CN106716965B

CN106716965B - Method and apparatus for direct communication

Info

Publication number: CN106716965B
Application number: CN201580052146.3A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 丁志明; 乔登宇
Original assignee: Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Current assignee: Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Priority date: 2015-05-04
Filing date: 2015-05-04
Publication date: 2020-01-10
Anticipated expiration: 2035-05-04
Also published as: CN106716965A; WO2016176801A1

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention provide a method and an apparatus for performing direct connection communication, where an AP allocates scheduling resources to a direct connection link in a centralized manner, so that STAs to be scheduled can be prevented from competing for using a channel, and the access efficiency of the STAs to be scheduled is improved. In addition, the AP also allocates appropriate sending power of direct connection communication for each STA to be scheduled, and when different direct connection links have a certain distance in the geographical position, wireless signals on the two direct connection links are not mutually covered by controlling the sending power of the direct connection communication of the STA corresponding to the direct connection link, so that frequency resources can be spatially multiplexed, and the utilization rate of the wireless resources is improved.

Description

Method and apparatus for direct communication

Technical Field

The embodiment of the invention relates to a communication technology, in particular to a method and a device for direct connection communication.

Background

Direct connection communication means that two stations (Station, STA for short) are associated to the same Access Point (AP for short), but when they communicate with each other, a message is directly sent to the other side through an air interface (air interface), and does not pass through forwarding by the AP, and a channel through which data is directly transmitted between the two STAs through the air interface is called a direct connection link. A direct link may allow for reduced occupation of channel resources when communicating between two STAs under the same AP, as shown in figure 1, fig. 1 is a schematic flowchart of a STA communicating by using a direct link and a non-direct link, where a solid line in fig. 1 represents the direct link, and a dashed line represents the non-direct link, if STA1 uses the non-direct link to send a message to STA2, STA1 first sends the message to an AP through an uplink, the AP forwards the message to STA2 through a downlink, the whole communication process needs to occupy two channels, if STA1 uses the direct link to send the message to STA2, STA1 directly sends the message to STA2 through the direct link, the message does not need to be forwarded through the AP, and only one channel needs to be occupied in the whole communication process, therefore, the utilization rate of a wireless channel is improved, and the system throughput which can be obtained by a Basic Service Set (BSS for short) controlled by the AP is also improved.

In the existing standard, the direct link may operate on a working channel (also referred to as a basic channel) of the AP, or may operate on a channel (also referred to as a non-basic channel) different from the AP. When the direct link works in the basic channel, the direct link where the STA is located still needs to request the AP for channel resources when the direct link is transmitting data, that is, when the direct link is transmitting data, other STAs and APs in the BSS controlled by the AP cannot use the channel. When the direct link works in the non-basic channel, the direct link does not occupy the working channel of the AP, and therefore data transmission of other links in the BSS is not affected, but the STAs on the direct link may compete for channel resources with other BSSs. With the development of Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 technology, the operating channel of an AP becomes wider, and the number of channels into which a limited wireless spectrum can be divided becomes smaller. When the AP operates in a wide wireless channel, it becomes difficult for the STA to select a non-fundamental channel as an operating channel of the direct link, and therefore the direct link still needs to be considered to operate in the fundamental channel.

In some dense user scenarios, the system throughput is significantly improved by adopting the direct link technology, but in the existing standard, the STA in the direct link competes for the channel by itself, so that the access efficiency is low, and the utilization efficiency of the wireless resource is not improved.

Disclosure of Invention

The embodiment of the invention provides a method and a device for direct connection communication, which are used for improving the utilization rate of wireless resources.

A first aspect of the present invention provides a method for direct communication, comprising:

the AP sends a direct link scheduling indication message to the STA to be scheduled, wherein the direct link scheduling indication message comprises: identification information of N direct-connected links to be scheduled, wherein N is a positive integer greater than or equal to 1, and the STA to be scheduled is an STA corresponding to the N direct-connected links;

the AP sequentially sends polling messages to the stations to be scheduled, wherein the polling messages comprise: the polling message is used for indicating the polled STA to respectively send test tone messages on K sub-channels by using trial listening sending power, so that each STA in other non-polled STAs in the STAs to be scheduled respectively receives the test tone messages on the K sub-channels, and obtains channel information of the K sub-channels when the polled STA sends the test tone messages on the K sub-channels according to a receiving result, wherein the K sub-channels are all sub-channels or partial sub-channels of a plurality of sub-channels divided by a widest working channel of the AP, and K is a positive integer greater than or equal to 2;

the AP receives listen-on-test result messages respectively sent by the STAs to be scheduled, where the listen-on-test result message sent by each STA of the STAs to be scheduled includes: the channel information of the K sub-channels is obtained when other STAs in the STAs to be scheduled send test tone messages on the K sub-channels;

the AP allocates scheduling resources to the N direct-connection links and allocates transmission power for performing direct-connection communication to each STA according to the listen-on result message sent by each STA and the obtained data amount of the data to be sent of each STA, and sends at least scheduling resources of the direct-connection link to which the STA belongs and transmission power information for performing direct-connection communication to each STA, where the scheduling resources of each direct-connection link in the N direct-connection links include: a modulation and coding scheme, MCS, used for direct communication over the direct link and channel resources of the direct link.

With reference to the first aspect, in a first possible implementation manner of the first aspect, when the other STAs send the test tone messages on the K subchannels, the channel information of the K subchannels includes: when the other STA sends the test tone messages on the K sub-channels, the identification of the available channel in the K sub-channels, the receiving power obtained by the STA when the STA receives the test tone messages sent by the other STA on the available channel, and the interference and noise signal strength information on the available channel;

the AP respectively allocates scheduling resources to the N direct-connection links and allocates transmission power for performing direct-connection communication to each STA according to the listen-on-test result message sent by each STA and the data amount of the data to be sent of each STA, including:

and the AP allocates scheduling resources for the N direct-connection links and allocates transmitting power for performing direct-connection communication for each STA according to the identification of an available channel in the K sub-channels, the receiving power obtained by the STA when the STA receives the test tone messages sent by other STAs on the available channel, the interference and noise signal intensity information on the available channel, the trial listening transmitting power used by each STA for sending the test tone messages and the data volume of data to be transmitted of each STA when each STA sends the test tone messages on the K channels.

With reference to the first aspect, in a second possible implementation manner of the first aspect, when the other STAs send the test tone messages on the K subchannels, the channel information of the K subchannels includes: when the other STAs send the trial messages on the K sub-channels, identifiers of available channels in the K sub-channels, and trial listening transmission power margins of the other STAs on the available channels, where the trial listening transmission power margins are adjustment amounts of trial listening transmission power used for sending the trial messages, and the trial listening transmission power margins of the other STAs on the available channels are determined by the STAs according to received power obtained when the trial messages sent by the other STAs are received on the available channels and interference and noise signal strengths on the available channels;

and the AP respectively allocates scheduling resources for the N direct-connected links and allocates transmitting power for each STA for direct-connected communication on the direct-connected link according to the identification of the available channel in the K sub-channels, the trial listening transmitting power allowance of other STAs on the available channel and the data volume of data to be transmitted of each STA when each STA transmits the trial tone message on the K channels.

With reference to the first aspect and any one of the first to second possible implementation manners of the first aspect, in a third possible implementation manner of the first aspect, the identification information of each direct connection link is a link identification or a media access control MAC address pair of two STAs corresponding to each direct connection link.

With reference to the first aspect and any one of the first to third possible implementation manners of the first aspect, in a fourth possible implementation manner of the first aspect, the identification information of the polled STA is any one of: the MAC address of the polled STA, the link identification and the role indication information of the direct link to which the polled STA belongs, the sequence number of the link identification of the direct link to which the polled STA belongs in the direct link scheduling indication message and the role indication information, wherein the role indication information is used for indicating the role of the polled STA in the direct link to which the polled STA belongs.

A second aspect of the present invention provides a method for direct communication, comprising:

the STA receives a direct link scheduling indication message sent by the AP, wherein the direct link scheduling indication message comprises: identification information of N direct links to be scheduled, wherein N is a positive integer greater than or equal to 1, the STA is any one of STAs to be scheduled of the AP, and the STA to be scheduled is a STA corresponding to the N direct links;

the STA receives a plurality of polling messages which are sent by the AP and used for polling the STA to be scheduled according to the direct link scheduling indication message, wherein the polling messages comprise: the polling message is used for indicating the polled STA to respectively send pilot messages on K sub-channels by using pilot listening sending power, wherein the K sub-channels are all sub-channels or partial sub-channels of a plurality of sub-channels divided by the widest working channel of the AP, and K is a positive integer greater than or equal to 2;

when the identification information of the polled STA, which is included in the polling message, is the identification information of the STA, the STA sends a test tone message on the K sub-channels by using the test listening sending power;

when the identification information of the polled STA included in the polling message is the identification information of other STAs in the STAs to be scheduled, the STA receives the test tone messages sent by the other STAs on the K sub-channels respectively, and acquires the channel information of the K sub-channels when the other STAs send the test tone messages on the K sub-channels according to the receiving result;

after the STAs to be scheduled are polled, the STA sending a listen-on-test result message to the AP, so that the AP allocates, according to the listen-on-test result message, sending power for performing direct connection communication to the STA and allocates scheduling resources to a direct connection link to which the STA belongs, where the listen-on-test result message includes channel information of the K sub-channels when the other STAs send the listen-on-test messages on the K sub-channels, and the scheduling resources of the direct connection link to which the STA belongs include: the modulation and coding scheme MCS used by the STA for direct connection communication on the direct connection link to which the STA belongs and the channel resource of the direct connection link to which the STA belongs;

the STA receives sending power information which is sent by the AP and is distributed for the STA to carry out direct connection communication and scheduling resources which are distributed for a direct connection link to which the STA belongs, and data are transmitted on the direct connection link to which the STA belongs according to the sending power information and the scheduling resources of the direct connection link to which the STA belongs.

With reference to the second aspect, in a first possible implementation manner of the second aspect, when the other STAs send the test tone messages on the K subchannels, the channel information of the K subchannels includes: when the other STAs send the test tone messages on the K sub-channels, the identification of the available channel in the K sub-channels, the receiving power obtained when the STA receives the test tone messages sent by the other STAs on the available channel, and the interference and noise signal intensity information on the available channel.

With reference to the second aspect, in a second possible implementation manner of the second aspect, when the other STAs send the test tone messages on the K subchannels, the channel information of the K subchannels includes: when the other STAs send the trial messages on the K sub-channels, the identifiers of the available channels in the K sub-channels and the trial listening transmission power margins of the other STAs on the available channels, where the trial listening transmission power margins are adjustment amounts of trial listening transmission power used for sending the trial messages, and the trial listening transmission power margins of the other STAs on the available channels are determined by the STAs according to the received power obtained when the trial listening messages sent by the other STAs are received on the available channels and the interference and noise signal strengths on the available channels.

With reference to the second aspect and any one of the first to second possible implementation manners of the second aspect, in a third possible implementation manner of the second aspect, the receiving, by the STA, the test tone messages sent by the other STAs on the K sub-channels, and obtaining, according to a receiving result, channel information of the K sub-channels when the other STAs send the test tone messages on the K sub-channels includes:

the STA monitors signals on the K sub-channels respectively;

if the STA monitors a signal on a first sub-channel in the K sub-channels and can decode the monitored signal, the STA determines that the first sub-channel is an available channel, the STA decodes the monitored signal to obtain a test tone message sent by other STAs, and detects and records the receiving power obtained by the STA when the other STAs send the test tone message on the first channel;

and the STA detects the interference and noise signal intensity on the available channel and acquires the interference and noise signal intensity information on the available channel.

