is updated. This helps the first MLD to transmit a data frame on the second communication link in time.

[0016] That is, the first information is a sequence number of the current BSS configuration, AP-CSN, or a value of the check beacon of the second communication link. The second information is a sequence number of the BSS configuration, AP-CSN, or a value of the check beacon, which relates to the second communication link and which was previously received by the first MLD. Therefore, if the current BSS configuration of the second communication link is not updated compared to the BSS configuration of the second communication link previously received by the first MLD, the first information is equal to the second information. If the current BSS configuration of the second communication link is updated, the first information is not equal to or greater than the second information.

[0017] Optionally, the second information is obtained from a beacon frame or a multiple link probe response frame of the first link when the first MLD performs channel probing, or is obtained from a multiple link association response frame of the first link when the first MLD performs link association. That is, the beacon frame, the multiple link probe response frame, or the multiple link association response frame of the first link additionally carries other information, such as the status of the link and the use of the channel of the second link.

[0018] Optionally, the beacon frame, the multiple link test response frame, or the multiple link association response frame of the first link may carry information about a plurality of links or about all links. In addition to the second information (for example, the AP-CSN or the test beacon value), the information about each link further includes, but is not limited to, one or more of the following: a link status and channel usage. Therefore, when the first MLD performs a link switch or a link status transition, the first MLD may select, based on the information, the link to which the switch is performed or the link whose status is transitional.

[0019] In an optional implementation, the first information of the second communication link is carried in a link switching response message, a cross-link information report message, a medium access control frame, a response frame for negotiating a correspondence relationship between a traffic identifier and a communication link, a beacon frame, a control field of a data frame, or a request frame for negotiating a correspondence relationship between a traffic identifier and a communication link received over the first communication link. In an implementation, the fact that the first MLD receives the first information about the second communication link over the first communication link includes: the first MLD receives, over the first communication link, a link switching response message, a cross-link information report message, a medium access control frame, or a response frame for negotiating a correspondence relationship between the traffic identifier and the communication link. The first information of the second communication link is carried in a link switching response message, a cross-link information report message, a medium access control frame, or a response frame for negotiating a correspondence relationship between the traffic identifier and the communication link.

[0020] Optionally, the first MLD may first send a link switching request message, a cross-link information report request message, or a request frame for negotiating a correspondence relationship between the traffic identifier and the link, so that the second MLD returns the first information of the second link through the above-mentioned response message. It can be understood that in this implementation, the first MLD may actively request the first information of the link to which the switching occurs in order to know whether the BSS configuration of the second link is updated. This helps to avoid, after switching or status transition, the problem that a data frame is transmitted only after receiving a beacon frame, and reduces the waiting time required before transmitting a data frame on the link to which the switching occurs or the link whose status is transitional.

[0021] The first MLD sends a request frame for negotiating a correspondence relationship between the traffic identifier and the link when the first MLD needs to change the correspondence relationship between the link and the traffic identifier, so that the link statuses of some links need to transition from the disabled/sleep state to the enabled/active state. Accordingly, the response frame for negotiating a correspondence relationship between the traffic identifier and the link returned by the second MLD is further used to indicate whether the second MLD accepts the correspondence configuration request between the traffic identifier and the link. If the second MLD accepts the correspondence configuration request, the response frame for negotiating a correspondence relationship between the traffic identifier and the link includes the first information of the second link. If the second MLD does not accept the correspondence configuration request, the response frame for negotiating a correspondence relationship between the traffic identifier and the link does not include the first information of the second link.

[0022] In another optional implementation, when the second MLD needs to change the correspondence relationship between the communication link and the traffic identifier, the second MLD further needs to perform a link status transition of some communication links from the disabled/sleep state to the enabled/active state. The second MLD may also send a request frame for negotiating a correspondence relationship between the traffic identifier and the communication link to the first MLD. The request frame for negotiating a correspondence relationship between the traffic identifier and the communication link may carry first information of the second communication link. In this way, the first MLD may perform a link status transition based on the first information of the second communication link in the above implementation in order to reduce the waiting time required before transmitting the data frame.

[0023] Accordingly, the response frame for negotiating the correspondence relationship between the traffic identifier and the link returned by the first MLD to the second MLD indicates whether the first MLD accepts the configuration request for the correspondence between the traffic identifier and the link. If the first MLD accepts the configuration request for the correspondence, the response frame for negotiating the correspondence relationship between the traffic identifier and the link may carry information that is confirmed as accepted. If the first MLD does not accept the configuration request for the correspondence, the response frame for negotiating the correspondence relationship between the traffic identifier and the link may negotiate information that is rejected.

[0024] The first MLD or the second MLD may determine, based on the requirement, the link for whose status a transition needs to be made in order to determine the number of links carried in the request frame to negotiate a correspondence relationship between the traffic identifier and the link.

[0025] It can be learned that in an optional implementation, the first information of the second communication link is carried in different messages, so that the first MLD or the second MLD can initiate a request for switching the communication link or a request for transition of the communication link status in a timely manner in different scenarios. Therefore, the waiting time required for transmitting a data frame over the communication link to which the switching is performed or the communication link whose status is transitional is further reduced.

[0026] According to a second aspect, this application further provides a method for processing a communication line. The method for processing a communication line in this aspect corresponds to the method for processing a communication line in the first aspect, and the method for processing a communication line in this aspect is described from the perspective of the second MLD.

[0027] In this method, a plurality of communication links between the second MLD and the first MLD include a first communication link and a second communication link. The second communication link is a communication link that is switched from the first communication link by the first MLD, or a communication link whose communication link status is transitional by the first MLD. The second MLD determines first information of the second communication link. The first information is used by the first MLD to determine whether the BSS configuration of the basic service set of the second communication link is updated. The second MLD sends the first information of the second communication link to the first MLD over the first communication link. Optionally, the second MLD can send the first information of the second communication link to the first MLD before the first MLD switches from the first communication link to the second communication link, or before the transition of the status of the second communication link is performed.

[0028] It can be understood that the method helps the first MLD determine, based on the first information, whether the BSS configuration of the second communication link is updated. In addition, if the BSS configuration of the second communication link is not updated, the first MLD can directly transmit a data frame on the second communication link to which the switching occurs or the second communication link whose status is transient, and it does not need to transmit a data frame until the beacon frame is received and the last BSS configuration parameter is obtained on the communication link to which the switching occurs or on the second communication link whose status is transient. This reduces the waiting time required before the data frame is transmitted on the second communication link to which the switching occurs or on the second communication link whose status is transient.

[0029] In an optional implementation, when the BSS configuration of the second communication link is not updated, the second MLD may receive an uplink data frame, a zero quality of service (QoS NULL) frame, or a link status notification frame from the first MLD over the second communication link. The link status notification frame indicates that the second communication link is in an active or on state, so that the second MLD delivers the downlink data frame in a timely manner.

[0030] In an optional implementation, when the BSS configuration of the second communication link is updated, the second MLD receives second information from the first MLD over the second communication link, determines an updated BSS configuration parameter of the second communication link based on the second information, and sends the updated BSS configuration parameter of the second communication link to the first MLD over the first communication link.

[0031] Optionally, the first information is a BSS configuration sequence number, an access point configuration sequence number (AP-CSN), or a check beacon value that is in the second MLD and that identifies the second communication link. The second information is a BSS configuration sequence number, an access point configuration sequence number (AP-CSN), or a check beacon value that is stored in the first MLD and that identifies the second communication link. In this way, the first MLD can compare whether the first information agrees with the second information. If the first information agrees with the second information, this indicates that the BSS configuration of the second communication link is not updated. If the first information does not agree with the second information, this indicates that the BSS configuration of the second communication link is updated. This helps the first MLD to transmit a data frame on the second communication link in time.

[0032] That is, the first information is an identifier of the current BSS configuration of the second communication link. The second information is an identifier of the BSS configuration of the second communication link that was previously received by the first MLD. Therefore, if the recently updated or current BSS configuration of the second communication link is not updated compared to the BSS configuration of the second communication link previously received by the first MLD, the first information is equal to the second information. If the recently updated or current BSS configuration of the second communication link is updated, the first information is not equal to or greater than the second information.

[0033] In an optional implementation, the second information of the second communication link is carried in a unicast probe frame that is received over the second communication link. The updated BSS configuration parameter of the second communication link is carried, for sending, in a check response frame over the second communication link. The check response frame is sent based on the unicast probe frame. That is, the fact that the second MLD receives the second information over the second communication link includes: the second MLD receives the unicast probe frame over the second communication link. The unicast probe frame includes the second information of the second communication link. The second MLD sends a check response frame over the second communication link. The check response frame includes the updated BSS configuration parameter of the second communication link. The updated BSS configuration parameter of the second communication link is obtained by the second MLD based on the second information.

[0034] Optionally, the second information related to the second communication link and sent to the second MLD may be obtained by the first MLD from a beacon frame, a multiple link test response frame, or a multiple link association response frame of the first communication link, when the first MLD performs channel probing or link association. In an implementation, the second MLD sends a beacon frame, a multiple link test response frame of multiple communication links, or a multiple link association response frame of the first communication link over the first communication link. The beacon frame, the multiple link test response frame, or the multiple link association response frame includes the second information of the second communication link. This helps the first MLD report the second information to the second MLD over the second communication link to obtain an updated BSS configuration parameter of the second communication link.

[0035] Optionally, the beacon frame, the multiple link test response frame, or the multiple link association response frame of the first link further carries information such as the status of the link and the channel usage of the second link.

[0036] In an optional implementation, the first information of the second communication link is sent by the second MLD to the first MLD by means of a link switching response message, a cross-link information report message, a medium access control frame, a response frame for negotiating a correspondence relationship between the traffic identifier and the communication link, a beacon frame, a control field of a data frame, or a request frame for negotiating a correspondence relationship between the traffic identifier and the communication link on which is on the first communication link. That is, that the second MLD sends the first information of the second communication link over the first communication link includes: the second MLD sends a link switching response message, a cross-link information report message, a medium access control frame, a response frame for negotiating a correspondence relationship between the traffic identifier and the communication link, a beacon frame, a control field of a data frame, or a request frame for negotiating a correspondence relationship between the traffic identifier and the communication link on the first communication link. The first information of the second communication link is carried in a link switch response message, a cross-link information report message, a medium access control frame, a response frame for negotiating a correspondence relationship between a traffic identifier and a communication link, a beacon frame, a control field of a data frame, or a request frame for negotiating a correspondence relationship between a traffic identifier and a communication link.

[0037] Optionally, the second MLD may first receive a link switching request message, a cross-link information report request message, or a request frame for negotiating a correspondence relationship between a traffic identifier and a link from the first MLD over the first link, and then return the above-mentioned message. It can be understood that in this implementation, the first MLD may actively request the first information about the link to which the switching occurs in order to know whether the BSS configuration of the second link is updated. This helps to avoid, after switching or status transition, the problem that a data frame is transmitted only after receiving a beacon frame, and reduces the waiting time required before transmitting a data frame over the link to which the switching occurs or the link whose status is transitional.

[0038] A request frame for negotiating a correspondence relationship between a traffic identifier and a link from the first MLD is sent when the first MLD needs to change the correspondence relationship between a link and a traffic identifier, so that it is necessary to transition the link statuses of some links from the disabled/sleep state to the enabled/active state. Accordingly, a response frame for negotiating a correspondence relationship between a traffic identifier and a link returned by the second MLD is further used to indicate whether the second MLD accepts the correspondence configuration request between the traffic identifier and the link. Optionally, if the second MLD accepts the correspondence configuration request, the response frame for negotiating a correspondence relationship between the traffic identifier and the link includes the first information of the second link. If the second MLD does not accept the correspondence configuration request, the response frame for negotiating a correspondence relationship between the traffic identifier and the link does not include the first information of the second link.

[0039] In another optional implementation, when the second MLD needs to change the correspondence relationship between the communication link and the traffic identifier, the second MLD further needs to make a transition of the status of some communication links from the disabled/sleep state to the enabled/active state. The second MLD may also send a request frame for negotiating the correspondence relationship between the traffic identifier and the communication link to the first MLD. The request frame for negotiating the correspondence relationship between the traffic identifier and the communication link may carry first information of the second communication link. In this way, the first MLD may make a transition of the status of the communication link based on the first information of the second communication link in the above implementation in order to reduce the waiting time required before transmitting the data frame.

[0040] Accordingly, the response frame for negotiating the correspondence relationship between the traffic identifier and the link received by the second MLD indicates whether the first MLD accepts the configuration request for the correspondence between the traffic identifier and the link. Optionally, if the first MLD accepts the configuration request for the correspondence, the response frame for negotiating the correspondence relationship between the traffic identifier and the link may carry information that is confirmed as accepted. If the first MLD does not accept the configuration request for the correspondence, the response frame for negotiating the correspondence relationship between the traffic identifier and the link may negotiate information that is rejected.

[0041] In the previous two implementations, the first MLD or the second MLD may determine, based on the link whose link status is to be transitioned, the number of links carried in the request frame to negotiate a correspondence relationship between the traffic identifier and the link.

[0042] It can be learned that in an optional implementation, the first information of the second communication link is carried in different messages, so that the first MLD or the second MLD can initiate a request for switching the communication link or a request for transition of the communication link status in a timely manner in different scenarios. Therefore, the waiting time required for transmitting a data frame over the communication link to which the switching is performed or the communication link whose status is transitional is further reduced.

[0043] According to a third aspect, this application further provides a method for processing a communication link. The difference between said method and the method for processing a communication link according to the first aspect is that in this aspect, the second MLD determines whether the BSS configuration of the second communication link to which the switching occurs or the second communication link whose status is in transition is updated. Furthermore, over the first communication link, the updated BSS configuration parameter of the second communication link may be sent to the first MLD, or the first MLD may be notified that the BSS configuration of the second communication link is not updated. Thus, the first MLD may directly transmit a data frame over the second communication link to which the switching occurs or the second communication link whose status is in transition, and it does not need to transmit a data frame until a beacon frame is further received and the last BSS configuration parameter is received over the second communication link to which the switching occurs or the second communication link whose status is in transition. This reduces the waiting time required before a data frame is transmitted over the second link being switched to or over the second link whose status is in transition.

[0044] In addition, if a data frame on the first communication link needs to be switched to the second communication link, in the method, before switching from the first communication link to the second communication link, the first MLD may learn that the BSS configuration of the second communication link is not updated or learn an updated BSS configuration parameter of the second communication link. In this way, the data frame can be transmitted directly on the second communication link to which the switching is performed, and it does not need to be transmitted until a beacon frame is received after the switching. This helps to reduce the duration of the impact of the link switching process on the transmission of the data frame. If a data frame on the first communication link needs to be offloaded to the second communication link, in the method, before transmitting the status of the second communication link, the first MLD may learn that the BSS configuration of the second communication link is not updated or learn an updated BSS configuration parameter of the second communication link. Therefore, the data frame can be transmitted directly on the second communication link, the status of which is transitional, and it does not need to be transmitted until a beacon frame is received after the status transition. This reduces the duration required for the offloading transmission of the data frame.

[0045] The method for processing a communication link in this aspect includes: the first MLD sends second information of the second communication link over the first communication link. The second information is used by the second MLD to determine whether the BSS configuration of the second communication link is updated. The first MLD receives third information over the first communication link. The third information is determined by the second MLD based on the second information. The third information indicates that the BSS configuration of the second communication link is not updated, or an updated BSS configuration parameter of the second communication link. In this way, the first MLD can directly transmit a data frame over the second communication link based on the third information. It can be understood that the first MLD can directly transmit a data frame over the second communication link to which is switched or the second communication link whose status is transient. This reduces the waiting time required before transmitting the data frame over the second communication link to which is switched or the second communication link whose status is transient.

[0046] When the BSS configuration of the second communication link is updated, the third information includes the updated BSS configuration parameter of the second communication link. When the BSS configuration of the second communication link is not updated, the third information may indicate that the BSS configuration of the second communication link is not updated.

[0047] The data frame may be an uplink data frame or a quality of service (QoS NULL) frame for notifying the second MLD that the second communication link is in an active/on state. Optionally, the first MLD may additionally transmit a link status notification frame over the second communication link. The link status notification frame indicates that the second communication link is in an active/on state, so that the second MLD can send a downlink data frame over the second communication link in time.

