CN114938507B

CN114938507B - Access method, device, system and readable storage medium

Info

Publication number: CN114938507B
Application number: CN202110153455.7A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 郭永康; 王同波; 夏芳
Original assignee: Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Current assignee: Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Priority date: 2021-02-04
Filing date: 2021-02-04
Publication date: 2024-04-12
Anticipated expiration: 2041-02-04
Also published as: CN114938507A; WO2022166576A1

Abstract

The application provides an access method, an access device, an access system and a readable storage medium, wherein the access method is applied to an access system, and the access system comprises the following steps: the system comprises first station STA equipment, second STA equipment, a first Access Point (AP) and a second AP, wherein the first STA equipment is accessed to the second AP. The method comprises the following steps: the second STA device broadcasting a probe frame in response to detecting that the wireless fidelity Wi-Fi network signal strength from the first AP is below a first strength threshold; the first STA device sends a response frame to the second STA device; the second STA device transmits an authentication request frame to the first STA device to access the first STA device. In the application, the existing first STA device which is accessed to the second AP is adopted as a relay, and the second STA device can access the first STA device to access the internet. According to the method, a user does not need to set a network, the coverage range of Wi-Fi network signals can be enlarged, and user experience is improved.

Description

Access method, device, system and readable storage medium

Technical Field

Embodiments of the present application relate to communications technologies, and in particular, to an access method, apparatus, system, and readable storage medium.

Background

Station (STA) devices within the coverage of an Access Point (AP) may access the internet through the AP. STA equipment in the family, such as cell-phone, computer, audio amplifier etc. can access the internet through the router. The coverage of the router is limited, the farther the router is, the smaller the Wi-Fi network signal strength is, and the STA equipment farther the router is can not access the Internet.

At present, a user can set a plurality of routers to form a master-slave routing network so as to enlarge the coverage range of Wi-Fi network signals. However, the router needs to be set one by the user in the mode, so that the operation is complex and the efficiency is low.

Disclosure of Invention

The embodiment of the application provides an access method, an access device, an access system and a readable storage medium, which can enlarge the coverage range of Wi-Fi network signals and improve user experience without setting a network by a user.

In a first aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides an access method, where the method is applied to an access system, and the access system includes: the system comprises first station STA equipment, second STA equipment, a first Access Point (AP) and a second AP, wherein the first STA equipment is accessed to the second AP. It should be appreciated that the procedure for the first STA device to access the second AP may refer to IEEE Std 802.11 ^TM -2016 protocol. The access method may include: the second STA device broadcasting a probe frame in response to detecting that a wireless fidelity Wi-Fi network signal strength from the first access point is below a first strength threshold; the first STA device sends a response frame to the second STA device; the second STA device sends an authentication request frame to the first STA device to access the first STA device. In one embodiment, the first AP may be the same as the second AP, or the first AP may be different from the second AP.

The first STA device has accessed to the second AP, which may be used as a relay in the present application, and the second STA device may access the first STA device to access the internet. According to the method, the coverage range of Wi-Fi network signals can be enlarged without setting a network by a user, the efficiency of accessing the second STA equipment to the Internet is high, seamless access to the Internet can be realized, and the user experience is improved. It should be understood that the procedure in which the second STA device transmits an authentication request frame to the first STA device to access the first STA device may be the same as the procedure in which the STA device accesses the AP, which is defined in the current standard. Illustratively, the second STA device sends the authentication request frame to the first STA device; the first STA device sends an authentication response frame to the second STA device; the second STA device sends an association request frame to the first STA device; and the first STA device sends an association response frame to the second STA device, and the second STA device receives the association response frame from the first STA device and characterizes that the second STA device is successfully accessed to the first STA device.

In one possible implementation, when the first AP may be different from the second AP, the first AP and the second AP may form a master-slave routing network in advance, the service set identifiers SSID and authentication manners of the first AP and the second AP are the same as those of the master route, and the construction process of the master-slave routing network may be described with reference to related descriptions in the prior art. In such an implementation, the second STA device may broadcast a probe frame as described above when it detects that the wireless fidelity Wi-Fi network signal strength from the first access point is below a first strength threshold and roaming fails. Wherein the roaming process of the second STA device can refer to the related description in the specific embodiment or refer to IEEE Std 802.11k/v/r ^TM Protocol.

In this implementation manner, when the second STA device fails to access the first AP, the second AP may be accessed based on the current roaming mechanism, and if the second STA device fails to roam, the scheme of accessing the first STA device in the embodiment of the present application may be executed, so as to increase the chance that the second STA device accesses the internet.

The following describes the access method in the embodiment of the present application from two possible implementations:

a first possible implementation: the first STA device supports dynamic switching, i.e., when the second STA device requests access to the first STA device, the first STA device switches from the STA role to the relay role, enabling the second STA device to access.

In this manner, when the second STA device detects that the Wi-Fi network signal strength from the first AP is lower than the first strength threshold, a sounding frame may be broadcasted, where the sounding frame is used to indicate a device capable of receiving the sounding frame, such as the first AP, the second AP, and the second STA device, respond to at least one of the uplink bandwidth and the Wi-Fi channel free rate of each. Wherein the probe frame may be referred to as a private signal probe frame, which is associated with IEEE Std 802.11 ^TM -2016, except that the private signal probe frame includes a custom field, the custom field is defined in the protocol The definition field is used for indicating at least one of feedback uplink bandwidth and Wi-Fi channel free rate. The custom field may be pre-agreed.

The second STA device may receive a response frame from the first STA device, where the response frame may include at least one of an uplink bandwidth and a Wi-Fi channel free ratio of the first STA device. The second STA device may determine that the first STA device is a target STA device according to at least one of Wi-Fi network signal strength, the uplink bandwidth, and the Wi-Fi channel free ratio of the first STA device. In one embodiment, the second STA device may receive response frames from a plurality of devices, and the second STA device may determine, according to at least one of Wi-Fi network signal strengths, the uplink bandwidth, and the Wi-Fi channel free ratio of the plurality of devices, that the device to be accessed is the first STA device, that is, the target STA device.

After the second STA device determines that the first STA device is the target STA device, in order to access the first STA device, because the first STA device is still in STA role at present, the second STA device may request the first STA device to switch from STA role to relay role, so as to be able to access the first STA device. Wherein the second STA device may send an AP request to the first STA device; the first STA device starts an AP function, and the first STA device starts the AP function to characterize that the first STA device is switched from an STA role to a relay role. It should be understood that, in the embodiment of the present application, the function of switching the first STA device from the STA role to the relay role is referred to as an AP function, may also be referred to as a relay function, or may also be referred to as another name for indicating the role switching. After the first STA device starts the AP function, an AP response may be sent to the second STA device to characterize that the first STA device has started the AP function.

In this manner, the first STA device switches from the STA role to the relay role, and the second STA device can access the first STA device. The procedure of the second STA device accessing the first STA device may be the same as the procedure of the STA device accessing the AP. Such as: a second STA device sends a detection request frame to the first STA device, the first STA device sends a detection response frame to the second STA device, and the second STA device sends the authentication request frame to the first STA device; the first STA device sends an authentication response frame to the second STA device; the second STA device sends an association request frame to the first STA device; the first STA device transmits an association response frame to the second STA device.

It should be noted that after the first STA device switches from the STA role to the relay role, the first STA device may continue to access the second AP as the STA role, or may also act as the relay role (or from the routing role), and enable the second STA device to access. The configuration information of the first STA device needs to be the same as the configuration information of the second AP, where the configuration information may include, but is not limited to, an SSID and an authentication manner of the second AP.

In this embodiment of the present application, the first STA device may obtain the configuration information of the second AP from the following two manners:

The first way is: the second AP may periodically broadcast a first Beacon frame, where the first Beacon frame includes configuration information of the second AP, so that the first STA device may obtain, during access to the second AP, the configuration information of the second AP when the second AP is not accessed, or after the second AP is accessed, based on the first Beacon frame.

The second way is: after receiving the AP request from the second STA device, the first STA device may send a parameter synchronization request to the second AP, and the second AP sends configuration information of the second AP to the first STA device. After receiving the configuration information of the second AP, the first STA device may broadcast a second Beacon frame, where the second Beacon frame includes the SSID and the authentication mode.

The first STA device may further start an AP function after receiving the configuration information of the second AP, and after the AP function is started, may send an online message to the second AP, where the second AP updates a network topology, and the second AP sends a first network topology update response to the first STA device. When the first STA device receives the first network topology update response from the second AP, the AP response may be sent to the second STA device.

In the second manner, compared with the first manner, signaling interaction between the first STA device and the second AP can be reduced, and overhead is saved.

In this first possible implementation manner, when the first STA device requests access from the second STA device, the first STA device may start the AP function, and further the first STA device may act as a relay to access the second STA device to the second AP. Similarly, in the embodiment of the application, the existing first STA device accessed to the second AP is adopted as the relay, so that the user does not need to perform configuration operation, the user experience is improved, and the coverage range of Wi-Fi network signals can be enlarged.

In this first possible implementation manner, when the second STA device detects that the Wi-Fi network signal strength from the first STA device is lower than the second strength threshold, the first STA device may be exited, for example, the second STA device may send a disassociation request frame to the first STA device; the first STA device transmits a disassociation response frame to the second STA device. In this manner, the second STA device may exit the first STA device to access a stronger signal strength device. After sending the disassociation response frame, the first STA device may determine whether there are any more accessed STA devices in the first STA device. If the first STA device further has an accessed STA device, the first STA device may continue to act as a relay role. If the first STA device has no access to the STA device, the first STA device may close the AP function, where closing the AP function characterizes the first STA device switching from the relay role to the STA role. After the first STA device closes the AP function, a downlink message may be sent to the second AP, where the downlink message is used to instruct the second AP to update a network topology; the second AP sends a second network topology update response to the first STA device.

In this way, when there is no access STA device in the first STA device, the first STA device may turn off the AP function to save power consumption. It is contemplated that the first STA device may continue to initiate AP functions upon request by other STA devices, enabling access by other STA devices.

In one embodiment, the second STA device may exit the first STA device directly without interacting with the first STA device with "disassociate request frames and disassociate response frames" to reduce signaling overhead when detecting that the Wi-Fi network signal strength from the first STA device is below the second strength threshold. In such an embodiment, the first STA device may determine in real time or at intervals of a preset period, whether there are any access STA devices in the first STA device, so as to determine whether to exit the AP function.

A second possible implementation: the first STA device supports a static handoff, i.e., the first STA device may switch from the STA role to the relay role when the first STA device accesses the second AP. In this manner, when the second STA device cannot access the first AP (or the second AP), the first STA device may be accessed to access the internet.

In this manner, when the first STA device accesses the second AP, for example, when the first STA device receives the association response frame from the second AP, the AP function may be started, and when the second STA device needs to access, the second STA device may directly access the first STA device. It should be noted that in a second possible implementation, the interaction with the second AP when the first STA device starts the AP function may refer to the description related to the first possible implementation. In addition, the first STA device may also refer to the related description of the "first manner and the second manner" described above for obtaining the configuration information of the second AP. In this manner, since the first STA device has switched to the relay role when accessing the second AP, i.e. the first STA device may have enabled the second STA device to access, and may be regarded as a slave router, in the embodiment of the present application, the second STA device may refer to IEEE Std 802.11 when accessing the first STA device ^TM -2016 protocol defined step to access the first STA device.

