U.S. patent application number 17/568489 was filed with the patent office on 2022-04-28 for multi-link communication method and related device.
This patent application is currently assigned to HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.. The applicant listed for this patent is HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Yuchen Guo, Guogang Huang, Yunbo Li.
Application Number | 20220132610 17/568489 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000006123070 |
Filed Date | 2022-04-28 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20220132610 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Guo; Yuchen ; et
al. |
April 28, 2022 |
MULTI-LINK COMMUNICATION METHOD AND RELATED DEVICE
Abstract
A multi-link communication method and apparatus are provided.
The method includes generating, by a first station, a radio frame.
The first station is one of multiple stations comprised in a first
multi-link device. The multiple stations comprised in the first
multi-link device work on multiple links. The multiple links
comprise a first link on which the first station works. The method
further includes sending, on the first link by the first station,
the radio frame to a second station. The radio frame includes at
least two management frames. The at least two management frames are
generated by at least two stations that work on different links in
the first multi-link device. The second station is one of multiple
stations included in a second multi-link device.
Inventors: |
Guo; Yuchen; (Shenzhen,
CN) ; Li; Yunbo; (Shenzhen, CN) ; Huang;
Guogang; (Shenzhen, CN) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD. |
Shenzhen |
|
CN |
|
|
Assignee: |
HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO.,
LTD.
Shenzhen
CN
|
Family ID: |
1000006123070 |
Appl. No.: |
17/568489 |
Filed: |
January 4, 2022 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
PCT/CN2020/100039 |
Jul 3, 2020 |
|
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17568489 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04W 76/11 20180201;
H04W 76/15 20180201; H04L 47/34 20130101 |
International
Class: |
H04W 76/15 20060101
H04W076/15; H04W 76/11 20060101 H04W076/11; H04L 47/34 20060101
H04L047/34 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 5, 2019 |
CN |
201910608995.2 |
Claims
1. A multi-link communication method, the method comprising:
generating, by a first station, a radio frame, the first station
being one of multiple stations comprised in a first multi-link
device, wherein the multiple stations comprised in the first
multi-link device work on multiple links, and the multiple links
comprise a first link on which the first station works; and
sending, on the first link by the first station, the radio frame to
a second station, the radio frame comprising at least two
management frames, the at least two management frames are generated
by at least two stations that work on different links in the first
multi-link device, and the second station is one of multiple
stations comprised in a second multi-link device.
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the radio frame
comprises at least two pieces of link indication information, one
piece of link indication information corresponds to one management
frame, and the link indication information indicating a link
corresponding to the management frame.
3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the link indication
information is a link information element, the link information
element comprises identification information of the link
corresponding to the management frame, and the identification
information of the link comprises at least one of a band
identifier, a channel number, or an operating class.
4. The method according to claim 2, wherein the link indication
information is a multi-band element, and the multi-band element
comprises a band identifier, a channel number, and an operating
class.
5. The method according to claim 2, wherein the radio frame
comprises at least two cyclic redundancy check fields, one cyclic
redundancy check field corresponds to one management frame, and the
cyclic redundancy check field is used to check correctness of the
management frame and the link indication information.
6. The method according to claim 2, wherein the radio frame
comprises first indication information, and the first indication
information indicating a number of the at least two management
frames.
7. The method according to claim 2, wherein the radio frame
comprises second indication information, and the second indication
information indicating a total length of the at least two
management frames and the at least two pieces of link indication
information.
8. The method according to claim 1, wherein when frame types and
subtypes of the at least two management frames are the same, the at
least two management frames comprise a first management frame and
another management frame other than the first management frame, the
first management frame comprises a first type information element
and a second type information element, the another management frame
comprises the second type information element, the first type
information element carries common information of the at least two
management frames, and the second type information element carries
unique information of each management frame.
9. The method according to claim 8, wherein one information element
comprises an indication field, the indication field comprises a
first value or a second value, the first value indicating that the
information element is the first type information element, and the
second value indicating that the information element is the second
type information element.
10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the radio frame
comprises a temporary starting sequence number, and the temporary
starting sequence number indicating a frame sequence of the first
management frame in the at least two management frames.
11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the method further
comprises: receiving, on the first link by the first station, a
response frame sent by the second station; wherein the response
frame is a block acknowledgment frame, a starting sequence number
field in the block acknowledgment frame is set to the temporary
starting sequence number, the block acknowledgment frame comprises
a block acknowledgment bitmap, and the block acknowledgment bitmap
indicating that the second station starts, from the first
management frame, acknowledgment on whether the at least two
management frames are correctly received.
12. The method according to claim 10, wherein the method further
comprises: sending, on the first link by the second station, a
response frame to the second station; wherein the response frame is
a block acknowledgment frame, a starting sequence number field in
the block acknowledgment frame is set to the temporary starting
sequence number, the block acknowledgment frame comprises a block
acknowledgment bitmap, and the block acknowledgment bitmap
indicating that the second station starts, from the first
management frame, acknowledgment on whether the at least two
management frames are correctly received.
13. A multi-link communication method, the method comprising:
receiving, on a first link by a second station, a radio frame sent
by a first station, the first station comprising one of multiple
stations comprised in a first multi-link device, the second station
comprising one of multiple stations comprised in a second
multi-link device, the multiple stations comprised in the second
multi-link device work on multiple links, the multiple links
comprise the first link on which the second station works, the
radio frame comprises at least two management frames, and the at
least two management frames are generated by at least two stations
that work on different links in the first multi-link device.
14. A first multi-link communication apparatus, the apparatus
comprising: a generation module configured to generate a radio
frame via a first station, the first station comprising one of
multiple stations comprised in a first multi-link device, wherein
the multiple stations comprised in the first multi-link device work
on multiple links, and the multiple links comprise a first link on
which the first station works; and a sending module configured to
send, on the first link via the first station, the radio frame to a
second station, the radio frame comprising at least two management
frames, the at least two management frames are generated by at
least two stations that work on different links in the first
multi-link device, and the second station is one of multiple
stations comprised in a second multi-link device.
15. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the radio frame
comprises at least two pieces of link indication information, one
piece of link indication information corresponds to one management
frame, and the link indication information indicating a link
corresponding to the management frame.
16. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the link
indication information is a link information element, the link
information element comprises identification information of the
link corresponding to the management frame, and the identification
information of the link comprises at least one of a band
identifier, a channel number, or an operating class.
17. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the link
indication information is a multi-band element, and the multi-band
element comprises a band identifier, a channel number, and an
operating class.
18. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the radio frame
comprises at least two cyclic redundancy check fields, one cyclic
redundancy check field corresponds to one management frame, and the
cyclic redundancy check field is used to check correctness of the
management frame and the link indication information.
19. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the radio frame
comprises first indication information, and the first indication
information indicating a number of the at least two management
frames.
20. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the radio frame
comprises second indication information, and the second indication
information indicating a total length of the at least two
management frames and the at least two pieces of link indication
information.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of International
Application No. PCT/CN2020/100039, filed on Jul. 3, 2020, which
claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 201910608995.2,
filed on Jul. 5, 2019. The disclosures of the aforementioned
applications are hereby incorporated by reference in their
entireties.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] This application relates to the field of communication
technologies, and in particular, to a multi-link communication
method and a related device.
BACKGROUND
[0003] With development of wireless technologies, a multi-link
device may support multi-link communication. For example, the
multi-link device performs communication on bands of 2.4 GHz, 5
GHz, and 60 GHz simultaneously. Even when a number of antennas is
limited, the multi-link device may perform switching on different
bands, to select an optimal band, and ensure communication quality.
If two multi-link devices need to use an advanced feature such as a
block acknowledgment (BA) or target wake time (TWT) on multiple
links, a corresponding management frame needs to be sent on each of
the multiple links to set up a corresponding function. According to
an on channel tunneling (OCT) mechanism defined in the 802.11
standard, a management frame of one link may be sent on another
link. However, as a number of links increases, if management frames
of multiple links need to be sent, sending of the management frames
is time-consuming, and efficiency is low.
SUMMARY
[0004] Embodiments of this application provide a multi-link
communication method and a related device, to improve communication
efficiency.
[0005] According to a first aspect, an embodiment of this
application provides a multi-link communication method, including:
A first station generates a radio frame, where the first station is
one of multiple stations included in a first multi-link device. The
multiple stations included in the first multi-link device work on
multiple links, and the multiple links include a first link on
which the first station works. The first station sends, on the
first link, the radio frame to a second station, where the radio
frame includes at least two management frames, the at least two
management frames are generated by at least two stations that work
on different links in the first multi-link device, and the second
station is one of multiple stations included in a second multi-link
device. One radio frame carries at least two management frames
generated by at least two stations on different links, so that
communication efficiency is improved.
[0006] According to a second aspect, an embodiment of this
application provides a multi-link communication method, including:
A second station receives, on a first link, a radio frame sent by a
first station, where the first station is one of multiple stations
included in a first multi-link device, and the second station is
one of multiple stations included in a second multi-link device.
The multiple stations included in the second multi-link device work
on multiple links, and the multiple links include the first link on
which the second station works. The radio frame includes at least
two management frames, and the at least two management frames are
generated by at least two stations that work on different links in
the first multi-link device. One radio frame carries at least two
management frames generated by at least two stations on different
links, so that communication efficiency is improved.
[0007] In an embodiment of the first aspect or the second aspect,
the radio frame includes at least two pieces of link indication
information, one piece of link indication information corresponds
to one management frame, and the link indication information is
used to indicate a link corresponding to the management frame. The
link indication information indicates a link on which a station
corresponding to a management frame works, so that each management
frame can correctly apply to a corresponding link.
[0008] In an embodiment of the first aspect or the second aspect,
the link indication information is a link information element, and
the link information element includes identification information of
the link corresponding to the management frame. The identification
information of the link includes at least one of a band identifier,
a channel number, and an operating class. The identification
information of the link indicates a link on which a station
corresponding to a management frame works, so that each management
frame can correctly apply to a corresponding link.
