CN109699062B

CN109699062B - Communication method and device

Info

Publication number: CN109699062B
Application number: CN201710986577.8A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 周培; 韩霄; 程楷钧
Original assignee: Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Current assignee: Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Priority date: 2017-10-20
Filing date: 2017-10-20
Publication date: 2021-01-29
Anticipated expiration: 2037-10-20
Also published as: CN109699062A

Abstract

The application discloses a communication method and a communication device, and belongs to the field of communication. The method comprises the following steps: generating a first data frame including switching indication information for indicating a switching state of a first transceiver and/or a second transceiver of a first device in at least one period included in a beacon interval BI, a frequency of a first frequency band in which the first transceiver operates being smaller than a frequency of a second frequency band in which the second transceiver operates; transmitting the first data frame to the first device. The power consumption of the equipment can be reduced, and the electric energy is saved.

Description

Communication method and device

Technical Field

The present application relates to the field of communications, and in particular, to a communication method and apparatus.

Background

The advent of wireless local area networks has greatly facilitated the lives of people, who can enjoy high quality services through wireless local area networks. However, currently, the mainstream wireless local area network mostly operates in the low frequency bands of 2.4GHz and 5GHz, and as the number of devices increases, the low frequency bands become very crowded.

In order to provide higher rate wireless communications, new frequency bands are currently being sought. Among them, the high frequency band of 60GHz millimeter wave has a large amount of available spectrum resources, and thus a new wireless local area network that comprehensively uses low frequency band and high frequency has appeared. In the new wireless lan, the terminal device may have two transceivers, one of which operates in the low frequency band and the other of which operates in the high frequency band. Therefore, the terminal equipment can receive or transmit data through the two transceivers, and the rate of wireless communication is improved.

In the novel wireless local area network, the terminal equipment is provided with two transceivers, so that the terminal equipment has higher power consumption, how to reduce the power consumption of the terminal equipment so as to save the electric energy is a problem which needs to be solved urgently by the novel wireless local area network.

Disclosure of Invention

In order to reduce power consumption of a device and save power, embodiments of the present application provide a communication method and apparatus. The technical scheme is as follows:

in a first aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method, which generates a first data frame including switching indication information, where the switching indication information is used to indicate a switching state of a first transceiver and/or a second transceiver of a first device in at least one period included in a beacon interval BI, and a frequency of a first frequency band in which the first transceiver operates is smaller than a frequency of a second frequency band in which the second transceiver operates; transmitting the first data frame to the first device. Therefore, the switch indication information in the first data frame can indicate the first device to turn on or turn off the first transceiver and/or the second transceiver of the first device in at least one period of the BI, so that the power consumption of the first device is reduced, and the purpose of saving power is achieved.

In one possible implementation manner of the first aspect, the switch indication information includes at least one switch indication field, and each of the at least one switch indication field corresponds to one epoch in the BI; a switch indication field is used to indicate a switch state of the first transceiver and/or the second transceiver during its corresponding time period. Since the switch indication information is subdivided into a plurality of switch indication fields, each switch indication field corresponds to one period of the BI, the first device can be instructed to turn on or turn off the first transceiver and/or the second transceiver of the first device in each period of the BI through each switch indication field, and the first transceiver and/or the second transceiver of the first device can be managed in a more detailed manner, so that the power consumption of the first device is further reduced, and the power is further saved.

In a possible implementation manner of the first aspect, the switch state is one of a certain on state and a certain off state, and the switch state is one of a possible on state and a possible off state, or the switch state is one of a certain on state, a possible on state, a certain off state and a possible off state. Due to the fact that a plurality of switch states are provided, the first transceiver and/or the second transceiver of the first device can be flexibly managed through the switch indication information.

In one possible implementation manner of the first aspect, the BI includes at least one of a beacon frame transmission time BTI, an associated beamforming training a-BFT, an announcement transmission time ATI, and a data transmission time DTI, and the switch indication information includes at least one of a first switch indication field, a second switch indication field, a third switch indication field, and a fourth switch indication field; the first switch indication field is used for indicating the switch state of the first transceiver and/or the second transceiver in the BTI; the second switch indication field to indicate a switch state of the first transceiver and/or the second transceiver within the A-BFT; the third switch indication field to indicate a switch state of the first transceiver and/or the second transceiver within the ATI; the fourth switch indication field is to indicate a switch state of the first transceiver and/or the second transceiver within the DTI. Therefore, the first device can be instructed to turn on or turn off the first transceiver and/or the second transceiver of the first device in four periods of the BI through the first switch indication field to the fourth switch indication field respectively, and the first transceiver and/or the second transceiver of the first device are managed in a refined mode, so that the power consumption of the first device is reduced, and the power is further saved.

In a possible implementation manner of the first aspect, the DTI includes at least one contention-based access phase CBAP and/or at least one scheduling service phase SP, and the fourth switch indication field includes a first subfield and/or a second subfield; the first subfield to indicate a switch status of the first transceiver and/or the second transceiver in the at least one CBAP; the second subfield is used to indicate a switching state of the first transceiver and/or the second transceiver in the at least one SP. Since the fourth switch indication field is divided into the first sub-field and the second sub-field, it is possible that the first sub-field and the second sub-field indicate that the first device turns on or off the first transceiver and/or the second transceiver of the first device in respective sub-periods within the DTI, so that the first transceiver and/or the second transceiver of the first device are managed in a detailed manner within the DTI, and power consumption of the first device is reduced to further save power.

In a possible implementation manner of the first aspect, after the first data frame is sent to the first device, when one transceiver in the first device is turned off and another transceiver in the first device is turned on, the first device is controlled to turn on the transceiver that the first device is turned off through a frequency band in which the transceiver that the first device is turned on operates, so that when the first device transmits data, the first transceiver and the second transceiver of the first device can be used simultaneously to transmit data, and data transmission efficiency is improved.

In a possible implementation manner of the first aspect, a second data frame sent by the first device is received through a frequency band in which a transceiver that is turned on by the first device operates, where the second data frame includes a first indication unit, and the first indication unit is configured to request to turn on a transceiver that is turned off by the first device; and sending first confirmation information to the first equipment according to the first indication unit. Therefore, the first device can actively request to turn on and turn off the transceiver through the second data frame, and turn on and turn off the transceiver after receiving the first confirmation information, thereby realizing that the first device turns on and turns off the transceiver.

In a possible implementation manner of the first aspect, a second data frame is sent to the first device through a frequency band in which a transceiver that is turned on by the first device operates, where the second data frame includes a first indication unit, and the first indication unit is configured to indicate that the transceiver that is turned off by the first device is turned on. Thus actively controlling the first device to turn on the off transceiver through the second data frame.

In a possible implementation manner of the first aspect, the first device is controlled to turn off a target transceiver in the first device through a frequency band in which one transceiver in the first device operates, where the target transceiver is the first transceiver or the second transceiver. Therefore, when the first equipment finishes data transmission, the first equipment can be controlled to close one transceiver, and the power consumption is saved.

In a possible implementation manner of the first aspect, a third data frame sent by the first device is received through a frequency band in which one transceiver in the first device operates, where the third data frame includes a second indication unit, and the second indication unit is configured to request to turn off a target transceiver in the first device; and sending second confirmation information to the first equipment according to the second indication unit. In this way, the first device may actively request to turn off the target transceiver through the third data frame, and turn off the target transceiver after receiving the second acknowledgement information, thereby implementing that the first device turns off the target transceiver.

In a possible implementation manner of the first aspect, a third data frame is sent to the first device through a frequency band in which one transceiver in the first device operates, where the third data frame includes a second indication unit, and the second indication unit is configured to indicate that a target transceiver in the first device is turned off. This actively controls the first device to turn off the target transceiver through the third data frame.

In a possible implementation manner of the first aspect, the first data frame further includes a third indication unit, where the third indication unit is configured to indicate a switch state of the first transceiver in at least one wake-up window AW included in the DTI of the BI. Therefore, the first device instructs the first transceiver to be started according to the switch state during the AW period by the third indicating unit, and the first transceiver detects whether the second device sends the ATIM frame or not, so that the first device is prevented from missing the reception of the ATIM frame sent by the second device due to movement.

In a possible implementation manner of the first aspect, the ATIM frame is sent to the first device through the first frequency band of the first transceiver during AW, so that the first device can receive the ATIM frame through the first transceiver, and the first device is prevented from missing reception of the ATIM frame sent by the second device due to movement.

In a possible implementation manner of the first aspect, the first data frame further includes an indication bit, where the indication bit is used to indicate whether the third indication unit is used by the first device. Thus, whether the first device uses the third indication unit can be actively controlled through the indication bit.

In a possible implementation manner of the first aspect, a fourth data frame is sent to the first device, where the fourth data frame includes a third indication unit, and the third indication unit is configured to indicate a switch state of the first transceiver in at least one AW included in the DTI of the BI. Therefore, the first device instructs the first transceiver to be started according to the switch state during the AW period by the third indicating unit, and the first transceiver detects whether the second device sends the ATIM frame or not, so that the first device is prevented from missing the reception of the ATIM frame sent by the second device due to movement.

In a second aspect, the present embodiment provides a communication method, in the method, a first device receives a first data frame, which includes switch indication information and is sent by a second device, where the switch indication information is used to indicate a switch state of a first transceiver and/or a second transceiver of the first device in at least one period included in a beacon interval BI, and a frequency band in which the first transceiver operates is lower than a frequency band in which the second transceiver operates; and starting or shutting down the first transceiver and/or the second transceiver of the first equipment in the at least one period according to the switch state in the at least one period indicated by the switch indication information. Therefore, the first device can turn on or off the first transceiver and/or the second transceiver of the first device in at least one period of the BI according to the switch indication information in the first data frame, so that the power consumption of the first device is reduced, and the purpose of saving power is achieved.

In one possible implementation manner of the second aspect, the switch indication information includes at least one switch indication field, and each of the at least one switch indication field corresponds to one epoch in the BI; a switch indication field is used to indicate a switch state of the first transceiver and/or the second transceiver during its corresponding time period. Since the switch indication information is subdivided into a plurality of switch indication fields, each switch indication field corresponds to one period of the BI, the first device can be instructed to turn on or turn off the first transceiver and/or the second transceiver of the first device in each period of the BI through each switch indication field, and the first transceiver and/or the second transceiver of the first device can be managed in a more detailed manner, so that the power consumption of the first device is further reduced, and the power is further saved.