With reference to the second aspect and any one of the first to third possible implementation manners of the second aspect, in a fourth possible implementation manner of the second aspect, the listen on trial result message sent by the STA further includes: and the trial listening transmission power used by the STA for transmitting the trial message.

With reference to the second aspect and any one of the first to fourth possible implementation manners of the second aspect, in a fifth possible implementation manner of the second aspect, the test tone message includes identification information of an STA that transmits the test tone message, and the identification information of the STA is any one of: the MAC address of the STA, the link identification and the role indication information of the direct link to which the STA belongs, and the serial number and the role indication information of the link identification of the direct link to which the STA belongs in the direct link scheduling indication message.

With reference to the fifth possible implementation manner of the second aspect, in a sixth possible implementation manner of the second aspect, the test tone message further includes: and the STA sending the test tone message sends the test tone sending power used by the test tone message.

With reference to the fifth or sixth possible implementation manner of the second aspect, in a seventh possible implementation manner of the second aspect, the test tone message further includes a data amount of data to be sent of an STA that sends the test tone message.

A third aspect of the present invention provides an AP, including:

a sending module, configured to send a direct link scheduling indication message to an STA to be scheduled, where the direct link scheduling indication message includes: identification information of N direct-connected links to be scheduled, wherein N is a positive integer greater than or equal to 1, and the STA to be scheduled is an STA corresponding to the N direct-connected links;

the sending module is further configured to send polling messages to the station STA to be scheduled in sequence, where the polling messages include: the polling message is used for indicating the polled STA to respectively send test tone messages on K sub-channels by using trial listening sending power, so that each STA in other non-polled STAs in the STAs to be scheduled respectively receives the test tone messages on the K sub-channels, and obtains channel information of the K sub-channels when the polled STA respectively sends the test tone messages on the K sub-channels according to a receiving result, wherein the K sub-channels are all sub-channels or partial sub-channels of a plurality of sub-channels divided by a widest working channel of the AP, and K is a positive integer greater than or equal to 2;

a receiving module, configured to receive listen on trial result messages sent by the to-be-scheduled STAs, respectively, where the listen on trial result message sent by each STA in the to-be-scheduled STAs includes: the channel information of the K sub-channels is obtained when other STAs in the STAs to be scheduled send test tone messages on the K sub-channels;

an allocation module, configured to allocate scheduling resources to the N direct links and allocate transmission power for performing direct connection communication to each STA according to the listen-on-test result message sent by each STA and the obtained data amount of the data to be sent of each STA, where the scheduling resources of each direct link in the N direct links include: a Modulation and Coding Scheme (MCS) used for direct connection communication on the direct connection link and channel resources of the direct connection link;

the sending module is further configured to send, to each STA, at least scheduling resources of a direct link to which the STA belongs, and sending power information used by the STA to perform direct communication.

With reference to the third aspect, in a first possible implementation manner of the third aspect, when the other STAs send the test tone messages on the K subchannels, the channel information of the K subchannels includes: when the other STA sends the test tone messages on the K sub-channels, the identification of the available channel in the K sub-channels, the receiving power obtained by the STA when the STA receives the test tone messages sent by the other STA on the available channel, and the interference and noise signal strength information on the available channel;

the allocation module is specifically configured to: and respectively allocating scheduling resources for the N direct-connection links and allocating transmission power for performing direct-connection communication for each STA according to the identification of an available channel in the K sub-channels when each STA sends the test tone messages on the K channels, the receiving power obtained by each STA when each STA receives the test tone messages sent by other STAs on the available channel, the interference and noise signal intensity information on the available channel, the test listening transmission power used by each STA for sending the test tone messages and the data volume of data to be sent of each STA.

With reference to the third aspect, in a second possible implementation manner of the third aspect, when the other STAs send the test tone messages on the K subchannels, the channel information of the K subchannels includes: when the other STAs send the trial messages on the K sub-channels, identifiers of available channels in the K sub-channels, and trial listening transmission power margins of the other STAs on the available channels, where the trial listening transmission power margins are adjustment amounts of trial listening transmission power used for sending the trial messages, and the trial listening transmission power margins of the other STAs on the available channels are determined by the STAs according to received power obtained when the trial messages sent by the other STAs are received on the available channels and interference and noise signal strengths on the available channels;

the allocation module is specifically configured to: and respectively allocating scheduling resources for the N direct-connected links and allocating transmission power for each STA to perform direct-connected communication on the direct-connected link according to the identification of the available channel in the K sub-channels, the trial listening transmission power allowance of other STAs on the available channel and the data volume of data to be transmitted of each STA when each STA transmits the trial tone message on the K channels.

With reference to the third aspect and any one of the first to second possible implementation manners of the third aspect, in a third possible implementation manner of the third aspect, the identification information of each direct connection link is a link identification or a media access control MAC address pair of two STAs corresponding to each direct connection link.

With reference to the third aspect and any one of the first to third possible implementation manners of the third aspect, in a fourth possible implementation manner of the third aspect, the identification information of the polled STA is any one of: the MAC address of the polled STA, the link identification and the role indication information of the direct link to which the polled STA belongs, the sequence number of the link identification of the direct link to which the polled STA belongs in the direct link scheduling indication message and the role indication information, wherein the role indication information is used for indicating the role of the polled STA in the direct link to which the polled STA belongs.

A fourth aspect of the present invention provides an STA comprising:

a receiving module, configured to receive a direct link scheduling indication message sent by an access point AP, where the direct link scheduling indication message includes: identification information of N direct links to be scheduled, wherein N is a positive integer greater than or equal to 1, the STA is any one of STAs to be scheduled of the AP, and the STA to be scheduled is a STA corresponding to the N direct links;

the receiving module is further configured to: receiving a plurality of polling messages sent by the AP and used for polling the STA to be scheduled according to the direct link scheduling indication message, wherein the polling messages comprise: the polling message is used for indicating the polled STA to respectively send pilot messages on K sub-channels by using pilot listening sending power, wherein the K sub-channels are all sub-channels or partial sub-channels of a plurality of sub-channels divided by the widest working channel of the AP, and K is a positive integer greater than or equal to 2;

a sending module, configured to send a test tone message on the K subchannels with a test listening sending power when identification information of a polled STA included in the polling message is identification information of the STA;

an obtaining module, configured to receive, when identification information of a polled STA included in the polling message is identification information of other STAs in STAs to be scheduled, test tone messages sent by the other STAs on the K sub-channels, respectively, and obtain, according to a reception result, channel information of the K sub-channels when the other STAs send the test tone messages on the K sub-channels;

the sending module is further configured to send a listen-on-test result message to the AP after the STAs to be scheduled are all polled, so that the AP allocates, to the STA, sending power for performing direct connection communication according to the listen-on-test result message and allocates scheduling resources to a direct connection link to which the STA belongs, where the listen-on-test result message includes channel information of the K sub-channels when the other STAs send the listen-on-test messages on the K sub-channels, and the scheduling resources of the direct connection link to which the STA belongs include: the modulation and coding scheme MCS used by the STA for direct connection communication on the direct connection link to which the STA belongs and the channel resource of the direct connection link to which the STA belongs;

the receiving module is further configured to receive transmit power information, which is sent by the AP and allocated to the STA for performing direct connection communication, and scheduling resources allocated to a direct connection link to which the STA belongs, and transmit data on the direct connection link to which the STA belongs according to the transmit power information and the scheduling resources of the direct connection link to which the STA belongs.

With reference to the fourth aspect, in a first possible implementation manner of the fourth aspect, when the other STAs send the test tone messages on the K subchannels, the channel information of the K subchannels includes: when the other STAs send the test tone messages on the K sub-channels, the identification of the available channel in the K sub-channels, the receiving power obtained when the STA receives the test tone messages sent by the other STAs on the available channel, and the interference and noise signal intensity information on the available channel.

With reference to the fourth aspect, in a second possible implementation manner of the fourth aspect, when the other STAs send the test tone messages on the K subchannels, the channel information of the K subchannels includes: when the other STAs send the trial messages on the K sub-channels, the identifiers of the available channels in the K sub-channels and the trial listening transmission power margins of the other STAs on the available channels, where the trial listening transmission power margins are adjustment amounts of trial listening transmission power used for sending the trial messages, and the trial listening transmission power margins of the other STAs on the available channels are determined by the STAs according to the received power obtained when the trial listening messages sent by the other STAs are received on the available channels and the interference and noise signal strengths on the available channels.

With reference to the fourth aspect and any one of the first to second possible implementation manners of the fourth aspect, in a third possible implementation manner of the fourth aspect, the obtaining module is specifically configured to:

when the identification information of the polled STA included in the polling message is the identification information of other STAs in the STAs to be scheduled, respectively monitoring signals on the K sub-channels;

if a signal is sensed on a first sub-channel in the K sub-channels and the sensed signal can be decoded, determining that the first sub-channel is an available channel, decoding the sensed signal to obtain a test tone message sent by the other STA, and detecting and recording the receiving power obtained by the STA when the other STA sends the test tone message on the first channel;

and detecting the strength of the interference and noise signals on the available channel, and acquiring the strength information of the interference and noise signals on the available channel.

With reference to the fourth aspect and any one of the first to third possible implementation manners of the fourth aspect, in a fourth possible implementation manner of the fourth aspect, the listen on trial result message sent by the STA further includes: and the trial listening transmission power used by the STA for transmitting the trial message.

With reference to the fourth aspect and any one of the first to fourth possible implementation manners of the fourth aspect, in a fifth possible implementation manner of the fourth aspect, the test tone message includes identification information of an STA that transmits the test tone message, and the identification information of the STA is any one of: the MAC address of the STA, the link identification and the role indication information of the direct link to which the STA belongs, and the serial number and the role indication information of the link identification of the direct link to which the STA belongs in the direct link scheduling indication message.

With reference to the fifth possible implementation manner of the fourth aspect, in a sixth possible implementation manner of the fourth aspect, the test tone message further includes: and the STA sending the test tone message sends the test tone sending power used by the test tone message.

With reference to the fifth or sixth possible implementation manner of the fourth aspect, in a seventh possible implementation manner of the fourth aspect, the test tone message further includes a data amount of data to be sent of an STA that sends the test tone message.

A fifth aspect of the present invention provides an AP, including:

a transmitter, configured to send a direct link scheduling indication message to a station STA to be scheduled, where the direct link scheduling indication message includes: identification information of N direct-connected links to be scheduled, wherein N is a positive integer greater than or equal to 1, and the STA to be scheduled is an STA corresponding to the N direct-connected links;

the transmitter is further configured to sequentially send polling messages to the station STA to be scheduled, where the polling messages include: the polling message is used for indicating the polled STA to respectively send test tone messages on K sub-channels by using trial listening sending power, so that each STA in other non-polled STAs in the STAs to be scheduled respectively receives the test tone messages on the K sub-channels, and obtains channel information of the K sub-channels when the polled STA sends the test tone messages on the K sub-channels according to a receiving result, wherein the K sub-channels are all sub-channels or partial sub-channels of a plurality of sub-channels divided by a widest working channel of the AP, and K is a positive integer greater than or equal to 2;

a receiver, configured to receive listen-on-trial result messages respectively sent by the STAs to be scheduled, where the listen-on-trial result message sent by each STA of the STAs to be scheduled includes: the channel information of the K sub-channels is obtained when other STAs in the STAs to be scheduled send test tone messages on the K sub-channels;

a processor, configured to respectively allocate scheduling resources to the N direct links and allocate transmission power for performing direct connection communication to each STA according to the listen-on-test result message sent by each STA and the obtained data amount of the data to be sent of each STA, where the scheduling resources of each direct link in the N direct links include: a Modulation and Coding Scheme (MCS) used for direct connection communication on the direct connection link and channel resources of the direct connection link;

the transmitter is further configured to send, to each STA, at least scheduling resources of a direct link to which the STA belongs, and sending power information used by the STA for performing direct communication.

