NEGOTIATION METHOD FOR AN OPERATING MODE, INITIATOR, RECEIVER, CHIP SYSTEM, AND MEDIUM
20230042842 · 2023-02-09
Inventors
- Jian Yu (Shenzhen, CN)
- Yunbo LI (Shenzhen, CN)
- Yuchen GUO (Shenzhen, CN)
- Ming Gan (Shenzhen, CN)
- Mengshi HU (Shenzhen, CN)
Cpc classification
Y02D30/70
GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
International classification
Abstract
A negotiation method for an operating mode, an initiator, a receiver, a chip system, a computer-readable storage medium, and a functional entity are disclosed. In operating mode (OM) negotiation, the initiator transmits an operating mode indication (OMI) to the responder. The OMI includes at least either of channel width indication information and space-time stream number indication information. A capability range of a channel width indicated by the channel width indication information is greater than 160 MHz. A capability range of the number of space-time streams indicated by the space-time stream number indication information is greater than 8. After receiving the OMI, the responder performs transmission with the initiator based on a negotiated OM.
Claims
1. A negotiation method for an operating mode comprising: sending, by an initiator for operating mode negotiation, an operating mode indication (OMI) to a responder, wherein: the OMI includes at least either of channel width indication information and space-time stream number indication information; a capability range of a channel width indicated by the channel width indication information is greater than 160 MHz; and a capability range of a number of space-time streams indicated by the space-time stream number indication information is greater than 8; and performing, by the initiator, transmission with the responder.
2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: before sending the OMI to the responder, carrying the OMI in control information corresponding to a control subfield, and the control information includes at least either of the channel width indication information and the space-time stream number indication information.
3. The method according to claim 2, wherein: the control subfield includes a first control subfield and a second control subfield; the first control subfield is an OMI basic indication subfield; the second control subfield is an OMI extension indication subfield; and the first control subfield and the second control subfield jointly indicate an enhanced OMI.
4. The method according to claim 3, wherein: a number of bits of first channel width indication information that is in control information corresponding to the first control subfield and that indicates the channel width is 2; a number of bits of second channel width indication information that is in control information corresponding to the second control subfield and that indicates the channel width is 1; and a channel width range jointly indicated by the first channel width indication information and the second channel width indication information is 20 MHz to 320 MHz.
5. The method according to claim 4, wherein: a number of bits of first space-time stream number indication information that is in the control information corresponding to the first control subfield and that indicates the number of space-time streams is 3; a number of bits of second space-time stream number indication information that is in the control information corresponding to the second control subfield and that indicates the number of space-time streams is 1 and a range of a number of space-time streams jointly indicated by the first space-time stream number indication information and the second space-time stream number indication information is 1 to 16.
6. The method according to claim 5, wherein: the number of space-time streams jointly indicated by the first space-time stream number indication information and the second space-time stream number indication information is less than or equal to a number of space-time streams of a preset channel width value.
7. A communications apparatus, serving as an initiator for operating mode OM negotiation, comprise: a transceiver, configured to send an operating mode indication (OMI) to a responder, wherein: the OMI includes at least either of channel width indication information and space-time stream number indication information; a capability range of a channel width indicated by the channel width indication information is greater than 160 MHz; and a capability range of a number of space-time streams indicated by the space-time stream number indication information is greater than 8; and a processor, configured to perform transmission with the responder.
8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein: the OMI is carried in control information corresponding to a control subfield, and the control information includes at least either of the channel width indication information and the space-time stream number indication information.
9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein: the control subfield includes a first control subfield and a second control subfield; the first control subfield is an OMI basic indication subfield; the second control subfield is an OMI extension indication subfield; and the first control subfield and the second control subfield jointly indicate an enhanced OMI.
10. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein: a number of bits of first channel width indication information that is in control information corresponding to the first control subfield and that indicates the channel width is 2; a number of bits of second channel width indication information that is in control information corresponding to the second control subfield and that indicates the channel width is 1; and a channel width range jointly indicated by the first channel width indication information and the second channel width indication information is 20 MHz to 320 MHz.
11. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein: a number of bits of first space-time stream number indication information that is in the control information corresponding to the first control subfield and that indicates the number of space-time streams is 3; a number of bits of second space-time stream number indication information that is in the control information corresponding to the second control subfield and that indicates the number of space-time streams is 1; and a range of a number of space-time streams jointly indicated by the first space-time stream number indication information and the second space-time stream number indication information is 1 to 16.
12. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein: the number of space-time streams jointly indicated by the first space-time stream number indication information and the second space-time stream number indication information is less than or equal to a number of space-time streams of a preset channel width value.
13. A negotiation method for an operating mode comprising: receiving, by a responder for operating mode negotiation, an operating mode indication (OMI) from an initiator, wherein: the OMI includes at least either of channel width indication information and space-time stream number indication information; a capability range of a channel width indicated by the channel width indication information is greater than 160 MHz; and a capability range of a number of space-time streams indicated by the space-time stream number indication information is greater than 8; and performing transmission with the initiator based on the OMI.
14. The method according to claim 13, wherein: the OMI is carried in control information corresponding to a control subfield, and the control information includes at least either of the channel width indication information and the space-time stream number indication information.
15. The method according to claim 14, wherein: the control subfield includes a first control subfield and a second control subfield; and the first control subfield is an OMI basic indication subfield; the second control subfield is an OMI extension indication subfield; and the first control subfield and the second control subfield jointly indicate an enhanced OMI.
16. The method according to claim 15, further comprising: jointly parsing, by the responder, first channel width indication information in the first control subfield and second channel width indication information in the second control subfield, to obtain an indicated channel width.
17. A communications apparatus, comprises: a transceiver, configured to receive an operating mode indication (OMI) from an initiator, wherein: the OMI includes at least either of channel width indication information and space-time stream number indication information; a capability range of a channel width indicated by the channel width indication information is greater than 160 MHz; and a capability range of a number of space-time streams indicated by the space-time stream number indication information is greater than 8; and a processor, configured to perform transmission with the initiator based on the OMI.
18. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein: the OMI is carried in control information corresponding to a control subfield, and the control information includes at least either of the channel width indication information and the space-time stream number indication information.
19. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein: the control subfield includes a first control subfield and a second control subfield; the first control subfield is an OMI basic indication subfield; the second control subfield is an OMI extension indication subfield; and the first control subfield and the second control subfield jointly indicate an enhanced OMI.
20. The apparatus according to claim 19, further comprising: a responder that jointly parses first channel width indication information in the first control subfield and second channel width indication information in the second control subfield, to obtain an indicated channel width.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
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DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0184] The following further describes the embodiments in detail with reference to accompanying drawings.
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[0187] In some embodiments, both the AP and the STA serves as an initiator and a responder for OM negotiation. The initiator and the responder for the OM negotiation are described from the perspective of an OM negotiation process. One that actively initiates OM negotiation is referred to as the initiator, and one that responds to the OM negotiation is referred to as the responder. A transmitter and a receiver are described from the perspective of a transmission process. A party that transmits data is the transmitter, and a party that receives the data is the receiver. The initiator for the OM negotiation is the transmitter or the receiver for communications transmission. The responder for the OM negotiation is the transmitter or the responder for communications transmission.
