WO2021238578A1 - 无线局域网中的信令信息的交互方法及通信装置 - Google Patents

无线局域网中的信令信息的交互方法及通信装置 Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2021238578A1
WO2021238578A1 PCT/CN2021/091229 CN2021091229W WO2021238578A1 WO 2021238578 A1 WO2021238578 A1 WO 2021238578A1 CN 2021091229 W CN2021091229 W CN 2021091229W WO 2021238578 A1 WO2021238578 A1 WO 2021238578A1
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WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
mld
information
field
virtual
bssid
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PCT/CN2021/091229
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English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
淦明
梁丹丹
于健
李云波
郭宇宸
杨讯
李伊青
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华为技术有限公司
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Application filed by 华为技术有限公司 filed Critical 华为技术有限公司
Priority to KR1020227044963A priority Critical patent/KR20230014745A/ko
Priority to AU2021281967A priority patent/AU2021281967B2/en
Priority to CA3180440A priority patent/CA3180440A1/en
Priority to EP21811843.8A priority patent/EP4145933A4/en
Priority to JP2022572368A priority patent/JP2023528312A/ja
Priority to BR112022023977A priority patent/BR112022023977A2/pt
Priority to MX2022014865A priority patent/MX2022014865A/es
Publication of WO2021238578A1 publication Critical patent/WO2021238578A1/zh
Priority to US17/991,920 priority patent/US20230102644A1/en

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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L1/00—Arrangements for detecting or preventing errors in the information received
    • H04L1/0001—Systems modifying transmission characteristics according to link quality, e.g. power backoff
    • H04L1/0023—Systems modifying transmission characteristics according to link quality, e.g. power backoff characterised by the signalling
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W48/00—Access restriction; Network selection; Access point selection
    • H04W48/16—Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W48/00—Access restriction; Network selection; Access point selection
    • H04W48/08—Access restriction or access information delivery, e.g. discovery data delivery
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W76/00—Connection management
    • H04W76/10—Connection setup
    • H04W76/15—Setup of multiple wireless link connections
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W84/00—Network topologies
    • H04W84/02—Hierarchically pre-organised networks, e.g. paging networks, cellular networks, WLAN [Wireless Local Area Network] or WLL [Wireless Local Loop]
    • H04W84/10—Small scale networks; Flat hierarchical networks
    • H04W84/12—WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W88/00—Devices specially adapted for wireless communication networks, e.g. terminals, base stations or access point devices
    • H04W88/08—Access point devices
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W88/00—Devices specially adapted for wireless communication networks, e.g. terminals, base stations or access point devices
    • H04W88/08—Access point devices
    • H04W88/10—Access point devices adapted for operation in multiple networks, e.g. multi-mode access points

Definitions

  • This application relates to the field of communication technology, and in particular to a method and communication device for signaling information interaction in a wireless local area network.
  • the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11ax standard is based on the existing Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) technology. Further adopt Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) technology. OFDMA technology supports multiple nodes to send and receive data at the same time, thereby achieving multi-site diversity gain.
  • OFDMA Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access
  • OFDMA Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access
  • OFDMA technology supports multiple nodes to send and receive data at the same time, thereby achieving multi-site diversity gain.
  • FCC Federal Communications Commission
  • 802.11ax standard workers expanded the working range of 802.11ax devices from 2.4GHz, 5GHz to 2.4GHz, 5GHz and 6GHz in the 802.11ax project authorization request (PAR).
  • IEEE 802.11 next-generation WiFi protocol Extremely high throughput, EHT
  • EHT Extremely high throughput
  • 802.11ax devices that is, 2.4GHz, 5GHz and 6GHz frequency bands will be supported.
  • the supportable bandwidth can exceed the maximum bandwidth supported at 5GHz of 160MHz, such as 320MHz.
  • IEEE 802.11ax next-generation WiFi-extremely high throughput can also increase the peak value through more streams, such as increasing the number of streams to 16 streams, and the cooperation of multiple frequency bands (2.4GHz, 5GHz and 6GHz). Throughput.
  • the peak throughput can also be improved through multiple channel cooperation and other methods, and the delay of service transmission can be reduced.
  • multi-frequency bands or multi-channels are collectively referred to as multi-link.
  • 802.11ax and previous WiFi in the same working frequency band are configured with multiple links, in general, each multiple link establishes a different Basic Service Set (BSS), and only one link can follow this link at a time. Station communication in the BSS to which the link belongs.
  • BSS Basic Service Set
  • the main function is to virtualize multiple logical APs on a physical AP, that is, to form multiple virtual networks.
  • the virtual network is used to manage different sites separately, similar to the current AP product in the WIFI scenario, an AP can virtually report to an AP (home AP) and a client AP (guest AP).
  • the embodiment of the present application discloses a method for interacting signaling information in a WLAN and related devices.
  • an embodiment of the present application provides a method for exchanging signaling information in a WLAN, including: an access point AP generates a management frame, the AP belongs to the first AP multi-link device MLD; wherein, the management frame Including MLD information, the MLD information includes: a first MLD element, sub-elements of the first MLD element are used to carry information about other APs in the first MLD to which the AP belongs, and the first MLD element also includes an indication Type information of the MLD element type; the access point sends the management frame.
  • an embodiment of the present application provides a method for exchanging signaling information in a WLAN, including: a station receives a management frame sent by an access point AP; the AP belongs to the first AP multi-link device MLD; wherein, The management frame includes MLD information, and the MLD information includes: a first MLD element, and sub-elements of the first MLD element are used to carry information about other APs in the first MLD to which the AP belongs.
  • the element also includes type information indicating the type of the MLD element; the station obtains the information of other APs in the first MLD to which the AP belongs according to the management frame.
  • a communication device in a wireless local area network WLAN including: a processing unit, configured to generate a management frame, where the AP belongs to a first AP multi-link device MLD; wherein the management frame includes MLD information, and
  • the MLD information includes: a first MLD element, sub-elements of the first MLD element are used to carry information about other APs in the first MLD to which the AP belongs, and the first MLD element also includes a type indicating the type of the MLD element Information; transceiver unit for the management frame.
  • a communication device in a wireless local area network WLAN including: a transceiver unit, configured to receive a management frame sent by an access point AP; the AP belongs to a first AP multi-link device MLD; wherein, the The management frame includes MLD information, the MLD information includes: a first MLD element, and sub-elements of the first MLD element are used to carry information about other APs in the first MLD to which the AP belongs, and the MLD element also It includes type information indicating the type of the MLD element; a processing unit, configured to obtain information of other APs in the first MLD to which the AP belongs according to the management frame.
  • a communication device including a processor and a memory, the memory stores instructions, when the instructions are executed by the processor, so that the communication device executes: generating a management frame, and the AP belongs to The first AP multi-link device MLD; wherein the management frame includes MLD information, the MLD information includes: a first MLD element, and sub-elements of the first MLD element are used to carry the first MLD to which the AP belongs In the information of other APs, the first MLD element further includes type information indicating the type of the MLD element; and the management frame is sent.
  • a communication device including a processor and a memory, the memory stores instructions, when the instructions are executed by the processor, so that the communication device executes: for receiving an access point AP
  • This application provides a flexible signaling structure that uses one or more MLD elements and the MLD element included in the Multiple BSSID element to describe the information of one or more APs in the multi-AP multi-link device to help site selection
  • the appropriate AP or AP MLD is associated.
  • the signaling structure of the MLD information proposed in the embodiment of the present application is simple and flexible.
  • the MLD element further includes: a common control field; the common control field includes the type information, which is used to indicate the element type of the MLD element.
  • the embodiment of the present application proposes to carry type information indicating the type of the MLD element in the MLD element, so that the station can determine the type of the MLD according to the information, so that the relationship and structure between the MLDs in the multi-AP multi-link device can be determined.
  • the element type includes: a formal MLD element, a virtual MLD element; the type information specifically includes: a virtual MLD field, which is used to indicate whether the MLD element is virtual MLD element.
  • the virtual MLD field includes 1 bit
  • the virtual MLD field is set to the first value
  • the virtual MLD field is set to a second value.
  • the element type includes: a formal MLD element, a virtual MLD element, and a special MLD element; the type information includes: a virtual MLD field, which is used to indicate the Whether the MLD element is a virtual MLD element; the special MLD resource is used to indicate whether the MLD element is a special MLD element.
  • the virtual MLD field includes 1 bit, and the special MLD field includes 1 bit; if the MLD element is a virtual MLD element, the virtual MLD field is set to If it is the first value, the special MLD field is set to the second value; if the MLD element is a special MLD element, the virtual MLD field is set to the second value, and the special MLD field is set to the first value; if If the MLD element is a formal MLD element, the virtual MLD field is set to a second value, and the special MLD field is set to a second value.
  • the MLD element further includes: an MLD public information field;
  • the public control field further includes: an MLD address appearance field, which is used to indicate that the MLD public information field Whether there will be an MLD address field, the MLD address field is used to carry the identifier of the first MLD.
  • the MLD public information field includes an MLD address field; if the type information indicates the The MLD element is a formal MLD element, and the MLD public information field includes an MLD address field.
  • the MLD public information field does not include an MLD address field.
  • the MLD information further includes: a second MLD element, and sub-elements in the second MLD element carry information about the AP in the second MLD.
  • the MLD information further includes a first Multiple BSSID element, and the first Multiple BSSID element includes all The information of the non-transmitting AP in the first Multiple BSSID set.
  • the Multiple BSSID element further includes a third MLD element
  • the child elements of the third MLD element carry information of other APs in the third MLD.
  • the MLD information further includes: a fourth MLD element, and sub-elements of the fourth MLD element carry information of the AP.
  • the first MLD element is a formal MLD element
  • the type information in the first MLD element indicates that the first MLD element is a formal MLD element
  • the second MLD element is a virtual MLD element
  • the type information in the second MLD element indicates that the second MLD element is a virtual MLD element
  • the third MLD is a formal MLD element
  • the type information in the second MLD element indicates that the second MLD element is a formal MLD element
  • the fourth MLD element is a special MLD element
  • the type information in the fourth MLD element indicates that the fourth MLD element is a special MLD element
  • the communication device in the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth aspects described above may be a chip
  • the processing unit may be a processing circuit of the chip
  • the transceiver unit may be an input/output interface circuit
  • the processing circuit may be used to process The provided signaling or data information is output
  • the input/output interface circuit can be used to input and output data or signaling information for the chip.
  • a computer-readable storage medium stores computer program code, which when the computer program runs on a processor, causes the processor to execute The method in any one of the foregoing first aspect and second aspect and corresponding possible implementation manners.
  • the eighth aspect of the embodiments of the present application provides a computer program product that stores a computer program (instruction) executed by the above-mentioned processor, and when the computer program runs on the processor, the processor Perform any one of the above-mentioned first aspect and second aspect and the method in the corresponding possible implementation manner.
  • a ninth aspect of the embodiments of the present application provides a communication device, which includes a processor, and may also include a transceiver and a memory.
  • the transceiver is used for sending and receiving information or communicating with other network elements;
  • the memory is used for Stores a computer program (instruction);
  • a processor is used to execute the computer program to support the communication device to implement any one of the above-mentioned first aspect and second aspect and the method in the corresponding possible implementation manner.
  • the tenth aspect of the embodiments of the present application provides a communication device.
  • the device may exist in the form of a chip.
  • the structure of the device includes a processor and a memory.
  • the memory is used for coupling with the processor and storing The necessary programs (instructions) and data of the device, and the processor is used to execute the computer program stored in the memory to support the communication device to execute any one of the above-mentioned first aspect and second aspect and the method in the corresponding possible implementation manner.
  • the memory may be located in the processor and be internal storage, and the processor may also be located outside the processor, coupled and linked with the processor, and be external storage.
  • the eleventh aspect of the embodiments of the present application provides a communication device that can exist in the form of a chip product.
  • the structure of the device includes a processor and an interface circuit, and the processor is used to communicate with other devices through a receiving circuit. , So that the device executes the method in any one of the foregoing first aspect and second aspect and corresponding possible implementation manners.
  • the twelfth aspect of the embodiments of the present application provides a communication device for executing any one of the first aspect and the second aspect and the method in the corresponding possible implementation manner.
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication system provided by an embodiment of this application.
  • Figure 2 (a) is a schematic structural diagram of a multi-link device provided by an embodiment of this application.
  • Figure 2(b) is a schematic structural diagram of another multi-link device provided by an embodiment of this application.
  • Figure 2(c) is a schematic structural diagram of another multi-link device provided by an embodiment of this application.
  • Figure 3(a) is a schematic diagram of a multi-link communication provided by an embodiment of this application.
  • Figure 3(b) is a schematic diagram of another multi-link communication provided by an embodiment of this application.
  • FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of interaction of a communication method applied to a multi-link device in a WLAN according to an embodiment of the application;
  • FIG. 5 is a schematic structural diagram of a multi-AP multi-link device provided by an embodiment of this application.
  • FIG. 6a is a schematic diagram of a structure of an MLD element provided by an embodiment of this application.
  • FIG. 6b is a schematic structural diagram of another MLD element provided by an embodiment of this application.
  • FIG. 6c is a schematic structural diagram of another MLD element provided by an embodiment of this application.
  • FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of the structure of sub-elements in an MLD element provided by an embodiment of this application.
  • FIG. 8a is a schematic structural diagram of another multi-AP multi-link device provided by an embodiment of this application.
  • FIG. 8b is a schematic structural diagram of yet another multi-AP multi-link device provided by an embodiment of this application.
  • FIG. 9a is a schematic structural diagram of a management frame provided by an embodiment of this application.
  • Figure 9b is a schematic structural diagram of another management frame provided by an embodiment of the application.
  • FIG. 9c is a schematic structural diagram of another management frame provided by an embodiment of this application.
  • FIG. 9d is a schematic structural diagram of still another management frame provided by an embodiment of this application.
  • FIG. 10a is a schematic flowchart of a method for signaling information exchange of multi-AP multi-link devices according to an embodiment of this application;
  • Figure 10b is a schematic flowchart of another method for signaling information exchange of multi-AP multi-link devices according to an embodiment of the application;
  • FIG. 11 is a schematic flowchart of a method for signaling information exchange of multi-AP multi-link devices according to an embodiment of this application;
  • FIG. 12 is a schematic structural diagram of a Multiple BSSID element provided by an embodiment of this application.
  • FIG. 13a is a schematic structural diagram of yet another management frame provided by an embodiment of this application.
  • FIG. 13b is a schematic structural diagram of still another management frame provided by an embodiment of this application.
  • FIG. 14a is a schematic structural diagram of a simplified neighbor report RNR element provided by an embodiment of the application.
  • FIG. 14b is a schematic structural diagram of a TBTT information field in an RNR element provided by an embodiment of this application.
  • FIG. 14c is a schematic structural diagram of another TBTT information field in an RNR element provided by an embodiment of this application.
  • 15 is a schematic diagram of the composition of a communication device provided by an embodiment of this application.
  • FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram of the composition of another communication device provided by an embodiment of this application.
  • the embodiment of the present application provides a communication method applied to a wireless communication system.
  • the wireless communication system may be a wireless local area network (WLAN) or a cellular network.
  • the method may be implemented by a communication device in the wireless communication system or a chip or processor in the communication device.
  • the communication device may be a kind of support
  • a wireless communication device that transmits multiple links in parallel is, for example, called a multi-link device (multi-link device) or a multi-band device (multi-band device).
  • the communication device supports the use of IEEE 802.11 series protocols for communication.
  • the IEEE 802.11 series protocols include: 802.11be, 802.11ax, or 802.11a/b/g/n/ac.
  • Multi-link device also called multi-band device (multi-band device).
  • the multi-link device MLD includes one or more subordinate sites, and the subordinate sites are logical sites. "Multi-link device includes subordinate sites” is also briefly described as “multi-link device includes sites” in the embodiments of this application. .
  • the subordinate station can be an access point (Access Point, AP) or a non-access point station (non-Access Point Station, non-AP STA).
  • this application refers to a multi-link device whose site is an AP can be called a multi-link AP or an AP multi-link device or an AP multi-link device (AP multi-link device), and the subordinate site is a non-
  • the multi-link device of the AP STA may be called a multi-link STA or a multi-link STA device or an STA multi-link device (STA multi-link device).
  • Multi-link device MLD can follow the 802.11 series of protocols to achieve wireless communication, for example, follow Extremely High Throughput (EHT), or follow 802.11be-based or compatible support 802.11be, so as to achieve communication with other devices, of course others
  • EHT Extremely High Throughput
  • the device can be a multi-link device or not a multi-link device.
  • Each logical station can work on a link, but multiple logical stations are allowed to work on the same link.
  • the link identifier mentioned below represents a station working on a link, namely If there are more than one logical stations on a link, more than one link identifier is required to characterize them.
  • the links mentioned below sometimes also indicate stations working on this link.
  • the one multi-link device and the other multi-link device can first negotiate or communicate the link identification and a link or a link.
  • the corresponding relationship between the stations on the road or the management frame broadcast by the AP multi-link device such as a beacon frame, indicates the corresponding relationship between the link identifier and a link or a station on a link. Therefore, in data transmission, there is no need to transmit a large amount of signaling information to indicate a link or a station on the link, and the link identifier can be carried, which reduces signaling overhead and improves transmission efficiency.
  • the management frame sent such as a beacon frame
  • each link identification information field can suggest a link identification Correspondence with stations working on a link.
  • Each link identification information field includes link identification, and also includes one or more of MAC address, operation set, and channel number, where one or more of MAC address, operation set, and channel number can indicate a link
  • the AP multi-link device and the STA multi-link device negotiate multiple link identification information fields.
  • the AP multi-link device or STA multi-link device will use the link identification to characterize a station in the multi-link device.
  • the link identification can also characterize the MAC address of the station and the working set of operations.
  • the MAC address can also be replaced with the association identifier of the AP multi-link device after the association.
  • the link identification (is a numeric ID)
  • the meaning of the characterization includes not only the operation set where the link is located, the channel number, but also the working on the link
  • Fig. 1 uses a wireless local area network as an example to introduce an application scenario diagram of an embodiment of the present application.
  • This application scenario includes: a first site 101 and a second site 102.
  • the first site 101 and the second site 102 can communicate with each other through multiple links, so as to achieve the effect of improving throughput.
  • the first site may be a multi-link device
  • the second site may be a single-link device or a multi-link device.
  • the first site 101 is an AP multi-link device
  • the second site 102 is an STA multi-link device or site (such as a single-link site); in another scenario, the first site 101 is an STA multi-link device Device, the second station 102 is an AP (such as a single-link AP) or an AP multi-link device.
  • the first site 101 is an AP multi-link device
  • the second site 102 is an AP multi-link device or AP
  • the first site 101 is an STA multi-link device
  • the second site 102 is an STA multi-link device or STA.
  • the wireless local area network may also include other devices.
  • the number and types of equipment illustrated in FIG. 1 are only exemplary.
  • FIGS 2(a) and 2(b) show schematic structural diagrams of AP multi-link devices and STA multi-link devices participating in communication.
  • the 802.11 standard focuses on the 802.11 physical layer (PHY) and media access control (MAC) layers in AP multi-link devices and STA multi-link devices (such as mobile phones and laptops).
  • PHY physical layer
  • MAC media access control
  • multiple APs included in an AP multi-link device are independent of each other at the low MAC (Low MAC) layer and the PHY layer, and also independent at the high MAC (High MAC) layer; STA multi-link equipment The included multiple STAs are independent of each other at the low MAC (Low MAC) layer and the PHY layer, and are also independent of each other at the high MAC (High MAC) layer.
  • multiple APs included in an AP multi-link device are independent of each other at a low MAC (Low MAC) layer and a PHY layer, and share a high MAC (High MAC) layer.
  • Multiple STAs included in the STA multi-link device are independent of each other at the Low MAC (Low MAC) layer and the PHY layer, and share the High MAC (High MAC) layer.
  • the STA multi-link device can adopt a structure that is independent of the high MAC layer, while the AP multi-link device adopts the structure shared by the high MAC layer; it can also be the STA multi-link device adopts the structure shared by the high MAC layer, and there are many APs.
  • the link equipment adopts a mutually independent structure with a high MAC layer.
  • the high MAC layer or the low MAC layer may be implemented by one processor in the chip system of the multi-link device, and may also be implemented by different processing modules in one chip system.
  • the multi-link device in the embodiment of the present application may be a device with a single antenna or a device with multiple antennas.
  • it can be a device with more than two antennas.
  • the embodiment of the present application does not limit the number of antennas included in the multi-link device.
  • FIG. 2(c) uses the AP multi-link device as multiple antennas and the STA multi-link device as a single antenna as an example.
  • the multi-link device may allow the same access type of service to be transmitted on different links, and even allow the same data packet to be transmitted on different links; it may also not allow the same access type of service Transmission on different links, but allows different access types of services to be transmitted on different links.
  • the frequency bands in which the multi-link device works may include but are not limited to: sub 1GHz, 2.4GHz, 5GHz, 6GHz and high frequency 60GHz.
  • Figures 3(a) and 3(b) show two schematic diagrams of communication between a multi-link device and other devices in a wireless local area network through multiple links.
  • Figure 3(a) shows a scenario where the AP multi-link device 101 communicates with the STA multi-link device 102.
  • the AP multi-link device 101 includes AP101-1 and AP101-2 subordinates, and the STA multi-link device 102 Including the subordinate STA102-1 and STA102-2, and the AP multi-link device 101 and the STA multi-link device 102 use link 1 and link 2 to communicate in parallel.
  • Figure 3(b) shows a scenario where the AP multi-link device 101 communicates with the STA multi-link device 102, the STA multi-link device 103 and the STA 104.
  • the AP multi-link device 101 includes AP101-1 to AP101- 3.
  • STA multi-link device 102 includes two subordinate STA102-1 and STA102-2
  • STA multi-link device 103 includes two subordinate STA103-1, STA103-2, STA103-3
  • STA104 is a single link device
  • the AP multi-link device can use link 1 and link 3 to communicate with the STA multi-link device 102, link 2 and link 3 to communicate with the multi-link 103, and link 1 to communicate with the STA 104.
  • STA104 works in the 2.4GHz frequency band
  • STA multi-link equipment 103 includes STA103-1 and STA103-2, STA103-1 works in the 5 GHz frequency band, and STA103-2 works in the 6 GHz frequency band
  • STA multi-link equipment 102 includes STA102 -1 and STA102-2, STA102-1 works in the 2.4GHz frequency band, and STA102-2 works in the 6GHz frequency band.
  • the AP 101-1 working in the 2.4 GHz frequency band in the AP multi-link device can transmit uplink or downlink data between the STA 104 and the STA 102-2 in the STA multi-link device 102 through link 1.
  • the AP 101-2 working in the 5 GHz frequency band in the AP multi-link device can transmit uplink or downlink data between the STA 103-1 working in the 5 GHz frequency band in the STA multi-link device 103 through link 2.
  • AP101-3 working in the 6GHz frequency band in the AP multi-link device 101 can transmit uplink or downlink data between the STA102-2 working in the 6GHz frequency band in the STA multi-link device 102 through link 3, and also through link 3. It transmits uplink or downlink data with the STA103-2 in the STA multi-link device.
  • Figure 3(a) only shows that the AP multi-link device supports two frequency bands
  • Figure 3(b) only shows that the AP multi-link device supports three frequency bands (2.4GHz, 5GHz, 6GHz), each Each frequency band corresponds to one link
  • the AP multi-link device 101 can work on one or more of link 1, link 2, or link 3 as an example for illustration.
  • the link On the AP side or the STA side, the link here can also be understood as a station working on the link.
  • AP multi-link devices and STA multi-link devices can also support more or fewer frequency bands, that is, AP multi-link devices and STA multi-link devices can work on more links or less.
  • this embodiment of the present application does not limit this.
  • the multi-link device is a device with wireless communication function.
  • the device can be a complete device, or a chip or processing system installed in the complete device.
  • the device is equipped with these chips or processing systems.
  • the methods and functions of the embodiments of the present application can be implemented under the control of these chips or processing systems.
  • the multi-link STA in the embodiment of the present application has a wireless transceiver function, may support 802.11 series protocols, and can communicate with a multi-link AP or other multi-link STAs or single-link devices, for example, a multi-link STA It is any user communication device that allows the user to communicate with the AP and then with the WLAN.
  • a multi-link STA can be a tablet computer, desktop, laptop, notebook computer, Ultra-mobile Personal Computer (UMPC), handheld computer, netbook, personal digital assistant (Personal Digital Assistant, PDA) , Mobile phones and other user equipment that can be connected to the Internet, or IoT nodes in the Internet of Things, or in-vehicle communication devices in the Internet of Vehicles, etc.
  • the multi-link STA can also be the chips and processing systems in these terminals.
  • the multi-link AP in the embodiment of the present application provides services for the multi-link STA, which can support the 802.11 series of protocols.
  • a multi-link AP may be a communication entity such as a communication server, a router, a switch, or a bridge, or the multi-link AP may include various forms of macro base stations, micro base stations, relay stations, etc., of course, a multi-link AP is also It may be the chips and processing systems in these various forms of equipment, so as to realize the methods and functions of the embodiments of the present application.
  • multi-link devices can support high-rate and low-latency transmission.
  • multi-link devices can also be applied in more scenarios, such as sensor nodes in smart cities (for example, Smart water meters, smart electricity meters, smart air detection nodes), smart devices in smart homes (such as smart cameras, projectors, display screens, TVs, stereos, refrigerators, washing machines, etc.), nodes in the Internet of Things, entertainment terminals (such as AR, VR and other wearable devices), smart devices in smart offices (such as printers, projectors, etc.), connected vehicles in the Internet of Vehicles, and some infrastructure in daily life scenes (such as vending machines, supermarkets Self-service navigation station, self-service cash register equipment, self-service ordering machine, etc.).
  • the 802.11 series of protocols may include: 802.11be, 802.11ax, 802.11a/b/g/n/ac, etc.
  • BSSID Basic Service Set identifier
  • a multiple BSSID (multiple BSSID) set is a set of some cooperative APs, and all the cooperative APs use the same operation set, channel number, and antenna interface.
  • the Multiple BSSID set there is only one AP with a Transmitted BSSID (transmitting), and all other APs are APs with a Nontransmitted BSSID (non-transmitting).
  • the information of the multiple BSSID set (that is, the Multiple BSSID element) is carried in the beacon frame or probe response frame or neighbor report sent by the Transmitted BSSID AP.
  • the BSSID information of the AP of the Nontransmitted BSSID is derived by receiving the above beacon frame or probe response frame, or the Multiple BSSID element in the neighbor report.
  • a physical AP can virtualize multiple logical APs to form a Multiple BSSID set.
  • Each virtual AP manages a BSS.
  • Different logical APs generally have different SSIDs and permissions, such as security mechanisms or transmissions. Opportunity and so on.
  • the Multiple BSSID set there is an AP whose BSSID is configured as a Transmitted BSSID, called a Transmitted AP, and the BSSIDs of other APs are configured as a non-ttransmitted BSSID, called a non-ttransmitted AP .
  • a Transmitted AP the BSSIDs of other APs are configured as a non-ttransmitted BSSID, called a non-ttransmitted AP.
  • multiple APs in a Multiple BSSID can also be understood as one AP device virtualizing multiple cooperative AP devices.
  • the AP whose BSSID is Transmitted BSSID can send management frames, such as beacon frames and Probe Response frames, if the Probe Request frame sent by the STA is for one of the Multiple BSSID set (set)
  • the AP whose BSSID is Nontransmitted BSSID, and the AP whose BSSID is TransmittedBSSID needs to help respond to the probe response frame.
  • the beacon frame sent by the AP whose BSSID is Transmitted BSSID includes Multiple BSSID elements, and other APs with Nontransmitted BSSID cannot send beacon frames.
  • the MultipleBSSID element is shown in Table 1, including element ID, length, maximum BSSID indication, and sub-elements, where the maximum BSSID indicates that the maximum number of BSSIDs included in the above Multiple BSSID set is n, and the optional sub-elements include Information about each non-transmitted BSSID.
  • the receiving end can calculate the value of each BSSID in the multi-BSSID set according to the reference BSSID, the maximum BSSID indication, and the sequence number of the BSSID.
  • Each BSSID includes 48 bits, among which the high (48-n) bit value of each BSSID in the multi-BSSID set Same as the value of the upper 48-n bits of the reference BSSID, the value of the lower n bits of each BSSID in the multi-BSSID set is the sum of the lower n of the reference BSSID and the BSSID sequence number x value, and then take the modulo 2n,
  • the reference BSSID (that is, the Transmitted BSSID) is carried in the BSSID field in the MAC header of the frame (such as a beacon frame) containing the Multiple BSSID element.
  • the specific calculation method can refer to the 802.11-2016 standard protocol.
  • Nontransmitted BSSID profile includes one or more elements of AP or DMG STA with Nontransmitted BSSID
  • Nontransmitted BSSID profile includes but is not limited to the following elements:
  • Nontransmitted BSSID For each Nontransmitted BSSID, it needs to include the Nontransmitted BSSID capability element, as well as multiple other elements in the beacon.
  • the MultipleBSSID element is carried in the beacon, it also includes the FMS Descriptor element.
  • the Timestamp and Beacon Interval fields DSSS Parameter Set, IBSS Parameter Set, Country, and Channel Switch Notification (Channel Switch Announcement), Extended Channel Switch Announcement, Wide Bandwidth Channel Switch, Transmit Power Envelope, Supported Operating Classes, IBSS DFS , ERP Information (ERP Information), HT Capabilities (HT Capabilities), HT Operation (HT Operation), VHT Capabilities (VHT Capabilities), VHT Operation (VHT Operation), SIG Beacon Frame Compatibility (S1G Beacon Compatibility), SMS Beacon Frame interval (Short Beacon Interval), SIG Capabilities (S1G Capabilities), and SIG Operation (S1G Operation (11ah)) and other elements. These elements are usually the same as the element values of the transmitted BSSID AP.
  • NonInheriatance element which is the last element in the Nontransmitted BSSID profile.
