阅读说明：本技术 一种上行协调的通信方法和装置 (Uplink coordinated communication method and device ) 是由 李云波 根纳季·特所迪克 奥伦·赫赛斯基 于健 郭宇宸 淦明 周逸凡 于 2020-03-18 设计创作，主要内容包括：本申请实施例公开了一种上行协调的通信方法和装置,可应用于多种Wi-Fi标准中的上行协调场景中。在本申请实施例提供的方法中,第一接入点生成的触发帧可以包括：多个基本服务集的标识信息和站点的标识信息,该触发帧可以触发多个BSS进行上行协调,且对于第一接入点而言,可以在触发帧携带一个BSS中被触发的站点的标识,因此第一接入点可以独立配置该第一接入点关联的站点的标识信息,不需要保证在多个BSS中站点的标识是唯一的,增加了第一接入点配置被触发的站点的标识信息的灵活性,实现接入点和站点在多个接入点的上行协调场景下进行通信。(The embodiment of the application discloses a communication method and a communication device for uplink coordination, which can be applied to uplink coordination scenes in various Wi-Fi standards. In the method provided in the embodiment of the present application, the trigger frame generated by the first access point may include: the trigger frame may trigger the multiple BSSs to perform uplink coordination, and for the first access point, the trigger frame may carry an identifier of a triggered station in one BSS, so that the first access point may independently configure the identifier of a station associated with the first access point, it is not necessary to ensure that the identifiers of the stations in the multiple BSSs are unique, the flexibility of configuring the identifier of the triggered station by the first access point is increased, and the access point and the station communicate in the uplink coordination scene of the multiple access points is implemented.)

1. A communication apparatus, wherein the communication apparatus is applied in a station, and the communication apparatus comprises:

a transceiver, configured to receive a trigger frame sent by a first access point AP, where the trigger frame is used to trigger a station to send a physical layer protocol data unit PPDU based on the trigger frame, the station belongs to one of a plurality of basic service sets, and the trigger frame includes: identification information of the plurality of basic service sets and identification information of the station;

a processor for determining that the trigger frame based physical layer protocol data unit PPDU needs to be sent.

2. A communication apparatus, wherein the communication apparatus is applied in a first access point AP, and the communication apparatus comprises:

a processor, configured to generate a trigger frame, where the trigger frame is used to trigger a station STA in multiple BSS to send a PPDU based on the trigger frame, and the trigger frame includes: identification information of the plurality of basic service sets and identification information of the station;

a transceiver for transmitting the trigger frame to the station.

3. The communication apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the identification information of the plurality of basic service sets comprises at least one of: the color of a basic service set corresponding to each of the plurality of basic service sets, the identification of an access point corresponding to each of the plurality of basic service sets, the identification of a basic service set corresponding to each of the plurality of basic service sets, and the MAC address of an access point corresponding to each of the plurality of basic service sets;

the identification information of the station includes: the association of the station identifies the AID.

4. The communication apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the trigger frame includes: a first field and at least one first user information field corresponding to the first field, wherein,

the first field includes: identification information of at least one basic service set among the plurality of basic service sets;

a first user information field comprising: identification information of a triggered site in the at least one basic service set;

the at least one first user information field is located after the first field in the trigger frame.

5. The communications apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the first field is carried in a second user information field in the trigger frame; alternatively, the first and second electrodes may be,

the first field is carried in a public information field in the trigger frame; alternatively, the first and second electrodes may be,

the first field is carried in a coordination field in the trigger frame.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein if the first field is carried in a second user information field in the trigger frame, the at least one basic service set does not include a first basic service set corresponding to the first access point, and the first field is located after the first user information field corresponding to the first basic service set in the trigger frame.

7. The communication apparatus according to any of claims 4 to 6, wherein the trigger frame comprises a plurality of the first fields, and at least one first user information field corresponding to each of the plurality of the first fields.

8. The communications apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein if the first field is carried in a common information field in the trigger frame, the common information field comprises: a trigger type subfield and a common information subfield based on the trigger type;

the trigger type subfield is used for indicating the trigger type of the trigger frame;

the common information subfield based on the trigger type includes: the first field.

9. The communications apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein if the first field is a coordination field in the trigger frame, the trigger frame further comprises: a field of the common information is provided,

the common information field is used for indicating the trigger type of the trigger frame;

the coordination field is located after the common information field in the trigger frame.

10. The communication apparatus according to any one of claims 4 to 9, wherein the first field comprises: at least one basic service set identification subfield;

a basic service set identification subfield for indicating identification information of one of the at least one basic service set.

11. The communications apparatus of claim 10, wherein one of the at least one basic service set identifier subfield is a first value, and wherein the first value is used to indicate that no basic service set identifier subfield following the basic service set identifier subfield taking the first value is included in the first field.

12. The communications apparatus of claim 11, wherein the first value is all 0's or all 1's.

13. The communication apparatus according to any of claims 4 to 12, wherein the first field comprises: at least one user information number subfield;

a user information number subfield for indicating the number of the first user information fields corresponding to one basic service set of the at least one basic service set.

14. The communications apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein one of the at least one number of ues subfields is a second value indicating that the number of ues subsequent to the number of ues taking the second value is not included in the first field.

15. The communications apparatus of claim 14, wherein the second value is all 0's or all 1's.

16. The communications device according to any of claims 5 to 15, wherein if the first field is carried in a second user information field in the trigger frame, the first field comprises: an association identification subfield;

the association identification subfield is used for indicating the type of the first field;

the value of the association identification subfield is a special AID.

17. The communications apparatus according to any one of claims 4 to 16, wherein the first field comprises: a basic service set number subfield;

the number of basic service sets subfield for indicating the number of the at least one basic service set.

18. An uplink coordinated communication method, comprising:

a station STA receives a trigger frame sent by a first access point AP, where the trigger frame is used to trigger the station to send a physical layer protocol data unit PPDU based on the trigger frame, the station belongs to one of a plurality of basic service sets, and the trigger frame includes: identification information of the plurality of basic service sets and identification information of the station;

and the station determines that the physical layer protocol data unit PPDU based on the trigger frame needs to be sent.

19. An uplink coordinated communication method, comprising:

the method comprises the steps that a first Access Point (AP) generates a trigger frame, wherein the trigger frame is used for triggering Stations (STA) in a plurality of Basic Service Sets (BSS) to send a physical layer protocol data unit (PPDU) based on the trigger frame, and the trigger frame comprises: identification information of the plurality of basic service sets and identification information of the station;

and the first access point sends the trigger frame to the station.

20. A communications device comprising a processing module for executing computer-executable instructions stored in a memory module to control the communications device to implement the method of claim 18 or 19.

21. A computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program comprising instructions for performing the method of claim 18 or 19.

Technical Field

The present application relates to the field of communications technologies, and in particular, to a communication method and apparatus for uplink coordination.

Background

One area in the mobile communication network can be covered by a plurality of Access Points (APs), and the adjacent APs can improve the system efficiency and reduce the interference by coordination. A system formed by an access point and multiple Associated Stations (STAs) is a Basic Service Set (BSS). In the scenario of multiple access points, each station selects one of the access points to associate with. Stations within a basic service set or between different basic service sets obtain channel use rights through contention.

In an uplink coordination scenario of multiple access points, the multiple access points may establish an uplink coordination relationship through negotiation, and exchange association parameters in the uplink coordination, for example, the association parameters may include stations participating in coordination, the number of spatial streams used by each station, an uplink transmission time, and the like. How to communicate between at least one access point of the multiple access points and the station after the multiple access points complete negotiation does not currently have a communication scheme based on an uplink coordination scenario of the multiple access points, so that the access points and the station cannot communicate in the uplink coordination scenario of the multiple access points.

For example, when the access point schedules a station through a trigger frame, an Association Identifier (AID) needs to be used, and the association identifier is unique in one basic service set, but when the access point schedules stations in a plurality of basic service sets in a cooperative set through the trigger frame, the association identifier is not unique any more due to the involvement of the plurality of basic service sets. In order to avoid the conflict of using the association identifiers, the stations in all coordinated basic service sets are required to use non-repetitive association identifiers, which may cause the number of available association identifiers of the stations in each basic service set to decrease, resulting in the decrease of the maximum number of stations that can be supported in the uplink coordination scenario of multiple access points, and the access points in all coordinated basic service sets need to negotiate a common association identifier space, resulting in a complex flow of cooperative transmission and a low efficiency of coordinated communication.

Disclosure of Invention

The embodiment of the application provides a communication method and a communication device for uplink coordination, which are used for realizing communication between an access point and a site under an uplink coordination scene of a plurality of access points.

In order to solve the above technical problem, an embodiment of the present application provides the following technical solutions:

in a first aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication apparatus, where the communication apparatus is applied in a station, and the communication apparatus includes: a transceiver, configured to receive a trigger frame sent by a first access point AP, where the trigger frame is used to trigger a station to send a physical layer protocol data unit PPDU based on the trigger frame, the station belongs to one of a plurality of basic service sets, and the trigger frame includes: identification information of the plurality of basic service sets and identification information of the station; a processor for determining that the trigger frame based physical layer protocol data unit PPDU needs to be sent. In this scenario, the trigger frame generated by the first access point may include: the trigger frame may trigger the multiple BSSs to perform uplink coordination, and for the first access point, the trigger frame may carry an identifier of a triggered station in one BSS, so that the first access point may independently configure the identifier of a station associated with the first access point, it is not necessary to ensure that the identifiers of the stations in the multiple BSSs are unique, the flexibility of configuring the identifier of the triggered station by the first access point is increased, and the access point and the station communicate in the uplink coordination scene of the multiple access points is implemented.

In a second aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication apparatus, where the communication apparatus is applied in a first access point AP, and the communication apparatus includes: a processor, configured to generate a trigger frame, where the trigger frame is used to trigger a station STA in multiple BSS to send a PPDU based on the trigger frame, and the trigger frame includes: identification information of the plurality of basic service sets and identification information of the station; a transceiver for transmitting the trigger frame to the station. In this scenario, the trigger frame generated by the first access point may include: the trigger frame may trigger the multiple BSSs to perform uplink coordination, and for the first access point, the trigger frame may carry an identifier of a triggered station in one BSS, so that the first access point may independently configure the identifier of a station associated with the first access point, it is not necessary to ensure that the identifiers of the stations in the multiple BSSs are unique, the flexibility of configuring the identifier of the triggered station by the first access point is increased, and the access point and the station communicate in the uplink coordination scene of the multiple access points is implemented.

In one possible implementation manner, the identification information of the plurality of basic service sets includes at least one of: the color of a basic service set corresponding to each of the plurality of basic service sets, the identification of an access point corresponding to each of the plurality of basic service sets, the identification of a basic service set corresponding to each of the plurality of basic service sets, and the MAC address of an access point corresponding to each of the plurality of basic service sets; the identification information of the station includes: the association of the station identifies the AID. In this scheme, the identification information of the basic service set has multiple implementations, for example, the identification information of the basic service set includes at least one of the following: the color of the basic service set, the identification of the access point corresponding to the basic service set, the identification of the basic service set, and the MAC address of the access point corresponding to the basic service set. Optionally, the identification information of the basic service set may also be a part of the basic service set identification, for example, a part of the identification of the basic service set identification is intercepted as the identification information of the basic service set. For another example, the identification information of the basic service set may be a partial MAC address of an access point corresponding to the basic service set, and the identification information of the station has multiple implementations, for example, the AID of the STA may be used as the identification information of the STA, the AID of the STA may be allocated to the STA by the first AP, or the MAC address of the STA is used as the identification information of the STA.

In one possible implementation, the trigger frame includes: a first field and at least one first user information field corresponding to the first field, wherein the first field comprises: identification information of at least one basic service set among the plurality of basic service sets; a first user information field comprising: identification information of a triggered site in the at least one basic service set; the at least one first user information field is located after the first field in the trigger frame. In this scheme, the first field included in the trigger frame and the at least one first user information field corresponding to the first field may indicate identification information of a plurality of basic service sets and identification information of a triggered station, so that a station that receives the trigger frame obtains the identification information of the basic service sets and the identification information of the station included in the trigger frame by parsing the first field and the first user information field, so as to accurately determine whether the station is an un-triggered station, and if it is determined that the station is a station triggered (or scheduled) by the trigger frame, the station sends a TB PPDU.

In a possible implementation manner, the first field is carried in a second user information field in the trigger frame; or, the first field is carried in a common information field in the trigger frame; or, the first field is carried in a coordination field in the trigger frame. In this scheme, the first field is carried in the second user information field, and for the position of the first field in the second user information field, the second user information field may be referred to as a special user info field in the following embodiments, or the second user information field may be referred to as a user info field of the AID12 subfield that takes a special value. For example the first field may be the last field in the common information field or the first field may be an intermediate position in the common information field for the position of the first field in the second user information field. For example, the coordination field may be disposed at the last position in the common information field in the trigger frame, or the coordination field may be disposed after the common information field in the trigger frame. Further, the coordination field is disposed after the common information field in the trigger frame, and the coordination field is adjacent to the common information field.

In a possible implementation manner, if the first field is carried in the second user information field in the trigger frame, the at least one basic service set does not include the first basic service set corresponding to the first access point, and the first field is located after the first user information field corresponding to the first basic service set in the trigger frame. In the scheme, the first basic service set corresponding to the first access point is not indicated through the first field, so that the indication overhead of the trigger frame is saved.

In a possible implementation manner, the trigger frame includes a plurality of the first fields, and at least one first user information field corresponding to each of the plurality of the first fields. In this scheme, the length of one first field in the trigger frame is fixed, and if one first field cannot indicate the identification information of all basic service sets used for uplink coordination, the trigger frame needs to include a plurality of first fields, and the plurality of first fields can indicate the identification information of all basic service sets used for uplink coordination, so that the trigger frame can indicate the identification information of all basic service sets used for uplink coordination.

In a possible implementation manner, if the first field is carried in a common information field in the trigger frame, the common information field includes: a trigger type subfield and a common information subfield based on the trigger type; the trigger type subfield is used for indicating the trigger type of the trigger frame; the common information subfield based on the trigger type includes: the first field. In this scheme, the common information field in the trigger frame may be used to carry the first field, so that the identification information of all basic service sets used for uplink coordination may be indicated by the common information field in the trigger frame.

In a possible implementation manner, if the first field is a coordination field in the trigger frame, the trigger frame further includes: a common information field for indicating a trigger type of the trigger frame; the coordination field is located after the common information field in the trigger frame. In this scheme, the coordination field in the trigger frame may be used to carry the first field, so that the identification information of all basic service sets used for uplink coordination may be indicated by the coordination field in the trigger frame.

In one possible implementation, the first field includes: at least one basic service set identification subfield; a basic service set identification subfield for indicating identification information of one of the at least one basic service set. In this scheme, the basic service set identification subfield can indicate identification information of one basic service set in at least one basic service set, so that a station can acquire the identification information of the basic service set by parsing the basic service set identification subfield.

In a possible implementation manner, one of the at least one basic service set identification subfields is a first value, and the first value is used to indicate that the basic service set identification subfield subsequent to the basic service set identification subfield taking the first value is not included in the first field. In this scheme, by setting a basic service set identification subfield carrying a first value, identification information of all basic service sets indicated by the first field may be indicated.

In one possible implementation, the first value is all 0 s or all 1 s. In this scheme, when a value carried by one basic service set identifier subfield is all 0 s or all 1 s, it may be determined that the basic service set identifier subfield is the last basic service set identifier subfield, and the first field does not include a basic service set identifier subfield subsequent to the basic service set identifier subfield whose value is the first value.

