WO2025234645A1 - Dps operation with dps-supporting sta in wireless lan system - Google Patents

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a DPS operation with a DPS-supporting STA in a wireless LAN system. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a method performed by a first STA configured to operate in a wireless LAN system comprises the steps of: receiving request frames from one or more STAs; identifying, from among the one or more STAs, at least one second STA that has transmitted a request frame including information indicating that dynamic power saving (DPS) is supported; establishing an association with the at least one second STA on the basis of transmitting a response frame to the at least one second STA; activating a DPS mode; and performing frame exchange with the at least one second STA in the DPS mode.

Description

DPS operation with DPS-supporting STAs in wireless LAN systems

The present disclosure relates to DPS operation with a DPS-enabled STA in a wireless LAN system.

Next-generation Wi-Fi (e.g., IEEE 802.11be and/or later) aims to support ultra-high reliability when transmitting signals to STAs. To achieve this, various technologies are being considered to support high throughput, low latency, and extended range. For example, dynamic power saving (DPS) can be applied to conserve power in APs/STAs.

The present disclosure provides a method and device for DPS operation with a DPS-supporting STA in a wireless LAN system.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a method performed by a first STA configured to operate in a wireless LAN system includes: receiving request frames from one or more STAs; identifying, among the one or more STAs, at least one second STA that has transmitted a request frame including information indicating that dynamic power saving (DPS) is supported; establishing an association with the at least one second STA based on transmitting a response frame to the at least one second STA; activating a DPS mode; and performing frame exchange with the at least one second STA in the DPS mode.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the method includes: transmitting a request frame including information indicating that dynamic power saving (DPS) is supported to a first STA; establishing an association with the first STA based on receiving a response frame from the first STA; receiving information from the first STA indicating that a DPS mode is activated for the first STA; and performing a frame exchange with the first STA in the DPS mode.

In various embodiments, devices for implementing the above-described methods are provided.

The present disclosure may have various advantageous effects.

For example, an STA that wants to perform a DPS operation can perform an association procedure only for (UHR) STAs that support the DPS operation and activate the DPS mode/operation. The DPS-supporting STAs can transmit ICF/ICR based on broadcasted DPS capability information and/or maximum operation parameters when performing frame exchange with a DPS-enabled STA, thereby allowing the DPS-enabled STA to switch between a listening state and a frame exchange state and perform frame exchange with the DPS-enabled STAs. Accordingly, the DPS-enabled STA can monitor/wait for reception of an ICF in the listening state and reduce unnecessary power consumption while remaining in the listening state.

The beneficial effects that can be achieved through specific embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited to the beneficial effects listed above. For example, various technical effects may be understood and/or derived from the present disclosure by those skilled in the art. Therefore, the specific effects of the present disclosure are not limited to those explicitly described herein, but may include various effects that can be understood or derived from the technical features of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a transmitting device and/or a receiving device of the present disclosure.

Figure 2 is a conceptual diagram showing the structure of a wireless local area network (WLAN).

Figure 3 is a diagram illustrating a general link setup process.

Figure 4 illustrates an example of a multi-link (ML).

FIG. 5 illustrates a modified example of a transmitting device and/or a receiving device of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 illustrates an example of a PPDU (physical protocol data unit or physical layer (PHY) protocol data unit) transmitted/received by an STA of the present disclosure.

Figure 7 shows the operation according to UL-MU.

Figure 8 shows an example of a header of a MAC frame.

Figure 9 shows an example of EMLSR operation.

FIG. 10 illustrates an example of a method performed by a first STA for DPS operation with a DPS supporting STA according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 11 illustrates an example of a method performed by a second STA for DPS operation with a DPS supporting STA according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 12 illustrates a first example of a frame sequence between a DPS-enabled STA and a DPS-supporting STA according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 13 illustrates an example of a method performed by a DPS-enabled STA for receiving a data frame from a DPS-enabled STA according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 14 illustrates an example of a method performed by a DPS-enabled STA to transmit a data frame to a DPS-enabled STA according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 15 illustrates a second example of a frame sequence between a DPS-enabled STA and a DPS-supporting STA according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 16 illustrates an example of a method performed by a DPS-enabled STA to transmit a data frame to a DPS-enabled STA according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 17 illustrates an example of a method performed by a DPS-enabled STA for receiving a data frame from a DPS-enabled STA according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

In this disclosure, “A or B” can mean “only A,” “only B,” or “both A and B.” In other words, “A or B” in this disclosure can be interpreted as “A and/or B.” For example, “A, B or C” in this disclosure can mean “only A,” “only B,” “only C,” or “any combination of A, B, and C.”

As used herein, a slash (/) or a comma can mean "and/or." For example, "A/B" can mean "A and/or B." Accordingly, "A/B" can mean "only A," "only B," or "both A and B." For example, "A, B, C" can mean "A, B, or C."

In the present disclosure, “at least one of A and B” may mean “only A,” “only B,” or “both A and B.” Additionally, in the present disclosure, the expressions “at least one of A or B” or “at least one of A and/or B” may be interpreted identically to “at least one of A and B.”

In addition, parentheses used in the present disclosure may mean “for example.” Specifically, when “control information (UHR-Signal field)” is indicated, the “UHR-Signal field” may be suggested as an example of “control information.” In other words, the “control information” of the present disclosure is not limited to the “UHR-Signal field,” and the “UHR-Signal field” may be suggested as an example of “control information.” In addition, even when indicated as “control information (UHR-Signal field),” the “UHR-Signal field” may be suggested as an example of “control information.”

Additionally, as used herein, “a/an” can mean “at least one” or “one or more.” Additionally, terms ending in “(s)” can mean “at least one” or “one or more.”

Additionally, the expressions “based on” or “on the basis of” or “according to” used in this disclosure mean “based at least in part on” and do not mean “based solely on.”

Technical features individually described in one drawing in this disclosure may be implemented individually or simultaneously.

The following examples of the present disclosure can be applied to various wireless communication systems. For example, the following examples of the present disclosure can be applied to a wireless local area network (WLAN) system. For example, the present disclosure can be applied to the IEEE 802.11a/g/n/ac/ax/be/bn standards. Furthermore, the examples of the present disclosure can be applied to the Ultra High Reliability (UHR) standard or a next-generation wireless LAN standard that enhances IEEE 802.11bn. Furthermore, the examples of the present disclosure can be applied to a mobile communication system. For example, the examples of the present disclosure can be applied to a mobile communication system based on the Long Term Evolution (LTE) standard and its evolution based on the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) standard.

In order to explain the technical features of the present disclosure, technical features to which the present disclosure can be applied are described below.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a transmitting device and/or a receiving device of the present disclosure.

An example of FIG. 1 can perform various technical features described below. FIG. 1 relates to at least one STA (station). For example, the STA (110, 120) of the present disclosure may also be referred to by various names such as a mobile terminal, a wireless device, a Wireless Transmit/Receive Unit (WTRU), a User Equipment (UE), a Mobile Station (MS), a Mobile Subscriber Unit, or simply a user. The STA (110, 120) of the present disclosure may also be referred to by various names such as a network, a base station, a Node-B, an access point (AP), a repeater, a router, a relay, etc. The STA (110, 120) of the present disclosure may also be referred to by various names such as a receiving apparatus, a transmitting apparatus, a receiving STA, a transmitting STA, a receiving device, a transmitting device, etc.

For example, STA (110, 120) may perform the role of an AP (access point) or a non-AP role. That is, STA (110, 120) of the present disclosure may perform the functions of an AP and/or a non-AP. In the present disclosure, an AP may also be indicated as an AP STA.

The STA (110, 120) of the present disclosure can support various communication standards other than the IEEE 802.11 standard. For example, it can support communication standards according to the 3GPP standard (e.g., LTE, LTE-A, 5G NR standard). In addition, the STA of the present disclosure can be implemented in various devices such as a mobile phone, a vehicle, a personal computer, etc. In addition, the STA of the present disclosure can support communication for various communication services such as voice calls, video calls, data communications, and autonomous driving (Self-Driving, Autonomous-Driving).

In the present disclosure, STA (110, 120) may include a medium access control (MAC) and a physical layer interface for a wireless medium that follow the provisions of the IEEE 802.11 standard.

Based on the sub-drawing (a) of Fig. 1, STA (110, 120) is described as follows.

The first STA (110) may include a processor (111), a memory (112), and a transceiver (113). The illustrated processor, memory, and transceiver may each be implemented as separate chips, or at least two blocks/functions may be implemented through a single chip.

The transceiver (113) of the first STA performs signal transmission and reception operations. Specifically, it can transmit and receive IEEE 802.11 packets (e.g., IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax/be, etc.).

For example, the first STA (110) can perform the intended operation of the AP. For example, the processor (111) of the AP can receive a signal through the transceiver (113), process the received signal, generate a transmission signal, and perform control for signal transmission. The memory (112) of the AP can store a signal received through the transceiver (113) (i.e., a reception signal) and store a signal to be transmitted through the transceiver (i.e., a transmission signal).

For example, the second STA (120) can perform the intended operation of a non-AP STA. For example, the transceiver (123) of the non-AP performs signal transmission and reception operations. Specifically, it can transmit and receive IEEE 802.11 packets (e.g., IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax/be, etc.).

For example, the processor (121) of the Non-AP STA can receive a signal through the transceiver (123), process the received signal, generate a transmission signal, and perform control for signal transmission. The memory (122) of the Non-AP STA can store a signal received through the transceiver (123) (i.e., a reception signal) and store a signal to be transmitted through the transceiver (i.e., a transmission signal).

For example, in the specification below, the operation of a device indicated as AP may be performed in the first STA (110) or the second STA (120). For example, if the first STA (110) is an AP, the operation of the device indicated as AP may be controlled by the processor (111) of the first STA (110), and a related signal may be transmitted or received through a transceiver (113) controlled by the processor (111) of the first STA (110). In addition, control information related to the operation of the AP or a transmission/reception signal of the AP may be stored in the memory (112) of the first STA (110). In addition, when the second STA (110) is an AP, the operation of the device indicated as an AP is controlled by the processor (121) of the second STA (120), and a related signal can be transmitted or received through a transceiver (123) controlled by the processor (121) of the second STA (120). In addition, control information related to the operation of the AP or the transmission/reception signal of the AP can be stored in the memory (122) of the second STA (110).

For example, in the specification below, the operation of a device indicated as a non-AP (or User-STA) may be performed in the STA (110) or the second STA (120). For example, if the second STA (120) is a non-AP, the operation of the device indicated as a non-AP may be controlled by the processor (121) of the second STA (120), and a related signal may be transmitted or received through a transceiver (123) controlled by the processor (121) of the second STA (120). In addition, control information related to the operation of the non-AP or the transmission/reception signal of the AP may be stored in the memory (122) of the second STA (120). For example, if the first STA (110) is a non-AP, the operation of a device indicated as a non-AP is controlled by the processor (111) of the first STA (110), and a related signal may be transmitted or received through a transceiver (113) controlled by the processor (111) of the first STA (120). In addition, control information related to the operation of the non-AP or the transmission/reception signal of the AP may be stored in the memory (112) of the first STA (110).

In the following specification, devices called (transmitting/receiving) STA, first STA, second STA, STA1, STA2, AP, first AP, second AP, AP1, AP2, (transmitting/receiving) Terminal, (transmitting/receiving) device, (transmitting/receiving) apparatus, network, etc. may refer to the STA (110, 120) of FIG. 1. For example, devices indicated as (transmitting/receiving) STA, first STA, second STA, STA1, STA2, AP, first AP, second AP, AP1, AP2, (transmitting/receiving) Terminal, (transmitting/receiving) device, (transmitting/receiving) apparatus, network, etc. without specific drawing symbols may also refer to the STA (110, 120) of FIG. 1. For example, in the example below, the operation of various STAs transmitting and receiving signals (e.g., PPPDU) may be performed by the transceiver (113, 123) of FIG. 1. In addition, in the example below, the operation of various STAs generating transmission and reception signals or performing data processing or calculations in advance for transmission and reception signals may be performed by the processor (111, 121) of FIG. 1. For example, an example of an operation for generating a transmission/reception signal or performing data processing or operation in advance for a transmission/reception signal may include 1) an operation for determining/obtaining/configuring/computing/decoding/encoding bit information of a subfield (SIG, STF, LTF, Data) field included in a PPDU, 2) an operation for determining/configuring/obtaining time resources or frequency resources (e.g., subcarrier resources) used for a subfield (SIG, STF, LTF, Data) field included in a PPDU, 3) an operation for determining/configuring/obtaining a specific sequence (e.g., a pilot sequence, an STF/LTF sequence, an extra sequence applied to SIG) used for a subfield (SIG, STF, LTF, Data) field included in a PPDU, 4) a power control operation and/or a power saving operation applied to an STA, 5) an operation related to determining/obtaining/configuring/computing/decoding/encoding an ACK signal, etc. Additionally, in the examples below, various information (e.g., information related to fields/subfields/control fields/parameters/power, etc.) used by various STAs for determining/acquiring/configuring/computing/decoding/encoding transmission/reception signals can be stored in the memory (112, 122) of FIG. 1.

The device/STA of the sub-drawing (a) of FIG. 1 described above can be modified as in the sub-drawing (b) of FIG. 1. Hereinafter, the STA (110, 120) of the present disclosure will be described based on the sub-drawing (b) of FIG. 1.

For example, the transceiver (113, 123) illustrated in sub-drawing (b) of FIG. 1 may perform the same function as the transceiver illustrated in sub-drawing (a) of FIG. 1 described above. For example, the processing chip (114, 124) illustrated in sub-drawing (b) of FIG. 1 may include a processor (111, 121) and a memory (112, 122). The processor (111, 121) and the memory (112, 122) illustrated in sub-drawing (b) of FIG. 1 may perform the same function as the processor (111, 121) and the memory (112, 122) illustrated in sub-drawing (a) of FIG. 1 described above.