[0188] The network structure including one AP and six stations (a STA 1, a STA 2, a STA 3, a STA 4, a STA 5, and a STA 6) in
[0189] For example, in the OM negotiation process, the AP serves as the initiator for the OM negotiation, and the STA 1 or the STA 2 serves as the responder for the OM negotiation.
[0190] Alternatively, the AP serves as the initiator for the OM negotiation, and another AP serves as the responder for the OM negotiation.
[0191] Alternatively, the STA 1 serves as the initiator for the OM negotiation, and the STA 2 serves as the responder for the OM negotiation.
[0192] In the communications transmission process, both the initiator and the responder for OM negotiation is used as transmitters or receivers for communications transmission. This is not limited.
[0193] In some embodiments, the access point is an access point for a terminal device (such as a mobile phone) to access a wired (or wireless) network, and is mainly deployed in a home, a building, and a park. A typical coverage radius is tens of meters to hundreds of meters. Certainly, the network device alternatively is deployed outdoors. The access point is equivalent to a bridge that connects the wired network and the wireless network. A main function of the access point is to connect various wireless network clients together and then connect the wireless network to the Ethernet. The access point is a terminal device (such as a mobile phone) or a network device (such as a router) with a wireless fidelity (wireless fidelity, Wi-Fi) chip. The access point is a device that supports the 802.11be standard. Alternatively, the access point is a device that supports a plurality of wireless local area network (wireless local area network, WLAN) standards of the 802.11 family such as the 802.11be standard, the 802.11ax standard, the 802.11ac standard, the 802.11n standard, the 802.11g standard, the 802.11b standard, and the 802.11a standard. The access point in some embodiments is an HE-AP or an EHT-AP, or is an access point applicable to a future-generation Wi-Fi standard.
[0194] The station is a wireless communications chip, a wireless sensor, a wireless communications terminal, or the like, and further is referred to as a user. For example, the station is a mobile phone supporting a Wi-Fi communications function, a tablet computer supporting a Wi-Fi communications function, a set-top box supporting a Wi-Fi communications function, a smart television supporting a Wi-Fi communications function, an intelligent wearable device supporting a Wi-Fi communications function, a vehicle-mounted communications device supporting a Wi-Fi communications function, or a computer supporting a Wi-Fi communications function. Optionally, the station supports the 802.11be standard. The station further supports a plurality of WLAN standards of the 802.11 family such as 802.11be, 802.11ax, 802.11ac, 802.11n, 802.11g, 802.11b, and 802.11a.
[0195] The access point in some embodiments is an HE-STA or an EHT-STA, or is a STA applicable to a future-generation Wi-Fi standard.
[0196] For example, the access point and the station is devices used in the Internet of vehicles, Internet of things nodes or sensors in the Internet of things (Internet of things, IoT), smart cameras, smart remote controls, and smart water meters in a smart home, and sensors in a smart city.
[0197] An AP station and a non-AP station in some embodiments alternatively is wireless communications devices that support parallel transmission on a plurality of links, for example, referred to as multi-link devices (multi-link devices) or multi-band devices (multi-band devices). Compared with a device that supports single-link transmission, the multi-link device has higher transmission efficiency and a higher throughput.
[0198] The multi-link device includes one or more affiliated stations STAs (affiliated STA). The affiliated STA is a logical station and operates on one link.
[0199] Although the embodiments are mainly described by using a network deployed based on IEEE 802.11 as an example, a person skilled in the art easily understands that various aspects of the embodiments is extended to other networks using various standards or protocols such as Bluetooth (Bluetooth), a high performance radio LAN (high performance radio LAN, HIPERLAN) (a wireless standard similar to the IEEE 802.11 standard and mainly used in Europe), a wide area network (WAN), a wireless local area network (wireless local area network, WLAN), a personal area network (personal area network, PAN), or other networks currently known or later developed. Therefore, the various aspects provided in some embodiments are applicable to any suitable wireless network regardless of coverage and a wireless access protocol.
[0200] The initiator and the responder for the OM negotiation in some embodiments further is collectively referred to as a communications apparatus. The communications apparatus includes a hardware structure and a software module, and the foregoing functions are implemented in a form of a hardware structure, a software module, or a combination of the hardware structure and the software module. A function in the foregoing functions are implemented in a form of a hardware structure, a software module, or a combination of the hardware structure and the software module.
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[0202] The transceiver 205 is referred to as a transceiver unit, a transceiver machine, a transceiver circuit, or the like, and is configured to implement a transceiver function. The transceiver 205 includes a receiver and a transmitter. The receiver is referred to as a receiver machine, a receiver circuit, or the like, and is configured to implement a receiving function. The transmitter is referred to as a transmitter machine, a transmitter circuit, or the like, and is configured to implement a sending function.
[0203] The memory 202 stores a computer program, software code, or instructions 204, where the computer program, the software code, or the instructions 204 further is referred to as firmware. The processor 201 controls a MAC layer and a PHY layer by running a computer program, software code, or instructions 203 in the processor 201, or by invoking the computer program, the software code, or the instructions 204 stored in the memory 202, to implement an OM negotiation method provided in the following embodiments. The processor 201 is a central processing unit (central processing unit, CPU), and the memory 302 is, for example, a read-only memory (read-only memory, ROM), or a random access memory (random access memory, RAM).
[0204] The processor 201 and the transceiver 205 described in some embodiments is implemented in an integrated circuit (integrated circuit, IC), an analog IC, a radio frequency integrated circuit RFIC, a mixed-signal IC, an application-specific integrated circuit (application-specific integrated circuit, ASIC), a printed circuit board (printed circuit board, PCB), an electronic device, or the like.
[0205] The communications apparatus 200 further includes an antenna 206. The modules included in the communications apparatus 200 are examples for description, and are not limited.
[0206] As described above, the communications apparatus described in the foregoing embodiment is an access point or a station. However, a scope of the communications apparatus described in some embodiments is not limited thereto, and the structure of the communications apparatus is unable to be limited in
[0207] (1) an independent integrated circuit (IC), a chip, a chip system, or a subsystem; (2) a set including one or more ICs, where optionally, the set of ICs further includes a storage component for storing data and instructions; (3) a module that is embedded in other devices; (4) a receiver, an intelligent terminal, a wireless device, a handheld device, a mobile unit, a vehicle-mounted device, a cloud device, an artificial intelligence device, or the like; or (5) others.
[0208] For the communications apparatus implemented in the form of the chip or the chip system, refer to a schematic diagram of a structure of a chip shown in
[0209] The embodiments herein do not limit the protection scope and applicability of the claims. A person skilled in the art adaptively changes functions and deployments of elements in some embodiments, or omit, replace, or add various processes or components as appropriate without departing from the scope of embodiments.
[0210] With reference to the network system shown in
[0211] For ease of understanding related content in the embodiments, the following describes some concepts related to the embodiments.
[0212] 1. OM Negotiation
[0213] As described above, during or before a communications transmission process, one initiator (Initiator) that wants to change an operating mode (OM) transmits, to the responder (Responder), a MAC frame carrying a control subfield with an OMI to perform OM negotiation. After the OM negotiation is completed, the initiator and the responder perform transmission based on a negotiated OM. The OM usually includes channel width information or space-time stream number information.