In a possible implementation manner of the second aspect, the switch state is one of a certain on state and a certain off state, and the switch state is one of an on state and an off state, or the switch state is one of a certain on state, an off state and an off state. Due to the fact that a plurality of switch states are provided, the first transceiver and/or the second transceiver of the first device can be flexibly managed through the switch indication information.

In one possible implementation of the second aspect, the BI includes at least one of a beacon frame transmission time BTI, an association beamforming training a-BFT, an announcement transmission time ATI, and a data transmission time DTI, and the switch indication information includes at least one of a first switch indication field, a second switch indication field, a third switch indication field, and a fourth switch indication field; the first switch indication field is used for indicating the switch state of the first transceiver and/or the second transceiver in the BTI; the second switch indication field to indicate a switch state of the first transceiver and/or the second transceiver within the A-BFT; the third switch indication field to indicate a switch state of the first transceiver and/or the second transceiver within the ATI; the fourth switch indication field is to indicate a switch state of the first transceiver and/or the second transceiver within the DTI. Therefore, the first device can be instructed to turn on or turn off the first transceiver and/or the second transceiver of the first device in four periods of the BI through the first switch indication field to the fourth switch indication field respectively, and the first transceiver and/or the second transceiver of the first device are managed in a refined mode, so that the power consumption of the first device is reduced, and the power is further saved.

In a possible implementation manner of the second aspect, the DTI includes at least one contention-based access phase CBAP and/or at least one scheduling service phase SP, and the fourth switch indication field includes a first subfield and/or a second subfield; the first subfield to indicate a switch status of the first transceiver and/or the second transceiver in the at least one CBAP; the second subfield is used to indicate a switching state of the first transceiver and/or the second transceiver in the at least one SP. Since the fourth switch indication field is divided into the first sub-field and the second sub-field, it is possible that the first sub-field and the second sub-field indicate that the first device turns on or off the first transceiver and/or the second transceiver of the first device in respective sub-periods within the DTI, so that the first transceiver and/or the second transceiver of the first device are managed in a detailed manner within the DTI, and power consumption of the first device is reduced to further save power.

In a possible implementation manner of the second aspect, when one transceiver in the first device is turned off and the other transceiver is turned on, the transceiver turned on by the first device turns on the transceiver turned off by the first device, so that when the first device transmits data, the first transceiver and the second transceiver of the first device can be used simultaneously to transmit data, thereby improving data transmission efficiency.

In a possible implementation manner of the second aspect, a second data frame is sent to the second device through the transceiver turned on by the first device, where the second data frame includes a first indication unit, and the first indication unit is used to request to turn on the transceiver turned off by the first device; receiving first confirmation information sent by the second equipment through a transceiver started by the first equipment; and turning on the transceiver of the first device to be turned off at a first time, wherein the first time is after a second time for receiving the first confirmation information and is separated from the second time by a preset separation threshold value. Therefore, the first device can actively request to turn on and turn off the transceiver through the second data frame, and turn on and turn off the transceiver after receiving the first confirmation information, thereby realizing that the first device turns on and turns off the transceiver.

In a possible implementation manner of the second aspect, a transceiver that is turned on by the first device receives a second data frame sent by the second device, where the second data frame includes a first indication unit, and the first indication unit is used to indicate that the transceiver that is turned off by the first device is turned on; and turning on a transceiver of the first device at a first time according to the first indication unit, wherein the first time is after a second time for receiving the second data frame and is separated from the second time by a preset separation threshold. Thus actively controlling the first device to turn on the off transceiver through the second data frame.

In a possible implementation manner of the second aspect, a target transceiver in the first device is turned off by one transceiver in the first device, and the target transceiver is the first transceiver or the second transceiver. Therefore, when the first equipment finishes data transmission, the first equipment can be controlled to close one transceiver, and the power consumption is saved.

In a possible implementation manner of the second aspect, a third data frame is sent to the second device by one transceiver in the first device, where the third data frame includes a second indication unit, and the second indication unit is configured to request to turn off a target transceiver in the first device; receiving, by the one transceiver, second acknowledgement information sent by the second device; and closing the target transceiver according to the second confirmation information. In this way, the first device may actively request to turn off the target transceiver through the third data frame, and turn off the target transceiver after receiving the second acknowledgement information, thereby implementing that the first device turns off the target transceiver.

In a possible implementation manner of the second aspect, a third data frame sent by the second device is received by one transceiver in the first device, where the third data frame includes a second indication unit, and the second indication unit is used to indicate to turn off a target transceiver in the first device; and closing the target transceiver according to the second indication unit. This actively controls the first device to turn off the target transceiver through the third data frame.

In a possible implementation manner of the second aspect, the first data frame further includes a third indication unit, where the third indication unit is configured to indicate a switch state of the first transceiver in at least one wake-up window AW in the DTI of the BI; in this way, the first device may start or stop the first transceiver in the at least one AW according to the switch state in the at least one AW indicated by the third indication unit, and detect whether the second device sends an ATIM frame through the first transceiver, so as to avoid that the first device misses receiving the ATIM frame sent by the second device due to movement.

In one possible implementation manner of the second aspect, the first data frame further includes an indication bit; thus, the first device can determine whether to use the indication unit according to the indication bit, and if so, execute the operation of starting or closing the first transceiver in the at least one AW according to the switch state in the at least one AW indicated by the third indication unit.

In a possible implementation manner of the second aspect, a fourth data frame sent by the second device is received, where the fourth data frame includes a third indication unit, and the third indication unit is configured to indicate a switch state of the first transceiver in at least one AW included in a DTI of the BI; and starting or shutting down the first transceiver in the at least one AW according to the switch state in the at least one AW indicated by the third indication unit. Therefore, the first device instructs the first transceiver to be started according to the switch state during the AW period by the third indicating unit, and the first transceiver detects whether the second device sends the ATIM frame or not, so that the first device is prevented from missing the reception of the ATIM frame sent by the second device due to movement.

In a third aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication apparatus, configured to perform the method in the first aspect or any one of the possible implementation manners of the first aspect. In particular, the apparatus comprises means for performing the first aspect or the method in any one of its possible implementations.

In a fourth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication apparatus, configured to perform the method in the second aspect or any one of the possible implementation manners of the second aspect. In particular, the apparatus comprises means for performing the second aspect or the method in any one of its possible implementations.

In a fifth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication apparatus, which includes an input/output interface, a processor, and a memory. The input/output interface, the processor and the memory can be connected through a bus system. The memory is configured to store a program, instructions or code, and the processor is configured to execute the program, instructions or code in the memory to perform the method of the first aspect or any possible implementation manner of the first aspect.

In a sixth aspect, embodiments of the present application provide a communication apparatus, which includes an input/output interface, a processor, and a memory. The input/output interface, the processor and the memory can be connected through a bus system. The memory is used for storing programs, instructions or codes, and the processor is used for executing the programs, instructions or codes in the memory to complete the second aspect or the method in any possible implementation manner of the second aspect.

In a seventh aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a computer program product, where the computer program product includes a computer program stored in a computer-readable storage medium, and the computer program is loaded by a processor to implement the method according to the first aspect, the second aspect, any possible implementation manner of the first aspect, or any possible implementation manner of the second aspect.

In an eighth aspect, embodiments of the present application provide a computer-readable storage medium for storing a computer program, which is loaded by a processor to execute the instructions of the first aspect, the second aspect, any possible implementation manner of the first aspect, or the method of any possible implementation manner of the second aspect.

In a ninth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a chip, where the chip includes a programmable logic circuit and/or a program instruction, and when the chip runs, the chip is configured to implement the first aspect, the second aspect, any possible implementation manner of the first aspect, or a method of any possible implementation manner of the second aspect.

In a tenth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication system, which includes the apparatus in the third aspect or the fifth aspect, and the apparatus in the fourth aspect or the sixth aspect.

Drawings

Fig. 1-1 is a schematic diagram of a wireless local area network according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 1-2 are schematic structural diagrams of a second apparatus provided in an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 1-3 are schematic structural diagrams of a first apparatus provided in an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 2-1 is a flow chart of a communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 2-2 is a schematic structural diagram of a first data frame provided in an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 2-3 are schematic structural diagrams of another first data frame provided in an embodiment of the present application;

2-4 are schematic diagrams of switch states indicated by switch indication information provided by the embodiments of the present application;

2-5 are schematic diagrams of switch states indicated by another switch indication information provided by the embodiments of the present application;

2-6 are schematic diagrams of switch states indicated by another switch indication information provided by the embodiments of the present application;

2-7 are flowcharts of a communication method between a first device and a second device provided by an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 2 to 8 are schematic structural diagrams of another first data frame provided in an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 2-9 are schematic structural diagrams of another first data frame provided in an embodiment of the present application;

2-10 are flowcharts of another communication method between a first device and a second device provided by the embodiments of the present application;

fig. 2-11 are flowcharts illustrating a method for a first device to actively request a second device to help the second device to turn on a transceiver that is turned off according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

fig. 2-12 are schematic structural diagrams of a second data frame provided in an embodiment of the present application;

2-13 are schematic structural diagrams of a first indicating unit provided by the embodiment of the present application;

fig. 2-14 are schematic structural diagrams of another second data frame provided in the embodiment of the present application;

2-15 are schematic structural diagrams of another first indicating unit provided in the embodiments of the present application;

fig. 2-16 are flowcharts illustrating a method for a second device to actively control a transceiver of a first device to turn on or off according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

fig. 2-17 are flowcharts illustrating a method for a first device to actively request a second device to help the second device to turn off a target transceiver according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

fig. 2-18 are flowcharts of another communication method between a first device and a second device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

fig. 2-19 are flowcharts of a method for a second device to actively control a target transceiver of a first device to be powered off according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 3 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 4 is a schematic structural diagram of another communication device provided in the embodiment of the present application;

fig. 5 is a schematic structural diagram of another communication device provided in the embodiment of the present application;

fig. 6 is a schematic structural diagram of another communication device according to an embodiment of the present application.