The mobile terminal, wireless device, Wireless Transmit/Receive Unit (WTRU), User Equipment (UE), Mobile Station (MS), Mobile Subscriber Unit, user, user STA, network, Base Station, Node-B, Access Point (AP), repeater, router, relay, receiving device, transmitting device, receiving STA, transmitting STA, receiving Device, transmitting Device, receiving Apparatus, and/or transmitting Apparatus described below may refer to the STA (110, 120) illustrated in the sub-drawings (a)/(b) of FIG. 1, or may refer to the processing chip (114, 124) illustrated in the sub-drawing (b) of FIG. 1. That is, the technical feature of the present disclosure may be performed in the STA (110, 120) illustrated in the sub-drawings (a)/(b) of FIG. 1, or may be performed only in the processing chip (114, 124) illustrated in the sub-drawings (b) of FIG. 1. For example, the technical feature that the transmitting STA transmits a control signal may be understood as a technical feature that the control signal generated in the processor (111, 121) illustrated in the sub-drawings (a)/(b) of FIG. 1 is transmitted through the transceiver (113, 123) illustrated in the sub-drawings (a)/(b) of FIG. 1. Alternatively, the technical feature that the transmitting STA transmits a control signal may be understood as a technical feature that the control signal to be transmitted to the transceiver (113, 123) is generated in the processing chip (114, 124) illustrated in the sub-drawings (b) of FIG. 1.

For example, the technical feature of a receiving STA receiving a control signal can be understood as a technical feature of a control signal being received by a transceiver (113, 123) illustrated in sub-drawing (a) of FIG. 1. Alternatively, the technical feature of a receiving STA receiving a control signal can be understood as a technical feature of a control signal received by a transceiver (113, 123) illustrated in sub-drawing (a) of FIG. 1 being acquired by a processor (111, 121) illustrated in sub-drawing (a) of FIG. 1. Alternatively, the technical feature of a receiving STA receiving a control signal can be understood as a technical feature of a control signal received by a transceiver (113, 123) illustrated in sub-drawing (b) of FIG. 1 being acquired by a processing chip (114, 124) illustrated in sub-drawing (b) of FIG.

Referring to the sub-drawing (b) of FIG. 1, software code (115, 125) may be included in the memory (112, 122). The software code (115, 125) may include instructions that control the operation of the processor (111, 121). The software code (115, 125) may be included in various programming languages.

The processor (111, 121) or processing chip (114, 124) illustrated in FIG. 1 may include an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), another chipset, a logic circuit, and/or a data processing device. The processor may be an application processor (AP). For example, the processor (111, 121) or processing chip (114, 124) illustrated in FIG. 1 may include at least one of a digital signal processor (DSP), a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), and a modem (modulator and demodulator). For example, the processor (111, 121) or processing chip (114, 124) illustrated in FIG. 1 may be a SNAPDRAGON® series processor manufactured by Qualcomm®, an EXYNOS® series processor manufactured by Samsung®, an A series processor manufactured by Apple®, a HELIO® series processor manufactured by MediaTek®, an ATOM® series processor manufactured by INTEL®, or an enhanced processor thereof.

In the present disclosure, uplink may mean a link for communication from a non-AP STA to an AP STA, and uplink PPDU/packet/signal, etc. may be transmitted through the uplink. In addition, in the present disclosure, downlink may mean a link for communication from an AP STA to a non-AP STA, and downlink PPDU/packet/signal, etc. may be transmitted through the downlink.

Figure 2 is a conceptual diagram showing the structure of a wireless local area network (WLAN).

The upper part of Figure 2 shows the structure of the infrastructure BSS (basic service set) of IEEE (institute of electrical and electronic engineers) 802.11.

Referring to the top of FIG. 2, the wireless LAN system may include one or more infrastructure BSSs (200, 205) (hereinafter, BSS). The BSSs (200, 205) are a collection of APs and STAs, such as an access point (AP) 225 and a station (STA1, 200-1), that have successfully synchronized and can communicate with each other, and are not a concept that designates a specific area. The BSS (205) may also include one or more STAs (205-1, 205-2) that can be associated with one AP (230).

A BSS may include at least one STA, an AP (225, 230) providing a distribution service, and a distribution system (DS, 210) connecting multiple APs.

A distributed system (210) can connect multiple BSSs (200, 205) to implement an extended service set (ESS, 240). An ESS (240) can be used as a term to indicate a network formed by connecting one or more APs through the distributed system (210). APs included in a single ESS (240) can have the same SSID (service set identification).

The portal (portal, 220) can act as a bridge to connect a wireless LAN network (IEEE 802.11) to another network (e.g., 802.X).

In a BSS such as the upper part of Fig. 2, a network between APs (225, 230) and a network between APs (225, 230) and STAs (200-1, 205-1, 205-2) can be implemented. However, it may also be possible to establish a network and perform communication between STAs without an AP (225, 230). A network that establishes a network and performs communication between STAs without an AP (225, 230) is defined as an ad-hoc network or an independent basic service set (IBSS).

The bottom of Figure 2 is a conceptual diagram showing IBSS.

Referring to the bottom of Fig. 2, the IBSS is a BSS that operates in ad-hoc mode. Since the IBSS does not include an AP, there is no centralized management entity. That is, in the IBSS, the STAs (250-1, 250-2, 250-3, 255-4, 255-5) are managed in a distributed manner. In the IBSS, all STAs (250-1, 250-2, 250-3, 255-4, 255-5) can be mobile STAs, and access to the distributed system is not permitted, forming a self-contained network.

Figure 3 is a diagram illustrating a general link setup process.

In step S310, the STA may perform a network discovery operation. This network discovery operation may include scanning by the STA. That is, for the STA to access the network, it must find a network it can join. Before joining a wireless network, the STA must identify compatible networks. The process of identifying networks in a specific area is called scanning. Scanning methods include active scanning and passive scanning.

Figure 3 illustrates a network discovery operation that includes an active scanning process as an example. In active scanning, an STA performing scanning transmits a probe request frame to discover which APs exist in the vicinity while moving between channels and waits for a response. A responder transmits a probe response frame to the STA that transmitted the probe request frame in response to the probe request frame. Here, the responder may be the STA that last transmitted a beacon frame in the BSS of the channel being scanned. In a BSS, the AP transmits the beacon frame, so the AP becomes the responder. In an IBSS, the STAs within the IBSS take turns transmitting beacon frames, so the responder is not constant. For example, an STA that transmits a probe request frame on channel 1 and receives a probe response frame on channel 1 can store BSS-related information included in the received probe response frame and move to the next channel (e.g., channel 2) to perform scanning (i.e., transmitting and receiving probe requests/responses on channel 2) in the same manner.

Although not shown in the example of FIG. 3, the scanning operation can also be performed in a passive scanning manner. An STA performing scanning based on passive scanning can wait for a beacon frame while moving between channels. A beacon frame is one of the management frames in IEEE 802.11. It announces the presence of a wireless network and is periodically transmitted so that the scanning STA can find the wireless network and participate in the wireless network. In the BSS, the AP periodically transmits the beacon frame, and in the IBSS, the STAs within the IBSS take turns transmitting the beacon frame. When the scanning STA receives a beacon frame, it stores the information about the BSS included in the beacon frame and moves to another channel, recording the beacon frame information on each channel. An STA that receives a beacon frame can store the BSS-related information included in the received beacon frame, move to the next channel, and perform scanning on the next channel in the same manner.

An STA that discovers a network can perform an authentication process through step S320. This authentication process may be referred to as the first authentication process to clearly distinguish it from the security setup operation of step S340 described below. The authentication process of S320 may include a process in which the STA transmits an authentication request frame to the AP, and the AP responds by transmitting an authentication response frame to the STA. The authentication frame used for the authentication request/response corresponds to a management frame.

The authentication frame may include information such as an authentication algorithm number, an authentication transaction sequence number, a status code, a challenge text, a Robust Security Network (RSN), and a Finite Cyclic Group.

An STA can transmit an authentication request frame to an AP. The AP can determine whether to grant authentication to the STA based on the information contained in the received authentication request frame. The AP can provide the result of the authentication process to the STA via an authentication response frame.

A successfully authenticated STA may perform an association process based on step S330. The association process includes a process in which the STA transmits an association request frame to the AP, and the AP transmits an association response frame to the STA in response. For example, the association request frame may include information related to various capabilities, such as a beacon listen interval, a service set identifier (SSID), supported rates, supported channels, RSN, mobility domain, supported operating classes, a Traffic Indication Map Broadcast request, and interworking service capabilities. For example, the association response frame may contain information related to various capabilities, status codes, Association ID (AID), supported rates, Enhanced Distributed Channel Access (EDCA) parameter sets, Received Channel Power Indicator (RCPI), Received Signal to Noise Indicator (RSNI), mobility domains, timeout interval (association comeback time), overlapping BSS scan parameters, TIM broadcast response, QoS maps, etc.

In step S340, the STA may perform a security setup process. The security setup process of step S340 may include, for example, a process of setting up a private key through a four-way handshaking using an Extensible Authentication Protocol over LAN (EAPOL) frame.

Figure 4 illustrates an example of multi-link (ML).

As illustrated in FIG. 4, multiple multi-link devices (MLDs) can communicate over a remote link. The MLDs can be categorized into AP MLDs including multiple AP STAs and non-AP MLDs including multiple non-AP STAs. That is, the AP MLD can include affiliated APs (i.e., AP STAs), and the non-AP MLD can include affiliated STAs (i.e., non-AP STAs, or user-STAs).

A multilink may include a first link and a second link, and different channels/subchannels/frequency resources may be allocated to the first and second links. The first and second multilinks may be identified through a link ID of 4 bits (or other n bits). The first and second links may be configured in the same 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, or 6 GHz band. Alternatively, the first link and the second link may be configured in different bands.

The AP MLD of FIG. 4 includes three affiliated APs. In the example of FIG. 4, AP1 may operate in the 2.4 GHz band, AP2 may operate in the 5 GHz band, and AP3 may operate in the 6 GHz band. In the example of FIG. 4, the first link in which AP1 and non-AP1 operate may be defined as a channel/subchannel/frequency resource within the 2.4 GHz band. Furthermore, in the example of FIG. 4, the second link in which AP2 and non-AP2 operate may be defined as a channel/subchannel/frequency resource within the 5 GHz band. Furthermore, in the example of FIG. 4, the third link in which AP3 and non-AP3 operate may be defined as a channel/subchannel/frequency resource within the 6 GHz band.

In the example of FIG. 4, AP1 may initiate a multi-link setup procedure (ML setup procedure) by transmitting an Association Request frame to non-AP STA1. In the example of FIG. 4, non-AP STA1 may transmit an Association Response frame in response to the Association Request frame. Each AP (e.g., AP1/2/3) illustrated in FIG. 4 may be identical to the AP illustrated in FIG. 1 and/or FIG. 2, and each non-AP (e.g., non-AP1/2/3) illustrated in FIG. 4 may be identical to the STA (i.e., user-STA or non-AP STA) illustrated in FIG. 1 and/or FIG. 2.

The specific features of the present disclosure are not limited to the specific features of FIG. 4. That is, the number of links can be defined in various ways, and multiple links can be defined in various ways within at least one band.

FIG. 5 illustrates a modified example of a transmitting device and/or a receiving device of the present disclosure.

The devices (e.g., AP STA, non-AP STA) illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4 may be modified as illustrated in FIG. 5. The transceiver (530) of FIG. 5 may be identical to the transceivers (113, 123) of FIG. 1. The transceiver (530) of FIG. 5 may include a receiver and a transmitter.

The processor (510) of FIG. 5 may be identical to the processor (111, 121) of FIG. 1. Alternatively, the processor (510) of FIG. 5 may be identical to the processing chip (114, 124) of FIG. 1.

The memory (150) of FIG. 5 may be the same as the memory (112, 122) of FIG. 1. Alternatively, the memory (150) of FIG. 5 may be a separate external memory different from the memory (112, 122) of FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 5, a power management module (511) manages power to a processor (510) and/or a transceiver (530). A battery (512) supplies power to the power management module (511). A display (513) outputs results processed by the processor (510). A keypad (514) receives input to be used by the processor (510). The keypad (514) may be displayed on the display (513). A SIM card (515) may be an integrated circuit used to securely store an international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) and an associated key used to identify and authenticate a subscriber in a mobile phone device, such as a mobile phone or computer.

Referring to FIG. 5, the speaker (540) can output sound-related results processed by the processor (510). The microphone (541) can receive sound-related input to be used by the processor (510).

FIG. 6 illustrates an example of a PPDU (physical protocol data unit or physical layer (PHY) protocol data unit) transmitted/received by an STA of the present disclosure.

The STA (e.g., AP STA, non-AP STA, AP MLD, non-AP MLD) of the present disclosure can transmit and/or receive the PPDU of FIG. 6. The PPDU described in the present disclosure may have, for example, the structure of FIG. 6. In addition, the PPDU described in the present disclosure may be called by various names such as a transmission PPDU, a reception PPDU, a first type PPDU, or an Nth type PPDU, etc. The PPDU described in the present disclosure can be used in a WLAN system defined according to IEEE 802.11bn and/or a next-generation WLAN system that improves upon IEEE 802.11bn.

The PPDU of FIG. 6 may be related to various PPDU types used in a UHR system. For example, the example of FIG. 6 may be used for at least one of a single-user (SU) mode/type/transmission, a multi-user (MU) mode/type/transmission, and a null data packet (NDP) mode/type/transmission related to channel sounding. For example, if the example of FIG. 6 is related to NDP, the Data field illustrated may be omitted. If the PPDU of FIG. 6 is used for a trigger-based (TB) mode, the UHR-SIG of FIG. 6 may be omitted. In other words, an STA that has received a trigger frame for UL-MU (Uplink-MU) communication may transmit a PPDU with the UHR-SIG omitted in the example of FIG. 6.

In FIG. 6, L-STF or UHR-LTF may be called a preamble or physical preamble, and may be generated/transmitted/received/acquired/decoded in the physical layer (included in the transmitting/receiving STA).

Each block illustrated in Fig. 6 may be called a field/subfield/signal, etc. The names of these fields/subfields/signals may be, as illustrated in Fig. 6, L-STF (legacy short training field), L-LTF (legacy long training field), L-SIG (legacy signal), RL-SIG (repeated L-SIG), U-SIG (Universal Signal), UHR-SIG (UHR-signal), etc.

