WO2025213390A1 - Wireless communication method and communication device - Google Patents

Abstract

Provided are a wireless communication method and a communication device. The method comprises: a first device sending a first PPDU to a second device, wherein the first PPDU comprises a first signal and a second PPDU, and the first signal is earlier than the second PPDU. By sending a first PPDU, a first device can send a first signal before sending a complete PPDU (i.e., a second PPDU). When other devices also send signals, the first signal can overlap with the signals sent by the other devices, such that the second PPDU does not overlap with the signals sent by the other devices, thereby preventing overlapping interference in the transmission of the second PPDU, such that the second PPDU can be successfully transmitted.

Description

Wireless communication method and communication device Technical Field

The present application relates to the field of communication technology, and more specifically, to a wireless communication method and a communication device.

Background Art

When multiple devices need to communicate, they may simultaneously transmit their physical layer protocol data units (PPDUs), resulting in overlapping interference between the PPDUs. For example, in some communication systems, devices must compete for channels before they can transmit signals. During this channel contention, multiple devices may simultaneously transmit their competing PPDUs, leading to channel contention conflicts. Channel resource conflicts can prevent multiple devices from successfully competing for a channel, resulting in wasted channel resources.

Summary of the Invention

The present application provides a wireless communication method and a communication device. The following introduces various aspects involved in the present application.

In a first aspect, a wireless communication method is provided, comprising: a first device sending a first PPDU to a second device; wherein the first PPDU includes a first signal and a second PPDU, and the first signal is earlier than the second PPDU.

In a second aspect, a wireless communication method is provided, comprising: a second device receiving a first PPDU sent by a first device; wherein the first PPDU includes a first signal and a second PPDU, and the first signal is earlier than the second PPDU.

In a third aspect, a communication device is provided. The communication device is a first device, comprising: a sending unit configured to send a first PPDU to a second device; wherein the first PPDU includes a first signal and a second PPDU, and the first signal is earlier than the second PPDU.

In a fourth aspect, a communication device is provided. The communication device is a second device and includes: a receiving unit configured to receive a first PPDU sent by a first device; wherein the first PPDU includes a first signal and a second PPDU, and the first signal is earlier than the second PPDU.

In a fifth aspect, a communication device is provided, comprising a processor and a memory, wherein the memory is used to store one or more computer programs, and the processor is used to call the computer program in the memory to enable the communication device to perform some or all of the steps in the above-mentioned various aspects of the method.

In a sixth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication system, which includes the above-mentioned communication device. In another possible design, the system may also include other devices that interact with the communication device in the solution provided in the embodiment of the present application.

In a seventh aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a computer-readable storage medium, which stores a computer program, and the computer program enables a communication device to execute part or all of the steps in the methods of the above aspects.

In an eighth aspect, embodiments of the present application provide a computer program product, wherein the computer program product includes a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program, wherein the computer program is operable to cause a communication device to perform some or all of the steps of the methods described in each of the above aspects. In some implementations, the computer program product may be a software installation package.

In a ninth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a chip comprising a memory and a processor, wherein the processor can call and run a computer program from the memory to implement some or all of the steps described in the methods of the above aspects.

By sending the first PPDU, the first device can send the first signal before sending a complete PPDU (i.e., the second PPDU). When other devices also send signals, the first signal can overlap with the signals sent by the other devices, so that the second PPDU does not overlap with the signals sent by the other devices, thereby avoiding overlapping interference in the transmission of the second PPDU and allowing the second PPDU to be successfully transmitted.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG1 is a schematic diagram of a wireless communication system used in an embodiment of the present application.

Figure 2 is an example diagram of the value of the contention window (CW).

Figure 3 is an example of the operation process of the broadcast target wake time (TWT) mechanism.

FIG4 is an exemplary diagram of a channel contention priority access process based on a postponement signal.

FIG5 is an example diagram of a channel conflict resolution process based on a distributed resource unit (dRU).

FIG. 6A is an exemplary diagram of a channel conflict resolution process based on a station identification field.

FIG6B is another example diagram of a channel conflict resolution process based on a site identification field.

FIG7A illustrates a channel contention conflict that may occur in the channel contention mechanism of a distributed coordination function (DCF) or enhanced distributed channel access (EDCA).

FIG7B shows the channel contention conflicts that may occur in two channel resource reservation mechanisms: TWT service period (SP) and restricted-TWT (R-TWT) SP.

Figure 7C shows the overlapping interference that may be caused by PPDU transmission that sends a defer signal.

FIG. 7D illustrates overlapping interference that may be generated by dRU-based PPDU transmission.

Figure 7E shows the overlapping interference that may be caused by the transmission of a PPDU containing a user identifying extension (UIE) field.

FIG. 7F illustrates overlapping interference that may be generated by the transmission of a PPDU containing a UIE field and a transceiver state switching field.

FIG8 is a schematic flowchart of a wireless communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application.

9A to 9D are schematic structural diagrams of a first PPDU provided in an embodiment of the present application.

FIG10 is an example diagram of the wireless communication process provided in Example 1.

FIG11 is an example diagram of the wireless communication process provided in Example 2.

FIG12 is an example diagram of the wireless communication process provided in Example 3.

FIG13 is an example diagram of the wireless communication process provided in Example 4.

FIG14A is an example diagram of a wireless communication process provided in Example 5. FIG.

FIG14B is an example diagram of another wireless communication process provided in Example 5.

Figure 14C is an example diagram of the wireless communication process provided in Example 6.

FIG. 15A shows an example of interaction between first information and second information based on a management frame.

FIG. 15B shows another example of interaction between the first information and the second information based on a management frame.

FIG. 15C shows another example of interaction between the first information and the second information based on a management frame.

FIG. 15D shows an example of interaction between first information and second information based on a control frame.

FIG16 is a schematic diagram of the format of a first element provided in an embodiment of the present application.

Figure 17A is a schematic diagram of an extremely high throughput (EHT) variant format of a report poll trigger (report poll trigger) provided in an embodiment of the present application.

FIG17B is a schematic diagram of a high-efficiency (HE) variant format triggered by report polling provided in an embodiment of the present application.

Figure 18 is a format diagram of an aggregation control (A-control) field that carries two pieces of information provided in an embodiment of the present application.

Figures 19A and 19B are schematic structural diagrams of a first PPDU provided in an embodiment of the present application.

Figure 20 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application.

Figure 21 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application.

Figure 22 is a schematic structural diagram of a device for communication provided in an embodiment of the present application.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The technical solution in this application will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Communication System

The technical solutions provided in the embodiments of the present application can be applied to various communication systems, such as wireless local area networks (WLANs), wireless fidelity (WiFi), high-performance radio local area networks (HIPELANs), wide area networks (WANs), cellular networks, or other communication systems. For another example, the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of the present application can be applied to communication systems that adopt the 802.11 standard. For example, the 802.11 standard includes, but is not limited to, the 802.11ax standard, the 802.11be standard, and the next-generation 802.11 standard.

FIG1 is a schematic diagram of a communication system applicable to embodiments of the present application. As shown in FIG1 , communication devices in communication system 100 may include access points (APs) 111 and 112, and stations (STAs) 121 and 122. STA 121 can access the network through AP 111, and STA 122 can access the network through AP 112.

In some implementations, a STA may establish an association with one or more APs, after which the associated STAs and APs may communicate with each other. As shown in FIG1 , AP 111 and STA 121 may communicate with each other after establishing an association, and AP 112 and STA 122 may communicate with each other after establishing an association.

In some implementations, the communication in the communication system 100 may be communication between an AP and a non-AP STA, communication between a non-AP STA and a non-AP STA, or communication between a STA and a peer STA, where a peer STA may refer to a device that communicates with the STA peer, for example, the peer STA may be an AP or a non-AP STA.

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

In addition, the above communication system can be applied to scenarios of multi-device collaboration, such as multi-AP (multiple access points, multi-AP) collaboration, or multi-site collaboration.

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

In some scenarios, the aforementioned communication device may also be a "multi-link device (MLD)," meaning a device that can communicate via multiple communication links. These multiple communication links may include communication links in different frequency bands, such as millimeter-wave bands and/or low-frequency bands. Generally, if a multi-link device is an AP, the AP is also referred to as a "multi-link AP." If a multi-link device is a STA, the STA is also referred to as a "multi-link STA."

In the embodiment of the present application, the AP can be a device in a wireless network. The AP can be a communication entity such as a communication server, a router, a switch, a bridge, or the AP can include various forms of macro base stations, micro base stations, relay stations, etc. Of course, the AP can also be a chip or circuit or processing system in these various forms of devices, thereby realizing the method and function of the embodiment of the present application. The AP can be applied to a variety of scenarios, such as sensor nodes in smart cities (such as smart water meters, smart electricity meters, smart air detection nodes), smart devices in smart homes (such as smart cameras, projectors, displays, TVs, speakers, refrigerators, washing machines, etc.), nodes in the Internet of Things, entertainment terminals (such as wearable devices such as AR and VR), smart devices in smart offices (such as printers, projectors, etc.), Internet of Vehicles devices in the Internet of Vehicles, and some infrastructure in daily life scenarios (such as vending machines, self-service navigation counters in supermarkets, self-service checkout devices, self-service ordering machines), etc.

In some implementations, the role of a STA in a communication system is not absolute; in some scenarios, a STA can function as an AP. For example, when a mobile phone is connected to a router, it can be a non-AP STA, while when it is acting as a hotspot for other phones, it functions as an AP.

In the embodiments of the present application, a STA in the embodiments of the present application may be a device with wireless transceiver capabilities, such as a device that supports the 802.11 series of protocols and can communicate with an AP or other STAs. For example, a STA is any user communication device that allows a user to communicate with an AP and, in turn, with a WLAN. Examples of STAs include user equipment (UE), mobile station (MS), mobile terminal (MT), access terminal, subscriber unit, subscriber station, mobile station, mobile station, remote station, remote terminal, mobile device, user terminal, terminal, wireless communication device, user agent, or user device.

