WO2025190115A1 - Communication method, apparatus, system and storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

The present application relates to the technical field of communications. Disclosed are a communication method, an apparatus, a system and a storage medium, which can ensure that the moments for all non-AP stations contending for a new TXOP are same after a TXOP ends, while maintaining medium synchronization. The method comprises: a non-AP station acquires switching moment indication information, and on the basis of the switching moment indication information, switches from a first channel to a second channel comprising a primary 20MHz channel, wherein the first channel and the second channel do not overlap, a switching moment is not later than a first moment, the first moment is the latest moment for the non-AP station switching from the first channel to the second channel, and the first channel comprises one or multiple 20MHz channels for communication between the non-AP station and an AP station within a current TXOP.

Description

Communication method, device, system and storage medium

This application claims priority to the Chinese patent application filed with the State Intellectual Property Office on March 14, 2024, with application number 202410298145.8 and application name “Communication Method, Device, System and Storage Medium”, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference into this application.

Technical Field

The present application relates to the field of communication technology, and in particular to a communication method, device, system and storage medium.

Background Art

To improve channel utilization for high-bandwidth access points (APs), wireless fidelity (WiFi) technology8 introduces the concept of dynamic sub-band operation (DSO). Specifically, at the beginning of a transmission opportunity (TXOP), a non-AP station (STA) can switch from the primary channel to an AP-assigned sub-channel to communicate with the AP. At the end of the TXOP, it switches back to the primary channel.

When a non-AP station switches from the primary channel to the AP-assigned subchannel for preamble detection (hereinafter referred to as the AP-assigned subchannel), it takes a certain amount of time to reach a stable state and transmit and receive data/information on this subchannel. This period of time is called the non-AP station's switching delay. Therefore, the AP needs to reserve sufficient time for each non-AP station based on the switching delay to ensure that each non-AP station can reach a stable state.

In fact, at the end of a TXOP, there will be a switching delay when the non-AP station switches from the sub-channel assigned by the AP to the main channel. If this switching delay is ignored, it will cause different non-AP stations to start competing for the new TXOP at different times after the TXOP ends, thereby causing fairness issues or causing some or all non-AP stations to lose media synchronization.

Summary of the Invention

The embodiments of the present application provide a communication method, apparatus, system, and storage medium, which can ensure that after a TXOP ends, each non-AP station competes for a new TXOP at the same time and maintains media synchronization.

To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides the following technical solutions:

In a first aspect, a communication method is provided. This method can be performed by a non-AP station; alternatively, it can be performed by a module implemented in the non-AP station, such as a chip, a chip system, or a circuit; alternatively, it can be performed by a logic module or software that implements all or part of the non-AP station's functions, without limitation. For ease of description, the following description uses execution by a non-AP station as an example.

The method includes: obtaining switching time indication information, and switching from a first channel to a second channel including a main 20 megahertz (MHz) channel based on the switching time indication information.

The first channel and the second channel do not overlap.

The switching time is no later than the first time, and the first time is the latest time for the non-AP station to switch from the first channel to the second channel. That is, the switching time is the latest time for the non-AP station to switch from the first channel to the second channel, or the switching time is before the latest time for the non-AP station to switch from the first channel to the second channel.

The first channel includes one or more 20 MHz channels used by the non-AP station to communicate with the AP station in the current TXOP.

The primary 20 MHz channel is the channel on which the non-AP station performs preamble detection after switching to the second channel.

In the above technical solution, the non-AP station can switch from the first channel to the second channel in a timely manner at or before the first moment. After switching to the second channel, the non-AP station can promptly perform preamble code detection on the main 20 MHz channel in the second channel to detect whether there is a data packet on the main 20 MHz channel, thereby ensuring that the time when each non-AP station competes for a new TXOP is the same, or determining the length or duration of the new TXOP based on the detected data packets to maintain media synchronization.

In an optional embodiment, when obtaining the switching timing indication information, a physical layer protocol data unit (PPDU) may be received from an AP site and a target site of the PPDU may be determined. Accordingly, when switching from the first channel to the second channel based on the switching timing indication information, the switching from the first channel to the second channel may be performed if the target sites of the PPDU do not include a non-AP site.

The above technical solution provides a specific implementation method for switching from a first channel to a second channel. Specifically, a non-AP station can switch from the first channel to the second channel upon determining that the target station of a detected PPDU does not include itself, without having to wait for the end of the current TXOP before switching to the second channel. This allows the non-AP station to promptly switch to the second channel and, after the switch is complete, perform preamble detection on the primary 20 MHz channel to detect the presence of data packets. This ensures that each non-AP station competes for a new TXOP at the same time, or determines the length or duration of the new TXOP based on the detected data packets to maintain media synchronization.

In an optional implementation, the obtaining of the switching moment indication information may include obtaining the switching moment or obtaining the switching indication.

In the above technical solution, two implementation methods of the switching moment indication information are provided. The implementation methods are flexible and diverse, and when the switching moment indication information is a switching indication, signaling overhead is saved.

In an optional embodiment, when the switching timing indication information is a switching indication, the non-AP station switches from the first channel to the second channel based on the switching timing indication information, which may include: switching from the first channel to the second channel when the switching indication is detected; or switching from the first channel to the second channel after receiving the currently transmitted PPDU.

In the above technical solution, two implementation methods are provided in which the non-AP station can switch to the second channel based on the switching indication. The implementation method is flexible and diverse, compatible with various switching scenarios, and improves the feasibility of this application.

In an optional embodiment, obtaining the switching time includes: obtaining the end time of the current TXOP, and determining the switching time based on the end time of the current TXOP and a switching delay of the non-AP site. Alternatively, obtaining the end time of the current TXOP, and determining the switching time based on the end time of the current TXOP, a preset duration threshold, and a switching delay of the non-AP site.

This application does not limit the preset duration threshold. For example, the preset duration threshold may be 72us, 70us, 65us, or 68us.

The above technical solution provides two implementation methods for determining the handover time based on the end time of the current TXOP. One method directly determines the handover time based on the end time of the current TXOP and the handover delay of the non-AP station. This ensures that the non-AP station can complete the handover at the end time of the current TXOP. This ensures that the non-AP station has the opportunity to compete for a new TXOP after the end of the current TXOP, thus ensuring fairness in the new TXOP competition.

The other method is to determine the switching time based on the end time of the current TXOP, a preset duration threshold, and the switching delay of the non-AP site. This ensures that the subsequent non-AP site can promptly perform preamble detection on the primary 20 MHz channel to detect whether there are data packets on the primary 20 MHz channel, or determine the length or duration of the new TXOP based on the data packets to maintain media synchronization.

In an optional implementation, the duration threshold may be a media synchronization threshold (aMediumSyncThreshold).

In an optional embodiment, the above-mentioned obtaining of the end time of the current TXOP may include: obtaining the end time of the current TXOP from a non-AP multi link device (non-AP MLD), receiving the end time of the current TXOP from an AP site, and receiving an initial frame within the current TXOP from the AP site, and determining the end time of the current TXOP based on the initial frame.

Among them, non-AP sites are attached to non-AP MLD.

The above technical solution provides three implementation methods for obtaining the end time of the current TXOP. The first is to obtain it from the non-AP MLD attached to the station, the second is to receive the end time of the current TXOP sent by the AP station, and the third is to determine the end time of the current TXOP based on the initial frame within the current TXOP. This can effectively improve the feasibility of this application.

In an optional embodiment, the determining of the switching time based on the end time of the current TXOP, a preset duration threshold, and the switching delay of the non-AP site includes: determining an estimated switching time based on the end time of the current TXOP, the duration threshold, and the switching delay of the non-AP site; if the estimated switching time is less than or equal to the end time of the current TXOP, using the estimated switching time as the switching time; if the estimated switching time is greater than the end time of the current TXOP, using the end time of the TXOP as the switching time.

With the above technical solution, when the expected switching time is greater than the end time of the current TXOP, the non-AP station can use the end time of the TXOP as the switching time to ensure that the non-AP station switches to the second channel immediately.

A second aspect provides a communication method. This method can be executed by an AP station; alternatively, it can be executed by a module implemented in the AP station, such as a chip, a chip system, or a circuit; alternatively, it can be implemented by a logic module or software that implements all or part of the AP station's functions, without limitation. For ease of description, the following description uses execution by an AP station as an example.

The method includes: determining switching time indication information, and sending the switching time indication information to a non-AP site.

The first channel and the second channel do not overlap.

The first moment is the latest moment when the non-AP station switches from the first channel to the second channel, and the switching moment is no later than the first moment. That is, the switching moment is the latest moment when the non-AP station switches from the first channel to the second channel, or the switching moment is before the latest moment when the non-AP station switches from the first channel to the second channel.

The first channel includes one or more 20 MHz channels used by the non-AP station to communicate with the AP station in the current TXOP.

The second channel includes a primary 20 MHz channel, which is the channel on which the non-AP station performs preamble detection after switching to the second channel.

In the above technical solution, after determining the switching time indication information, the AP station can send the switching time indication information to the non-AP station, so that the non-AP station can promptly switch from the first channel to the second channel at the first time or before the first time. After switching to the second channel, the non-AP station can promptly perform preamble code detection on the main 20 MHz channel in the second channel to detect whether there is a data packet on the main 20 MHz channel, thereby ensuring that the time when each non-AP station competes for a new TXOP is the same, or determining the length or duration of the new TXOP based on the detected data packets to maintain media synchronization.

In an optional implementation, when the switching time indication information is sent to the non-AP site, a PPDU may be sent to the non-AP site, and the target site of the PPDU does not include the non-AP site.

The above technical solution provides a specific implementation method for sending switching time indication information to a non-AP station. Specifically, the method involves sending a PPDU whose target station does not include the non-AP station. This allows the non-AP station to switch from the first channel to the second channel upon determining that the target station of the detected PPDU does not include itself, without having to wait for the end of the current TXOP before switching to the second channel. In this way, the non-AP station can promptly switch to the second channel and, after the switch is complete, perform preamble detection on the primary 20 MHz channel to detect the presence of data packets on the primary 20 MHz channel. This ensures that each non-AP station competes for a new TXOP at the same time, or determines the length or duration of the new TXOP based on the detected data packets to maintain media synchronization.

In an optional implementation, when determining the switching moment indication information, the switching moment may be determined, or the switching indication may be determined.

In the above technical solution, two implementation methods of the switching time indication information are provided. One is a specific switching time, so that the non-AP site can switch to the second channel at the switching time; the other is a switching indication, so that the non-AP site can switch to the second channel based on the switching indication to save signaling overhead.

In an optional embodiment, when determining the switching time, the end time of the current transmission opportunity TXOP can be first obtained, and the switching time can be determined based on the end time of the current TXOP and the switching delay of the non-AP site; or, the end time of the current transmission opportunity TXOP can be first obtained, and the switching time can be determined based on the end time of the current TXOP, a preset duration threshold, and the switching delay of the non-AP site.

