WO2021244652A1 - 适用于多链路的组播业务传输方法及装置 - Google Patents

适用于多链路的组播业务传输方法及装置 Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2021244652A1
WO2021244652A1 PCT/CN2021/098467 CN2021098467W WO2021244652A1 WO 2021244652 A1 WO2021244652 A1 WO 2021244652A1 CN 2021098467 W CN2021098467 W CN 2021098467W WO 2021244652 A1 WO2021244652 A1 WO 2021244652A1
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Prior art keywords
multicast service
mld
indication information
service indication
sta
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PCT/CN2021/098467
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English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
淦明
梁丹丹
李伊青
郭宇宸
李云波
于健
杨讯
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华为技术有限公司
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Priority to AU2021283607A priority Critical patent/AU2021283607B2/en
Priority to MX2022015413A priority patent/MX2022015413A/es
Priority to JP2022574285A priority patent/JP2023528863A/ja
Priority to CA3177711A priority patent/CA3177711A1/en
Priority to BR112022022531A priority patent/BR112022022531A2/pt
Priority to EP21817102.3A priority patent/EP4135360A4/en
Application filed by 华为技术有限公司 filed Critical 华为技术有限公司
Priority to CN202180040536.4A priority patent/CN115769606A/zh
Priority to KR1020227040581A priority patent/KR20230008127A/ko
Publication of WO2021244652A1 publication Critical patent/WO2021244652A1/zh
Priority to US17/988,579 priority patent/US11743171B2/en
Priority to US18/338,326 priority patent/US11997006B2/en
Priority to AU2024202819A priority patent/AU2024202819A1/en

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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W52/00—Power management, e.g. TPC [Transmission Power Control], power saving or power classes
    • H04W52/02—Power saving arrangements
    • H04W52/0209—Power saving arrangements in terminal devices
    • H04W52/0212—Power saving arrangements in terminal devices managed by the network, e.g. network or access point is master and terminal is slave
    • H04W52/0216—Power saving arrangements in terminal devices managed by the network, e.g. network or access point is master and terminal is slave using a pre-established activity schedule, e.g. traffic indication frame
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L45/00—Routing or path finding of packets in data switching networks
    • H04L45/16—Multipoint routing
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W4/00—Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
    • H04W4/06—Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L69/00—Network arrangements, protocols or services independent of the application payload and not provided for in the other groups of this subclass
    • H04L69/14—Multichannel or multilink protocols
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W40/00—Communication routing or communication path finding
    • H04W40/24—Connectivity information management, e.g. connectivity discovery or connectivity update
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W52/00—Power management, e.g. TPC [Transmission Power Control], power saving or power classes
    • H04W52/02—Power saving arrangements
    • H04W52/0209—Power saving arrangements in terminal devices
    • H04W52/0212—Power saving arrangements in terminal devices managed by the network, e.g. network or access point is master and terminal is slave
    • H04W52/0219—Power saving arrangements in terminal devices managed by the network, e.g. network or access point is master and terminal is slave where the power saving management affects multiple terminals
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W72/00—Local resource management
    • H04W72/04—Wireless resource allocation
    • H04W72/044—Wireless resource allocation based on the type of the allocated resource
    • H04W72/0446—Resources in time domain, e.g. slots or frames
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W72/00—Local resource management
    • H04W72/12—Wireless traffic scheduling
    • H04W72/121—Wireless traffic scheduling for groups of terminals or users
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W72/00—Local resource management
    • H04W72/30—Resource management for broadcast services
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W74/00—Wireless channel access
    • H04W74/002—Transmission of channel access control information
    • H04W74/006—Transmission of channel access control information in the downlink, i.e. towards the terminal
    • 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
    • H04W76/00—Connection management
    • H04W76/40—Connection management for selective distribution or broadcast
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W72/00—Local resource management
    • H04W72/20—Control channels or signalling for resource management
    • H04W72/23—Control channels or signalling for resource management in the downlink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards a terminal
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02D—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES [ICT], I.E. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES AIMING AT THE REDUCTION OF THEIR OWN ENERGY USE
    • Y02D30/00—Reducing energy consumption in communication networks
    • Y02D30/70—Reducing energy consumption in communication networks in wireless communication networks

Definitions

  • This application relates to the field of communication technology, and in particular to a method and device for multi-link multicast service transmission.
  • OFDM Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing
  • OFDMA Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access
  • 6GHz the United States Federal Communications Commission
  • IEEE 802.11ax next-generation WiFi protocol-extremely high throughput (EHT, extremely high throughput) devices need to be forward compatible, so they will also support the working spectrum of 802.11ax devices, that is, 2.4GHz, 5GHz and 6GHz frequency bands will be supported.
  • the IEEE 802.11ax next-generation WiFi protocol-EHT device is based on the newly opened free 6GHz frequency band, and the channel is divided based on this frequency band. The bandwidth that can be supported exceeds the maximum bandwidth supported at 5GHz 160MHz, such as 320MHz.
  • IEEE 802.11ax next-generation WiFi-EHT devices can also increase the peak throughput 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). .
  • 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.
  • IEEE 802.11ax next-generation WiFi-EHT equipment uses multi-link cooperation technology to aggregate discontinuous multi-links to form an ultra-large bandwidth.
  • multi-link cooperation technology can also use multi-link cooperation technology to send data packets of the same service to the same site at the same time. It can be seen that the multi-link cooperation technology has greatly improved the rate transmission, but for the downlink multicast service transmission, because each site in the site multi-link equipment needs to be in a working state periodically to observe the access point multi-link Whether each access point in the device will send downlink multicast services, resulting in the need to consume more energy.
  • This application provides a multicast service transmission method and device suitable for multi-link, which is beneficial to saving the power consumption of the multi-link equipment of the site.
  • this application provides a method for multi-link multicast service transmission.
  • the access point multi-link device AP and the first access point AP of the MLD generate multicast service indication information, and the group
  • the multicast service indication information is used to indicate whether one or more APs of the AP MLD have multicast services; the first AP sends the multicast service indication information.
  • the multicast service indication information is used to indicate whether an AP of the AP MLD has a multicast service, and the AP is the first AP or other APs of the AP MLD. Compared with the manner in which the site managed by the first AP can only learn whether the first AP has a multicast service, this embodiment improves the flexibility of multicast service notification.
  • the multicast service indication information is used to indicate whether each AP among the multiple APs of the MLD has a multicast service.
  • this implementation mode avoids that each STA in the STA MLD needs to periodically listen to whether the corresponding AP has multicast services. That is, in this embodiment, a station of the STA MLD can learn whether multiple APs have multicast services, thereby saving the power consumption of the STA MLD.
  • the multicast service indication information is used to indicate whether each AP of the AP MLD has a multicast service.
  • this implementation mode avoids that each STA in the STA MLD needs to periodically listen to whether the corresponding AP has multicast services. That is, in this embodiment, a station of the STA MLD can learn whether each AP has a multicast service, thereby saving the power consumption of the STA MLD.
  • each bit of the multicast service indication information corresponds to each AP in one or more APs of the AP MLD; each bit is used to indicate whether the AP corresponding to the bit has a multicast service, or The value of each bit is used to indicate whether the AP corresponding to the bit has multicast services.
  • each bit of the multicast service indication information corresponds to each AP of the AP MLD; each bit is used to indicate whether the AP corresponding to the bit has a multicast service, or the value of each bit It is used to indicate whether the AP corresponding to this bit has multicast services.
  • the correspondence between each bit of the multicast service indication information and each AP of the AP MLD, or each bit of the multicast service indication information and each of one or more APs of the AP MLD can be configured through the association response frame or management frame between STA MLD and AP MLD.
  • each bit of the multicast service indication information and each AP of the AP MLD, or each bit of the multicast service indication information and each of one or more APs of the AP MLD The correspondence between APs is predefined.
  • the multicast service indication information is part of the bits in the part of the virtual bitmap field in the TIM element of the service indication bitmap.
  • the multicast service indication information is part of the continuous bits in the partial virtual bitmap field. For example, if the multicast service indication information is bits 1 to 7 in the partial virtual bitmap field, the Bits 1 to 7 in the partial virtual bitmap field indicate whether each AP of the AP MLD has a multicast service.
  • the multicast service indication information is part of non-contiguous bits in the partial virtual bitmap field.
