CN102769899B

CN102769899B - Method for sending data and wireless transmission equipment

Info

Publication number: CN102769899B
Application number: CN201110114356.4A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 朱胡飞; 李云波; 杨讯; 伍天宇
Original assignee: Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Current assignee: Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Priority date: 2011-05-04
Filing date: 2011-05-04
Publication date: 2015-04-29
Anticipated expiration: 2031-05-04
Also published as: CN102769899A

Abstract

The invention embodiment provides a method for sending data, which is used for improving the competitive fairness of channels. In a transmission opportunity (TXOP), the method comprises that a candidate control frame is sent to a candidate terminal (STA, station) equipment, wherein the candidate control frame consists of an associated sign of the candidate STA and a media access control (MAC) address; a data frame is sent to a first-choice STA, wherein the data frame also comprises a sign for allowing to enter a sleep state, and the first-choice STA is an objective STA corresponding to the TXOP; after the data frame is sent to the first-choice STA, the first-choice STA enters a sleep state according to the sleep state sign; after the data frame is sent to the first-choice STA, the data frame is sent to a candidate STA according to the associated sign of the candidate STA and the MAC address. In addition, the embodiment of the invention also provides wireless transmission equipment.

Description

Send method and the radio transmission apparatus of data

Technical field

The embodiment of the present invention relates to wireless communication technology, sends method and point of termination station (Station the is called for short STA) equipment of data under particularly relating to power saving mode.

Background technology

For multiple-input, multiple-output (Multiple-lnput Multiple-Output, be called for short MIMO) wireless communication system, at a transmission opportunity (Transmit Opportunity, be called for short TXOP) in, be not that all STA equipment in a basic service sets (Basic Service Set, be called for short BSS) all need to receive data.Therefore, adopt power saving method in a wireless communication system, allow does not have the STA equipment of data receiver to enter sleep state in current TXOP.Be in the receiver that dormant STA equipment closes self, thus reduce power consumption.

At present, the power saving method of wireless communication system comprises TXOP power and saves, be specially: AP equipment is to STA equipment transmit operation object identity and forbid that TXOP power saves instruction (No TXOP Power Save indicates, and is called for short No TXOP PS instruction).This operated object mark is used to indicate the one or more STA equipment needing to carry out operating.This forbids that TXOP power saves instruction can for being or no, wherein, is designated as no, then represents and allow the STA equipment in this BSS to carry out power save operation at current TXOP if forbid that TXOP power is saved; If forbidding that TXOP power saves to be designated as is then represent and forbid that the STA equipment in this BSS carries out power save operation at current TXOP.This forbids that the valid interval that TXOP power is saved indicated by instruction is current TXOP, and therefore, if STA equipment enters sleep state, then this STA equipment is by maintenance sleep state until this TXOP terminates, and at the end of this TXOP, STA equipment returns to waking state.In the power saving method of current communication standard, the No TXOP PS of all frames of same TXOP is set to identical value, has the STA equipment entering sleep state function and only judges according to the No TXOP PS of first frame of a TXOP.Be specially: in a TXOP, have after the STA equipment entering sleep state function receives the first frame, judge whether allow to carry out power saving in this TXOP according to the No TXOP PS of the first frame.If do not allowed, then above-mentioned STA equipment all keeps waking state in whole TXOP.If allowed, then above-mentioned STA equipment is at first frame of this TXOP in all frames of last frame, all judges whether to enter sleep state according to sleep condition.

It is well known that, described in there is the STA entering sleep state function, refer to that STA supports to enter dormant function and this function is in opening.Support the STA entering dormant function, this function can be opened in certain a period of time, and close this function in certain other a period of time; That is, this STA can have in certain a period of time and enters sleep state function, and does not have in certain other a period of time and enter sleep state function.Existing corresponding signaling in prior art, make STA can oneself current whether have enter sleep state function information reporting to AP.Adopt existing power saving method, when first frame of TXOP carry forbid TXOP power save be designated as no time, show that all STA equipment be not included in the operated object mark of this frame in this BSS all can enter sleep state, in the case, all STA equipment that having usually in this BSS enters sleep state function all judge, if meet sleep condition just enter sleep state according to sleep condition.Therefore, for multiuser MIMO (Multi-User MIMO, be called for short MU-MIMO) pattern, adopt existing power saving method, the operated object mark be only applicable in first frame of TXOP includes all situations with the STA equipment entering sleep state function that this TXOP relates to, and for Single User MIMO (Single-User MIMO, be called for short SU-MIMO) pattern, the operated object mark that the method is only applicable to each frame of TXOP only indicates the situation with the STA equipment entering sleep state function of no more than.

At present, wireless communication system also has TXO P to block (truncation) technology: AP equipment obtains a TXOP, usually in order to transmit data to a STA equipment.Assuming that AP needs to pass M frame data at a TXOP to a STA equipment, so, in reality each frame data STA all existed as receiving terminal cannot correctly receive may.For the frame that each receiving terminal STA cannot correctly receive, AP needs again to transmit this frame usually, adds their confirmation until receiving terminal STA correctly receives this frame and sends out ACK (acknowledgment: confirmation of receipt) frame corresponding to AP.But AP cannot accurately predict needs each frame to need the number of times retransmitted, and when arranging TXOP time span, can only reserve the re-transmission of some times for several frames.Assuming that when AP arranges TXOP time span, reserve the re-transmission of some times for J frame, and the number of the actual frame retransmitted is less than J, then usual AP can carry out the operation that TXOP blocks, namely, AP plans in a TXOP to the M frame data that a STA passes, all correctly received by STA, and the TXOP time span that arranges that AP is arranged also has residue, then AP terminates this TXOP in advance, usually by sending CF (contention free: namely avoid competition) end frame, it can be translated into the time period avoiding competing and terminate to indicate frame.Each STA just can start competitive channel after receiving CF end frame, transmits for respective data.

Jointly exist if above-mentioned TXOP power saving and TXOP block, then can bring the problem of fairness: assuming that AP adopts TXO P to block, send CF end frame and terminate a TXOP in advance.After not supporting that STA that TXOP power is saved receives CF end frame, can will begin in a minute competitive channel.Support the STA that TXOP power is saved, much enter sleep state and just can forward waking state to after TXOP terminates, thus when AP sends CF end frame, these STA are in sleep state, cannot receive this frame thus not know that this TXOP terminates in advance; Accordingly, these STA just cannot start competitive channel after receiving CF end frame, and after must waiting until that original TXOP terminates, could according to the mechanism of prior art, by the time after some event occurs, then start competitive channel, thus greatly reduce the probability that these STA compete channel, the STA saved relative to not supporting TXOP power, the fairness of channel competition receives impact.

Summary of the invention

A kind of method that the embodiment of the present invention provides data to send, for improving the fairness of channel competition, comprises in a transmission opportunity TXOP:

Send candidate control frame to candidate terminal device STA, described candidate control frame comprises association identification and the MAC Address of described candidate STA;

Frame is sent to key player on a team STA, also comprise in described Frame and allow to enter sleep state designations, wherein said key player on a team STA is the target STA that this TXOP is corresponding, and after completing to key player on a team STA transmission Frame, described key player on a team STA can enter sleep state according to described sleep state designations;

Send after Frame completes to described key player on a team STA, send Frame according to the association identification of described candidate STA and MAC Address to described candidate STA.

Further, the embodiment of the present invention gives a kind of radio transmission apparatus, comprising:

First transmitting element, for sending candidate control frame to candidate terminal device STA in a transmission opportunity TXOP, described candidate control frame comprises association identification and the MAC Address of described candidate STA;

Second transmitting element, for sending Frame to key player on a team STA, also comprise in described Frame and allow to enter sleep state designations, wherein said key player on a team STA is the target STA that this TXOP is corresponding, and after completing to key player on a team STA transmission Frame, described key player on a team STA can enter sleep state according to described sleep state designations;

3rd transmitting element, for sending after Frame completes to key player on a team STA, sends Frame according to the association identification of described candidate STA and MAC Address to described candidate STA.

The method and apparatus of the embodiment of the present invention is owing to introducing candidate STA, after key player on a team STA completes data transmission, even if this TXOP does not also terminate, but transmit data in the remaining time of TXOP to candidate STA, so just can avoid using TXOP to block, thus avoid corresponding fairness problem.

Accompanying drawing explanation

Fig. 1 is the method flow diagram that the embodiment of the present invention sends data.

Fig. 2 is the structural representation of embodiment of the present invention Wireless Telecom Equipment.

Detailed description of the invention

For making the object of the embodiment of the present invention, technical scheme and advantage clearly, below in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in the embodiment of the present invention, technical scheme in the embodiment of the present invention is clearly and completely described, obviously, described embodiment is the present invention's part embodiment, instead of whole embodiments.Based on the embodiment in the present invention, those of ordinary skill in the art, not making the every other embodiment obtained under creative work prerequisite, belong to the scope of protection of the invention.