[0214] 2. MAC Frame
[0215] In a WLAN, the access point (Access Point, AP) and the station (Station, STA) transmit control signaling, management signaling, or data by using a medium access control (Medium Access Control, MAC for short) protocol data unit (MAC Protocol Data Unit, MPDU for short) or a MAC frame for short. A MAC frame format in the 802.11 standard is shown in
[0216] 3. Control Subfield
[0217] A control subfield is in a high throughput control field in a MAC header. The transmitter transmits some control information by using the control subfield. With a structure of one or more control identifiers plus control information, an aggregated control (Aggregated Control, A-control) subfield in a high efficient variant (currently including three forms: a high throughput variant, a very high throughput variant, and a high efficient variant) of a high throughput control field carries 1 to N pieces of control information. A structure of the A-control subfield is shown in
TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Type of a currently supported control subfield Controller Length of a control ID Description information subfield 0 Triggered response scheduling 26 1 Operating mode 12 2 High efficiency link adaptation 26 3 Cache status reporting 26 4 Uplink power headroom 8 (headroom) 5 Channel width query report 10 6 Command and status 8 7 to 14 Reserved 15 All-one sequence for extension 26
[0218] When a control identifier (control ID) of a control subfield is 0001, the control subfield corresponds to a control subfield indicating an OM in the 802.11ax standard, and a composition structure of the control subfield is shown in
[0219] In some embodiments, as for the control subfield (control subfield), the control subfield is shown as two parts: control identifiers (control IDs) and control information (control information), and the control subfield then indicates various information in the control information, for example, as shown in
[0220] 4. Channel Width and Number of Spatial Streams/Number of Space-Time Streams
[0221] The OMI in some embodiments mainly indicates the channel width and the number of space-time streams in the OMI.
[0222] The channel width is used to indicate a channel width of a PPDU that is transmitted or received by the initiator for the OM (width is jointly indicated for transmitting and receiving).
[0223] The number of received space-time streams is used to indicate the number of space-time streams of a received physical layer protocol data unit (PHY Protocol Data Unit, PPDU) supported by the initiator for the OM, and is less than or equal to a maximum number of space-time streams supported by the initiator for the OM. In other words, the number of received space-time streams acts as a limit when the initiator serves as a receiver during data transmission, and acts as a limit on the number of space-time streams of data transmitted by the transmitter on the other side. The number of received or transmitted space-time streams is unable to exceed a capability range limited by the number of received space-time streams.
[0224] The number of transmitted space-time streams is used to indicate the number of space-time streams of a PPDU that is transmitted by the initiator for the OM. In other words, the number of transmitted space-time streams acts as a limit when the initiator serves as a transmitter during the data transmission. The number of transmitted space-time streams is unable to exceed a capability range limited by the number of transmitted space-time streams during data transmission.
[0225] In some embodiments, space-time block coding (Space-Time Block Coding, STBC) is considered in the number of space-time streams. For the 802.11ax standard, when STBC is used, the number of space-time streams is twice the number of spatial streams. When STBC is not used, the two numbers are the same. The two numbers are not distinguished in some embodiments. In descriptions, if not specified, the two numbers are usually represented by the number of space-time streams. In some embodiments, the space-time stream number indication information indicates the number of spatial streams, or the number of space-time streams, or partially indicate the number of space-time streams, and partially indicate the number of spatial streams. For example, for a transmitter, the space-time stream number indication information indicates the number of transmitted space-time streams. For a receiver, the space-time stream number indication information indicates the number of received spatial streams. Alternatively, for a transmitter, the space-time stream number indication information indicates the number of received spatial streams. For a receiver, the space-time stream number indication information indicates the number of transmitted space-time streams.
[0226] In some embodiments, a technical solution of OM negotiation different from the 802.11ax standard is implemented by extending some control subfields or related control information in a MAC frame in the 802.11ax standard, or adding control subfields.
[0227] With reference to accompanying drawings and the foregoing related concept descriptions, the following further describes related content of the OM negotiation method in the network system shown in
[0228] The technical solution of the OM negotiation provided in some embodiments is as follows:
[0229] The initiator sends an operating mode indication OMI to the responder. The OMI includes at least either of channel width indication information and space-time stream number indication information.
[0230] A capability range of a channel width indicated by the channel width indication information is greater than 160 MHz. A capability range of the number of space-time streams indicated by the space-time stream number indication information is greater than 8.
[0231] Alternatively, a capability range of a channel width indicated by the channel width indication information is less than or equal to 160 MHz. A capability range of the number of space-time streams indicated by the space-time stream number indication information is greater than 8.
[0232] Alternatively, a capability range of a channel width indicated by the channel width indication information is greater than 160 MHz. A capability range of the number of space-time streams indicated by the space-time stream number indication information is smaller than or equal to 8.
[0233] In other words, in some embodiments, when the OMI includes the channel width indication information and the space-time stream number indication information, there is a plurality of combination relationships between the channel width range indicated by the channel width indication information and the range of the number of space-time streams indicated by the space-time stream number indication information. For example:
[0234] The channel width range indicated by the channel width indication information is greater than 160 MHz. However, the range of the number of space-time streams indicated by the space-time stream number indication information is 1 to 8 (that the number of space-time streams is 1 to 8 is indicated by enhanced space-time stream number indication information in some embodiments, or space-time stream number indication information in the 802.11ax standard and a previous standard).
[0235] Alternatively, the channel width range indicated by the channel width indication information is greater than or equal to 20 MHz and less than or equal to 160 MHz (that the channel width range is less than or equal to 160 MHz is indicated by enhanced channel width indication information in some embodiments, or channel width indication information in the 802.11ax standard and a previous standard). The range of the number of space-time streams indicated by the space-time stream number indication information is 1 to 16.
[0236] Alternatively, the channel width range indicated by the channel width indication information is greater than or equal to 20 MHz and less than or equal to 160 MHz (that the channel width range is less than or equal to 160 MHz is indicated by enhanced channel width indication information in some embodiments, or channel width indication information in the 802.11ax standard and a previous standard). The range of the number of space-time streams indicated by the space-time stream number indication information is 1 to 8 (that the number of space-time streams is 1 to 8 is indicated by enhanced space-time stream number indication information in some embodiments, or space-time stream number indication information in the 802.11ax standard and a previous standard).
[0237] Alternatively, the channel width range indicated by the channel width indication information is greater than 160 MHz. The range of the number of space-time streams indicated by the space-time stream number indication information is 1 to 16.
[0238] The responder sends an acknowledgment message to the initiator. After receiving the acknowledgment message, the initiator performs transmission with the responder.
[0239] For a channel width indicated by the OMI, the initiator and the responder perform data transmission within a range not exceeding the channel width indicated by the channel width indication information.
[0240] For the number of space-time streams indicated by the OMI, the number of received space-time streams is used to indicate the number of space-time streams of a received PPDU supported by the initiator for the OM, and is less than or equal to a maximum number of space-time streams supported by the initiator for the OM. In other words, the number of received space-time streams acts as a limit when the initiator serves as a receiver during data transmission, and acts as a limit on the number of space-time streams of data transmitted by the transmitter on the other side. The number of received or transmitted space-time streams is unable to exceed a capability range limited by the number of received space-time streams.