  • the multicast service indication information is bit 1, bit 2, and bit 4 in the partial virtual bitmap field. That is, bit 1, bit 2, and bit 4 in the partial virtual bitmap field can be used to indicate whether each AP of the AP MLD has a multicast service.
  • the first AP of the AP MLD generates association identification configuration information, and the association identification configuration information is used to indicate the association identification corresponding to each AP of the AP MLD; the first AP sends the association identification configuration information.
  • the AID of each AP corresponds to each bit of the multicast service indication information. That is, each bit of the multicast service indication information is used to indicate whether the AP of the AID corresponding to the bit has a multicast service.
  • the association identification configuration information can be sent to the STA MLD through an association response frame or a management frame.
  • the AID corresponding to the first bit or the start bit of the partial continuous bits corresponding to the multicast service indication information is predefined. That is to say, the first bit or start bit of this part of consecutive bits is predefined.
  • the start bit position of the multicast service indication information in the partial virtual bitmap field in the TIM element is predefined.
  • the AID of each AP of the AP MLD is continuously allocated starting from AIDx, and the AIDx is predefined.
  • the multicast service indication information is part of the continuous bits in the part of the virtual bitmap field in the TIM element of the service indication bitmap.
  • the association identifier assigned to each AP in the AP MLD is different from the association identifier assigned to the station associated with each AP.
  • the associated identification assigned to each AP in the AP MLD can no longer be assigned to the station managed by each AP.
  • the AIDs assigned by different APs to the stations managed by them are relatively independent, that is, the AIDs assigned by different APs to the stations managed by them can be repeated.
  • the AID of each AP in AP MLD is continuously allocated starting from AIDx ,
  • the x is equal to max ⁇ 2 ⁇ (N 1 ), 2 ⁇ (N 2 ),..., 2 ⁇ (N y ),..., 2 ⁇ (N n ) ⁇ ; wherein, the n is the AP MLD
  • the number of APs transmitting BSSIDs, N y is the value of the maximum basic service set identifier BSSID indication field in the Multiple BSSID element broadcasted by the y-th BSSID AP in the AP MLD.
  • the AID of each AP in the AP MLD is continuously allocated starting from AIDx, which is equal to max ⁇ 2 ⁇ (N 1 ), 2 ⁇ (N 2 ),..., 2 ⁇ (N y ),..., 2 ⁇ (N n ) ⁇ ; n is the number of APs in the AP MLD, and N y is the multiple basic service set identifier broadcast by the yth AP in the AP MLD.
  • the maximum basic service set identifier BSSID indication field in the Multiple BSSID element The value of the default non-transmitting AP or the maximum BSSID indication field of an AP not working in the multi-BSSID mode has a value of 0.
  • the start bit or the first bit of the partial continuous bits in the partial virtual bit field corresponding to the multicast service indication information is the bit x, and x is equal to max ⁇ 2 ⁇ (N 1 ), 2 ⁇ (N 2 ) ,..., 2 ⁇ (N y ),..., 2 ⁇ (N n ) ⁇ .
  • the AID corresponding to the start bit or the first bit in the partial virtual bit field corresponding to the partial virtual bit field corresponding to the multicast service indication information is AIDx, and x is equal to max ⁇ 2 ⁇ (N 1 ), 2 ⁇ (N 2 ) ,..., 2 ⁇ (N y ),..., 2 ⁇ (N n ) ⁇ .
  • the physical meanings of n and N y can be referred to the above description, which will not be described in detail here.
  • the multicast service corresponding to a partial bit information indicating the TIM element in the partial virtual bitmap field so that the end of the first AP N 1 and according to the multicast service information indicates a starting byte traffic indication virtual bitmap field Byte N 2 determines the offset and length fields in the TIM element; the first AP can send the offset and length fields. Therefore, it is beneficial for the station associated with the first AP in the STA MLD to determine whether the AP corresponding to each bit of the multicast service indication information has a multicast service according to the multicast service indication information, offset and length fields.
  • the multicast service indication information may be compressed using an offset.
  • the AP corresponding to each bit of the multicast service indication information is allocated in sequence according to the link identifier size of each AP of the AP MLD, and multiple APs with continuous link identifiers do not have multicast services .
  • the multicast service indication information may only include the bits corresponding to APs other than the multiple APs, that is, the multicast service indication information sent by the first AP may include the corresponding bits of the APs other than the multiple APs. Bits.
  • the multicast service indication information generated by the first AP is called the first multicast service indication information
  • the multicast service indication information sent by the first AP is called the second multicast service indication information.
  • the second multicast service indication information may be the same as the first multicast service indication information, or the second multicast service indication information is part of the bits of the first multicast service indication information.
  • the offset of the second multicast service indication information relative to the first multicast service indication information is referred to as the offset of the second multicast service indication information for short.
  • the second indication information is a first multicast service multicast service information byte indicative of N 1, N 2 byte at the end of all bits.
  • the managed station can determine that the received second multicast service indication information is used to indicate the AP corresponding to bits N 1 *8 to ((N 2 +1)*8-1)) respectively Whether there is a multicast service, and the APs corresponding to all bits from bit 0 to bit N 1 *8-1 do not have multicast services, and the APs corresponding to all bits (N 2 +1)*8 and thereafter do not have multicast services business.
  • bit a mentioned in this application refers to the ath bit, for example, the bit 0 refers to the 0th bit.
  • the second multicast service indication information is the bits starting at byte 0 of the first multicast service indication information and ending at byte N0-1, and from the byte N of the first multicast service indication information The bit that starts at 1 , and ends at byte N2.
  • the length of the second multicast service indication information sent by the first AP is N 0 +N 2 -N 1 +1
  • the offset of the second multicast service indication information is N 1 -N 0
  • STA MLD The station managed by the first AP in the first AP receives the length and offset, and can determine that the received second multicast service indication information is used to indicate bits 0 to (N 0 -1)*8-1, and bits (N 1 -1)*8+1 to bit N 2 *8+1 respectively correspond to whether the AP has multicast service, and bit (N 0 -1)*8 to bit (N 1 -1)*8 respectively correspond to the AP There is no multicast service.
  • the bits corresponding to these association identifiers may not be carried in some virtual bitmap fields. That is, the offset in the TIM element is used to reduce the number of bits of the multicast service indication information in the part of the virtual bitmap field. Assume that the multicast service indication information is part of the virtual bitmap field in the TIM element.
  • the multicast traffic indication message is a traffic indication virtual bitmap field 1 start byte N, N end of all bits in the 2 bytes.
  • the length field of the TIM element sent by the first AP is N 2 -N 1 +1+3 and the offset of the TIM element is (1/2) N 1 , and further, the station managed by the first AP in the STA MLD is based on The received length and offset determine whether the multicast service indication information is used to indicate whether the AP of the AID corresponding to bits N 1 *8 to ((N 2 +1)*8-1)) has multicast service, And confirm that the AP corresponding to all the bits from bit 0 to bit N 1 *8-1 does not have multicast service, and the AP corresponding to all bits (N 2 +1)*8 and thereafter does not have multicast service .
  • the multicast service indication information is the word of the service indication virtual bitmap field.
  • the length field of the TIM element sent by the first AP is N 0 +N 2 -N 1 +1+3, and the offset of the TIM element is (N1-N0) 1/2.
  • the managed station can determine that the received multicast service indication information is used to indicate bits 0 to (N 0 -1)*8-1, and bits (N 1- 1) *8+1 to bit N 2 *8+1 respectively correspond to whether the AP of the AID has multicast service, and bit (N 0 -1)*8 to bit (N 1 -1)*8 respectively correspond to the AID None of the APs have multicast services.
  • the multicast service indication information sent by the first AP is carried in the service indication bitmap DTIM beacon frame. Further, the first AP sends the multicast service after the DTIM beacon frame.
  • the multicast service indication information may only be carried in the DTIM beacon frame.
  • the multicast service indication information may also be carried in other frames such as TIM beacon frames, management frames, data frames, and control frames.
  • the first AP may also send a service indication bit Figure DTIM beacon frame and multicast services following the DTIM beacon frame.
  • this application also provides a multicast service transmission method suitable for multi-link, which is explained from the perspective of the STA MLD of the site multi-link device.
  • the first site STA of the STA MLD receives multicast service indication information from the AP MLD, where the multicast service indication information is used to indicate whether one or more APs of the AP MLD have multicast services.