The subcarrier spacing of the L-STF, L-LTF, L-SIG, RL-SIG, U-SIG, and UHR-SIG fields in FIG. 6 may be set to 312.5 kHz, and the subcarrier spacing of the UHR-STF, UHR-LTF, and Data fields may be set to 78.125 kHz. That is, the tone index (or subcarrier index) of the L-STF, L-LTF, L-SIG, RL-SIG, U-SIG, and UHR-SIG fields may be expressed in units of 312.5 kHz, and the tone index (or subcarrier index) of the UHR-STF, UHR-LTF, and Data fields may be expressed in units of 78.125 kHz.

In the PPDU of Fig. 6, L-LTF and L-STF may be identical to conventional fields (e.g., non-HT LTF and non-HT STF defined in conventional WLAN standards).

The L-SIG field of FIG. 6 may include, for example, 24 bits of bit information. For example, the 24 bits of information may include a 4 bit Rate field, a 1 bit Reserved bit, a 12 bit Length field, a 1 bit Parity bit, and a 6 bit Tail bit. For example, the 12 bit Length field may include information about the length or time duration of the PPDU. For example, the value of the 12 bit Length field may be determined based on the type of the PPDU. For example, if the PPDU is a non-HT (non-High Throughput), HT (High Throughput), VHT (Very High Throughput) PPDU, or an EHT (extremely high throughput) PPDU or UHR PPDU, the value of the Length field may be determined as a multiple of 3. For example, if the PPDU is a HE PPDU, the value of the Length field may be determined as "a multiple of 3 + 1" or "a multiple of 3 + 2". In other words, for non-HT, HT, VHT PPDU, EHT PPDU, UHR PPDU, the value of the Length field can be determined as a multiple of 3, and for HE (High-Efficiency) PPDU, the value of the Length field can be determined as "a multiple of 3 + 1" or "a multiple of 3 + 2". In other words, the Length field in an UHR PPDU is set to a value satisfying the condition that the remainder is zero when LENGTH is divided by 3.

For example, (non-AP and AP) STAs can apply BCC encoding based on a code rate of 1/2 to the 24 bits of information in the L-SIG field. Then, the transmitting STA can obtain 48 BCC coded bits. BPSK modulation can be applied to the 48 coded bits to generate 48 BPSK symbols. The transmitting STA can map the 48 BPSK symbols to positions excluding the pilot subcarriers {subcarrier index -21, -7, +7, +21} and the DC subcarrier {subcarrier index 0}. As a result, the 48 BPSK symbols can be mapped to subcarrier indices -26 to -22, -20 to -8, -6 to -1, +1 to +6, +8 to +20, and +22 to +26. The transmitting STA can additionally map the signal {-1, -1, -1, 1} to the subcarrier indices {-28, -27, +27, +28}. The above signal can be used for channel estimation for the frequency domain corresponding to {-28, -27, +27, +28}.

For example, (non-AP and AP) STA can generate RL-SIG, which is generated in the same manner as L-SIG. BPSK modulation can be applied to RL-SIG. Receiving (non-AP and AP) STA can determine whether the received PPDU is a HE PPDU, EHT PPDU, or UHR PPDU based on the presence of RL-SIG. In other words, if RL-SIG is present, receiving (non-AP and AP) STA can determine whether the received PPDU is one of HE PPDU, EHT PPDU, or UHR PPDU. In other words, if RL-SIG is not present, receiving (non-AP and AP) STA can determine whether the received PPDU is one of non-HT PPDU, HT PPDU, or VHT PPDU. In other words, the RL-SIG field is a repeat of the L-SIG field and is used to differentiate an UHR PPDU from a non-HT PPDU, HT PPDU, and VHT PPDU.

After the RL-SIG in Fig. 6, a U-SIG (Universal SIG) may be inserted. The U-SIG may be called by various names such as the first SIG field, the first SIG, the first type SIG, the control signal, the control signal field, the first (type) control signal, the common control field, and the common control signal.

A U-SIG can contain N bits of information and can include information for identifying the type of EHT PPDU. For example, a U-SIG can be formed based on two symbols (e.g., two consecutive OFDM symbols). Each symbol (e.g., an OFDM symbol) for a U-SIG can have a duration of 4 microseconds. Each symbol of a U-SIG can be used to transmit 26 bits of information. For example, each symbol of a U-SIG can be transmitted and received based on 52 data tones and 4 pilot tones.

For example, A bit information (e.g., 52 uncoded bits) can be transmitted through U-SIG, and the first symbol of U-SIG can transmit the first X bits of information (e.g., 26 uncoded bits) out of the total A bit information, and the second symbol of U-SIG can transmit the remaining Y bits of information (e.g., 26 uncoded bits) out of the total A bit information. For example, the transmitting STA can obtain 26 uncoded bits included in each U-SIG symbol. The transmitting STA can perform convolutional encoding (i.e., BCC encoding) based on a rate of R=1/2 to generate 52 coded bits, and perform interleaving on the 52 coded bits. The transmitting STA can perform BPSK modulation on the interleaved 52 coded bits to generate 52 BPSK symbols allocated to each U-SIG symbol. A single U-SIG symbol can be transmitted based on 56 tones (subcarriers) from subcarrier index -28 to subcarrier index +28, excluding DC index 0. The 52 BPSK symbols generated by the transmitting STA can be transmitted based on the remaining tones (subcarriers) excluding the pilot tones -21, -7, +7, and +21.

For example, A bit information (e.g., 52 uncoded bits) transmitted by U-SIG may include a CRC field (e.g., a 4-bit long field) and a tail field (e.g., a 6-bit long field). The CRC field and the tail field may be transmitted through the second symbol of the U-SIG. The CRC field may be generated based on 26 bits allocated to the first symbol of the U-SIG and the remaining 16 bits excluding the CRC/tail field within the second symbol, and may be generated based on a conventional CRC calculation algorithm. In addition, the tail field may be used to terminate the trellis of the convolutional decoder and may be set to, for example, "000000".

The A bit information (e.g., 52 uncoded bits) transmitted by the U-SIG (or U-SIG field) can be divided into version-independent bits and version-dependent bits. For example, the size of the version-independent bits can be fixed or variable. For example, the version-independent bits can be assigned only to the first symbol of the U-SIG, or the version-independent bits can be assigned to both the first symbol and the second symbol of the U-SIG. For example, the version-independent bits and the version-dependent bits can be called by various names, such as the first control bit and the second control bit.

For example, the version-independent bits of the U-SIG may include a 3-bit PHY version identifier. For example, the 3-bit PHY version identifier may include information related to the PHY version of the transmitted and received PPDU. For example, a first value (e.g., a value of 000) of the 3-bit PHY version identifier may indicate that the transmitted and received PPDU is an EHT PPDU. In addition, a second value (e.g., a value of 001) of the 3-bit PHY version identifier may indicate that the transmitted and received PPDU is an UHR PPDU.

In other words, when the (AP/non-AP) STA transmits an EHT PPDU, it can set the 3-bit PHY version identifier to the first value. In other words, the receiving (AP/non-AP) STA can determine that the received PPDU is an EHT PPDU based on the PHY version identifier having the first value, and can determine that the received PPDU is an UHR PPDU based on the PHY version identifier having the second value.

For example, the version-independent bits of U-SIG may include a 1-bit UL/DL flag field. The first value of the 1-bit UL/DL flag field relates to UL communication, and the second value of the UL/DL flag field relates to DL communication.

For example, the version-independent bits of U-SIG may include information about the length of a transmission opportunity (TXOP) and information about the BSS color ID.

For example, if a UHR PPDU is classified into various types (e.g., a type related to SU transmission (performed based on UL or DL), a type related to DL transmission, a type related to NDP transmission, a type related to DL non-MU-MIMO, a type related to DL MU-MIMO, a type related to Multi-AP operation, a type related to CO-BF (Coordinated beamforming), SR (Spatial Reuse), a type related to C-OFDMA (Coordinated OFDMA), a type related to CO-TDMA (Coordinated TDMA)), information about the type of the EHT PPDU (e.g., 2-bit or 3-bit information) can be included in the version-dependent bits of the U-SIG.

For example, a U-SIG may include information about 1) a bandwidth field including information about a bandwidth, 2) a field including information about a Modulation and Coding Scheme (MCS) technique applied to the UHR-SIG, 3) an indication field including information about whether a dual subcarrier modulation (DCM) technique is applied to the UHR-SIG, 4) a field including information about the number of symbols used for the UHR-SIG, 5) a field including information about whether the UHR-SIG is generated over the entire band, 6) a field including information about the type of UHR-LTF/STF, and 7) a field indicating the length of the UHR-LTF and the CP length.

Preamble puncturing may be applied to the PPDU of FIG. 6. Preamble puncturing refers to applying puncturing to a portion of the entire bandwidth of the PPDU (e.g., the secondary 20 MHz band). For example, when an 80 MHz PPDU is transmitted, the STA may apply puncturing to the secondary 20 MHz band within the 80 MHz band, and transmit the PPDU only through the primary 20 MHz band and the secondary 40 MHz band.

For example, the pattern of preamble puncturing can be preset. For example, when the first puncturing pattern is applied, puncturing can be applied only to the secondary 20 MHz band within the 80 MHz band. For example, when the second puncturing pattern is applied, puncturing can be applied only to one of the two secondary 20 MHz bands included in the secondary 40 MHz band within the 80 MHz band. For example, when the third puncturing pattern is applied, puncturing can be applied only to the secondary 20 MHz band included in the primary 80 MHz band within the 160 MHz band (or 80+80 MHz band). For example, when the fourth puncturing pattern is applied, a primary 40 MHz band included in the primary 80 MHz band within the 160 MHz band (or 80+80 MHz band) may be present, and puncturing may be applied to at least one 20 MHz channel that does not belong to the primary 40 MHz band.

Information regarding preamble puncturing applied to the PPDU may be included in the U-SIG and/or UHR-SIG. For example, the first field of the U-SIG may include information regarding the contiguous bandwidth of the PPDU, and the second field of the U-SIG may include information regarding preamble puncturing applied to the PPDU.

For example, U-SIG and UHR-SIG may include information regarding preamble puncturing based on the following method. If the bandwidth of the PPDU exceeds 80 MHz, the U-SIG may be individually configured in units of 80 MHz. For example, if the bandwidth of the PPDU is 160 MHz, the PPDU may include a first U-SIG for the first 80 MHz band and a second U-SIG for the second 80 MHz band. In this case, the first field of the first U-SIG may include information regarding the 160 MHz bandwidth, and the second field of the first U-SIG may include information regarding preamble puncturing applied to the first 80 MHz band (i.e., information regarding the preamble puncturing pattern). Additionally, the first field of the second U-SIG may include information about a 160 MHz bandwidth, and the second field of the second U-SIG may include information about preamble puncturing applied to the second 80 MHz band (i.e., information about a preamble puncturing pattern). Meanwhile, the UHR-SIG consecutive to the first U-SIG may include information about preamble puncturing applied to the second 80 MHz band (i.e., information about a preamble puncturing pattern), and the UHR-SIG consecutive to the second U-SIG may include information about preamble puncturing applied to the first 80 MHz band (i.e., information about a preamble puncturing pattern).

Additionally or alternatively, U-SIG and UHR-SIG may include information regarding preamble puncturing based on the following methods. U-SIG may include information regarding preamble puncturing for all bands (i.e., information regarding preamble puncturing patterns). That is, UHR-SIG may not include information regarding preamble puncturing, and only U-SIG may include information regarding preamble puncturing (i.e., information regarding preamble puncturing patterns).

U-SIGs can be configured in 20 MHz units. For example, if an 80 MHz PPDU is configured, U-SIGs can be duplicated. That is, four identical U-SIGs can be included within an 80 MHz PPDU. PPDUs exceeding the 80 MHz bandwidth can contain different U-SIGs.

The UHR-SIG of FIG. 6 may include control information for a receiving STA. The UHR-SIG may be transmitted via at least one symbol, and each symbol may have a length of 4 us. Information regarding the number of symbols used for the UHR-SIG may be included in the U-SIG.

UHR-SIG provides additional signals to the U-SIG field to enable STAs to interpret/decode UHR PPDUs. The UHR-SIG field may contain U-SIG overflow bits that are common to all users. The UHR-SIG field also contains resource allocation information, allowing STAs to look up resources used in fields containing data fields/UHR-STF/UHR-LTF (i.e., UHR modulated fields of an UHR PPDU).

The frequency resources of the UHR-LTF, UHR-STF, and data fields illustrated in FIG. 6 can be determined based on RUs (resource units) defined by multiple subcarriers/tones. That is, the UHR-LTF, UHR-STF, and data fields of the present disclosure can be transmitted/received through RUs (resource units) defined by multiple subcarriers/tones.

Figure 7 illustrates an operation according to UL-MU. As illustrated, a transmitting STA (e.g., AP) can acquire a TXOP (725) by performing channel access through contending (i.e., backoff operation) and transmit a trigger frame (730). That is, the transmitting STA (e.g., AP) can transmit a PPDU including a trigger frame (730). When a PPDU including a trigger frame is received, a TB (trigger-based) PPDU is transmitted after a delay of SIFS.

TB PPDUs (741, 742) are transmitted at the same time and can be transmitted from multiple STAs (e.g., User STAs) whose AIDs are indicated in the Trigger frame (730). The ACK frame (750) for the TB PPDU can be implemented in various forms. For example, the ACK frame (750) for the TB PPDU can be implemented in the form of a BA (block ACK).

In FIG. 7, transmission(s) of a Trigger Frame (730), TB PPDU (741, 742) and/or ACK frame (750) can be performed within a TXOP (725).

Below, the structure and types/subtypes of MAC frames are described.

Fig. 8 illustrates an example of a header of a MAC frame. As illustrated, the MAC frame may include a frame control field/information of 2 octets in length, a duration field/information of 2 octets in length, a RA (Receiver Address) field/information of 6 octets in length, and a TA (Transmitter Address) field/information of 6 octets in length. As illustrated in Fig. 8, the four fields may be consecutive to each other. The MAC header of Fig. 8 may be modified in various ways, and a new field may be inserted between the four illustrated fields, or at least one of the illustrated fields may be omitted.