This application does not limit the preset duration threshold. For example, the preset duration threshold may be 72us, 70us, 65us, or 68us.

The above technical solution provides two implementation methods for determining the handover time based on the end time of the current TXOP. One method is to determine the handover time directly based on the end time of the current TXOP and the handover delay of the non-AP station. This ensures that after the handover time is sent to the non-AP station, the non-AP station can complete the handover at the end time of the current TXOP. This ensures that the non-AP station has the opportunity to compete for a new TXOP after the current TXOP ends, ensuring fairness in the new TXOP competition.

The other method is to determine the switching time based on the end time of the current TXOP, a preset duration threshold, and the switching delay of the non-AP site. This ensures that after the switching time is sent to the non-AP site, the non-AP site can promptly perform preamble detection on the primary 20 MHz channel to detect whether there are data packets on the primary 20 MHz channel, or determine the length or duration of the new TXOP based on the data packets to maintain media synchronization.

In an optional implementation, the duration threshold may be aMediumSyncThreshold.

In an optional implementation manner, the AP station may also send the end time of the current TXOP to the non-AP station.

Through the above technical solution, the non-AP station can receive the end time of the current TXOP sent by the AP station, so that the non-AP station can determine the switching time based on the end time of the current TXOP.

In an optional embodiment, the determining of the switching time based on the end time of the current TXOP, a preset duration threshold, and the switching delay of the non-AP site includes: determining an estimated switching time based on the end time of the current TXOP, the duration threshold, and the switching delay of the non-AP site; if the estimated switching time is less than or equal to the end time of the current TXOP, using the estimated switching time as the switching time; if the estimated switching time is greater than the end time of the current TXOP, using the end time of the TXOP as the switching time.

With the above technical solution, when the expected switching time is greater than the end time of the current TXOP, the AP station can use the end time of the TXOP as the switching time and send it to the non-AP station to ensure that the non-AP station switches to the second channel immediately.

A third aspect provides a communication method. This method can be performed by a non-AP station; alternatively, it can be performed by a module implemented in the non-AP station, such as a chip, a chip system, or a circuit; alternatively, it can be implemented by a logic module or software that implements all or part of the non-AP station's functions, without limitation. For ease of description, the following description uses execution by a non-AP station as an example.

The method includes obtaining a switching time, and switching from a first channel to a second channel including a main 20 MHz channel based on the switching time.

If the first channel and the second channel overlap, the switching delay for a non-AP station switching from the first channel to the second channel is 0. For example, if the first channel includes channel 1 with a bandwidth of 20 MHz and channel 2 with a bandwidth of 20 MHz, the second channel may include channel 1 with a bandwidth of 20 MHz, channel 2 with a bandwidth of 20 MHz, channel 3 with a bandwidth of 20 MHz, and channel 4 with a bandwidth of 20 MHz. Alternatively, if the first channel includes channel 1 with a bandwidth of 20 MHz, channel 2 with a bandwidth of 20 MHz, channel 3 with a bandwidth of 20 MHz, and channel 4 with a bandwidth of 20 MHz, the second channel may include channel 1 with a bandwidth of 20 MHz and channel 2 with a bandwidth of 20 MHz.

This application does not limit the preset duration threshold. For example, the preset duration threshold may be 72us, 70us, 65us, or 68us.

The switching time is the end time of the current TXOP, or the switching time is the end time of the current TXOP plus a preset time threshold.

The first channel includes one or more 20 MHz channels used by the non-AP station to communicate with the AP station in the current TXOP.

The primary 20 MHz channel is the channel on which the non-AP station performs preamble detection after switching to the second channel.

In the above technical solution, when there is overlap between the first channel and the second channel, the switching delay is zero when the non-AP station switches from the first channel to the second channel including the main 20 MHz channel. Therefore, the non-AP station can switch from the first channel to the second channel at the end of the current TXOP, or at a time corresponding to the end of the current TXOP plus a preset duration threshold.

In an optional implementation, the obtaining of the switching time includes: obtaining switching time indication information, and determining the switching time based on the switching time indication information.

In an optional implementation, the obtaining of the switching time indication information includes: obtaining an end time of a current TXOP; or obtaining a switching indication.

In the above technical solution, two implementation methods of the switching moment indication information are provided. The implementation methods are flexible and diverse, and when the switching moment indication information is a switching indication, signaling overhead is saved.

In an optional implementation, when the switching moment indication information is a switching indication, the non-AP station switches from the first channel to the second channel after receiving the currently transmitted PPDU.

In the above technical solution, a method is provided in which the non-AP station can switch to the second channel based on the switching indication, thereby improving the feasibility of the present application.

In an optional embodiment, obtaining the end time of the current TXOP includes: obtaining the end time of the current TXOP from a non-AP MLD; the non-AP site is attached to the non-AP MLD; or, receiving the end time of the current TXOP from an AP site; or, receiving an initial frame within the current TXOP from the AP site, and determining the end time of the current TXOP based on the initial frame.

The above technical solution provides three implementation methods for obtaining the end time of the current TXOP. The first is to obtain it from the non-AP MLD attached to the station, the second is to receive the end time of the current TXOP sent by the AP station, and the third is to determine the end time of the current TXOP based on the initial frame within the current TXOP. This can effectively improve the feasibility of this application.

In an optional implementation, the duration threshold is a media synchronization threshold.

A fourth aspect provides a communication method. This method can be executed by an AP station; alternatively, it can be executed by a module implemented in the AP station, such as a chip, a chip system, or a circuit; alternatively, it can be implemented by a logic module or software that implements all or part of the AP station's functions, without limitation. For ease of description, the following description uses execution by an AP station as an example.

The method includes: determining switching time indication information, and sending the switching time indication information to a non-AP site.

If the first channel and the second channel overlap, the switching delay for a non-AP station switching from the first channel to the second channel is 0. For example, if the first channel includes channel 1 with a bandwidth of 20 MHz and channel 2 with a bandwidth of 20 MHz, the second channel may include channel 1 with a bandwidth of 20 MHz, channel 2 with a bandwidth of 20 MHz, channel 3 with a bandwidth of 20 MHz, and channel 4 with a bandwidth of 20 MHz. Alternatively, if the first channel includes channel 1 with a bandwidth of 20 MHz, channel 2 with a bandwidth of 20 MHz, channel 3 with a bandwidth of 20 MHz, and channel 4 with a bandwidth of 20 MHz, the second channel may include channel 1 with a bandwidth of 20 MHz and channel 2 with a bandwidth of 20 MHz.

This application does not limit the preset duration threshold. For example, the preset duration threshold may be 72us, 70us, 65us, or 68us.

The switching time is the end time of the current TXOP, or the switching time is the end time of the current TXOP plus a preset time threshold.

The first channel includes one or more 20 MHz channels used by the non-AP station to communicate with the AP station in the current TXOP.

The primary 20 MHz channel is the channel on which the non-AP station performs preamble detection after switching to the second channel.

In an optional implementation, determining the switching time indication information includes: determining an end time of a current TXOP; or determining a switching indication.

In an optional implementation, the duration threshold is a media synchronization threshold.

In a fifth aspect, a communication device is provided, which is located at a non-AP site and includes: a functional unit for executing any one of the methods provided in the first aspect, and the actions performed by each functional unit are implemented through hardware or through hardware executing corresponding software implementations.

The device includes a transceiver module and a processing module.

The processing module is configured to obtain switching time indication information. The processing module is further configured to switch from the first channel to the second channel based on the switching time indication information. The switching time is no later than the first time. The first channel and the second channel do not overlap.

The first time is the latest time when the non-AP station switches from the first channel to the second channel. The first channel includes one or more 20 MHz channels used by the non-AP station to communicate with the access point AP station in the current TXOP; the second channel includes the primary 20 MHz channel.

In a sixth aspect, a communication device is provided, which is located at an AP site and includes: a functional unit for executing any one of the methods provided in the second aspect, and the actions performed by each functional unit are implemented through hardware or through hardware executing corresponding software implementations.

The device includes a transceiver module and a processing module.

The processing module is used to determine the switching time indication information.

The transceiver module is used to send switching time indication information to the non-AP site.

The switching time is no later than the first time. The first time is the latest time at which a non-AP station can switch from the first channel to the second channel. The first channel includes one or more 20 MHz channels used by non-AP stations to communicate with AP stations in the current TXOP. The second channel includes the primary 20 MHz channel. The first channel and the second channel do not overlap.

In the seventh aspect, a non-AP site is provided, which includes at least one processor, and the at least one processor is coupled to at least one memory: the at least one processor is used to execute a computer program or instruction stored in the at least one memory, so that the non-AP site performs any one of the communication methods provided in the first aspect.

In the eighth aspect, an AP site is provided, which includes at least one processor, and the at least one processor is coupled to at least one memory: the at least one processor is used to execute a computer program or instruction stored in the at least one memory, so that the AP site executes any one of the communication methods provided in the second aspect.

In the ninth aspect, a communication system is provided, which includes: a non-AP site and an AP site; the non-AP site is used to execute any one of the communication methods provided in the first aspect; the AP site is used to execute any one of the communication methods provided in the second aspect.

In a tenth aspect, a computer-readable storage medium is provided, comprising computer execution instructions. When the computer execution instructions are executed on a computer, the computer executes any one of the communication methods provided in the first to second aspects.

It should be noted that the technical effects brought about by any implementation method in the fifth to tenth aspects can be referred to the technical effects brought about by the corresponding implementation methods in the first aspect and the second to second aspects, and will not be repeated here.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a scenario between a distribution system and sites;

FIG2 is a schematic diagram of a scenario for performing channel monitoring;

FIG3 is a schematic diagram of a scenario in which stations communicate within a TXOP;

FIG4 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the primary channel and the non-primary channel;

FIG5 is a schematic diagram of a scenario in which a station performs preamble detection through a primary channel;

FIG6 is a schematic diagram of the header field of the media access control;

FIG7 is a schematic diagram of communication between an AP station and a non-AP station within a TXOP;

FIG8 is a schematic diagram of communication between an AP station and multiple non-AP stations within one TXOP;

FIG9 is a schematic diagram of an AP station communicating with a non-AP station via a DSO;

FIG10 is a schematic diagram showing the competition for a new TXOP after the non-AP site handover is completed;

FIG11 is a schematic diagram showing the loss of media synchronization after the non-AP site handover is completed;

FIG12 is a system architecture diagram of a communication system provided in an embodiment of the present application;

FIG13 is a schematic diagram of the composition of a communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

FIG14 is a flow chart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

FIG15 is a schematic diagram of an interaction flow of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

FIG16 is a schematic diagram of an AP station sending a PPDU according to an embodiment of the present application;

FIG17 is a schematic diagram of determining a first moment provided by an embodiment of the present application;

FIG18 is a schematic diagram of an interaction flow of another communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

FIG19 is a schematic diagram showing that a non-AP station fails to correctly depacketize a PPDU according to an embodiment of the present application;

FIG20 is a schematic diagram of an AP site sending a switching indication according to an embodiment of the present application;

FIG21 is a schematic diagram of another AP site sending a switching indication according to an embodiment of the present application;

FIG22 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a non-AP site provided in an embodiment of the present application;

FIG23 is a schematic diagram of the structure of an AP site provided in an embodiment of the present application.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the description of this application, unless otherwise specified, "/" means "or", for example, A/B can mean A or B. "And/or" in this article is merely a description of the association relationship of associated objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and/or B can mean: A exists alone, A and B exist at the same time, and B exists alone. In addition, "at least one" means one or more, and "a plurality" means two or more. Words such as "first" and "second" do not limit the quantity and execution order, and words such as "first" and "second" do not limit them to be necessarily different.