  • the first STA may determine or learn whether the one or more APs have multicast services according to the multicast service indication information.
  • the multicast service indication information is used to indicate whether an AP of the AP MLD has a multicast service, and the AP is the first AP or other APs of the AP MLD.
  • the first STA can learn whether the first AP or other APs of the MLD have multicast services, which improves the flexibility of multicast service notification.
  • the multicast service indication information is used to indicate whether each AP among the multiple APs of the MLD has a multicast service.
  • the first STA can learn whether multiple APs have multicast services, which avoids that each STA in the STA MLD needs to periodically listen to whether the corresponding AP has multicast services, thereby saving STA MLD power consumption .
  • the multicast service indication information is used to indicate whether each AP of the AP MLD has a multicast service.
  • the first STA can learn whether each AP of the AP MLD has multicast services, which avoids that each STA in the STA MLD needs to periodically listen to whether the corresponding AP has multicast services, thereby saving the STA MLD. Power consumption.
  • the first STA of the STA MLD is a station working on the main link
  • the first STA of the STA MLD receives multicast service indication information from the AP MLD, including: the STA MLD
  • the first STA listens to the multicast service indication information from an AP of the AP and MLD on the main link.
  • the multicast service indication information may only be carried in the DTIM beacon frame.
  • the multicast service indication information may be carried in other frames such as TIM beacon frames, management frames, data frames, or control frames.
  • the multicast service indication information is carried in other frames such as TIM beacon frames, management frames, data frames, or control frames.
  • the first STA may receive the DTIM beacon frame and receive the group after the DTIM beacon frame.
  • the other STAs can receive the DTIM beacon frame and receive it after the DTIM beacon frame Multicast business.
  • the multicast service is carried in a DTIM beacon frame, and the first STA may receive the multicast service after the DTIM beacon frame; correspondingly, for other STAs in the STA MLD, if the multicast service is If the indication information learns that the corresponding AP also has a multicast service, the other STA can receive the DTIM beacon frame and receive the multicast service after the DTIM beacon frame.
  • the first STA may receive the service indication bitmap DTIM beacon frame and the DTIM beacon frame from the AP on the link.
  • the multicast service after the DTIM beacon frame.
  • each bit of the multicast service indication information corresponds to each AP of the AP MLD; the value of each bit is used to indicate whether the AP corresponding to the bit has a multicast service .
  • this implementation manner please refer to the related content of the above-mentioned first aspect, which will not be described in detail here.
  • the multicast service indication information is part of bits in the part of the virtual bitmap field in the TIM element of the service indication bitmap.
  • the multicast service indication information is a part of continuous bits in a part of a virtual bitmap field in a TIM element of a service indication bitmap.
  • the AIDs corresponding to some bits in the virtual bitmap field are allocated to the stations, these bits are used to indicate whether the corresponding stations have unicast services, so in this embodiment, the AP MLD is assigned to each AP
  • the stations associated with each AP are assigned different association identifiers. In other words, the associated identification assigned to each AP in the AP MLD can no longer be assigned to the station it manages by each AP.
  • the AIDs assigned by different APs to the stations managed by them are relatively independent, that is, the AIDs assigned by different APs to the stations managed by them can be repeated.
  • the first STA in the STA MLD receives association identification configuration information, where the association identification configuration information is used to indicate the association identification AID corresponding to each AP of the AP MLD; the AID of each AP Corresponding to each bit of the multicast service indication information; the first STA determines the AID corresponding to each AP of the AP and MLD according to the association identification configuration information.
  • association identification configuration information is used to indicate the association identification AID corresponding to each AP of the AP MLD; the AID of each AP Corresponding to each bit of the multicast service indication information; the first STA determines the AID corresponding to each AP of the AP and MLD according to the association identification configuration information.
  • the AID corresponding to the first bit of the partial virtual bitmap field in the partial virtual bitmap field corresponding to the multicast service indication information is predefined.
  • this implementation manner please refer to the related content of the above-mentioned first aspect, which will not be described in detail here.
  • the AID corresponding to the first bit of the partially continuous bits is AIDx; the x is equal to max ⁇ 2 ⁇ (N 1 ), 2 ⁇ (N 2 ),..., 2 ⁇ (N y ),..., 2 ⁇ (N n ) ⁇ ; where n is the number of APs that transmit the basic service set identifier in the AP MLD, and N y is the multiple BSSID broadcast by APy that transmits the BSSID
  • the value of the maximum basic service set identifier BSSID indication field in the element, and the BSSID-transmitting AP y is the yth BSSID-transmitting AP in the AP MLD.
  • the multicast service indication information may be compressed using an offset.
  • the AP corresponding to each bit of the multicast service indication information is allocated in sequence according to the link identifier size of each AP of the AP MLD, and multiple APs with continuous link identifiers do not have multicast services .
  • the multicast service indication information may only include the bits corresponding to APs other than the multiple APs, that is, the multicast service indication information sent by the first AP may include the corresponding bits of the APs other than the multiple APs. Bits.
  • this application provides an access point of an access point multi-link device.
  • the access point of the access point multi-link device has the first aspect of AP MLD in the example of the method described in the first aspect.
  • Part or all of the functions of an AP such as the function of an access point of an access point multi-link device, may have some or all of the functions in the embodiments in this application, or may be able to implement any of the embodiments in this application separately Function.
  • the functions can be realized by hardware, or by hardware executing corresponding software.
  • the hardware or software includes one or more units or modules corresponding to the above-mentioned functions.
  • the structure of the access point of the access point multi-link device may include a processing unit and a communication unit, and the processing unit is configured to support the access point of the access point multi-link device to perform the foregoing The corresponding function in the method.
  • the communication unit is used to support communication between the access point of the access point multi-link device and other devices.
  • the access point of the access point multi-link device may further include a storage unit, the storage unit is configured to be coupled with the processing unit and the sending unit, and it stores computer programs necessary for the access point of the access point multi-link device And data.
  • the access point of the access point multi-link device includes:
  • the processing unit is configured to generate multicast service indication information, where the multicast service indication information is used to indicate whether one or more APs of the AP MLD have multicast services;
  • the communication unit is configured to send the multicast service indication information.
  • the multicast service indication information generated by the processing unit can indicate whether it or other APs have multicast services, and then the communication unit sends it to the site multi-link device. Therefore, it is advantageous for any site in the site multi-link equipment to listen to the multicast service indication information, which improves the flexibility of multicast service notification.
  • the multicast service indication information indicates whether each AP or multiple APs of the AP MLD have multicast services
  • Each site of the site multi-link equipment needs to detect whether there is a multicast service on its respective link, thereby saving the power consumption of the site multi-link equipment.
  • the processing unit may be a processor
  • the communication unit may be a transceiver or a communication interface
  • the storage unit may be a memory.
  • the access point of the access point multi-link device includes:
  • the processor is configured to generate multicast service indication information, where the multicast service indication information is used to indicate whether one or more APs of the AP MLD have multicast services;
  • the transceiver is used to send the multicast service indication information.
  • the multicast service indication information generated by the processor can indicate whether it or other APs have multicast services, and then the transceiver sends it to the site multi-link device. Therefore, it is advantageous for any site in the site multi-link equipment to listen to the multicast service indication information, which improves the flexibility of multicast service notification.
  • the multicast service indication information indicates whether each AP or multiple APs of the AP MLD have multicast services
  • Each site of the site multi-link equipment needs to detect whether there is a multicast service on its respective link, thereby saving the power consumption of the site multi-link equipment.
  • the access point of the access point multi-link device may also execute any one or more of the foregoing implementation manners of the first aspect, which will not be described in detail here.
  • the present application also provides a site of a site multi-link device, the site of the site multi-link device has some or all of the functions of the first STA of the STA MLD in the example of the method described in the second aspect.
  • the function of the station of the station multilink device may have some or all of the functions in the embodiments of the present application, or may have the function of independently implementing any of the embodiments of the present application.
  • the functions can be realized by hardware, or by hardware executing corresponding software.
  • the hardware or software includes one or more units or modules corresponding to the above-mentioned functions.
  • the site structure of the site multi-link device may include a processing unit and a communication unit, and the processing unit is configured to support the site of the site multi-link device to perform the corresponding functions in the above method.
  • the communication unit is used to support the communication between the site of the site multi-link device and other devices.