The STA in the embodiment of the present application may also be a device that provides voice/data connectivity to users, such as a handheld device or vehicle-mounted device with wireless connection function. Examples include: mobile phones, tablet computers, laptop computers, PDAs, mobile internet devices (MIDs), wearable devices, virtual reality (VR) devices, augmented reality (AR) devices, wireless terminals in industrial control, wireless terminals in self-driving, wireless terminals in remote medical surgery, wireless terminals in smart grids, wireless terminals in transportation safety, and wireless terminals in smart cities. The present invention also includes but is not limited to wireless terminals in smart cities, wireless terminals in smart homes, cellular phones, cordless phones, session initiation protocol (SIP) phones, wireless local loop (WLL) stations, personal digital assistants (PDAs), handheld devices with wireless communication capabilities, computing devices or other processing devices connected to wireless modems, vehicle-mounted devices, wearable devices, terminal devices in 5G networks or terminal devices in future evolved public land mobile networks (PLMNs), etc. The embodiments of the present application are not limited to these.

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

Furthermore, in embodiments of the present application, a STA may also be a terminal device in an Internet of Things (IoT) system. The IoT is a crucial component of future information technology development. Its primary technical feature is connecting objects to the Internet through communication technologies, thereby enabling intelligent networks that interconnect humans and machines, and objects and things. In embodiments of the present application, IoT technology, for example, through narrowband (NB) technology, can achieve massive connections, deep coverage, and power-saving terminals.

Furthermore, in the embodiments of the present application, a STA may be a device in a connected vehicle system. The communication methods in a connected vehicle system are collectively referred to as V2X (where X represents anything). For example, V2X communication includes vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication, vehicle-to-roadside infrastructure (V2I) communication, vehicle-to-pedestrian (V2P) communication, and vehicle-to-network (V2N) communication.

In addition, in the embodiment of the present application, STA may also include sensors such as smart printers, train detectors, gas stations, etc., whose main functions include collecting data (part of the terminal equipment), receiving AP control information and downlink data, and sending electromagnetic waves to transmit data to the AP.

In addition, the AP in the embodiment of the present application may be a device for communicating with a STA. The AP may be a network device in a wireless local area network. The AP may be used to communicate with the STA through the wireless local area network.

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

From the perspective of the communication standards supported by STA, in some implementations, non-AP STA can support 802.11be. Non-AP STA can also support 802.11ax, 802.11ac, 802.11n, 802.11g, 802.11b and 802.11a, etc. The 802.11 family of wireless local area networks (WLAN) standards.

In the embodiments of the present application, there is no limitation on the frequency bands supported by WLAN technology. In some implementations, the frequency bands supported by WLAN technology may include, but are not limited to, low frequency bands (e.g., 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, 6 GHz) and high frequency bands (e.g., 45 GHz, 60 GHz).

It should be understood that the specific forms of STA and AP in the embodiments of the present application are not particularly limited and are merely illustrative.

EDCA/DCF channel contention mechanism

If a STA wishes to initiate data and/or management frame transmission using the DCF, it may invoke the carrier sense (CS) mechanism to determine the medium's busy/idle state. If the medium is busy, the STA should delay transmission until it determines that the medium is uninterruptedly idle for a certain period of time. This period can be equal to the extended inter-frame space (EIFS) if the last transition to idle was due to an incorrectly received frame being detected on the medium, or the distributed inter-frame spacing (DIFS) otherwise. After this DIFS or EIFS medium idle time, the STA should generate a random number before transmitting, which serves as the backoff count. The backoff count is used to determine the additional delay. If the backoff count already contains a non-zero value, no random number selection is required or performed. This process minimizes conflicts during contention between multiple STAs executing the same event.

Optionally, the backoff count may satisfy: Backoff Count = Random(). Random() may be used to obtain a pseudorandom integer from a uniform distribution in the interval [0, CW]. The parameter CW may represent the size of the contention window. CW may be an integer between physical layer (PHY) parameters aCWmin and aCWmax, where aCWmin ≤ CW ≤ aCWmax.

As can be seen, when two or more STAs generate the same random backoff count, they simultaneously transmit signals to the medium when the backoff count reaches zero in an attempt to occupy the channel, resulting in a channel contention conflict. Because the signals transmitted by different stations interfere with each other, none of the stations will obtain the channel, which is a waste of medium resources.

The initial value of the CW parameter may be aCWmin. Each STA may maintain a STA short retry count (SSRC) and a STA long retry count (SLRC). The initial value of both the SSRC and SLRC may be 0. The SSRC increments when the short retry count (SRC) associated with any MAC protocol data unit (MPDU) whose type field is equal to data or management increments. The SLRC increments when the long retry count (LRC) associated with any MPDU whose type field is equal to data or management increments. Each time the STA retry count increments due to a failed attempt to transmit an MPDU, the CW takes the next value in the CW sequence until the CW reaches aCWmax. Once the CW reaches aCWmax, it remains at aCWmax until it is reset. This technical solution improves the stability of the access protocol under high load conditions.

Figure 2 illustrates the exponential growth of CW values in a CW sequence as an example, where the exponential growth of CW values may refer to CW values being set in ascending order of powers of 2 and then decreasing by 1, starting from a specific PHY's aCWmin value and continuing to a specific PHY's aCWmax value.

As shown in Figure 2, in the initial attempt, the CW value can be equal to CWmin (i.e., the value of the parameter aCWmin). In Figure 2, CWmin is 7. In the first retransmission, the CW value can be increased to 15. In the second retransmission, the CW value can be increased to 31. In the third retransmission, the CW value can continue to increase to 63. In subsequent retransmissions, if the CW value increases to CWmax (i.e., the value of the parameter aCWmax), the CW value needs to be maintained at CWmax. In Figure 2, CWmax is 255.

After each successful attempt by a STA to transmit a data or management frame, or when the SSRC reaches the value of the parameter dot11shorttretrylimit, the CW is reset to aCWmin.

SSRC shall be reset to 0 if one or more of the following conditions are met: the STA receives a CTS frame in response to an RTS frame; the STA receives a Block Acknowledgement (BA) frame in response to a Block Acknowledgement Request (BlockAckReq) frame; the STA receives a PSDU in response to a frame containing all or part of an MSDU or MMPDU and whose length is less than or equal to the parameter dot11RTSThreshold; the STA sends a frame that carries the group address in the Address 1 field.

If a STA receives an acknowledgment (Ack) frame in response to a frame containing all or part of an MSDU or MMPDU, and the frame is contained in a PSDU whose length is greater than the parameter dot11RTSThreshold, SLRC shall be reset to 0 when the STA sends a frame carrying the group address in the Address 1 field.

TWT SP or R-TWT SP channel resource reservation mechanism

TWT technology allows the AP to manage activity in the BSS to minimize contention between STAs and reduce the time required for STAs using power management mode to wake up. TWT proposes that STAs only wake up during a predefined service period (SP) to exchange frames with the AP and return to sleep after the SP ends.

The STA that works according to the received TWT SP or R-TWT SP can be called a scheduled STA, and the AP that configures the TWT SP or R-TWT SP for the scheduled STA can be called a scheduling AP.

TWT technology can be implemented by assigning STAs to operate on non-overlapping time and/or frequency, and concentrating frame exchange sequences within a predefined service period. For detailed descriptions, please refer to the 802.11ax standard.

Technologies related to R-TWT operations enable STAs in a BSS to deliver delay-sensitive traffic using enhanced medium access protection and resource reservation mechanisms. For detailed information, refer to the 802.11be standard.

FIG3 is an example of the operation process of the broadcast TWT mechanism.

In Figure 3, the AP and STA1 can exchange TWT request (TWT req.) frames and TWT response (TWT resp.) frames to perform optional TBTT negotiation. Optional TBTT negotiation can be used to negotiate the first TBTT, listen interval, etc. The AP includes a broadcast TWT information element (IE) in the beacon frame. The broadcast TWT IE can be used to indicate the B-TWT SP. During this B-TWT SP, the AP intends to send a trigger frame or downlink data to the STA. During this B-TWT SP, STA1 and STA2 wake up from doze to receive the AP's beacon frame to determine the B-TWT SP. During the trigger-enabled TWT SP, the AP sends a basic trigger frame. When STA1 and STA2 receive a basic trigger frame, they must be awake during the TWT SP. STA1 indicates its awake state by sending a power save poll (PS-Poll), and STA2 indicates its awake state by sending a Quality of Service (QoS) null frame. STA1 and STA2 receive downlink data from the AP during subsequent interactions with the AP and enter a dormant state after the TWT SP ends.

Channel contention priority access mechanism based on delayed signal

In a channel contention priority access mechanism based on a deferred signal, ultra-high reliability (UHR) stations can send a deferred signal when the channel is idle for a certain period of time (DIFS). This prevents non-UHR stations from acquiring the channel, ensuring UHR stations' priority access. Furthermore, after sending the deferred signal, UHR stations can compete for the channel again. The winning UHR station in this second round of competition acquires the channel.

Figure 4 is an example diagram of a channel contention priority access process based on a postponed signal. In Figure 4, STA1 and STA2 are both non-UHR stations; STA3 and STA4 are both UHR stations.

As shown in Figure 4, after the previous TXOP from STA1, STA3 and STA4 both send defer signals during the EDCA contention period, preventing STA1 and STA2 from acquiring the channel. The defer signals may include, for example, a short training field (STF), a long training field (LTF), or a signal (SIG). After sending the defer signals, STA3 and STA4 check whether the channel is busy within the BO. For both STA3 and STA4, the BO is a random number between 0 and 7 (rand(0,7)). STA3's BO is 4, and STA4's BO is 5. STA3 detects that the channel is idle within the BO, successfully completing its secondary channel contention, acquiring the TXOP and transmitting the PPDU. However, because STA3 is transmitting the PPDU, STA4 detects that the channel is busy within the BO, failing the secondary channel contention.

Channel conflict resolution mechanism based on dRU

Based on dRU, channel contention conflicts can be resolved.

For example, different UHR STAs can use dRU PPDUs with different subcarrier groups to compete for channels, so that there is no overlap in subcarrier frequencies between different UHR stations, thereby avoiding conflicts.

As shown in Figure 5, PPDU1 and PPDU2 compete for the channel using DRUs with different subcarriers. STA1 and STA2 both successfully compete for the channel. AP1 can determine data transmission between STA2 and STA3 based on the first rule, PPDU1, and PPDU2.