In existing Poewr control method, AP equipment comprises to each frame that STA equipment sends and forbids that TXOP power saves instruction (namely No TXOP PS indicates), operated object mark and Media Access Control Address (Medium Access Control Address is called for short MAC Address).Concrete comprises following two kinds of situations:

One is, under MU-MIMO pattern, the frame that AP sends comprises the packet header sent by VHT-SIG-A signaling, and the data flow of each STA of correspondence sent by MU-MIMO spatial multiplexing mode after packet header.Wherein, packet header comprises the fluxion information of each STA in operated object mark and group.Under MU-MIMO pattern, operated object mark is Group ID.Data flow comprises each data flow corresponding to each STA non-zero with fluxion, and this data flow comprises the MAC Address of corresponding STA equipment.Particularly, AP is by the data flow of several spatial reuses corresponding to STA, and send at least one mac frame to this STA equipment, the frame head of this mac frame comprises the receiving terminal mac address information of 6 bytes.STA equipment is decoded to this receiving terminal mac address information, contrasts with the MAC Address of STA equipment self, if identical, illustrate that this mac frame issues oneself, then decodes to this frame; If different, illustrate that this mac frame does not issue oneself, then it is not decoded.

Another kind is, under SU-MIMO pattern, AP send frame comprise the packet header sent by VHT-SIG-A signaling, and send after packet header to the data flow of a STA.Wherein, packet header comprises the fluxion information of operated object mark and a described STA.Under SU-MIMO pattern, operated object mark is partial association mark (association identifier is called for short AID).Data flow comprises the MAC Address of a described STA.Particularly, AP is by the data flow of several spatial reuses corresponding to a described STA, and send at least one mac frame to this STA equipment, the frame head of this mac frame comprises the receiving terminal mac address information of 6 bytes.A described STA equipment is decoded to this receiving terminal mac address information, contrasts with the MAC Address of STA equipment self, if identical, illustrate that this mac frame issues oneself, then decodes to this frame; If different, illustrate that this mac frame does not issue oneself, then it is not decoded.

When No TXOP PS instruction allows to carry out power saving, one or more combination in three conditions can be comprised for judging whether to enter dormant sleep condition, when wherein a condition meets, be namely judged as meeting sleep condition, STA equipment enters sleep state; When one or more conditions that sleep condition comprises all do not meet, be judged as not meeting sleep condition, STA equipment keeps waking state.

What needs further illustrated is, when No TXOP PS instruction allows to carry out power saving, one or more combination in three conditions can be comprised for judging whether to enter dormant sleep condition, when wherein a condition meets, namely be judged as meeting sleep condition, there is the STA equipment entering sleep state function and enter sleep state; When one or more conditions that sleep condition comprises all do not meet, be judged as not meeting sleep condition, there is the STA equipment entering sleep state function and keep waking state; If STA equipment can not be supported to enter sleep state, then keep waking state always, do not need to judge above-mentioned sleep condition.Simple in order to what state, STA hereinafter described in " STA equipment enters sleep state ", all refer to the STA having and enter sleep state function, this point is semantically also easily being seen, that is " STA equipment enters sleep state " must imply and illustrate that described STA has the STA entering sleep state function.

Particularly, under MU-MIMO pattern, these three conditions specifically comprise following content.Condition one: if when not comprising the instruction to this STA equipment in the operated object mark of present frame, STA equipment can enter sleep state at present frame and keep sleep state until this TXOP terminates.Condition two: if the operated object mark of present frame comprises the instruction to this STA equipment, and when spatial reuse fluxion corresponding to this STA is designated as 0, STA equipment can enter sleep state at present frame and keep sleep state until this TXOP terminates.Condition three: if the operated object mark of present frame comprises the instruction to this STA equipment, and this STA receives more data bit when being designated as the Frame of 0, and STA equipment can enter sleep state at present frame and keep sleep state until this TXOP terminates.Under SU-MIMO pattern, these three conditions specifically comprise following content.Condition one: if when the partial association mark indicated in the operated object mark of present frame is different from the part AID of this STA equipment, STA equipment can enter sleep state at present frame and keep sleep state until this TXOP terminates.Condition two: if the part AID indicated in the operated object mark of present frame is identical with the part AID of this STA equipment, but present frame is not when issuing this STA, and STA equipment can enter sleep state at present frame and keep sleep state until this TXOP terminates.Condition three: if the operated object mark of present frame comprises the instruction to this STA equipment, and this STA receives more data bit when being designated as the Frame of 0, and STA equipment can enter sleep state at present frame and keep sleep state until this TXOP terminates.

The embodiment of the present invention proposes a kind of TXOP transmission method supporting TXOP power to save, and in same TXOP, comprises key player on a team's operated object mark and candidate operated object mark.In this TXOP, when giving the data of several STA indicated by key player on a team's operated object mark end of transmission and correctly being received by corresponding STA, and this TXOP does not also terminate, then transmit data in the remaining time of TXOP to several STA indicated by candidate operated object mark.So just can avoid using TXOP to block, thus avoid corresponding fairness problem.

Consult Fig. 1, provide a kind of method sending data in embodiments of the present invention, in a WLAN, each access point AP or terminal STA carry out channel competition, then carry out data transmission, comprise in a transmission opportunity TXOP:

S101, send candidate control frame to candidate terminal device STA, described candidate control frame comprises association identification and the MAC Address of described candidate STA;

S102, Frame is sent to key player on a team STA, also comprise in described Frame and allow to enter sleep state designations, wherein said key player on a team STA is the target STA that this TXOP is corresponding, and after completing to key player on a team STA transmission Frame, described key player on a team STA can enter sleep state according to described sleep state designations;

S103, sends after Frame completes to key player on a team STA, sends Frame according to the association identification of described candidate STA and MAC Address to described candidate STA.

In the above-described embodiments, owing to introducing candidate STA, after key player on a team STA completes data transmission, even if this TXOP does not also terminate, but transmit data in the remaining time of TXOP to candidate STA, so just can avoid using TXOP to block, thus avoid corresponding fairness problem.

Specifically see following examples one to embodiment 16.

Note, in presents, for STA of the prior art, be sometimes called STA, be sometimes called STA equipment; And for AP of the prior art, be sometimes called AP, be sometimes called AP equipment.

In the embodiment of the present invention one, for the operating process of AP equipment, this TXOP transmission method is described, and the STA in a supposition BSS has the STA entering sleep state function, suppose SU-MIMO pattern simultaneously, suppose that this TXOP adopts 1 key player on a team STA and 1 candidate STA in addition.The method comprises following process.

Step 101:AP equipment, at the 1st frame of TXOP, transmits data to a candidate STA.Concrete, the 1st frame that AP sends comprises the partial association mark of a described candidate STA and the MAC Address of a described candidate STA.At the 1st frame, No TXOP PS instruction does not allow to carry out power saving.

Step 102:AP equipment from the 2nd frame of TXOP until K frame, namely at the 2nd, 3 of TXOP ..., K frame, transmits data to key player on a team STA.Concrete, until K frame from the 2nd frame of TXOP, each frame that AP sends comprises the partial association mark of a described key player on a team STA and the MAC Address of a described key player on a team STA.Until K frame from the 2nd frame of TXOP, No TXOP PS indicates and allows to carry out power saving.

Step 103: if after above-mentioned K frame end of transmission, this TXOP does not terminate and the TXOP remaining time is enough used for transmitting at least one frame, then AP equipment from the K+1 frame of TXOP until N frame, namely at the K+1 of TXOP, K+2, ..., N frame, transmits data to the candidate STA of 1 described in step 101.Concrete, until N frame from the K+1 frame of TXOP, each frame that AP sends comprises the partial association mark of a described candidate STA and the MAC Address of a described candidate STA.After above-mentioned N frame end of transmission, this TXOP terminates or this TXOP remaining time is used for transferring to a few frame not.Until N frame from the K+1 frame of TXOP, No TXOP PS indicates and allows to carry out power saving, or No TXOP PS is arbitrary value, such as, all indicate and do not allow to carry out power saving.

In above step, a certain frame end of transmission, refer to that this frame is dealt into STA by AP, and STA returns corresponding ACK signaling to AP; Or a certain frame end of transmission, only refers to that this frame is dealt into STA by AP.

In the embodiment of the present invention two, for the operating process of STA equipment, this TXOP transmission method is described.The method comprises following process.

Step 201: at the 1st frame, each STA equipment receives the packet that AP sends out at this frame, comprises the No TXOP PS of this frame, the MAC Address of operated object mark (being partial association mark under SU-MIMO pattern) and a receiving terminal STA.First each STA makes a decision according to the value of this bit of No TXOP PS: if the instruction of this bit allows to carry out power saving, then method conventionally judges that can oneself enter sleep state; If the instruction of this bit does not allow to carry out power saving, then indicated by this frame operated object mark and the own MAC address STA (namely at this frame receive the STA of the Frame of issuing oneself) identical with the receiving terminal STA MAC Address of this frame, keep waking state and note down the state having received the Frame issuing oneself at the 1st frame, or enter sleep state and proceeded to waking state before TXOP terminates, and other STA keeps waking state.Describedly before TXOP terminates, proceed to waking state, namely sleep one specific period, at the end of this specific time, TXOP does not terminate; The described one specific period can be 1/2 length of TXOP or 1/3 length or 1/4 length.