With reference to the fifth aspect, in a first possible implementation manner of the fifth aspect, when the other STAs send the test tone messages on the K subchannels, the channel information of the K subchannels includes: when the other STA sends the test tone messages on the K sub-channels, the identification of the available channel in the K sub-channels, the receiving power obtained by the STA when the STA receives the test tone messages sent by the other STA on the available channel, and the interference and noise signal strength information on the available channel;

the processor is specifically configured to: and respectively allocating scheduling resources for the N direct-connection links and allocating transmission power for performing direct-connection communication for each STA according to the identification of an available channel in the K sub-channels when each STA sends the test tone messages on the K channels, the receiving power obtained by each STA when each STA receives the test tone messages sent by other STAs on the available channel, the interference and noise signal intensity information on the available channel, the test listening transmission power used by each STA for sending the test tone messages and the data volume of data to be sent of each STA.

With reference to the fifth aspect, in a second possible implementation manner of the fifth aspect, when the other STAs send the test tone messages on the K subchannels, the channel information of the K subchannels includes: when the other STAs send the trial messages on the K sub-channels, identifiers of available channels in the K sub-channels, and trial listening transmission power margins of the other STAs on the available channels, where the trial listening transmission power margins are adjustment amounts of trial listening transmission power used for sending the trial messages, and the trial listening transmission power margins of the other STAs on the available channels are determined by the STAs according to received power obtained when the trial messages sent by the other STAs are received on the available channels and interference and noise signal strengths on the available channels;

the processor is specifically configured to: and respectively allocating scheduling resources for the N direct-connected links and allocating transmission power for each STA to perform direct-connected communication on the direct-connected link according to the identification of the available channel in the K sub-channels, the trial listening transmission power allowance of other STAs on the available channel and the data volume of data to be transmitted of each STA when each STA transmits the trial tone message on the K channels.

With reference to the fifth aspect and any one of the first to second possible implementation manners of the fifth aspect, in a third possible implementation manner of the fifth aspect, the identification information of each direct connection link is a link identification or a MAC address pair of two STAs corresponding to each direct connection link.

With reference to the fifth aspect and any one of the first to third possible implementation manners of the fifth aspect, in a fourth possible implementation manner of the fifth aspect, the identification information of the polled STA is any one of: the MAC address of the polled STA, the link identification and the role indication information of the direct link to which the polled STA belongs, the sequence number of the link identification of the direct link to which the polled STA belongs in the direct link scheduling indication message and the role indication information, wherein the role indication information is used for indicating the role of the polled STA in the direct link to which the polled STA belongs.

A sixth aspect of the present invention provides a station STA, including:

a receiver, configured to receive a direct link scheduling indication message sent by an access point AP, where the direct link scheduling indication message includes: identification information of N direct links to be scheduled, wherein N is a positive integer greater than or equal to 1, the STA is any one of STAs to be scheduled of the AP, and the STA to be scheduled is a STA corresponding to the N direct links;

the receiver is further configured to receive, according to the direct link scheduling indication message, a plurality of polling messages sent by the AP for polling the STA to be scheduled, where the polling messages include: the polling message is used for indicating the polled STA to respectively send pilot messages on K sub-channels by using pilot listening sending power, wherein the K sub-channels are all sub-channels or partial sub-channels of a plurality of sub-channels divided by the widest working channel of the AP, and K is a positive integer greater than or equal to 2;

a transmitter, configured to send trial messages on the K subchannels with trial listening transmission power, respectively, when identification information of a polled STA included in the polling message is identification information of the STA;

the receiver is further configured to receive, on the K sub-channels, the test tone messages sent by other STAs when the identification information of the polled STA included in the polling message is identification information of other STAs in the STAs to be scheduled;

a processor, configured to obtain channel information of the K subchannels when the other STAs send the test tone messages on the K subchannels according to a reception result of the receiver;

the transmitter is further configured to send a listen-on-test result message to the AP after the STAs to be scheduled are all polled, so that the AP allocates, to the STA, transmission power for performing direct connection communication according to the listen-on-test result message and allocates scheduling resources to a direct connection link to which the STA belongs, where the listen-on-test result message includes channel information of the K sub-channels when the other STAs send the listen-on-test messages on the K sub-channels, and the scheduling resources of the direct connection link to which the STA belongs include: the modulation and coding scheme MCS used by the STA for direct connection communication on the direct connection link to which the STA belongs and the channel resource of the direct connection link to which the STA belongs;

the receiver is further configured to receive, sent by the AP, transmission power information for performing direct connection communication allocated to the STA and scheduling resources allocated to a direct connection link to which the STA belongs;

the processor is further configured to transmit data on the direct link to which the STA belongs according to the transmission power information and scheduling resources of the direct link to which the STA belongs.

With reference to the sixth aspect, in a first possible implementation manner of the sixth aspect, when the other STAs send the test tone messages on the K subchannels, the channel information of the K subchannels includes: when the other STAs send the test tone messages on the K sub-channels, the identification of the available channel in the K sub-channels, the receiving power obtained when the STA receives the test tone messages sent by the other STAs on the available channel, and the interference and noise signal intensity information on the available channel.

With reference to the sixth aspect, in a second possible implementation manner of the sixth aspect, when the other STAs send the test tone messages on the K subchannels, the channel information of the K subchannels includes: when the other STAs send the trial messages on the K sub-channels, the identifiers of the available channels in the K sub-channels and the trial listening transmission power margins of the other STAs on the available channels, where the trial listening transmission power margins are adjustment amounts of trial listening transmission power used for sending the trial messages, and the trial listening transmission power margins of the other STAs on the available channels are determined by the STAs according to the received power obtained when the trial listening messages sent by the other STAs are received on the available channels and the interference and noise signal strengths on the available channels.

With reference to the sixth aspect and any one of the first to second possible implementation manners of the sixth aspect, in a third possible implementation manner of the sixth aspect, the receiver is configured to receive, when the identification information of the polled STA included in the polling message is identification information of other STAs in STAs to be scheduled, test tone messages sent by the other STAs on the K sub-channels respectively, specifically: the receiver is configured to listen to signals on the K sub-channels respectively when identification information of the polled STA included in the polling message is identification information of other STAs in the STAs to be scheduled;

the processor is configured to obtain channel information of the K subchannels when the other STAs send the test tone messages on the K subchannels according to a reception result of the receiver, and specifically, the obtaining of the channel information of the K subchannels includes: the processor is configured to determine that a first sub-channel of the K sub-channels is an available channel if the first sub-channel is monitored for a signal and the monitored signal can be decoded, decode the monitored signal to obtain a test tone message sent by the other STA, and detect and record a reception power obtained by the STA when the other STA sends the test tone message on the first channel;

With reference to the sixth aspect and any one of the first to third possible implementation manners of the sixth aspect, in a fourth possible implementation manner of the sixth aspect, the listen on trial result message sent by the STA further includes: and the trial listening transmission power used by the STA for transmitting the trial message.

With reference to the sixth aspect and any one of the first to fourth possible implementation manners of the sixth aspect, in a fifth possible implementation manner of the sixth aspect, the test tone message includes identification information of an STA that transmits the test tone message, and the identification information of the STA is any one of: the MAC address of the STA, the link identification and the role indication information of the direct link to which the STA belongs, and the serial number and the role indication information of the link identification of the direct link to which the STA belongs in the direct link scheduling indication message.

With reference to the fifth possible implementation manner of the sixth aspect, in a sixth possible implementation manner of the sixth aspect, the test tone message further includes: and the STA sending the test tone message sends the test tone sending power used by the test tone message.

With reference to the fifth or sixth possible implementation manner of the sixth aspect, in a seventh possible implementation manner of the sixth aspect, the test tone message further includes a data amount of data to be sent by an STA that sends the test tone message.

According to the method and the device for performing direct connection communication provided by the embodiment of the invention, an AP sequentially sends polling messages to STAs corresponding to N direct connection links to be scheduled, the polled STAs send test tone messages on K sub-channels with test listening sending power after receiving the polling messages, so that other STAs obtain channel information of the K sub-channels according to the test tone messages sent by the polled STAs, after all the STAs to be scheduled are polled, each STA carries the obtained channel information in the test listening result message to be sent to the AP, and the AP respectively allocates scheduling resources for the N direct connection links and allocates sending power of the direct connection communication for each STA according to the test listening result message reported by each STA and the data volume of data to be sent of each STA. According to the method, the AP allocates the scheduling resources for the direct-connection link in a centralized manner, so that the STA to be scheduled can be prevented from competing for using the channel, and the access efficiency of the STA to be scheduled is improved. In addition, the AP also allocates appropriate sending power of direct connection communication for each STA to be scheduled, and when different direct connection links have a certain distance in the geographical position, wireless signals on the two direct connection links are not mutually covered by controlling the sending power of the direct connection communication of the STA corresponding to the direct connection link, so that frequency resources can be spatially multiplexed, and the utilization rate of the wireless resources is improved.

Drawings

In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the drawings needed to be used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below, and it is obvious that the drawings in the following description are some embodiments of the present invention, and for those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained according to these drawings without creative efforts.

Fig. 1 is a schematic flowchart of a STA communicating using a direct link and a non-direct link;

fig. 2 is a flowchart of a method for performing direct communication according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 3 is a flowchart of a method for performing direct communication according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 4 is a schematic structural diagram of an AP according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 5 is a schematic structural diagram of an STA according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 6 is a schematic structural diagram of an AP according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention

Fig. 7 is a schematic structural diagram of an STA according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description

In order to make the objects, technical solutions and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the drawings in the embodiments of the present invention, and it is obvious that the described embodiments are some, but not all, embodiments of the present invention. All other embodiments, which can be derived by a person skilled in the art from the embodiments given herein without making any creative effort, shall fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a flowchart of a method for performing direct communication according to an embodiment of the present invention, which is described in this embodiment from the perspective of an AP, and it can be understood by those skilled in the art that the AP may be a network side device capable of providing a wireless signal transceiving service for a wireless terminal, and the wireless terminal in this embodiment is collectively referred to as an STA. The wireless signal provided by each AP may cover a certain geographical range, the STA associated to the AP within the geographical range covered by the AP is also referred to as an associated STA of the AP, and the AP and its associated STA form a BSS. As shown in fig. 2, the method provided by this embodiment may include the following steps:

step 101, an AP sends a direct link scheduling indication message to a station STA to be scheduled, where the direct link scheduling indication message includes: and the STA to be scheduled is the STA corresponding to the N direct links.

Before the AP sends the direct link scheduling indication message, N direct links to be scheduled, that is, links between two STAs through which data is directly transmitted through an air interface, are determined, and therefore, each direct link corresponds to two STAs. The STAs corresponding to the N direct links are referred to as STAs to be scheduled, when one STA does not exist in two or more direct links at the same time in the N direct links, there are 2N STAs to be scheduled in total, and when one STA exists in two or more direct links at the same time in the N direct links, the number of the STAs to be scheduled is less than 2N, where N is a positive integer greater than or equal to 1. In this embodiment, the AP may periodically send the direct link scheduling indication information, or may send the direct link scheduling indication information when a preset time point arrives according to a preset time.