Channel conflict resolution mechanism based on station identification field

Different STAs can send site identification fields through different subcarrier groups, so that the site identification fields of different STAs do not overlap in the subcarrier frequency, and the AP can receive the site identification fields sent by these STAs at the same time, thereby avoiding conflicts.

The Site Identifier field may be used to indicate the identity of the site that sent the field. For example, the value of the Site Identifier field may be the association identifier (AID) that originated the sending of the field.

The site identification field may also be referred to as the UIE field.

The Site Identification field can be located at the end of a UHR PPDU. The UHR PPDU can carry an S-RTS frame.

The AP can schedule multiple STAs based on the received site identification field, thereby implementing data interaction between multiple STAs and the AP.

The following is an explanation with reference to FIG. 6A .

In Figure 6A, STA1 and STA2 can send PPDUs using different subcarrier groups. The PPDU sent by STA1 may include a UIE-1 field. The UIE-1 field may indicate the identifier of STA1. The PPDU sent by STA2 may include a UIE-2 field. The UIE-2 field may indicate the identifier of STA2. After receiving the UEI-1 and UEI-2 fields, the AP sends a CTS frame to STA1 so that STA1 can send single-user (SU) uplink (UL) data. After STA1's TXOP ends, STA2 again sends a PPDU containing the UIE-2 field to the AP. After receiving the UEI-2 field, the AP sends a CTS frame to STA2 so that STA2 can send SU UL data.

Optionally, the station identification field may be preceded by a transceiver state switching field. Based on the received transceiver state switching field, the station may change from the receiving state to the transmitting state and immediately send a UIE field indicating its own identification within the time range of the received UIE field.

It should be noted that the transmit/receive state switching field may also be referred to as an RI field.

The following description will be made with reference to FIG6B .

In Figure 6B, STA1 sends a PPDU that includes the RI and UIE-1 fields. The UIE-1 field can indicate STA1's identity. After STA2 detects the PPDU, it switches from receiving to transmitting within the transmit/receive state switching field and sends the UIE-2 field within the duration of the UIE-1 field. The UIE-2 field can indicate STA2's identity. After the AP receives the UEI-1 and UEI-2 fields, it sends a CTS frame to STA1, allowing STA1 to send SU UL data. After STA1's TXOP ends, STA2 sends a PPDU that includes the transmit/receive state switching field and the UIE-2 field to the AP. After receiving the UEI-2 field, the AP sends a CTS frame to STA2, allowing STA2 to send SU UL data.

The above technology can solve overlapping interference or channel contention conflicts to a certain extent, but some problems still exist.

FIG7A shows a channel contention conflict that may occur in the channel contention mechanism of DCF or EDCA.

As shown in Figure 7A, when the backoff counts of STA1, STA2, and STA3 are all 0, STA1, STA2, and STA3 will simultaneously send PPDUs to the AP, resulting in a channel contention conflict. Alternatively, when the backoff counts of STA1 and STA2 are all 0, STA1 and STA2 will simultaneously send PPDUs to the AP, resulting in a channel contention conflict.

Figure 7B shows the channel contention conflicts that may occur in the two channel resource reservation mechanisms, TWT SP and R-TWT SP.

Because some stations cannot support this mechanism, channel contention conflicts may still occur. As mentioned above, the 802.11ax and 802.11be standards define two channel resource reservation mechanisms, TWT SP and R-TWT SP, respectively. Therefore, some stations (such as those defined in 802.11ax or standards prior to 802.11be) can still compete for channels during TWT SP or R-TWT SP periods, resulting in channel contention conflicts.

As shown in Figure 7B , STA1 supports the TWT SP or R-TWT SP mechanism, while STA2 and STA3 do not. During the TWT SP or R-TWT SP period, STA1 is a TWT-scheduled STA and can therefore send a non-HT PPDU. The non-HT PPDU can include an RTS frame to compete for the channel. Since STA2 and STA3 do not support the TWT SP or R-TWT SP mechanism, they also send a normal PPDU. The normal PPDU can include an RTS frame or data. As shown in Figure 7B , the PPDUs sent by STA1, STA2, and STA3 cause a channel contention conflict.

Similarly, a PPDU containing a deferral signal may overlap with a normal PPDU sent by another station, causing the deferral signal to fail. Alternatively, a dRU PPDU may overlap with a normal PPDU sent by another station, causing the dRU PPDU to fail. Alternatively, a PPDU containing the UIE field may overlap with a normal PPDU sent by another station, causing the UIE field to fail.

As shown in Figure 7C, the UHR PPDUs sent by STA1 and STA2 contain a deferral signal. STA3 simultaneously sends a normal PPDU, causing overlapping interference and rendering the deferral signal ineffective.

As shown in Figure 7D, STA1 and STA2 both send dRU PPDUs. STA3 also sends a normal PPDU, which causes overlapping interference and invalidates the dRU PPDU.

As shown in Figure 7E, STA1 and STA2 both send PPDUs containing the UIE field. STA3 also sends a normal PPDU, which causes overlapping interference and renders the UIE field ineffective.

As shown in Figure 7F, STA1 and STA2 both send PPDUs containing the RI and UIE fields. STA3 also sends a normal PPDU, resulting in overlapping interference.

It should be noted that a normal PPDU may include one or more of the following: a PPDU sent by a STA that does not support the TWT SP or R-TWT SP mechanism; a PPDU that does not contain a deferral signal; a PPDU that does not contain a UIE field; or a PPDU that does not contain a UIE field or a transmit/receive state switch field. This application does not limit the type of PPDU. For example, a normal PPDU may be a PPDU defined in the IEEE 802.11 standard.

FIG8 is a schematic flowchart of a wireless communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application to solve the above-mentioned problem of overlapping interference.

The method shown in Figure 8 can be performed by a first device and a second device. Both the first device and the second device can be the communication devices described above.

For example, the first device may include a non-AP STA or a non-AP MLD. In another example, the second device may include a peer device of the first device. Exemplarily, the second device may include an AP, an AP MLD, or a peer STA of the first device.

For example, the second device may include a non-AP STA or a non-AP MLD. In another example, the first device may include a peer device of the second device. Exemplarily, the first device may include an AP, an AP MLD, or a peer STA of the second device.

The method shown in FIG. 8 may include step S810 .

Step S810: The first device sends a first PPDU to the second device.

The first PPDU may include a first signal and a second PPDU. The first signal may be earlier than the second PPDU. In other words, the first PPDU may be obtained by concatenating the first signal and the second PPDU in time.

Optionally, the first signal and the second PPDU can be directly connected. That is, the end time of the first signal can be the start time of the second PPDU. In other words, there may be no gap or interval between the first signal and the second PPDU.

Figure 9A is a schematic structural diagram of a first PPDU provided in an embodiment of the present application. As shown in Figure 9A, the first signal and the second PPDU are directly connected.

Optionally, a first interval may be included between the first signal and the second PPDU. That is, the end time of the first signal may be earlier than the start time of the second PPDU. In other words, there may be a gap between the first signal and the second PPDU.

Figure 9B is a schematic structural diagram of another first PPDU provided in an embodiment of the present application. As shown in Figure 9B, a first interval may be included between the first signal and the second PPDU.

In some embodiments, the first interval may not contain a waveform. That is, the first interval may be a blank time interval. In other words, between the first signal and the second PPDU, the first device may not send any waveform.

In some embodiments, the first interval may include a waveform. The present application does not limit the waveform of the first interval. For example, the waveform of the first interval may be a random waveform or a fixed waveform.

It should be noted that the duration of the first interval may be less than or equal to the first threshold.

It should be noted that the duration of the first interval may be predefined or pre-negotiated.

It should be noted that the first interval may also be called a guard interval.

It is understood that by sending the first PPDU, the first device can send the first signal before sending a complete PPDU (i.e., the second PPDU). When other devices also send signals, the first signal can overlap with the signals sent by the other devices, so that the second PPDU does not overlap with the signals sent by the other devices, thereby avoiding overlapping interference in the transmission of the second PPDU, allowing the second PPDU to be successfully transmitted and also improving medium usage efficiency.

Taking a fourth device, different from the second device, as an example, if the first device begins transmitting the first PPDU and the fourth device also begins transmitting a PPDU, the PPDU transmitted by the fourth device will overlap with the first signal. Upon receiving the first signal, the fourth device will determine that the medium is busy and will not immediately continue to transmit the PPDU. Instead, it will wait until the medium is idle before transmitting the PPDU. Therefore, after the first signal is transmitted, the fourth device detects the transmission of the second PPDU and, therefore, will continue to determine that the medium is busy and will not transmit the PPDU. Therefore, the transmission of the second PPDU is completed during the period when the fourth device is unable to transmit a PPDU. Similar to the fourth device, other devices will also not transmit PPDUs. Therefore, during the transmission of the second PPDU, no other communication device will transmit a PPDU, preventing overlapping interference with the second PPDU.

Alternatively, the fourth device may be, for example, a non-UHR device. Alternatively, the fourth device may be a device that does not support one or more of the following mechanisms: dRU, TWT, defer signal, UIE field, etc.

It should be noted that the first signal may be any signal that can be received by the communication device. For example, the first signal may be an interference signal of the fourth device. Alternatively, the first signal may include any signal that causes the fourth device to believe that the medium is busy.

It should be noted that the present application does not limit the type of the second PPDU. For example, the second PPDU may be a PPDU type defined in the IEEE 802.11 standard. Exemplarily, the type of the second PPDU may include: non-high-throughput (non-HT) PPDU, non-HT Duplicated PPDU, high-throughput (HT) PPDU, very high-throughput (VHT) PPDU, high-efficiency (HE) PPDU, enhancements for extremely high throughput (EHT) PPDU, UHR PPDU, directional multi-gigabit (DMG) PPDU, enhanced directional multi-gigabit (EDMG) PPDU, CDMG PPDU, CMMG PPDU, WUR PPDU, or S1G PPDU.

In some embodiments, the first PPDU may include a third PPDU and a second PPDU. The third PPDU may be used to carry the first signal. Based on this technical solution, the first PPDU may be composed of at least two complete PPDUs connected in series in the time dimension. Alternatively, it can be said that the first PPDU aggregates multiple PPDUs in the time domain. Therefore, the first PPDU may also be called a time-domain aggregated physical layer protocol data unit (A-PPDU).