[0048] The second information is a BSS configuration sequence number, an access point configuration sequence number (AP-CSN), or a check beacon value that is stored in the first MLD and that identifies the second communication link. The first information is a BSS configuration sequence number, an access point configuration sequence number (AP-CSN), or a check beacon value that is in the second MLD and that identifies the second communication link. In this way, the second MLD can compare whether the first information agrees with the second information. If the first information agrees with the second information, this indicates that the BSS configuration of the second communication link is not updated. If the first information does not agree with the second information, this indicates that the BSS configuration of the second communication link is updated. This helps the second MLD know, based on the first information and the second information, whether the BSS configuration of the second communication link is updated.

[0049] That is, the first information is a sequence number of the current BSS configuration, AP-CSN, or a value of the check beacon of the second communication link. The second information is a sequence number of the BSS configuration, AP-CSN, or a value of the check beacon, which relates to the second communication link and which was previously received by the first MLD. Therefore, if the recently updated or current BSS configuration of the second communication link is not updated compared to the BSS configuration of the second communication link previously received by the first MLD, the first information is equal to the second information. If the recently updated or current BSS configuration of the second communication link is updated, the first information is not equal to or greater than the second information.

[0050] Optionally, the second information is obtained by the first MLD from a beacon frame or a multiple link test response frame of the first link when the first MLD performs channel sounding. Alternatively, the second information is obtained by the first MLD from a multiple link test response frame of the first link when the first MLD performs link association.

[0051] Optionally, a beacon frame, a multiple link test response frame, or a multiple link association response frame of the first link may carry information about a plurality of links or all links. The information about each link includes the second information and further includes, but is not limited to, one or more of the following: link status, channel usage, etc. In this implementation, when the first MLD performs a link switch or a link status transition, the first MLD may select, based on the information, the link to which the switch is performed or the link whose status is transitional.

[0052] In an optional implementation, the first MLD may send a link switching request message, a cross-link information report request message, or a request frame for negotiating a correspondence relationship between a traffic identifier and a link on the first link to notify the MLD of the second information of the second link. That is, the second information on the second link is carried in the link switching request message, in the cross-link information report request message, or in the request frame for negotiating a correspondence relationship between a traffic identifier and a link.

[0053] Accordingly, the first MLD can receive a link switching response message, a cross-link information report message, a medium access control frame, or a response frame for negotiating a correspondence relationship between the traffic identifier and the link on the first link to obtain third information of the second link. In an implementation, the first multiple-link device (MLD) receiving the third information on the first link includes: the first MLD receiving a response message, a link switching message, a cross-link information report message, a medium access control frame, or a response frame on the first link to negotiate a correspondence relationship between the traffic identifier and the link. The third information of the second link is carried in the link switching response message, the cross-link information report message, the medium access control frame, or the response frame for negotiating a correspondence relationship between the traffic identifier and the link.

[0054] A request frame for negotiating a correspondence relationship between a traffic identifier and a communication link from the first MLD is sent when the first MLD needs to change the correspondence relationship between a communication link and a traffic identifier, so that it is necessary to perform a status transition for some communication links from a disabled/sleep state to an enabled/active state. Accordingly, a response frame for negotiating a correspondence relationship between a traffic identifier and a communication link returned by the second MLD indicates whether the second MLD accepts the correspondence configuration request between the traffic identifier and the communication link. Optionally, if the second MLD accepts the correspondence configuration request, the response frame for negotiating a correspondence relationship between the traffic identifier and the communication link includes third information of the second communication link. If the second MLD does not accept the correspondence configuration request, the response frame for negotiating a correspondence relationship between the traffic identifier and the communication link does not include the third information of the second communication link.

[0055] It can be understood that in this implementation, the first MLD can actively report the second information about the link to which the switching occurs in order to obtain the third information. This helps to avoid the problem that after the link switching or the status transition, the data frame is transmitted only after receiving the beacon frame, and reduces the waiting time required before transmitting the data frame on the link to which the switching occurs.

[0056] According to a fourth aspect, this application further provides a method for processing a communication link. The method corresponds to the method for processing a communication link in the third aspect, and this aspect is described from the perspective of a second MLD. According to this aspect, the second MLD determines whether the BSS configuration is updated for the second communication link to which the switching occurs or the second communication link whose status is in transition. Furthermore, an updated parameter is sent to the first MLD via the first communication link, or the first MLD is notified that the BSS configuration of the second communication link is not updated. In this way, the first MLD can directly transmit a data frame via the second communication link to which the switching occurs or the second communication link whose status is in transition, and it does not need to transmit the data frame until a beacon frame is received and the last BSS configuration parameter is received via the communication link to which the switching occurs or the second communication link whose status is in transition. This reduces the waiting time required before the data frame is transmitted via the second communication link to which the switching occurs or the second communication link whose status is in transition.

[0057] In addition, if a data frame on the first communication link needs to be switched to the second communication link, in the method, before switching from the first communication link to the second communication link, the first MLD may learn that the BSS configuration of the second communication link is not updated or learn an updated BSS configuration parameter of the second communication link. In this way, the data frame can be transmitted directly on the second communication link to which the switching occurs, and it does not need to be transmitted until a beacon frame is received after the switching. This shortens the duration of the impact of the link switching process on the transmission of the data frame. If a data frame on the first communication link needs to be offloaded to the second communication link, in the method, before the transition of the status of the second communication link, the first MLD may learn that the BSS configuration of the second communication link is not updated or learn an updated BSS configuration parameter of the second communication link. Therefore, the data frame can be transmitted directly on the second communication link whose status is transitional, and it does not need to be transmitted until a beacon frame is received after the status transition. This shortens the duration required for the transmission with offloading of the data frame.

[0058] The method for processing a communication link in this aspect includes: a second MLD receives second information of the second communication link over a first communication link. The second information is used by the second MLD to determine whether the BSS configuration of the second communication link is updated. The second MLD sends third information over the first communication link. The third information is determined by the second MLD based on the second information. The third information indicates that the BSS configuration of the second communication link is not updated, or an updated BSS configuration parameter of the second communication link.

[0059] When the BSS configuration of the second communication link is updated, the third information includes the updated BSS configuration parameter of the second communication link. When the BSS configuration of the second communication link is not updated, the third information indicates that the BSS configuration of the second communication link is not updated.

[0060] It can be understood that since the second MLD can notify the first MLD via the first communication link whether the BSS configuration of the second communication link is updated or about the updated BSS configuration parameter of the second communication link, the first MLD can directly transmit a data frame via the second communication link to which they are switching or the second communication link whose status is transient, without waiting for the reception of a beacon frame. This reduces the waiting time required before transmitting the data frame via the second communication link to which they are switching or via the second communication link whose status is transient.

[0061] Optionally, after sending the third information over the first communication link, the second MLD may further receive a data frame over the second communication link. The data frame includes an uplink data frame, a zero quality of service (QoS NULL) frame, or a link status notification frame. The link status notification frame indicates that the second communication link is in an active/on state, so that the second MLD sends a downlink data frame over the second communication link in time.

[0062] The second information is a BSS configuration sequence number, an access point configuration sequence number (AP-CSN), or a check beacon value that is stored in the first MLD and that identifies the second communication link. The first information is a BSS configuration sequence number, an access point configuration sequence number (AP-CSN), or a check beacon value that is in the second MLD and that identifies the second communication link. In this way, the second MLD can compare whether the first information agrees with the second information. If the first information agrees with the second information, this indicates that the BSS configuration of the second communication link is not updated. If the first information does not agree with the second information, this indicates that the BSS configuration of the second communication link is updated. This helps the second MLD know, based on the first information and the second information, whether the BSS configuration of the second communication link is updated.

[0063] That is, the first information is a sequence number of the current BSS configuration, AP-CSN, or a value of the check beacon of the second communication link. The second information is a sequence number of the BSS configuration, AP-CSN, or a value of the check beacon, which relates to the second communication link and which was previously received by the first MLD. Therefore, if the recently updated or current BSS configuration of the second communication link is not updated compared to the BSS configuration of the second communication link previously received by the first MLD, the first information is equal to the second information. If the recently updated or current BSS configuration of the second communication link is updated, the first information is not equal to or greater than the second information.

[0064] Optionally, the second information is obtained from a beacon frame or a first link multiple link probe response frame when the first MLD performs channel probing. Alternatively, the second information is obtained from a first link multiple link probe response frame when the first MLD performs link association.

[0065] Optionally, a beacon frame, a multiple link test response frame, or a multiple link association response frame of the first link may carry information about a plurality of links or all links. The information about each link includes the second information and further includes, but is not limited to, one or more of the following: link status, channel usage, etc. In this implementation, when the first MLD performs a link switch or a link status transition, the first MLD may select, based on the information, the link to which the switch is performed or the link whose status is transitional.

[0066] In an optional implementation, the second MLD may receive a link switching request message, a cross-link information report request message, or a request frame for negotiating a correspondence relationship between a traffic identifier and a link from the first MLD over the first link, to obtain second information of the second link. That is, the second information of the second link is carried in the link switching request message, in the cross-link information report request message, or in the request frame for negotiating a correspondence relationship between a traffic identifier and a link.

[0067] Accordingly, the second MLD may send a link switching response message, a cross-link information report message, a medium access control frame, or a response frame for negotiating a correspondence relationship between the traffic identifier and the link over the first link to send the third information of the second link to the first MLD. That is, the third information of the second link is carried in the link switching response message, the cross-link information report message, the medium access control frame, or the response frame for negotiating a correspondence relationship between the traffic identifier and the link.

[0068] A request frame for negotiating a correspondence relationship between a traffic identifier and a communication link from the first MLD is sent when the first MLD needs to change the correspondence relationship between a communication link and a traffic identifier, so that it is necessary to perform a transition of the link statuses of some communication links from the disabled/sleep state to the enabled/active state. Accordingly, a response frame for negotiating a correspondence relationship between a traffic identifier and a communication link returned by the second MLD indicates whether the second MLD accepts the correspondence configuration request between the traffic identifier and the communication link. Optionally, if the second MLD accepts the correspondence configuration request, the response frame for negotiating a correspondence relationship between the traffic identifier and the communication link includes third information of the second communication link. If the second MLD does not accept the correspondence configuration request, the response frame for negotiating a correspondence relationship between the traffic identifier and the communication link does not include the third information of the second communication link.

[0069] It can be learned that in this implementation, the first MLD can actively report the second information about the communication link being switched to or the communication link whose status is transitional to obtain the third information.

[0070] It can be learned that in the above-mentioned implementations, the second information and the third information of the second communication link can be carried in different messages, so that the first MLD or the second MLD can initiate a request for switching the communication link or a request for transition of the communication link status in time in different scenarios. Therefore, the waiting time required before transmitting a data frame on the communication link to which the switching is performed or the communication link whose status is transitional is further reduced.

[0071] According to a fifth aspect, this application provides a device with multiple communication lines. The device with multiple communication lines may include a plurality of functional modules configured to respectively perform the method provided in the first aspect or the method provided in any of the possible implementations of the first aspect.

[0072] According to a sixth aspect, this application provides a device with multiple communication lines. The device with multiple communication lines may include a plurality of functional modules configured to respectively perform the method provided in the second aspect or the method provided in any of the possible implementations of the second aspect.

[0073] According to a seventh aspect, this application provides a device with multiple communication lines. The device with multiple communication lines may include a plurality of functional modules configured to respectively perform the method provided in the third aspect or the method provided in any of the possible implementations of the third aspect.

[0074] According to an eighth aspect, this application provides a device with multiple communication lines. The device with multiple communication lines may include a plurality of functional modules configured to respectively perform the method provided in the fourth aspect or the method provided in any of the possible implementations of the fourth aspect.

[0075] According to a ninth aspect, this application provides a device with multiple communication lines, configured to perform the communication line processing method described in the first aspect. The device with multiple communication lines may include a memory, as well as a processor and a transceiver that are connected to the memory. The transceiver is configured to communicate with another communication device (for example, a device with multiple communication lines). The memory is configured to store code for implementing the communication line processing method described in the first aspect. The processor is configured to execute the program code stored in the memory, that is, to perform the method provided in the first aspect or the method provided in any of the possible implementations of the first aspect.

[0076] According to a tenth aspect, this application provides a device with multiple communication lines, configured to perform the communication line processing method described in the second aspect. The device with multiple communication lines may include a memory, as well as a processor and a transceiver that are connected to the memory. The transceiver is configured to communicate with another communication device (for example, a device with multiple communication lines). The memory is configured to store code for implementing the communication line processing method described in the second aspect. The processor is configured to execute the program code stored in the memory, that is, to perform the method provided in the second aspect or the method provided in any of the possible implementations of the second aspect.

[0077] According to an eleventh aspect, this application provides a device with multiple communication lines, configured to perform the communication line processing method described in the third aspect. The device with multiple communication lines may include a memory, as well as a processor and a transceiver that are connected to the memory. The transceiver is configured to communicate with another communication device (for example, a device with multiple communication lines). The memory is configured to store code for implementing the communication line processing method described in the third aspect. The processor is configured to execute the program code stored in the memory, that is, to perform the method provided in the third aspect or the method provided in any of the possible implementations of the third aspect.

[0078] According to a twelfth aspect, this application provides a device with multiple communication lines, configured to perform the communication line processing method described in the fourth aspect. The device with multiple communication lines may include a memory, as well as a processor and a transceiver that are connected to the memory. The transceiver is configured to communicate with another communication device (for example, a device with multiple communication lines). The memory is configured to store code for implementing the communication line processing method described in the fourth aspect. The processor is configured to execute the program code stored in the memory, that is, to perform the method provided in the fourth aspect or the method provided in any of the possible implementations of the fourth aspect.

[0079] According to a thirteenth aspect, this application provides a chip system. The chip system may include a processor and one or more interfaces associated with the processor. The processor may be configured to call from memory a program for implementing the communication line processing method provided in the first aspect or the communication line processing method provided in any of the possible implementations of the first aspect, and to execute instructions included in the program. The interface may be configured for the processor to output a result of the communication line processing.

[0080] According to a fourteenth aspect, this application provides a microcircuit system. The microcircuit system may include a processor and one or more interfaces associated with the processor. The processor may be configured to call from memory a program for implementing the communication line processing method provided in the second aspect or the communication line processing method provided in any of the possible implementations of the second aspect, and to execute instructions included in the program. The interface may be configured for the processor to output a result of the communication line processing.

[0081] According to a fifteenth aspect, this application provides a microcircuit system. The microcircuit system may include a processor and one or more interfaces associated with the processor. The processor may be configured to call from memory a program for implementing the communication line processing method provided in the third aspect or the communication line processing method provided in any of the possible implementations of the third aspect, and to execute instructions included in the program. The interface may be configured for the processor to output a result of the communication line processing.

[0082] According to a sixteenth aspect, this application provides a microcircuit system. The microcircuit system may include a processor and one or more interfaces associated with the processor. The processor may be configured to call from memory a program for implementing the communication line processing method provided in the fourth aspect or the communication line processing method provided in any of the possible implementations of the fourth aspect, and to execute instructions included in the program. The interface may be configured for the processor to output a result of the communication line processing.

[0083] According to a seventeenth aspect, this application provides a communication system including a first device with multiple communication lines and a second device with multiple communication lines.

[0084] The first device with multiple communication lines may be configured to perform the communication line processing method provided in the first aspect or the communication line processing method provided in any of the possible implementations of the first aspect. The second device with multiple communication lines may be configured to perform the communication line processing method provided in the second aspect or the communication line processing method provided in any of the possible implementations of the second aspect.

[0085] According to an eighteenth aspect, this application provides a communication system including a first device with multiple communication lines and a second device with multiple communication lines.

[0086] The first device with multiple communication lines may be configured to perform the communication line processing method provided in the third aspect or the communication line processing method provided in any of the possible implementations of the third aspect. The second device with multiple communication lines may be configured to perform the communication line processing method provided in the fourth aspect or the communication line processing method provided in any of the possible implementations of the fourth aspect.