In this manner, the AP functionality may be turned off when the first STA device is powered down. The first STA device sends a downlink message to the second AP, wherein the downlink message is used for indicating the second AP to update network topology; the second AP sends a second network topology update response to the first STA device; the first STA device sends a disassociation request frame to the second AP; the second AP transmits a disassociation response frame to the first STA device.

In one embodiment, the signaling that interacts with the second AP when the first STA device powers down may be less or more, so that the first STA device turns off the AP function and the second AP updates the network topology.

In this second possible implementation, the third STA device may initiate the AP function when accessing the second AP. The third STA device may act as a relay enabling the second STA device to access the second AP. Similarly, in the embodiment of the application, the third STA device which is accessed to the second AP at present is used as the relay, so that the user does not need to perform configuration operation, the user experience is improved, and the coverage range of Wi-Fi network signals can be enlarged.

After the second STA device accesses the first STA device, the first STA device may perform its own service as an STA role, or may perform a relay role to transmit the service from the second STA device to the AP. In this embodiment of the present application, the first STA device puts a first service packet into a service queue of a first priority, where the first service packet is a service packet in the first STA device; the first STA device puts a second service message into a service queue of a second priority, wherein the second service message is a message of a service in the second STA device, and the second priority is lower than the first priority; the first STA device sends a first feature, the first service message and the second service message to the second AP, wherein the first feature is the feature of the first service message, and the first feature is used for the second AP to identify the first service message.

In this embodiment, the first STA device may put the service in the first STA device into the high priority queue, and put the service of the second STA device into the low priority queue, so that the first STA device may execute the service of the first STA device first, and then execute the service of the second STA device, thereby ensuring that the service in the first STA device is not affected when the second STA device hangs down.

Similarly, in the embodiment of the present application, the second AP places the third service packet into the service queue of the first priority; the second AP puts the fourth service message into a service queue of a second priority; and the second AP sends the third service message and the fourth service message to the first STA equipment. Accordingly, the second AP may transmit the service packet in the target STA device preferentially, and then transmit the service packet in the second STA device. In one embodiment, the third service message is a message responding to the first service message, and the fourth service message is a message responding to the second service message.

In a second aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides an access method, applied to a second station STA device, where the method includes: in response to detecting that the wireless fidelity Wi-Fi network signal strength from the first access point AP is below a first strength threshold, broadcasting a probe frame; receiving a response frame from a first STA device, wherein the first STA device is an STA device accessed to a second AP; and sending an authentication request frame to the first STA device to access the first STA device.

In a possible implementation manner, the response frame includes at least one of uplink bandwidth and Wi-Fi channel idle rate of the first STA device; before sending the authentication request frame to the first STA device, the method further includes: and determining the first STA device as a target STA device according to at least one of Wi-Fi network signal strength, the uplink bandwidth and the Wi-Fi channel free ratio of the first STA device.

In one possible implementation manner, after the determining that the first STA device is the target STA device, the method further includes: sending an AP request to the first STA device, wherein the AP request is used for indicating the first STA device to start an AP function, and the first STA device starts the AP function to characterize that the first STA device is switched from an STA role to a relay role; receiving an AP response from the first STA device, the AP response being used to characterize that the first STA device has initiated the AP function; transmitting a probe request frame to the first STA device; a probe response frame is received from the first STA device.

In one possible implementation, the probe frame is a probe request frame, the response frame is a probe response frame, the first STA device starts an AP function when accessing the second AP, and the first STA device starts the AP function to characterize the first STA device switching from the STA role to the relay role.

In one possible implementation, the broadcasting the probe frame in response to detecting that the wireless fidelity Wi-Fi network signal strength from the first access point AP is below a first strength threshold comprises: the probe frame is broadcast in response to detecting that Wi-Fi network signal strength from the first AP is below the first strength threshold and roaming fails.

In one possible implementation manner, the sending, to the first STA device, an authentication request frame to access the first STA device includes: transmitting the authentication request frame to the first STA device; receiving an authentication response frame from the first STA device; transmitting an association request frame to the first STA device; an association response frame is received from the first STA device.

In one possible implementation, the method further includes: transmitting a disassociation request frame to the first STA device in response to detecting that the Wi-Fi network signal strength from the first STA device is below a second strength threshold; a disassociation response frame is received from the first STA device.

In a third aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides an access method, applied to a first station STA device, where the first STA device is an STA device that has been accessed to a second access point AP, and the method includes: receiving a sounding frame from a second STA device; transmitting a response frame to the second STA device; an authentication request frame is received from the second STA device.

In a possible implementation manner, the response frame includes at least one of uplink bandwidth and Wi-Fi channel idle rate of the first STA device, and after the response frame is sent to the second STA device, the method further includes: receiving an AP request from the second STA device; an AP-enabled function characterizing a handoff of the first STA device from an STA role to a relay role; and sending an AP response to the second STA device, wherein the AP response is used for representing that the first STA device starts the AP function.

In one possible implementation manner, before receiving the authentication request frame from the second STA device, the method further includes: receiving a probe request frame from the second STA device; and sending a detection response frame to the second STA device.

In one possible implementation, the probe frame is a probe request frame, and the response frame is a probe response frame; before receiving the probe frame from the second STA device, the method further includes: and starting an AP function, wherein the AP function is started to characterize the first STA equipment to switch from the STA role to the relay role.

In one possible implementation manner, before the starting the AP function, the method further includes: and acquiring configuration information of the second AP, wherein the configuration information comprises a service set identifier SSID and an authentication mode of the second AP.

In one possible implementation manner, the obtaining the configuration information of the second AP includes: and receiving a first Beacon frame from the second AP, wherein the first Beacon frame comprises configuration information of the second AP.

In one possible implementation manner, the obtaining the configuration information of the second AP includes: sending a parameter synchronization request to the second AP; and receiving configuration information from the second AP.

In one possible implementation manner, after the starting the AP function, the method further includes: sending an online message to the second AP, wherein the online message is used for indicating the second AP to update network topology; a first network topology update response is received from the second AP.

In one possible implementation manner, after the starting the AP function, the method further includes: and broadcasting a second Beacon frame, wherein the second Beacon frame comprises the SSID and the authentication mode.

In one possible implementation manner, after receiving the authentication request frame from the second STA device, the method further includes: transmitting an authentication response frame to the second STA device; receiving an association request frame from the second STA device; and sending an association response frame to the second STA device.

In one possible implementation, the method further includes: putting a first service message into a service queue of a first priority, wherein the first service message is a message of a service in the first STA equipment; placing a second service message into a service queue of a second priority, wherein the second service message is a message of a service in the second STA equipment, and the second priority is lower than the first priority; and sending a first feature, the first service message and the second service message to the second AP, wherein the first feature is the feature of the first service message, and the first feature is used for the second AP to identify the first service message.

In one possible implementation, the method further includes: receiving a third service message in the service queue of the first priority from the second AP; receiving a fourth service message in the service queue of the second priority from the second AP; and sending the fourth service message to the second STA equipment.

In one possible implementation manner, the third service message is a message responding to the first service message, and the fourth service message is a message responding to the second service message.

In one possible implementation, the method further includes: receiving a disassociation request frame from the second STA device; transmitting a disassociation response frame to the second STA device; judging whether the first STA equipment has accessed STA equipment or not; if yes, the processing is not performed; if not, closing the AP function, wherein the closing of the AP function characterizes that the first STA equipment is switched from the relay role to the STA role.

In one possible implementation manner, after the turning off the AP function, the method further includes: transmitting a downlink message to the second AP, where the downlink message is used to instruct the second AP to update a network topology; a second network topology update response is received from the second AP.

In one possible implementation, the method further includes: when powering down, closing the AP function, the closing the AP function characterizing the switching of the first STA device from the relay role to the STA role; transmitting a downlink message to the second AP, where the downlink message is used to instruct the second AP to update a network topology; receiving a second network topology update response from the second AP; transmitting a disassociation request frame to the second AP; and receiving a disassociation response frame from the second AP.

In a fourth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides an access method, which is applied to a second access point, where a first station STA device is an STA device that has been accessed to the second access point, and the method includes: receiving a parameter synchronization request from a first STA device; transmitting configuration information of the second access point to the first STA equipment, wherein the configuration information comprises a service set identifier SSID and an authentication mode of the second access point; receiving an online message from the first STA device; updating the network topology; and sending a first network topology updating response to the first STA equipment.

In one possible implementation, the method further includes: placing the third service message into a service queue of the first priority; placing a fourth service message into a service queue with a second priority, wherein the second priority is lower than the first priority; and sending the third service message and the fourth service message to the first STA equipment.

In one possible implementation manner, the third service packet is a packet in response to a first service packet, the fourth service packet is a packet in response to a second service packet, the first service packet is a packet of a service in the first STA device, the second service packet is a packet of a service in a second STA device, and the second STA device has been accessed to the first STA device.

In one possible implementation, the method further includes: receiving a downlink message from the first STA device, where the downlink message is used to instruct the second access point to update a network topology; updating the network topology; transmitting a second network topology update response to the first STA device; receiving a disassociation request frame from the first STA device; and sending a disassociation response frame to the first STA device.

In one possible implementation, the method further includes: and broadcasting a first Beacon frame, wherein the first Beacon frame comprises configuration information of the second access point.

In a fifth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides an access apparatus, which may be the second STA device in the second aspect, where the access apparatus may include: the device comprises a processing module and a receiving and transmitting module.

Wherein, the transceiver module is used for: in response to detecting that the wireless fidelity Wi-Fi network signal strength from the first access point AP is below a first strength threshold, broadcasting a probe frame; receiving a response frame from a first STA device, wherein the first STA device is an STA device accessed to a second AP; and sending an authentication request frame to the first STA device to access the first STA device.

In a possible implementation manner, the response frame includes at least one of uplink bandwidth and Wi-Fi channel idle rate of the first STA device; the processing module is configured to determine, according to at least one of Wi-Fi network signal strength, the uplink bandwidth, and the Wi-Fi channel redundancy rate of the first STA device, that the first STA device is a target STA device.

In one possible implementation, the transceiver module is further configured to: sending an AP request to the first STA device, wherein the AP request is used for indicating the first STA device to start an AP function, and the first STA device starts the AP function to characterize that the first STA device is switched from an STA role to a relay role; receiving an AP response from the first STA device, the AP response being used to characterize that the first STA device has initiated the AP function; transmitting a probe request frame to the first STA device; a probe response frame is received from the first STA device.

In one possible implementation manner, the transceiver module is specifically configured to: the probe frame is broadcast in response to detecting that Wi-Fi network signal strength from the first AP is below the first strength threshold and roaming fails.

In one possible implementation, the transceiver module is further configured to: transmitting the authentication request frame to the first STA device; receiving an authentication response frame from the first STA device; transmitting an association request frame to the first STA device; an association response frame is received from the first STA device.

In one possible implementation, the transceiver module is further configured to: transmitting a disassociation request frame to the first STA device in response to detecting that the Wi-Fi network signal strength from the first STA device is below a second strength threshold; a disassociation response frame is received from the first STA device.