  • the site of the site multi-link device may further include a storage unit configured to be coupled with the processing unit and the sending unit, which stores computer programs and data necessary for the site of the site multi-link device.
  • the sites of the site multi-link equipment include:
  • the communication unit is configured to receive multicast service indication information from the AP MLD, where the multicast service indication information is used to indicate whether one or more APs of the AP MLD have multicast services.
  • the site of the site multi-link device further includes a processing unit
  • the processing unit is configured to determine whether the one or more APs have multicast services according to the multicast service indication information.
  • the processing unit can learn whether one or more APs have multicast services according to the multicast service indication information.
  • the site of the multi-link device of the site can not only learn whether the AP it is associated with has multicast services, but also whether other APs of the MLD have multicast services, thereby improving the flexibility of multicast service notifications.
  • the multicast service indication information indicates whether multiple APs of the AP MLD or each AP has multicast services, that is, any STA of the multi-link device of the site can learn whether multiple APs of the AP MLD or whether each AP is There is a multicast service, which avoids that each STA of the STA MLD needs to listen to whether the corresponding AP has a multicast service, which saves the power consumption of the STA MLD.
  • the processing unit may be a processor
  • the communication unit may be a transceiver or a communication interface
  • the storage unit may be a memory.
  • the site of the site multi-link device includes:
  • the transceiver is configured to receive multicast service indication information from the AP MLD, where the multicast service indication information is used to indicate whether one or more APs of the AP MLD have multicast services.
  • the site of the site multi-link device further includes a processor
  • the processor is configured to determine whether the one or more APs have a multicast service according to the multicast service indication information.
  • the processor can learn whether one or more APs have multicast services according to the multicast service indication information.
  • the site of the multi-link device of the site can not only learn whether the AP it is associated with has multicast services, but also whether other APs of the MLD have multicast services, thereby improving the flexibility of multicast service notifications.
  • the multicast service indication information indicates whether multiple APs of the AP MLD or each AP has multicast services, that is, any STA of the STA MLD can learn whether multiple APs of the AP MLD or each AP has multicast services
  • the service prevents each STA of the STA MLD from needing to listen to whether the corresponding AP has multicast services, which saves the power consumption of the STA MLD.
  • the site of the site multi-link device may also execute any one or more implementation manners of the second aspect described above, which will not be described in detail here.
  • an embodiment of the present invention provides a computer-readable storage medium for storing a computer program.
  • the communication device executes the above-mentioned first aspect and is suitable for multiple applications.
  • the multicast service transmission method of the link is not limited to, but not limited to
  • an embodiment of the present invention provides a computer-readable storage medium for storing a computer program.
  • the communication device executes the above-mentioned second aspect, which is suitable for multiple applications.
  • the multicast service transmission method of the link is suitable for multiple applications.
  • the present application also provides a computer program product including a computer program, which when running on a communication device, causes the communication device to execute the multi-link multicast service transmission method described in the first aspect above .
  • the present application also provides a computer program product including a computer program, which when running on a communication device, causes the communication device to execute the multi-link multicast service transmission method described in the second aspect above .
  • the present application provides a chip system that includes at least one processor and an interface, and is used to support any AP of AP MLD, such as the first AP, to implement the functions involved in the first aspect, for example, Determine or process at least one of the data and information involved in the above methods.
  • the chip system further includes a memory, and the memory is used to store the computer programs and data necessary for the AP of the AP MLD.
  • the chip system can be composed of chips, and can also include chips and other discrete devices.
  • the present application provides a chip system, which includes at least one processor and an interface, and is used to support any STA of STA MLD, such as the first STA, to implement the functions involved in the second aspect, for example, Determine or process at least one of the data and information involved in the above methods.
  • the chip system further includes a memory, and the memory is used to store the computer programs and data necessary for the STA of the STA MLD.
  • the chip system can be composed of chips, and can also include chips and other discrete devices.
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic structural diagram of an AP MLD and STA MLD provided by an embodiment of the present application
  • Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of a frame format of a TIM element provided by an embodiment of the present application
  • Fig. 3(a) is a schematic structural diagram of a communication system 100 provided by an embodiment of the present application.
  • FIG. 3(b) is a schematic structural diagram of a communication system 200 provided by an embodiment of the present application.
  • FIG. 3(c) is a schematic structural diagram of a communication system 300 provided by an embodiment of the present application.
  • FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a multicast service transmission method 100 provided by an embodiment of the present application.
  • FIG. 5 is a schematic flowchart of a method 200 for multi-link multicast service transmission according to an embodiment of the present application
  • FIG. 5a is a schematic diagram of MLD parameter fields in a multi-link multicast service transmission method provided by an embodiment of the present application
  • FIG. 5b is a schematic diagram of a capability information field in a method for multi-link multicast service transmission provided by an embodiment of the present application
  • FIG. 5c is a schematic diagram of another capability information field in a multi-link multicast service transmission method provided by an embodiment of the present application.
  • FIG. 5d is a schematic diagram of an RNR element in a multi-link multicast service transmission method provided by an embodiment of the present application.
  • FIG. 5e is a schematic diagram of the TBTT information field in a multi-link multicast service transmission method provided by an embodiment of the present application.
  • FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a multicast service transmission method 300 suitable for multi-link according to an embodiment of the present application
  • FIG. 7 is a schematic flowchart of a method 400 for multi-link multicast service transmission according to an embodiment of the present application.
  • FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of a partial virtual bitmap field provided by an embodiment of the present application.
  • FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of a multicast service transmission method 500 suitable for multi-link according to an embodiment of the present application.
  • FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of a frame format of a BSSID element provided by an embodiment of the present application.
  • FIG. 11 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device 100 provided by an embodiment of the present application.
  • FIG. 12 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device 200 provided by an embodiment of the present application.
  • FIG. 13 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device 300 provided by an embodiment of the present application.
  • FIG. 14 is a schematic structural diagram of a chip provided by an embodiment of the present application.
  • the wireless communication system to which the embodiment of this application is applicable may be a wireless local area network (WLAN) or a cellular network, and the multicast service transmission 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 wireless communication device that supports parallel transmission of multiple links, for example, it is called a multi-link device (multi-link device) or a multi-band device (multi-band device). Compared with devices that only support single link transmission, multi-link devices have higher transmission efficiency and higher throughput.
  • the multi-link device includes one or more affiliated STAs (affiliated STA), and the affiliated STA is a logical station and can work on a link.
  • the affiliated 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 may be called a multi-link AP or a multi-link AP device or an AP multi-link device (AP multi-link device, AP MLD), and the subordinate site A multi-link device that is a non-AP STA may be called a multi-link STA or a multi-link STA device or an STA multi-link device (STA MLD).
  • AP multi-link device AP multi-link device
  • STA MLD STA multi-link device
  • a multi-link device includes multiple logical sites, and each logical site works on a link, but allows multiple logical sites to work on the same link.
  • Multi-link devices can follow the 802.11 series of protocols to achieve wireless communication, for example, follow Extremely High Throughput (EHT) sites, or follow 802.11be-based or compatible 802.11be-supported sites to achieve communication with other devices, of course
  • EHT Extremely High Throughput
  • Other devices can be multi-link devices or not.
  • 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.
  • 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 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 STA MLD in the embodiment of this application has a wireless transceiver function, which can support 802.11 series protocols, and can communicate with AP MLD or other STA MLD or single-link devices.
  • STA MLD allows users to communicate with APs and then communicate with APs. Any user communication device for WLAN communication.
  • STA MLD can be tablet computers, desktop computers, laptops, notebook computers, ultra-mobile personal computers (UMPC), handheld computers, netbooks, personal digital assistants (Personal Digital Assistant, PDA), and mobile phones.
  • UMPC ultra-mobile personal computers
  • PDA Personal Digital Assistant
  • STA MLD can also be the chips and processing systems in these terminals.
  • the AP MLD in the embodiment of the application is a device that provides services for the STA MLD, and can support the 802.11 series of protocols.
  • AP MLD may be communication entities such as communication servers, routers, switches, bridges, or AP MLD may include various forms of macro base stations, micro base stations, relay stations, etc.
  • AP MLD may also be in these various forms
  • 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 scenarios (such as vending machines, supermarkets, etc.) Self-service navigation station, self-service cash register equipment, self-service ordering machine, etc.).