[0009] In an embodiment of the first aspect or the second aspect,
the link indication information is a multi-band element, and the
multi-band element includes a band identifier, a channel number,
and an operating class. The multi-band element indicates a link on
which a station corresponding to a management frame works, so that
each management frame can correctly apply to a corresponding
link.
[0010] In an embodiment of the first aspect or the second aspect,
the radio frame includes at least two cyclic redundancy check
fields, one cyclic redundancy check field corresponds to one
management frame, and the cyclic redundancy check field is used to
check correctness of the management frame and the link indication
information. This ensures the correctness of the management frame
and the link indication information.
[0011] In an embodiment of the first aspect or the second aspect,
the radio frame includes first indication information, and the
first indication information is used to indicate a number of the at
least two management frames.
[0012] In an embodiment of the first aspect or the second aspect,
the radio frame includes second indication information, and the
second indication information is used to indicate a total length of
the at least two management frames and the at least two pieces of
link indication information.
[0013] In an embodiment of the first aspect or the second aspect,
when frame types and subtypes of the at least two management frames
are the same, the at least two management frames include a 1.sup.st
management frame and another management frame other than the
1.sup.st management frame. The 1.sup.st management frame includes a
first type information element and a second type information
element, and the another management frame includes the second type
information element. The first type information element carries
common information of the at least two management frames, and the
second type information element carries unique information of each
management frame. A number of information elements in another
management frame is reduced. This reduces resource overheads.
[0014] In an embodiment of the first aspect or the second aspect,
one information element includes an indication field, and the
indication field includes a first value or a second value. The
first value is used to indicate that the information element is the
first type information element, and the second value is used to
indicate that the information element is the second type
information element. A type of each information element is
determined by using the indication field, to ensure that the second
station can correctly receive each information element.
[0015] In an embodiment of the first aspect or the second aspect,
the radio frame includes a temporary starting sequence number, and
the temporary starting sequence number is used to indicate a frame
sequence of the 1.sup.st management frame in the at least two
management frames.
[0016] The temporary starting sequence number indicates that the
second station starts, from the 1.sup.st management frame,
acknowledgment on whether the management frames are correctly
received.
[0017] In an embodiment of the first aspect or the second aspect,
the first station receives, on the first link, a response frame
sent by the second station. The response frame is a block
acknowledgment frame, and a starting sequence number field in the
block acknowledgment frame is set to the temporary starting
sequence number. The block acknowledgment frame includes a block
acknowledgment bitmap, and the block acknowledgment bitmap is used
to indicate that the second station starts, from the 1.sup.st
management frame, acknowledgment on whether the at least two
management frames are correctly received.
[0018] In an embodiment of the first aspect or the second aspect,
the second station sends, on the first link, a response frame to
the second station. The response frame is a block acknowledgment
frame, and a starting sequence number field in the block
acknowledgment frame is set to the temporary starting sequence
number. The block acknowledgment frame includes a block
acknowledgment bitmap, and the block acknowledgment bitmap is used
to indicate that the second station starts, from the 1.sup.st
management frame, acknowledgment on whether the at least two
management frames are correctly received. The block acknowledgment
frame is generated by indicating the starting sequence number
field, to determine that the management frame is correctly
received.
[0019] According to a third aspect, an embodiment of this
application provides a multi-link communication method, including:
A first station sends, on a first link, an association request
frame to a second station, where the first station is one of
multiple stations included in a first multi-link device, and the
second station is one of multiple stations included in a second
multi-link device. The multiple stations included in the first
multi-link device work on multiple links, and the multiple links
include the first link on which the first station works and a
second link on which another station works. The association request
frame includes request information of the second link, and the
request information includes an index of the second link, an
address of a station corresponding to the second link in the first
multi-link device, and an identifier of a station corresponding to
the second link in the second multi-link device. The first station
receives, on the first link, an association response frame sent by
the second station, where the association response frame includes
response information of the second link. The response information
includes the index of the second link, the address of the station
corresponding to the second link in the first multi-link device,
and the identifier of the station corresponding to the second link
in the second multi-link device. In this way, the first station
determines, based on the association request frame and the
association response frame, that the first station and the second
station set up an association relationship on the first link, and
that two stations working on the second link set up an association
relationship. In addition, the association request frame carries
request information of the multiple links, or the association
response frame carries response information of the multiple links.
This improves communication efficiency.
[0020] According to a fourth aspect, an embodiment of this
application provides a multi-link communication method, including:
A second station receives, on a first link, an association request
frame sent by a first station, where the first station is one of
multiple stations included in a first multi-link device, and the
second station is one of multiple stations included in a second
multi-link device. The multiple stations included in the first
multi-link device work on multiple links, and the multiple links
include the first link on which the second station works and a
second link on which another station works. The association request
frame includes request information of the second link, and the
request information includes an index of the second link, an
address of a station corresponding to the second link in the first
multi-link device, and an identifier of a station corresponding to
the second link in the second multi-link device. The second station
sends, on the first link, an association response frame to the
first station, where the association response frame includes
response information of the second link. The response information
includes the index of the second link, the address of the station
corresponding to the second link in the first multi-link device,
and the identifier of the station corresponding to the second link
in the second multi-link device. In this way, the first station
determines, based on the association request frame and the
association response frame, that the first station and the second
station set up an association relationship on the first link, and
that two stations working on the second link set up an association
relationship. In addition, the association request frame carries
request information of the multiple links, or the association
response frame carries response information of the multiple links.
This improves communication efficiency.
[0021] In an embodiment of the third aspect or the fourth aspect,
the response information includes a listen interval, and the listen
interval is used to indicate a time interval at which the first
station receives beacons. It is ensured that the first station can
correctly receive the beacons by indicating the listen
interval.
[0022] In an embodiment of the third aspect or the fourth aspect,
the response information includes status code, and the status code
is used to indicate whether the second link is successfully
associated. The first station determines, by indicating the status
code, whether the links are successfully associated.
[0023] In an embodiment of the third aspect or the fourth aspect,
second configuration information includes a capability element, and
the capability element is used to indicate a communication
capability of a station corresponding to the second link in the
second multi-link device. This ensures that each station meets a
communication capability requirement.
[0024] According to a fifth aspect, an embodiment of this
application provides a multi-link communication method, including:
A first station sends, on a first link, a block acknowledgment BA
setup request frame to a second station, where the first station is
one of multiple stations included in a first multi-link device, and
the second station is one of multiple stations included in a second
multi-link device. The multiple stations included in the first
multi-link device work on multiple links, and the multiple links
include the first link on which the first station works. The BA
setup request frame includes identification information that is of
at least two links and that is used to indicate to request to set
up a BA protocol. The first station receives, on the first link, a
BA setup response frame sent by the second station, where the BA
setup response frame includes the identification information of the
at least two links. In this way, the first station determines,
based on the BA request frame and the BA setup response frame, that
the BA protocol of the at least two links is successfully set up.
In addition, the BA request frame or the BA setup response frame
carries the identification information of the at least two links,
so that the BA protocol of the at least two links can be set up
simultaneously. This improves BA protocol setup efficiency, and
improves transmission efficiency.
[0025] According to a sixth aspect, an embodiment of this
application provides a multi-link communication method, including:
A second station receives, on a first link, a BA setup request
frame sent by a first station, where the first station is one of
multiple stations included in a first multi-link device, and the
second station is one of multiple stations included in a second
multi-link device. The multiple stations included in the second
multi-link device work on multiple links, and the multiple links
include the first link on which the second station works. The BA
setup request frame includes identification information that is of
at least two links and that is used to indicate to request to set
up a BA protocol. The second station sends, on the first link, a BA
setup response frame to the first station, where the BA setup
response frame includes the identification information of the at
least two links. The first station determines, based on the BA
request frame and the BA setup response frame, that the BA protocol
of the at least two links is successfully set up. In addition, the
BA request frame or the BA setup response frame carries the
identification information of the at least two links, so that the
BA protocol of the at least two links can be set up simultaneously.
This improves BA protocol setup efficiency, and improves
transmission efficiency.
[0026] In an embodiment of the fifth aspect or the sixth aspect,
the identification information includes at least one of a band
identifier, a channel number, and an operating class.
[0027] In an embodiment of the fifth aspect or the sixth aspect,
the BA setup request frame includes a first parameter used to
request to set up a BA protocol, and the first parameter includes a
service identifier and a reference value of a buffer size. The BA
setup response frame includes a second parameter used to determine
to set up the BA protocol, and the second parameter includes the
service identifier and an acknowledgment value of a buffer
size.
[0028] In an embodiment of the fifth aspect or the sixth aspect, a
transmitter address in the BA setup request frame is a media access
control MAC address of any station in the multiple stations in the
first multi-link device, and a receiver address in the BA setup
request frame is a MAC address of any station in the multiple
stations in the second multi-link device. A transmitter address in
the BA setup response frame is a MAC address of any station in the
multiple stations in the second multi-link device, and a receiver
address of the BA setup response frame is a MAC address of any
station in the multiple stations in the first multi-link device.
MAC addresses of the multiple stations in the first multi-link
device are the same, and MAC addresses of the multiple stations in
the second multi-link device are the same.
[0029] In an embodiment of the fifth aspect or the sixth aspect, a
transmitter address in the BA setup request frame is a device
address of the first multi-link device, and a receiver address in
the BA setup request frame is a device address of the second
multi-link device. A transmitter address in the BA setup response
frame is the device address of the second multi-link device, and a
receiver address in the BA setup response frame is the device
address of the first multi-link device.
[0030] According to a seventh aspect, an embodiment of this
application provides a multi-link communication method, including:
A first station sends, on a first link, a TWT setup request frame
to a second station, where the first station is one of multiple
stations included in a first multi-link device, and the second
station is one of multiple stations included in a second multi-link
device. The multiple stations included in the second multi-link
device work on multiple links, and the multiple links include the
first link on which the second station works. The first station
receives, on the first link, a TWT setup response frame sent by the
second station, where the TWT setup response frame includes
identification information of at least two links. In this way,
setup of a TWT protocol is simultaneously completed on multiple
links between the first multi-link device and the second multi-link
device based on the TWT setup request frame and the TWT setup
response frame, so that within a time window that is set up,
multiple stations corresponding to the multiple links can remain in
an active state. In addition, the TWT setup request frame or the
TWT setup response frame carries the identification information of
the at least two links, so that the TWT protocol of the at least
two links can be set up. This improves communication
efficiency.
