WO2025245669A1 - Communication method, communication device and communication system - Google Patents

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a communication method, a communication device and a communication system. The communication method comprises: an access point multi-link device (AP MLD) supporting multi-link communication determining a first radio frame, wherein the first radio frame is used for identifying a power management mode of at least one affiliated access point device (AP) of the AP MLD; and sending the first radio frame to a station device (non-AP MLD) supporting multi-link communication. In this way, the non-AP MLD can communicate with the affiliated AP of the AP MLD on the basis of the received power management mode of the affiliated AP of the AP MLD identified by the first radio frame, so that on the premise of ensuring the multi-link establishment efficiency and accuracy between multi-link devices, the energy consumption of the AP MLD end is effectively reduced.

Description

Communication methods, communication equipment and communication systems Technical Field

This disclosure relates to the field of communication technology, and in particular to a communication method, communication device and communication system.

Background Technology

Currently, research on Wi-Fi technology focuses on areas such as Ultra High Reliability (UHR), with the vision of improving the reliability of Wireless Local Area Networks (WLAN) connections, reducing latency, improving manageability, increasing throughput at different signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) levels, and reducing device-level power consumption.

In UHR, the power-saving mechanism will be further enhanced to ensure the latency requirements of low-latency services.

Summary of the Invention

This disclosure provides a communication method, communication device, and communication system to further enhance power-saving mechanisms.

In a first aspect, embodiments of this disclosure provide a communication method executed by an access point device (AP MLD) supporting multi-link communication, the method comprising:

A first radio frame is determined; wherein the first radio frame is used to identify: the power management mode of at least one auxiliary access point device (AP) of the AP MLD;

The first radio frame is sent to the site device (non-AP MLD) that supports multi-link communication.

Secondly, embodiments of this disclosure also provide a communication method, executed by a site device (non-AP MLD) supporting multi-link communication, the method comprising:

Receive the first radio frame sent by the access point device (AP) MLD that supports multi-link communication;

The first wireless frame is used to identify the power management mode of at least one auxiliary access point device (AP) of the AP MLD.

Thirdly, embodiments of this disclosure also provide a communication device, the communication device including an access point device (AP MLD) supporting multi-link communication, the AP MLD including:

A determining module is used to determine a first radio frame; wherein the first radio frame is used to identify the power management mode of at least one auxiliary access point device (AP) of the AP MLD;

The transmitting module is used to transmit the first radio frame to a site device (non-AP MLD) that supports multi-link communication.

Fourthly, embodiments of this disclosure also provide a communication device, the communication device including a non-AP MLD that supports multi-link communication, the non-AP MLD including:

The receiving module is used to receive the first radio frame sent by the access point device (AP) MLD that supports multi-link communication;

The first wireless frame is used to identify the power management mode of at least one auxiliary access point device (AP) of the AP MLD.

Fifthly, embodiments of this disclosure also provide a communication device, including:

One or more processors;

The communication device is used to execute the communication method described in the first aspect of the present disclosure.

Sixthly, embodiments of this disclosure also provide a communication device, including:

One or more processors;

The communication device is used to execute the communication method described in the second aspect of the embodiments of this disclosure.

In a seventh aspect, embodiments of this disclosure also provide a communication system, including an access point device (AP MLD) supporting multi-link communication and a site device (non-AP MLD) supporting multi-link communication;

Wherein, the AP MLD is used to determine a first radio frame; wherein, the first radio frame is used to identify: the power management mode of at least one affiliated access point device (AP) of the AP MLD; and to send the first radio frame to a site device (non-AP MLD) that supports multi-link communication;

The non-AP MLD is used to receive the first radio frame sent by the AP MLD.

Eighthly, embodiments of this disclosure also provide a storage medium storing instructions that, when executed on a communication device, cause the communication device to perform the communication method as described in the first aspect of this disclosure, or to perform the communication method as described in the second aspect of this disclosure.

In this embodiment of the disclosure, the access point device (AP MLD) supporting multi-link communication determines a first radio frame, which identifies the power management mode of at least one affiliated access point device (AP) of the AP MLD. The first radio frame is then sent to the site device (non-AP MLD) supporting multi-link communication. In this way, the non-AP MLD can establish a link and transmit data with the affiliated AP of the AP MLD based on the power management mode of the affiliated AP of the AP MLD identified by the received first radio frame. This effectively reduces the power consumption of the AP MLD while ensuring the efficiency and accuracy of multi-link establishment between multi-link devices.

Additional aspects and advantages of embodiments of this disclosure will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and will become apparent from the description or may be learned by practice of this disclosure.

Attached Figure Description

To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this disclosure, the accompanying drawings required for the description of the embodiments are introduced below. The following drawings are only some embodiments of this disclosure and do not impose specific limitations on the protection scope of this disclosure.

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the architecture of the communication system provided in an embodiment of this disclosure;

Figure 2 is one of the interactive schematic diagrams of the communication method provided in the embodiments of this disclosure;

Figure 3 is a flowchart illustrating one of the communication methods provided in this embodiment of the present disclosure;

Figure 4 is a second schematic flowchart of the communication method provided in this embodiment of the present disclosure;

Figure 5 is a second interactive schematic diagram of the communication method provided in this embodiment of the present disclosure;

Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a multi-connection access point device supporting multi-link communication proposed in an embodiment of this disclosure;

Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a multi-connection site device supporting multi-link communication proposed in an embodiment of this disclosure;

Figure 8 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the terminal proposed in an embodiment of this disclosure;

Figure 9 is a schematic diagram of the chip structure proposed in an embodiment of this disclosure.

Detailed Implementation

This disclosure presents a communication method, communication device, and communication system.

In a first aspect, embodiments of this disclosure provide a communication method executed by an access point device (AP MLD) supporting multi-link communication, the method comprising:

A first radio frame is determined; wherein the first radio frame is used to identify: the power management mode of at least one auxiliary access point device (AP) of the AP MLD;

The first radio frame is sent to the site device (non-AP MLD) that supports multi-link communication.

In the above embodiments, the non-AP MLD can communicate with the AP associated with the AP based on the power management mode of the AP associated with the AP identified by the first received radio frame, thereby effectively reducing the power consumption of the AP MLD while ensuring the efficiency and accuracy of multi-link establishment between multi-link devices.

In conjunction with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the first wireless frame includes at least one first identification information and/or at least one second identification information;

The first identification information corresponding to the first AP in the at least one first identification information indicates whether the first AP is in power saving mode;

The second identification information corresponding to the first AP in the at least one second identification information identifies: the communication parameters of the first AP in power-saving mode;

The first AP is one of the at least one auxiliary access point device AP.

In the above embodiments, the power management mode of each first AP in the auxiliary AP of AP MLD can be identified by the first identification information and the second identification information in the first wireless frame. For a first AP, the first identification information corresponding to the first AP indicates whether the first AP is in power saving mode, and the second identification information corresponding to the first AP indicates the communication parameters of the first AP in power saving mode.

In conjunction with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the second identification information includes a first identification field and/or a second identification field; the power saving mode includes a sleep state and a non-sleep state;

The first identifier field indicates the sleep duration of the first AP in sleep mode;

The second identifier field identifies the sleep cycle during which the first AP is in a periodic sleep state.

In the above embodiments, the communication parameters of the first AP in power-saving mode are identified by the second identification information carried in the first wireless frame. When counting, the first identifier field in the second identifier information can be used to identify the sleep duration of the first AP in the sleep state; the second identifier field in the second identifier information can be used to identify the sleep period of the first AP in the periodic sleep state.

In conjunction with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments,

When the second identification information includes the first identification field, the second identification information corresponding to the first AP in the at least one second identification information indicates that the first AP is in a sleep state during the sleep duration indicated by the first identification field, and is in a non-sleep state outside the sleep duration indicated by the first identification field.

When the second identification information includes the first identification field and the second identification field, the second identification information corresponding to the first AP in the at least one second identification information indicates that the first AP is periodically in a sleep state based on the sleep cycle indicated by the second identification field and the sleep duration indicated by the first identification field.

In the above embodiments, the first identification field and/or the second identification field carried in the second identification information can be used to indicate whether the first AP is in a periodic sleep state, and specifically when it enters the sleep state and when it enters the non-sleep state.

In conjunction with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the first radio frame includes a Basic Multi-Link element; the Basic Multi-Link element includes a Per-STA Profile sub-element;

The first identification information is carried in the STA Control field of the Per-STA Profile sub-element; and/or

The second identification information is carried in the STA Info field of the Per-STA Profile sub-element.