In a sixth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides an access apparatus, which may be the first STA device in the third aspect, where the access apparatus may include: the device comprises a processing module and a receiving and transmitting module.

Wherein, the transceiver module is used for: receiving a sounding frame from a second STA device; transmitting a response frame to the second STA device; an authentication request frame is received from the second STA device.

In one possible implementation, the response frame includes at least one of uplink bandwidth and Wi-Fi channel free ratio of the first STA device. The transceiver module is further configured to receive an AP request from the second STA device. The processing module is configured to initiate an AP function, where the initiating AP function characterizes that the first STA device switches from an STA role to a relay role. The transceiver module is further configured to send an AP response to the second STA device, where the AP response is used to characterize that the first STA device has started the AP function.

In one possible implementation, the transceiver module is further configured to receive a probe request frame from the second STA device; and sending a detection response frame to the second STA device.

In one possible implementation, the probe frame is a probe request frame, and the response frame is a probe response frame; before the transceiver module receives the probe frame from the second STA device, the processing module is configured to initiate an AP function, where the initiating AP function characterizes the first STA device switching from the STA role to the relay role.

In a possible implementation manner, the processing module is further configured to obtain configuration information of the second AP, where the configuration information includes a service set identifier SSID and an authentication manner of the second AP.

In one possible implementation manner, the transceiver module is further configured to receive a first Beacon frame from the second AP, where the first Beacon frame includes configuration information of the second AP.

In a possible implementation manner, the transceiver module is further configured to send a parameter synchronization request to the second AP; and receiving configuration information from the second AP.

In a possible implementation manner, the transceiver module is further configured to send an online message to the second AP, where the online message is used to instruct the second AP to update a network topology; a first network topology update response is received from the second AP.

In one possible implementation manner, the transceiver module is further configured to broadcast a second Beacon frame, where the second Beacon frame includes the SSID and the authentication mode.

In one possible implementation, the transceiver module is further configured to send an authentication response frame to the second STA device; receiving an association request frame from the second STA device; and sending an association response frame to the second STA device.

In one possible implementation manner, the processing module is further configured to put a first service packet into a service queue of a first priority, where the first service packet is a packet of a service in the first STA device; and placing a second service message into a service queue of a second priority, wherein the second service message is a message of a service in the second STA equipment, and the second priority is lower than the first priority. The transceiver module is further configured to send a first feature, the first service packet, and the second service packet to the second AP, where the first feature is a feature of the first service packet, and the first feature is used for the second AP to identify the first service packet.

In a possible implementation manner, the transceiver module is further configured to receive a third service packet in the service queue of the first priority from the second AP; receiving a fourth service message in the service queue of the second priority from the second AP; and sending the fourth service message to the second STA equipment.

In one possible implementation, the transceiver module is further configured to receive a disassociation request frame from the second STA device; and sending a disassociation response frame to the second STA device. The processing module is further configured to determine whether there is any accessed STA device in the first STA device; if yes, the processing is not performed; if not, closing the AP function, wherein the closing of the AP function characterizes that the first STA equipment is switched from the relay role to the STA role.

In a possible implementation manner, the transceiver module is further configured to send a downlink message to the second AP, where the downlink message is used to instruct the second AP to update a network topology; a second network topology update response is received from the second AP.

In a possible implementation manner, the processing module is further configured to turn off the AP function when power is turned off, where the turning off the AP function characterizes the first STA device to switch from the relay role to the STA role. The transceiver module is further configured to send an offline message to the second AP, where the offline message is used to instruct the second AP to update a network topology; receiving a second network topology update response from the second AP; transmitting a disassociation request frame to the second AP; and receiving a disassociation response frame from the second AP.

In a seventh aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides an access device, which may be the second AP according to the fourth aspect, where the access device may include: the device comprises a processing module and a receiving and transmitting module.

The processing module is used for receiving a parameter synchronization request from first STA equipment; transmitting configuration information of the second access point to the first STA equipment, wherein the configuration information comprises a service set identifier SSID and an authentication mode of the second access point; receiving an online message from the first STA device; updating the network topology; and sending a first network topology updating response to the first STA equipment.

In one possible implementation manner, the processing module is configured to put the third service packet into a service queue of the first priority; and placing the fourth service message into a service queue with a second priority, wherein the second priority is lower than the first priority. The transceiver module is further configured to send the third service packet and the fourth service packet to the first STA device.

In one possible implementation, the transceiver module is further configured to receive a downlink message from the first STA device, where the downlink message is used to instruct the second access point to update a network topology. The processing module is also used for updating the network topology. The transceiver module is further configured to send a second network topology update response to the first STA device; receiving a disassociation request frame from the first STA device; and sending a disassociation response frame to the first STA device.

In a possible implementation manner, the transceiver module is further configured to broadcast a first Beacon frame, where the first Beacon frame includes configuration information of the second access point.

In an eighth aspect, embodiments of the present application provide an access system, including an access device according to the fifth aspect, an access device according to the sixth aspect, and an access device according to the seventh aspect.

In a ninth aspect, embodiments of the present application provide an access device, including: a processor, a memory, a transceiver; the transceiver is coupled to the processor, and the processor controls the transceiving actions of the transceiver; wherein the memory is for storing computer executable program code, the program code comprising instructions; the instructions, when executed by a processor, cause the access device to perform the method as provided in the second to fourth aspects.

In a tenth aspect, embodiments of the present application provide an access device comprising means, modules or circuits for performing the methods provided in the second to fourth aspects above. The access device may be an electronic device, or may be a module applied to an electronic device, for example, may be a chip applied to an electronic device. The electronic device may be, for example, a second STA device, a first STA device, or a second AP.

In an eleventh aspect, embodiments of the present application provide an access device (e.g. a chip) having stored thereon a computer program which, when executed by the access device, implements the method as provided in the second to fourth aspects.

In a twelfth aspect, embodiments of the present application provide a computer program product comprising instructions which, when run on a computer, cause the computer to perform the method provided in the second to fourth aspects above.

In a thirteenth aspect, embodiments of the present application provide a computer-readable storage medium having instructions stored therein, which when run on a computer, cause the computer to perform the methods provided in the second to fourth aspects above.

It will be appreciated that technical effects of the second to thirteenth aspects described above may be referred to the relevant description of the first aspect described above.

The embodiment of the application provides an access method, an access device, an access system and a readable storage medium, wherein the access method is applied to an access system, and the access system comprises the following steps: the system comprises first station STA equipment, second STA equipment, a first Access Point (AP) and a second AP, wherein the first STA equipment is accessed to the second AP. The method comprises the following steps: the second STA device broadcasting a probe frame in response to detecting that the wireless fidelity Wi-Fi network signal strength from the first access point is below a first strength threshold; the first STA device sends a response frame to the second STA device; the second STA device transmits an authentication request frame to the first STA device to access the first STA device. In the embodiment of the application, the existing first STA device accessing the second AP is used as the relay, and the second STA device may access the first STA device to access the internet. According to the method, a user does not need to set a network, the coverage range of Wi-Fi network signals can be enlarged, and user experience is improved.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of a scenario in which an STA device accesses the internet;

fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of another scenario in which an STA device accesses the internet;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a scenario suitable for use in the embodiments of the present application;

FIG. 4 is a flow chart of an access method;

fig. 5A is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of an access method according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 5B is a flowchart of another embodiment of an access method according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 6 is an interface change schematic diagram of an STA device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 7A is another schematic diagram of interface change of the STA device according to the embodiment of the present application;

fig. 7B is another schematic diagram of interface change of the STA device according to the embodiment of the present application;

fig. 8 is a schematic service processing diagram of an STA device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 9A is a schematic diagram of a service queue provided in an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 9B is a schematic diagram of another service queue provided in an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 10 is a flowchart of another embodiment of an access method provided in the embodiments of the present application;

fig. 11 is a flowchart of another embodiment of an access method provided in the embodiments of the present application;

fig. 12 is a schematic structural diagram of an access device according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 13 is another schematic structural diagram of an access device according to an embodiment of the present application;

Fig. 14 is another schematic structural diagram of an access device according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 15 is another schematic structural diagram of an access device according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 16 is a schematic diagram of an access system according to an embodiment of the present application.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of a scenario in which a Station (STA) device accesses the internet. As shown in fig. 1, routers and STA devices may be included in a home. The STA device may be connected to a router, which serves as an Access Point (AP), and may access the STA device to the internet. The STA devices and routers may constitute a wireless fidelity (wireless fidelity, wi-Fi) mesh network. In the embodiment of the application, the AP may be other electronic devices or network devices, such as customer premises equipment (customer premise equipment, CPE), etc. One AP may support multiple STA device accesses. Any one of the devices accessing the AP may be referred to as an STA device, which may be a mobile device or a fixed device. The STA device may be, but is not limited to: a Wi-Fi enabled device such as a cell phone, tablet, notebook, speaker, wearable device, smart jack, smart screen, smart home appliance, internet of things (internet of things, ioT) device, camera device, etc. Optionally, the STA device may also be a personal digital assistant (personal digital assistant, PDA), a handheld device with wireless communication capability, a computing device, a Virtual Reality (VR) terminal device, an unmanned aerial vehicle device, an augmented reality (augmented reality, AR) terminal device, a wireless terminal in industrial control (industrial control), a wireless terminal in smart home (smart home), etc. The form of the STA device in the embodiment of the present application is not specifically limited. Fig. 1 is a view of an application of an embodiment of the present application, and the access method of the embodiment of the present application may also be applied to other scenes such as factories, hospitals, schools, and the like. It should be understood that the solid line between the STA device and the router in fig. 1 represents the connection state between the STA device and the router, and does not represent the connection line between the STA device and the router.

As shown in fig. 1, the mobile phone and the tablet computer are far away from the router, and the mobile phone and the tablet computer cannot access the router because of the problem of limited Wi-Fi network signal coverage. In one possible implementation, the cell phone and tablet can access the internet, but Wi-Fi network signals are poor, resulting in poor user internet surfing experience. In order to expand the coverage of Wi-Fi network signals and improve the Wi-Fi network signal strength of mobile phones and tablet computers, a user can set a plurality of routers in a home, and the routers can form a master-slave routing network. As shown in fig. 2, the router 1 may be a master router, and the router 2 may be a slave router, and access to the master router, where the router 1 and the router 2 form a master-slave routing network. The router 2 can retransmit or forward the data signal, so as to enlarge the distance of network transmission and further enlarge the coverage of Wi-Fi network signals. A cell phone and tablet computer remote from the master router may access the slave router to access the internet. In the mode, a user needs to purchase a plurality of routers, and manually sets master-slave routers to carry out networking, so that the step is complex.