[0031] According to an eighth aspect, an embodiment of this
application provides a multi-link communication method, including:
A second station receives, on a first link, a TWT setup request
frame sent by a first station, where the first station is one of
multiple stations included in a first multi-link device, and the
second station is one of multiple stations included in a second
multi-link device. The multiple stations included in the second
multi-link device work on multiple links, and the multiple links
include the first link on which the second station works. The
second station sends, on the first link, a TWT setup response frame
to the first station, where the TWT setup response frame includes
identification information of at least two links. In this way,
setup of a TWT protocol is simultaneously completed on multiple
links between the first multi-link device and the second multi-link
device based on the TWT setup request frame and the TWT setup
response frame, so that within a time window that is set up,
multiple stations corresponding to the multiple links can remain in
an active state. In addition, the TWT setup request frame or the
TWT setup response frame carries the identification information of
the at least two links, so that the TWT protocol of the at least
two links can be set up. This improves communication
efficiency.
[0032] According to a ninth aspect, an embodiment of this
application provides a first multi-link communication apparatus.
The first multi-link communication apparatus is configured to
implement the methods and the functions performed by the first
multi-link device in the first aspect, the third aspect, the fifth
aspect, and the seventh aspect, and is implemented by
hardware/software. The hardware/software of the first multi-link
communication apparatus includes modules corresponding to the
foregoing functions.
[0033] According to a tenth aspect, an embodiment of this
application provides a second multi-link communication apparatus.
The second multi-link device is configured to implement the methods
and the functions performed by the second multi-link device in the
second aspect, the fourth aspect, the sixth aspect, and the eighth
aspect, and is implemented by hardware/software.
[0034] The hardware/software of the second multi-link communication
apparatus includes modules corresponding to the foregoing
functions.
[0035] According to an eleventh aspect, an embodiment of this
application provides a first multi-link device, including a
processor, a memory, and a communication bus. The communication bus
is configured to implement connection and communication between the
processor and the memory. The processor executes a program stored
in the memory to implement the steps of the first aspect, the third
aspect, the fifth aspect, and the seventh aspect.
[0036] In an embodiment, the first multi-link device provided in
this application may include a corresponding module configured to
perform an action of the first entity in the foregoing method
designs. The module may be software and/or hardware.
[0037] According to a twelfth aspect, an embodiment of this
application provides a second multi-link device, including a
processor, a memory, and a communication bus. The communication bus
is configured to implement connection and communication between the
processor and the memory. The processor executes a program stored
in the memory to implement the steps provided in the second aspect,
the fourth aspect, the sixth aspect, and the eighth aspect.
[0038] In an embodiment, the second multi-link device provided in
this application may include a corresponding module configured to
perform an action of the first multi-link device in the foregoing
method designs. The module may be software and/or hardware.
[0039] According to a thirteenth aspect, this application provides
a computer-readable storage medium. The computer-readable storage
medium stores instructions. When the instructions are run on a
computer, the computer is enabled to perform the methods in the
foregoing aspects.
[0040] According to a fourteenth aspect, this application provides
a computer program product including instructions. When the
computer program product runs on a computer, the computer is
enabled to perform the methods in the foregoing aspects.
[0041] According to a fifteenth aspect, a chip is provided. The
chip includes a processor, configured to invoke instructions from a
memory and run the instructions stored in the memory, so that a
communication device on which the chip is installed performs the
method according to any one of the foregoing aspects.
[0042] According to a sixteenth aspect, an embodiment of this
application further provides another chip. The chip may be a chip
in a first multi-link device or a second multi-link device. The
chip includes an input interface, an output interface, and a
processing circuit. The input interface, the output interface, and
the circuit are connected to each other through an internal
connection path. The processing circuit is configured to perform
the method according to any one of the foregoing aspects.
[0043] According to a seventeenth aspect, another chip is provided.
The chip includes an input interface, an output interface, and a
processor. Optionally, the chip further includes a memory. The
input interface, the output interface, the processor, and the
memory are connected to each other through an internal connection
path. The processor is configured to execute code in the memory.
When the code is executed, the processor is configured to perform
the method according to any one of the foregoing aspects.
[0044] According to an eighteenth aspect, an apparatus is provided.
The apparatus is configured to implement the method in any one of
the foregoing aspects.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0045] To describe technical solutions in embodiments of this
application or in the background more clearly, the following
briefly describes the accompanying drawings for describing the
embodiments of this application or the background.
[0046] FIG. 1 is a diagram of a communication system according to
an embodiment of this application;
[0047] FIG. 2 is a diagram of setting up an association
relationship between multi-link devices according to an embodiment
of this application;
[0048] FIG. 3 is a flowchart of sending a management frame
according to an embodiment of this application;
[0049] FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a multi-link communication method
according to an embodiment of this application;
[0050] FIG. 5 is a diagram of a radio frame according to an
embodiment of this application;
[0051] FIG. 6 is a diagram of a frame body field according to an
embodiment of this application;
[0052] FIG. 7 is a diagram of an on channel tunneling management
MAC protocol data unit (OCT MMPDU) according to an embodiment of
this application;
[0053] FIG. 8 is a diagram of a multi-band element according to an
embodiment of this application;
[0054] FIG. 9 is a diagram of another frame body field according to
an embodiment of this application;
[0055] FIG. 10 is a diagram of another frame body field according
to an embodiment of this application;
[0056] FIG. 11 is a flowchart of a multi-link communication method
according to an embodiment of this application;
[0057] FIG. 12 is a diagram of a multi-link element of a second
link in an association request frame according to an embodiment of
this application;
[0058] FIG. 13 is a diagram of a multi-link element of a second
link in an association response frame according to an embodiment of
this application;
[0059] FIG. 14 is a flowchart of a multi-link communication method
according to an embodiment of this application;
[0060] FIG. 15 is a diagram of a BA setup request frame or a BA
setup response frame according to an embodiment of this
application;
[0061] FIG. 16 is a flowchart of a multi-link communication method
according to an embodiment of this application;
[0062] FIG. 17 is a diagram of a TWT setup request frame or a TWT
setup response frame according to an embodiment of this
application;
[0063] FIG. 18 is a diagram of a first multi-link communication
apparatus according to an embodiment of this application;
[0064] FIG. 19 is a diagram of a second multi-link communication
apparatus according to an embodiment of this application;
[0065] FIG. 20 is a diagram of a first multi-link device according
to an embodiment of this application; and
[0066] FIG. 21 is a diagram of a second multi-link device according
to an embodiment of this application.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0067] The following describes embodiments of this application with
reference to the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of this
application.
[0068] FIG. 1 is a diagram of a communication system according to
an embodiment of this application. The communication system
includes an access point device and a station device. A multi-link
device in embodiments of this application may be a station device,
or may be an access point device. If the multi-link device is the
access point device, the multi-link device includes one or more
access points (APs), and if the multi-link device is the station
device, the multi-link device includes one or more stations (STAs).
The AP may be an access point used by a mobile user to access a
wired network, and is mainly deployed inside a house, a building,
and a campus, with a typical coverage radius of tens of meters to
hundreds of meters. Certainly, the AP may also be deployed
outdoors. The AP is equivalent to a bridge that connects the wired
network and a wireless network. A main function of the AP is to
connect wireless network clients together, and then connect the
wireless network to the Ethernet. The AP may be a terminal device
or a network device with a wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) chip. The AP
may be a device that supports the 802.11ax standard. Alternatively,
the AP may be a device that supports multiple wireless local area
network (WLAN) standards such as 802.11ac, 802.11n, 802.11g,
802.11b, and 802.11a. The STA may be a wireless communication chip,
a wireless sensor, or a wireless communication terminal. For
example, the STA may be a mobile phone that supports a Wi-Fi
communication function, a tablet computer that supports a Wi-Fi
communication function, a set top box that supports a Wi-Fi
communication function, a smart television that supports a Wi-Fi
communication function, a smart wearable device that supports a
Wi-Fi communication function, a vehicle-mounted communication
device that supports a Wi-Fi communication function, or a computer
that supports a Wi-Fi communication function. Optionally, the STA
may support the 802.11ax standard. The STA may also support
multiple WLAN standards such as 802.11ac, 802.11n, 802.11g,
802.11b, and 802.11a.
[0069] FIG. 2 is a diagram of setting up an association
relationship between multi-link devices according to an embodiment
of this application. The multi-link devices shown in FIG. 2 include
a first multi-link device and a second multi-link device. The first
multi-link device and the second multi-link device may be station
devices. Each multi-link device may include multiple stations, and
the multiple stations may work on different bands. In this case,
the multi-link device may also be referred to as a multi-band
device. Alternatively, the multiple stations may work on different
channels in a same band. The first multi-link device and the second
multi-link device may alternatively be access point devices, which
are similar to the station device, and details are not described
herein again. If the first multi-link device needs to communicate
with the second multi-link device, each station in the first
multi-link device needs to be associated with a corresponding
station in the second multi-link device. As shown in FIG. 2, a STA
1 in the first multi-link device and a STA 1 in the second
multi-link device are associated, and work on a link 1. A STA 2 in
the first multi-link device and a STA 2 in the second multi-link
device are associated, and work on a link 2. A STA n in the first
multi-link device and a STA n in the second multi-link device are
associated, and work on a link n. In this way, each station in the
first multi-link device may set up a connection to a corresponding
station in the second multi-link device on a respective link. This
implements multi-link communication between the two multi-link
devices.