It should be noted that, in this application, words such as "exemplarily" or "for example" are used to indicate examples, illustrations, or explanations. Any embodiment or design described in this application as "exemplary" or "for example" should not be construed as being preferred or advantageous over other embodiments or designs. Rather, the use of words such as "exemplarily" or "for example" is intended to present the relevant concepts in a concrete manner.

"Used to indicate" can include direct and indirect indications, as well as explicit and implicit indications. When describing "a certain indication information is used to indicate A" or "indication information of A," this can include whether the indication information directly indicates A or indirectly indicates A, but does not necessarily mean that the indication information contains A. The information indicated by a certain information is referred to as the information to be indicated. During implementation, there are many ways to indicate the information to be indicated. For example, but not limited to, the information to be indicated can be directly indicated, such as the information to be indicated itself or an index of the information to be indicated. The information to be indicated can also be indirectly indicated by indicating other information, where the other information is associated with the information to be indicated. Alternatively, only a portion of the information to be indicated can be indicated, while the rest of the information to be indicated is known or agreed upon in advance. For example, a pre-agreed (e.g., protocol-specified) order of information can be used to indicate specific information, thereby reducing indication overhead to a certain extent. Furthermore, common portions of various information can be identified and indicated uniformly, reducing the indication overhead associated with separately indicating the same information. Furthermore, the specific indication method can also be any of the various existing indication methods, such as, but not limited to, the aforementioned indication methods and their various combinations. The specific details of various indication methods can refer to the existing technology and will not be described in detail in this article. As can be seen from the above, for example, when it is necessary to indicate multiple information of the same type, there may be a situation where the indication methods of different information are different. In the specific implementation process, the required indication method can be selected according to specific needs. The embodiment of the present application does not limit the selected indication method. In this way, the indication method involved in the embodiment of the present application should be understood to cover various methods that can enable the party to be indicated to know the information to be indicated. The information to be indicated can be sent as a whole, or it can be divided into multiple sub-information and sent separately, and the sending period and/or sending time of these sub-information can be the same or different. The specific sending method is not limited in this application. Among them, the sending period and/or sending time of these sub-information can be predefined, for example, predefined according to the protocol, or can be configured by the transmitting end device by sending configuration information to the receiving end device. Among them, the configuration information can, for example, but not limited to, include one or a combination of at least two of radio resource control signaling, media access control (MAC) layer signaling and physical layer signaling. Among them, radio resource control signaling includes, for example, radio resource control (RRC) signaling; MAC layer signaling includes, for example, MAC control element (CE); and physical layer signaling includes, for example, downlink control information (DCI).

A basic service set (BSS) is the fundamental component of an 802.11 network, consisting of a group of communicating stations (STAs). Based on the topology of the stations within the BSS and its functionality, BSSs can be categorized as either independent BSSs (IBSSs) or infrastructure BSSs.

In an Infrastructure BSS (hereinafter referred to as BSS), sites used to access the Distribution System (DS) are called AP sites, and sites other than AP sites are called non-AP sites. Non-AP sites need to access the DS through AP sites, and non-AP sites cannot communicate directly with each other. For example, as shown in Figure 1, BSS100 and BSS200 each contain three sites, where site 101 is a site in BSS100 used to access the DS, and site 201 is a site in BSS200 used to access the DS. Therefore, site 101 is an AP site in BSS100, site 201 is an AP site in BSS200, sites 102 and 103 are non-AP sites in BSS100, and sites 202 and 203 are non-AP sites in BSS200.

It should be noted that the site in this application may refer to an AP site in a BSS or a non-AP site in the BSS.

If multiple stations simultaneously transmit signals to a receiver through the same channel, the receiver may experience excessive interference and be unable to receive signals correctly. To address this issue, the carrier sense multiple access with collision avoidance (CSMA/CA) mechanism was developed.

The CSMA/CA mechanism requires a station to sense the channel before sending a signal to the receiver. If it detects a data packet being transmitted on the channel, it waits for the data packet to complete and performs a corresponding backoff action. For example, as shown in Figure 2, if station 1 is using a channel to send a data packet, and station 2 intends to use the channel to send a signal to the receiver at the same time, station 2 will need to sense the channel after generating a service transmission requirement. After station 1 completes its data packet transmission, it will perform a corresponding backoff action before using the channel to transmit signals to the receiver.

During this process, data packets typically take the form of PPDUs. The longer the PPDU, the more information it carries, but also the greater the likelihood that it will not be accurately received, meaning the PPDU's reliability decreases. Therefore, to balance information volume, improve PPDU reliability, and achieve more efficient data transmission, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 protocol sets a maximum length for the PPDU.

The limited length of a PPDU cannot meet the traffic requirements of a single service interaction. In other words, a station needs to transmit multiple PPDUs during a service interaction. If a backoff is required before each PPDU transmission, transmission efficiency will be reduced. To effectively improve transmission efficiency, the TXOP was introduced.

A TXOP is a period of transmission time granted to a station after backoff when it needs to transmit services. This period is called the TXOP. During this period, a station can transmit multiple PPDUs as needed. The time interval between two adjacent PPDUs (such as a received PPDU and an outgoing PPDU, or an outgoing PPDU and an outgoing PPDU) is only a short interframe space (SIFS). The station that obtains a TXOP through backoff is called the TXOP holder of that TXOP, and the station that communicates with the TXOP holder within the TXOP is called the TXOP responder of that TXOP.

During communication between a TXOP holder and a TXOP responder, other stations, upon detecting the TXOP, will analyze the duration of the TXOP and refrain from competing for the channel during that duration to avoid interfering with the station that has received the TXOP. This is known as "TXOP protection." For example, as shown in Figure 3, assuming Station 1 is the TXOP holder and Station 2 is the TXOP responder, when Stations 1 and 2 communicate within the TXOP received by Station 1, Stations 3 and 4 refrain from competing for the channel during that duration to avoid interfering with Station 1.

The aforementioned channels are typically divided into several sub-channels in 20MHz units, each of which includes a primary channel and multiple non-primary channels. For example, as shown in Figure 4, assuming a total channel bandwidth of 160MHz, the channel can be divided into eight 20MHz sub-channels in 20MHz units, each of which includes a primary channel and multiple non-primary channels.

For ease of description, unless the bandwidth is explicitly specified in this application, "primary channel" refers to the "primary 20 MHz channel," "sub-channel" refers to "a 20 MHz sub-channel," and "non-primary channel" refers to "a 20 MHz sub-channel that is not a primary 20 MHz channel." Non-primary channels may also be described as secondary channels or channels other than the primary channel, without limitation.

The main channel plays an important role in the communication process. For example, when the above-mentioned station listens to the channel to determine whether there is a PPDU in the channel, it can perform energy detection (ED) on each sub-channel and preamble detection (PD) on the main channel. Specifically, the station can detect the main channel through PD and perform a backoff action when the main channel is busy, that is, when there is a PPDU in the main channel. For example, as shown in Figure 5, after generating a service transmission demand, the station can detect the main channel through PD. If the main channel is busy at this time, the station can perform a backoff action. During the backoff process, the station continues to detect the main channel through PD. If the main channel is still busy at a certain moment, the station interrupts the backoff and continues the backoff after the main channel returns to an idle state. After the backoff is completed, the station transmits data through the main channel and the non-main channel in the idle state.

Furthermore, after detecting a PPDU through PD, the station can also decode the PPDU to extract key information. Specifically, after detecting the PPDU through PD on the primary channel, the station can obtain the duration field in the media access control (MAC) header field contained in the PPDU, as shown in Figure 6. Based on the duration field, the station can determine how long it will take to complete the service interaction after the PPDU.

After the station performs PD on the primary channel through the above process and obtains the duration field contained in a PPDU, it can also set the corresponding network allocation vector (NAV) timer according to the duration field. Before the NAV timer expires, the station cannot compete for the channel.

From the above description, it can be seen that when communicating between sites, both sites need to access the primary channel, that is, both sites need to perform PD on the primary channel.

With the advancement of Wi-Fi technology, the operating bandwidth of sites is increasing. However, the update speed of AP sites is faster than that of non-AP sites. In other words, the operating bandwidth of AP sites increases faster than that of non-AP sites. This leads to an asymmetry in the operating bandwidth between AP and non-AP sites. Specifically, the operating bandwidth of AP sites is increasing (e.g., 160MHz, 320MHz), while the operating bandwidth of non-AP sites remains small (e.g., 20MHz, 40MHz, 80MHz, etc.).

In this situation, if an AP station communicates with only one non-AP station in a TXOP, the asymmetric operating bandwidth between the AP station and the non-AP station will not only waste the AP station's bandwidth but also lead to low communication efficiency. For example, assume that the AP station's operating bandwidth is 160MHz, which is divided into a primary 20MHz channel (i.e., a primary channel with a bandwidth of 20MHz), a secondary 20MHz channel (i.e., a non-primary channel with a bandwidth of 20MHz), a secondary 40MHz channel (i.e., a non-primary channel with a bandwidth of 40MHz), and a secondary 80MHz channel (i.e., a non-primary channel with a bandwidth of 80MHz). The AP station needs to communicate with non-AP station 1 with an operating bandwidth of 20MHz, non-AP station 2 with an operating bandwidth of 80MHz, non-AP station 3 with an operating bandwidth of 20MHz, and non-AP station 4 with an operating bandwidth of 40MHz.

As shown in Figure 7(a), in the first TXOP, the AP station can communicate with non-AP station 1 through the primary 20 MHz channel. In the second TXOP, it can communicate with non-AP station 2 through the primary 20 MHz channel, the secondary 20 MHz channel, and the secondary 40 MHz channel. In the third TXOP, it can communicate with non-AP station 3 through the primary 20 MHz channel. In the fourth TXOP, it can communicate with non-AP station 4 through the primary 20 MHz channel and the secondary 20 MHz channel.