It should be noted that this application does not limit the content carried by the third PPDU. For example, the third PPDU can carry any MAC frame type. For example, the third PPDU can carry one or more of an RTS frame and a data frame. Alternatively, the third PPDU can carry random, meaningless data.

Figures 9C and 9D are schematic diagrams of the format of a first PPDU provided in an embodiment of the present application. In Figure 9C, the third PPDU is located before the second PPDU, and there is no gap between the third PPDU and the second PPDU. In Figure 9D, there is a first gap between the third PPDU and the second PPDU.

It should be noted that the present application does not limit the type of the third PPDU. For example, the third PPDU may be a PPDU type defined in the IEEE 802.11 standard. Exemplarily, the third PPDU type may include: non-HT PPDU, non-HT Duplicated PPDU, HT PPDU, VHT PPDU, HE PPDU, EHT PPDU, UHR PPDU, DMG PPDU, EDMG PPDU, CDMG PPDU, CMMG PPDU, WUR PPDU, or S1G PPDU.

It should be noted that the purpose of the first signal is to create a guard interval of sufficient duration for the second PPDU. Therefore, the duration of the third PPDU should generally be longer than that of a normal PPDU.

In some embodiments, the duration of the first signal can be dynamically adjusted to avoid the time domain data being lost due to the first signal being too long. This can reduce signaling overhead and resource waste, or prevent the second PPDU from receiving overlapping interference due to the first signal being too short. For example, the duration of the first signal can be adjusted based on whether a fourth device exists in the current communication environment. For another example, the duration of the first signal can be adjusted based on the real-time maximum length of a normal PPDU.

Optionally, the first device may, under the coordination of a second device (for example, an AP), search for a first signal duration greater than the minimum duration of a typical PPDU through multiple attempts. The first device may, under the coordination of the second device, determine a third PPDU duration greater than the minimum duration of a typical PPDU through multiple attempts.

In some embodiments, the duration of the first signal may be fixed. For example, the duration of the first signal may be preconfigured or predefined. This technical solution can simplify the duration of the first signal.

Optionally, the duration of the first signal may be greater than or equal to the duration of the signal sent by the first type of device. The first type of device may include a non-UHR site. For example, the duration of the first signal may be determined as a fixed value based on the maximum length of the PPDU sent by the non-UHR site. For another example, the duration of the first signal may be determined based on the maximum length of the PPDU sent by the non-UHR site over a period of time and dynamically adjusted during each period.

It should be noted that whether the first signal exists in the first PPDU can be dynamically adjusted. That is, whether the first signal exists before the second PPDU in the first PPDU can be dynamically selected. Alternatively, whether to use the time domain A-PPDU can be dynamically selected. Alternatively, whether the first device can send the first PPDU can be dynamically adjusted. For example, whether the first signal exists in the first PPDU can be determined based on whether the fourth device exists in the current communication environment. For another example, whether the first signal exists in the first PPDU can be determined based on whether a normal PPDU exists. For example, if there is no communication device of the type of the fourth device and no normal PPDU in the current environment, the PPDU sent by the first device may not include the first signal.

It should be noted that the lengths of the first signals sent by multiple STAs associated with the same AP can be the same, so that the multiple second PPDUs respectively sent by the multiple STAs are aligned. For example, when the second PPDU includes a postponement signal, the same lengths of the first signals sent by multiple STAs associated with the same AP can align the transmission of the postponement signal, so that the AP can correctly receive the multiple postponement signals. For another example, when the second PPDU is transmitted through a dRU, the same lengths of the first signals sent by multiple STAs associated with the same AP can align the transmission of the second PPDU, so that the AP can correctly receive the multiple second PPDUs through the dRU. For another example, when the second PPDU includes a UIE field (or includes a UIE and a transceiver state switching field), the same lengths of the first signals sent by multiple STAs associated with the same AP can align the transmission of the UIE field, so that the AP can correctly receive the multiple UIE fields.

In some embodiments, the second PPDU may be used for the first device to perform channel contention, wherein the channel contention may include EDCA/DCF-based channel contention, and illustratively, the second PPDU may include an RTS frame.

As described above, since the first PPDU includes the first signal, the second PPDU will not be subject to overlapping interference. Therefore, channel contention based on the second PPDU is unlikely to cause channel contention conflicts, thereby improving the success rate of channel contention for the first device.

Optionally, if the first device needs to send a low-latency service, it can send a first PPDU and compete for a channel using a second PPDU. Because the first PPDU has a higher success rate in competing for a channel, the first device can occupy the channel earlier and transmit the low-latency service, thereby providing priority access to sites that provide low-latency services and meeting the low-latency service transmission requirements.

The following describes, through Example 1, how the second PPDU is used by the first device to perform channel contention.

Example 1

FIG10 is an example diagram of the wireless communication process provided in Example 1.

In Figure 10, the first device may include STA1, the second device may include an AP, and the fourth device may include STA2 and/or STA3.

STA1 needs to send low-latency services and sends time-domain A-PPDUs. STA2 and STA3 both send non-low-latency services and send normal PPDUs.

In the time domain A-PPDU, the third PPDU type is non-HT PPDU format and carries an RTS frame, and the second PPDU type is UHR PPDU and carries an RTS frame.

It should be noted that the type of the third PPDU (non-HT PPDU) and the type of the second PPDU (non-HT PPDU) in Example 1 are only used as examples and can be any PPDU type or arbitrary waveform defined in the IEEE 802.11 standard.

It should be noted that the RTS frames carried in the third PPDU and the second PPDU are only used as examples and can actually be any frame type or random data.

As shown in Figure 10, STA1 transmits the third PPDU before the second PPDU, preventing the second PPDU from overlapping with the normal PPDUs sent by STA2 and STA3. This prevents the RTS frame in the second PPDU from being corrupted by interference from the normal PPDUs. From the AP's perspective, the third PPDU sent by STA1, the normal PPDUs sent by STA2, and the normal PPDUs sent by STA3 are mixed together, making it impossible to identify a valid PPDU. Subsequently, the AP receives the second PPDU sent by STA1. Since there are no other signals on the channel at this point, the AP successfully receives the valid second PPDU and parses the RTS frame carried in it. The AP then responds with a CTS frame to STA1 after a SIFS period, in accordance with EDCA/DCF rules. Ultimately, STA1 successfully acquires the channel through the above process and can then transmit low-latency services (not shown in Figure 10).

In some embodiments, the first device may send a fourth PPDU to the second device. The fourth PPDU may be used by the first device to communicate In response to a channel contention conflict occurring in the fourth PPDU, the first device may send the first PPDU to the second device. In other words, the first device may attempt to compete for the channel using the fourth PPDU. If a channel contention conflict occurs, the first device may then use the first PPDU to compete for the channel.

It should be noted that the present application does not limit the method by which the first device determines that a channel contention conflict has occurred. For example, if an ACK timeout occurs after a PPDU for channel contention (such as the fourth PPDU) is sent, a channel contention conflict may be considered to have occurred.

Optionally, the fourth PPDU may be a non-first PPDU (eg, a non-time-domain A-PPDU). Alternatively, the fourth PPDU may be a common PPDU.

It is understandable that compared to non-first PPDUs, the first PPDU is longer, i.e., it occupies more time domain resources. If the channel contention attempt using the fourth PPDU is successful, channel contention can be completed while consuming fewer time domain resources, thereby conserving time domain resources. If a conflict occurs during the channel contention attempt using the fourth PPDU, reusing the first PPDU for channel contention can improve the success rate of channel contention after the channel contention conflict, thereby reducing the impact of the channel contention conflict on the channel contention of the first device and allowing priority access to the channel.

The technical solution related to the fourth PPDU is described below through Example 2.

Example 2

FIG11 is a schematic flowchart of a wireless communication process provided in Example 2.

In Figure 11, the first device may include STA1, the second device may include an AP, and the fourth device may include STA2 and/or STA3.

When STA1 participates in the first channel contention, it uses the normal PPDU (i.e., the fourth PPDU) and does not use the time-domain A-PPDU. When STA1 detects a conflict in the first channel contention, it uses the time-domain A-PPDU when participating in the second channel contention, thereby obtaining the channel first.

The second channel contention process in Example 2 may refer to the implementation of Example 1.

In some embodiments, if the first device is a scheduled STA within a first time period, the first device may send a first PPDU to the second device within the first time period.

Optionally, the first time period may be a TWT SP or an R-TWT SP. In other words, the present application may be applied in a TWT SP or R-TWT SP mechanism.

It is understood that when the first device is a station scheduled within the first time period, the first PPDU can be used to prevent the second PPDU from overlapping with a normal PPDU, thereby preventing the first time period from being snatched away by other stations. In particular, if the first time period can be a TWT SP or R-TWT SP, the first PPDU can prevent stations that are not scheduled by a TWT SP or R-TWT SP from snatching away the TWT SP or R-TWT SP, thereby improving the success rate of the scheduled station or AP obtaining an SP.

The start time of the channel contention by the first device may be the start point of the first time period. Optionally, the start time of the channel contention by the first device may not be after the arbitration inter-frame space (AIFS) when the channel is idle.

The technical solutions related to TWT SP or R-TWT SP are explained below through Example 3.

Example 3

FIG12 is a schematic flowchart of a wireless communication process provided in Example 3.

In Figure 12, the first device may include STA1, the second device may include an AP, and the fourth device may include STA2 and/or STA3.

The second channel contention process in Example 3 can be implemented with reference to Example 1. Example 3 differs from Example 1 in the following two aspects. First, in Example 3, the channel contention starts at the start of the TWT SP or R-TWT SP rather than after the channel becomes idle AIFS. Second, in Example 3, STA1 is able to use the time-domain A-PPDU because it is the scheduled station for the current TWT SP or R-TWT SP, while STA2 and STA3 are not scheduled stations.

As can be seen from Figure 12, STA1 sends A-PPDU to prevent the second PPDU from overlapping with the normal PPDU sent by STA2 and STA3, thereby avoiding interference between the Non-HT PPDU containing RTS and the normal PPDU, and thus preventing the TWT SP or R-TWT SP from being snatched away by other stations.