[0070] After the multiple stations of the first multi-link device
set up association relationships with the multiple stations of the
second multi-link device, if the two multi-link devices need to use
an advance feature such as a block acknowledgment (BA) or target
wake time (TWT) on multiple links, a corresponding management frame
needs to be sent on each of the multiple links to set up a
corresponding function.
[0071] FIG. 3 is a flowchart of sending a management frame
according to an embodiment of this application. The 802.11 standard
defines an on channel tunneling (OCT) mechanism. The OCT mechanism
may be applied to a multi-link device. Each multi-link device
includes at least two STAs, and the at least two STAs work on
different bands. A first multi-link device shown in FIG. 3 includes
a first STA and a second STA, and a second multi-link device also
includes a first STA and a second STA. The first STA of the first
multi-link device and the first STA of the second multi-link device
work on a same band to form one link, and the second STA of the
first multi-link device and the second STA of the second multi-link
device work on a same band to form another link. The second STA in
the first multi-link device generates a management MAC protocol
data unit (MMPDU), which may also be referred to as a management
frame. The first STA sends an OCT request frame on the band on
which the first STA works, where the OCT request frame carries the
MMPDU generated by the second STA, and the MMPDU may be referred to
as an OCT MMPDU. It can be learned from the foregoing process that
the multi-link device may send a management frame of one link on
another link. However, as a number of links increases, if
management frames on multiple links need to be sent, sending of the
management frames is time-consuming, and efficiency is low. To
resolve the foregoing technical problem, the embodiments of this
application provide the following solutions.
[0072] FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a multi-link communication method
according to an embodiment of this application. This embodiment of
this application includes at least the following steps.
[0073] S401: A first station generates a radio frame, where the
first station is one of multiple stations included in a first
multi-link device. The multiple stations included in the first
multi-link device work on multiple links, and the multiple links
include a first link on which the first station works.
[0074] It should be noted that a link is determined based on a band
on which a station works, or a band and a channel on which a
station works. One band may include multiple channels. If the
multiple stations work on different bands, the multiple stations
work on different links. Alternatively, if the multiple stations
work on a same band but on different channels, the multiple
stations also work on different links.
[0075] S402: The first station sends, on the first link, the radio
frame to a second station, and the second station receives, on the
first link, the radio frame sent by the first station. The second
station is one of multiple stations included in a second multi-link
device.
[0076] S403: The second station sends, on the first link, a
response frame to the first station. The first station receives, on
the first link, the response frame sent by the second station. The
response frame is a block acknowledgment (BA) frame or a response
frame (ACK) frame in response to the radio frame.
[0077] Optionally, the at least two management frames are generated
by at least two stations that work on different links in the first
multi-link device, or may be generated by a same station on
different links. The at least two management frames may be
generated by the first station in the first multi-link device, or
may be generated by another station in the first multi-link device,
or may be jointly generated by the first station and another
station in the first multi-link device.
[0078] Optionally, the at least two management frames may be an
association request frame, an association response frame, an
authentication frame, a block acknowledgment communication
mechanism (add block acknowledgment, ADDBA) request frame, an ADDBA
response frame, a TWT request frame, a TWT response frame, and the
like.
[0079] The radio frame may carry at least two management frames,
and the radio frame may be referred to as an on-channel multiple
tunneling (OCMT) request frame. If each of the at least two
management frames are generated by another station in the first
multi-link device other than the first station, the at least two
management frames may be referred to as OCT MMPDUs. If the at least
two management frames include a management frame generated by the
first station, the at least two management frames may be referred
to as MMPDUs directly. The radio frame includes a frame header and
a frame body. Optionally, the frame body of the radio frame
includes at least two pieces of link indication information and the
at least two management frames, one piece of link indication
information corresponds to one management frame, and the link
indication information is used to indicate a link corresponding to
the management frame. In an example, the link indication
information is a link information element, the link information
element includes identification information of the link
corresponding to the management frame, and the identification
information of the link includes at least one of a band identifier,
a channel number, and an operating class. In another example, the
link indication information is a multi-band element, and the
multi-band element includes a band identifier, a channel number,
and an operating class.
[0080] FIG. 5 is a diagram of a radio frame according to an
embodiment of this application. The radio frame may include a frame
control field, a frame duration field, a receiver address (RA)
field, a transmitter address (TA) field, and a basic service set
identifier (BSSID) field, a sequence control field, a high
throughput (HT) control field, a frame body field, and a frame
check sequence (FCS) field. The frame control field includes a type
field and a subtype field. If the radio frame is an action frame of
an extremely high throughput (EHT) type, a value of type in the
frame control field is 0, indicating a management frame, and a
value of subtype is 13, indicating an action frame. EHT indicates a
next generation standard of 802.11ax, such as 802.11be. It should
be noted that the radio frame shown in FIG. 5 is merely an example.
Certainly, the radio frame may further include other fields. The
radio frame may further include only some fields shown in FIG. 5.
Locations of the fields may also be adjusted based on a design
requirement.
[0081] Optionally, the radio frame may include at least two
management frames. The at least two management frames are generated
by at least two stations that work on different links in the first
multi-link device. FIG. 6 is a diagram of a frame body field
according to an embodiment of this application. A frame body field
of the radio frame includes at least two OCT MMPDUs, and the at
least two OCT MMPDUs are generated by at least two stations that
work on different links in the first multi-link device. FIG. 7 is a
diagram of an on channel tunneling management MAC protocol data
unit (OCT MMPDU) according to an embodiment of this application.
Each OCT MMPDU may include an MMPDU length field, an MMPDU frame
control field, and an MMPDU frame body field.
[0082] Optionally, the frame body field of the radio frame may
further include at least two pieces of link indication information,
one piece of link indication information corresponds to one
management frame, and the link indication information is used to
indicate a link corresponding to the management frame. The link
indication information may be one or two multi-band elements, and
the multi-band element may also be referred to as a multi-link
element. One OCT MMPDU may correspond to one multi-band element.
For example, a combination thereof is a <OCT MMPDU, multi-band
element> field. The multi-band element is used to indicate a
band on which the station generating the corresponding OCT MMPDU in
the first multi-link device works, or indicate a band and a channel
on which the station generating the corresponding OCT MMPDU in the
first multi-link device works. Further, as shown in FIG. 6, one OCT
MMPDU may alternatively correspond to two multi-band elements,
where one multi-band element is carried in a multi-link, and the
other multi-band element is carried in a multi-link source element.
The multi-band element carried in the multi-band field is used to
identify a MAC layer management entity (MLME) of a receive end of
the OCT MMPDU. The multi-band element carried in the multi-band
source element is used to identify a MAC layer management entity of
a generation end of the OCT MMPDU. The description of the
multi-link source element is also applicable to other
embodiments.
[0083] FIG. 8 is a diagram of a multi-band element according to an
embodiment of this application. The multi-band element may include
but is not limited to a band identifier (band ID) field, a channel
number field, and an operating class field. The multi-band element
may further include an element identifier (element ID) field, a
length field, a multi-band control field, a beacon interval field,
and the like.
[0084] In still another example, the link indication information
may be a link information element, and a number of link information
elements is the same as a number of OCT MMPDUs. One link
information element corresponds to one OCT MMPDU. For example, a
combination thereof is a <OCT MMPDU, link information
element> field. The link information element includes
identification information of the link corresponding to the
management frame, and the identification information of the link
includes at least one of a band identifier, a channel number, and
an operating class.
[0085] Optionally, the frame body field of the radio frame may
further include a category field, and a value of the category field
is used to indicate that a next field is an EHT action frame. A
value of the EHT action field is used to indicate that the radio
frame is an OCMT request.
[0086] Optionally, the frame body field of the radio frame may
further include first indication information, and the first
indication information is used to indicate a number of the at least
two management frames (number of OCT MMPDUs). Alternatively, the
radio frame includes second indication information, and the second
indication information is used to indicate a total length of the at
least two management frames and the at least two pieces of link
indication information. FIG. 9 is a diagram of another frame body
field according to an embodiment of this application. The frame
body field includes a total length field, and other fields included
in the frame body field are the same as fields in the frame body
field shown in FIG. 6.
[0087] Optionally, the frame body field of the radio frame may
include at least two cyclic redundancy check (CRC) fields, one
cyclic redundancy check field corresponds to one management frame,
and the cyclic redundancy check field is used to check correctness
of the management frame and the link indication information. FIG.
10 is a diagram of another frame body field according to an
embodiment of this application. The frame body field of the radio
frame may include an OCT MMPDU and a multi-band element, and may
further include a CRC field. For example, a combination thereof is
a <OCT MMPDU, multi-band element, CRC> field. Optionally, the
frame body field of the radio frame may further include a temporary
starting sequence number field, and the temporary starting sequence
number is used to indicate a frame sequence of a 1.sup.st
management frame in the at least two management frames.
[0088] Optionally, when frame types and subtypes of the at least
two management frames are the same, the at least two management
frames include the 1.sup.st management frame and another management
frame other than the 1.sup.st management frame. The 1.sup.st
management frame includes a first type information element (IE) and
a second type information element, the another management frame
includes the second type information element, the first type
information element carries common information of the at least two
management frames, and the second type information element carries
unique information of each management frame.
[0089] For example, the frame body field of the radio frame
includes two management frames, a 1.sup.st management frame
includes 20 information elements, and a 2.sup.nd management frame
also includes 20 information elements. The first 10 information
elements in the 1.sup.st management frame and the first 10
information elements in the 2.sup.nd management frame are the same,
and are common information of the 1.sup.st management frame and the
2.sup.nd management frame. Therefore, the first 10 information
elements in the 1.sup.st management frame and the first 10
information elements in the 2.sup.nd management frame are first
type information elements. The last 10 information elements in the
1.sup.st management frame and the last 10 information elements in
the 2.sup.nd management frame are different, and are unique
information of each of the 1.sup.st management frame and the
2.sup.nd management frame. Therefore, the last 10 information
elements in the 1.sup.st management frame and the last 10
information elements in the 2.sup.nd management frame are second
type information elements. In this embodiment of this application,
the two management frames may be optimized, to reduce transmission
overheads. Common information in the management frames is placed in
the 1.sup.st management frame, and another management frame carries
only unique information of each management frame. In an
implementation, the 1.sup.st management frame includes first type
information elements and second type information elements, the
first type information elements are the first 10 information
elements in the 1.sup.st management frame, and the second type
information elements are the last 10 information elements in the
1.sup.st management frame. The 2.sup.nd management frame includes
only second type information elements, and the second type
information elements are the last 10 information elements in the
2.sup.nd management frame. The second station of the second
multi-link device may first receive the 1.sup.st management frame,
then receive the 2.sup.nd management frame, and add the first 10
information elements of the 1.sup.st management frame to the
2.sup.nd management frame. In this way, the second station may
obtain all 20 information elements, to obtain complete
information.