Detailed Description

To make the objects, technical solutions and advantages of the present application more clear, embodiments of the present application will be described in further detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Referring to fig. 1-1, an embodiment of the present application provides a schematic diagram of a wireless local area network, including:

a second device 1 and at least one first device 2, the second device 1 being capable of establishing a network connection with each first device 2 of the at least one first device 2.

The second device 1 may operate in a first frequency band and a second frequency band simultaneously, and is a dual mode device, where the frequency of the first frequency band is smaller than the frequency of the second frequency band. For example, the first frequency band may be a frequency band of 2.4GHz and 5GHz, and the second frequency band may be a frequency band of 60GHz millimeter waves.

Optionally, the first device 2 may be a node (Station, STA), and the like, and the second device 1 may be an Access Point (AP), an STA, and the like.

Referring to fig. 1-2, the second device 1 may comprise two transceivers, a third transceiver and a fourth transceiver, respectively, the third transceiver may operate in the first frequency band and the fourth transceiver may operate in the second frequency band. The third transceiver and the fourth transceiver may be connected to a processing unit of the second device. The third transceiver comprises a Media Access Control (MAC) layer, a Physical layer (PHY) layer and an antenna, and all work in a first frequency band, and the fourth transceiver comprises an MAC layer, a PHY layer and an antenna, and all work in a second frequency band. The processing unit of the second device 1 may receive or transmit data via the third transceiver and/or the fourth transceiver.

The at least one first device 2 may be a dual-mode device that operates in the first frequency band and the second frequency band simultaneously, or may be a single-mode device that operates in the first frequency band or the second frequency band.

Referring to fig. 1-3, for a dual mode first device 2, which also includes two transceivers, a first transceiver and a second transceiver, respectively, the first transceiver may operate in a first frequency band and the second transceiver may operate in a second frequency band. The first transceiver and the second transceiver may be connected to a processing unit of the first device 2. The first transceiver comprises an MAC layer, a PHY layer and an antenna and works in a first frequency band, and the second transceiver comprises an MAC layer, a PHY layer and an antenna and works in a second frequency band. The processing unit of the second device 2 may receive or transmit data via the first transceiver and/or the second transceiver.

For the dual mode first device 2, since it comprises the first transceiver and the second transceiver, if the first transceiver and the second transceiver are turned on for a long time, the power consumption of the first device 2 will be high. In order to reduce the power consumption of the first device 2, any of the following embodiments may be employed.

Referring to fig. 2-1, fig. 2-1 is a flowchart of a communication method by which a first device and a second device may transmit a data frame, where the data frame referred to in this embodiment may be used to transmit a frame of service data, a management frame, a control frame, or the like, and the method may be applied to the wireless local area network described in fig. 1-1, and includes:

step 201: the second device generates a first data frame including switch indication information for indicating a switch state of the first transceiver and/or the second transceiver of the first device during at least one period of a Beacon Interval (BI).

The BI may be a dormant BI (doze BI), the second device may generate a first data frame corresponding to the BI before the beginning of the BI, and the switch indication information in the first data frame may indicate a first switch state of the first transceiver of the first device in each period of the BI and/or indicate a second switch state of the second transceiver of the first device in each period of the BI.

The first data frame generated by the second device may be a Directional Multi-Gigabit Beacon (DMG Beacon) frame or a notification (announce) frame.

Referring to fig. 2-2, the first data Frame includes a Frame Control (Frame Control), a Duration (Duration), a Basic Service Set Identifier (BSSID), a Frame Body (Frame Body), and a Frame Check Sequence (FCS). The switch indication information is a field in the frame body.

The switch indication information includes at least one switch indication field, and each of the at least one switch indication field corresponds to one of the time periods in the BI.

For any of the at least one switching indication field, the switching indication field is used to indicate a switching state of the first transceiver and/or the second transceiver of the first device during its corresponding time period, that is, to indicate a first switching state of the first transceiver of the first device during its corresponding time period and/or to indicate a second switching state of the second transceiver of the first device during its corresponding time period.

Referring to fig. 2-2, for any one BI, the BI may include at least one of a Beacon Transmission Interval (BTI), Association Beamforming Training (a-BFT), an Announcement Transmission Interval (ATI), and a Data Transmission Interval (DTI), and the switch indication information includes at least one of a first switch indication field, a second switch indication field, a third switch indication field, and a fourth switch indication field.

The first switch indication field corresponds to a BTI of the BI and is used for indicating a switch state of the first transceiver and/or the second transceiver of the first device within the BTI, that is, indicating a first switch state of the first transceiver of the first device within the BTI and/or indicating a second switch state of the second transceiver of the first device within the BTI.

The second switch indication field corresponds to an A-BFT of the BI and is used for indicating a switch state of the first transceiver and/or the second transceiver of the first device within the A-BFT, that is, indicating a first switch state of the first transceiver of the first device within the A-BFT and/or indicating a second switch state of the second transceiver of the first device within the A-BFT.

The third switch indication field corresponds to an ATI of the BI for indicating a switch state of the first transceiver and/or the second transceiver of the first device within the ATI, i.e. a first switch state indicating the first transceiver of the first device within the ATI and/or a second switch state indicating the second transceiver of the first device within the ATI.

The fourth switch indication field corresponds to a DTI of the BI and is used for indicating a switch state of the first transceiver and/or the second transceiver of the first device within the DTI, that is, indicating a first switch state of the first transceiver of the first device within the DTI and/or indicating a second switch state of the second transceiver of the first device within the DTI.

It should be noted that, in general, a BI includes four periods, i.e., BTI, a-BFT, ATI, and DTI, so the switch indication information generally includes a first switch indication field, a second switch indication field, a third switch indication field, and a fourth switch indication field.

Referring to FIGS. 2-3, in the BI, the three periods of BTI, A-BFT and ATI are each of a short duration, much less than the DTI duration. The first device and the second device may perform traffic transmission within the DTI.

Referring to fig. 2-3, the DTI may include a plurality of sub-periods, which may be a Contention-Based Access Period (CBAP) or a Scheduled Service Period (SP), that is, the DTI may include at least one CBAP and/or at least one SP. Each CBAP includes an Awake Window (AW), AW of the CBAP is a period of time from the start of the CBAP, and the period of time is a preset length.

For more refined management of the first transceiver and the second transceiver of the first device in each sub-period of the DTI, the fourth switch indication field of the switch indication information may indicate a switch state of the first transceiver and/or the second transceiver of the first device in the sub-period of the DTI, that is, the fourth switch indication field may indicate a first switch state of the first transceiver of the first device in at least one CBAP of the DTI and/or may indicate a second switch state of the second transceiver of the first device in at least one SP of the DTI. In practical implementation, the following method can be adopted:

referring to fig. 2-3, the fourth switch indication field includes a first subfield and/or a second subfield;

the first subfield is used to indicate a switching status of the first transceiver and/or the second transceiver of the first device in the at least one CBAP, i.e., the first subfield is used to indicate a first switching status of the first transceiver of the first device in each of the at least one CBAP and/or to indicate a second switching status of the second transceiver of the first device in each of the at least one CBAP.

The second subfield is used to indicate a switching status of the first transceiver and/or the second transceiver of the first device in the at least one SP, i.e. the second subfield is used to indicate a first switching status of the first transceiver of the first device within each SP of the at least one SP and/or to indicate a second switching status of the second transceiver of the first device within each SP of the at least one SP.

It should be noted that, in general, the DTI includes two sub-periods, CBAP and SP, so the fourth switch indication field generally includes a first sub-field and a second sub-field.

Optionally, for each switch indication field in the switch indication information, the switch state of the transceiver in the first device indicated by the switch indication field may be an on state or an off state.

The open state may be a certain open state or may be an open state.

The certain on state refers to that the first device turns on the transceiver in the whole period corresponding to the switch indication field, the first device uses the transceiver to receive or transmit data in the whole period, and the transceiver is still turned on after the data is received or transmitted.

The on state refers to that the first device turns on the transceiver in a corresponding period of the switch indication field, receives or transmits data using the transceiver, and after receiving or transmitting data, the first device may turn off the transceiver.

The off state may be a certain off state or not necessarily an on state.

By certain off state is meant that the first device turns off the transceiver for the corresponding entire period of the switch indication field. The first device does not turn on the transceiver during this period even though the first device needs to receive or transmit data.

The state of not being necessarily turned on means that the first device turns off the transceiver at the beginning of the corresponding period of the switch indication field, and then may turn on the transceiver when data needs to be received or transmitted, receive or transmit data using the transceiver, and may turn off the transceiver after receiving or transmitting data; alternatively, the first device may decide whether to turn on or turn off the transceiver within a period corresponding to the switch indication field.

Among them, it should be noted that: for each switch indication field, the switch indication field will typically indicate a first switch state of the first transceiver during its corresponding time period and indicate a second switch state of the second transceiver during its corresponding time period.

Optionally, in practical implementation, the first switch state and the second switch state indicated by the switch indication field may be in various combinations. For example, in this embodiment, the following three combination modes are listed, so that the switch indication field indicates the first switch state and indicates the second switch state, which are respectively:

in a first combination, the first switch state indicated by the switch indication field is a switchable on state or an unlikely on state, and the second switch state indicated by the switch indication field is a switchable on state or an unlikely on state.

In this combined approach, the switch indication field may comprise two bits, which are used to indicate the first switch state and the second switch state. For example, a first switch state indicated using bit 00 is not necessarily on and a second switch state indicated is not necessarily on; the first switch state indicated using bit 01 is not necessarily on and the second switch state indicated is may on; the first switch state indicated using bit 10 is the possible on state and the second switch state indicated is the not necessarily on state; the first switch state indicated using bit 11 is the enabled state and the second switch state indicated is the enabled state.

For example, referring to fig. 2-4, the first switch indication field, the second switch indication field, the third switch indication field, and the fourth switch indication field each occupy two bits. For a first switch indication field, bit 00 is used to indicate that a first switch state within the BTI is an don't necessarily on state and to indicate that a second switch state within the BTI is an don't necessarily on state; using bit 01 to indicate a first switch state within the BTI as not necessarily on state and to indicate a second switch state within the BTI as possibly on state; bit 10 is used to indicate that a first switch state within the BTI is a possible on state and to indicate that a second switch state within the BTI is an don't necessarily on state; bit 11 is used to indicate that a first switch state within the BTI is an openable state and to indicate that a second switch state within the BTI is an openable state. The meaning of the second switch indication field, the third switch indication field and the fourth switch indication field is the same, and will not be described in detail here.