The MAC header illustrated in Fig. 8 may be positioned at the very front of the MAC frame. That is, the MAC frame may include a MAC header as illustrated in Fig. 8 and MAC body fields/information subsequent to the MAC header. The MAC frame including the MAC header of Fig. 8 is inserted/included in the data field of the PPDU (e.g., UHR PPDU) illustrated in Fig. 5.

The MAC frames included in the data field of the PPDU of this specification can be classified into various types. For example, the MAC frames of this specification can be classified into control frames, management frames, and data frames.

For example, the management frame includes Association Request, Association Response, Reassociation Request, Reassociation Response, Probe Request, Probe Response, Beacon, Disassociation, Authentication, and Deauthentication frames/signals defined in conventional WLAN. For the management frame, the values of the type fields (B3 and B2) in FIG. 8 are set to 00. In addition, the values of the subtype fields (B7, B6, B5, B4) in FIG. 8 are as follows: Association Request (0000), Association Response (0001), Reassociation Request (0010), Reassociation Response (0011), Probe Request (0100), Probe Response (0101), Beacon (1000), Disassociation (1010), Authentication (1011), Deauthentication (1100).

For example, the control frame includes Trigger Beamforming Report Poll, NDP Announcement (NDPA), Control Frame Extension, Control Wrapper, Block Ack Request (BlockAckReq), Block Ack (BlockAck), PS-Poll, RTS, CTS, Ack, and CF-End frames/signals defined in conventional WLAN. For the control frame, the values of the type fields (B3 and B2) in FIG. 8 are set to 01. Also, the values of the subtype fields (B7, B6, B5, B4) of FIG. 8 are as follows: Trigger (0010), Beamforming Report Poll (0100), NDP Announcement (0101), Control Frame Extension (0110), Control Wrapper (0111), BlockAckReq (1000), BlockAck (1001), PS-Poll (1010), RTS (1011), CTS (1100), Ack (1101), CF-End (1110).

For example, the data frame includes (QoS) Data, (QoS) Null, etc. defined in conventional WLAN. For the management frame, the value of the type field (B3 and B2) of Fig. 8 is set to 10.

The MAC frame/signal used in this specification can be identified through the type field/information and subtype field/information described above. For example, the “trigger frame” in this specification can mean a MAC frame in which the type bits B3 and B2 bits in the frame control field of the MAC header are set to 01, and the subtype bits B7, B6, B5, B4 bits in the frame control field are also set to 0010. Various MAC frames described in this specification are inserted/included in the data fields of various PPDUs (e.g., HE/VHT/HE/EHT/UHR PPDUs).

Below, the power saving mode is described.

A non-AP STA can be in one of two power management modes:

- Active mode: STAs receive and transmit frames whenever they are awake. Non-HE STAs remain awake. HE STAs remain awake unless they are unavailable. Unavailable STAs cannot receive PPDUs.

- Power saving (PS) mode: The STA enters the awake state to receive or transmit frames. Otherwise, the STA remains in the doze state.

An STA in PS mode can be in one of two power states:

- awake state: STA is fully powered.

- Doze state: STA cannot transmit or receive non-WUR PPDUs and consumes very low power.

An STA that changes its power management mode while connected to an AP must notify the AP of this fact using the Power Management subfield within the Frame Control field of the transmitted frame. The STA must maintain its current power management mode until it notifies the AP of the power management mode change through a frame exchange sequence that includes the AP's acknowledgment. The power management mode does not change during a single frame exchange sequence. That is, the Power Management subfield is the same for all MPDUs in an A-MPDU.

I. Non-AP STA Power Management Mode

A non-AP STA shall be in active mode upon (re)association. However, if (re)association is performed using an on-channel tunneling procedure, the non-AP STA shall be considered to be in power-saving mode and in power-saving mode upon (re)association to a BSS identified by the BSSID, band ID, and channel number fields contained in the multi-band element transmitted in the on-channel tunnel request frame carrying the (re)association request frame.

An STA that transmits a frame to an AP that is not connected and expects a response must remain awake until it receives that response or the procedure times out.

To change the power management mode, an STA must notify the AP by completing a successful frame exchange initiated by the STA. This frame exchange sequence includes a management frame, extension frame, or data frame from the STA and an Ack or BlockAck frame from the AP. The Power Management subfield in the Frame Control field of the frame transmitted by the STA in this exchange indicates the power management mode that the STA should adopt upon successfully completing the frame exchange sequence, unless the Power Management subfield is reserved. A non-AP STA must not use a frame exchange sequence that does not receive an Ack or BlockAck frame from the AP, or use a BlockAckReq frame to change the power management mode. The Power Management subfield is ignored in the AP-initiated frame exchange sequence.

A non-S1G STA that transitions from doze to awake to transmit must perform CCA until a frame capable of setting a NAV is detected or the period specified by the NAVSyncDelay of the MLME-JOIN.request primitive has elapsed. An S1G STA that transitions from doze to awake to transmit must perform CCA until a frame capable of setting a RID or NAV is detected or the period specified by the NAVSyncDelay of the MLME-JOIN.request primitive has elapsed.

To change the power management mode, an STA coordinated by the MM-SME must notify the AP through a successful frame exchange sequence initiated by the STA. In this exchange, the power management subfield in the frame control field of the frame transmitted by the STA indicates the power management mode that the STA should adopt upon successful completion of the frame exchange sequence, as announced in the MMS element coordinated by the MM-SME and transmitted by the STA. To change the power management mode of a coordinated STA, a frame can be transmitted using an MMSL within the MMSL cluster established with the AP.

A non-AP S1G STA requests the PS mode type (TIM mode or non-TIM mode) through a (re)association request frame transmitted to the S1G AP.

A non-AP S1G STA requests operation in non-TIM mode by setting the Non-TIM Support field in the S1G Capabilities element of the (re)connection request frame to 1.

A non-AP S1G STA requests operation in TIM mode by setting the Non-TIM Support field in the S1G Capabilities element of the (re)connection request frame to 0.

A non-AP S1G STA checks the PS mode type (TIM mode or non-TIM mode) in the (re)association response frame received from the S1G AP.

When the S1G AP sets the non-TIM support field in the S1G operation element of the (re)association response frame to 1, the non-AP S1G STA sets dot11NonTIMModeActivated to true and operates in non-TIM mode after association, and is called a non-TIM STA.

When the S1G AP sets the non-TIM support field in the S1G operation element of the (re)association response frame to 0, the non-AP S1G STA sets dot11NonTIMModeActivated to false and operates in TIM mode after association, and is called a TIM STA.

Non-AP S1G STAs must operate in the negotiated PS mode during the connection, unless a PS mode transition is negotiated or a temporary PS mode transition occurs. STAs must update the ListenInterval parameter value used in the primitive call with the AID Response Interval field in the AID Response element of the (re)connection response frame.

An S1G STA in TIM mode receives a selected beacon frame (based on the ListenInterval parameter of the MLME-ASSOCIATE.request or MLME-REASSOCIATE.request primitive) and transmits a PS-Poll frame to the AP if the TIM element of the most recent beacon frame indicates that a BU individually addressed to that STA is buffered.

An S1G STA in non-TIM mode shall transmit at least one individually addressed PS-Poll or Trigger frame to its associated AP per receive interval and may not receive selected S1G Beacon frames (based on the ListenInterval parameter of the MLME-ASSOCIATE.request or MLME-REASSOCIATE.request primitive) unless it follows the TWT or NDP paging procedure. An S1G STA in non-TIM mode may transmit (NDP) PS-Poll frames to an S1G AP regardless of whether the S1G AP has instructed it to buffer individually addressed BUs.

II. AP Power Management

APs with dot11APPMActivated set to false or absent must operate in active mode. APs with dot11APPMActivated set to true can operate in the following power management modes:

- Active mode; and

- Power saving mode.

An AP in active mode must be awake and able to receive frames at any time.

In power saving mode, an AP with dot11APPMActivated set to true can be in one of two power states:

- awake state; and

- doze state.

An AP with dot11APPMActivated set to true can indicate that it is operating in power-saving mode in two ways:

- Set the AP PM bit to 1 in the frame control field of the S1G beacon frame, or

- Include one or more RPS elements in the S1G beacon frame indicating AP PM RAW (i.e., RAW assignment type is Simplex RAW and RAW type option is 0).

The AP shall operate in the active mode during the beacon interval or short beacon interval when the AP PM subfield of the S1G beacon frame transmitted in the TBTT or TSBTT is 0. Similarly, the AP shall operate in the active mode during one or more RAWs defined by the RPS element whose RAW assignment type is Normal RAW, Sounding RAW, Triggering Frame RAW, or Simplex RAW with RAW Type Option 1 or 2.

An AP transmitting an S1G beacon frame with the AP PM subfield set to 1 may be in doze at any time until the next TBTT or TSBTT, but must be in awake for one of the following time intervals:

- any RAW or PRAW interval set (except RAW defined by any RPS element whose RAW allocation type is Simplex RAW and whose RAW type option is 0); and

- All TWT SPs negotiated in accordance with TWT.

An AP must not remain in a doze state for a period exceeding the dot11MaxAwayDuration value. The AP must set dot11MaxAwayDuration to the lowest value obtained from the Max Away Duration field contained in the most recently received MAD element from the associated STA.

Regardless of power management mode and power state, APs must generate beacons to maintain network synchronization.

An STA that is the intended recipient of a frame transmitted by an AP with the PM Mode subfield set to 0 must consider the AP to be in active mode.

An AP that has previously transmitted a frame to one or a group of STAs with the PM bit set to 0 must transmit a frame with the PM bit set to the same set of STAs before changing its operating mode to power-save mode.

An STA that is the intended recipient of a frame in which the PM mode subfield is 1 must consider the AP to be in power-saving mode.

Meanwhile, APs generally remain active at all times to provide high throughput and fast service to connected STAs, and can exchange frames using the highest possible bandwidth and a large number of spatial streams.

In the present disclosure, "frame exchange (FE)" may include frame transmission and/or reception operations between STAs. The STAs may be APs or non-AP STAs. Here, the frames may include various types of frames (e.g., data frames, control frames, management frames).

Because APs can be powered continuously, the need for power reduction may be relatively small for APs. However, the actual power consumption of APs is substantial, which can increase network maintenance costs. Furthermore, battery-operated APs (e.g., mobile APs) require battery life considerations. Consequently, power consumption of APs needs to be reduced. Furthermore, considering the introduction of multi-link operation in IEEE 802.11be and multi-AP cooperative networks in IEEE 802.11bn, the number of links and/or STAs operated by each multi-link device (MLD) may increase, further increasing AP power consumption. Therefore, a new method/device for reducing AP power needs to be designed, and a unified framework applicable to all STAs may also be considered.

For example, power saving scheme(s) for reducing power of AP/STA may include enhanced multi-link single radio (EMLSR) operation. EMLSR operation allows a non-AP STA belonging to a non-AP MLD with multiple receive chains to participate in frame exchange on the link on which an initial control frame included in a non-HT (duplicated) PPDU transmitted by an AP belonging to an AP MLD was received when the non-AP STA is in a listening state on one or more EMLSR links.

Figure 9 shows an example of EMLSR operation.

EMLSR was introduced in IEEE 802.11be to enable efficient multi-link operation of a single radio non-AP MLD. A non-AP MLD operating in EMLSR mode can perform a listening operation on an awake EMLSR link(s). The listening operation at this time may include reception of an initial control frame (ICF) for frame exchange(s) initiated from the AP MLD and/or CCA. That is, a non-AP MLD can perform a listening operation on one or more links using multiple receive chains of a single radio and exchange frames with an AP on a link where an ICF is received.

During this listening operation, the STA can reduce its power consumption by receiving (RXing) PPDUs with restricted settings (e.g., non-HT (duplicate) PPDU, 20 MHz-only, 1 spatial stream) and/or performing CCA for the restricted bandwidth. That is, the operating characteristics, such as the listening operation of EMLSR, can be utilized in one of the power saving modes (e.g., awake, doze state). Specifically, the characteristics of the EMLSR operation, such as in FIG. 9, can be applied to individual links to reduce the power consumed by each link during the listening state. An AP/STA operating in power saving (PS) mode on one or more links can have low capability/configuration in the listening state, and can switch to a capability/configuration that can utilize a wide bandwidth and a large number of spatial streams for fast frame exchange. That is, ICF can be defined and/or utilized similarly to EMLSR for this switching of capability/configuration. These PSs are also similar to dynamic spatial multiplexing (SM) PSs and can be classified as dynamic PSs because they do not achieve power savings based on scheduled time.

In the present disclosure, a dynamic PS may mean a PS in which the PS mode/state is changed based on detection of a specific event and/or transmission/reception of a specific frame.

For example, when an STA operating as a dynamic PS (e.g., an AP/non-AP STA) detects an ICF transmission event (e.g., detects that there is data to transmit/receive) in the listening state and/or receives an ICF, the STA may transition to a frame exchange state and perform frame exchange in the frame exchange state. For example, when the STA receives an ICF in the listening state, the STA may transition from the listening state to a frame exchange state to perform CCA/backoff for a wide bandwidth and transmit an initial control response (ICR) based on normal or parameterized capabilities/settings. When the frame exchange is completed (e.g., when an ACK frame is transmitted/received), the STA may transition back to the listening state.

In the present disclosure, a listening state may refer to a state in which an STA (e.g., an AP/non-AP STA) operates with limited capabilities/configurations, receives ICFs based on the limited capabilities/configurations, and/or performs CCA/backoff (i.e., listening operations) for a limited bandwidth. The listening state may also be referred to as a low capability mode (LCM).

In the present disclosure, a frame exchange state may refer to a state in which an STA (e.g., an AP/non-AP STA) operates with normal capabilities/configurations and performs frame exchange based on the normal capabilities/configurations. For example, the frame exchange state may include an awake state. The frame exchange state may be referred to as a high capability mode (HCM).