[0090] Further, one information element includes an indication
field, the indication field includes a first value or a second
value, the first value is used to indicate that the information
element is the first type information element, and the second value
is used to indicate that the information element is the second type
information element. Alternatively, the first value is used to
indicate that the information element is the second type
information element, and the second value is used to indicate that
the information element is the first type information element. The
indication field may be an element identifier (element ID) of each
information element. Optionally, when the frame body field of the
radio frame includes the temporary starting sequence number, the
second station may reply with a block acknowledgment frame, where a
starting sequence number field in the block acknowledgment frame is
set to the temporary starting sequence number. The second station
may start, from the 1.sup.st management frame, acknowledgment on
whether the at least two management frames are correctly received.
The second station sequentially determines the at least two
management frames, and a bitmap is finally formed. A 1.sup.st bit
in the bitmap is used to indicate whether the 1.sup.st management
frame in the radio frame is correctly received, and other bits
indicate whether the 2.sup.nd management frame, a 3.sup.rd
management frame, . . . , and an N.sup.th management frame are
correct. In addition, the frame body of the radio frame may not
include the temporary starting sequence number field. When replying
with the block acknowledgment frame, the second station may set the
starting sequence number field in the block acknowledgment frame to
a predefined value or any value, and start, from the predefined
value or the any value, acknowledgment on whether the management
frames are correctly received.
[0091] In this embodiment of this application, one radio frame
carries at least two management frames generated by at least two
stations on different links. In this way, management frames of
multiple links are sent. This reduces a delay, and improves
communication efficiency.
[0092] FIG. 11 is a flowchart of a multi-link communication method
according to an embodiment of this application. This embodiment of
this application includes at least the following steps.
[0093] S1101: A first station sends, on a first link, an
association request frame to a second station. The second station
receives, on the first link, the association request frame sent by
the first station. The first station is one of multiple stations
included in a first multi-link device, and the second station is
one of multiple stations included in a second multi-link device.
The multiple stations included in the first multi-link device work
on multiple links, and the multiple links include the first link on
which the first station and the second station work and a second
link on which another station works.
[0094] S1102: The second station sends, on the first link, an
association response frame to the first station. The first station
receives, on the first link, the association response frame sent by
the second station.
[0095] The association request frame is a management frame
generated by the first station, the association request frame
includes request information of at least two links, and the request
information of the at least two links is generated by at least two
stations that work on different links in the first multi-link
device. Further, the request information of the at least two links
may be jointly generated by the first station corresponding to the
first link in the first multi-link device and another station
corresponding to the second link and in the first multi-link
device. Because the association request frame is transmitted on the
first link, the first link is a transmission link, and the second
link is a non-transmission link.
[0096] The association request frame includes a multi-link element
of the first link, and the multi-link element of the first link is
generated by the first station corresponding to the first link in
the first multi-link device. The multi-link element of the first
link includes request information of the first link, and the
request information of the first link may include an index of the
first link, an address of the first station corresponding to the
first link in the first multi-link device, and an identifier of a
second station corresponding to the first link in the second
multi-link device.
[0097] In this embodiment of this application, a multi-link element
of the second link is newly added to the association request frame,
and the multi-link element of the second link is generated by a
station corresponding to the second link in the first multi-link
device. The second link may be one or more links in the multiple
links other than the first link.
[0098] FIG. 12 is a diagram of the multi-link element of the second
link in the association request frame according to an embodiment of
this application. The multi-link element of the second link
includes an information element identifier (element ID) field, a
length field, an extended information element identifier (element
ID Extension) field, a number of links field, and an optional
sub-element field. The number of links is used to indicate a number
of links on which a station in the first multi-link device sets up
an association relationship with a station in the second multi-link
device.
[0099] As shown in FIG. 12, the optional sub-element may include
one or more non-transmitted link profiles, namely, response
information of one or more pieces of second links. The
non-transmitted link profiles may be identified by using a
predefined value, for example, 0. One non-transmitted link profile
may include N information elements, and N is an integer greater
than or equal to 1. A 1.sup.st information element is a newly
defined information element, and is used to identify the
non-transmitted link profile. A 2.sup.nd information element to an
N.sup.th information element are corresponding information elements
that indicate a change in content in an information element list of
the first link (transmission link). Further, the 1.sup.st
information element may include a link index field of the second
link, an address of station (STA's address) field, and a basic
service set (BSS) identifier (BSSID), where the station corresponds
to the second link in the first multi-link device, and the station
corresponding to the second link in the first multi-link device
expects to be associated with the basic service set. The request
information of the second link may further include an information
element identifier (element ID) field, a length field, and an
extended information element identifier (element ID extension)
field that are of a multi-link index element.
[0100] Optionally, the multi-link element of the first link may
include an information element (IE) corresponding to the first
link, and the non-transmitted link profile in the multi-link
element of the second link may include an information element
corresponding to the second link. The information element
corresponding to the first link includes a first type information
element and a second type information element, and the information
element corresponding to the second link includes only the second
type information element. The first type information element
carries common information of the information element corresponding
to the first link and the information element corresponding to the
second link. The second type information element carries unique
information of each of the information element corresponding to the
first link and the information element corresponding to the second
link. The second station of the second multi-link device may first
receive the information element corresponding to the first link,
then receive the information element corresponding to the second
link, and then add the same common information to the information
element corresponding to the second link, to obtain all information
elements of the non-transmission link.
[0101] Optionally, the non-transmitted link profile may further
include a non-transmitted BSSID capability element, and the
capability element is used to indicate a communication capability
of the station corresponding to the second link in the first
multi-link device. The station corresponding to the second link in
the first multi-link device may be a directional multiple-gigabit
station (DMG STA), which is also a type of high-frequency
station.
[0102] Optionally, a service set identifier (SSID) and an
association identifier (AID) of the second link are the same as an
SSID and an AID of the first link.
[0103] The association response frame is a management frame
generated by the second station, the association response frame
includes response information of at least two links, and the
response information of the at least two links is generated by at
least two stations that work on different links in the second
multi-link device. Further, the response information of the at
least two links may be jointly generated by the second station
corresponding to the first link in the second multi-link device and
another station corresponding to the second link in the second
multi-link device.
[0104] The association response frame includes response information
of the second link, and the response information includes an index
of the second link, an address of the station corresponding to the
second link in the first multi-link device, and an identifier of
the station corresponding to the second link in the second
multi-link device. The response information of the second link may
include a listen interval field, and the listen interval is used to
indicate a time interval at which the first station receives
beacons. The non-transmitted link profile may further include a
status code field, and the status code is used to indicate whether
the second link is successfully associated.
[0105] FIG. 13 is a diagram of a multi-link element of the second
link in the association response frame according to an embodiment
of this application. A frame structure of the association response
frame is similar to a frame structure of the association request
frame. For content and functions of elements or fields included in
the association response frame, refer to content and functions of
elements or fields included in the foregoing association request
frame. Details are not described again in this embodiment of this
application.
[0106] In this embodiment of this application, the first station
may determine, based on the association request frame and the
association response frame, that the first station and the second
station set up an association relationship on the first link, and
that two stations working on the second link set up an association
relationship. In addition, the association request frame carries
request information of multiple links, or the association response
frame carries response information of multiple links, so that
association relationships of the multiple links can be set up
simultaneously. This improves communication efficiency. In this
embodiment of this application, the first station sets up a BA
protocol with the second station, and the BA protocol that is set
up may be used for communication between the multiple stations in
the multi-link device in which the first station is located and the
multiple stations in the multi-link device in which the second
station is located. The communication may be multi-link aggregation
communication.
[0107] FIG. 14 is a flowchart of a multi-link communication method
according to an embodiment of this application. This embodiment of
this application includes at least the following steps.
[0108] S1401: A first station sends, on a first link, a block
acknowledgment BA setup request frame to a second station. The
second station receives, on the first link, the BA setup request
frame sent by the first station. The first station is one of
multiple stations included in a first multi-link device, and the
second station is one of multiple stations included in a second
multi-link device. The multiple stations included in the first
multi-link device work on multiple links, and the multiple links
include the first link on which the first station and the second
station work.
[0109] S1402: The second station sends, on the first link, a BA
setup response frame to the first station. The first station
receives, on the first link, the BA setup response frame sent by
the second station, where the BA setup response frame includes
identification information of at least two links.
[0110] The BA setup request frame includes the identification
information that is of the at least two links and that is used to
indicate to request to set up a BA protocol. The identification
information of the at least two links may include identification
information of the first link and identification information of one
or more second links in the multiple links. The identification
information of the at least two links may alternatively include
identification information of multiple second links in the multiple
links other than the first link. The identification information
includes at least one of a band identifier, a channel number, and
an operating class.
[0111] FIG. 15 is a diagram of the BA setup request frame or the BA
setup response frame according to an embodiment of this
application. The BA setup request frame may include a category
field, a block acknowledgment action (block ACK action) field, a
dialog token field, a block acknowledgment parameter set (block ACK
parameter set) field, a block acknowledgment timeout value (block
ACK timeout value) field, a block acknowledgment starting sequence
control (block ACK starting sequence control) field, and a
multi-link element field. The dialog token is used to identify the
BA setup request frame, the block acknowledgment parameter set is
parameters of the BA protocol, and the block acknowledgment timeout
value is used to indicate a time period for setting up the BA
protocol. The multi-link element may also be referred to as a
multi-band element.