  • Non-inherited elements include a series of ID numbers and element ID extension numbers of elements that the Nontransmitted BSSID cannot inherit from the transmitted BSSID. It is worth noting that the specific content of the element is omitted here, as shown in Table 3, including element ID, length, and element ID extension, element ID list, element ID extension list, where the element ID extension number only appears when the value of the element ID is 255.
  • Multiple BSSID technology is only based on single-link devices.
  • a multiple BSSID set is virtualized. How to apply Multiple BSSID technology to multi-link devices to provide multiple virtual network functions is what those skilled in the art are working on. Research technical issues.
  • FIG. 4 is an information indication method based on a multi-link device and Multiple BSSID provided by an embodiment of the present application.
  • This method can be applied between stations, between access points, and between access points, and between access points and access points.
  • the embodiment of this application takes communication between access points and stations as an example Give a detailed description.
  • the AP in the BSS identified by the Transmitted BSSID in the Multiple BSS set is referred to as the transmission AP (Transmitted BSSID AP), and the AP in the BSS identified by the nontransmitted BSSID is called the non-transmitted AP (nontransmitted BSSID AP), and the transmission carries
  • the AP in the management frame of other AP information is called the reporting AP, and the other APs in the management frame are called the reporting AP.
  • an AP multi-link device and a device composed of an AP of a multi-BSSID set where the AP of the AP multi-link device is located is referred to as a multi-AP multi-link device for short.
  • the method involves one AP in the multi-AP multi-link device sending information of all other APs in the multi-AP multi-link device to surrounding stations, and designing the signaling structure of the information of other APs.
  • the method includes but is not limited to the following steps:
  • Step S101 The access point sends MLD information to the station.
  • the access point is an AP in an AP multi-link device.
  • the station that receives the MLD information can be either a station in a multi-link station device or a single-link station.
  • the one that sends MLD information may also be a station, which belongs to an MLD; the one that receives MLD information may also be an access point, which belongs to an MLD, or a single-link access point.
  • an example is given below taking the access point sending MLD information to the station as an example.
  • the AP that sends the MLD information is included in an MLD, and the MLD also includes one or more other APs, that is, the AP that sends the MLD information and other APs belong to one MLD.
  • the AP also belongs to a Multiple BSSID set, and the Multiple BSSID set further includes one transmission AP and one or more non-transmission APs.
  • other APs in the MLD may also belong to another Multiple BSSID set.
  • an AP multi-link device and a device composed of an AP in a multi-BSSID set where the AP of the AP multi-link device is located is referred to as a multi-AP multi-link device for short.
  • a multi-AP multi-link device for short.
  • the AP that sends MLD information may be referred to as the reporting AP, and other APs indicated in the MLD information in the multi-AP multi-link device are referred to as the reported AP.
  • the multi-AP multi-link device includes the MLD to which the AP belongs, and optionally, other MLDs, and one AP in the MLD to which the AP belongs and one AP in the other MLDs belong to a Multiple BSSID set.
  • the MLD information is used to indicate information of other APs in the multi-AP multi-link device
  • the other AP may include one or more of the following:
  • the AP belongs to the same AP as the reporting AP and the MLD AP belongs to a multi-BSSID set, it also includes other APs in the multi-BSSID set
  • reporting AP belongs to a multi-BSSID set, it also includes other APs that belong to the same multi-BSSID set as the reporting AP
  • the MLD information can be carried by one or more MLD elements, and optionally also by a Multiple BSSID element.
  • the management frame sent by the reporting AP also carries the information of the reporting AP.
  • the current 802.11 beacon frame carries the information of the reporting AP.
  • the station that receives the MLD information can determine the information of each reported AP included in the multi-AP multi-link device according to the MLD information, and which MLD each reported AP belongs to, and which reported AP and the reporting AP belong to the same Multiple BSSID collection. Further, the station can establish an association with a suitable AP or AP MLD.
  • the MLD information can be carried in a management frame, such as a beacon frame, an association response frame, a probe response frame, an authentication frame or a neighbor report.
  • a management frame such as a beacon frame, an association response frame, a probe response frame, an authentication frame or a neighbor report.
  • AP multi-link equipment includes n logical APs, which work on multiple links, so link identifiers link1, link2,..., linkn can be used to represent n logical APs, and the MAC of each AP The addresses are different, where n is greater than or equal to 2.
  • An AP multi-link device is identified by an MLD MAC address (address). It can also be said that the MAC address is used to identify the AP multi-link device management entity (management entity).
  • the MAC address can be the same as one of the n logical APs included in the multi-link AP, or it can be different from the MAC addresses of the n logical APs.
  • the MAC address of the AP multi-link device is one The public MAC address can identify the AP multi-link device.
  • one logical AP or multiple logical APs in the AP multi-link device may respectively belong to one or more multiple (Multiple) Basic Service Set Identifier (BSSID) sets.
  • BSSID Basic Service Set Identifier
  • the multiple BSSID sets to which each logical AP in an AP multi-link device belongs are different.
  • the MAC address of an AP multi-link device is, for example, MLD1.
  • the multi-link device includes 3 logical APs, denoted as AP11, AP21, and AP31.
  • AP11, AP21, and AP31 Working on link 1 (link1), link 2 (link2) and link 3 (link3) respectively, the MAC addresses of AP11, AP21 and AP31 are BSSID_11, BSSID_21 and BSSID_31 (before 802.11ax, the BSS established by AP)
  • the BSSID is the MAC address of the AP, which may be changed in the future.
  • the MAC address of the AP is the BSSID of the BSS established by the AP for description.), where AP11 is a member of Multiple BSSID set 1, Multiple BSSID set 1 also includes AP13 with MAC address BSSID_13; this AP21 is a member of Multiple BSSID set 2.
  • Multiple BSSID set 2 also includes AP22 with MAC address BSSID_22 and AP23 with MAC address BSSID_23; AP31 belongs to a member of Multiple BSSID set 3.
  • Multiple BSSID set 3 also includes AP32 whose MAC address is BSSID_32 and AP33 whose MAC address is BSSID_33.
  • an AP multi-link device and a device composed of APs in the same multi-BSSID set as the AP in the multi-link device are referred to as multi-AP multi-link devices, such as AP11, AP21, AP31, AP22, AP32, AP13, AP23 and AP33 form a multi-AP multi-link device.
  • Step S102 The station receives the MLD information sent by the access point AP.
  • the station parses out the content in the MLD information. Based on the content parsed from the MLD information, the station can learn the above-mentioned Multiple BSSID set structure based on AP multi-link devices And the information of each AP being reported.
  • the station parses the management frame sent by the reporting AP to obtain MLD information of the reporting AP.
  • the MLD information includes one or more MLD elements, and optionally includes Multiple BSSID elements.
  • the MLD element includes information about multiple APs of the same MLD. If the reported AP belongs to a multiple BSSID set, the MLD information also includes a Multiple BSSID element.
  • the Multiple BSSID element includes those that belong to the same Multiple BSSID set as the reporting AP.
  • the information of other APs also includes information of APs that are in the same AP and MLD as the other AP. It can be understood that the station can learn the information of other APs in the multi-AP multi-link device where the reported AP is based on the content parsed from the MLD information.
  • the station receives the management frame of the AP, obtains the report AP, and the information of other APs in the multi-AP multi-link device where the report AP is located. In this way, the station can establish an association with the selected corresponding AP or AP multi-link device.
  • the station can perform one or more of the following operations:
  • It can be associated with one or more APs in the MLD where the reporting AP is located on a link.
  • the station can select the AP multi-link device MLD1 where the AP11 with the MAC address of BSSID-11 is located.
  • the AP11 whose MAC address is BSSID-11 is associated with AP31 whose MAC address is BSSID-31.
  • AP22 with the MAC address of BSSID-22 and AP21 with the MAC address of BSSID-21 belong to the same Multiple BSSID set 2.
  • AP32 with the MAC address of BSSID32 and the MAC address of BSSID-31 AP31 belongs to Multiple BSSID set 3.
  • association refers to one or more of an interactive probe request frame and a probe response frame, an interactive authentication request frame and an authentication response frame, an interactive association request frame or an association response frame.
  • the embodiment of the application applies the Multiple BSSID technology to the multi-link device, thereby providing multiple virtual network functions.
  • the information of the AP in the multi-link device applying Multiple BSSID technology can be sent to the station through the above MLD information.
  • the station can select the appropriate AP or AP multi-link device for association, thereby improving the station Flexibility of association.
  • the embodiment of the present application further introduces a specific implementation manner of the signaling structure of MLD information.
  • the flexible signaling structure provided in this embodiment uses one or more MLD elements and the MLD element included in the Multiple BSSID element to describe the information of one or more APs in the multi-AP multi-link device to help the station Select the appropriate AP or AP MLD for association.
  • the signaling structure of the MLD information proposed in the embodiment of the present application is simple and flexible.
  • the MLD information includes: one or more MLD elements.
  • An MLD element is used to indicate an MLD in a multi-AP multi-link device, where the MLD element includes: a common control field, an MLD common information field, and one or more optional sub-elements.
  • the MLD public information field includes an MLD address field, and optionally includes fields such as an authentication algorithm.
  • the MLD address field is used to indicate the address of the MLD indicated by the MLD element, and the address is used to identify an MLD.
  • the address of the MLD is the MAC address of the MLD.
  • the MAC address is used to identify the management entity of the AP multilink device, and the MAC address of the AP multilink device It can be the same as one of the MAC addresses of the n APs included in the multi-link AP, or it can be different from the MAC addresses of the n APs.
  • the MAC address of the AP multi-link device is a common MAC address , Can identify the AP multi-link device.
  • the public control field includes an MLD address presence field (or referred to as an MLD address presence field or an MLD address presence identifier), which is used to indicate whether the MLD address field exists in the MLD public information field.
  • the public control field further includes an authentication algorithm appearance field, which is used to indicate whether there is an authentication algorithm field in the MLD public information field.
  • the above-mentioned "appearance field" may include 1 bit, taking the first value to indicate that the corresponding field appears, and taking the second value to indicate that the corresponding field does not appear.
  • the first value is 1 and the second value is 0.
  • the MLD information also includes a multi-BSSID element.
  • MLD elements can have the following 3 types:
  • Type 1 Formal MLD elements: carry and report information about all or part of other APs that belong to the same MLD.
  • the formal MLD element includes at least one sub-element, and each sub-element carries and reports information that the AP belongs to one other AP in the same MLD.
  • the formal MLD element may also be referred to as the reporting MLD element, and may also have other names, which are not limited in the embodiment of the present application.
  • the first type of MLD element is referred to as a formal MLD element below.
  • the public information field of the formal MLD element includes the MLD address field.
  • Type 2 Virtual MLD elements, which carry information about all or part of APs that report other MLDs in the multi-AP multi-link device where the AP is located. Because multiple APs included in the MLD to which the reported AP belongs belong to multiple Multiple BSSID sets, other MLDs in multiple Multiple BSSID sets can be composed by other APs; the virtual MLD element includes at least one sub-element, which is used to indicate that other MLDs include AP information. It is understandable that the virtual MLD element refers to another MLD that is different from the MLD to which the AP belongs. Of course, the virtual MLD element may also have other names, which are not limited in this embodiment of the application. For the convenience of description, the second type of MLD elements are referred to as virtual MLD elements below.
  • the common information field of the virtual MLD element includes the MLD address field.
  • Type 3 Special MLD element, this MLD element carries the information of the single-link AP in the multi-AP multi-link device where the AP is reported, because multiple APs included in the MLD to which the reported AP belongs belong to multiple Multiple BSSID sets, Other MLDs that can be formed by other APs in multiple Multiple BSSID sets. Of course, there may also be one other AP in multiple Multiple BSSID sets that does not belong to any MLD, but is a single-link AP. In an example, the public information field of the special MLD element does not include the MLD address field.
  • the special MLD element can also be regarded as a virtual MLD element, and the public information field of the special MLD element also includes the MLD address field, then the MLD address in the MLD element is the MAC address of the single link AP In other words, it is the BSSID of a single-link AP.
  • the station determines which MLD element in the MLD information is for the MLD where the reporting AP is located, which MLD element is for other MLDs, and which element is for the single-link AP.
  • the application embodiment proposes to carry type information indicating the type of the MLD element in the MLD element, so that the station can determine the type of the MLD according to the information, so that the relationship and structure between the MLDs in the multi-AP multi-link device can be determined.
  • the type information indicating the type of the MLD element may include but is not limited to the following implementations:
  • a virtual MLD field is carried in the MLD element, which is used to indicate whether the MLD element is a virtual MLD element.
  • the virtual MLD field includes 1 bit, which is an identification bit, indicating whether the MLD element is a virtual MLD element.
  • the value of this 1 bit is a first value (such as 1), which indicates that the MLD element is a virtual MLD element, and the value of this 1 bit is a second value (such as 0), which indicates that the MLD element is not a virtual MLD element.
  • a special MLD field is carried in the MLD element, which is used to indicate whether the MLD element is a special MLD element.
  • the special MLD field includes 1 bit, which is an identification bit, indicating whether the MLD element is a special MLD element.
  • the value of this 1 bit is the first value (for example, 1), indicating that the MLD element is a special MLD element.
  • the value of this 1 bit is the second value (for example, 0), indicating that the MLD element is not a special MLD element.
  • the virtual MLD field indicates that an MLD element is not a virtual MLD element
  • the special MLD field indicates that the MLD element is not a special MLD element
  • the MLD address occurrence field in the public control field will be set to the first value, such as 1, indicating that the MLD address field exists in the MLD public information field;
  • the virtual MLD field is set to the second value, For example, 0 indicates that the MLD is not a virtual MLD;
  • the special MLD field is set with a second value, such as 0, indicating that the MLD is not a special MLD.
  • the MLD address occurrence field in the public control field will be set to the first value, such as 1, indicating that the MLD address field exists in the MLD public information field; the virtual MLD field is set to the first value, such as 1. , Indicating that the MLD is a virtual MLD; the special MLD field is set with a second value, such as 0, indicating that the MLD is not a special MLD.
  • the MLD address appearance field in the public control field will be set to a second value, such as 0, indicating that there is no MLD address field in the MLD public information field, or that there is no MLD public information field;
  • the virtual MLD field is set with a second value, such as 0, indicating that the MLD is not a virtual MLD;
  • the special MLD field is set with a first value, such as 1, indicating that the MLD is a special MLD.
  • an MLD type indication field is carried in the MLD element, which is used to indicate the type of the MLD element.
  • the MLD type indication field includes 2 bits, where a first value indicates that the MLD element is a formal MLD element, a second value indicates that the MLD element is a virtual MLD element, and a third value indicates that the MLD element is special MLD element.
  • the types of MLD elements may also include only two types: formal MLD elements and virtual MLD elements.
  • the special MLD element can be regarded as a kind of virtual MLD element.
  • the above-mentioned information indicating the type of the MLD element may include a virtual MLD field, but not a special MLD field. If the virtual MLD field takes the first value, it indicates that the MLD element where the MLD field is located is a virtual MLD element, and if the virtual MLD field takes the second value, it indicates that the MLD element where the MLD field is located is a formal MLD element.
  • the virtual MLD field includes 1 bit, a value of 1 indicates that the MLD element is a virtual MLD element, and a value of 0 indicates that the MLD element is a formal MLD element.
  • the type information in the MLD element can also be a formal MLD field, which is used to indicate whether the MLD element is a formal MLD element. For example, if the formal MLD field takes the first value, it indicates that the MLD element is a formal MLD. Element; if the formal MLD field takes the second value, it indicates that the MLD element is a virtual MLD element. For example, the formal MLD field is 1 bit, the first value is 1, and the second value is 0.
  • Figure 6a shows a schematic diagram of the structure of an MLD element.
  • the MLD element includes an element identifier, a length, an extension field of the element identifier, a common control field, an MLD common information field, and one or more optional sub-elements.
  • the common control fields include virtual MLD fields and special MLD fields.
  • the common control field also includes an MLD address appearance field.
  • the MLD public information field includes the MLD address field.
  • the public control field further includes an authentication algorithm appearance field, which is used to indicate whether an authentication algorithm field appears in the MLD public information field.
  • Figure 6b shows a schematic diagram of another MLD element structure.
  • the MLD element includes an element identifier, a length, an extension field of the element identifier, a common control field, an MLD common information field, and one or more optional sub-elements.
  • the common control field includes MLD type indication.
  • the MLD common control field further includes an MLD address appearance field.
  • the MLD public information field includes the MLD address field.
  • the public control field further includes an authentication algorithm appearance field, which is used to indicate whether an authentication algorithm field appears in the MLD public information field.
  • an MLD element further includes one or more sub-elements, and one sub-element describes information about an AP in the multi-AP multi-link device.
  • one sub-element in the formal MLD element to describe and report information about APs belonging to other APs in the same MLD
  • a sub-element in the virtual MLD element to describe the information of an AP in the MLD indicated by the MLD address field
  • a sub-element in the special MLD element describes the information of a single-link AP in multiple Multiple BSSID sets composed of APs in the AP multi-link device.
  • each sub-element includes the link identifier of the AP.
  • each sub-element further includes fields related to the AP, such as an SSID field, a timstamp field, a beacon interval field, and elements of the AP.
  • the elements of the AP include BSS load element, EHT capability element, and EHT operation element.
  • the field or element carried by the sub-element describing an AP’s information adopts the principle of inheritance, as follows: If the field or element carried in the sub-element is the same as the field or element of the reported AP, the corresponding field or element of the reported AP Fields and elements do not need to be carried in their corresponding child elements. If the fields or elements carried in the sub-element are not the same as the fields or elements of the reported AP, the corresponding fields and elements of the reported AP need to be carried in its corresponding sub-elements.
  • non-inherited elements are used as fields or elements carried by sub-elements describing information about an AP.
  • the non-inherited element is the last element of the child element.
  • the non-inherited element includes a series of element ID numbers and element ID extension numbers that cannot be inherited from the report AP. It is worth noting that the specific content of the element is omitted here. As shown in Table 3, it includes element ID, length, element ID extension, element ID list, element ID extension list, and the element ID extension number only appears when the value of the element ID is 255.
  • the link identifier of the AP has a one-to-one correspondence with the operating class, channel number, and BSSID (MAC address) of the AP.
  • the one-to-one correspondence can be carried by other elements, such as the embodiment The reduced neighbor report (RNR) element introduced in the third section.
  • FIG. 7 shows a schematic structural diagram of a sub-element provided in an embodiment of the present application.
  • the sub-element includes the sub-element ID, length and content fields.
  • the content field includes the link identifier of the AP corresponding to the sub-element, and the link identifier has a corresponding relationship with the operating class (operating class), channel number (channel number) of the AP and the BSSID (MAC address) of the AP.
  • the station that resolves to the sub-element can know the operating class, channel number, and channel number of the AP.
  • the BSSID of the AP The BSSID of the AP.
  • the content fields also include: field 1...field n, such as the SSID field, the timstamp field, and the beacon interval field.
  • the content field also includes element 1...element n, such as BSS load element, EHT capability element, EHT operation element, etc.
  • the last element can be a non-inherited element, and the non-inherited element includes a series of ID numbers and element ID extension numbers of elements that cannot be inherited from the reporting AP.
  • the management frame carrying MLD information sent by the reporting AP also carries a multi-BSSID element (only the transmitted BSSID AP can send the management frame), which is used to indicate that it belongs to the same AP as the reporting AP.
  • the information of the non-transmitted BSSID AP in the multi-BSSID set, and the information in the multi-BSSID element used to indicate the non-transmitted BSSID AP in a multi-BSSID set is called Nontransmitted Profile.
  • the Nontransmitted Profile also carries an MLD element, which is a formal MLD element, as shown in Figure 6a, 6b or 6c, where each sub-element in the MLD element It is used to carry information about an other AP that belongs to the same AP and MLD as the non-transmitted BSSID AP.
  • the fields or elements carried by the sub-element describing the information of another AP adopt the above-mentioned inheritance principle.
  • Method 1 Same as the previous description, the object of inheritance is still reporting AP; Method 2. : The inherited object becomes the non-transmitted BSSID AP.
  • the first signaling structure of MLD information is applicable to a variety of multi-AP multi-link devices.
  • Solution 1 A structure of multi-AP multi-link equipment.
  • Transmitted BSSID APs in multiple Multiple BSSID sets do not come from the same AP multi-link device, that is to say, the same AP multi-link device will include a Transmitted BSSID AP in the Multiple BSSID set, and may also include A Nontransmitted BSSID AP in another Multiple BSSID set.
  • AP1 in an AP multi-link device is a Transmitted BSSID AP in Multiple BSSID set 1
  • AP2 in an AP multi-link device is a Non-transmitted BSSID AP in Multiple BSSID set 2.
  • the network formed by the Multiple BSSID of the multi-link device is more flexible and more suitable for the business needs of different sites.
  • a signaling information exchange method of a multi-AP multi-link device includes:
  • Step S201 The access point sends a management frame to the station.
  • the management frame carries MLD information.
  • the MLD information includes: a formal MLD element, at least one virtual MLD element, and optionally a Multiple BSSID element. Including special MLD elements.
  • the access point belongs to an access point MLD.
  • the access point is an AP in an AP multi-link device, and the access point is called a reporting AP.
  • the station receiving the management frame can be either a station in a multi-link station device or a single-link station.
  • the management frame is, for example, a beacon frame, an association response frame, a detection response frame, an authentication frame or a neighbor report.
  • the MLD information is used to carry information about other APs that share the same equipment with the reporting AP (referred to as the reported AP), and the reported AP may include at least one of the following:
  • the reported AP also includes other APs in the multi-BSSID set
  • reporting AP is a multi-BSSID set
  • the reported AP also includes other APs in the same multi-BSSID set as the reporting AP.
  • the MLD information includes formal MLD elements and virtual MLD elements, and optionally also special MLD elements.
  • the formal MLD element includes information about one or more other APs in the first MLD to which the AP belongs. That is to say, the formal MLD element includes sub-elements, and one sub-element is used to carry the information of one other AP in the first MLD. information.
  • the MLD information also includes a Multiple BSSID element.
  • the Multiple BSSID element includes information about one or more or all other APs in the first Multiple BSSID set to which the reporting AP belongs.
  • the MLD information also includes a virtual MLD element, and the virtual MLD element includes the information in the second MLD AP information, for example, the virtual MLD element includes sub-elements, and one sub-element carries information about an AP in the second MLD.
  • the MLD information includes a special MLD element or a virtual MLD element, and the MLD element includes A sub-element carries information about APs that do not belong to any MLD.
  • the MLD element also includes a fourth MLD element, and the fourth MLD element may be a formal MLD element for carrying Information of other APs in the third MLD.
  • the MLD information may pass one or more MLD elements, and optionally may additionally pass the Multiple BSSID element to carry the reported AP information.
  • the management frame sent by the reporting AP also carries the information of the reporting AP.
  • the current 802.11 beacon frame carries the information of the reporting AP.
  • MLD information may also be referred to as MLD Multiple BSSID information, etc., of course, may also be other names, and the embodiment of the present application is not specifically limited.
  • Step S202 The station receives the management frame sent by the access point.
  • the station parses the management frame sent by the reporting AP, and obtains the MLD information of the reporting AP.
  • the MLD information includes one or more MLD elements, and optionally includes Multiple BSSID elements.
  • the MLD information also includes a Multiple BSSID element.
  • the Multiple BSSID element includes information about other APs that belong to the first Multiple BSSID set as the reporting AP.
  • it also includes Information of APs in the same third AP MLD as the other AP.
  • step S203 the site can learn the above-mentioned Multiple BSSID set structure based on AP multi-link devices and the information of each reported AP based on the content parsed from the MLD information.
  • the station receives the management frame, and obtains information about the reporting AP and other APs that share the equipment with the reporting AP according to the management frame. In this way, the station can establish an association with the corresponding AP or AP multi-link device.
  • the embodiment of this application proposes a kind of signaling information, which carries the information of each AP in a multi-link device using Multiple BSSID technology.
  • the signaling structure is simple and can carry all other things such as the multi-AP multi-link device. AP information.
  • the signaling structure proposed in the embodiments of the present application can be applied to multiple AP multi-link devices formed by multiple multi-link devices that apply the Multiple BSSID technology, with high flexibility and simple signaling structure.
  • FIG. 8a shows a schematic diagram of the structure of a multi-AP multi-link device of Scheme 1, where the AP whose MAC address identification ends with x is Transmitted BSSID AP, and the AP whose MAC address identification ends with y or z is NonTransmitted BSSID AP, for example, Multiple Transmitted BSSID AP in BSSID set 1 is AP1x with MAC address identification BSSID_1x, non-Transmitted BSSID in Multiple BSSID set 1 AP is AP1y with MAC address identification BSSID_1y; Transmitted BSSID in Multiple BSSID set 2 AP is MAC address identification AP2x with BSSID_2x, non-Transmitted BSSID AP in Multiple BSSID set 2 includes AP2y with address identification BSSID_2y and AP2z with MAC address identification BSSID_2z; Transmitted BSSID AP in Multiple BSSID set 3 is
  • the Transmitted BSSID APs (transmitting APs) from different Multiple BSSID sets are distributed in different AP multi-link devices, such as AP1x with a MAC address of BSSID-1x and a MAC address of BSSID-2x
  • the AP2x are respectively in the AP multi-link device MLD1 and AP multi-link device MLD2.
  • FIG. 8a uses FIG. 8a as an example to list the signaling structure of MLD information in several situations.
  • Example 1 As shown in Figure 8a, AP1x in AP MLD 1 sends management frames, such as beacon frames and probe response frames. The sending mode can be broadcast or unicast. Therefore, AP1x is a reporting AP.
  • the MLD information carried in the management frame includes 3 MLD elements.
  • the first MLD element is a formal MLD element.
  • the public information field includes the address of AP MLD1.
  • the formal MLD element carries 2 sub-elements.
  • the element is used to carry AP2y information, and the second sub-element is used to carry AP3x information.
  • the second MLD element is a virtual MLD element.
  • the public information field includes the address of AP MLD2.
  • the virtual MLD element carries 2 sub-elements.
  • the first sub-element is used to carry AP2x information
  • the second sub-element is used to carry AP3y information.
  • the third MLD element is a special MLD element. There is no public information field or no MLD address field.
  • the special MLD element carries 1 sub-element, which is used to carry AP3z information.
  • the MLD information of the management frame also needs to carry a Multiple BSSID element, which carries a non-transmitted BSSID profile, and the non-transmitted BSSID profile is the information of AP1y. If it belongs to AP MLD3, the non-transmitted BSSID profile also carries a fourth MLD element.
  • the fourth MLD element can be a formal MLD element.
  • the formal MLD element means that AP2z and AP1y belong to the same MLD.
  • the public information field of the element includes the address of AP MLD3.
  • the MLD element carries a sub-element, and the sub-element carries AP2z information.
  • the station that receives the management frame according to the 3 MLD elements and 1 Multiple BSSID element carried in the MLD information, the station can know the information of each AP in the multi-AP multi-link device and the relationship between each AP . For example: According to the first MLD element, the station knows that AP1x, AP2y, and AP3x belong to MLD1.
  • the station knows that AP2x and AP3y belong to MLD2.
  • the station knows that AP3z is a single-link device.
  • the station knows that AP1y and AP1x belong to a Multiple BSSID set, and according to the MLD element included in the Multiple BSSID element, the station knows that AP1y and AP2z belong to MLD3.
  • Example 2 As shown in Figure 8a, AP1x in AP MLD 1 sends management frames, such as beacon frames and probe response frames.
  • the sending mode can be broadcast or unicast.
  • the management frame carries MLD information.
  • the MLD information includes 3 MLD elements.
  • the first MLD element is a formal MLD element.
  • the public information field of the first MLD element includes the address of AP MLD1 and carries 2 sub-elements.
  • the first sub-element is used to carry AP2y information
  • the second sub-element is used to carry AP3x information.
  • the second MLD element is a virtual MLD element.
  • the public information field of the second MLD element includes the address of AP MLD2 and carries 2 sub-elements.
  • the first sub-element is used to carry AP2x information
  • the second sub-element is used to carry AP3y.
  • the third MLD element is a virtual MLD element.
  • the public information field of the third MLD element includes the address of AP3z and carries 1 sub-element, which is used to carry AP3z information. Since the reported AP1x belongs to a multi-BSSID set, the MLD information of the management frame also needs to carry a Multiple BSSID element, which carries a non-transmitted BSSID profile, and the non-transmitted BSSID profile is the information of AP1y. Also, since AP1y belongs to AP MLD3, the non-transmitted BSSID profile additionally carries a formal MLD element.
  • the public information field of the formal MLD element includes the address of AP MLD3, and carries a sub-element that carries AP2z information. It is worth noting that in the example, there is no longer a special MLD element.
  • the station that receives the management frame according to the 3 MLD elements and 1 Multiple BSSID element carried in the MLD information, the station can know the information of each AP in the multi-AP multi-link device and the relationship between each AP . For example: According to the first MLD element, the station knows that AP1x, AP2y, and AP3x belong to MLD1. According to the second MLD element, the station knows that AP2x and AP3y belong to MLD2.
  • the station knows that AP1x, AP2y, and AP3x belong to MLD2.
  • AP3z is a single-link device.
  • the station knows that AP1y and AP1x belong to a Multiple BSSID set, and according to the MLD element included in the Multiple BSSID element, the station knows that AP1y and AP2z belong to MLD3.
  • Example 3 As shown in Figure 8a, AP2x in AP MLD 2 sends management frames, such as beacon frames and probe response frames.
  • the sending mode can be broadcast or unicast.
  • the management frame carries MLD information.
  • the MLD information carries 2 MLD elements.
  • One MLD element is a formal MLD element.
  • the public information field in the formal MLD element includes the address of AP MLD2 and carries 1 sub-element.
  • the child element is used to carry AP3y information.
  • the other MLD element is a special MLD element, there is no common information field, and it carries 1 sub-element, which is used to carry AP3z information.
  • the MLD information of the management frame also needs to carry a Multiple BSSID element, which carries 2 non-transmitted BSSID profiles, one non-transmitted BSSID profile is AP2y information, and because AP2y belongs to AP MLD1, the non-transmitted BSSID profile of AP2y additionally carries a formal MLD element.