7 (b), in each TXOP, the large bandwidth of the AP site is not fully utilized, resulting in a waste of the AP site bandwidth, thereby reducing communication efficiency.

If an AP can communicate with multiple non-APs in a single TXOP, while this improves communication efficiency compared to the aforementioned method of communicating with only one non-AP in a single TXOP, it still wastes AP bandwidth, thereby reducing communication efficiency, due to the protocol's requirement that "the resources used must be within the operating bandwidth of both parties." For example, assume the AP's operating bandwidth is 160 MHz, divided into a primary 20 MHz channel, a secondary 20 MHz channel, a secondary 40 MHz channel, and a secondary 80 MHz channel. The AP needs to communicate with non-AP 1 (operating at a 20 MHz bandwidth), non-AP 2 (operating at an 80 MHz bandwidth), non-AP 3 (operating at a 20 MHz bandwidth), and non-AP 4 (operating at a 40 MHz bandwidth).

As shown in (a) of Figure 8 , in the first TXOP, the AP station can communicate with non-AP station 1 through the primary 20 MHz channel, and communicate with non-AP station 2 through the secondary 20 MHz channel and the secondary 40 MHz channel. In the second TXOP, the AP station can communicate with non-AP station 3 through the primary 20 MHz channel, and communicate with non-AP station 2 through the secondary 20 MHz channel. In the third TXOP, the AP station can communicate with non-AP station 4 through the primary 20 MHz channel and the secondary 20 MHz channel.

8 (b), it can be seen that in each TXOP, the large bandwidth of the AP site is still not fully utilized, which still causes a waste of the AP site bandwidth, thereby reducing communication efficiency.

In order to improve the channel utilization of large-bandwidth APs, the concept of DSO is proposed in WiFi8. Specifically, at the beginning of a TXOP, a non-AP station can switch from the main channel to the sub-channel assigned by the AP to communicate with the AP, and switch back to the main channel at the end of the TXOP. The bandwidth of the sub-channel assigned by the AP station is within the bandwidth range of the AP station. Compared with the above two methods, this method can effectively improve the bandwidth utilization of the AP station, thereby effectively improving communication efficiency. For example, assuming that the operating bandwidth of the AP station is 160MHz, the operating bandwidth is divided into a primary 20MHz channel, a secondary 20MHz channel, a secondary 40MHz channel, and a secondary 80MHz channel. The AP station needs to communicate with non-AP station 1 with an operating bandwidth of 20MHz, non-AP station 2 with an operating bandwidth of 80MHz, non-AP station 3 with an operating bandwidth of 20MHz, and non-AP station 4 with an operating bandwidth of 40MHz.

As shown in Figure 9, the AP site can not only communicate with the non-AP site 1 through the primary 20 MHz channel in the first TXOP, but also the non-AP site 2 can switch from the primary 20 MHz channel of the non-AP site 2 to the secondary 80 MHz channel in the first TXOP allocated by the AP site to communicate with the AP site, the non-AP site 3 can switch from the primary 20 MHz channel to the secondary 20 MHz channel in the first TXOP allocated by the AP site to communicate with the AP site, and the non-AP site 4 can switch from the primary 20 MHz channel to the secondary 40 MHz channel in the first TXOP allocated by the AP site to communicate with the AP site.

When a non-AP station switches from the main channel to the sub-channel assigned by the AP, it takes a certain amount of time to reach a stable state and transmit and receive data/information on this sub-channel. This period of time is called the non-AP station's switching delay. Therefore, the AP needs to reserve sufficient time for each non-AP station based on the switching delay of each non-AP station to ensure that each non-AP station can reach a stable state.

In practice, at the end of a TXOP, a non-AP station experiences a switching delay when switching from the subchannel assigned by the AP to the primary channel. Ignoring this switching delay can cause each non-AP station to begin competing for a new TXOP at different times after the TXOP ends, leading to fairness issues. For example, as shown in Figure 10 , assume that within a TXOP, each non-AP station communicates with the AP station using the method shown in Figure 9 : non-AP station 1 does not switch channels, while non-AP station 2, non-AP station 3, and non-AP station 4 all switch channels to the subchannel in the first TXOP corresponding to non-AP station 1. Therefore, at the end of the TXOP, non-AP stations 2, non-AP station 3, and non-AP station 4 must switch from the subchannel assigned by the AP to the primary channel. However, the switching delays of non-AP sites 2, 3, and 4 are different, resulting in different switching times for non-AP sites 2, 3, and 4 to switch to the primary channel. This causes each non-AP site to start competing for a new TXOP at different times, resulting in fairness issues.

Furthermore, if a new TXOP begins before a non-AP station switches to the primary channel, the non-AP station will miss the new TXOP duration information and lose media synchronization, preventing normal channel access. For example, as shown in Figure 11, if non-AP stations 2 and 4 have not yet completed their switch and returned to the primary channel when a new TXOP begins, they will miss the new TXOP duration information and lose media synchronization.

In view of this, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method in which, after obtaining switching time indication information, a non-AP station can switch from a first channel to a second channel based on the switching time indication information. The switching time indication information can indicate a switching time, which is no later than a first time. The first time is the latest time at which the non-AP station can switch from the first channel to the second channel. The first channel includes one or more 20 MHz channels used by the non-AP station to communicate with the access point (AP) station within the current TXOP, and the second channel includes a primary 20 MHz channel.

It should be noted that, in the embodiment of the present application, the latest time when the non-AP station switches from the first channel to the second channel refers to the latest start time when the non-AP station switches from the first channel to the second channel, that is, the latest time is used to limit the time when the non-AP station starts switching, rather than the time when the non-AP station completes the switching action.

With the above technical solution, a non-AP station can switch from the first channel to the second channel promptly based on the switching time indication information at or before the latest time to switch to the second channel. This ensures that the non-AP station can subsequently perform preamble detection on the primary 20 MHz channel included in the second channel in a timely manner to detect whether there are data packets on the primary 20 MHz channel and determine the length or duration of the new TXOP based on the data packets to maintain media synchronization. Furthermore, each non-AP station can switch to the second channel at the same time, so that each non-AP station starts competing for the new TXOP at the same time, maintaining competition fairness.

The technical solution provided in the present application is described below in conjunction with the drawings in the specification. Figure 12 is a system architecture diagram of a communication system provided in an embodiment of the present application. The system architecture diagram may include multiple communication devices, including at least one non-AP site 1201 and at least one AP site 1202, and the non-AP site 1201 and the AP site 1202 are located in the same BSS. The bandwidth of the AP site 1202 is greater than the bandwidth of the non-AP site 1201. For example, the bandwidth of the AP site 1202 can be 160MHz, 240MHz, 320MHz, etc., and the bandwidth of the non-AP site 1201 can be 20MHz, 40MHz, 80MHz, etc.

An AP site is a network element that provides services to a site, such as an access point that supports the 802.11 protocol series. A non-AP site can be a site that supports the 802.11 protocol series, such as an ultra-high reliability (UHR) site. It is worth noting that AP sites and non-AP sites can be collectively referred to as sites.

APs serve as access points for mobile users to wired networks. They are primarily deployed in homes, buildings, and campuses, with a typical coverage radius ranging from tens to hundreds of meters. They can also be deployed outdoors. An AP acts as a bridge between wired and wireless networks, connecting wireless network clients and integrating the wireless network into the Ethernet network. Specifically, an AP can be a terminal device or network device equipped with a WiFi chip. APs can support 802.11a, 802.11g, and 802.11n, as well as multiple WLAN standards such as 802.11ac, 802.11ax, 802.11be, and 802.11bn.

Non-AP stations can be wireless communication chips, wireless sensors, or wireless communication terminals. Examples include mobile phones, tablets, set-top boxes, smart TVs, smart wearable devices, in-vehicle communication devices, and computers. Non-AP stations can support 802.11a, 802.11g, and 802.11n. They can also support various WLAN standards, including 802.11ac, 802.11ax, 802.11be, and 802.11bn. Non-AP stations can be ultra-high reliability (UHR) stations or legacy STAs. For the current 802.11bn standard, existing stations under previous standards, such as 802.11ac/ax/be, are considered legacy stations.

In this communication system, one AP station can transmit data with multiple non-AP stations. For example, an AP station can transmit uplink data or downlink data with two non-AP stations.

This application supports IEEE protocols, such as IEEE 802.11be/WiFi 7/EHT protocol, IEEE 802.11bn/UHR/WiFi 8 protocol, Integrated mmWave/Integrated millimeter wave/IMMW protocol, IEEE 802.15/UWB protocol, or IEEE 802.11bf/sensing/perception protocol; this application can also support Star Flash/Spark Link/Near Link standard protocols.

In an embodiment of the present application, at the start of a TXOP, the non-AP site 1201 that switches from the second channel to the first channel allocated by the AP site 1202 can, after obtaining the switching time indication information, switch from the first channel to the second channel based on the switching time indication information.

In the embodiments of the present application, switching from one channel to another channel may refer to switching from performing preamble detection on one channel to performing preamble detection on another channel. For example, switching from a first channel to a second channel refers to switching from performing preamble detection on the first channel to performing preamble detection on the second channel. Since the second channel includes the main 20 MHz channel, switching from the first channel to the second channel may also be understood as switching from performing preamble detection on the first channel to performing preamble detection on the main 20 MHz channel in the second channel.

The switching time is no later than the latest time at which the non-AP station switches from the first channel to the second channel.

The first channel includes one or more 20 MHz channels used when a non-AP station communicates with an AP station in the current TXOP.

The embodiments of this application do not limit the form of a non-AP site. The device used to implement the functions of a non-AP site can be a non-AP site, or it can be a device that supports a non-AP site in implementing the functions, such as a chip system. This device can be installed in a non-AP site or used in conjunction with a non-AP site. In the embodiments of this application, the chip system can be composed of a chip or include a chip and other discrete components.

The embodiments of this application do not limit the form of an AP site. The device used to implement the functions of an AP site can be an AP site, or it can be a device that supports the AP site in implementing the functions, such as a chip system. This device can be installed in an AP site or used in conjunction with an AP site. In the embodiments of this application, the chip system can be composed of a chip or include a chip and other discrete components.

In specific implementations, both the non-AP station and the AP station shown in Figure 12 can adopt the structure shown in Figure 13, or include the components shown in Figure 13. Figure 13 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device 1300 provided in an embodiment of the present application. The communication device 1300 can be an access point device or a chip or system-on-chip within an access point device; it can also be a station device or a chip or system-on-chip within a station device. As shown in Figure 13, the communication device 1300 includes a processor 1301, a communication interface 1302, and a communication circuit 1303.

Furthermore, the communication device 1300 may further include a memory 1304 . The processor 1301 , the memory 1304 and the communication interface 1302 may be connected via a communication line 1303 .