In the above embodiments, the first identification information can be carried in the STA Control field of the Per-STA Profile sub-element within the Basic Multi-Link element carried in the first radio frame, and the second identification information can be carried in the STA Info field of the Per-STA Profile sub-element.

In conjunction with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the first subfield of the STA Control field is set to a first parameter value, and the first identification information indicates that the power saving mode is in a hibernation state.

In the above embodiment, the specific power-saving mode of the first AP can be indicated by the parameter value of the first subfield of the STA Control field.

In conjunction with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, if the first subfield is set to the first parameter value, the STA Info field carries the second identification information.

In the above embodiments, when the first subfield of the STA Control field indicates that the power saving mode of the first AP is in sleep mode, the second identification information carried by the first wireless frame can be used to identify the communication parameters of the first AP in power saving mode.

In conjunction with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the method further includes:

The second radio frame sent by the non-AP MLD is received through the first link; wherein the second radio frame indicates that the non-AP MLD requests to establish at least one second link with the AP MLD;

Wherein, the first link includes the working link of the second AP attached to the AP MLD and in active mode; or, the first link includes the working link of the third AP attached to the AP MLD and in non-dormant state.

In the above embodiments, the AP MLD can obtain a link establishment request initiated by the non-AP MLD to establish a second link with an AP that is attached to the AP MLD and belongs to a different power management mode through the received second radio frame.

In conjunction with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the method further includes:

The second link is the working link of the fourth AP attached to the AP MLD and in power saving mode, and the fourth AP accepts the establishment of the second link with the non-AP MLD, then the fourth AP switches to non-sleep state;

The second link is the working link of the fifth AP attached to the AP MLD and in power-saving mode, and the fifth AP does not accept establishing the second link with the non-AP MLD, so the fifth AP remains in its current sleep state;

If the second link is the working link of the sixth AP that is attached to the AP MLD and is not in power saving mode, then the sixth AP maintains its current power mode.

In the above embodiments, the AP MLD can determine the power mode of the affiliated AP under the second link indicated by the link establishment request based on the link establishment request initiated by the non-AP MLD, determine whether to establish a link with the non-AP MLD, and whether to change the power mode of the affiliated AP.

Secondly, embodiments of this disclosure provide a communication method executed by a site device (non-AP MLD) supporting multi-link communication, the method comprising:

Receive the first radio frame sent by the access point device (AP MLD) that supports multi-link communication;

The first wireless frame is used to identify the power management mode of at least one auxiliary access point device (AP) of the AP MLD.

In conjunction with some embodiments of the second aspect, in some embodiments, the first wireless frame includes at least one first identification information and/or at least one second identification information;

The first identification information corresponding to the first AP in the at least one first identification information indicates whether the first AP is in power saving mode;

The second identification information corresponding to the first AP in the at least one second identification information identifies: the communication parameters of the first AP in power-saving mode;

The first AP is one of the at least one auxiliary access point device AP.

In conjunction with some embodiments of the second aspect, in some embodiments, the second identification information includes a first identification field and/or a second identification field; the power saving mode includes a sleep state and a non-sleep state;

The first identifier field indicates the sleep duration of the first AP in sleep mode;

The second identifier field identifies the sleep cycle during which the first AP is in a periodic sleep state.

In conjunction with some embodiments of the second aspect, in some embodiments,

When the second identification information includes the first identification field, the second identification information corresponding to the first AP in the at least one second identification information indicates that the first AP is in a sleep state during the sleep duration indicated by the first identification field, and is in a non-sleep state outside the sleep duration indicated by the first identification field.

When the second identification information includes the first identification field and the second identification field, the second identification information corresponding to the first AP in the at least one second identification information indicates that the first AP is periodically in a sleep state based on the sleep cycle indicated by the second identification field and the sleep duration indicated by the first identification field.

In conjunction with some embodiments of the second aspect, in some embodiments, the first radio frame includes a Basic Multi-Link element; the Basic Multi-Link element includes a Per-STA Profile sub-element;

The first identification information is carried in the STA Control field of the Per-STA Profile sub-element; and/or

The second identification information is carried in the STA Info field of the Per-STA Profile sub-element.

In conjunction with some embodiments of the second aspect, in some embodiments, the first subfield of the STA Control field is set to a first parameter value, and the first identification information indicates that the power saving mode is in a hibernation state.

In conjunction with some embodiments of the second aspect, in some embodiments, if the first subfield is set to the first parameter value, the STA Info field carries the second identification information.

In conjunction with some embodiments of the second aspect, in some embodiments, the method further includes:

A second radio frame is determined; wherein the second radio frame identifies that the non-AP MLD requests to establish at least one second link with the AP MLD;

The second radio frame is sent to the AP MLD via a first link; wherein the first link includes the working link of a second AP attached to the AP MLD and in active mode; or, the first link includes the working link of a third AP attached to the AP MLD and in non-dormant state.

Thirdly, embodiments of this disclosure also provide a communication device, the communication device including an access point device supporting multi-link communication, the access point device supporting multi-link communication including at least one of a determining module and a sending module; wherein the access point device supporting multi-link communication is used to execute the optional implementation of the first aspect.

Fourthly, embodiments of this disclosure also provide a communication device, the communication device including a site device supporting multi-link communication, the site device supporting multi-link communication including: a receiving module; wherein the aforementioned site device supporting multi-link communication is used to execute the optional implementation of the second aspect.

Fifthly, embodiments of this disclosure also provide a communication device, the communication device including an access point device supporting multi-link communication, comprising:

One or more processors;

The access point device that supports multi-link communication is used to implement the optional implementation of the first aspect.

Sixthly, embodiments of this disclosure also provide a communication device, the communication device including a site device supporting multi-link communication, comprising:

One or more processors;

The site device that supports multi-link communication is used to implement the optional implementation of the second aspect.

In a seventh aspect, embodiments of this disclosure also provide a communication system, including an access point device supporting multi-link communication and a site device supporting multi-link communication; wherein the access point device supporting multi-link communication is configured to perform the optional implementation described in the first aspect, and the site device supporting multi-link communication is configured to perform the optional implementation described in the second aspect.

Eighthly, embodiments of this disclosure also provide a storage medium storing instructions that, when executed on a communication device, cause the communication device to perform the optional implementation described in the first or second aspect.

Ninthly, embodiments of this disclosure provide a program product that, when executed by a communication device, causes the communication device to perform the method as described in the optional implementations of the first or second aspect.

In a tenth aspect, embodiments of this disclosure provide a computer program that, when run on a computer, causes the computer to perform the methods described in an optional implementation of the first or second aspect.

Eleventhly, embodiments of this disclosure provide a chip or chip system. The chip or chip system includes processing circuitry configured to perform the methods described in the optional implementations of the first or second aspect above.

It is understood that the aforementioned communication devices, communication systems, storage media, program products, computer programs, chips, or chip systems are all used to perform the methods proposed in the embodiments of this disclosure. Therefore, the beneficial effects that can be achieved can be referred to the beneficial effects in the corresponding methods, and will not be repeated here.

This disclosure provides communication methods, communication devices, and communication systems. In some embodiments, the terms "communication method" and "signal transmission method," "wireless frame transmission method," etc., can be used interchangeably, as can the terms "information processing system" and "communication system."

This disclosure is not exhaustive, but merely illustrative of some embodiments, and is not intended to limit the scope of protection of this disclosure. Unless otherwise specified, each step in a particular embodiment can be implemented as an independent embodiment, and the steps can be arbitrarily combined. For example, a solution after removing some steps in a particular embodiment can also be implemented as an independent embodiment, and the order of the steps in a particular embodiment can be arbitrarily interchanged. Furthermore, the optional implementation methods in a particular embodiment can be arbitrarily combined; moreover, the embodiments can be arbitrarily combined, for example, some or all steps of different embodiments can be arbitrarily combined, and a particular embodiment can be arbitrarily combined with the optional implementation methods of other embodiments.

In each of the disclosed embodiments, unless otherwise specified or in case of logical conflict, the terminology and/or descriptions of the embodiments are consistent and can be referenced by each other. Technical features in different embodiments can be combined to form new embodiments based on their inherent logical relationships.

The terminology used in the embodiments of this disclosure is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the scope of this disclosure.

In the embodiments disclosed herein, "multiple" refers to two or more.

In some embodiments, the terms “at least one of”, “one or more”, “a plurality of”, “multiple”, etc., may be used interchangeably.