Optionally, when the fourth switch indication field is further required to indicate a first switch state of the first transceiver in each sub-period in the DTI and indicate a second switch state of the second transceiver in each sub-period in the DTI, the fourth switch indication field may include four bits, and the first sub-field and the second sub-field in the fourth switch indication field may both occupy two bits, and the meaning of the first sub-field and the second sub-field is as described in the first switch indication field, which will not be described in detail herein.

In a second combination mode, the first switch state indicated by the switch indication field is a certain on state or a certain off state, and the second switch state indicated by the switch indication field is a certain on state or a certain off state.

In this combined approach, the switch indication field may comprise two bits, which are used to indicate the first switch state and the second switch state. For example, the first switch state indicated using bit 00 is a certain off state and the second switch state indicated is a certain off state; the first switch state indicated by using bit 01 is a certain off state and the second switch state indicated by using bit 10 is a certain on state, and the second switch state indicated by using bit 01 is a certain off state; the first switch state indicated using bit 11 is a certain on state and the second switch state indicated is a certain on state.

For example, referring to fig. 2-5, the first switch indication field, the second switch indication field, the third switch indication field, and the fourth switch indication field each occupy two bits. For the first switch indication field, bit 00 is used to indicate that the first switch state within the BTI is a certain off state and to indicate that the second switch state within the BTI is a certain off state; using bit 01 to indicate that a first switch state within the BTI is a certain off state and to indicate that a second switch state within the BTI is a certain on state; using bit 10 to indicate that a first switch state within the BTI is a certain on state and to indicate that a second switch state within the BTI is a certain off state; bit 11 is used to indicate that the first switch state within the BTI is a certain on state and to indicate that the second switch state within the BTI is a certain on state. The meaning of the second switch indication field, the third switch indication field and the fourth switch indication field is the same, and will not be described in detail here.

In a third combination, the first switch state indicated by the switch indication field is a certain on state, an available on state, a certain off state, or an unavailable on state, and the second switch state indicated by the switch indication field is a certain on state, an available on state, a certain off state, or an unavailable on state.

In this combined approach, the switch indication field may include three bits that are used to indicate the first switch state and the second switch state. For example, a first switch state indicated using bits 000, 001, or 010 is a certain off state and a second switch state indicated is a certain off state; the first switching state indicated by the bit 011 is a certain on state and the second switching state indicated is a certain on state; a first switch state indicated using bit 100 is a certain on state and a second switch state indicated is a possible on state; the first switch state indicated by using bit 101 is a certain on state and the second switch state indicated is a certain off state; the first switch state indicated using bit 110 is a certain off state and the second switch state indicated is a certain on state; the first switch state indicated using bit 111 is the possible on state and the second switch state indicated is a certain on state.

For example, referring to fig. 2-6, the first switch indication field, the second switch indication field, the third switch indication field, and the fourth switch indication field each occupy three bits. For the first switch indication field, bits 000, 001, or 010 are used to indicate that the first switch state within the BTI is a certain off state and to indicate that the second switch state within the BTI is a certain off state; using bit 011 to indicate a first switch state within the BTI as a certain on state and a second switch state within the BTI as a certain on state; using bit 100 to indicate a first switch state within the BTI as a certain on state and to indicate a second switch state within the BTI as a possible on state; using bit 101 to indicate that a first switch state within the BTI is a certain on state and to indicate that a second switch state within the BTI is a certain off state; using bit 110 to indicate that a first switch state within the BTI is a certain off state and to indicate that a second switch state within the BTI is a certain on state; the usage ratio feature 111 indicates that a first switch state within the BTI is a possible on state and indicates that a second switch state within the BTI is a certain on state. The meaning of the second switch indication field, the third switch indication field and the fourth switch indication field is the same, and will not be described in detail here.

Optionally, when the fourth switch indication field is further required to indicate a first switch state of the first transceiver in each sub-period in the DTI and indicate a second switch state of the second transceiver in each sub-period in the DTI, the fourth switch indication field may include six bits, and the first sub-field and the second sub-field in the fourth switch indication field may each occupy three bits, and the meaning of the first sub-field and the second sub-field is as described in the first switch indication field, which will not be described in detail herein.

Among them, it should be noted that: the first device needs to beam train the second transceiver before using the second transceiver to receive or transmit data. Wherein the first device performs beam training on the second transceiver in the BTI and a-BFT of the BI, and then allocates the sub-periods included in the DTI in the ATI, in which the first device can transmit traffic. The switch indication information needs to indicate that the second switch state of the second transceiver is the on state within the BTI, a-BFT, and ATI. And within the DTI, the switch indication field indicates that the second switch state of the second transceiver may be an off state or an on state.

Optionally, since the bandwidth of the second frequency band in which the second transceiver is located is relatively large, the second switch state indicated by the fourth switch indication field may be an on state or may not be an on state, so as to ensure that the first device may turn on the second transceiver to successfully receive or transmit data in the DTI.

The first device may or may not use the first transceiver to assist in beam training the second transceiver. The switch indication information may indicate that the first switch state of the first transceiver is an on state or an off state within the BTI, a-BFT, and ATI, respectively. And within the DTI, the switch indication field indicates that the state of the first transceiver may be an off state or an on state.

Optionally, the switch indication information indicates that the first switch state in the BTI and the first switch state in the a-BFT may both be an on state, such that the first device turns on the first transceiver in the BTI and in the a-BFT according to the first switch state, and the first transceiver may be used to assist in beam training the second transceiver. And the switch indication information indicates that the first switch state in the ATI and the first switch state in the DTI may be off states, such that the first device turns off the first transceiver in the ATI and in the DTI according to the first switch state, which may reduce power consumption of the first device.

Referring to fig. 2 to 7, for a dormant BI, each CBAP of the DTI of the BI includes an AW, and when the second device needs to transmit data with the first device, the second device sends an Announcement Traffic Indication Message (ATIM) frame to the first device through the second frequency band of the second transceiver during the AW period of the CBAP, so as to notify the first device that the data needs to be transmitted. So when the fourth switch indication field indicates that the second switch state in the DTI is not necessarily on, the first device may turn off the second transceiver in the DTI but turn on the second transceiver during the AW for each CBAP, detecting by the second transceiver whether the second device is transmitting ATIM frames.

The method for sending the ATIM frame to the first device by the second device through the second frequency band of the second transceiver is a directional sending method, where the directional sending method is that the second device negotiates a sector with the first device in advance, the sector includes the first device, and the second device sends the ATIM frame into the sector through the second frequency band of the second transceiver. However, when the first device moves out of the sector, the first device may not receive the ATIM frame transmitted by the second device through the second transceiver. In order to solve the problem, referring to fig. 2 to 8, a third indication unit may be further included in the first data frame, or the second device may generate a fourth data frame including the third indication unit and transmit the fourth data frame to the first device, where the third indication unit is used to indicate a switching state of the first transceiver in at least one AW included in the DTI of the BI.

The second device may further send an ATIM frame to the first device through the first frequency band during the AW period, where a sending mode of the ATIM frame is an omni-directional sending mode. In this way, if the third indication unit is used to indicate that the switch state of the first transceiver in the AW included in the DTI is the on state, the first device turns on the first transceiver during the AW, and receives the ATIM frame sent by the second device through the first transceiver, so as to avoid missing the ATIM frame sent by the second device.

Referring to fig. 2 to 8, the frame body of the first data frame includes a third indication unit including a unit identification field, a length field, and a content field. The unit identification field carries identification information for identifying the third indication unit, the content field comprises at least one sub-content field, each sub-content field in the at least one sub-content field corresponds to an AW in the DTI, and the sub-content field is used for indicating the on-off state of the first transceiver in the corresponding AW.

The sub-content field may occupy a length of one or more bits. For example, assume that the sub-content field occupies one bit, the sub-content field carries bit 1 indicating that the sub-content field indicates that the switch state of the first transceiver within its corresponding AW is an on state, the sub-content field carries bit 0 indicating that the sub-content field indicates that the switch state of the first transceiver within its corresponding AW is an off state; or, the sub-content field carries a bit of 0 indicating that the sub-content field indicates that the switch state of the first transceiver within its corresponding AW is an on state, and the sub-content field carries a bit of 1 indicating that the sub-content field indicates that the switch state of the first transceiver within its corresponding AW is an off state.

Optionally, the first data frame further includes an indication bit, where the indication bit is used to indicate whether the third indication unit is used by the first device.

The frame body of the first data frame, see fig. 2-9, includes indicator bits. The indicator bits may occupy a length of one or more bits. For example, assuming that the indication bit occupies one bit, the indication bit carries bit 1, which indicates that the first device uses the third indication unit, and the indication bit carries bit 0, which indicates that the first device does not use the third indication unit; or, the indication bit carries bit 0, which indicates that the first device uses the third indication unit, and the indication bit carries bit 1, which indicates that the first device does not use the third indication unit.

Step 202: the second device transmits the first data frame to the first device.

Step 203: the first device receives a first data frame, and starts or stops the first transceiver and/or the second transceiver in at least one period according to the switch state of the switch indication information in the first data frame in at least one period of the BI.

Specifically, the first device may extract the switch indication information from the first data frame, and determine the switch indication field corresponding to each period of the BI from the switch indication information. And at the starting moment of each period of the BI, respectively turning on or turning off the first transceiver according to the first switch state indicated by the switch indication field corresponding to each period, and/or respectively turning on or turning off the second transceiver according to the second switch state indicated by the switch indication field corresponding to each period.

For example, a first switch indication field corresponding to BTI of the BI, a second switch indication field corresponding to a-BFT, a third switch indication field corresponding to ATI, and a fourth switch indication field corresponding to DTI are determined from the switch indication information of the first data frame. Within the BTI, the first device turns on or off the first transceiver according to a first switch state indicated by the first switch indication field, and/or turns on or off the second transceiver according to a second switch state indicated by the first switch indication field. Similarly, the A-BFT, ATI, and DTI at the BI turn on or off the first transceiver and the second transceiver as described above.