Step 202: at the 2nd frame, each STA equipment receives the packet that AP sends out at this frame, comprises the No TXOP PS of this frame, the MAC Address of operated object mark and a receiving terminal STA.At the 2nd frame, first each STA makes a decision according to the value of this bit of No TXOP PS: if the instruction of this bit does not allow to carry out power saving, then method conventionally, each STA cannot enter sleep state.If the instruction of this bit allows to carry out power saving, then do not receive the STA of the Frame issuing oneself at the 1st frame or the 2nd frame, sleep state can be entered at this frame and keep sleep state until this TXOP terminates, by the instruction of the operated object mark of the 2nd frame and the own MAC address STA (namely at this frame receive the STA of the Frame of issuing oneself) identical with the receiving terminal STA MAC Address of this frame, maintenance waking state, by the instruction of the operated object mark of the 1st frame and the own MAC address STA identical with the receiving terminal STA MAC Address of this frame, if keep waking state in step 201 and note down the state having received the Frame issuing oneself at the 1st frame, so, waking state is kept in this step, or enter sleep state and proceeded to waking state before TXOP terminates, on the other hand, by the instruction of the operated object mark of the 1st frame and the own MAC address STA identical with the receiving terminal STA MAC Address of this frame, if enter sleep state in step 201, so, extra operation is not needed in this step.Describedly before TXOP terminates, proceed to waking state, namely sleep one specific period, at the end of this specific time, TXOP does not terminate; The described one specific period can be 1/2 length of TXOP or 1/3 length or 1/4 length.At the 2nd frame to K frame, by the instruction of the operated object mark of the 2nd frame and the own MAC address STA (namely at this frame receive the STA of the Frame of issuing oneself) identical with the receiving terminal STA MAC Address of this frame, receive the packet that AP sends out, and at each frame all according to the method for prior art, judge whether present frame issues oneself, if present frame issues oneself, present frame of just decoding; In addition, if the No TXOP PS instruction of present frame allows to carry out power saving, the STA of the Frame issuing oneself is then received at the 2nd frame, also according to the sleep condition of prior art, judge whether oneself meets sleep condition, if meet sleep condition at a certain frame, just can enter sleep state at this frame and keep sleep state until this TXOP terminates.

Step 203: if after above-mentioned K frame end of transmission, this TXOP does not terminate and the TXOP remaining time is enough used for transmitting at least one frame, then at K+1 frame to N frame (K+1 is less than or equal to N), by the instruction of the operated object mark of the 1st frame and the own MAC address STA (namely at 1st frame receive the STA of the Frame of issuing oneself) identical with the receiving terminal STA MAC Address of this frame, the packet that reception AP sends out.At K+1 frame to N frame, do not allow to carry out power saving if No TXOP PS indicates, then the described STA receiving the Frame issuing oneself at the 1st frame, can not judge whether oneself meets sleep condition; Or, at K+1 frame to N frame, allow to carry out power saving if No TXOP PS indicates, the then described STA receiving the Frame issuing oneself at the 1st frame, can according to the sleep condition of prior art, judge whether oneself meets sleep condition, when meeting sleep condition at a certain frame, just can enter sleep state at this frame and keep sleep state until this TXOP terminates.

The optimum embodiment provided in steps from above-mentioned step 101 to step 203, comprise the utilization of this bit of No TXOP PS to prior art, and the method utilized unlike the prior art.But, can be completely the same with prior art to the Application way of this bit of No TXOP PS, namely whole this bit of TXOP, No TXOP PS all gets identical value.Do not allow to carry out power saving when whole TXOP, No TXOPPS indicates, then do not use the technology that TXOP power is saved, corresponding implementation method is same as the prior art.As whole TXOP, No TXOP PS indicates and allows to carry out power saving, then the optimum embodiment provided in steps tackled between step 101 to step 203 makes following amendment mutually: in step 101,102,103, AP is set to No TXOP PS to allow to carry out power saving.In step 201, each STA does not allow the situation of carrying out power saving to operate according to No TXOP PS instruction; In step 202 and 203, each STA allows the situation of carrying out power saving to operate according to No TXOP PS instruction.

In the optimum embodiment provided in steps between above-mentioned step 101 to step 203, transmit data at the 1st frame to candidate STA, transmit data at the 2nd frame to key player on a team STA.Easily see, above-described embodiment also can be extended to and transmit data at the 1st frame to key player on a team STA, transmits data at the 2nd frame to candidate STA, and corresponding embodiment is as shown in step 301 below to step 403.

In the embodiment of the present invention three, for the operating process of AP equipment, this TXOP transmission method is described, and the STA in a supposition BSS has the STA entering sleep state function, suppose SU-MIMO pattern simultaneously, suppose that this TXOP adopts 1 key player on a team STA and 1 candidate STA in addition.The method comprises following process.

Step 301:AP equipment is at the 1st frame of TXOP, and transmit data to a STA, this STA is called key player on a team STA.Concrete, the 1st frame that AP sends comprises the partial association mark of a described key player on a team STA and the MAC Address of a described key player on a team STA.At the 1st frame, No TXOP PS instruction does not allow to carry out power saving.

Step 302:AP equipment is from the 2nd frame of TXOP, and transmit data to a STA, this STA is called candidate STA.Concrete, the 2nd frame sent at AP comprises the partial association mark of a described candidate STA and the MAC Address of a described candidate STA.At the 2nd frame of TXOP, No TXOPPS instruction allows to carry out power saving.If K is less than 3 (i.e. K=2), then directly forward step 303 to; If K is more than or equal to 3, then corresponding operation is as follows:

AP equipment from the 3rd frame of TXOP until K frame, namely at the 3rd, 4 of TXOP ..., K frame, transmits data to the key player on a team STA of described in step 301.Concrete, until K frame from the 3rd frame of TXOP, each frame that AP sends comprises the partial association mark of a described key player on a team STA and the MAC Address of a described key player on a team STA.Until K frame from the 3rd frame of TXOP, No TXOP PS indicates and allows to carry out power saving.

Step 303: if after above-mentioned K frame end of transmission, this TXOP does not terminate and the TXOP remaining time is enough used for transmitting at least one frame, then AP equipment from the K+1 frame of TXOP until N frame, namely at the K+1 of TXOP, K+2, ..., N frame, transmits data to the candidate STA of 1 described in step 302.Concrete, until N frame from the K+1 frame of TXOP, each frame that AP sends comprises the partial association mark of a described candidate STA and the MAC Address of a described candidate STA.After above-mentioned N frame end of transmission, this TXOP terminates or this TXOP remaining time is used for transferring to a few frame not.Until N frame from the K+1 frame of TXOP, No TXOP PS indicates and allows to carry out power saving, or No TXOP PS is arbitrary value, such as, all indicate and do not allow to carry out power saving.

In the embodiment of the present invention four, for the operating process of STA equipment, this TXOP transmission method is described.The method comprises following process.

Step 401: at the 1st frame, each STA equipment receives the packet that AP sends out at this frame, comprises the No TXOP PS of this frame, the MAC Address of operated object mark (being partial association mark under SU-MIMO pattern) and a receiving terminal STA.First each STA makes a decision according to the value of this bit of No TXOP PS: if the instruction of this bit allows to carry out power saving, then method conventionally judges that can oneself enter sleep state; If the instruction of this bit does not allow to carry out power saving, then indicated by this frame operated object mark and the own MAC address STA identical with the receiving terminal STA MAC Address of this frame (namely receives the STA of the Frame issuing oneself at this frame, also the key player on a team STA namely described in step 301), keep waking state and note down the state having received the Frame issuing oneself at the 1st frame.

Step 402: at the 2nd frame, each STA equipment receives the packet that AP sends out at this frame, comprises the No TXOP PS of this frame, the MAC Address of operated object mark and a receiving terminal STA.At the 2nd frame, first each STA makes a decision according to the value of this bit of No TXOP PS: if the instruction of this bit does not allow to carry out power saving, then method conventionally, each STA cannot enter sleep state.If the instruction of this bit allows to carry out power saving, then do not receive the STA of the Frame issuing oneself at the 1st frame or the 2nd frame, sleep state can be entered at this frame and keep sleep state until this TXOP terminates; By the instruction of the operated object mark of the 1st frame and the own MAC address STA identical with the receiving terminal STA MAC Address of this frame (namely receive the STA of the Frame issuing oneself at this frame, the key player on a team STA also namely described in step 301), maintenance waking state; By the instruction of the operated object mark of the 2nd frame and the own MAC address STA (candidate STA namely step 302 described in) identical with the receiving terminal STA MAC Address of this frame, keep waking state in this step, or enter sleep state and proceeded to waking state before TXOP terminates.If K is less than 3 (i.e. K=2), then directly forward step 403 to; If K is more than or equal to 3, then corresponding operation is as follows:

At the 3rd frame to K frame, by the instruction of the operated object mark of the 1st frame and the own MAC address STA (namely at this frame receive the STA of the Frame of issuing oneself) identical with the receiving terminal STA MAC Address of this frame, receive the packet that AP sends out, and at each frame all according to the method for prior art, judge whether present frame issues oneself, if present frame issues oneself, present frame of just decoding; In addition, if the No TXOP PS instruction of present frame allows to carry out power saving, the STA of the Frame issuing oneself is then received at the 1st frame, also according to the sleep condition of prior art, judge whether oneself meets sleep condition, if meet sleep condition at a certain frame, just can enter sleep state at this frame and keep sleep state until this TXOP terminates.