  • the 802.11 protocol may be a protocol that supports 802.11be or is compatible with 802.11be.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • the multi-link device in the embodiment of the present application may 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.
  • Figure 1 shows the structure diagram of AP MLD with multiple antennas and STA MLD with single antenna.
  • the 802.11 standard pays attention to the physical layer (PHY) and media access control (Media Access Control, MAC) in AP MLD and STA MLD. Layer part.
  • the link identifier characterizes a station working on a link, that is, if there are more than one station on a link, more than one link identifier is required to characterize them.
  • the link mentioned below sometimes also refers to the station working on that link.
  • link identifiers can be used to identify a link or a station on a link.
  • the AP MLD and the STA MLD may first negotiate or communicate the correspondence 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 by the AP MLD when establishing a basic service set (basic service set, BSS), such as a beacon (beacon) frame, carries an element that includes multiple link identification information fields.
  • the link identification information field may indicate the correspondence between a link identification and a station working on the link corresponding to the link identification.
  • the link identification information field not only includes the link identification, but also includes one or more of the following information: Media Access Control (MAC) address, operation set, and channel number. Among them, one or more of MAC address, operation set, and channel number can indicate a link.
  • the MAC address of the AP is also the BSSID (basic service set identifier) of the AP.
  • multi-link device association means that an AP of the AP MLD is associated with a STA of the STA MLD. This association can help multiple STAs of the STA MLD associate with multiple APs of the AP MLD respectively. Among them, one STA is associated with An AP.
  • the AP MLD or STA multi-link device will use the link identifier to characterize a station in the STA multi-link device.
  • the link identifier can also characterize the MAC address, operating set, and channel number of the station.
  • the MAC address can be replaced with the association identifier of the AP MLD after the association.
  • the meaning of the link identifier (a numeric ID) not only includes the operation set and channel number where the link is located, but also includes working on the link
  • the site identifier of the site such as the site’s MAC address or the site’s association identifier (AID).
  • the frame format of the TIM element field is shown in Figure 2, where:
  • Element identifier used to identify the element shown in FIG. 2 as a TIM element.
  • Length field used to indicate the length of the TIM element, and count the total length after this field, that is, the total length of the DTIM count field, the DTIM period field, the bitmap control field, and some virtual bitmap fields, in bytes.
  • DTIM count (DTIM count) field used to indicate how many TIM beacon frames are present before the next DTIM beacon frame that carries the TIM element. That is, the DTIM count field is a count value, and the count value changes. When the value of the DTIM count field is 0, it means that the current beacon frame is a DTIM beacon frame; when the value of the DTIM technology field is not 0 or is non-zero, it means that the current beacon frame is a TIM beacon frame.
  • DTIM period (DTIM period) field used to indicate the period duration of the DTIM beacon frame, that is, the arrival interval, which is in the unit of the TIM beacon frame period. For example, if the DTIM period is set to 1, then the DTIM count in each TIM element field is equal to 0, that is, each beacon frame is a DTIM beacon frame.
  • Bitmap control (Bitmap control) field As shown in Figure 2, the bit 0 in the Bitmap control field is used to instruct the access point AP whether to send multicast data services after sending the DTIM beacon frame, or in other words, if the DTIM beacon frame.
  • the bit 0 in the Bitmap control field in the Bitmap control field indicates whether the AP caches the multicast service, and the multicast service is not sent through the multicast AID; the bits 1-7 in the Bitmap control field are used to indicate the partial virtual bitmap (partial virtual bitmap). bitmap), the offset is in bytes (that is, 8 bits) as a unit.
  • Partial virtual bitmap (partial virtual bitmap): Each bit in the partial virtual bitmap field corresponds to an association identifier (AID), which is used to indicate whether the station corresponding to the AID has unicast services. Or, each bit in the partial virtual bitmap field corresponds to a multicast AID, which is used to indicate whether a group of stations corresponding to the multicast AID is a downlink service.
  • the partial virtual bitmap field is part of the bits of the traffic indication virtual bitmap field.
  • the service indication virtual bitmap field is 251 bytes and is used to indicate whether the station corresponding to AID 0 to AID 2007 is There are downlink services.
  • the element ID field, the length field, the DTIM count field, the DTIM period field and the bitmap control field each occupy 1 byte.
  • Fig. 3(a) takes a wireless local area network as an example to introduce a communication system 100 applied in the embodiment of the present application.
  • the communication system 100 includes a station 101 and a station 102.
  • the station 101 may communicate with the station 102 through multiple links, so as to achieve the effect of improving throughput.
  • the station 101 may be a multi-link device, and the station 102 may be a single-link device or a multi-link device.
  • the station 101 is an AP MLD
  • the station 102 is a STA MLD or a station (for example, a single-link station).
  • the station 101 is a STA MLD, and the station 102 is an AP (such as a single-link AP) or an AP MLD.
  • the station 101 is an AP MLD, and the station 102 is an AP MLD or AP; in another scenario, the station 101 is an STA MLD, and the station 102 is an STA MLD or STA (for example, a single-link station).
  • the wireless local area network may also include other devices.
  • the number and types of equipment shown in Figure 3(a) are only exemplary.
  • Fig. 3(b) and Fig. 3(c) respectively show schematic structural diagrams of the communication system 200 and the communication system 300.
  • the communication system 200 and the communication system 300 take the multi-link device in the wireless local area network to communicate with other devices through multiple links as an example.
  • Figure 3(b) shows a communication scenario between AP MLD and STA MLD.
  • AP MLD includes AP1 and AP2
  • STA MLD includes STA1 and STA2
  • AP MLD and STA MLD use link 1 and link 2 Communicate in parallel.
  • Figure 3(c) shows a scenario where AP MLD601 communicates with STA MLD602, STA MLD603, and STA604.
  • AP MLD601 includes AP601-1 to AP601-3 that it belongs to; STA MLD602 includes three subordinates STA602-1 and STA602-2. And STA602-3; STA MLD603 includes 2 subordinate STA603-1, STA603-2; STA604-1, STA604 are single link devices.
  • the AP MLD601 can communicate with the STA MLD602 using link 1, link 2, and link 3 respectively; use link 2 and link 3 to communicate with the STA MLD603; use link 1 to communicate with the STA604.
  • STA604 works in the 2.4GHz band
  • STA MLD603, STA603-1 works in the 5GHz band
  • STA603-2 works in the 6GHz band
  • STA MLD602 works in the 2.4GHz band
  • STA602-1 works in the 2.4GHz band
  • STA602-2 works in 5GHz Frequency band
  • STA602-3 works in the 6GHz frequency band.
  • AP601-1 in AP MLD601 working in the 2.4GHz frequency band can transmit uplink or downlink data between STA604 and STA602-2 in STA MLD602 through link 1.
  • AP601-2 working in 5GHz frequency band in AP MLD601 can transmit uplink or downlink data between link 2 and STA603-1 working in 5GHz frequency band in STA MLD 603, and it can also work in link 2 and STA MLD602.
  • STA602-2 in the 5GHz frequency band transmits uplink or downlink data.
  • AP601-3 working in the 6GHz frequency band in AP MLD601 can transmit uplink or downlink data between link 3 and STA602-3 working in 6GHz frequency band in MLD602, and it can also transmit uplink or downlink data through link 3 and STA603-2 in STA MLD Uplink or downlink data is transmitted between.
  • Figure 3(b) only shows that AP MLD supports 2 frequency bands
  • Figure 3(c) only AP MLD601 supports three frequency bands (2.4GHz, 5GHz, 6GHz), and each frequency band corresponds to one link.
  • AP MLD601 can work on one or more of Link 1, Link 2, or Link 3 as an example to illustrate.
  • 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 MLD and STA MLD can also support more or fewer frequency bands, that is, AP MLD and STA MLD can work on more links or fewer links. This is not the case in the embodiments of this application.
  • Qualify is not the case in the embodiments of this application.
  • single-link devices such as station STAs in energy-saving mode, periodically listen to traffic indication map (TIM) beacon frames, and control the bits in the bitmap field according to the TIM beacon frame.
  • TIM traffic indication map
  • DTIM delivery traffic indication map
  • bit 0 in the bitmap control field is also used to determine whether there is a multicast service after the DTIM beacon frame, then, as shown in Figure 3 (a) to Figure 3 (c)
  • each STA in the MLD needs to periodically listen to the TIM beacon frame on the link, and use the value of bit 0 in the bitmap control field in the TIM beacon frame to be listened to.