[0087] According to a nineteenth aspect, a computer-readable storage medium is provided. The computer-readable storage medium stores a program code for implementing the communication line processing method provided in the first aspect or the communication line processing method provided in any of the possible implementations of the first aspect. The program code includes execution instructions for executing the communication line processing method provided in the first aspect or the communication line processing method provided in any of the possible implementations of the first aspect.

[0088] According to a twentieth aspect, a computer-readable storage medium is provided. The computer-readable storage medium stores a program code for implementing the communication line processing method provided in the second aspect or the communication line processing method provided in any of the possible implementations of the second aspect. The program code includes execution instructions for executing the communication line processing method provided in the second aspect or the communication line processing method provided in any of the possible implementations of the second aspect.

[0089] According to the twenty-first aspect, a computer-readable storage medium is provided. The computer-readable storage medium stores a program code for implementing the communication line processing method provided in the third aspect or the communication line processing method provided in any of the possible implementations of the third aspect. The program code includes execution instructions for executing the communication line processing method provided in the third aspect or the communication line processing method provided in any of the possible implementations of the third aspect.

[0090] According to the twenty-second aspect, a computer-readable storage medium is provided. The computer-readable storage medium stores a program code for implementing the communication line processing method provided in the fourth aspect or the communication line processing method provided in any of the possible implementations of the fourth aspect. The program code includes execution instructions for executing the communication line processing method provided in the fourth aspect or the communication line processing method provided in any of the possible implementations of the fourth aspect.

[0091] According to a twenty-third aspect, this application further provides a computer program product including a computer program. When the computer program product is run on a computer, the computer is able to execute the communication line processing method according to the first aspect or the communication line processing method according to any of the possible implementations of the first aspect.

[0092] According to a twenty-fourth aspect, this application further provides a computer program product including a computer program. When the computer program product is run on a computer, the computer is able to execute the communication line processing method according to the second aspect or the communication line processing method according to any of the possible implementations of the second aspect.

[0093] According to a twenty-fifth aspect, this application further provides a computer program product including a computer program. When the computer program product is run on a computer, the computer is able to execute the communication line processing method according to the third aspect or the communication line processing method according to any of the possible implementations of the third aspect.

[0094] According to a twenty-sixth aspect, this application further provides a computer program product including a computer program. When the computer program product is run on a computer, the computer is provided with the ability to execute the communication line processing method according to the fourth aspect or the communication line processing method according to any of the possible implementations of the fourth aspect.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0095] Fig. 1A is a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication system according to an embodiment of this application;

[0096] Fig. 1B is a schematic diagram of the structure of another communication system according to an embodiment of this application;

[0097] Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of a method for associating a communication line according to an embodiment of this application;

[0098] Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram of a method for switching a communication line according to an embodiment of this application;

[0099] Fig. 4 is a schematic representation of a method for transitioning the status of a communication line according to an embodiment of this application;

[00100] Fig. 5A is a schematic diagram of a method for processing a communication line according to an embodiment of this application;

[00101] Fig. 5B is a schematic diagram of another method of processing a communication line in accordance with an embodiment of this application;

[00102] Fig. 5C is a schematic diagram of another method for processing a communication line in accordance with an embodiment of this application;

[00103] Fig. 6 is a schematic diagram of a beacon frame structure according to an embodiment of this application;

[00104] Fig. 7 is a schematic diagram of a structure of a multiple link test response frame according to an embodiment of this application;

[00105] Fig. 8 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication line switching element according to an embodiment of this application;

[00106] Fig. 9 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a link status transition element according to an embodiment of this application;

[00107] Fig. 10 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a device with multiple communication lines according to an embodiment of this application;

[00108] Fig. 11 is a schematic diagram of the structure of another device with multiple communication lines according to an embodiment of this application; and

[00109] Fig. 12 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a microcircuit according to an embodiment of this application.

DESCRIPTION OF IMPLEMENTATION OPTIONS

[00110] The technical solutions in the embodiments of this application are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[00111] Embodiments of this application provide a method for processing a communication link based on the communication system shown in Fig. 1A and Fig. 1B. The method can implement a fast transition between communication link states or a fast switch between communication links. The communication system 100 shown in Fig. 1A and Fig. 1B includes at least two multi-link devices (MLDs). For example, one is an access point (AP) multi-link device and the other is a non-access point (AP) multi-link device.

[00112] In Fig. 1A, an AP-less MLD with a single radio channel and an AP MLD with multiple radio channels are used as examples. At any time, the single-radio AP-less MLD can have only one communication link with the AP MLD, and the other communication links are in a disabled state. In Fig. 1B, an AP-less MLD with multiple radio channels and an AP MLD with multiple radio channels are used as examples. At any time, the AP-less MLD with multiple radio channels can have one or more communication links for communicating with the AP MLD. In Fig. 1A and Fig. 1B, for example, the AP-less MLD includes three STAs (e.g., STA 1, STA 2, and STA 3), and the AP MLD includes three APs (e.g., AP 1, AP 2, and AP 3). STA 1 may be associated with AP 1 and may communicate with AP 1 via link 1; STA 2 is associated with AP 2 and can communicate with AP 2 via link 2; and STA 3 is associated with AP 3 and can communicate with AP 3 via link 3. In addition, the associated operations of AP-less MLD and AP MLD on link 1 can be respectively performed by STA 1 and AP 1. For example, "AP MLD sends first information on link 1, and AP-less MLD receives first information on link 1" can be "AP 1 sends first information on link 1, and STA 1 receives first information on link 1. Accordingly, the associated operations of AP-less MLD and AP MLD on link 2 can be respectively performed by STA 2 and AP 2. The associated operations of AP-less MLD and AP MLD on link 3 can be respectively performed by STA 3 and AP 3. For ease of description, in this embodiment of this application, an example is used for description in which AP-less MLD and AP MLD are separately used as execution entities.

[00113] 1. Communication system

[00114] In this embodiment of this application, the communication system 100 may be a wireless local area network (WLAN), a cellular network, or another wireless communication system that supports parallel transmission over multiple communication lines. In this embodiment of this application, a network in which IEEE 802.11 is deployed is mainly used as an example for description. Various aspects of this application can be extended to another network in which different standards or protocols are used, such as BLUETOOTH (Bluetooth), high performance radio LAN (HIPERLAN) (a wireless communication standard similar to IEEE 802.1 1, mainly used in Europe), a wide area network (WAN), a wireless local area network (WLAN), a personal area network (PAN), or another network known or developed now or in the future. Therefore, various aspects presented in this application may be applicable to any suitable wireless network, regardless of the coverage area and wireless access protocol used.

[00115] 2. Device with multiple communication lines

[00116] A device with multiple communication links is a device that can operate on multiple frequency bands or multiple channels. For example, a frequency band or channel on which a device with multiple communication links can operate may include, but is not limited to, all or part of the sub-1 GHz, 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, 6 GHz and high frequency 60 GHz frequencies. The MLD AP and the MLD without AP in Fig. 1B can operate on 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz and 6 GHz, respectively. Multi-channeling may be a division of channels performed on the basis of any frequency band, such as a 160 MHz channel, an 80 MHz channel, a 40 MHz channel or a 20 MHz link in a 5 GHz frequency band. A device with multiple communication links may perform wireless communication in accordance with 802.11 series protocols, such as an extremely high throughput (EHT) station or an 802.11be-based station or a station that is compatible with 802.11be, to implement communication with another device. The other device may be a device with multiple communication links or may not be a device with multiple communication links.

[00117] A device with multiple communication links includes one or more affiliated stations (STA). An affiliated STA is a logical station and can operate on one communication link, or several logical stations can operate on the same communication link. An affiliated station can be an Access Point (AP) or a non-Access Point Station (non-AP STA). For ease of description in this application, a device with multiple communication links, the affiliated station of which is an AP, can be called an AP with multiple communication links, an AP device with multiple communication links, or an AP multi-link device (for example, an MLD AP in Fig. 1A and Fig. 1B). A device with multiple communication links, the affiliated station of which is an STA without an AP, may be referred to as a STA with multiple communication links, a STA device with multiple communication links, a STA multi-link device, or an MLD without an AP (for example, an MLD without an AP in Fig. 1A and Fig. 1B). For ease of description, “a device with multiple communication links includes an affiliated STA” is also briefly described as “a device with multiple communication links includes an STA” (as shown in Fig. 1A and Fig. 1B) or “a device with multiple communication links includes an AP” in this embodiment of this application.

[00118] In this embodiment of this application, the device with multiple communication links (for example, the MLD AP and the MLD without AP in Fig. 1A and 1B) is an apparatus having a wireless communication function. The apparatus may be a device of the entire system, or may be a chip, a processing system, etc. installed in the device of the entire system. The device on which the chip or the processing system is installed can implement the method and the function in this embodiment of this application under the control of the chip or the processing system. For example, the device with multiple communication links may be a device with multiple communication links with one antenna (or one radio frequency module), or may be a device with multiple communication links with multiple antennas (or multiple radio frequency modules). The number of antennas included in the device with multiple communication links is not limited in this embodiment of this application.

[00119] In this embodiment of this application, an AP-less MLD (e.g., an AP-less MLD in Fig. 1A and Fig. 1B) has a wireless transceiver function, can support 802.11 series protocols, and communicate with an AP MLD, another AP-less MLD, or a single-link device. For example, an AP-less MLD may be any user communication device that allows a user to communicate with an AP and further communicate with a WLAN, including, but not limited to, user equipment that can be connected to a network, such as a tablet computer, a desktop computer, a portable computer, a laptop, an Ultra-mobile Personal Computer (UMPC), a pocket computer, a netbook, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), or a mobile phone or an Internet of Things node in the Internet of Things, or a vehicle-mounted communication device in the Internet of Vehicles, and the like. Alternatively, the MLD without AP can be a chip and processing system in the above-mentioned terminals.

[00120] In this embodiment of this application, the MLD AP (for example, the MLD AP in Fig. 1A and 1B) is an apparatus that provides services for the MLD without an AP and can support the 802.11 series protocols. For example, the MLD AP may be a communication entity such as a communication server, a router, a switch, or a bridge, or the MLD AP may include a macro base station, a micro base station, a relay station, and the like in various forms. Of course, the MLD AP may alternatively be a chip and a processing system in devices in various forms. Thus, the method and the function in this embodiment of this application are realized.

[00121] In addition, the device with multiple communication lines can support high-speed and low-latency transmission. With the continuous development of wireless local area network application scenarios, the device with multiple communication lines can be further applied to more scenarios, such as a sensor node (for example, a smart water meter, a smart electricity meter, and a smart air detection node) in a smart city, a smart device (for example, a smart camera, a projector, a display screen, a TV, a music center, a refrigerator, a washing machine) in a smart home, a node in the Internet of Things, an entertainment terminal (for example, an AR and VR type wearable device), an intelligent device (for example, a printer or a projector) in a smart office, an Internet of Vehicles device in the Internet of Vehicles, and some infrastructures (for example, a vending machine, a self-service navigation console in a supermarket, a self-service checkout, and a self-service machine) in a daily life scenario. In this embodiment of the present application, the specific forms of MLD AP and MLD without AP are not specifically limited and are merely examples for the description in this document. The 802.11 protocol may be a protocol that supports 802.11be or is compatible with 802.11be.

[00122] 3. Communication line identifier

[00123] In this embodiment of this application, the link identifier represents a link corresponding to a BSS that operates on a channel. Optionally, if there are multiple basic service sets on one channel, a plurality of link identifiers may be used to represent a link corresponding to each basic service set (BSS).

[00124] A communication link sometimes also represents an AP or STA operating on a communication link. For ease of description, in some parts of this specification, a communication link may be used to represent an STA on a communication link. Accordingly, the operation of a device with multiple communication links on one communication link may also be referred to as the operation of an AP or STA on a communication link. That an MLD without an AP receives the first information of a communication link 2 from a communication link 1 may also be referred to as that STA 1 in an MLD without an AP receives the first information of a communication link 2 on a communication link 1. Accordingly, an MLD of an AP may be that AP 1 in an MLD of an AP sends the first information of a communication link 2 on a communication link 1.

[00125] The AP MLD and the non-AP MLD may define association relationships between a plurality of STAs of the non-AP MLD and a plurality of APs of the AP MLD through association operations. For example, in FIG. 2, the non-AP MLD sends a multi-link association request frame on link 1. In addition to carrying information such as the capabilities of STA 1, the multi-link association request frame may further carry information about STA 2 and information about STA 3. Link 1 may be referred to as a Transmitted Link. Link 2 and Link 3 are called Non-transmitted Links. Accordingly, the MLD AP returns a multi-link association response frame over link 1. In addition to carrying information such as a basic service set identifier (BSSID) of AP 1, the multi-link association response frame may further carry information about AP 2 and information about AP 3. In this way, STA 1, STA 2 and STA 3 of said non-AP MLD can separately establish associations with AP 1, AP 2 and AP 3 of said MLD AP based on the multi-link association response frame. Therefore, the corresponding association relationships shown in Fig. 1A and Fig. 1B are obtained: (AP 1, STA 1), (AP 2, STA 2) and (AP 3, STA 3). Optionally, Fig. 1A and Fig. 1B use these correspondences as an example. The MLD AP may further establish other corresponding association relationships by changing the sequence of the carried AP information, such as (AP 1, STA 2), (AP 2, STA 1), and (AP 3, STA 3).

[00126] Furthermore, in Fig. 1A, Fig. 1B, Fig. 2 and other subsequent schematic diagrams, the communication system 100 is used as an example for description. For example, the communication system 100 includes an AP MLD and a non-AP MLD. This is intended to more clearly describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application and is not a limitation of the technical solutions presented in the embodiments of this application. A person skilled in the art can understand that with the development of the communication system and the emergence of a new service scenario, the embodiments of this application are also applicable to a similar technical problem. For example, a communication system including a device with multiple MLD communication lines may alternatively be a communication system including an AP MLD 1 and an AP MLD 2, or a communication system including a non-AP MLD 1 and an AP MLD 2. In another example, an AP MLD includes one or more APs (AP 1, AP 2, ... and AP N). An AP-less MLD includes one or more STAs (STA 1, STA 2, ..., and STA N). There are multiple communication links (link 1, link 2, ..., and link N) between the AP MLD and the AP-less MLD. The communication link between AP 1 and STA 1 is link 1, the communication link between AP 2 and STA 2 is link 2, the communication link between AP N and STA N is link N, and so on.

[00127] 4. Switching the communication line, transition of the communication line status and tasks to be solved

[00128] The device with multiple communication links with one radio channel has one radio frequency module. Although the device with multiple communication links with one radio channel can operate on different frequency bands or channels, the device with multiple communication links with one radio channel can operate only on one frequency band or channel at any one time. Therefore, when the RSSI (receive signal strength indicator) of the communication link becomes bad due to the movement of the communication link, the device with multiple communication links with one radio channel can switch from one communication link to another, for example, from a communication link deployed in the frequency band of 5 GHz to a communication link deployed in the frequency band of 2.4 GHz. As shown in Fig. 3, it is assumed that the MLD without an AP is a device with multiple communication links with one radio channel, and communication link 1 is in the on state. If a data frame needs to be transmitted over link 2, the MLD without an AP needs to switch from link 1 to link 2. Accordingly, link 1 switches from "on" to "off", link 2 switches from "off" to "on", and link 3 is always in the "off" state. Since the single-radio channel multiple-link device switches between different frequency bands or channels, it is necessary to configure a corresponding operating parameter of the radio frequency module. Therefore, there is a switch delay when link 2 switches from "off" to "on". In addition, when link 2 transmits a data frame, STA 2 additionally needs to obtain a corresponding parameter currently configured by AP 2 for the BSS corresponding to link 2. For example, the parameter that is configured by AP 2 for the BSS corresponding to link 2 and that is obtained by STA 2 through the multiple-link association response frame shown in FIG. 2, can be updated with the current BSS configuration parameter of said AP 2, and one or more parameters shown in Table 1 are updated. Thus, after the transition of link 2 from “disabled” to “enabled”, the MLD without an AP additionally has to correctly receive a beacon frame on link 2. The beacon frame carries the BSS parameter currently configured by AP 2 for link 2, so that the data frame can be transmitted.