  • the public information field of the formal MLD element includes the address of AP MLD1.
  • the formal MLD element carries 2 sub-elements, and one sub-element carries the AP1x Information, another sub-element carries AP3x information; the other non-transmitted BSSID profile is AP2z information.
  • the non-transmitted BSSID profile of AP2z also carries an additional formal MLD element.
  • the public information field of the formal MLD element includes the address of AP MLD3, and it carries 1 sub-element. information.
  • the station that receives the management frame, according to the 2 MLD elements and 1 Multiple BSSID element carried in the MLD information the station can know the information of each AP in the multi-AP multi-link device and the relationship between each AP .
  • the station knows that AP2x and AP3y belong to MLD2; according to MLD element 2, the station knows that AP3z is a single-link device; according to the Multiple BSSID element, the station knows that AP2x, AP2y, and AP2z belong to the same Multiple BSSID.
  • the MLD element carried in the AP2y non-transmitted BSSID profile of the Multiple BSSID element AP1x, AP2y, and AP3x can be determined to belong to MLD1; according to the MLD element carried in the non-transmitted BSSID profile of AP2z of the Multiple BSSID element, AP1y can be determined, AP2z belongs to MLD3.
  • the position of the MLD element and the position of the Multiple BSSID element are only exemplary, and are not limited to the sequence shown in FIG. 9a to FIG. 9c in the embodiment of the present application. It is understandable that since all MLD elements include type identification, the site can determine the type of MLD element based on the type identification. Therefore, the positions of multiple MLD elements can also be arbitrary. In addition, based on the element ID in the Multiple BSSID element, the site can also identify the element as a Multiple BSSID element, so the position of the Multiple BSSID element can also be placed before the MLD element.
  • the reporting AP's link identifier needs to be carried in the management frame sent by the reporting AP, for example, carried in the EHT operation element, or carried in the public information field in the MLD element. For example, it is carried in the public information field of the MLD element as shown in FIG. 6a or 6b.
  • the information of each AP further includes, but is not limited to, one or more of the AP capability information, AP operation information, and AP link identification.
  • the AP's information may also include the AP's MAC address (BSSID), including other fields or elements carried in the beacon in the current 802.11 protocol (such as in the 802.11-2016 protocol), such as the timstamp field and the beacon interval. Fields, SSID elements, BSS Load elements, etc., where AP capability information includes HT capability elements, VHT capability elements, HE capability elements, EHT capability elements, and AP operation information includes HT operation elements, VHT operation elements, HE operation elements, and EHT Operation element.
  • the capability elements of the AP do not include HT capability elements, VHT capability elements, but include HE capability elements and EHT capability elements; AP operation elements do not include HT operation elements, VHT operation elements, but include HE operations Elements and EHT operating elements.
  • the information of the reporting AP is carried in the management frame sent by the AP, such as beacon frames and probe response frames; the information of the AP that shares the equipment with the reporting AP is carried in the MLD element in the management frame sent by the AP, or multiple BSSID elements
  • the common device refers to and report in a multi-AP multi-link device.
  • the first signaling structure of MLD information proposed in the embodiment of the present application can also be applied to other multi-AP multi-link device structures, and FIG. 8a is only an example.
  • the signaling information proposed in the embodiment of the present application can also be applied to the multi-AP multi-link device structure of solution 2, for example, the structure of the multi-AP multi-link device shown in FIG. 8b.
  • FIG. 8a and FIG. 8b only take three links as an example for description, and the signaling information proposed in the embodiment of the present application can also be applied to the structure of multi-AP multi-link devices with more links.
  • the MLD information may also include only one MLD element.
  • the MLD information also includes a Multiple BSSID element, carrying the first Multiple BSSID Information of other APs in the set, if the other AP also belongs to a second MLD, the Multiple BSSID element also includes information of other APs in the second MLD.
  • This MLD element carries other APs in the multi-AP multi-link device except the reported AP carried in the above-mentioned multi-BSSID element, that is, the multi-AP multi-link device where the reporting AP is located is not in the Multiple All other reported APs indicated in the BSSID element are carried in one MLD element, and the MLD element carries multiple sub-elements, and one sub-element carries the information of one other reported AP.
  • the public information field in the MLD element carries one or more combinations of MLD sequence numbers and MLD addresses, and the number of combinations is indicated in the public control field.
  • the sub-element used to indicate each reported AP not only carries the link identifier of the reporting AP and AP information, but also needs to carry the MLD sequence number of the MLD where the AP is located.
  • the sequence number of the MLD where the reported AP is located is the same as the MLD sequence number corresponding to the RNR, and the RNR carries the MLD sequence number of the MLD where the reported AP is located.
  • the MLD address corresponding to the public field at this time is the MAC address (BSSID) of the single-link AP.
  • BSSID MAC address
  • AP1x in AP MLD 1 sends management frames, such as beacon frames and probe response frames.
  • the sending mode can be broadcast or unicast.
  • the management frame carries MLD information.
  • the MLD information includes 1 MLD element.
  • the public information field of the MLD element includes 3 sets of MLD sequence numbers and MLD address combinations, which are: MLD1 sequence number and MLD1 address combination 1, MLD2 sequence number and MLD2 address The combination 2 of AP3z and the combination 3 of AP3z's serial number and AP3z address.
  • the MLD element carries 5 sub-elements, which respectively carry information of AP2y, AP3x, AP2x, AP3y, and AP3z.
  • the MLD information of the management frame also needs to carry a Multiple BSSID element, which carries a non-transmitted BSSID profile, and the non-transmitted BSSID profile is the information of AP1y. Since AP1y belongs to AP MLD3, the non-transmitted BSSID profile additionally carries an MLD element, and the public information field of the MLD element includes the address of AP MLD3, and carries a sub-element that carries AP2z information.
  • the station that receives the management frame, according to 1 MLD element and 1 Multiple BSSID element carried in the MLD information the station can know the information of each AP in the multi-AP multi-link device and the relationship between each AP .
  • the station knows that AP1x, AP2y, and AP3x belong to MLD1, AP2x and AP3y belong to MLD2, and AP3z in the third MLD element is a single-link device.
  • the station knows that AP1y and AP1x belong to a Multiple BSSID set, and according to the MLD element included in the Multiple BSSID element, the station knows that AP1y and AP2z belong to MLD3.
  • Transmitted BSSID APs in multiple Multiple BSSID sets belong to the same AP multi-link device, that is to say, if one or more APs in the AP multi-link device belong to the Multiple BSSID set, then all the Transmitted BSSID APs in the Multiple BSSID set are all Belongs to an AP multi-link device.
  • Transmitted BSSID AP1 in Multiple BSSID set 1 and Transmitted BSSID AP2 in Multiple BSSID set 2 belong to two different APs in AP multi-link device MLD1.
  • the Multiple BSSID network constructed on the basis of AP multi-link equipment is simpler, and the signaling MLD information overhead is less.
  • the embodiment of the present application provides a second signaling structure of MLD information.
  • the MLD information includes an MLD element.
  • the MLD information also includes a Multiple BSSID element.
  • the Multiple BSSID element includes information about one or more or all other APs (non-transmitted BSSID AP) in a first Multiple BSSID set to which the reporting AP belongs.
  • the MLD element also includes information about one or more other APs in the first MLD to which the AP belongs, that is, the MLD element includes sub-elements, and one sub-element is used to carry information about one other AP in the first MLD. .
  • the other APs in the first MLD are also transmitting APs. If one of the other APs in the first MLD also belongs to a second Multiple BSSID set, then this first MLD
  • the sub-elements of other APs in an MLD also include a Multiple BSSID element, which is used to indicate other AP (non-transmitted BSSID AP) information in the second Multiple BSSID set.
  • the second signaling structure of MLD information also includes the MLD element, and optionally also the Multiple BSSID element.
  • the MLD elements in the second type of MLD information may not include multiple types, and no type distinction is made.
  • the MLD element includes a common control field and an MLD common information field, and optionally includes one or more sub-elements. One of the sub-elements is used to indicate the information of a reported AP.
  • the structure of the MLD element of the signaling structure of the second type of MLD information is shown in FIG. 6c, and the signaling structure of a sub-element is shown in FIG. 7.
  • an embodiment of the present application provides another method for multi-AP multi-link device signaling information exchange.
  • the method includes:
  • Step S301 The access point sends a management frame to the station.
  • the management frame carries MLD information.
  • the MLD information includes: an MLD element.
  • the sub-element of the MLD element includes a Multiple BSSID element.
  • the access point belongs to an access point MLD.
  • the access point is an AP in an AP multi-link device, and the access point is called a reporting AP.
  • the station receiving the management frame can be either a station in a multi-link station device or a single-link station.
  • the management frame is, for example, a beacon frame, an association response frame, a detection response frame, an authentication frame or a neighbor report.
  • the MLD information is used to carry the information of other APs (called the reported AP) that share the equipment with the reporting AP (the multi-AP multi-link device where it is located), and the reported AP includes:
  • the reported AP also includes APs in the multi-BSSID set
  • reporting AP is a multi-BSSID set
  • the reported AP also includes other APs in the same multi-BSSID set as the reporting AP
  • the MLD information can pass through an MLD element. If the sub-element in the MLD element describes the reported AP belongs to a multiple BSSID set, the sub-element also includes a Multiple BSSID element, which is used to indicate the same multiple BSSID set as the reported AP.
  • the information of other APs (nontransmitted BSSID AP).
  • signaling design and structure in the MLD element please refer to the description in the previous paragraph.
  • the signaling design and structure in the multiple BSSID element refer to the description in the previous paragraph.
  • the management frame sent by the reporting AP also carries the information of the reporting AP.
  • the current 802.11 beacon frame carries the information of the reporting AP.
  • MLD information may also be referred to as MLD Multiple BSSID information, etc., of course, may also be other names, and the embodiment of the present application is not specifically limited.
  • Step S302 The station receives the management frame sent by the access point.
  • the station parses the management frame sent by the reporting AP, and obtains the MLD information of the reporting AP.
  • the MLD information includes an MLD element, and the optional sub-elements of the MLD element include a Multiple BSSID element.
  • the MLD information also includes a Multiple BSSID element, and the Multiple BSSID element includes information about other APs that belong to the same Multiple BSSID set as the reporting AP.
  • the reporting AP belongs to an MLD AP and also belongs to a transmission AP in a second Multiple BSSID set
  • the sub-element of the transmission AP in the MLD element also includes a Multiple BSSID element, which carries the information in the second Multiple BSSID set.
  • the site can learn the multiple BSSID set structure based on the AP multi-link device and the information of each reported AP based on the content parsed from the MLD information.
  • the station receives the management frame of the AP: According to the management frame, it obtains the information of the reporting AP and other APs that share the equipment with the reporting AP. In this way, the station can establish an association with the corresponding AP or AP multi-link device.
  • FIG. 8b shows a schematic diagram of the structure of a multi-AP multi-link device of the second solution, where the AP whose MAC address identification ends with x is Transmitted BSSIDAP, and the AP whose MAC address identification ends with y or z is NonTransmitted BSSIDAP, for example, Multiple BSSID Transmitted BSSID AP in Set 1 is AP1x with MAC address ID BSSID_1x, nonTransmitted BSSID in Multiple BSSID Set 1 AP is AP1y with MAC address ID BSSID_1y; Transmitted BSSID AP in Multiple BSSID set 2 is AP2x with MAC address ID BSSID_2x , The nonTransmitted BSSIDAP in Multiple BSSID set 2 includes AP2y with MAC address identification BSSID_2y and AP2z with MAC address identification BSSID_2z; Transmitted BSSIDAP in Multiple BSSID set
  • FIG. 8b As an example to illustrate the signaling structure of MLD information in several situations.
  • Example 1 As shown in Figure 8b, AP1x in AP MLD 1 sends management frames, such as beacon frames and probe response frames.
  • the sending mode can be broadcast or unicast.
  • the management frame carries the MLD element.
  • the MLD common information field includes the address of AP MLD1 and carries 2 sub-elements. The first sub-element is used to carry AP2x information, and the second sub-element is used to carry AP3x information. .
  • the AP2x carried by the first sub-element belongs to a multi-BSSID set, it is necessary to additionally carry a Multiple BSSID element 2 in this sub-element, which carries two non-transmitted BSSID profiles, which describe AP2y and AP2z information respectively. Since the reported AP1x belongs to a multi-BSSID set, the MLD information of the management frame also needs to carry a Multiple BSSID element 1, which carries a non-transmitted BSSID profile, and the non-transmitted BSSID profile is the information of AP1y. Correspondingly, the station that receives the management frame can know the information of each AP in the multi-AP multi-link device and the relationship between each AP according to the MLD information.
  • the station knows that AP1x, AP2x, and AP3x belong to MLD1.
  • the station knows that AP2x, AP2y, and AP2z belong to Multiple BSSID set 2, and according to Multiple BSSID element 1, AP1x and AP1y that the site knows belong to Multiple BSSID set 1.
  • the position of the MLD element and the position of the Multiple BSSID element are only exemplary, and are not limited to the sequence shown in FIG. 9d of the embodiment of the present application. It is understandable that since all MLD elements include type identification, the site can determine the type of MLD element based on the type identification. Therefore, the positions of multiple MLD elements can also be arbitrary. In addition, based on the element ID in the Multiple BSSID element, the site can also identify the element as a Multiple BSSID element, so the position of the Multiple BSSID element can also be placed before the MLD element.
  • a signaling structure indicating MLD information of the flexible multi-AP multi-link device structure is designed.
  • MLD information describes the information of one or more APs in the multi-AP multi-link device through one or more MLD elements and the MLD element included in the Multiple BSSID element.
  • Its signaling structure is simple and flexible, and can be flexibly complete Ground indicates the AP information included in the multi-AP multi-link device structure.
  • the access point indicates to the station the Multiple BSSID aggregation structure based on the AP multi-link device through the MLD information. Based on the MLD information, the station can obtain the information of each AP in the multi-AP multi-link device, thereby helping the station Choosing the appropriate AP or AP MLD for association improves the flexibility of the station in selecting an associated AP.
  • the embodiment of the present application proposes yet another method for signaling information exchange of multi-AP multi-link devices (including a sending method and a receiving method).
  • this embodiment in order to avoid reporting that the AP broadcasts the information of one or more or all APs in the multi-AP multi-link device where it is located, it is proposed to jointly use RNR elements, MLD elements, and Multiple BSSID elements, which saves signaling Overhead; and, in order to avoid repeating AP operation sets, channel numbers, and BSSID parameters in subsequent multi-link operations, it is proposed to add the link identification of the AP to the RNR element and multiple BSSID element, and the link identification of the AP is related to this There is a corresponding relationship between AP operation set, channel number and BSSID parameters.
  • Another method for information exchange of multi-AP multi-link devices proposed in the embodiment of the present application, as shown in FIG. 11, further includes:
  • Step S401 The access point sends a management frame.
  • the management frame includes: a simplified neighbor report element, an RNR element, and a Multiple BSSID element, optionally including an MLD element.
  • the access point belongs to an access point MLD.
  • the access point is an AP in an AP multi-link device.
  • the management frame is sent by the access point, and the access point is called a reporting AP.
  • the station receiving the management frame can be either a station in a multi-link station device or a single-link station.
  • the reporting AP belongs to a Multiple BSSID set.
  • the reporting AP is a transmission AP in the Multiple BSSID set.
  • the Multiple BSSID set also includes non-transmitting APs. Therefore, the management frame includes the Multiple BSSID element, and the Multiple BSSID element includes non-transmitting APs.
  • the nontransmitted BSSID profile is used to indicate the nontransmitted AP.
  • the management frame is a beacon frame, an association response frame, a detection response frame, an authentication frame or a neighbor report.
  • the RNR element, MLD element, and Multiple BSSID element are used to carry information about other APs that share the same equipment with the reporting AP (referred to as the reported AP).
  • Step S402 The station receives the management frame sent by the access point.
  • the station parses and reports the management frame sent by the AP, obtains the RNR element, and the Multiple BSSID element, and optionally, obtains the MLD element, thereby obtaining the foregoing Multiple BSSID set structure based on the AP multi-link device.
  • the method further includes step S403: determining, according to the management frame, the multiple BSSID set structure based on the AP multi-link device and the information of each AP. Furthermore, the station can also select an appropriate AP or AP MLD for association based on the structure and the information of each AP.
  • the station can obtain information about the reporting AP and other APs that share the same equipment with the reporting AP according to the management frame. Therefore, the station can select a suitable AP or AP multi-link device to establish an association.
  • the RNR element, MLD element, and Multiple BSSID element are used to carry information about other APs that share the same equipment with the reporting AP (referred to as the reported AP).
  • the reported AP includes:
  • the reported AP also includes APs in the multi-BSSID set
  • reporting AP is a multi-BSSID set
  • the reported AP also includes other APs in the same multi-BSSID set as the reporting AP
  • the management frame sent by the reporting AP also carries the information of the reporting AP.
  • the current 802.11 beacon frame carries the information of the reporting AP.
  • the link identifier of the AP is added to the RNR element and the multiple BSSID element, so as to respond one to one.
  • AP operation set, channel number and BSSID and other parameters are added to the RNR element and the multiple BSSID element, so as to respond one to one.
  • the following describes in detail how to combine the RNR element, the MLD element, and the Multiple BSSID element to indicate the above-mentioned Multiple BSSID set structure based on the AP multi-link device, as well as the AP information in the structure and the relationship between the APs.
  • the first part RNR element.
  • the RNR element includes: condensed information of other APs that belong to the same MLD as the reporting AP, and information about other APs that belong to the same Multiple BSSID set as other APs. Optionally, it does not carry the same Multiple BSSID as the reporting AP. Condensed information of the aggregated non-transmitting APs. For example, taking the Multiple BSSID set structure of the AP multi-link device shown in Figure 8a as an example, the RNR element sent by the report AP carries AP2y, AP3x, AP2x, AP3y, AP3z, and AP2z condensed information, but does not carry AP1y condensed information .
  • AP1y is a nontransmitted BSSID AP, which is carried in the Multiple BSSID element sent by AP1x, AP1x is used as the reporting AP, and AP1x information has been carried in the management frame. At this time, the multiple BSSID set where the AP is reported is reported.
  • the condensed information of the nontransmitted BSSID AP does not need to be carried in the RNR element, which reduces the signaling overhead caused by carrying repeated signaling.
  • the RNR element can also carry the link ID of each reported AP and indicate the reported AP The corresponding relationship between the operating class, Channel Number, and BSSID of the three parameters and the link ID of the reported AP.
  • the RNR element may also carry information indicating the relationship between the reported AP and the reporting AP.
  • the RNR element may also include signaling information to indicate one or more of the following three relationships: 1. Whether the reported AP and the reporting AP are from the same MLD,
  • the reported AP is in the same MLD as the reporting AP or belongs to the same Multiple BSSID set as the members of the MLD to which the reporting AP belongs.
  • the BSS parameter field in the TBTT information field in the RNR element carries information to indicate one or more of the above relationships.
  • the common MLD field is carried in the BSS parameter field, where the common MLD field is used to indicate whether the reported AP and the reporting AP are in the same MLD or whether the reported AP and the MLD member AP to which the reporting AP belongs belong to the same Multiple BSSID.
  • the BSS parameter field carries a common MLD multiple BSSID field to indicate whether the reported AP and any other AP that reports the MLD where the AP is located are from the same multiple BSSID.
  • the total MLD bit in FIG. 14c is used to indicate the third one, and the specific form is not limited in the present invention.
  • the RNR element can also be used to indicate one or more of the following two
  • Signaling one can be realized by adding an MLD sequence number to the information of the reported AP. If the MLD sequence numbers of multiple reported APs are the same, it means that the multiple reported APs are from the same MLD. Signaling 2 can be implemented by adding a Multiple BSSID set sequence number to the information of the reported AP. If the multiple BSSID set sequence numbers of multiple reported APs are the same, it means that multiple reported APs come from the same Multiple BSSID set.
  • the MLD sequence number carried in the information of the reported AP takes a special value, such as 0, it indicates that the reported AP and the reporting AP belong to the same MLD; optional, if the Mutilple contained in the information of the reported AP If the BSSID set takes a special value, it indicates that the reported AP and the reporting AP belong to the same Multiple BSSID set.
  • the RNR can indicate the relationship between the reported AP and the reporting AP, as well as the relationship between multiple reported APs, so according to the above signaling in the RNR element, the station can obtain the relationship between the reported AP and the reporting AP, and more The relationship of the reported APs.
  • the link identifier of the reported AP is unique, the relationship between the reported AP and the reporting AP and the relationship between multiple reported APs do not need to be additionally indicated in the MLD element to avoid repeated signaling instructions.
  • the above signaling indicating the relationship between APs may or may not be carried in the RNR element, but carried in the MLD element, and the signaling is carried in each In the child elements of the MLD element.
  • the second part MLD elements.
  • the third part Multiple BSSID element.
  • the management frame also includes the Multiple BSSID element.
  • the Multiple BSSID element includes information about one or more non-transmitted APs in the Multiple BSSID set to which the AP belongs, called the nontransmitted BSSID profile.
  • the nontransmitted BSSID profile carries the information of the non-transmitted AP, and also includes the link ID of the non-transmitted AP, so as to avoid carrying multiple parameter information, such as Operating class, Channel Number, and BSSID, which cause high signaling overhead and signaling redundancy Case.
  • the ways to carry the link identifier in the Multiple BSSID element include but are not limited to the following two:
  • the link identifier of the non-transmitting AP may be carried in the MLD element, for example, in the public information field of the MLD element.
  • the common control field of the MLD element also includes a link identification (link ID) appearance field, which is used to indicate whether the link ID field appears or exists.
  • a structure of the Multiple BSSID element is shown in Figure 12.
  • the virtual MLD field and the special MLD field in FIG. 12 can be replaced with an MLD type indication, as the structure of the second Multiple BSSID element.
  • the link identifier of the non-transmitting AP may be carried in the nontransmitted BSSID profile of the non-transmitting AP, instead of being carried in the MLD element.
  • the nontransmitted BSSID profile may or may not include the MLD element.
  • the embodiment of the present application provides the following two implementation modes:
  • an MLD element can be carried in the nontransmitted BSSID profile.
  • the MLD element includes sub-elements, which are used to indicate the information of other APs in the MLD to which the non-transmitted AP belongs, thereby indicating The non-transmitting AP and which reported AP belong to the same MLD.
  • AP1x sends the management frame.
  • AP1x and AP1y belong to Multiple BSS set 1.
  • the RNR element may not carry AP1y information.
  • the Multiple BSSID element in the management frame carries AP1y's nontransmitted BSSID profile, and the nontransmitted BSSID profile also carries one
  • the MLD element, the sub-element in the MLD element carries AP2z information.
  • the station that receives the management frame can be determined according to the RNR element and the Multiple BSSID element.
  • the relationship between AP1y and other APs is: AP1y and AP1x belong to Multiple BSS set 1, AP1y and AP2z belong to MLD3.
  • the nontransmitted BSSID profile does not contain the MLD element.
  • the nontransmitted BSSID profile needs to carry the MLD sequence number. It is used together with the MLD sequence number in the reported AP information in the RNR to indicate whether the nontransmitted BSSID AP and the reported AP carried in the RNR come from In the same MLD.
  • AP1x sends the management frame.
  • AP1x and AP1y belong to Multiple BSS set 1.
  • the RNR element may not carry AP1y information, and the reported AP information in the RNR element carries the MLD sequence number, that is, AP2z information Carry the serial number of MLD3.
  • the Multiple BSSID element in the management frame carries the nontransmitted BSSID profile of AP1y and the MLD sequence number to which AP1y belongs.
  • the station that receives the management frame can determine the relationship between AP1y and other APs based on the MLD sequence number carried in the AP2z information in the RNR element and the MLD sequence number of AP1y carried in the Multiple BSSID element: AP1y and AP1x belong to Multiple BSSID Set 1, AP1y and AP2z belong to MLD3.
  • the management frame includes one RNR element.
  • the RNR element carries AP2y, AP3x, AP2x, AP3y and AP3z condensed information.
  • the condensed information includes AP's operation set, channel number, BSSID, and other parameters and its link.
  • the management frame also carries 3 MLD elements.
  • the first MLD element is a formal MLD element.
  • the public information field includes the address of AP MLD1 and carries 2 sub-elements.
  • the first sub-element is used to carry AP2y information
  • the second sub-element is used To carry AP3x information.
  • the second MLD element is a virtual MLD element.
  • the public information field includes the address of AP MLD2 and carries 2 sub-elements.
  • the first sub-element is used to carry AP2x information
  • the second sub-element is used to carry AP3y information.
  • the third MLD element is a special MLD element, there is no common information field, and it carries 1 sub-element, which is used to carry AP3z information.
  • the AP2y, AP3x, AP2x, and AP3z information contained in the three MLD elements contain the same link identifiers as the link identifiers of these APs in the RNR element. Therefore, the MLD elements will not repeat the information carried in the RNR.
  • One or more parameters such as operation set, channel number, BSSID, etc., to avoid signaling redundancy and reduce signaling overhead. Since the report AP1x belongs to a multi-BSSID set, the management frame also needs to carry a Multiple BSSID element, which carries a non-transmitted BSSID profile, and the non-transmitted BSSID profile is the information of AP1y.
  • the non-transmitted BSSID profile additionally carries a formal MLD element.
  • the public information field includes the address of AP MLD3 and carries a sub-element that carries AP2z information.
  • the link identifier included in the AP2z information is the same as the link identifier of AP2z in the RNR element.
  • the condensed information of AP1y may not appear in the RNR element.
  • the operation set and channel number parameters in the condensed information of AP1y are the same as those reported for AP1x, and the BSSID information of AP1y can be carried in its nontransmitted BSSID profile.
  • the station can know the information of AP1x, AP1y, AP2y, AP3x, AP2x, AP3y and AP3z, and can also determine the relationship between each AP . Specifically, the station can determine the condensed information of the reported AP carried in the RNR and other information of the reported AP carried in the MLD element according to the matching of the link ID carried in the RNR element and the MLD element.
  • the RNR The information of AP2y in the AP2y carries the link ID of AP2y as 2, and the link ID carried by the first sub-element of the first MLD element is also 2.
  • the station can determine the condensed information of AP2y in the RNR, and according to The first sub-element in the first MLD element determines other information of AP2y; further, the station can also determine that AP1x and AP1y belong to a Multiple BSSID set 1, AP1x and AP2y, AP3x belong to MLD1, AP2x and AP3y belong to MLD2, and AP3z It is a single-link device, AP2y, AP2x, and AP2z belong to Multiple BSSID set 2, and AP3x, AP3y, and AP3z belong to Multiple BSSID set 3.
  • the management frame includes an RNR element, which carries AP2y, AP3x, AP2x, AP3y and AP3z condensed information, the condensed information includes AP operation set, channel number and BSSID parameters and its link
  • the one-to-one correspondence of the identification, and the information of each AP in the RNR element also includes the MLD sequence number and/or the Multiple BSSID Set sequence number.
  • the management frame also carries 3 MLD elements.
  • the first MLD element is a formal MLD element.
  • the public information field includes the address of AP MLD1 and carries 2 sub-elements.
  • the first sub-element is used to carry AP2y information.
  • the two sub-elements are used to carry AP3x information.
  • the second MLD element is a virtual MLD element.
  • the public information field includes the address of AP MLD2 and carries 2 sub-elements.
  • the first sub-element is used to carry AP2x information
  • the second sub-element is used to carry AP3y information.
  • the third MLD element is a special MLD element, there is no common information field, and it carries 1 sub-element, which is used to carry AP3z information.
  • the AP2y, AP3x, AP2x, and AP3z information contained in the three MLD elements contain the same link identifiers as the link identifiers of these APs in the RNR element, and the MLD element no longer repeats the operation set carried in the RNR.
  • One or more parameters such as channel number, BSSID, etc., to avoid signaling redundancy and reduce signaling overhead.
  • the management frame Since the report AP1x belongs to a multi-BSSID set, the management frame also needs to carry a Multiple BSSID element, which carries a non-transmitted BSSID profile, and the non-transmitted BSSID profile is AP1y information, including the link ID of AP1y, optional, It also includes the MLD serial number of the MLD to which AP1y belongs.
  • the condensed information of AP1y may not appear in the RNR element.
  • the operation set and channel number parameters in the condensed information of AP1y are the same as those reported by AP1x, and the BSSID information of AP1y can be carried in its nontransmitted BSSID profile.
  • the station knows that AP1x, AP1y, AP2y, AP3x, AP2x, AP3y, and AP3z information can also determine the relationship between each AP
  • the station can determine the condensed information of the reported AP carried in the RNR and other information of the reported AP carried in the MLD element according to the matching of the link ID carried in the RNR element and the MLD element, as shown in Figure 13b
  • the AP2y information in the RNR carries the link ID of AP2y as 2, and the link ID carried by the first sub-element of the first MLD element is also 2.
  • the station can determine the condensed information of AP2y in the RNR, The other information of AP2y is determined according to the first sub-element in the first MLD element; further, the station can determine that AP1x and AP1y belong to a Multiple BSSID set 1, and can determine AP1x and AP2y according to the MLD sequence number.
  • AP3x belongs to MLD1
  • AP2x and AP3y belongs to MLD2
  • AP3z is a single-link device.
  • AP2y, AP2x, and AP2z belong to Multiple BSSID set 2
  • AP3x, AP3y, and AP3z belong to Multiple BSSID set 3 according to the multiple BSSID set sequence number.
  • APs carry reduced neighbor report elements in management frames, such as beacon frames and probe response frames.
  • management frames such as beacon frames and probe response frames.
  • the station scans, it receives the management frame sent by the AP, and obtains the information of the surrounding APs based on the simplified neighbor report element, and then selects the appropriate AP for association.
  • a Reduced Neighbor Report element generally carries one or more Neighbor AP info fields, which are used to describe information about one or more neighbor APs and their respective BSSs.
  • the neighbor AP is also called the reporting AP
  • the AP that sends the RNR element is called the reporting AP.
  • the neighbor AP information field carries the condensed information of the neighbor AP, that is, the condensed information of the reported AP.