[0112] It should be noted that the BA setup request frame may
include a multi-link element of one second link other than the
first link in the multiple links. In this case, the BA protocol may
be applied to the first link and the second link. The BA setup
request frame may alternatively include multi-link elements of
multiple second links in the multiple links other than the first
link. In this case, the BA protocol may be applied to the first
link and the multiple second links, or may be applied to only the
multiple second links. Certainly, the BA setup request frame may
alternatively include a multi-link element of the first link and
multi-link elements of multiple second links. For example, when the
BA setup request frame includes multi-link elements of the first
link, the second link, . . . , and an N.sup.th link, the BA
protocol that is set up may be used for communication on the first
link, the second link, . . . , and the N.sup.th link, or may be
used for aggregation communication on multiple links of the first
link, the second link, . . . , and the N.sup.th link. In this case,
the multiple links share a same BA protocol.
[0113] Optionally, one multi-link element may include indication
information, and the indication information is used to indicate to
set up a BA protocol on a link corresponding to the multi-link
element. If the multi-link element does not carry the indication
information, the BA protocol may alternatively be set up on the
link corresponding to the multi-link element by default.
[0114] The BA setup request frame may include a first parameter
used to request to set up a BA protocol, and the first parameter
includes a service identifier and a reference value of a buffer
size. The BA protocol may be uniquely identified by a triplet
<transmitter address (TA), receiver address (RA), service
identifier>, and the triplet is carried in a frame header part
of the BA setup request frame. MAC addresses of the multiple
stations in the first multi-link device may be set to a same value,
and MAC addresses of the multiple stations in the second multi-link
device may also be set to a same value. The transmitter address in
the BA setup request frame is a media access control MAC address of
any station in the multiple stations in the first multi-link
device, and the receiver address in the BA setup request frame is a
MAC address of any station in the multiple stations in the second
multi-link device. The MAC addresses of the multiple stations in
the first multi-link device are the same, and the MAC addresses of
the multiple stations in the second multi-link device are the
same.
[0115] Optionally, when MAC addresses of multiple stations in the
first multi-link device and the second multi-link device are all
different, a device address of the first multi-link device and a
device address of the second multi-link device need to be defined.
The device addresses may be multi-link logical entity addresses,
and the device addresses may be known in advance by the multiple
stations in the first multi-link device, or known in advance by the
multiple stations in the second multi-link device. A station in the
first multi-link device may send the device address of the first
multi-link device to a station in the second multi-link device, and
a station in the second multi-link device may send the device
address of the second multi-link device to a station in the first
multi-link device. The transmitter address in the BA setup request
frame is the device address of the first multi-link device, and the
receiver address in the BA setup request frame is the device
address of the second multi-link device.
[0116] When the MAC addresses of the multiple stations in the first
multi-link device and the second multi-link device are all
different, a MAC address of the first station may be carried in the
transmitter address in the frame header part of the BA setup
request frame, and the device addresses are carried in a frame body
in the BA setup request frame. When sending the BA setup request
frame, the first multi-link device uses the device address of the
first multi-link device as the transmitter address of the BA setup
request frame, and uses the device address of the second multi-link
device as the receiver address of the BA setup request frame.
Alternatively, the transmitter address in the frame header part of
the BA setup request frame may be set to the device address of the
first multi-link device, and the receiver address may be set to the
device address of the second multi-link device.
[0117] Optionally, the first multi-link device may send the device
address of the first multi-link device to the second multi-link
device by using a probe request frame, an association request
frame, and a re-association request frame. The second multi-link
device may send the device address of the second multi-link device
to the first multi-link device by using a beacon frame, a probe
response frame, an association response frame, and a re-association
response frame. Therefore, the first multi-link device or the
second multi-link device learns the device address of the first
multi-link device and the device address of the second multi-link
device.
[0118] The BA setup response frame includes identification
information that is of at least two links and that is used to
indicate to determine to set up a BA protocol. The identification
information of the at least two links may include identification
information of the first link in the multiple links and
identification information of the second link in the multiple
links. The identification information of the at least two links may
alternatively include identification information of multiple second
links in the multiple links other than the first link. The
identification information includes at least one of a band
identifier, a channel number, and an operating class.
[0119] Optionally, the BA setup response frame may include a second
parameter used to determine to set up the BA protocol, and the
second parameter includes the service identifier and an
acknowledgment value of the buffer size. Optionally, a transmitter
address in the BA setup response frame is a MAC address of any
station in the multiple stations in the second multi-link device,
and a receiver address of the BA setup response frame is a MAC
address of any station in the multiple stations in the first
multi-link device. The MAC addresses of the multiple stations in
the first multi-link device are the same, and the MAC addresses of
the multiple stations in the second multi-link device are the same.
Optionally, the transmitter address in the BA setup response frame
is the device address of the second multi-link device, and the
receiver address in the BA setup response frame is the device
address of the first multi-link device.
[0120] It should be noted that the BA setup response frame may
include a multi-link element of one second link other than the
first link in the multiple links. In this case, the BA protocol may
be applied to the first link and the second link. The BA setup
response frame may alternatively include multi-link elements of
multiple second links in the multiple links other than the first
link. In this case, the BA protocol may be applied to the first
link and the multiple second links, or may be applied to only the
multiple second links. Certainly, the BA setup response frame may
alternatively include a multi-link element of the first link and
multi-link elements of multiple second links.
[0121] Optionally, when the MAC addresses of the multiple stations
in the first multi-link device and the second multi-link device are
all different, the transmitter address in the BA setup response
frame is the device address of the second multi-link device, and
the receiver address in the BA setup response frame is the device
address of the first multi-link device.
[0122] Optionally, when the MAC addresses of the multiple stations
in the first multi-link device and the second multi-link device are
all different, a MAC address of the second station may be carried
in the transmitter address in a frame header part of the BA setup
response frame, and the device addresses are carried in a frame
body in the BA setup response frame. When sending the BA setup
response frame, the second multi-link device uses the device
address of the second multi-link device as the transmitter address
of the BA setup response frame, and uses the device address of the
first multi-link device as the receiver address of the BA setup
response frame. Alternatively, the transmitter address in the frame
header part of the BA setup response frame may be set to the device
address of the second multi-link device, and the receiver address
may be set to the device address of the first multi-link
device.
[0123] The BA setup response frame corresponds to the BA setup
request frame.
[0124] A frame structure of the BA setup response frame is similar
to a frame structure of the BA setup request frame. For content and
functions of elements or fields included in the BA setup response
frame, refer to content and functions of elements or fields
included in the foregoing BA setup request frame. Details are not
described again in this embodiment of this application.
[0125] Optionally, after the BA protocol of the at least two links
is successfully set up, the first station may send, on the first
link, a BA deletion (DELBA) request frame to the second station,
and the second station receives, on the first link, the BA deletion
request frame sent by the first station. The BA deletion request
frame may include identification information that is of at least
two links and that indicates to request to delete the BA protocol.
Then, the second station sends, on the first link, a BA deletion
response frame to the first station, and the first station may
receive, on the first link, the BA deletion response frame sent by
the second station, where the BA deletion response frame includes
the identification information that is of the at least two links
and that is used to determine to delete the BA protocol. One
implementation is similar to the foregoing method for setting up
the BA protocol, and details are not described in this embodiment
of this application.
[0126] In this embodiment of this application, the first station
determines, based on the BA request frame and the BA setup response
frame, that the BA protocol of the at least two links is
successfully set up. In addition, the BA request frame or the BA
setup response frame carries the identification information of the
at least two links, so that the BA protocol of the at least two
links can be set up simultaneously. This improves BA protocol setup
efficiency, and improves transmission efficiency.
[0127] FIG. 16 is a flowchart of a multi-link communication method
according to an embodiment of this application. This embodiment of
this application includes at least the following steps.
[0128] S1601: A first station sends, on a first link, a TWT setup
request frame to a second station. The second station receives, on
the first link, the TWT setup request frame sent by the first
station, where the first station is one of multiple stations
included in a first multi-link device, the second station is one of
multiple stations included in a second multi-link device, the
multiple stations included in the second multi-link device work on
multiple links, and the multiple links include the first link on
which the second station works.
[0129] S1602: The second station sends, on the first link, a TWT
setup response frame to the first station. The first station
receives, on the first link, the TWT setup response frame sent by
the second station, where the TWT setup response frame includes
identification information of at least two links.
[0130] The TWT setup request frame includes the identification
information that is of the at least two links and that is used to
indicate to request to set up a TWT protocol. The identification
information of the at least two links may include identification
information of the first link and identification information of one
or more second links in the multiple links. The identification
information of the at least two links may alternatively include
identification information of multiple second links in the multiple
links other than the first link. The identification information
includes at least one of a band identifier, a channel number, and
an operating class.
[0131] The TWT setup response frame includes the identification
information that is of the at least two links and that is used to
indicate to determine to set up the TWT protocol. The
identification information of the at least two links may include
identification information of the first link in the multiple links
and identification information of the second link in the multiple
links. The identification information of the at least two links may
alternatively include identification information of multiple second
links in the multiple links other than the first link. The
identification information includes at least one of a band
identifier, a channel number, and an operating class.
[0132] FIG. 17 is a diagram of the TWT setup request frame or the
TWT setup response frame according to an embodiment of this
application. The TWT setup request frame may include a TWT element,
and the TWT element may include a multi-link element of one second
link other than the first link in the multiple links. In this case,
the TWT protocol may be applied to the first link and the second
link. The TWT element may alternatively include multi-link elements
of multiple second links in the multiple links other than the first
link. In this case, the TWT protocol may be applied to the first
link and the multiple second links, or may be applied to only the
multiple second links. Certainly, the TWT element may alternatively
include a multi-link element of the first link and multi-link
elements of multiple second links.