In the present disclosure, a parameterized state may refer to a state in which an STA (e.g., an AP/non-AP STA) operates with parameterized capabilities/configurations agreed upon in advance and performs frame exchange based on the parameterized capabilities/configurations. For example, the parameterized state may include an awake state. The parameterized state may be referred to as a parameterized capability mode (PCM).

Fundamentally, for a UHR STA to perform DPS operations, the most crucial factor is whether it can operate seamlessly with legacy STAs (e.g., STAs supporting pre-UHR wireless LAN technologies). For example, a UHR STA that has entered a listening state may not be able to receive and/or decode certain frames transmitted from legacy STAs that do not support DPS.

Accordingly, the present disclosure proposes a DPS scheme that considers only interactions (e.g., association, authentication, and/or frame exchange) with UHR STAs to improve the power saving efficiency of STAs. Specifically, an STA that wishes to perform a DPS operation can perform an association procedure only for UHR STAs that support the DPS operation and notify that it has entered the DPS mode. UHR STAs (supporting the DPS operation) that recognize that the STA has entered the DPS mode can initiate frame exchange by basically transmitting an ICF when transmitting a PPDU/frame to the STA. Through this, an STA operating in DPS can remain in a listening state for a long time and save power.

In the present disclosure, an STA that performs a DPS operation and/or has a DPS mode enabled may be referred to as a DPS-enabled STA (DPS-enabled STA). Additionally, an STA that supports the DPS operation of the corresponding DPS-enabled STA and/or allows and/or supports the corresponding DPS-enabled STA to enter the DPS mode may be referred to as a DPS-supporting STA (DPS-supporting STA).

In this disclosure, “field,” “subfield,” and “element” may be used interchangeably.

The specific designations (names) proposed in this disclosure may be changed and are not limited thereto.

FIG. 10 illustrates an example of a method performed by a first STA for DPS operation with a DPS-enabled STA according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The first STA may be a DPS-enabled STA and may include at least one of an AP or a non-AP STA.

Referring to FIG. 10, in step S1001, the first STA can receive request frames from one or more STAs.

In step S1003, the first STA can identify at least one second STA among one or more STAs that has transmitted a request frame including information indicating that DPS is supported.

In step S1005, the first STA may establish an association with at least one second STA based on transmitting a response frame to at least one second STA.

In step S1007, the first STA can activate the DPS mode.

In step S1009, the first STA can perform frame exchange with at least one second STA in DPS mode.

According to various embodiments, the response frame may not be transmitted to at least one third STA that transmitted a request frame that does not include information indicating that DPS is supported among one or more STAs. The first STA may not establish a connection with at least one third STA.

According to various embodiments, a first STA may transmit capability information of the first STA related to DPS. The first STA may receive a request frame including capability information of at least one second STA related to DPS from at least one second STA. The capability information of the first STA and the capability information of the at least one second STA may include at least one of information indicating that DPS is supported, information on whether DPS is activated, information on the status of a supported DPS mode, information on the status of a DPS mode to be entered, or information on operating parameters for DPS.

According to various embodiments, the capability information of the first STA may be transmitted through at least one of a beacon frame, an action frame, an operation mode notification frame, a probe request frame, a probe response frame, a connection request frame, or a connection response frame. The capability information of at least one second STA may be received through at least one of a beacon frame, an action frame, an operation mode notification frame, a probe request frame, a probe response frame, a connection request frame, or a connection response frame.

According to various embodiments, the capability information of the first STA and the capability information of at least one second STA may be included in at least one of an ultra-high reliability (UHR) capability element, a UHR media access control (MAC) information field of the UHR capability element, or a DPS capability element.

According to various embodiments, a first STA may activate a DPS mode by transmitting a DPS activation notification frame to at least one second STA. The DPS activation notification frame may include at least one of information notifying the first STA that the DPS mode is activated or information regarding operating parameters for DPS.

According to various embodiments, the DPS activation notification frame may be a beacon frame, an action frame, or an operation mode notification frame.

According to various embodiments, at least one of information indicating that DPS is activated for the first STA or information on operating parameters for DPS may be included in at least one of a DPS capability element, an operating mode indication element, or an operating element notification element of a DPS activation notification frame.

According to various embodiments, information about operating parameters for a DPS may include at least one of: information about operating parameters for a listening state associated with a first capability; information about operating parameters for a frame exchange state associated with a second capability higher than the first capability; or information about operating parameters for one or more other states (e.g., parameterized states) associated with a third capability between the first capability and the second capability.

According to various embodiments, the operating parameters for the DPS may include at least one of an operating bandwidth, a modulation and coding scheme (MCS), a number of spatial streams (NSS), a DPS padding delay, a DPS transition delay, a DPS transition timeout, or information about a dynamic change of the operating parameters for the DPS.

According to various embodiments, a first STA may perform a listening operation based on operating parameters for the listening state in a listening state. The first STA may transition from the listening state to a frame exchange state or one or more other states. The first STA may include a step of performing a frame exchange with at least one second STA based on operating parameters for the frame exchange state or one or more other states in the frame exchange state or one or more other states.

According to various embodiments, the operating parameters for the listening state may be preset or included in information about the operating parameters for the DPS transmitted by the first STA, or included in information about the operating parameters for the DPS received from at least one second STA. The operating parameters for the frame exchange state or one or more other states may be included in information about the operating parameters for the DPS transmitted by the first STA, or included in information about the operating parameters for the DPS received from at least one second STA.

According to various embodiments, a first STA may transition from a listening state to a frame exchange state or one or more other states based on detection of data to be transmitted. The first STA may transmit data to at least one second STA based on operating parameters for the frame exchange state or one or more other states in the frame exchange state or one or more other states.

According to various embodiments, a first STA may transition from a listening state to a frame exchange state or one or more other states based on receiving an initial control frame (ICF) from at least one STA in the listening state. The first STA may receive data from at least one second STA in the frame exchange state or one or more other states based on operating parameters for the frame exchange state or one or more other states.

According to various embodiments, the ICF may include information about operating parameters for a frame exchange state or one or more other states.

FIG. 11 illustrates an example of a method performed by a second STA for DPS operation with a DPS-supporting STA according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The second STA may include at least one of an AP or a non-AP STA.

Referring to FIG. 11, in step S1101, the second STA may transmit a request frame including information notifying that DPS is supported to the first STA.

In step S1103, the second STA may establish a connection with the first STA based on receiving a response frame from the first STA.

In step S1105, the second STA may receive information from the first STA notifying that the DPS mode is activated for the first STA.

In step S1007, the second STA can perform frame exchange with the first STA in DPS mode.

Below, a detailed implementation of DPS operation with a DPS-supporting STA is described.

The present disclosure provides a method for performing DPS operation by an AP/STA that has established a combination and/or connection with UHR STAs that allow and/or support the STA to enter DPS mode and/or a device implementing the method.

I. Methods for broadcasting and/or transmitting information for DPS operations (e.g., DPS capability negotiation procedures);

A method (e.g., capability negotiation procedure) for an AP/STA to broadcast/transmit its own DPS capability information for DPS operation and/or a device implementing the method are described. In IEEE 802.11bn (or UHR), a UHR capabilities element may be newly defined, and an AP/STA that wishes to enter DPS mode and/or perform DPS operation may indicate DPS capability information (e.g., DPS support and/or DPS mode) by defining a field for DPS capability in the UHR capabilities element. Additionally or alternatively, an AP/STA that wishes to enter DPS mode and/or perform DPS operation may indicate DPS capability information (e.g., DPS support and/or DPS mode) by defining a field for DPS capability in the UHR MAC capability information field of the UHR capabilities element.

Additionally or alternatively, a separate DPS ability element may be defined, which may indicate DPS ability information (e.g., DPS support and/or DPS mode).

As described above, fields/elements related to DPS capability information (e.g., a field for DPS capability defined in a UHR capability element, a field for DPS capability defined in a UHR MAC capability information field of a UHR capability element, a separately defined DPS capability element) may include/indicate DPS capability information including at least one of a DPS operation status (e.g., whether DPS is enabled or disabled), whether the STA supports DPS, a type/status of a DPS mode supported by the STA (e.g., a listening state, a frame exchange state, and/or other state(s) determined based on operation parameters (or, DPS operation parameters)), or a type/status of a DPS mode that the STA intends to enter. In addition, the DPS capability information may further include information on maximum/recommended/preferred operation parameters required when performing frame exchange with an STA during DPS operation (i.e., when operating in a frame exchange state) and/or information on limited/recommended/preferred operation parameters when operating in a listening state. For example, the DPS capability information/operation parameter information may include at least one of bandwidth, number of spatial streams (NSS), padding delay (padding delay), switching delay (switching delay), and timer value (for listening state, frame exchange state, and/or other state(s) determined based on the operation parameters).

Fields/elements (or DPS capability information) related to the DPS capability information as described above may be transmitted from an AP/STA by being included in a beacon frame, an action frame (e.g., an operating mode notification frame), a probe request/response frame, and/or a (re)connection request/response frame. For example, a first STA (e.g., an AP, a non-AP STA) may transmit a frame including fields/elements (or DPS capability information) related to the DPS capability information of the first STA to a second STA (e.g., an AP, a non-AP STA), and may receive a frame including fields/elements (or DPS capability information) related to the DPS capability information of the second STA from the second STA. Accordingly, a first STA that wants to perform a DPS operation can determine whether the second STAs support DPS based on fields/elements (or DPS capability information) related to DPS capability information included in probe request/response frames and/or (re)connection request/response frames transmitted from the second STAs, and the first STA can transmit response frames only to STAs (i.e., DPS supporting STAs) among the second STAs that support DPS and establish a connection only with the DPS supporting STAs. On the other hand, the first STA may not transmit response frames to STAs (i.e., DPS non-supporting STAs) among the second STAs that do not support DPS and may not establish a connection with the DPS non-supporting STAs.

II. Method for activating DPS mode/action (e.g. DPS mode activation procedure)

An AP/STA that broadcasts DPS capability information and/or DPS operation parameters to an STA through a beacon frame, an action frame (e.g., an operation mode notification frame), or a separate frame may initiate a procedure for activating the DPS mode/operation (e.g., a DPS mode activation procedure). In IEEE 802.11bn (or UHR), a separate DPS capability element/field may be defined, and an AP/STA that wishes to enter the DPS mode and/or perform a DPS operation may indicate whether to activate DPS and/or the DPS mode through a field for DPS activation/DPS mode defined in the DPS capability element/field. In this case, the DPS capability element/field may include information on maximum/recommended/preferred operation parameters required when performing frame exchange with an STA during the DPS operation (i.e., when operating in a frame exchange state) and/or information on limited/recommended/preferred operation parameters when operating in a listening state. For example, the operating parameter information may include at least one of bandwidth, number of spatial streams (NSS), padding delay (padding delay), switching delay (switching delay), and timer value (for listening state, frame exchange state, and/or other state(s) determined based on the operating parameters).

Additionally or alternatively, the operation mode indication/notification element may indicate whether DPS is enabled and/or the DPS mode.

For example, whether DPS is enabled can be indicated by the DPS enabled field. The DPS enabled field can include a DPS enabled bit (bit 1). If the DPS enabled bit is set to 1, it can indicate that DPS is enabled. If the DPS enabled bit is set to 0, it can indicate that DPS is disabled.

For example, whether DPS is enabled may be indicated by the DPS mode field. The DPS mode field may indicate the type/state of the DPS mode (e.g., listening state, frame exchange state, and/or other state(s) determined based on operating parameters), or may indicate whether the STA has entered the DPS mode (or DPS is enabled). The DPS mode field may include a DPS mode bit (1 bit) to indicate whether the STA has entered the DPS mode. When the DPS mode bit is set to 1, it may indicate that the STA has entered the DPS mode (or DPS is enabled). When the DPS mode bit is set to 0, it may indicate that the STA has not entered the DPS mode (or DPS is disabled).

Accordingly, an STA that sets the DPS activation field to “enabled” (e.g., DPS activation bit = 1) and/or sets the DPS mode field to a mode value corresponding to the STA’s DPS operation (e.g., DPS mode bit = 1) may operate as a DPS-enabled STA after broadcasting a beacon frame including the DPS activation field and/or the DPS mode field, or transmitting/responding to a DPS-supporting STA an action frame (e.g., an operation mode notification frame) including the DPS activation field and/or the DPS mode field as described above. In the present disclosure, a beacon frame/action frame (e.g., an operation mode notification frame) that notifies DPS activation, including the DPS activation field and/or the DPS mode field as described above, may be referred to as a “DPS enabled notification frame.”

A DPS-enabled STA that identifies information on whether DPS is enabled and/or operation parameter information related to DPS operation contained in a DPS activation notification frame transmitted from a DPS-enabled STA may initiate frame exchange by transmitting an ICF having appropriate operation parameters (e.g., operation parameters for a high capability state/mode) to the DPS-enabled STA based on the information.

III. Operation parameters for DPS mode/operation

The operation parameters for the DPS operation of the STA may include at least one of the following information elements/fields, and may be included in the elements/fields for the DPS operation (e.g., fields/elements related to DPS capability information, DPS capability elements/fields for DPS activation notification):

A. Operating Bandwidth: Preferred/recommended bandwidth or maximum bandwidth information for frame exchange status.

In some implementations, the operating bandwidth field may also include information about the bandwidth that is limited for the listening state and/or the maximum bandwidth in the listening state.

For example, the operating bandwidth field may include information about the maximum PPDU bandwidth (e.g., 40, 80, 160, 320 MHz) of the ICF to initiate frame exchange in the frame exchange state.

For example, the operating bandwidth field may include information about the maximum PPDU bandwidth (e.g., 20, 40 MHz) at which the STA performs listening operations in the listening state.

For example, the operating bandwidth field may include maximum bandwidth information for frame exchange in a frame exchange state. Specifically, a field that functions like the channel width field in the control field of the EHT operating information field may be defined to indicate the channel width, which is BSS BW information of a DPS-enabled STA. If the value of the field is set to 0, a 20 MHz bandwidth may be indicated. If the value of the field is set to 1, a 40 MHz bandwidth may be indicated. If the value of the field is set to 2, an 80 MHz bandwidth may be indicated. If the value of the field is set to 3, a 160/80+80 MHz bandwidth may be indicated. If the value of the field is set to 4, a 320/160+160 MHz bandwidth may be indicated. The remaining values 5 to 7 may be reserved.