In one possible implementation, the first field includes: at least one user information number subfield; a user information number subfield for indicating the number of the first user information fields corresponding to one basic service set of the at least one basic service set. In this scheme, the station may analyze the number subfield of the user information in the first field, and may acquire the number of the first user information fields corresponding to the basic service set, thereby acquiring the number of the triggered stations in the basic service set.

In a possible implementation manner, one of the at least one user information number subfields is a second value, and the second value is used to indicate that the user information number subfields subsequent to the user information number subfield taking the second value are not included in the first field. In this scheme, by setting the number of user information subfields carrying the second value, the number of user information subfields corresponding to all basic service sets indicated by the first field may be indicated.

In one possible implementation, the second value is all 0 s or all 1 s. In this scheme, when a value carried by one user information number subfield is all 0 or all 1, the station may determine that the basic service set corresponding to the user information number subfield carrying the second value is the last basic service set in at least one basic service set, and the last basic service set does not include the triggered station, and the first field does not include the user information number subfield after the user information number subfield carrying the second value.

In a possible implementation manner, if the first field is carried in the second user information field in the trigger frame, the first field includes: an association identification subfield; the association identification subfield is used for indicating the type of the first field; the value of the association identification subfield is a special AID. In this embodiment, the association identifier subfield can indicate the type of the first field, so that after receiving the trigger frame, the station can parse the association identifier subfield included in the first field in the trigger frame to determine the type of the first field. The station then obtains the identification information of the basic service set indicated by the first field from the first field.

In one possible implementation, the first field includes: a basic service set number subfield; the number of basic service sets subfield for indicating the number of the at least one basic service set. In this scheme, by setting the number of basic service sets subfield, the identification information of all basic service sets indicated by the first field can be indicated.

In a third aspect, an embodiment of the present application further provides an uplink coordinated communication method, including: a station STA receives a trigger frame sent by a first access point AP, where the trigger frame is used to trigger the station to send a physical layer protocol data unit PPDU based on the trigger frame, the station belongs to one of a plurality of basic service sets, and the trigger frame includes: identification information of the plurality of basic service sets and identification information of the station; and the station determines that the physical layer protocol data unit PPDU based on the trigger frame needs to be sent. In this scenario, the trigger frame generated by the first access point may include: the trigger frame may trigger the multiple BSSs to perform uplink coordination, and for the first access point, the trigger frame may carry an identifier of a triggered station in one BSS, so that the first access point may independently configure the identifier of a station associated with the first access point, it is not necessary to ensure that the identifiers of the stations in the multiple BSSs are unique, the flexibility of configuring the identifier of the triggered station by the first access point is increased, and the access point and the station communicate in the uplink coordination scene of the multiple access points is implemented.

In a fourth aspect, an embodiment of the present application further provides an uplink coordinated communication method, including: the method comprises the steps that a first Access Point (AP) generates a trigger frame, wherein the trigger frame is used for triggering Stations (STA) in a plurality of Basic Service Sets (BSS) to send a physical layer protocol data unit (PPDU) based on the trigger frame, and the trigger frame comprises: identification information of the plurality of basic service sets and identification information of the station; and the first access point sends the trigger frame to the station. In this scenario, the trigger frame generated by the first access point may include: the trigger frame may trigger the multiple BSSs to perform uplink coordination, and for the first access point, the trigger frame may carry an identifier of a triggered station in one BSS, so that the first access point may independently configure the identifier of a station associated with the first access point, it is not necessary to ensure that the identifiers of the stations in the multiple BSSs are unique, the flexibility of configuring the identifier of the triggered station by the first access point is increased, and the access point and the station communicate in the uplink coordination scene of the multiple access points is implemented.

In a fifth aspect, an embodiment of the present application further provides an uplink coordinated communication method, including: a first Access Point (AP) generates a physical layer protocol data unit (PPDU), wherein the physical layer protocol data unit comprises a Media Access Control (MAC) frame, and the physical layer protocol data unit comprises: coordination indication information indicating whether a target receiving station of the MAC frame includes a communication apparatus, the communication apparatus including at least one of: a second access point and a station associated with the second access point, wherein the first access point and the second access point belong to the same cooperation set; the first access point sends the physical layer protocol data unit to the communication device. In the scheme, by adding the coordination indication information to the PPDU, the cooperating stations can distinguish as early as possible whether the MAC frame carried by the PPDU is related to the cooperation, so that the stations can save power or multiplex space as early as possible.

In a sixth aspect, an embodiment of the present application further provides an uplink coordinated communication method, including: a communication device receives a physical layer protocol data unit (PPDU) sent by a first Access Point (AP), wherein the physical layer protocol data unit comprises a Media Access Control (MAC) frame, and the physical layer protocol data unit comprises: coordination indication information indicating whether a target receiving station of the MAC frame includes the communication apparatus, the communication apparatus including at least one of: a second access point and a station associated with the second access point, wherein the first access point and the second access point belong to the same cooperation set; the communication device determines whether to parse the MAC frame according to the coordination indication information. In the scheme, by adding the coordination indication information to the PPDU, the cooperating stations can distinguish as early as possible whether the MAC frame carried by the PPDU is related to the cooperation, so that the stations can save power or multiplex space as early as possible.

In one possible implementation, the physical layer protocol data unit includes: a signaling SIG field; the coordination indication information is carried in the signaling field.

In a possible implementation manner, the coordination indication information occupies 1 bit; if the coordination indication information carries a first value, the coordination indication information is used for indicating that a target receiving station of the MAC frame comprises the communication device; or, if the coordination indication information carries a second value, the coordination indication information is used to indicate that the target receiving station of the MAC frame does not include the communication device.

In a seventh aspect, an embodiment of the present application further provides an uplink coordinated communication method, including: a station STA receives a first trigger frame sent by a first access point AP and receives a second trigger frame sent by at least one second access point, wherein the station and the first access point belong to the same basic service set BSS, and the station and the at least one second access point belong to different basic service sets; the first trigger frame and/or the second trigger frame are used for instructing the station to send a physical layer protocol data unit (PPDU) based on the trigger frame, wherein the first trigger frame includes: the first access point sends a first sending power of the first trigger frame, and the first access point estimates a first receiving power of the trigger frame-based physical layer protocol data unit sent by the station to reach the first access point; the station determines a second receiving power for receiving the first trigger frame and the second trigger frame; the station acquires a transmission power adjustment factor, wherein the transmission power adjustment factor is used for adjusting the transmission power of the physical layer protocol data unit based on the trigger frame; and the station determines the sending power of the physical layer protocol data unit based on the trigger frame according to the first sending power, the first receiving power, the second receiving power and the sending power adjustment factor. In this scheme, a station may receive trigger frames sent by multiple access points, for example, the station receives a first trigger frame sent by a first access point, and receives a second trigger frame sent by at least one second access point. The station determines second receiving power for receiving the trigger frame and the second trigger frame, and the station may determine the sending power for sending the physical layer protocol data unit based on the trigger frame according to the first sending power, the first receiving power, the second receiving power and the sending power adjustment factor, so that the station may accurately calculate the sending power for sending the PPDU based on the trigger frame when multiple access points send the trigger frame, and the access points and the station communicate in an uplink coordination scenario of the multiple access points.

In one possible implementation manner, the determining the transmission power for transmitting the trigger frame-based physical layer protocol data unit includes: the station determines the sending power of the physical layer protocol data unit based on the trigger frame by the following method: pt ═ Ptar × P0 × k/Pr; wherein Pt denotes a transmission power for transmitting the trigger frame-based physical layer protocol data unit, Ptar denotes the first reception power, P0 denotes the first transmission power, Pr denotes the second reception power, k denotes the transmission power adjustment factor, x is a multiplication symbol, a/is a division symbol, and + is an addition symbol.

In one possible implementation manner, the determining the transmission power for transmitting the trigger frame-based physical layer protocol data unit includes: if the first transmission power is the same as the transmission power of the second trigger frame transmitted by the second access point, the station determines the transmission power of the trigger frame-based physical layer protocol data unit by the following method: pt ═ Ptar × P0 × (1+ a)/Pr; wherein Pt denotes a transmission power for transmitting the trigger frame-based physical layer protocol data unit, Ptar denotes the first reception power, P0 denotes the first transmission power, Pr denotes the second reception power, a denotes the transmission power adjustment factor, x is a multiplication symbol, a/is a division symbol, and + is an addition symbol. In this scheme, the station may calculate the transmit power for transmitting the trigger frame-based physical layer protocol data unit using the above formula, and the station may adjust the transmit power for transmitting the trigger frame-based physical layer protocol data unit using the transmit power adjustment factor, so that the adjusted transmit power for transmitting the trigger frame-based physical layer protocol data unit may be the first receive power when the trigger frame-based physical layer protocol data unit reaches the first access point, and accuracy of calculating the transmit power for transmitting the trigger frame-based physical layer protocol data unit in an uplink coordination scenario of multiple APs is improved.

In one possible implementation manner, the determining the transmission power for transmitting the trigger frame-based physical layer protocol data unit includes: if the first transmission power is different from the transmission power of the second trigger frame transmitted by the second access point, the station determines the transmission power of the trigger frame-based physical layer protocol data unit by the following method: pt ═ Ptar × P0 × (1+ a × b)/Pr; wherein, Pt represents a transmission power for transmitting the trigger frame-based phy protocol data unit, Ptar represents the first reception power, P0 represents the first transmission power, Pr represents the second reception power, a represents the transmission power adjustment factor, b represents a ratio of the first transmission power and a transmission power for transmitting the second trigger frame by the second access point, x is a multiplied symbol, x is a divided symbol, and + is an added symbol. In this scheme, the station may calculate the transmit power for transmitting the trigger frame-based physical layer protocol data unit using the above formula, and the station may adjust the transmit power for transmitting the trigger frame-based physical layer protocol data unit using the transmit power adjustment factor, so that the adjusted transmit power for transmitting the trigger frame-based physical layer protocol data unit may be the first receive power when the trigger frame-based physical layer protocol data unit reaches the first access point, and accuracy of calculating the transmit power for transmitting the trigger frame-based physical layer protocol data unit in an uplink coordination scenario of multiple APs is improved.

In a possible wayIn an implementation manner, the determining the transmission power for transmitting the trigger frame-based physical layer protocol data unit includes: the station determines the sending power of the physical layer protocol data unit based on the trigger frame by the following method:wherein, theIndicating a transmission power for transmitting the trigger frame based physical layer protocol data unit, the Target_RSSIRepresents the first received power, theRepresenting the first transmission power, the DL_RSSIRepresents the second received power, the m represents the transmit power adjustment factor, the + is an additive symbol, and the-is a subtractive symbol. In this scheme, the station may calculate the transmit power for transmitting the trigger frame-based physical layer protocol data unit using the above formula, and the station may adjust the transmit power for transmitting the trigger frame-based physical layer protocol data unit using the transmit power adjustment factor, so that the adjusted transmit power for transmitting the trigger frame-based physical layer protocol data unit may be the first receive power when the trigger frame-based physical layer protocol data unit reaches the first access point, and accuracy of calculating the transmit power for transmitting the trigger frame-based physical layer protocol data unit in an uplink coordination scenario of multiple APs is improved.

In one possible implementation, the transmit power adjustment factor is a predefined value; or, the transmit power adjustment factor is obtained by the station from the first access point. In this scenario, the predefined may be a predefined of a communication protocol, and the station may acquire the transmission power adjustment factor according to a preconfigured communication protocol. For another example, the first access point may determine a transmission power adjustment factor, and then the first access point transmits the transmission power adjustment factor to the station, and after the station receives the transmission power adjustment factor, the station may determine the transmission power for transmitting the physical layer protocol data unit based on the trigger frame. For another example, the second access point may send the transmission power adjustment factor to the station, and after the station receives the transmission power adjustment factor, the station may determine the transmission power for transmitting the physical layer protocol data unit based on the trigger frame.

In a possible implementation manner, the acquiring, by the station, a transmission power adjustment factor includes: the station receives a first Media Access Control (MAC) frame sent by the first access point, wherein the first MAC frame comprises: the first access point transmits a second transmission power of the first medium access control frame; the station determines a third receiving power for receiving the first media access control frame; and the station acquires the transmission power adjustment factor according to the second transmission power, the third receiving power and the second receiving power.

In a possible implementation manner, the acquiring, by the station, a transmission power adjustment factor includes: the station receives a first media access control frame sent by the first access point and receives a second media access control frame sent by the second access point, wherein the first media access control frame comprises: transmitting, by the first access point, a second transmit power of the first media access control frame, the second media access control frame including: the second access point transmits a third transmission power of the second media access control frame; the station determines a third receiving power for receiving the first media access control frame and determines a fourth receiving power for receiving the second media access control frame; and the station acquires the transmission power adjustment factor according to the second transmission power, the third receiving power and the fourth receiving power.

In a possible implementation manner, the acquiring, by the station, a transmission power adjustment factor includes: the station receives a second media access control frame sent by the second access point, wherein the second media access control frame includes: the second access point transmits a third transmission power of the second media access control frame; the station determines a fourth receiving power for receiving the second media access control frame; and the station acquires the transmission power adjustment factor according to the third transmission power, the fourth receiving power and the second receiving power.

In an eighth aspect, an embodiment of the present application further provides an uplink coordinated communication method, including: a first Access Point (AP) generates a first trigger frame, wherein the first trigger frame is used for instructing a station to send a physical layer protocol data unit (PPDU) based on the trigger frame, and the first trigger frame comprises: the first access point sends a first sending power of the first trigger frame, and the first access point estimates a first receiving power of the trigger frame-based physical layer protocol data unit sent by the station to reach the first access point; and the first access point sends the trigger frame to the station. In the scheme, the first access point can send the first trigger frame to the station, so that the station can accurately calculate the effect of sending the sending power of the PPDU based on the trigger frame under the condition that a plurality of access points send the trigger frame, and the access points and the station can communicate under the uplink coordination scene of the plurality of access points.

In one possible implementation, the method further includes: the first access point sends a first Media Access Control (MAC) frame to the station, wherein the first MAC frame comprises: and the first access point transmits the second transmission power of the first medium access control frame.

In one possible implementation, the method further includes: and the first access point sends a transmission power adjustment factor to the station, wherein the transmission power adjustment factor is used for the station to determine the transmission power of the trigger frame-based physical layer protocol data unit.

In a ninth aspect, an embodiment of the present application further provides a communication apparatus, where the communication apparatus is applied in a first access point AP, and the communication apparatus includes: a processor configured to generate a physical layer protocol data unit PPDU, the physical layer protocol data unit including a media access control MAC frame, the physical layer protocol data unit including: coordination indication information indicating whether a target receiving station of the MAC frame includes a communication apparatus, the communication apparatus including at least one of: a second access point and a station associated with the second access point; a transceiver for transmitting the physical layer protocol data unit to the communication device.

In a tenth aspect, an embodiment of the present application further provides a communication apparatus, where the communication apparatus is applied to a second access point and a station associated with the second access point, and the communication apparatus includes: a transceiver, configured to receive a physical layer protocol data unit PPDU sent by a first access point AP, where the physical layer protocol data unit includes a media access control MAC frame, and the physical layer protocol data unit includes: coordination indication information indicating whether a target receiving station of the MAC frame includes a communication apparatus, the communication apparatus including: a second access point and a station associated with the second access point; a processor configured to determine whether the MAC frame is used for coordination between the first access point and the communication apparatus according to the coordination indication information.