Table 1 Part of the parameters in the BSS configuration hidden element hidden element BSS Load Element BSS load element BSS Average Access Delay element BSS average access delay element BSS Available Bandwidth Element BSS Available Bandwidth Element BSS AC Access Delay Element BSS Access Class Access Delay Element Time Announcement Element time announcement element Beacon Sync Element beacon synchronization element AP-CSN element AP Configuration Sequence Number Element

[00129] For a device with multiple communication links with multiple radio channels, when the data volume is relatively small or there is no delay-sensitive service, a part of the communication links may be in a doze or disabled state to reduce power consumption. When the data volume is relatively large or there is a real-time service, the communication link in the doze or disabled state is turned on again, so that the communication link is in an awake state or an enable state. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, it is assumed that the MLD 102 without an AP is a device with multiple communication links with multiple radio channels, communication link 1 is in the on state, and communication link 2 and communication link 3 are in the doze state. If a data frame needs to be transmitted on communication link 2, the MLD without an AP must transfer communication link 2 from the doze state to the active state. Since each RF module in the device with multiple links with multiple radio channels does not need to reconfigure the corresponding operating parameter, etc., when link 2 transitions from the sleep state to the active state, there is no switch delay. Since AP 2 can update the BSS configuration parameter when STA 2 is in the sleep state, after STA 2 transitions from the sleep state to the active state, STA 2 needs to correctly receive a beacon frame on link 2. The beacon frame carries the current parameter configured by AP 2 for the BSS corresponding to link 2, so that the data frame can be transmitted.

[00130] It can be understood that, regardless of the transition of the communication link status in the device with multiple communication links with multiple radio channels or the switching of the communication link in the device with multiple communication links with one radio channel, in order to transmit a data frame, it is necessary to additionally receive a beacon frame on the communication link whose status is transitional or the communication link to which the switching is performed, and it is necessary to additionally obtain the current BSS configuration of the second communication link. This results in an excessively long waiting time required before transmitting a data frame on the communication link whose status is transitional or on the communication link to which the switching is performed. That is, a fast transition between communication link statuses or a fast switching between communication links cannot be realized.

[00131] In order to solve this problem, this application provides a method for processing a communication link. In the method for processing a communication link, a first MLD receives first information of a second communication link over a first communication link. The first information is used by the first MLD to determine whether the BSS configuration of the second communication link is updated. Thus, when the BSS configuration of the second communication link is not updated, the first MLD can directly transmit a data frame over the second communication link to implement a fast transition between the statuses of the second communication link or a fast switch from the first communication link to the second communication link.

[00132] This application further provides a method for processing a communication link. In the method for processing a communication link, a second MLD determines whether a BSS configuration of a second communication link to which a switch is made or a second communication link whose status is in transition is updated. Further, an updated parameter is sent to the first MLD over the first communication link, or the first MLD is notified that the BSS configuration of the second communication link is not updated. In this way, the first MLD can directly transmit a data frame over the second communication link to which a switch is made or the second communication link whose status is in transition, without waiting for the reception of a beacon frame. This reduces the waiting time required before the data frame is transmitted over the second communication link to which a switch is made or over the second communication link whose status is in transition.

[00133] That is, one method of processing the communication link is that the first MLD determines whether the BSS configuration of the second communication link is updated. Another method of processing the communication link is that the second MLD determines whether the BSS configuration related to the second communication link and stored in the first MLD needs to be updated. The above two methods of processing the communication link are separately described below in Part 6 and Part 7. Unless otherwise specified, the implementations described in the embodiments of this application are applicable to a device with multiple communication links with one radio channel, and are also applicable to a device with multiple communication links with multiple radio channels.

[00134] 5. Related Concepts in This Application

[00135] To facilitate understanding of the embodiments of this application, some concepts or nouns are first explained.

[00136] The first communication line is a communication line in an enable state in a plurality of communication lines between the MLD without an AP and the MLD AP. The second communication line is a communication line in a disable state or in a doze state in a plurality of communication lines, and the second communication line is a communication line to which the MLD without an AP switches from the first communication line, or a communication line whose communication line status is to be transient.

[00137] For an MLD without an AP with a single radio channel, the first communication link is a communication link in an on state in a plurality of communication links. The second communication link is a communication link to which is switched, which is in a off state in a plurality of communication links. For an MLD without an AP with multiple radio channels, the first communication link is a communication link in an on state, a communication link in an active state, or an anchor communication link in a plurality of communication links. The second communication link is a communication link in a off state or a sleep state in a plurality of communication links, and the status of the second communication link must be transitioned from the off/sleep state to the on/active state.

[00138] For an MLD without an AP with a single radio channel, after the first communication link is switched to the second communication link, the first communication link is in a disabled state, and the second communication link is in an enabled state. For an MLD without an AP with multiple radio channels, after the first communication link is switched to the second communication link, the second communication link is in an enabled state, but the subsequent state of the first communication link is not limited. That is, the first communication link may be in a disabled/sleep/on/active state depending on the situation. Optionally, for an MLD without an AP with multiple radio channels, there may be a plurality of communication links whose statuses are to be transient. The processing method for each communication link is the same as the method for transitioning the status of the link for the second communication link. Optionally, the first information and the second information of the plurality of communication links whose statuses are to be transient may be carried in a single message or may be carried in a plurality of the same or different messages.

[00139] The first information of the second communication link is used by the first MLD to determine whether the configuration of the BSS basic service set of the second communication link is updated. Optionally, the first information is a BSS configuration sequence number, an access point configuration sequence number (AP-CSN), or a check beacon value (check beacon) that identifies the latest configuration of the second MLD and relates to the second communication link.

[00140] The second information of the second communication link is used by the second MLD to determine whether the BSS basic service set configuration of the second communication link is updated. The second information is a BSS configuration sequence number, an access point configuration sequence number (AP-CSN), or a check beacon value that is stored in the first MLD and that identifies the second communication link.

[00141] Optionally, in the method for processing a communication link described in part 6 below, the second information of the second communication link may be specifically used by the second MLD to determine an updated BSS configuration parameter of the second communication link. In the method for processing a communication link described in part 2, the second information may be specifically used by the second MLD to determine whether the BSS configuration of the second communication link is updated, and the updated BSS configuration parameter of the second communication link.

[00142] The updated BSS configuration parameter of the second link described in this specification refers to a parameter that needs to be updated in the BSS configuration of the second link and that is stored in the first MLD compared to the current BSS configuration of the second link in the second MLD. Alternatively, the updated BSS configuration parameter of the second link is whether the BBS configuration parameter of the second link is updated after the second link is in the disabled/sleep state compared to the BBS configuration parameter of the second link before the second link enters the disabled/sleep state. Therefore, the first information of the second link can be used to assist the first MLD in determining whether the BSS configuration of the basic service set of the second link is updated. For example, the first MLD determines based on the first information and the second information whether the BSS basic service set configuration of the second link is updated. The second information of the second link can be used to assist the second MLD in determining whether the BSS basic service set configuration of the second link is updated. For example, the second MLD determines, based on the first information and the second information, whether the configuration of the basic service set of the second communication link BSS is updated.

[00143] In the method described in part 7 below, the third information is determined by the second MLD based on the second information of the second communication link and sent over the first communication link. The third information indicates that the BSS configuration of the second communication link is not updated, or indicates an updated BSS configuration parameter of the second communication link. When the BSS configuration of the second communication link is not updated, the third information may indicate that the BSS configuration of the second communication link is not updated. When the BSS configuration of the second communication link is updated, the third information includes the updated BSS configuration parameter of the second communication link.

[00144] The BSS configuration indicates a parameter related to the BSS. The station on the link needs to be controlled based on the BSS configuration parameter. The updated BSS configuration parameter may include, but is not limited to, one or more parameters shown in Table 1. The BSS configuration of the second link in the first MLD is obtained when the first MLD performs channel sounding or link association. Therefore, the BSS configuration of the second link in the first MLD may also be called an initial BSS configuration of the second link in the first MLD or a BSS configuration of the second link that is stored in the first MLD. Accordingly, the BSS configuration of the second link in the second MLD may be referred to as a current BSS configuration of the second link.

[00145] The method for processing a communication link in the embodiments of this application can be applied to, but not limited to, the communication systems shown in Fig. 1A to Fig. 4. For ease of description, an example is used in which the first MLD is a non-AP MLD and the second MLD is an AP MLD. Furthermore, for the first communication link and the second communication link included in the plurality of communication links between the AP MLD and the non-AP MLD, communication link 1 and communication link 2 can be used separately as an example. Communication link 2 is a communication link to which communication link 1 is switched, or a communication link whose status is transitional. That is, communication link 1 is in the on state, communication link 2 is in the sleep/off state, and communication link 2 needs to be switched from the sleep/off state to the active/on state. The state of communication link 3 is not discussed.

[00146] 6. Method for processing communication line

[00147] (1) A method for processing a communication line in which the BSS configuration of communication line 2 is not updated.

[00148] Fig. 5A is a schematic diagram of a method for processing a communication line according to an embodiment of this application. The method for processing a communication line may include the following steps.

[00149] Step 101: The AP MLD determines first information of link 2. The first information is used by the non-AP MLD to determine whether the BSS configuration of link 2 is updated.

[00150] Step 102: The MLD AP sends the first link 2 information over link 1.

[00151] Step 103: The MLD without the AP receives the first information of link 2 over link 1. If the BSS configuration of link 2 is not updated, the MLD without the AP performs step 104.

[00152] Step 104: The MLD without an AP uses link 2 to transmit the data frame.

[00153] Step 101 may be optional. Optionally, when the MLD without an AP is a device with multiple communication links on one communication link, there is a switching delay before transmitting a data frame using communication link 2; when the MLD without an AP is a device with multiple communication links on a plurality of communication links, there is no switching delay. In addition, in step 104, when the MLD without an AP transmits a data frame using communication link 2, the BSS configuration used is the BSS configuration of communication link 2 in the MLD without an AP.

[00154] The data frame may be an uplink data frame, a quality of service null (QoS NULL) frame, or a link status notification frame. The link status notification frame indicates that the second communication link is in an active/on state, so that the second MLD sends a downlink data frame on the second communication link in time. Optionally, the uplink data frame or the quality of service null (QoS NULL) frame may also indicate that the second communication link is in an active/on state.

[00155] It can be understood that, as shown in Fig. 5A, since the BSS configuration of link 2 is not updated, the MLD without an AP directly transmits a data frame on link 2 to which it is switched, and it does not need to transmit a data frame until a beacon frame on link 2 is received after switching or status transition. According to the processing method shown in Fig. 3 or Fig. 4, the waiting time required before transmitting a data frame on link 2 is reduced.

[00156] Additionally, after step 103, the MLD without the AP may switch to link 2 or change the status of link 2 to an active/on state based on the first information of link 2.

[00157] (2) A method for processing a communication line in which the BSS configuration of communication line 2 is updated.

[00158] In the implementation, in step 104, if the BSS configuration of link 2 is updated as shown in Fig. 5B, the difference between the said link processing method and the link processing method shown in Fig. 5A is that the BSS configuration of link 2 is updated, and the following steps can be performed.

[00159] Step 105: The non-AP MLD sends second information to the AP MLD over link 2. The second information is a BSS configuration sequence number, an access point configuration sequence number (AP-CSN), or a check beacon value that identifies link 2 in the non-AP MLD.

[00160] Step 106: The MLD AP receives the second information and sends an updated BSS configuration parameter for link 2 based on the second information.

[00161] As shown in Fig. 5C, the second information in Fig. 5B may be carried in a unicast probe request frame on link 2. The third information may be carried in a probe response frame on link 2. The implementation may be as follows: the non-AP MLD sends a unicast probe request frame to the AP MLD on link 2. The unicast probe request frame includes the second information. The non-AP MLD receives a probe response frame from the AP MLD on link 2. The probe response frame is a simplified probe response frame and includes an updated BSS configuration parameter of link 2. The updated BSS configuration parameter of link 2 is determined by the AP MLD based on the second information.

[00162] For example, the MLD AP determines which parameters are updated in the current BSS configuration of link 2 (that is, the BSS configuration of link 2 corresponding to the first information) compared to the BSS configuration of link 2 corresponding to the second information, and may return all updated parameters or updated key parameters in a check response frame to said MLD without the AP.

[00163] Step 107: The MLD without AP receives the updated BSS configuration parameter of link 2.

[00164] In addition, the method for processing a communication link may further include: the non-AP MLD updating the BSS configuration of communication link 2 in the non-AP MLD using the updated BSS configuration parameter of communication link 2, and transmitting a data frame over communication link 2 based on the updated BSS configuration of communication link 2. The non-AP MLD further appropriately updating the BSS configuration sequence number/AP-CSN/check beacon value that identifies communication link 2.

[00165] Accordingly, when the BSS configuration of link 2 is not updated, step 104 may be: the MLD without an AP transmits a data frame over link 2 using the BSS configuration of link 2 to the MLD without an AP.

[00166] It can be understood that, as shown in Fig. 5B, if the BSS configuration of link 2 is updated, the MLD without the AP needs to send the second information and receive the updated BSS configuration parameter of link 2 so that the data frame can be transmitted over link 2. In this implementation, the first MLD sends a unicast probe frame only after it knows that the BSS configuration of the second link is updated, and it does not need to send a unicast probe frame regardless of whether there is an update. Therefore, in this implementation, the waiting time required before transmitting a data frame in the process of processing the link is reduced.

[00167] In another implementation, if the BSS configuration of link 2 is updated, the MLD without an AP can receive a beacon frame on link 2 and, after correctly receiving the beacon frame, transmit a data frame based on a parameter related to the BSS configuration and carried in the beacon frame. This implementation is combined with FIG. 5A to avoid the problem that the waiting time is excessively long because the data frame is transmitted only after receiving the beacon frame. Therefore, this implementation can still reduce the waiting time required before transmitting the data frame on link 2.

[00168] In step 103, how the non-AP MLD determines whether the BSS configuration of link 2 is updated based on the first information may be as follows: the non-AP MLD determines whether the first information agrees with the second information. If the first information agrees with the second information, this indicates that the BSS configuration of link 2 is not updated. If the first information does not agree with the second information, this indicates that the BSS configuration of link 2 is updated. The first information is a BSS configuration sequence number, AP-CSN, or a check beacon value that is in the AP MLD and that identifies the second link. The second information is a BSS configuration sequence number, AP-CSN, or a check beacon value that is in the non-AP MLD and that identifies the second link.

[00169] For example, the first information is AP-CSN 1, and the second information is AP-CSN 2. If AP-CSN 1 is equal to AP-CSN 2, the BSS configuration of link 2 corresponding to AP-CSN 1 is not updated compared with the BSS configuration of link 2 corresponding to AP-CSN 2. That is, the BSS configuration of link 2 is not updated. If AP-CSN 1 is not equal to or greater than AP-CSN 2, the BSS configuration of link 2 corresponding to AP-CSN 1 is updated compared with the BSS configuration of link 2 corresponding to AP-CSN. 2. That is, the BSS configuration of link 2 is updated. In addition, the updated parameter, which is updated in the BSS configuration of link 2, can be obtained by using the previous steps 105-107.

[00170] In this embodiment of this application, the second information of link 2 in the non-AP MLD may be obtained and stored by the non-AP MLD from a beacon frame or a check response frame of link 1, or may be obtained and stored by the non-AP MLD from a multiple link association response frame on link 1. Therefore, before the non-AP MLD switches the link to link 2 or changes the status of link 2, the non-AP MLD may compare the second information with the first information to determine whether the BSS configuration of link 2 is updated.

[00171] In addition to carrying the second information of the communication link 2, the beacon frame, the check response frame, or the association response frame of multiple communication links of said communication link 1 may additionally carry other information on the communication link 2 and corresponding information of another communication link. Descriptions are given separately below.

[00172] For example, as shown in FIG. 6, the second information is an AP-CSN. The beacon frame of link 1 may carry one or more types of information, including, but not limited to, the following: an on/off state of each link, an AP-CSN of each link, a channel utilization of the link in the on state, a number of stations of the link in the on state, a link ID, an operating class, a channel number, and a basic service set identifier (BSSID). The on/off state of each link indicates whether the access point of each link is turned on in the MLD of the AP. The AP-CSN of each link is used to assist the MLD without an AP in performing a link switch or a link status transition in the link processing described above. The uplink channel usage is used to select a link when the non-AP MLD recommends a link switch or requires a link switch, or is used to select the recommended or required link when the non-AP MLD recommends a link status transition or requires a link status transition. The uplink station count is used to help the non-AP MLD estimate the congestion level of the AP based on the number of stations connected to the AP link.