  • Figure 14a shows a schematic structural diagram format of an RNR element. It can be seen from Figure 14b that the neighbor AP information field of the simplified neighbor report element can include the following fields:
  • TBTT info Header target beacon transmission time (TBTT) information header
  • TBTT target beacon transmission time
  • TBTT info Field Type indicates the type of TBTT info (TBTT information). It indicates the format of the TBTT info field together with the TBTT info length field.
  • Filtered neighbor AP indicates whether the SSID of all BSSs carried in the Neighbor AP info (neighbor AP information) field matches the SSID in the Probe Request frame.
  • TBTT info count field indicates the number of TBTT info fields contained in the TBTT info set.
  • TBTT info Length (TBTT information length) field indicates the length of each TBTT info field.
  • the specific information format carried under different lengths is shown in Table 4:
  • the TBTT information field includes:
  • Neighbor AP TBTT offset indicates the offset of the beacon transmission time between the neighbor AP and the reporting AP.
  • BSSID (BSS identifier) field indicates the BSS identifier corresponding to the neighbor AP.
  • Short SSID short service set identifier
  • BSS Parameter (BSS parameter) field indicates related parameters of the neighbor AP, as shown in Figure 14b, the BSS Parameter (BSS parameter) field contains the following information:
  • OCT recommended (recommended use of channel tunnel mechanism) field indicates that the neighbor AP expects to exchange management type MPDUs with it through the OCT mechanism.
  • Same SSID (same service set identifier) field: indicates whether the neighbor AP and the reporting AP have the same SSID.
  • Multiple BSSID Multiple Basic Service Set Identifier
  • Transmitted BSSID Transmitted Basic Service Set Identifier
  • Co-Located AP (Co-located with 2.4/5GHz AP and is an extended service set member) field: indicates whether the neighbor AP is co-located with a 2.4/5GHz AP (that is, is it a 6GHz only AP) And is a member of an extended service set.
  • Unsolicited Probe Response Active (active probe response) field indicates whether the neighbor AP opens the active probe response.
  • the TBTT information field further includes: a Co-located AP (co-located AP) field: indicating whether the neighbor AP and the reporting AP are co-located.
  • a Co-located AP co-located AP
  • the TBTT information field further includes: Co-MLD (Co-MLD) field: indicating whether the neighbor AP and the reporting AP belong to the same MLD.
  • Co-MLD Co-MLD
  • Figure 14b shows a schematic diagram of the format of the TBTT information field.
  • Fig. 14c shows another schematic diagram of the format of the TBTT information field.
  • the AP in order to avoid reporting that the AP broadcasts the information of one or more or all APs in the multi-AP multi-link device where it is located, it is proposed to jointly use the RNR element, the Multiple BSSID element, and optionally, the MLD Element; in order to avoid repeating the AP operation set, channel number and BSSID parameters in subsequent multi-link operations, it is proposed to add the link identification of the AP to the RNR element and multiple BSSID element, and the link identification of the AP is operated with the AP There is a corresponding relationship between parameters such as set, channel number and BSSID. In subsequent transmission or communication, there is no need to carry the AP operation set, channel number, BSSID and other parameters, which reduces signaling overhead.
  • the operation set and channel number of the nontransmitted BSSID in the Multiple BSSID element and the operation set and channel number of the transmitted BSSID will not appear in the nontransmitted BSSID profile of the Multiple BSSID element, further reducing signaling redundancy.
  • FIG. 15 shows a communication device 1500 provided by an embodiment of the present application.
  • the device may be an access point AP (for example, a reporting AP in an AP multi-link device) or a station in the above-mentioned embodiment, and may also be the access point.
  • An access point AP for example, a reporting AP in an AP multi-link device
  • a chip or processing system in a station can implement the methods and functions of any embodiment of the present application.
  • the communication device may include one or more of the components shown in FIG. 15.
  • the components shown in FIG. 15 may include at least one processor 1501, a memory 1502, a transceiver 1503, and a communication bus 1504.
  • the processor 1501 is the control center of the communication device 1500, and may be a processor or a collective name for multiple processing elements.
  • the processor 1501 is a central processing unit (CPU), or a specific integrated circuit (Application Specific Integrated Circuit, ASIC), or one or more integrated circuits configured to implement the embodiments of the present application
  • one or more microprocessors digital signal processor, DSP
  • one or more field programmable gate arrays Field Programmable Gate Array, FPGA
  • the processor 1501 can execute various functions of the communication device by running or executing a software program stored in the memory 1502 and calling data stored in the memory 1502.
  • the processor 1501 may include one or more CPUs, such as CPU0 and CPU1 shown in FIG. 15.
  • the communication device 1500 may include multiple processors, such as the processor 1501 and the processor 1505 shown in FIG. 15. Each of these processors can be a single-core processor (single-CPU) or a multi-core processor (multi-CPU).
  • the processor here may refer to one or more communication devices, circuits, and/or processing cores for processing data (for example, computer program instructions).
  • the memory 1502 can be a read-only memory (ROM) or other types of static storage communication devices that can store static information and instructions, a random access memory (RAM), or other types that can store information and instructions.
  • the type of dynamic storage communication equipment can also be Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory (EEPROM), CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read-Only Memory, CD-ROM) or other optical disk storage, Optical disc storage (including compact discs, laser discs, optical discs, digital versatile discs, Blu-ray discs, etc.), magnetic disk storage media or other magnetic storage communication devices, or can be used to carry or store desired program codes in the form of instructions or data structures and Any other medium that can be accessed by the computer, but not limited to this.
  • EEPROM Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory
  • CD-ROM Compact Disc Read-Only Memory
  • Optical disc storage including compact discs, laser discs, optical discs, digital versatile discs, Blu-ray discs, etc.
  • the memory 1502 may exist independently, and is connected to the processor 1501 through a communication bus 1504.
  • the memory 1502 may also be integrated with the processor 1501. Wherein, the memory 1502 is used to store a software program for executing the solution of the present application, and the processor 1501 controls the execution.
  • the transceiver 1503 is used for communication with other devices (for example, the station in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1). Of course, the transceiver 1503 can also be used to communicate with a communication network, such as an Ethernet, a radio access network (RAN), and a wireless local area network (WLAN).
  • the transceiver 1503 may include a receiving unit to implement a receiving function, and a sending unit to implement a sending function.
  • the communication bus 1504 may be an Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) bus, an external communication device interconnection (Peripheral Component, PCI) bus, or an Extended Industry Standard Architecture (Extended Industry Standard Architecture, EISA) bus, etc.
  • ISA Industry Standard Architecture
  • PCI Peripheral Component
  • EISA Extended Industry Standard Architecture
  • the bus can be divided into address bus, data bus, control bus and so on. For ease of representation, only one thick line is used in FIG. 15 to represent it, but it does not mean that there is only one bus or one type of bus.
  • the communication device 1500 is a complete device.
  • the communication device may include a processor 1501, a memory 1502, a transceiver 1503, and a communication bus 1504.
  • it may also include other components, such as a display.
  • the communication device 1500 is an access point AP (for example, a reporting AP in an AP multi-link device), which can be used to implement the methods and functions related to the AP in the foregoing embodiments.
  • a computer program (instruction) is stored in the memory.
  • the processor calls the computer program, the above methods and functions are realized.
  • the processor is used to generate signaling or frames (carrying MLD information), and the transceiver is used to send signaling or frames. (Carry MLD information).
  • the processor is used to control the transceiver to perform step S101.
  • the MLD information generation process involved in this step S101 can also be completed by the processor.
  • the processor is used to control the transceiver to perform step S201.
  • the process of generating the management frame involved in step S201 can also be completed by the processor.
  • the processor is used to control the transceiver to perform step S301.
  • the process of generating the management frame involved in step S301 can also be completed by the processor.
  • the processor is used to control the transceiver to execute step S401.
  • the process of generating the management frame involved in step S401 can also be completed by the processor.
  • the communication device 1500 is a station, which may be used to implement the methods and functions of the station involved in the foregoing embodiments.
  • a computer program is stored in the memory.
  • the processor calls the computer program, the above methods and functions are realized.
  • the processor is used to generate signaling or frames (such as detection response frames), and the transceiver is used to send signaling or frames (such as Receive probe request frame).
  • the processor is used to control the transceiver to receive the MLD information in step S102, and then the processor determines the structure of the multi-AP multi-link device and the information of each AP according to the MLD information, and can further determine which APs to associate with .
  • the processor is used to control the transceiver to receive the management frame in step S202, and then the processor determines the structure of the multi-AP multi-link device and the information of each AP according to the management frame, and can further determine which APs to select with.
  • the processor is configured to control the transceiver to receive the management frame in step S302, and then the processor determines the structure of the multi-AP multi-link device and the information of each AP according to the management frame, and can further determine which APs to choose to communicate with. Associated.
  • the processor is configured to control the transceiver to receive the management frame in step S402, and then the processor determines the structure of the multi-AP multi-link device and the information of each AP according to the management frame, and can further determine which APs to select with. Associated.
  • the communication device 1500 is a chip system or processing system in the access point AP (for example, a reporting AP in an AP multi-link device), so that the device on which the chip system or processing system is installed implements the foregoing embodiment The methods and functions of APs.
  • the communication device 1500 may include some components as shown in FIG. 15.
  • the communication device 1500 includes a processor, which may be coupled with a memory, call and execute instructions in the memory, so as to configure and install the chip system or processing system.
  • the device implements the methods and functions of the foregoing embodiments.
  • the memory may be a component in a chip system or a processing system, and may also be a component of an external coupling link of the chip system or the processing system.
  • the chip system or processing system is installed in the access point AP (for example, the reporting AP in the AP multi-link device), so that the access point AP can execute step S101 in the foregoing embodiment.
  • the chip system or processing system is installed in the access point AP, so that the access point AP can execute step S201 in the foregoing embodiment.
  • the chip system or processing system is installed in the access point AP, so that the access point AP can execute step S301 in the foregoing embodiment.
  • the access point is caused to instruct step S401.
  • the communication device 1500 is a chip system or a processing system in the site, so that the device on which the chip system or the processing system is installed implements the methods and functions related to the site in the foregoing embodiments.
  • the communication device 1500 may include some components as shown in FIG. 15.
  • the communication device 1500 includes a processor, which may be coupled with a memory, call and execute instructions in the memory, so as to configure and install the chip system or processing system.
  • the device implements the methods and functions of the foregoing embodiments.
  • the memory may be a component in a chip system or a processing system, and may also be a component of an external coupling link of the chip system or the processing system.
  • the chip system or the processing system is installed in the site, so that the site can execute step S102 in the foregoing embodiment.
  • the chip system or processing system is installed in the site, so that the site can execute step S202 in the foregoing embodiment.
  • the chip system or the processing system is installed in the site, so that the site can execute step S302 in the foregoing embodiment.
  • the chip system or the processing system is installed in the site, so that the site can execute step S402 in the foregoing embodiment.
  • the chip system or processing system can support 802.11 series protocols for communication, such as 802.11be, 802.11ax, 802.11ac, and so on.
  • the chip system can be installed in devices in various scenarios that support WLAN transmission. The devices in the WLAN transmission scenario have been introduced at the beginning of this manual, and will not be repeated here.
  • the embodiment of the present application may divide the access point AP (for example, the reporting AP in the AP multi-link device) or the station into functional modules according to the foregoing method examples.
  • each functional module may be divided corresponding to each function, or two One or more functions are integrated in one processing module.
  • the above-mentioned integrated modules can be implemented in the form of hardware or software function modules. It should be noted that the division of modules in the embodiments of the present application is illustrative, and is only a logical function division, and there may be other division methods in actual implementation.
  • FIG. 16 shows a possible structural diagram of a communication device 1600.
  • the communication device 1600 may be a multi-link device or a chip or processing system in a multi-link device.
  • the apparatus 1600 can perform the operation of the multi-link device in the foregoing method embodiment.
  • the communication device 1600 includes a processing unit 1601 and a transceiver unit 1602.
  • the communication device 1600 is the aforementioned access point AP (for example, a reporting AP in an AP multi-link device) or a station.
  • the communication device 1600 is the aforementioned access point or a chip in the access point.
  • the processing unit 1601 may be used to control and manage the actions of the communication device 1600. For example, MLD information is generated. For another example, the operation of the transceiver unit 1602 is controlled.
  • the processing unit 1601 may also execute programs or instructions stored in the storage unit, so that the communication device 1600 implements the methods and functions involved in any of the foregoing embodiments.
  • the aforementioned processing unit 1601 may control the transceiver unit to perform step S101 in FIG. 4, or S201 in FIG. 10a, or S301 in FIG. 10b, or S401 in FIG. Other processes of technology. Among them, all relevant content of the steps involved in the foregoing method embodiments can be cited in the functional description of the corresponding functional module, and will not be repeated here.