[0133] The TWT setup response frame corresponds to information
included in the TWT setup request frame. A frame structure of the
TWT setup response frame is similar to a frame structure of the TWT
setup request frame. For content and functions of elements or
fields included in the TWT setup response frame, refer to content
and functions of elements or fields included in the foregoing TWT
setup request frame. Details are not described again in this
embodiment of this application.
[0134] Finally, the first station may determine, based on the TWT
request frame and the TWT setup response frame, that the TWT
protocol of the at least two links is successfully set up. In this
way, setup of a TWT protocol is simultaneously completed on
multiple links between the first multi-link device and the second
multi-link device, so that within a time window that is set up,
multiple stations corresponding to the multiple links can remain in
an active state. This embodiment of this application is similar to
the foregoing embodiments, and details are not described again in
this embodiment of this application.
[0135] In actual application, the foregoing several embodiments may
be independently performed, or may be associated with each other,
and may be performed in a sequence of communication processes. For
example, an association relationship may be first set up between
the first multi-link device and the second multi-link device, then
a BA protocol is set up, and finally a TWT protocol is set up. In
the foregoing communication manner of the management frame, the
association relationship, the BA protocol, and the TWT protocol are
set up between the first multi-link device and the second
multi-link device.
[0136] The foregoing describes in detail the methods in the
embodiments of this application. The following provides apparatuses
in the embodiments of this application.
[0137] FIG. 18 is a diagram of a first multi-link communication
apparatus according to an embodiment of this application. The first
multi-link communication apparatus may be configured to implement
any method and function related to the first multi-link
communication apparatus in any of the foregoing embodiments. The
first multi-link communication apparatus may include a generation
module 1801, a sending module 1802, and a receiving module 1803.
Optionally, the generation module 1801, the sending module 1802,
and the receiving module 1803 may be modules in the first station,
and the sending module 1802 and the receiving module 1803 are
respectively corresponding to one baseband circuit and one radio
frequency circuit included in the first station. Detailed
descriptions of the modules are as follows.
[0138] In an embodiment:
[0139] The generation module 1801 is configured to generate a radio
frame via a first station, where the first station is one of
multiple stations included in a first multi-link device.
[0140] The multiple stations included in the first multi-link
device work on multiple links, and the multiple links include a
first link on which the first station works.
[0141] The sending module 1802 is configured to send, on the first
link via the first station, the radio frame to a second station,
where the radio frame includes at least two management frames, the
at least two management frames are generated by at least two
stations that work on different links in the first multi-link
device, and the second station is one of multiple stations included
in a second multi-link device.
[0142] For content and functions of elements or fields included in
the radio frame, refer to descriptions in the foregoing method
embodiments. Details are not described herein again.
[0143] Optionally, the receiving module 1803 is configured to
receive, on the first link via the first station, a response frame
sent by the second station.
[0144] The response frame is a block acknowledgment frame, a
starting sequence number field in the block acknowledgment frame is
set to a temporary starting sequence number, the block
acknowledgment frame includes a block acknowledgment bitmap, and
the block acknowledgment bitmap is used to indicate that the second
station starts, from the 1.sup.st management frame, acknowledgment
on whether the at least two management frames are correctly
received.
[0145] In another embodiment:
[0146] The sending module 1802 is configured to send, on a first
link via a first station, a block acknowledgment BA setup request
frame to a second station, where the first station is one of
multiple stations included in a first multi-link device, and the
second station is one of multiple stations included in a second
multi-link device. The multiple stations included in the first
multi-link device work on multiple links, and the multiple links
include the first link on which the first station works.
[0147] The BA setup request frame includes identification
information that is of at least two links and that is used to
indicate to request to set up a BA protocol.
[0148] The receiving module 1803 is configured to receive, on the
first link via the first station, a BA setup response frame sent by
the second station, where the BA setup response frame includes the
identification information of the at least two links.
[0149] For content and functions of elements or fields included in
the BA setup request frame and the BA setup response frame, refer
to descriptions in the foregoing method embodiments. Details are
not described herein again.
[0150] In another embodiment:
[0151] The sending module 1802 is configured to send, on a first
link via a first station, an association request frame to a second
station, where the first station is one of multiple stations
included in a first multi-link device, and the second station is
one of multiple stations included in a second multi-link device.
The multiple stations included in the first multi-link device work
on multiple links, and the multiple links include the first link on
which the first station works and a second link on which another
station works.
[0152] The association request frame includes request information
of the second link, and the request information includes an index
of the second link, an address of a station corresponding to the
second link in the first multi-link device, and an identifier of a
station corresponding to the second link in the second multi-link
device.
[0153] The receiving module 1803 is configured to receive, on the
first link via the first station, an association response frame
sent by the second station, where the association response frame
includes response information of the second link. The response
information includes the index of the second link, the address of
the station corresponding to the second link in the first
multi-link device, and the identifier of the station corresponding
to the second link in the second multi-link device.
[0154] For content and functions of elements or fields included in
the association request frame and the association response frame,
refer to descriptions in the foregoing method embodiments. Details
are not described herein again.
[0155] It should be noted that, for implementation of the modules,
refer to corresponding descriptions in the method embodiments shown
in FIG. 4, FIG. 11, FIG. 14, and FIG. 16, to perform the methods
and the functions performed by the first multi-link device in the
foregoing embodiments.
[0156] FIG. 19 is a diagram of a second multi-link communication
apparatus according to an embodiment of this application. The
second multi-link communication apparatus may be configured to
implement any method and function related to the second multi-link
communication apparatus in any of the foregoing embodiments. The
second multi-link communication apparatus may include a receiving
module 1901 and a sending module 1902. Optionally, the receiving
module 1901 and the sending module 1902 may be modules in the
second station, and the receiving module 1901 and the sending
module 1902 are respectively corresponding to one baseband circuit
and one radio frequency circuit included in the second station.
Detailed descriptions of the modules are as follows.
[0157] The receiving module 1901 is configured to receive, on a
first link via a second station, a radio frame sent by a first
station, where the first station is one of multiple stations
included in a first multi-link device, and the second station is
one of multiple stations included in a second multi-link device.
The multiple stations included in the second multi-link device work
on multiple links, and the multiple links include the first link on
which the second station works. The radio frame includes at least
two management frames, and the at least two management frames are
generated by at least two stations that work on different links in
the first multi-link device.
[0158] For content and functions of elements or fields included in
the radio frame, refer to descriptions in the foregoing method
embodiments. Details are not described herein again.
[0159] The sending module 1902 is configured to send, on the first
link via the second station, a response frame to the second
station.
[0160] The response frame is a block acknowledgment frame, a
starting sequence number field in the block acknowledgment frame is
set to a temporary starting sequence number, the block
acknowledgment frame includes a block acknowledgment bitmap, and
the block acknowledgment bitmap is used to indicate that the second
station starts, from the 1.sup.st management frame, acknowledgment
on whether the at least two management frames are correctly
received.
[0161] In another embodiment:
[0162] The receiving module 1901 is configured to receive, on a
first link via a second station, a BA setup request frame sent by a
first station, where the first station is one of multiple stations
included in a first multi-link device, and the second station is
one of multiple stations included in a second multi-link device.
The multiple stations included in the second multi-link device work
on multiple links, and the multiple links include the first link on
which the second station works.
[0163] The BA setup request frame includes identification
information that is of at least two links and that is used to
indicate to request to set up a BA protocol.
[0164] The sending module 1902 is configured to send, on the first
link via the second station, a BA setup response frame to the first
station, where the BA setup response frame includes the
identification information of the at least two links.
[0165] For content and functions of elements or fields included in
the BA setup request frame and the BA setup response frame, refer
to descriptions in the foregoing method embodiments.
[0166] Details are not described herein again.
[0167] In another embodiment:
[0168] The receiving module 1901 is configured to receive, on a
first link via a second station, an association request frame sent
by a first station, where the first station is one of multiple
stations included in a first multi-link device, and the second
station is one of multiple stations included in a second multi-link
device. The multiple stations included in the first multi-link
device work on multiple links, and the multiple links include the
first link on which the second station works and a second link on
which another station works.
[0169] The association request frame includes request information
of the second link, and the request information includes an index
of the second link, an address of a station corresponding to the
second link in the first multi-link device, and an identifier of a
station corresponding to the second link in the second multi-link
device.
[0170] The sending module 1902 is configured to send, on the first
link via the second station, an association response frame to the
first station, where the association response frame includes
response information of the second link. The response information
includes the index of the second link, the address of the station
corresponding to the second link in the first multi-link device,
and the identifier of the station corresponding to the second link
in the second multi-link device.
[0171] For content and functions of elements or fields included in
the association request frame and the association response frame,
refer to descriptions in the foregoing method embodiments. Details
are not described herein again.
[0172] It should be noted that, for implementation of the modules,
refer to corresponding descriptions in the method embodiments shown
in FIG. 4, FIG. 11, FIG. 14, and FIG. 16, to perform the methods
and the functions performed by the second multi-link device in the
foregoing embodiments.
[0173] FIG. 20 is a diagram of a first multi-link device according
to an embodiment of this application. As shown in FIG. 20, the
first multi-link device may include at least one processor 2001, at
least one communication interface 2002, at least one memory 2003,
and at least one communication bus 2004.
[0174] The processor 2001 may be a central processing unit, a
general-purpose processor, a digital signal processor, an
application-specific integrated circuit, a field programmable gate
array or another programmable logic device, a transistor logic
device, a hardware component, or any combination thereof. The
processor 2001 may implement or execute various example logical
blocks, modules, and circuits described with reference to content
disclosed in this application. Alternatively, the processor may be
a combination of processors implementing a computing function, for
example, a combination of one or more microprocessors or a
combination of a digital signal processor and a microprocessor. The
communication bus 2004 may be a peripheral component interconnect
PCI bus, an extended industry standard architecture EISA bus, or
the like. The bus may be classified into an address bus, a data
bus, a control bus, and the like. For ease of representation, only
one thick line is used to represent the bus in FIG. 20, but this
does not mean that there is only one bus or only one type of bus.