For example, the operating bandwidth field may include information on the maximum bandwidth (e.g., 20, 40 MHz) at which the STA performs listening operations in the listening state. Specifically, a field that functions like the channel width field in the control field of the EHT operation information field may be defined to indicate the listening channel width, which is limited BSS BW information in the listening state. For example, 1 bit may be used for the field, and when the value of the field is set to 0, it may indicate a 20 MHz bandwidth, and when the value of the field is set to 1, it may indicate a 40 MHz bandwidth.

For example, the operating bandwidth field may include information on the maximum bandwidth (e.g., 20, 40, 80 MHz) for frame exchange in a parameterized state. Specifically, a field that functions like the channel width field in the control field of the EHT operating information field may be defined to indicate a listening channel width, which is parameterized BSS BW information in a parameterized state. For example, when the value of the field is set to 0, a 20 MHz bandwidth may be indicated. When the value of the field is set to 1, a 40 MHz bandwidth may be indicated. When the value of the field is set to 2, an 80 MHz bandwidth may be indicated.

For example, the operating bandwidth field may include BW field information within the SIG-A field.

B. MCS (additionally or alternatively, DPS-MCS): Preferred/recommended MCS or maximum MCS field for frame exchange status.

In some implementations, the MCS field may also include a limiting MCS for the listening state or a maximum MCS field in the listening state.

For example, the MCS field may contain the minimum required or maximum available MCS value for frame exchange in a frame exchange state.

For example, the MCS field may contain the minimum required or maximum available MCS value for frame exchange in a parameterized state.

For example, the MCS field may contain information within the supported HE-MCS and NSS set fields within the HE capability element.

C. NSS: Preferred/recommended NSS or maximum NSS field for frame exchange status.

In some implementations, the NSS field may indicate the Tx/Rx NSS value and/or the number of Tx/Rx antennas in the frame exchange state and/or listening state of the transmitting STA.

In some implementations, the NSS field may also include a limiting NSS for the listening state or a maximum NSS field in the listening state.

For example, the NSS field may indicate the minimum required or maximum available number of spatial streams for frame exchange in a frame exchange state.

For example, the NSS field may indicate the minimum required or maximum available number of spatial streams for frame exchange in a parameterized state.

For example, the Rx HE-MCS Map within the supported HE-MCS and NSS set fields within the HE capability element. It may contain information about the Max HE-MCS For NSS field within the 80 MHz field.

For example, Tx HE-MCS Map within the Supported HE-MCS and NSS Set field within the HE Capability element. It may contain information about the Max HE-MCS For NSS field within the 80 MHz field.

D. DPS Padding Delay: Indicates the minimum MAC padding duration value requested by the STA for ICF.

For example, the DPS padding delay field may mean the minimum MAC padding period for the ICF that an STA performing a DPS operation requests from a peer STA to transition from a listening state to a frame exchange state or a parameterized state.

For example, a field that serves a similar function as the EMLSR/EMLMR padding delay within the EML Capability field can be defined for the DPS padding delay field. Specifically, the encoding of the DPS padding delay field can be as follows:

- DPS padding delay field value 0: DPS padding delay = 0 ;

- DPS padding delay field value 1: DPS padding delay = 32 ;

- DPS padding delay field value 2: DPS padding delay = 64 ;

- DPS padding delay field value 3: DPS padding delay = 128 ;

- DPS padding delay field value 4: DPS padding delay = 256 ;

- The remaining values 5 through 7 can be reserved.

E. DPS Transition Delay: Indicates the transition delay time required for an STA to transition from a frame exchange state or parameterized state (or, high capability state/mode) to a listening state (or, low capability state/mode).

For example, the DPS transition delay field may indicate the delay time/duration required for an STA performing a DPS operation to transition from a listening state to a frame exchange state or a parameterized state.

For example, an STA performing a DPS operation may indicate a delay time/duration required to transition from a frame exchange state or parameterized state to a listening state.

For example, a field may be defined that serves a similar function as the EMLSR/EMLMR transition delay within the EML Capability field. Specifically, the encoding of the DPS transition delay field may be as follows:

- DPS transition delay field value 0: DPS transition delay = 0 ;

- DPS transition delay field value 1: DPS transition delay = 16 ;

- DPS Transition Delay field value 2: DPS Transition Delay = 32 ;

- DPS transition delay field value 3: DPS transition delay = 64 ;

- DPS transition delay field value 4: DPS transition delay = 128 ;

- DPS transition delay field value 5: DPS transition delay = 256 ;

- The remaining values 6 to 7 can be reserved.

F. Transition Timeout (or DPS Transition Timeout): Indicates the timeout value for transitioning to the listening state (or low capability state/mode) when an STA that has transitioned to the frame exchange state (or high capability state/mode) or parameterized state does not receive additional PPDUs/frames from the other STA.

For example, when an STA operating in a frame exchange state or a parameterized state does not receive additional PPDUs/frames from the other STA during the timeout period, it may transition to a listening state.

For example, an STA that has received an ICF and transitioned from a listening state to a frame exchange state or a parameterized state may enter a listening state if it does not receive additional PPDUs/frames during the timeout period.

Specifically, the encoding of the transition timeout field may be as follows:

- Transition timeout field value 0: Transition timeout = 0 ;

- Transition Timeout Field Value 1: Transition Timeout = 128 ;

- Transition Timeout Field Value 2: Transition Timeout = 256 ;

- Transition Timeout Field Value 3: Transition Timeout = 512 ;

- Transition Timeout field value 4: Transition Timeout = 1 ;

- Transition Timeout field value 5: Transition Timeout = 2 ;

- Transition Timeout field value 6: Transition Timeout = 4 ;

- Transition timeout field value 7: Transition timeout = 8 ;

- Transition timeout field value 8: Transition timeout = 16 ;

- Transition Timeout field value 9: Transition Timeout = 32 ;

- Transition timeout field value 10: Transition timeout = 64 .

G. DPS Type (or DPS Dynamics): Indicates whether the operating parameters for the listening state and/or frame exchange state or parameterized state can be changed based on the ICF/ICR, or indicates how such DPS operates. That is, the DPS Type field may indicate/contain information about dynamic changes in the operating parameters for the DPS.

For example, the DPS Type field may indicate whether the operating parameters for the listening state can be changed based on the ICF/ICR. If the value of the DPS Type field is set to 0, it may indicate that the operating parameters in the listening state are based on the values determined in the initial DPS activation procedure. If the value of the DPS Type field is set to 1, it may indicate that the operating parameters in the listening state can be changed using the ICF or ICR.

For example, the DPS Type field may indicate whether the operating parameters for the frame exchange state or the parameterized state can be changed based on the ICF/ICR. If the value of the DPS Type field is set to 0, it may indicate that the operating parameters in the frame exchange state or the parameterized state are based on the values determined in the initial DPS activation procedure or the maximum values. If the value of the DPS Type field is set to 1, it may indicate that the operating parameters in the frame exchange state or the parameterized state can be changed using the ICF or ICR.

For example, the DPS Type field may indicate whether the operating parameters in the listening or frame exchange state or parameterized state can be changed based on the ICF/ICR. In this case, the size of the DPS Type field may be 4 bits (or more). If the value of the DPS Type field is set to 0, it may indicate that the operating parameters in the listening state and the frame exchange state or parameterized state are based on the values (or maximum values) determined in the initial DPS activation procedure. If the value of the DPS Type field is set to 1, it may indicate that the operating parameters in the listening state can be changed using the ICF or ICR (in this case, the operating parameters in the frame exchange state or parameterized state can be based on the values or maximum values determined in the initial DPS activation procedure). When the value of the DPS Type field is set to 2, it can be indicated that the operating parameters in the frame exchange state or the parameterized state can be changed using ICF or ICR (in this case, the operating parameters in the listening state can be based on the values determined in the initial DPS activation procedure). When the value of the DPS Type field is set to 3, it can be indicated that the operating parameters in the listening state and the frame exchange state or the parameterized state can be changed using ICF or ICR.

A DPS-enabled STA can remain in a listening state (or low-capability state/mode) by default. At this time, DPS operation parameters for the listening state can be defined or configured as follows:

Option 1) A DPS-active STA may remain in a listening state based on minimum or specific operating parameters defined (or predetermined/pre-set) by a rule.

For example, in a DPS operation, if the operating parameters of the listening state are defined as operating bandwidth = 20 MHz, MCS = 0, NSS = 0, and non-HT PPDU type, a DPS-enabled STA can perform the listening operation only based on the corresponding operating parameters.

Option 2) A DPS-enabled STA can request/transmit operating parameters for a desired listening state to a DPS-enabled STA before operating in DPS mode or entering DPS mode.

For example, in a DPS mode activation procedure, a DPS-enabled STA may transmit/inform information about the operation parameters of the listening state it requests to a DPS-enabled STA, and the DPS-enabled STA may respond thereto. In this case, the DPS-enabled STA may perform listening operations based on the requested capabilities/operation parameters.

Option 3) A DPS-enabled STA can broadcast the operating parameters it can support for the listening state (or low capability state/mode).

For example, a DPS-supporting STA can transmit/broadcast a beacon, a management frame (e.g., an action frame, a probe request/response frame, a connection request/response frame), and a control frame, which contain information/operational parameters about a listening state (or, a low capability state/mode) that it can support for a DPS operation of a counterpart STA. The counterpart STA, a DPS-active STA, can respond to this with the DPS-supporting STA and perform a listening operation based on the operation parameters included in the received frame. Alternatively, the counterpart STA, a DPS-active STA, can transmit/inform the DPS-supporting STA of information about the operation parameters of the listening state requested by the DPS-active STA when responding to the DPS-supporting STA, and can perform a listening operation based on the requested capability/operational parameters upon receiving a response from the DPS-supporting STA.

Additionally or alternatively, DPS operational parameters for the listening state may be changed via an ICF from a DPS-enabled STA or an ICR from a DPS-enabled STA.

A DPS-enabled STA can receive an ICF from a DPS-enabled STA and transition from the listening state to the frame exchange state (or high-capability state/mode) or a parameterized state. At this time, the DPS operation parameters for the frame exchange state or parameterized state can be defined or set as follows:

Option 1) A DPS-enabled STA can request/transmit operating parameters for a desired frame exchange state to a DPS-supporting STA before operating in DPS mode or entering DPS mode.

For example, in the DPS mode activation procedure, a DPS-enabled STA may transmit/inform information about the operation parameters of the frame exchange state or parameterized state it requests to a DPS-supporting STA, and the DPS-supporting STA may respond thereto. In this case, based on the capabilities/operation parameters requested by the DPS-enabled STA, the DPS-supporting STA may transmit an ICF for frame exchange in the frame exchange state or parameterized state.

Option 2) A DPS-capable STA can broadcast the operating parameters it can support for the frame exchange state (or high capability state/mode) or parameterized state.

For example, a DPS-supporting STA can transmit/broadcast a beacon, a management frame (e.g., an action frame, a probe request/response frame, a connection request/response frame), and a control frame that contain information about a frame exchange state (or a high capability state/mode) or a parameterized state that it can support for a DPS operation of a counterpart STA. The counterpart STA, a DPS-active STA, can respond to the DPS-supporting STA and perform frame exchange in the frame exchange state or the parameterized state based on the operation parameters included in the received frame. Alternatively, the counterpart STA, a DPS-active STA, can transmit/inform the DPS-supporting STA of information about the operation parameters of the frame exchange state or the parameterized state requested by the DPS-active STA when responding to the DPS-supporting STA, and, upon receiving a response from the DPS-supporting STA, perform frame exchange in the frame exchange state or the parameterized state based on the requested capability/operation parameters.

Option 3) A DPS-enabled STA operates based on the operating parameters indicated in the PPDU containing the ICF transmitted by the DPS-enabled STA.

For example, a DPS-enabled STA can transition to a frame exchange state or a parameterized state based on the operating parameter values included in the PHY header of a PPDU containing an ICF frame.

For example, a DPS-enabled STA can transition to a frame exchange state or a parameterized state based on a DPS operation parameter value included separately in the MAC header of a PPDU containing an ICF frame.

For example, the operating parameter value may be based on the maximum operating parameter value exchanged during the initial connection procedure between the two STAs. The maximum operating parameter value may include at least one of the maximum operating parameter value for the DPS-active STA or the maximum operating parameter value for the DPS-supporting STA. Alternatively, the operating parameter may be a common maximum operating parameter for both the DPS-active STA and the DPS-supporting STA.

For example, the operating parameter values may be based on DPS operating parameter values exchanged between two STAs in a DPS activation procedure and/or a capability negotiation procedure.

Additionally or alternatively, DPS operating parameters for pre-established/determined frame exchange states may be changed via ICF from a DPS-capable STA or ICR from a DPS-enabled STA.

IV. Frame exchange method between DPS-enabled STA and DPS-supported STA

A DPS-enabled STA can exchange frames with a DPS-enabled STA based on DPS capability information broadcast from the DPS-enabled STA.

FIG. 12 illustrates a first example of a frame sequence between a DPS-enabled STA and a DPS-supporting STA according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 12 relates to a case where a DPS-enabled STA transmits a data frame to a DPS-enabled STA.

Referring to FIG. 12, in order to transmit a PPDU, a DPS-enabled STA may generate an ICF based on DPS capability information acquired from a DPS-enabled STA and transmit the ICF to the DPS-enabled STA. When the DPS-enabled STA remaining in the listening state receives the ICF transmitted based on the DPS capability information or the maximum operating capability of the DPS-enabled STA and/or the DPS-enabled STA, the DPS-enabled STA may transition to a frame exchange state or a parameterized state in order to receive a PPDU from the DPS-enabled STA. At this time, the operation that the DPS-enabled STA may perform during the listening state (i.e., the listening operation) may include at least one of a CCA (for a limited bandwidth) or reception of an ICF (for initiating frame exchange) transmitted from the DPS-enabled STA.