If the fourth switch indication field is further subdivided into a first sub-field and a second sub-field, the first device also turns on or off the first transceiver in accordance with the first switch state indicated by the first sub-field and/or turns on or off the second transceiver in accordance with the second switch state indicated by the first sub-field within each CBAP within the DTI. Within each SP within the DTI, the first device turns on or off the first transceiver according to the first switch state indicated by the second subfield and/or turns on or off the second transceiver according to the second switch state indicated by the second subfield.

It should be noted that, for the switch indication field corresponding to any time period of the BI, when the first switch state and the second switch state indicated by the switch indication field adopt the first combination method, the first switch state indicated by the switch indication field is the on-enabled state or the off-enabled state, and the second switch state indicated by the switch indication field is the on-enabled state or the off-enabled state.

Therefore, if the first switch state indicated by the switch indication field is the openable state, the first device may open the first transceiver during the period according to the indicated first switch state, and may close the first transceiver or continue to open the first transceiver after receiving or transmitting data using the first transceiver. If the first switch state indicated by the switch indication field is not necessarily on, the first device may turn off the first transceiver according to the indicated first switch state in the period, turn on the first transceiver when the first transceiver needs to be used for transmitting or receiving data, and turn off the first transceiver after the data is transmitted or received; alternatively, the first device may decide on its own whether to turn the first transceiver on or off during this period.

Similarly, if the second switch state indicated by the switch indication field is the openable state, the first device may open the second transceiver according to the indicated second switch state in the period, and may close the second transceiver or continue to open the second transceiver after using the second transceiver to receive or transmit data. If the second switch state indicated by the switch indication field is not necessarily on, the first device may turn off the second transceiver according to the indicated second switch state in the period, turn on the second transceiver when the second transceiver needs to be used for transmitting or receiving data, and turn off the second transceiver after the data is transmitted or received; alternatively, the first device may decide on its own whether to turn the second transceiver on or off during this period.

When the first switch state and the second switch state indicated by the switch indication field adopt the second combination mode, the first switch state indicated by the switch indication field is a certain on state or a certain off state, and the second switch state indicated by the switch indication field is a certain on state or a certain off state.

Therefore, if the first switch state indicated by the switch indication field is a certain on state, the first device turns on the first transceiver according to the indicated first switch state throughout the period. If the first switch state indicated by the switch indication field is a certain off state, the first device turns off the first transceiver according to the indicated first switch state for the entire period.

Similarly, if the second switch state indicated by the switch indication field is a certain on state, the first device turns on the second transceiver according to the indicated second switch state in the whole period. If the second switch state indicated by the switch indication field is a certain off state, the first device turns off the second transceiver according to the indicated second switch state for the entire period.

When the first switch state and the second switch state indicated by the switch indication field adopt the third combination mode, the first switch state indicated by the switch indication field is a certain on state, an openable state, a certain off state or an unconfirmed on state, and the second switch state indicated by the switch indication field is a certain on state, an openable state, a certain off state or an unconfirmed on state.

Therefore, if the first switch state indicated by the switch indication field is the openable state, the first device may open the first transceiver during the period according to the indicated first switch state, and may close the first transceiver or continue to open the first transceiver after receiving or transmitting data using the first transceiver. If the first switch state indicated by the switch indication field is not necessarily on, the first device may turn off the first transceiver according to the indicated first switch state in the period, turn on the first transceiver when the first transceiver needs to be used for transmitting or receiving data, and turn off the first transceiver after the data is transmitted or received; alternatively, the first device may decide on its own whether to turn the first transceiver on or off during this period. If the first switch state indicated by the switch indication field is a certain on state, the first device turns on the first transceiver according to the indicated first switch state throughout the period. If the first switch state indicated by the switch indication field is a certain off state, the first device turns off the first transceiver according to the indicated first switch state for the entire period.

Similarly, if the second switch state indicated by the switch indication field is the openable state, the first device may open the second transceiver according to the indicated second switch state in the period, and may close the second transceiver or continue to open the second transceiver after using the second transceiver to receive or transmit data. If the second switch state indicated by the switch indication field is not necessarily on, the first device may turn off the second transceiver according to the indicated second switch state in the period, turn on the second transceiver when the second transceiver needs to be used for transmitting or receiving data, and turn off the second transceiver after the data is transmitted or received; alternatively, the first device may decide on its own whether to turn the second transceiver on or off during this period. If the second switch state indicated by the switch indication field is a certain on state, the first device turns on the second transceiver according to the indicated second switch state throughout the period. If the second switch state indicated by the switch indication field is a certain off state, the first device turns off the second transceiver according to the indicated second switch state for the entire period.

Among them, it should be noted that: to beam train the second transceiver, the first switch indication field indicates that the second switch state within the BTI and the second switch indication field indicates that the second switch state within the a-BFT may both be an on state. The first device turns on the second transceiver and performs beam training on the second transceiver in the BTI according to the second switching state indicated by the first switching indication field, and still turns on the second transceiver and continues to perform beam training on the second transceiver in the a-BFT according to the second switching state indicated by the second switching indication field.

Wherein the first switch indication field indicates that the first switch state within the BTI may be an on state or an off state and the second switch field indicates that the first switch state within the a-BFT may be an on state or an off state. When the first switch indication field indicates that the first switch state in the BTI and the second switch indication field indicates that the first switch state in the a-BFT are both on states, the first device turns on the first transceiver in the BTI according to the first switch state indicated by the first switch indication field and uses the first transceiver to assist the second transceiver in performing beam training, and still turns on the first transceiver in the a-BFT according to the second switch state indicated by the second switch indication field and uses the first transceiver to continue to assist the second transceiver in performing beam training.

In order to allocate the sub-periods included in the DTI within the ATI, the third switch indication field indicates that the second switch state at the ATI may be in an on state, such that the first device may turn on the second transceiver within the ATI in accordance with the second switch state indicated by the third switch indication field, interact with the first device via the second transceiver, and allocate the sub-periods included in the DTI.

Among them, it should be noted that: referring to fig. 2-10, each CBAP of the DTI includes an AW, and when the second device needs to transmit data with the first device, the second device transmits an ATIM frame to the first device over the second frequency band during the AW to notify the first device. So when the fourth switch indication field indicates that the second switch state within the DTI is not necessarily on, the first device may turn off the second transceiver within the DTI, but turn on the second transceiver during the AW for each CBAP, detecting by the second transceiver whether the second device is transmitting ATIM frames. Referring still to fig. 2-10, during the AW period, if the first device receives an ATIM frame sent by the second device via the second transceiver indicating that the first device needs the second device to transmit data, the first device continues to turn on the second transceiver, receive or send data sent by the second device via the second transceiver, and turn off the second transceiver after receiving or sending the data. During the AW period, the first device shuts down the second transceiver at the end of the AW if the first device does not receive an ATIM frame sent by the second device.

Optionally, for the first device to turn off the second transceiver after receiving or sending data, referring to fig. 2 to 10, in practical implementation, the operations may be:

s1: the first device generates a third data frame, which includes a second indication unit for requesting to shut down the second transceiver in the first device.

The structure of the third data frame and the structure of the second indication unit are explained in detail later, and are not specifically described here.

S2: and the second device receives the third data frame, sends second confirmation information to the first device according to a second indication unit in the third data frame, and stops receiving or sending the data of the first device through the second frequency band.

S3: and the first equipment receives the second confirmation information through the second transceiver and closes the second transceiver according to the second confirmation information.

Optionally, if the first data frame further includes a third indication unit or the first device receives a fourth data frame including the third indication unit, the first device turns on or off the first transceiver according to the on-off state of the first transceiver indicated by the third indication unit during the AW period. If the first transceiver is turned on, the first device may detect whether the second device transmits an ATIM frame through the first transceiver during the AW period, and the first device may turn off the first transceiver at the end of the AW. If detecting the ATIM frame sent by the second equipment, indicating that the first equipment needs the second equipment to transmit data, the first equipment starts the second transceiver, receives the data sent by the second equipment or sends the data to the second equipment through the second transceiver, and closes the second transceiver after receiving or sending the data; and/or the first device may continue to turn on the first transceiver, receive data transmitted by the second device or transmit data to the second device through the first transceiver, and turn off the first transceiver after receiving or transmitting the data.

Optionally, if the first data frame further includes an indication bit, the first device may determine whether to use the third indication unit according to the indication bit, and if so, the first device performs an operation of turning on or off the first transceiver according to the on-off state of the first transceiver indicated by the third indication unit during the AW period.

Optionally, for any period of the BI, the first device turns on or off at least one of the two transceivers it includes through the above-mentioned procedures of steps 201 to 203 during the period. The situation of turning on or off the transceivers includes that two transceivers of the first device are turned on, two transceivers of the first device are turned off, one transceiver of the first device is turned off and the other transceiver is turned on.

When one transceiver in the first device is turned off and the other transceiver is turned on, the second device can control the first device to turn on the turned-off transceiver. Turning on the off transceiver may occur in a situation where there is data to be transmitted between the first device and the second device, which may cause the first device to transmit data using the first transceiver and the second transceiver to improve data transmission efficiency.

In implementation, the second device may control the first device to turn on the transceiver that the first device is turned off through the frequency band in which the transceiver that the first device is turned on operates. There are two main cases where one transceiver in the first device is off and the other transceiver is on, the first case where the first transceiver is off and the second transceiver is on, and the second case where the second transceiver is off and the first transceiver is on. For the two cases, the step may turn on the transceiver that the first device is turned off in the following two ways, respectively:

referring to fig. 2-11, for the first manner in which the first device may actively request the second device to help its transceiver turn on and off, the following steps may be implemented as 2041 to 2045, including:

2041: the first device sends a second data frame to the second device through the started transceiver, wherein the second data frame comprises a first indication unit, and the first indication unit is used for requesting to start the transceiver which is turned off by the first device.

Optionally, the second data frame includes two data frames, one of which is a first turn-on data frame for requesting to turn on the first transceiver, and the other is a second turn-on data frame for requesting to turn on the second transceiver. The first indicating unit includes two units, one of which is a first turn-on unit for requesting to turn on the first transceiver, and the other of which is a second turn-on unit for requesting to turn on the second transceiver. The first opening data frame includes a first opening unit, and the second opening data frame includes a second opening unit.