And the AP carries the identification information of the direct connection link in the direct connection link scheduling indication message and broadcasts the identification information. After receiving the direct link scheduling indication message sent by the AP, the STA may keep the awake state to perform the relevant steps in embodiment two if the direct link scheduling indication message includes the identification information of the direct link to which the STA belongs, and may enter the sleep state to save power if the direct link scheduling indication message does not include the identification information of the direct link to which the STA belongs. The Link Identifier (LID) of the direct Link may be a value with a limited number of unique bits in the BSS, which is allocated by the AP, for example, a value with 15 bits, and the value with 15 bits is used as the direct Link Identifier, and may actually occupy 16 bits, that is, 2 bytes, in the message. Or the LID may also be a Media Access Control (MAC) address pair of two STAs corresponding to each direct link.

Step 102, the AP sequentially sends Polling messages (Polling frames) to the STAs to be scheduled, where the Polling messages are used to instruct the polled STAs to respectively send pilot messages on K sub-channels at pilot sending power, so that each of other non-polled STAs in the STAs to be scheduled respectively receives the pilot messages on the K sub-channels, and obtains channel information of the K sub-channels when the polled STAs send the pilot messages on the K sub-channels according to the receiving result.

The AP starts an listen Phase (audio Phase) and polls the STAs to be scheduled in turn during the listen Phase, and all STAs to be scheduled listen to the polling message to determine whether they are polled. For each STA, if the identification information of the polled STA included in the polling message is the identification information of the STA, the STA determines that the STA is polled to, the STA sends test tone messages on K sub-channels, if the polled identification information included in the polling message is not the identification information of the STA, the STA determines that the STA is not polled to, and the STA receives the test tone messages sent by the polled STA on the K sub-channels. The K subchannels refer to all or a part of a plurality of subchannels into which the widest operating channel of the AP is divided. For example, if the maximum width of the operating channel of the AP is 80MHz, there may be 4 subchannels of 20MHz, or 8 subchannels of 10 MHz.

Alternatively, the listen trial transmit power may be a maximum transmit power of the STA, a default maximum transmit power, or a maximum transmit power supported by the STA itself. Optionally, the audition transmission power may also be a transmission power preset by the AP, or a power determined by the STA according to the transmission power of the direct connection communication used during the last direct connection link communication, for example, 1.2 times of the transmission power used for the last direct connection communication is used as the audition transmission power for transmitting the audition message this time by the STA.

If the audition transmission power is the default maximum transmission power or the preset transmission power of the AP, all the STAs to be scheduled use the maximum transmission power or the preset transmission power of the AP to transmit the audition message, and at this time, the audition message does not need to contain power indication information of the audition transmission power. If the audition transmission power is the maximum transmission power supported by the STA, or the power determined by the STA according to the transmission power used for performing the direct connection communication last time, the audition transmission power used by each STA may be different, and therefore the polled STA may include the power indication information of the audition transmission power in the audition message.

In this embodiment, the identification information of the polled STA may be any one of the following: the MAC address of the polled STA, the link identification and the role indication information of the direct link to which the polled STA belongs, and the serial number and the role indication information of the link identification of the direct link to which the polled STA belongs in the direct link scheduling indication message are used for indicating the role of the polled STA in the direct link to which the polled STA belongs.

In order to reduce the length of the polling message, the MAC address may uniquely identify an STA, and in this embodiment, link identification and role indication information of the direct link may be used to uniquely identify the STA. Assuming that the link identifier is a 15-bit value allocated by the AP, 1 bit may be additionally used to carry role indication information, for example, an STA initiating establishment of a direct link is taken as a first STA, an opposite STA of the STA initiating establishment of the direct link is referred to as a second STA, the first STA is denoted by 0, and the second STA is denoted by 1, so that the identifier information of the polled STA only occupies 16 bits. In order to further reduce the length of the polling message, in this embodiment, the sequence number and the role indication information of the link identifier of the direct link to which the polled STA belongs in the direct link scheduling indication message may be used. The number of the directly connected links scheduled at one time is limited, for example, 16 directly connected links are scheduled at one time at most, and then the serial number of the link identifier in the directly connected link scheduling indication message can be represented by 4 bits, so that only 5 bits are needed to identify the identifier information of the polled STA, and the length of the polling message is further reduced. Optionally, the test tone message includes identification information of the transmitting STA to indicate a sender of the test tone message, and the identification information of the transmitting STA included in the test tone message may be the same as the identification information of the STA in the polling message in this embodiment, so as to reduce the length of the test tone message, thereby reducing overhead generated when the AP schedules the direct link.

Optionally, the test tone message sent by each STA may further include a data amount of data to be sent by each STA, so as to notify the AP of the data amount of data to be sent by each STA. Of course, the AP may obtain the data amount of the data to be transmitted for each STA through other ways, and the present invention is not described in detail.

In this embodiment, the polled STA sends the test tone message on K sub-channels where the AP operates, so that other STAs obtain channel information of the K sub-channels when the polled STA sends the test tone message on the K sub-channels. The specific transmission mode may be that the STA transmits the test tone message in a copy manner on K subchannels, that is, each subchannel has an entire test tone message, or some part of the test tone message may be transmitted in a copy manner on each subchannel, and other parts of the test tone message are transmitted on an entire channel formed by the K subchannels.

When the polled STAs send the test tone messages, other STAs to be scheduled listen to the test tone messages on the K sub-channels respectively, if a certain STA of the other STAs does not listen to a signal on a first sub-channel of the K sub-channels, the channel is ignored, the first sub-channel is not particularly referred to as the certain sub-channel, and the first sub-signal can be any one of the K sub-channels. If the STA senses a signal on the first sub-channel but cannot decode the sensed signal, the STA determines the first sub-channel as an unavailable channel. If the STA senses a signal on the first sub-channel and can decode the sensed signal, the STA determines that the first sub-channel is an available channel, decodes the sensed signal to obtain a test tone message sent by another STA, and detects and records the received power (i.e., the strength of the signal when the signal is received) obtained by receiving the test tone message. In the process of listening to the test tone message, the STA further detects Interference and Noise signal strengths (INS) on all K sub-channels, and obtains information of the Interference and Noise signal strengths on the available channels, where the Interference and Noise signals refer to background Noise and Interference signals of the channels, and detecting the Interference and Noise signal strengths on the channels is prior art and will not be described herein again. The STA itself wants to avoid a channel having relatively strong interference and noise signal strengths, and the AP allocates a channel having relatively weak interference and noise signal strengths as much as possible when allocating the channel to the STA.

Step 103, the AP receives audition result messages respectively sent by the STAs to be scheduled, where the audition result message sent by each STA of the STAs to be scheduled includes: and other STAs in the STAs to be scheduled transmit the channel information of the K sub-channels when the test tone messages are transmitted on the K sub-channels.

For each STA, when other STAs send test tone messages on K subchannels, the channel information of the K subchannels includes: when other STAs send the test tone messages on the K sub-channels, the identification of the available channel in the K sub-channels, the receiving power obtained by the STA when the STA receives the test tone messages sent by other STAs on the available channel, and the interference and noise signal strength information on the available channel. Alternatively, the channel information includes: when other STAs send the test tone messages on K sub-channels, the identification of the available channels in the K sub-channels and the trial listening transmission power margin of the other STAs on the available channels are determined by the STAs according to the receiving power obtained when the test tone messages sent by the other STAs are received on the available channels and the interference and noise signal intensity on the available channels.

The trial listening of the transmission power margin means that if the transmitting end up-regulates or down-regulates the transmission power used for transmitting the trial message to the amount indicated by the transmission power margin, the receiving end can just hear or just cannot hear the signal of the transmitting end. Specifically, the trial listening transmission power margin may be divided into two quantities, one is an amount indicated by M1 that the trial listening transmission power used by the STA sending the trial listening message is basically adjusted up or down for the STA sending the trial listening message, the STA of the opposite end of the direct link sending the trial listening message still can just listen to the trial listening message sent by the opposite end, and the other is an amount indicated by M2 that the STA of the opposite end of the non-direct link sending the trial listening message is not capable of just listening to the signal of the opposite end of the direct link sending the trial listening message. The term "just" here is actually the value estimated by the STA itself receiving the test tone message, and is not an objective absolute, and therefore, the estimated M1 may be smaller than the actual adjustable amount, and the estimated M2 may be larger than the actual demand amount. The audition transmission power headroom information included in the audition result message transmitted by the STA may be in the following two cases: if the STA sending the listen-on-test result message is the peer-to-peer STA of the direct link to which the STA sending the listen-on-test message belongs, the listen-on-test result message only includes M1 but not M2, and if the STA sending the listen-on-test result message is not the peer-to-peer STA of the direct link to which the STA sending the listen-on-test message belongs, the listen-on-test result message only includes M2 but not M1.

Step 104, the AP allocates scheduling resources to the N direct links and allocates transmission power for performing direct communication to each STA according to the listen-on result message sent by each STA and the obtained data amount of data to be sent of each STA, and sends at least scheduling resources of the direct link to which the STA belongs and transmission power information for performing direct communication to each STA, where the scheduling resources of each direct link in the N direct links include: a Modulation and Coding Scheme (MCS) used for performing direct communication on the direct link and channel resources of the direct link.

For each STA, when the channel information includes: when other STAs send test tone messages on K sub-channels, and when the identification of an available channel in the K sub-channels, the receiving power obtained by the STA when the STA receives the test tone messages sent by the other STAs on the available channel, and interference and noise signal strength information on the available channel, the AP allocates scheduling resources for the N direct-connected links and allocates sending power for performing direct-connected communication to each STA, respectively, according to a test-listening result message sent by each STA and a data amount of data to be sent of each STA, which is obtained in advance, specifically: the AP respectively allocates scheduling resources for N direct-connection links and allocates transmitting power for each STA for direct-connection communication according to the identification of an available channel in K sub-channels, the receiving power obtained by the STA when the STA receives the test tone messages sent by other STAs on the available channel, the interference and noise signal intensity information on the available channel, the trial listening transmitting power used by each STA for sending the test tone messages and the data volume of data to be transmitted of each STA when each STA sends the test tone messages on K channels.

When the channel information includes: when other STAs send pilot messages on K subchannels, and when the identifiers of available channels in the K subchannels and the pilot sending power margins of the other STAs on the available channels are determined, the AP allocates scheduling resources for the N direct-connected links and allocates sending power for performing direct-connected communication to each STA according to the pilot result message sent by each STA and the data volume of data to be sent of each STA, specifically: and the AP respectively allocates scheduling resources for the N direct-connection links and allocates transmission power for each STA for direct-connection communication on the direct-connection link according to the identification of the available channel in the K sub-channels, the trial listening transmission power allowance of other STAs on the available channel and the data volume of data to be transmitted of each STA when each STA transmits the trial tone message on the K channels.

After allocating scheduling resources for the N direct-connection links and allocating transmission power for performing direct-connection communication on the direct-connection link to which the STA belongs to each STA, the AP at least transmits the scheduling resources of the N direct-connection links to which the STA belongs and transmission power information for performing direct-connection communication by the STA to each STA, and the transmission power information for performing direct-connection communication by the STA may be: the transmission power of the STA used for performing direct communication, the index of the transmission power of the STA used for performing direct communication, the information after the transmission power of the STA used for performing direct communication is converted or the audition transmission power margin of the STA on the direct link to which the STA belongs, the audition transmission power margin of the STA on the direct link to which the STA belongs is the adjustment amount of the audition transmission power used by the STA for transmitting the audition message, and the audition transmission power margin of the STA on the direct link to which the STA belongs is used for the STA to determine the transmission power of the STA used for performing direct communication on the direct link to which the STA belongs.