[0241] The number of transmitted space-time streams is used to indicate the number of space-time streams of a PPDU that is transmitted by the initiator for the OM. In other words, the number of transmitted space-time streams acts as a limit when the initiator serves as a transmitter during the data transmission. The number of transmitted space-time streams is unable to exceed a capability range limited by the number of transmitted space-time streams during the data transmission. As described above, a technical solution of the enhanced OM negotiation provided in some embodiments is mainly implemented based on control information carried in the MAC frame. In a possible implementation, this technical solution is implemented by using a control subfield, in other words, the OMI is carried in control information corresponding to a control subfield. The control information includes at least either of the channel width indication information and the space-time stream number indication information. Certainly, in some embodiments, another subfield of the MAC frame is used to implement the enhanced OM negotiation.
[0242] The control subfield is used to implement the enhanced OM negotiation in the following two modes:
[0243] First, the technical solution of the enhanced OM negotiation is implemented by using a control subfield provided in an existing 802.11ax standard as a basic indication subfield, and adding a new extension indication subfield.
[0244] Second, the technical solution of the enhanced OM negotiation is implemented by extending OM information that is indicated by the control subfield.
[0245] The enhanced OM negotiation in some embodiments is described from the perspective of comparing with a capability range of OM negotiation supported by the 802.11ax. A capability range of a channel width of the enhanced OM negotiation is greater than 160 MHz, and a capability range of the number of space-time streams of the enhanced OM negotiation is greater than 8.
[0246] Without loss of generality, the capability range of the channel width indicated by the channel width indication information in some embodiments is a range of a maximum value of the channel width that is indicated by the channel width indication information, but an actual channel width indicated by the channel width indication information is less than the capability range of the channel width.
[0247] For example, the actual channel width indicated by the channel width indication information is any one of 20 MHz, 40 MHz, 80 MHz, 160 MHz, 240 MHz, or 320 MHz, and the maximum value of the channel width is 320 MHz. In some embodiments, the capability range of the channel width indicated by the channel width indication information is greater than 160 MHz, which further is referred to as an enhanced width indication subsequently, for example, an enhanced channel width indication.
[0248] In some embodiments, the channel width is contiguous, or noncontiguous. For example, 320 MHz is 160 MHz+160 MHz. 240 MHz is 80 MHz+160 MHz or 160 MHz+80 MHz.
[0249] In some embodiments, with development of technologies, the capability range of the channel width that is indicated by the channel width indication information provided in some embodiments alternatively is greater than 320 MHz, for example, 480 MHz, 640 MHz, 800 MHz, 960 MHz, 1120 MHz or 1280 MHz.
[0250] Correspondingly, the capability range of the number of space-time streams indicated by the space-time stream number indication information in some embodiments is a range of a maximum value of the number of space-time streams that is indicated by the space-time stream number indication information, but an actual number of space-time streams indicated by the space-time stream number indication information is less than the capability range of the number of space-time streams.
[0251] For example, the actual number of space-time streams indicated by the space-time stream number indication information is any one of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, or 16, and the maximum value of the number of space-time streams is 16. In some embodiments, the capability range of the number of space-time streams indicated by the space-time stream number indication information is greater than 8, which further is referred to as an enhanced space-time stream number indication subsequently, for example, an enhanced Rx NSS or Tx NSTS indication.
[0252] With development of technologies, the capability range of the space-time stream number indication information that is indicated by the space-time stream number indication information provided in some embodiments alternatively is greater than 16, for example, 20, 24, 32, 48, or 64.
[0253] In an optional implementation, the space-time stream number indication information includes at least either of indication information of the number of transmitted space-time streams and indication information of the number of received space-time streams. In this way, the space-time stream number indication information flexibly indicates the transmitter and the receiver for data transmission to use a same or different number of space-time streams for transmission.
[0254] In another optional implementation, the space-time stream number indication information indicates both the number of transmitted space-time streams and the number of received space-time streams. In this way, a minimum number of bits are used to simultaneously indicate a same number of space-time streams used by the transmitter and the receiver for data transmission.
[0255] In another optional implementation, the number of space-time streams indicated by the space-time stream number indication information is less than or equal to the number of space-time streams of a preset channel width value. The preset channel width value is 80 MHz or 160 MHz.
[0256] The number of space-time streams corresponding to another channel width is derived according to a preset condition. For example, a greater channel width indicates a smaller number of space-time streams. For another example, by using the following formula (1), the number of space-time streams whose channel width of the PPDU is a value that is derived based on the indicated number of space-time streams:
Round down (an NSS or an NSTS in the OMI indicated by the control subfield*(a maximum value of an NSS or an NSTS supported when the channel width of the PPDU is a value/a maximum value of an NSS or an NSTS supported when the channel width of the PPDU is the preset channel width value)) Formula (1)
[0257] The maximum value of the NSS or the NSTS supported when the channel width of the PPDU is a value, and the maximum value of the NSS or the NSTS supported when the channel width of the PPDU is the preset channel width value is obtained in advance by using capability information.
[0258] For example, assuming the NSS or the NSTS in the OMI indicated by the control subfield is 4, when the channel width of the PPDU is 320 MHz, a maximum number of NSSs or NSTSs supported by a STA is 2; when a preset channel width value of the PPDU is 80 MHz, the maximum number of NSSs or NSTSs supported by the STA is 8. Therefore, according to the formula (1), when the channel width of the PPDU is 320 MHz, the number of space-time streams that is supported by the STA=round down (4*(2/8))=1.
[0259] For another example, assuming the NSS or the NSTS in the OMI indicated by the control subfield is 4, when the channel width of the PPDU is 320 MHz, a maximum number of NSSs or NSTSs supported by a STA is 2; when a preset channel width value of the PPDU is 160 MHz, the maximum value of NSS or NSTS supported by the STA is 4. Therefore, derivation is according to the formula (1) that when the channel width of the PPDU is 320 MHz, the number of space-time streams that is supported by the STA=round down (4*(2/4))=2.
[0260] In another optional implementation, when the channel width indication information indicates different channel widths, the space-time stream number indication information indicates a same number of space-time streams. For example, when the channel width indication information indicates any one of 20 MHz, 40 MHz, 80 MHz, 160 MHz, 240 MHz, or 320 MHz, the number of space-time streams indicated by the space-time stream number indication information is 8.
[0261] In addition, when negotiating different channel widths, the initiator and the responder are configured to use a same number of space-time streams. By default, the number of space-time streams are the same as a supported maximum or minimum number of control streams that is previously reported by the responder. In this case, the space-time stream number indication information further is omitted.
[0262] In addition, after completing negotiation of the channel width and the number of space-time streams through one OM negotiation, the initiator and the responder omits indication information of the number of transmitted space-time streams during subsequent negotiation on a change in the channel width, and agree by default that the number of subsequent space-time streams is the same as the number of previously negotiated space-time streams.
[0263] The foregoing descriptions are applicable to some embodiments. To avoid repetition, descriptions are properly omitted below.
[0264] With reference to the network system shown in
[0265] In the following embodiment, for example, the AP in
[0266] In some embodiments, a technical solution of the enhanced OM negotiation in which an OMI sent by the AP to the STA 1 is jointly indicated by using two or more control subfields when the AP performs OM negotiation with the STA 1.