Step 403: if after above-mentioned K frame end of transmission, this TXOP does not terminate and the TXOP remaining time is enough used for transmitting at least one frame, then at K+1 frame to N frame (likely K+1=N), by the instruction of the operated object mark of the 2nd frame and the own MAC address STA identical with the receiving terminal STA MAC Address of this frame (namely receives the STA of the Frame issuing oneself at the 2nd frame, also the candidate STA namely described in step 302), receive the packet that AP sends out.At K+1 frame to N frame, do not allow to carry out power saving if No TXOP PS indicates, then the described STA receiving the Frame issuing oneself at the 2nd frame, can not judge whether oneself meets sleep condition; Or, at K+1 frame to N frame, allow to carry out power saving if No TXOP PS indicates, the then described STA receiving the Frame issuing oneself at the 2nd frame, can according to the sleep condition of prior art, judge whether oneself meets sleep condition, when meeting sleep condition at a certain frame, just can enter sleep state at this frame and keep sleep state until this TXOP terminates.

Note, the optimum embodiment provided in steps from above-mentioned step 301 to step 403, comprise the utilization of this bit of No TXOP PS to prior art, and the method utilized unlike the prior art.But, can be completely the same with prior art to the Application way of this bit of No TXOP PS, namely whole this bit of TXOP, No TXOP PS all gets identical value.Do not allow to carry out power saving when whole TXOP, No TXOP PS indicates, then do not use the technology that TXOP power is saved, corresponding implementation method is same as the prior art.As whole TXOP, No TXOP PS indicates and allows to carry out power saving, then the optimum embodiment provided in steps tackled between step 301 to step 303 makes following amendment mutually: in step 301,302,303, AP is set to No TXOP PS to allow to carry out power saving.In step 401, each STA does not allow the situation of carrying out power saving to operate according to No TXOP PS instruction; In step 402 and 403, each STA allows the situation of carrying out power saving to operate according to NoTXOP PS instruction.

In the above embodiments one to four, all suppose that the STA in a BSS has the STA entering sleep state function, in reality, the STA in a BSS may comprise the STA not having and enter sleep state function.Assuming that the STA in a BSS comprises the STA not having and enter sleep state function, we can obtain following embodiment.

In the embodiment of the present invention five, for the operating process of AP equipment, this TXOP transmission method is described, and the STA in a supposition BSS comprises the STA that has and enter sleep state function and does not have the STA entering sleep state function, suppose SU-MIMO pattern simultaneously, suppose that this TXOP adopts 1 key player on a team STA and 1 candidate STA in addition.The method comprises following process.

Step 501:AP equipment is at the 1st frame of TXOP, and have to one the STA entering sleep state function and transmit data, this STA is called candidate STA.Concrete, the 1st frame that AP sends comprises the partial association mark of a described candidate STA and the MAC Address of a described candidate STA.At the 1st frame, No TXOP PS instruction does not allow to carry out power saving.

Step 502:AP equipment from the 2nd frame of TXOP until K frame, namely at the 2nd, 3 of TXOP ..., K frame, to one have enter sleep state function STA transmit data, this STA is called key player on a team STA.Concrete, until K frame from the 2nd frame of TXOP, each frame that AP sends comprises the partial association mark of a described key player on a team STA and the MAC Address of a described key player on a team STA.Until K frame from the 2nd frame of TXOP, No TXOP PS indicates and allows to carry out power saving.

Step 503: if after above-mentioned K frame end of transmission, this TXOP does not terminate and the TXOP remaining time is enough used for transmitting at least one frame, then AP equipment from the K+1 frame of TXOP until N frame, namely at the K+1 of TXOP, K+2 ..., N frame, transmit data to the candidate STA of 1 described in step 501, or to 1, not there are the STA transmission data entering sleep state function.Concrete, until N frame from the K+1 frame of TXOP, each frame that AP sends comprises partial association mark and the MAC Address of a described candidate STA of a described candidate STA, or comprises described 1 partial association without the STA entering sleep state function and identify and described 1 MAC Address without the STA entering sleep state function.After above-mentioned N frame end of transmission, this TXOP terminates or this TXOP remaining time is used for transferring to a few frame not.Until N frame from the K+1 frame of TXOP, No TXOP PS indicates and allows to carry out power saving, or No TXOP PS is arbitrary value, such as, all indicate and do not allow to carry out power saving.

In the embodiment of the present invention six, for the operating process of STA equipment, this TXOP transmission method is described.The method comprises following process.

Step 601: at the 1st frame, each STA equipment receives the packet that AP sends out at this frame, comprises the No TXOP PS of this frame, the MAC Address of operated object mark (being partial association mark under SU-MIMO pattern) and a receiving terminal STA.Each has the STA entering sleep state function and first makes a decision according to the value of this bit of No TXOP PS: if the instruction of this bit allows to carry out power saving, then method conventionally judges that can oneself enter sleep state; If the instruction of this bit does not allow to carry out power saving, then indicated by this frame operated object mark and the own MAC address STA identical with the receiving terminal STA MAC Address of this frame (namely receives the STA of the Frame issuing oneself at this frame, also the candidate STA namely described in step 101), keep waking state and note down the state having received the Frame issuing oneself at the 1st frame, or enter sleep state and proceeded to waking state before TXOP terminates, and other has the STA entering sleep state function and all keeps waking state.Step 602: at the 2nd frame, each STA equipment receives the packet that AP sends out at this frame, comprises the No TXOP PS of this frame, the MAC Address of operated object mark and a receiving terminal STA.At the 2nd frame, each has the STA entering sleep state function and first makes a decision according to the value of this bit of No TXOP PS: if the instruction of this bit does not allow to carry out power saving, then method conventionally, each has the STA entering sleep state function all cannot enter sleep state.If the instruction of this bit allows to carry out power saving, then what do not received at the 1st frame or the 2nd frame the Frame issuing oneself has the STA entering sleep state function, can enter sleep state and keep sleep state until this TXOP terminates at this frame, by the operated object mark of the 2nd frame instruction and the STA that own MAC address and identical the having of receiving terminal STA MAC Address of this frame enter sleep state function (namely receives the STA of the Frame issuing oneself at this frame, also the key player on a team STA namely described in step 102), keep waking state, by the operated object mark of the 1st frame instruction and own MAC address enters the STA of sleep state function with identical the having of receiving terminal STA MAC Address of this frame, if keep waking state in step 201 and note down the state having received the Frame issuing oneself at the 1st frame, so, waking state is kept in this step, or enter sleep state and proceeded to waking state before TXOP terminates, on the other hand, by the operated object mark of the 1st frame instruction and own MAC address enters the STA of sleep state function with identical the having of receiving terminal STA MAC Address of this frame, if enter sleep state in step 201, so, extra operation is not needed in this step.At the 2nd frame to K frame (K is more than or equal to 2), by the operated object mark of the 2nd frame instruction and own MAC address enters the STA (namely receiving the STA of the Frame issuing oneself at this frame) of sleep state function with identical the having of receiving terminal STA MAC Address of this frame, receive the packet that AP sends out, and at each frame all according to the method for prior art, judge whether present frame issues oneself, if present frame issues oneself, present frame of just decoding; In addition, if the NoTXOP PS instruction of present frame allows to carry out power saving, the STA of the Frame issuing oneself is then received at the 2nd frame, also according to the sleep condition of prior art, judge whether oneself meets sleep condition, if meet sleep condition at a certain frame, just can enter sleep state at this frame and keep sleep state until this TXOP terminates.

Step 603: if after above-mentioned K frame end of transmission, this TXOP does not terminate and the TXOP remaining time is enough used for transmitting at least one frame, then at K+1 frame to N frame (likely K+1=N), by the instruction of the operated object mark of the 1st frame and the own MAC address STA identical with the receiving terminal STA MAC Address of this frame (namely receives the STA of the Frame issuing oneself at the 1st frame, also the candidate STA namely described in step 101), and not there is each STA entering sleep state function, receive the packet that AP sends out.At K+1 frame to N frame, do not allow to carry out power saving if No TXOP PS indicates, then the described STA receiving the Frame issuing oneself at the 1st frame, can not judge whether oneself meets sleep condition; Or, at K+1 frame to N frame, allow to carry out power saving if No TXOPPS indicates, the then described STA receiving the Frame issuing oneself at the 1st frame, can according to the sleep condition of prior art, judge whether oneself meets sleep condition, when meeting sleep condition at a certain frame, just can enter sleep state at this frame and keep sleep state until this TXOP terminates.