  • the STA receives the multicast service sent by the AP after the corresponding DTIM beacon frame.
  • the multicast service is sent immediately after the DTIM beacon frame, for example, after the SIFS (short inter-frame space) time from the end of the DTIM beacon frame.
  • the STA in the 802.11 protocol, the STA usually has two working modes, one is a non-energy-saving mode, and the other is an energy-saving mode.
  • a STA works in a non-energy-saving mode
  • the STA is in an active state (active state, which may also be referred to as an awake state) regardless of whether there is data transmission.
  • the STA works in the energy-saving mode
  • the STA can be in an active state when transmitting data with the AP; when there is no data transmission between the STA and the AP, the STA can be in a doze state to save power consumption.
  • the energy-saving bit in the frame control field in the MAC header of the frame is set to 1 to inform the AP that the STA is in the energy-saving mode.
  • the MAC header in the frame The energy-saving bit in the frame control field of the frame control field is set to 0 to inform the AP that the STA is in a non-energy-saving mode.
  • the multicast service transmission method 100 taking the communication between AP MLD601 and STA MLD602 in Figure 3(c) as an example, STA 602-1 of STA MLD602 needs to listen to the TIM beacon on link 1.
  • Frame 1 using bit 0 in the bitmap control field of TIM beacon frame 1 to learn whether AP601-1 will send multicast service 1 after DTIM beacon frame 1; and
  • STA MLD602 STA 602-2 needs to be on the link 2 listens to TIM beacon frame 2 to learn whether AP601-2 sends multicast service 2 after DTIM beacon frame 2 through bit 0 in the bitmap control field of TIM beacon frame 2; and
  • STA MLD602 STA 602-3 needs to listen to TIM beacon frame 3 on link 3 to learn whether AP601-3 sends multicast services after DTIM beacon frame 3 through bit 0 in the bitmap control field of TIM beacon frame 3 3. It can be seen that if the number of links of the STA MLD602 continues to increase, the power consumption of the STA MLD
  • the multi-link multicast service transmission method provided in the embodiment of the present application can reduce the power consumption of the STA MLD.
  • the embodiments of the present application are described in the first embodiment and the second embodiment respectively.
  • the difference between the first embodiment and the second embodiment is that the first embodiment focuses on the use of each bit of the multicast service indication information to indicate whether the AP corresponding to the bit has a multicast service;
  • the multicast service indication information is the part of the bits in the partial virtual bitmap (partial virtual bitmap) field of the TIM element as the center of the elaboration.
  • FIG. 5 shows a multicast service transmission method 200 suitable for multiple links provided by an embodiment of the present application.
  • the multicast service transmission method 200 suitable for multiple links is implemented in a communication system composed of AP MLD and STA MLD.
  • the implementation is illustrated as an example.
  • the AP MLD includes one or more APs, and the first AP is any AP among the multiple APs;
  • the STA MLD includes one or more STAs, and the first STA is any one STA among the multiple STAs.
  • the AP MLD can establish a multi-link association with the STA MLD.
  • the multicast service transmission method 200 applicable to multiple links may include but is not limited to the following steps:
  • Step S201 the AP first AP of the MLD generates multicast service indication information
  • the first AP is any AP in AP MLD.
  • the multicast service indication information may be referred to as a multicast service indication field or a multicast service indication, which is not limited in the embodiment of the present application.
  • the description of the multicast service indication information includes the following two expressions: (1) The multicast service indication information is used to indicate whether one or more APs of the AP MLD have multicast services; (2) The multicast service indication information is used for It indicates whether one or more APs of the AP MLD send multicast services after the DTIM beacon frame; in another example, the description of the multicast service indication information includes the following two expressions (3) The multicast service indication information is used for Indicate whether one or more APs of the AP MLD buffer the multicast service; (4) The multicast service indication information is used to indicate that the multicast service of the one or more APs of the AP MLD is not sent in the form of multicast AID.
  • the embodiment of the present application takes expression (1) as an example for subsequent explanation.
  • multicast services can include multicast management frames and multicast data frames, where the frame type is indicated by the type field identifier of the frame control field in the MAC header; on the other hand, multicast services can be divided into broadcast services and multicast data frames.
  • Multicast service that is, the multicast service sent by the AP is sent to the station associated with the AP or the station associated with the AP in the form of broadcast or multicast.
  • each AP independently sends multicast management frames on its working link; each AP sends its associated STAs to each corresponding STA in the MLD on its own working link The same multicast data frame. It is understandable that the multicast management frame is at the link level, and MLD does not need to be received for traditional sites on other links or for STAs that have not established an association on the link, thereby saving power consumption of the corresponding site. And each AP in the MLD sends the same multicast data frame on each link to avoid single radio (single radio STA) stations in the MLD from losing multicast data frames, or to avoid single radio STAs MLD frequently switches links to receive multicast data frames.
  • the multicast service indication information is used to indicate whether an AP of the MLD has a multicast service.
  • the AP may be the first AP, or other APs in the AP MLD except the first AP.
  • the first AP is AP601-1
  • the multicast service indication information generated by AP601-1 can be used to indicate whether AP601-2 in MLD601 has multicast services; or, AP601-1 generates
  • the multicast service indication information can be used to indicate whether AP601-1 in AP MLD601 has multicast service.
  • the multicast service indication information is used to indicate whether the AP multiple APs of the MLD have multicast services.
  • the multiple APs may be part of APs in the AP MLD, or may be all APs in the AP MLD.
  • the first AP is AP601-1, and this AP601-1 generates multicast service indication information.
  • the multicast service indication information can be used to indicate whether AP601-1 in AP MLD601 has multicast services and whether AP601-2 has multicast services; or, the multicast service indication information can be used to indicate whether AP601-1 in AP MLD601 has multicast services There is a multicast service, whether AP601-2 has a multicast service, and whether AP601-3 has a multicast service.
  • each bit of the multicast service indication information corresponds to each AP of the AP MLD.
  • the value of each bit is used to indicate whether the AP corresponding to the bit has a multicast service; or each bit is used to indicate whether the AP corresponding to the bit has a multicast service.
  • each bit of the multicast service indication information corresponds to each AP of the AP and each AP of the MLD according to the size of the link identifier working by each AP of the AP and the MLD.
  • the order of the bits of the multicast service indication information corresponds to the order of the size of the link identifier, which is the link identifier of each AP in the AP MLD.
  • the bits of the multicast service indication information correspond to each link (or each AP of the MLD) one-to-one, for example, each bit of the multicast service indication information is combined with each link identifier use.
  • each bit of the multicast service indication information is located in the target beacon transmission time (TBTT) information field of the Reduced Neighbor Report (RNR) element.
  • TBTT target beacon transmission time
  • RNR Reduced Neighbor Report
  • MLD multi-link device parameter field
  • MLD parameters subfield as shown in Figure 5a is added to the TBTT information field.
  • the MLD parameter field includes the multi-link device identifier (MLD ID), and the link Link ID (link ID), change sequence number (change sequence), multicast service indication.
  • the multi-link device ID is used to indicate the ID of the MLD where the reported AP is located, the link ID is used to identify the sequence number of the reported AP in the AP MLD, and the change sequence number is used to indicate the updated count value of the key BSS parameter of the reported AP;
  • the multicast service indicator is used to indicate whether the reported AP has a multicast service, and the multicast service identifier can occupy 1 bit.
  • the multicast service may include the multicast management frame service and the multicast data frame service.
  • two fields are used to indicate the multicast management frame service and the multicast data frame service, for example, each occupying 1 bit , Specifically the multicast management frame service indication, the multicast data frame service indication, used to respectively indicate whether the reported AP has the corresponding multicast management frame service, and the multicast data frame service; in another implementation, it can only indicate the group Broadcast management frame service, one of the multicast data frame services, can be indicated by one field, for example, the multicast management frame service indication field is used to indicate whether the reported AP has the corresponding multicast management frame service, or The multicast data frame service indication field is used to indicate whether the reported AP has a corresponding multicast data frame service.
  • the AP sending the multicast service indication information can still use the existing method, that is, the bit 0 in the bitmap control field in the TIM element to indicate whether the AP uses the downlink multicast service.