In some embodiments, the second PPDU may be transmitted using a dRU.

It can be understood that based on the first signal in the first PPDU, the second PPDU will not overlap with other PPDUs, that is, the first signal can create a sufficiently long protection interval for the second PPDU, thereby avoiding the PPDU transmitted using dRU from being interfered with by other PPDUs and becoming invalid.

The technical solutions related to dRU are described below through Example 4.

Example 4

FIG13 is an example diagram of the communication process provided in Example 4.

In Figure 13, the first device may include STA1 or STA2, the second device may include an AP, and the fourth device may include STA3.

In Figure 13, STA1 and STA2 both send time-domain A-PPDUs. In each time-domain A-PPDU, the third PPDU is a non-HT PPDU, and the second PPDU is a UHR PPDU containing a dRU.

It should be noted that the non-HT PPDU format of the third PPDU in Example 4 is used as an example only and can be any PPDU type defined in the IEEE 802.11 standard. The second PPDU type can only be the UHR PPDU format.

It can be seen that STA1 and STA2 send A-PPDU so that the second PPDU does not overlap with the normal PPDU sent by STA3. That is, the third PPDU creates a protection interval of sufficient duration for the second PPDU, thereby preventing the UHR PPDU containing the dRU from being interfered with by the normal PPDU and becoming invalid.

In some embodiments, the second PPDU may include a first field. The first field may be used to indicate an identifier of the first device. The first field may be transmitted overlapping with the second field, and the second field may be a field sent by a third device to indicate an identifier of the third device.

Exemplarily, both the first field and the second field may include the UIE field described above. Alternatively, both the first field and the second field may include the UIE field and the transceiver state switching field described above.

It can be understood that based on the first signal in the first PPDU, the second PPDU will not overlap with other PPDUs, that is, the first signal can create a sufficiently long protection interval for the second PPDU, thereby avoiding the first field in the second PPDU from being interfered with by other PPDUs and becoming invalid.

The technical solution related to the first field is described below through Example 5.

Example 5

FIG. 14A and FIG. 14B are both example diagrams of the communication process provided in Example 5. FIG.

In FIG. 14A or FIG. 14B , the first device may include STA1 or STA2, the second device may include an AP, the third device may include STA1 or STA2 different from the first device, and the fourth device may include STA3.

In Figure 14A, STA1 and STA2 both send time-domain A-PPDUs. In each time-domain A-PPDU, the third PPDU is a non-HT PPDU, and the second PPDU is a UHR PPDU with a UIE field.

In Figure 14B , STA1 and STA2 both transmit time-domain A-PPDUs. In each time-domain A-PPDU, the third PPDU is a non-HT PPDU, and the second PPDU is a UHR PPDU containing a UIE field and a transmit/receive state switch field (RI field).

It should be noted that the non-HT PPDU format of the third PPDU in Example 5 is used as an example only. In practice, it can be any PPDU type defined in the IEEE 802.11 standard. The second PPDU type can only be the UHR PPDU format.

As can be seen from Figures 14A and 14B, STA1 and STA2 send A-PPDU to prevent the second PPDU from overlapping with the normal PPDU sent by STA3. The third PPDU creates a protection interval of sufficient length for the second PPDU, thereby preventing the UHR PPDU containing UIE or UIE and RI from being interfered with by the normal PPDU and becoming invalid.

In some embodiments, the second PPDU may be used to prevent a first type of device from acquiring a channel. For example, the first type of device may include a non-UHR station.

Optionally, the second PPDU may include a defer signal. As described above, the defer signal may be used to prevent non-UHR stations from acquiring a channel.

It can be understood that based on the first signal in the first PPDU, the transmission of the second PPDU will not overlap with other PPDUs, that is, the first signal can create a sufficiently long protection interval for the second PPDU, thereby avoiding the second PPDU containing the postponed signal from being interfered with by other PPDUs and becoming invalid.

The technical solution related to the delayed signal is described below through Example 6.

Example 6

Figure 14C is an example diagram of the communication process provided by an embodiment of the present application.

In FIG14C , the first device may include STA1 or STA2, the second device may include an AP, and the fourth device may include STA3.

In Figure 14C , STA1 and STA2 both send time-domain A-PPDUs. In each time-domain A-PPDU, the third PPDU is a non-HT PPDU, and the second PPDU is a UHR PPDU with a deferral signal.

It should be noted that the non-HT PPDU format of the third PPDU in Example 6 is used as an example only, and may be any PPDU type defined in the IEEE 802.11 standard. The UHR PPDU format of the second PPDU is used as an example only, and may be any PPDU type defined in the IEEE 802.11 standard.

As can be seen from Figure 14C, STA1 and STA2 send A-PPDU so that the second PPDU does not overlap with the normal PPDU sent by STA3, thereby avoiding the UHR PPDU containing the postponement signal from being interfered with by the normal PPDU and becoming invalid.

In some embodiments, the first device may receive first information sent by the second device. The first information may be related to configuration information of the first signal.

Optionally, the first information may be used to indicate configuration information actually used. That is, the first device needs to perform a corresponding operation according to the instruction of the first information. For example, if the first device includes a non-AP STA and the second device includes an AP, the AP can use the first information to indicate the configuration information of the first signal actually used to the non-AP.

In some embodiments, the first information may be used to dynamically adjust configuration information of the first signal. In other words, the second device may send the first information to the first device to update the configuration information of the first signal. The first device may perform operations related to the first signal based on the most recently received first information. The dynamically adjusted configuration information may be partially or completely different from the configuration information before the dynamic adjustment.

In some embodiments, the first information may be carried in a control frame. For example, the first information may be carried in a trigger frame. The frame can be any trigger frame subtype defined in the standard. For example, the trigger frame can include one or more of the following: Basic Trigger, Beamforming Report Poll Trigger, MU-BAR Trigger, MU-RTS Trigger, Buffer Status Report Poll Trigger, GCR MU-BAR Trigger, Bandwidth Query Report Poll Trigger, NDP Feedback Report Poll Trigger, or a newly defined trigger frame type. For example, the newly defined trigger frame can be a Time A-PPDU Report Poll Trigger (TARP Trigger) frame.

In some embodiments, the first information may be carried in a management frame. The management frame may include, for example, a beacon frame and/or a broadcast frame. In another example, the first information may be carried in one or more of the following: a probe response frame, an association response frame, or a reassociation response frame.

For example, the first information can be carried in a broadcast frame. Through the broadcast frame, the second device can configure the same first information to multiple devices, thereby ensuring that the operations related to the first signal performed by the multiple devices are consistent. For example, based on the first information in the broadcast frame, multiple devices can simultaneously begin transmitting first signals of the same length, thereby ensuring that multiple second PPDUs transmitted by the multiple devices are aligned.

In some embodiments, the first device may send second information to the second device. The second information may be related to the configuration information of the first signal.

Optionally, the second information may be used to indicate recommended configuration information for the first signal. That is, the first device may recommend a configuration for the first signal using the second information. The actual configuration information for the first signal may be determined based on the second information. The actual configuration information for the first signal may be the same as or different from the recommended configuration information for the first signal.

In some embodiments, the second information may be carried in a management frame. For example, the second information may be carried in one or more of the following: a probe request frame, an association request frame, or a reassociation request frame.

In some embodiments, the second information may be carried in a control frame. For example, the second information may be carried in a header of an uplink MAC frame. For example, the second information may be carried in an A-control field. The A-control field may be in the header of an uplink MAC frame.

Figure 15A shows an example of interaction between first information and second information based on a management frame. In Figure 15A, the first device includes an STA and the second device includes an AP. The first information is carried in a beacon frame. The second information is carried in a probe request frame.

Figure 15B shows another example of interaction between first information and second information based on a management frame. In Figure 15B, the first device includes an STA and the second device includes an AP. The first information is carried in a beacon frame. The second information is carried in an association request frame.

Figure 15C shows another example of interaction between first and second information based on a management frame. In Figure 15C, the first device includes an STA, and the second device includes an AP. The first information is carried in a beacon frame, and the second information is carried in a reassociation request frame.

It should be noted that, in FIG. 15A , FIG. 15B and FIG. 15C , the configuration information related to the “first information*” may be different from the configuration information related to the “first information”.

Figure 15D shows an example of interaction between first information and second information based on a control frame. In Figure 15D , the first device includes an STA, and the second device includes an AP. The first information is carried in a TARP trigger frame. The second information is carried in a TB PPDU.

In some embodiments, the configuration information may include one or more of the following: enabling information, duration information, and type information, which are described below.

The enabling information may be used to indicate whether the first device can send the first PPDU. In other words, the enabling information may be used to indicate whether the PPDU sent by the first device can include the first signal. For example, the enabling information may be used to indicate whether the time domain A-PPDU function is enabled.

The enabling information included in the recommended configuration information may be recommended enabling information, that is, it may be used to recommend whether the first device can send the first PPDU. The enabling information included in the actually used configuration information may be actually used enabling information, that is, it may be used to indicate whether the first device can actually send the first PPDU.

The enabling information can be carried in the Whether to Enable Time Domain A-PPDU field. Whether to Enable Time Domain A-PPDU field can be indicated by 1 bit. For example, the value of 1 in the Whether to Enable Time Domain A-PPDU field can indicate that the first device can send the first PPDU; the value of 0 in the Whether to Enable Time Domain A-PPDU field can indicate that the first device cannot send the first PPDU. For another example, the value of 0 in the Whether to Enable Time Domain A-PPDU field can indicate that the first device can send the first PPDU; the value of 1 in the Whether to Enable Time Domain A-PPDU field can indicate that the first device cannot send the first PPDU.

It should be noted that the "whether to enable the time domain A-PPDU field" is only an example of the name of the field that carries the enabling information, and the field can also have other names. For example, the "whether to enable the time domain A-PPDU field" can also be called "whether to recommend enabling the time domain A-PPDU field", "whether to use the time domain A-PPDU field", or "whether to use the PPDU containing the first signal".