In an eleventh aspect, an embodiment of the present application further provides a communication apparatus, where the communication apparatus is applied in a first access point AP, and the communication apparatus includes: the transceiver is configured to receive a first trigger frame sent by a first access point AP and receive a second trigger frame sent by at least one second access point, where the station and the first access point belong to a same basic service set BSS, and the station and the at least one second access point belong to different basic service sets; the first trigger frame and/or the second trigger frame are used to instruct the station to send a physical layer protocol data unit PPDU based on a trigger frame, where the first trigger frame includes: the first access point sends a first sending power of the first trigger frame, and the first access point estimates a first receiving power of the trigger frame-based physical layer protocol data unit sent by the station to reach the first access point; a processor configured to determine a second receive power for receiving the first trigger frame and the second trigger frame; the processor is configured to obtain a transmission power adjustment factor, where the transmission power adjustment factor is used to adjust the transmission power for transmitting the trigger frame-based physical layer protocol data unit; the processor is further configured to determine a transmission power for transmitting the trigger frame-based physical layer protocol data unit according to the first transmission power, the first reception power, the second reception power, and the transmission power adjustment factor.

In a twelfth aspect, an embodiment of the present application further provides a communication apparatus, where the communication apparatus is applied in a first access point AP, and the communication apparatus includes: a processor, configured to generate a first trigger frame, where the first trigger frame is used to instruct a station to send a physical layer protocol data unit PPDU based on a trigger frame, and the first trigger frame includes: the first access point sends a first sending power of the first trigger frame, and the first access point estimates a first receiving power of the trigger frame-based physical layer protocol data unit sent by the station to reach the first access point; a transceiver configured to send the first trigger frame to the station.

In the ninth to twelfth aspects of the present application, the constituent modules of the communication apparatus may further perform the steps described in the foregoing fifth to eighth aspects and various possible implementations, as described in the foregoing description of the fifth to eighth aspects and various possible implementations.

In a thirteenth aspect, an AP is provided, including: a processor and a transceiver, optionally further comprising a memory; wherein the processor and the transceiver, the memory communicate with each other through an internal connection. A processor configured to perform the method of the second aspect or any possible implementation manner of the second aspect; a transceiver for receiving control of the processor, and performing transceiving of signals in the method of the second aspect or any possible implementation manner of the second aspect; a memory for storing instructions to be called by the processor to perform the method of any possible implementation manner of the fourth aspect, or the fifth aspect, or the sixth aspect, or the eighth aspect.

In a fourteenth aspect, there is provided a STA comprising: a processor and a transceiver, optionally further comprising a memory; wherein the processor and the transceiver, the memory communicate with each other through an internal connection. A processor configured to perform the method of the third aspect or any possible implementation manner of the third aspect; a transceiver for receiving control of the processor and performing transceiving of signals in the third aspect or the method in any possible implementation manner of the third aspect; a memory for storing instructions to be called by the processor to perform a method according to the third aspect or any possible implementation manner of the sixth aspect or the seventh aspect.

In a fifteenth aspect, a computer-readable storage medium is provided for storing a computer program comprising instructions for performing the method of any possible implementation of any of the above aspects.

In a sixteenth aspect, there is provided a computer program comprising instructions for carrying out the method of any possible implementation of any of the above aspects.

A seventeenth aspect provides a chip, which includes a processing circuit and a transceiver pin, and optionally further includes a memory; wherein the processing circuit and the transceiver pins, the memory communicate with each other through internal connections. Processing circuitry for performing the method of the first aspect or any possible implementation manner of the first aspect; a transceiving pin receiving control of the processing circuit, configured to perform transceiving of a signal in the method of the first aspect or any possible implementation manner of the first aspect; a memory for storing instructions to be called by the processing circuitry to perform a method in any possible implementation of any of the above aspects.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 2 is a schematic structural diagram of another communication system according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 3 is a schematic flowchart of a communication method for uplink coordination according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 4 is a schematic diagram of a frame structure of a trigger frame according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

fig. 5 is a schematic diagram of a frame structure of another trigger frame according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 6 is a schematic diagram of a frame structure of another trigger frame according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating a structure of a common information field according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 8 is a schematic diagram of a frame structure of another trigger frame according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 9 is a schematic diagram of a frame structure of another trigger frame according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 10 is a schematic diagram of a frame structure of another trigger frame according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 11 is a schematic diagram of a frame structure of another trigger frame according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 12 is a schematic diagram of a frame structure of another trigger frame according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 13 is a schematic diagram of a frame structure of another trigger frame according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 14 is a schematic diagram of a frame structure of another trigger frame according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 15 is a schematic diagram of a frame structure of another trigger frame according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 16 is a schematic diagram of a frame structure of another trigger frame according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 17 is a schematic diagram of a frame structure of another trigger frame according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 18 is a schematic flowchart of another uplink coordinated communication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 19 is a schematic flowchart of another uplink coordinated communication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 20 is a schematic diagram of a collaboration set composition architecture according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 21 is a schematic structural diagram of a first access point according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

fig. 22 is a schematic structural diagram of a station according to an embodiment of the present application.

Detailed Description

The embodiment of the application provides a communication method and a communication device for uplink coordination, which are used for realizing communication between an access point and a site under an uplink coordination scene of a plurality of access points.

Embodiments of the present application are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The terms "first," "second," and the like in the description and in the claims of the present application and in the above-described drawings are used for distinguishing between similar elements and not necessarily for describing a particular sequential or chronological order. It is to be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances and are merely descriptive of the various embodiments of the application and how objects of the same nature can be distinguished. Furthermore, the terms "comprises," "comprising," and "having," and any variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, system, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements is not necessarily limited to those elements, but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus.

The technical scheme of the embodiment of the application can be applied to a communication system, and the communication system can be suitable for a plurality of AP coordinated transmission scenes. The multiple AP coordinated transmission may refer to coordinated transmission performed by multiple antennas of multiple APs, or may refer to coordinated transmission performed by multiple distributed antennas of one AP, and the coordinated transmission may also be referred to as cooperative transmission. For example, one specific implementation scenario in which multiple APs coordinate transmission may be D-MIMO transmission. The D-MIMO is a MIMO in which antennas at a transmitting end are distributed antennas, and is also generally called coordinated MIMO, AP Joint Transmission (Joint Transmission), and the D-MIMO is an implementation manner in AP coordinated Transmission. The use of D-MIMO techniques may take advantage of more antennas in the union of multiple nodes, provide higher rates through more spatial streams, or provide greater transmission distances through channel diversity. The antennas distributed at different nodes can provide better antenna isolation, the channels are more independent, and more spatial streams can be supported. For example, D-MIMO is the communication between a group of APs and one or more STAs, where multiple APs may be wired or wirelessly connected. As another example, in D-MIMO, one Access Controller (AC) may control multiple APs to transmit.

As shown in fig. 1, an exemplary communication system provided in the embodiment of the present application may include an AP1, an AP2, an STA1, and an STA 2. The AP1 may be a first Access Point (AP) in this embodiment, and the AP2 may be a second AP in this embodiment. The first AP and the second AP may implement multi-AP coordinated transmission or multi-AP joint transmission. The first AP and the second AP include at least one antenna, and the coordinated transmission of the at least one antenna of the first AP and the at least one antenna of the second AP may also be referred to as distributed multiple-input multiple-output (D-MIMO) transmission or coordinated MIMO transmission. For example, the first AP may be a master AP, i.e., AP1 in fig. 1, the second AP may be a slave AP, i.e., AP2 in fig. 1, the first STA may be STA1 in fig. 1, and the second STA may be STA2 in fig. 1. The first AP may communicate with the second AP, for example, by wired or wireless means. In the embodiment of the present application, the first AP is taken as a master AP, and the second AP is taken as a slave AP for example, the first AP and the master AP may be used alternately, and the second AP and the slave AP may be used alternately. It is understood that the number of APs and STAs in the communication system is merely exemplary.

An access point is a device in a communication system that accesses stations to a communication network. Illustratively, an access point may be a device or chip supporting 802.11 series protocols, and may support the access point to serve stations in a wireless local area network, such as a device or chip supporting 802.11be, or a device or chip supporting 802.11be, a next generation protocol. For example, an access point may be referred to as a Radio Access Network (RAN) node (or device), a base station, and so on. Currently, some examples of access points are: a Transmission Reception Point (TRP), an evolved Node B (eNB), a Radio Network Controller (RNC), a Node B (NB), a Base Station Controller (BSC), a Base Transceiver Station (BTS), a home base station (e.g., home evolved Node B or home Node B, HNB), a Base Band Unit (BBU), or a Wi-Fi access point, and other interface devices capable of operating in a wireless environment. Of course, the device on the access point side in the embodiment of the present application may also be a chip installed in these apparatuses.

A station is a device with wireless connection capability and capable of providing information, voice and/or data connectivity to a user, and may be, for example, a device or chip supporting 802.11 series protocols, or a device or chip supporting 802.11be protocols for next generation protocols. A station may also be referred to as a terminal device, a User Equipment (UE), a Mobile Station (MS), a Mobile Terminal (MT), etc. Currently, some examples of sites include: a mobile phone (mobile phone), a tablet computer, a notebook computer, a palm top computer, a Mobile Internet Device (MID), a wearable device, a Virtual Reality (VR) device, an Augmented Reality (AR) device, a wireless terminal in industrial control (industrial control), a wireless terminal in self driving (self driving), a wireless terminal in remote operation (remote medical supply), a wireless terminal in smart grid (smart grid), a wireless terminal in transportation safety (smart security), a wireless terminal in city (smart city), a wireless terminal in home (smart home), a vehicle-mounted device, and the like. Of course, the device on the station side in the embodiment of the present application may also be a chip installed in these apparatuses.

Of course, with the continuous evolution of wireless local area network application scenarios, the access point and the station in the embodiment of the present application can be applied to more scenarios, for example, the access point and the station are sensor nodes in a smart city (e.g., a smart water meter, a smart electric meter, and a smart air detection node), smart devices in a smart home (e.g., a smart camera, a projector, a display screen, a television, a sound box, a refrigerator, a washing machine, etc.), nodes in an internet of things, an entertainment terminal (e.g., wearable devices such as AR, VR, etc.), smart devices in a smart office (e.g., a printer, a projector, etc.), car networking devices in a car networking, and some infrastructures in a daily life scenario (e.g., an automatic vending machine, a self-help navigation platform of a business super, a self-help cash register device, a self-help ordering machine, etc.). The specific forms of the access point and the station in the embodiments of the present application are not particularly limited, and are merely exemplary. Optionally, the access point and the station in the embodiment of the present application further support protocols such as 802.11ax/ac/n/g/b/a in a compatible manner.

The technical scheme of the embodiment of the application can be applied to various data processing communication systems, such as a wireless local area network (wlan) communication system or a cellular system. In addition, the communication system can also be applied to future-oriented communication technologies, and all the technical solutions provided by the embodiments of the present application are applied. The system architecture and the service scenario described in the embodiment of the present application are for more clearly illustrating the technical solution of the embodiment of the present application, and do not form a limitation on the technical solution provided in the embodiment of the present application, and as a person of ordinary skill in the art knows that along with the evolution of the network architecture and the appearance of a new service scenario, the technical solution provided in the embodiment of the present application is also applicable to similar technical problems.

Fig. 2 is a schematic structural diagram of another communication system according to an embodiment of the present application. The communication system shown in fig. 2 includes: master AP, slave AP1, slave AP2, slave AP3, slave AP4, STA 1-6. The first AP provided in the embodiment of the present application may be the master AP, and the second AP may be the slave AP1, the slave AP2, the slave AP3, and the slave AP 4. The master AP in fig. 2 may form D-MIMO with the slave AP1, the slave AP2, the slave AP3, and the slave AP4, or the master AP may form D-MIMO with the slave AP1, the slave AP2, and the slave AP3, or the master AP may form D-MIMO with the slave AP1, the slave AP2, or the master AP may form D-MIMO with the slave AP 1.

The communication system provided by the embodiment of the present application may use multiple Wi-Fi standards for communication, where the multiple Wi-Fi standards may include an existing high-throughput (HT), or a very high-throughput (VHT), or a high-efficiency (HE) wifi standard, or a next-generation Wi-Fi standard (also referred to as 802.11ax or Wi-Fi 6), for example, an extreme high-throughput (EHT) or a very high-efficiency (VHE). In the following embodiments, the scheme of the embodiment of the present application is described by taking EHT (also referred to as 802.11be or Wi-Fi 7) as an example of the Wi-Fi standard of the next generation.

The solution of the embodiments of the present application will be further explained below with reference to the drawings.

Example one

In the embodiment of the present application, please refer to fig. 3, which is a flowchart illustrating an uplink coordinated communication method provided in the embodiment of the present application, where the uplink coordinated communication method provided in the embodiment of the present application mainly includes the following steps:

301. a first access point AP generates a trigger frame, where the trigger frame is used to trigger a station STA in multiple BSSs to send a physical layer protocol data unit (PPDU) based on a trigger frame (TB), and the trigger frame includes: identification information of a plurality of basic service sets and identification information of a site.

In this embodiment of the present application, a first access point belongs to a first BSS, the first access point associates with one or more stations STA in the first BSS, the first BSS is one BSS of multiple BSSs, the first access point may independently configure identification information of a station for a triggered station in the first BSS, and the first access point does not need to be affected by identification information of stations configured by other access points. For example, the trigger frame may be an uplink coordinated (UL) trigger frame, or the trigger frame may also be a type of frame newly defined by the first access point, and the implementation manner of the trigger frame is not limited.

In this embodiment of the present application, the trigger frame includes identification information of a plurality of basic service sets, where the identification information of a basic service set is used to uniquely identify one basic service set, and the trigger frame needs to include identification information of all basic service sets used for uplink coordination, for example, if N basic service sets perform uplink coordination, the trigger frame includes identification information of N basic service sets, and N may be equal to 1 or a positive integer of 2 or greater. In addition, the trigger frame may include, in addition to the identification information of the N basic service sets, identification information of a triggered station in each of the multiple basic service sets, for example, if the first access point belongs to the first BSS, the trigger frame may trigger M stations in the first BSS, and the trigger frame needs to include identification information of the M stations in the first BSS, the first access point may configure identification information corresponding to each station for the M stations in the first BSS, and the identification information of the station included in the trigger frame is used to indicate the triggered station. In this embodiment of the application, since the trigger frame includes identification information of a plurality of basic service sets and identification information of a triggered station included in each basic service set, and a part of the triggered stations are included in one basic service set, based on the identification of the basic service set and the identification of the station in the basic service set, the triggered stations can be distinguished from each other, and even if there are stations with the same identification in different basic service sets, confusion does not occur, so that the first access point can independently configure the identification information of the station, and the identification information of the station only needs to be unique within the associated basic service set, and does not need to be guaranteed to be unique in a plurality of basic service sets, thereby increasing flexibility of configuring the identification information of the station by the access point. In addition, in the embodiment of the application, a common site identifier set (or site identifier set) does not need to be negotiated in advance before coordinated transmission, so that the transmission efficiency is improved, and the signaling overhead is saved.

In this embodiment of the present application, the trigger frame may be used to trigger the station to send a physical layer protocol data unit (TB PPDU for short in english) based on the trigger frame, where the physical layer protocol data unit may also be referred to as a data packet. The trigger frame based PPDU refers to a PPDU which is scheduled by a trigger frame and carries uplink data. It is understood that the trigger frame may be generated by any one AP among a plurality of APs, and in the embodiment of the present application, the first AP is taken as an AP for generating the trigger frame, and may be referred to as a master AP, and the other APs, for example, the second AP, are referred to as slave APs or slave APs.