The communication bus 2004 is configured to implement connection
and communication between the components. The communication
interface 2002 in the device in this embodiment of this application
is configured to perform signaling or data communication with
another node device. The memory 2003 may include a volatile memory,
for example, a nonvolatile dynamic random-access memory (NVRAM), a
phase-change random-access memory (PRAM), or a magnetoresistive
random-access memory (MRAM). The memory 2003 may alternatively
include a nonvolatile memory, for example, at least one magnetic
disk storage device, an electrically erasable programmable
read-only memory (EEPROM), a flash storage device such as a NOR
flash memory or a NAND flash memory, or a semiconductor device such
as a solid-state drive (SSD). Optionally, the memory 2003 may be at
least one storage apparatus located far away from the processor
2001. Optionally, the memory 2003 may further store a group of
program code. Optionally, the processor 2001 may further execute a
program stored in the memory 2003.
[0175] In an embodiment, the processor 2001 is configured to
perform the following operations:
[0176] generating a radio frame via a first station, where the
first station is one of multiple stations included in a first
multi-link device, where
[0177] the multiple stations included in the first multi-link
device work on multiple links, and the multiple links include a
first link on which the first station works; and
[0178] sending, on the first link via the first station, the radio
frame to a second station, where the radio frame includes at least
two management frames, the at least two management frames are
generated by at least two stations that work on different links in
the first multi-link device, and the second station is one of
multiple stations included in a second multi-link device.
[0179] For content and functions of elements or fields included in
the radio frame, refer to descriptions in the foregoing method
embodiments. Details are not described herein again.
[0180] In another embodiment, the processor 2001 is further
configured to perform the following operations:
[0181] sending, on a first link via a first station, a block
acknowledgment BA setup request frame to a second station, where
the first station is one of multiple stations included in a first
multi-link device, the second station is one of multiple stations
included in a second multi-link device, the multiple stations
included in the first multi-link device work on multiple links, and
the multiple links include the first link on which the first
station works, where
[0182] the BA setup request frame includes identification
information that is of at least two links and that is used to
indicate to request to set up a BA protocol; and
[0183] receiving, on the first link via the first station, a BA
setup response frame sent by the second station, where the BA setup
response frame includes the identification information of the at
least two links.
[0184] For content and functions of elements or fields included in
the BA setup request frame and the BA setup response frame, refer
to descriptions in the foregoing method embodiments. Details are
not described herein again.
[0185] In another embodiment, the processor 2001 is configured to
perform the following operations:
[0186] sending, on a first link via a first station, an association
request frame to a second station, where the first station is one
of multiple stations included in a first multi-link device, the
second station is one of multiple stations included in a second
multi-link device, the multiple stations included in the first
multi-link device work on multiple links, and the multiple links
include the first link on which the first station works and a
second link on which another station works, where
[0187] the association request frame includes request information
of the second link, and the request information includes an index
of the second link, an address of a station corresponding to the
second link in the first multi-link device, and an identifier of a
station corresponding to the second link in the second multi-link
device; and
[0188] receiving, on the first link via the first station, an
association response frame sent by the second station, where the
association response frame includes response information of the
second link. The response information includes the index of the
second link, the address of the station corresponding to the second
link in the first multi-link device, and the identifier of the
station corresponding to the second link in the second multi-link
device.
[0189] For content and functions of elements or fields included in
the association request frame and the association response frame,
refer to descriptions in the foregoing method embodiments. Details
are not described herein again.
[0190] Further, the processor may further cooperate with the memory
and the communication interface to perform operations of the first
multi-link device in the foregoing embodiments of this
application.
[0191] FIG. 21 is a diagram of a second multi-link device according
to an embodiment of this application. As shown in the figure, the
second multi-link device may include at least one processor 2101,
at least one communication interface 2102, at least one memory
2103, and at least one communication bus 2104.
[0192] The processor 2101 may be processors of various types that
are mentioned above. The communication bus 2104 may be a peripheral
component interconnect PCI bus, an extended industry standard
architecture EISA bus, or the like. The bus may be classified into
an address bus, a data bus, a control bus, and the like. For ease
of representation, only one thick line is used to represent the bus
in FIG. 21, but this does not mean that there is only one bus or
only one type of bus. The communication bus 2104 is configured to
implement connection and communication between the components. The
communication interface 2102 in the device in this embodiment of
this application is configured to perform signaling or data
communication with another node device. The memory 2103 may be
memories of various types that are mentioned above. Optionally, the
memory 2103 may be at least one storage apparatus located far away
from the processor 2101. The memory 2103 stores a group of program
code, and the processor 2101 executes a program in the memory
2103.
[0193] In an embodiment, the processor 2101 is configured to
perform the following operations: receiving, on a first link via a
second station, a radio frame sent by a first station, where the
first station is one of multiple stations included in a first
multi-link device, the second station is one of multiple stations
included in a second multi-link device, the multiple stations
included in the second multi-link device work on multiple links,
the multiple links include the first link on which the second
station works, the radio frame includes at least two management
frames, and the at least two management frames are generated by at
least two stations that work on different links in the first
multi-link device, where
[0194] for content and functions of elements or fields included in
the radio frame, refer to descriptions in the foregoing method
embodiments, and details are not described herein again; and
[0195] sending, on the first link via the second station, a
response frame to the second station.
[0196] The response frame is a block acknowledgment frame, a
starting sequence number field in the block acknowledgment frame is
set to a temporary starting sequence number, the block
acknowledgment frame includes a block acknowledgment bitmap, and
the block acknowledgment bitmap is used to indicate that the second
station starts, from the 1.sup.st management frame, acknowledgment
on whether the at least two management frames are correctly
received.
[0197] In another embodiment, the processor 2101 is further
configured to perform the following operations:
[0198] receiving, on a first link via a second station, a BA setup
request frame sent by a first station, where the first station is
one of multiple stations included in a first multi-link device, the
second station is one of multiple stations included in a second
multi-link device, the multiple stations included in the second
multi-link device work on multiple links, and the multiple links
include the first link on which the second station works, where
[0199] the BA setup request frame includes identification
information that is of at least two links and that is used to
indicate to request to set up a BA protocol; and
[0200] sending, on the first link via the second station, a BA
setup response frame to the first station, where the BA setup
response frame includes the identification information of the at
least two links.
[0201] For content and functions of elements or fields included in
the BA setup request frame and the BA setup response frame, refer
to descriptions in the foregoing method embodiments. Details are
not described herein again.
[0202] In another embodiment, the processor 2101 is further
configured to perform the following operations:
[0203] receiving, on a first link via a second station, an
association request frame sent by a first station, where the first
station is one of multiple stations included in a first multi-link
device, the second station is one of multiple stations included in
a second multi-link device, the multiple stations included in the
first multi-link device work on multiple links, and the multiple
links include the first link on which the second station works and
a second link on which another station works, where
[0204] the association request frame includes request information
of the second link, and the request information includes an index
of the second link, an address of a station corresponding to the
second link in the first multi-link device, and an identifier of a
station corresponding to the second link in the second multi-link
device; and
[0205] sending, on the first link via the second station, an
association response frame to the first station, where the
association response frame includes response information of the
second link. The response information includes the index of the
second link, the address of the station corresponding to the second
link in the first multi-link device, and the identifier of the
station corresponding to the second link in the second multi-link
device.
[0206] For content and functions of elements or fields included in
the association request frame and the association response frame,
refer to descriptions in the foregoing method embodiments. Details
are not described herein again.
[0207] Further, the processor may further cooperate with the memory
and the communication interface to perform operations of the second
multi-link device in the foregoing embodiments of this
application.
[0208] An embodiment of this application further provides a chip
system. The chip system includes a processor, configured to support
a first multi-link device or a second multi-link device to
implement functions in any one of the foregoing embodiments, for
example, generating or processing data and/or information in the
foregoing methods. In an embodiment, the chip system may further
include a memory. The memory is configured to store program
instructions and data that are necessary for the first multi-link
device or the second multi-link device. The chip system may include
a chip, or may include a chip and another discrete component.
[0209] An embodiment of this application further provides a
processor, configured to be coupled to a memory, and configured to
perform any method and function related to the first multi-link
device or the second multi-link device in any one of the foregoing
embodiments.
[0210] An embodiment of this application further provides a
computer program product including instructions. When the computer
program product runs on a computer, the computer performs any
method and function related to the first multi-link device or the
second multi-link device in any one of the foregoing
embodiments.
[0211] An embodiment of this application further provides an
apparatus, configured to perform any method and function related to
the first multi-link device or the second multi-link device in any
one of the foregoing embodiments.
[0212] An embodiment of this application further provides a
wireless communication system. The system includes at least one
first multi-link device and at least one second multi-link device
in any one of the foregoing embodiments.
[0213] All or some of the foregoing embodiments may be implemented
by using software, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof.
When the software is used to implement the embodiments, all or some
of the embodiments may be implemented in a 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 procedure or functions
according to the embodiments of this application are all or
partially generated. The computer may be a general-purpose
computer, a dedicated computer, a computer network, or another
programmable apparatus. The computer instructions may be stored in
a computer-readable storage medium or may be transmitted from a
computer-readable storage medium to another computer-readable
storage medium. For example, the computer instructions may be
transmitted from a website, computer, server, or data center to
another website, computer, server, or data center in a wired (for
example, a coaxial cable, an optical fiber, or a digital subscriber
line (DSL)) or wireless (for example, infrared, radio, or
microwave) manner. The computer-readable storage medium may be any
usable medium accessible by the computer, or a data storage device,
such as a server or a data center, integrating one or more usable
media. The usable medium may be a magnetic medium (for example, a
floppy disk, a hard disk, or a magnetic tape), an optical medium
(for example, a DVD), a semiconductor medium (for example, a
solid-state drive (SSD)), or the like.
[0214] The objective, the technical solutions, and the beneficial
effects of this application are further described in detail in the
foregoing specific implementations. Any modification, equivalent
replacement, or improvement made without departing from the spirit
and principle of this application shall fall within the protection
scope of this application.
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