When in the first condition, the first device sends a first opening data frame for requesting to open the first transceiver to the second device through the second transceiver, wherein the first opening data frame comprises a first opening unit for requesting to open the first transceiver. The first opening data frame may be a newly designed data frame or a data frame obtained after the first opening unit is set in an existing data frame.

Referring to fig. 2-12, the newly designed first opening data frame includes fields of frame control, duration, Receiving Address (RA), first opening unit, and frame check sequence. The first starting unit comprises a first frequency band state field and a reserved field, wherein the first frequency band state field carries first bit information, and the first bit information is used for requesting to start the first transceiver. Alternatively, the first and second electrodes may be,

referring to the structures of the first open cell set in an existing data frame shown in fig. 2 to 13, the first open cell includes a cell identification field, a length field, and a content field. The unit identification field carries identification information for identifying the first starting unit, and the content field comprises a first frequency band state field and a reserved field, wherein the first frequency band state field carries first bit information.

When in the second condition, the first device sends a second startup data frame to the second device through the first transceiver, the second startup data frame including a second startup element for requesting startup of the second transceiver. The second opening data frame may be a newly designed data frame or a data frame obtained after the second opening unit is set in an existing data frame.

Referring to fig. 2-14, the newly designed second startup data frame includes fields of frame control, duration, Receiving Address (RA), second startup element, and frame check sequence. The second starting unit comprises a second frequency band state field and a reserved field, wherein the second frequency band state field carries second bit information, and the second bit information is used for requesting to start the second transceiver. Alternatively, the first and second electrodes may be,

referring to the structures of the second open unit provided in the existing data frame shown in fig. 2 to 15, the second open unit includes a unit identification field, a length field, and a content field. The unit identification field carries identification information for identifying the second starting unit, and the content field comprises a second frequency band state field and a reserved field, wherein the second frequency band state field carries second bit information.

Optionally, the first band status field may occupy a length of one bit, and the second band status field may occupy a length of one bit. The first bit information may be bit 0, and the second bit information may also be bit 0; alternatively, the first bit information may be bit 1, and the second bit information may also be bit 1.

The existing data frame may be a control frame or a management frame, etc.

Data is typically transmitted between a first device and a second device within the DTI of a BI, and in order to improve the efficiency of data transmission, the off transceiver in the first device may be turned on. For example, in the example shown with reference to fig. 2-7, which is in the first case where the first transceiver in the first device is off and the second transceiver is on, the first device transmits a second data frame to the second device through the second transceiver that is on during CBAP1, the second data frame being a first on data frame.

2042: and the second device receives a second data frame sent by the first device through the frequency band of the transceiver started by the first device.

When the first device is in the first condition, the second device receives a second data frame sent by the first device through a second frequency band, wherein the second data frame is a first opening data frame; and when the first device is in the first condition, the second device receives a second data frame sent by the first device through the first frequency band, wherein the second data frame is a first opening data frame.

2043: and the second equipment sends the first confirmation information to the first equipment according to the first indication unit.

When the first device is in the first condition, the second device may identify the first enabling unit from the first enabling data frame, and extract bit information carried by the first band status field in the first enabling unit. And if the extracted bit information is first bit information, determining to receive or transmit data of the first device through the first frequency band, and transmitting first confirmation information to the first device through the second frequency band. Alternatively, the first and second electrodes may be,

when the second device is in the second condition, the second device may identify the second startup unit from the second startup data frame, extract bit information carried in a second frequency band status field in the second startup unit, determine to receive or transmit data of the first device through the first frequency band if the extracted bit information is the second bit information, and transmit the first acknowledgement information to the first device through the second frequency band.

For example, in the examples shown in fig. 2 to 7, the second device receives a second data frame through the second frequency band, where the second data frame is a first open data frame, determines to receive or transmit data of the first device using the first frequency band according to the first open unit in the first open data frame, and transmits the first acknowledgement information to the first device through the second frequency band.

2044: the first device receives first confirmation information sent by the second device through the transceiver started by the first device.

When in the first condition, the first device receives the first acknowledgement information through the second transceiver. When in the second condition, the first device receives the first acknowledgement information through the first transceiver.

2045: the first device turns on the transceiver off at a first time after a second time when the first acknowledgement message is received and separated from the second time by a preset separation threshold.

When in the first condition, the first device turns on the first transceiver off at a first time. When in the second condition, the first device turns on the second transceiver off at a first time.

For example, in the examples shown in fig. 2-7, the first device receives the first acknowledgement information via the second transceiver, turns on the first transceiver at a first time, and then uses the first transceiver and the second transceiver to receive or transmit data.

Referring to fig. 2-16, for the second mode, in which the second device actively controls the transceiver of the first device to turn on or off, the following steps 2141 to 2143 may be performed, including:

2141: and the second device sends a second data frame to the first device through the working frequency band of the transceiver started by the first device, wherein the second data frame comprises a first indicating unit, and the first indicating unit is used for indicating to start the transceiver closed by the first device.

The second device knows the transceiver that the first device is on, so in this step the second device can send the second data frame to the first device through the frequency band in which the transceiver that the first device is on is operating.

The structure of the second data frame may be as described in 2041, and will not be described in detail.

2142: and the first device receives a second data frame sent by the second device through the started transceiver.

2143: the first device turns on the transceiver of the first device at a first time according to the first indication unit, wherein the first time is after a second time for receiving the second data frame and is separated from the second time by a preset separation threshold.

The first device may identify the first indication unit from the second data frame, extract bit information carried by a first band status field in the first activation unit if the extracted first indication unit is the first activation unit, and activate the first transceiver at the first time if the extracted bit information is the first bit information. If the extracted first indicating unit is a second starting unit, bit information carried by a second frequency band state field in the second starting unit is extracted, and if the extracted bit information is second bit information, a second transceiver is started at the first time.

Optionally, for any period of the BI, the first device starts the first transceiver and the second transceiver through the above procedures of steps 201 to 203 during the period. Or alternatively. The first device switches on the first transceiver and the second transceiver either through the embodiments described above in 2-11 or through the embodiments described above in 2-16.

After the first transceiver and the second transceiver of the first device are turned on, the second device may control the first device to turn off one transceiver in order to reduce power consumption of the first device. Turning off the transceiver may occur when the first device ceases to use the transceiver to transmit or receive data. The transceiver that is turned off here may be the transceiver that is turned on in 2045 or 2143 described above.

In implementation, the second device may control the first device to turn off a target transceiver in the first device through a frequency band in which one transceiver in the first device operates, where the target transceiver is the first transceiver or the second transceiver. The embodiment can be implemented by the following two ways, which are respectively:

referring to fig. 2-17, for the first manner in which the first device may actively request the second device to help it turn off the target transceiver, this may be accomplished by the following steps 2051 through 2055, including:

2051: the first device sends a third data frame to the second device through one of the transceivers included in the first device, wherein the third data frame includes a second indication unit, and the second indication unit is used for requesting to close the target transceiver in the first device.

Optionally, the third data frame includes two data frames, one of which is a first shutdown data frame for requesting to shut down the first transceiver, and the other is a second shutdown data frame for requesting to shut down the second transceiver. The second indicating unit includes two units, one of which is a first shutting unit for requesting shutting down of the first transceiver, and the other of which is a second shutting unit for requesting shutting down of the second transceiver. The first closing data frame includes a first closing unit and the second closing data frame includes a second closing unit.

When the target transceiver is the first transceiver, the first device transmits a first shutdown data frame to the second device through the first transceiver or the second transceiver, the first shutdown data frame including a first shutdown unit for requesting shutdown of the first transceiver. The first closing data frame may be a newly designed data frame or a data frame obtained after the first closing unit is set in an existing data frame.

For a newly designed first closing data frame, the structure of the first closing data frame is the same as that of the first opening data frame shown in fig. 2 to 12, the structure of the first closing unit is the same as that of the first opening unit in fig. 2 to 12, but bit information carried by a first frequency band status field in the first closing unit is third bit information, and the third bit information is used for requesting to close the first transceiver.

For the structure of the first shutdown unit set in the existing data frame, the first shutdown unit has the same structure as the first startup unit in fig. 2 to 13, but the bit information carried by the first band status field in the first shutdown unit is the third bit information.

When the target transceiver is a second transceiver, the first device transmits a second shutdown data frame to the second device through the first transceiver or the second transceiver, the second shutdown data frame including a second shutdown unit for requesting shutdown of the second transceiver. The second closing data frame may be a newly designed data frame or a data frame obtained after the second closing unit is set in an existing data frame.

For the second closing data frame which is newly designed, the structure of the second closing data frame is the same as that of the second opening data frame shown in fig. 2 to 14, the structure of the second closing unit is the same as that of the second opening unit in fig. 2 to 14, but bit information carried by the second frequency band status field in the second closing unit is fourth bit information, and the fourth bit information is used for requesting to close the second transceiver.

For the structure of the second shutdown unit set in the existing data frame, the second shutdown unit has the same structure as the second startup unit in fig. 2 to 15, but the bit information carried by the second band status field in the second shutdown unit is fourth bit information.

Optionally, the third bit information may be bit 0, and the fourth bit information may also be bit 0; alternatively, the third bit information may be bit 1, and the fourth bit information may also be bit 1. The first bit information is different from the third bit information, and the second bit information is different from the fourth bit information.

The first device may request to turn off the transceiver when data transmission between the first device and the second device is completed, typically within the DTI of the BI. For example, in the example shown with reference to fig. 2-7, when the first device requests to turn off the first transceiver, the first device transmits a third data frame to the second device through the second transceiver during CBAP1, the third data frame being the first turn off data frame; alternatively, referring to fig. 2-18, the first device transmits a third data frame to the second device through the first transceiver during CBAP1, the third data frame being a first shutdown data frame.

2052: and the second device receives the third data frame sent by the first device through the frequency band in which the transceiver in the first device works.

When the first device sends a third data frame through the second transceiver, the second device receives the third data frame sent by the first device through the second frequency band; and when the first device sends the third data frame through the first transceiver, the second device receives the third data frame sent by the first device through the first frequency band.

2053: and the second device sends second confirmation information to the first device according to the second indication unit.

When the third data frame is a first shutdown data frame, that is, the target transceiver is the first transceiver, the second device may identify the first shutdown unit from the first shutdown data frame, and extract bit information carried in the first band status field in the first shutdown unit. And if the extracted bit information is third bit information, determining to stop receiving or transmitting data of the first device through the first frequency band, and transmitting second acknowledgement information to the first device.