Note, the optimum embodiment provided in steps from above-mentioned step 501 to step 603, comprise the utilization of this bit of No TXOP PS to prior art, and the method utilized unlike the prior art.But, can be completely the same with prior art to the Application way of this bit of No TXOP PS, namely whole this bit of TXOP, No TXOP PS all gets identical value.Do not allow to carry out power saving when whole TXOP, No TXOP PS indicates, then do not use the technology that TXOP power is saved, corresponding implementation method is same as the prior art.As whole TXOP, No TXOP PS indicates and allows to carry out power saving, then the optimum embodiment provided in steps tackled between step 501 to step 603 makes following amendment mutually: in step 501,502,503, AP is set to No TXOP PS to allow to carry out power saving.In step 601, each STA does not allow the situation of carrying out power saving to operate according to No TXOP PS instruction; In step 602 and 603, each STA allows the situation of carrying out power saving to operate according to NoTXOP PS instruction.

In the above embodiments five and six, assuming that this TXOP adopts 1 key player on a team STA and 1 candidate STA, in reality, also can not adopt 1 described candidate STA, the corresponding embodiment obtained is as follows.

In the embodiment of the present invention seven, for the operating process of AP equipment, this TXOP transmission method is described, and the STA in a supposition BSS comprises the STA that has and enter sleep state function and does not have the STA entering sleep state function, suppose SU-MIMO pattern simultaneously, suppose that this TXOP adopts 1 key player on a team STA in addition.The method comprises following process.

Step 701:AP equipment from the 1st frame of TXOP until K frame, namely at the 1st, 2 of TXOP ..., K frame, to one have enter sleep state function STA transmit data, this STA is called key player on a team STA.Concrete, until K frame from the 1st frame of TXOP, each frame that AP sends comprises the partial association mark of a described key player on a team STA and the MAC Address of a described key player on a team STA.Until K frame from the 1st frame of TXOP, No TXOP PS indicates and allows to carry out power saving.

Step 702: if after above-mentioned K frame end of transmission, this TXOP does not terminate and the TXOP remaining time is enough used for transmitting at least one frame, then AP equipment each frame from the K+1 frame of TXOP until in N frame, namely at the K+1 of TXOP, K+2, ..., each frame in N frame, all gives 1 not have to enter the STA of sleep state function to transmit data.Concrete, until N frame from the K+1 frame of TXOP, each frame that AP sends comprises described 1 partial association mark without the STA entering sleep state function and described 1 MAC Address without the STA entering sleep state function.After above-mentioned N frame end of transmission, this TXOP terminates or this TXOP remaining time is used for transferring to a few frame not.Until N frame from the K+1 frame of TXOP, No TXOP PS indicates and allows to carry out power saving, or No TXOP PS is arbitrary value, such as, all indicate and do not allow to carry out power saving.

In the embodiment of the present invention eight, for the operating process of STA equipment, this TXOP transmission method is described.The method comprises following process.

Step 801: at the 1st frame, each STA equipment receives the packet that AP sends out at this frame, comprises the No TXOP PS of this frame, the MAC Address of operated object mark and a receiving terminal STA.At the 1st frame, each has the STA entering sleep state function and first makes a decision according to the value of this bit of No TXOP PS: if the instruction of this bit does not allow to carry out power saving, then method conventionally, each has the STA entering sleep state function all cannot enter sleep state.If the instruction of this bit allows to carry out power saving, then what do not received at the 1st frame the Frame issuing oneself has the STA entering sleep state function, can enter sleep state and keep sleep state until this TXOP terminates at this frame; By the operated object mark of the 1st frame instruction and the STA that own MAC address and identical the having in receiving terminal STAMAC address of this frame enter sleep state function (namely receives the STA of the Frame issuing oneself at this frame, also the key player on a team STA namely described in step 701), keep waking state.At the 1st frame to K frame (K is more than or equal to 1), by the operated object mark of the 1st frame instruction and own MAC address enters the STA (namely receiving the STA of the Frame issuing oneself at this frame) of sleep state function with identical the having of receiving terminal STA MAC Address of this frame, receive the packet that AP sends out, and at each frame all according to the method for prior art, judge whether present frame issues oneself, if present frame issues oneself, present frame of just decoding; In addition, if the No TXOP PS instruction of present frame allows to carry out power saving, the STA of the Frame issuing oneself is then received at the 1st frame, also according to the sleep condition of prior art, judge whether oneself meets sleep condition, if meet sleep condition at a certain frame, just can enter sleep state at this frame and keep sleep state until this TXOP terminates.

Step 802: if after above-mentioned K frame end of transmission, this TXOP does not terminate and the TXOP remaining time is enough used for transmitting at least one frame, then at K+1 frame to N frame (K+1 is less than or equal to N), not there is each STA entering sleep state function, receive the packet that AP sends out, and not there is at least one STA entered in each STA of sleep state function, receive at least one frame that AP issues oneself.

In the above embodiments one to eight, the number of key player on a team STA and candidate STA is all not more than 1, in reality, and the number of key player on a team STA and candidate STA can be greater than 1, correspondingly obtains the following examples.

In the embodiment of the present invention nine, for the operating process of AP equipment, this TXOP transmission method is described, and the STA in a supposition BSS has the STA entering sleep state function, suppose SU-MIMO pattern simultaneously, suppose that this TXOP adopts a L key player on a team STA and J-L candidate STA in addition.The method comprises following process.

Step 901:AP equipment to J frame at the 1st frame of TXOP, is given L key player on a team STA and J-L candidate STA transmission data respectively, is transmitted data at each frame to 1 in a L key player on a team STA and J-L candidate STA.Concrete, every 1 frame that AP sends comprises the partial association mark of 1 STA in a described L key player on a team STA and J-L candidate STA and the MAC Address of this STA.At the 1st frame to J-1 frame, No TXOP PS instruction does not allow to carry out power saving; At J frame, No TXOPPS instruction allows to carry out power saving.At the 1st frame in J frame, AP transmits data at which frame to key player on a team STA, which frame to transmit data to candidate STA at, realizes agreement by transmitting terminal and receiving terminal, or, specified by standard.

Step 902:AP equipment from the J+1 frame of TXOP until K frame, namely at the J+1 of TXOP, J+2 ..., K frame, in described L key player on a team STA at least one transmission data.Concrete, until K frame from the J+1 frame of TXOP, each frame that AP sends comprises the partial association mark of a STA in described L key player on a team STA and the MAC Address of this STA.Until K frame from the J+1 frame of TXOP, No TXOP PS indicates and allows to carry out power saving.

Step 903: if after above-mentioned K frame end of transmission, this TXOP does not terminate and the TXOP remaining time is enough used for transmitting at least one frame, then AP equipment from the K+1 frame of TXOP until N frame, namely at the K+1 of TXOP, K+2, ..., N frame, at least one the transmission data in the candidate STA of the J-L described in step 901.Concrete, until N frame from the K+1 frame of TXOP, each frame that AP sends comprises the partial association mark of a STA in a described J-L candidate STA and the MAC Address of this STA.After above-mentioned N frame end of transmission, this TXOP terminates or this TXOP remaining time is used for transferring to a few frame not.Until N frame from the K+1 frame of TXOP, No TXOP PS indicates and allows to carry out power saving, or No TXOP PS is arbitrary value, such as, all indicate and do not allow to carry out power saving.

In the embodiment of the present invention ten, for the operating process of STA equipment, this TXOP transmission method is described, assuming that the STA in a BSS has the STA entering sleep state function, and supposition SU-MIMO pattern.The method comprises following process.

Step 1001: at the 1st frame to J frame, each STA equipment receives the packet that AP sends out at these frames, each frame comprises the No TXOP PS of this frame, the MAC Address of operated object mark (being partial association mark under SU-MIMO pattern) and a receiving terminal STA.As previously mentioned, at the 1st frame in J frame, AP transmits data at which frame to key player on a team STA, which frame to transmit data to candidate STA at, transmitting terminal and receiving terminal are all known, so each STA can receive according to oneself the packet issuing oneself at which frame, determines it oneself is key player on a team STA or candidate STA; Such as, assuming that J=6, and regulation AP sends data to a candidate STA at the 2nd frame, send data to a key player on a team STA at the 5th frame, the STA then receiving at the 2nd frame the data issuing oneself just knows it oneself is candidate STA, and just knows it oneself is key player on a team STA at the STA that the 5th frame receives the data issuing oneself.As mentioned above, at the 1st frame to J frame, L key player on a team STA can know it oneself is key player on a team STA, and J-L candidate STA can know it oneself is candidate STA.At J frame, first each STA makes a decision according to the value of this bit of No TXOP PS: if the instruction of this bit does not allow to carry out power saving, then method does not conventionally enter sleep state; If the instruction of this bit allows to carry out power saving, then a described J-L candidate STA can enter sleep state and proceeded to waking state before TXOP terminates, described L key player on a team STA keeps waking state, and other all STA beyond a described L key player on a team STA and J-L candidate STA, can sleep state be entered at J frame and keep sleep state until TXOP terminates.

Step 1002: at J+1 frame to K frame, the packet that described L key player on a team STA reception AP sends out at these frames, wherein each frame comprises the No TXOP PS of this frame, the MAC Address of operated object mark and a receiving terminal STA.And at J+1 frame to each frame in K frame, described L key player on a team STA, according to the method for prior art, judges whether present frame issues oneself, if present frame issues oneself, present frame of just decoding; In addition, at J+1 frame to each frame in K frame, described L key player on a team STA, also according to the sleep condition of prior art, judges whether oneself meets sleep condition, if meet sleep condition at a certain frame, just can enter sleep state at this frame and keep sleep state until this TXOP terminates.