The roles of the STA devices shown in fig. 2 are fixed, for example, the STA devices can only act as STA roles, and access to the AP. The embodiment of the application provides an access method, wherein the role of STA equipment can be switched between the STA role and the relay role, and the STA equipment serving as the relay role can be accessed to an AP (access point) or other STA equipment, so that the coverage range of Wi-Fi network signals is enlarged. In the embodiment of the application, the existing STA equipment accessed to the AP is adopted as the AP, so that the problem of setting an additional slave router can be avoided, the coverage range of Wi-Fi network signals can be enlarged, the Wi-Fi network signal strength of the STA equipment is improved, and further user experience is improved. As shown in fig. 3, an exemplary smart screen of the access router may activate the AP function, expanding the coverage of Wi-Fi network signals. The mobile phone and the tablet computer can be connected with the intelligent screen, and then the router is connected, so that the Wi-Fi network signal strength of the mobile phone and the tablet computer can be improved.

Before describing the access method provided by the embodiment of the present application, a brief description will be given of the procedure of accessing an AP by a STA device at present, and for more detailed steps, reference may be made to IEEE Std 802.11 ^TM -2016 protocol. The STA device accessing the AP may include: a scanning phase, an authentication phase and an association phase. Fig. 4 is a flow chart of an access method. As shown in fig. 4, the access method may include:

s401, the STA device transmits a probe request frame (probe request).

The STA device may send the probe request frame in a broadcast or unicast manner. Taking the STA device broadcast probe request frame as an example, the STA device unicast probe request frame may refer to IEEE Std 802.11 ^TM -2016 protocol. For example, a STA device may broadcast a probe request frame on its supported channels for probing for surrounding existing APs. Probe request frames can be divided into two categories, one being a service set identifier (service set identifier, SSID) of an unspecified AP and one being an SSID of an assigned AP. The SSID of an AP, used to distinguish between different APs, may also be understood as a Wi-Fi name. It should be appreciated that the manner in which the probe request frame specifies the SSID of the AP may be such that the SSID of the AP is included in the probe request frame.

If the probe request frame does not specify the SSID of the AP, all APs receiving the probe request frame will respond to the STA device. If the probe request frame designates the SSID of the AP, the AP corresponding to the SSID may respond to the STA device after receiving the probe request frame. The STA device actively scans the AP is described herein as an example, and the STA device may also passively scan, i.e. the AP scans the STA device, and may refer to IEEE Std 802.11 ^TM -2016 protocol.

S402, the AP sends a probe response frame (probe response) to the STA device.

In response to the probe request frame of the STA device, the AP may transmit a probe response frame to the STA device. The probe response frame may include the SSID of the AP. In one possible implementation, when the STA device receives the probe response frame from the AP, the STA device may display the SSID of the AP, that is, the user may see on the STA device the SSID (Wi-Fi name) of the AP that the STA device scans for.

S403, the STA device transmits an authentication request frame to the AP (authentication request).

The manner in which the AP authenticates the STA device may include, but is not limited to, open system authentication (open system authentication) and shared key authentication (shared-key authentication). In one possible implementation, the authentication request frame may carry an authentication manner supported by the AP.

S404, the AP transmits an authentication response frame to the STA device (authentication response).

When the STA device authentication passes, the AP may send an authentication response to the STA device to indicate that the STA device authentication passes.

S405, the STA device transmits an association request frame to the AP (association request).

In one possible implementation, the association is initiated by the STA device, and the association phase is a process of wireless link service negotiation between the STA device and the AP. In one possible implementation, the association request frame may include various parameters of the STA device itself, and various parameters selected by the STA device according to the service configuration. For example, the association request frame may include a rate supported by the STA device, a channel, a capability of quality of service (quality of service, qoS), and an access authentication and encryption algorithm selected by the STA device.

S406, the AP transmits an association response frame to the STA device (association response).

When the STA device receives the association response frame from the AP, the STA device is characterized in that a Wi-Fi wireless link is established between the STA device and the AP, and the STA device accesses the Internet through the AP.

In one embodiment, the first STA device may initiate the AP function. The first STA device is a STA device supporting dynamic switching, where supporting dynamic switching may be understood as: the first STA device may switch from the STA role to the relay role when the second STA device requests access to the first STA device. If the first STA device has accessed the second AP, when the second STA device requests to access the first STA device, the first STA device starts the AP function, so that the second STA device can access the first STA device to access the second AP. In one embodiment, the first STA device may occupy a larger air interface resource for its own traffic and/or may not plug in an STA device for use. Illustratively, the first STA device may be, but is not limited to being, a smart screen, a cell phone, a tablet computer. The first STA device may be at least one. The second STA device may be any STA device.

The process by which the first STA device starts the AP function is described below in conjunction with fig. 5A. As shown in fig. 5A, the access manner provided in the embodiment of the present application may include:

S501, the first STA device transmits a probe request frame.

S502, the second AP transmits a probe response frame to the first STA device.

S503, the first STA device sends an authentication request frame to the second AP.

S504, the second AP transmits an authentication response frame to the first STA device.

S501 to S504 may refer to the related descriptions in S401 to S404, which are not described herein.

S505, the first STA device transmits an association request frame to the second AP.

Unlike fig. 4 described above, in the embodiment of the present application, the association request frame may include not only IEEE Std 802.11 ^TM The parameters specified in the-2016 protocol may include, in addition to the mesh capabilities and the mesh switch type information of the first STA device. In one embodiment, the probe request frame and/or the authentication request frame may include information of a mesh capability and a mesh switching type of the first STA device.

The mesh capability of the first STA device may be understood as whether the first STA device supports the capability of the mutual mesh, that is, whether the first STA device has the capability of starting the AP function. In colloquial terms, the mesh capabilities of the first STA device may be understood as: the first STA device may switch from the STA role to the relay role, enabling the second STA device to access the first STA device. The mesh switch type may be dynamic or static. Dynamic switching refers to: when the second STA device requests access to the first STA device, the first STA device initiates an AP function. Static handover refers to: when the first STA device accesses the second AP, the first STA device starts the AP function. The first STA device starting the AP function can be understood as: the first STA device may switch from the STA role to the relay role, assisting the second STA device to access the second AP through the first STA device.

In one possible implementation manner, an identifier for indicating "the mesh capability and the mesh switching type of the first STA device" may be included in the association request frame, or an identifier for indicating "the mesh capability of the first STA device" and an identifier for indicating "the mesh switching type" may be included in the association request frame. The identifier is pre-agreed, whether one identifier or two identifiers, and the second AP may determine, according to the identifier in the association request frame, a mesh capability of the first STA device, and a mesh switching type supported by the first STA device. It should be understood that the identification is not limited to numbers, letters, strings.

In one possible implementation, the identifier for indicating "the mesh capability and the mesh switching type of the first STA device" or the identifier for indicating "the mesh capability of the first STA device" and the identifier for indicating "the mesh switching type" may be included in a specified field of the association request frame, which may be a private field. It should be appreciated that fields that are Hua as private may also be referred to as Hua as custom fields.

S506, the second AP sends an association response frame to the first STA device.

The second AP can acquire the mesh capability and the mesh switching type of the first STA device after receiving the association request frame from the first STA device, and then feeds back an association response frame. In the embodiment of the application, the first STA device supports the mutual-assistance mesh, and the mesh switching type of the first STA device is described as dynamic switching.

S507, the second STA device detects that the Wi-Fi network signal strength from the first AP is below the first strength threshold, broadcasts a private signal probe frame.

In one embodiment, the first AP and the second AP may be different. In one embodiment, the first AP and the second AP may be the same.

In one embodiment, the second STA device may be a device that has a Wi-Fi network signal strength below a first strength threshold and cannot access the first AP. Alternatively, the second STA device may be a STA device that has access to the first AP, but the Wi-Fi network signal strength from the first AP is below the first strength threshold. In the embodiment of the present application, the access state of the second STA device is not limited. In one embodiment, the private signal probe frame may be referred to as a probe frame.

The second STA device may broadcast a private signal probe frame when it detects that the Wi-Fi network signal strength from the first AP is below a first strength threshold. In one embodiment, the second AP and STA devices accessing the second AP may receive the private signal probe frame. The second AP and the STA device accessing the second AP may feed back the probe response frame when the second AP and the STA device accessing the second AP receive the private signal probe frame.

In this embodiment of the present application, the private signal probe frame is different from the probe request frame in S401 or S501, and may include a specified field, where the specified field is used to instruct the second AP and the STA device accessing the second AP to feed back the probe response frame. The specified field may be, for example, a field that is private.

In one possible implementation, when the second STA device detects that the Wi-Fi network signal strength is below the first strength threshold, the private signal probe frame may be broadcast on the channel it supports. In one possible implementation, S507 may be replaced by: the second STA device detects that the Wi-Fi network signal strength from the first AP is below the first strength threshold and broadcasts a private signal probe frame when roaming fails.

In one embodiment, when the second STA device detects that the Wi-Fi network signal strength from the first AP is below the strength threshold, the second STA device may send a roaming request to the first AP, which mayThe channel of the neighboring AP (e.g., the second AP) is transmitted to the second STA device. The second STA device can scan and detect on the channel of the neighbor AP to acquire Wi-Fi network signal intensity of the neighbor AP, and further determine whether to access the neighbor AP according to the Wi-Fi network signal intensity of the neighbor AP. And if the second STA equipment detects that the Wi-Fi network signal strength of the neighbor AP is lower than the first strength threshold, determining that roaming fails. Wherein the neighboring AP may be other slave routing devices accessing the first AP. This embodiment is merely an example of roaming of the second STA device, and other roaming modes of the second STA device may refer to IEEE Std 802.11k/v/r ^TM Protocol.

S508, the first STA device transmits a probe response frame to the second STA device.

In this embodiment of the present application, all devices (including the first STA device and the second AP) that receive the private signal probe frame from the second STA device may feed back the probe response frame to the second STA device. Unlike fig. 4 described above, the probe response frame may include IEEE Std 802.11 ^TM The parameters specified in the-2016 protocol may include information such as upstream bandwidth, wi-Fi channel free rate, etc. of the first STA device. In one embodiment, the probe response frame in S508 may be referred to as a response frame.

S509, the second STA device determines the target STA device.

The target STA device may be an STA device to start the AP function, and may also be understood as an STA device to which the second STA device is to be connected.

In one possible implementation, when the first STA device is a STA device, the second STA device may take the first STA device as a target STA device.

In one possible implementation manner, when the first STA device is a plurality of STA devices, the second STA device may determine whether the first STA device is a target STA device according to at least one of Wi-Fi network signal strength, uplink bandwidth, and Wi-Fi channel idle rate information of the first STA device. For example, if the Wi-Fi network signal strength of the first STA device is greater than the preset strength, the second STA device may consider the first STA device as the target STA device. Or, the Wi-Fi network signal strength of the first STA device is greater than the preset strength, the uplink bandwidth is greater than the preset bandwidth, and the Wi-Fi channel free ratio is greater than the preset ratio, and the second STA device may use the first STA device as the target STA device.

In one possible implementation, when the first STA device includes a plurality of STA devices, the second STA device may determine the target STA device in the first STA device according to at least one of Wi-Fi network signal strength, uplink bandwidth, wi-Fi channel idle rate information of the first STA device. For example, the second STA device may take the first STA device with the greatest Wi-Fi network signal strength as the target STA device. Or the second STA device may use the first STA device with the Wi-Fi network signal strength greater than the preset strength and the maximum Wi-Fi channel idle rate as the target STA device.