[00173] The probe response frame may be a multi-link probe response frame. A method of indicating information about each link carried in the multi-link probe response frame is similar to a method of indicating information about each link carried in the multi-link association response frame. For example, an element in which information about an untransmitted link differs from information about a transmitted link is carried in a link-index element of each untransmitted link. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, link 1 is a transmitted link. Therefore, the link-index element of the non-transmittable link does not include the link information 1. Accordingly, in addition to carrying the link on/off state, the link AP-CSN, the channel utilization of the link in the on state, the number of stations of the link in the on state, the link ID, the operating class, the channel number, and the basic service set identifier (BSSID), the link index element shown in Fig. 7 may further carry a timestamp, a beacon interval, and an indication of the capability information.

[00174] Optionally, the multi-link probe request frame or the multi-link association request frame may contain the number of radio frequencies of the device and the link status. The number of radio frequencies of the device indicates whether the link shares a radio frequency with another link. For example, the link uses 1 bit to indicate whether the link shares one radio frequency with the previous link. The previous link refers to the fact that when a plurality of pieces of link information are indicated, the status of the previous link may be disabled or enabled. If the link status is enabled, it may further indicate whether the link is in an active state or in a sleep state.

[00175] Optionally, a correspondence between the arrangement sequence of the information about each link in the multiple link association request frame and the arrangement sequence of the information about each link in the multiple link association response frame may be used to determine the association status between each STA in the non-AP MLD and each AP in the AP MLD. In this way, the AP MLD may adjust the arrangement or the order of the information about each link in the multiple link response frame to change the association status between each STA and each AP.

[00176] It is possible to aggregate multiple links: only BSSs belonging to the same service set identifier (SSID) are allowed to aggregate. That is, a data packet of one traffic identifier (TID) is allowed to be transmitted over multiple links. That is, a TID can be assigned to multiple links. Therefore, in the multiple link association request shown in Fig. 7, the Non-transmitted link profile info should not carry an SSID element.

[00177] In step 102, the first information of the second communication link may be carried in a link switch response message, a cross-link info report message, a MAC control frame, or a TID-to-link mapping negotiation response message of the first communication link. Optionally, after step 103, the MLD without an AP may switch from link 1 to link 2 or transition from the link 2 state to the active/on state based on the link switch response message, the cross-link info report message, or the TID-to-link mapping negotiation response message.

[00178] Additionally, after receiving the cross-link information report message, the non-AP MLD may return an acknowledgement (ACK) message to the AP MLD over link 1. Optionally, when the cross-link info is carried in the A-control (control) field in the MAC control frame, after receiving the MAC control frame, the non-AP MLD may not need to return an acknowledgement (ACK) message.

[00179] The link switch response message is returned by the AP MLD in response to the link switch request message from the non-AP MLD. The TID link mapping negotiation response message is returned by the AP MLD in response to the TID link mapping negotiation request message (TID link mapping negotiation request) sent by the non-AP MLD. Optionally, a cross-link info report message may be returned by the AP MLD in response to the cross-link info request message sent by the non-AP MLD. Thus, when the quality of link 1 deteriorates or it is necessary to learn the cross-link information to assist in link switching, the STA in the non-AP MLD or the non-AP MLD initiates a link switch request or a cross-link information request. That is, before step 101, the MLD without an AP may first send a request message to request a link switch or a link status transition to perform steps 102-107. It can be understood that these request messages and response messages help the MLD without an AP initiate a link switch request or a link status transition in a variety of scenarios and transmit a data frame over the link to which the link is switched or the link whose state is transitional.

[00180] 3. Method of link switching initiated by MLD without AP and received MLD response from AP

[00181] In the method of switching a link, the MLD without an AP can initiate a request using a link switching request message, a cross-link information request message, or a TID link mapping negotiation request message. The AP MLD can respond or reply using a corresponding link switching response message, a cross-link information report message, or a TID link mapping negotiation response message. Different request modes for switching a link determine the information carried in these request messages. Accordingly, different response modes also determine the information carried in these response messages. However, with reference to the above implementations, these response messages carry at least first information about the link to which they are switched. The following optional request modes and response modes significantly improve the flexibility of the link switching operation and facilitate the use of an appropriate request mode and a response mode based on the requirements of a specific scenario.

[00182] The link switching response message and the cross-link information report message carry information indicating whether the AP MLD accepts the link switching request initiated by the non-AP MLD. The TID link mapping negotiation response message indicates whether the AP MLD accepts the traffic identifier-link mapping configuration request initiated by the non-AP MLD. The traffic identifier-link mapping configuration request may actually be a link switching request. Therefore, the TID link mapping negotiation response message indicates whether the AP MLD accepts the link switching request initiated by the non-AP MLD.

[00183] As shown in Table 2, the MLD request mode without an AP may include, but is not limited to, one or more of the following: (1a) Request a link switch and do not provide a target link to switch to; (2a) Recommend a link switch and provide one or more target links to switch to; and (3a) Require a link switch, provide a target link to switch to, and do not accept any modifications to the target link to switch to. Accordingly, the MLD response mode of the AP may include, but is not limited to, one or more of the following: (1b) Accept a link switch and indicate a target link to switch to; (2b) Modify a recommended or required target link to switch to, that is, do not accept the requested or recommended target link to switch to by the AP MLD and additionally provide one or more recommended target links; (3b) not accept any requested target communication links to which switching occurs by the MLD without an AP, indicate only the target communication link to which switching occurs, and indicate that the MLD without an AP can switch only to the target communication link; and (4b) reject the link switch, and optionally, a reason for the rejection may be further indicated. The target communication link described in this part is the communication link to which switching occurs, that is, the second communication link in the previous embodiments, for example, communication link 2.

[00184] As shown in Table 2, for the interrogation mode (1a), the optional response modes include the response mode (1b) and the response mode (4b). For the interrogation mode (2a), the optional response modes include the response mode (1b), the response mode (2b), the response mode (3b), and the response mode (4b). For the interrogation mode (3a), the optional response modes include the response mode (1b) and the response mode (4b). For various interrogation modes, information that can be carried in the link switch request message, the cross-link information request message, and the TID link mapping negotiation request message, the corresponding response modes, and the information that can be carried in the link switch response message, the cross-link information report message, and the TID link mapping negotiation response message are described below. That is, the link switching response message, the cross-link information report message, and the TID correspondence matching response message with the link not only carry the first information about the link 2, but can also carry other information about the link 2 or information about another link.

Table 2 Optional MLD Request Modes without AP Optional MLD AP Response Modes (1a) Request a line switch and do not provide the target line to which the switch is made. (1b) Accept the link switch and specify the target link to which the switch is made. (4b) Reject line switching. (2a) Recommend a line switch and provide one or more target lines to which the lines are switched. (1b) Accept the link switch and specify one of the target links to which the switch is made. (2b) Change the recommended or required target line to which the connection is being switched. (3b) Do not accept the requested target link to be switched to via MLD without AP and only indicate the target link to be switched to. (4b) Reject line switching. (3a) Request a link switch, provide a target link to which the switch is made, and refuse to accept a modification in the target link to which the switch is made. (1b) Accept the link switch and specify one of the target links to which the switch is made. (4b) Reject line switching.

[00185] For the request mode (1a), the link switching request message, the cross-link information request message, or the TID-to-link mapping negotiation request message may carry an indication of the reason for switching the link (reason code for switching the link), which is used to notify the MLD AP of the reason for switching the link. For example, the reason for switching the link may be a poor Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI), a long delay, a request for changing the TID-to-link mapping, or a real-time service is enabled, or the like.

[00186] Accordingly, for the response mode (1b) of the request mode (1a), the link switching response message, the cross-link information report message, or the link TID mapping negotiation response message returned by the AP MLD may include, but is not limited to, one or more types of the following information: a status indication (status code), a link identifier for the target link to which switching occurs, and first information. The status indication (status code) indicates whether the AP MLD receives a link switching request from an AP MLD. For example, if the AP MLD receives a link request from an AP MLD, the link switching response message, the cross-link information report message, or the link TID mapping negotiation response message may further carry the link identifier of the target link to which switching occurs, the first information (such as the AP-CSN).

[00187] For the response mode (4b) of the request mode (1a), the link switching response message, the cross-link information report message, or the TID to link mapping negotiation response message returned by the MLD AP may include, but is not limited to, one or more types of the following information: an indication of the status (status code) of the rejection of the link switching request and the reason for the rejection.

[00188] For the request mode (2a), the link switching request message, the cross-link information request message, or the TID mapping request message may contain information including, but not limited to, the following information: a reason for switching the link and a link identifier for the target link to which the switching is performed.

[00189] Accordingly, for the response mode (1b) of the request mode (2a), the link switching response message, the cross-link information report message, or the TID composition negotiation response message with the link returned by the MLD AP may include, but is not limited to, one or more types of the following information: a status indication (status code) and first information of the requested target link.

[00190] For the response mode (2b) of the request mode (2a), a link switch response message, a cross-link information report message, or a TID link mapping negotiation response message. The AP MLD may include, but is not limited to, one or more pieces of the following information: additionally provided link identifiers of one or more target links to which it is possible to switch, and related information about these target links. The related information about the target link includes first information, a Link Switch mode, a link switch counter or a target switch time offset, a link identifier, a channel usage, and a number of STAs. In this response mode, the non-AP MLD further needs to perform the operations of steps 104-107 in the previous embodiment based on the first information, so that the AP MLD can learn about the target link to which it switches finally selected by the non-AP MLD via the link used by the non-AP MLD to transmit the data frame. That is, in this implementation, the AP-less MLD decides to switch to the link recommended by the AP-MLD. Therefore, the Link Switch Response message, the Cross-Link Information Report message, or the TID-Link Matching Negotiation Response message must include information about all recommended links to assist the AP-less MLD in making its decision.

[00191] The link switch mode indicates the transmission limitation before the link switch. When the link switch mode is set to 1, this means that the station must stop transmitting before the link switch. When the link switch mode is set to 0, the station's transmission is not limited. The link switch counter indicates the number of beacon frames sent before switching to a new link. When the link switch counter is set to 1, this indicates that the link switch occurs immediately before the time of sending the next beacon frame. When the link switch counter is set to 0, this means that the link switch occurs at any time after sending the frame including the information. Alternatively, the link switch counter indicates an offset of the target switch time. Optionally, the offset of the target switch time must take into account the time of sending the next beacon frame on the link to which the switch is made. Thus, for the above implementation, in which a beacon frame must be received on the link to which the switch is made, it helps to avoid the MLD without an AP from waiting too long. The channel usage and the number of STAs are used by the MLD without an AP to know the number of STAs connected to the target link and the channel conditions.

[00192] For the response mode (3b) of the request mode (2a), the link switch response message, the cross-link information report message, or the TID mapping negotiation response message returned by the MLD AP may include, but is not limited to, the following information: a link identifier and related information only about the link to which the switch is made. The related information about the target link may include, but is not limited to, one or more pieces of the following information: first information, a link switch mode, a link switch counter or a target switch time offset, a link identifier, channel usage, and a number of STAs.

[00193] For the response mode (4b) of the request mode (2a), the link switching response message, the cross-link information report message, or the TID to link mapping negotiation response message returned by the MLD AP may include, but is not limited to, one or more types of the following information: an indication of the status (status code) of the rejection of the link switching request and the reason for the rejection.

[00194] For the request mode (3a), the link switching request message, the cross-link information request message, or the TID matching request message may contain an indication of the reason for switching the link (a reason code for switching the link), and an identifier of the target link to which the switch is to be made.

[00195] Accordingly, for the response mode (1b) of the request mode (3a), the link switching response message, the cross-link information report message, or the TID link mapping negotiation response message returned by the MLD AP may include, but is not limited to, one or more types of the following information: an indication of the status (status code) of accepting the link switching request, a link identifier of the target link, first information of the target link, a link switching mode, a link switching counter or a target switching time offset, channel usage, and a number of STAs.

[00196] For the response mode (4b) of the request mode (3a), the link switching response message, the cross-link information report message, or the TID to link mapping negotiation response message returned by the MLD AP may include, but is not limited to, one or more types of the following information: an indication of the status (status code) of the link switching request rejection and the reason for the rejection.

[00197] 4. Link Status Transition Method Initiated by Non-AP MLD and Received AP MLD Response

[00198] In the method of link status transition, the MLD without an AP may initiate a request using a link switching request message, a cross-link information request message, or a TID link mapping negotiation request message. The AP MLD may respond or answer using a corresponding link switching response message, a cross-link information report message, or a TID link mapping negotiation response message. This implementation is similar to the method of link switching that is initiated by the MLD without an AP and responded to by the AP MLD in step 3. The only difference is that in step 3, the target link is the link to which switching is performed, and in this implementation, the target link is the link whose status is transitional. Therefore, for the related content in this implementation, "switch" in the above Table 2 and the related content can be changed to "status transition" as shown in Table 3. For the information that can be contained in each request message and each response message, which is described based on Table 3, see the corresponding content in Table 2. The details are not given again here.

[00199] The link switching response message and the cross-link information report message carry information indicating whether the AP MLD accepts the status transition request initiated by the non-AP MLD. The TID to link mapping negotiation response message indicates whether the AP MLD accepts the traffic identifier to link mapping configuration request initiated by the non-AP MLD. Optionally, the traffic identifier to link mapping configuration request may actually be a link switching request. Therefore, the TID to link mapping negotiation response message indicates whether the AP MLD accepts the link status transition request initiated by the non-AP MLD.

Table 3 Optional MLD Request Modes without AP Optional MLD AP Response Modes (1a) Recommend a status transition and recommend one or more target communication lines whose statuses are transitional. (1b) Accept the status transition and specify the target link whose status is transitional. (4b) Reject the status transition. (2a) Recommend a link status transition and provide one or more target links whose statuses are transitional. (1b) Accept the status transition and specify one of the target communication lines whose statuses are transitional. (2b) Change a recommended or required target communication line whose status is transitional. (3b) Do not accept the target link with transitional status that is requested by the MLD without an AP and only specify the target link with transitional status. (4b) Reject link status transition. (3a) Request a transition of the link status, provide a target link whose status is transitional, and accept no modifications to the target link whose status is transitional. (1b) Accept the link status transition and specify one of the target links to switch to. (4b) Reject link status transition.

[00200] 5. Link Status Transition Method Initiated by AP MLD and Received Non-AP MLD Response

[00201] In this implementation, since the request is initiated by the AP MLD, the request message sent by the AP MLD must carry the first information about the link whose status is transitional. Accordingly, the non-AP MLD can return a response message. The response message indicates whether the non-AP MLD accepts the request. If the non-AP MLD does not accept the request, the response message may contain a rejection reason parameter. If the non-AP MLD accepts the request, the response message may carry the link identifier of the received target link or may not carry the link identifier of the received target link and indicate that the link status transition request is accepted.

[00202] The following describes possible request modes, response modes, and information that can be carried using an example in which an AP MLD initiates a request using a TID link mapping negotiation request message, and a non-AP MLD responds with a TIDc link mapping negotiation response message. The TID link mapping negotiation response message indicates whether the non-AP MLD accepts the traffic identifier link mapping configuration request initiated by the AP MLD. Optionally, the traffic identifier link mapping configuration request may actually be a link status transition request. Therefore, the TID link mapping negotiation response message indicates whether the non-AP MLD accepts the link status transition request initiated by the AP MLD.

Table 4 Optional MLD AP Request Modes Optional MLD Response Modes without AP (1a) Recommend a status transition and recommend one or more target communication lines whose statuses are transitional. (1b) Accept the transition of status of all recommended or required target links whose statuses are transitional. (2b) Accept the transition of status of one or more recommended target communication lines whose statuses are transitional. (3b) Reject the status transition. (2a) Request a status transition, request one or more target links whose statuses are transitional, and accept no modifications to the target link. (1b) Accept the transition of status of all recommended or required target links whose statuses are transitional. (3b) Reject the status transition.