In some embodiments of the present application, the identification information of the plurality of basic service sets includes at least one of: a basic service set Color (BSS Color) corresponding to each of the plurality of basic service sets, an access point identifier corresponding to each of the plurality of basic service sets, a basic service set identifier corresponding to each of the plurality of basic service sets, and a Media Access Control (MAC) address of an access point corresponding to each of the plurality of basic service sets.

The identification information of the station includes: the association of a station identifies the AID.

Specifically, the identification information of the basic service set has multiple implementations, for example, the identification information of the basic service set includes at least one of the following: the color of the basic service set, the identification of the access point corresponding to the basic service set, the identification of the basic service set, and the MAC address of the access point corresponding to the basic service set. Optionally, the identification information of the basic service set may also be a part of the basic service set identification, for example, a part of the identification of the basic service set identification is intercepted as the identification information of the basic service set. As another example, the identification information of the basic service set may be a partial MAC address of an access point corresponding to the basic service set. In the following embodiments, the identification information of the basic service set is taken as the color of the basic service set as an example for explanation.

Specifically, a set formed by a plurality of APs may be referred to as an AP group or one or a cooperative set, each AP and its associated station form a BSS, and since a basic service set includes an AP, a basic service set color of the basic service set may be used as identification information of each basic service set. The embodiment of the present application is not particularly limited to a specific implementation form adopted by the identification information of multiple basic service sets.

The identification information of the station has multiple implementation manners, for example, the AID of the STA may be used as the identification information of the STA, the AID of the STA may be allocated to the STA by the first AP, or a MAC address of the STA is used as the identification information of the STA, and a specific implementation form adopted for the identification information of the STA is not specifically limited in the embodiment of the present application.

In some embodiments of the present application, the trigger frame comprises: the first field and at least one first user information field corresponding to the first field, wherein the first field comprises: identification information of at least one basic service set among the plurality of basic service sets; a first user information field comprising: identification information of a triggered site in at least one basic service set; at least one first user information field is located after the first field in the trigger frame.

Next, a description is given to a frame structure of a trigger frame, in which corresponding fields are required to carry identification information of a plurality of basic service sets and identification information of a station. The fields included in the trigger frame may also be referred to as fields or units, which are only described herein.

Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram of a frame structure of a trigger frame according to an embodiment of the present application. The trigger frame includes: the description in fig. 4 takes the trigger frame including a plurality of first user information fields as an example, the first field is one or more fields in the trigger frame specifically, and the first user information field is one or more user information fields in the trigger frame. Further, the first field includes: the identification information of at least one basic service set among the plurality of basic service sets, for example, T basic service sets for uplink coordination, and the first field may include identification information in (T-1) basic service sets. A first user information field comprising: identification information of a triggered site in a basic service set, for example, S triggered sites in a basic service set, S first user information fields are needed to indicate identification information of the S sites. In this embodiment of the present application, through a first field included in a trigger frame and at least one first user information field corresponding to the first field, identification information of multiple basic service sets and identification information of a triggered station may be indicated, so that a station that receives the trigger frame obtains the identification information of the basic service sets and the identification information of the station included in the trigger frame by analyzing the first field and the first user information field, so as to accurately determine whether the station is an un-triggered station, and if it is determined that the station is a station triggered (or scheduled) by the trigger frame, the station sends a TB PPDU.

In some embodiments of the present application, as shown in fig. 4, the at least one first user information field corresponding to the first field is located after the first field in the trigger frame, that is, the first field in the trigger frame is parsed by the station first, and the station can continue to parse the at least one first user information field corresponding to the first field from the trigger frame according to the indication of the first field only after parsing the first field.

For example, the trigger frame may include a first field and a plurality of first user information fields corresponding to the first field, where the first field may be used to carry identification information of at least one basic service set of the plurality of basic service sets, the first field further corresponds to at least one first user information field, each of all stations triggered by the trigger frame may use one first user information field, and the first access point may carry an identification of one triggered station in one first user information field.

Further, the trigger frame includes a first field, and the first field has multiple implementation manners. In some embodiments of the present application, the first field is carried in a second user information field in the trigger frame; or, the first field is carried in the public information field in the trigger frame; alternatively, the first field is carried in a coordination field in the trigger frame.

In an example, for example, the first field may be carried in a second user information field in the trigger frame, where the second user information field is one or more user information fields in the trigger frame, the second user information field and the first user information field belong to different user information fields, and the second user information field and the first user information field are in different naming modes based on different carried information contents. The first field is carried in the second user information field, and the position of the first field in the second user information field is not limited herein. For example, the second user information field may be referred to as a special user info field in the subsequent embodiments, or the second user information field may be referred to as a user info field of the AID12 subfield taking a special value.

In another example, the trigger frame includes a common information (common info) field, and the first field may be carried in the common information field in the trigger frame, for example, the first field may be a last field in the common information field, or the first field is an intermediate position in the common information field, and the position of the first field in the second user information field is not limited herein.

In another example, the trigger frame includes a coordinated field (coordinated), the first field may be carried in a coordinated field in the trigger frame, for example, the coordinated field may be a newly added field in the trigger frame, for example, the coordinated field may be disposed at a last position in a common information field in the trigger frame, or the coordinated field is disposed after the common information field in the trigger frame. Further, the coordination field is disposed after the common information field in the trigger frame, and the coordination field is adjacent to the common information field. The implementation of the coordination field is not limited, and the deployment location of the first field in the coordination field is not limited.

In some embodiments of the present application, the first field has a variety of specific implementations in the trigger frame, which is illustrated in detail below. Optionally, as shown in fig. 5, the at least one basic service set does not include a first basic service set corresponding to the first access point, and the first field is located after the first user information field corresponding to the first basic service set in the trigger frame.

For example, if the first field is carried in the second user information field in the trigger frame, the basic service set corresponding to the first access point is the first basic service set, the first field includes identification information of at least one basic service set in the multiple basic service sets, and the at least one basic service set does not include the first basic service set, that is, the identification information of the first basic service set is not carried in the first field. For example, the first basic service set may be referred to as a transmission basic service set (transmitting BSS), the transmission basic service set may also be referred to as a main BSS, and the transmission basic service set refers to a BSS corresponding to an AP initiating cooperation or a BSS corresponding to an AP establishing a cooperation group. The first basic service set may be indicated by a transmission address in a MAC frame header or a basic service set color (BSS color) in a Signaling (SIG) field in a physical layer protocol data unit. In the case that the identification information of the first basic service set does not use the first field for indication, as shown in fig. 5, the first field is located after the first user information field corresponding to the first basic service set in the trigger frame, for example, the first basic service set corresponds to P first user information fields, the first field may be located after the P first user information fields, so that after the station has resolved the P first user information fields corresponding to the first basic service set, the station may determine the first field after the P first user information fields, for example, the first field is adjacent to the P first user information fields, and a value of P may be greater than or equal to 1, which is not limited herein. In the embodiment of the application, the first basic service set corresponding to the first access point is not indicated through the first field, so that the indication overhead of the trigger frame is saved.

In other embodiments of the present application, the first basic service set corresponding to the first access point may also be indicated by the first field, so that the station may determine the first basic service set corresponding to the first access point by parsing the first field in the trigger frame, and determine the triggered station in the first basic service set by parsing at least one first user information field corresponding to the first field in the trigger frame.

In some embodiments of the present application, the trigger frame includes a plurality of first fields, and at least one first user information field corresponding to each of the plurality of first fields.

Specifically, the length of one first field in the trigger frame is fixed, and if one first field cannot indicate the identification information of all basic service sets used for uplink coordination, the trigger frame needs to include a plurality of first fields, and the plurality of first fields can indicate the identification information of all basic service sets used for uplink coordination, so that the trigger frame can indicate the identification information of all basic service sets used for uplink coordination. For example, as shown in fig. 6, the trigger frame includes 2 first fields, and there are 6 basic service sets for uplink coordination, one first field may indicate identification information of 4 basic service sets for uplink coordination, and another first field may indicate identification information of 2 basic service sets for uplink coordination. In addition, taking the example that the trigger frame includes 2 first fields, the trigger frame further includes at least one first user information field corresponding to each of the 2 first fields, for example, if one first field corresponds to T first user information fields, the trigger frame includes 2T first user information fields.

For example, the first field may be a second user information field in the trigger frame, and since the length of the second user information field is fixed, when one second user information field is not enough to carry indication information of all cooperating BSSs, the second user information fields of a plurality of special AIDs may also be carried in one trigger frame. And after a second user information field carrying a special AID and a first user information field indicated by the second user information field, carrying a second user information field of another special AID, wherein the second user information field carrying another special AID is used for indicating a plurality of first user information fields after the second user information field carrying another special AID. In this embodiment of the present application, the trigger frame may indicate identification information of all basic service sets used for uplink coordination through a plurality of second user information fields.

In some embodiments of the present application, as shown in fig. 7, if the first field is carried in a common information field in the trigger frame, the common information field includes: a Trigger Type (Trigger Type) subfield and a Trigger Dependent Common Info (Trigger Dependent Common Info) subfield; a trigger type subfield for indicating a trigger type of the trigger frame; the common information subfield based on the trigger type includes: a first field.

Specifically, the trigger frame includes a common information field, and the first field may be carried by the common information field, for example, the common information field includes: the trigger type subfield may be used to indicate a trigger frame type, and the trigger type subfield may indicate that the trigger frame is an uplink coordinated (UL) trigger frame, for example. The first field may be carried in the common information subfield based on the trigger type, for example, the first field may be a component of the common information subfield based on the trigger type, or the first field may be the common information subfield based on the trigger type, which is not limited herein. In the embodiment of the present application, the common information field in the trigger frame may be used to carry the first field, so that the identification information of all basic service sets used for uplink coordination may be indicated by the common information field in the trigger frame.

In some embodiments of the present application, if the first field is a coordination field in the trigger frame, the trigger frame further includes: a common information field for indicating a trigger type of the trigger frame; the coordination field is located after the common information field in the trigger frame.

The first field may be a coordination field in the trigger frame, the coordination field may be an added field in the trigger frame, and the first field may be carried in the coordination field, for example, the first field may be a component of the coordination field, or the first field may be the coordination field, which is not limited herein. As shown in fig. 8, taking the first field as an example of the coordination field, the coordination field may be located after the common information field in the trigger frame, for example, the coordination field is adjacent to the common information field. In this embodiment of the present application, the coordination field in the trigger frame may be used to carry the first field, so that the identification information of all basic service sets used for uplink coordination may be indicated by the coordination field in the trigger frame.

The foregoing describes a carrying manner of the first field in the trigger frame, and then illustrates a structure of the first field.

In some embodiments of the present application, as shown in fig. 9, the first field includes: at least one basic service set identification subfield; wherein one basic service set identification subfield for indicating identification information of one basic service set among the at least one basic service set.

Specifically, one basic service set identification subfield may be included in the first field, and the one basic service set identification subfield may indicate identification information of one basic service set. As another example, two basic service set identification subfields may be included in the first field, one basic service set identification subfield may indicate identification information of one basic service set, and the other basic service set identification subfield may indicate identification information of another basic service set. In the embodiment of the application, the identification information of one basic service set in at least one basic service set can be indicated by the basic service set identification subfield, so that a station can acquire the identification information of the basic service set by analyzing the basic service set identification subfield.

Further, in some embodiments of the present application, the first field includes: the basic service set identifier subfield is a field in which a basic service set identifier subfield is included, and the basic service set identifier subfield is a field in which a basic service set identifier subfield is included. After receiving the trigger frame, the station may parse the basic service set identification subfield of at least one of the first fields, and if the station parses the basic service set identification subfield carrying the first value from the first field, the station may determine that the triggered station is not included in the basic service set indicated by the basic service set identification subfield carrying the first value, and the first field does not include the basic service set identification subfield after the basic service set identification subfield carrying the first value. In the embodiment of the present application, by setting the basic service set identification subfield carrying the first value, the identification information of all basic service sets indicated by the first field may be indicated.

In some embodiments of the present application, the first value may take various values, for example, the first value is all 0 or all 1. That is, when the value carried by one basic service set identifier subfield is all 0 s or all 1 s, it may be determined that the basic service set identifier subfield is the last basic service set identifier subfield, and the first field does not include the basic service set identifier subfield subsequent to the basic service set identifier subfield whose value is the first value. Without limitation, the value of the first value in the embodiment of the present application is not limited to the above example.

In some embodiments of the present application, as shown in fig. 10, the first field includes: at least one number of user information for BSS color subfield;

and the user information number subfield is used for indicating the number of the first user information fields corresponding to one basic service set in the at least one basic service set.

The trigger frame may further indicate the number of first user information fields corresponding to the basic service set for uplink coordination, and it may be understood that the number of first user information fields corresponding to one basic service set is equal to the number of triggered sites in the basic service set. For example, the first field may include a number of user information subfield to indicate the number of first user information fields corresponding to one basic service set. The first field may include two user information number subfields, thereby indicating the number of first user information fields corresponding to the two basic service sets, respectively. Therefore, in the embodiment of the present application, the first field indicates how many pieces of identification information of the basic service set, and the number of the first user information fields corresponding to the corresponding basic service set needs to be indicated by how many user information number subfields. In the embodiment of the application, the station may analyze the user information number subfield in the first field, and may acquire the number of the first user information field corresponding to the basic service set, thereby acquiring the number of the triggered stations in the basic service set.

For example, the first field includes: at least one basic service set identification subfield and at least one user information number subfield;

a basic service set identification subfield for indicating identification information of one basic service set among the at least one basic service set. And the user information number subfield is used for indicating the number of the first user information fields corresponding to one basic service set in the at least one basic service set.

Specifically, the first field may include a basic service set identification subfield and a number of user information subfields, and the identification information of the basic service set and the number of first user information fields corresponding to the basic service set may be indicated using the two fields.

Further, in some embodiments of the present application, the first field includes: and one of the at least one user information number subfield is a second value, and the second value is used for indicating that the user information number subfield behind the user information number subfield taking the second value is not included in the first field.

Specifically, after receiving the trigger frame, the station may parse the user information number subfield of at least one of the first fields, and if the station parses the user information number subfield carrying the second value from the first field, the station may determine that the user information number subfield carrying the second value is a last basic service set in at least one basic service set, where the last basic service set does not include the triggered station, and the first field does not include the user information number subfield after the user information number subfield carrying the second value, and at this time, the station may not parse the first field any more. In the embodiment of the application, the number of the user information subfields corresponding to all basic service sets indicated by the first field may be indicated by setting the number of the user information subfields carrying the second value.

In some embodiments of the present application, the second value may be obtained in various manners, for example, the second value is all 0 or all 1. That is, when the value carried by one user information number subfield is all 0 or all 1, the station may determine that the basic service set corresponding to the user information number subfield carrying the second value is the last basic service set in at least one basic service set, and the last basic service set does not include the triggered station, and the first field does not include the user information number subfield after the user information number subfield carrying the second value. Without limitation, the value of the second value in the embodiment of the present application is not limited to the above example.

In some embodiments of the present application, as shown in fig. 11, if the first field is carried in the second user information field of the trigger frame, the first field includes: an association identification subfield; an association identification subfield to indicate a type of the first field; the value of the association identification subfield is a special AID.