The three possible implementations are the way the second STA device autonomously determines the target STA device, and the user does not perceive the process. I.e. the user does not participate in selecting the target STA device to which the second STA device is to access, the second STA device determines the first STA device.

In one possible implementation, the user may participate in determining the target STA device to which the second STA device is to access. When the second STA device receives the probe response frame from the first STA device, the identifier of the first STA device, such as the SSID, may be output, so that the user perceives the first STA device that the second STA device may access. In this implementation, the user may select the first STA device, and the second STA device may take the first STA device selected by the user as the target STA device.

For example, the second STA device may output the SSID of the first STA device in the WLAN setup list. As shown in a of fig. 6, the WLAN setup list of the second STA device may include two first STA devices whose SSID is "Huawei-reployee", and the two first STA devices may be smart screens and tablet computers, respectively. The Wi-Fi icon corresponding to the SSID may display the type of the first STA device, for example, the Wi-Fi icon may be a Wi-Fi icon 601 including a smart screen, and a Wi-Fi icon 602 including a tablet computer. If the user selects the smart screen in a of fig. 6, the second STA device may take the smart screen as the target STA device.

For example, the second STA device may identify the first STA device in the smart life application. As shown in a of fig. 7A, when the user opens the smart life application in the second STA device, the interface may jump to the home page of the smart life application, as shown in b of fig. 7A. The home page of the smart life application may display STA devices in the home, the first STA device, and the third STA device. The STA devices in the home include an online STA device and an offline STA device. The first STA device is an online STA device (i.e., an STA device that has access to the second AP), but is not identified as a "relay" device, such as a smart screen. The third STA device is online and is identified as a "relay" device, such as a main lying speaker. The third STA device is a STA device supporting static handoff, and may refer to the related description of the following embodiments. In one possible implementation, "the device may be temporarily used as a relay" may be introduced below the first STA device, and "the relay may be accessed to access the internet" may be introduced below the third STA device in fig. 7A, thereby prompting the user to select a target STA device that may be accessed. If the user selects the smart screen as the target STA device in b in fig. 7A, the second STA device may take the smart screen as the target STA device.

It should be understood that fig. 6 and fig. 7A each illustrate a second STA device as a mobile phone.

S510, the second STA device sends an AP request to the target STA device.

The AP request is used to instruct the target STA device to initiate the AP function. In one possible implementation, the AP request may include a specified field for instructing the target STA device to initiate the AP function, which may be, for example, a private field. It should be understood that the first STA device is illustrated in fig. 5A as an example of the target STA device.

S511, the target STA device sends a parameter synchronization request to the second AP.

The parameter synchronization request is used to instruct the second AP to synchronize configuration information of the second AP to the target STA device. The configuration information of the second AP may include, but is not limited to,: the SSID and authentication mode of the second AP.

S512, the second AP synchronizes configuration information of the second AP to the target STA device.

The second AP may synchronize configuration information of the second AP to the target STA device upon receiving the parameter synchronization request from the target STA device. The target STA device receives the configuration information from the second AP, and may store the configuration information of the second AP. Optionally, the second AP may synchronize configuration information of the second AP with the target STA device in a hi link synchronization manner. The method for synchronizing the configuration information of the second AP is not limited in the embodiments of the present application.

S513, the target STA device starts the AP function.

The target STA device starts the AP function can be understood as: the target STA device switches from the STA role to the relay role for connecting the second STA device and the second AP. In one embodiment, after the target STA device starts the AP function, a second Beacon frame may be broadcast periodically, where the second Beacon frame may include an SSID and an authentication manner of the second AP.

In one possible implementation manner, the program of the Soft AP may be preset in the first STA device, and the first STA device starts the AP function may be understood as: the first STA device creation process runs the program of the Soft AP. It should be understood that Soft AP may be understood as a program with AP functionality in the target STA device. Compared with a router, the target STA device in the embodiment of the invention can realize an AP function for the second STA device to access, and can also serve as an STA role to access the second AP.

And S514, the target STA device sends an online message to the second AP.

The online message is used to notify the second AP that the target STA device has started the AP function. In one possible implementation, the online message may include identification information of the target STA device, where the identification information is used to instruct the target STA device to notify the second AP that the target STA device starts the AP function.

S515, the second AP updates the mesh network topology.

And the second AP updates the mesh network topology according to the online message from the target STA device. It should be understood that, if the second AP includes no other STA devices that are down-hung except the target STA device, the mesh network topology before updating includes the second AP, and the updated network topology includes the second AP and the target STA device. The second AP may be a master router, and the target STA device may be a slave router.

In one possible implementation, the user may view the mesh network topology through an application program of intelligent life. Illustratively, as shown in fig. 7B, a and B in fig. 7B are the same as a and B in fig. 7A, respectively, and B in fig. 7B may jump to c in fig. 7B when the user selects a router (second AP) on the interface shown by B in fig. 7B. C in fig. 7B may display a mesh network topology. Before the smart screen starts the AP function, the mesh network topology may include a second AP and a sound box (a third STA device) as shown in c in fig. 7B. When the intelligent screen starts the AP function, the router updates the mesh network topology, and the updated mesh network topology may include a master-slave routing mesh network topology composed of the second AP, the sound box, and the target STA device (the first STA device), as shown by d in fig. 7B. It should be understood that d in fig. 7B may be an interface of the mesh network topology displayed by the mobile phone after the second AP updates the mesh network topology after the user selects the smart screen in B in fig. 7A. In one possible implementation, the mesh network topology may further include STA devices that access the smart screen and the speakers.

In one embodiment, after the second AP updates the mesh network topology, the fourth STA device may send a probe request frame when accessing the internet. The second AP may enable the fourth STA device to access the internet through the target STA device according to the roaming mechanism. The roaming mechanism can refer to the protocol IEEE Std 802.11k/v/r ^TM Protocol. The fourth STA device may be any one STA device.

S516, the second AP sends a first mesh network topology update response to the target STA device.

After the second AP updates the mesh network topology, the first mesh network topology update response may be sent to the target STA device to notify the mesh network topology update completion, and the target STA device may enable the second STA device to access the target STA device.

S517, the target STA device sends an AP response to the second STA device.

The AP response is used to characterize that the target STA device has successfully initiated the AP function and the second STA device may access the target STA device. The second STA device receives the AP response from the target STA device and may access the target STA device.

In one embodiment, the target STA device may acquire the configuration information of the second AP during the access procedure of the access point (e.g., S501-S506 above). For example, the second AP may broadcast a first Beacon frame, where the first Beacon frame may include an SSID and an authentication manner of the second AP, and the target STA device may further obtain configuration information of the second AP. In one embodiment, when the second STA device performs S510 described above, S513-S517 may be performed. Alternatively, in one embodiment, when the second STA device performs S510 described above, S513, S517 may be performed. In both embodiments, the signaling interaction between the first STA device and the access point may be reduced.

The procedure of the second STA device accessing the target STA device may be the same as the procedure of the second STA device accessing the second AP. As shown in S518-S523:

s518, the second STA device transmits a probe request frame.

It should be appreciated that the second STA device may send the probe request frame in a broadcast or unicast manner. Wherein, because the second STA device has already determined the target STA device, in an embodiment, the SSID of the target STA device may be included in the probe request frame, so that the target STA device responds to the probe request frame. Alternatively, the second STA device may unicast the probe request frame to the target STA device corresponding to the SSID. In the embodiment of the present application, the manner in which the second STA device sends the probe request frame is not limited.

S519, the target STA device transmits a probe response frame to the second STA device.

S520, the second STA device transmits an authentication request frame to the target STA device.

S521, the target STA device transmits an authentication response frame to the second STA device.

S522, the second STA device transmits an association request frame to the target STA device.

S523, the target STA device transmits an association response frame to the second STA device.

Illustratively, the second STA device successfully accesses the target STA device, and a in fig. 6 may jump to b in fig. 6. In fig. 6 b, a prompt message such as "connection successful" may be displayed on the mobile phone to prompt that the mobile phone is successfully connected to the smart screen. It is conceivable that before a in fig. 6 jumps to b, it may jump to c in fig. 6, where c in fig. 6 shows "in connection", indicating that the handset is accessing the smart screen.

Similarly, illustratively, b in fig. 7A may jump to c in fig. 7A with the second STA device successfully accessing the target STA device. In fig. 7A, c, the smart screen may switch from the STA role to the relay role, the mobile phone may display "relay" to characterize the switching of the smart screen from the STA role to the relay role, the mobile phone successfully accesses the smart screen, and the mobile phone may display a prompt message such as "connection successful". It is conceivable that before b in fig. 7A jumps to c, it may jump to d in fig. 7A, where d in fig. 7A shows "relay", and the mobile phone is currently accessing the smart screen, for example, a prompt message "in connection" may be displayed on the interface, indicating that the mobile phone is accessing the smart screen.

In the embodiment of the present application, the first STA device accessing the second AP may start the AP function. When the first STA device requests access from the second STA device, the first STA device may start the AP function, and further the first STA device may act as a relay to access the second STA device to the second AP. In the embodiment of the application, the first STA equipment which is accessed to the second AP at present is used as the relay, so that the user does not need to perform configuration operation, the user experience is improved, and the coverage range of Wi-Fi network signals can be enlarged.

In one embodiment, after the target STA device starts the AP function, the target STA device may perform the service in itself as the STA device or may perform as a relay to assist the second STA device in performing the service in the second STA device. In this embodiment, the target STA device may identify the service in itself and the service in the second STA device, put the service in itself into the high priority queue, and preferentially process the service in itself, and then process the service in the second STA device, so as to ensure that the service in the target STA device is not affected when the target STA device hangs down the second STA device.

As shown in fig. 8, after the target STA device starts the AP function, the target STA device may include an STA module and a Soft AP module. It should be noted that when the target STA device is an STA device, the STA module is included in the target STA device. The STA module is used for realizing the role of the target STA equipment as the STA and executing the service in the target STA equipment. The Soft AP module is used for realizing the role of a target STA device as a relay and assisting the second STA device to execute the service in the second STA device. The following describes a service processing procedure of the target STA device by taking a service in the target STA device as a first service, a message of the first service as a first service message, a service in the second STA device as a second service, and a message of the second service as a second service message as an example.

In one possible implementation, the second STA device may send a second service packet to the target STA device, and the Soft AP module may receive the second service packet and the Soft AP module may send the second service packet to the STA module. The STA module may obtain the first characteristic of the first service packet. The first feature is used to identify a first service message. The first feature may be, but is not limited to, a five-tuple or process identifier (process identifier, PID). The five-tuple includes a source internet protocol (internet protocol address, IP) address, a destination IP address, a transport layer protocol number, a source port, a destination port of the first service message. The process identifier is used to indicate a process executing the first service. It should be appreciated that the first service may have one or more processes and may correspond to one or more process identifiers. In this manner, the STA module may send the first service message, the second service message, and the first characteristic to the second AP. It should be understood that the first service packet, the second service packet, and the first feature may be transmitted simultaneously or may be transmitted in a time-sharing manner. The first service message, the second service message and the first feature can be sent in the same signaling, or can be sent in a separate signaling.