[0267] As the initiator for the OM negotiation, the AP transmits the OMI to the STA 1 by using the transceiver (205 shown in
[0268] As the responder for the OM negotiation, the STA 1 receives the OMI from the AP by using the transceiver (also 205 shown in
[0269] As shown in
[0270] Control information corresponding to the first control subfield and the second control subfield separately includes at least either of the channel width indication information (channel width) and the space-time stream number indication information (for example, Rx NSS/the Tx NSTS).
[0271] In an implementation, a value of a control identifier (control ID) corresponding to the first control subfield is 1 (represented as 0001 in binary, and shown as control ID=0001 in the figure), and is used as an OM indication in the 802.11ax standard. As shown in
[0272] In a possible implementation, a value of a control identifier corresponding to the second control subfield is any one of 7 to 15.
[0273] In some embodiments, as shown in Table 2, 7 to 15 are applicable to a control identifier of reserved control subfields in the 802.11ax standard. In some embodiments, control subfields corresponding to one or two of the control identifiers is used as extended control subfields, and jointly indicate the enhanced OM with the first control subfield whose control identifier is 1.
[0274] The second control subfield herein is one control subfield, or is increased to two or more control subfields as called for.
[0275] In another implementation, a value of a control identifier corresponding to the second control subfield is 1, in other words, is the same as that of the control identifier corresponding to the first control subfield. In this case, for the initiator and the responder, when the control identifier of the first control subfield is 1, a control subfield that follows the first control subfield and whose control identifier is 1 is jointly parsed with the first control subfield by default, to obtain the enhanced OM. Alternatively, the initiator and the responder consecutively receive two control subfields whose control identifiers are 1 by default, and the two control subfields need to be jointly parsed to obtain the enhanced OM.
[0276] In yet another implementation, the value of the control identifier corresponding to the first control subfield is 15, and the value of the control identifier corresponding to the second control subfield is 1, or any one of 7 to 15. In this case, the first control subfield whose control identifier is 15 is also similar to a control subfield whose control identifier is 1 in the 802.11ax standard in terms of function for the OM negotiation. For the initiator and the responder, when the control identifier of the first control subfield is 15, a control subfield that follows the first control subfield is jointly parsed with the first control subfield by default, to obtain the enhanced OM.
[0277] In
[0278] As shown in Table 3:
TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 3 Enhanced channel width indication Channel width Channel width indication indication information in information in a first control a second control subfield (Channel subfield (Channel Description (supported channel Width) Width MSB) width) 00 0 20 MHz 01 0 40 MHz 10 0 80 MHz 11 0 160 MHz or 80 + 80 MHz (noncontiguous 160 MHz, and whether 160 MHz or 80 + 80 MHz is used is predefined by another management frame) 00 1 240 MHz or 160 + 80 MHz 01 1 320 MHz or 160 + 160 MHz 10 1 Reserved 11 1 Reserved
[0279] Table 3 is described by using an example in which a bit of the second channel width indication information is a most significant bit (Most Significant Bit, MSB) in 3 bits formed by 2 bits of the first channel width indication information and 1 bit of the second channel width indication information. Similarly, a bit of the second channel width indication information is a least significant bit (Least Significant Bit, LSB) in 3 bits formed by 2 bits of the first channel width indication information and 1 bit of the second channel width indication information. As shown in Table 4:
TABLE-US-00004 TABLE 4 Enhanced channel width indication Channel width Channel width indication indication information in information in a second control a first control subfield (Channel subfield (Channel Description (supported channel Width LSB) Width) width) 0 00 20 MHz 0 01 40 MHz 0 10 80 MHz 0 11 160 MHz or 80 + 80 MHz (noncontiguous 160 MHz, and whether 160 MHz or 80 + 80 MHz is used is predefined by another management frame) 1 00 240 MHz or 160 + 80 MHz 1 01 320 MHz or 160 + 160 MHz 1 10 Reserved 1 11 Reserved
[0280] Table 3 and Table 4 are examples. In an implementation, there are other combinations of correspondences between the channel width and eight values characterized by 3 bits formed by 2 bits of the first channel width indication information and 1 bit of the second channel width indication information. Details are not described herein.
[0281] In some embodiments, with development of technologies, the channel width range jointly indicated by the first channel width indication information and the second channel width indication information is greater, for example, 20 MHz to 640 MHz, or even 20 MHz to 1280 MHz. The number of bits of the second channel width indication information remains 1, or increase to 2, 3, or the like accordingly. Alternatively, the second channel width indication information remaining 1 bit, the first channel width indication information and the second channel width indication information indicates some greater channel widths, for example, 16 channel widths from 20 MHz to 640 MHz.
[0282] In this way, after the STA 1 serving as the responder receives the first control subfield and the second control subfield by using the transceiver 205 of the STA 1, the processor 201 of the STA 1 jointly parses the first channel width indication information and the second channel width indication information in the first control subfield and the second control subfield, to obtain the channel width indicated by the AP to the STA 1.
[0283] For the space-time stream number indication information, the number of bits of first space-time stream number indication information that is in the control information corresponding to the first control subfield and that indicates the number of space-time streams is 3. The number of bits of second space-time stream number indication information that is in control information corresponding to the second control subfield and that indicates the number of space-time streams is 1. A total number of bits of the first space-time stream number indication information and the second space-time stream number indication information is 4, and a range of the number of space-time streams jointly indicated is 1 to 16.
[0284] As shown in Table 5:
TABLE-US-00005 TABLE 5 Enhanced Tx NSTS or enhanced Rx NSS indication Number of space-time Number of space-time streams in the first streams in the second Description control subfield (Tx control subfield (Tx (supported Tx NSTS/Rx NSS) NSTS/Rx NSS MSB) NSTS or Rx NSS) 000 0 1 001 0 2 010 0 3 011 0 4 100 0 5 101 0 6 110 0 7 111 0 8 000 1 9 001 1 10 010 1 11 011 1 12 100 1 13 101 1 14 110 1 15 111 1 16
[0285] Table 5 is described by using an example in which 1 bit of the second space-time stream number indication information is a most significant bit in 3 bits formed by 2 bits of the first space-time stream number indication information and 1 bit of the second space-time stream number indication information. Similarly, the bit of the second channel width indication information is a least significant bit (LSB) in 3 bits formed by 2 bits of the first channel width indication information and 1 bit of the second channel width indication information. As shown in Table 6:
TABLE-US-00006 TABLE 6 Enhanced Tx NSTS or enhanced Rx NSS indication Number of space-time Number of space-time streams in the second streams in the first Description control subfield (Tx control subfield (Tx (supported Tx NSTS/Rx NSS MSB) NSTS/Rx NSS) NSTS or Rx NSS) 0 000 1 0 001 2 0 010 3 0 011 4 0 100 5 0 101 6 0 110 7 0 111 8 1 000 9 1 001 10 1 010 11 1 011 12 1 100 13 1 101 14 1 110 15 1 111 16
[0286] Table 5 and Table 6 are examples. In an implementation, there are other combinations of correspondences between the channel width and 16 values characterized by 4 bits formed by 3 bits of the first space-time stream number indication information and 1 bit of the second space-time stream number indication information. Details are not described herein.
[0287] In some embodiments, with development of technologies, the range of the number of space-time streams jointly indicated by the first space-time stream number indication information and the second space-time stream number indication information is greater, for example, 1 to 32, or even 1 to 64. The number of bits of the second space-time stream number indication information remains 1, or increase to 2, 3, or the like accordingly. Alternatively, the second space-time stream number indication information remaining 1 bit, the second space-time stream number indication information indicates 1 to 32 or 1 to 64, for example, 16 values from 1 to 32.