[00203] As shown in Table 4, the MLD request mode of the AP may include, but is not limited to, one or more of the following: (1a) Recommend a status transition and recommend one or more target communication links whose statuses are transitional; and (2a) Require a status transition, require one or more target communication links whose statuses are transitional, and do not accept any modifications to the target communication link. Accordingly, the MLD response mode without the AP may include, but is not limited to, one or more of the following: (1b) Accept a status transition of all recommended or required target communication links whose statuses are transitional; (2b) Accept a status transition of one or more recommended target communication links whose statuses are transitional; and (3b) Reject the status transition, and optionally a reason for the rejection may be further indicated. The target communication line described in this part is the communication line whose state is to be changed from the off or sleep state to the on or active state, i.e. the second communication line in the previous embodiments, for example communication line 2.

[00204] For the request mode (1a), the optional response modes include the response mode (1b), the response mode (2b), and the response mode (3b). For the request mode (2a), the optional response modes include the response mode (1b) and the response mode (3b). For the different request modes, the information that can be transmitted in the TID link mapping request frame, a portion of the corresponding response modes, and the information that can be transmitted in the TID link mapping response frame are described below.

[00205] For the request mode (1a), the TID link mapping request frame may carry an indication of the reason for the link status transition (a reason code for switching the link status) and related information about one or more target links whose statuses are transitional. In addition to the first information (for example, the current AP-CSN of the target link), the related information of the target link may further include a link identifier, information about a network allocation vector (NAV), link usage, the number of STAs, and a link policy.

[00206] For the response mode (1b) corresponding to the request mode (1a), the TID mapping negotiation response frame with the link carries a status indication. The status indication indicates that the MLD without the AP accepts the link status transition and the status transition of the recommended or required target links.

[00207] For the response mode (2b) corresponding to the request mode (1a), the TID to Link Mapping Negotiation response frame carries a status indication and link identifiers of one or more target links. The status indication indicates that the non-AP MLD accepts the link status transition requested by the AP MLD. The link identifiers of one or more target links are selected by the non-AP MLD from the target links recommended by the AP MLD.

[00208] For the response mode (3b) corresponding to the request mode (1a), the TID mapping negotiation response frame on the link carries a status indication. The status indication indicates that the MLD without the AP does not accept the requested status transition. In addition, the TID mapping negotiation response frame on the link may additionally contain a rejection reason.

[00209] 6. Method of switching communication link initiated by MLD AP and receiving MLD response without AP

[00210] In this implementation, since the request is initiated by the AP MLD, the request message sent by the AP MLD must carry the first information about the link to which the link is switched. Accordingly, the non-AP MLD can return a response message. The response message indicates whether the non-AP MLD accepts the request. If the non-AP MLD does not accept the request, the response message may carry a rejection reason parameter. If the non-AP MLD accepts the request, the response message may carry the identifier of the received target link or may not carry the identifier of the received target link and indicate that the link status transition request is accepted.

[00211] For example, the AP MLD initiates a request using a TID Link Mapping Negotiation Request message, and the non-AP MLD responds with a TID Link Mapping Negotiation Response message. The TID Link Mapping Negotiation Response message indicates whether the non-AP MLD accepts the traffic identifier-link mapping configuration request initiated by the AP MLD. Optionally, the traffic identifier-link mapping configuration request may actually be a link switch request. Therefore, the TID Link Mapping Negotiation Response message indicates whether the non-AP MLD accepts the link switch request initiated by the AP MLD.

[00212] This implementation of the method of switching the communication link is similar to the implementation of the method of the link status transition, which is initiated by the AP MLD and responded to by the non-AP MLD in step 5. The only difference is that in step 5, the target communication link is the communication link whose status is transitional, and in this implementation, the target communication link is the communication link to which the switching is performed. Therefore, for the related content in this implementation, "status transition" in the above Table 4 and the related content can be changed to "switching", as shown in Table 5. For the information that may be contained in each request message and each response message and which is described based on Table 5, see the corresponding content in Table 4. The details are not given again here.

Table 5 Optional MLD AP Request Modes Optional MLD Response Modes without AP (1a) Recommend switching and recommend one or more target communication lines to which switching occurs. (1b) Accept switching of all recommended or required target communication lines. (2b) Accept switching of one or more recommended target communication lines. (3b) Reject switching. (2a) Require switching, require switching of one or more target communication lines, and do not accept any modifications to the target communication line. (1b) Accept switching of all recommended or required target communication lines. (3b) Reject switching.

[00213] For the above-mentioned request modes and response modes, as described in the third embodiment, the link switch request message, the cross-link information request message, the TID correspondence negotiation request message with the link, the link switch response message, the cross-link information report message, and the TID correspondence negotiation response message may carry a newly defined link switch element (link switch element).

[00214] As shown in FIG. 8, the link switch element may include a link switch request field and a link switch type field. In each field or frame in this application, a field identifier (ID element) indicates the field, and a length (Length) indicates the length of the field. The link switch request field indicates whether the STA that transmits the link of the link switch element is a link switch request STA or a link switch response STA. The link switch type field indicates one of the above-mentioned request modes and response modes. For example, when the link switch type field has a value from 0 to 2, this indicates that the message carried by the link switch element is a link switch request message in the request mode (1a) to the request mode (3a). When the link switch type field has a value from 3 to 6, this indicates that the message carried by the link switch element is a link switch response message in the above-mentioned response mode (1b) to the response mode (4b). In addition, non-AP MLDs and AP MLDs can determine, based on the link switching element, the information to be carried in the request and the information to be carried in the response.

[00215] For the above-mentioned request modes and response modes, as described in the fifth embodiment, the TID link mapping negotiation request message and the TID link mapping negotiation response message may carry a newly defined link status transition element. The structure of the link status transition element is similar to the structure shown in FIG. 8 and may include a link status transition request field and a link status transition type field. The link status transition request field indicates whether the STA that transmits the link of the link of the link status transition element is a link status transition request STA or a link status transition response STA. The link status transition type field indicates one of the above-mentioned request modes and response modes. For example, when the link status transition type field has a value from 0 to 1, this indicates that the message that carries the link status transition element is one of the above-mentioned request modes (1a) to the request mode (2a). When the link status transition type field has a value from 2 to 4, it indicates that the message that carries the link status transition element is one of the response modes (1b) to the response mode (3b). In addition, the non-AP MLD and the AP MLD can determine, based on the link status transition element, the information to be carried in the request and the information to be carried in the response.

[00216] 7. Another way to handle the communication line

[00217] The difference between the mentioned method and the method for processing the communication link described in part 6 is that in this aspect the second MLD determines whether the BSS configuration of the second communication link to which the switching occurs or the second communication link whose status is transient is updated. In addition, the updated parameter is sent to the first MLD via the first communication link, or the first MLD is notified that the BSS configuration of the second communication link is not updated. Thus, the first MLD can directly transmit a data frame via the second communication link to which the switching occurs or the second communication link whose status is transient, and it does not need to transmit the data frame until a beacon frame is additionally received and the last BSS configuration parameter is received via the second communication link to which the switching occurs or the second communication link whose status is transient. Accordingly, the method reduces the waiting time required before the data frame is transmitted via the second communication link to which the switching occurs or the second communication link whose status is transient.

[00218] For simplicity of description, an example is used in which the first MLD is an MLD without an AP, and the second MLD is an MLD of the AP. In addition, for the first communication link and the second communication link included in the plurality of communication links between the MLD of the AP and the MLD without an AP, communication link 1 and communication link 2 can be used separately as an example. Communication link 2 is a communication link to which communication link 1 is switched, or a communication link whose status is transient. That is, communication link 1 is in an on-state, communication link 2 is in a sleep/off state, and communication link 2 needs to be switched from the sleep/off state to the active/on state. The state of communication link 3 is not discussed.

[00219] Referring to Fig. 9, the method for processing a communication line may include the following steps.

[00220] Step 201: The MLD without the AP sends the second link 2 information over link 1. The second information is used by the AP MLD to determine whether the BSS configuration of link 2 is updated.

[00221] Step 202: The MLD AP receives the second information of communication link 2 over communication link 1.

[00222] Step 203: The MLD AP sends third information over link 1. The third information is determined by the MLD AP based on the second information. The third information indicates that the BSS configuration of link 2 is not updated, or the updated BSS configuration parameter of link 2.

[00223] Step 204: The MLD without the AP receives third information via link 1 and transmits a data frame via link 2 based on the third information.

[00224] It can be learned that the MLD without an AP can directly transmit a data frame before receiving a beacon frame on the link 2 to which it is switched or the link 2 whose state is in transition. This reduces the waiting time required before link 2 transmits a data frame.

[00225] When the BSS configuration of link 2 is updated, the third information includes the updated BSS configuration parameter of the second link. When the BSS configuration of link 2 is not updated, the third information may indicate that the BSS configuration of the second link is not updated.

[00226] When the BSS configuration of link 2 is updated, in step 204, the non-AP MLD transmits a data frame on link 2 based on the third information, which may include: the non-AP MLD updates the BSS configuration of link 2 in the non-AP MLD using the updated BSS configuration parameter of link 2, and transmits the data frame on link 2 based on the updated BSS configuration of link 2. The non-AP MLD further updates the sequence number of the BSS/CSN-CSN/verification configuration beacon value that identifies link 2 accordingly. When the BSS configuration of link 2 is not updated, the non-AP MLD transmits the data frame on link 2 using the BSS configuration of link 2 in the non-AP MLD.

[00227] The data frame may be an uplink data frame or a quality of service (QoS NULL) frame to notify the second MLD that link 2 is in the active/on state. Optionally, the first MLD may additionally transmit a link status notification frame over link 2. The link status notification frame indicates that link 2 is in the active/on state, so that the second MLD can send a downlink data frame over link 2 in time.

[00228] The second information of link 2 is a BSS configuration sequence number, an access point configuration sequence number (AP-CSN), or a check beacon value that is stored in the first MLD and that identifies link 2. The first information is a BSS configuration sequence number, an access point configuration sequence number (AP-CSN), or a check beacon value that is in the second MLD and that identifies link 2. In this way, the second MLD can compare whether the first information agrees with the second information. If the first information agrees with the second information, this indicates that the BSS configuration of link 2 is not updated. If the first information does not agree with the second information, this indicates that the BSS configuration of link 2 is updated. This helps the AP MLD to know, based on the first information and the second information, whether the BSS configuration of link 2 is updated.

[00229] That is, the first information of link 2 is a sequence number of the current BSS configuration, an AP-CSN, or a value of the check beacon of link 2. The second information is a sequence number of the BSS configuration, an AP-CSN, or a value of the check beacon that relates to link 2 and that was previously received by the MLD without an AP. Therefore, if the recently updated or current BSS configuration of link 2 is not updated compared to the BSS configuration of link 2 that was previously received by the MLD without an AP, the first information is equal to the second information. If the recently updated or current BSS configuration of link 2 is updated, the first information is not equal to or greater than the second information.

[00230] For example, the first information of link 2 is AP-CSN 1, and the second information of link 2 is AP-CSN 2. If AP-CSN 1 is equal to AP-CSN 2, the configuration of the BSS of link 2 corresponding to AP-CSN 1 is not updated compared with the configuration of the BSS of link 2 corresponding to AP-CSN 2. That is, the configuration of the BSS of link 2 is not updated. If AP-CSN 1 is not equal to or greater than AP-CSN 2, the configuration of the BSS of link 2 corresponding to AP-CSN 1 is updated compared with the configuration of the BSS of link 2 corresponding to AP-CSN. 2. That is, the configuration of the BSS of link 2 is updated. In addition, the updated parameter that is updated in the configuration of the BSS of link 2 can be obtained by means of the third information.

[00231] Optionally, the second link information 2 may be obtained by the non-AP MLD from a beacon frame or a multiple link test response frame of link 1 when the non-AP MLD performs link probing. Alternatively, the second link information 2 is obtained by the non-AP MLD from a multiple link test response frame of link 1 when the non-AP MLD performs link association.

[00232] Optionally, a beacon frame, a multiple link test response frame, or a multiple link association frame for link 1 may carry information about a plurality of links or all links. The information about each link includes the second information and further includes, but is not limited to, one or more of the following: link status, link usage, and the like. In this implementation, when the non-AP MLD performs a link switch or a link status transition, the non-AP MLD may select, based on the information, a link to switch to or a link whose status is transitional.

[00233] For a method of carrying the second information in the beacon frame of link 1, see the corresponding descriptions in Fig. 6 in section 6. For a method of carrying the second information in the multi-link test response frame, see the corresponding descriptions in Fig. 7 in section 6. For other information carried, see the description in section 6.

[00234] In an optional implementation, the MLD without an AP may send a link switch request message, a cross-link information report request message, or a request frame for negotiating a correspondence relationship between a traffic identifier and a link on link 1 to notify the MLD of the AP about the second information of link 2. That is, the second information of link 2 is carried in the link switch request message, in the cross-link information report request message, or in the request frame for negotiating a correspondence relationship between a traffic identifier and a link.

[00235] Accordingly, the MLD without an AP can receive a link switching response message, a cross-link information report message, a medium access control frame, or a response frame for negotiating a correspondence relationship between the traffic identifier and the link on link 1, and obtain the third information of link 2. In the implementation, the first multiple-link device (MLD) receiving the third information over link 1 includes: the MLD without an AP receiving a link switching response message, a cross-link information report message, a medium access control frame, or a response frame for negotiating a correspondence relationship between the traffic identifier and the link over link 1. The third information of link 2 is carried in the link switching response message, the cross-link information report message, the medium access control frame, or the response frame for negotiating a correspondence relationship between the traffic identifier and the link.

[00236] A request frame for negotiating a correspondence relationship between a traffic identifier and a link from a non-AP MLD is sent when the non-AP MLD needs to change the correspondence relationship between a link and a traffic identifier so that the link statuses of some links are switched from the disabled/sleep state to the enabled/active state. Accordingly, a response frame for negotiating a correspondence relationship between a traffic identifier and a link returned by the AP MLD indicates whether the AP MLD accepts the correspondence configuration request between the traffic identifier and the link. Optionally, if the AP MLD accepts the correspondence configuration request, the response frame for negotiating a correspondence relationship between the traffic identifier and the link includes the third information about link 2. If the AP MLD does not accept the correspondence configuration request, the response frame for negotiating a correspondence relationship between the traffic identifier and the link does not include the third information about link 2.

[00237] It can be learned that in this implementation, the MLD without an AP can actively report the second information about the link being switched to in order to obtain the third information. This helps to further reduce the waiting time required before transmitting a data frame over the link being switched to.

[00238] From the viewpoint of initiating MLD without an AP, other information that can be transmitted without an AP in addition to the second link information 2, and other information that can be transmitted by the MLD by the AP in addition to the third link information 2 are described below.

[00239] 1. Method of link switching initiated by MLD without AP and received MLD response from AP

[00240] In the method of switching a link, the MLD without an AP can initiate a request using a link switch request message, a cross-link information request message, or a TID mapping negotiation request message with the link. The AP MLD can respond or answer using a corresponding link switch response message, a cross-link information report message, or a TID mapping negotiation response message with the link. Different request modes for switching a link determine the information carried in these request messages. Accordingly, different response modes also determine the information carried in these response messages. However, with reference to the above implementations, these request messages carry at least second information about the link to which they are switched, and these response messages carry at least third information about the link to which they are switched. Various additional request modes and response modes significantly increase the flexibility of the link switch operation and facilitate the use of an appropriate request mode and a response mode based on the requirements of a specific scenario.

[00241] The link switching response message and the cross-link information report message carry information indicating whether the AP MLD accepts the link switching request initiated by the non-AP MLD. The TID and link mapping negotiation response message indicates whether the AP MLD accepts the traffic identifier and link mapping configuration request initiated by the non-AP MLD. The traffic identifier and link mapping configuration request may actually be a link switching request. Therefore, the TID and link mapping negotiation response message indicates whether the AP MLD accepts the link switching request initiated by the non-AP MLD.