In the current QoS mechanism, the priority of the queues executing the traffic is in order from high to low: voice (VI) queues, video (VO) queues, best Effort (BE) queues, and Background (BK) queues. When the STA module sends the first service packet, the second service packet, and the first feature to the second AP, the first service packet may BE placed in a VI queue or a VO queue with high priority, and the second service packet may BE placed in a BE queue or a BK queue with low priority. For example, as shown in fig. 9A, the target STA device is a smart screen, the second STA device is a mobile phone, and the target STA device may place the first service packet in a VI queue with high priority, and place the second service packet in a BE queue with low priority. Accordingly, the target STA device may transmit the service packet in the target STA device preferentially, and then transmit the service packet in the second STA device.

The second AP may receive the first traffic message, the second traffic message, and the first characteristic from the STA module. The second AP may identify the first service packet in the target STA device according to the first characteristic. Optionally, the second AP may use the message that satisfies the first characteristic as a first service message in the target STA device, and use the message that does not satisfy the first characteristic as a second service message in the second STA device, so as to distinguish the message in the target STA device from the message in the second STA device. Correspondingly, the second AP may put the third service packet in response to the first service packet in a VI queue or VO queue with high priority, feed back the third service packet to the STA module, and put the fourth service packet in response to the second service packet in a BE queue or BK queue with low priority, and feed back the fourth service packet to the STA module. For example, as shown in fig. 9B, the target STA device is a smart screen, the second STA device is a mobile phone, the second AP is a router, and the second AP may place the third service packet in the VI queue with high priority, and place the fourth service packet in the BE queue with low priority. Accordingly, the second AP may transmit the service packet in the target STA device preferentially, and then transmit the service packet in the second STA device. In one possible implementation, the third service packet may be a packet actively sent by the second AP to the first STA device, and the fourth service packet may be a packet actively sent by the second AP to the second STA device. Similarly, the second AP may place the third service packet in the VI queue with high priority, and place the fourth service packet in the BE queue with low priority, so that the second AP may transmit the service packet in the target STA device preferentially, and then transmit the service packet in the second STA device.

When the STA module receives a third service message and a fourth service message from the second AP, the third service message is identified to be the service message in the target STA device through the first characteristic of the service message, the fourth service message is the service message in the second STA device, and the fourth service message is further sent to the second STA device through the Soft AP module.

In one possible implementation, a white list may be pre-stored in the target STA device, where the white list may include attributes of the traffic in the target STA device. The attributes of the traffic may be, but are not limited to: quintuple or process identifier. When receiving the message from the second AP in response to the first service message or the second service message, the target STA device can identify that the third service message is the service message in the target STA device and the fourth service message is the service message in the second STA device according to the attribute of the service in the white list, thereby achieving the purpose of distinguishing the service in the target STA device from the service in the second STA device.

In the embodiment of the present application, the target STA device may identify the traffic of the target STA device and the second STA device. The target STA device can put the service in the target STA device into the high priority queue, and put the service of the second STA device into the low priority queue, so that the target STA device can execute the service of the target STA device first and then execute the service of the second STA device, and further the purpose of not influencing the service in the target STA device is achieved when the second STA device is hung under the target STA device.

In one embodiment, when the target STA device determines that there is no second STA device hanging down, the target STA device may turn off the AP function to reduce power consumption of the target STA device. As shown in fig. 5B, after S523 described above, the following steps may be included. Fig. 5B illustrates an example in which the target STA device is the first STA device.

The target STA device receives the disassociation request frame from the second STA device S524.

In one embodiment, when the second STA device may access the first AP or other STA device with higher Wi-Fi network signal strength, a disassociation request frame may be sent to the target STA device. The disassociation request frame may refer to IEEE Std 802.11 ^TM -2016.

In one embodiment, when the second STA device detects that the Wi-Fi network signal strength from the target STA device is below the second strength threshold, a disassociation request frame may be sent to the target STA device. Wherein the second intensity threshold may be the same as or different from the first intensity threshold.

S525, the target STA device transmits a disassociation response frame to the second STA device.

The disassociation response frame may refer to IEEE Std 802.11 ^TM -2016.

S526, the target STA device determines whether there are any more accessed second STA devices. If yes, S531 is executed. If not, then S527 is performed.

Multiple STA devices can be accessed in the target STA device, so the target STA device needs to determine whether a second STA device is also accessed in itself. If there is a second STA device that is accessed in the target STA device, the target STA device needs to continue to act as a relay to enable the second STA device to access. If the target STA device does not have the second STA device accessed, the target STA device can close the AP function so as to reduce the power consumption of the AP and save the electric quantity of the target STA device.

S527, the target STA device turns off the AP function.

The target STA device turning off the AP function can be understood as: the target STA device may terminate the process to terminate the program running the Soft AP, i.e., may turn off the AP function. After the target STA device closes the AP function, the target STA device may access the second AP as the STA role, but may not enable the second STA device to access.

S528, the target STA device sends a downlink message to the second AP.

The offline message is used for notifying the second AP, and the target STA device closes the AP function to request the second AP to update the mesh network topology. In one possible implementation, the downlink message may include identification information of the target STA device, where the identification information is used to instruct the target STA device to notify the second AP that the target STA device turns off the AP function.

In one possible implementation, the offline message may not include identification information of the target STA device, and the second AP may determine that the target STA device is offline according to a media access control (media access control, MAC) address of the target STA device that sends the offline message, so as to update the mesh network topology.

And S529, the second AP updates the mesh network topology.

It should be understood that the second AP updates the mesh network topology in the manner described in the above-mentioned S515. For example, after the smart screen turns off the second AP function, the updated mesh network topology may be as shown in c in fig. 7B.

And S530, the second AP sends a second mesh network topology updating response to the target STA equipment.

After the second AP updates the mesh network topology, a second mesh network topology update response may be sent to the target STA device to instruct the target STA device to exit the mesh network topology.

S531, the target STA device does not process.

In the embodiment of the application, when the STA device hung in the absence of the target STA device, the target STA device may close the AP function to switch from the relay role to the STA role, so as to reduce power consumption.

In one embodiment, the third STA device may initiate the AP function. Wherein, the third STA device is a STA device supporting static switching, and supporting static switching may be understood as: the third STA device may initiate the AP function when the third STA device accesses the third AP. It should be appreciated that the third AP may be the same as or different from the second AP. To facilitate association with the above embodiment, the following description characterizes the third AP with the second AP. Compared with the mode that the second STA device starts the AP function when the second STA device is accessed to the target STA device, in the mode, the second STA device can be directly accessed to the third STA device, and signaling interaction between the second STA device and the third STA device is reduced. The third STA device may be, but is not limited to being, a soundbox, a wearable device, or an IoT device. In one embodiment, the third STA device may occupy less air interface resources for its own service, and the remaining air interface resources are larger STA devices. The third STA device may be one or more STA devices.

It should be appreciated that the third STA device may also be referred to as a first STA device, which is a STA device supporting static handoff when the third STA device is the first STA device. In the embodiment of the present application, in order to facilitate distinguishing between the STA device supporting dynamic switching and the STA device supporting static switching, the first STA device (STA device supporting dynamic switching) and the third STA device (STA device supporting static switching) are respectively described as examples.

The process by which the third STA device starts the AP function is described below with reference to fig. 10. As shown in fig. 10, the access manner provided in the embodiment of the present application may include:

s1001, the third STA device transmits a probe request frame.

S1002, the second AP transmits a probe response frame to the third STA device.

S1003, the third STA device transmits an authentication request frame to the second AP.

S1004, the second AP transmits an authentication response frame to the third STA device.

S1001 to S1004 may refer to the related descriptions in S401 to S404, which are not described herein.

S1005, the third STA device transmits an association request frame to the second AP.

The association request frame may include information of a mesh capability and a mesh switching type of the third STA device. In the embodiment of the application, the third STA device supports the cooperative mesh, and the mesh switching type of the third STA device is described as static switching.

And S1006, the second AP sends an association response frame to the third STA device.

The second AP can acquire the mesh capability and the mesh switching type of the third STA device after receiving the association request frame from the third STA device, so that the third STA device can be determined to support mutual-assistance mesh, and the mesh switching type of the third STA device is static switching. The second AP may send an association response frame to the third STA device, which may be used to instruct the third STA device to initiate the AP function.

S1007, the third STA device sends a parameter synchronization request to the second AP.

S1008, the second AP synchronizes configuration information of the second AP to the target STA device.

S1009, the third STA device starts the AP function.

And S1010, the third STA device transmits an online message to the second AP.

S1011, the second AP updates the mesh network topology.

And S1012, the second AP sends a first mesh network topology update response to the target STA device.

It is to be understood that S1007-S1012 may refer to the associated description of S511-S516 described above.

In summary, the third STA device may start the AP function, and when there is a second STA device accessing to the internet, the third STA device may assist the second STA device to access to the second AP.

In one embodiment, after S1012, if the second STA device accesses the internet, the method may further include:

The third STA device receives the probe request frame from the second STA device S1013.

S1014, the third STA device transmits a probe response frame to the second STA device.

In one embodiment, the probe request frame in S1013 may be referred to as a probe frame, and the probe response frame in S1014 may be referred to as a response frame, the probe request frame and the probe response frame being IEEE Std 802.11 ^TM -2016 protocol.

If the second STA device determines to access the third STA device, the following steps may be continuously performed:

s1015, the second STA device transmits an authentication request frame to the third STA device.

S1016, the third STA device transmits an authentication response frame to the second STA device.

S1017, the second STA device transmits the association request frame to the third STA device.

S1018, the third STA device transmits an association response frame to the second STA device.

Wherein, S1013-S1018 may be referred to the related description of S401-S406 above.

In summary, the second STA device may access the third STA device to access the second AP. The flow of the third STA device processing the service may refer to the related description of the second STA device processing the service.

In this embodiment of the present application, the third STA device may start the AP function when accessing the second AP. The third STA device may act as a relay enabling the second STA device to access the second AP. In the embodiment of the application, the third STA device which is accessed to the second AP at present is used as the relay, so that the user does not need to perform configuration operation, the user experience is improved, and the coverage range of Wi-Fi network signals can be enlarged.

In one embodiment, when the third STA device is powered down, the third STA device may turn off the AP function, and the process may be as shown in fig. 11:

s1101, when the third STA device powers down, the AP function is turned off.

S1102, the third STA device sends a downlink message to the second AP.

S1103, the second AP updates the mesh network topology.

And S1104, the second AP sends a second mesh network topology updating response to the third STA device.

It should be appreciated that embodiments of S1101-S1104 may refer to the relevant descriptions of S527-S530 above.

S1105, the third STA device transmits a disassociation request frame to the second AP.

S1106, the second AP transmits a disassociation response frame to the third STA device.

It should be appreciated that embodiments of S1105-S1106 may refer to the relevant descriptions of S524-S525 above.

In one embodiment, when the third STA device accesses the second AP, the third STA device may send a heartbeat frame to the second AP, and the second AP may detect whether the third STA device accesses the second AP through the heartbeat frame from the third STA device. When the second AP does not detect the heartbeat frame from the third STA device within a preset period (e.g., 2-minutes), it may determine that the third STA device is powered down or disconnected, and then may execute the network topology updating action in S1103.