Specifically, if the first field is carried in the second user information field in the trigger frame, the first field further needs to indicate the type of the first field, for example, the first field includes an association identifier subfield, a value of the association identifier subfield is a special AID, for example, the special AID may be 2044, 2008, or 2047, and a specific value of the association identifier subfield is not limited. In the following embodiments, a special AID is 2044 for illustration, and in the embodiments of the present application, the association identification subfield may indicate the type of the first field, so that after receiving a trigger frame, a station may parse the association identification subfield included in the first field in the trigger frame to determine the type of the first field. The station then obtains the identification information of the basic service set indicated by the first field from the first field.

In some embodiments of the present application, as shown in fig. 12, the first field includes: a basic service set number subfield; a Number of Basic Service Sets (BSS) subfield for indicating the Number of at least one basic service set.

Specifically, the number of the at least one basic service set may be indicated by using the number of basic service sets subfield in the first field, and after receiving the trigger frame, the station determines the number of the basic service sets indicated by the first field by analyzing the number of the basic service sets subfield carried by the first field in the trigger frame, so that the station may obtain the identification information of the basic service sets from the first field according to the number of the basic service sets indicated by the number of the basic service sets subfield. In the embodiment of the present application, by setting the number of basic service sets subfield, the identification information of all the basic service sets indicated by the first field may be indicated.

It should be noted that, although the foregoing fig. 9 to fig. 12 have described the constituent structure of the first field in detail, it is not limited that, in different application scenarios of the present application, the constituent structure included in the first field is different, and various constituent structures included in the first field may also be combined with each other, for example, the first field may include: an association identification subfield, a basic service set number subfield, a basic service set identification subfield, and a user information number subfield. As another example, the first field may include: an association identification subfield, a basic service set identification subfield, and a user information number subfield. As another example, the first field may include: an association identification subfield and a basic service set identification subfield. As another example, the first field may include: a basic service set number subfield, a basic service set identification subfield, and a user information number subfield. The specific composition structure of the first field is not limited, and may be determined in combination with a specific application scenario.

302. The first access point sends a trigger frame to the station.

In this embodiment, after the first access point generates the trigger frame, the first access point may send the trigger frame to the station that needs to be triggered, so that the station may receive the trigger frame.

311. A station STA receives a trigger frame sent by a first access point AP, where the trigger frame is used to trigger the station to send a physical layer protocol data unit PPDU based on the trigger frame, the station belongs to one of a plurality of basic service sets, and the trigger frame includes: identification information of a plurality of basic service sets and identification information of a site.

In this embodiment of the present application, a station may analyze a received trigger frame, acquire, from the trigger frame, identification information of a basic service set in which the station is located, and acquire, from the trigger frame, identification information of a triggered station.

It should be noted that, for the description of the first field and the first user information field included in the trigger frame received by the station in this embodiment, see the foregoing example in step 301 for details, which is not described herein again.

312. The station determines that a physical layer protocol data unit (PPDU) based on the trigger frame needs to be sent. .

In this embodiment of the present application, after receiving the trigger frame, if the station acquires the identification information of the station from the trigger frame, that is, determines that the station belongs to a triggered station, the station may send uplink data, for example, send a TB PPDU.

The following is a detailed description of a specific application scenario.

For example, the current trigger frame carries multiple user information (user info) fields, each user info field carries AID12 subfield for carrying AID of an STA, and other subfields in one user info field are used for carrying other scheduling information for the STA. For example, the AID 2008 ~ 2044, and AID 2047 ~ 4094 are reserved values, and other AID values are already in use. In the embodiment of the present application, a special AID value may be used in a certain user info field to indicate that the user info field is redefined. The specific value of the specific numerical value is not limited in this embodiment. For example, the value of the special AID may be 2044, 2008 or 2047, and in the subsequent embodiments of the present application, the AID is taken as 2044 as an example for description.

The user info field provided by the embodiment of the present application may include 40 bits and a Trigger frame-based user information field (Trigger dependent user info). The Trigger dependent user info in the basic Trigger frame (basic Trigger) includes 8 bits, and the coordinated uplink Trigger frame in this embodiment is used to perform uplink data scheduling, and the basic Trigger frame type may be used. So a special user info field in this embodiment may use a length of 48 bits. Without limitation, the special user info field used in the embodiment of the present application also extends to other types of trigger frames, and for example, the user info field may be 40 bits.

Fig. 13 is a schematic diagram of a composition structure of a trigger frame according to an embodiment of the present application. A first user info field in a user information list (user info list) is a special user info field, which is the first field, the special user info field includes an AID12 field, and the special user info field may further include other fields, which will be described in detail below.

In one implementation, the special user info field includes: an association identification subfield, a basic service set number subfield, a basic service set identification subfield, and a user information number subfield. Without limitation, a reserved subfield may also be included in the special user info field. For example, the association identification subfield is the AID12 field, and the basic service set Number subfield is the Number of BSS subfield shown in fig. 13. The Number of BSS subfields are used to indicate how many BSSs are carried in the trigger frame, for example, there are n basic service set identifier subfields, which are BSS color 1, BSS color 2, …, and BSS color n, for example, BSS color n carries BSS color of the nth BSS, and there are n user information Number subfields, which are Number of user info for BSS color 1, Number of user info for BSS color 2, …, and Number of user info for BSS color n, for example, Number of user info for BSS color n is used to indicate the Number of STA info in the nth BSS. In fig. 13, taking n equal to 2 as an example, BSS1 and BSS2 are used for uplink coordination, BSS color 1 indicates identification information of BSS1, number of user info for BSS color 1 indicates the number of user information fields corresponding to scheduled stations in BSS1, BSS color 2 indicates identification information of BSS2, and number of user info for BSS color 2 indicates the number of user information fields corresponding to scheduled stations in BSS 2.

In another implementation, the special user info field includes: an association identification subfield, a basic service set identification subfield, and a user information number subfield. Without limitation, a reserved subfield may also be included in the special user info field. That is, the special user info field does not carry the Number of BSS field, directly carries subfields of n-group BSS color and Number of user info for BSS color n, and the value indicated in the last Number of user info for BSS color n is all 0, so that the following bits are not used to indicate the BSS color or Number of user info for BSS color field. For example, BSS1 and BSS2 are used for uplink coordination, and the number of user info for BSS color3 corresponding to BB3 indicates all 0 s, so that the following bits are not used for indicating the BSS color or the number of user info for BSS color field.

In another implementation, the special user info field includes: an association identification subfield, a basic service set identification subfield, and a user information number subfield. Without limitation, a reserved subfield may also be included in the special user info field. That is, the special user info field does not carry the Number of BSS field, directly carries subfields of n-group BSS colors and Number of user info for BSS color n, and uses a special (Specific) value, for example, all 0 s or all 1 s, in the last BSS color field, so that the following bits are not used to indicate the BSS color or Number of user info for BSS color field. For example, BSS1 and BSS2 are used for uplink coordination, BSS color3 is a special BSS color, and the value indicated by the special BSS color is all 0, so that the following bits are not used to indicate the BSS color or the number of user info for BSS color field.

It is understood that the manner in which each BSS is indicated herein may be an AP ID, partial (partial) BSSID, or partial AP MAC address, etc., in addition to BSS color (color). The AP ID is a unique identifier assigned to each AP through negotiation in the coordinated AP set. The partial BSSID or partial AP MAC address may be obtained by intercepting the BSSID or MAC address, or may be obtained by a specific mapping manner. For convenience of description, the following embodiments use BSS color as an example for description.

Fig. 14 shows another implementation manner of this embodiment, which is similar to the implementation manner of fig. 13, and the differences are that the Transmitting BSS (or main BSS), BBS2, and BBS3 are used for uplink coordination, the Transmitting BSS does not need to use a special user info field for indication, the special user info field is used for indication of BSS2 and BSS3, the user info field in the Transmitting BSS is placed at the forefront, the special user info field is not needed for indication, and the Transmitting BSS (or main BSS) can be obtained by a transmission address in a MAC frame header or a BSS color in a SIG field in a physical layer. A user info field carrying a special AID is placed after a user info field in a Transmitting BSS, and the frame format is the same as that in the method introduced in fig. 13, except that it is not necessary to carry user info information related to Transmitting BSS, which is not described herein.

It should be noted that the Transmitting BSS refers to a BSS corresponding to an AP initiating coordination, a BSS corresponding to an AP establishing a coordination group, or a BSS Transmitting a trigger frame.

It should be noted that, since the length of the user info field is fixed, when one user info field is not sufficient to carry indication information of all coordinated BSSs, the user info fields of multiple specific AIDs may also be carried in one trigger frame. The user info of another special AID12 is carried after the user info of one special AID12 and the indicated user info field, and the user info of the other special AID12 is used to indicate one or more subsequent user info fields.

The foregoing embodiment is implemented by introducing a user info field with AID12 as a special value, which is used to indicate how many BSSs participate in coordination and which user info fields correspond. In this way, the assignment of STAs in the BSSs in each coordination set may be independent without sharing the AID space. The number of STAs that can be supported, and the flexibility of AID assignment, is increased.

In other embodiments of the present application, as shown in fig. 15, which is another implementation manner of the present embodiment, a user info field with AID12 set to a special value is used to indicate the user info field in a BSS. Transmitting BSS (or main BSS), BBS2 and BBS3 are used for uplink coordination, Transmitting BSS does not need to use a special user info field for indication, one special user info field is used for indicating BSS2, another special user info field is used for indicating BSS3, the user info in Transmitting BSS is arranged at the top, then the user info field of one special AID12 is used for indicating the user info in a certain BSS, and the indication of the BSS is carried in the user info field of special AID 12. A trigger frame may carry a plurality of special user info fields and corresponding user info fields. Two user info fields preceding the special user info field are attributed to the BSS indicated in the previous special user info field.

In addition, a number of user info fields may be added to each special user info field to indicate how many user info fields corresponding to the special user info fields belong to the BSS.

Without limitation, the user info field related to the Transmitting BSS may also use a special user info field to indicate that, when using a special user info field, the user info field related to the Transmitting BSS does not have to be arranged at the top of the user information list, and the configuration of the field is more flexible.

The aforementioned embodiment indicates one BSS-associated user info field by setting each AID12 to a special value. The scheme is not limited by the length of the user info field, and can support any number of BSS participation coordination.

In some embodiments of the present application, as shown in fig. 16, a Trigger frame type, such as an UL coordinated Trigger frame, is introduced for uplink coordination. Since a Trigger frame type is introduced, the fields in the corresponding frame structure may be redesigned, and the signaling indication that needs to be added, which was discussed in the foregoing embodiment, may be added to the Common Info field, for example, as shown in fig. 16, carried in the Trigger Dependent Common Info field. The carried information differs from the embodiment shown in fig. 13 in that it is not necessary to carry a special AID.

Fig. 17 is another embodiment, which is different from the embodiment of fig. 16 in that the added field is not carried in the Trigger Dependent Common Info field, but a coded field is added after the Common Info field for carrying a special user Info field, and the carried information is different from the embodiment shown in fig. 13 in that no special AID needs to be carried.

In the embodiment of the present application, a type of a trigger frame may be introduced to carry information of user info fields of multiple BSSs, and the definition of the user info field does not need to be modified and special AID12 does not need to be introduced in the embodiment of the present application. The stations of multiple BSSs can be scheduled uplink in the same trigger frame, and the AID space does not need to be shared, and the AID space in each BSS does not need to be reduced. In addition, the signaling interaction and AID distribution complexity of the AP end are reduced.

As can be seen from the foregoing description of the embodiment, the trigger frame generated by the first access point may include: the trigger frame may trigger the multiple BSSs to perform uplink coordination, and for the first access point, the trigger frame may carry an identifier of a triggered station in one BSS, so that the first access point may independently configure the identifier of a station associated with the first access point, it is not necessary to ensure that the identifiers of the stations in the multiple BSSs are unique, the flexibility of configuring the identifier of the triggered station by the first access point is increased, and the access point and the station communicate in the uplink coordination scene of the multiple access points is implemented.

Example two

In the coordination mechanism of multiple APs, a frame transmitted by one AP needs to be received by an AP or an STA in another coordinated BSS. This frame is coordination dependent and may be collectively referred to as a coordination frame. Coordination may involve different procedures in the coordination process, such as signaling negotiation between the coordinating APs, channel measurement between the APs and STAs in the coordinating BSS, control signaling sent by the APs to the STAs in the coordinating BSS, or coordination data sent by the APs to the STAs in the coordinating BSS. The specific type of frame and the content contained therein are not limited. The coordination frame is transmitted by an AP, received by a station in the coordinating BSS, or received by both the station in the present BSS and the coordinating BSS. For example, the first AP and the second AP belong to the same cooperative set (or referred to as a cooperative set), and the cooperative set may include multiple BSSs, where the BSS in which the first AP is located is a local BSS and the BSS in which the second AP is located is a cooperative BSS.

In the SIG field of the PPDU carrying the coordination frame, there is usually a BSS color field, such as a universal-signal (U-SIG) field of an Extreme High Throughput (EHT) PPDU. Since the coordinated BSS colors of multiple BSSs are different, but only one BSS color can be placed in the BSS color field, one way is to set the BSS color of the transmitting BSS. However, one problem with this approach is that all coordinated AP implementations are required to inform all STAs participating in coordination, and the BSS color corresponding to the transmitting BSS is in the coordination set. When all coordinated BSSs may act as transmitting BSSs, all BSS colors corresponding to the coordinated BSSs need to be notified. Thus, when all coordinated STAs receive a frame whose BSS color field matches the BSS color matched with the transmitting BSS, the STA continues to perform parsing. Even if one AP in the coordination set sends a non-coordinated frame, the STA in the coordination set needs to continue interpreting until it is determined that the frame is not related to coordination according to other information in the MAC frame, which wastes processing resources of the station.

In order to solve the above problem, another uplink coordinated communication method provided by the embodiment of the present application is described next, and as shown in fig. 18, the method mainly includes the following processes:

1801. a first Access Point (AP) generates a physical layer protocol data unit (PPDU), wherein the physical layer protocol data unit comprises a Media Access Control (MAC) frame, and comprises the following steps: coordination (coordination) indication information indicating whether a target receiving station of the MAC frame includes a communication apparatus, the communication apparatus including at least one of: and the first access point and the second access point belong to the same cooperation set (or called coordination set).

The first access point belongs to a first BSS, the second access point belongs to a second BSS, and the first BSS and the second BSS are coordinated BSSs. The first access point and the second access point belong to the same coordination set (or cooperation set). The first BSS also includes one or more stations, and the second BSS also includes one or more stations. In the embodiment of the present application, the first access point AP transmits PPDU, so that the first BSS is the own BSS (or transmission BSS), and the second BSS is a BSS coordinated with the first BSS.

In this embodiment of the present application, the first access point and the second access point perform cooperative transmission together, and then the first access point and the second access point belong to the same cooperation set. The first access point may be a master access point and the second access point may be a slave access point. And a physical layer protocol data unit generated by the first access point carries coordination indication information, and indicates whether a target receiving station of the MAC frame carried by the PPDU comprises a communication device or not through the coordination indication information, wherein the target receiving station of the MAC frame is a station which needs to receive the MAC frame carried by the PPDU. The communication device has various implementations, for example, the communication device may include at least one of: a second access point and a station with which the second access point is associated.

In some embodiments of the present application, a physical layer protocol data unit includes: and coordination indication information, wherein the coordination indication information is used for indicating whether the target receiving station of the PPDU comprises a communication device or not, and the target receiving station of the PPDU refers to a station which needs to receive the PPDU. The communication device includes at least one of: a second access point and a station with which the second access point is associated.