Step 1003: if after above-mentioned K frame end of transmission, this TXOP does not terminate and the TXOP remaining time is enough used for transmitting at least one frame, then at K+1 frame to N frame (K+1 is less than or equal to N), described J-L candidate STA receives the packet that AP sends out.At K+1 frame to N frame, do not allow to carry out power saving if No TXOP PS indicates, then a described J-L candidate STA, can not judge whether oneself meets sleep condition; Or, at K+1 frame to N frame, allow to carry out power saving if NoTXOP PS indicates, a then described J-L candidate STA, can according to the sleep condition of prior art, judge whether oneself meets sleep condition, when meeting sleep condition at a certain frame, just can enter sleep state at this frame and keep sleep state until this TXOP terminates.

The optimum embodiment provided in steps from above-mentioned step 901 to step 1003, comprise the utilization of this bit of No TXOP PS to prior art, and the method utilized unlike the prior art.But, can be completely the same with prior art to the Application way of this bit of No TXOP PS, namely whole this bit of TXOP, No TXOP PS all gets identical value.Do not allow to carry out power saving when whole TXOP, No TXOP PS indicates, then do not use the technology that TXOP power is saved, corresponding implementation method is same as the prior art.As whole TXOP, No TXOP PS indicates and allows to carry out power saving, then the optimum embodiment provided in steps tackled between step 901 to step 1003 makes following amendment mutually: in step 901,902,903, AP is set to No TXOP PS to allow to carry out power saving.In step 1001, at the 1st frame to J-1 frame, each STA does not allow the situation of carrying out power saving to operate according to No TXOP PS instruction, and at J frame, each STA allows the situation of carrying out power saving to operate according to No TXOP PS instruction; In step 1002 and 1003, each STA allows the situation of carrying out power saving to operate according to No TXOP PS instruction.

In the above embodiments one to ten, all suppose SU-MIMO pattern; Easily see, the above embodiments one to ten can be generalized to MU-MIMO pattern, and the corresponding embodiment obtained is as follows.

In the embodiment of the present invention 11, for the operating process of AP equipment, this TXOP transmission method is described, and the STA in a supposition BSS has the STA entering sleep state function, suppose MU-MIMO pattern simultaneously, suppose that this TXOP adopts 1 key player on a team Group ID and 1 candidate Group ID in addition.The method comprises following process.

Step 1101:AP equipment is at the 1st frame of TXOP, and transmit data to one group of STA with a Group ID, this Group ID is called candidate Group ID.Concrete, the 1st frame that AP sends comprises the MAC Address of each STA of an a described candidate Group ID and STA group.At the 1st frame, No TXOP PS instruction does not allow to carry out power saving.

Step 1102:AP equipment is at the 2nd frame of TXOP, and give STA group transmission data with a Group ID, this Group ID is called key player on a team Group ID.If K is more than or equal to 3, then AP equipment from the 3rd frame of TXOP until K frame, namely at the 3rd, 4 of TXOP ..., K frame, transmits data to several STA in the STA set that described key player on a team Group ID indicates.Until K frame from the 2nd frame of TXOP, No TXOP PS indicates and allows to carry out power saving.

Step 1103: if after above-mentioned K frame end of transmission, this TXOP does not terminate and the TXOP remaining time is enough used for transmitting at least one frame, then AP equipment from the K+1 frame of TXOP until N frame, namely at the K+1 of TXOP, K+2, ..., N frame, data are transmitted to several STA in the STA set indicated by the candidate Group ID of 1 described in step 1101, in addition, AP can give or not transmit data to several STA in the set of the STA indicated by 1 key player on a team Group ID described in step 1102.After above-mentioned N frame end of transmission, this TXOP terminates or this TXOP remaining time is used for transferring to a few frame not.Until N frame from the K+1 frame of TXOP, No TXOP PS indicates and allows to carry out power saving, or No TXOP PS is arbitrary value, such as, all indicate and do not allow to carry out power saving.

In the embodiment of the present invention 12, for the operating process of STA equipment, this TXOP transmission method is described.The method comprises following process.

Step 1201: at the 1st frame, each STA equipment receives the packet that AP sends out at this frame, comprises the No TXOP PS of this frame, the MAC Address of Group ID and several receiving terminals STA.First each STA makes a decision according to the value of this bit of No TXOP PS: if the instruction of this bit allows to carry out power saving, then method conventionally judges that can oneself enter sleep state; If the instruction of this bit does not allow to carry out power saving, then indicated by this frame Group ID and the own MAC address STA (namely at this frame receive the STA of the Frame of issuing oneself) identical with in several receiving terminals STA MAC Address of this frame, keep waking state and note down the state having received the Frame issuing oneself at the 1st frame, or enter sleep state and proceeded to waking state before TXOP terminates, and other STA keeps waking state.

Step 1202: at the 2nd frame, each STA equipment receives the packet that AP sends out at this frame, comprises the No TXOP PS of this frame, the MAC Address of Group ID and several receiving terminals STA.At the 2nd frame, first each STA makes a decision according to the value of this bit of No TXOP PS: if the instruction of this bit does not allow to carry out power saving, then method conventionally, each STA cannot enter sleep state.If the instruction of this bit allows to carry out power saving, then not by the STA that the Group ID of the 1st frame or the 2nd frame indicates, sleep state can be entered at this frame and keep sleep state until this TXOP terminates, by the STA that the Group ID of the 2nd frame indicates, keep waking state, indicated and the own MAC address STA identical with in several receiving terminals STA MAC Address of this frame by the Group ID of the 1st frame, if keep waking state in step 1201 and note down the state having received the Frame issuing oneself at the 1st frame, so, waking state is kept in this step, or enter sleep state and proceeded to waking state before TXOP terminates, on the other hand, indicated and the own MAC address STA identical with in several receiving terminals STA MAC Address of this frame by the Group ID of the 1st frame, if enter sleep state in step 1201, so, extra operation is not needed in this step.At the 2nd frame to K frame (K is more than or equal to 2), indicated and own MAC address each STA (namely at this frame receive each STA of the Frame of issuing oneself) identical with in several receiving terminals STA MAC Address of this frame by the Group ID of the 2nd frame, receive the packet that AP sends out, and at each frame all according to the method for prior art, judge whether present frame issues oneself, if present frame issues oneself, present frame of just decoding; In addition, if the No TXOP PS instruction of present frame allows to carry out power saving, each STA of the Frame issuing oneself is then received at the 2nd frame, also according to the sleep condition of prior art, judge whether oneself meets sleep condition, if meet sleep condition at a certain frame, just can enter sleep state at this frame and keep sleep state until this TXOP terminates.

Step 1203: if after above-mentioned K frame end of transmission, this TXOP does not terminate and the TXOP remaining time is enough used for transmitting at least one frame, then at K+1 frame to N frame (K+1 is less than or equal to N), indicated and own MAC address each STA (namely at 1st frame receive the STA of the Frame of issuing oneself) identical with in several receiving terminals STA MAC Address of this frame by the Group ID of the 1st frame, receive the packet that AP sends out, and indicated and own MAC address each STA (namely at 2nd frame receive the STA of the Frame of issuing oneself) identical with in several receiving terminals STA MAC Address of this frame by the Group ID of the 2nd frame, if also do not enter sleep state, also the packet that AP sends out is received.At K+1 frame to N frame, do not allow to carry out power saving if No TXOP PS indicates, then described each STA receiving the Frame issuing oneself at the 1st frame, can not judge whether oneself meets sleep condition; Or, at K+1 frame to N frame, allow to carry out power saving if NoTXOP PS indicates, then described each STA receiving the Frame issuing oneself at the 1st frame, can according to the sleep condition of prior art, judge whether oneself meets sleep condition, when meeting sleep condition at a certain frame, just can enter sleep state at this frame and keep sleep state until this TXOP terminates.

Note, the optimum embodiment provided in steps from above-mentioned step 1101 to step 1203, comprise the utilization of this bit of No TXOP PS to prior art, and the method utilized unlike the prior art.But, can be completely the same with prior art to the Application way of this bit of No TXOP PS, namely whole this bit of TXOP, No TXOP PS all gets identical value.Do not allow to carry out power saving when whole TXOP, No TXOP PS indicates, then do not use the technology that TXOP power is saved, corresponding implementation method is same as the prior art.As whole TXOP, No TXOP PS indicates and allows to carry out power saving, then the optimum embodiment provided in steps tackled between step 1101 to step 1203 makes following amendment mutually: in step 1101,1102,1103, AP is set to No TXOP PS to allow to carry out power saving.In step 1201, each STA does not allow the situation of carrying out power saving to operate according to No TXOP PS instruction; In step 1202 and 1203, each STA allows the situation of carrying out power saving to operate according to No TXOP PS instruction.

In the optimum embodiment provided in steps between above-mentioned step 1101 to step 1203, transmit data to each candidate STA at the 1st frame, transmit data to each key player on a team STA at the 2nd frame.Easily see, above-described embodiment also can be extended to and transmit data at the 1st frame to each key player on a team STA, and transmit data to each candidate STA at the 2nd frame, corresponding embodiment is as shown in step 1301 below to step 1403.