When the third data frame is a second shutdown data frame, that is, the target transceiver is a second transceiver, the second device may identify a second shutdown unit from the second shutdown data frame, and extract bit information carried in a second band status field in the second shutdown unit. And if the extracted bit information is fourth bit information, determining to stop receiving or transmitting data of the first device through the second frequency band, and transmitting second acknowledgement information to the first device.

And the frequency band used by the second equipment for sending the second confirmation information is the same as the frequency band used for receiving the third data frame.

For example, in the examples shown in fig. 2 to 7, the second device receives a third data frame through the second frequency band, where the third data frame is a first shutdown data frame, determines to stop receiving or transmitting data of the first device using the first frequency band according to the first shutdown unit in the first shutdown data frame, and transmits second acknowledgement information to the first device through the second frequency band.

For another example, in the examples shown in fig. 2 to 18, the second device receives a third data frame through the first frequency band, where the third data frame is a first shutdown data frame, determines to stop receiving or transmitting data of the first device using the first frequency band according to the first shutdown unit in the first shutdown data frame, and transmits the second acknowledgement information to the first device through the first frequency band.

2054: the first device receives, through the one transceiver it includes, the second acknowledgement information sent by the second device.

And the transceiver used by the first equipment for receiving the second confirmation information is the same as the transceiver used for transmitting the third data frame.

2055: the first device turns off the target transceiver according to the second acknowledgement information.

The first device turns off the first transceiver when the target transceiver is the first transceiver and turns off the second transceiver when the target transceiver is the second transceiver.

Alternatively, the first device may send an End Of Service (EOSP) command or a Power Management (PM) command to the second device directly to request the target transceiver to be turned off. In actual implementation, the first device may send an EOSP instruction or a PM instruction to the second device through the target transceiver, the second device receives the EOSP instruction or the PM instruction through the operating frequency band of the target transceiver, sends confirmation information to the first device through the operating frequency band of the target transceiver, and determines to stop using the operating frequency band of the target transceiver to receive or send data of the first device; the first device turns off the target transceiver after receiving the confident information via the target transceiver.

Referring to fig. 2-19, for the second mode, in which the second device actively controls the target transceiver to be turned off by the first device, the following steps 2151 to 2153 may be performed:

2151: and the second device sends a third data frame to the first device through the working frequency band of one transceiver in the first device, wherein the third data frame comprises a second indicating unit, and the second indicating unit is used for indicating to close the target transceiver in the first device.

2152: the first device receives, via the one of the transceivers, a third data frame transmitted by the second device.

2153: the first device turns off the target transceiver according to the second indication unit.

When the third data frame is a first shutdown data frame, that is, the target transceiver is the first transceiver, the first device may identify the first shutdown unit from the first shutdown data frame, and extract bit information carried in the first band status field in the first shutdown unit. And if the extracted bit information is the third bit information, closing the first transceiver.

When the third data frame is a second shutdown data frame, that is, the target transceiver is a second transceiver, the first device may identify a second shutdown unit from the second shutdown data frame, and extract bit information carried in a second band status field in the second shutdown unit. And if the extracted bit information is the fourth bit information, closing the second transceiver.

In an embodiment of the application, a first data frame including switch indication information is generated by a second device, the switch indication information is used for indicating a switch state of a first transceiver and/or a second transceiver of the first device in at least one period included in a BI, and the first data frame is sent to the first device; therefore, the first equipment starts or closes the first transceiver and/or the second transceiver in at least one period according to the switch state in at least one period indicated by the switch indication information, so that the first transceiver and the second transceiver in the first equipment are managed, the power consumption of the first equipment is reduced, and the aim of saving power is fulfilled.

Referring to fig. 3, the embodiments of the present application provide a communication apparatus 300, and the apparatus 300 may be an application specific integrated circuit, one or more FPGAs (field programmable gate arrays), PLDs (programmable logic devices), controllers, state machines, gate logic, discrete hardware components, any other suitable circuit, or any combination of circuits, chips, boards, or communication devices, etc. capable of performing various functions described throughout the present application. The apparatus 300 is configured into a second device in the embodiment of fig. 1-1 or the embodiment of fig. 2-1, the apparatus 300 comprising:

a processing unit 301, configured to generate a first data frame including switching indication information, where the switching indication information is used to indicate a switching state of a first transceiver and/or a second transceiver of a first device in at least one period included in a beacon interval BI, and a frequency of a first frequency band in which the first transceiver operates is smaller than a frequency of a second frequency band in which the second transceiver operates;

a transceiving unit 302, configured to send the first data frame to the first device.

Alternatively, referring to fig. 1-2, the transceiver unit 302 may include a third transceiver and a fourth transceiver, the third transceiver operating in the first frequency band and the fourth transceiver operating in the second frequency band.

Optionally, referring to fig. 2-2, the switch indication information includes at least one switch indication field, and each of the at least one switch indication field corresponds to one period in the BI;

a switch indication field is used to indicate a switch state of the first transceiver and/or the second transceiver during its corresponding time period.

Optionally, referring to fig. 2-4, 2-5, and 2-6, the switch state is one of a certain on state and a certain off state, and the switch state is one of a possible on state and a not-necessary on state, or the switch state is one of a certain on state, a possible on state, a certain off state, and a not-necessary on state.

Optionally, referring to fig. 2-2, the BI includes at least one of a beacon frame transmission time BTI, an association beamforming training a-BFT, an announcement transmission time ATI, and a data transmission time DTI, and the switch indication information includes at least one of a first switch indication field, a second switch indication field, a third switch indication field, and a fourth switch indication field;

the first switch indication field is used for indicating the switch state of the first transceiver and/or the second transceiver in the BTI;

the second switch indication field to indicate a switch state of the first transceiver and/or the second transceiver within the A-BFT;

the third switch indication field to indicate a switch state of the first transceiver and/or the second transceiver within the ATI;

the fourth switch indication field is to indicate a switch state of the first transceiver and/or the second transceiver within the DTI.

Optionally, referring to fig. 2 to 3, the DTI includes at least one contention-based access phase CBAP and/or at least one scheduling service phase SP, and the fourth switch indication field includes a first subfield and/or a second subfield;

the first subfield to indicate a switch status of the first transceiver and/or the second transceiver in the at least one CBAP;

the second subfield is used to indicate a switching state of the first transceiver and/or the second transceiver in the at least one SP.

Optionally, referring to fig. 2 to 7, the processing unit 301 is further configured to control the first device to turn on the transceiver that is turned off by the first device through a frequency band in which the transceiver that is turned on by the first device operates when one transceiver in the first device is turned off and another transceiver in the first device is turned on.

Optionally, the transceiver unit 302 is further configured to receive a second data frame sent by the first device through a frequency band in which the transceiver turned on by the first device operates, where the second data frame includes a first indication unit, and the first indication unit is configured to request to turn on the transceiver turned off by the first device;

the transceiving unit 302 is further configured to send first acknowledgement information to the first device.

Optionally, the transceiver unit 302 is further configured to send a second data frame to the first device through a frequency band in which the transceiver turned on by the first device operates, where the second data frame includes a first indication unit, and the first indication unit is configured to indicate to turn on the transceiver turned off by the first device.

Optionally, the processing unit 301 is further configured to control, by a frequency band in which one transceiver in the first device operates, the first device to turn off a target transceiver in the first device, where the target transceiver is the first transceiver or the second transceiver.

Optionally, the transceiver unit 302 is further configured to receive a third data frame sent by the first device through a frequency band in which one transceiver in the first device operates, where the third data frame includes a second indication unit, and the second indication unit is configured to request to turn off a target transceiver in the first device;

the transceiving unit 302 is further configured to send second acknowledgement information to the first device.

Optionally, the transceiver unit 302 is further configured to send a third data frame to the first device through a frequency band in which one transceiver in the first device operates, where the third data frame includes a second indication unit, and the second indication unit is configured to indicate to turn off a target transceiver in the first device.

Optionally, referring to fig. 2 to 8, the first data frame further includes a third indication unit, where the third indication unit is configured to indicate a switch state of the first transceiver in at least one wake-up window AW included in the DTI of the BI.

Optionally, referring to fig. 2 to 9, the first data frame further includes an indication bit, where the indication bit is used to indicate whether the third indication unit is used by the first device.

Optionally, the transceiver unit 302 is further configured to send a fourth data frame to the first device, where the fourth data frame includes a third indication unit, and the third indication unit is configured to indicate a switch state of the first transceiver in at least one AW included in the DTI of the BI.

In an embodiment of the application, a first data frame including switch indication information is generated by the apparatus, the switch indication information is used for indicating a switch state of a first transceiver and/or a second transceiver of a first device in at least one period included in a BI, and the first data frame is transmitted to the first device; therefore, the first equipment starts or closes the first transceiver and/or the second transceiver in at least one period according to the switch state in at least one period indicated by the switch indication information, so that the first transceiver and/or the second transceiver in the first equipment are managed, the power consumption of the first equipment is reduced, and the aim of saving power is fulfilled.

Referring to fig. 4, the embodiments of the present application provide a communication apparatus 400, and the apparatus 400 may be an application specific integrated circuit, one or more FPGAs (field programmable gate arrays), PLDs (programmable logic devices), controllers, state machines, gate logic, discrete hardware components, any other suitable circuit, or any combination of circuits, chips, boards, or communication devices, etc. capable of performing various functions described throughout the present application. The apparatus 400 is configured into a first device in the embodiment of fig. 1-1 or the embodiment of fig. 2-1, the apparatus 400 comprising:

a transceiver unit 401, configured to receive a first data frame sent by a second device and including switching indication information, where the switching indication information is used to indicate a switching state of a first transceiver and/or a second transceiver of the apparatus 400 in at least one period included in a beacon interval BI, and a frequency of a frequency band in which the first transceiver operates is lower than a frequency of a frequency band in which the second transceiver operates;

a processing unit 402, configured to start or shut down the first transceiver and/or the second transceiver of the apparatus 400 during the at least one period according to the switch state in the at least one period indicated by the switch indication information.

Alternatively, referring to fig. 1-3, the transceiver unit 402 may include a first transceiver and a second transceiver.