In some embodiments, the notation "at least one of A and B", "A and/or B", "A in one case, B in another", "in response to one case A, in response to another case B", etc., may include the following technical solutions depending on the situation: in some embodiments, A (execute A regardless of B); in some embodiments, B (execute B regardless of A); in some embodiments, execution is selected from A and B (A and B are selectively executed); in some embodiments, A and B (both A and B are executed). The same applies when there are more branches such as A, B, C, etc.

In some embodiments, the notation "A or B" may include the following technical solutions, depending on the situation: in some embodiments, A (execution of A regardless of B); in some embodiments, B (execution of B regardless of A); in some embodiments, execution is selected from A and B (A and B are selectively executed). The same applies when there are more branches such as A, B, C, etc.

The prefixes "first,""second," etc., used in the embodiments of this disclosure are merely for distinguishing different descriptive objects and do not impose restrictions on the position, order, priority, quantity, or content of the descriptive objects. The description of the descriptive objects is found in the claims or the context of the embodiments, and the use of prefixes should not constitute unnecessary restrictions. For example, if the descriptive object is a "field," the ordinal numbers preceding "field" in "first field" and "second field" do not restrict the position or order of the "fields.""First" and "second" do not restrict whether the "fields" they modify are in the same message, nor do they restrict the order of "first field" and "second field." Similarly, if the descriptive object is a "level," the ordinal numbers preceding "level" in "first level" and "second level" do not restrict the priority between "levels." Furthermore, the number of descriptive objects is not limited by ordinal numbers and can be one or more. For example, in "first device," the number of "devices" can be one or more. Furthermore, different prefixes can modify the same or different objects. For example, if the object being described is "device," then "first device" and "second device" can be the same device or different devices, and their types can be the same or different. Similarly, if the object being described is "information," then "first information" and "second information"... It can be the same information or different information; the content can be the same or different.

In some embodiments, “including A,” “containing A,” “for indicating A,” and “carrying A” can be interpreted as directly carrying A or indirectly indicating A.

In some embodiments, the terms “in response to…”, “in response to determining…”, “in the case of…”, “when…”, “if…”, “if…”, etc., can be used interchangeably.

In some embodiments, the terms “greater than”, “greater than or equal to”, “not less than”, “more than”, “more than or equal to”, “not less than”, “higher than”, “higher than or equal to”, “not lower than”, and “above” can be used interchangeably, as can the terms “less than”, “less than or equal to”, “not greater than”, “less than”, “less than or equal to”, “not more than”, “lower than”, “lower than or equal to”, “not higher than”, and “below”.

In some embodiments, the apparatus and device may be interpreted as physical or virtual, and their names are not limited to the names recorded in the embodiments. In some cases, they may also be understood as "equipment", "device", "circuit", "network element", "node", "function", "unit", "section", "system", "network", "chip", "chip system", "entity", "body", etc.

In some embodiments, "network" can be interpreted as devices included in the network, such as access network devices, core network devices, etc.

In some embodiments, the acquisition of data, information, etc., may comply with the laws and regulations of the country where the location is situated.

In some embodiments, data, information, etc., may be obtained with the user's consent.

Furthermore, each element, each row, or each column in the table of this disclosure can be implemented as an independent embodiment, and any combination of any element, any row, or any column can also be implemented as an independent embodiment.

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the architecture of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

As shown in Figure 1, the communication system 100 includes an access point device (AP MLD, also known as a multi-link access point device; Access Point, AP, access point device; Multi-Link Device, multi-link device) 101 that supports multi-link communication and a site device (Non-Access Point Multi-Link Device, Non-AP MLD, also known as a multi-link site device) 102 that supports multi-link communication.

In some embodiments, the access point device can be an access point for mobile terminals to access a wired network. An AP acts as a bridge connecting wired and wireless networks, its main function being to connect various wireless network clients together and then connect the wireless network to the Ethernet. Specifically, an AP can be a terminal device or network device with a Wi-Fi chip. Optionally, the AP can support various WLAN standards such as 802.11ax, 802.11be, 802.11ac, 802.11n, 802.11g, 802.11b, 802.11a, 802.11bf, and 802.11bn, as well as the next-generation 802.11 protocol, but is not limited to these.

In some embodiments, the site equipment includes, for example, a wireless communication chip, a wireless sensor, or a wireless communication terminal that supports Wi-Fi communication. Optionally, the wireless communication terminal may be at least one of, but is not limited to, a mobile phone, a wearable device, an IoT device that supports Wi-Fi communication, a car with Wi-Fi communication capabilities, a smart car, a tablet computer, a computer with wireless transceiver capabilities, a virtual reality (VR) terminal device, an augmented reality (AR) terminal device, a wireless terminal device in industrial control, a wireless terminal device in self-driving, a wireless terminal device in remote medical surgery, a wireless terminal device in a smart grid, a wireless terminal device in transportation safety, a wireless terminal device in a smart city, and a wireless terminal device in a smart home.

Specifically, the site equipment can be a terminal device or network device with a Wi-Fi chip. Optionally, the site equipment can support multiple WLAN standards such as 802.11ax, 802.11be, 802.11ac, 802.11n, 802.11g, 802.11b, 802.11a, 802.11bf, and 802.11bn, as well as the next-generation 802.11 protocol, but is not limited to these.

It is understood that the communication system described in this disclosure is for the purpose of more clearly illustrating the technical solutions of this disclosure, and does not constitute a limitation on the technical solutions proposed in this disclosure. As those skilled in the art will know, with the evolution of system architecture and the emergence of new business scenarios, the technical solutions proposed in this disclosure are also applicable to similar technical problems.

The following embodiments of this disclosure can be applied to the communication system 100 shown in FIG1, or to some of the main bodies, but are not limited thereto. The main bodies shown in FIG1 are illustrative. The communication system may include all or some of the main bodies in FIG1, or may include other main bodies outside of FIG1. The number and form of each main body are arbitrary. Each main body may be physical or virtual. The connection relationship between the main bodies is illustrative. The main bodies may not be connected or may be connected. The connection can be in any way, it can be a direct connection or an indirect connection, it can be a wired connection or a wireless connection.

The embodiments disclosed herein can be applied to Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs), such as WLANs using the 802.11 series of protocols. In a WLAN, a Basic Service Set (BSS) is a fundamental component. An BSS network consists of site devices within a specific coverage area that have some kind of association. One type of association is where sites communicate directly with each other in a self-organizing network; this is called an Independent Basic Service Set (IBSS). Another… A more common scenario is that in a BSS network, there is only one central site dedicated to managing the BSS, called the Access Point (AP). Other sites in the BSS network that are not APs are called terminals, also known as non-AP STAs. APs and non-AP STAs are collectively referred to as STAs. When describing STAs, there is no need to distinguish between APs and non-AP STAs. Within the same BSS network, due to distance, transmission power, and other factors, a STA cannot detect other STAs that are far away; they are each other's hidden nodes.

Figure 2 is one of the interactive schematic diagrams of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in Figure 2, the method includes:

Step 201, AP MLD101 determines a first radio frame; wherein the first radio frame is used to identify the power management mode of at least one affiliated access point device AP of AP MLD101.

In UHR (Ultra High Reliability), power saving (PS) is a key research focus, but power saving for access points (APs) is still under development. Typically, APs can be categorized into three types: soft APs (or soft AP MLD101), non-simultaneous transmitting and receiving (NSTR) mobile APs (or NSTR mobile AP MLD101), and regular APs (or regular AP MLD101). Regular APs, such as routers, support both simultaneous transmitting and receiving (STR) and NSTR communication. Taking soft APs and NSTR mobile APs as examples, they are usually battery-powered, resulting in high power consumption, and their communication with STAs is typically not continuous for extended periods. Therefore, a mechanism to support AP power saving is needed.

In a UHR, the AP may still support multi-link communication, and the STA may also be attached to a non-AP MLD102, supporting multi-link communication as well. Following the existing 802.11be architecture, multi-link communication will be established between the two. Since the AP or AP MLD may enter power-saving mode on each link, ensuring the efficiency of establishing multiple links between the non-AP MLD and the AP MLD operating in power-saving mode requires standardized processes and mechanisms.

In this regard, in the embodiments disclosed herein, AP MLD101 determines a first radio frame and identifies the power management mode of at least one affiliated AP of AP MLD101 through the first radio frame. In this way, the power saving mechanism of the AP affiliated with AP MLD101 under the working link of the AP can be defined.

Optionally, the AP associated with AP MLD101 may also be referred to as the AP attached to AP MLD101, and this disclosure does not limit this name.

Optionally, the first radio frame may include a Beacon frame or a Probe Response frame.