In one implementation, the AP may include scheduling resources of N direct links and transmission power information of direct communication of all STAs to be scheduled corresponding to the N direct links in one message, and send the message to all STAs in a broadcast or multicast manner. In another implementation manner, the AP may send, to each STA, scheduling resources of a direct link to which the STA belongs and transmission power information of direct communication of the STA in a unicast manner, respectively. When the AP transmits scheduling resources of the direct link to which the STA belongs and transmission power information of direct communication of the STA to each STA in a unicast manner, the AP may transmit to Multiple STAs at the same time in a Multi-User communication manner, for example, an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) manner or a Multi-User Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MU-MIMO) manner.

Optionally, the power indication information of the audition transmission power used by each STA to transmit the audition message may be carried in the audition result message transmitted by each STA, and the AP acquires the audition transmission power of each STA to transmit the audition message from the audition result message. If the trial listening transmission power of each STA is preset by the AP or a default maximum transmission power is used, the trial listening result message does not need to carry power indication information of the trial listening transmission power.

The method for acquiring the data volume of the data to be sent of each STA in advance by the AP comprises the following steps: the AP obtains the data amount of the data to be transmitted from the listen-on-test result message sent by each STA, or the AP obtains the data amount of the data to be transmitted from the listen-on-test result message sent by each STA. Certainly, the trial message and the listening result message may not carry the data volume of the data to be sent of the STA, but are obtained by the AP in other manners.

In this embodiment, the scheduling resources allocated by the AP to each direct link include: and the MSC used for the direct connection communication on each direct connection link and the channel resource of each direct connection link. Wherein, the MCS specifies the transmission rate of the STA, and the channel resource may be one or more sub-channels, and each sub-channel corresponds to a segment of frequency. The channel resources may further include time period information, for example, the same channel may be allocated to multiple direct-connected links to transmit data, and the time of each direct-connected link transmitting data on the same channel needs to be staggered, so that the AP may include, in the scheduling resources, the time when each direct-connected link occupies the channel. In short, the AP may arrange each direct link to transmit on a suitable spectrum resource, and may also arrange some or all of the direct links to transmit in a time division manner. The AP distributes scheduling resources for the direct-connection link in a centralized manner, so that the STA to be scheduled can be prevented from competing for using a channel, and the access efficiency of the STA to be scheduled is improved. In addition, in this embodiment, appropriate transmission power for performing direct connection communication is also allocated to each STA to be scheduled, and when different direct connection links have a certain distance in a geographic position, wireless signals on the two direct connection links are not covered by controlling the transmission power for performing direct connection communication of the STA to be scheduled, so that frequency resources can be spatially multiplexed, and the utilization rate of the wireless resources is improved.

Any scheme may be adopted by the AP to allocate scheduling resources to each direct link and allocate transmit power of direct communication to each STA according to the information reported by the STA, which is not limited in this embodiment. For example, the AP may allocate a pre-allocated MCS to the STA according to the data amount of the data to be sent of the STA on each direct link to be scheduled. Then, the AP calculates, according to the reception power of the available channel reported by each STA and the listen-on transmission power of each STA, a pre-allocated transmission power for performing direct communication, which is required by each STA to successfully transmit a message to an opposite end through a direct link, according to a preset algorithm, and the pre-allocated transmission power for performing direct communication is the minimum transmission power for successfully transmitting a message. For example, assuming that the trial-listening transmission power used when the first STA transmits the trial-listening message is 17dBm, the reception power of the first STA receiving the trial-listening message transmitted by the first STA on the subchannel 1 is-50 dBm, and if the reception sensitivity of the second STA is-85 dB, it is known that the first STA does not need to transmit the subsequent message using the trial-listening transmission power of 17dBm, the AP may appropriately reduce the trial-listening transmission power of the first STA so that the signal strength of the data transmitted by the first STA may be above-85 dBm when the signal reaches the second STA. It should be noted that the transmission power used by the first STA for the direct communication is also related to the data transmission rate, and the AP needs to consider the data transmission rate when allocating the transmission power for the direct communication for the first STA, which is not described in detail here. Interference and noise signal strength on the channel can also be considered in the allocation process, and the transmission power of the pre-allocated direct communication of the STA is appropriately increased to overcome the interference and the noise.

Or, the AP may allocate a pre-allocated MCS to each STA according to the data amount of the data to be sent of the STA on each direct link to be scheduled, and then, for each STA, the AP determines the audition sending power margin of the STA on the direct link to which the STA belongs according to the audition sending power margin of other STAs on available channels reported by other STAs. Specifically, for each STA, the AP comprehensively determines the audition transmission power margin of the STA on the direct link to which the STA belongs according to the audition transmission power margin M1 of the STA on other channels, the audition transmission power margin M2 of other STAs on other channels, which are reported by the STA on the opposite end of the direct link to which the STA belongs, and the scheduling resource allocation scheme. Generally, the trial listening transmission power margin of the STA on the direct link to which the STA belongs is smaller than the trial listening transmission power margin M1 reported by the STA on the opposite end of the direct link to which the STA belongs, and meanwhile, the trial listening transmission power margin of the STA on the direct link to which the STA belongs meets the following conditions: after the trial listening transmission power of the STA is adjusted downward to adjust the trial listening transmission power margin of the STA on the direct link to which the STA belongs, one of other STAs just cannot listen to the signal of the STA, and then the data transmitted by the STA does not interfere with the STA which cannot listen to the signal of the STA, so that the direct link to which the STA belongs may use the same channel resource as the direct link to which the STA which cannot listen to the signal of the STA belongs, and otherwise, they should use different channel resources.

The AP further sends, to each STA, at least scheduling resources of a direct link to which the STA belongs and a listen-on transmit power margin of the STA on the direct link to which the STA belongs, so that the STA determines, according to the listen-on transmit power margin of the STA on the direct link to which the STA belongs, transmit power used for performing direct communication on the direct link to which the STA belongs, and specifically, the STA may subtract the listen-on transmit power margin of the STA on the direct link to which the STA belongs from the listen-on transmit power to obtain transmit power used for performing direct communication on the direct link to which the STA belongs. If the AP knows the audition transmission power of each STA on the direct link to which the STA belongs, the transmission power of each STA subsequently used for performing direct communication on the direct link to which the STA belongs may be calculated according to the audition transmission power of each STA and the audition transmission power of each STA on the direct link to which the STA belongs.

When the channel resource of the direct link is a frequency resource, when the AP allocates a pre-allocated frequency resource to one direct link, it needs to determine, according to the listen-in test result messages reported by two STAs corresponding to the direct link, that the pre-allocated frequency resource allocated to the direct link is a frequency resource available to both STAs, and the frequency resource available to both STAs is determined according to available sub-channels reported by both STAs. The AP also predicts a signal coverage overlap condition according to the pre-allocated transmission power for performing direct connection communication of the STA corresponding to each direct connection link, and allocates pre-allocated channel resources to the STA corresponding to each direct connection link. If the signals of the two direct-connected links are overlapped, the pre-allocated frequency resources allocated to the two direct-connected links are not overlapped, and otherwise, the pre-allocated frequency resources allocated to the two direct-connected links are overlapped. Or when the signals of two direct-connected links are overlapped, the two direct-connected links are allocated with the same frequency resource and are allocated with different pre-allocated time resources.

Because each STA to be scheduled sequentially and independently sends a test tone message in the audition stage, but each direct-connected link simultaneously sends data in the subsequent transmission stage, the communication environments of each STA to be scheduled in the audition stage and the transmission stage are different. Therefore, the AP may use the pre-allocated scheduling resources and the pre-allocated transmit power for performing direct connection communication to simulate an actual communication process at a transmission stage, and determine whether each STA to be scheduled can normally communicate in the pre-allocation scheme according to a simulation result. If the STAs to be scheduled cannot normally communicate in the pre-allocation scheme, the pre-allocated scheduling resources, the pre-allocated transmission power for performing direct connection communication, or the transmission power margin for trial listening need to be adjusted, and specifically, the AP adjusts the pre-allocated channel resources, the pre-allocated transmission power for performing direct connection communication, or the transmission power margin for trial listening according to the interference and noise signal intensities on the K sub-channels and the reception power on the K sub-channels in the simulated actual communication process. The AP may also adjust the pre-allocation MCS, and cut the data amount of the data to be transmitted by the STA, and the AP may finally select a better pre-allocation scheme as the actual allocation scheme through multiple iterations.

Optionally, each scheduled STA may send a listen-on-trial result message to the AP in an OFDMA manner, so as to improve efficiency. Of course, each STA may also send the listen-on-test result message to the AP in other manners, which is not limited in the present invention.

In the method of this embodiment, an AP sequentially sends polling messages to STAs corresponding to N direct-connected links to be scheduled, the polled STAs respectively send pilot messages on K sub-channels with pilot transmission power after receiving the polling messages, so that other STAs obtain channel information of each channel according to the pilot messages sent by the polled STAs, after all the STAs to be scheduled are polled, each STA carries the obtained channel information in a pilot result message and sends the pilot result message to the AP, the AP respectively allocates scheduling resources to the N direct-connected links according to the channel information reported by each STA, and allocates transmission power for performing direct-connected communication to each STA. In this embodiment, the AP allocates scheduling resources to the direct link in a centralized manner, so that STAs to be scheduled can be prevented from competing for using a channel, and the access efficiency of the STAs to be scheduled is improved. In addition, the AP allocates appropriate transmission power for performing direct connection communication to each STA to be scheduled, and when different direct connection links have a certain distance in a geographical position, wireless signals on the two direct connection links are not overlapped with each other by controlling the transmission power of the direct connection communication of the STA corresponding to the direct connection link, so that frequency resources can be spatially multiplexed, and the utilization rate of the wireless resources is improved.

Fig. 3 is a flowchart of a method for performing direct connection communication according to a second embodiment of the present invention, which is described from an STA perspective in this embodiment, and as shown in fig. 3, the method according to this embodiment may include the following steps:

step 201, the STA receives a direct link scheduling indication message sent by the AP, where the direct link scheduling indication message includes: and identification information of N direct links to be scheduled.

The method comprises the steps that N is a positive integer larger than or equal to 1, the STA is any one of STAs to be scheduled of the AP, the STAs to be scheduled are the STAs corresponding to the N direct-connection links, the STA receives direct-connection link scheduling indication messages sent by the AP at appointed time, and identification information of each direct-connection link is a link identification or MAC address pairs of two STAs corresponding to each direct-connection link.

Step 202, the STA receives multiple polling messages sent by the AP for polling STAs to be scheduled according to the direct link scheduling indication message, where the polling messages include: identification information of the polled STA.

The AP polls all scheduled STAs according to a certain sequence, and when polling each STA, the AP sends a polling message, wherein the polling message comprises identification information of the polled STAs, the polling message is used for indicating the polled STAs to send test tone messages on K sub-channels by using the test listening sending power, and the identification information of the polled STAs is any one of the following information: the MAC address of the polled STA, the link identification and the role indication information of the direct link to which the polled STA belongs, and the sequence number and the role indication information of the link identification of the direct link to which the polled STA belongs in the direct link scheduling indication message.

Step 203, the STA determines whether the identification information of the polled STA included in the polling message is its own identification information.

When the identification information of the polled STA included in the polling message is the own identification information, step 204 is executed, and when the identification information of the polled STA included in the polled message is not the own identification information, that is, the identification information of the polled STA included in the polled message is the identification information of other STAs, step 205 is executed.

Step 204, the STA transmits the pilot message on the K subchannels with the pilot transmission power.