  • the aforementioned processing unit 1601 may control the transceiver unit to perform step S102 in FIG. 4, or S202 in FIG. 10a, or S302 in FIG. 10b, or S402 in FIG. Other processes of technology. Among them, all relevant content of the steps involved in the foregoing method embodiments can be cited in the functional description of the corresponding functional module, and will not be repeated here.
  • the foregoing transceiver unit 1602 can send and receive data or signaling transmitted on one link, and can also transmit and receive data or signaling transmitted on multiple links.
  • the transceiver unit 1602 may be one transceiver module, or may include multiple transceiver modules.
  • the transceiver module can send and receive data on multiple links. For example, if the first multi-link device works on two links, when the transceiver unit 1602 includes two transceiver modules, one of the transceiver modules works on one link, and the other transceiver module works on the other link.
  • the above transceiver unit 1602 may be used to perform step S101 in FIG.
  • step S201 in FIG. 10a or S301 in FIG. 10b, or step S401 in FIG. 11, and/or used in this document
  • Other processes of the described technique are cited in the functional description of the corresponding functional module, and will not be repeated here.
  • the communication device 1600 may be the communication device shown in FIG. 15, and the processing unit 1601 may be the processor 1501 in FIG. 15, and the transceiving unit 1602 may be the transceiver 1503 in FIG. 15.
  • the communication device 1600 may further include a memory, and the memory is used to store the program code and data corresponding to any of the communication methods between the multi-link devices provided by the communication device 1600.
  • the descriptions of all relevant content of the components involved in FIG. 15 can be quoted from the functional descriptions of the corresponding components of the communication device 1600, which will not be repeated here.
  • the communication device 1600 may also be a chip or a processor, wherein the processing unit 1602 is a processing circuit in the chip or the processor, and the transceiver unit 1602 may be an input/output circuit in the chip or the processor.
  • the circuit is the interface between the chip or processor and other coupling components to communicate or exchange data. It can ensure that signaling or data information or program instructions are input to the chip or processor for processing, and the processed data or signaling is output to Other coupled components, and control the first multi-link device on which the chip or processor is installed to realize the functions.
  • the communication device 1600 is the aforementioned site or a chip in the site.
  • the processing unit 1601 may be used to control and manage the actions of the communication device 1600. For example, processing MLD information. For another example, the operation of the transceiver unit 1602 is controlled.
  • the processing unit 1601 may also execute programs or instructions stored in the storage unit, so that the communication device 1600 implements the methods and functions involved in any of the foregoing embodiments.
  • the foregoing processing unit 1601 may be used to process MLD information.
  • the MLD information in step S102 in FIG. 4 is processed by the processing unit 1601, or the management frame in S202 in FIG. 10a, or S302 in FIG. 10b.
  • the management frame in S402 in FIG. 11 is processed by the processing unit 1601, and/or used in other processes of the technology described herein.
  • all relevant content of the steps involved in the foregoing method embodiments can be cited in the functional description of the corresponding functional module, and will not be repeated here.
  • the foregoing transceiver unit 1602 can send and receive data or signaling transmitted on one link, and can also transmit and receive data or signaling transmitted on multiple links.
  • the transceiver unit 1602 may be one transceiver module, or may include multiple transceiver modules.
  • the transceiver module can send and receive data on multiple links. For example, if the first station works on two links, when the transceiver unit 1602 includes two transceiver modules, one of the transceiver modules works on one link, and the other transceiver module works on the other link.
  • the foregoing transceiver unit 1602 may be used to perform step S102 in FIG.
  • the communication device 1600 may be the communication device shown in FIG. 15, and the processing unit 1601 may be the processor 1501 in FIG. 15, and the transceiving unit 1602 may be the transceiver 1503 in FIG. 15.
  • the communication device 1600 may further include a memory, and the memory is used to store the program code and data corresponding to any of the methods provided by the communication device 1600.
  • the descriptions of all relevant content of the components involved in FIG. 15 can be quoted from the functional descriptions of the corresponding components of the communication device 1600, which will not be repeated here.
  • the communication device 1600 may also be a chip or a processor, wherein the processing unit 1602 is a processing circuit in the chip or the processor, and the transceiver unit 1602 may be an input/output circuit in the chip or the processor.
  • the circuit is the interface between the chip or processor and other coupling components to communicate or exchange data. It can ensure that signaling or data information or program instructions are input to the chip or processor for processing, and the processed data or signaling is output to Other coupled components, and control the device on which the chip or processor is installed to realize the functions.
  • the signaling structure of the MLD information and the structure of the management frame can refer to the description of the foregoing embodiment, which will not be repeated here.
  • the embodiment of the present application also provides a computer-readable storage medium having computer program code stored in the computer-readable storage medium.
  • the electronic device such as AP, Site
  • the embodiments of the present application also provide a computer program product.
  • the computer such as an AP, a station
  • the computer is caused to execute the method of any embodiment.
  • the embodiment of the present application also provides a communication device, which can exist in the form of a chip product.
  • the structure of the device includes a processor and an interface circuit.
  • the processor is used to communicate with other devices through a receiving circuit so that the device can execute The method of performing any of the embodiments described above.
  • An embodiment of the present application also provides a communication system.
  • the communication system includes the aforementioned access point AP (for example, the reporting AP in the AP multi-link device) and a station.
  • the access point AP for example, the AP in the AP multi-link device
  • the reporting AP and the station can execute the method in any of the above embodiments (for example, the method in FIG. 4, FIG. 10a, FIG. 10b, or FIG. 11).
  • the steps of the method or algorithm described in conjunction with the disclosure of the present application can be implemented in a hardware manner, or can be implemented in a manner in which a processor executes software instructions.
  • Software instructions can be composed of corresponding software modules, which can be stored in random access memory (Random Access Memory, RAM), flash memory, erasable programmable read-only memory (Erasable Programmable ROM, EPROM), and electrically erasable Programming read-only memory (Electrically EPROM, EEPROM), registers, hard disk, mobile hard disk, CD-ROM or any other form of storage medium known in the art.
  • An exemplary storage medium is coupled to the processor, so that the processor can read information from the storage medium and write information to the storage medium.
  • the storage medium may also be an integral part of the processor.
  • the processor and the storage medium may be located in the ASIC.
  • the ASIC may be located in the core network interface device.
  • the processor and the storage medium may also exist as discrete components in the core network interface device.
  • the functions described in this application can be implemented by hardware, software, firmware, or any combination thereof. When implemented by software, these functions can be stored in a computer-readable medium or transmitted as one or more instructions or codes on the computer-readable medium.
  • the computer-readable medium includes a computer-readable storage medium and a communication medium, where the communication medium includes any medium that facilitates the transfer of a computer program from one place to another.
  • the storage medium may be any available medium that can be accessed by a general-purpose or special-purpose computer.

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Abstract

本申请实施例提供一种无线局域网WLAN中应用于多链路设备的通信方法及相关装置，比如应用于支持802.11be的WLAN中，该方法包括：汇报接入点AP向站点发送管理帧，汇报AP属于第一AP多链路设备MLD，且汇报AP属于一个Multiple BSSID集合，管理帧包括MLD信息，在MLD信息中通过不同类型的MLD元素，比如正式MLD元素，虚拟MLD元素，以及Multiple BSSID元素，携带比如该AP所属的MLD中的其他AP的信息，以及该AP所属的Multiple BSSID集合的信息，以及该AP所属的MLD中的其他AP所属的Multiple BSSID集合中的AP的信息，站点根据所述管理帧获得汇报AP，以及其他被汇报AP的信息。如此，站点可与选择相应的AP或AP多链路设备建立关联。

Description

无线局域网中的信令信息的交互方法及通信装置 技术领域
本申请涉及通信技术领域，尤其涉及无线局域网中的信令信息的交互方法及通信装置。
背景技术
为了大幅提升WLAN系统的业务传输速率，电气和电子工程师协会(Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers，IEEE)802.11ax标准在现有正交频分复用(Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing，OFDM)技术的基础上，进一步采用正交频分多址(Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access，OFDMA)技术。OFDMA技术支持多个节点同时发送和接收数据，从而实现多站点分集增益。在802.11ax定稿的2017年，美国联邦通信委员会(Federal Communications Commission，FCC)开放了一段新的免费频段5925-7125MHz，下述简称该段频段为6GHz。于是802.11ax标准工作者在802.11ax项目授权申请书(Project Authorization Requests，PAR)中把802.11ax设备工作范围从2.4GHz，5GHz拓展到2.4GHz，5GHz和6GHz。
IEEE 802.11下一代WiFi协议(extremely high throughput，EHT)设备由于需向前兼容，因此也会支持802.11ax设备的工作频谱，即会支持2.4GHz，5GHz和6GHz频段。根据最新开放的免费的6GHz频段，基于该频段做信道划分，可支持的带宽可以超过在5GHz支持的最大带宽160MHz，比如320MHz。除了通过超大带宽，IEEE 802.11ax下一代WiFi-极高吞吐量还可以通过更多的流数，比如流数增加到16流，以及多个频段(2.4GHz，5GHz和6GHz)合作等方式提高峰值吞吐量。在同一频段上，还可以通过多个信道合作等方式提高峰值吞吐量，降低业务传输的时延。下面把多频段或多信道统称为多链路。802.11ax及之前的同工作频段的WiFi虽然配置多链路，但通常来讲，每个多链路建立不同的基本服务集(Basic Service Set，BSS)，一个时刻只能在一个链路跟该链路归属的BSS内的站点通信。
802.11ax及之前引进了多(Multiple)基本服务集识别号(Basic Service Setidentifier，BSSID)技术，主要功能是将一个物理AP上虚拟出多个逻辑AP，也就说形成多个虚拟网络，每个虚拟网络用来分别管理不同的站点，类似于现在WIFI场景下的AP产品中一个AP可以虚拟出汇报AP(home AP)以及客户AP(guest AP)。
如何将Multiple BSSID技术应用到多链路设备中以提供多个虚拟网络功能是本领域的技术人员正在研究的技术问题。
发明内容
本申请实施例公开了一种WLAN中的信令信息的交互方法及相关装置。
第一方面，本申请实施例提供一种WLAN中的信令信息的交互方法，包括：接入点AP生成管理帧，所述AP属于第一AP多链路设备MLD；其中，所述管理帧包括MLD信息，所述MLD信息包括：第一MLD元素，所述第一MLD元素的子元素用于携带所述AP所属的第一MLD中其他AP的信息，所述第一MLD元素还包括指示MLD元素类型的类型信息；所述接入点发送所述管理帧。
第二方面，本申请实施例提供一种WLAN中的信令信息的交互方法，包括：站点接收一个接入点AP发送的管理帧；所述AP属于第一AP多链路设备MLD；其中，所述管理帧包括MLD信息，所述MLD信息包括：第一MLD元素，所述第一MLD元素的子元素用于携 带所述AP所属的所述第一MLD中其他AP的信息，所述MLD元素还包括指示所述MLD元素类型的类型信息；所述站点根据所述管理帧，获取所述AP所属的所述第一MLD中其他AP的信息。
第三方面，提供一种无线局域网WLAN中的通信装置，包括：处理单元，用于生成管理帧，所述AP属于第一AP多链路设备MLD；其中，所述管理帧包括MLD信息，所述MLD信息包括：第一MLD元素，所述第一MLD元素的子元素用于携带所述AP所属的第一MLD中其他AP的信息，所述第一MLD元素还包括指示MLD元素类型的类型信息；收发单元，用于所述管理帧。
第四方面，提供一种无线局域网WLAN中的通信装置，包括：收发单元，用于接收一个接入点AP发送的管理帧；所述AP属于第一AP多链路设备MLD；其中，所述管理帧包括MLD信息，所述MLD信息包括：第一MLD元素，所述第一MLD元素的子元素用于携带所述AP所属的所述第一MLD中其他AP的信息，所述MLD元素还包括指示所述MLD元素类型的类型信息；处理单元，用于根据所述管理帧，获取所述AP所属的所述第一MLD中其他AP的信息。
第五方面，提供一种通信装置，包括处理器和存储器，所述存储器存储指令，当所述指令被所述处理器运行时，以使得所述通信装置执行：生成管理帧，所述AP属于第一AP多链路设备MLD；其中，所述管理帧包括MLD信息，所述MLD信息包括：第一MLD元素，所述第一MLD元素的子元素用于携带所述AP所属的第一MLD中其他AP的信息，所述第一MLD元素还包括指示MLD元素类型的类型信息；发送所述管理帧。
第六方面，提供一种通信装置，包括处理器和存储器，所述存储器存储指令，当所述指令被所述处理器运行时，以使得所述通信装置执行：用于接收一个接入点AP发送的管理帧；所述AP属于第一AP多链路设备MLD；其中，所述管理帧包括MLD信息，所述MLD信息包括：第一MLD元素，所述第一MLD元素的子元素用于携带所述AP所属的所述第一MLD中其他AP的信息，所述MLD元素还包括指示所述MLD元素类型的类型信息；根据所述管理帧，获取所述AP所属的所述第一MLD中其他AP的信息。
本申请提供的一种灵活信令结构，通过一个或多个MLD元素，以及包括于Multiple BSSID元素中的MLD元素描述该多AP多链路设备中的一个或多个AP的信息，帮助站点选择合适的AP或者AP MLD进行关联。本申请实施例提出的MLD信息的信令结构简单，灵活。
上述任一方面的方法或装置的一种实现方式中，MLD元素还包括：公共控制字段；公共控制字段包括所述类型信息，用于指示所述MLD元素的元素类型。本申请实施例提出在MLD元素中携带指示MLD元素类型的类型信息，使得站点可以根据该信息确定MLD的类型，从而可以确定多AP多链路设备中各个MLD之间的关系和结构。
上述任一方面的方法或装置的一种实现方式中，所述元素类型包括：正式MLD元素，虚拟MLD元素；所述类型信息具体包括：虚拟MLD字段，用于指示所述MLD元素是否为虚拟MLD元素。
上述任一方面的方法或装置的一种实现方式中，所述虚拟MLD字段包括1比特；
若所述MLD元素为虚拟MLD元素，则所述虚拟MLD字段置为第一值；
若所述MLD元素为正式MLD元素，则所述虚拟MLD字段置为第二值。
上述任一方面的方法或装置的一种实现方式中，所述元素类型包括：正式MLD元素，虚拟MLD元素，以及，特殊MLD元素；所述类型信息包括：虚拟MLD字段，用于指示所述MLD元素是否为虚拟MLD元素；特殊MLD资源，用于指示所述MLD元素是否为特殊MLD 元素。
上述任一方面的方法或装置的一种实现方式中，所述虚拟MLD字段包括1比特，所述特殊MLD字段包括1比特；若所述MLD元素为虚拟MLD元素，则所述虚拟MLD字段置为第一值，所述特殊MLD字段置为第二值；若所述MLD元素为特殊MLD元素，则所述虚拟MLD字段置为第二值，所述特殊MLD字段置为第一值；若所述MLD元素为正式MLD元素，则所述虚拟MLD字段置为第二值，所述特殊MLD字段置为第二值。
上述任一方面的方法或装置的一种实现方式中，所述MLD元素还包括：MLD公共信息字段；所述公共控制字段还包括：MLD地址出现字段，用于指示所述MLD公共信息字段中是否会出现MLD地址字段，所述MLD地址字段用于携带所述第一MLD的标识。
上述任一方面的方法或装置的一种实现方式中，若所述类型信息指示所述MLD元素为虚拟MLD元素，所述MLD公共信息字段中包括MLD地址字段；若所述类型信息指示所述MLD元素为正式MLD元素，所述MLD公共信息字段中包括MLD地址字段。
上述任一方面的方法或装置的一种实现方式中，若所述类型信息指示所述MLD元素为特殊MLD元素，所述MLD公共信息字段中不包括MLD地址字段。
上述任一方面的方法或装置的一种实现方式中，若所述第一MLD中的其他AP属于一个第二Multiple BSSID集合，且所述第二Multiple BSSID集合中的一个其他AP属于一个第二MLD，则所述MLD信息还包括：第二MLD元素，所述第二MLD元素中的子元素携带所述第二MLD中的AP的信息。
上述任一方面的方法或装置的一种实现方式中，若所述AP属于一个第一Multiple BSSID集合，则所述MLD信息还包括一个第一Multiple BSSID元素，所述第一Multiple BSSID元素包括所述第一Multiple BSSID集合中的非传输AP的信息。
上述任一方面的方法或装置的一种实现方式中，若所述第一Multiple BSSID集合中的所述非传输AP属于一个第三MLD，那么所述Multiple BSSID元素还包括一个第三MLD元素，所述第三MLD元素的子元素携带所述第三MLD中的其他AP的信息。
上述任一方面的方法或装置的一种实现方式中，若所述第一MLD中的其他AP属于一个第三Multiple BSSID集合，且所述第三Multiple BSSID集合中的一个AP不属于MLD，则所述MLD信息还包括：第四MLD元素，所述第四MLD元素的子元素携带所述AP的信息。
上述任一方面的方法或装置的一种实现方式中，所述第一MLD元素为正式MLD元素，所述第一MLD元素中的类型信息指示所述第一MLD元素为正式MLD元素。
上述任一方面的方法或装置的一种实现方式中，所述第二MLD元素为虚拟MLD元素，所述第二MLD元素中的类型信息指示所述第二MLD元素为虚拟MLD元素。
上述任一方面的方法或装置的一种实现方式中，所述第三MLD为正式MLD元素，所述第二MLD元素中的类型信息指示所述第二MLD元素为正式MLD元素。
上述任一方面的方法或装置的一种实现方式中，所述第四MLD元素为特殊MLD元素，所述第四MLD元素中的类型信息指示所述第四MLD元素为特殊MLD元素。
上述第三方面、第四方面、第五方面和第六方面中的通信装置可以为芯片，处理单元可以为芯片的处理电路，收发单元可以为输入输出接口电路，处理电路可以用于处理由输入输出提供的信令或数据信息，输入输出接口电路可以用于为该芯片输入输出数据或信令信息。
本申请实施例的第七方面，提供一种计算机可读存储介质，所述计算机可读存储介质中存储有计算机程序代码，当所述计算机程序在处理器上运行时，使得所述处理器执行上述第一方面、第二方面中任一方面及对应可能的实现方式中的方法。
本申请实施例的第八方面，提供了一种计算机程序产品，该程序产品储存有上述处理器执行的计算机程序(指令)，当所述计算机程序在处理器上运行时，使得所述处理器执行上述第一方面、第二方面中任一方面及对应可能的实现方式中的方法。
本申请实施例的第九方面，提供了一种通信装置，该装置包括处理器，还可以包括收发器以及存储器，收发器，用于收发信息，或者用于与其他网元通信；存储器，用于存储计算机程序(指令)；处理器，用于执行所计算机程序，以支持通信装置实现上述第一方面、第二方面中任一方面及对应可能的实现方式中的方法。
本申请实施例的第十方面，提供了一种通信装置，该装置可以以芯片的产品形态存在，该装置的结构中包括处理器，还可以包括存储器，该存储器用于与处理器耦合，保存该装置必要的程序(指令)和数据，该处理器用于执行存储器中存储的计算机程序，以支持通信装置执行上述第一方面、第二方面中任一方面及对应可能的实现方式中的方法。可选的，该存储器可以位于处理器中，为内部存储，该处理器还可以位于该处理器外，与该处理器耦合链接，为外部存储。
本申请实施例的第十一方面，提供了一种通信装置，该装置可以以芯片的产品形态存在，该装置的结构中包括处理器和接口电路，该处理器用于通过接收电路与其它装置通信，使得该装置执行上述第一方面、第二方面中任一方面及对应可能的实现方式中的方法。
本申请实施例的第十二方面，提供了一种通信装置，用于执行上述第一方面、第二方面中任一方面及对应可能的实现方式中的方法。
附图说明
以下对本申请实施例用到的附图进行介绍。
图1为本申请实施例提供的一种通信系统的结构示意图；
图2(a)为本申请实施例提供的一种多链路设备的结构示意图；
图2(b)为本申请实施例提供的另一种多链路设备的结构示意图；
图2(c)为本申请实施例提供的另一种多链路设备的结构示意图；
图3(a)为本申请实施例提供的一种多链路通信的示意图；
图3(b)为本申请实施例提供的另一种多链路通信的示意图；
图4为本申请实施例提供的一种WLAN中应用于多链路设备的通信方法的交互示意图；
图5为本申请实施例提供的一种多AP多链路设备的结构示意图；
图6a为本申请实施例提供的一种MLD元素的结构示意图；
图6b为本申请实施例提供的另一种MLD元素的结构示意图；
图6c为本申请实施例提供的又一种MLD元素的结构示意图；
图7为本申请实施例提供的一种MLD元素中的子元素的结构示意图；
图8a为本申请实施例提供的另一种多AP多链路设备的结构示意图；
图8b为本申请实施例提供的又一种多AP多链路设备的结构示意图；
图9a为本申请实施例提供的一种管理帧的结构示意图；
图9b为本申请实施例提供的另一种管理帧的结构示意图；
图9c为本申请实施例提供的又一种管理帧的结构示意图；
图9d为本申请实施例提供的再一种管理帧的结构示意图；
图10a为本申请实施例提供的一种多AP多链路设备的信令信息交互方法的流程示意图；
图10b为本申请实施例提供的另一种多AP多链路设备的信令信息交互方法的流程示意 图；
图11为本申请实施例提供的一种多AP多链路设备的信令信息交互方法的流程示意图；
图12为本申请实施例提供的一种Multiple BSSID元素的结构示意图；
图13a为本申请实施例提供的又一种管理帧的结构示意图；
图13b为本申请实施例提供的再一种管理帧的结构示意图；
图14a为本申请实施例提供的一种精简邻居汇报RNR元素的结构示意图；
图14b为本申请实施例提供的一种RNR元素中的TBTT信息字段的结构示意图；
图14c为本申请实施例提供的又一种RNR元素中的TBTT信息字段的结构示意图；
图15为本申请实施例提供的一种通信装置的组成示意图；
图16为本申请实施例提供的另一种通信装置的组成示意图。
具体实施方式
下面首先对本申请涉及的相关技术进行介绍，然后结合附图对本申请实施例进行描述。
本申请实施例提供一种应用于无线通信系统的通信方法。该无线通信系统可以为无线局域网(Wireless local area network，WLAN)或蜂窝网，该方法可以由无线通信系统中的通信设备或通信设备中的芯片或处理器实现，该通信设备可以是一种支持多条链路并行进行传输的无线通信设备，例如，称为多链路设备(Multi-link device)或多频段设备(multi-band device)。比如，在无线局域网中，该通信设备支持采用IEEE 802.11系列协议进行通信，IEEE 802.11系列协议包括：802.11be,802.11ax，或802.11a/b/g/n/ac。
一、多链路设备(Multi-link device，MLD)，也称多频段设备(multi-band device)。
多链路设备MLD包括一个或多个隶属的站点，隶属的站点是逻辑上的站点，“多链路设备包括隶属站点”在本申请实施例中也简要描述为“多链路设备包括站点”。隶属的站点可以为接入点(Access Point，AP)或非接入点站点(non-Access Point Station,non-AP STA)。为描述方便，本申请将隶属的站点为AP的多链路设备可以称为多链路AP或AP多链路设备或AP多链路设备(AP multi-link device)，隶属的站点为non-AP STA的多链路设备可以称为多链路STA或多链路STA设备或STA多链路设备(STA multi-link device)。
多链路设备MLD可以遵循802.11系列协议实现无线通信，例如，遵循极高吞吐率(Extremely High Throughput，EHT)，或遵循基于802.11be或兼容支持802.11be，从而实现与其他设备的通信，当然其他设备可以是多链路设备，也可以不是多链路设备。
每个逻辑上的站点可以工作在一条链路上，但允许多个逻辑站点工作在同一条链路上，下文的提到的链路标识表征的是工作在一条链路上的一个站点，即如果一条链路上有多于1个逻辑上的站点，则需要多于1个链路标识表征他们，下文的提到的链路有时也表示工作在该条链路上的站点。一个多链路设备与另一个多链路设备在数据传输时，在通信之前，该一个多链路设备与该另一个多链路设备可以先协商或沟通链路标识与一条链路或一条链路上的站点的对应关系或者AP多链路设备通过广播的管理帧，比如信标帧，指示链路标识与一条链路或一条链路上的站点的对应关系。因此在数据传输中，不需要传输大量的信令信息用来指示链路或链路上的站点，携带链路标识即可，降低了信令开销，提升了传输效率。