Processor 1301 is a central processing unit (CPU), a general-purpose processor, a network processor (NP), a digital signal processor (DSP), a microprocessor, a microcontroller, a programmable logic device (PLD), or any combination thereof. Processor 1301 may also be other devices with processing capabilities, such as circuits, devices, or software modules, without limitation.

Communication interface 1302 is used to communicate with other devices or other communication networks. Such other communication networks may be Ethernet, radio access networks (RAN), wireless local area networks (WLAN), etc. Communication interface 1302 may be a module, circuit, transceiver, or any other device capable of communication.

The communication line 1303 is used to transmit information between the components included in the communication device 1300.

The memory 1304 is used to store instructions, where the instructions may be computer programs.

Among them, the memory 1304 can be a read-only memory (ROM) or other types of static storage devices that can store static information and/or instructions, or a random access memory (RAM) or other types of dynamic storage devices that can store information and/or instructions, or an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), a compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM) or other optical disc storage, optical disc storage (including compressed optical disc, laser disc, optical disc, digital versatile disc, Blu-ray disc, etc.), magnetic disk storage media or other magnetic storage devices, etc., without limitation.

It should be noted that memory 1304 can exist independently of processor 1301 or can be integrated with processor 1301. Memory 1304 can be used to store instructions, program code, or data. Memory 1304 can be located within or outside of communication device 1300, without limitation. Processor 1301 is configured to execute instructions stored in memory 1304 to implement the communication methods provided in the following embodiments of this application.

In one example, the processor 1301 may include one or more CPUs, such as CPU0 and CPU1 in FIG. 13 .

As an optional implementation, the communication device 1300 includes multiple processors. For example, in addition to the processor 1301 in FIG. 13 , it may also include a processor 1307 .

As an optional implementation, the communication apparatus 1300 further includes an output device 1305 and an input device 1306. For example, the input device 1306 is a keyboard, a mouse, a microphone, a joystick, or the like, and the output device 1305 is a display screen, a speaker, or the like.

It should be noted that the communication device 1300 may be a desktop computer, a portable computer, a network server, a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a wireless terminal, an embedded device, a chip system, or a device having a structure similar to that shown in FIG13 . Furthermore, the structure shown in FIG13 does not limit the communication device. In addition to the components shown in FIG13 , the communication device may include more or fewer components than shown, or combine certain components, or arrange the components differently.

In the embodiment of the present application, the chip system can be composed of chips, or can include chips and other discrete devices.

In addition, the actions and terms involved in the various embodiments of this application can refer to each other without limitation. The message names or parameter names in the messages exchanged between the various devices in the embodiments of this application are only examples, and other names can also be used in specific implementations without limitation.

The communication method provided in the embodiments of the present application will be described below using a channel in which the first channel and the second channel do not overlap, and a channel in which the first channel and the second channel overlap as examples.

First, the example of a non-overlapping first channel and second channel is used for explanation. Next, in conjunction with FIG12 , the communication method provided by the embodiment of the present application is described using the non-AP station in FIG12 as an example. FIG14 is a flow chart of a communication method provided by the embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG14 , the method includes:

S1401: A non-AP station obtains switching time indication information.

In the embodiment of the present application, the switching time indication information can be used to determine the switching time. The switching time is no later than the first time, where the first time is the latest time at which the non-AP station switches from the first channel to the second channel. That is, the switching time is the latest time at which the non-AP station switches from the first channel to the second channel, or the switching time is before the latest time at which the non-AP station switches from the first channel to the second channel.

In the embodiment of the present application, a non-AP station may be any non-AP station that communicates with an AP station using a subchannel allocated by the AP station within the current TXOP. For example, taking the current TXOP as shown in FIG. 9 as an example, the non-AP station may be any non-AP station from non-AP station 2 to non-AP station 4.

In this embodiment of the present application, the first channel includes one or more 20 MHz channels used by non-AP stations to communicate with AP stations in the current TXOP. The bandwidth of the first channel is less than or equal to the bandwidth of the non-AP station. For example, if the bandwidth of the non-AP station is 20 MHz, the number of 20 MHz channels included in the first channel is 1, i.e., the bandwidth of the first channel is equal to the bandwidth of the non-AP station. If the bandwidth of the non-AP station is 80 MHz, the number of 20 MHz channels included in the first channel is 4, 2, or 1, i.e., the bandwidth of the first channel is less than or equal to the bandwidth of the non-AP station.

In this embodiment of the present application, the second channel includes a primary 20 MHz channel. The primary 20 MHz channel is the channel on which non-AP stations perform preamble detection after switching to the second channel. Specifically, the number of 20 MHz channels included in the second channel can be determined based on the bandwidth of the non-AP station. For example, if the bandwidth of the non-AP station is 20 MHz, the second channel can be the primary 20 MHz channel. If the bandwidth of the non-AP station is 40 MHz, the second channel can include the primary 20 MHz channel and one secondary 20 MHz channel.

In the embodiments of the present application, the method by which a non-AP station obtains the switching time indication information is not limited. In one example, the non-AP station can directly receive the switching time indication information sent by the AP station and determine the switching time based on the indication of the AP station. Specifically, this implementation method can be described in the embodiment corresponding to Figure 18 below.

In another example, the non-AP station may determine the switching time indication information based on the PPDU sent by the AP station. Specifically, the process of determining the switching time indication information based on the PPDU may refer to the embodiment corresponding to FIG. 15 below.

In another example, the switching time indication information can also be determined based on the end time of the current TXOP obtained from the non-AP MLD.

S1402: The non-AP station switches from the first channel to the second channel based on the switching time indication information.

Specifically, after obtaining the switching time indication information, the non-AP station may determine the switching time based on the switching time indication information, and switch from the first channel to the second channel at the switching time.

With the above technical solution, a non-AP station can switch from the first channel to the second channel at or before the latest time to switch to the second channel. This allows subsequent non-AP stations to promptly perform preamble detection on the primary 20 MHz channel in the second channel to detect whether there are data packets on the primary 20 MHz channel. This ensures that each non-AP station competes for a new TXOP at the same time, or determines the length or duration of the new TXOP based on the detected data packets to maintain media synchronization.

In embodiments of the present application, the switching timing indication information may include at least one of: 1. a target station in the PPDU; 2. a switching timing; and 3. a switching indication. The following describes the communication method provided in embodiments of the present application, using the first non-AP station as an example, where the switching timing indication information is the target station in the PPDU, the switching timing indication information is the switching timing, or the switching timing indication information is the switching indication.

1. The switching time indication information is the target site of the PPDU

FIG15 is a schematic diagram of an interaction flow of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application. The method is implemented by interaction between an AP station and a first non-AP station. As shown in FIG15 , the method includes:

S1501: The AP station sends a PPDU whose target station does not include a first non-AP station.

In an optional embodiment, the AP station may first determine, based on the end time of the current TXOP and the switching delay of the first non-AP station, the latest time at which the first non-AP station may switch from the first channel to the second channel, i.e., the first time corresponding to the first non-AP station. Before the first time corresponding to the first non-AP station, the AP station may send a PPDU whose target station does not include the first non-AP station on the first channel and cease communication with the first non-AP station.

In a specific implementation, taking non-AP station 1 in Figure 16 as the first non-AP station, the AP station can first obtain the end time t1 of the current TXOP and the switching delay x1 of non-AP station 1. Based on the end time t1 of the current TXOP and the switching delay x1 of non-AP station 1, the AP station can determine the latest time for non-AP station 1 to switch from the first channel to the second channel. Assuming that the determined latest time for non-AP station 1 to switch from the first channel to the second channel is t2 as shown in Figure 16, the AP station can send a PPDU whose target station does not include non-AP station 1 before t2.

Optionally, the difference between the end time of the current TXOP and the first time is equal to the switching delay of the first non-AP site, or it can be understood that the first time is equal to the difference between the end time of the current TXOP and the switching delay of the first non-AP site. That is, based on the end time of the current TXOP and the switching delay of each non-AP site, the latest time for the first non-AP site to switch from the first channel to the second channel satisfies the formula: latest time for switching from the first channel to the second channel = end time of the current TXOP - switching delay of the first non-AP site, thereby determining the latest time for the first non-AP site to switch from the first channel to the second channel.

In another optional embodiment, the AP station may first determine, based on the end time of the current TXOP, a preset duration threshold, and the switching delay of the first non-AP station, the latest time at which the first non-AP station may switch from the first channel to the second channel, i.e., the first time corresponding to the first non-AP station. Before the first time corresponding to the first non-AP station, the AP station may send a PPDU whose target station does not include the non-AP station on the first channel and cease communication with the non-AP station.

The specific implementation steps of this embodiment can be referred to the above description and will not be repeated here.

In the embodiment of the present application, there is no limitation on the preset duration threshold. For example, the preset duration threshold may be 65 us or 70 us.

In some embodiments, the preset duration threshold may be aMediumSyncThreshold, wherein aMediumSyncThreshold may be 72 us.

Optionally, in this embodiment, the end time of the current TXOP can be delayed by a preset duration threshold to obtain a new end time, that is, the new end time = the end time of the current TXOP + the preset duration threshold, and the difference between the new end time and the first time is equal to the switching delay of the first non-AP site, or it can be understood that the first time is equal to the difference between the new end time and the switching delay of the first non-AP site, that is, the latest time for the first non-AP site to switch from the first channel to the second channel based on the end time of the current TXOP, the preset duration threshold and the switching delay of the first non-AP site satisfies the formula: latest time for switching from the first channel to the second channel = (end time of the current TXOP + the preset duration threshold) - the switching delay of the first non-AP site.

Exemplarily, as shown in FIG17 , t1 is the end time of the current TXOP, x1 is the switching delay of the first non-AP site, and x2 is the preset duration threshold. Based on the end time t1 of the current TXOP, the preset duration threshold x2, and the switching delay x1 of the first non-AP site, the latest time t3 at which the first non-AP site switches from the first channel to the second channel is determined to be t1+x2-x1.

The above method of determining the latest time for a non-AP station to switch from the first channel to the second channel based on the end time of the current TXOP, the preset duration threshold, and the switching delay of each non-AP station can effectively relax the conditions for non-AP stations to maintain media synchronization within a reasonable range, thereby leaving more time for AP stations and non-AP stations to exchange data within the TXOP.

In some embodiments, when the above-mentioned AP site determines the first moment corresponding to the first non-AP site based on the end time of the current TXOP, a preset duration threshold, and the switching delay of the first non-AP site, the above-mentioned AP site may determine the estimated first moment based on the end time of the current TXOP, the preset duration threshold, and the switching delay of the first non-AP site. If the estimated first moment is less than or equal to the end time of the current TXOP, the estimated first moment is used as the first moment corresponding to the first non-AP site; if the estimated first moment is greater than the end time of the current TXOP, the end time of the current TXOP is used as the first moment corresponding to the first non-AP site.