Optionally, in this embodiment, the test tone message sent by each STA includes identification information of the STA sending the test tone message. Optionally, the test tone message sent by each STA further includes: and the STA sending the test tone message sends power indication information of the test listening transmission power used by the test tone message. Optionally, the test tone message sent by each STA includes a data amount of data to be sent by the STA. Step 206 is performed after step 204 is performed.

Step 205, the STA receives the test tone messages sent by other STAs on K sub-channels, respectively, and obtains the channel information of the K sub-channels when the other STAs send the test tone messages on the K sub-channels according to the receiving result.

Wherein, when other STAs send the test tone messages on the K subchannels, the channel information of the K subchannels includes: when other STAs transmit the test tone messages on the K sub-channels, the identities of the available channels in the K sub-channels, the received powers obtained by the STA when receiving the test tone messages transmitted by other STAs on the available channels, and the interference and noise signal strength information on the available channels. Or, when the other STA sends the test tone message on the K sub-channels, the identifier of the available channel in the K sub-channels, and the trial listening transmission power margin of the other STA on the available channel, where the trial listening transmission power margin is an adjustment amount of trial listening transmission power used for sending the test tone message, and the trial listening transmission power margin of the other STA on the available channel is determined by the STA according to the received power obtained when the test tone message sent by the other STA is received on the available channel and the interference and noise signal strength on the available channel.

Specifically, the STA listens to signals on K sub-channels respectively, and if the STA listens to a signal on a first sub-channel of the K sub-channels but cannot decode the listened signal, the STA determines that the first sub-channel is an unavailable channel; if the STA senses the signal on the first sub-channel and can decode the sensed signal, the STA determines that the first sub-channel is an available channel, decodes the sensed signal to obtain a test tone message sent by other STAs, and detects and records the receiving power of the STA when the other STAs send the test tone message on the first sub-channel. And the STA detects the interference and noise signal intensity on the available channel in the listening process and acquires the interference and noise signal intensity information on the available channel. The specific implementation of this step may refer to the description related to the first embodiment, and is not described here again.

Step 206 is performed after step 205 is performed.

Step 206, after the STAs to be scheduled are polled, the STA sends a listen-on-trial result message to the AP, so that the AP allocates a transmission power for performing direct connection communication to the STA according to the listen-on-trial result message and allocates scheduling resources to a direct connection link to which the STA belongs.

The scheduling resources of the direct link to which the STA belongs include: and the STA performs MCS used by the direct connection communication on the direct connection link to which the STA belongs and channel resources of the direct connection link to which the STA belongs. The audition result information includes channel information of the K sub-channels when the other STAs send the test tone messages on the K sub-channels. Optionally, the audition result message further includes: and the STA sends power indication information of the audition sending power used by the audition message.

Step 207, the STA receives the transmission power information for performing direct connection communication allocated to the STA and the scheduling resource allocated to the direct connection link to which the STA belongs, which are transmitted by the AP, and transmits data on the direct connection link to which the STA belongs according to the transmission power information and the scheduling resource of the direct connection link to which the STA belongs.

After receiving the audition result message sent by the STA to be scheduled, the AP allocates scheduling resources for the N direct-connection links and allocates transmission power for performing direct-connection communication to each STA according to the audition result message sent by each STA and the data amount of data to be sent of each STA, and sends at least the scheduling resources of the direct-connection link to which the STA belongs and transmission power information for performing direct-connection communication to the STA. The transmission power information may specifically be transmission power, an index of the transmission power, information obtained after transmission power conversion, or a transmission power margin audited by the STA on the direct link to which the STA belongs. And when the transmission power information is the index of the transmission power or the information after the transmission power conversion, the STA obtains the transmission power for performing the direct communication according to the index of the transmission power or the information after the transmission power conversion. And when the sending power information is the audition sending power allowance of the STA on the affiliated direct connection link, the STA obtains the sending power for performing direct connection communication according to the audition sending power and the audition sending power allowance of the STA on the affiliated direct connection link.

In the method of this embodiment, an STA receives multiple polling messages sent by an AP for polling STAs to be scheduled, and if the polling messages include identification information of the STA, the STA sends pilot messages on K sub-channels with pilot transmission power, so that other STAs obtain channel information of each sub-channel according to the pilot messages sent by the polled STA, after all the STAs to be scheduled are polled, each STA carries the obtained channel information in a pilot result message and sends the pilot result message to the AP, and the AP allocates scheduling resources to N direct-connected links and allocates transmission power for performing direct-connected communication to each STA according to channel quality information reported by each STA. In this embodiment, the AP allocates scheduling resources to the direct link in a centralized manner, so that STAs to be scheduled can be prevented from competing for using a channel, and the access efficiency of the STAs to be scheduled is improved. In addition, the AP also allocates appropriate sending power of direct connection communication for each STA to be scheduled, and when different direct connection links have a certain distance in the geographical position, wireless signals on the two direct connection links are not mutually covered by controlling the sending power of the direct connection communication of the STA corresponding to the direct connection link, so that frequency resources can be spatially multiplexed, and the utilization rate of the wireless resources is improved.

Fig. 4 is a schematic structural diagram of an AP according to a third embodiment of the present invention, and as shown in fig. 4, the AP according to the third embodiment includes: a sending module 11, a receiving module 12 and an assigning module 13.

The sending module 11 is configured to send a direct link scheduling indication message to an STA to be scheduled, where the direct link scheduling indication message includes: identification information of N direct-connected links to be scheduled, wherein N is a positive integer greater than or equal to 1, and the STA to be scheduled is an STA corresponding to the N direct-connected links;

the sending module 11 is further configured to send polling messages to the station STA to be scheduled in sequence, where the polling messages include: the polling message is used for indicating the polled STA to respectively send test tone messages on K sub-channels by using trial listening sending power, so that each STA in other non-polled STAs in the STAs to be scheduled respectively receives the test tone messages on the K sub-channels, and obtains channel information of the K sub-channels when the polled STA sends the test tone messages on the K sub-channels according to a receiving result, wherein the K sub-channels are all sub-channels or partial sub-channels of a plurality of sub-channels divided by a widest working channel of the AP, and K is a positive integer greater than or equal to 2;

a receiving module 12, configured to receive listen on trial result messages respectively sent by the STAs to be scheduled, where the listen on trial result message sent by each STA in the STAs to be scheduled includes: the channel information of the K sub-channels is obtained when other STAs in the STAs to be scheduled send test tone messages on the K sub-channels;

an allocating module 13, configured to allocate scheduling resources to the N direct links and allocate transmission power for performing direct connection communication to each STA according to the listen-on-test result message sent by each STA and the pre-obtained data amount of the data to be sent of each STA, where the scheduling resources of each direct link in the N direct links include: a Modulation and Coding Scheme (MCS) used for direct connection communication on the direct connection link and channel resources of the direct connection link;

the sending module 11 is further configured to send, to each STA, at least scheduling resources of a direct link to which the STA belongs, and sending power information used by the STA for performing direct connection communication.

Optionally, when the other STAs send the test tone messages on the K subchannels, the channel information of the K subchannels includes: when the other STAs send the test tone messages on the K sub-channels, the identification of the available channel in the K sub-channels, the receiving power obtained by the STAs when the STAs receive the test tone messages sent by the other STAs on the available channel, and the interference and noise signal strength information on the available channel. Correspondingly, the allocating module 13 is specifically configured to: and respectively allocating scheduling resources for the N direct-connection links and allocating transmission power for performing direct-connection communication for each STA according to the identification of an available channel in the K sub-channels when each STA sends the test tone messages on the K channels, the receiving power obtained by each STA when each STA receives the test tone messages sent by other STAs on the available channel, the interference and noise signal intensity information on the available channel, the test listening transmission power used by each STA for sending the test tone messages and the data volume of data to be sent of each STA.

Optionally, when the other STAs send the test tone messages on the K subchannels, the channel information of the K subchannels includes: and when the other STAs send the trial messages on the K sub-channels, the identifiers of the available channels in the K sub-channels and the trial listening sending power allowance of the other STAs on the available channels, wherein the trial listening sending power allowance is the adjustment quantity of the trial listening sending power used for sending the trial messages. Correspondingly, the allocating module 13 is specifically configured to: and respectively allocating scheduling resources for the N direct-connected links and calculating the trial listening transmission power margin on the direct-connected link for each STA according to the identification of the available channel in the K sub-channels, the trial listening transmission power margins of other STAs on the available channel and the data volume of the data to be transmitted of each STA when each STA sends the trial listening messages on the K channels.

The transmission power information for each STA to perform direct communication sent by the sending module 11 includes any one of the following: the sending power of the STA used for carrying out direct connection communication, the index of the sending power of the STA used for carrying out direct connection communication, the information after the sending power of the STA used for carrying out direct connection communication is converted, or the audition sending power margin of the STA on the direct connection link.

Optionally, the identification information of each direct connection link is a link identification or a MAC address pair of two STAs corresponding to each direct connection link.

In this embodiment, the identification information of the polled STA is any one of the following: the MAC address of the polled STA, the link identification and the role indication information of the direct link to which the polled STA belongs, the sequence number of the link identification of the direct link to which the polled STA belongs in the direct link scheduling indication message and the role indication information, wherein the role indication information is used for indicating the role of the polled STA in the direct link to which the polled STA belongs.

The AP of this embodiment may be configured to execute the method of the first embodiment, and the specific implementation manner and the technical effect are similar, which are not described herein again.

Fig. 5 is a schematic structural diagram of an STA according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention, and as shown in fig. 5, the STA according to the present embodiment includes: a receiving module 21, a sending module 22 and an obtaining module 23.

The receiving module 21 is configured to receive a direct link scheduling indication message sent by an AP, where the direct link scheduling indication message includes: identification information of N direct links to be scheduled, wherein N is a positive integer greater than or equal to 1, the STA is any one of STAs to be scheduled of the AP, and the STA to be scheduled is a STA corresponding to the N direct links;

the receiving module 21 is further configured to: receiving a plurality of polling messages sent by the AP and used for polling the STA to be scheduled according to the direct link scheduling indication message, wherein the polling messages comprise: the polling message is used for indicating the polled STA to respectively send pilot messages on K sub-channels by using pilot listening sending power, wherein the K sub-channels are all sub-channels or partial sub-channels of a plurality of sub-channels divided by the widest working channel of the AP, and K is a positive integer greater than or equal to 2;

a sending module 22, configured to send a test tone message on the K sub-channels with a test listening sending power when the identification information of the polled STA included in the polling message is the identification information of the STA;

an obtaining module 23, configured to receive, when identification information of a polled STA included in the polling message is identification information of other STAs in STAs to be scheduled, test tone messages sent by the other STAs on the K sub-channels, respectively, and obtain, according to a receiving result, channel information of the K sub-channels when the other STAs send the test tone messages on the K sub-channels;

the sending module 22 is further configured to send a listen-on-test result message to the AP after the STAs to be scheduled are all polled, so that the AP allocates, according to the listen-on-test result message, sending power for performing direct connection communication to the STA and allocates scheduling resources to a direct connection link to which the STA belongs, where the listen-on-test result message includes channel information of the K sub-channels when the other STAs send the listen-on-test messages on the K sub-channels, and the scheduling resources of the direct connection link to which the STA belongs include: the modulation and coding scheme MCS used by the STA for direct connection communication on the direct connection link to which the STA belongs and the channel resource of the direct connection link to which the STA belongs;

the receiving module 21 is further configured to receive sending power information, which is sent by the AP and allocated to the STA for performing direct connection communication, and scheduling resources allocated to the direct connection link to which the STA belongs, and transmit data on the direct connection link to which the STA belongs according to the sending power information and the scheduling resources of the direct connection link to which the STA belongs.