Optionally, referring to fig. 2-4, 2-5, and 2-6, the switch state is one of a certain on state and a certain off state, and the switch state is one of a possible on state and a possible off state, or one of a certain on state, a possible on state, a certain off state, and a possible off state.

Optionally, the processing unit 402 is further configured to turn on the transceiver of the apparatus 400 that is turned off through the transceiver of the apparatus 400 that is turned on when one transceiver of the apparatus 400 is turned off and another transceiver is turned on.

Optionally, the transceiver unit 401 is further configured to send a second data frame to the second device through the transceiver turned on by the apparatus 400, where the second data frame includes a first indication unit, and the first indication unit is configured to request to turn on the transceiver turned off by the apparatus 400;

the transceiver unit 401 is further configured to receive, through the transceiver turned on by the apparatus 400, first acknowledgement information sent by the second device;

the processing unit 402 is further configured to turn on the transceiver of the apparatus 400 to be turned off at a first time, which is after a second time of receiving the first acknowledgement information and is separated from the second time by a preset separation threshold.

Optionally, the transceiver unit 401 is further configured to receive, by the transceiver turned on by the apparatus 400, a second data frame sent by the second device, where the second data frame includes a first indication unit, and the first indication unit is configured to indicate to turn on the transceiver turned off by the apparatus 400;

the processing unit 402 is further configured to turn on the transceiver of the apparatus 400 to be turned off at a first time according to the first indication unit, where the first time is after a second time of receiving the second data frame and is separated from the second time by a preset separation threshold.

Optionally, the processing unit 402 is further configured to turn off a target transceiver in the apparatus 400 through one transceiver in the apparatus 400, where the target transceiver is the first transceiver or the second transceiver.

Optionally, the transceiver unit 401 is further configured to send a third data frame to the second device through one transceiver in the apparatus 400, where the third data frame includes a second indication unit, and the second indication unit is configured to request to turn off the target transceiver in the apparatus 400;

the transceiver unit 401 is further configured to receive, by the transceiver, second acknowledgement information sent by the second device;

the processing unit 402 is further configured to turn off the target transceiver according to the second acknowledgement information.

Optionally, the transceiver unit 401 is further configured to receive, by one transceiver in the apparatus 400, a third data frame sent by the second device, where the third data frame includes a second indication unit, and the second indication unit is configured to indicate to turn off a target transceiver in the apparatus 400;

the processing unit 402 is further configured to turn off the target transceiver according to the second indication unit.

Optionally, the first data frame further includes a third indication unit, where the third indication unit is configured to indicate a switch state of the first transceiver in at least one wake-up window AW in the DTI of the BI;

the processing unit is further configured to start or shut down the first transceiver in the at least one AW according to the switch state in the at least one AW indicated by the third indication unit.

Optionally, the first data frame further includes an indication bit;

the processing unit 402 is further configured to determine whether to use the indication unit according to the indication bit, and if it is determined to use the indication unit, execute the operation of starting or shutting down the first transceiver in the at least one AW according to the switch state in the at least one AW indicated by the third indication unit.

Optionally, the transceiver 401 is further configured to receive a fourth data frame sent by the second device, where the fourth data frame includes a third indication unit, and the third indication unit is configured to indicate a switch state of the first transceiver in at least one AW included in the DTI of the BI;

the processing unit 402 is further configured to start or shut down the first transceiver in the at least one AW according to the switch state in the at least one AW indicated by the third indicating unit.

In the embodiment of the present application, a first data frame including switch indication information is generated by the second device, so that the apparatus may be used to indicate a switch state of the first transceiver and/or the second transceiver of the apparatus in at least one period included in the BI according to the switch indication information, and the first transceiver and/or the second transceiver is turned on or off in the at least one period, thereby implementing management of the first transceiver and the second transceiver in the apparatus to reduce power consumption of the apparatus and achieve the purpose of saving power.

Fig. 5 is another schematic diagram of a communication device 500 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The apparatus 500 may be an application specific integrated circuit, one or more FPGAs (field programmable gate arrays), PLDs (programmable logic devices), controllers, state machines, gated logic, discrete hardware components, any other suitable circuitry, or any combination of circuitry, chips, boards, or communication devices capable of performing the various functions described throughout this disclosure, or the like. The apparatus 500 is configured in the second device in the embodiment described in fig. 1-1 or fig. 2-1 or in the apparatus in the embodiment described in fig. 3, and may be used to perform the operations performed by the second device in the method described in fig. 2-1. As shown in fig. 5, the apparatus 500 includes: an input-output interface 501, a processor 502 and a memory 503. The input/output interface 501, the processor 502 and the memory 503 may be connected by a bus system 504.

The memory 503 is used to store programs, instructions or code. The processor 502 is configured to execute the program, the instruction, or the code in the memory 503 to control the input/output interface 501 to receive or send the signal and to implement the steps and functions implemented by the second device in the embodiment corresponding to fig. 2-1, which are not described herein again. The above specific implementation of the input/output interface 501 and the processor 502 may refer to the transceiver unit 302 in fig. 3, and the specific description of the processing unit 301 is omitted here for brevity.

Fig. 6 is another schematic diagram of a communication device 600 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The apparatus 600 may be an application specific integrated circuit, one or more FPGAs (field programmable gate arrays), PLDs (programmable logic devices), controllers, state machines, gated logic, discrete hardware components, any other suitable circuitry, or any combination of circuitry, chips, boards, or communication devices capable of performing the various functions described throughout this disclosure, or the like. The apparatus 600 is configured in the first device in the embodiment described in fig. 1-1 or fig. 2-1 or in the apparatus in the embodiment described in fig. 4, and may be used to perform the operations performed by the first device in the method described in fig. 2-1. As shown in fig. 6, the apparatus 600 includes: an input-output interface 601, a processor 602, and a memory 603. The input/output interface 601, the processor 602 and the memory 603 may be connected by a bus system 604.

The memory 603 is used to store programs, instructions or code. The processor 602 is configured to execute the program, the instruction, or the code in the memory 603 to control the input/output interface 601 to receive or send the signal and to implement the steps and functions implemented by the first device in the embodiment corresponding to fig. 2-1, which are not described herein again. The above specific embodiments of the input/output interface 601 and the processor 602 may refer to the transceiver unit 401 in fig. 4, and the specific description of the processing unit 402 is omitted here for brevity.

The above-mentioned serial numbers of the embodiments of the present application are merely for description and do not represent the merits of the embodiments.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that all or part of the steps for implementing the above embodiments may be implemented by hardware, or may be implemented by a program instructing relevant hardware, where the program may be stored in a computer-readable storage medium, and the above-mentioned storage medium may be a read-only memory, a magnetic disk or an optical disk, etc.

The above description is only exemplary of the present application and should not be taken as limiting, as any modification, equivalent replacement, or improvement made within the spirit and principle of the present application should be included in the protection scope of the present application.

Claims

1. A method of communication, the method comprising:

generating a first data frame including switching indication information for indicating a switching state of a first transceiver and/or a second transceiver of a first device in at least one period included in a beacon interval BI, a frequency of a first frequency band in which the first transceiver operates being smaller than a frequency of a second frequency band in which the second transceiver operates;

transmitting the first data frame to the first device.

2. The method of claim 1,

the switch indication information includes at least one switch indication field, each of the at least one switch indication field corresponding to one epoch in the BI;

3. The method of claim 2,

the switch state is one of a certain on state and a certain off state.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3,

the BI includes at least one of a beacon frame transmission time (BTI), an associated beamforming training (A-BFT), an announcement transmission time (ATI) and a data transmission time (DTI), and the switch indication information includes at least one of a first switch indication field, a second switch indication field, a third switch indication field and a fourth switch indication field;

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the DTI comprises at least one contention-based access phase (CBAP) and/or at least one scheduling Service Phase (SP), and wherein the fourth switch indication field comprises a first subfield and/or a second subfield;

6. A method of communication, the method comprising:

a first device receives a first data frame which is sent by a second device and comprises switch indication information, wherein the switch indication information is used for indicating the switch state of a first transceiver and/or a second transceiver of the first device in at least one period included in a beacon interval BI, and the frequency of a frequency band in which the first transceiver works is less than that of the frequency band in which the second transceiver works;

the first device starts or shuts down the first transceiver and/or the second transceiver of the first device in the at least one period according to the switch state in the at least one period indicated by the switch indication information.

7. The method of claim 6,

8. The method of claim 7,

the switch state is one of a certain on state and a certain off state.

9. The method according to any one of claims 6 to 8,

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the DTI comprises at least one contention-based access phase CBAP and/or at least one scheduling service phase SP, and the fourth switch indication field comprises a first subfield and/or a second subfield;

11. A communications apparatus, the apparatus comprising:

a processing unit, configured to generate a first data frame including switching indication information, where the switching indication information is used to indicate a switching state of a first transceiver and/or a second transceiver of a first device in at least one period included in a beacon interval BI, and a frequency of a first frequency band in which the first transceiver operates is smaller than a frequency of a second frequency band in which the second transceiver operates;

a transceiving unit, configured to send the first data frame to the first device.

12. The apparatus of claim 11,

13. The apparatus of claim 12,

the switch state is one of a certain on state and a certain off state.

14. The apparatus of any one of claims 11 to 13,

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the DTI comprises at least one contention-based access phase CBAP and/or at least one scheduling service phase SP, the fourth switch indication field comprises a first subfield and/or a second subfield;

16. A communications apparatus, the apparatus comprising:

a transceiver unit, configured to receive a first data frame sent by a second device and including switching indication information, where the switching indication information is used to indicate a switching state of a first transceiver and/or a second transceiver of the apparatus in at least one period included in a beacon interval BI, and a frequency of a frequency band in which the first transceiver operates is lower than a frequency of a frequency band in which the second transceiver operates;

and the processing unit is used for starting or closing the first transceiver and/or the second transceiver of the device in the at least one period according to the switch state in the at least one period indicated by the switch indication information.

17. The apparatus of claim 16,

18. The apparatus of claim 17,

the switch state is one of a certain on state and a certain off state.

19. The apparatus of any one of claims 16 to 18,

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the DTI comprises at least one contention-based access phase CBAP and/or at least one scheduling service phase SP, the fourth switch indication field comprises a first subfield and/or a second subfield;