Optionally, in this embodiment of the disclosure, the first wireless frame includes at least one first identification information and/or at least one second identification information;

The first identification information corresponding to the first AP in the at least one first identification information indicates whether the first AP is in power saving mode;

The second identification information corresponding to the first AP in the at least one second identification information identifies: the communication parameters of the first AP in power-saving mode;

The first AP is one of the affiliated APs of AP MLD101.

Optionally, the power-saving mode may include a sleep state and a non-sleep state. The sleep state may specifically include periodic sleep states and non-periodic sleep states. The non-sleep state may include a wake-up state, a low-power state, etc.

Optionally, the first identification information may indicate whether the first AP is in power-saving mode, and, when the first AP is in power-saving mode, the specific state of being in power-saving mode.

Optionally, the communication parameters of the first AP in power-saving mode may include sleep duration, sleep cycle, and the time interval between two consecutive sleep states.

Optionally, for each first AP, the first identification information corresponding to the first AP and the second identification information corresponding to the first AP are in one-to-one correspondence. That is, when the first identification information indicates whether the first AP is in power saving mode, the second identification information indicates the communication parameters of the first AP in power saving mode.

Optionally, the low capability state can also be referred to as a low-capability communication mode, a low-power communication mode, a listening state, or a low-power communication phase, etc., and this disclosure does not limit the use of such names. The low capability state can be relative to the high capability state (high capability, full capability), and the high capability state can also be referred to as a high-capability communication mode, a high-power communication mode, or a high-power communication phase, etc., and this disclosure does not limit the use of such names.

Optionally, in low-capacity mode, the operating parameters are a 20MHz (Mega Hertz) basic bandwidth (i.e., BW = 20MHz; where BW stands for bandwidth), the number of SS (Spatial Stream) is 1 (i.e., NSS = 1), and the MCS (Modulation and Coding Scheme) is, for example, from MCS0 to MCS6. In high-capacity mode, the operating parameters are greater than or equal to 20MHz, the BW can also be 40/80/160/320MHz, the number of SS is greater than or equal to 2, and the MCS is, for example, from MCS6 to MCS14, etc.

Optionally, in this embodiment of the disclosure, the second identification information includes a first identification field and/or a second identification field; the power-saving mode The formula includes dormant and non-dormant states;

The first identifier field indicates the sleep duration of the first AP in sleep mode;

The second identifier field identifies the sleep cycle during which the first AP is in a periodic sleep state.

Optionally, the sleep time information of the first AP in sleep state may include at least two of the following: the time when the first AP enters sleep state (i.e., sleep start time), the duration of the first AP in sleep state (i.e., sleep duration), and the time when the first AP ends sleep state (i.e., sleep end time).

As an example, assume the hibernation start time is t0, the hibernation duration identified by the first identifier field is T1, and the hibernation end time is t1, i.e., t1 = t0 + T1. Then: If the hibernation time information includes the hibernation start time t0 and the hibernation duration T1, it can be determined that the first AP enters hibernation at t0 and ends hibernation when the duration of hibernation reaches T1 (i.e., t1). If the hibernation time information includes the hibernation start time t0 and the hibernation end time t1, it can be determined that the first AP enters hibernation at t0 and ends hibernation at t1. If the hibernation time information includes the hibernation duration T1 and the hibernation end time t1, it can be determined that the hibernation end time is (t1 - T1), the first AP enters hibernation at (t1 - T1), and ends hibernation at t1.

Optionally, the sleep cycle in which the first AP is periodically in a sleep state may include: the sleep interval between two consecutive sleep states when the first AP is periodically in a sleep state, which may also be referred to as the sleep cycle in which the first AP periodically goes into sleep.

Optionally, the duration indicated by the sleep cycle identified by the second identifier field should be greater than the duration corresponding to the sleep duration identified by the first identifier field.

As an example, suppose the second identification information includes a first identification field and a second identification field, the sleep start time is t0, the sleep duration identified by the first identification field is T1, the sleep end time is t1, and the sleep interval identified by the second identification field is T2, where T2 > T1. Then, with a sleep duration of T1, a sleep start time of t0, and a sleep cycle including a sleep interval T2, it can be determined that the first AP enters a sleep state at t0, ends the sleep state when the duration of the sleep state reaches T1 (i.e., reaches t1), and re-enters the sleep state when the time (t0+T2) arrives. When the duration of the sleep state again reaches T1 (i.e., reaches t1+T2), the sleep state ends, and re-enters the sleep state when the time (t0+2*T2) arrives, and so on, to achieve the periodic sleep state of the first AP.

Optionally, in embodiments of this disclosure,

When the second identification information includes the first identification field, the second identification information corresponding to the first AP in the at least one second identification information indicates that the first AP is in a sleep state during the sleep duration indicated by the first identification field, and is in a non-sleep state outside the sleep duration indicated by the first identification field.

When the second identification information includes the first identification field and the second identification field, the second identification information corresponding to the first AP in the at least one second identification information indicates that the first AP is periodically in a sleep state based on the sleep cycle indicated by the second identification field and the sleep duration indicated by the first identification field.

Optionally, the first AP is in a dormant state periodically based on the dormant period identified by the second identifier field and the dormant duration identified by the first identifier field. That is, the first AP is in a dormant state within the dormant period identified by the second identifier field and within the dormant duration identified by the first identifier field, and is in a non-dormant state outside the dormant duration identified by the first identifier field. In other words, the first AP enters a dormant state within the dormant duration of a dormant period and is in a non-dormant state outside the non-dormant duration of the dormant period.

Optionally, in this embodiment of the disclosure, the first radio frame includes a Basic Multi-Link element; the Basic Multi-Link element includes a Per-STA Profile sub-element;

The first identification information is carried in the STA Control field of the Per-STA Profile sub-element; and/or

The second identification information is carried in the STA Info field of the Per-STA Profile sub-element.

As an example, bits B12 and B13 of the STA Control field can be combined to form a first subfield, which indicates the first identification information.

As an example, the STA Info field may include a Power Mode Info subfield, through which a second identification information is indicated.

As an example, see Table 1, which shows the field format of the STA Control field in the Basic Multi-Link element:

Table 1:

Referring to Table 1, the STA Control field may include the Link ID subfield, the Complete Profile subfield, the BSS Parameters Change Count Present subfield, the Power Mode Present subfield, and the Reserved subfield.

Optionally, the Power Mode Present subfield can be used as the first identification information. Optionally, the Link ID subfield can indicate the link identifier of the working link where any first AP is located. Correspondingly, the Power Mode Present subfield indicates whether the first AP is in power-saving mode under the working link where the first AP is located. When the Power Mode Present subfield indicates that the STA Info field contains the Power Mode subfield, it indicates that the first AP is in power-saving mode under the working link where the first AP is located. Correspondingly, the STA field includes the second identification information. When the Power Mode Present subfield indicates that the STA Info field does not contain the Power Mode subfield, it indicates that the first AP is not in power-saving mode under the working link where the first AP is located. Correspondingly, the STA field does not include the second identification information.

The Link ID subfield occupies 4 bits in the STA Control field, with the corresponding bit order being B0 to B3. The Complete Profile subfield occupies 1 bit in the STA Control field, with the corresponding bit order being B4. The BSS Parameters Change Count Present subfield occupies 1 bit in the STA Control field, with the corresponding bit order being B11. The Power Mode Present subfield occupies 2 bits in the STA Control field, with the corresponding bit order being B12 to B13.

As an example, see Table 2, which shows the field format of the STA Info field in the Basic Multi-Link element:

Table 2:

Referring to Table 2, the STA Info field may include the STA Info Length (site device information length) subfield, the STA MAC Address (site device media access control address) subfield, the BSS Parameters Change Count (basic service set parameter change count) subfield, and the Power Mode (power saving mode) subfield. The Power Mode subfield can be used as secondary identification information.

The STA Info Length subfield occupies 1 byte in the STA Info field. The STA MAC Address subfield occupies 0 or 6 bytes in the STA Info field. The BSS Parameters Change Count subfield occupies 0 or 1 byte in the STA Info field. The Power Mode subfield occupies 0 or TBD bytes in the STA Info field.

Optionally, if the BSS Parameters Change Count Present subfield in the STA Control field indicates the number of basic service set parameter changes, the STA Info field includes a BSS Parameters Change Count subfield, and the BSS Parameters Change Count subfield occupies 1 byte in the STA Info field. If the Power Mode Present subfield in the STA Control field indicates the presence of a power-saving mode, the STA Info field includes a Power Mode subfield, and the Power Mode subfield occupies TBD bytes in the STA Info field.