Specifically, the AP site can obtain the estimated first moment according to the formula: estimated first moment = (end time of the current TXOP + preset duration threshold) - switching delay of the first non-AP site, and compare the estimated first moment with the end time of the current TXOP. If the estimated first moment is less than or equal to the end time of the current TXOP, the estimated first moment is used as the first moment corresponding to the first non-AP site; if the estimated first moment is greater than the end time of the current TXOP, the end time of the current TXOP is used as the first moment corresponding to the first non-AP site.

In another optional embodiment, the AP site may determine a time when not to communicate with the first non-AP site based on the target site of each PPDU that needs to be transmitted in the current TXOP, and send a PPDU whose target site does not include the first non-AP site in the first channel at this time.

The time when the AP station determines not to communicate with the first non-AP station is before the latest time when the first non-AP station switches from the first channel to the second channel, that is, before the first time corresponding to the first non-AP station.

In a specific implementation, assume that the number of PPDUs that the AP needs to transmit in the current TXOP is 10, and the AP determines that starting from the fifth PPDU, it no longer needs to communicate with the first non-AP station. That is, the time corresponding to the fifth PPDU is the time when the AP station no longer communicates with the first non-AP station. At this time, the AP station can send a PPDU whose target station does not include the first non-AP station on the first channel.

S1502: After detecting the PPDU, the first non-AP station determines a target station for the PPDU.

S1503 : When the target station of the PPDU does not include the first non-AP station, the first non-AP station switches from the first channel to the second channel.

Specifically, after detecting a PPDU on the first channel, the first non-AP station may unpack the PPDU, determine the target station of the PPDU, and switch from the first channel to the second channel if it is determined that the target station of a PPDU does not include itself. It should be understood that the fact that the target station of the PPDU does not include the first non-AP station can be a trigger condition for the first non-AP station to switch from the first channel to the second channel. In response to the fact that the target station of the PPDU does not include the first non-AP station, the first non-AP station immediately switches from the first channel to the second channel.

The above-mentioned first non-AP station switches from the first channel to the second channel when it is determined that the target station of a PPDU does not include itself. The above-mentioned first non-AP station may switch from the first channel to the second channel immediately when it is determined that the target station of a PPDU does not include itself, or may switch from the first channel to the second channel after receiving the PPDU after it is determined that the target station of a PPDU does not include itself.

In a specific implementation, the moment when the first non-AP station determines that the target station of a PPDU does not include itself is taken as time Q, and the moment when the first non-AP station completes receiving the PPDU is taken as time Q+K. In some examples, the first non-AP station can switch from the first channel to the second channel at time Q; in other examples, the first non-AP station can switch from the first channel to the second channel at time Q+K.

It should be noted that in this embodiment, the interaction between the AP station and each non-AP station must be continuous. That is, if the AP station does not communicate with a non-AP station at a certain time, the AP station cannot communicate with the non-AP station after that time. This prevents the non-AP station from switching from the first channel to the second channel when the AP station sends a PPDU to the non-AP station. For example, assume that the AP station does not communicate with the first non-AP station at time A. The first non-AP station has already switched from the first channel to the second channel after detecting that the target station of the PPDU corresponding to time A does not include itself. If the AP station attempts to communicate with the first non-AP station after time A, the first non-AP station has already switched to the second channel and cannot receive the PPDU sent by the AP station via the first channel.

In the above technical solution, if a non-AP station determines that the target station of a detected PPDU does not include itself, it can switch from the first channel to the second channel without waiting for the end of the current TXOP. In this way, the non-AP station can promptly switch to the second channel, perform preamble detection on the primary 20 MHz channel in the second channel, and detect whether there are data packets on the primary 20 MHz channel. This ensures that each non-AP station competes for a new TXOP at the same time, and can also determine the length or duration of the new TXOP based on the detected data packets to maintain media synchronization.

2. The switching time indication information is the switching time

In an optional embodiment, when the switching moment indication information is the switching moment, the switching moment can be sent directly by the AP site to the first non-AP site, or it can be determined by the first non-AP site based on the end moment of the current TXOP. The following will describe the communication method provided in the embodiment of the present application using (A) the switching moment is sent by the AP site to the first non-AP site and (B) the switching moment is determined by the first non-AP site based on the end moment of the current TXOP as examples.

(A) The switching time is sent by the AP station to the first non-AP station.

FIG18 is a schematic diagram of an interaction flow of another communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG18 , the method includes:

S1801: The AP station obtains the end time of the current TXOP.

S1802: The AP station determines a switching time based on the end time of the current TXOP.

In an optional implementation, after obtaining the end time of the current TXOP, the AP site may determine a first time based on the end time of the current TXOP and the switching delay of the non-AP site, and use the first time as the switching time.

Specifically, the AP site determines the first moment based on the end time of the current TXOP and the switching delay of the non-AP site. The method can refer to the description of the AP site determining the first moment corresponding to the first non-AP site based on the end time of the current TXOP, the preset duration threshold and the switching delay of the first non-AP site in S1501 above, which will not be repeated here.

In another optional implementation, after obtaining the end time of the current TXOP, the AP site can determine the first time based on the end time of the current TXOP, a preset duration threshold and the switching delay of the non-AP site, and use the first time as the switching time.

Specifically, the AP site determines the first time based on the end time of the current TXOP, the preset duration threshold and the switching delay of the non-AP site. The manner in which this is determined can refer to the description in S1501 above and will not be repeated here.

S1803: The AP station sends a switching time to the first non-AP station.

After determining the switching time, the AP station can directly send the switching time as switching time indication information to the first non-AP station. After receiving the switching time, the first non-AP station can switch from the first channel to the second channel at the switching time. Accordingly, after the switching time, the AP station cannot communicate with the first non-AP station in the current TXOP to avoid the situation where the first non-AP station has already switched from the first channel to the second channel when the AP station sends a PPDU to the first non-AP station.

In the embodiment of the present application, the manner in which the AP station sends the switching time to the first non-AP station is not limited. For example, the AP station may send the switching time to the first non-AP station by broadcast, multicast, or unicast.

Optionally, when the AP station sends the switching time to the first non-AP station in a broadcast or multicast manner, the switching time may be added to a field related to the configuration information (profile) of the first non-AP station.

In the above technical solution, after receiving the switching time sent by the AP station, the non-AP station can directly switch from the first channel to the second channel at the switching time without having to determine the switching time itself. Therefore, it can not only switch to the second channel in a timely manner and perform preamble code detection on the main 20 MHz channel in the second channel, but also save computing resources of the non-AP station.

(B) The switching time is determined by the first non-AP station based on the end time of the current TXOP.

In this embodiment, the first non-AP station needs to first obtain the end time of the current TXOP, and then determine the switching time based on the end time of the current TXOP and the switching delay of the non-AP station, or determine the switching time based on the end time of the current TXOP, a preset time threshold and the switching delay of the non-AP station.

Specifically, the first non-AP station determines the handover time based on the end time of the current TXOP and the handover delay of the non-AP station, or determines the handover time based on the end time of the current TXOP, a preset time threshold, and the handover delay of the non-AP station. The process of determining the handover time can be referred to in the above embodiments and will not be further described here. The following mainly describes how the first non-AP station obtains the end time of the current TXOP.

In an optional implementation manner, the first non-AP station may obtain the end time of the current TXOP in at least the following three ways:

(B-1) The first non-AP station obtains the end time of the current TXOP from its affiliated non-AP MLD.

Specifically, assuming that the first non-AP site is associated with the first AP site, the second non-AP site is associated with the second AP site, the first AP site and the second AP site are attached to the same AP MLD, and the first non-AP site and the second non-AP site are attached to the same non-AP MLD, the second AP site can send the end time of the current TXOP of the first AP site to the second non-AP site via broadcast, multicast or unicast. Due to the information sharing characteristics of the non-AP MLD, the first non-AP site can obtain the end time of the current TXOP from the non-AP MLD.

(B-2) The first non-AP station receives the end time of the current TXOP sent by the AP station.

Specifically, after acquiring the end time of the current TXOP, the AP station sends the end time of the current TXOP to the first non-AP station.

In the embodiment of the present application, there is no limitation on the manner in which the AP site sends the end time of the current TXOP. For example, the AP site can carry the end time of the current TXOP in the frame body field in the MAC header field shown in FIG6 to send it to the first non-AP site, or can send the end time of the current TXOP directly to the first non-AP site.

(B-3) The first non-AP station receives the initial frame in the current TXOP sent by the AP station, and determines the end time of the current TXOP based on the initial frame.

Specifically, in some embodiments, in the initial frame within the current TXOP, the duration field in the MAC header field (such as the (MU-)RTS frame) can be used to indicate the duration of the TXOP. Therefore, the first non-AP station can determine the end time of the current TXOP based on the duration field in the MAC header field and the current time.

In other embodiments, in the initial frame within the current TXOP, the TXOP_duration field in the physical (PHY) header field can be used to indicate the duration of the TXOP. Therefore, the first non-AP station can determine the end time of the current TXOP based on the TXOP_duration field in the PHY header field and the current time.

With the above technical solution, the non-AP station can determine the switching time based on the end time of the current TXOP, thus avoiding the phenomenon shown in Figure 19: the non-AP station fails to correctly decapsulate the PPDU sent by the AP station, and the latest time t2 for the non-AP station to switch from the first channel to the second channel has already arrived, resulting in the non-AP station not switching from the first channel to the second channel in a timely manner. Therefore, the non-AP station determines the switching time itself, ensuring that the non-AP station switches to the second channel in a timely manner when the switching time arrives.

In an optional embodiment, when determining the switching time based on the end time of the current TXOP, a preset duration threshold, and the switching delay of the first non-AP site, the above-mentioned first non-AP site may determine an estimated switching time based on the end time of the current TXOP, the preset duration threshold, and the switching delay of the first non-AP site. If the estimated switching time is less than or equal to the end time of the current TXOP, the estimated switching time is used as the switching time; if the estimated first time is greater than the end time of the current TXOP, the end time of the current TXOP is used as the switching time.

Specifically, the first non-AP station can obtain the estimated switching time according to the formula: estimated switching time = (end time of the current TXOP + preset duration threshold) - switching delay of the first non-AP station, and compare the estimated switching time with the end time of the current TXOP. If the estimated switching time is less than or equal to the end time of the current TXOP, the estimated switching time is used as the switching time; if the estimated switching time is greater than the end time of the current TXOP, the end time of the current TXOP is used as the switching time.

3. The switching time indication information is a switching indication.

In an optional implementation, when the switching moment indication information is a switching indication, the first non-AP station may switch from the first channel to the second channel when detecting the switching indication.