下面以上述一个多链路设备为AP多链路设备，上述另一个多链路设备为STA多链路设备为例进行举例说明。一个示例中，AP多链路设备在建立BSS时，发送的管理帧，比如beacon帧，会携带一个包括多个链路标识信息字段的元素，每个链路标识信息字段可以建议一个链路标识与工作在一个链路上的站点的对应关系。每个链路标识信息字段包括链路标识，还包 括：MAC地址，操作集，信道号中的一个或多个，其中MAC地址，操作集，信道号中的一个或多个可以指示一条链路；另一个示例中，在多链路建立关联过程中，AP多链路设备和STA多链路设备协商多个链路标识信息字段。在后续的通信中，AP多链路设备或者STA多链路设备会通过链路标识来表征多链路设备中的一个站点，链路标识还可以表征该站点的MAC地址，工作的操作集，信道号中的一个或多个属性。其中MAC地址，也可以换成关联后AP多链路设备的关联标识。可选的，如果是多个站点工作在一条链路上，那么链路标识(是一个数字的ID)，表征的意义除了包括链路所在的操作集，信道号，还包括工作在该链路上的站点标识，比如站点的MAC地址或者AID。
图1以无线局域网为例，介绍了本申请实施例的一种应用场景图。该应用场景包括：第一站点101和第二站点102，第一站点101可以与第二站点102之间采用多条链路进行通信，从而达到提升吞吐量的效果。第一站点可以为多链路设备，第二站点可以为单链路设备或多链路设备等。一种场景中，第一站点101为AP多链路设备，第二站点102为STA多链路设备或站点(比如单链路站点)；另一场景中，第一站点101为STA多链路设备，第二站点102为AP(比如单链路AP)或AP多链路设备。又一种场景中，第一站点101为AP多链路设备，第二站点102为AP多链路设备或AP；又一种场景中，第一站点101为STA多链路设备，第二站点102为STA多链路设备或STA。当然，该无线局域网还可包括其他设备。图1示意的设备的数量及类型仅是示例性的。
图2(a)、图2(b)示出了参与通信的AP多链路设备和STA多链路设备的结构示意图。802.11标准关注AP多链路设备和STA多链路设备(如手机、笔记本电脑)中的802.11物理层(Physical layer，PHY)和媒体接入控制(Media Access Control，MAC)层部分。
如图2(a)所示，AP多链路设备包括的多个AP在低MAC(Low MAC)层和PHY层互相独立，在高MAC(High MAC)层也互相独立；STA多链路设备包括的多个STA在低MAC(Low MAC)层和PHY层互相独立，在高MAC(High MAC)层也互相独立。
如图2(b)所示，AP多链路设备中包括的多个AP在低MAC(Low MAC)层和PHY层互相独立，共用高MAC(High MAC)层。STA多链路设备中包括的多个STA在低MAC(Low MAC)层和PHY层互相独立，共用高MAC(High MAC)层。
当然，STA多链路设备可以是采用高MAC层相互独立的结构，而AP多链路设备采用高MAC层共用的结构；也可以是STA多链路设备采用高MAC层共用的结构，AP多链路设备采用高MAC层相互独立的结构。示例性的，该高MAC层或低MAC层都可以由多链路设备的芯片系统中的一个处理器实现，还可以分别由一个芯片系统中的不同处理模块实现。
示例性的，本申请实施例中的多链路设备可以是单个天线的设备，也可以是多天线的设备。例如，可以是两个以上天线的设备。本申请实施例对于多链路设备包括的天线的数目并不进行限定，图2(c)以AP多链路设备为多天线，STA多链路设备为单天线为例进行了示意。在本申请的实施例中，多链路设备可以允许同一接入类型的业务在不同链路上传输，甚至允许相同的数据包在不同链路上传输；也可以不允许同一接入类型的业务在不同链路上传输，但允许不同接入类型的业务在不同的链路上传输。
多链路设备工作的频段可以包括但不限于：sub 1GHz，2.4GHz，5GHz，6GHz以及高频60GHz。图3(a)、图3(b)示出了无线局域网中多链路设备与其他设备通过多条链路进行通信的两种示意图。
图3(a)示出了一种AP多链路设备101和STA多链路设备102通信的场景，AP多链路设备101包括隶属的AP101-1和AP101-2，STA多链路设备102包括隶属的STA102-1和 STA102-2，且AP多链路设备101和STA多链路设备102采用链路1和链路2并行进行通信。
图3(b)示出了AP多链路设备101与STA多链路设备102，STA多链路设备103以及STA104进行通信的场景，AP多链路设备101包括隶属的AP101-1至AP101-3，STA多链路设备102包括隶属的两个STA102-1和STA102-2，STA多链路设备103包括2个隶属的STA103-1,STA103-2,STA103-3，STA104为单链路设备，AP多链路设备可以分别采用链路1和链路3与STA多链路设备102进行通信，采用链路2和链路3与多链路103进行通信，采用链路1与STA104通信。一个示例中，STA104工作在2.4GHz频段；STA多链路设备103包括STA103-1和STA103-2，STA103-1工作在5GHz频段，STA103-2工作在6GHz频段；STA多链路设备102包括STA102-1和STA102-2，STA102-1工作在2.4GHz频段，STA102-2工作在6GHz频段。AP多链路设备中工作在2.4GHz频段的AP101-1可以通过链路1与STA104和STA多链路设备102中的STA102-2之间传输上行或下行数据。AP多链路设备中工作在5GHz频段的AP101-2可以通过链路2与STA多链路设备103中工作在5GHz频段的STA103-1之间传输上行或下行数据。AP多链路设备101中工作在6GHz频段的AP101-3可通过链路3与STA多链路设备102中工作在6GHz频段的STA102-2之间传输上行或下行数据，还可通过链路3与STA多链路设备中的STA103-2之间传输上行或下行数据。
需要说明的是，图3(a)仅示出了AP多链路设备支持2个频段，图3(b)仅以AP多链路设备支持三个频段(2.4GHz，5GHz，6GHz)，每个频段对应一条链路，AP多链路设备101可以工作在链路1、链路2或链路3中的一条或多条链路为例进行示意。在AP侧或者STA侧，这里的链路还可以理解为工作在该链路上的站点。实际应用中，AP多链路设备和STA多链路设备还可以支持更多或更少的频段，即AP多链路设备和STA多链路设备可以工作在更多条链路或更少条链路上，本申请实施例对此并不进行限定。
示例性的，多链路设备为具有无线通信功能的装置，该装置可以为一个整机的设备，还可以是安装在整机设备中的芯片或处理系统等，安装这些芯片或处理系统的设备可以在这些芯片或处理系统的控制下，实现本申请实施例的方法和功能。例如，本申请实施例中的多链路STA具有无线收发功能，可以为支持802.11系列协议，可以与多链路AP或其他多链路STA或单链路设备进行通信，例如，多链路STA是允许用户与AP通信进而与WLAN通信的任何用户通信设备。例如，多链路STA可以为平板电脑、桌面型、膝上型、笔记本电脑、超级移动个人计算机(Ultra-mobile Personal Computer，UMPC)、手持计算机、上网本、个人数字助理(Personal Digital Assistant，PDA)、手机等可以联网的用户设备，或物联网中的物联网节点，或车联网中的车载通信装置等，多链路STA还可以为上述这些终端中的芯片和处理系统。本申请实施例中的多链路AP为多链路STA提供服务的装置，可以支持802.11系列协议。例如，多链路AP可以为通信服务器、路由器、交换机、网桥等通信实体，或，所述多链路AP可以包括各种形式的宏基站，微基站，中继站等，当然多链路AP还可以为这些各种形式的设备中的芯片和处理系统，从而实现本申请实施例的方法和功能。并且，多链路设备可以支持高速率低时延的传输，随着无线局域网应用场景的不断演进，多链路设备还可以应用于更多场景中，比如为智慧城市中的传感器节点(比如，智能水表，智能电表，智能空气检测节点)，智慧家居中的智能设备(比如智能摄像头，投影仪，显示屏，电视机，音响，电冰箱，洗衣机等)，物联网中的节点，娱乐终端(比如AR，VR等可穿戴设备)，智能办公中智能设备(比如，打印机，投影仪等)，车联网中的车联网设备，日常生活场景中的一些基础设施(比如自动售货机，商超的自助导航台，自助收银设备，自助点餐机等)。本申请实施例中 对于多链路STA和多链路AP的具体形式不做特殊限制，在此仅是示例性说明。其中，802.11系列协议可包括：802.11be,802.11ax，802.11a/b/g/n/ac等。
二、多(Multiple)基本服务集识别号(Basic Service Set identifier，BSSID)模式。
Multiple BSSID(多BSSID)集合是一些合作AP的集合，所述合作的所有AP使用同一个操作集，信道号，以及天线接口。在Multiple BSSID集合中，只有一个Transmitted BSSID(传输)的AP，其他的AP都为Nontransmitted BSSID(非传输)的AP。Multiple BSSID集合的信息(也就是Multiple BSSID元素)携带于Transmitted BSSID AP发送的信标帧或者探测响应帧或邻居汇报中。Nontransmitted BSSID的AP的BSSID的信息是通过接收上述信标帧或者探测响应帧，或者邻居汇报中的Multiple BSSID元素等推导出来的。
在Multiple BSSID技术中，一个物理AP可以虚拟出多个逻辑AP构成一个Multiple BSSID集合，每个虚拟后的AP管理一个BSS，不同的逻辑AP一般具有不同的SSID，以及权限，比如安全机制或者传输机会等。在Multiple BSSID集合中，存在一个AP的BSSID被配置为传输(Transmitted)BSSID，称为传输(Transmitted)AP，其他AP的BSSID被配置为non-ttransmitted BSSID，称为非传输(non-ttransmitted)AP。通常来说，Multiple BSSID的中多个AP还可以理解为一个AP设备虚拟出多个合作的AP设备。只有BSSID为Transmitted BSSID的AP可以发送管理帧，比如信标帧(beacon)和探测响应帧(Probe Response)，如果STA发送的探测请求帧(Probe Request)是给Multiple BSSID集合(set)中的一个BSSID为Nontransmitted BSSID的AP，此时BSSID为TransmittedBSSID的AP需要帮忙响应探测响应帧。BSSID为Transmitted BSSID的AP发送的beacon帧包括Multiple BSSID元素，其他Nontransmitted BSSID的AP不能发送beacon帧。多个虚拟AP给其管理的站点分配的关联标识(AID association identifier)是共享一个空间的，也就是说多个虚拟的BSS中的站点被分配的AID是不能重合的。
一个示例中，MultipleBSSID元素如表1所示，包括元素ID，长度，最大BSSID指示，子元素，其中最大BSSID指示上述Multiple BSSID集合中包含的BSSID的最大个数为n，可选的子元素包括各个非传输BSSID的信息。接收端根据参考BSSID、最大BSSID指示以及BSSID的序号可以计算出多BSSID集合中每个BSSID的值，各个BSSID包括48位，其中多BSSID集合中每个BSSID的高(48-n)位的值与参考BSSID的高48-n位的值相同，多BSSID集合中每个BSSID的低n位的值为参考BSSID的低n为值与BSSID的序号x值的和，然后再以2n取模，其中参考BSSID(也就是Transmitted BSSID)携带于包含该Multiple BSSID元素的帧(比如信标帧)中的MAC头中的BSSID字段中，具体计算方法可参考802.11-2016标准协议。
表1 MultipleBSSID元素
  元素ID 长度 最大BSSID指示 可选的子元素
字节 1 1 6 可变
其中，表1中的“可选的子元素”可以如表2所示。
表2可选的子元素
子元素ID 名字 拓展
0 Nontransmitted BSSID profile 不可拓展
1-220 保留  
221 厂商专有 厂商定义
222-255 保留  
在表2中，Nontransmitted BSSID profile(配置)包括一个或多个具有NontransmittedBSSID的AP或者DMG STA的元素，Nontransmitted BSSID profile(配置)包括但不限于如下元素：
1、对于每个Nontransmitted BSSID，需要包括Nontransmitted BSSID能力元素，以及在beacon中的其他多个元素。
2、SSID元素，以及Multiple BSSID-Index元素。
3、如果MultipleBSSID元素携带在beacon中，还包括FMS Descriptor(描述)元素。
4、不包括以下元素：时戳字段和信标帧间隔字段(The Timestamp and Beacon Interval fields)，DSSS参数集合(DSSS Parameter Set)，IBSS参数集合(IBSS Parameter Set)，国家(Country)，信道切换通知(Channel Switch Announcement)，拓展信道切换通知(Extended Channel Switch Announcement)，大带宽信道切换(Wide Bandwidth Channel Switch)，发送功率包络(Transmit Power Envelope)，支持的操作集(Supported Operating Classes)，IBSS DFS，ERP信息(ERP Information)，HT能力(HT Capabilities)，HT操作(HT Operation)，VHT能力(VHT Capabilities)，VHT操作(VHT Operation)，SIG信标帧兼容性(S1G Beacon Compatibility)，短信标帧间隔(Short Beacon Interval)，SIG能力(S1G Capabilities)，和SIG操作(S1G Operation(11ah))等元素。这些元素通常跟transmitted BSSID AP的元素值一样。
5、可选的包括NonInheriatance(非继承)元素，该元素为Nontransmitted BSSID profile中的最后一个元素。非继承元素包括一系列Nontransmitted BSSID不能从transmitted BSSID那继承的元素的ID号以及元素ID拓展号，值得注意注意这里省略了元素的具体内容，具体如表3所示，包括元素ID，长度，元素ID拓展，元素ID列表，元素ID拓展列表，其中元素ID拓展号在元素ID的值为255时才出现。
表3非继承元素
Figure PCTCN2021091229-appb-000001
通常的Multiple BSSID技术仅是基于单链路设备的而言，虚拟出的一个Multiple BSSID集合，如何将Multiple BSSID技术应用到多链路设备中以提供多个虚拟网络功能是本领域的技术人员正在研究的技术问题。
实施例一
请参见图4，图4是本申请实施例提供的一种基于多链路设备和Multiple BSSID的信息指示方法。该方法可应用于站点与站点之间，接入点与站点之间，以及接入点与接入点之间，为描述方便，本申请实施例以接入点与站点之间的通信为例进行详细描述。
为方便描述，下面称Multiple BSS集合中Transmitted BSSID所标识的BSS中的AP为传输AP(TransmittedBSSID AP)，称nontransmitted BSSID所标识的BSS中的AP为非传输AP(nontransmittedBSSID AP)，并且将发送携带其他AP信息的管理帧的AP称为汇报AP，管理帧中的其他AP称为被汇报AP。本申请实施例中，将一个AP多链路设备，以及与该AP 多链路设备中的AP所在的多BSSID集合的AP组成的设备简称为多AP多链路设备，当然还可以有其他名称，本申请不限定。该方法涉及多AP多链路设备中的一个AP把该多AP多链路设备中的其他所有AP的信息发给周围的站点，设计了其他AP的信息的信令结构。
该方法包括但不限于如下步骤：
步骤S101：接入点向站点发送MLD信息。
该接入点为AP多链路设备中的AP。接收MLD信息的站点既可以是多链路站点设备中的站点，也可以是单链路站点。当然，发送MLD信息的也可以为站点，属于一个MLD；接收MLD信息的也可以为接入点，属于一个MLD，或者是单链路接入点。后续的描述以下以接入点向站点发送MLD信息为例进行举例说明。
发送该MLD信息的AP包含于一个MLD中，该MLD还包括一个或多个其他AP，也就是说，发送MLD信息的该AP和其他AP属于一个MLD。可选的，该AP还属于一个Multiple BSSID集合中，该Multiple BSSID集合中还包括一个传输AP和一个或多个非传输AP。可选的，MLD中的其他AP也可以属于另一个Multiple BSSID集合。
本申请实施例中，将一个AP多链路设备，以及与该AP多链路设备中的AP所在的多BSSID集合的AP组成的设备简称为多AP多链路设备，当然还可以有其他名称，本申请不限定。需要说明的是，本申请实施例中，发送MLD信息的AP可以称为汇报AP，多AP多链路设备中在MLD信息中指示的其他AP称为被汇报AP。一个示例中，多AP多链路设备包括汇报AP所属的MLD，可选的，还包括其他MLD，汇报AP所属的MLD中的一个AP与其他MLD中的一个AP属于Multiple BSSID集合。
所述MLD信息用于指示所述多AP多链路设备中的其他AP的信息
所述其他AP可以包括以下一个或多个：
1.与汇报AP同属于一个AP MLD的AP，
2.如果与汇报AP同属于一个AP MLD的AP属于多BSSID集合，则还包括是该多BSSID集合中的其他AP
3.如果汇报AP属于多BSSID集合，则还包括是与汇报AP属于同一个多BSSID集合中的其他AP
其中MLD信息可以通过一个或多个MLD元素，还可选的额外通过Multiple BSSID元素携带。
另外，汇报AP发送管理帧还携带该汇报AP的信息，比如目前802.11信标帧携带汇报的AP的信息。
接收到该MLD信息的站点，可以根据MLD信息确定该多AP多链路设备中包括的各个被汇报AP的信息，以及，各个被汇报AP属于哪一个MLD，哪些被汇报AP与汇报AP属于一个Multiple BSSID集合。进一步的，站点可与合适的AP或AP MLD建立关联。
可选的，该MLD信息可以携带于管理帧中，比如信标帧，关联响应帧，探测响应帧，鉴权帧或邻居汇报。
AP多链路设备包括n个逻辑上的AP，工作在多条的链路(link)上，因此可以用链路标识link1、link2、…，linkn来表示n个逻辑AP，每个AP的MAC地址是不同的，其中n大于等于2。一个AP多链路设备用一个MLD的MAC地址(address)来标识，也可以说该MAC地址用来标识该一个AP多链路设备管理实体(management entity)，其中该一个AP多链路设备的MAC地址可以与该一个多链路AP包括的n个逻辑AP中的一个MAC地址相同，也可以与该n个逻辑AP的MAC地址都不同，例如，该AP多链路设备的MAC地址为一个公 共的MAC地址，可以标识该AP多链路设备。
一个示例中，AP多链路设备中的一个逻辑AP或多个逻辑AP可能分别属于一个或多个多(Multiple)基本服务集标识符(Basic Service Set Identifier，BSSID)集合(set)。一个示例中，一个AP多链路设备中的各个逻辑AP所属的multiple BSSID集合是不同的。另一个示例中，也可能是AP多链路设备中的多个逻辑AP属于同一个Multiple BSSID集合中，比如，若该一个AP多链路设备中存在两个逻辑AP工作在一条链路上，这种情况下，这两个逻辑AP可能属于同一multiple BSSID集合。
举例来说，如图5所示，一个AP多链路设备的MAC地址比如是MLD1，该一个多链路设备包括3个逻辑AP，表示为AP11，AP21和AP31，其中，AP11，AP21和AP31分别工作在链路1(link1)，链路2(link2)和链路3(link3)上，AP11，AP21和AP31的MAC地址分别为BSSID_11、BSSID_21和BSSID_31(在802.11ax之前，AP建立的BSS的BSSID为AP的MAC地址，后续可能会变更，此处为方便描述，以AP的MAC地址为AP建立的BSS的BSSID进行描述。)，其中AP11属于Multiple BSSID集合1中的成员，Multiple BSSID集合1还包括MAC地址为BSSID_13的AP13；该AP21属于Multiple BSSID集合2中的成员，Multiple BSSID集合2还包括MAC地址为BSSID_22的AP22以及MAC地址为BSSID_23的AP23；AP31属于Multiple BSSID集合3中的成员，Multiple BSSID集合3还包括MAC地址为BSSID_32的AP32以及MAC地址为BSSID_33的AP33。下面把一个AP多链路设备，以及与该多链路设备中的AP在同一个多BSSID集合的AP组成的设备简称为多AP多链路设备，比如AP11，AP21，AP31，AP22，AP32，AP13，AP23和AP33组成为一个多AP多链路设备。
步骤S102：站点接收接入点AP发送的MLD信息。
具体地，站点收到AP广播或单播的MLD信息后，解析出MLD信息中的内容，该站点根据从MLD信息中解析出的内容就可以获知上述基于AP多链路设备的Multiple BSSID集合结构以及各个被汇报AP的信息。
具体地，站点解析汇报AP发送的管理帧，获得汇报AP的MLD信息，该MLD信息包括一个或多个MLD元素，可选的包括Multiple BSSID元素。具体来讲，MLD元素包括同一个MLD的多个AP的信息，如果汇报AP属于多BSSID集合，则MLD信息还包括Multiple BSSID元素，该Multiple BSSID元素中包括与汇报AP同属同一个Multiple BSSID集合的其他AP的信息，还包括与该所述其他AP在同一个AP MLD的AP的信息。可以理解，该站点根据从MLD信息中解析出的内容就可以获知被汇报AP所在的多AP多链路设备中的其他AP的信息。
站点收到该AP的管理帧，获得汇报AP，以及与汇报AP所在的多AP多链路设备中的其他AP的信息，如此，站点可与选择相应的AP或AP多链路设备建立关联。
可选的，获得基于多AP多链路设备的信息后，站点可以执行如下一项或者多项操作：
1)可以在一条链路上与所述汇报AP所在的MLD中的一个或多个AP进行关联。举例，在图5中，站点收到MAC地址为BSSID-11的AP11在链路1上发送的MLD信息后，站点可以选择与MAC地址为BSSID-11的AP11所在的AP多链路设备MLD1中的MAC地址为BSSID-11的AP11和MAC地址为BSSID-31的AP31进行关联。
2)可以在一条链路上与除所述汇报AP所属的MLD外的其他MLD中的AP或其他AP进行关联，该其他MLD中的AP与传输AP所属的MLD中的其他AP，属于相同的Multiple BSSID集合。举例，在图5中，站点收到MAC地址为BSSID-11的AP11在链路1上发送的 MLD信息后，站点可以选择与AP多链路设备MLD2中的MAC地址为BSSID-22的AP22和MAC地址为BSSID-32的AP32进行关联，其中MAC地址为BSSID-22的AP22与MAC地址为BSSID-21的AP21属于同一Multiple BSSID集合2，MAC地址为BSSID32的AP32与MAC地址为BSSID-31的AP31属于Multiple BSSID集合3中。
可选的，这里的关联是指交互探测请求帧和探测响应帧，交互鉴权请求帧和鉴权响应帧，交互关联请求帧或关联响应帧中的一个或多个。
本申请实施例将Multiple BSSID技术应用到多链路设备中，从而提供多个虚拟网络功能。并且可以将应用了Multiple BSSID技术的多链路设备中的AP的信息通过上述MLD信息发送给站点，通过该MLD信息，站点可以选择合适的AP或者AP多链路设备进行关联，从而提升了站点关联的灵活度。
实施例二
本申请实施例进一步介绍MLD信息的信令结构的具体实现方式。本实施例提供的一种灵活信令结构，通过一个或多个MLD元素，以及包括于Multiple BSSID元素中的MLD元素描述该多AP多链路设备中的一个或多个AP的信息，帮助站点选择合适的AP或者AP MLD进行关联。本申请实施例提出的MLD信息的信令结构简单，灵活。
第一种MLD信令结构。本申请实施例中，MLD信息包括：一个或多个MLD元素。一个MLD元素用于指示多AP多链路设备中的一个MLD，其中，MLD元素包括：公共控制字段，MLD公共信息字段，一个或多个可选子元素。可选的，MLD公共信息字段包括MLD地址字段，可选的包括鉴权算法等字段，MLD地址字段用于指示该MLD元素所指示的MLD的地址，该地址用于标识一个MLD。可选的，MLD的地址为MLD的MAC地址(address)，也可以说该MAC地址用来标识该一个AP多链路设备管理实体(management entity)，其中该一个AP多链路设备的MAC地址可以与该一个多链路AP包括的n个AP中的一个MAC地址相同，也可以与该n个AP的MAC地址都不同，例如，该AP多链路设备的MAC地址为一个公共的MAC地址，可以标识该AP多链路设备。可选的，公共控制字段包括MLD地址存在字段(或称为MLD地址出现字段或MLD地址出现标识)，用于指示MLD公共信息字段是否存在MLD地址字段。可选的，公共控制字段还包括鉴权算法出现字段，用于指示MLD公共信息字段中是否存在鉴权算法字段。可选的，上述“出现字段”可以包括1比特，取第一值指示对应的字段出现，取第二值指示对应的字段不出现。例如，第一值为1，第二值为0。可选的，如果汇报AP属于多BSSID集合，MLD信息还包括多BSSID元素。
可选的，MLD元素可以有如下3类：
第1类：正式MLD元素：携带与汇报AP属于同一个MLD的所有或部分其他AP的信息。其中正式MLD元素包括至少一个子元素，每一个子元素携带与汇报AP属于同一个MLD中的一个其他AP的信息。当然，正式MLD元素还可以称为汇报MLD元素，还可以有其他名称，本申请实施例不限定。为描述方便，下面把该第1类MLD元素称为正式MLD元素。正式MLD元素的公共信息字段包括MLD地址字段。
第2类：虚拟MLD元素，携带汇报AP所在的多AP多链路设备中的其他MLD的所有或部分AP的信息。由于，汇报AP所属的MLD包括的多个AP属于多个Multiple BSSID集合，多个Multiple BSSID集合中的其他AP可组成的其他MLD；虚拟MLD元素包括至少一个子元素，用于指示其他MLD中包括的AP的信息。可以理解的，该虚拟MLD元素指的是与汇报AP所属的MLD不同的一个其他MLD。当然，虚拟MLD元素还可以有其他名称， 本申请实施例不限定。为描述方便，下面把第2类MLD元素称为虚拟MLD元素。虚拟MLD元素的公共信息字段包括MLD地址字段。
第3类：特殊MLD元素，该MLD元素携带汇报AP所在的多AP多链路设备中的单链路AP的信息，由于，汇报AP所属的MLD包括的多个AP属于多个Multiple BSSID集合，多个Multiple BSSID集合中的其他AP可组成的其他MLD，当然也可能存在多个Multiple BSSID集合中的一个其他AP不属于任何一个MLD，而是一个单链路AP。一个示例中，该特殊MLD元素的公共信息字段不包括MLD地址字段。另一个示例中，该特殊MLD元素也可以看成是虚拟MLD元素，则该特殊MLD元素的公共信息字段也包括MLD地址字段，那么该MLD元素中的MLD地址为该单链路AP的MAC地址或者说是单链路AP的BSSID。
为区分上述3类MLD元素，便于站点确定MLD信息中的哪一个MLD元素是针对汇报AP所在的MLD的，哪一个MLD元素是针对其他MLD的，哪一个元素是针对单链路AP的，本申请实施例提出在MLD元素中携带指示MLD元素类型的类型信息，使得站点可以根据该信息确定MLD的类型，从而可以确定多AP多链路设备中各个MLD之间的关系和结构。
指示MLD元素类型的类型信息可以包括但不限于如下实现方式：
第一种实现方式：在MLD元素中携带虚拟MLD字段，用于指示该MLD元素是否为虚拟MLD元素。一个示例中，该虚拟MLD字段包括1比特，为一个标识位，指示该MLD元素是否为虚拟MLD元素。例如，这1比特取值为第一值(比如1)，指示该MLD元素为虚拟MLD元素，这1比特取值为第二值(比如0)，指示该MLD元素不是虚拟MLD元素。
另外在MLD元素中携带特殊MLD字段，用于指示该MLD元素是否为特殊MLD元素。一个示例中，该特殊MLD字段包括1比特，为一个标识位，指示该MLD元素是否为特殊MLD元素。例如，这1比特取值为第一值(比如1)，指示该MLD元素为特殊MLD元素。这1比特取值为第二值(比如0)，指示该MLD元素不是特殊MLD元素。
可选的，若虚拟MLD字段指示一个MLD元素不为虚拟MLD元素，且特殊MLD字段指示该MLD元素不为特殊MLD元素，那么则隐含指示该MLD元素为正式MLD元素。
例如，如果该MLD元素是正式MLD元素，则公共控制字段中的MLD地址出现字段会设置成第一值，比如1，指示MLD公共信息字段中存在MLD地址字段；虚拟MLD字段设置第二值，比如0，指示该MLD不是虚拟MLD；特殊MLD字段设置第二值，比如0，指示该MLD不是特殊MLD。
如果该MLD元素是虚拟MLD元素，则公共控制字段中的MLD地址出现字段会设置成第一值，比如1，指示MLD公共信息字段中存在MLD地址字段；虚拟MLD字段设置第一值，比如1，指示该MLD是虚拟MLD；特殊MLD字段设置第二值，比如0，指示该MLD不是特殊MLD。
如果该MLD元素是特殊MLD元素，则公共控制字段中的MLD地址出现字段会设置成第二值，比如0，指示MLD公共信息字段中不存在MLD地址字段，或者说不存在MLD公共信息字段；虚拟MLD字段设置第二值，比如0，指示该MLD不是虚拟MLD；特殊MLD字段设置第一值，比如1，指示该MLD是特殊MLD。
第二种实现方式：在MLD元素中携带一个MLD类型指示字段，用于指示该MLD元素的类型。一个示例中，该MLD类型指示字段包括2比特，其中取第一值指示该MLD元素为正式MLD元素，取第二值指示该MLD元素为虚拟MLD元素，取第三值指示该MLD元素为特殊MLD元素。
当然，需要说明的是，MLD元素的类型也可以只包括两种：正式MLD元素以及虚拟MLD 元素。将特殊MLD元素可以看作是一种虚拟MLD元素。那么上述指示MLD元素类型的信息可以包括虚拟MLD字段，而不包括特殊MLD字段。该虚拟MLD字段取第一值则指示该MLD字段所在的MLD元素为虚拟MLD元素，若该虚拟MLD字段取第二值则指示该MLD字段所在的MLD元素为正式MLD元素。一个示例中，虚拟MLD字段包括1比特，取1指示该MLD元素为虚拟MLD元素，取0指示该MLD元素为正式MLD元素。当然，可选的，MLD元素中的类型信息也可以是正式MLD字段，用于指示该MLD元素是否为正式MLD元素，比如，若正式MLD字段取第一值，则指示该MLD元素为正式MLD元素；若正式MLD字段取第二值，则指示该MLD元素为虚拟MLD元素。比如，正式MLD字段为1比特，第一值为1，第二值为0。
图6a示出了一种MLD元素的结构示意图。其中，MLD元素包括元素标识符，长度，元素标识符扩展字段，公共控制字段，MLD公共信息字段以及一个或多个可选的子元素。其中公共控制字段包括虚拟MLD字段和特殊MLD字段。可选的，公共控制字段还包括MLD地址出现字段。MLD公共信息字段包括MLD地址字段。可选的，公共控制字段还包括鉴权算法出现字段，用于指示MLD公共信息字段是否会出现鉴权算法字段。
图6b示出了另一种MLD元素的结构示意图。其中，MLD元素包括元素标识符，长度，元素标识符扩展字段，公共控制字段，MLD公共信息字段以及一个或多个可选的子元素。其中公共控制字段包括MLD类型指示。可选的，MLD公共控制字段还包括MLD地址出现字段。MLD公共信息字段包括MLD地址字段。可选的，公共控制字段还包括鉴权算法出现字段，用于指示MLD公共信息字段是否会出现鉴权算法字段。
可选的，一个MLD元素还包括一个或多个子元素，一个子元素描述该多AP多链路设备中一个AP的信息。对于正式MLD元素中的一个子元素描述与汇报AP属于同一个MLD中的其他AP的信息，对于虚拟MLD元素中的一个子元素描述该MLD地址字段所指示的MLD中的一个AP的信息，对于特殊MLD元素中的一个子元素描述该AP多链路设备中的AP所组成的多个Multiple BSSID集合中的一个单链路AP的信息。
每个子元素的内容包括该AP的链路标识。可选的，每个子元素还包括该AP相关的字段，比如SSID字段，时戳timstamp字段，beacon间隔字段，以及该AP的元素。该AP的元素比如BSS load元素，EHT能力元素，EHT操作元素。
一个示例中，描述一个AP的信息的子元素携带的字段或元素采用继承原则，具体如下:如果子元素中携带的字段或元素与汇报AP的字段或元素相同，则该被汇报AP的相应的字段和元素不需要在其对应的子元素中携带。如果子元素中携带的字段或元素与汇报AP的字段或元素不相同，则该被汇报AP的相应的字段和元素需要在其对应的子元素中携带。
另一个示例中，描述一个AP的信息的子元素携带的字段或元素使用非继承元素。其中非继承元素，为该子元素的最后一个元素,非继承元素包括一系列不能从汇报AP那继承的元素的ID号以及元素ID拓展号，值得注意注意这里省略了元素的具体内容，具体如表3所示，包括元素ID，长度，元素ID拓展，元素ID列表，元素ID拓展列表，其中元素ID拓展号在元素ID的值为255时才出现。
其中AP的链路标识与AP所在的操作集(operating class)，信道号(channel number)和AP的BSSID(MAC地址)一一对应，该一一对应关系可以通过其他元素携带体现，比如实施例三中的介绍的精简邻居汇报(reduced neighbor report，RNR)元素。
例如图7示出了本申请实施例提供的一种子元素的结构示意图。其中，子元素包括子元素ID，长度以及内容字段。其中，内容字段包括该子元素对应的AP的链路标识，该链路标 识与该AP所在的操作集(operating class)，信道号(channel number)和AP的BSSID(MAC地址)存在对应关系，也就是说，根据该链路标识以及链路标识与这三个参数之间的对应关系，解析到该子元素的站点可以知晓该AP的操作集(operating class)，信道号(channel number)和AP的BSSID。内容字段还包括：字段1…字段n,比如SSID字段，时戳timstamp字段，beacon间隔字段。内容字段还包括元素1…元素n，比如BSS load元素，EHT能力元素，EHT操作元素等。其中，最后一个元素可以为非继承元素，非继承元素包括一系列不能从汇报AP那继承的元素的ID号以及元素ID拓展号。
一个示例中，如果汇报AP属于多BSSID集合，则汇报AP发送的携带MLD信息的管理帧中还携带多BSSID元素(只有transmitted BSSID AP才能发送该管理帧)，用于指示与汇报AP同属于一个多BSSID集合中的non-transmitted BSSID AP的信息，多BSSID元素中用于指示一个多BSSID集合中的non-transmitted BSSID AP的信息称为Nontransmitted Profile。如果其中一个non-transmitted BSSID AP属于AP MLD,则该Nontransmitted Profile中还携带一个MLD元素，该MLD元素为正式MLD元素，如图6a,6b或6c所示，其中MLD元素中的每一个子元素用于携带一个与该non-transmitted BSSID AP属于同一个AP MLD的一个其他AP的信息。描述一个其他AP的信息的子元素携带的字段或元素采用上述提到的继承原则，此时继承原则的对象有2种方式，方式一：跟之前描述一样，继承对象仍是汇报AP；方式二：继承对象变成该non-transmitted BSSID AP。
第一种MLD信息的信令结构适用于多种多AP多链路设备。
方案一：一种多AP多链路设备的结构。多个Multiple BSSID集合中的Transmitted BSSID的AP不来自于同一个AP多链路设备，也就是说同一个AP多链路设备中，会包括属于Multiple BSSID集合中一个Transmitted BSSID AP，还可能会包括另一个Multiple BSSID集合中的一个Nontransmitted BSSID AP。比如一个AP多链路设备(MLD1)中的AP1是Multiple BSSID集合1中Transmitted BSSID AP，该一个AP多链路设备(MLD1)中的AP2是Multiple BSSID集合2中Nontransmitted BSSIDAP。这种情况下，多链路设备的Multiple BSSID构成的网络更灵活，更适合不同站点的业务需求。
根据上述第一种信令结构以及方案一的多AP多链路设备，本申请实施例一种多AP多链路设备的信令信息交互方法，例如图10a所示，包括：
步骤S201：接入点向站点发送管理帧，该管理帧携带MLD信息，所述MLD信息包括：一个正式MLD元素，至少一个虚拟MLD元素，可选的还包括一个Multiple BSSID元素，可选的还包括特殊MLD元素。
接入点属于一个接入点MLD，比如，该接入点为AP多链路设备中的AP，把该接入点称之为汇报AP。接收该管理帧的站点既可以是多链路站点设备中的站点，也可以是单链路站点。
其中，管理帧为，比如信标帧，关联响应帧，探测响应帧，鉴权帧或邻居汇报。该MLD信息用于携带与汇报AP共设备的其他AP(称为被汇报AP)的信息，所述被汇报AP可以包括以下至少一项：
1.与汇报AP同属于一个AP MLD的其他AP，
2.如果与汇报AP同属于一个AP MLD的其他AP，属于多BSSID集合，则被汇报AP还包括该多BSSID集合中的其他AP，
3.如果汇报AP是多BSSID集合，则被汇报还包括与汇报AP属于同一个多BSSID集合中的其他AP。
其中，第一种MLD信息的信令结构中，MLD信息包括正式MLD元素和虚拟MLD元素，可选的还包括特殊MLD元素。该正式MLD元素包括汇报AP所属的第一MLD中的一个或多个其他AP的信息，也就是说，该正式MLD元素包括子元素，一个子元素用于携带第一MLD中的一个其他AP的信息。可选的，若汇报AP属于一个第一Multiple BSSID集合，则MLD信息还包括一个Multiple BSSID元素。可选的，该Multiple BSSID元素包括该汇报AP所属的第一Multiple BSSID集合中的一个或多个或所有其他AP的信息。若第一MLD的其他AP属于一个第二Multiple BSSID集合，第二Multiple BSSID集合中包括的一个AP属于第二MLD，则MLD信息还包括一个虚拟MLD元素，虚拟MLD元素包括该第二MLD中的AP的信息，比如该虚拟MLD元素包括子元素，一个子元素携带第二MLD中的一个AP的信息。若第一MLD中的一个其他AP属于一个第三Multiple BSSID集合，且该第三Multiple BSSID集合中包括一个AP不属于任何一个MLD，则MLD信息包括特殊MLD元素或虚拟MLD元素，该MLD元素包括一个子元素携带该不属于任何一个MLD的AP的信息。进一步的，若第一Multiple BSSID集合中的非传输AP还属于第三MLD，那么在Multiple BSSID元素中，还包括一个第四MLD元素，该第四MLD元素可以为一个正式MLD元素，用于携带第三MLD中的其他AP的信息。也是就说，MLD信息可以通过一个或多个MLD元素，还可选的额外通过Multiple BSSID元素携带被汇报AP的信息。