[0288] In a possible implementation, the number of space-time streams jointly indicated by the first space-time stream number indication information and the second space-time stream number indication information is less than or equal to the number of space-time streams of a preset channel width value.
[0289] The preset channel width value is 80 MHz or 160 MHz.
[0290] A method for deriving the number of space-time streams corresponding to another channel width and beneficial effects thereof have been described in detail in the foregoing general description. Details are not described herein again.
[0291] In still another possible implementation, when the first channel width indication information and the second channel width indication information jointly indicate different channel widths, the first space-time stream number indication information and the second space-time stream number indication information jointly indicate a same number of space-time streams.
[0292] In other words, the first control subfield and the second control subfield is used to indicate different channel widths and a same number of space-time streams. Beneficial effects of indicating the same number of space-time streams have been described in detail in the foregoing general description. Details are not described herein again.
[0293] In addition, in another implementation, the number of space-time streams jointly indicated by the first space-time stream number indication information and the second space-time stream number indication information is the number of received space-time streams, or the number of transmitted space-time streams. In other words, the number of received space-time streams and the number of transmitted space-time streams are combined into one piece of indication information. For example, the Rx NSS and the Tx NSTS shown in
[0294] In another implementation, the first space-time stream number indication information still separately indicates the number of received space-time streams and the number of transmitted space-time streams. For example, the Rx NSS and the Tx NSTS shown in
[0295] In conclusion, in the OM negotiation technology implemented by the initiator AP and the responder STA 1 in a Wi-Fi network system provided, based on the OMI basic indication subfield, the other control subfield is used as the OMI extension indication subfield. In this case, maximum compatibility with the 802.11ax standard is achieved, and OM negotiation on a greater channel width or more space-time streams is implemented at low overheads.
[0296] If less than one of OMs of channel width, Tx NSTS, and Rx NSS claimed by the transmitter for communications exceeds a maximum value supported by the 802.11ax standard, the transmitter does not need to send the second control subfield (the OMI extension indication subfield), but sends the first control subfield (that is, an OMI basic indication subfield corresponding to control ID=0001 in the 802.11ax standard).
[0297] If the receiver for communications finds the first control subfield (the OMI basic indication subfield) in the A-control subfield, the receiver obtains, from the OM control subfield, an OM indicated by the initiator for the OM negotiation. If the receiver finds both the OMI basic indication subfield and the OMI extension indication subfield, the receiver jointly reads an enhanced OM indicated by the OMI initiator.
[0298] The foregoing describes how to implement enhanced OM negotiation by using the two control fields. The OM negotiation technology in some embodiments further is implemented by using one control subfield, which is described separately in a plurality of embodiments below.
[0299] In some embodiments, a technical solution of the enhanced OM negotiation in which an OMI sent by the AP to the STA 1 is indicated by using one control subfield when the AP performs OM negotiation with the STA 1.
[0300] In some embodiments, the control subfield is referred to as a third control subfield. Correspondingly, the OMI is carried in control information corresponding to the third control subfield. The control information includes at least either of third channel width indication information and third space-time stream number indication information.
[0301] In an implementation, as shown in
[0302] In an embodiment shown in
[0303] A sequence of control sub-information in the control information corresponding to the control subfield shown in
[0304] In an implementation, as shown in
[0305] In this implementation, channel width in control information corresponding to any control subfield corresponding to control ID=7 to 14 is set to 3 bits in the 802.11ax standard, so that an indication of a greater width range is supported. In addition, the Rx NSS or the Tx NSTS that occupies 3 bits in the 802.11ax standard are set to 4 bits, so that an indication of a greater range of the number of space-time streams are supported.
[0306] For an initiator and a responder that support the 802.11ax, control information corresponding to a control subfield corresponding to control ID=1 is parsed, to obtain at least either of the channel width and the Rx NSS or the Tx NSTS. For an initiator and a responder that support a standard after the 802.11ax standard, control information corresponding to a control subfield corresponding to control ID=8 is parsed, to obtain at least either of the channel width and the Rx NSS or the Tx NSTS.
[0307] In still another implementation, as shown in
[0308] For example, a control ID of the third control subfield is the same as a control subfield that is characterized in the 802.11ax standard and that is used for OM negotiation, in other words, control ID=0001. Control information corresponding to the third control subfield carries an enhanced OM, where the number of bits of the Rx NSS, the channel width, and the Tx NSTS are at least 4, 3, and 4 respectively. A control subfield with another function is similar for alignment between the 802.11ax standard and a subsequent standard.
[0309] In some embodiments, the third channel width indication information indicates a greater channel width range, for example, indicate 480 MHz, 640 MHz, 800 MHz, 960 MHz, 1120 MHz. The third space-time stream number indication information indicates a greater range of the number of space-time streams, for example, 1 to 32, or 1 to 64. The number of space-time streams is 20, 24, 32, 48, 64, or the like.
[0310] Optionally, the number of space-time streams indicated by the third space-time stream number indication information is less than or equal to the number of space-time streams of a preset channel width value. The preset channel width value is 80 MHz or 160 MHz.
[0311] A method for deriving the number of space-time streams corresponding to another channel width and beneficial effects thereof have been described in detail in the foregoing general description. Details are not described herein again.
[0312] Optionally, when the third channel width indication information indicates different channel widths, the third space-time stream number indication information indicate a same number of space-time streams.
[0313] In other words, the third control subfield is used to indicate different channel widths and a same number of space-time streams. Beneficial effects of indicating the same number of space-time streams have been described in detail in the foregoing general description. Details are not described herein again.
[0314] In addition, in another implementation, the number of space-time streams indicated by the third space-time stream number indication information is the number of received space-time streams, or the number of transmitted space-time streams. In other words, the number of received space-time streams and the number of transmitted space-time streams are combined into one piece of indication information. For example, the Rx NSS and the Tx NSTS shown in
[0315] In some embodiments, in the 802.11ax standard, the control subfield whose identifier value is 15 is used as an identifier point indicating the enhanced OMI. In this case, the responder for the OM negotiation is configured to use the identifier point as an identifier, and identify a control subfield following the control subfield whose identifier value is 15 as an enhanced OM control subfield. This supports negotiation on a greater channel width and a greater number of space-time streams. In addition, some embodiments are highly compatible with the 802.11ax standard. For an initiator and a responder that support or do not support the 802.11ax standard, a control subfield corresponding to control ID=0001 is parsed, to obtain OM information.
[0316] In some embodiments, a technical solution of the enhanced OM negotiation in which an OMI sent by the AP to the STA 1 is indicated by using one control subfield when the AP performs OM negotiation with the STA 1.
[0317] In some embodiments, the control subfield is still referred to as a third control subfield. Correspondingly, the OMI is carried in control information corresponding to the third control subfield. The control information includes at least either of third channel width indication information and third space-time stream number indication information.
[0318] In an implementation, the third channel width indication information in the control information corresponding to the third control subfield is 3 bits.