In this embodiment of the present application, when the third STA device is powered down, the third STA device may close the AP function, so that the number of response frames processed by the STA device when accessing to the second AP may be reduced, and thus the speed of accessing to the second AP may be reduced.

The first STA device and the third STA device accessing the second AP may be regarded as a slave router or relay, and the second AP may synchronize mesh network topology information to the slave router, which may include address, identification, etc. information of all the slave routers accessing the second AP. In one embodiment, if the second STA device accesses the first STA device, the first STA device detects that its channel duty cycle is greater than a preset duty cycle, and the first STA device may employ a roaming mechanism to enable the second STA device to access other slave routers, such as a third STA device. In one embodiment, if the second STA device accesses the first STA device, the first STA device detects that the signal strength of the uplink signal from the second STA device is less than the preset strength, the first STA device may use a roaming mechanism to enable the second STA device to access other slave routers. In one embodiment, if the second STA device accesses the first STA device, the second STA device detects that the strength of the signal from the first STA device is less than the preset strength, and the second STA device may access other slave routers by using a roaming mechanism. The roaming mechanism can be specifically referred to the protocol IEEE Std 802.11k/v/r ^TM Protocol.

In the embodiment of the present application, when an STA device accesses any STA device switched to a relay role, if the signal strength is low or the channel duty ratio of the STA device switched to the relay role is large, the STA device may be enabled to access other slave routers according to the roaming mechanism, thereby ensuring that the STA device normally surfs the internet and implementing seamless roaming.

In summary, with specific reference to the related descriptions in fig. 5A and fig. 10, the access method provided in the embodiment of the present application is applied to an access system, where the access system includes: the wireless access control system comprises a first STA device, a second STA device, a first AP and a second AP, wherein the first STA device is accessed to the second AP. The method comprises the following steps: the second STA device broadcasting a probe frame in response to detecting that the wireless fidelity Wi-Fi network signal strength from the first AP is below a first strength threshold; the first STA device sends a response frame to the second STA device; the second STA device transmits an authentication request frame to the first STA device to access the first STA device. It should be understood that the probe frame in fig. 5A is a private signal probe frame, as shown in S507 of fig. 5A. The probe frame described in fig. 10 is a probe request frame, as shown in S1013 in fig. 10. In the application, the existing first STA device which is accessed to the second AP is adopted as a relay, and the second STA device can access the first STA device to access the internet. According to the method, a user does not need to set a network, the coverage range of Wi-Fi network signals can be enlarged, and user experience is improved.

Fig. 12 is a schematic structural diagram of an access device according to an embodiment of the present application. The access device according to this embodiment may be the aforementioned second STA device, or may be a chip applied to the second STA device. The access means may be configured to perform the actions of the second STA device in the above-described method embodiments. As shown in fig. 12, the access apparatus 1200 may include: a processing module 1201 and a transceiver module 1202.

Wherein, the transceiver module 1202 is configured to: in response to detecting that the wireless fidelity Wi-Fi network signal strength from the first access point AP is below a first strength threshold, broadcasting a probe frame; receiving a response frame from a first STA device, wherein the first STA device is an STA device accessed to a second AP; and sending an authentication request frame to the first STA device to access the first STA device.

In a possible implementation manner, the response frame includes at least one of uplink bandwidth and Wi-Fi channel idle rate of the first STA device; the processing module 1201 is configured to determine that the first STA device is a target STA device according to at least one of Wi-Fi network signal strength, the uplink bandwidth, and the Wi-Fi channel redundancy rate of the first STA device.

In one possible implementation, the transceiver module 1202 is further configured to: sending an AP request to the first STA device, wherein the AP request is used for indicating the first STA device to start an AP function, and the first STA device starts the AP function to characterize that the first STA device is switched from an STA role to a relay role; receiving an AP response from the first STA device, the AP response being used to characterize that the first STA device has initiated the AP function; transmitting a probe request frame to the first STA device; a probe response frame is received from the first STA device.

In one possible implementation, the transceiver module 1202 is specifically configured to: the probe frame is broadcast in response to detecting that Wi-Fi network signal strength from the first AP is below the first strength threshold and roaming fails.

In one possible implementation, the transceiver module 1202 is further configured to: transmitting the authentication request frame to the first STA device; receiving an authentication response frame from the first STA device; transmitting an association request frame to the first STA device; an association response frame is received from the first STA device.

In one possible implementation, the transceiver module 1202 is further configured to: transmitting a disassociation request frame to the first STA device in response to detecting that the Wi-Fi network signal strength from the first STA device is below a second strength threshold; a disassociation response frame is received from the first STA device.

Fig. 13 is another schematic structural diagram of an access device according to an embodiment of the present application. The access device according to this embodiment may be the aforementioned first STA device, or may be a chip applied to the first STA device. The access means may be configured to perform the actions of the first STA device in the above-described method embodiments. As shown in fig. 13, the access device 1300 may include: a processing module 1301 and a transceiver module 1302.

Wherein, the transceiver module 1302 is configured to: receiving a sounding frame from a second STA device; transmitting a response frame to the second STA device; an authentication request frame is received from the second STA device.

In one possible implementation, the response frame includes at least one of uplink bandwidth and Wi-Fi channel free ratio of the first STA device. The transceiver module 1302 is further configured to receive an AP request from the second STA device. The processing module 1301 is configured to initiate an AP function, where the initiating AP function characterizes that the first STA device switches from an STA role to a relay role. The transceiver module 1302 is further configured to send an AP response to the second STA device, where the AP response is used to characterize that the first STA device has initiated the AP function.

In one possible implementation, the transceiver module 1302 is further configured to receive a probe request frame from the second STA device; and sending a detection response frame to the second STA device.

In one possible implementation, the probe frame is a probe request frame, and the response frame is a probe response frame; before the transceiver module 1302 receives the probe frame from the second STA device, the processing module 1301 is configured to initiate an AP function, where the initiating AP function characterizes the first STA device switching from the STA role to the relay role.

In a possible implementation manner, the processing module 1301 is further configured to obtain configuration information of the second AP, where the configuration information includes a service set identifier SSID and an authentication manner of the second AP.

In one possible implementation, the transceiver module 1302 is further configured to receive a first Beacon frame from the second AP, where the first Beacon frame includes configuration information of the second AP.

In one possible implementation, the transceiver module 1302 is further configured to send a parameter synchronization request to the second AP; and receiving configuration information from the second AP.

In a possible implementation manner, the transceiver module 1302 is further configured to send an online message to the second AP, where the online message is used to instruct the second AP to update a network topology; a first network topology update response is received from the second AP.

In one possible implementation, the transceiver module 1302 is further configured to broadcast a second Beacon frame, where the second Beacon frame includes the SSID and an authentication mode.

In one possible implementation, the transceiver module 1302 is further configured to send an authentication response frame to the second STA device; receiving an association request frame from the second STA device; and sending an association response frame to the second STA device.

In a possible implementation manner, the processing module 1301 is further configured to put a first service packet into a service queue of a first priority, where the first service packet is a packet of a service in the first STA device; and placing a second service message into a service queue of a second priority, wherein the second service message is a message of a service in the second STA equipment, and the second priority is lower than the first priority. The transceiver module 1302 is further configured to send a first feature, the first service packet, and the second service packet to the second AP, where the first feature is a feature of the first service packet, and the first feature is used for the second AP to identify the first service packet.

In a possible implementation manner, the transceiver module 1302 is further configured to receive a third service packet in the first priority service queue from the second AP; receiving a fourth service message in the service queue of the second priority from the second AP; and sending the fourth service message to the second STA equipment.

In one possible implementation, the transceiver module 1302 is further configured to receive a disassociation request frame from the second STA device; and sending a disassociation response frame to the second STA device. The processing module 1301 is further configured to determine whether there are any accessed STA devices in the first STA device; if yes, the processing is not performed; if not, closing the AP function, wherein the closing of the AP function characterizes that the first STA equipment is switched from the relay role to the STA role.

In a possible implementation manner, the transceiver module 1302 is further configured to send a downlink message to the second AP, where the downlink message is used to instruct the second AP to update a network topology; a second network topology update response is received from the second AP.

In a possible implementation manner, the processing module 1301 is further configured to turn off the AP function when power is turned off, where the turning off the AP function characterizes the first STA device to switch from the relay role to the STA role. The transceiver module 1302 is further configured to send a downlink message to the second AP, where the downlink message is used to instruct the second AP to update a network topology; receiving a second network topology update response from the second AP; transmitting a disassociation request frame to the second AP; and receiving a disassociation response frame from the second AP.

Fig. 14 is another schematic structural diagram of an access device according to an embodiment of the present application. The access device according to this embodiment may be the aforementioned second AP, or may be a chip applied to the second AP. The access device may be configured to perform the actions of the second AP in the method embodiment described above. As shown in fig. 14, the access device 1400 may include: a processing module 1401 and a transceiver module 1402.

Wherein, the processing module 1401 is configured to receive a parameter synchronization request from a first STA device; transmitting configuration information of the second access point to the first STA equipment, wherein the configuration information comprises a service set identifier SSID and an authentication mode of the second access point; receiving an online message from the first STA device; updating the network topology; and sending a first network topology updating response to the first STA equipment.

In one possible implementation, the processing module 1401 is configured to put the third service packet into a service queue of the first priority; and placing the fourth service message into a service queue with a second priority, wherein the second priority is lower than the first priority. The transceiver module 1402 is further configured to send the third service packet and the fourth service packet to the first STA device.

In one possible implementation, the transceiver module 1402 is further configured to receive a downlink message from the first STA device, where the downlink message is used to instruct the second access point to update a network topology. The processing module 1401 is further configured to update a network topology. The transceiver module 1402 is further configured to send a second network topology update response to the first STA device; receiving a disassociation request frame from the first STA device; and sending a disassociation response frame to the first STA device.

In a possible implementation manner, the transceiver module 1402 is further configured to broadcast a first Beacon frame, where the first Beacon frame includes configuration information of the second access point.

The implementation principle and technical effects of the access device provided in the embodiment of the present application are similar to those of the foregoing embodiment, and are not described herein again.

It should be noted that the above transceiver module may be actually implemented as a transceiver, or include a transmitter and a receiver. And the processing module can be realized in the form of software calling through the processing element; or in hardware. For example, the processing module may be a processing element that is set up separately, may be implemented in a chip of the above-mentioned apparatus, or may be stored in a memory of the above-mentioned apparatus in the form of program codes, and the functions of the above-mentioned processing module may be called and executed by a processing element of the above-mentioned apparatus. In addition, all or part of the modules can be integrated together or can be independently implemented. The processing element described herein may be an integrated circuit having signal processing capabilities. In implementation, each step of the above method or each module above may be implemented by an integrated logic circuit of hardware in a processor element or an instruction in a software form.

For example, the modules above may be one or more integrated circuits configured to implement the methods above, such as: one or more application specific integrated circuits (application specific integrated circuit, ASIC), or one or more microprocessors (digital signal processor, DSP), or one or more field programmable gate arrays (field programmable gate array, FPGA), or the like. For another example, when a module above is implemented in the form of a processing element scheduler code, the processing element may be a general purpose processor, such as a central processing unit (central processing unit, CPU) or other processor that may invoke the program code. For another example, the modules may be integrated together and implemented in the form of a system-on-a-chip (SOC).