As an example, see Table 3, which shows the field format of the Power Mode subfield:

Table 3:

Referring to Table 3, the Power Mode subfield may include a Doze Duration field and a Doze Interval field (the interval between two consecutive doze states, i.e., the doze cycle). The Doze Duration field can be used as the first identifier field, and the Doze Interval field as the second identifier field.

Optionally, in this embodiment of the disclosure, the first subfield of the STA Control field is set to a first parameter value, and the first identification information indicates that the power saving mode is in a sleep state.

Optionally, if the first subfield of the STA Control field is set to another parameter value, the first identification information indicates that the power saving mode is in a non-sleep state.

As an example, assuming that bits B12 and B13 of the STA Control field form the first subfield, when the first subfield is set to 1 (i.e., the first parameter value is 01, and B12 and B13 are set to 1 and 0 respectively), it indicates that the power saving mode is in sleep mode; when the first subfield is set to 2 (i.e., B12 and B13 are set to 0 and 1 respectively), it indicates that the power saving mode is in non-sleep mode.

As another example, assuming that bits B12 and B13 of the STA Control field constitute the first subfield, and the non-sleep state includes the active state and the low-capacity state, then when the first subfield is set to 01 (i.e., the first parameter value is 01, and B12 and B13 are set to 1 and 0 respectively), the power-saving mode is indicated to be in sleep mode; when the first subfield is set to 00 (i.e., the second parameter value is 00, and B12 and B13 are set to 0 and 0 respectively), the power-saving mode is indicated to be in active mode; and when the first subfield is set to 11 (i.e., the third parameter value is 3, and B12 and B13 are set to 1 and 1 respectively), the power-saving mode is indicated to be in low-capacity state.

Optionally, in this embodiment of the disclosure, if the first subfield is set to the first parameter value, the STA Info field carries the second identification information.

Optionally, the first subfield is set to the first parameter value, that is, the first identification information indicates that the power saving mode of the first AP is in sleep mode. Correspondingly, the communication parameters indicating that the first AP is in sleep mode can be carried in the STA Info field by carrying the second identification information.

Step 202: AP MLD101 sends the first radio frame to the non-AP MLD102, a site device supporting multi-link communication. Correspondingly, non-AP MLD102 receives the first radio frame sent by AP MLD101.

Optionally, AP MLD101 can send the first radio frame to non-AP MLD102 via one of the multiple links supported by AP MLD101.

In the above embodiments, the non-AP MLD102 can communicate with the auxiliary AP of AP MLD101 based on the power management mode of the auxiliary AP of AP MLD101 identified by the first received radio frame, thereby effectively reducing the power consumption of AP MLD101 while ensuring the efficiency and accuracy of multi-link establishment between multi-link devices.

Step 203, non-AP MLD102 determines a second radio frame; wherein, the second radio frame identifies that: the non-AP MLD102 requests to establish at least one second link with the AP MLD101.

Optionally, the second radio frame may include an Association Request frame or a Re Association Request frame.

Optionally, the second link can be a working link of an AP attached to AP MLD101 and in power-saving mode, or it can be a working link of an AP attached to AP MLD101 and not in power-saving mode (i.e., in active mode).

Step 204: non-AP MLD102 sends the second radio frame to AP MLD101 through the first link; correspondingly, AP MLD101 receives the second radio frame sent by non-AP MLD102 through the first link.

The first link includes the working link of a second AP attached to AP MLD101 and in active mode; or, the first link includes the working link of a third AP attached to AP MLD101 and in non-dormant state.

Optionally, non-AP MLD102 can select the working link of any of the affiliated APs according to the power management mode of the affiliated APs of AP MLD101 indicated by the first radio frame, and send a second radio frame to AP MLD101.

Optionally, the first link may be the same as or different from the second link, and this disclosure does not limit this.

Step 205: After receiving the second radio frame, AP MLD101 performs at least one of the following operations:

The second link is the working link of the fourth AP attached to the AP MLD101 and in power saving mode, and the fourth AP accepts the establishment of the second link with the non-AP MLD102, then the fourth AP switches to non-sleep state;

The second link is the working link of the fifth AP attached to the AP MLD101 and in power-saving mode. If the fifth AP does not accept establishing the second link with the non-AP MLD102, then the fifth AP remains in its current sleep state.

If the second link is the working link of the sixth AP attached to the AP MLD101 and not in power saving mode, then the sixth AP maintains its current power mode.

Optionally, the second link can be divided into two categories based on whether it is a working link of an auxiliary AP in power-saving mode. If the second link is a working link of an auxiliary AP in power-saving mode, it is determined to be a first-category link; if the second link is not a working link of an auxiliary AP in power-saving mode, it is determined not to be a first-category link.

If the second link is a first-class link, when the AP corresponding to the second link (i.e. the fourth AP) accepts the (re)association request initiated by non-AP MLD102, the AP corresponding to the second link switches to a non-dormant state; and the specific non-dormant state to which the fourth AP is switched can be determined according to the parameter value of the first sub-field.

If the second link is a Class 1 link, the AP corresponding to the second link (i.e., the fifth AP) will remain in its current dormant state if it does not accept the (re)association request initiated by non-AP MLD102.

If the second link is not a Class 1 link, the AP corresponding to the second link (i.e., the sixth AP) will maintain the current power mode.

In some embodiments, the names of information, etc., are not limited to the names described in the embodiments. Terms such as "information", "message", "signal", "signaling", "report", "configuration", "indication", "instruction", "command", "channel", "parameter", "domain", "field", "symbol", "bit", "data", "program", and "chip" can be used interchangeably.

In some embodiments, terms such as “moment,” “point in time,” “time,” and “time location” can be used interchangeably, as can terms such as “duration,” “segment,” “time window,” “window,” and “time.”

In some embodiments, terms such as wireless access scheme and waveform can be used interchangeably.

In some embodiments, terms such as "certain," "preset," "default," "set," "indicated," "a certain," "any," and "first" can be used interchangeably. "Certain A," "preset A," "default A," "set A," "indicated A," "a certain A," "any A," and "first A" can be interpreted as A pre-defined in a protocol or the like, or as A obtained through setting, configuration, or instruction, or as specific A, a certain A, any A, or first A, but are not limited thereto.

In some embodiments, the determination or judgment can be made by a value represented by 1 bit (0 or 1), or by a true or false value (boolean), or by a comparison of numerical values (e.g., a comparison with a predetermined value), but is not limited thereto.

In some embodiments, "not expecting to receive" can be interpreted as not receiving on time domain resources and/or frequency domain resources, or as not performing subsequent processing on the data after receiving it; "not expecting to send" can be interpreted as not sending, or as sending but not expecting the receiver to respond to the sent content.

The communication method involved in the embodiments of this disclosure may include the foregoing steps and at least one of the embodiments. For example, step 201 may be implemented as an independent embodiment, step 202 may be implemented as an independent embodiment, step 203 may be implemented as an independent embodiment, step 204 may be implemented as an independent embodiment, and step 205 may be implemented as an independent embodiment; the combination of step 201 and step 202 may be implemented as an independent embodiment, the combination of step 203 and step 204 may be implemented as an independent embodiment, the combination of step 203, step 204 and step 205 may be implemented as an independent embodiment, and the combination of step 201, step 202, step 203, step 204 and step 205 may be implemented as an independent embodiment, but is not limited thereto.

In some embodiments, other optional implementations described before or after the specification corresponding to FIG2 may be referred to.

Figure 3 is a schematic flowchart of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

As shown in Figure 3, the above method can be applied to non-AP MLD101, and the method includes:

Step 301, AP MLD101 determines a first radio frame; wherein the first radio frame is used to identify the power management mode of at least one affiliated access point device AP of AP MLD101.

Optionally, in this embodiment of the disclosure, the first wireless frame includes at least one first identification information and/or at least one second identification information;

The first identification information corresponding to the first AP in the at least one first identification information indicates whether the first AP is in power saving mode;

The second identification information corresponding to the first AP in the at least one second identification information identifies: the communication parameters of the first AP in power-saving mode;

The first AP is one of the affiliated APs of AP MLD101.

Optionally, in this embodiment of the disclosure, the second identification information includes a first identification field and/or a second identification field; the power saving mode includes a sleep state and a non-sleep state;

The first identifier field indicates the sleep duration of the first AP in sleep mode;

The second identifier field identifies the sleep cycle during which the first AP is in a periodic sleep state.