[00242] The difference between the request message and the response message in this part and item 3 in part 6 is that the request message in this part carries at least the second information about the communication line to which the switching occurs, and the response message in this part carries at least the third information about the communication line to which the switching occurs, and it does not need to carry the first information about the communication line to which the switching occurs. For other contents, see item 3 in part 6. The details are not given again here.

[00243] 2. Link status transition method initiated by MLD without AP and received MLD AP response

[00244] In the method of transitioning the link status, the MLD without an AP may initiate a request using a link switch request message, a cross-link information request message, or a TID link mapping negotiation request message. The AP MLD may respond or answer using a corresponding link switch response message, a cross-link information report message, or a TID link mapping negotiation response message. This implementation is similar to the method of switching the link that is initiated by the MLD without an AP and the response of the AP MLD in claim 1. The only difference is that in claim 3, the target link is the link to which the switching is performed, and in this implementation, the target link is the link whose status is transitional. Therefore, for the related content in this implementation, "switching" in claim 1 in part 7 and the related content may be changed to "status transition".

[00245] Optionally, the difference between the request message and the response message in this part and item 4 in item 6 is that the request message in this part carries at least the second information of the communication link to which the switching occurs, and the response message in this part carries at least the third information of the communication link to which the switching occurs, and does not need to carry the first information of the communication link to which the switching occurs. For other contents, see item 4 in item 6. The details are not given again here.

[00246] It can be understood that the above-mentioned embodiments have their own emphases. For an implementation that is not described in detail in one embodiment, refer to another embodiment. The details are not given again here. In addition, the embodiments described in this description may be independent solutions or may be combined based on internal logic. All of these solutions fall within the protection scope of this application. In other words, the above-mentioned embodiments can be combined with each other. For example, the communication link processing method described in claim 1 of Part 6 can be combined with the communication link processing method described in claim 2 of Part 6. As another example, the methods described in claim 1, claim 2, and claim 3 of Part 6 can be combined. As another example, the methods described in claim 1, claim 2, and claim 4 of Part 6 can be combined. As another example, the methods described in claim 1, claim 2, and claim 5 in section 6 may be combined. In another example, the methods described in claim 1, claim 2, and claim 6 in section 6 may be combined. In another example, the method for processing a communication line shown in Fig. 9 in section 7 may be combined with the method described in claim 1 in section 7. In another example, the method for processing a communication line shown in Fig. 9 in section 7 may be combined with the method described in claim 2 in section 7.

[00247] The above specifically describes the link processing methods provided in the embodiments of this application from the perspective of interaction between a first MLD and a second MLD, for example, from the perspective of interaction between a non-AP MLD and an AP MLD. The related operations of the non-AP MLD and the AP MLD before and after switching between link 1 and link 2 are described above using link 1 and link 2 as an example. In the operations related to the non-AP MLD and the AP MLD, the operations of the non-AP MLD and the AP MLD on link 1 can be separately performed by STA 1 corresponding to link 1 and AP 1 corresponding to link 1. Accordingly, the operations of the non-AP MLD and the AP MLD on link 2 can be separately performed by STA 2 corresponding to link 2 and AP 2 corresponding to link 2.

[00248] In order to implement fast switching between communication lines and fast transition between communication line statuses, the following plurality of devices with multiple communication lines are described in embodiments of this application.

[00249] An embodiment of this application provides a device with multiple communication lines. The device with multiple communication lines includes one or more stations. A first station and a second station are used as an example.

[00250] The first station receives first information about the second communication line via the first communication line. The first information is used by the device with multiple communication lines to determine whether the configuration of the basic service set BSS of the second communication line is updated.

[00251] When the BSS configuration of the second communication link is not updated, the second station transmits a data frame over the second communication link to which the switch is made or the second communication link whose link status is transitional.

[00252] It is possible to know that before a device with multiple communication links switches from a first communication link to a second communication link or performs a transition of the status of the second communication link, the device with multiple communication links can know whether the BSS configuration parameter of the second communication link has been updated. When the BSS configuration parameter of the second communication link is not updated, after the second communication link is switched or the status of the second communication link is transitioned, the second station can directly transmit a data frame on the second communication link without waiting for a beacon frame to be received. This reduces the waiting time required before the data frame is transmitted on the second communication link to which it is switched or on the second communication link whose status is transitional.

[00253] The device with multiple communication lines described in this embodiment of this application has any function of the first MLD in the first aspect of the inventive summary and any function of the MLD without an AP in Part 6 of the specific implementations. All technical details of the device with multiple communication lines, see the first aspect of the inventive summary and Part 6 of the specific implementations. The details are not given again here.

[00254] An embodiment of this application provides a device with multiple communication lines. The device with multiple communication lines includes one or more access points. The first access point and the access point are used as an example.

[00255] The first access point determines first information of the second communication link and sends first information of the second communication link over the first communication link. The first information is used by the MLD without the AP to determine whether the BSS configuration of the basic service set of the second communication link is updated.

[00256] It can be understood that before the device with multiple communication links switches from the first communication link to the second communication link or performs a status transition of the second communication link, the first access point can notify the first station of the first information of the second communication link, so that the second station determines whether the BSS configuration parameter of the second communication link is updated. If the BSS configuration parameter of the second communication link is not updated, after switching the second communication link or transitioning the status of the second communication link, the second station can directly transmit a data frame on the second communication link without waiting for a beacon frame to be received. This helps reduce the waiting time before transmitting a data frame on the second communication link.

[00257] The multiple-link device described in this embodiment of this application has any function of the second MLD in each link processing method in the second aspect of the summary or has any function of the AP MLD in each link processing method in Part 6. The details are not given again here.

[00258] An embodiment of this application provides a device with multiple communication lines. The device with multiple communication lines includes one or more stations. A first station and a second station are used as an example.

[00259] The first station sends second information about the second communication link over the first communication link. The second information is used by the MLD AP to determine whether the BSS configuration of the second communication link is updated.

[00260] The first station receives third information of the second communication link over the first communication link. The third information is determined by the MLD AP based on the second information. The third information indicates that the BSS configuration of the second communication link is not updated, or an updated BSS configuration parameter of the second communication link.

[00261] The second station transmits a data frame over a second communication link based on the third information.

[00262] It can be understood that before the device with multiple communication lines switches from the first communication line to the second communication line or performs a status transition of the second communication line, the second station can learn about the third information. Therefore, after switching to the second communication line, the data frame can be transmitted directly on the second communication line based on the third information, without waiting for the reception of the beacon frame. This helps to reduce the waiting time before transmitting the data frame on the second communication line.

[00263] The multiple communication line device in this embodiment of this application has any function of the first MLD in the third aspect of the inventive subject matter or any function of the MLD without an AP in Part 7 of the specific implementations. The details are not given again here.

[00264] An embodiment of this application provides a device with multiple communication links. The device with multiple communication links includes one or more access points. A first access point and a second access point are used as an example. The first access point receives second information about the second communication link over the first communication link. The second information is used by the MLD AP to determine whether the BSS configuration of the second communication link is updated.

[00265] The first access point sends third information of the second communication link over the first communication link. The third information is determined by the MLD AP based on the second information. The third information indicates that the BSS configuration of the second communication link is not updated, or an updated BSS configuration parameter of the second communication link.

[00266] It can be learned that before the device with multiple communication links switches from the first communication link to the second communication link or performs a status transition of the second communication link, the first access point can notify the first station of the third information of the second communication link. Therefore, after switching to the second communication link, the second station can directly transmit a data frame on the second communication link based on the third information, without waiting for the reception of a beacon frame. This helps to reduce the waiting time required before the data frame is transmitted on the second communication link after the first communication link switches to the second communication link or the status transition of the second communication link is performed.

[00267] The device with multiple communication lines in this embodiment of this application has any function of the second MLD in the fourth aspect of the inventive subject matter or any function of the AP MLD in Part 7 of the specific implementations. The details are not given again here.

[00268] To implement the functions in the above-described method provided in the embodiments of this application, the access point and the station may include a hardware structure and a software module for implementing the above-described functions in the form of a hardware structure, a software module, or a combination of a hardware structure and a software module. The function of the above-described functions may be implemented in the form of a hardware structure, a software module, or a combination of a hardware structure and a software module. The device with multiple communication links described below may be an MLD AP or may be an MLD without an AP, or may be a chip, a chip system, or a processor that supports the device with multiple communication links when implementing the above-described method, or may be a chip, a chip system, or a processor that supports the device with multiple communication links when implementing the above-described method. The device with multiple communication links may be configured to implement the method described in the previous embodiments of the method. For details, see the descriptions of the above embodiments of the method.

[00269] Fig. 10 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a device with multiple communication lines according to an embodiment of this application. The device with multiple communication lines may include one or more processors 1001. The processor 1001 may be a general-purpose processor, a specialized processor, etc. The processor 1001 may be configured to: control one or more access points, one or more access point chips, one or more stations, one or more station chips, etc. in the device with multiple communication lines, execute a software program, and process program data.

[00270] Additionally, the device with multiple communication lines may include one or more memories 1002. The memory 1002 may store an instruction 1004. The instruction may be executed on the processor 1001, so that the device with multiple communication lines performs the method described in the previous embodiments of the method. Optionally, the memory 1002 may additionally store data, for example, store the first information, the second information, or the third information in the above embodiment of the method. The processor 1001 and the memory 1002 may be located separately or may be combined together.

[00271] Additionally, the device with multiple communication lines may further include a transceiver 1005 and an antenna 1006. The transceiver 1005 may be called a transceiver unit, a transceiver machine, a transceiver circuit, etc., and it is configured to implement a transceiver function. The transceiver 1005 may include a receiver and a transmitter. The receiver may be called a receiving machine, a receiver circuit, etc., and it is configured to implement a receiving function. The transmitter may be called a transmitting machine, a transmitter circuit, etc., and it is configured to implement a sending function. The transceiver 1005 is configured to perform a receiving or sending operation in the above-described embodiments of the method.

[00272] In an optional implementation, the transceiver 1005 is configured to receive first information of a second communication link over a first communication link.

[00273] The plurality of communication lines between the first MLD and the second MLD include a first communication line and a second communication line.

[00274] The first information is used by the first MLD to determine whether the BSS configuration of the second link basic service set is updated.

[00275] The transceiver 1005 is further configured to: if the BSS configuration of the second communication link has not been updated, transmit a data frame over the second communication link being switched to or the second communication link whose status is transitional.

[00276] It is possible to know that a device with multiple communication links can know whether a BSS configuration parameter of a second communication link is updated. When the BSS configuration parameter of the second communication link is not updated, the device with multiple communication links can directly transmit a data frame over the second communication link to which they switch or the second communication link whose link status is transitional. This reduces the waiting time required before the data frame is transmitted over the second communication link to which they switch or over the second communication link whose status is transitional.

[00277] The device with multiple communication lines described in this embodiment of this application has any function of the first MLD in the first aspect of the summary of the invention and any function of the MLD without an AP in Part 6 of the specific implementations. All technical details of the device with multiple communication lines, see the first aspect of the summary of the invention and Part 6 of the specific implementations. The details are not given again here.

[00278] In another optional implementation, the processor 1001 is configured to determine first information of the second communication link. The first information is used by the first MLD to determine whether the BSS configuration of the basic service set of the second communication link is updated.

[00279] The transceiver 1005 is configured to send first information of the second communication line over the first communication line.

[00280] The plurality of communication lines between the second MLD and the first MLD include a first communication line and a second communication line.

[00281] The second communication line is the communication line to which the first communication line is switched, or the communication line whose communication line status is transitional.

[00282] It can be understood that this implementation helps the first MLD determine whether the BSS configuration parameter of the second communication link is updated. When the BSS configuration parameter of the second communication link is not updated, the first MLD can directly transmit a data frame on the second communication link to which the switch is made or on the second communication link whose link status is transitional. This reduces the waiting time required before the data frame is transmitted on the second communication link to which the switch is made or on the second communication link whose status is transitional.

[00283] The multiple communication link device described in this embodiment of this application has any function of the second MLD in each communication link processing method in the second aspect of the inventive subject matter or has any function of the AP MLD in each communication link processing method in Part 6. The details are not given again here.

[00284] In another optional implementation, the transceiver 1005 is configured to send second information about the second communication link over the first communication link. The second information is used by the second MLD to determine whether the BSS configuration of the second communication link is updated.

[00285] The transceiver 1005 is configured to receive third information over the first communication link. The third information is determined by the second MLD based on the second information. The third information indicates that the BSS configuration of the second communication link is not updated, or indicates an updated BSS configuration parameter of the second communication link. Thus, the first MLD can transmit a data frame over the second communication link based on the third information.

[00286] It can be understood that a device with multiple communication lines can directly transmit a data frame on a second communication line to which it is switched or on a second communication line whose status is transitional. This reduces the waiting time required before the data frame is transmitted on the second communication line to which it is switched or on the second communication line whose status is transitional.

[00287] In another optional implementation, the transceiver 1005 is configured to receive second information of the second communication link on the first communication link. The second information is used by the device with multiple communication links to determine whether the BSS configuration of the second communication link is updated.

[00288] The transceiver 1005 is configured to send third information over the first communication link. The third information is determined by the device with multiple communication links based on the second information. The third information indicates that the BSS configuration of the second communication link is not updated, or an updated BSS configuration parameter of the second communication link.

[00289] It can be learned that, since a device with multiple communication links can notify an MLD without an AP on a first communication link whether the BSS configuration of the second communication link is updated or about an updated BSS configuration parameter of the second communication link, the MLD without an AP can directly transmit a data frame on a second communication link to which it is switched or a second communication link whose status is transient, without waiting for the reception of a beacon frame. This reduces the waiting time required before the data frame is transmitted on the second communication link to which it is switched or on the second communication link whose status is transient.

[00290] Fig. 11 is a schematic diagram of the structure of another device with multiple communication lines according to an embodiment of this application. The device with multiple communication lines may include a communication unit 1101 and a processing unit 1102. The communication unit 1101 may include a sending unit and a receiving unit. The sending unit is configured to implement a sending function, the receiving unit is configured to implement a receiving function, and the communication unit 1101 may implement a sending function and/or a receiving function. The communication unit may also be described as a transceiver unit.

[00291] In an optional implementation

the communication unit 1101 is configured to receive the first information of the second communication line via the first communication line.

[00292] The plurality of communication lines between the first MLD and the second MLD include a first communication line and a second communication line.

[00293] The first information is used by the first MLD to determine whether the BSS configuration of the second link basic service set is updated.

[00294] The communication unit 1101 is further configured to: if the BSS configuration of the second communication link is not updated, transmit a data frame over the second communication link to which the switching is taking place or the second communication link whose link status is transitional.

[00295] It can be understood that a device with multiple communication links can know whether the BSS configuration parameter of the second communication link is updated. When the BSS configuration parameter of the second communication link is not updated, the device with multiple communication links can directly transmit a data frame over the second communication link to which they switch or the second communication link whose link status is transitional. This reduces the waiting time required before the data frame is transmitted over the second communication link to which they switch or over the second communication link whose status is transitional.

[00296] The device with multiple communication lines described in this embodiment of this application has any function of the first MLD in the first aspect of the inventive summary and any function of the MLD without an AP in Part 6 of the specific implementations. All technical details of the device with multiple communication lines, see the first aspect of the inventive summary and Part 6 of the specific implementations. The details are not given again here.

[00297] In another optional implementation, the processing unit 1102 is configured to determine first information of the second communication link. The first information is used by the first MLD to determine whether the BSS configuration of the basic service set of the second communication link is updated.

[00298] The communication unit 1101 is configured to send first information of the second communication line over the first communication line.

[00299] The plurality of communication lines between the second MLD and the first MLD include a first communication line and a second communication line.

[00300] The second communication line is the communication line to which the first communication line is switched, or the communication line whose communication line status is transitional.

[00301] It can be learned that this implementation helps the first MLD determine whether the BSS configuration parameter of the second communication link is updated. When the BSS configuration parameter of the second communication link is not updated, the first MLD can directly transmit a data frame on the second communication link to which they are switching or on the second communication link whose link status is transitional. This reduces the waiting time required before the data frame is transmitted on the second communication link to which they are switching or on the second communication link whose status is transitional.

[00302] The multiple communication link device described in this embodiment of this application has any function of the second MLD in each communication link processing method in the second aspect of the inventive subject matter or has any function of the AP MLD in each communication link processing method in Part 6. The details are not given again here.