Fig. 15 is a schematic structural diagram of another access device according to an embodiment of the present application. The access device may be an access device as described above with respect to fig. 12, or an access device as described above with respect to fig. 13, or an access device as described above with respect to fig. 14. As shown in fig. 15, the access device may include: a processor 1501 (e.g., CPU), a memory 1502, a transceiver 1503; the transceiver 1503 is coupled to the processor 1501, and the processor 1501 controls the transceiver 1503 to transmit and receive; the memory 1502 may include a random-access memory (RAM) and may also include a non-volatile memory (NVM), such as at least one magnetic disk memory, in which various instructions may be stored in the memory 1502 for performing various processing functions and implementing method steps of the present application. Optionally, the access device related to the present application may further include: a power supply 1504, a communication bus 1505, and a communication port 1506. The transceiver 1503 may be integrated into the transceiver of the access device or may be a separate transceiver antenna on the access device. The communication bus 1505 is used to implement communication connections between the elements. The communication port 1506 is used to enable connection communication between the access device and other peripheral devices.

In the embodiment of the present application, the memory 1502 is configured to store computer executable program codes, where the program codes include instructions; when the processor 1501 executes the instructions, the instructions cause the processor 1501 of the access device to execute the processing actions of the terminal device in the above method embodiment, and cause the transceiver 1503 to execute the transceiving actions of the terminal device in the above method embodiment, so that the implementation principle and technical effects are similar, and are not repeated herein.

In the above embodiments, it may be implemented in whole or in part by software, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof. When implemented in software, may be implemented in whole or in part in the form of a computer program product. The computer program product includes one or more computer instructions. When the computer program instructions are loaded and executed on a computer, the processes or functions in accordance with embodiments of the present application are produced in whole or in part. The computer may be a general purpose computer, a special purpose computer, a computer network, or other programmable apparatus. The computer instructions may be stored in or transmitted from one computer-readable storage medium to another, for example, by wired (e.g., coaxial cable, fiber optic, digital Subscriber Line (DSL)), or wireless (e.g., infrared, wireless, microwave, etc.) means from one website, computer, server, or data center. Computer readable storage media can be any available media that can be accessed by a computer or data storage devices, such as servers, data centers, etc., that contain an integration of one or more available media. The usable medium may be a magnetic medium (e.g., floppy Disk, hard Disk, magnetic tape), an optical medium (e.g., DVD), or a semiconductor medium (e.g., solid State Disk (SSD)), etc.

Fig. 16 is a schematic diagram of an access system according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in fig. 16, the access system provided in the present application may include the second STA device (or the access apparatus shown in fig. 12), the first STA device (or the access apparatus shown in fig. 13), and the second AP (or the access apparatus shown in fig. 14) in the above embodiments. In an embodiment, the access system provided in the present application may further include the first AP as described above.

The term "plurality" herein refers to two or more. The term "and/or" is herein merely an association relationship describing an associated object, meaning that there may be three relationships, e.g., a and/or B, may represent: a exists alone, A and B exist together, and B exists alone. In addition, the character "/" herein generally indicates that the front and rear associated objects are an "or" relationship; in the formula, the character "/" indicates that the front and rear associated objects are a "division" relationship.

It will be appreciated that the various numerical numbers referred to in the embodiments of the present application are merely for ease of description and are not intended to limit the scope of the embodiments of the present application.

It should be understood that, in the embodiments of the present application, the sequence number of each process described above does not mean that the execution sequence of each process should be determined by the function and the internal logic of each process, and should not constitute any limitation on the implementation process of the embodiments of the present application.

Claims

1. An access method, characterized by being applied to an access system, the access system comprising: the system comprises first station STA equipment, second STA equipment, a first Access Point (AP) and a second AP, wherein the first STA equipment is accessed to the second AP; the method comprises the following steps:

the second STA device broadcasting a probe frame in response to detecting that a wireless fidelity Wi-Fi network signal strength from the first AP is below a first strength threshold;

the first STA device sends a response frame to the second STA device;

the second STA device determines the first STA device as a target STA device;

the second STA device sends an AP request to the first STA device;

the first STA device sends a parameter synchronization request to the second AP;

the second AP synchronizes configuration information of the second AP to target STA equipment;

the first STA device starts an AP function, and the first STA device starts the AP function to characterize that the first STA device is switched from an STA role to a relay role;

the first STA device sends an online message to the second AP;

the second AP updates the mesh network topology and sends a first network topology update response to the first STA device;

the first STA device sends an AP response to the second STA device, wherein the AP response is used for characterizing that the first STA device starts the AP function;

The second STA device sends a detection request frame to the first STA device;

the first STA device sends a detection response frame to the second STA device;

the second STA device sends an authentication request frame to the first STA device to access the first STA device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the response frame includes at least one of an upstream bandwidth of the first STA device, a Wi-Fi channel free ratio; the second STA device determining the first STA device as a target STA device includes:

the second STA device determines that the first STA device is a target STA device according to at least one of Wi-Fi network signal strength, the uplink bandwidth, and the Wi-Fi channel redundancy rate of the first STA device.

3. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the second STA device, in response to detecting that the wireless fidelity Wi-Fi network signal strength from the first AP is below a first strength threshold, broadcasts a probe frame comprising:

the second STA device broadcasts the probe frame in response to detecting that Wi-Fi network signal strength from the first AP is below the first strength threshold and roaming fails.

4. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the second STA device sending an authentication request frame to the first STA device to access the first STA device, comprising:

the second STA device sends the authentication request frame to the first STA device;

the first STA device sends an authentication response frame to the second STA device;

the second STA device sends an association request frame to the first STA device;

the first STA device transmits an association response frame to the second STA device.

5. An access method, applied to a second station STA apparatus, comprising:

in response to detecting that the wireless fidelity Wi-Fi network signal strength from the first access point AP is below a first strength threshold, broadcasting a probe frame;

receiving a response frame from a first STA device, wherein the first STA device is an STA device accessed to a second AP;

determining the first STA device as a target STA device;

sending an AP request to the first STA device; the first STA device is configured to send a parameter synchronization request to the second AP and receive configuration information from the second AP, start an AP function, send an online message to the second AP, and receive a first network topology update response from the second AP; the start AP function characterizes the first STA device to switch from an STA role to a relay role, and the online message is used for indicating the second AP to update network topology;

Receiving an AP response from the first STA device, the AP response being used to characterize that the first STA device has initiated the AP function;

transmitting a probe request frame to the first STA device;

receiving a probe response frame from the first STA device;

and sending an authentication request frame to the first STA device to access the first STA device.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the response frame includes at least one of an upstream bandwidth of the first STA device, a Wi-Fi channel free ratio; the determining that the first STA device is a target STA device includes:

and determining the first STA device as a target STA device according to at least one of Wi-Fi network signal strength, the uplink bandwidth and the Wi-Fi channel free ratio of the first STA device.

7. The method of claim 5 or 6, wherein broadcasting the probe frame in response to detecting that the wireless fidelity Wi-Fi network signal strength from the first access point AP is below the first strength threshold comprises:

the probe frame is broadcast in response to detecting that Wi-Fi network signal strength from the first AP is below the first strength threshold and roaming fails.

8. The method according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the sending an authentication request frame to the first STA device to access the first STA device comprises:

transmitting the authentication request frame to the first STA device;

receiving an authentication response frame from the first STA device;

transmitting an association request frame to the first STA device;

an association response frame is received from the first STA device.

9. The method according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the method further comprises:

transmitting a disassociation request frame to the first STA device in response to detecting that the Wi-Fi network signal strength from the first STA device is below a second strength threshold;

a disassociation response frame is received from the first STA device.

10. An access method, applied to a first station STA device, where the first STA device is a STA device that has been accessed to a second access point AP, the method comprising:

receiving a sounding frame from a second STA device;

transmitting a response frame to the second STA device;

receiving an AP request from the second STA device;

an AP-enabled function characterizing a handoff of the first STA device from an STA role to a relay role;

Sending a parameter synchronization request to the second AP;

receiving configuration information from the second AP, and starting an AP function, wherein the AP function is started to characterize the switching of the first STA equipment from an STA role to a relay role;

sending an online message to the second AP, wherein the online message is used for indicating the second AP to update network topology;

receiving a first network topology update response from the second AP;

transmitting an AP response to the second STA device, the AP response being used to characterize that the first STA device has initiated the AP function;

receiving a probe request frame from the second STA device;

transmitting a probe response frame to the second STA device;

an authentication request frame is received from the second STA device.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of determining the position of the first electrode is performed,

the configuration information comprises a service set identifier SSID and an authentication mode of the second AP.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the receiving configuration information from the second AP comprises:

and receiving a first Beacon frame from the second AP, wherein the first Beacon frame comprises configuration information of the second AP.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising, after the enabling the AP function:

And broadcasting a second Beacon frame, wherein the second Beacon frame comprises the SSID and the authentication mode.

14. The method according to any one of claims 10-13, wherein after the receiving an authentication request frame from the second STA device, further comprising:

transmitting an authentication response frame to the second STA device;

receiving an association request frame from the second STA device;

and sending an association response frame to the second STA device.

15. The method according to any one of claims 10-13, further comprising:

putting a first service message into a service queue of a first priority, wherein the first service message is a message of a service in the first STA equipment;

placing a second service message into a service queue of a second priority, wherein the second service message is a message of a service in the second STA equipment, and the second priority is lower than the first priority;

and sending a first feature, the first service message and the second service message to the second AP, wherein the first feature is the feature of the first service message, and the first feature is used for the second AP to identify the first service message.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving a third service message in the service queue of the first priority from the second AP;

receiving a fourth service message in the service queue of the second priority from the second AP;

and sending the fourth service message to the second STA equipment.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the third service message is a message responsive to the first service message and the fourth service message is a message responsive to the second service message.

18. The method according to any one of claims 10-13, further comprising:

receiving a disassociation request frame from the second STA device;

transmitting a disassociation response frame to the second STA device;

judging whether the first STA equipment has accessed STA equipment or not;

if yes, the processing is not performed;

if not, closing the AP function, wherein the closing of the AP function characterizes that the first STA equipment is switched from the relay role to the STA role.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein after the turning off the AP function, further comprising:

Transmitting a downlink message to the second AP, where the downlink message is used to instruct the second AP to update a network topology;

a second network topology update response is received from the second AP.

20. The method according to any one of claims 10-13, further comprising:

when powering down, closing the AP function, the closing the AP function characterizing the switching of the first STA device from the relay role to the STA role;

receiving a second network topology update response from the second AP;

transmitting a disassociation request frame to the second AP;

and receiving a disassociation response frame from the second AP.

21. An access device, comprising: a memory, a processor;

the processor is configured to couple to the memory, read and execute instructions in the memory to implement the method of any one of claims 5-20.

22. An access system, the access system comprising: the system comprises first station STA equipment, second STA equipment, a first Access Point (AP) and a second AP, wherein the first STA equipment is accessed to the second AP;

The first STA device being for performing the method of any of claims 10-20, the second STA device being for performing the method of any of claims 5-9.

23. A computer readable storage medium storing computer instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform the method of any one of claims 5-20.