Specifically, as shown in Figure 20, after the AP site determines the latest time for the first non-AP site to switch from the first channel to the second channel, that is, the first time corresponding to the first non-AP site, the AP site can carry a switching indication on the PPDU corresponding to the first time and send it to the first non-AP site. After the first non-AP site detects the PPDU and parses the switching indication carried in the PPDU, it immediately switches from the first channel to the second channel.

In another optional implementation, when the switching timing indication information is a switching indication, the first non-AP station may switch from the first channel to the second channel after receiving the currently transmitted PPDU.

Specifically, as shown in Figure 21, after the AP site determines the latest moment for the first non-AP site to switch from the first channel to the second channel, that is, the first moment corresponding to the first non-AP site, the AP site can carry a switching indication on the previous PPDU adjacent to the PPDU corresponding to the first moment and send it to the first non-AP site. After detecting the switching indication carried in the PPDU, the first non-AP site can switch from the first channel to the second channel after receiving the currently transmitted PPDU.

The above is a description of the communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application for the case where the first channel and the second channel do not overlap. The following will describe the communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application for the case where the first channel and the second channel overlap.

There are overlapping channels between the first channel and the second channel. For example, the first channel includes channel 1 with a bandwidth of 20 MHz and channel 2 with a bandwidth of 20 MHz, and the second channel may include channel 1 with a bandwidth of 20 MHz, channel 2 with a bandwidth of 20 MHz, channel 3 with a bandwidth of 20 MHz, and channel 4 with a bandwidth of 20 MHz; or, the first channel includes channel 1 with a bandwidth of 20 MHz, channel 2 with a bandwidth of 20 MHz, channel 3 with a bandwidth of 20 MHz, and channel 4 with a bandwidth of 20 MHz, and the second channel may include channel 1 with a bandwidth of 20 MHz and channel 2 with a bandwidth of 20 MHz.

It can be understood that when the first channel and the second channel overlap, the switching delay of the non-AP station from the first channel to the second channel is zero.

Specifically, the non-AP station with a switching delay of 0 may obtain a switching time, and switch from the first channel to the second channel including the main 20 MHz channel based on the switching time.

The switching time is the end time of the current TXOP, or the switching time is the end time of the current TXOP plus a preset time threshold.

When obtaining the handover time, the non-AP station with a handover delay of zero can determine the handover time directly based on the end time of the current TXOP after obtaining the end time of the current TXOP, or it can obtain the handover time indication information and determine the handover time based on the handover time indication information. The following describes these two scenarios respectively.

Case 1: After the non-AP station with a switching delay of 0 obtains the end time of the current TXOP, it directly determines the switching time based on the end time of the current TXOP.

The manner in which the non-AP station obtains the end time of the current TXOP may refer to the manners in B-1, B-2 and B-3 above, which will not be described in detail here.

After obtaining the end time of the current TXOP, the non-AP station can directly use the end time of the current TXOP as the switching time, or postpone the end time of the current TXOP by a preset time threshold to obtain a new end time, and use the new end time as the switching time.

In this way, the AP station can send PPDUs to non-AP stations within the current TXOP until the current TXOP ends.

Second case: the non-AP station with a switching delay of 0 obtains switching time indication information and determines the switching time based on the switching time indication information.

In an optional embodiment, the switching time indication information may be the end time of the current TXOP. After obtaining the end time of the current TXOP, the AP station may send switching time indication information to the non-AP station, indicating that the end time of the current TXOP is the switching time. After obtaining the switching time indication information, the non-AP station may, based on the switching time indication information, switch from the first channel to the second channel at the end time of the current TXOP. Alternatively, after obtaining the switching time indication information, the non-AP station may, based on the switching time indication information, delay the end time of the current TXOP by a preset time threshold to obtain a new end time, and then switch from the first channel to the second channel at the new end time.

In another optional implementation, the switching time indication information may be a switching indication, and the non-AP station switches from the first channel to the second channel after receiving the currently transmitted PPDU.

Specifically, the AP site can carry a switching indication on the last PPDU in the current TXOP and send it to the non-AP site. After detecting the switching indication carried in the PPDU, the non-AP site can switch from the first channel to the second channel after receiving the currently transmitted PPDU.

The above description primarily describes the solutions provided by the embodiments of the present application from the perspective of interaction between various network elements. Accordingly, the embodiments of the present application also provide a communication device for implementing the various methods described above. The communication device may be an access network device, or a component applicable to an access network device, as described in the method embodiments described above; alternatively, the communication device may be a core network device, or a component applicable to a core network device, as described in the method embodiments described above; or alternatively, the communication device may be a terminal device, or a component applicable to a terminal device, as described in the method embodiments described above. It will be understood that, to implement the aforementioned functions, the communication device includes hardware structures and/or software modules corresponding to each function. Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that, in conjunction with the various exemplary units and algorithm steps described in the embodiments disclosed herein, the present application can be implemented in hardware or a combination of hardware and computer software. Whether a function is implemented in hardware or by computer software driving hardware depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Professionals may use different methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but such implementations should not be considered beyond the scope of this application.

In the embodiment of the present application, the communication device can be divided into functional modules according to the above method embodiment. For example, each functional module can be divided according to each function, or two or more functions can be integrated into one processing module. The above integrated modules can be implemented in the form of hardware or in the form of software functional modules. It should be understood that the division of modules in the embodiment of the present application is schematic and is only a logical functional division. In actual implementation, there may be other division methods.

For example, taking the communication device as a non-AP station in the above method embodiment as an example, Figure 22 shows a schematic structural diagram of a non-AP station, which includes a transceiver module 2201 and a processing module 2202. Transceiver module 2201, also known as a transceiver unit, is used to implement transceiver functions and can be, for example, a transceiver circuit, a transceiver, a transceiver, or a communication interface.

The processing module 2202 is configured to obtain switching time indication information and switch from the first channel to the second channel based on the switching time indication information.

The switching time is no later than the first time; the first time is the latest time when the non-AP station switches from the first channel to the second channel; the first channel includes one or more 20 MHz channels used by the non-AP station to communicate with the access point AP station in the current TXOP; the second channel includes the main 20 MHz channel.

Optionally, the transceiver module 2201 is configured to receive a PPDU from an AP site.

The processing module 2202 is further configured to determine a target station of the PPDU, and switch from the first channel to the second channel when the target station of the PPDU does not include a non-AP station.

Among them, the transceiver module 2201 can be used to implement the transceiver function corresponding to the non-AP site in the above method embodiment, and the processing module 2202 can be used to implement the processing function corresponding to the non-AP site in the above method embodiment. Furthermore, all relevant contents of each step involved in the above method embodiment can be referred to the functional description of the corresponding functional module, and will not be repeated here.

In the embodiments of the present application, the non-AP station is presented in the form of integrated functional modules. "Module" here can refer to specific ASICs, circuits, processors and memories that execute one or more software or firmware programs, integrated logic circuits, and/or other devices that can provide the aforementioned functionality. In a simple embodiment, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the non-AP station can take the form of the communication device 1300 shown in Figure 13.

For example, the processor 1301 in the communication device 1300 shown in FIG13 may call computer-executable instructions stored in the memory 1304 to enable the communication device 1300 to execute the communication method in the above method embodiment.

Specifically, the functions/implementation processes of the transceiver module 2201 and the processing module 2202 in FIG22 can be implemented by the processor 1301 in the communication device 1300 shown in FIG13 calling computer-executable instructions stored in the memory 1304. Alternatively, the functions/implementation processes of the processing module 2202 in FIG22 can be implemented by the processor 1301 in the communication device 1300 shown in FIG13 calling computer-executable instructions stored in the memory 1304, and the functions/implementation processes of the transceiver module 2201 in FIG22 can be implemented by the communication interface 1302 in the communication device 1300 shown in FIG13.

Since the non-AP station provided in the embodiment of the present application can execute the above-mentioned communication method, the technical effects that can be obtained can be referred to the above-mentioned method embodiment and will not be repeated here.

Alternatively, for example, taking the communication device as an AP site in the above method embodiment as an example, Figure 23 shows a schematic structural diagram of an AP site, where the non-AP site includes a transceiver module 2301 and a processing module 2302. Transceiver module 2301, also known as a transceiver unit, is used to implement transceiver functions, and can be, for example, a transceiver circuit, a transceiver, a transceiver, or a communication interface.

The processing module 2302 is configured to determine switching time indication information.

The switching time is no later than the first time; the first time is the latest time at which the non-AP station switches from the first channel to the second channel; the first channel includes one or more 20 MHz channels used by the non-AP station to communicate with the access point (AP) station in the current TXOP; and the second channel includes the primary 20 MHz channel.

The transceiver module 2301 is configured to send switching time indication information to a non-AP site.

Among them, the transceiver module 2301 can be used to implement the transceiver function corresponding to the AP site in the above method embodiment, and the processing module 2302 can be used to implement the processing function corresponding to the AP site in the above method embodiment. Furthermore, all relevant contents of each step involved in the above method embodiment can be referred to the functional description of the corresponding functional module, and will not be repeated here.

In the embodiments of the present application, the AP station is presented in the form of integrated functional modules. "Module" here can refer to a specific ASIC, circuit, processor and memory executing one or more software or firmware programs, integrated logic circuit, and/or other devices that can provide the aforementioned functionality. In a simple embodiment, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the AP station can take the form of the communication device 1300 shown in Figure 13.

For example, the processor 1301 in the communication device 1300 shown in FIG13 may call computer-executable instructions stored in the memory 1304 to enable the communication device 1300 to execute the communication method in the above method embodiment.

Specifically, the functions/implementation processes of the transceiver module 2301 and the processing module 2302 in FIG23 can be implemented by the processor 1301 in the communication device 1300 shown in FIG13 calling computer-executable instructions stored in the memory 1304. Alternatively, the functions/implementation processes of the processing module 2302 in FIG23 can be implemented by the processor 1301 in the communication device 1300 shown in FIG13 calling computer-executable instructions stored in the memory 1304, and the functions/implementation processes of the transceiver module 2301 in FIG23 can be implemented by the communication interface 1302 in the communication device 1300 shown in FIG13.

Since the AP station provided in the embodiment of the present application can execute the above-mentioned communication method, the technical effects that can be obtained can be referred to the above-mentioned method embodiment and will not be repeated here.

It should be understood that one or more of the above modules or units can be implemented by software, hardware, or a combination of the two. When any of the above modules or units is implemented in software, the software exists in the form of computer program instructions and is stored in a memory, and the processor can be used to execute the program instructions and implement the above method flow. The processor can be built into an SoC (system on chip) or an ASIC, or it can be an independent semiconductor chip. In addition to the core used to execute software instructions to perform calculations or processing within the processor, it can further include necessary hardware accelerators, such as field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), PLDs (programmable logic devices), or logic circuits that implement dedicated logic operations.