另外，汇报AP发送管理帧还携带该汇报AP的信息，比如目前802.11信标帧携带汇报的AP的信息。
需要说明的是，该MLD信息还可以称为MLD Multiple BSSID信息等，当然还可以为其他名称，本申请实施例并不具体限定。
步骤S202：站点接收接入点发送的管理帧。
具体地，站点解析汇报AP发送的管理帧，获得汇报AP的MLD信息。该MLD信息包括一个或多个MLD元素，可选的包括Multiple BSSID元素。具体来讲，如果汇报AP属于第一多BSSID集合，则MLD信息还包括Multiple BSSID元素，该Multiple BSSID元素中包括与汇报AP同属第一Multiple BSSID集合的其他AP的信息，可选的，还包括与该所述其他AP在同一个第三AP MLD的AP的信息。
可以理解，可选的，还包括步骤S203：该站点根据从MLD信息中解析出的内容就可以获知上述基于AP多链路设备的Multiple BSSID集合结构以及各个被汇报AP的信息。
站点收到该管理帧，根据所述管理帧获得汇报AP，以及与汇报AP共设备的其他AP的信息。如此，站点可与选择相应的AP或AP多链路设备建立关联。
本申请实施例提出了一种信令信息，其携带了应用Multiple BSSID技术的多链路设备中各个AP的信息，该信令结构简单，并且能携带比如该多AP多链路设备的其他所有AP信息。并且，本申请实施例提出的信令结构，可以适用于多种应用了Multiple BSSID技术的多链路设备所构成的多AP多链路设备中，其灵活性高，且信令结构简单。
下面例举了方案一的一种多AP多链路设备的架构。图8a示意了方案一的一个多AP多链路设备的结构示意图，其中，MAC地址标识以x结尾的AP是Transmitted BSSIDAP，MAC地址标识以y或z结尾的AP是NonTransmitted BSSID AP，例如，Multiple BSSID集合1中的Transmitted BSSID AP是MAC地址标识为BSSID_1x的AP1x，Multiple BSSID集合1中的non-Transmitted BSSID AP是MAC地址标识为BSSID_1y的AP1y；Multiple BSSID集合2中的Transmitted BSSID AP是MAC地址标识为BSSID_2x的AP2x，Multiple BSSID集合2中的non-Transmitted BSSID AP包括地址标识为BSSID_2y的AP2y和MAC地址标识为 BSSID_2z的AP2z；Multiple BSSID集合3中的Transmitted BSSID AP是MAC地址标识为BSSID_3x的AP3x，Multiple BSSID集合3中的non-Transmitted BSSIDAP包括MAC地址标识为BSSID_3y的AP3y和MAC地址标识为BSSID_3z的AP3z。从图8a可以看出，来自于不同Multiple BSSID集合中的Transmitted BSSID AP(即传输AP)分布在不同的AP多链路设备中，如MAC地址为BSSID-1x的AP1x和MAC地址为BSSID-2x的AP2x分别在AP多链路设备MLD1和AP多链路设备MLD2中。
为方便理解，本申请实施例以图8a为例，列举了几种情形下MLD信息的信令结构。
示例一：如图8a所示的AP MLD 1中的AP1x发送管理帧，比如信标帧，探测响应帧，发送方式可以为广播，也可以是单播，因此该AP1x为汇报AP。如图9a所示，该管理帧携带的MLD信息包括3个MLD元素，第一个MLD元素为正式MLD元素，公共信息字段包括AP MLD1的地址，正式MLD元素携带2个子元素，第一个子元素用来携带AP2y的信息，第二子元素用来携带AP3x的信息。第二个MLD元素为虚拟MLD元素，公共信息字段包括AP MLD2的地址，虚拟MLD元素携带2个子元素，第一个子元素用来携带AP2x的信息，第二子元素用来携带AP3y的信息。第三个MLD元素为特殊MLD元素，不存在公共信息字段或不存在MLD地址字段，特殊MLD元素携带1个子元素，该子元素用来携带AP3z的信息。并且，由于汇报AP1x属于多BSSID集合1，在管理帧的MLD信息中还需携带一个Multiple BSSID元素，该元素携带一个non-transmitted BSSID profile，该non-transmitted BSSID profile为AP1y的信息，又由于AP1y属于AP MLD3，则该non-transmitted BSSID profile中还额外携带一个第四MLD元素，该第四MLD元素可以为正式MLD元素，该正式MLD元素则指的是AP2z与AP1y属于同一个MLD，该MLD元素的公共信息字段包括AP MLD3的地址，该MLD元素携带一个子元素，该子元素携带的AP2z的信息。相对应的，接收到该管理帧的站点，根据MLD信息中携带的3个MLD元素以及1个Multiple BSSID元素，站点可知晓多AP多链路设备中各个AP的信息以及各个AP之间的关系。比如：根据第一MLD元素，站点可知AP1x,AP2y，AP3x同属于MLD1，根据第二个MLD元素，站点可知AP2x和AP3y同属于MLD2，根据第三个MLD元素，站点可知AP3z为单链路设备，根据Multiple BSSID元素，站点可知AP1y与AP1x属于一个Multiple BSSID集合，且根据Multiple BSSID元素中包括的MLD元素，站点可知AP1y与AP2z同属于MLD3。
示例二：如图8a所示的AP MLD 1中的AP1x发送管理帧，比如信标帧，探测响应帧，发送方式可以是广播，也可以是单播。如图9b所示，该管理帧携带MLD信息，MLD信息包括3个MLD元素，第一个MLD元素为正式MLD元素，第一个MLD元素的公共信息字段包括AP MLD1的地址，携带2个子元素，第一个子元素用来携带AP2y的信息，第二子元素用来携带AP3x的信息。第二个MLD元素为虚拟MLD元素，第二个MLD元素的公共信息字段包括AP MLD2的地址，携带2个子元素，第一个子元素用来携带AP2x的信息，第二子元素用来携带AP3y的信息。第三个MLD元素为虚拟MLD元素，第三个MLD元素的公共信息字段包括AP3z的地址，携带1个子元素，该子元素用来携带AP3z的信息。由于汇报AP1x属于多BSSID集合，在管理帧的MLD信息中还需携带一个Multiple BSSID元素，该元素携带一个non-transmitted BSSID profile，该non-transmitted BSSID profile为AP1y的信息。又由于AP1y属于AP MLD3，则该non-transmitted BSSID profile还额外携带一个正式MLD元素，该正式MLD元素的公共信息字段包括AP MLD3的地址，携带一个子元素，该子元素携带的AP2z的信息。值得注意的是，在举例中，不再存在特殊MLD元素。相对应的，接收到该管理帧的站点，根据MLD信息中携带的3个MLD元素以及1个Multiple BSSID元素， 站点可知晓多AP多链路设备中各个AP的信息以及各个AP之间的关系。比如：根据第一MLD元素，站点可知AP1x,AP2y，AP3x同属于MLD1，根据第二个MLD元素，站点可知AP2x和AP3y同属于MLD2，根据第三个MLD元素，站点可知第三个MLD元素中的AP3z为单链路设备，根据Multiple BSSID元素，站点可知AP1y与AP1x属于一个Multiple BSSID集合，且根据Multiple BSSID元素中包括的MLD元素，站点可知AP1y与AP2z同属于MLD3。
示例三：如图8a所示的AP MLD 2中的AP2x发送管理帧，比如信标帧，探测响应帧，发送方式可以是广播，也可以是单播。如图9c所示，该管理帧携带MLD信息，MLD信息携带2个MLD元素，一个MLD元素为正式MLD元素，该正式MLD元素中的公共信息字段包括AP MLD2的地址，携带1个子元素，该子元素用来携带AP3y的信息。另一个MLD元素为特殊MLD元素，不存在公共信息字段，携带1个子元素，该子元素用来携带AP3z的信息。由于汇报AP2x属于多BSSID集合，在管理帧的MLD信息中还需携带一个Multiple BSSID元素，该元素携带2个non-transmitted BSSID profile，一个non-transmitted BSSID profile为AP2y的信息，又由于AP2y属于AP MLD1，则该AP2y的non-transmitted BSSID profile还额外携带一个正式MLD元素，该正式的MLD元素的公共信息字段包括AP MLD1的地址，正式的MLD元素携带2个子元素，一个子元素携带的AP1x的信息，另一个子元素携带AP3x的信息；另一个non-transmitted BSSID profile为AP2z的信息。又由于AP2z属于AP MLD3，则该AP2z的non-transmitted BSSID profile还额外携带一个正式MLD元素，该正式MLD元素的公共信息字段包括AP MLD3的地址，携带1个子元素，该子元素携带的AP1y的信息。相对应的，接收到该管理帧的站点，根据MLD信息中携带的2个MLD元素以及1个Multiple BSSID元素，站点可知晓多AP多链路设备中各个AP的信息以及各个AP之间的关系。比如：根据MLD元素1，站点可知AP2x，AP3y同属于MLD2；根据MLD元素2，站点可知AP3z为单链路设备；根据Multiple BSSID元素，站点可知AP2x与AP2y，AP2z同属于一个Multiple BSSID。根据Multiple BSSID元素的AP2y的non-transmitted BSSID profile中携带的MLD元素，可确定AP1x,AP2y,AP3x属于MLD1；根据Multiple BSSID元素的AP2z的non-transmitted BSSID profile中携带的MLD元素，可确定AP1y,AP2z属于MLD3。
需要说明的是，MLD元素的位置与Multiple BSSID元素的位置仅是示例性的，不限于本申请实施例图9a至图9c所示的顺序。可以理解的，由于MLD元素都包括类型标识，站点可以基于类型标识确定MLD元素的类型，因此，多个MLD元素的位置也是可以任意的。并且，基于Multiple BSSID元素中的元素ID，站点也可以识别该元素为Multiple BSSID元素，因此Multiple BSSID元素的位置也可以置于MLD元素之前。
此外，可选的，汇报AP发送管理帧中还需携带汇报AP的链路标识，比如携带于EHT操作元素中，或者，携带在MLD元素中的公共信息字段中。比如，携带在如图6a或6b所示的MLD元素的公共信息字段中。
可选的，各个AP(包括汇报AP和被汇报AP)的信息还包括但不限于该AP能力信息、AP的操作信息、AP的链路标识等中的一项或者多项。可选的，该AP的信息还可以包括AP的MAC地址(BSSID)，包括目前802.11协议中(比如802.11-2016协议中)的beacon中携带另一些字段或元素，比如时戳timstamp字段，beacon间隔字段，SSID元素，BSS Load元素等等，其中AP能力信息包括HT能力元素，VHT能力元素，HE能力元素，EHT能力元素，AP的操作信息包括HT操作元素，VHT操作元素，HE操作元素，EHT操作元素。如果AP是6GHzAP，则AP的能力元素不包括HT能力元素，VHT能力元素，而是包括HE能力元素和EHT能力元素；AP的操作元素不包括HT操作元素，VHT操作元素，而是包括HE 操作元素和EHT操作元素。
汇报AP的信息携带于该AP发送的管理帧中，如信标帧，探测响应帧；与汇报AP共设备的AP的信息携带于该AP发送的管理帧中的MLD元素中，或者多BSSID元素中，其中共设备是指与汇报在一个多AP多链路设备中。当然，本申请实施例提出的第一种MLD信息的信令结构，还可以适用于其他多AP多链路设备结构，图8a仅是示例性的。比如，本申请实施例提出的信令信息，还可以适用于方案二的多AP多链路设备结构中，例如图8b所示的多AP多链路设备的结构。并且，图8a和图8b仅以3条链路为例进行说明，本申请实施例提出的信令信息还可以适用于更多链路的多AP多链路设备的结构。
另一种可能的实施方式，MLD信息还可以仅包括一个MLD元素，可选的，若该汇报AP属于一个第一Multiple BSSID集合，则该MLD信息还包括一个Multiple BSSID元素，携带第一Multiple BSSID集合中的其他AP的信息，若该其他AP还属于一个第二MLD，则该Multiple BSSID元素中还包括第二MLD中的其他AP的信息。这一个MLD元素，携带多AP多链路设备中除了在上述多BSSID元素携带的被汇报AP之外的其他AP，也就是说，与汇报AP所在的多AP多链路设备中，未在Multiple BSSID元素中指示的其他所有被汇报AP携带于一个MLD元素中，该MLD元素携带多个子元素，一个子元素携带一个其他被汇报AP的信息。具体来讲，MLD元素中公共信息字段中携带一个或多个MLD序号和MLD地址的组合，其中组合的个数在公共控制字段指示。另外，用于指示每个被汇报AP的子元素除了携带该汇报AP的链路标识，AP的信息，还需要携带该AP所在MLD的MLD序号。可选的，被汇报AP所在MLD的序号与其在RNR对应的MLD序号相同，RNR携带被汇报AP所在MLD的MLD序号请参考最后一个实施例。可选的，针对于被汇报AP是单链路AP，此时其在公共字段对应的MLD地址为该单链路AP的MAC地址(BSSID)。在该实施方式中，不再有虚拟MLD元素，特殊MLD元素等。
示例四：如图8a所示的AP MLD 1中的AP1x发送管理帧，比如信标帧，探测响应帧，发送方式可以是广播，也可以是单播。该管理帧携带MLD信息，MLD信息包括1个MLD元素，该MLD元素的公共信息字段包括3组MLD序号和MLD地址的组合，分别是：MLD1序号和MLD1地址的组合1，MLD2序号和MLD2地址的组合2，以及AP3z的序号和AP3z的地址的组合3。且该MLD元素携带5个子元素，分别携带AP2y,AP3x,AP2x,AP3y以及AP3z的信息。由于汇报AP1x属于多BSSID集合，在管理帧的MLD信息中还需携带一个Multiple BSSID元素，该元素携带一个non-transmitted BSSID profile，该non-transmitted BSSID profile为AP1y的信息。又由于AP1y属于AP MLD3，则该non-transmitted BSSID profile还额外携带一个MLD元素，该MLD元素的公共信息字段包括AP MLD3的地址，携带一个子元素，该子元素携带的AP2z的信息。相对应的，接收到该管理帧的站点，根据MLD信息中携带的1个MLD元素以及1个Multiple BSSID元素，站点可知晓多AP多链路设备中各个AP的信息以及各个AP之间的关系。比如：根据MLD元素中的组合以及子元素中的MLD序号，站点可知AP1x,AP2y，AP3x同属于MLD1，AP2x和AP3y同属于MLD2，第三个MLD元素中的AP3z为单链路设备。根据Multiple BSSID元素，站点可知AP1y与AP1x属于一个Multiple BSSID集合，且根据Multiple BSSID元素中包括的MLD元素，站点可知AP1y与AP2z同属于MLD3
下面介绍方案二的多AP多链路设备结构。
方案二：
多个Multiple BSSID集合中的Transmitted BSSIDAP属于同一个AP多链路设备，也就是 说如果存在AP多链路设备中的一个或多个AP属于Multiple BSSID集合，则该Multiple BSSID集合中所有Transmitted BSSIDAP全部属于一个AP多链路设备中。比如Multiple BSSID集合1中Transmitted BSSIDAP1，以及Multiple BSSID集合2中Transmitted BSSIDAP2，属于AP多链路设备MLD1中的两个不同的AP。这种情况下，在AP多链路设备的基础上构建的Multiple BSSID网络更简单，信令MLD信息开销更少。
基于方案二的多AP多链路设备的结构，本申请实施例提供第二种MLD信息的信令结构。
第二种MLD信息的信令结构中，MLD信息包括一个MLD元素，可选的，若汇报AP属于一个第一Multiple BSSID集合，则MLD信息还包括一个Multiple BSSID元素。可选的，该Multiple BSSID元素包括该汇报AP所属的一个第一Multiple BSSID集合中的一个或多个或所有其他AP(non transmitted BSSID AP)的信息。该MLD元素还包括汇报AP所属的第一MLD中的一个或多个其他AP的信息，也就是说，该MLD元素包括子元素，一个子元素用于携带第一MLD中的一个其他AP的信息。对于第一MLD中的其他AP，针对方案二的结构，第一MLD中的其他AP也是传输AP，若第一MLD中的一个其他AP还属于一个第二Multiple BSSID集合的情况下，那么这个第一MLD中的其他AP的子元素还包括一个Multiple BSSID元素，用于指示该第二Multiple BSSID集合中的其他AP(non transmitted BSSID AP)的信息。
第二种MLD信息的信令结构。MLD信息也包括MLD元素，可选的还包括Multiple BSSID元素。与第一种MLD信息的信令结构相比，第二种MLD信息中的MLD元素可不包括多种类型，不做类型区分。MLD元素包括公共控制字段和MLD公共信息字段，以及可选的包括一个或多个子元素。其中一个子元素用于指示一个被汇报AP的信息。一个示例中，第二种MLD信息的信令结构MLD元素的结构如图6c所示，一个子元素的信令结构如图7所示。
根据上述第二种信令结构，本申请实施例提供另一种多AP多链路设备的信令信息交互方法，例如图10b所示，包括：
步骤S301：接入点向站点发送管理帧，该管理帧携带MLD信息，所述MLD信息包括：一个MLD元素，可选的，MLD元素的子元素包括一个Multiple BSSID元素。
接入点属于一个接入点MLD，比如，该接入点为AP多链路设备中的AP，把该接入点称之为汇报AP。接收该管理帧的站点既可以是多链路站点设备中的站点，也可以是单链路站点。
其中管理帧为，比如信标帧，关联响应帧，探测响应帧，鉴权帧或邻居汇报。该MLD信息用于携带与汇报AP共设备(所在的多AP多链路设备)的其他AP(称为被汇报AP)的信息，所述被汇报AP包括：
1.与汇报AP同属于一个AP MLD的其他AP，
2.如果与汇报AP同属于一个AP MLD的其他AP，属于多BSSID集合，则被汇报AP还包括该多BSSID集合中的AP
3.如果汇报AP是多BSSID集合，则被汇报还包括与汇报AP属于同一个多BSSID集合中的其他AP
其中，MLD信息可以通过一个MLD元素，如果MLD元素中的子元素描述的被汇报AP属于多BSSID集合，则子元素还包括Multiple BSSID元素，用于指示与该被汇报AP所在同一个多BSSID集合中的其他AP(nontransmitted BSSID AP)的信息。MLD元素中的信令设 计以及结构可参考前面段落的描述。Multiple BSSID元素中的信令设计以及结构可参考前面段落的描述。
另外，汇报AP发送管理帧还携带该汇报AP的信息，比如目前802.11信标帧携带汇报的AP的信息。
需要说明的是，该MLD信息还可以称为MLD Multiple BSSID信息等，当然还可以为其他名称，本申请实施例并不具体限定。
步骤S302：站点接收接入点发送的管理帧。
具体地，站点解析汇报AP发送的管理帧，获得汇报AP的MLD信息。该MLD信息包括一个MLD元素，可选的MLD元素的子元素包括Multiple BSSID元素。具体来讲，如果汇报AP属于多BSSID集合，则MLD信息还包括Multiple BSSID元素，该Multiple BSSID元素中包括与汇报AP同属同一个Multiple BSSID集合的其他AP的信息。若与汇报AP属于一个MLD的AP，还属于一个第二Multiple BSSID集合中的传输AP，则该MLD元素中该传输AP的子元素中还包括一个Multiple BSSID元素，携带第二Multiple BSSID集合中的非传输AP的信息。
可以理解，可选的，还包括S303：该站点根据从MLD信息中解析出的内容就可以获知上述基于AP多链路设备的Multiple BSSID集合结构以及各个被汇报AP的信息。
站点收到该AP的管理帧:根据所述管理帧获得汇报AP，以及与汇报AP共设备的其他AP的信息。如此，站点可与选择相应的AP或AP多链路设备建立关联。
下面例举了方案二的一种多AP多链路设备的架构。图8b示意了方案二的一个多AP多链路设备的结构示意图，其中，MAC地址标识以x结尾的AP是Transmitted BSSIDAP，MAC地址标识以y或z结尾的AP是NonTransmitted BSSIDAP，例如，Multiple BSSID集合1中的Transmitted BSSID AP是MAC地址标识为BSSID_1x的AP1x，Multiple BSSID集合1中的nonTransmitted BSSID AP是MAC地址标识为BSSID_1y的AP1y；Multiple BSSID集合2中的Transmitted BSSIDAP是MAC地址标识为BSSID_2x的AP2x，Multiple BSSID集合2中的nonTransmitted BSSIDAP包括MAC地址标识为BSSID_2y的AP2y和MAC地址标识为BSSID_2z的AP2z；Multiple BSSID集合3中的Transmitted BSSIDAP是MAC地址标识为BSSID_3x的AP3x。从图8b可以看出，来自不同的Multiple BSSID集合中的Transmitted BSSIDAP(即传输AP)均在AP多链路设备MLD1中。
为方便理解，本申请实施例以图8b为例，举例说明了几种情形下MLD信息的信令结构。
示例一：如图8b所示AP MLD 1中的AP1x发送管理帧，比如信标帧，探测响应帧，发送方式可以为广播，也可以是单播。例如图9d所示，该管理帧携带MLD元素，MLD公共信息字段包括AP MLD1的地址，携带2个子元素，第一个子元素用来携带AP2x的信息，第二子元素用来携带AP3x的信息。由于第一个子元素携带的AP2x属于多BSSID集合，则需在该子元素还额外携带一个Multiple BSSID元素2，该元素携带2个non-transmitted BSSID profile，分别描述AP2y和AP2z的信息。由于汇报AP1x属于多BSSID集合，在管理帧的MLD信息中还需携带一个Multiple BSSID元素1，该元素携带一个non-transmitted BSSID profile，该non-transmitted BSSID profile为AP1y的信息。相对应的，接收到该管理帧的站点，根据MLD信息，站点可知晓多AP多链路设备中各个AP的信息以及各个AP之间的关系。比如：根据MLD元素，站点可知AP1x,AP2x，AP3x同属于MLD1，根据第一个子元素中的Multiple BSSID元素2，站点可知AP2x,AP2y和AP2z同属于Multiple BSSID集合2，根据Multiple BSSID元素1，站点可知的AP1x与AP1y同属于Multiple BSSID集合1。
需要说明的是，MLD元素的位置与Multiple BSSID元素的位置仅是示例性的，不限于本申请实施例图9d所示的顺序。可以理解的，由于MLD元素都包括类型标识，站点可以基于类型标识确定MLD元素的类型，因此，多个MLD元素的位置也是可以任意的。并且，基于Multiple BSSID元素中的元素ID，站点也可以识别该元素为Multiple BSSID元素，因此Multiple BSSID元素的位置也可以置于MLD元素之前。
本实施例针对灵活的多AP多链路设备结构，设计了指示该灵活的多AP多链路设备结构的MLD信息的信令结构。MLD信息通过一个或多个MLD元素，以及包括于Multiple BSSID元素中的MLD元素描述该多AP多链路设备中的一个或多个AP的信息，其信令结构简单并且灵活，可以灵活地完备地指示多AP多链路设备结构中包括的AP的信息。进一步的，接入点通过MLD信息向站点指示基于AP多链路设备的Multiple BSSID集合结构，基于该MLD信息，站点可以获取多AP多链路设备中的各个AP的信息，从而有助于站点选择合适的AP或者AP MLD进行关联，提升了站点选择关联AP的灵活度。
实施例三
本申请实施例提出又一种多AP多链路设备的信令信息交互方法(包括发送方法和接受方法)。在本实施例中，为了避免汇报AP广播其所在的多AP多链路设备中的一个或多个或者所有AP的信息的，提出联合使用RNR元素，MLD元素，Multiple BSSID元素，节省了信令开销；并且，为了避免在后续多链路操作中的重复AP的操作集，信道号和BSSID等参数，提出在RNR元素和multiple BSSID元素增加AP的链路标识，并且AP的链路标识与该AP操作集，信道号和BSSID等参数存在对应关系，在后续的传输或通信中，就不需要携带该AP操作集，信道号和BSSID等参数，降低了信令开销。并且，由于Multiple BSSID元素中的nontransmitted BSSID的操作集和信道号与其transmitted BSSID的操作集和信道号相同，所以操作集和信道号该2个参数也不会出现在Multiple BSSID元素的nontransmitted BSSID profile中，从而更进一步节省了信令开销。
本申请实施例提出的又一种多AP多链路设备的信息交互方法，如图11所示，该方法还包括：
步骤S401：接入点发送管理帧，该管理帧包括：精简邻居汇报元素RNR元素，以及，Multiple BSSID元素，可选的包括MLD元素。
接入点属于一个接入点MLD，比如，该接入点为AP多链路设备中的AP，管理帧由该接入点发送，把该接入点称之为汇报AP。接收该管理帧的站点既可以是多链路站点设备中的站点，也可以是单链路站点。汇报AP属于一个Multiple BSSID集合，该汇报AP为该Multiple BSSID集合中的传输AP，该Multiple BSSID集合中还包括非传输AP，因此该管理帧包括该Multiple BSSID元素，该Multiple BSSID元素包括非传输AP的nontransmitted BSSID profile，用于指示该非传输AP。
可选的，管理帧为信标帧，关联响应帧，探测响应帧，鉴权帧或邻居汇报。
该RNR元素，MLD元素，以及，Multiple BSSID元素用于携带与汇报AP共设备的其他AP(称为被汇报AP)的信息。
步骤S402：站点接收接入点发送的管理帧。
具体地，站点解析汇报AP发送的管理帧，获得RNR元素，以及Multiple BSSID元素，可选的，获得MLD元素，从而获取上述基于AP多链路设备的Multiple BSSID集合结构。
可选的，所述方法还包括，步骤S403：根据所述管理帧，确定基于AP多链路设备的 Multiple BSSID集合结构以及各个AP的信息。更进一步的，站点还可以根据该结构和各个AP的信息选择合适的AP或AP MLD进行关联。
基于本方案，站点根据该管理帧，可获得与汇报AP，以及，与汇报AP共设备的其他AP的信息。因此，站点可选择合适的AP或AP多链路设备建立关联。
该RNR元素，MLD元素，以及，Multiple BSSID元素用于携带与汇报AP共设备的其他AP(称为被汇报AP)的信息。
所述被汇报AP包括：
1.与汇报AP同属于一个AP MLD的其他AP，
2.如果与汇报AP同属于一个AP MLD的其他AP属于多BSSID集合，则被汇报AP还包括该多BSSID集合中的AP
3.如果汇报AP是多BSSID集合，则被汇报还包括与汇报AP属于同一个多BSSID集合中的其他AP
另外，汇报AP发送管理帧还携带该汇报AP的信息，比如目前802.11信标帧携带汇报的AP的信息。
并且，为了避免在后续多链路操作中的重复AP的操作集，信道号和BSSID等参数，本申请实施例中，RNR元素和multiple BSSID元素中增加AP的链路标识，从而一一对应该AP操作集，信道号和BSSID等参数。
下面详细介绍如何结合RNR元素，MLD元素以及Multiple BSSID元素指示上述基于AP多链路设备的Multiple BSSID集合结构，以及，该结构中AP的信息以及AP之间的关系。
第一部分：RNR元素。
首先RNR元素包括：与汇报AP同属于一个MLD的其他AP的精简信息，以及，与其他AP同属于一个Multiple BSSID集合的其他AP的信息，可选的，不携带与汇报AP同属于一个Multiple BSSID集合的非传输AP的精简信息。比如说，以图8a示出的AP多链路设备的Multiple BSSID集合结构为例，汇报AP发送的RNR元素携带AP2y,AP3x,AP2x,AP3y，AP3z以及AP2z的精简信息，不携带AP1y的精简信息。由于AP1x与APly同属于一个Multiple BSSID，AP1y为nontransmitted BSSID AP，携带于AP1x发送的Multiple BSSID元素中，AP1x作为汇报AP，AP1x的信息已携带在了管理帧中，此时汇报AP所在Multiple BSSID集合中的nontransmitted BSSID AP的精简信息不需要在RNR元素中携带，降低了由于携带重复信令带来的信令开销。
其次，为避免各个AP的参数信息，比如Operating class，Channel Number与BSSID，重复出现在其他多链路操作交互过程中，RNR元素还可以携带各个被汇报AP的链路标识，并且指示被汇报AP的Operating class，Channel Number与BSSID等3个参数与该被汇报AP的链路标识的对应关系。
再者，可选的，RNR元素中还会携带指示被汇报AP与汇报AP之间关系的信息。
一个示例中，RNR元素还可以包括信令信息用来指示下面如下3种关系中的一种或多种1.被汇报AP是否与汇报AP来自于同一个MLD，
2.被汇报AP是否与汇报AP所在MLD的任意一个其他AP来自于同一个多BSSID，
3.被汇报AP是否与汇报AP在同一个MLD或者与汇报AP所属的MLD的成员属于同一个Multiple BSSID集合。
比如通过1比特分别指示上述三种关系，一个示例中，通过在RNR元素中的TBTT信息字段中的BSS参数字段携带信息以指示上述一种或多种关系。比如，在BSS参数字段中携带 共MLD字段，其中，共MLD字段用于指示被汇报AP是否与汇报AP在同一个MLD或者被汇报AP是否与汇报AP所属的MLD的成员AP属于同一个Multiple BSSID集合，再比如，在BSS参数字段中携带共MLD多BSSID字段用于指示被汇报AP是否与汇报AP所在MLD的任意一个其他AP来自于同一个多BSSID。比如用图14c中的共MLD比特指示第3个，其具体形式本发明不限。
另一个示例中，RNR元素还可以用来指示下面2种中的一种或多种
信令一.多个被汇报AP是否来自于同一个MLD
信令二.多个被汇报AP是否来自于同一个多BSSID集合。
信令一可以通过在被汇报AP的信息中增加一个MLD序号来实现，若多个被汇报AP的MLD序号相同，则表示这多个被汇报AP来自于同一个MLD。信令二可以通过在被汇报AP的信息中增加一个Multiple BSSID set序号来实现，多个被汇报AP的Multiple BSSID set序号相同，则表示多个被汇报AP来自于同一个Multiple BSSID set。可选的，若被汇报AP的信息中携带的MLD序号取特殊值，比如0，则指示该被汇报AP与汇报AP属于同一个MLD；可选的，若被汇报AP的信息中携带的Mutilple BSSID set取特殊值，则指示该被汇报AP与汇报AP属于同一个Multiple BSSID set。
基于上述信令，RNR可以指示被汇报AP与汇报AP的关系，以及多个被汇报AP的关系，从而根据RNR元素中的上述信令，站点可以获取被汇报AP与汇报AP的关系，以及多个被汇报AP的关系。
并且，由于被汇报AP的信息还包括链路标识，基于链路标识与上述MLD序号和/或Multiple BSSID set序号的关系，可根据链路标识确定各个AP之间的关系。比如说，以图8a为例，被汇报AP2y的link ID为2，MLD序号为1，被汇报AP3x的link ID为4，MLD序号为1，则可知AP2y与AP3x的MLD序号相同，属于同一个MLD，则进一步的可知，链路ID为2的AP与链路ID为4的AP属于同一个MLD。因此由于被汇报AP的链路标识唯一，此时被汇报AP与汇报AP的关系，以及多个被汇报AP的关系不需要额外在MLD元素中进行指示，避免重复信令指示。
另一种实现方式：上述指示AP之间关系的信令(比如信令一和信令二)也可以也可以不在RNR元素中携带，而是在MLD元素中携带，该信令携带在每个MLD元素的子元素中。
第二部分：MLD元素。
汇报AP发送MLD元素的类型，以及发送的MLD元素的结构可参考前述实施例二的描述，此处不赘述。
第三部分：Multiple BSSID元素。
若汇报AP属于一个Multiple BSSID集合，则该管理帧还包括Multiple BSSID元素，该Multiple BSSID元素包括汇报AP所属的Multiple BSSID集合中的一个或多个非传输AP的信息，称为nontransmitted BSSID profile，该nontransmitted BSSID profile携带该非传输AP的信息，且还包括该非传输AP的链路ID，从而避免携带多个参数信息，比如Operating class，Channel Number与BSSID等造成信令开销大，信令冗余的情况。
在Multiple BSSID元素中携带链路标识的方式包括但不限于如下两种：
第一种，若Multiple BSSID元素中nontransmitted BSSID profile所指示的非传输AP还属于一个MLD，且非传输AP的nontransmitted BSSID profile还包括一个MLD元素，该MLD元素中的子元素指示非传输AP所属的MLD的其他AP的信息，那么该非传输AP的链路标识可携带于该MLD元素中，比如携带于MLD元素的公共信息字段。可选的，MLD元素的 公共控制字段还包括链路标识(link ID)出现字段，用于指示所述link ID字段是否出现或是否存在。可选的，Multiple BSSID元素的一种结构如图12所示。另一个示例中，可以将图12中的虚拟MLD字段和特殊MLD字段替换为MLD类型指示，作为第二种Multiple BSSID元素的结构。
第二种，该非传输AP的链路标识可携带于该非传输AP的nontransmitted BSSID profile中，而不携带于MLD元素中。对于第二种实现方式，nontransmitted BSSID profile中可包括MLD元素，也可不包括MLD元素。
由于该非传输AP的精简信息未携带在RNR元素中，因此为了确定该非传输AP与其他被汇报AP的关系，本申请实施例提供如下两种实现方式：
方式一：若该非传输AP属于一个MLD，则可以在nontransmitted BSSID profile中携带一个MLD元素，该MLD元素包括子元素，用于指示非传输AP所属的MLD中的其他AP的信息，从而指示出该非传输AP与哪一个被汇报AP属于同一个MLD。例如图8a所示，AP1x发送该管理帧，AP1x与AP1y同属于Multiple BSS集合1，RNR元素可不携带AP1y的信息，管理帧中的Multiple BSSID元素携带AP1y的nontransmitted BSSID profile，nontransmitted BSSID profile还携带一个MLD元素，该MLD元素中的子元素携带AP2z的信息，接收到该管理帧的站点，可根据RNR元素和Multiple BSSID元素确定，AP1y与其他AP的关系是：AP1y与AP1x属于Multiple BSS集合1，AP1y与AP2z属于MLD3。
方式二：nontransmitted BSSID profile中不带MLD元素，nontransmitted BSSID profile需要携带MLD序号，与RNR中的被汇报AP信息中的MLD序号一起使用，指示该nontransmitted BSSID AP与RNR中携带的被汇报AP是否来自于同一个MLD。例如，图8a所示，AP1x发送该管理帧，AP1x与AP1y同属于Multiple BSS集合1，RNR元素可不携带AP1y的信息，RNR元素中被汇报AP的信息中携带MLD序号，也就是说AP2z的信息中携带MLD3的序号。管理帧中的Multiple BSSID元素携带AP1y的nontransmitted BSSID profile，以及AP1y所属的MLD序号。接收到该管理帧的站点，即可根据RNR元素中的AP2z的信息中携带的MLD序号和Multiple BSSID元素中携带的AP1y的MLD序号，确定AP1y与其他AP的关系是：AP1y与AP1x属于Multiple BSSID集合1，AP1y与AP2z属于MLD3。
下面以图8a为例，介绍管理帧的一种信令结构。AP MLD 1中的AP1x发送管理帧，比如信标帧，发送方式为广播。如图13a所示，该管理帧包括1个RNR元素，该RNR元素携带AP2y，AP3x，AP2x，AP3y和AP3z的精简信息，该精简信息包括AP的操作集，信道号和BSSID等参数与其链路标识的一一对应关系。管理帧还携带3个MLD元素，第一个MLD元素为正式MLD元素，公共信息字段包括AP MLD1的地址，携带2个子元素，第一个子元素用来携带AP2y的信息，第二子元素用来携带AP3x的信息。第二个MLD元素为虚拟MLD元素，公共信息字段包括AP MLD2的地址，携带2个子元素，第一个子元素用来携带AP2x的信息，第二子元素用来携带AP3y的信息。第三个MLD元素为特殊MLD元素，不存在公共信息字段，携带1个子元素，该子元素用来携带AP3z的信息。其中3个MLD元素中携带的AP2y，AP3x，AP2x和AP3z的信息中包括的链路标识与这些AP在RNR元素中的链路标识相同，因此MLD元素中不再重复携带其在RNR中携带的操作集，信道号，BSSID等参数的一个或多个，避免信令冗余，降低了信令开销。由于汇报AP1x属于多BSSID集合，管理帧还需携带一个Multiple BSSID元素，该元素携带一个non-transmitted BSSID profile，该non-transmitted BSSID profile为AP1y的信息。又由于AP1y属于AP MLD3，则该non-transmitted BSSID profile还额外携带一个正式MLD元素，公共信息字段包括AP MLD3的地址，携带一 个子元素，该子元素携带的AP2z的信息。其中AP2z的信息中包括的链路标识与AP2z在RNR元素中的链路标识相同。可选的，AP1y的精简信息可以不出现在RNR元素中，AP1y的精简信息中的操作集和信道号的参数与汇报AP1x的相同，AP1y的BSSID的信息可携带在其nontransmitted BSSID profile里。相对应的，根据该管理帧中的RNR元素，三个MLD元素以及一个Multiple BSSID元素，站点可知AP1x,AP1y,AP2y，AP3x，AP2x，AP3y和AP3z的信息，还可以确定各个AP之间的关系。具体的，站点可以根据RNR元素和MLD元素中携带的link ID匹配确定在RNR中携带的被汇报AP的精简信息以及在MLD元素中携带的被汇报AP的其他信息，比如图13a所示，RNR中AP2y的信息携带AP2y的链路ID为2，第一个MLD元素的第一子元素携带的链路ID也为2，根据链路ID匹配，站点可确定RNR中AP2y的精简信息，并根据第一MLD元素中的第一个子元素确定AP2y的其他信息；进一步的，站点还可以确定AP1x与AP1y属于一个Multiple BSSID集合1，AP1x与AP2y，AP3x属于MLD1，AP2x与AP3y属于MLD2，且AP3z为一个单链路设备，AP2y，AP2x，AP2z属于Multiple BSSID集合2，AP3x,AP3y,AP3z属于Multiple BSSID集合3。