  • the RNR element is used to enable unassociated stations to discover the elements of the surrounding APs, while associated stations may neglect to interpret the RNR element. Therefore, this embodiment of the present application provides a method for prompting whether there is a multicast service indication in the RNR element. That is, it is implemented in the capability information field in the beacon frame or probe response frame. Add a multicast service flag to the capability information field to indicate whether at least one reported AP in the RNR element has a multicast service.
  • the multicast service flag can be indicated by 1 bit, for example, the 1 bit of the multicast service flag is set.
  • the capability information field in the probe response frame adds a multicast service flag. When it indicates the value of "multicast service”, it can instruct the associated or unassociated station to interpret the RNR element.
  • the capability information field shown in Figure 5b may also include a change sequence number update flag (CSN updated flag), which is used to indicate whether there is a change in the sequence number field value of the reported AP. When it indicates that there is at least one change in the reported AP When the value of the sequence number field changes, it can instruct the associated or non-associated site to interpret the RNR element.
  • CSN updated flag change sequence number update flag
  • the RNR flag is added to the capability element to indicate whether there is at least one reported AP change sequence number field value change or there is a multicast service, that is, to instruct the station to interpret the RNR element.
  • the RNR flag can be indicated by 1 bit.
  • the value of the RNR flag is set to 1, it means that at least one reported AP "has multicast service" or that at least one reported AP has a change in the serial number field value to instruct the associated or unassociated station to interpret the RNR element.
  • the value of the RNR flag here is set to 1, or the value of the RNR flag is 0 to indicate that there is at least one reported AP "has multicast services" or that there is at least one reported AP. Change the value of the serial number field.
  • the capability information field also includes ESS (extened service set, extended service set), IBSS (independent basic service set, independent basic service set), Privacy (privacy), Short Preamble, Spectrum Management, QoS (quality of service), Short Slot Time, APSD (automatic power save delivery, automatic power interpretation delivery), Radio Measurement (wireless Management), EPD (Ethertype Protocol Discrimination, Ethernet Protocol Discrimination) and other fields, see 802.11 REVmd D3.0 protocol for details.
  • the site side such as an associated site or an associated site MLD
  • 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 STA 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.
  • the RNR element generally carries one or more neighbor AP information (Nighbor AP info) fields, which are used to describe one or more neighbor APs and their respective BSS information.
  • neighbor AP info neighbor AP info
  • Figure 5d shows an indication format
  • the fields included in the simplified neighbor report element are as shown in the figure:
  • TBTT information header target beacon transmission time (TBTT) info Header
  • TBTT info Field Type indicates the type of TBTT information (TBTT info). 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 information (Neighbor AP info) field matches the SSID in the ProbeRequest frame.
  • TBTT info count field indicates the number of TBTT info fields in the TBTT info set (TBTT info set).
  • TBTT info Length indicates the length of each TBTT info field.
  • Table 1 The specific information format carried under different lengths is shown in Table 1:
  • the neighbor AP's target beacon transmission time offset (Neighbor AP TBTT offset) field indicates the offset of the beacon transmission time between the neighbor AP and the reporting AP.
  • BSSID BSS identifier
  • Short service set identifier indicates the service set identifier to which the neighbor AP belongs.
  • BSS Parameter indicates related parameters of neighbor APs, as shown in Figure 5e, which contains the following information:
  • OCT recommended field indicating that the neighbor AP expects to exchange management type MPDUs with it through the OCT mechanism.
  • Same SSID field indicates whether the neighbor AP and the reporting AP have the same SSID.
  • Multiple basic service set identifier indicates whether the neighbor AP belongs to a part of a multiple BSSID set.
  • Transmitted Basic Service Set Identifier (Transmitted BSSID) field: If the neighbor AP is part of a multiple BSSID set, it further indicates whether the neighbor AP is a Transmitted BSSID or a non-transmitted BSSID.
  • Unsolicited Probe Response Active Indicate whether the neighbor AP enables the active probe response.
  • Co-located AP (Co-located AP) field: indicates whether the neighbor AP and the reporting AP are co-located.
  • the AP MLD601 includes 3 APs
  • the multicast service indication information is three bits
  • the three bits correspond to the three APs from large to small according to the link identifiers operated by the three APs.
  • the link IDs of the three APs are as follows: the link ID of AP601-1 is 3, the link ID of AP601-2 is 2, and the link ID of AP601-3 is 1, then the third of the multicast service indication information One bit corresponds to AP601-1, the second bit of the multicast service indication information corresponds to AP601-2, and the third bit of the multicast service indication information corresponds to AP601-3.
  • the multicast service indication information is 011, it means that AP601-1 does not have multicast services, and AP601-2 and AP601-3 have multicast services.
  • the three bits may also correspond to the three APs from small to large according to the link identifiers operated by the three APs.
  • the number of bits of the multicast service indication information may also be a fixed value, and among the fixed number of bits, bits other than the bits corresponding to the number of APs may be set to zero by default; for example, It is fixed to 4 bits, among which the 3 bits starting from the most significant bit correspond to the 3 APs in the AP MLD, and the following 1 bit is set to zero. That is, the fixed number of bits can be more than the number of APs in the MLD.
  • the first AP sends the multicast service indication information.
  • S203 STA The first STA in the MLD receives the multicast service indication information
  • the first STA is a station managed by the first AP or a surrounding station.
  • the sites around the first AP include sites managed by the first AP and unassociated sites.
  • the following uses a site managed by the AP as an example to describe the multicast service transmission method described in the embodiment of the present application.
  • the first STA can be any station of the STA MLD, and can learn whether each AP or part of the AP of the AP MLD has multicast services, so any station of the STA MLD can receive the group from its associated AP Broadcast business instructions.
  • the first STA determines whether one or more APs in the AP MLD have multicast services according to the multicast service indication information.
  • the multicast service transmission method suitable for multi-link further includes: for APs MLD APs with multicast services, the AP may be the next DTIM to be sent after the multicast service indication information After the beacon frame, the multicast service is sent; correspondingly, the station of the STA MLD working on the link of the AP can receive the DTIM beacon frame on the link and receive the subsequent multicast service. Specifically, the STA MLD station working on the link of the AP can receive and parse the multicast management frame after the DTIM beacon frame on the link, and discard other links on the link that is not the first STA. The multicast data frame after the DTIM beacon frame on the road.
  • the first STA of the STA MLD has received the corresponding multicast data frame on its link.
  • the DTIM frame is the next DTIM beacon frame after the multicast service indication information.
  • the multicast service may be sent after the next DTIM beacon frame to be sent after the multicast service indication information; correspondingly, the first STA may send the multicast service in the multicast service.
  • the DTIM beacon frame is received after the instruction information, and the multicast service is received after the DTIM beacon frame is received.
  • the multicast service indication information may be carried in management frames, such as beacon frames, TIM frames, etc., data frames or control frames and other frames.
  • the multicast service indication information may be located in the DTIM beacon frame, which is also the DTIM beacon frame where the multicast service indication information is located. That is, for the beacon frame, the multicast service indication information sent by the first AP may only be located in the DTIM beacon frame. Specifically, for AP MLD APs with multicast services, the AP may send multicast services after the next DTIM beacon frame to be sent after the multicast service indication information; correspondingly, the station corresponding to the AP is based on the group The broadcast service indication information learns that the AP has a multicast service, and can receive the DTIM beacon frame, and receives the multicast service after receiving the DTIM beacon frame.
  • the STA MLD station working on the link of the AP can receive and parse the multicast management frame after the DTIM beacon frame on the link, and discard other links on the link that is not the first STA.
  • the first STA of the STA MLD has received the corresponding multicast data frame on its link.
  • the multicast service may be sent after the DTIM beacon frame carrying the multicast service indication information; correspondingly, the first STA may send the multicast service after the DTIM beacon frame carrying the multicast service indication information.
  • the multicast service is received after the beacon frame.
  • the multicast service indication information sent by AP601-2 in AP MLD601 is 111
  • the first bit of the multicast service indication information corresponds to AP601-1
  • the second bit of the multicast service indication information corresponds to AP601-2
  • the third bit of the multicast service indication information corresponds to AP601-3.
  • AP601-2 communicates with STA603-1 in STA MLD603 and STA602-2 in STA MLD602 through link 2. Therefore, STA603-1 and STA602-2 can hear AP601-2
  • the sent multicast service indication information is 111.