The duration information may be used to indicate the duration of the first signal and/or the duration of the third PPDU. It is understood that in some cases, the duration of the first signal may be equal to the duration of the third PPDU. In this case, the duration information may indicate only one of the duration of the first signal and the duration of the third PPDU.

In some embodiments, the value of the duration information may include: the duration of the first signal, and/or the duration of the third PPDU.

For example, the duration information may be carried in the third PPDU duration field and/or the first signal duration field.

The first signal duration field may occupy 16 bits. The value of the first signal duration field is the duration of the first signal. This application does not limit the unit of the third PPDU duration field. For example, the unit may be microseconds.

The third PPDU duration field may occupy 16 bits. The value of the third PPDU duration field is the duration of the third PPDU. This application does not limit the unit of the third PPDU duration field. For example, the unit may be microseconds.

It should be noted that the "third PPDU duration field" and the "first signal duration field" are merely example names for fields that carry duration information, and this field may also have other names. For example, the "third PPDU duration field" may also be called the "third PPDU length field," the "recommended third PPDU duration field," or the "actually used third PPDU duration field."

In some embodiments, the value of the duration information may be mapped to the duration of the first signal. Alternatively, the value of the duration information may be mapped to the length of the third PPDU. For example, the value of the duration information may be multiple subscripts (or candidate values or indexes), and the multiple subscripts may correspond one-to-one to the durations of multiple first signals (or the lengths of multiple third PPDUs). Table 1 shows the correspondence between the multiple subscripts and the durations of the first signal (or the lengths of multiple third PPDUs).

Table 1

It should be noted that Table 1 is merely an example. Some of the contents in Table 1 may be updated separately. The correspondence between the values and meanings in Table 1 may be adjusted. Alternatively, the meanings corresponding to the values in Table 1 may be changed.

Optionally, if the duration information is carried in the third PPDU duration field, the third PPDU duration field may occupy 2 bits. The third PPDU duration field may be of an enumerated type, used to indicate the subscript of the third PPDU duration. If the duration information is carried in the first signal duration field, the first signal duration field may occupy 2 bits. The first signal duration field may be of an enumerated type, used to indicate the subscript of the first signal duration.

It can be understood that setting the first signal duration field or the third PPDU duration field to an enumeration type can reduce the number of bits occupied by the above fields.

The type information may be used to indicate the type of the third PPDU carrying the first signal. The type of the third PPDU may include: non-HT PPDU, non-HT Duplicated PPDU, HT PPDU, VHT PPDU, HE PPDU, EHT PPDU, UHR PPDU, DMG PPDU, EDMG PPDU, CDMG PPDU, CMMG PPDU, WUR PPDU, or S1G PPDU.

The type information may be carried in the type field of the third PPDU. The type field of the third PPDU may occupy 1 bit or 4 bits.

It should be noted that the "third PPDU type field" is merely an example name for a field that carries type information. A field that carries type information may also have other names. For example, the "third PPDU type field" may also be referred to as the "recommended third PPDU type field" or the "actually used third PPDU type field."

In some embodiments, the configuration information may be carried in the first element. The first element may also be referred to as a time A-PPDU control element.

The first element may include a direction field. The direction field may be used to indicate the transmission direction of the first element. The transmission direction of the first element may be from the first device to the second device or from the second device to the first device. For example, the first element may carry both the first information and the second information. If the transmission direction of the first element is from the first device to the second device, the first element may carry the second information; if the transmission direction of the first element is from the second device to the first device, the first element may carry the first information. In other words, the direction field may be used to distinguish between the first information and the second information.

Exemplarily, the Direction field may occupy one bit. For example, a Direction field value of 1 may indicate that the first element is sent from the second device to the first device, i.e., the element carries the first information; a Direction field value of 0 may indicate that the first element is sent from the first device to the second device, i.e., the element carries the second information. For another example, a Direction field value of 0 may indicate that the first element is sent from the second device to the first device, i.e., the element carries the first information; a Direction field value of 1 may indicate that the first element is sent from the first device to the second device, i.e., the element carries the second information.

FIG16 is a schematic diagram of the format of a first element provided in an embodiment of the present application.

As shown in Figure 16, the first element may include one or more of the following fields: element ID, length, element ID extension, direction, whether to enable time domain A-PPDU, duration of the third PPDU, and type of the third PPDU.

The element ID field and the element ID extension field can jointly mark the element as the first element.

The length field may indicate the number of remaining bytes in the element after excluding the element ID and length fields.

As described above, the first information can be carried in a trigger frame. FIG17A is a schematic diagram of an EHT variant format of a Report Poll Trigger provided in an embodiment of the present application. FIG17B is a schematic diagram of an HE variant format of a Report Poll Trigger provided in an embodiment of the present application.

As shown in Figure 17A or Figure 17B, the first information may be carried in the trigger frame type-related general information field. The trigger frame type-related general information field may include one or more of the following fields: whether to use the time domain A-PPDU, the type of the third PPDU, the duration of the third PPDU, and reservation.

FIG18 is a schematic diagram of the format of an A-control field carrying two pieces of information provided in an embodiment of the present application.

As shown in FIG18 , the control information field may include one or more of the following fields: whether to use the time domain A-PPDU, the type of the third PPDU, and the duration of the third PPDU.

It should be noted that the above description uses the example of a first PPDU including a first signal and a second PPDU. The first PPDU may also include other signals. For example, the first PPDU may include multiple PPDUs, and the number of PPDUs in the multiple PPDUs may be greater than or equal to 2. The multiple PPDUs may include a third PPDU and a second PPDU. In other words, the first PPDU may be composed of two or more complete and independent PPDUs connected in series in the time domain.

Figures 19A and 19B each illustrate an example in which a first PPDU includes three PPDUs. The three PPDUs are the third, second, and fourth PPDUs. In Figure 19A , there is no interval between the three PPDUs. In Figure 19B , there is a guard interval between the three PPDUs. The guard interval between the third and second PPDUs can be the first interval; the guard interval between the second and fourth PPDUs can be the second interval. The lengths of the first and second intervals can be the same or different.

The method embodiments of the present application are described in detail above, and the device embodiments of the present application are described in detail below. It should be understood that the description of the method embodiments corresponds to the description of the device embodiments, so for parts not described in detail, reference can be made to the above method embodiments.

FIG20 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device 2000 provided in an embodiment of the present application. The communication device 2000 may be a first device and may include a sending unit 2010.

The sending unit 2010 can be used to send a first PPDU to the second device; wherein the first PPDU includes a first signal and a second PPDU, and the first signal is earlier than the second PPDU.

In an optional embodiment, the sending unit 2010 may be a transceiver 2230. The communication device 2000 may further include a processor 2210 and a memory 2220, as specifically shown in FIG22 .

In the embodiment of the present application, the above-mentioned communication device 2000 can be used to execute some or all of the method steps executed by the first device in the above-mentioned method embodiment. The communication device 2000 includes units or modules for executing the method steps corresponding to the aforementioned figures. The method flow has been described in detail in the aforementioned embodiments. The modules in this embodiment have the same functions or perform the same steps, and will not be repeated here. However, those skilled in the art should know that the aforementioned text description can be introduced into this embodiment and corresponds to the modules in the communication device 2000.

FIG21 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device 2100 provided in an embodiment of the present application. The communication device 2100 may be a second device and may include a receiving unit 2110.

The receiving unit 2110 may be configured to receive a first PPDU sent by a first device; wherein the first PPDU includes a first signal and a second PPDU, and the first signal is earlier than the second PPDU.

In an optional embodiment, the receiving unit 2110 may be a transceiver 2230. The communication device 2100 may further include a processor 2210 and a memory 2220, as specifically shown in FIG22 .

In the embodiment of the present application, the above-mentioned communication device 2100 can be used to execute some or all of the method steps executed by the first device in the above-mentioned method embodiment. The communication device 2100 includes units or modules for executing the method steps corresponding to the aforementioned figures. The method flow has been described in detail in the aforementioned embodiments. The modules in this embodiment have the same functions or perform the same steps, and will not be repeated here. However, those skilled in the art should know that the aforementioned text description can be introduced into this embodiment and corresponds to the modules in the communication device 2100.

Figure 22 is a schematic block diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application. The dashed lines in Figure 22 indicate that the unit or module is optional. The device 2200 may be used to implement the method described in the above method embodiment. The device 2200 may be a chip or a communication device.

The device 2200 may include one or more processors 2210. The processor 2210 may support the device 2200 to implement the method described in the above method embodiment. The processor 2210 may be a general-purpose processor or a special-purpose processor. For example, the processor may be a central processing unit (CPU). Alternatively, the processor may be another general-purpose processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), or other programmable logic devices, discrete gate or transistor logic devices, discrete hardware components, etc. The general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor or the processor may be any conventional processor, etc.

The device 2200 may further include one or more memories 2220. The memories 2220 store programs that can be used by the processor. The memory 2220 may be independent of the processor 2210 or integrated into the processor 2210.

The apparatus 2200 may further include a transceiver 2230. The processor 2210 may communicate with other devices or chips via the transceiver 2230. For example, the processor 2210 may transmit and receive data with other devices or chips via the transceiver 2230.

The present invention also provides a computer-readable storage medium for storing a program. The computer-readable storage medium can be applied to the communication device provided in the present invention, and the program enables a computer to execute the method performed by the communication device in each embodiment of the present invention.

The present application also provides a computer program product. The computer program product includes a program. The computer program product can be applied to the communication device provided in the present application, and the program causes a computer to execute the method performed by the communication device in each embodiment of the present application.

The embodiments of the present application also provide a computer program. The computer program can be applied to the communication device provided in the embodiments of the present application, and the computer program enables a computer to execute the method executed by the communication device in each embodiment of the present application.

It should be understood that the terms "system" and "network" in this application can be used interchangeably. In addition, the terms used in this application are only used to explain the specific embodiments of this application and are not intended to limit this application. The terms "first", "second", "third", and "fourth" in the specification and claims of this application and the accompanying drawings are used to distinguish different objects rather than to describe a specific order. In addition, the terms "including" and "having" and any variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusions.

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

In the embodiments of this application, the term "indication" may refer to a direct indication, an indirect indication, or an indication of an association. For example, "A indicates B" may refer to a direct indication of B, e.g., B can obtain information through A; it may refer to an indirect indication of B, e.g., A indicates C, e.g., B can obtain information through C; or it may refer to an association between A and B.