[0319] Different from other embodiments, in the control information corresponding to the third control subfield, the third channel width indication information includes first channel width indication sub-information and second channel width indication sub-information. The first channel width indication sub-information (the channel width as shown in
[0320]
[0321] In this case, the responder jointly parses first channel width indication sub-information and second channel width indication sub-information, to obtain an indicated channel width.
[0322] Different from some embodiments, the third space-time stream number indication information includes first space-time stream number indication sub-information and second space-time stream number indication sub-information. The first space-time stream number indication sub-information (the Tx NSTS or the Rx NSTS as shown in
[0323]
[0324] In this case, the responder jointly parses the first space-time stream number indication sub-information and the second space-time stream number indication sub-information, to obtain an indicated number of space-time streams.
[0325] In a possible implementation, an identifier value corresponding to the third control subfield is any one of 0 to 15. For example, the identifier value corresponding to the third control subfield is 1.
[0326] Optionally, the third control subfield is one control subfield located after a control subfield whose identifier value is 15.
[0327] Optionally, the number of space-time streams jointly indicated by the first space-time stream number indication sub-information and the second space-time stream number indication sub-information is less than or equal to the number of space-time streams of a preset channel width value. The preset channel width value is 80 MHz or 160 MHz.
[0328] A method for deriving the number of space-time streams corresponding to another channel width and beneficial effects thereof have been described in detail in the foregoing general description. Details are not described herein again.
[0329] Optionally, when the first channel width indication information and the second channel width indication information jointly indicate different channel widths, the first space-time stream number indication information and the second space-time stream number indication information jointly indicate a same number of space-time streams.
[0330] In other words, the third control subfield is used to indicate different channel widths and a same number of space-time streams. Beneficial effects of indicating the same number of space-time streams have been described in detail in the foregoing general description. Details are not described herein again.
[0331] In some embodiments, the channel width indication information or the space-time stream number indication information in the control subfield in the 802.11ax standard is carried in two indication subfields. This implements the enhanced OM negotiation while ensuring maximum compatibility with the 802.11ax standard.
[0332] In some embodiments, a technical solution of the enhanced OM negotiation in which an OMI sent by the AP to the STA 1 is indicated by using one control subfield when the AP performs OM negotiation with the STA 1.
[0333] In some embodiments, the control subfield is referred to as a fourth control subfield. Correspondingly, the OMI is carried in control information corresponding to the fourth control subfield. The control information includes at least either of fourth channel width indication information and fourth space-time stream number indication information.
[0334] Optionally, the fourth channel width indication information is 2 bits, and indicates a channel width range from 20 MHz to 320 MHz.
[0335] As shown in Table 7:
TABLE-US-00007 TABLE 7 Recharacterized enhanced channel width indication - manner 1 Channel Description in a case in width in Description in a case in which at least either of an OMI which both the transmitter the transmitter and the control and the receiver support receiver does not support subfield the 11 be standard the 11 be standard 00 20 MHz 20 MHz 01 80 MHz 40 MHz 10 160 MHz or 80 + 80 MHz 80 MHz 11 320 MHz or 160 + 160 MHz 160 MHz or 80 + 80 MHz
[0336] Both the initiator and the responder support a standard after the 802.11ax, and a channel width range indicated by the fourth channel width indication information in the fourth control subfield (the OMI control subfield) is 20 MHz to 320 MHz.
[0337] Alternatively, either of the initiator and the responder does not support a standard after the 802.11ax, and a channel width range indicated by the fourth channel width indication information is 20 MHz to 160 MHz.
[0338] For example, the fourth channel width indication information is indicated to be 2 bits, and a value of the 2 bits is 11. In one case, both the initiator and the responder support a standard after the 802.11ax, for example, the 802.11be standard. Then 11 means that a channel width negotiated by the initiator and the responder is 320 MHz or 160+160 MHz. In another case, either of the initiator and the responder does not support a standard after the 802.11ax. For example, the responder does not support the 802.11be standard. Then 11 means that a channel width negotiated by the initiator and the responder is 160 MHz or 80+80 MHz.
[0339] In another possible implementation, the fourth channel width indication information indicates any one of the following four types:
[0340] a channel width of 20 MHz, a channel width of 40 MHz, a channel width of 80 MHz, and supported within a capability range.
[0341] As shown in Table 8:
TABLE-US-00008 TABLE 8 Recharacterized enhanced channel width indication - manner 2 Channel Description in a case in width in Description in a case in which at least either of an OMI which both the transmitter the transmitter and the control and the receiver support receiver does not support subfield the 11 be standard the 11 be standard 00 20 MHz 20 MHz 01 40 MHz 40 MHz 10 80 MHz 80 MHz 11 Supported within a 160 MHz or 80 + 80 MHz capability range
[0342] As shown in
[0343] In some embodiments, Table 7 and Table 8 are examples. A channel width indicated by the 2-bit fourth channel width indication information further is another value, for example, 240 MHz, 160+80 MHz, or 80+160 MHz. However, the following condition is satisfied: Both the initiator and the responder support a standard after the 802.11ax, then the 2-bit indicates any four values from 20 MHz to 320 MHz; or either of the initiator and the responder does not support a standard after the 802.11ax, then the 2-bit indicates any four values from 20 MHz to 160 MHz.
[0344] In some embodiments, the fourth channel width indication information indicates a greater channel width range, for example, indicate 640 MHz.
[0345] Similarly, in the control information corresponding to the fourth control subfield, the fourth space-time stream number indication information is 3 bits, and indicates that a range of the number of space-time streams is 1 to 16.
[0346] In an implementation, both the initiator and the responder support a standard after the 802.11ax, and the number of space-time streams indicated by the fourth space-time stream number indication information is any value from 1 to 16. Optionally, the fourth space-time stream number indication information indicates any eight values from 1 to 16.
[0347] Alternatively, either of the initiator and the responder does not support a standard after the 802.11ax, and the number of space-time streams indicated by the fourth space-time stream number indication information is any value from 1 to 8.
[0348] As shown in Table 9:
TABLE-US-00009 TABLE 9 Recharacterized enhanced Tx NSTS indication or enhanced Rx NSS indication - manner 1 Description in a case in Description in a case in which at least either of which both the transmitter the transmitter and the Tx NSTS/Rx and the receiver support receiver does not support NSS in the the 11be standard the 11be standard OM control (supported Tx NSTS or (supported Tx NSTS or subfield Rx NSS) Rx NSS) 000 1 1 001 2 2 010 4 3 011 6 4 100 8 5 101 10 6 110 12 7 111 16 8
[0349] In the OMI control subfield, if the number of bits used to indicate Tx NSTS/Rx NSS remains unchanged at 3 bits, a mode supported by 11ax (for example, modes 3, 5, or 7 of Tx NSTS/Rx NSS) is replaced with a new mode that needs to be supported (modes 10, 12, or 16 of Tx NSTS/Rx NSS in Table 9). A description column to be used is determined by the receiver (the responder for the OM negotiation) of the OM control subfield based on whether the receiver supports the 802.11be standard (or a subsequent standard).