A DPS-enabled STA that has transitioned to a frame exchange state or a parameterized state can transmit an initial control response (ICR) for the ICF. A DPS-enabled STA that receives the ICR transmitted from a DPS-enabled STA can initiate frame exchange by transmitting PPDU(s) containing data frames after an SIFS. A DPS-enabled STA that has transmitted a BA frame for the last PPDU can transition back to the listening state. At this time, the BA frame can be transmitted with a changed value of the PM bit to indicate a change in the power management (PM) mode.

FIG. 13 illustrates an example of a method performed by a DPS-enabled STA for receiving a data frame from a DPS-enabled STA according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 13, in step S1301, a DPS-enabled STA may perform listening operations (e.g., CCA and/or ICF reception) while remaining in a listening state with limited configuration/operation parameters (e.g., 20 MHz, 1 SS, non-HT (duplicated) PPDU).

In step S1303, a DPS-enabled STA may receive all or part of a PPDU from a connected STA (e.g., a DPS-enabled STA). The received PPDU may have a format as illustrated in FIG. 6.

The ICF (e.g., the first frame) included in the received PPDU may include capability information of the DPS-enabled STA (e.g., DPS capability information). Alternatively, it may include DPS-related capability information previously broadcast by the DPS-enabled STA. Alternatively, it may include parameter information for the relevant BSS. Alternatively, it may include information included in the operation elements of the DPS-enabled STA.

A DPS-enabled STA can perform operations to restore the results of CSD, spatial mapping, IDFT/IFFT operations, and GI insertion operations for the received signal.

A DPS-enabled STA can decode all or part of a PPDU. Furthermore, the DPS-enabled STA can obtain control information related to the Tone Plan (i.e., RU) from the decoded PPDU.

More specifically, a DPS-enabled STA can decode the L-SIG and EHT-SIG of a PPDU based on the legacy STF/LTF and obtain information included in the L-SIG and EHT SIG fields.

Additionally, a DPS-enabled STA can decode the remainder of the PPDU based on information about the Tone Plan (i.e., RU). For example, a DPS-enabled STA can decode the STF/LTF field of the PPDU based on information about the Tone Plan. Additionally, a DPS-enabled STA can decode the data field of the PPDU based on information about the Tone Plan and obtain the MPDU included in the data field.

Additionally, a DPS-enabled STA may perform processing operations to forward decoded data to a higher layer (e.g., the MAC layer). Furthermore, if the higher layer instructs the PHY layer to generate a signal in response to data forwarded to the higher layer, subsequent operations may be performed.

Afterwards, the DPS-enabled STA can perform a processing operation to transmit the decoded data from the data field to a higher layer (e.g., the MAC layer). In addition, if the upper layer instructs the PHY layer to generate a signal in response to the data transmitted to the upper layer, a subsequent operation can be performed.

In step S1305, the DPS-enabled STA may transition to a frame exchange state or a parameterized state based on high capability/configuration/operational parameters (e.g., 160 MHz, 4 SS) to transmit a response frame to the received first frame. The capability/configuration/operational parameters at this time may be broadcast in advance or included in the ICF.

In step S1307, the DPS active STA that has transitioned to the frame exchange state or parameterized state can respond to the first frame by transmitting an ICR (e.g., the second frame).

That is, a DPS-enabled STA can construct an MPDU including an ICR. In addition, the DPS-enabled STA can construct/generate a PPDU including the corresponding MPDU in a data field. The step of constructing/generating the PPDU may include the step of constructing/generating each field of the PPDU. For example, the step of constructing/generating each field of the PPDU may include the step of constructing an EHT-SIG-A/B/C field and a data field. The step of constructing the EHT-SIG-A/B/C field and the data field may include the step of constructing a field including control information indicating the size/position of an RU (e.g., an N bitmap) and/or the step of constructing a field including an identifier of an STA receiving the RU (e.g., an AID).

A DPS-enabled STA can generate an STF/LTF sequence to be transmitted through a specific RU. The STF/LTF sequence can be generated based on a preset STF generation sequence/LTF generation sequence.

A DPS-enabled STA can generate MPDUs to be transmitted over a specific RU.

A DPS-enabled STA can transmit a PPDU configured as above to a DPS-supporting STA.

During PPDU transmission, a DPS-enabled STA may perform at least one of CSD, spatial mapping, IDFT/IFFT operation, and GI insertion operation.

The signal/field/sequence configured/generated by the DPS active STA may have a form as shown in Fig. 6.

In step S1309, the DPS-enabled STA that transmitted the second frame (ICR) may continue to exchange frames with the DPS-supporting STA. For example, the DPS-enabled STA may receive a data frame from the DPS-supporting STA.

In step S1311, a DPS-active STA that has completed frame exchange with an STA may re-enter a listening state associated with limited configuration/operational parameters (e.g., 20 MHz, 1 SS, non-HT (duplicated) PPDU) after transmitting the last BA frame for the frame exchange, thereby performing ICF reception and/or CCA, thereby reducing power consumption.

FIG. 14 illustrates an example of a method performed by a DPS-enabled STA to transmit a data frame to a DPS-enabled STA according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 14, in step S1401, a DPS-supporting STA can obtain information (e.g., DPS capability information) related to a DPS operation of a counterpart STA from a frame (e.g., probe response, connection response, beacon, action frame) transmitted from the counterpart STA.

In step S1403, the DPS-enabled STA can secure the medium/TXOP through a random backoff procedure.

In step S1405, a DPS-enabled STA that has acquired a TXOP can transmit an ICF (e.g., a first frame) to initiate frame exchange with a DPS-enabled STA (e.g., an AP).

A DPS-supporting STA can construct an MPDU including an ICF. In addition, the DPS-supporting STA can construct/generate a PPDU including the corresponding MPDU in a data field. The step of constructing/generating the PPDU may include the step of constructing/generating each field of the PPDU. For example, the step of constructing/generating each field of the PPDU may include the step of constructing an EHT-SIG-A/B/C field and a data field. The step of constructing the EHT-SIG-A/B/C field and the data field may include the step of constructing a field including control information indicating the size/position of an RU (e.g., an N bitmap) and/or the step of constructing a field including an identifier of an STA receiving the RU (e.g., an AID).

A DPS-enabled STA can generate an STF/LTF sequence to be transmitted through a specific RU. The STF/LTF sequence can be generated based on a preset STF generation sequence/LTF generation sequence.

A DPS-enabled STA can generate MPDUs to be transmitted over a specific RU.

A DPS-enabled STA can transmit a PPDU configured as above to a DPS-enabled STA.

During PPDU transmission, a DPS-enabled STA may perform at least one of CSD, spatial mapping, IDFT/IFFT operation, and GI insertion operation.

The signal/field/sequence configured/generated by the DPS supporting STA may have a form as shown in Fig. 6.

In step S1407, the DPS-supporting STA may receive an ICR (e.g., a second frame) which is a response frame to the first frame (ICF).

In step S1409, the DPS-enabled STA may continue to exchange frames with the corresponding DPS-enabled STA.

FIG. 15 illustrates a second example of a frame sequence between a DPS-enabled STA and a DPS-supporting STA according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 15 relates to a case where a DPS-enabled STA transmits a data frame to a DPS-supporting STA.

Referring to FIG. 15, a DPS-enabled STA may transition from a listening state to a frame exchange state or a parameterized state to transmit a PPDU/frame. Subsequently, an initiating frame may be generated and transmitted based on parameters within the BSS (e.g., UHR operation elements) and/or pre-broadcasted DPS capability information. The initiating frame at this time may vary depending on the power management method of the receiving STA that receives the frame to be transmitted. For example, if the target receiving STA performs a DPS operation like a DPS-enabled STA, the initiating frame may be an ICF. Additionally, if the target receiving STA does not perform the DPS operation, the initiating frame may be an (MU-)RTS frame for general SU/MU transmission. The DPS-enabled STA may transmit a response frame to the initiating frame to the DPS-enabled STA based on the DPS capability information that may be included in the received initiating frame and/or the pre-broadcasted DPS capability information. A DPS-enabled STA that receives a response frame from a DPS-enabled STA can initiate frame exchange by transmitting PPDU(s) containing data frames after SIFS. A DPS-enabled STA that receives a BA frame for the last PPDU can transition back to the listening state. At this time, the BA frame can include a PM bit that notifies a change in the power management mode of the DPS-enabled STA, and the DPS-enabled STA can also (re)transition to the listening state based on the PM bit that notifies a change in the power management mode of the DPS-enabled STA.

FIG. 16 illustrates an example of a method performed by a DPS-enabled STA to transmit a data frame to a DPS-enabled STA according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 16, in step S1601, a DPS-enabled STA may perform listening operations (e.g., CCA and/or ICF reception) in a listening state based on limited configuration/operation parameters (e.g., 20 MHz, 1 SS, non-HT (duplicate) PPDU).

In step S1603, a data frame requiring transmission to a DPS-enabled STA may be transmitted from an upper layer to the MAC layer. The DPS-enabled STA may prepare to transmit the data frame.

In step S1605, to transmit a data frame delivered from an upper layer, the DPS-enabled STA may initiate contention-based channel access (e.g., random backoff procedure) in a frame exchange state or a parameterized state based on high configuration/operating parameters (e.g., 160 MHz, 4 SS).

In step S1607, a DPS-enabled STA that has secured the medium through a random backoff procedure can transmit an initiation frame (e.g., a first frame) to a receiving STA of the data frame (e.g., a DPS-supporting STA).

That is, a DPS-enabled STA can construct an MPDU including an initiation frame. In addition, the DPS-enabled STA can construct/generate a PPDU including the corresponding MPDU in a data field. The step of constructing/generating the PPDU may include the step of constructing/generating each field of the PPDU. For example, the step of constructing/generating each field of the PPDU may include the step of constructing an EHT-SIG-A/B/C field and a data field. The step of constructing the EHT-SIG-A/B/C field and the data field may include the step of constructing a field including control information indicating the size/position of an RU (e.g., an N bitmap) and/or the step of constructing a field including an identifier of an STA receiving the RU (e.g., an AID).

A DPS-enabled STA can generate an STF/LTF sequence to be transmitted through a specific RU. The STF/LTF sequence can be generated based on a preset STF generation sequence/LTF generation sequence.

A DPS-enabled STA can generate MPDUs to be transmitted over a specific RU.

A DPS-enabled STA can transmit a PPDU configured as above to a receiving STA (e.g., a DPS-supporting STA).

During PPDU transmission, a DPS-enabled STA may perform at least one of CSD, spatial mapping, IDFT/IFFT operation, and GI insertion operation.

The generated signal/field/sequence may follow the format of Fig. 6.

In step S1609, the DPS-enabled STA may receive a response frame (e.g., a second frame) to the first frame (initiation frame) and perform frame exchange with the DPS-enabled STA.

In step S1611, a DPS-enabled STA that has completed frame exchange with a DPS-supporting STA may, after receiving the last BA frame for the corresponding frame exchange, re-enter a listening state associated with limited configuration/operation parameters (e.g., 20 MHz, 1 SS, non-HT (duplicate) PPDU) to perform ICF reception and/or CCA, thereby reducing power consumption.

FIG. 17 illustrates an example of a method performed by a DPS-enabled STA for receiving a data frame from a DPS-enabled STA according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 17, in step S1701, a DPS-supporting STA can obtain information (e.g., DPS capability information) related to a DPS operation of a counterpart STA from a frame (e.g., probe response, connection response, beacon, action frame) transmitted from the counterpart STA (e.g., DPS-enabled STA).

In step S1703, the DPS-enabled STA may receive an initiation frame (e.g., the first frame) for starting frame exchange transmitted from a DPS-enabled STA.

In step S1705, the DPS-supporting STA that has received the first frame (initiation frame) can transmit a response frame (e.g., the second frame).

A DPS-supporting STA may construct an MPDU including a response frame. In addition, the DPS-supporting STA may construct/generate a PPDU including the corresponding MPDU in a data field. The step of constructing/generating the PPDU may include the step of constructing/generating each field of the PPDU. For example, the step of constructing/generating each field of the PPDU may include the step of constructing an EHT-SIG-A/B/C field and a data field. The step of constructing the EHT-SIG-A/B/C field and the data field may include the step of constructing a field including control information indicating the size/position of an RU (e.g., an N bitmap) and/or the step of constructing a field including an identifier of an STA receiving the RU (e.g., an AID).

A DPS-enabled STA can generate an STF/LTF sequence to be transmitted through a specific RU. The STF/LTF sequence can be generated based on a preset STF generation sequence/LTF generation sequence.

A DPS-enabled STA can generate MPDUs to be transmitted over a specific RU.

A DPS-supporting STA can transmit a PPDU configured as above to another DPS-supporting STA.

During PPDU transmission, a DPS-enabled STA may perform at least one of CSD, spatial mapping, IDFT/IFFT operation, and GI insertion operation.

The generated signal/field/sequence may follow the format of Fig. 6.

In step S1707, the DPS-supporting STA that transmitted the second frame (response frame) may perform frame exchange with the corresponding DPS-active STA. For example, the DPS-supporting STA may receive a data frame from the DPS-active STA.

The present disclosure proposes a DPS scheme that considers only interactions (e.g., association, authentication, and/or frame exchange) with UHR STAs to improve the power saving efficiency of an STA. Specifically, an STA that wishes to perform a DPS operation can perform an association procedure only for (UHR) STAs that support the DPS operation and activate the DPS mode/operation. When performing frame exchanges with a DPS-enabled STA, the DPS-enabled STAs can transmit ICF/ICR based on broadcasted DPS capability information and/or maximum operation parameters, thereby enabling the DPS-enabled STAs to switch between a listening state and a frame exchange state and exchange frames with the DPS-enabled STAs. Accordingly, the DPS-enabled STAs can monitor/wait for reception of ICFs in the listening state and reduce unnecessary power consumption while remaining in the listening state.