Optionally, in embodiments of this disclosure,

When the second identification information includes the first identification field, the second identification information corresponding to the first AP in the at least one second identification information indicates that the first AP is in a sleep state during the sleep duration indicated by the first identification field, and is in a non-sleep state outside the sleep duration indicated by the first identification field.

When the second identification information includes the first identification field and the second identification field, the second identification information corresponding to the first AP in the at least one second identification information indicates that the first AP is periodically in a sleep state based on the sleep cycle indicated by the second identification field and the sleep duration indicated by the first identification field.

Optionally, in this embodiment of the disclosure, the first radio frame includes a Basic Multi-Link element; the Basic Multi-Link element includes a Per-STA Profile sub-element.

The first identification information is carried in the STA Control field of the Per-STA Profile sub-element; and/or

The second identification information is carried in the STA Info field of the Per-STA Profile sub-element.

Optionally, in this embodiment of the disclosure, the first subfield of the STA Control field is set to a first parameter value, and the first identification information indicates that the power saving mode is in a sleep state.

Optionally, in this embodiment of the disclosure, if the first subfield is set to the first parameter value, the STA Info field carries the second identification information.

The optional implementation of step 301 can be found in the optional implementation of step 201 in Figure 2 and other related parts in the embodiments involved in Figure 2, which will not be repeated here.

Step 302, AP MLD101 sends the first radio frame to the site device non-AP MLD102 that supports multi-link communication.

The optional implementation of step 302 can be found in the optional implementation of step 202 in Figure 2 and other related parts in the embodiments involved in Figure 2, which will not be repeated here.

Step 303: AP MLD101 receives a second radio frame sent by non-AP MLD102 through the first link; wherein, the second radio frame indicates that the non-AP MLD102 requests to establish at least one second link with AP MLD101.

The first link includes the working link of a second AP attached to AP MLD101 and in active mode; or, the first link includes the working link of a third AP attached to AP MLD101 and in non-dormant state.

The optional implementation of step 303 can be found in the optional implementations of steps 203 and 204 in Figure 2, as well as other related parts in the embodiments involved in Figure 2, which will not be repeated here.

Step 304: After receiving the second radio frame, AP MLD101 performs at least one of the following operations:

The second link is the working link of the fourth AP attached to the AP MLD101 and in power saving mode, and the fourth AP accepts the establishment of the second link with the non-AP MLD102, then the fourth AP switches to non-sleep state;

The second link is the working link of the fifth AP attached to the AP MLD101 and in power-saving mode. If the fifth AP does not accept establishing the second link with the non-AP MLD102, then the fifth AP remains in its current sleep state.

If the second link is the working link of the sixth AP attached to the AP MLD101 and not in power saving mode, then the sixth AP maintains its current power mode.

The optional implementation of step 304 can be found in the optional implementation of step 205 in Figure 2 and other related parts in the embodiments involved in Figure 2, which will not be repeated here.

The communication method involved in the embodiments of this disclosure may include the foregoing steps and at least one of the embodiments. For example, step 301 may be implemented as an independent embodiment, step 302 may be implemented as an independent embodiment, step 303 may be implemented as an independent embodiment, and step 304 may be implemented as an independent embodiment; the combination of step 301 and step 302 may be implemented as an independent embodiment, the combination of step 303 and step 304 may be implemented as an independent embodiment, and the combination of step 301, step 302, step 303 and step 304 may be implemented as an independent embodiment, but is not limited thereto.

In some embodiments, other optional implementations may be described before or after the specification corresponding to FIG3.

Figure 4 is a second schematic flowchart illustrating a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

As shown in Figure 4, the above method can be applied to non-AP MLD102, and the method includes:

Step 401, non-AP MLD102 receives a first radio frame sent by AP MLD101; wherein the first radio frame is used to identify the power management mode of at least one affiliated access point device AP of AP MLD101.

Optionally, in this embodiment of the disclosure, the first wireless frame includes at least one first identification information and/or at least one second identification information;

The first identification information corresponding to the first AP in the at least one first identification information indicates whether the first AP is in power saving mode;

The second identification information corresponding to the first AP in the at least one second identification information identifies: the communication parameters of the first AP in power-saving mode;

The first AP is one of the affiliated APs of AP MLD101.

Optionally, in this embodiment of the disclosure, the second identification information includes a first identification field and/or a second identification field; the power saving mode includes a sleep state and a non-sleep state;

The first identifier field indicates the sleep duration of the first AP in sleep mode;

The second identifier field identifies the sleep cycle during which the first AP is in a periodic sleep state.

Optionally, in embodiments of this disclosure,

When the second identification information includes the first identification field, the second identification information corresponding to the first AP in the at least one second identification information indicates that the first AP is in a sleep state during the sleep duration indicated by the first identification field, and is in a non-sleep state outside the sleep duration indicated by the first identification field.

When the second identification information includes the first identification field and the second identification field, the second identification information corresponding to the first AP in the at least one second identification information indicates that the first AP is periodically in a sleep state based on the sleep cycle indicated by the second identification field and the sleep duration indicated by the first identification field.

Optionally, in this embodiment of the disclosure, the first radio frame includes a Basic Multi-Link element; the Basic Multi-Link element includes a Per-STA Profile sub-element.

The first identification information is carried in the STA Control field of the Per-STA Profile sub-element; and/or

The second identification information is carried in the STA Info field of the Per-STA Profile sub-element.

Optionally, in this embodiment of the disclosure, the first subfield of the STA Control field is set to a first parameter value, and the first identification information indicates that the power saving mode is in a sleep state.

Optionally, in this embodiment of the disclosure, if the first subfield is set to the first parameter value, the STA Info field carries the second identification information.

The optional implementation of step 401 can be found in the optional implementations of steps 201 and 202 in Figure 2, as well as other related parts in the embodiments involved in Figure 2, which will not be repeated here.

Step 402, non-AP MLD102 determines a second radio frame; wherein, the second radio frame identifies that: the non-AP MLD102 requests to establish at least one second link with the AP MLD101.

The optional implementation of step 402 can be found in the optional implementation of step 203 in Figure 2 and other related parts in the embodiments involved in Figure 2, which will not be repeated here.

Step 403: non-AP MLD102 sends the second radio frame to AP MLD101 via the first link;

The first link includes the working link of a second AP attached to AP MLD101 and in active mode; or, the first link includes the working link of a third AP attached to AP MLD101 and in non-dormant state.

The optional implementation of step 403 can be found in the optional implementation of step 204 in Figure 2 and other related parts in the embodiments involved in Figure 2, which will not be repeated here.

The communication method involved in the embodiments of this disclosure may include the foregoing steps and at least one of the embodiments. For example, step 401 may be implemented as an independent embodiment, step 402 may be implemented as an independent embodiment, and step 403 may be implemented as an independent embodiment; the combination of step 402 and step 403 may be implemented as an independent embodiment, and the combination of step 401, step 402 and step 403 may be implemented as an independent embodiment, but is not limited thereto.

In some embodiments, other optional implementations may be described before or after the specification corresponding to Figure 4.

Figure 5 is a second interactive schematic diagram of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

As shown in Figure 5, the above method includes:

Step 501, AP MLD101 determines a first radio frame; wherein the first radio frame is used to identify the power management mode of at least one affiliated access point device AP of AP MLD101.

Optionally, in this embodiment of the disclosure, the first wireless frame includes at least one first identification information and/or at least one second identification information;

The first identification information corresponding to the first AP in the at least one first identification information indicates whether the first AP is in power saving mode;

The second identification information corresponding to the first AP in the at least one second identification information indicates that the first AP is in power saving mode. Communication parameters in the mode;

The first AP is one of the affiliated APs of AP MLD101.

Optionally, in this embodiment of the disclosure, the second identification information includes a first identification field and/or a second identification field; the power saving mode includes a sleep state and a non-sleep state;

The first identifier field indicates the sleep duration of the first AP in sleep mode;

The second identifier field identifies the sleep cycle during which the first AP is in a periodic sleep state.

Optionally, in embodiments of this disclosure,

When the second identification information includes the first identification field, the second identification information corresponding to the first AP in the at least one second identification information indicates that the first AP is in a sleep state during the sleep duration indicated by the first identification field, and is in a non-sleep state outside the sleep duration indicated by the first identification field.

When the second identification information includes the first identification field and the second identification field, the second identification information corresponding to the first AP in the at least one second identification information indicates that the first AP is periodically in a sleep state based on the sleep cycle indicated by the second identification field and the sleep duration indicated by the first identification field.

Optionally, in this embodiment of the disclosure, the first radio frame includes a Basic Multi-Link element; the Basic Multi-Link element includes a Per-STA Profile sub-element.