[00303] In another optional implementation, the communication unit 1101 is configured to send second information of the second communication link over the first communication link. The second information is used by the second MLD to determine whether the BSS configuration of the second communication link is updated.

[00304] The communication unit 1101 is configured to receive third information over the first communication link. The third information is determined by the second MLD based on the second information. The third information indicates that the BSS configuration of the second communication link is not updated, or indicates an updated BSS configuration parameter of the second communication link. Thus, the first MLD can transmit a data frame over the second communication link based on the third information.

[00305] It can be understood that a device with multiple communication lines can directly transmit a data frame on a second communication line to which it is switched or on a second communication line whose status is transitional. This reduces the waiting time required before the data frame is transmitted on the second communication line to which it is switched or on the second communication line whose status is transitional.

[00306] In another optional implementation, the communication unit 1101 is configured to receive second information of the second communication link on the first communication link. The second information is used by the device with multiple communication links to determine whether the BSS configuration of the second communication link is updated.

[00307] The communication unit 1101 is configured to send third information over the first communication line. The third information is determined by the device with multiple communication lines based on the second information. The third information indicates that the BSS configuration of the second communication line is not updated, or an updated BSS configuration parameter of the second communication line.

[00308] It can be understood that, since a device with multiple communication links can notify an MLD without an AP on a first communication link whether the BSS configuration of the second communication link is updated or about an updated BSS configuration parameter of the second communication link, the MLD without an AP can directly transmit a data frame on a second communication link to which it is switched or a second communication link whose status is transient, without waiting for the reception of a beacon frame. This reduces the waiting time required before the data frame is transmitted on the second communication link to which it is switched or on the second communication link whose status is transient.

[00309] It can be understood that for a specific implementation of each functional block included in the device with multiple communication lines, reference should be made to the previous embodiments. The details are not given again here.

[00310] Fig. 12 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a microcircuit according to an embodiment of this application. As shown in Fig. 12, the microcircuit shown in Fig. 12 includes a processor 1201 and an interface 1202. There may be one or more processors 1201. There may be a plurality of interfaces 1202.

[00311] For the case where the microcircuit is configured to implement the functions of the station in the embodiments of the present application:

in an embodiment,

the transceiver 1202 is configured to receive first information of the second communication line over the first communication line.

[00312] The plurality of communication lines between the first MLD and the second MLD include a first communication line and a second communication line.

[00313] The first information is used by the first MLD to determine whether the BSS configuration of the second link basic service set is updated.

the interface 1202 is further configured to: if the BSS configuration of the second communication link is not updated, transmit a data frame over the second communication link being switched to or the second communication link whose link status is transitional.

[00314] It can be understood that a device with multiple communication links can know whether the BSS configuration parameter of the second communication link is updated. When the BSS configuration parameter of the second communication link is not updated, the device with multiple communication links can directly transmit a data frame over the second communication link to which they switch or the second communication link whose link status is transient. This reduces the waiting time required before the data frame is transmitted over the second communication link to which they switch or over the second communication link whose status is transient.

[00315] The device with multiple communication lines described in this embodiment of this application has any function of the first MLD in the first aspect of the inventive summary and any function of the MLD without an AP in Part 6 of the specific implementations. All technical details of the device with multiple communication lines, see the first aspect of the inventive summary and Part 6 of the specific implementations. The details are not given again here.

[00316] In another optional implementation

the processor 1201 is configured to determine first information of the second communication link. The first information is used by the first MLD to determine whether the BSS configuration of the basic service set of the second communication link is updated.

[00317] Interface 1202 is configured to send first information of a second communication line over a first communication line.

[00318] The plurality of communication lines between the second MLD and the first MLD include a first communication line and a second communication line.

[00319] The second communication line is the communication line to which the first communication line is switched, or the communication line whose communication line status is transitional.

[00320] It can be understood that this implementation helps the first MLD determine whether the BSS configuration parameter of the second communication link is updated. When the BSS configuration parameter of the second communication link is not updated, the first MLD can directly transmit a data frame on the second communication link to which they are switching or on the second communication link whose status is transient. This reduces the waiting time required before the data frame is transmitted on the second communication link to which they are switching or on the second communication link whose status is transient.

[00321] The multiple-link device described in this embodiment of this application has any function of the second MLD in each method of processing the link in the second aspect of the inventive subject matter or has any function of the AP MLD in each method of processing the link in Part 6. The details are not given again here.

[00322] In another optional implementation

the interface 1202 is configured to send second information of the second communication link over the first communication link. The second information is used by the second MLD to determine whether the BSS configuration of the second communication link is updated.

[00323] The interface 1202 is configured to receive third information over the first communication link. The third information is determined by the second MLD based on the second information. The third information indicates that the BSS configuration of the second communication link is not updated, or an updated BSS configuration parameter of the second communication link. Thus, the first MLD can transmit a data frame over the second communication link based on the third information.

[00324] It can be learned that a device with multiple communication lines can directly transmit a data frame over a second communication line to which it is switched or a second communication line whose status is transient. This reduces the waiting time required before the data frame is transmitted over the second communication line to which it is switched or over the second communication line whose status is transient.

[00325] In another optional implementation

the interface 1202 is configured to receive second information of the second communication line on the first communication line. The second information is used by the device with multiple communication lines to determine whether the BSS configuration of the second communication line is updated.

[00326] The interface 1202 is configured to send third information over the first communication link. The third information is determined by the device with multiple communication links based on the second information. The third information indicates that the BSS configuration of the second communication link is not updated, or an updated BSS configuration parameter of the second communication link.

[00327] It can be learned that since a device with multiple communication links can notify an MLD without an AP on a first communication link whether the BSS configuration of a second communication link is updated, or about an updated BSS configuration parameter of the second communication link, the MLD without an AP can directly transmit a data frame on a second communication link to which it is switched or a second communication link whose status is transient, without waiting for the reception of a beacon frame. This reduces the waiting time required before the data frame is transmitted on the second communication link to which it is switched or on the second communication link whose status is transient.

[00328] It should be understood that the term "and/or" in this description describes only an associative relationship for describing associated objects and represents that three relationships may exist. For example, A and/or B may represent the following three cases: only A exists, both A and B exist, and only B exists. In addition, the symbol "/" in this description generally indicates an "or" relationship between associated objects.

[00329] It may be known to a person skilled in the art that, in combination with the examples described in the embodiments disclosed in this description, the steps and blocks of the method may be implemented by electronic hardware, computer software, or a combination of both. In order to clearly describe the interchangeability between hardware and software, the steps and compositions of each embodiment are generally described above in accordance with the functions. Whether the functions are performed by hardware or software depends on the specific applications and design limitations of the technical solutions. A person skilled in the art may use different methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but it should not be considered that the implementation goes beyond the scope of this application.

[00330] It should be clearly understood by a person skilled in the art that for convenience and a brief description of the detailed working process of the above-described system, apparatus and unit, reference can be made to the corresponding process in the above-described embodiments of the method. The details are not given again here.

[00331] In several embodiments provided in the present application, it should be understood that the disclosed system, apparatus and method may be implemented in other ways. For example, the above embodiments of the apparatus are merely examples. For example, the division into blocks is merely a logical division of functions and may be another division in an actual implementation. For example, a plurality of blocks or components may be combined or integrated into another system, or some features may be ignored or not performed. In addition, the shown or discussed mutual connections or direct connections or communication connections may be implemented through some interfaces. Indirect connections or communication connections between apparatuses or blocks may be implemented in electrical, mechanical or other forms.

[00332] Blocks described as separate parts may or may not be physically separate, and parts depicted as blocks may or may not be physical blocks, that is, they may be located in one place or may be distributed over a plurality of network blocks. Some or all of the blocks may be selected based on actual requirements to achieve the objectives of the solutions of the embodiments of this application.

[00333] Furthermore, the functional blocks in the embodiments of this application may be integrated into a single processing block, or each of the blocks may physically exist on its own, or two or more blocks may be combined into a single block. The integrated block may be implemented as hardware or may be implemented as a functional block of software.

[00334] When the integrated unit is implemented as a functional block of software and sold or used as an independent product, the integrated unit may be stored on a computer-readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the technical solutions in this application, in essence, or a part contributing to the generally accepted state of the art, or all or a part of the technical solutions may be implemented as a software product. The computer program product is stored on a storage medium and includes several instructions for instructing a computer device (which may be a personal computer, a server, a network device, etc.) to perform all or a part of the steps of the methods described in the embodiments of this application. The above-mentioned storage medium includes any medium on which program code can be stored, such as a USB flash drive, a removable hard disk, a read-only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), a magnetic disk, or an optical disk.

[00335] The above descriptions are merely specific embodiments of this application, but are not intended to limit the scope of protection of this application. Any modification or replacement easily achieved by a person skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in this application shall fall within the scope of protection of this application. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present application shall correspond to the scope of protection of the claims.

Claims (50)

1. A method for processing a communication line, wherein the method comprises: receiving by a first device with multiple communication lines (MLD) first information of a second communication line over a first communication line, wherein the plurality of communication lines between the first MLD and the second MLD comprise the first communication line and the second communication line; and wherein the first information is used by the first MLD to determine whether the configuration of the basic service set (BSS) of the second communication link is updated; and if the BSS configuration of the second communication link is not updated, transmitting, via the first MLD, a data frame over the second communication link to which the switch is being made or a second communication link whose link status is transitioning from a sleep or disabled state to an active or enabled state. 2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the data frame comprises an uplink data frame, a zero quality of service (QoS NULL) frame, or a link status notification frame, and wherein the link status notification frame indicates that the second link is in an active or on state. 3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first information of the second communication line is a BSS configuration serial number, or an access point configuration serial number (AP-CSN), or a check beacon value, which is located in the second MLD and which identifies the second communication line. 4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the first information about the second communication link is carried in a link switching response message, or in a cross-link information report message, or in a medium access control frame, or in a response frame for negotiating a correspondence relationship between a traffic identifier and a communication link, or a beacon frame, or a control field of a data frame, or a request frame for negotiating a correspondence relationship between a traffic identifier and a communication link, which is received on the first communication link. 5. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that if the first information of the second communication line is carried in a request frame for negotiating the correspondence relationship between the traffic identifier and the communication line, received on the first line, before the first MLD transmits the data frame on the second communication line, the method additionally comprises: sending, by the first MLD, a response frame for negotiating a correspondence relationship between the traffic identifier and the communication link over the first communication link, wherein the response frame for negotiating a correspondence relationship between the traffic identifier and the communication link indicates whether the first MLD accepts the configuration request for a correspondence between the traffic identifier and the communication link. 6. The method according to any one of paragraphs 1-5, characterized in that if the BSS configuration of the second communication line is updated, the method additionally comprises: sending, via the first MLD, second information over a second communication link, wherein the second information is a BSS configuration sequence number, an access point configuration sequence number (AP-CSN) or a check beacon value that is stored in the first MLD and identifies the second communication link; and receiving, by the first MLD, via the second communication line, an updated BSS configuration parameter of the second communication line, wherein the updated BSS configuration parameter of the second communication line is determined based on the second information. 7. The method according to paragraph 6, wherein: the second information of the second communication line is carried for sending in a unicast probe request frame over the second communication line; and wherein the updated BSS configuration parameter of the second communication link is carried in a probe response frame that is received over the second communication link, and the probe response frame is returned based on the unicast probe request frame. 8. The method according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that, before the first device with multiple communication lines (MLD) receives the first information of the second communication line over the first communication line, the method additionally comprises: receiving, by the first MLD, second information of the second communication link from a beacon frame, a multiple link check response frame or a multiple link association response frame of the first communication link, and storing the second information of the second communication link, wherein the second information is a BSS configuration sequence number, an access point configuration sequence number (AP-CSN) or a check beacon value that is stored in the first MLD and that identifies the second communication link. 9. The method according to item 8, wherein: A beacon frame, a multiple link test response frame, or a multiple link association response frame of a first link additionally carries the link status and channel usage of the second link. 10. A method for processing a communication line, wherein the method comprises: determining, by a second multiple-link device (MLD), first information of the second link, wherein the first information is used by the first MLD to determine whether the BSS configuration of the basic service set of the second link is updated; sending, by means of the second MLD, first information of the second communication line over the first communication line, wherein the plurality of communication lines between the second MLD and the first MLD comprise the first communication line and the second communication line; and the second communication line is the communication line to which the first communication line is switched, or the communication line whose communication line status is transitional from the sleep or disabled state to the active or enabled state. 11. The method according to item 10, wherein the method additionally comprises: receiving, by the second MLD, a data frame over a second communication link, wherein the data frame comprises an uplink data frame, a quality of service (QoS NULL) frame, or a link status notification frame, and the link status notification frame indicates that the second communication link is in an active or on state. 12. The method according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the first information of the second communication line is a BSS configuration serial number, or an access point configuration serial number (AP-CSN), or a check beacon value, which is located in the second MLD and which identifies the second communication line. 13. The method according to any one of claims 10 to 12, wherein the first information of the second communication link is carried for sending in a link switching response message, or in a cross-link information report message, or in a medium access control frame, or in a response frame for negotiating a correspondence relationship between a traffic identifier and a communication link, or a beacon frame, or a control field of a data frame, or a request frame for negotiating a correspondence relationship between a traffic identifier and a communication link, which is on the first communication link. 14. The method according to claim 13, characterized in that if the first information of the second communication line is carried for sending in a request frame for negotiating a correspondence relationship between the traffic identifier and the communication line, received on the first communication line, before transmitting, by means of the second MLD, the data frame on the second communication line, the method further comprises: receiving, by a second MLD, a response frame for negotiating a correspondence relationship between the traffic identifier and the communication link on the first communication link, wherein the response frame for negotiating a correspondence relationship between the traffic identifier and the communication link indicates whether the first MLD accepts the configuration request for a correspondence between the traffic identifier and the communication link. 15. The method according to any one of paragraphs 10-14, wherein the method additionally comprises: receiving, by a second MLD, second information over a second communication link, wherein the second information is a BSS configuration serial number, an access point configuration serial number (AP-CSN), or a check beacon value that is stored in the first MLD and identifies the second communication link; and sending, via the second MLD, over the second communication link, an updated BSS configuration parameter of the second communication link based on the second information. 16. The method according to paragraph 15, wherein: the second information of the second communication line is carried in a unicast probe request frame that is received over the second communication line; and the updated BSS configuration parameter of the second link is carried, for sending, in a probe response frame on the second link, and the probe response frame is sent based on the unicast probe request frame. 17. The method according to paragraphs 12-16, characterized in that, before sending, by the second device with multiple communication lines (MLD), the first information of the second communication line over the first communication line, the method additionally comprises: sending, by the second MLD, on the first communication link, a beacon frame, a multiple link test response frame, or a multiple link association response frame of the first communication link; and the beacon frame, the multiple link test response frame, or the multiple link association response frame contains second information about the second communication link. 18. The method according to paragraph 17, wherein: A beacon frame, a multiple link test response frame, or a multiple link association response frame of a first link additionally carries the link status and channel usage of the second link. 19. A device with multiple communication lines, comprising: an interface and a processing circuit, wherein the interface is connected to the processing circuit, the interface is configured to communicate with other communication equipment, and the processing circuit is configured to execute a program, so that the device with multiple communication lines implements the method according to any one of paragraphs 1-9. 20. A device with multiple communication lines, comprising: an interface and a processing circuit, wherein the interface is connected to the processing circuit, the interface is configured to communicate with other communication equipment, and the processing circuit is configured to execute a program, so that the device with multiple communication lines implements the method according to any of paragraphs 10-18. 21. A machine-readable data carrier, wherein a computer program is stored on the machine-readable data carrier, and the computer program can be executed by a computer to control the computer to perform the method according to any of paragraphs 1-9 or the method according to any of paragraphs 10-18. 22. A device with multiple communication lines configured to perform the method according to any one of paragraphs. 1-9. 23. A device with multiple communication lines configured to perform the method according to any one of paragraphs. 10-18. 24. A communication system comprising: a device with multiple communication lines according to paragraph 19. 25. A communication system comprising: a device with multiple communication lines according to paragraph 20.

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