The technical features of the present disclosure described above can be applied to various devices and methods. For example, the technical features of the present disclosure described above can be performed/supported by the devices of FIG. 1 and/or FIG. 5. For example, the technical features of the present disclosure described above can be applied only to a portion of FIG. 1 and/or FIG. 5. For example, the technical features of the present disclosure described above can be implemented based on the processing chip (114, 124) of FIG. 1, or based on the processor (111, 121) and memory (112, 122) of FIG. 1, or based on the processor (510) and memory (520) of FIG. 5.

For example, the processor (121) and/or the processing chip (124) of FIG. 1 may be configured to execute instructions stored in the memory (122) to perform operations performed by the first STA in the present disclosure. The operations include: receiving request frames from one or more STAs; identifying, among the one or more STAs, at least one second STA that has transmitted a request frame including information indicating that dynamic power saving (DPS) is supported; establishing an association with the at least one second STA based on transmitting a response frame to the at least one second STA; activating a DPS mode; and performing frame exchange with the at least one second STA in the DPS mode.

For example, the processor (111), the processing chip (114) of FIG. 1, and/or the processor (510) of FIG. 5 may be configured to execute instructions stored in the memory (112, 520) to perform operations performed by the second STA in the present disclosure. The operations include: transmitting a request frame including information indicating that dynamic power saving (DPS) is supported to the first STA; establishing an association with the first STA based on receiving a response frame from the first STA; receiving information from the first STA indicating that a DPS mode is activated for the first STA; and performing frame exchange with the first STA in the DPS mode.

The technical features of the present disclosure can be implemented based on a computer-readable medium (CRM). For example, the CRM proposed by the present disclosure is at least one computer-readable recording medium containing instructions that are executed by at least one processor.

For example, the CRM may be the memory (122) of FIG. 1 and/or a separate external memory/storage medium/disk. The CRM may store commands that perform operations performed by the first STA in the present disclosure based on being executed by a processor (e.g., the processor (121) and/or the processing chip (124) of FIG. 1). The operations include: receiving request frames from one or more STAs; identifying, among the one or more STAs, at least one second STA that has transmitted a request frame including information indicating that dynamic power saving (DPS) is supported; establishing an association with the at least one second STA based on transmitting a response frame to the at least one second STA; activating a DPS mode; and performing frame exchange with the at least one second STA in the DPS mode.

For example, the CRM may be the memory (112) of FIG. 1, the memory (520) of FIG. 5, and/or a separate external memory/storage medium/disk. The CRM may store commands that perform operations performed by the second STA in the present disclosure based on being executed by a processor (e.g., the processor (111), the processing chip (114) of FIG. 1, and/or the processor (510) of FIG. 5). The operations include: transmitting a request frame including information notifying that dynamic power saving (DPS) is supported to the first STA; establishing an association with the first STA based on receiving a response frame from the first STA; receiving information notifying that a DPS mode is activated for the first STA from the first STA; and performing a frame exchange with the first STA in the DPS mode.

The technical features of the present disclosure described above are applicable to various applications and business models. For example, the technical features described above can be applied to wireless communication in devices that support artificial intelligence (AI).

Artificial intelligence (AI) is the study of artificial intelligence or the methodologies for creating it, while machine learning (ML) defines various problems in the field of AI and studies the methodologies for solving them. Machine learning is also defined as an algorithm that improves performance on a task through consistent experience.

An artificial neural network (ANN) is a model used in machine learning. It can refer to a model with problem-solving capabilities, consisting of artificial neurons (nodes) formed by the connection of synapses to form a network. An ANN can be defined by the connection patterns between neurons in different layers, the learning process that updates model parameters, and the activation function that generates output values.

An artificial neural network may include an input layer, an output layer, and optionally one or more hidden layers. Each layer contains one or more neurons, and the artificial neural network may include synapses connecting neurons. In an artificial neural network, each neuron can output a function value of an activation function based on input signals, weights, and biases received through the synapses.

Model parameters are parameters determined through learning, including synaptic connection weights and neuron biases. Hyperparameters are parameters that must be set before learning in machine learning algorithms, including the learning rate, number of iterations, mini-batch size, and initialization function.

The goal of artificial neural network training can be seen as determining model parameters that minimize a loss function. The loss function can be used as an indicator for determining optimal model parameters during the artificial neural network training process.

Machine learning can be classified into supervised learning, unsupervised learning, and reinforcement learning depending on the learning method.

Supervised learning refers to a method for training an artificial neural network when given labels for the training data. The labels can refer to the correct answer (or output value) that the artificial neural network must infer when the training data is input to the artificial neural network. Unsupervised learning can refer to a method for training an artificial neural network when the training data is not given labels. Reinforcement learning can refer to a learning method in which an agent defined within a given environment is trained to select actions or action sequences that maximize the cumulative reward in each state.

Machine learning implemented with a deep neural network (DNN) containing multiple hidden layers among artificial neural networks is also called deep learning, and deep learning is a subset of machine learning. Hereinafter, the term "machine learning" is used to encompass deep learning.

Additionally, the above-described technical features can be applied to wireless communication of robots.

A robot can be defined as a machine that automatically performs or operates a given task based on its own capabilities. Specifically, a robot capable of perceiving its environment, making independent judgments, and performing actions can be called an intelligent robot.

Robots can be categorized into industrial, medical, household, and military applications based on their intended use or field. Robots are equipped with actuators or motors, enabling them to perform various physical actions, such as moving robot joints. Furthermore, mobile robots incorporate wheels, brakes, and propellers into their actuators, enabling them to move on the ground or fly in the air.

Additionally, the above-described technical features can be applied to devices that support extended reality.

Extended reality is a general term for virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and mixed reality (MR). VR technology presents real-world objects and backgrounds as CG images only, AR technology presents virtual CG images over images of real objects, and MR technology is a computer graphics technology that blends and combines virtual objects with the real world.

MR technology is similar to AR in that it presents both real and virtual objects simultaneously. However, while AR uses virtual objects to complement real objects, MR uses virtual and real objects on an equal footing.

XR technology can be applied to HMD (Head-Mount Display), HUD (Head-Up Display), mobile phones, tablet PCs, laptops, desktops, TVs, digital signage, etc., and devices to which XR technology is applied can be called XR devices.

The present disclosure may have various advantageous effects.

For example, an STA that wants to perform a DPS operation can perform an association procedure only for (UHR) STAs that support the DPS operation and activate the DPS mode/operation. The DPS-supporting STAs can transmit ICF/ICR based on broadcasted DPS capability information and/or maximum operation parameters when performing frame exchange with a DPS-enabled STA, thereby allowing the DPS-enabled STA to switch between a listening state and a frame exchange state and perform frame exchange with the DPS-enabled STAs. Accordingly, the DPS-enabled STA can monitor/wait for reception of an ICF in the listening state and reduce unnecessary power consumption while remaining in the listening state.

The beneficial effects that can be achieved through specific embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited to the beneficial effects listed above. For example, various technical effects may be understood and/or derived from the present disclosure by those skilled in the art. Therefore, the specific effects of the present disclosure are not limited to those explicitly described herein, but may include various effects that can be understood or derived from the technical features of the present disclosure.

The claims set forth in this disclosure may be combined in various ways. For example, the technical features of the method claims of this disclosure may be combined and implemented as a device, and the technical features of the device claims of this disclosure may be combined and implemented as a method. Furthermore, the technical features of the method claims of this disclosure and the technical features of the device claims of this disclosure may be combined and implemented as a device, and the technical features of the method claims of this disclosure and the technical features of the device claims of this disclosure may be combined and implemented as a method.

Claims (20)

A step in which a first STA (station) receives request frames from one or more STAs; A step in which the first STA identifies at least one second STA among the one or more STAs that has transmitted a request frame including information indicating that dynamic power saving (DPS) is supported; A step of establishing an association with at least one second STA based on the first STA transmitting a response frame to the at least one second STA; The step of the first STA activating the DPS mode; and A method comprising a step in which the first STA performs frame exchange with the at least one second STA in the DPS mode. In claim 1, the response frame is not transmitted to at least one third STA that transmitted a request frame that does not include information indicating that DPS is supported among the one or more STAs, A method in which the first STA does not establish a connection with the at least one third STA. In claim 1, the first STA further includes a step of transmitting capability information of the first STA related to the DPS, The step of receiving the request frames includes the step of the first STA receiving a request frame including capability information of the at least one second STA related to the DPS from the at least one second STA, A method in which the capability information of the first STA and the capability information of the at least one second STA include at least one of information indicating that the DPS is supported, information on whether the DPS is activated, information on the status of the supported DPS mode, information on the status of the DPS mode to be entered, or information on operating parameters for the DPS. In claim 3, the capability information of the first STA is transmitted through at least one of a beacon frame, an action frame, an operation mode notification frame, a probe request frame, a probe response frame, a connection request frame, or a connection response frame, A method in which the capability information of at least one second STA is received through at least one of a beacon frame, an action frame, an operation mode notification frame, a probe request frame, a probe response frame, a connection request frame, or a connection response frame. A method according to claim 3, wherein the capability information of the first STA and the capability information of the at least one second STA are included in at least one of an ultra-high reliability (UHR) capability element, a UHR MAC (media access control) information field of the UHR capability element, or a DPS capability element. In claim 1, the step of activating the DPS mode includes the step of the first STA transmitting a DPS activation notification frame to the at least one second STA, A method in which the DPS activation notification frame includes at least one of information notifying that the DPS mode is activated for the first STA or information on operating parameters for DPS. A method according to claim 6, wherein the DPS activation notification frame is a beacon frame, an action frame, or an operation mode notification frame. A method according to claim 6, wherein at least one of information notifying that DPS is activated for the first STA or information on operating parameters for DPS is included in at least one of a DPS capability element, an operating mode indication element, or an operating element notification element of the DPS activation notification frame. In claim 3 or claim 6, information on operating parameters for the DPS is: Information about the operating parameters for the listening state, related to the first ability; Information about operating parameters for a frame exchange state, related to a second capability higher than the first capability; or Information about operating parameters for one or more other states related to a third ability between the first ability and the second ability A method comprising at least one of: A method according to claim 3 or claim 6, wherein the operating parameters for the DPS include at least one of an operating bandwidth, a modulation and coding scheme (MCS), a number of spatial streams (NSS), a DPS padding delay, a DPS transition delay, a DPS transition timeout, or information about a dynamic change of the operating parameters for the DPS. In claim 1, the step of performing frame exchange with the at least one second STA in the DPS mode comprises: A step in which the first STA performs a listening operation based on an operation parameter for the listening state in the listening state; The step of the first STA switching from the listening state to the frame exchange state; and A method comprising a step in which the first STA performs frame exchange with the at least one second STA based on an operating parameter for the frame exchange state in the frame exchange state. In claim 11, the operating parameters for the listening state are preset, included in information about operating parameters for the DPS transmitted by the first STA, or included in information about operating parameters for the DPS received from the at least one second STA. A method in which the operating parameters for the frame exchange state are included in information about operating parameters for the DPS transmitted by the first STA or in information about operating parameters for the DPS received from the at least one second STA. In claim 11, the step of switching from the listening state to the frame exchange state includes the step of switching from the listening state to the frame exchange state based on the detection of data to be transmitted by the first STA, A method wherein the step of performing frame exchange with the at least one second STA comprises a step of the first STA transmitting the data to the at least one second STA based on an operating parameter for the frame exchange state in the frame exchange state. In claim 11, the step of switching from the listening state to the frame exchange state includes the step of switching from the listening state to the frame exchange state based on the first STA receiving an ICF (initial control frame) from the at least one STA in the listening state, A method wherein the step of performing frame exchange with the at least one second STA comprises a step of the first STA receiving data from the at least one second STA based on an operating parameter for the frame exchange state in the frame exchange state. A method according to claim 14, wherein the ICF includes information on operating parameters for the frame exchange status. At the first STA (station), Transmitter and receiver; memory; and At least one processor functionally coupled with the transceiver and the memory, The memory stores instructions for performing operations based on being executed by the at least one processor, the operations being: The act of receiving request frames from one or more STAs; An operation of identifying at least one second STA among the one or more STAs that has transmitted a request frame including information indicating that dynamic power saving (DPS) is supported; An operation of establishing an association with at least one second STA based on transmitting a response frame to at least one second STA; Actions that activate DPS mode; and A first STA including an operation for performing frame exchange with at least one second STA in the above DPS mode. In the device, at least one processor; and At least one memory functionally coupled with at least one processor, The at least one memory stores instructions that perform operations based on being executed by the at least one processor, the operations being: The act of receiving request frames from one or more STAs; An operation of identifying at least one second STA among the one or more STAs that has transmitted a request frame including information indicating that dynamic power saving (DPS) is supported; An operation of establishing an association with at least one second STA based on transmitting a response frame to at least one second STA; Actions that activate DPS mode; and A device comprising an operation for performing frame exchange with at least one second STA in the DPS mode. A non-transitory computer readable medium (CRM) storing program code that implements instructions that perform operations based on being executed by at least one processor, wherein the operations are: The act of receiving request frames from one or more STAs; An operation of identifying at least one second STA among the one or more STAs that has transmitted a request frame including information indicating that dynamic power saving (DPS) is supported; An operation of establishing an association with at least one second STA based on transmitting a response frame to at least one second STA; Actions that activate DPS mode; and A CRM comprising an operation of performing frame exchange with at least one second STA in the above DPS mode. A step in which a second STA (station) transmits a request frame including information notifying that dynamic power saving (DPS) is supported to a first STA; A step of establishing an association with the first STA based on the second STA receiving a response frame from the first STA; A step in which the second STA receives information from the first STA notifying that the DPS mode is activated for the first STA; and A method comprising a step of the second STA performing frame exchange with the first STA in the DPS mode. At the second STA (station), Transmitter and receiver; memory; and At least one processor functionally coupled with the transceiver and the memory, The memory stores instructions for performing operations based on being executed by the at least one processor, the operations being: An action of transmitting a request frame including information indicating that dynamic power saving (DPS) is supported by a first STA; An operation of establishing an association with the first STA based on receiving a response frame from the first STA; An operation of receiving information from the first STA notifying that the DPS mode is activated for the first STA; and A second STA including an operation of performing frame exchange with the first STA in the DPS mode.