[0350] In another implementation, a greater channel width or a greater number of space-time streams is not distinguished. Therefore, a preset value is used to represent that OMs are supported within a capability range. As shown in Table 10:
TABLE-US-00010 TABLE 10 Recharacterized enhanced Tx NSTS indication or enhanced Rx NSS indication - manner 2 Description in a case in Description in a case in which at least either of which both the transmitter the transmitter and the Tx NSTS/Rx and the receiver support receiver does not support NSS in the the 11be standard the 11be standard OM control (supported Tx NSTS or (supported Tx NSTS or subfield Rx NSS) Rx NSS) 000 1 1 001 2 2 010 3 3 011 4 4 100 5 5 101 6 6 110 7 7 111 Supported within a 8 capability range
[0351] In the examples shown in Table 9 and Table 10, if the receiver (the responder for the OM negotiation) of the OM control subfield does not support the 802.11be standard, the receiver needs to send corresponding information based on original description of the OM subfield characterized in the 11ax, instead of new description.
[0352] Similarly, one STA that supports the 11ax standard does not know how to interpret based on the new description, and interprets based on the description in the 11ax.
[0353] For example, if the responder for the OM negotiation is a STA that supports the 802.11ax standard, the responder does not know whether the responder supports the 11be, and does not determine whether the initiator for the OM negotiation supports the 11be. The STA parses the OMI in a manner specified in the 802.11ax standard. In this case, if the initiator for the OM negotiation supports a standard after the 802.11ax standard, for example, the 802.11be standard, the initiator is unable to send the enhanced OM indication information provided in some embodiments to the STA.
[0354] If the responder for the OM negotiation is a STA that supports a standard after the 802.11ax standard, for example, the responder knows that the responder is a STA that supports the 802.11be, when receiving the OMI, the responder needs to determine whether the initiator supports a standard after the 802.11ax standard (the responder learns, through a transmitter address, of a standard type supported by the initiator) to acknowledge by default, that the initiator definitely supports the standard after the 802.11ax standard. In this case, the OMI sent by the initiator is an enhanced OMI.
[0355] In some embodiments, the fourth space-time stream number indication information indicates a greater range of the number of space-time streams, for example, 1 to 32, or 1 to 64. When the existing number of bits remains unchanged, 3 bits are used to indicate any eight values from 1 to 32, or any eight values from 1 to 64, or seven values thereof plus “those supported within a capability range”.
[0356] In an implementation, the number of space-time streams indicated by the fourth space-time stream number indication information is less than or equal to the number of space-time streams of a preset channel width value. The preset channel width value is 80 MHz or 160 MHz.
[0357] In an implementation, when the fourth channel width indication information indicates different channel widths, the fourth space-time stream number indication information indicate a same number of space-time streams.
[0358] In some embodiments, without increasing the number of bits of an existing control subfield, based on whether a standard after the 802.11ax is supported, same OMI information is parsed into different description. Therefore, the enhanced OM negotiation is implemented while ensuring the maximum compatibility with the 802.11ax standard at minimum overheads.
[0359] Without loss of generality, a sequence of control sub-information in the control information corresponding to a control subfield in some embodiments is an example. There is another variation. the number of bits of another control sub-information further is adaptively changed. This is not limited.
[0360] In some embodiments, the enhanced OM negotiation method provided is described with the AP serving as the initiator for the OM negotiation and the STA 1 serving as the responder for the OM negotiation.
[0361] The STA serves as the initiator for the OM negotiation, and the AP serves as the responder for the OM negotiation. OM negotiation between APs or STAs is similar. Details are not described herein.
[0362] To implement the technical solution of the enhanced OM negotiation provided in some embodiments, the access point and the station includes a hardware structure and a software module, and implement the functions in a form of the hardware structure, the software module, or a combination of the hardware structure and the software module. A function in the foregoing functions are implemented in a form of the hardware structure, the software module, or the combination of the hardware structure and the software module.
[0363] A person skilled in the art further understands that various illustrative logical blocks (illustrative logic block) and steps (step) that are listed in some embodiments are implemented by using electronic hardware, computer software, or a combination thereof. Whether the functions are implemented by using hardware or software depends on particular applications and a design of an entire system. A person skilled in the art is configured to use various methods to implement the described functions for each particular application, but consideration that the implementation goes beyond the scope of the embodiments is unrealistic.
[0364] In some embodiments, a computer-readable storage medium is provided. The computer-readable storage medium stores a computer program, and when the computer-readable storage medium is executed by a computer, a function of any one of the foregoing method embodiments is implemented.
[0365] In some embodiments, a computer program product is provided. When the computer program product is executed by a computer, functions of any one of the foregoing method embodiments are implemented.
[0366] All or some of the foregoing embodiments are implemented by using software, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof. When software is used to implement the embodiments, all or some of the embodiments are implemented in a form of a computer program product. The computer program product includes one or more computer instructions. When the computer instructions are loaded or executed on the computer, the procedures or functions according to some embodiments are all or partially generated. The computer is a general-purpose computer, a dedicated computer, a computer network, or another programmable apparatus. The computer instructions are stored in a computer-readable storage medium or are transmitted from a computer-readable storage medium to another computer-readable storage medium. For example, the computer instructions are 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 (digital subscriber line, DSL)) or wireless (for example, infrared, radio, or microwave) manner. The computer-readable storage medium is 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 is a magnetic medium (for example, a floppy disk, a hard disk drive, or a magnetic tape), an optical medium (for example, a high-density digital video disc (digital video disc, DVD)), a semiconductor medium (for example, a solid-state disk (solid state disk, SSD)), or the like.
[0367] A person of ordinary skill in the art understands that various numerals such as “first” and “second” in the embodiments are used for differentiation for ease of description, and are not used to limit the scope of the embodiments or represent a sequence.
[0368] The correspondences shown in the tables in some embodiments are configured, or are predefined. Values of the information in the tables are examples, and other values are configured. This is not limited. When a correspondence between configuration information and each parameter is configured, the configuration of each correspondence shown in the tables is optional. For example, in the tables, correspondences shown in some rows alternatively is unable to be configured. For another example, proper deformations and adjustments such as splitting and combination is performed based on the foregoing tables. Names of the parameters shown in titles of the foregoing tables alternatively is other names that is understood by a communications apparatus, and values or representation manners of the parameters alternatively is other values or representation manners that is understood by the communications apparatus. During implementation of the foregoing tables, another data structure, such as an array, a queue, a container, a stack, a linear table, a pointer, a linked list, a tree, a graph, a structure, a class, a pile, or a hash table, alternatively is used.
[0369] “Predefine” in the embodiments is understood as “characterize”, “predetermine”, “store”, “pre-store”, “pre-negotiate”, “pre-configure”, “solidify”, or “pre-burn”.
[0370] A person skilled in the art is aware that units and algorithm steps in the examples described with reference to the embodiments disclosed in this specification is implemented by electronic hardware or a combination of computer software and electronic hardware. Whether the functions are performed by hardware or software depends on particular applications and design constraints of the technical solutions. A person skilled in the art is configured to use different methods to implement the described functions for each particular application, but implementation beyond the scope of the embodiments is unconsidered.
[0371] A person skilled in the art that, for the purpose of convenient and brief description, for a detailed working process of the foregoing system, apparatus, and unit, refer to a corresponding process in the foregoing method embodiments, and details are not described herein again.
[0372] The foregoing descriptions are implementations of the embodiments, but are not intended to limit the protection scope of the embodiments. Any variation or replacement readily figured out by a person skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in the embodiments shall fall within the protection scope of the embodiments. Therefore, the protection scope shall be subject to the claims.