下面以图8a为例，介绍管理帧的另一种信令结构。AP MLD 1中的AP1x发送管理帧，比如信标帧，发送方式为广播。如图13b所示，该管理帧包括1个RNR元素，该RNR元素携带AP2y，AP3x，AP2x，AP3y和AP3z的精简信息，该精简信息包括AP的操作集，信道号和BSSID等参数与其链路标识的一一对应关系，并且RNR元素中各个AP的信息还包括MLD序号和/或Multiple BSSID Set序号。可选的，管理帧还携带3个MLD元素，第一个MLD元素为正式MLD元素，公共信息字段包括AP MLD1的地址，携带2个子元素，第一个子元素用来携带AP2y的信息，第二子元素用来携带AP3x的信息。第二个MLD元素为虚拟MLD元素，公共信息字段包括AP MLD2的地址，携带2个子元素，第一个子元素用来携带AP2x的信息，第二子元素用来携带AP3y的信息。第三个MLD元素为特殊MLD元素，不存在公共信息字段，携带1个子元素，该子元素用来携带AP3z的信息。其中3个MLD元素中携带的AP2y，AP3x，AP2x和AP3z的信息中包括的链路标识与这些AP在RNR元素中的链路标识相同，MLD元素不再重复携带其在RNR中携带的操作集，信道号，BSSID等参数的一个或多个，避免信令冗余，降低了信令开销。由于汇报AP1x属于多BSSID集合，管理帧还需携带一个Multiple BSSID元素，该元素携带一个non-transmitted BSSID profile，该non-transmitted BSSID profile为AP1y的信息，包括AP1y的链路标识，可选的，还包括AP1y所属的MLD的MLD序号。可选的，AP1y的精简信息可以不出现在RNR元素中，AP1y的精简信息中的操作集和信道号的参数与汇报AP1x的相同，AP1y的BSSID的信息可携带在其nontransmitted BSSID profile里，具体来讲，通过Nontransmitted BSSID profile中的Multiple BSSID-Index元素和参考BSSID(Transmitted BSSID)计算获得，计算方法请参考Draft P802.11REVmd_D3.0协议。相对应的，根据该管理帧中的RNR元素，三个MLD元素以及一个Multiple BSSID元素，站点可知，AP1x,AP1y,AP2y，AP3x，AP2x，AP3y和AP3z的信息，还可以确定各个AP之间的关系，具体的，站点可以根据RNR元素和MLD元素中携带的link ID匹配确定在RNR中携带的被汇报AP的精简信息以及在MLD元素中携带的被汇报AP的其他信息，比如图13b所示，RNR中AP2y的信息携带AP2y的链路ID为2，第一个MLD元素的第一子元素携带的链路ID也为2，根据链路ID匹配，站点可确定RNR中AP2y的精简信息，并根据第一MLD元素中的第一个子元素确定AP2y的其他信息；进一步的，站点可以确定AP1x与AP1y属于一个Multiple BSSID集合1，根据MLD序号可确定AP1x与AP2y，AP3x属于MLD1，AP2x与AP3y属于MLD2，且AP3z为一个单链路设备，根据Multiple  BSSID集合序号可确定AP2y，AP2x，AP2z属于Multiple BSSID集合2，AP3x,AP3y,AP3z属于Multiple BSSID集合3。
下面介绍RNR元素的一种实现方式。
精简邻居汇报元素(Reduced Neighbor Report element)：AP通过在管理帧，比如信标帧，探测响应帧等携带精简邻居汇报元素。站点扫描时，接收AP发送的管理帧，从而基于其中的精简邻居汇报元素获得周围的AP的信息，然后选择合适的AP进行关联。
具体来讲，精简邻居汇报元素(Reduced Neighbor Report element)一般会携带一个或者多个Neighbor AP info字段，用来描述一个或多个邻居AP以及其各自所属的BSS的信息。下面邻居AP也称为被汇报AP，发送该RNR元素的AP称为汇报AP。邻居AP信息字段携带了邻居AP的精简信息，也就是携带了被汇报AP的精简信息。图14a示意了一种RNR元素的结构示意图格式，从图14b可以看出，精简邻居汇报元素的邻居AP信息字段可以包括如下字段：
对于TBTT info Header(信标帧目标传输时间(target beacon transmission time，TBTT)信息头)字段，其携带以下信息：
TBTT info Field Type(TBTT信息字段类型)字段：指示TBTT info(TBTT信息)的类型。其与TBTT info length(TBTT信息长度)字段一起指示TBTT info字段的格式。
Filtered neighbor AP(过滤的邻居AP)字段：指示该Neighbor AP info(邻居AP信息)字段中所携带的所有BSS的SSID是否与Probe Request帧中的SSID相匹配。
Reserved字段(1bit)。
TBTT info count字段：指示TBTT info set中含有TBTT info field的个数。
TBTT info Length(TBTT信息长度)字段：指示每个TBTT info field的长度。不同长度下所携带的具体信息格式如表4所示：
表4
Figure PCTCN2021091229-appb-000002
下面给出当TBTT信息长度为12字节时，TBTT信息字段的包括：
Neighbor AP TBTT offset(邻居AP的目标信标传输时间偏置)字段：指示邻居AP与汇报AP的Beacon发送时间的偏置。
BSSID(BSS标识符)字段：指示该邻居AP所对应的BSS标识符。
Short SSID(短服务集标识)字段：指示邻居AP所属的服务集标识符。
BSS Parameter(BSS参数)字段：指示邻居AP的相关参数，如图14b，BSS Parameter (BSS参数)字段包含以下信息：
OCT recommended(推荐使用随信道隧道机制)字段：指示该邻居AP期望通过OCT机制与其交换管理类型的MPDU。
Same SSID(相同服务集标识)字段：指示该邻居AP和汇报AP是否具有相同的SSID。
Multiple BSSID(多基本服务集标识)字段：指示该邻居AP是不是属于某个multiple BSSID集合的一部分。
Transmitted BSSID(传输基本服务集标识)字段：如果该邻居AP是属于某个multiple BSSID集合的一部分，则进一步指示该邻居AP是Transmitted BSSID还是non-transmitted BSSID。
Member Of ESS With 2.4/5GHz Co-Located AP(与2.4/5GHz AP共位置且为扩展服务集成员)字段：指示该邻居AP是否与一个2.4/5GHz AP共位置(即是不是6GHz only的AP)且是一个扩展服务集的成员。
Unsolicited Probe Response Active(主动探测响应活跃)字段：指示该邻居AP是否开启主动探测响应。
可选的，TBTT信息字段还包括：Co-located AP(共位置AP)字段：指示邻居AP与汇报AP是否是共位置的。
可选的，TBTT信息字段还包括：共MLD(Co-MLD)字段：指示邻居AP与汇报AP是否属于一个MLD的。
图14b示出了TBTT信息字段的格式的一种示意图。图14c示出了TBTT信息字段的格式的另一种示意图。
在本实施例中，为了避免汇报AP广播其所在的多AP多链路设备中的一个或多个或者所有AP的信息的，提出联合使用RNR元素，Multiple BSSID元素，可选的，还使用MLD元素；为了避免在后续多链路操作中的重复AP的操作集，信道号和BSSID等参数，提出在RNR元素和multiple BSSID元素增加AP的链路标识，并且AP的链路标识与该AP操作集，信道号和BSSID等参数存在对应关系，在后续的传输或通信中，就不需要携带该AP操作集，信道号和BSSID等参数，降低了信令开销。并且，Multiple BSSID元素中的nontransmitted BSSID的操作集和信道号与其transmitted BSSID的操作集和信道号，所以该2个参数不会出现在Multiple BSSID元素的nontransmitted BSSID profile中，进一步降低信令冗余。
下面详细介绍本申请实施例提供的装置。
图15示出了本申请实施例提供的一种通信装置1500，该装置可以是上述实施例中的接入点AP(例如AP多链路设备中的汇报AP)或者站点，还可以是该接入点AP(例如AP多链路设备中的汇报AP)或者站点中的芯片或处理系统，可以实现本申请任一实施例的方法和功能。由于集成度的差异，该通信装置可以包括如图15所示的部件中的一个或多个。图15所示出的部件可以包括至少一个处理器1501，存储器1502、收发器1503以及通信总线1504。
下面结合图15对该通信装置1500的各个构成部件进行具体的介绍：
处理器1501是通信装置1500的控制中心，可以是一个处理器，也可以是多个处理元件的统称。例如，处理器1501是一个中央处理器(central processing unit，CPU)，也可以是特定集成电路(Application Specific Integrated Circuit，ASIC)，或者是被配置成实施本申请实施例的一个或多个集成电路，例如：一个或多个微处理器(digital signal processor，DSP)，或，一个或者多个现场可编程门阵列(Field Programmable Gate Array，FPGA)。其中，处理器1501 可以通过运行或执行存储在存储器1502内的软件程序，以及调用存储在存储器1502内的数据，执行通信设备的各种功能。在具体的实现中，作为一种实施例，处理器1501可以包括一个或多个CPU，例如图15中所示的CPU0和CPU1。
在具体实现中，作为一种实施例，通信装置1500可以包括多个处理器，例如图15中所示的处理器1501和处理器1505。这些处理器中的每一个可以是一个单核处理器(single-CPU)，也可以是一个多核处理器(multi-CPU)。这里的处理器可以指一个或多个通信设备、电路、和/或用于处理数据(例如计算机程序指令)的处理核。
存储器1502可以是只读存储器(read-only memory，ROM)或可存储静态信息和指令的其他类型的静态存储通信设备，随机存取存储器(random access memory，RAM)或者可存储信息和指令的其他类型的动态存储通信设备，也可以是电可擦可编程只读存储器(Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory，EEPROM)、只读光盘(Compact Disc Read-Only Memory，CD-ROM)或其他光盘存储、光碟存储(包括压缩光碟、激光碟、光碟、数字通用光碟、蓝光光碟等)、磁盘存储介质或者其他磁存储通信设备、或者能够用于携带或存储具有指令或数据结构形式的期望的程序代码并能够由计算机存取的任何其他介质，但不限于此。存储器1502可以是独立存在，通过通信总线1504与处理器1501相连接。存储器1502也可以和处理器1501集成在一起。其中，所述存储器1502用于存储执行本申请方案的软件程序，并由处理器1501来控制执行。
收发器1503，用于与其他设备(例如图1所示实施例中的站点)之间的通信。当然，收发器1503还可以用于与通信网络通信，通信网络例如为以太网，无线接入网(radio access network，RAN)，无线局域网(Wireless Local Area Networks，WLAN)等。收发器1503可以包括接收单元实现接收功能，以及发送单元实现发送功能。
通信总线1504，可以是工业标准体系结构(Industry Standard Architecture，ISA)总线、外部通信设备互连(Peripheral Component，PCI)总线或扩展工业标准体系结构(Extended Industry Standard Architecture，EISA)总线等。该总线可以分为地址总线、数据总线、控制总线等。为便于表示，图15中仅用一条粗线表示，但并不表示仅有一根总线或一种类型的总线。
一个示例中，该通信装置1500为一个整机的设备，该通信装置可包括：处理器1501，存储器1502以及收发器1503以及通信总线1504，可选的，还可以包括其他部件，比如显示器等。
可选的，该通信装置1500为接入点AP(例如AP多链路设备中的汇报AP)，可以用于实现前述实施例中涉及AP的方法和功能。例如，存储器中存储计算机程序(指令)，当处理器调用该计算机程序时，实现上述方法和功能，比如，处理器用于生成信令或帧(携带MLD信息)，收发器用于发送信令或帧(携带MLD信息)。一个示例中，例如处理器用于控制收发器执行步骤S101，当然，该步骤S101中涉及的MLD信息的生成过程也可以由该处理器来完成。另一个示例中，例如处理器用于控制收发器执行步骤S201，当然，该步骤S201中涉及的管理帧的生成过程也可以由该处理器来完成。又一个示例中，例如处理器用于控制收发器执行步骤S301，当然，该步骤S301中涉及的管理帧的生成过程也可以由该处理器来完成。又一示例中，例如处理器用于控制收发器执行步骤S401，当然，该步骤S401中涉及的管理帧的生成过程也可以由该处理器来完成。
可选的，该通信装置1500为站点，可以用于实现前述实施例涉及站点的方法和功能。例如，存储器中存储计算机程序，当处理器调用该计算机程序时，实现上述方法和功能，比如，处理器用于生成信令或帧(如探测响应帧)，收发器用于发送信令或帧(如接收探测请求帧)。 一个示例中，例如，处理器用于控制收发器接收步骤S102中的MLD信息，之后处理器根据MLD信息确定多AP多链路设备的结构以及各个AP的信息，进一步可确定选择与哪些AP进行关联。另一个示例中，例如，处理器用于控制收发器接收步骤S202中的管理帧，之后处理器根据管理帧确定多AP多链路设备的结构以及各个AP的信息，进一步可确定选择与哪些AP进行关联。又一个示例中，例如，处理器用于控制收发器接收步骤S302中的管理帧，之后处理器根据管理帧确定多AP多链路设备的结构以及各个AP的信息，进一步可确定选择与哪些AP进行关联。又一个示例中，例如，处理器用于控制收发器接收步骤S402中的管理帧，之后处理器根据管理帧确定多AP多链路设备的结构以及各个AP的信息，进一步可确定选择与哪些AP进行关联。
另一个示例中，该通信装置1500为该接入点AP(例如AP多链路设备中的汇报AP)中的芯片系统或处理系统，使得安装该芯片系统或处理系统的设备实现前述实施例中的涉及AP的方法和功能。那么该通信装置1500可以包括如图15所示的部分部件，比如通信装置1500包括处理器，该处理器可与存储器耦合，调用存储器中的指令并执行，从而配置安装该芯片系统或处理系统的设备实现前述实施例的方法和功能。可选的，该存储器可以是芯片系统或处理系统中的一个部件，也可以是芯片系统或处理系统外耦合链接的一个部件。一个示例中，该芯片系统或处理系统安装于该接入点AP(例如AP多链路设备中的汇报AP)中，可以使得该接入点AP执行前述实施例中步骤S101。另一个示例中，该芯片系统或处理系统安装于该接入点AP中，可以使得该接入点AP执行前述实施例中步骤S201。又一个示例中，该芯片系统或处理系统安装于该接入点AP中，可以使得该接入点AP执行前述实施例中步骤S301。又例如，使得接入点指示步骤S401。
又一个示例中，该通信装置1500为该站点中的芯片系统或处理系统，使得安装该芯片系统或处理系统的设备实现前述实施例中的涉及站点的方法和功能。那么该通信装置1500可以包括如图15所示的部分部件，比如通信装置1500包括处理器，该处理器可与存储器耦合，调用存储器中的指令并执行，从而配置安装该芯片系统或处理系统的设备实现前述实施例的方法和功能。可选的，该存储器可以是芯片系统或处理系统中的一个部件，也可以是芯片系统或处理系统外耦合链接的一个部件。一个示例中，该芯片系统或处理系统安装于该站点中，可以使得该站点执行前述实施例中步骤S102。另一个示例中，该芯片系统或处理系统安装于该站点中，可以使得该站点执行前述实施例中步骤S202。又一个示例中，该芯片系统或处理系统安装于该站点中，可以使得该站点执行前述实施例中步骤S302。又一个示例中，该芯片系统或处理系统安装于该站点中，可以使得该站点执行前述实施例中步骤S402。
该芯片系统或处理系统可以支持802.11系列协议进行通信，比如支持802.11be,802.11ax，802.11ac等等。该芯片系统可以安装于各种支持WLAN传输的场景中的设备中，WLAN传输场景中的设备已在本说明书的开头部分介绍，此处不赘述。
本申请实施例可以根据上述方法示例对该接入点AP(例如AP多链路设备中的汇报AP)或者站点进行功能模块的划分，例如，可以对应各个功能划分各个功能模块，也可以将两个或两个以上的功能集成在一个处理模块中。上述集成的模块既可以采用硬件的形式实现，也可以采用软件功能模块的形式实现。需要说明的是，本申请实施例中对模块的划分是示意性的，仅仅为一种逻辑功能划分，实际实现时可以有另外的划分方式。
在采用集成的单元的情况下，图16示出了一种通信装置1600的可能的结构示意图，该通信装置1600可以为多链路设备或多链路设备中的芯片或处理系统，所述通信装置1600可 以执行上述方法实施例中多链路设备的操作。该通信装置1600包括：处理单元1601和收发单元1602。
一个示例中，通信装置1600为上述接入点AP(例如AP多链路设备中的汇报AP)或者站点。
一个示例中，该通信装置1600为上述接入点或接入点中的芯片。
处理单元1601可以用于对通信装置1600的动作进行控制管理。例如，生成MLD信息。再例如，控制收发单元1602的操作。可选的，若通信装置1600包括存储单元，则处理单元1601还可以执行存储在存储单元中的程序或指令，以使得通信装置1600实现上述任一实施例所涉及的方法和功能。
示例性的，上述处理单元1601可以控制收发单元执行例如图4中的步骤S101，或图10a中的S201，或图10b中的S301，或图11中S401，和/或用于本文所描述的技术的其它过程。其中，上述方法实施例涉及的各步骤的所有相关内容均可以援引到对应功能模块的功能描述，在此不再赘述。
示例性的，上述处理单元1601可以控制收发单元执行例如图4中的步骤S102，或图10a中的S202，或图10b中的S302,或图11中S402，和/或用于本文所描述的技术的其它过程。其中，上述方法实施例涉及的各步骤的所有相关内容均可以援引到对应功能模块的功能描述，在此不再赘述。
示例性的，上述收发单元1602既可以收发一条链路传输的数据或信令，也可以收发多条链路上传输的数据或信令。可选的，该收发单元1602可以为一个收发模块，也可以包括多个收发模块。当收发单元1602为一个收发模块时，该收发模块既可以收发多条链路上的数据。比如，第一多链路设备工作在两条链路上，那么收发单元1602包括两个收发模块时，其中一个收发模块工作在一条链路上，另一个收发模块工作在另一条链路上。示例性的，上述收发单元1602可以用于执行例如图4中的步骤S101，或，图10a中的步骤S201，或图10b中的S301，或图11中的步骤S401，和/或用于本文所描述的技术的其它过程。其中，上述方法实施例涉及的各步骤的所有相关内容均可以援引到对应功能模块的功能描述，在此不再赘述。
示例性的，该通信装置1600可以为图15所示的通信装置，处理单元1601可以为图15中的处理器1501、收发单元1602可以为图15中的收发器1503。可选的，该通信装置1600还可以包括存储器，该存储器用于存储通信装置1600执行上文所提供的任一多链路设备间的通信方法所对应的程序代码和数据。上述图15涉及的各部件的所有相关内容的描述均可以援引到该通信装置1600对应部件的功能描述，在此不再赘述。
示例性的，该通信装置1600还可以为芯片或处理器，其中的处理单元1602为芯片或处理器中的处理电路，收发单元1602可以为芯片或处理器中的输入/输出电路，输入/输出电路为芯片或处理器与其他耦合部件相互通信或交互数据的接口，可确保信令或数据信息或程序指令被输入到芯片或处理器中进行处理，且将处理后的数据或信令输出给其他耦合的部件，并控制安装该芯片或处理器的第一多链路设备实现功能。
另一个示例中，通信装置1600为上述站点或者站点中的芯片。
处理单元1601可以用于对通信装置1600的动作进行控制管理。例如，处理MLD信息。再例如，控制收发单元1602的操作。可选的，若通信装置1600包括存储单元，则处理单元1601还可以执行存储在存储单元中的程序或指令，以使得通信装置1600实现上述任一实施例所涉及的方法和功能。
示例性的，上述处理单元1601可以用于处理MLD信息，例如，图4中的步骤S102中 的MLD信息就是处理单元1601处理的，或图10a中S202中的管理帧，或图10b中的S302中的管理帧，或图11中的S402中的管理帧就是处理单元1601处理的，和/或用于本文所描述的技术的其它过程。其中，上述方法实施例涉及的各步骤的所有相关内容均可以援引到对应功能模块的功能描述，在此不再赘述。
示例性的，上述收发单元1602既可以收发一条链路传输的数据或信令，也可以收发多条链路上传输的数据或信令。可选的，该收发单元1602可以为一个收发模块，也可以包括多个收发模块。当收发单元1602为一个收发模块时，该收发模块既可以收发多条链路上的数据。比如，第一站点工作在两条链路上，那么收发单元1602包括两个收发模块时，其中一个收发模块工作在一条链路上，另一个收发模块工作在另一条链路上。示例性的，上述收发单元1602可以用于执行例如图4中的步骤S102，或，图10a中的S202,或图10b中的S302，或，图11中的S402，和/或用于本文所描述的技术的其它过程。其中，上述方法实施例涉及的各步骤的所有相关内容均可以援引到对应功能模块的功能描述，在此不再赘述。
示例性的，该通信装置1600可以为图15所示的通信装置，处理单元1601可以为图15中的处理器1501、收发单元1602可以为图15中的收发器1503。可选的，该通信装置1600还可以包括存储器，该存储器用于存储通信装置1600执行上文所提供的任一方法所对应的程序代码和数据。上述图15涉及的各部件的所有相关内容的描述均可以援引到该通信装置1600对应部件的功能描述，在此不再赘述。
示例性的，该通信装置1600还可以为芯片或处理器，其中的处理单元1602为芯片或处理器中的处理电路，收发单元1602可以为芯片或处理器中的输入/输出电路，输入/输出电路为芯片或处理器与其他耦合部件相互通信或交互数据的接口，可确保信令或数据信息或程序指令被输入到芯片或处理器中进行处理，且将处理后的数据或信令输出给其他耦合的部件，并控制安装该芯片或处理器的设备实现功能。
需要说明的是，在装置实施例部分，MLD信息的信令结构以及管理帧的结构可参考前述实施例的描述，此处不再赘述。
本申请实施例还提供一种计算机可读存储介质，该计算机可读存储介质中存储有计算机程序代码，当上述处理器执行该计算机程序代码时，使得该处理器所在的电子设备(如AP、站点)执行任一实施例的方法。
本申请实施例还提供了一种计算机程序产品，当该计算机程序产品在计算机上运行时，使得计算机(如AP、站点)执行任一实施例的方法。
本申请实施例还提供了一种通信装置，该装置可以以芯片的产品形态存在，该装置的结构中包括处理器和接口电路，该处理器用于通过接收电路与其它装置通信，使得该装置执行上述执行任一实施例的方法。
本申请实施例还提供了一种通信系统，该通信系统包括上述接入点AP(例如AP多链路设备中的汇报AP)和站点，该接入点AP(例如AP多链路设备中的汇报AP)和站点可以执行上述任一实施例中的方法(比如图4，图10a，图10b或图11中的方法)。结合本申请公开内容所描述的方法或者算法的步骤可以硬件的方式来实现，也可以是由处理器执行软件指令的方式来实现。软件指令可以由相应的软件模块组成，软件模块可以被存放于随机存取存储器(Random Access Memory，RAM)、闪存、可擦除可编程只读存储器(Erasable Programmable ROM，EPROM)、电可擦可编程只读存储器(Electrically EPROM，EEPROM)、寄存器、硬盘、移动硬盘、只读光盘(CD-ROM)或者本领域熟知的任何其它形式的存储介质中。一种示例性的存储介质耦合至处理器，从而使处理器能够从该存储介质读取信息，且可向该存储 介质写入信息。当然，存储介质也可以是处理器的组成部分。处理器和存储介质可以位于ASIC中。另外，该ASIC可以位于核心网接口设备中。当然，处理器和存储介质也可以作为分立组件存在于核心网接口设备中。
本领域技术人员应该可以意识到，在上述一个或多个示例中，本申请所描述的功能可以用硬件、软件、固件或它们的任意组合来实现。当使用软件实现时，可以将这些功能存储在计算机可读介质中或者作为计算机可读介质上的一个或多个指令或代码进行传输。计算机可读介质包括计算机可读存储介质和通信介质，其中通信介质包括便于从一个地方向另一个地方传送计算机程序的任何介质。存储介质可以是通用或专用计算机能够存取的任何可用介质。
以上所述的具体实施方式，对本申请的目的、技术方案和有益效果进行了进一步详细说明，所应理解的是，以上所述仅为本申请的具体实施方式而已，并不用于限定本申请的保护范围，凡在本申请的技术方案的基础之上，所做的任何修改、等同替换、改进等，均应包括在本申请的保护范围之内。

Claims (43)

  1. 一种无线局域网WLAN中的通信装置，其特征在于，包括：
    处理单元，用于生成管理帧，所述AP属于第一AP多链路设备MLD；
    其中，所述管理帧包括MLD信息，所述MLD信息包括：第一MLD元素，所述第一MLD元素的子元素用于携带所述AP所属的第一MLD中其他AP的信息，所述第一MLD元素还包括指示MLD元素类型的类型信息；
    收发单元，用于发送所述管理帧。
  2. 一种无线局域网WLAN中的通信装置，其特征在于，包括：
    收发单元，用于接收一个接入点AP发送的管理帧；所述AP属于第一AP多链路设备MLD；
    其中，所述管理帧包括MLD信息，所述MLD信息包括：第一MLD元素，所述第一MLD元素的子元素用于携带所述AP所属的所述第一MLD中其他AP的信息，所述MLD元素还包括指示所述MLD元素类型的类型信息；
    处理单元，用于根据所述管理帧，获取所述AP所属的所述第一MLD中其他AP的信息。
  3. 根据权利要求1或2所述的通信装置，其特征在于，MLD元素还包括：公共控制字段；
    所述公共控制字段包括所述类型信息，用于指示所述MLD元素的元素类型。
  4. 根据权利要求3所述的通信装置，其特征在于，所述元素类型包括：正式MLD元素，虚拟MLD元素；
    所述类型信息具体包括：
    虚拟MLD字段，用于指示所述MLD元素是否为虚拟MLD元素。
  5. 根据权利要求4所述的通信装置，其特征在于，所述虚拟MLD字段包括1比特；
    若所述MLD元素为虚拟MLD元素，则所述虚拟MLD字段置为第一值；
    若所述MLD元素为正式MLD元素，则所述虚拟MLD字段置为第二值。
  6. 根据权利要求3所述的通信装置，其特征在于，所述元素类型包括：正式MLD元素，虚拟MLD元素，以及，特殊MLD元素；
    所述类型信息包括：
    虚拟MLD字段，用于指示所述MLD元素是否为虚拟MLD元素；
    特殊MLD资源，用于指示所述MLD元素是否为特殊MLD元素。
  7. 根据权利要求6所述的通信装置，其特征在于，所述虚拟MLD字段包括1比特，所述特殊MLD字段包括1比特；
    若所述MLD元素为虚拟MLD元素，则所述虚拟MLD字段置为第一值，所述特殊MLD字段置为第二值；
    若所述MLD元素为特殊MLD元素，则所述虚拟MLD字段置为第二值，所述特殊MLD字段置为第一值；
    若所述MLD元素为正式MLD元素，则所述虚拟MLD字段置为第二值，所述特殊MLD字段置为第二值。
  8. 根据权利要求1至7中任一项所述的通信装置，其特征在于，所述MLD元素还包括：MLD公共信息字段；
    所述公共控制字段还包括：MLD地址出现字段，用于指示所述MLD公共信息字段中是否会出现MLD地址字段，所述MLD地址字段用于携带所述第一MLD的标识。
  9. 根据权利要求8所述的通信装置，其特征在于，
    若所述类型信息指示所述MLD元素为虚拟MLD元素，所述MLD公共信息字段中包括MLD地址字段；
    若所述类型信息指示所述MLD元素为正式MLD元素，所述MLD公共信息字段中包括MLD地址字段。
  10. 根据权利要求8或9所述的通信装置，其特征在于，
    若所述类型信息指示所述MLD元素为特殊MLD元素，所述MLD公共信息字段中不包括MLD地址字段。
  11. 根据权利要求1至10中任一项所述的通信装置，其特征在于，
    若所述第一MLD中的其他AP属于一个第二Multiple BSSID集合，且所述第二Multiple BSSID集合中的一个其他AP属于一个第二MLD，则所述MLD信息还包括：第二MLD元素，所述第二MLD元素中的子元素携带所述第二MLD中的AP的信息。
  12. 根据权利要求1至11中任一项所述的通信装置，其特征在于，
    若所述AP属于一个第一Multiple BSSID集合，则所述MLD信息还包括一个第一Multiple BSSID元素，所述第一Multiple BSSID元素包括所述第一Multiple BSSID集合中的非传输AP的信息。
  13. 根据权利要求12所述的通信装置，其特征在于，
    若所述第一Multiple BSSID集合中的所述非传输AP属于一个第三MLD，那么所述Multiple BSSID元素还包括一个第三MLD元素，所述第三MLD元素的子元素携带所述第三MLD中的其他AP的信息。
  14. 根据权利要求1至13中任一项所述的通信装置，其特征在于，
    若所述第一MLD中的其他AP属于一个第三Multiple BSSID集合，且所述第三Multiple BSSID集合中的一个AP不属于MLD，则所述MLD信息还包括：第四MLD元素，所述第四MLD元素的子元素携带所述AP的信息。
  15. 根据权利要求1至14中任一项所述的通信装置，其特征在于，所述第一MLD元素为正式MLD元素，所述第一MLD元素中的类型信息指示所述第一MLD元素为正式MLD元素。
  16. 根据权利要求11至15中任一项所述的通信装置，其特征在于，所述第二MLD元素为虚拟MLD元素，所述第二MLD元素中的类型信息指示所述第二MLD元素为虚拟MLD元素。
  17. 根据权利要求13至16中任一项所述的通信装置，其特征在于，所述第三MLD为正式MLD元素，所述第二MLD元素中的类型信息指示所述第二MLD元素为正式MLD元素。
  18. 根据权利要求14至17中任一项所述的通信装置，其特征在于，所述第四MLD元素为特殊MLD元素，所述第四MLD元素中的类型信息指示所述第四MLD元素为特殊MLD元素。
  19. 一种无线局域网WLAN中的信令信息的交互方法，其特征在于，包括：
    接入点AP生成管理帧，所述AP属于第一AP多链路设备MLD；
    其中，所述管理帧包括MLD信息，所述MLD信息包括：第一MLD元素，所述第一MLD元素的子元素用于携带所述AP所属的第一MLD中其他AP的信息，所述第一MLD元素还 包括指示MLD元素类型的类型信息；
    所述接入点发送所述管理帧。
  20. 一种无线局域网WLAN中的信令信息的交互方法，其特征在于，包括：
    站点接收一个接入点AP发送的管理帧；所述AP属于第一AP多链路设备MLD；
    其中，所述管理帧包括MLD信息，所述MLD信息包括：第一MLD元素，所述第一MLD元素的子元素用于携带所述AP所属的所述第一MLD中其他AP的信息，所述MLD元素还包括指示所述MLD元素类型的类型信息；
    所述站点根据所述管理帧，获取所述AP所属的所述第一MLD中其他AP的信息。
  21. 根据权利要求19或20所述的方法，其特征在于，MLD元素还包括：公共控制字段；
    所述公共控制字段包括所述类型信息，用于指示所述MLD元素的元素类型。
  22. 根据权利要求21所述的方法，其特征在于，所述元素类型包括：正式MLD元素，虚拟MLD元素；
    所述类型信息具体包括：
    虚拟MLD字段，用于指示所述MLD元素是否为虚拟MLD元素。
  23. 根据权利要求22所述的方法，其他在于，所述虚拟MLD字段包括1比特；
    若所述MLD元素为虚拟MLD元素，则所述虚拟MLD字段置为第一值；
    若所述MLD元素为正式MLD元素，则所述虚拟MLD字段置为第二值。
  24. 根据权利要求21所述的方法，其特征在于，所述元素类型包括：正式MLD元素，虚拟MLD元素，以及，特殊MLD元素；
    所述类型信息包括：
    虚拟MLD字段，用于指示所述MLD元素是否为虚拟MLD元素；
    特殊MLD资源，用于指示所述MLD元素是否为特殊MLD元素。
  25. 根据权利要求4所述的方法，其特征在于，所述虚拟MLD字段包括1比特，所述特殊MLD字段包括1比特；
    若所述MLD元素为虚拟MLD元素，则所述虚拟MLD字段置为第一值，所述特殊MLD字段置为第二值；
    若所述MLD元素为特殊MLD元素，则所述虚拟MLD字段置为第二值，所述特殊MLD字段置为第一值；
    若所述MLD元素为正式MLD元素，则所述虚拟MLD字段置为第二值，所述特殊MLD字段置为第二值。
  26. 根据权利要求19至25中任一项所述的方法，其特征在于，所述MLD元素还包括：MLD公共信息字段；
    所述公共控制字段还包括：MLD地址出现字段，用于指示所述MLD公共信息字段中是否会出现MLD地址字段，所述MLD地址字段用于携带所述第一MLD的标识。
  27. 根据权利要求26所述的方法，其特征在于，
    若所述类型信息指示所述MLD元素为虚拟MLD元素，所述MLD公共信息字段中包括MLD地址字段；
    若所述类型信息指示所述MLD元素为正式MLD元素，所述MLD公共信息字段中包括MLD地址字段。
  28. 根据权利要求26或27所述的方法，其特征在于，
    若所述类型信息指示所述MLD元素为特殊MLD元素，所述MLD公共信息字段中不包 括MLD地址字段。
  29. 根据权利要求19至28中任一项所述的方法，其特征在于，
    若所述第一MLD中的其他AP属于一个第二Multiple BSSID集合，且所述第二Multiple BSSID集合中的一个其他AP属于一个第二MLD，则所述MLD信息还包括：第二MLD元素，所述第二MLD元素中的子元素携带所述第二MLD中的AP的信息。
  30. 根据权利要求19至29中任一项所述的方法，其特征在于，
    若所述AP属于一个第一Multiple BSSID集合，则所述MLD信息还包括一个第一Multiple BSSID元素，所述第一Multiple BSSID元素包括所述第一Multiple BSSID集合中的非传输AP的信息。
  31. 根据权利要求30所述的方法，其特征在于，
    若所述第一Multiple BSSID集合中的所述非传输AP属于一个第三MLD，那么所述Multiple BSSID元素还包括一个第三MLD元素，所述第三MLD元素的子元素携带所述第三MLD中的其他AP的信息。
  32. 根据权利要求19至31中任一项所述的方法，其特征在于，
    若所述第一MLD中的其他AP属于一个第三Multiple BSSID集合，且所述第三Multiple BSSID集合中的一个AP不属于MLD，则所述MLD信息还包括：第四MLD元素，所述第四MLD元素的子元素携带所述AP的信息。
  33. 根据权利要求19至32中任一项所述的方法，其特征在于，所述第一MLD元素为正式MLD元素，所述第一MLD元素中的类型信息指示所述第一MLD元素为正式MLD元素。
  34. 根据权利要求29至33中任一项所述的方法，其特征在于，所述第二MLD元素为虚拟MLD元素，所述第二MLD元素中的类型信息指示所述第二MLD元素为虚拟MLD元素。
  35. 根据权利要求31至34中任一项所述的方法，其特征在于，所述第三MLD为正式MLD元素，所述第二MLD元素中的类型信息指示所述第二MLD元素为正式MLD元素。
  36. 根据权利要求32至35中任一项所述的方法，其特征在于，所述第四MLD元素为特殊MLD元素，所述第四MLD元素中的类型信息指示所述第四MLD元素为特殊MLD元素。
  37. 一种通信装置，其特征在于，包括处理器和存储器，所述存储器用于存储指令，当所述指令被所述处理器运行时，以使得所述通信装置执行如权利要求19至36任一项所述的方法。
  38. 一种通信装置，其特征在于，包括处理器、收发器和存储器，所述收发器用于收发信息或者用于与其他网元通信，所述存储器用于存储计算机程序或指令，所述处理器用于执行所述计算机程序或指令，以使得所述通信装置执行如权利要求19至36任一项所述的方法。
  39. 一种芯片，其特征在于，包括输入输出接口电路和处理电路，所述输入输出接口电路用于输入输出数据或信令信息，所述处理电路用于处理输入输出接口电路提供的数据或信令信息，以使得所述芯片或包含所述芯片的设备执行如权利要求19至36任一项所述的方法。
  40. 一种计算机可读存储介质，其特征在于，所述计算机可读存储介质中存储有计算机程序代码或指令，当所述计算机程序或指令在处理器上运行时，使得如权利要求19至36任一项所述的方法被执行。
  41. 一种计算机程序产品，其特征在于，所述程序产品储存有计算机程序或指令，当所 述计算机程序或指令在处理器上运行时，使得如权利要求19至36任一项所述的方法被执行。
  42. 一种通信装置，其特征在于，用于执行如权利要求19至36任一项所述的方法。
  43. 一种通信系统，其特征在于，所述通信系统包括如权利要求1、3至18任一项所述的装置以及如权利要求2至18任一项所述的装置。
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