In the embodiment of the present invention 13, for the operating process of AP equipment, this TXOP transmission method is described, and the STA in a supposition BSS has the STA entering sleep state function, suppose MU-MIMO pattern simultaneously, suppose that this TXOP adopts 1 key player on a team Group ID and 1 candidate Group ID in addition.The method comprises following process.

Step 1301:AP equipment is at the 1st frame of TXOP, and transmit data to one group of STA with a Group ID, this Group ID is called key player on a team Group ID.Concrete, the 1st frame that AP sends comprises the MAC Address of a described key player on a team Group ID and several STA.At the 1st frame, No TXOP PS instruction does not allow to carry out power saving.

Step 1302:AP equipment is from the 2nd frame of TXOP, and transmit data to one group of STA with a Group ID, this Group ID is called candidate Group ID.Concrete, the MAC Address of a described candidate Group ID and several STA is comprised at the 2nd frame of AP transmission.At the 2nd frame of TXOP, No TXOP PS instruction allows to carry out power saving.If K is less than 3 (i.e. K=2), then directly forward step 303 to; If K is more than or equal to 3, then corresponding operation is as follows:

AP equipment from the 3rd frame of TXOP until K frame, namely at the 3rd, 4 of TXOP ..., K frame, to indicated by the key player on a team Group ID of described in step 1301 STA set in several STA transmit data.Until K frame from the 3rd frame of TXOP, No TXOP PS indicates and allows to carry out power saving.

Step 1303: if after above-mentioned K frame end of transmission, this TXOP does not terminate and the TXOP remaining time is enough used for transmitting at least one frame, then AP equipment from the K+1 frame of TXOP until N frame, namely at the K+1 of TXOP, K+2, ..., N frame, data are transmitted to several STA in the STA set indicated by the candidate Group ID of 1 described in step 1302, in addition, can also give or not transmit data to several STA in the set of the STA indicated by 1 key player on a team Group ID described in step 1301.After above-mentioned N frame end of transmission, this TXOP terminates or this TXOP remaining time is used for transferring to a few frame not.Until N frame from the K+1 frame of TXOP, No TXOP PS indicates and allows to carry out power saving, or No TXOP PS is arbitrary value, such as, all indicate and do not allow to carry out power saving.

In the embodiment of the present invention 14, for the operating process of STA equipment, this TXOP transmission method is described.The method comprises following process.

Step 1401: at the 1st frame, each STA equipment receives the packet that AP sends out at this frame, comprises the No TXOP PS of this frame, the MAC Address of Group ID and several receiving terminals STA.First each STA makes a decision according to the value of this bit of No TXOP PS: if the instruction of this bit allows to carry out power saving, then method conventionally judges that can oneself enter sleep state; If the instruction of this bit does not allow to carry out power saving, then indicated by this frame Group ID and the own MAC address STA (namely at this frame receive the STA of the Frame of issuing oneself) identical with in several receiving terminals STA MAC Address of this frame, keep waking state and record has received the state of the Frame issuing oneself at the 1st frame.

Step 1402: at the 2nd frame, each STA equipment receives the packet that AP sends out at this frame, comprises the No TXOP PS of this frame, the MAC Address of Group ID and several receiving terminals STA.At the 2nd frame, first each STA makes a decision according to the value of this bit of No TXOP PS: if the instruction of this bit does not allow to carry out power saving, then method conventionally, each STA cannot enter sleep state.If the instruction of this bit allows to carry out power saving, then not by the STA that the Group ID of the 1st frame or the 2nd frame indicates, sleep state can be entered at this frame and keep sleep state until this TXOP terminates; Indicated and the own MAC address STA (namely at this frame receive the STA of the Frame of issuing oneself) identical with in several receiving terminals STA MAC Address of this frame by the Group ID of the 1st frame, maintenance waking state; Indicated and the own MAC address STA identical with in several receiving terminals STA MAC Address of this frame by the Group ID of the 2nd frame, in this step maintenance waking state, or enter sleep state and proceeded to waking state before TXOP terminates.If K is less than 3 (i.e. K=2), then directly forward step 1403 to; If K is more than or equal to 3, then corresponding operation is as follows:

At the 3rd frame to K frame, indicated and the own MAC address STA (namely at this frame receive the STA of the Frame of issuing oneself) identical with in several receiving terminals STA MAC Address of this frame by the Group ID of the 1st frame, receive the packet that AP sends out, and at each frame all according to the method for prior art, judge whether present frame issues oneself, if present frame issues oneself, present frame of just decoding; In addition, if the No TXOP PS instruction of present frame allows to carry out power saving, each STA of the Frame issuing oneself is then received at the 1st frame, also according to the sleep condition of prior art, judge whether oneself meets sleep condition, if meet sleep condition at a certain frame, just can enter sleep state at this frame and keep sleep state until this TXOP terminates.

Step 1403: if after above-mentioned K frame end of transmission, this TXOP does not terminate and the TXOP remaining time is enough used for transmitting at least one frame, then at K+1 frame to N frame (K+1 is less than or equal to N), indicated and the own MAC address STA (namely at 2nd frame receive the STA of the Frame of issuing oneself) identical with in several receiving terminals STA MAC Address of this frame by the Group ID of the 2nd frame, the packet that reception AP sends out.At K+1 frame to N frame, do not allow to carry out power saving if No TXOP PS indicates, then described each STA receiving the Frame issuing oneself at the 2nd frame, can not judge whether oneself meets sleep condition; Or, at K+1 frame to N frame, allow to carry out power saving if No TXOP PS indicates, then described each STA receiving the Frame issuing oneself at the 2nd frame, can according to the sleep condition of prior art, judge whether oneself meets sleep condition, when meeting sleep condition at a certain frame, just can enter sleep state at this frame and keep sleep state until this TXOP terminates.

Note, the optimum embodiment provided in steps from above-mentioned step 1301 to step 1403, comprise the utilization of this bit of No TXOP PS to prior art, and the method utilized unlike the prior art.But, can be completely the same with prior art to the Application way of this bit of No TXOP PS, namely whole this bit of TXOP, No TXOP PS all gets identical value.Do not allow to carry out power saving when whole TXOP, No TXOP PS indicates, then do not use the technology that TXOP power is saved, corresponding implementation method is same as the prior art.As whole TXOP, No TXOP PS indicates and allows to carry out power saving, then the optimum embodiment provided in steps tackled between step 1301 to step 1403 makes following amendment mutually: in step 1301,1302,1303, AP is set to No TXOP PS to allow to carry out power saving.In step 1401, each STA does not allow the situation of carrying out power saving to operate according to No TXOP PS instruction; In step 1402 and 1403, each STA allows the situation of carrying out power saving to operate according to No TXOP PS instruction.

In the above embodiments ten one to ten four, all suppose that the STA in a BSS has the STA entering sleep state function, in reality, the STA in a BSS may comprise the STA not having and enter sleep state function.In addition, in the above embodiments ten one to ten four, all suppose that this TXOP adopts 1 key player on a team Group ID and 1 candidate Group ID, in reality, also can not adopt 1 described candidate Group ID.Assuming that the STA in a BSS comprises the STA not having and enter sleep state function, suppose not adopt 1 described candidate Group ID, we can obtain following embodiment simultaneously.

In the embodiment of the present invention 15, for the operating process of AP equipment, this TXOP transmission method is described, and the STA in a supposition BSS comprises the STA that has and enter sleep state function and does not have the STA entering sleep state function, suppose MU-MIMO pattern simultaneously, suppose that this TXOP adopts 1 key player on a team Group ID in addition.The method comprises following process.

Step 1501:AP equipment from the 1st frame of TXOP until K frame, namely at the 1st, 2 of TXOP ..., K frame, transmit data to one group of STA with a Group ID, this Group ID is called key player on a team Group ID.Until K frame from the 1st frame of TXOP, No TXOP PS indicates and allows to carry out power saving.

Step 1502: if after above-mentioned K frame end of transmission, this TXOP does not terminate and the TXOP remaining time is enough used for transmitting at least one frame, then AP equipment each frame from the K+1 frame of TXOP until in N frame, namely at the K+1 of TXOP, K+2 ..., each frame in N frame, all give at least 1 not have to enter the STA of sleep state function to transmit data, in addition, can also give or not transmit data to several STA in the STA set indicated by described key player on a team Group ID.After above-mentioned N frame end of transmission, this TXOP terminates or this TXOP remaining time is used for transferring to a few frame not.Until N frame from the K+1 frame of TXOP, No TXOP PS indicates and allows to carry out power saving, or No TXOP PS is arbitrary value, such as, all indicate and do not allow to carry out power saving.

In the embodiment of the present invention 16, for the operating process of STA equipment, this TXOP transmission method is described.The method comprises following process.