Optionally, when the other STAs send the test tone messages on the K subchannels, the channel information of the K subchannels includes: when the other STAs send the test tone messages on the K sub-channels, the identification of the available channel in the K sub-channels, the receiving power obtained when the STA receives the test tone messages sent by the other STAs on the available channel, and the interference and noise signal intensity information on the available channel.

Optionally, when the other STAs send the test tone messages on the K subchannels, the channel information of the K subchannels includes: when the other STAs send the test tone messages on the K subchannels, the channel information of the K subchannels includes: and when the other STAs send the trial messages on the K sub-channels, the identifiers of the available channels in the K sub-channels and the trial listening sending power allowance of the other STAs on the available channels, wherein the trial listening sending power allowance is the adjustment quantity of the trial listening sending power used for sending the trial messages.

Optionally, the transmission power information allocated by the AP to the STA for performing direct communication includes any one of the following: the sending power used for carrying out the direct connection communication, the index of the sending power used for carrying out the direct connection communication, the information after the sending power used for carrying out the direct connection communication is converted, or the sending power margin of the STA on the direct connection link to which the STA belongs is audited.

In this embodiment, the obtaining module 23 is specifically configured to: when the identification information of the polled STA included in the polling message is the identification information of other STAs in the STAs to be scheduled, respectively monitoring signals on the K sub-channels; if a signal is sensed on a first sub-channel in the K sub-channels and the sensed signal can be decoded, determining that the first sub-channel is an available channel, decoding the sensed signal to obtain a test tone message sent by the other STA, and detecting and recording the receiving power obtained by the STA when the other STA sends the test tone message on the first channel; and detecting the strength of the interference and noise signals on the available channel, and acquiring the strength information of the interference and noise signals on the available channel.

Optionally, the listen on trial result message sent by the STA further includes: and the trial listening transmission power used by the STA for transmitting the trial message.

Optionally, the test tone message includes identification information of an STA that sends the test tone message, where the identification information of the STA is any one of: the MAC address of the STA, the link identification and the role indication information of the direct link to which the STA belongs, and the serial number and the role indication information of the link identification of the direct link to which the STA belongs in the direct link scheduling indication message.

Optionally, the test tone message further includes: and the STA sending the test tone message sends the test tone sending power used by the test tone message.

Optionally, the test tone message further includes a data amount of data to be sent of the STA sending the test tone message.

The STA of this embodiment may be configured to execute the method of the second embodiment, and the specific implementation manner and the technical effect are similar, which are not described herein again.

Fig. 6 is a schematic structural diagram of an AP according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention, and as shown in fig. 6, an AP300 according to the present embodiment includes: a transmitter 31, a receiver 32, a processor 33 and a memory 34, wherein the transmitter 31, the receiver 32 and the memory 34 are connected with the processor 33 through a system bus and communicate; the memory 34 for storing computer-executable instructions; the processor 33 is configured to execute the computer-executable instructions to perform the method as follows:

the transmitter 31 is configured to send a direct link scheduling indication message to an STA to be scheduled, where the direct link scheduling indication message includes: identification information of N direct-connected links to be scheduled, wherein N is a positive integer greater than or equal to 1, and the STA to be scheduled is an STA corresponding to the N direct-connected links;

the transmitter 31 is further configured to sequentially send polling messages to the stations STA to be scheduled, where the polling messages include: the polling message is used for indicating the polled STA to respectively send test tone messages on K sub-channels by using trial listening sending power, so that each STA in other non-polled STAs in the STAs to be scheduled respectively receives the test tone messages on the K sub-channels, and obtains channel information of the K sub-channels when the polled STA sends the test tone messages on the K sub-channels according to a receiving result, wherein the K sub-channels are all sub-channels or partial sub-channels of a plurality of sub-channels divided by a widest working channel of the AP, and K is a positive integer greater than or equal to 2;

the receiver 32 is configured to receive listen on trial result messages respectively sent by the STAs to be scheduled, where the listen on trial result message sent by each STA of the STAs to be scheduled includes: the channel information of the K sub-channels is obtained when other STAs in the STAs to be scheduled send test tone messages on the K sub-channels;

the processor 33 is further configured to respectively allocate scheduling resources to the N direct links and allocate transmission power for performing direct connection communication to each STA according to the listen-on-test result message sent by each STA and the pre-obtained data amount of the data to be sent of each STA, where the scheduling resources of each direct link in the N direct links include: a Modulation and Coding Scheme (MCS) used for direct connection communication on the direct connection link and channel resources of the direct connection link;

the transmitter 31 is further configured to send, to each STA, at least scheduling resources of a direct link to which the STA belongs, and sending power information used by the STA for performing direct connection communication.

Optionally, when the other STAs send the test tone messages on the K subchannels, the channel information of the K subchannels includes: when the other STAs send the test tone messages on the K sub-channels, the identification of the available channel in the K sub-channels, the receiving power obtained by the STAs when the STAs receive the test tone messages sent by the other STAs on the available channel, and the interference and noise signal strength information on the available channel. Accordingly, the processor 33 is specifically configured to: and respectively allocating scheduling resources for the N direct-connection links and allocating transmission power for performing direct-connection communication for each STA according to the identification of an available channel in the K sub-channels when each STA sends the test tone messages on the K channels, the receiving power obtained by each STA when each STA receives the test tone messages sent by other STAs on the available channel, the interference and noise signal intensity information on the available channel, the test listening transmission power used by each STA for sending the test tone messages and the data volume of data to be sent of each STA.

Optionally, when the other STAs send the test tone messages on the K subchannels, the channel information of the K subchannels includes: and when the other STAs send the trial messages on the K sub-channels, the identifiers of the available channels in the K sub-channels and the trial listening sending power allowance of the other STAs on the available channels, wherein the trial listening sending power allowance is the adjustment quantity of the trial listening sending power used for sending the trial messages. Accordingly, the processor 33 is specifically configured to: and respectively allocating scheduling resources for the N direct-connected links and allocating transmission power for each STA to perform direct-connected communication on the direct-connected link according to the identification of the available channel in the K sub-channels, the trial listening transmission power allowance of other STAs on the available channel and the data volume of data to be transmitted of each STA when each STA transmits the trial tone message on the K channels.

The transmission power information of each STA on the direct link to which the STA belongs, sent by the transmitter 31, may include any one of the following information: the sending power of the STA used for carrying out direct connection communication, the index of the sending power of the STA used for carrying out direct connection communication, the information after the sending power of the STA used for carrying out direct connection communication is converted, or the audition sending power margin of the STA on the direct connection link.

Optionally, the identification information of the polled STA is any one of: the MAC address of the polled STA, the link identification and the role indication information of the direct link to which the polled STA belongs, the sequence number of the link identification of the direct link to which the polled STA belongs in the direct link scheduling indication message and the role indication information, wherein the role indication information is used for indicating the role of the polled STA in the direct link to which the polled STA belongs.

Fig. 7 is a schematic structural diagram of an STA according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention, and as shown in fig. 7, an STA400 according to this embodiment includes: a transmitter 41, a receiver 42, a processor 43 and a memory 44, wherein the transmitter 41, the receiver 42 and the memory 44 are connected with the processor 43 through a system bus and communicate; the memory 44 for storing computer-executable instructions; the processor 43 is configured to execute the computer-executable instructions to perform the method as follows:

the receiver 42 is configured to receive a direct link scheduling indication message sent by an AP, where the direct link scheduling indication message includes: identification information of N direct links to be scheduled, wherein N is a positive integer greater than or equal to 1, the STA is any one of STAs to be scheduled of the AP, and the STA to be scheduled is a STA corresponding to the N direct links;

the receiver 42 is further configured to receive, according to the direct link scheduling indication message, a plurality of polling messages sent by the AP for polling the STA to be scheduled, where the polling messages include: the polling message is used for indicating the polled STA to respectively send pilot messages on K sub-channels by using pilot listening sending power, wherein the K sub-channels are all sub-channels or partial sub-channels of a plurality of sub-channels divided by the widest working channel of the AP, and K is a positive integer greater than or equal to 2;

the transmitter 41 is configured to transmit a pilot message on the K subchannels with pilot transmission power when the identification information of the polled STA included in the polling message is the identification information of the STA;

the receiver 42 is further configured to receive, when the identification information of the polled STA included in the polling message is identification information of other STAs in the STAs to be scheduled, test tone messages sent by the other STAs on the K sub-channels respectively;

the processor 43 is configured to obtain channel information of the K sub-channels when the other STAs send the test tone messages on the K sub-channels according to the receiving result of the receiver 42;

the transmitter 41 is further configured to send a listen-on-test result message to the AP after the STAs to be scheduled are all polled, so that the AP allocates, according to the listen-on-test result message, transmission power for performing direct connection communication to the STA and allocates scheduling resources to a direct connection link to which the STA belongs, where the listen-on-test result message includes channel information of the K sub-channels when the other STAs send the listen-on-test messages on the K sub-channels, and the scheduling resources of the direct connection link to which the STA belongs include: the modulation and coding scheme MCS used by the STA for direct connection communication on the direct connection link to which the STA belongs and the channel resource of the direct connection link to which the STA belongs;

the receiver 42 is further configured to receive, sent by the AP, transmission power information for performing direct connection communication allocated to the STA and scheduling resources allocated to a direct connection link to which the STA belongs;

the processor 43 is further configured to transmit data on the direct link to which the STA belongs according to the transmission power information and scheduling resources of the direct link to which the STA belongs.

In this embodiment, the receiver 42 is configured to receive, when the identification information of the polled STA included in the polling message is identification information of other STAs in STAs to be scheduled, the test tone messages sent by the other STAs on the K sub-channels respectively, specifically: the receiver 42 is configured to listen to signals on the K sub-channels respectively when the identification information of the polled STA included in the polling message is identification information of other STAs in the STAs to be scheduled; the processor 43 is configured to obtain, according to the receiving result of the receiver, channel information of the K subchannels when the other STAs send the test tone messages on the K subchannels, specifically: the processor 43 is configured to determine that a first sub-channel of the K sub-channels is an available channel if the first sub-channel is monitored for a signal and the monitored signal can be decoded, decode the monitored signal to obtain a test tone message sent by the other STA, and detect and record a receiving power obtained by the STA when the other STA sends the test tone message on the first channel; and detecting the strength of the interference and noise signals on the available channel, and acquiring the strength information of the interference and noise signals on the available channel.

Those of ordinary skill in the art will understand that: all or part of the steps for implementing the method embodiments may be implemented by hardware related to program instructions, and the program may be stored in a computer readable storage medium, and when executed, the program performs the steps including the method embodiments; and the aforementioned storage medium includes: various media that can store program codes, such as ROM, RAM, magnetic or optical disks.

Finally, it should be noted that: the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solution of the present invention, and not to limit the same; while the invention has been described in detail and with reference to the foregoing embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that: the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments may still be modified, or some or all of the technical features may be equivalently replaced; and the modifications or the substitutions do not make the essence of the corresponding technical solutions depart from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

1. A method for direct communication, comprising:

an Access Point (AP) sends a direct link scheduling indication message to a Station (STA) to be scheduled, wherein the direct link scheduling indication message comprises: identification information of N direct-connected links to be scheduled, wherein N is a positive integer greater than or equal to 1, and the STA to be scheduled is an STA corresponding to the N direct-connected links;

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the channel information of the K subchannels when the other STAs send the test tone messages on the K subchannels comprises: when the other STA sends the test tone messages on the K sub-channels, the identification of the available channel in the K sub-channels, the receiving power obtained by the STA when the STA receives the test tone messages sent by the other STA on the available channel, and the interference and noise signal strength information on the available channel;

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the channel information of the K subchannels when the other STAs send the test tone messages on the K subchannels comprises: when the other STAs send the trial messages on the K sub-channels, identifiers of available channels in the K sub-channels, and trial listening transmission power margins of the other STAs on the available channels, where the trial listening transmission power margins are adjustment amounts of trial listening transmission power used for sending the trial messages, and the trial listening transmission power margins of the other STAs on the available channels are determined by each STA of the STAs to be scheduled according to reception power obtained when the trial messages sent by the other STAs are received on the available channels and interference and noise signal strengths on the available channels;

4. The method according to any of claims 1-3, wherein the identification information of each direct link is a link identification or a MAC address pair of two STAs corresponding to each direct link.