In some embodiments of the present application, a physical layer protocol data unit includes: coordination indication information indicating whether the communication apparatus continues to parse a payload (payload) of the PPDU, the communication apparatus including at least one of: a second access point and a station with which the second access point is associated. For example, the coordination indication information occupies 1 bit and may carry a first value or a second value, and if the coordination indication information carries the first value, the communication apparatus is instructed to continue to analyze the payload of the PPDU, and if the coordination indication information carries the second value, the communication apparatus is instructed not to continue to analyze the payload of the PPDU.

Further, the coordination indication information may also be used to indicate whether the station associated with the first access point continues to resolve the payload of the PPDU. For example, the coordination indication information occupies 2 bits and may carry a first value, a second value, or a third value, if the coordination indication information carries the first value, the communication apparatus is instructed to continue to analyze the load of the PPDU and the station associated with the first access point does not continue to analyze the load of the PPDU, if the coordination indication information carries the second value, the communication apparatus is instructed not to continue to analyze the load of the PPDU and the station associated with the first access point continues to analyze the load of the PPDU, and if the coordination indication information carries the third value, the communication apparatus is instructed to continue to analyze the load of the PPDU and the station associated with the first access point continues to analyze the load of the PPDU.

1802. The first access point transmits a physical layer protocol data unit to the communication device.

In this embodiment of the present application, after the first access point generates the above-mentioned physical layer protocol data unit, the first access point sends the physical layer protocol data unit to the communication apparatus, so that the communication apparatus that receives the PPDU can acquire the coordination instruction information from the PPDU, and the communication apparatus determines whether to continue parsing the MAC frame by parsing the coordination instruction information.

In some embodiments of the present application, a physical layer protocol data unit includes: a Signaling (SIG) field;

the coordination indication information is carried in a signaling field.

Specifically, in the foregoing embodiment of the present application, coordination indication information is added in the SIG field, so that a coordinating station can distinguish as early as possible whether the MAC frame is related to coordination, and further perform power saving or spatial multiplexing as early as possible.

In some embodiments of the present application, if the coordination indication information carries the first value, the coordination indication information is used to indicate that the target receiving station of the MAC frame includes the communication device; or the like, or, alternatively,

and if the coordination indication information carries the second value, the coordination indication information is used for indicating that the target receiving station of the MAC frame does not comprise the communication device.

For example, the coordination indication information may occupy 1 bit. For example, when the first value is 0, the coordination indication information is used to indicate that the target receiving station of the MAC frame includes the communication device, and when the second value is 1, the coordination indication information is used to indicate that the target receiving station of the MAC frame does not include the communication device; or, when the first value is 1, the coordination indication information is used to indicate that the target receiving station of the MAC frame includes the communication device, and when the second value is 0, the coordination indication information is used to indicate that the target receiving station of the MAC frame does not include the communication device. The specific value carried by the coordination indication information may be specifically determined according to an application scenario.

1811. The communication device receives a physical layer protocol data unit (PPDU) sent by a first Access Point (AP), the physical layer protocol data unit comprises a Media Access Control (MAC) frame, and the physical layer protocol data unit comprises: coordination indication information indicating whether a target receiving station of the MAC frame includes a communication apparatus, the communication apparatus including: and the first access point and the second access point belong to the same cooperation set.

1812. The communication device determines whether to parse the MAC frame according to the coordination indication information.

In this embodiment, there are various implementations of the MAC frame carried by the PPDU, for example, the MAC frame may be a coordination frame. For example, as follows, a coordination indication message is added in the SIG field of the PPDU carrying the coordination frame, and is used to indicate whether the frame is coordination-related. When coordination indicates that the frame is coordination related, the stations in the coordination set need to continue parsing. When an AP in the coordination set sends a non-coordination related frame, and only for a station in the BSS, coordination in the SIG of the PPDU carrying the frame indicates that the frame is not coordination related, and the station in the coordination set does not need to continue parsing according to the coordination indication. The coordination indication information may be carried in an independent subfield in the SIG, or may be indicated by multiplexing other subfields. When the method is applied in the EHT standard, the SIG field is commonly called an EHT-U-SIG, EHT-SIG or EHT-SIG-A field. The coordination field may be 1 bit, and when set to 0, indicates that the contents carried by the PPDU are not coordination related, and when set to 1, indicates that the contents carried by the PPDU are coordination related. And vice versa.

Specifically, the coordination frame may be an UL coordinated Trigger frame, and when the coordination indication information in the SIG of the PPDU carrying the UL coordinated Trigger frame indicates that the frame is coordination-related, the UL coordinated Trigger frame is used to Trigger stations in multiple other coordinated BSSs to perform uplink transmission. STAs in the coordinated BSS set need to parse the contents of the MAC frame. Otherwise, the coordination indication information indicates that the frame is not coordinated and related, and the PPDU does not carry the UL coordinated Trigger frame. STAs in the coordinated BSS set do not need to parse the contents of the MAC frame.

In yet another example, the first AP transmits a PPDU, and the correlation indication information is included in a SIG field of the PPDU. If the PPDU is cooperatively transmitted, that is, the target receiving station of the PPDU includes the STA2 associated with the second AP, the first AP may set the indication information to a first value to indicate that the PPDU is coordination related, the target receiving station of the PPDU includes the STA2 and carries data of the STA2, after receiving the PPDU, the STA2 determines that the PPDU is coordination related, and the STA2 needs to parse the PPDU to obtain the data in the PPDU. If the PPDU is not cooperatively transmitted, that is, the target receiving station of the PPDU does not include STA2 associated with the second AP and does not carry data of STA2, the first AP may set the indication information to the second value to indicate that the PPDU is not coordination related, and the target receiving station of the PPDU does not include STA2, and then STA2 determines that the PPDU is not coordination related after receiving the PPDU, and STA2 does not parse the PPDU.

As can be seen from the foregoing illustration of the second embodiment, by adding the coordination indication information to the PPDU, the cooperating stations can distinguish as early as possible whether the MAC frame carried by the PPDU is related to coordination, so that the stations can perform power saving or spatial multiplexing as early as possible.

EXAMPLE III

At present, when a single access point sends a trigger frame to a station, the station may calculate the sending power of uplink transmission performed by the station according to a power parameter carried by the trigger frame, there is no scheme of sending power of uplink transmission in an uplink coordination scenario applicable to multiple access points at present, and if a sending power calculation scheme in an uncoordinated scenario of the single access point is still used, the sending power of uplink transmission may be calculated inaccurately.

In order to solve the above technical problem, in an uplink coordination scenario of multiple access points, embodiments of the present application further provide a scheme for sending a sending power of a physical layer protocol data unit based on a trigger frame.

Next, another uplink coordinated communication method provided in the embodiment of the present application is introduced, and as shown in fig. 19, the method mainly includes the following processes:

1901. the first access point AP generates a first trigger frame.

The first trigger frame is used for instructing a station to send a physical layer protocol data unit (PPDU) based on the trigger frame, and the first trigger frame comprises: the first access point sends a first sending power of a first trigger frame, and the first access point estimates a first receiving power of a physical layer protocol data unit which is sent by the station and arrives at the first access point based on the trigger frame.

The station is associated with a first access point, the first access point may generate a first trigger frame, the first trigger frame is used to instruct the station to send a physical layer protocol data unit PPDU based on the trigger frame, and the first trigger frame includes: a first transmission power and a first reception power, wherein the first transmission power is a transmission power of the first access point for transmitting the first trigger frame, for example, the transmission power is in units of milliwatts mW or watts W, and the first transmission power may be represented as P0. As another example, the transmit power may be in decibel-milliwatt dBm, and the first transmit power may be expressed as

The first received power is the received power of the trigger frame-based phy layer protocol data unit sent by the station estimated by the first access point to reach the first access point. For example, the unit of the reception power is mW or W, and the first reception power may be denoted Ptar. As another example, the received power may be in decibel-milliwatt dBm, and the first received power may be expressed as Target_RSSI。

In this embodiment of the present application, a first access point and at least one second access point may belong to the same coordination set, and the second access point may generate a second trigger frame, where the second trigger frame is used to instruct a station to send a physical layer protocol data unit PPDU based on the trigger frame, and the second trigger frame includes: the second access point sends the sending power of the second trigger frame, and the second access point estimates the receiving power of the physical layer protocol data unit which is sent by the station and arrives at the second access point based on the trigger frame.

1902. The first access point sends a first trigger frame to the station.

In an embodiment of the present application, a first access point may send a first trigger frame to a station.

Without limitation, at least one second access point and the first access point belong to the same cooperation set, and the second access point may also send the second trigger frame to the station.

In some embodiments of the present application, the uplink coordinated communication method performed by the first access point AP may further include the following steps:

the first access point sends a first Media Access Control (MAC) frame to the station, wherein the first MAC frame comprises: the first access point transmits a second transmission power of the first medium access control frame.

The first MAC frame may be a frame carrying transmission power, for example, the frame carrying transmission power may be a beacon frame, a channel measurement frame, and a coordination frame, and the implementation manner of the first MAC frame is not limited herein. The first access point sends a first medium access control MAC frame to the station, so that the station receives the first MAC frame, and the station may determine a transmit power adjustment factor according to the first MAC frame. For the explanation of the transmission power adjustment factor, see the description in the subsequent embodiments.

In this embodiment of the present application, the first access point and the at least one second access point may belong to the same cooperation set, and the second access point may send a second MAC frame to the station, where the second MAC includes: the second access point transmits a third transmit power of the second MAC frame.

In some embodiments of the present application, the uplink coordinated communication method performed by the first access point AP may further include the following steps:

and the first access point sends a transmission power adjustment factor to the station, wherein the transmission power adjustment factor is used for the station to determine the transmission power for sending the physical layer protocol data unit based on the trigger frame.

The first access point may determine the transmission power adjustment factor, then the first access point transmits the transmission power adjustment factor to the station, and after the station receives the transmission power adjustment factor, the station may determine the transmission power for transmitting the physical layer protocol data unit based on the trigger frame, which is described in detail in the following embodiments.

In this embodiment of the present application, the first access point and the at least one second access point may belong to the same coordination set, the second access point may send a transmission power adjustment factor to the station, and after the station receives the transmission power adjustment factor, the station may determine to send the transmission power of the physical layer protocol data unit based on the trigger frame, which is described in detail in the following embodiments.

1911. The method comprises the steps that a station STA receives a first trigger frame sent by a first access point AP and receives a second trigger frame sent by at least one second access point, wherein the station and the first access point belong to the same basic service set BSS, and the station and the at least one second access point belong to different basic service sets.

The first trigger frame and/or the second trigger frame are used for instructing a station to send a physical layer protocol data unit (PPDU) based on the trigger frame, wherein the first trigger frame includes: the first access point sends a first sending power of a first trigger frame, and the first access point estimates a first receiving power of a physical layer protocol data unit which is sent by the station and arrives at the first access point based on the trigger frame.

In this embodiment of the present application, a station and a first access point are in the same basic service set, the first access point and at least one second access point belong to the same coordination set, and the station may receive, in addition to receiving a first trigger frame, a second trigger frame sent by the at least one second access point.

1912. The station determines a second receive power at which to receive the first trigger frame and the second trigger frame.

The first access point sends a first trigger frame to the station, and at least one second access point sends a second trigger frame to the station, so that the station receives multiple trigger frames (for example, including the first trigger frame and the second trigger frame) at the same time, and the station measures the received power when receiving the multiple trigger frames as the second received power.

1913. And the station acquires a transmission power adjustment factor, wherein the transmission power adjustment factor is used for adjusting the transmission power of the physical layer protocol data unit based on the trigger frame.

In this embodiment of the present application, because a station may receive multiple trigger frames at the same time, and the station needs to consider an influence of multiple access points on the transmission power of the physical layer protocol data unit based on the trigger frames sent by the station, in this embodiment of the present application, the station obtains a transmission power adjustment factor, where the station may adjust the transmission power of the physical layer protocol data unit based on the trigger frames sent by the station through the transmission power adjustment factor.

In some embodiments of the present application, the transmit power adjustment factor is a predefined value; alternatively, the first and second electrodes may be,

the transmit power adjustment factor is obtained by the station from the first access point.

If the predefined condition may be a predefined condition of a communication protocol, the station may obtain the transmission power adjustment factor according to a preconfigured communication protocol. For another example, the first access point may determine a transmission power adjustment factor, and then the first access point transmits the transmission power adjustment factor to the station, and after the station receives the transmission power adjustment factor, the station may determine the transmission power for transmitting the physical layer protocol data unit based on the trigger frame. For another example, the second access point may send the transmission power adjustment factor to the station, and after the station receives the transmission power adjustment factor, the station may determine the transmission power for transmitting the physical layer protocol data unit based on the trigger frame.

In some embodiments of the present application, the obtaining, by the station, a transmit power adjustment factor includes:

the station receives a first Media Access Control (MAC) frame sent by a first access point, wherein the first MAC frame comprises: the first access point sends a second sending power of the first media access control frame;

the station determines a third receiving power for receiving the first media access control frame;

and the station acquires a transmission power adjustment factor according to the second transmission power, the third receiving power and the second receiving power.

The first MAC frame may be a frame carrying transmission power, for example, the frame carrying transmission power may be a beacon frame, a channel measurement frame, and a coordination frame, and the implementation manner of the first MAC frame is not limited herein. The first access point sends a first MAC frame to the station, so that the station receives the first MAC frame, the station obtains a second sending power of the first access point sending the first media access control frame, and the station may also measure a third receiving power of the first MAC frame, so that the station may determine, through the second sending power and the third receiving power, first channel attenuation information between the station and the first access point, where the first channel attenuation information may also be referred to as first path loss information. The station may finally obtain a transmit power adjustment factor according to the second transmit power, the third receive power, and the second receive power, for example, the station determines first channel attenuation information according to the second transmit power and the third receive power, then obtains second channel attenuation information between the station and the second access point according to the first channel attenuation information and the second receive power, and then determines the transmit power adjustment factor according to the first channel attenuation information and the second channel attenuation information, where the transmit power adjustment factor may be a ratio of the first channel attenuation information and the second channel attenuation information. The station may obtain the transmit power adjustment factor according to the second transmit power, the third receive power, and the second receive power, and may also have other implementation manners, for example, the station determines a change ratio of the receive power according to the second transmit power, the third receive power, and the second receive power, and then sets a corresponding transmit power adjustment factor based on the change ratio, and a specific implementation manner of the transmit power adjustment factor is not limited.

In some embodiments of the present application, the obtaining, by the station, a transmit power adjustment factor includes:

the station receives a first media access control frame sent by a first access point and receives a second media access control frame sent by a second access point, wherein the first media access control frame comprises: the first access point transmits a second transmission power of the first medium access control frame, and the second medium access control frame comprises: the second access point sends a third sending power of the second media access control frame;

the station determines a third receiving power for receiving the first media access control frame and determines a fourth receiving power for receiving the second media access control frame;

and the station acquires the transmission power adjustment factor according to the second transmission power, the third receiving power and the fourth receiving power.