When the above modules or units are implemented in hardware, the hardware can be any one or any combination of a CPU, a microprocessor, a digital signal processing (DSP) chip, a microcontroller unit (MCU), an artificial intelligence processor, an ASIC, a SoC, an FPGA, a PLD, a dedicated digital circuit, a hardware accelerator or a non-integrated discrete device, which can run the necessary software or not rely on the software to execute the above method flow.

Optionally, an embodiment of the present application further provides a communication device (for example, the communication device may be a chip or a chip system), which includes a processor for implementing the method in any of the above method embodiments. In one possible design, the communication device also includes a memory. The memory is used to store necessary program instructions and data, and the processor can call the program code stored in the memory to instruct the communication device to execute the method in any of the above method embodiments. Of course, the memory may not be in the communication device. When the communication device is a chip system, it may be composed of a chip, or it may include a chip and other discrete devices, which is not specifically limited in the embodiment of the present application.

In one possible implementation, an embodiment of the present application also provides a computer-readable storage medium, which stores a computer program or instruction. When the computer program or instruction is run on a communication device, the communication device can execute the method described in any of the above method embodiments or any of its implementations.

In a possible implementation, an embodiment of the present application further provides a communication system, which includes the access network device described in the above method embodiment, the core network device described in the above method embodiment, and the terminal device described in the above method embodiment.

In a possible implementation, an embodiment of the present application further provides a communication method, which includes the method described in any of the above method embodiments or any of its implementations.

In the above embodiments, it can be implemented in whole or in part by software, hardware, firmware or any combination thereof. When implemented using a software program, it can be implemented in whole or in part in the form of a computer program product. The computer program product includes one or more computer instructions. When the computer program instructions are loaded and executed on a computer, the process or function according to the embodiment of the present application is generated in whole or in part. The computer can be a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a computer network, or other programmable device. The computer instructions can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium or transmitted from one computer-readable storage medium to another computer-readable storage medium. For example, the computer instructions can be transmitted from a website, computer, server or data center to another website, computer, server or data center by wired (e.g., coaxial cable, optical fiber, digital subscriber line (DSL)) or wireless (e.g., infrared, wireless, microwave, etc.) means. The computer-readable storage medium can be any available medium that can be accessed by a computer or a data storage device such as a server or data center that contains one or more media that can be integrated. The available medium may be a magnetic medium (eg, a floppy disk, a hard disk, a magnetic tape), an optical medium (eg, a DVD), or a semiconductor medium (eg, a solid state drive (SSD)).

Although the present application is described herein in conjunction with various embodiments, in the process of implementing the claimed application, those skilled in the art may understand and implement other variations of the disclosed embodiments by reviewing the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims. In the claims, the word "comprising" does not exclude other components or steps, and "a" or "an" does not exclude multiple situations. A single processor or other unit may implement several functions listed in the claims. Certain measures are recorded in different dependent claims, but this does not mean that these measures cannot be combined to produce good results.

Although the present application has been described with reference to specific features and embodiments thereof, it is apparent that various modifications and combinations may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the present application. Accordingly, this specification and the drawings are merely illustrative of the present application as defined by the appended claims and are deemed to cover any and all modifications, variations, combinations or equivalents within the scope of the present application. Obviously, those skilled in the art may make various modifications and variations to the present application without departing from the spirit and scope of the present application. Thus, the present application is intended to include such modifications and variations as fall within the scope of the claims of the present application and their equivalents.

Claims (30)

A communication method, characterized in that it is applied to a non-access point (non-AP) station, the method comprising: Obtaining switching time indication information; the switching time is no later than a first time; the first time being the latest time at which the non-AP station switches from the first channel to the second channel; the first channel includes one or more 20 MHz channels used by the non-AP station to communicate with an access point (AP) station in a current transmission opportunity (TXOP); the second channel includes a primary 20 MHz channel; and the first channel and the second channel do not overlap; Based on the switching time indication information, switch from the first channel to the second channel. The method according to claim 1, wherein obtaining the switching time indication information comprises: receiving a physical layer protocol data unit (PPDU) from the AP site; Determining a target site for the PPDU; The switching from the first channel to the second channel based on the switching time indication information includes: When the target station of the PPDU does not include the non-AP station, switching from the first channel to the second channel. The method according to claim 1, wherein obtaining the switching time indication information comprises: Get the switching time; or, Get switching instructions. The method according to claim 3, wherein the switching time indication information is the switching indication; The switching from the first channel to the second channel based on the switching time indication information includes: When the switching instruction is detected, switching from the first channel to the second channel; or After receiving the currently transmitted PPDU, switching from the first channel to the second channel. The method according to claim 3, wherein obtaining the switching time comprises: Get the end time of the current TXOP; Determining the switching time based on the end time of the current TXOP and the switching delay of the non-AP site; or, The switching time is determined based on the end time of the current TXOP, a preset time threshold, and the switching delay of the non-AP site. The method according to claim 5 is characterized in that the duration threshold is a media synchronization threshold. The method according to claim 5, wherein obtaining the end time of the current TXOP comprises: Obtaining an end time of a current TXOP from a non-AP multi-link device (MLD) to which the non-AP station is attached; or receiving an end time of the current TXOP from the AP site; or, An initial frame in a current TXOP is received from the AP site, and an end time of the current TXOP is determined based on the initial frame. The method according to claim 5, wherein determining the switching time based on the end time of the current TXOP, a preset duration threshold, and the switching delay of the non-AP site comprises: Determining an estimated handover time based on an end time of a current TXOP, the duration threshold, and a handover delay of the non-AP site; If the estimated switching time is less than or equal to the end time of the current TXOP, use the estimated switching time as the switching time; In a case where the expected switching time is greater than the end time of the current TXOP, the end time of the TXOP is used as the switching time. A communication method, characterized in that it is applied to an access point (AP) station, the method comprising: Determining switching time indication information; the switching time is no later than a first time; the first time is the latest time at which a non-access point (non-AP) station switches from a first channel to a second channel; the first channel includes one or more 20 MHz channels used by the non-AP station to communicate with an access point (AP) station within a current transmission opportunity (TXOP); the second channel includes a primary 20 MHz channel; and the first channel and the second channel do not overlap; Sending the switching time indication information to the non-AP site. The method according to claim 9, wherein the sending the switching time indication information to the non-AP station comprises: A physical layer protocol data unit (PPDU) is sent to the non-AP station; the target station of the PPDU does not include the non-AP station. The method according to claim 9, wherein determining the switching time indication information comprises: Determine the switching time; or, Confirm the switching indication. The method according to claim 11, wherein determining the switching time comprises: Get the end time of the current TXOP; Determining the switching time based on the end time of the current TXOP and the switching delay of the non-AP site; or, The switching time is determined based on the end time of the current TXOP, a preset time threshold, and the switching delay of the non-AP site. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that the duration threshold is a media synchronization threshold. The method according to claim 9, further comprising: Sending the end time of the current TXOP to the non-AP station. The method according to claim 12, wherein determining the switching time based on the end time of the current TXOP, a preset duration threshold, and the switching delay of the non-AP site comprises: Determining an estimated handover time based on an end time of a current TXOP, the duration threshold, and a handover delay of the non-AP site; If the estimated switching time is less than or equal to the end time of the current TXOP, use the estimated switching time as the switching time; In a case where the expected switching time is greater than the end time of the current TXOP, the end time of the TXOP is used as the switching time. A communication device, characterized in that the device is located at a non-access point (non-AP) site, and the device comprises: a processing module configured to obtain switching time indication information; the switching time is no later than a first time; the first time is the latest time when the non-AP station switches from the first channel to the second channel; the first channel includes one or more 20 MHz channels used by the non-AP station to communicate with an access point (AP) station in a current transmission opportunity (TXOP); the second channel includes a primary 20 MHz channel; and the first channel and the second channel do not overlap; The processing module is further configured to switch from the first channel to the second channel based on the switching time indication information. The device according to claim 16, further comprising a transceiver module, The transceiver module is configured to receive a physical layer protocol data unit (PPDU) from the AP site; The processing module specifically determines a target station of the PPDU, and switches from the first channel to the second channel when the target station of the PPDU does not include the non-AP station. The device according to claim 16, wherein the processing module is specifically configured to: Get the switching time; or, Get switching instructions. The device according to claim 18, wherein the switching time indication information is the switching indication; The processing module is specifically used to: When the switching instruction is detected, switching from the first channel to the second channel; or After receiving the currently transmitted PPDU, switching from the first channel to the second channel. The device according to claim 18, wherein the processing module is specifically configured to: Get the end time of the current TXOP; Determining the switching time based on the end time of the current TXOP and the switching delay of the non-AP site; or, The switching time is determined based on the end time of the current TXOP, a preset time threshold, and the switching delay of the non-AP site. The device according to claim 20 is characterized in that the duration threshold is a media synchronization threshold. The device according to claim 20, wherein the processing module is specifically configured to: Obtaining an end time of a current TXOP from a non-AP multi-link device (MLD) to which the non-AP station is attached; or receiving an end time of the current TXOP from the AP site; or, An initial frame in a current TXOP is received from the AP site, and an end time of the current TXOP is determined based on the initial frame. A communication device, characterized in that the device is located at an access point (AP) site, and the device comprises: a processing module configured to determine switching time indication information; the switching time being no later than a first time; the first time being the latest time at which a non-access point (non-AP) station switches from a first channel to a second channel; the first channel comprising one or more 20 MHz channels used by the non-AP station to communicate with an access point (AP) station within a current transmission opportunity (TXOP); the second channel comprising a primary 20 MHz channel; and the first channel and the second channel not overlapping; The transceiver module is configured to send the switching time indication information to the non-AP site. The device according to claim 23, wherein the transceiver module is specifically configured to: A physical layer protocol data unit (PPDU) is sent to the non-AP station; the target station of the PPDU does not include the non-AP station. The device according to claim 23, wherein the processing module is specifically configured to: Determine the switching time; or, Confirm the switching indication. The device according to claim 25, wherein the processing module is specifically configured to: Get the end time of the current TXOP; Determining the switching time based on the end time of the current TXOP and the switching delay of the non-AP site; or, The switching time is determined based on the end time of the current TXOP, a preset time threshold, and the switching delay of the non-AP site. The device according to claim 26 is characterized in that the duration threshold is a media synchronization threshold. The device according to claim 23, wherein the processing module is specifically configured to: Sending the end time of the current TXOP to the non-AP station. A communication system, characterized in that the system comprises: a non-access point (non-AP) station and an access point (AP) station; The non-AP station is configured to perform the communication method according to any one of claims 1 to 8; The AP site is used to execute the communication method according to any one of claims 9 to 15. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that it includes program code, and when the program code is run on a computer or a processor, it causes the computer or the processor to execute the communication method according to any one of claims 1 to 15.