The first identification information is carried in the STA Control field of the Per-STA Profile sub-element; and/or

The second identification information is carried in the STA Info field of the Per-STA Profile sub-element.

Optionally, in this embodiment of the disclosure, the first subfield of the STA Control field is set to a first parameter value, and the first identification information indicates that the power saving mode is in a sleep state.

Optionally, in this embodiment of the disclosure, if the first subfield is set to the first parameter value, the STA Info field carries the second identification information.

The optional implementation of step 501 can be found in the optional implementation of step 201 in Figure 2 and other related parts in the embodiments involved in Figure 2, which will not be repeated here.

Step 502: AP MLD101 sends the first radio frame to the non-AP MLD102, a site device supporting multi-link communication. Correspondingly, non-AP MLD102 receives the first radio frame sent by AP MLD101.

The optional implementation of step 502 can be found in the optional implementation of step 202 in Figure 2 and other related parts in the embodiments involved in Figure 2, which will not be repeated here.

This disclosure also provides an apparatus for implementing any of the above methods. For example, an apparatus is provided that includes units or modules for implementing the steps performed by the terminal in any of the above methods. Alternatively, another apparatus is provided that includes units or modules for implementing the steps performed by a network device (e.g., an access network device, a core network functional node, a core network device, etc.) in any of the above methods.

It should be understood that the division of units or modules in the above device is only a logical functional division. In actual implementation, they can be fully or partially integrated into a single physical entity, or they can be physically separated. Furthermore, the units or modules in the device can be implemented by a processor calling software: for example, the device includes a processor connected to a memory containing instructions. The processor calls the instructions stored in the memory to implement any of the above methods or to implement the functions of the units or modules in the above device. The processor can be, for example, a general-purpose processor, such as a Central Processing Unit (CPU) or a microprocessor, and the memory can be internal or external to the device. Alternatively, the units or modules in the device can be implemented in the form of hardware circuits. The functions of some or all units or modules can be achieved through the design of these hardware circuits, which can be understood as one or more processors. For example, in one implementation, the hardware circuit is an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), and the functions of some or all of the units or modules are achieved through the design of the logical relationships between the components within the circuit. In another implementation, the hardware circuit can be implemented using a programmable logic device (PLD), such as a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), which can include a large number of logic gates. The connection relationships between the logic gates are configured through configuration files, thereby achieving the functions of some or all of the units or modules. All units or modules of the above device can be implemented entirely through processor-called software, entirely through hardware circuits, or partially through... The processor implements the functionality in software, while the remaining parts are implemented through hardware circuitry.

In this embodiment, the processor is a circuit with signal processing capabilities. In one implementation, the processor can be a circuit with instruction read and execute capabilities, such as a Central Processing Unit (CPU), a microprocessor, a graphics processing unit (GPU) (which can be understood as a microprocessor), or a digital signal processor (DSP). In another implementation, the processor can implement certain functions through the logical relationships of hardware circuits. The logical relationships of the aforementioned hardware circuits are fixed or reconfigurable. For example, the processor is a hardware circuit implemented using an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or a programmable logic device (PLD), such as an FPGA. In a reconfigurable hardware circuit, the process of the processor loading a configuration document and configuring the hardware circuit can be understood as the process of the processor loading instructions to implement the functions of some or all of the above units or modules. In addition, it can also be hardware circuits designed for artificial intelligence, which can be understood as ASICs, such as Neural Network Processing Unit (NPU), Tensor Processing Unit (TPU), Deep Learning Processing Unit (DPU), etc.

Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of the structure of an access point device supporting multi-link communication according to an embodiment of this disclosure. As shown in Figure 6, the access point device AP MLD600 supporting multi-link communication may include at least one of a determination module 601, a transmission module 602, etc.

In some embodiments, the determining module 601 is configured to determine a first wireless frame; wherein the first wireless frame is used to identify the power management mode of at least one auxiliary access point device (AP) of the AP MLD; the sending module is configured to send the first wireless frame to a site device (non-AP MLD) that supports multi-link communication; and the sending module 602 is configured to send the first wireless frame to a second AP.

Optionally, the determining module 601 is used to execute at least one of the communication steps (e.g., steps 201, 205, 301, 304, but not limited thereto) performed by the access point device 101 supporting multi-link communication in any of the above methods, which will not be described in detail here. The sending module 602 is used to execute at least one of the sending and receiving steps (e.g., steps 202, 204, 302, 303, but not limited thereto) performed by the access point device 101 supporting multi-link communication in any of the above methods, which will not be described in detail here.

Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a site device supporting multi-link communication according to an embodiment of this disclosure. As shown in Figure 7, the site device 700 supporting multi-link communication may include a receiving module 701.

In some embodiments, the receiving module 701 described above is used to receive a first wireless frame sent by an access point device (AP MLD) that supports multi-link communication;

The first wireless frame is used to identify the power management mode of at least one auxiliary access point device (AP) of the AP MLD.

Optionally, the receiving module 701 is used to perform at least one of the sending and receiving steps (e.g., steps 202, 204, 401, 403, but not limited thereto) performed by the site device 102 that supports multi-link communication in any of the above methods, which will not be described in detail here.

The aforementioned site device 700 supporting multi-link communication may include a determining module, which is used to perform at least one of the communication steps (e.g., steps 203 and 402, but not limited thereto) performed by the site device 102 supporting multi-link communication in any of the above methods, which will not be described in detail here.

Figure 8 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a terminal 800 (e.g., a user equipment) proposed in an embodiment of this disclosure. The terminal 800 may be a chip, chip system, or processor that supports network devices in implementing any of the above methods, or it may be a chip, chip system, or processor that supports a terminal in implementing any of the above methods. The terminal 800 can be used to implement the methods described in the above method embodiments; for details, please refer to the descriptions in the above method embodiments.

As shown in Figure 8, terminal 800 includes one or more processors 801. Processor 801 can be a general-purpose processor or a dedicated processor, such as a baseband processor or a central processing unit (CPU). The baseband processor can be used to process communication protocols and communication data, while the CPU can be used to control communication devices (e.g., base stations, baseband chips, terminal devices, terminal device chips, DUs or CUs, etc.), execute programs, and process program data. Terminal 800 is used to execute any of the above methods.

In some embodiments, terminal 800 further includes one or more memories 802 for storing instructions. Optionally, all or part of the memories 802 may be located outside of terminal 800.

In some embodiments, the terminal 800 further includes one or more transceivers 804. When the terminal 800 includes one or more transceivers 804, the transceivers 804 perform at least one of the communication steps such as sending and/or receiving in the above method (e.g., steps 202, 204, 302, 303, 401, 403, 502, but not limited thereto), and the processor 801 performs at least one of other steps (e.g., steps 201, 203, 205, 301, 304, 402, 501, but not limited thereto).

In some embodiments, a transceiver may include a receiver and/or a transmitter, which may be separate or integrated. Optionally, the terms transceiver, transceiver unit, transceiver, transceiver circuit, etc., can be used interchangeably; the terms transmitter, transmitting unit, transmitter, transmitting circuit, etc., can be used interchangeably; and the terms receiver, receiving unit, receiver, receiving circuit, etc., can be used interchangeably. They can be substituted for each other.

In some embodiments, terminal 800 may include one or more interface circuits 803. Optionally, interface circuit 803 is connected to memory 802, and interface circuit 803 can be used to receive signals from memory 802 or other devices, and can be used to send signals to memory 802 or other devices. For example, interface circuit 803 can read instructions stored in memory 802 and send the instructions to processor 801.

The terminal 800 described in the above embodiments may be a user equipment or other communication device, but the scope of the terminal 800 described in this disclosure is not limited thereto, and the structure of the terminal 800 may not be limited by FIG8. The communication device may be an independent device or a part of a larger device. For example, the communication device may be: (1) an independent integrated circuit IC, or chip, or chip system or subsystem; (2) a set of one or more ICs, optionally, the IC set may also include storage components for storing data and programs; (3) an ASIC, such as a modem; (4) a module that can be embedded in other devices; (5) a receiver, terminal device, smart terminal device, cellular phone, wireless device, handheld device, mobile unit, vehicle device, network device, cloud device, artificial intelligence device, etc.; (6) others, etc.

Figure 9 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the chip 900 proposed in an embodiment of this disclosure. For cases where the terminal 1300 can be a chip or a chip system, please refer to the schematic diagram of the chip 900 shown in Figure 9, but it is not limited thereto.

Chip 900 includes one or more processors 901, which are used to perform any of the above methods.