The first MAC frame may be a frame carrying transmission power, for example, the frame carrying transmission power may be a beacon frame, a channel measurement frame, and a coordination frame, and the implementation manner of the first MAC frame is not limited herein. The first access point sends a first MAC frame to the station, so that the station receives the first MAC frame, the station obtains a second sending power of the first access point sending the first media access control frame, and the station may also measure a third receiving power of the first MAC frame, so that the station may determine, through the second sending power and the third receiving power, first channel attenuation information between the station and the first access point, where the first channel attenuation information may also be referred to as first path loss information. Similarly, the second access point may also send the second trigger frame, and likewise, the station may also determine second channel attenuation information between the station and the second access point, where the second channel attenuation information may also be referred to as second impairment information. It should be noted that the transmission of the first MAC frame and the second MAC frame may be performed in a time-sharing manner. The station obtains a transmission power adjustment factor according to the second transmission power, the third reception power, and the fourth reception power, for example, the station determines first channel attenuation information according to the second transmission power and the third reception power, obtains second channel attenuation information between the station and the second access point according to the third transmission power and the fourth reception power, and determines the transmission power adjustment factor according to the first channel attenuation information and the second channel attenuation information, where the transmission power adjustment factor may be a ratio of the first channel attenuation information to the second channel attenuation information. The station may obtain the transmit power adjustment factor according to the second transmit power, the third receive power, and the fourth receive power, and other implementations are also possible, for example, the station determines a change ratio of the transmit power according to the second transmit power and the third transmit power, and the station determines a change ratio of the receive power according to the third troublesome power and the fourth receive power, and then sets a corresponding transmit power adjustment factor based on the change ratio, and a specific implementation of the transmit power adjustment factor is not limited.

In some embodiments of the present application, the obtaining, by the station, a transmit power adjustment factor includes:

the station receives a second media access control frame sent by a second access point, wherein the second media access control frame comprises: the second access point sends a third sending power of the second media access control frame;

the station determines a fourth receiving power for receiving the second media access control frame;

and the station acquires a transmission power adjustment factor according to the third transmission power, the fourth reception power and the second reception power.

The second MAC frame may be a frame carrying transmission power, for example, the frame carrying transmission power may be a beacon frame, a channel measurement frame, and a coordination frame, and the implementation manner of the second MAC frame is not limited herein. The second access point sends a second MAC frame to the station, so that the station receives the second MAC frame, the station obtains second sending power of the second access point sending the first media access control frame, and the station can also measure fourth receiving power of the second MAC frame, so that the station can determine second channel attenuation information between the station and the second access point according to the third sending power and the fourth receiving power, and the second channel attenuation information can also be referred to as second path loss information. The station may finally obtain a transmit power adjustment factor according to the third transmit power, the fourth receive power, and the second receive power, for example, the station determines second channel attenuation information according to the third transmit power and the fourth receive power, obtains first channel attenuation information between the station and the first access point according to the second channel attenuation information and the second receive power, and determines the transmit power adjustment factor according to the first channel attenuation information and the second channel attenuation information, where the transmit power adjustment factor may be a ratio of the first channel attenuation information and the second channel attenuation information. The station may obtain the transmit power adjustment factor according to the third transmit power, the fourth receive power, and the second receive power, and may also have other implementation manners, for example, the station determines a change ratio of the receive power according to the third transmit power, the fourth receive power, and the second receive power, and sets a corresponding transmit power adjustment factor based on the change ratio, where a specific implementation manner of the transmit power adjustment factor is not limited.

It should be noted that there are various execution sequences of the foregoing step 1913 and step 1912, for example, the step 1912 may be executed first, and then the step 1913 is executed, or the step 1913 is executed first, and then the step 1912 is executed, or the step 1912 and the step 1913 are executed simultaneously, which is not limited herein.

1914. And the station determines the sending power of the physical layer protocol data unit based on the trigger frame according to the first sending power, the first receiving power, the second receiving power and the sending power adjustment factor.

In this embodiment of the present application, after the station obtains the transmission power adjustment factor, the station may determine, by using the first transmission power, the first reception power, the second reception power, and the transmission power adjustment factor, the transmission power for transmitting the physical layer protocol data unit based on the trigger frame. In this embodiment of the present application, since a station may receive a trigger frame sent by multiple access points, the station needs to obtain a transmission power adjustment factor, and adjust, by using the transmission power adjustment factor, transmission power for sending a physical layer protocol data unit based on the trigger frame, so that the adjusted transmission power for sending the physical layer protocol data unit based on the trigger frame can be the aforementioned first reception power when the physical layer protocol data unit based on the trigger frame reaches the first access point, accuracy of calculating the transmission power for sending the physical layer protocol data unit based on the trigger frame in an uplink coordination scenario of multiple APs is improved, and there are multiple calculation manners for the transmission power for sending the physical layer protocol data unit based on the trigger frame, which will be described in detail below.

In some embodiments of the present application, determining, by a station, a transmission power for transmitting a trigger frame-based physical layer protocol data unit according to a first transmission power, a first reception power, a second reception power, and a transmission power adjustment factor includes:

the station determines the transmission power for transmitting the trigger frame-based physical layer protocol data unit by the following method:

Pt＝Ptar×P0×k/Pr；

where Pt denotes transmission power for transmitting a physical layer protocol data unit based on a trigger frame, Ptar denotes first reception power, P0 denotes first transmission power, Pr denotes second reception power, k denotes a transmission power adjustment factor, x is a multiplication symbol,/is a division symbol, and + is an addition symbol.

The station may calculate the transmit power for transmitting the trigger frame-based phy layer protocol data unit using the above formula, and the station may adjust the transmit power for transmitting the trigger frame-based phy layer protocol data unit using the transmit power adjustment factor, so that the adjusted transmit power for transmitting the trigger frame-based phy layer protocol data unit may be the first receive power when the trigger frame-based phy layer protocol data unit reaches the first access point, and accuracy of calculating the transmit power for transmitting the trigger frame-based phy layer protocol data unit in an uplink coordination scenario of multiple APs is improved.

In some embodiments of the present application, determining, by a station, a transmission power for transmitting a trigger frame-based physical layer protocol data unit according to a first transmission power, a first reception power, a second reception power, and a transmission power adjustment factor includes:

if the first transmission power is the same as the transmission power of the second trigger frame transmitted by the second access point, the station determines the transmission power of the physical layer protocol data unit based on the trigger frame by the following method:

Pt＝Ptar×P0×(1+a)/Pr；

where Pt denotes transmission power for transmitting a physical layer protocol data unit based on a trigger frame, Ptar denotes first reception power, P0 denotes first transmission power, Pr denotes second reception power, a denotes a transmission power adjustment factor, x is a multiplication symbol,/is a division symbol, and + is an addition symbol.

The station may calculate the transmit power for transmitting the trigger frame-based phy layer protocol data unit using the above formula, and the station may adjust the transmit power for transmitting the trigger frame-based phy layer protocol data unit using the transmit power adjustment factor, so that the adjusted transmit power for transmitting the trigger frame-based phy layer protocol data unit may be the first receive power when the trigger frame-based phy layer protocol data unit reaches the first access point, and accuracy of calculating the transmit power for transmitting the trigger frame-based phy layer protocol data unit in an uplink coordination scenario of multiple APs is improved.

In some embodiments of the present application, determining, by a station, a transmission power for transmitting a trigger frame-based physical layer protocol data unit according to a first transmission power, a first reception power, a second reception power, and a transmission power adjustment factor includes:

if the first sending power is different from the sending power of the second access point for sending the second trigger frame, the station determines the sending power for sending the physical layer protocol data unit based on the trigger frame by the following mode:

Pt＝Ptar×P0×(1+a×b)/Pr；

where Pt denotes transmission power for transmitting a physical layer protocol data unit based on a trigger frame, Ptar denotes first reception power, P0 denotes first transmission power, Pr denotes second reception power, a denotes a transmission power adjustment factor, b denotes a ratio of the first transmission power and transmission power for transmitting a second trigger frame by a second access point, x is a multiplication symbol,/is a division symbol, and + is a addition symbol.

When the first transmit power is different from the transmit power of the second trigger frame transmitted by the second access point, the station further needs to obtain a ratio of the first transmit power to the transmit power of the second trigger frame transmitted by the second access point, that is, the station needs to obtain the parameter b, specifically, the parameter b may be notified to the station by the first access point, or calculated by the station according to the first transmit power and the transmit power of the second trigger frame transmitted by the second access point, which is not limited herein. The station may calculate the transmit power for transmitting the trigger frame-based physical layer protocol data unit using the above formula, and the station may adjust the transmit power for transmitting the trigger frame-based physical layer protocol data unit using the transmit power adjustment factor, so that the adjusted transmit power for transmitting the trigger frame-based physical layer protocol data unit may be the first receive power when the trigger frame-based physical layer protocol data unit reaches the first access point, and accuracy of calculating the transmit power for transmitting the trigger frame-based physical layer protocol data unit in an uplink coordination scenario of multiple APs is improved.

In some embodiments of the present application, determining, by a station, a transmission power for transmitting a trigger frame-based physical layer protocol data unit according to a first transmission power, a first reception power, a second reception power, and a transmission power adjustment factor includes:

the station determines the transmission power for transmitting the trigger frame-based physical layer protocol data unit by the following method:

wherein the content of the first and second substances,indicating the transmission power, Target, for transmitting trigger frame based physical layer protocol data units_RSSIWhich is indicative of a first received power, is,indicating the first transmission power, DL_RSSIDenotes a second received power, m denotes a transmission power adjustment factor, + is an addition symbol, -is a subtraction symbol.

The station may calculate the transmit power for transmitting the trigger frame-based phy layer protocol data unit using the above formula, and the station may adjust the transmit power for transmitting the trigger frame-based phy layer protocol data unit using the transmit power adjustment factor, so that the adjusted transmit power for transmitting the trigger frame-based phy layer protocol data unit may be the first receive power when the trigger frame-based phy layer protocol data unit reaches the first access point, and accuracy of calculating the transmit power for transmitting the trigger frame-based phy layer protocol data unit in an uplink coordination scenario of multiple APs is improved.

Next, a detailed scenario will be described for a calculation procedure of transmission power for transmitting a trigger frame-based physical layer protocol data unit. Fig. 20 is a schematic diagram of a collaboration set structure provided in this embodiment of the present application, and it is illustrated that a STA11 associates with an AP1, and the AP1 and the AP2 are in the same collaboration set.

In fig. 20, when AP1 and AP2 simultaneously transmit trigger frames containing the same content, STA11 receives a signal that is a superposition of signals transmitted by AP1 and AP2, and station STA11 cannot distinguish which part comes from AP1, so that it cannot calculate the transmission power of TB PPDU. A method for the STA11 to calculate the TB PPDU transmission power so that the received power strength of its transmitted signal at the AP11 is equal to the received power when the TB PPDU transmitted by the STA11 reaches the AP1, which is expected by the AP1, will be provided in this embodiment.

Specifically, the parameters referred to in the examples of the present application are explained as follows:

p0: the transmit power used when the AP1 transmits the trigger frame;

ptar: the received power of the TB PPDU transmitted by STA11 when it reaches AP1 is expected;

pr: triggering reception of a frame at STA 11;

pt: the transmission power adopted when the STA11 transmits the TB PPDU;

k 1: the signal attenuation coefficient, or path loss coefficient, between AP1 and STA 11. For example, the uplink and downlink channels are equal, i.e., the attenuation coefficients are the same.

k 2: the signal attenuation coefficient, or path loss coefficient, between AP2 and STA 11. For example, the uplink and downlink channels are equal, i.e., the attenuation coefficients are the same.

a＝k2/k1。

In this embodiment, the unit of transmission power is milliwatts mW or watts W, and it is first assumed that AP2 and AP1 use the same transmission power. Two APs send a trigger frame with the same content together, and only one AP sends a power setting parameter in the trigger frame. In the following embodiment, a method of calculating Pt when the transmission powers are different from each other will be described.

Since STA11 receives the superposition of AP1 and AP2 signals, Pr ═ is (k1+ k2) × P0, i.e.

Pr＝k1×(1+a)×P0 (0)

By transforming the following formula, the method can be obtained,

k1＝Pr/(1+a)/P0 (1)

when STA11 transmits TB PPDU, the reception power at AP1 is expected to be Ptar, which can be obtained from attenuation coefficient k1,

Pt＝Ptar/k1 (2)

substituting the formula (1) into the formula (2) to obtain,

Pt＝Ptar×P0×(1+a)/Pr (3)

in the formula (3), a parameter a, i.e. a ratio of attenuation coefficients k2 to k1 is used, where a can be obtained in various ways, for example, AP can carry transmission power in transmitting beacon frame, and STA11 obtains values of k1 and k2 by receiving beacon frames of AP1 and AP2, respectively, and further obtains a value of a.

For another example, STA11 obtains the value of k1 by receiving AP1 beacon frame, or obtains the value of k2 by receiving AP2 beacon frame, then obtains the value of k1+ k2 by measuring the coordinated uplink trigger frame sent by AP1 and AP2, and further obtains the value of a.

For another example, the AP1 sends a frame carrying the transmission power before sending the coordinated uplink trigger frame. The frame may be a frame dedicated to channel measurement or a frame in the uplink coordination negotiation process. STA11 obtains the value of k1 from this frame measurement. And then obtaining the value of k1+ k2 by measuring the coordinated uplink trigger frames sent by the AP1 and the AP2, and further obtaining the value of a.

For another example, the AP1 and the AP2 respectively transmit a frame carrying transmission power at different times before transmitting the coordinated uplink trigger frame. STA11 obtains values for k1 and k2 from these two frame measurements. Thereby obtaining the value of a.

It should be noted that the access point separately transmits a frame for measuring k1 and k2, which has the advantage over the scheme of obtaining k1 and k2 through beacon frame measurement that the beacon frame is transmitted periodically, typically with a period of 0.1 second, and possibly longer. Thus, the time interval between the transmission of the coordinated uplink trigger frame and the beacon frame may be relatively large, which results in large variation in the transmission of the channel and the attenuation coefficient, and thus inaccurate calculated transmission power. The measurement frame is sent before the uplink trigger frame is coordinated, so that the time interval between the measurement frame and the uplink trigger frame is short, the change of the channel attenuation coefficient is small, and the calculated sending power is more accurate.

Suppose the AP2 transmits the coordinated uplink trigger frame using P2 power, P2 is b × P0. Wherein the P2 or the parameter b needs to be carried in the coordinated uplink trigger frame, or is informed to the STA11 by implementing negotiation. In this embodiment, the manner in which the STA11 acquires the P2 or b value is not limited.

Pr＝k1×P0+k2×P2＝(k1+k2×b)×P0 (4)

When k3 is k2 × b, the data is transmitted,

Pr＝(k1+k3)×P0 (5)

let a 1be k3/k1, then,

Pt＝Ptar×P0×(1+a1)/Pr (6)

assume that there are more than two APs in the coordination, and each AP uses the transmission power P0 when transmitting the coordinated uplink trigger frame. For example, the channel attenuation coefficient between APn and STA11 is kn.

Pr＝(k1+k2+…kn)×P0 (7)

When a2 is (k2+ … kn)/k1, then,

k1＝Pr/(1+a2)/P0 (8)

further, the following formula is obtained:

Pt＝Ptar×P0×(1+a2)/Pr (9)

it should be noted that, in the above method, the attenuation coefficient is a natural number, and when the attenuation is calculated in the communication field, a logarithmic mode may also be adopted, which is described in detail in the following embodiments.

As can be seen from the foregoing illustration, in the embodiment of the present application, the STA may calculate the transmission power of the TB PPDU in the uplink coordination mechanisms of multiple APs, and may accurately calculate the transmission power of the TB PPDU, so as to solve the problem that the transmission power of the TB PPDU cannot be calculated in the uplink coordination mechanisms of multiple APs.

In other embodiments of the present application, the transmission power of the TB PPDU may also be calculated as follows, and as shown in formula (0), Pr ═ k1 × (1+ a) × P0, where a is a changing value, and for example, both the position between APs and the position of the STA may affect the value of a. However, since STA11 may be a shorter distance from the associated AP1 than from AP2, the received signal from AP1 may be stronger than the signal from AP2 if the transmission strength is equal. Thus a is a fraction between 0 and 1. Through measurement and statistics for a typical scenario, a fixed parameter a can be set, and multiple stations use the fixed parameter to perform power calculation.