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

In the embodiments of the present application, the term "corresponding" may indicate a direct or indirect correspondence between the two, or an association relationship between the two, or a relationship between indication and indication, configuration and configuration, etc.

In the embodiments of the present application, "pre-defined" or "pre-configured" may be implemented by pre-storing corresponding codes, tables, or other methods that can be used to indicate relevant information in devices (e.g., including APs and STAs). The present application does not limit the specific implementation method. For example, pre-defined may refer to information defined in a protocol.

In the embodiments of this application, the term "and/or" is simply a description of the association relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and/or B can represent: A exists alone, A and B exist at the same time, and B exists alone. In addition, the character "/" in this document generally indicates that the related objects are in an "or" relationship.

In the embodiments of this application, the term "include" can refer to direct inclusion or indirect inclusion. Alternatively, the term "include" in the embodiments of this application can be replaced with "indicates" or "is used to determine." For example, "A includes B" can be replaced with "A indicates B" or "A is used to determine B."

In various embodiments of the present application, the size of the serial numbers of the above-mentioned processes does not mean the order of execution. The execution order of each process should be determined by its function and internal logic, and should not constitute any limitation on the implementation process of the embodiments of the present application.

In the embodiments of the present application, the “protocol” may refer to a standard protocol in the communication field, for example, it may include a WiFi protocol and related protocols used in future WiFi communication systems, and the present application does not limit this.

In the several embodiments provided in this application, it should be understood that the disclosed systems, devices and methods can be implemented in other ways. For example, the device embodiments described above are merely schematic. For example, the division of the units is merely a logical function division. In actual implementation, there may be other division methods, such as multiple units or components can be combined or integrated into another system, or some features can be ignored or not executed. Another point is that the mutual coupling or direct coupling or communication connection shown or discussed can be through some interfaces, indirect coupling or communication connection of devices or units, which can be electrical, mechanical or other forms.

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

In addition, each functional unit in each embodiment of the present application may be integrated into one processing unit, or each unit may exist physically separately, or two or more units may be integrated into one unit.

In the above embodiments, all or part of the embodiments may be implemented by software, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof. When implemented by software, all or part of the embodiments may be implemented 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 described in the embodiments of the present application is generated in whole or in part. The computer may be a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a computer network, or other programmable device. The computer instructions The instructions may 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 may be transmitted from one website, computer, server, or data center to another website, computer, server, or data center via a wired (e.g., coaxial cable, optical fiber, digital subscriber line (DSL)) or wireless (e.g., infrared, wireless, microwave, etc.) method. The computer-readable storage medium may be any available medium that can be read by a computer or a data storage device such as a server or data center that includes one or more available media. The available medium may be a magnetic medium (e.g., a floppy disk, a hard disk, a magnetic tape), an optical medium (e.g., a digital versatile disc (DVD)), or a semiconductor medium (e.g., a solid state disk (SSD)).

The above description is merely a specific embodiment of the present application, but the scope of protection of the present application is not limited thereto. Any changes or substitutions that can be easily conceived by a person skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in this application should be included in the scope of protection of this application. Therefore, the scope of protection of this application should be based on the scope of protection of the claims.

Claims (114)