Step 1601: at the 1st frame, each STA equipment receives the packet that AP sends out at this frame, comprises the No TXOP PS of this frame, the MAC Address of a Group ID and receiving terminal STA.At the 1st frame, each has the STA entering sleep state function and first makes a decision according to the value of this bit of No TXOP PS: if the instruction of this bit does not allow to carry out power saving, then method conventionally, each has the STA entering sleep state function all cannot enter sleep state.If the instruction of this bit allows to carry out power saving, then what do not indicated by the Group ID of the 1st frame has the STA entering sleep state function, can enter sleep state and keep sleep state until this TXOP terminates at this frame; By the Group ID of the 1st frame indicate and own MAC address enters the STA (namely receiving the STA of the Frame issuing oneself at this frame) of sleep state function with identical having in several receiving terminals STA MAC Address of this frame, maintenance waking state.At the 1st frame to K frame, what indicated by the Group ID of the 1st frame has the STA entering sleep state function, receives the packet that AP sends out, and at each frame all according to the method for prior art, judge whether present frame issues oneself, if present frame issues oneself, present frame of just decoding; In addition, if the No TXOP PS instruction of present frame allows to carry out power saving, then by the STA of the Group ID of the 1st frame instruction, also according to the sleep condition of prior art, judge whether oneself meets sleep condition, if meet sleep condition at a certain frame, just can enter sleep state at this frame and keep sleep state until this TXOP terminates.

Step 1602: if after above-mentioned K frame end of transmission, this TXOP does not terminate and the TXOP remaining time is enough used for transmitting at least one frame, then at K+1 frame to N frame (K+1 is less than or equal to N), not there is each STA entering sleep state function, all receive the packet that AP sends out, and not there is at least one STA entered in each STA of sleep state function, receive at least one frame that AP issues oneself.

In aforesaid all embodiments, follow prior art, in a TXOP or all use MU-MIMO pattern, or all use SU-MIMO pattern.In fact, in order to the flexible and better performance of dispatching, MU-MIMO pattern and SU-MIMO pattern can be used with in a TXOP, obtain following embodiment accordingly.

In the embodiment of the present invention 17, be described this TXOP transmission method for the operating process of AP equipment, compatible MU-MIMO pattern and SU-MIMO pattern, suppose that this TXOP adopts 1 key player on a team Group ID in addition simultaneously.The method comprises following process.

Step 1701:AP equipment from the 1st frame of TXOP until K frame, namely at the 1st, 2 of TXOP ..., K frame, transmit data to one group of STA with a Group ID, this Group ID is called key player on a team Group ID.Until K frame from the 1st frame of TXOP, No TXOP PS indicates and allows to carry out power saving.

Step 1702: if after above-mentioned K frame end of transmission, this TXOP does not terminate and the TXOP remaining time is enough used for transmitting at least one frame, the then at least one frame of AP equipment from the K+1 frame of TXOP until in N frame, namely at the K+1 of TXOP, K+2, ..., at least one frame in N frame, adopts SU-MIMO pattern to transmit data to 1 STA.

In the embodiment of the present invention 18, for the operating process of STA equipment, this TXOP transmission method is described.The method comprises following process.

Step 1801: at the 1st frame, each STA equipment receives the packet that AP sends out at this frame, comprises the No TXOP PS of this frame, the MAC Address of a Group ID and receiving terminal STA.At the 1st frame, each has the STA entering sleep state function and first makes a decision according to the value of this bit of No TXOP PS: if the instruction of this bit does not allow to carry out power saving, then method conventionally, each has the STA entering sleep state function all cannot enter sleep state.If the instruction of this bit allows to carry out power saving, then what do not indicated by the Group ID of the 1st frame has the STA entering sleep state function, can enter sleep state and keep sleep state until this TXOP terminates at this frame; By the Group ID of the 1st frame indicate and own MAC address enters the STA (namely receiving the STA of the Frame issuing oneself at this frame) of sleep state function with identical having in several receiving terminals STA MAC Address of this frame, maintenance waking state.At the 1st frame to K frame, what indicated by the GroupID of the 1st frame has the STA entering sleep state function, receives the packet that AP sends out, and at each frame all according to the method for prior art, judge whether present frame issues oneself, if present frame issues oneself, present frame of just decoding; In addition, if the No TXOP PS instruction of present frame allows to carry out power saving, then by the STA of the Group ID of the 1st frame instruction, also according to the sleep condition of prior art, judge whether oneself meets sleep condition, if meet sleep condition at a certain frame, just can enter sleep state at this frame and keep sleep state until this TXOP terminates.

Step 1602: if after above-mentioned K frame end of transmission, this TXOP does not terminate and the TXOP remaining time is enough used for transmitting at least one frame, then at K+1 frame to N frame (K+1 is less than or equal to N), do not enter each STA of sleep state function, all receive the packet that AP sends out, and wherein at least one STA, receive at least one SU-MIMO frame that AP issues oneself.

The embodiment of the present invention provides a kind of radio transmission apparatus, and it can be AP or STA in WLAN, can be to be applied to AP or STA battery saving mode to control, and ordinary circumstance is that an AP covers multiple STA, multiple user can be sent data.Device in the present embodiment, for realizing the flow process of said method embodiment, the processing procedure in concrete grammar all can perform in the apparatus, and the idiographic flow of described method realizes the function that all can become this equipment.

Consult Fig. 2, the structural representation of the radio transmission apparatus of the embodiment of the present invention, this equipment 20 comprises:

First transmitting element 201, for sending candidate control frame to candidate terminal device STA in a transmission opportunity TXOP, described candidate control frame comprises association identification and the MAC Address of described candidate STA;

Second transmitting element 203, for sending Frame to key player on a team STA, also comprise in described Frame and allow to enter sleep state designations, wherein said key player on a team STA is the target STA that this TXOP is corresponding, and after completing to key player on a team STA transmission Frame, described key player on a team STA can enter sleep state according to described sleep state designations;

3rd transmitting element 205, for sending after Frame completes to key player on a team STA, sends Frame according to the association identification of described candidate STA and MAC Address to described candidate STA.

Further, the first transmitting element 201 also comprises to the described candidate control frame that described candidate STA sends and does not allow to enter sleep state designations, is used to indicate described candidate STA and does not enter sleep state.

Further, first transmitting element 201 is also for after the 3rd transmission end member completes to described key player on a team STA transmission Frame, the Frame sent to described candidate STA and described send in Frame to comprise to candidate STA allow to enter sleep state designations, for described candidate STA according to described allow to enter sleep state designations the condition of satisfied sleep laggard enter sleep state.

The equipment of the embodiment of the present invention is owing to introducing candidate STA, after key player on a team STA completes data transmission, even if this TXOP does not also terminate, but transmit data in the remaining time of TXOP to candidate STA, so just can avoid using TXOP to block, thus avoid corresponding fairness problem.

One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that: all or part of step realizing said method embodiment can have been come by the hardware that programmed instruction is relevant, aforesaid program can be stored in a computer read/write memory medium, this program, when performing, performs the step comprising said method embodiment; And aforesaid storage medium comprises: ROM, RAM, magnetic disc or CD etc. various can be program code stored medium.

Claims

1. send a method for data, it is characterized in that, described method comprises in a transmission opportunity TXOP:

Send after Frame completes to described key player on a team STA, send Frame according to the association identification of described candidate STA and MAC Address to described candidate STA;

Wherein, also comprise in described candidate control frame and do not allow to enter sleep state designations, be used to indicate described candidate STA and do not enter sleep state; Or, also comprises in described candidate control frame and allow to enter sleep state designations, be used to indicate described candidate STA and enter sleep state when satisfying condition, and this STA entered the dormant end time before completing to key player on a team STA transmission Frame.

2. method according to claim 1, is characterized in that,

Described candidate control frame comprises and does not allow to enter sleep state designations No TXOP PS, is used to indicate and does not allow to enter sleep state designations.

3. method according to claim 1, is characterized in that, described candidate control frame is the first frame sent in the described TXOP time.

4. method according to claim 1, is characterized in that, described in the described forward direction sending last Frame in key player on a team STA transmission Frame process, candidate STA sends candidate control frame.

5. method according to claim 1, it is characterized in that, after completing to key player on a team STA transmission Frame, when sending Frame to described candidate STA, described send in Frame to comprise to candidate STA allow to enter sleep state designations, described candidate STA according to described allow to enter sleep state designations the condition of satisfied sleep laggard enter sleep state.

6. a radio transmission apparatus, is characterized in that, described equipment comprises:

3rd transmitting element, for sending after Frame completes to key player on a team STA, sends Frame according to the association identification of described candidate STA and MAC Address to described candidate STA;

Wherein, described first transmitting element also comprises to the described candidate control frame that described candidate STA sends and does not allow to enter sleep state designations, is used to indicate described candidate STA and does not enter sleep state; Or also comprise in described candidate control frame and allow to enter sleep state designations, be used to indicate described candidate STA and enter sleep state when satisfying condition, and this STA entered the dormant end time before completing to key player on a team STA transmission Frame.

7. equipment according to claim 6, it is characterized in that, described first transmitting element is also for after completing to described key player on a team STA transmission Frame, the Frame sent to described candidate STA and described send in Frame to comprise to candidate STA allow to enter sleep state designations, for described candidate STA according to described allow to enter sleep state designations the condition of satisfied sleep laggard enter sleep state.