By letting 1+ a equal k, this can give

Pr＝k1×k×P0 (10)

So as to obtain the composite material,

Pt＝k×P0×Ptar/Pr (11)

the parameter a or k may be in a fixed form, that is, defined in the communication protocol standard, and all the coordinating stations use the value to perform power calculation. The parameter a or k may also be determined by the AP, and the AP calculates a value a or k according to information such as the position of the AP in the coordination set, and then sends the value a or k to the coordinated station, and the coordinated station performs power calculation using the value.

In the embodiment of the present application, a station calculates the transmission power of a TB PPDU in an uplink coordination mechanism by using a fixed or semi-fixed parameter, so that the calculation process of the transmission power of the TB PPDU can be simplified.

In other embodiments of the present application, the unit of transmit power is decibel milliwatts. Where decibel to decibel (dBm) is an absolute value that refers to power, and different decibel (dB) is a relative value, decibel is a unit that measures the ratio of the number of two identical units.

In fig. 20, when AP1 and AP2 simultaneously transmit trigger frames containing the same content, the signal received by STA11 is the superposition of the signals transmitted by AP1 and AP2, and station STA11 cannot distinguish which part of the signal comes from AP1, so that the transmission power of TB PPDU cannot be calculated. A method for the STA11 to calculate the TB PPDU transmission power so that the received power strength of its transmitted signal at the AP11 is equal to the received power when the TB PPDU transmitted by the STA11 reaches the AP1, which is expected by the AP1, will be provided in this embodiment.

The parameters involved in the examples of the present application are explained as follows:

the transmit power used when the AP1 transmits the trigger frame;

Target_RSSI: the received power of the TB PPDU transmitted by STA11 when it reaches AP1 is expected;

DL_RSSI: triggering reception of a frame at STA 11;

the transmission power adopted when the STA11 transmits the TB PPDU;

PL_DL1: the signal attenuation coefficient, or path loss coefficient, between AP1 and STA 11. For example, the uplink and downlink channels are equal, i.e., the attenuation coefficients are the same.

PL_DL2: the signal attenuation coefficient, or path loss coefficient, between AP2 and STA 11. For example, the uplink and downlink channels are equal, i.e., the attenuation coefficients are the same.

First assume that AP2 and AP1 employ the sameThe transmission power. This is because two APs transmit a trigger frame with the same content, and only one AP in the trigger frame transmits the power setting parameter. When the two transmit powers are different as will be described laterThe method of (3).

Since STA11 received the superposition of the AP1 and AP2 signals, i.e.,

wherein in the formulaShown in 10To the power of one.

After the change, the result is obtained,

let m be 10 × 1og₁₀(1+10^((PL_DL1-PL_DL2) /10)), then,

the received power of AP1 after STA11 sends TB PPDU only passes through path loss PL_DL1Here, it is assumed that the path loss of the uplink and the downlink is the same. Thus, the method can obtain the product,

substituting the formula (e3) into (e4) can obtain,

a parameter m is used in the formula (e3), and can be obtained in various ways:

in one implementation, the AP may carry transmission power in transmitting the beacon frame, and STA11 obtains PL by receiving the beacon frames of AP1 and AP2, respectively_DL1And PL_DL2And then obtaining the value of m.

In another implementation, the STA11 obtains PL by receiving AP1 beacon frames_DL11Or PL by receiving AP2 beacon frames_DL2Then, the receiving power after channel superposition is obtained by measuring the coordinated uplink trigger frames sent by the AP1 and the AP2, and further the value of m is obtained.

In another implementation, the AP1 sends a frame carrying the transmission power before sending the coordinated uplink trigger frame. The frame may be a frame dedicated to channel measurement or a frame in the uplink cooperative negotiation process. STA11 obtains PL based on this frame measurement_DL1The numerical value of (c). And then, the receiving power after channel superposition is obtained by measuring the coordinated uplink trigger frames sent by the AP1 and the AP2, and further the value of m is obtained.

In another implementation, the AP1 and the AP2 respectively transmit a frame carrying transmission power at different times before transmitting the coordinated uplink trigger frame. STA11 obtains PL from these two frame measurements_DL1And PL_DL2The numerical value of (c). Thereby obtaining the value of m;

it should be noted that, in the above various implementations, one frame is transmitted to measure m, and the advantage of obtaining the value of m through the measurement of the beacon frame is that the beacon frame is transmitted periodically, typically with a period of 0.1 second, and possibly longer. Thus, the time interval between the transmission of the coordinated uplink trigger frame and the beacon frame may be relatively large, which results in large variation in the transmission of the channel and the attenuation coefficient, and thus inaccurate calculated transmission power. Sending a measurement frame before coordinating the uplink trigger frame can ensure that the time interval between the measurement frame and the coordinating uplink trigger frame is short, the channel attenuation coefficient is not changed greatly, and thus the calculated sending power is more accurate.

Assume AP2 usageAnd sending a coordinated uplink trigger frame by the power. Wherein the content of the first and second substances,the uplink data needs to be carried in a coordinated uplink trigger frame, or implemented by a manner of implementing negotiation, such as notifying the STA 11. The present embodiment obtains for STA11The numerical method of (2) is not limited.

After the change, the result is obtained,

order toThen the process of the first step is carried out,

substituting the formula (e8) into (e4) can obtain,

suppose there are more than two APs in the cooperation and each AP uses transmit power when transmitting the coordinated uplink trigger frameAPThe channel attenuation coefficient between n and STA11 is PL_DLn。

The compound is obtained through the change of the formula,

let m2 be 10 log₁₀(1+10^((PL_DL1-PL_DL2)/10)+…+10^((PL_DL1-PL_DLn) /10)), then,

substituting the formula (e12) into (e4) can obtain,

the unit of transmit power in this embodiment is decibel-milliwatt dBm.

In other embodiments of the present application, as can be seen from equation (e3),where m is a changing value, the positions of APs and STAs all affect the value of m. However, since STA11 will typically be shorter than AP2 from the associated AP1, the received AP1 signal will be stronger than the AP2 signal if the transmission strength is equal. The value of m will therefore range from 0dB to 3 dB. A fixed parameter m can be set by measurements and statistics for a typical scenario, and is used by all stations for power calculation.

The parameter m may take a fixed form, i.e. it is specified in the communication protocol, and all cooperating stations use this value for power calculation. The parameter m can also be determined by the AP, and the AP calculates an m value according to information such as the position of the AP in the cooperative set, and then sends the m value to the cooperative station, and the cooperative station calculates the power by using the m value.

As can be seen from the foregoing illustration of the third embodiment, in the embodiment of the present application, the STA measures the path loss information of the STA, the associated AP and the cooperative AP, and further compensates the transmission power of the TB PPDU, so that the power strength of the TB PPDU reaching the associated AP is equal to the reception power, expected by the AP1, of the TB PPDU transmitted by the STA11 when the TB PPDU reaches the AP 1. The performance loss caused by inconsistent uplink arrival power strength of a plurality of STAs is reduced.

Fig. 21 shows a schematic block diagram of a communication apparatus 2100 according to an embodiment of the present application. In an embodiment, the apparatus 2100 shown in fig. 21 may correspond to a communication apparatus in the foregoing method embodiment, and may have any function of a first access point or STA in the method, alternatively, the apparatus 2100 in this embodiment may be the first access point, or may also be a chip in the first access point, and the apparatus 2100 in this embodiment may be a station, or may also be a chip in the station. The apparatus 2100 may include a processing module 2110 and a transceiver module 2120, and optionally, the apparatus 2100 may further include a storage module 2130.

In one embodiment, the communications device 2100 is a first access point or a chip within a first access point.

The processing module 2110 may be configured to generate signaling or data information sent in the foregoing method embodiment, for example, generate the trigger frame sent in step 301; and may be further configured to control the transceiver module 2120 to transmit the trigger frame to the STA according to the trigger frame. For example, step 302 may be performed. The processing module 2110 may also be configured to generate the PPDU in step 1801. The processing module 2110 may be further configured to generate the first trigger frame in step 1901.

The transceiver 2120 is configured to support communications between the first access point AP, the station, and other nodes. It is understood that the transceiver module may include a receiving module and a transmitting module. Wherein, the sending module may be configured to perform step 302, step 1802, and step 1902 in the foregoing method embodiments.

In yet another embodiment, the communications device 2100 is a site or a chip within a site;

the processing module 2110 may parse and process signaling or data information, such as notification information, sent in the foregoing method embodiments. For example, step 306 may be performed. The processing module 2110 may also be used to generate signaling, such as trigger frames, sent in the foregoing embodiments. The processing module 2110 may also determine to perform steps 312, 1812, 1912 to 1914 in the foregoing embodiments.

The transceiver module 2120 is configured to support communication between the station AP and the first AP, and other nodes. It is understood that the transceiver module may include a receiving module and a transmitting module. Wherein, the receiving module may be configured to perform step 311, step 1811 and step 1911 in the foregoing method embodiments.

It should be understood that the apparatus 2100 according to an embodiment of the present application may correspond to the first access point or the STA in the methods of the foregoing embodiments, and the above and other management operations and/or functions of the respective modules in the apparatus 2100 are not described herein again for brevity in order to implement the corresponding steps of the respective methods.

Alternatively, the apparatus 2100 may be configured as a general purpose processing system, such as that commonly referred to as a chip, and the processing module 2110 may include: one or more processors providing processing functionality; the transceiver 2120 may be, for example, an input/output interface, a pin or a circuit, and the input/output interface may be used to take charge of information interaction between the chip system and the outside, for example, the input/output interface may output the transmission control information generated by the first access point AP to other modules outside the chip for processing. The processing module may execute computer-executable instructions stored in the memory module to implement the functionality of the first access point in the above-described method embodiments. In an example, the storage module 2130 optionally included in the apparatus 2100 may be a storage unit in a chip, such as a register, a cache, and the like, and the storage module 2130 may also be a storage unit located outside the chip, such as a read-only memory (ROM) or another type of static storage device that can store static information and instructions, a Random Access Memory (RAM), and the like.

In another example, fig. 22 shows a schematic block diagram of another communication apparatus 2200 of an embodiment of the present application. The apparatus 2200 in this embodiment may be the first access point or the STA in the above method embodiment, and the apparatus 2200 may be configured to perform part or all of the functions of the first access point or the STA in the above method embodiment. The apparatus 2200 may comprise: processor 2210, baseband circuitry 2230, rf circuitry 2240, and antenna 2250, optionally, the apparatus 2200 may also include a memory 2220. The various components of the device 2200 are coupled together by a bus system that includes a power bus, a control bus, and a status signal bus in addition to a data bus. For clarity of illustration, however, the various buses are labeled as a bus system in the figures.

Processor 2210 may be used to implement control of the first access point or STA, to perform the processing by the first access point or STA in the above-described embodiments, may perform the processing involved with the first access point or STA in the above-described method embodiments and/or other processes for the techniques described herein, may also run an operating system, be responsible for managing the bus, and may execute programs or instructions stored in memory.

Baseband circuitry 2230, radio frequency circuitry 2240, and antenna 2250 may be used to support transceiving information between a first access point and a second access point or station as referred to in the previous embodiments to support wireless communications between the first access point and other nodes. For example, the transmission control information transmitted by the first access point may be processed by processor 2210, processed by baseband circuitry 2230, e.g., encapsulated according to a protocol, encoded, etc., further processed by rf circuitry 2240, e.g., analog converted, filtered, amplified, and upconverted, etc., and then transmitted to the second access point AP via antenna 2250. It will be appreciated that baseband circuitry 2230, radio frequency circuitry 2240, and antenna 2250 may also be used to support the first access point in communicating with other network entities.

The memory 2220 may be used to store program codes and data of the first access point or STA, and the memory 2220 may be the storage module 2130 in fig. 21. The memory 2220 is shown separate from the processor 2210 in fig. 22, however, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that the memory 2220, or any portion thereof, may be located external to the apparatus 2200. For example, memory 2220 may comprise a transmission line, and/or a computer article separate from the wireless node, which may be accessed by processor 2210 through a bus interface. Alternatively, memory 2220, or any portion thereof, may be integrated into processor 2210, e.g., may be a cache and/or general purpose registers.

In one example, the transceiver module 2120 of fig. 21 may include a baseband circuit 2230, a radio frequency circuit 2240, an antenna 2250; the processing module 2110 may be a processor 2210; in another example, the transceiver module 2120 in fig. 21 may only include the antenna in fig. 22, and the processing module 2110 may include both the processor 2210 and the rf circuit 2240 and the baseband circuit 2230; in yet another example, the processing module 2110 of fig. 21 may include a processor 2210, and, a baseband circuit 2230; the transceiver module 2120 may include a radio frequency circuit 2240 and an antenna 2250.

It will be appreciated that fig. 22 only shows a simplified design of the first access point or STA. For example, in practical applications, the first access point or STA may include any number of transmitters, receivers, processors, memories, etc., and all first access points or STAs that can implement the embodiments of the present application are within the scope of the embodiments of the present application.

Embodiments of the present application also provide a computer storage medium having instructions stored therein, the instructions being executable by one or more processors on a processing circuit. Which when run on a computer causes the computer to perform the methods of the various aspects described above.

Embodiments of the present application further provide a chip system, which includes a processor, configured to support the distributed unit, the centralized unit, and the first access point to implement the functions involved in the foregoing embodiments, such as generating or processing data and/or information involved in the foregoing methods.

In one possible design, the system-on-chip may further include a memory for storing necessary program instructions and data for the distributed unit, the centralized unit, and the first access point. The chip system may be constituted by a chip, or may include a chip and other discrete devices.

Embodiments of the present application further provide a processor, coupled to the memory, for performing the method and functions related to the first access point AP in any of the foregoing embodiments.

The embodiments of the present application further provide a processor, coupled to the memory, for performing the methods and functions related to the STA in any of the embodiments.

Embodiments of the present application further provide a computer program product containing instructions, which when executed on a computer, cause the computer to perform the method and functions related to the first access point AP in any of the embodiments.

Embodiments of the present application further provide a computer program product containing instructions, which when executed on a computer, cause the computer to perform the methods and functions related to the STA in any of the above embodiments.

An embodiment of the present application further provides a wireless communication system, where the system includes the first access point and at least one second access point, and at least one STA involved in the foregoing embodiments.

In the above embodiments, the implementation may be wholly or partially realized by software, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof. When implemented in software, may be implemented in whole or in part in the form of a computer program product. The computer program product includes one or more computer instructions. When the computer program instructions are loaded and executed on a computer, the procedures or functions described in accordance with the present application are generated, in whole or in part. The computer may be a general purpose computer, a special purpose computer, a network of computers, or other programmable device. The computer instructions may be stored in a computer readable storage medium or transmitted from one computer readable storage medium to another, for example, the computer instructions may be transmitted from one website, computer, server, or data center to another website, computer, server, or data center by wire (e.g., coaxial cable, fiber optic, digital subscriber line) or wirelessly (e.g., infrared, wireless, microwave, etc.). The computer-readable storage medium can be any available medium that can be accessed by a computer or a data storage device, such as a server, a data center, etc., that incorporates one or more of the available media. The usable medium may be a magnetic medium (e.g., floppy Disk, hard Disk, magnetic tape), an optical medium (e.g., DVD), or a semiconductor medium (e.g., Solid State Disk), among others.