A wireless communication method, comprising: The first device sends a first physical layer protocol data unit PPDU to the second device; The first PPDU includes a first signal and a second PPDU, and the first signal is earlier than the second PPDU. The method according to claim 1 is characterized in that the first PPDU includes a third PPDU and the second PPDU, and the third PPDU is used to carry the first signal. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the second PPDU is used by the first device to compete for a channel. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that the second PPDU includes a request to send RTS frame. The method according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the method further comprises: The first device sends a fourth PPDU to the second device, where the fourth PPDU is used for the first device to perform channel contention; The sending of the first PPDU by the first device to the second device includes: in response to a channel contention conflict occurring in the fourth PPDU, the first device sending the first PPDU to the second device. The method according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the first device sending the first PPDU to the second device comprises: If the first device is a scheduled site within a first time period, the first device sends the first PPDU to the second device within the first time period. The method according to claim 6 is characterized in that the first time period is TWT SP or R-TWT SP. The method according to any one of claims 3 to 7, wherein the second PPDU is transmitted using a distributed resource unit dRU. The method according to any one of claims 3-7 is characterized in that the second PPDU includes a first field, the first field is used to indicate the identifier of the first device, the first field can be transmitted overlapping with the second field, and the second field is a field sent by the third device to indicate the identifier of the third device. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 9 is characterized in that the duration of the first signal is greater than or equal to the duration of the signal sent by the first type of device. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that the first type of equipment includes: non-UHR sites. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 11, further comprising: The first device receives first information; The first information is related to the configuration information of the first signal. The method according to claim 12 is characterized in that the first information is used to indicate the configuration information actually used. The method according to claim 12 or 13 is characterized in that the first information is used to dynamically adjust the configuration information. The method according to any one of claims 12 to 14, wherein the first information is carried in a trigger frame. The method according to any one of claims 12 to 15, wherein the first information is carried in a broadcast frame. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 16, further comprising: The first device sends second information; The second information is related to the configuration information of the first signal. The method according to claim 17, characterized in that the second information is used to indicate the recommended configuration information. The method according to claim 17 or 18 is characterized in that the second information is carried in an A-control field. The method according to any one of claims 17 to 19 is characterized in that the second information is carried in one or more of the following frames: a probe request frame, an association request frame, and a reassociation request frame. The method according to any one of claims 12 to 20, wherein the configuration information includes one or more of the following: enabling information, used to indicate whether the first device can send the first PPDU; Duration information, used to indicate the duration of the first signal; Type information, used to indicate the type of the third PPDU carrying the first signal. The method according to claim 21, characterized in that The value of the duration information is the duration of the first signal; or, There is a mapping relationship between the value of the duration information and the duration of the first signal. The method according to claim 21 or 22 is characterized in that the type of the third PPDU includes: non-HT PPDU, non-HT Duplicated PPDU, HT PPDU, VHT PPDU, HE PPDU, EHT PPDU, UHR PPDU, DMG PPDU, EDMG PPDU, CDMG PPDU, CMMG PPDU, WUR PPDU, or S1G PPDU. The method according to any one of claims 12-23 is characterized in that the configuration information is carried in a first element, the first element includes a direction field, and the direction field is used to indicate the transmission direction of the first element. The method according to any one of claims 1-24 is characterized in that the type of the second PPDU includes: non-HT PPDU, non-HT Duplicated PPDU, HT PPDU, VHT PPDU, HE PPDU, EHT PPDU, UHR PPDU, DMG PPDU, EDMG PPDU, CDMG PPDU, CMMG PPDU, WUR PPDU, or S1G PPDU. The method according to any one of claims 1-25, characterized in that a first interval is included between the first signal and the second PPDU. The method according to claim 26, wherein the first interval satisfies: The first interval does not contain a waveform; or, The waveform of the first interval is a random waveform or a fixed waveform. A wireless communication method, comprising: The second device receives a first physical layer protocol data unit PPDU sent by the first device; The first PPDU includes a first signal and a second PPDU, and the first signal is earlier than the second PPDU. The method according to claim 28 is characterized in that the first PPDU includes a third PPDU and the second PPDU, and the third PPDU is used to carry the first signal. The method according to claim 29 is characterized in that the type of the third PPDU includes: non-HT PPDU, non-HT Duplicated PPDU, HT PPDU, VHT PPDU, HE PPDU, EHT PPDU, UHR PPDU, DMG PPDU, EDMG PPDU, CDMG PPDU, CMMG PPDU, WUR PPDU, or S1G PPDU. The method according to any one of claims 28 to 30, wherein the second PPDU is used by the first device to compete for a channel. The method according to claim 31, characterized in that the second PPDU includes a request to send RTS frame. The method according to any one of claims 31 or 32, wherein the second device receiving the first PPDU sent by the first device comprises: If the first device is a scheduled site within a first time period, the second device receives the first PPDU sent by the first device within the first time period. The method according to claim 33 is characterized in that the first time period is TWT SP or R-TWT SP. The method according to any one of claims 31-34 is characterized in that the second PPDU is transmitted using a distributed resource unit dRU. The method according to any one of claims 31-34 is characterized in that the second PPDU includes a first field, the first field is used to indicate the identifier of the first device, the first field can be transmitted overlapping with the second field, and the second field is a field sent by the third device to indicate the identifier of the third device. The method according to any one of claims 28 to 36 is characterized in that the duration of the first signal is greater than or equal to the duration of the signal sent by the first type of device. The method according to claim 37 is characterized in that the first type of equipment includes: non-UHR sites. The method according to any one of claims 28 to 38, further comprising: The second device sends first information to the first device; The first information is related to the configuration information of the first signal. The method according to claim 39 is characterized in that the first information is used to indicate the configuration information actually used. The method according to claim 39 or 40 is characterized in that the first information is used to dynamically adjust the configuration information. The method according to any one of claims 39 to 41 is characterized in that the first information is carried in a trigger frame. The method according to any one of claims 39 to 42 is characterized in that the first information is carried in a broadcast frame. The method according to any one of claims 28 to 43, further comprising: The second device receives second information sent by the first device; The second information is related to the configuration information of the first signal. The method according to claim 44 is characterized in that the second information is used to indicate the recommended configuration information. The method according to claim 44 or 45 is characterized in that the second information is carried in the A-control field. The method according to any one of claims 44-46 is characterized in that the second information is carried in one or more of the following frames: a probe request frame, an association request frame, and a reassociation request frame. The method according to any one of claims 39 to 47, wherein the configuration information includes one or more of the following: enabling information, used to indicate whether the first device can send the first PPDU; Duration information, used to indicate the duration of the first signal; Type information, used to indicate the type of the third PPDU carrying the first signal. The method according to claim 48, characterized in that The value of the duration information is the duration of the first signal; or, There is a mapping relationship between the value of the duration information and the duration of the first signal. The method according to claim 48 or 49 is characterized in that the type of the third PPDU includes: non-HT PPDU, non-HT Duplicated PPDU, HT PPDU, VHT PPDU, HE PPDU, EHT PPDU, UHR PPDU, DMG PPDU, EDMG PPDU, CDMG PPDU, CMMG PPDU, WUR PPDU, or S1G PPDU. The method according to any one of claims 39-50 is characterized in that the configuration information is carried in a first element, the first element includes a direction field, and the direction field is used to indicate the transmission direction of the first element. The method according to any one of claims 28-51 is characterized in that the type of the second PPDU includes: non-HT PPDU, non-HT Duplicated PPDU, HT PPDU, VHT PPDU, HE PPDU, EHT PPDU, UHR PPDU, DMG PPDU, EDMG PPDU, CDMG PPDU, CMMG PPDU, WUR PPDU, or S1G PPDU. The method according to any one of claims 28 to 52, wherein a first interval is included between the first signal and the second PPDU. The method according to claim 53, wherein the first interval satisfies: The first interval does not contain a waveform; or, The waveform of the first interval is a random waveform or a fixed waveform. A communication device, characterized in that the communication device is a first device, and the communication device includes: A sending unit, configured to send a first physical layer protocol data unit PPDU to the second device; The first PPDU includes a first signal and a second PPDU, and the first signal is earlier than the second PPDU. The communication device according to claim 55 is characterized in that the first PPDU includes a third PPDU and the second PPDU, and the third PPDU is used to carry the first signal. The communication device according to claim 55 or 56 is characterized in that the second PPDU is used by the first device to compete for a channel. The communication device according to claim 57 is characterized in that the second PPDU includes a request to send RTS frame. The communication device according to claim 57 or 58, wherein the communication device is further configured to: Sending a fourth PPDU to the second device, where the fourth PPDU is used by the first device to perform channel contention; The sending unit is specifically configured to: in response to a channel contention conflict occurring in the fourth PPDU, send the first PPDU to the second device. The communication device according to any one of claims 57 to 59, wherein the first device sending the first PPDU to the second device comprises: If the first device is a scheduled site within a first time period, the first device sends the first PPDU to the second device within the first time period. The communication device according to claim 60 is characterized in that the first time period is TWT SP or R-TWT SP. The communication device according to any one of claims 57-61 is characterized in that the second PPDU is transmitted using a distributed resource unit dRU. The communication device according to any one of claims 57-61 is characterized in that the second PPDU includes a first field, the first field is used to indicate the identifier of the first device, the first field can be transmitted overlapping with the second field, and the second field is a field sent by the third device to indicate the identifier of the third device. The communication device according to any one of claims 55-63 is characterized in that the duration of the first signal is greater than or equal to the duration of the signal sent by the first type of device. The communication device according to claim 64 is characterized in that the first type of device includes: a non-UHR site. The communication device according to any one of claims 55 to 65, wherein the communication device is further configured to: receiving a first message; The first information is related to the configuration information of the first signal. The communication device according to claim 66 is characterized in that the first information is used to indicate the configuration information actually used. The communication device according to claim 66 or 67 is characterized in that the first information is used to dynamically adjust the configuration information. The communication device according to any one of claims 66-68 is characterized in that the first information is carried in a trigger frame. The communication device according to any one of claims 66-69 is characterized in that the first information is carried in a broadcast frame. The communication device according to any one of claims 55 to 70, wherein the communication device is further configured to: sending a second message; The second information is related to the configuration information of the first signal. The communication device according to claim 71 is characterized in that the second information is used to indicate the recommended configuration information. The communication device according to claim 71 or 72 is characterized in that the second information is carried in the A-control field. The communication device according to any one of claims 71-73 is characterized in that the second information is carried in one or more of the following frames: a probe request frame, an association request frame, and a reassociation request frame. The communication device according to any one of claims 66 to 74, wherein the configuration information includes one or more of the following: enabling information, used to indicate whether the first device can send the first PPDU; Duration information, used to indicate the duration of the first signal; Type information, used to indicate the type of the third PPDU carrying the first signal. The communication device according to claim 75, characterized in that The value of the duration information is the duration of the first signal; or, There is a mapping relationship between the value of the duration information and the duration of the first signal. The communication device according to claim 75 or 76 is characterized in that the type of the third PPDU includes: non-HT PPDU, non-HT Duplicated PPDU, HT PPDU, VHT PPDU, HE PPDU, EHT PPDU, UHR PPDU, DMG PPDU, EDMG PPDU, CDMG PPDU, CMMG PPDU, WUR PPDU, or S1G PPDU. The communication device according to any one of claims 66-77 is characterized in that the configuration information is carried in a first element, the first element includes a direction field, and the direction field is used to indicate the transmission direction of the first element. The communication device according to any one of claims 55-78 is characterized in that the type of the second PPDU includes: non-HT PPDU, non-HT Duplicated PPDU, HT PPDU, VHT PPDU, HE PPDU, EHT PPDU, UHR PPDU, DMG PPDU, EDMG PPDU, CDMG PPDU, CMMG PPDU, WUR PPDU, or S1G PPDU. The communication device according to any one of claims 55 to 79, wherein a first interval is included between the first signal and the second PPDU. The communication device according to claim 80, wherein the first interval satisfies: The first interval does not contain a waveform; or, The waveform of the first interval is a random waveform or a fixed waveform. A communication device, characterized in that the communication device is a second device, and the communication device includes: A receiving unit, configured to receive a first physical layer protocol data unit PPDU sent by a first device; The first PPDU includes a first signal and a second PPDU, and the first signal is earlier than the second PPDU. The communication device according to claim 82 is characterized in that the first PPDU includes a third PPDU and the second PPDU, and the third PPDU is used to carry the first signal. The communication device according to claim 83 is characterized in that the type of the third PPDU includes: non-HT PPDU, non-HT Duplicated PPDU, HT PPDU, VHT PPDU, HE PPDU, EHT PPDU, UHR PPDU, DMG PPDU, EDMG PPDU, CDMG PPDU, CMMG PPDU, WUR PPDU, or S1G PPDU. The communication device according to any one of claims 82-84 is characterized in that the second PPDU is used by the first device to compete for a channel. The communication device according to claim 85 is characterized in that the second PPDU includes a request to send RTS frame. The communication device according to any one of claims 85 or 86, wherein the receiving unit is specifically configured to: If the first device is a scheduled site within the first time period, the first PPDU sent by the first device is received within the first time period. The communication device according to claim 87 is characterized in that the first time period is TWT SP or R-TWT SP. The communication device according to any one of claims 85-88 is characterized in that the second PPDU is transmitted using a distributed resource unit dRU. The communication device according to any one of claims 85-88 is characterized in that the second PPDU includes a first field, the first field is used to indicate the identifier of the first device, the first field can be transmitted overlapping with the second field, and the second field is a field sent by the third device to indicate the identifier of the third device. The communication device according to any one of claims 82-90 is characterized in that the duration of the first signal is greater than or equal to the duration of the signal sent by the first type of device. The communication device according to claim 91 is characterized in that the first type of device includes: a non-UHR site. The communication device according to any one of claims 82 to 92, wherein the communication device is further configured to: sending first information to the first device; The first information is related to the configuration information of the first signal. The communication device according to claim 93 is characterized in that the first information is used to indicate the configuration information actually used. The communication device according to claim 93 or 94 is characterized in that the first information is used to dynamically adjust the configuration information. The communication device according to any one of claims 93-95 is characterized in that the first information is carried in a trigger frame. The communication device according to any one of claims 93-96 is characterized in that the first information is carried in a broadcast frame. The communication device according to any one of claims 82 to 97, wherein the communication device is further configured to: receiving second information sent by the first device; The second information is related to the configuration information of the first signal. The communication device according to claim 98 is characterized in that the second information is used to indicate the recommended configuration information. The communication device according to claim 98 or 99 is characterized in that the second information is carried in an A-control field. The communication device according to any one of claims 98-100 is characterized in that the second information is carried in one or more of the following frames: a probe request frame, an association request frame, and a reassociation request frame. The communication device according to any one of claims 93 to 101, wherein the configuration information includes one or more of the following: enabling information, used to indicate whether the first device can send the first PPDU; Duration information, used to indicate the duration of the first signal; Type information, used to indicate the type of the third PPDU carrying the first signal. The communication device according to claim 102, wherein: The value of the duration information is the duration of the first signal; or, There is a mapping relationship between the value of the duration information and the duration of the first signal. The communication device according to claim 102 or 103 is characterized in that the type of the third PPDU includes: non-HT PPDU, non-HT Duplicated PPDU, HT PPDU, VHT PPDU, HE PPDU, EHT PPDU, UHR PPDU, DMG PPDU, EDMG PPDU, CDMG PPDU, CMMG PPDU, WUR PPDU, or S1G PPDU. The communication device according to any one of claims 102-104 is characterized in that the configuration information is carried in a first element, the first element includes a direction field, and the direction field is used to indicate the transmission direction of the first element. The communication device according to any one of claims 82-105 is characterized in that the type of the second PPDU includes: non-HT PPDU, non-HT Duplicated PPDU, HT PPDU, VHT PPDU, HE PPDU, EHT PPDU, UHR PPDU, DMG PPDU, EDMG PPDU, CDMG PPDU, CMMG PPDU, WUR PPDU, or S1G PPDU. The communication device according to any one of claims 82-106 is characterized in that a first interval is included between the first signal and the second PPDU. The communication device according to claim 107, wherein the first interval satisfies: The first interval does not contain a waveform; or, The waveform of the first interval is a random waveform or a fixed waveform. A communication device, characterized in that it includes a memory and a processor, the memory is used to store a program, and the processor is used to call the program in the memory so that the communication device executes the method as described in any one of claims 1-54. A device, characterized in that it includes a processor, which is used to call a program from a memory so that the device executes the method according to any one of claims 1 to 54. A chip, characterized in that it includes a processor for calling a program from a memory so that a device equipped with the chip executes the method according to any one of claims 1 to 54. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that a program is stored thereon, wherein the program enables a computer to execute the method according to any one of claims 1 to 54. A computer program product, characterized in that it comprises a program, wherein the program causes a computer to execute the method according to any one of claims 1 to 54. A computer program, characterized in that the computer program enables a computer to execute the method according to any one of claims 1 to 54.