In some embodiments, chip 900 further includes one or more 903s. Optionally, interface circuitry 903 is connected to memory 902, and interface circuitry 903 can be used to receive signals from memory 902 or other devices, and interface circuitry 903 can be used to send signals to memory 902 or other devices. For example, interface circuitry 903 can read instructions stored in memory 902 and send the instructions to processor 901.

In some embodiments, the interface circuit 903 performs at least one of the communication steps such as sending and/or receiving in the above method (e.g., steps 202, 204, 302, 303, 401, 403, 502, but not limited thereto), and the processor 901 performs at least one of other steps (e.g., steps 201, 203, 205, 301, 304, 402, 501, but not limited thereto).

In some embodiments, the terms interface circuit, interface, transceiver pin, transceiver, etc., can be used interchangeably.

In some embodiments, chip 900 further includes one or more memories 902 for storing instructions. Optionally, all or part of the memories 902 may be located outside of chip 900.

This disclosure also proposes a storage medium storing instructions that, when executed on a terminal 800, cause the terminal 800 to perform any of the methods described above. Optionally, the storage medium is an electronic storage medium. Optionally, the storage medium is a computer-readable storage medium, but not limited thereto; it may also be a storage medium readable by other devices. Optionally, the storage medium may be a non-transitory storage medium, but not limited thereto; it may also be a temporary storage medium.

This disclosure also proposes a program product that, when executed by terminal 800, causes terminal 800 to perform any of the above methods. Optionally, the program product is a computer program product.

This disclosure also proposes a computer program that, when run on a computer, causes the computer to perform any of the above methods.

Claims (22)

A communication method, characterized in that it is executed by an access point device (AP MLD) supporting multi-link communication, the method comprising: A first radio frame is determined; wherein the first radio frame is used to identify: the power management mode of at least one auxiliary access point device (AP) of the AP MLD; The first radio frame is sent to the site device (non-AP MLD) that supports multi-link communication. The communication method according to claim 1, wherein the first wireless frame includes at least one first identification information and/or at least one second identification information; The first identification information corresponding to the first AP in the at least one first identification information indicates whether the first AP is in power saving mode; The second identification information corresponding to the first AP in the at least one second identification information identifies: the communication parameters of the first AP in power-saving mode; The first AP is one of the at least one auxiliary access point device AP. The communication method according to claim 2, wherein the second identification information includes a first identification field and/or a second identification field; the power saving mode includes a sleep state and a non-sleep state; The first identifier field indicates the sleep duration of the first AP in sleep mode; The second identifier field identifies the sleep cycle during which the first AP is in a periodic sleep state. The communication method according to claim 3 is characterized in that, When the second identification information includes the first identification field, the second identification information indicates that: the first AP is in a sleep state during the sleep duration indicated by the first identification field, and is in a non-sleep state outside the sleep duration indicated by the first identification field; When the second identification information includes the first identification field and the second identification field, the second identification information indicates that the first AP is periodically in a sleep state based on the sleep cycle identified by the second identification field and the sleep duration identified by the first identification field. The communication method according to claim 3 or 4 is characterized in that the first wireless frame includes a Basic Multi-Link element; the Basic Multi-Link element includes a Per-STA Profile sub-element; The first identification information is carried in the STA Control field of the Per-STA Profile sub-element; and/or The second identification information is carried in the STAInfo field of the Per-STA Profile sub-element. The communication method according to claim 5 is characterized in that, The first subfield of the STA Control field is set to a first parameter value, and the first identification information indicates that the power saving mode is in hibernation mode. The communication method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the method further comprises: The second radio frame sent by the non-AP MLD is received through the first link; wherein the second radio frame indicates that the non-AP MLD requests to establish at least one second link with the AP MLD; Wherein, the first link includes the working link of the second AP attached to the AP MLD and in active mode; or, the first link includes the working link of the third AP attached to the AP MLD and in non-dormant state. The communication method according to claim 7, characterized in that the method further includes: The second link is the working link of the fourth AP attached to the AP MLD and in power saving mode, and the fourth AP accepts the establishment of the second link with the non-AP MLD, then the fourth AP switches to non-sleep state; The second link is the working link of the fifth AP attached to the AP MLD and in power-saving mode, and the fifth AP does not accept establishing the second link with the non-AP MLD, so the fifth AP remains in its current sleep state; If the second link is the working link of the sixth AP that is attached to the AP MLD and is not in power saving mode, then the sixth AP maintains its current power mode. A communication method, characterized in that it is executed by a non-AP MLD (Multi-Access Point) supporting multi-link communication, the method comprising... include: Receive the first radio frame sent by the access point device (AP) MLD that supports multi-link communication; The first wireless frame is used to identify the power management mode of at least one auxiliary access point device (AP) of the AP MLD. The communication method according to claim 9, wherein the first wireless frame includes at least one first identification information and/or at least one second identification information; The first identification information corresponding to the first AP in the at least one first identification information indicates whether the first AP is in power saving mode; The second identification information corresponding to the first AP in the at least one second identification information identifies: the communication parameters of the first AP in power-saving mode; The first AP is one of the at least one auxiliary access point device AP. The communication method according to claim 10, wherein the second identification information includes a first identification field and/or a second identification field; and the power-saving mode includes a sleep state and a non-sleep state; The first identifier field indicates the sleep duration of the first AP in sleep mode; The second identifier field identifies the sleep cycle during which the first AP is in a periodic sleep state. The communication method according to claim 11 is characterized in that, When the second identification information includes the first identification field, the second identification information indicates that: the first AP is in a sleep state during the sleep duration indicated by the first identification field, and is in a non-sleep state outside the sleep duration indicated by the first identification field; When the second identification information includes the first identification field and the second identification field, the second identification information indicates that the first AP is periodically in a sleep state based on the sleep cycle identified by the second identification field and the sleep duration identified by the first identification field. The communication method according to claim 11 or 12 is characterized in that the first wireless frame includes a Basic Multi-Link element; the Basic Multi-Link element includes a Per-STA Profile sub-element; The first identification information is carried in the STA Control field of the Per-STA Profile sub-element; and/or The second identification information is carried in the STAInfo field of the Per-STA Profile sub-element. The communication method according to claim 13 is characterized in that, The first subfield of the STA Control field is set to a first parameter value, and the first identification information indicates that the power saving mode is in hibernation mode. The communication method according to any one of claims 9 to 14, characterized in that the method further comprises: A second radio frame is determined; wherein the second radio frame identifies that the non-AP MLD requests to establish at least one second link with the AP MLD; The second radio frame is sent to the AP MLD via a first link; wherein the first link includes the working link of a second AP attached to the AP MLD and in active mode; or, the first link includes the working link of a third AP attached to the AP MLD and in non-dormant state. A communication device, the communication device comprising an access point device (AP MLD) supporting multi-link communication, characterized in that the AP MLD comprises: A determining module is used to determine a first radio frame; wherein the first radio frame is used to identify the power management mode of at least one auxiliary access point device (AP) of the AP MLD; The transmitting module is used to transmit the first radio frame to a site device (non-AP MLD) that supports multi-link communication. A communication device, the communication device comprising a non-AP MLD supporting multi-link communication, characterized in that the non-AP MLD comprises: The receiving module is used to receive the first radio frame sent by the access point device (AP) MLD that supports multi-link communication; The first wireless frame is used to identify the power management mode of at least one auxiliary access point device (AP) of the AP MLD. A communication device, comprising an access point device (AP) MLD supporting multi-link communication, characterized in that it includes: One or more processors; The AP MLD is used to perform the communication method according to any one of claims 1 to 8. A communication device, comprising a non-AP MLD supporting multi-link communication, characterized in that it includes: One or more processors; The non-AP MLD is used to perform the communication method according to any one of claims 9 to 15. A communication system, characterized in that it includes an access point device (AP MLD) supporting multi-link communication and a site device (non-AP MLD) supporting multi-link communication; Wherein, the AP MLD is used to determine a first radio frame; wherein, the first radio frame is used to identify: the power management mode of at least one affiliated access point device (AP) of the AP MLD; and to send the first radio frame to a site device (non-AP MLD) that supports multi-link communication; The non-AP MLD is used to receive the first radio frame sent by the AP MLD. A storage medium storing instructions, characterized in that, when the instructions are executed on a communication device, the communication device performs a communication method as described in any one of claims 1 to 8, or performs a communication method as described in any one of claims 9 to 15. A program product, characterized in that, when executed by a communication device, the program product causes the communication device to perform the communication method as described in any one of claims 1 to 8, or to perform the communication method as described in any one of claims 9 to 15.