5. The method according to any of claims 1-3, wherein the identification information of the polled STA is any one of: the MAC address of the polled STA, the link identification and the role indication information of the direct link to which the polled STA belongs, the sequence number of the link identification of the direct link to which the polled STA belongs in the direct link scheduling indication message and the role indication information, wherein the role indication information is used for indicating the role of the polled STA in the direct link to which the polled STA belongs.

6. A method for direct communication, comprising:

a station STA receives a direct link scheduling indication message sent by an access point AP, wherein the direct link scheduling indication message comprises: identification information of N direct links to be scheduled, wherein N is a positive integer greater than or equal to 1, the STA is any one of STAs to be scheduled of the AP, and the STA to be scheduled is a STA corresponding to the N direct links;

when the identification information of the polled STA, which is included in the polling message, is the identification information of the STA, the STA respectively sends test tone messages on the K sub-channels by using the audition sending power;

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the channel information of the K sub-channels when the other STAs send the test tone messages on the K sub-channels comprises: when the other STAs send the test tone messages on the K sub-channels, the identification of the available channel in the K sub-channels, the receiving power obtained when the STA receives the test tone messages sent by the other STAs on the available channel, and the interference and noise signal intensity information on the available channel.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the channel information of the K sub-channels when the other STAs send the test tone messages on the K sub-channels comprises: when the other STAs send the trial messages on the K sub-channels, the identifiers of the available channels in the K sub-channels and the trial listening transmission power margins of the other STAs on the available channels, where the trial listening transmission power margins are adjustment amounts of trial listening transmission power used for sending the trial messages, and the trial listening transmission power margins of the other STAs on the available channels are determined by the STAs according to the received power obtained when the trial listening messages sent by the other STAs are received on the available channels and the interference and noise signal strengths on the available channels.

9. The method according to any of claims 6-8, wherein the STA receives the test tone messages sent by the other STAs on the K sub-channels respectively, and acquires the channel information of the K sub-channels when the other STAs send the test tone messages on the K sub-channels according to the receiving result, including:

the STA monitors signals on the K sub-channels respectively;

10. The method according to any of claims 6-8, wherein the audition result message sent by the STA further comprises: and the trial listening transmission power used by the STA for transmitting the trial message.

11. The method according to any of claims 6-8, wherein the test tone message includes identification information of the STA that sent the test tone message, and the identification information of the STA is any one of the following: the MAC address of the STA, the link identification and the role indication information of the direct link to which the STA belongs, and the serial number and the role indication information of the link identification of the direct link to which the STA belongs in the direct link scheduling indication message.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the test tone message further comprises: and the STA sending the test tone message sends the test tone sending power used by the test tone message.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the test tone message further includes a data amount of data to be transmitted by the STA transmitting the test tone message.

14. An access point, AP, comprising:

a sending module, configured to send a direct link scheduling indication message to a station STA to be scheduled, where the direct link scheduling indication message includes: identification information of N direct-connected links to be scheduled, wherein N is a positive integer greater than or equal to 1, and the STA to be scheduled is an STA corresponding to the N direct-connected links;

the sending module is further configured to send polling messages to the station STA to be scheduled in sequence, where the polling messages include: the polling message is used for indicating the polled STA to respectively send test tone messages on K sub-channels by using trial listening sending power, so that each STA in other non-polled STAs in the STAs to be scheduled respectively receives the test tone messages on the K sub-channels, and obtains channel information of the K sub-channels when the polled STA sends the test tone messages on the K sub-channels according to a receiving result, wherein the K sub-channels are all sub-channels or partial sub-channels of a plurality of sub-channels divided by a widest working channel of the AP, and K is a positive integer greater than or equal to 2;

15. The AP of claim 14, wherein the channel information of the K subchannels when the other STAs send the test tone messages on the K subchannels comprises: when the other STA sends the test tone messages on the K sub-channels, the identification of the available channel in the K sub-channels, the receiving power obtained by the STA when the STA receives the test tone messages sent by the other STA on the available channel, and the interference and noise signal strength information on the available channel;

16. The AP of claim 14, wherein the channel information of the K subchannels when the other STAs send the test tone messages on the K subchannels comprises: when the other STAs send the trial messages on the K sub-channels, identifiers of available channels in the K sub-channels, and trial listening transmission power margins of the other STAs on the available channels, where the trial listening transmission power margins are adjustment amounts of trial listening transmission power used for sending the trial messages, and the trial listening transmission power margins of the other STAs on the available channels are determined by each STA of the STAs to be scheduled according to reception power obtained when the trial messages sent by the other STAs are received on the available channels and interference and noise signal strengths on the available channels;

17. The AP of any one of claims 14-16, wherein the identification information of each direct link is a link identifier or a MAC address pair of two STAs corresponding to each direct link.

18. The AP of any of claims 14-16, wherein the identification information of the polled STAs is any of: the MAC address of the polled STA, the link identification and the role indication information of the direct link to which the polled STA belongs, the sequence number of the link identification of the direct link to which the polled STA belongs in the direct link scheduling indication message and the role indication information, wherein the role indication information is used for indicating the role of the polled STA in the direct link to which the polled STA belongs.

19. A Station (STA), comprising:

the receiving module is further configured to receive, sent by the AP, transmission power information for performing direct connection communication allocated to the STA and scheduling resources allocated to a direct connection link to which the STA belongs;

the sending module is further configured to transmit data on the direct link to which the STA belongs according to the sending power information and scheduling resources of the direct link to which the STA belongs.

20. The STA of claim 19, wherein the channel information for the K subchannels when the other STAs send the test tone messages on the K subchannels comprises: when the other STAs send the test tone messages on the K sub-channels, the identification of the available channel in the K sub-channels, the receiving power obtained when the STA receives the test tone messages sent by the other STAs on the available channel, and the interference and noise signal intensity information on the available channel.

21. The STA of claim 19, wherein the channel information for the K subchannels when the other STAs send the test tone messages on the K subchannels comprises: when the other STAs send the trial messages on the K sub-channels, the identifiers of the available channels in the K sub-channels and the trial listening transmission power margins of the other STAs on the available channels, where the trial listening transmission power margins are adjustment amounts of trial listening transmission power used for sending the trial messages, and the trial listening transmission power margins of the other STAs on the available channels are determined by the STAs according to the received power obtained when the trial listening messages sent by the other STAs are received on the available channels and the interference and noise signal strengths on the available channels.

22. The STA of any one of claims 19-21, wherein the obtaining module is specifically configured to:

23. The STA of any one of claims 19-21, wherein the listen on results message sent by the STA further comprises: and the trial listening transmission power used by the STA for transmitting the trial message.

24. The STA of any of claims 19-21, wherein the test message includes identification information of the STA that sent the test message, and the identification information of the STA is any one of: the MAC address of the STA, the link identification and the role indication information of the direct link to which the STA belongs, and the serial number and the role indication information of the link identification of the direct link to which the STA belongs in the direct link scheduling indication message.

25. The STA of claim 24, wherein the test tone message further comprises: and the STA sending the test tone message sends the test tone sending power used by the test tone message.

26. The STA of claim 24, wherein the test tone message further includes a data amount of data to be transmitted of the STA that transmitted the test tone message.

27. An access point, AP, comprising:

28. The AP of claim 27, wherein the channel information of the K subchannels when the other STAs send the test tone messages on the K subchannels comprises: when the other STA sends the test tone messages on the K sub-channels, the identification of the available channel in the K sub-channels, the receiving power obtained by the STA when the STA receives the test tone messages sent by the other STA on the available channel, and the interference and noise signal strength information on the available channel;

29. The AP of claim 27, wherein the channel information of the K subchannels when the other STAs send the test tone messages on the K subchannels comprises: when the other STAs send the trial messages on the K sub-channels, identifiers of available channels in the K sub-channels, and trial listening transmission power margins of the other STAs on the available channels, where the trial listening transmission power margins are adjustment amounts of trial listening transmission power used for sending the trial messages, and the trial listening transmission power margins of the other STAs on the available channels are determined by each STA of the STAs to be scheduled according to reception power obtained when the trial messages sent by the other STAs are received on the available channels and interference and noise signal strengths on the available channels;

30. The AP of any one of claims 27-29, wherein the identification information of each direct link is a link identifier or a MAC address pair of two STAs corresponding to each direct link.

31. The AP of any of claims 27-29, wherein the identification information of the polled STAs is any of: the MAC address of the polled STA, the link identification and the role indication information of the direct link to which the polled STA belongs, the sequence number of the link identification of the direct link to which the polled STA belongs in the direct link scheduling indication message and the role indication information, wherein the role indication information is used for indicating the role of the polled STA in the direct link to which the polled STA belongs.

32. A Station (STA), comprising:

the transmitter is further configured to transmit data on the direct link to which the STA belongs according to the transmission power information and scheduling resources of the direct link to which the STA belongs.

33. The STA of claim 32, wherein the channel information for the K subchannels when the other STAs send the test tone messages on the K subchannels comprises: when the other STAs send the test tone messages on the K sub-channels, the identification of the available channel in the K sub-channels, the receiving power obtained when the STA receives the test tone messages sent by the other STAs on the available channel, and the interference and noise signal intensity information on the available channel.

34. The STA of claim 32, wherein the channel information for the K subchannels when the other STAs send the test tone messages on the K subchannels comprises: when the other STAs send the trial messages on the K sub-channels, the identifiers of the available channels in the K sub-channels and the trial listening transmission power margins of the other STAs on the available channels, where the trial listening transmission power margins are adjustment amounts of trial listening transmission power used for sending the trial messages, and the trial listening transmission power margins of the other STAs on the available channels are determined by the STAs according to the received power obtained when the trial listening messages sent by the other STAs are received on the available channels and the interference and noise signal strengths on the available channels.

35. The STA of any one of claims 32-34,

the receiver is configured to receive, when the identification information of the polled STA included in the polling message is identification information of other STAs in STAs to be scheduled, the test tone messages sent by the other STAs on the K sub-channels, specifically: the receiver is configured to listen to signals on the K sub-channels respectively when identification information of the polled STA included in the polling message is identification information of other STAs in the STAs to be scheduled;

36. The STA of any one of claims 32-34, wherein the listen on results message sent by the STA further comprises: and the trial listening transmission power used by the STA for transmitting the trial message.

37. The STA of any of claims 32-34, wherein the test message includes identification information of the STA that sent the test message, and the identification information of the STA is any one of: the MAC address of the STA, the link identification and the role indication information of the direct link to which the STA belongs, and the serial number and the role indication information of the link identification of the direct link to which the STA belongs in the direct link scheduling indication message.

38. The STA of claim 37, wherein the test tone message further comprises: and the STA sending the test tone message sends the test tone sending power used by the test tone message.

39. The STA of claim 37, wherein the test tone message further includes a data amount of data to be transmitted for the STA transmitting the test tone message.