  • STA602-2 can determine that AP601-1, AP601-2, and AP601-3 all have multicast services. Furthermore, in STA MLD602 working on link 1 of AP601-1 STA602-1 listens to DTIM beacon frame 1 and subsequent multicast service 1; STA602-2 working on link 2 of AP601-2 in STA MLD602 listens to DTIM beacon frame 2 and subsequent multicast service 2; STA 602-3 in MLD602 working on link 3 of AP601-3 listens to DTIM beacon frame 3 and subsequent multicast service 3.
  • the STA602-2 that receives the DTIM beacon frame can receive the multicast service after the DTIM beacon frame; and the STA The other STAs of MLD602 also need to receive DTIM beacon frames on their respective links and subsequent multicast services.
  • the STA604 can also listen to the multicast service indication information from link 1, but if the STA604 does not care whether the other APs indicated by the multicast service indication information have multicast services, they may not receive the multicast services of these APs. Business; if the STA604 is concerned about whether other APs indicated by the multicast service indication information have multicast services, if the STA604 has frequency band selection reception capability, the STA604 can learn whether other APs have multicast services according to the multicast service indication information.
  • STA603-1 can determine that AP601-1, AP601-2, and AP601-3 all have multicast services. Among them, there is no station in STA MLD603 working on link 1 of AP601-1. Therefore, STA603-1 working on link 2 of AP601-2 in STA MLD603 listens to DTIM beacon frame 2 and subsequent multicast service 2; STA603-1 working on link 3 of AP601-3 in MLD603 2 Listen to DTIM beacon frame 3 and the following multicast service 3.
  • the STA603-1 that receives the DTIM beacon frame can receive the multicast service after the DTIM beacon frame; and the STA MLD603 The other STAs also need to receive DTIM beacon frames on their respective links and subsequent multicast services.
  • FIG 6 shows the multi-link multicast service transmission method 300 between AP MLD601 and STA MLD602 in this example.
  • STA MLD602 can listen to the multicast sent by AP601-2 by STA602-2 With the service indication information, you can know whether AP601-1 and AP601-3 have multicast services.
  • each STA in MLD602 needs to detect on its own link. Compared with listening to the TIM beacon frame sent by the AP MLD601 to learn whether the AP MLD601 sends multicast services after the DTIM beacon frame through the TIM beacon frame, this greatly saves the power consumption of the STA MLD602.
  • the first AP of the AP MLD can generate and send multicast service indication information.
  • the multicast service indication information can indicate whether an AP of the MLD has multicast service, and the AP may be the first AP. Or it is an AP other than the first AP in the AP MLD, so that a STA of the STA MLD can learn whether the AP it is associated with has multicast services, or whether other APs of the AP MLD have multicast services.
  • the embodiments of the present application are beneficial to improve the flexibility of the AP MLD to notify the multicast service.
  • the first AP of the AP MLD can generate and send multicast service indication information.
  • the multicast service indication information can indicate whether each AP or part of the multiple APs of the AP MLD has multicast services, and then A STA MLD station can learn whether multiple APs have multicast services.
  • the embodiment of the present application is beneficial to reduce the power consumption of the STA MLD.
  • one or more APs in the AP MLD can send multicast service indication information, and one or more STAs in the STA MLD can listen to the multicast service indication information.
  • each AP in the AP MLD sends multicast service indication information
  • any STA in the STA MLD can listen to the multicast service indication information on one of the links, or any STA in the MLD Multiple STAs listen to the multicast service indication information on their respective working links.
  • AP601-1 and AP601-3 can also perform steps S201 and S202 to send multicast service indication information respectively, and any one or more STAs in MLD602 can listen to the group on the corresponding link. Broadcast business instructions. Wherein, the AP corresponding to each bit in the multicast indication information sent by each AP is fixed.
  • the multiple STAs in the STA MLD 602 listen to the multicast service indication information on the corresponding link
  • the multiple STAs may be all STAs or some STAs of the STA MLD. It can be seen that this embodiment greatly improves the flexibility of the STA MLD to listen to the multicast service indication information.
  • one or some STAs in the STA MLD listen to the multicast service indication information, which can also reduce the power consumption of the STA MLD to a certain extent.
  • the first STA in steps S203 and S204 may be a station working on the main link in the STA MLD, and the first STA of the MLD listens to the AP working on the main link to send Multicast service instruction information.
  • the first STA in steps S203 and S204 is a station in the STA MLD that works on the main link.
  • the STA MLD can inform the AP of the main link on which the MLD works.
  • the station located on the main link in the STA MLD informs the AP of its link identifier to the corresponding AP in the MLD.
  • the AP working on the main link in the AP MLD sends the multicast service indication information, but other APs may not send it, which helps to save the power consumption of the AP MLD, or it is conducive to the AP MLD to send the multicast service indication more effectively Information, such as repeated transmission on multiple links.
  • the AP MLD may obtain the identification information of the primary link determined by the STA MLD.
  • the identification information of the main link may include one or more of the following information: the operating class and channel number corresponding to the main link; or, the MAC address of the main link (Or BSSID); or, the identification number (identifier, ID) of the main link.
  • the embodiment of the application does not limit the specific content included in the identification information of the main link, as long as the information that can be used to uniquely identify a station working on the main link can be the main link described in the embodiment of the application. Identification information.
  • the above-mentioned MAC address of the main link may be the MAC address of the STA working on the main link or the MAC address of the AP working on the main link.
  • the MAC address of the main link is the MAC address of the AP working on the main link
  • the MAC address of the main link may also be referred to as the BSSID.
  • the AP MLD acquiring the identification information of the main link may include: the AP MLD receiving an association request frame from the STA MLD.
  • the link through which the AP MLD receives the association request frame is the main link determined by the STA MLD, or the association request frame received by the AP MLD carries the link identification information of the main link determined by the STA MLD.
  • the AP MLD can determine the station on the link where the association request frame is received (or the station that sent the association request frame) as the link identifier of the primary link; or, the AP MLD can obtain the association request frame carrying The link identification information of the main link.
  • AP MLD obtains the link identification information of the main link, which may include: AP MLD receives a message frame from STA MLD, and the message frame carries STA MLD Link identification information of the determined main link.
  • the message frame is a management frame, a data frame, or a control frame, etc.
  • the message frame is used to inform the AP MLD of the main link of the STA after the replacement of the MLD, that is, the identification information of the main link carried in the message frame is the link identification of the replaced main link information.
  • the management frame may also include a replacement count, which is used to indicate a countdown of the replacement of the main link.
  • the AP MLD can also select a link as the main link, and the link identifier of the main link is used to indicate the AP working on the main link.
  • the AP needs to send the link identifier of the main link to its associated station or surrounding stations.
  • the first AP is an AP working on the main link
  • the multicast service indication information sent by the first AP can be used to indicate whether the first AP working on the main link has a multicast service; or
  • the service indication information can be used to indicate whether the AP working on the secondary link has multicast services; or the multicast service indication information can be used to indicate whether the first AP working on the primary link has multicast services, and whether it is working on the secondary link.
  • the secondary link is a link operated by other APs except the first AP in the AP MLD, or the secondary link includes links other than the primary link among multiple links.
  • the multicast service indication information sent by the first AP may be some or all of the bits of the multicast service indication information generated by the first AP.
  • the multicast service indication information sent by the first AP is part of the bits of the multicast service indication information generated by the first AP, which is beneficial to saving signaling overhead. This embodiment will be described below.
  • each bit of the multicast service indication information corresponds to each AP of the AP MLD respectively. If the bits before N 1 bits of the multicast service indication information respectively correspond to APs that have no multicast service, and N 2 bits after bits corresponding to each AP are no multicast service, multicast traffic indication message transmitted by the first AP may include only the first through the N 1 bit N 2 bits.
  • N 1 can be greater than or equal to 0 and less than the total number of bits of the generated multicast service indication information
  • N 2 can be greater than or equal to N 1 and less than or equal to the total number of bits of the generated multicast service indication information. It can be seen that this implementation manner is beneficial to save signaling overhead.
  • the multicast service indication information further includes offset and length fields, the offset is used to indicate N1, and the length is used to indicate N 2 -N 1 +1 of the multicast service information.
  • the multicast service indication information generated by the first AP is referred to as the first multicast service indication information
  • the multicast service indication information sent by the first AP is referred to as the second multicast service indication information.
  • the second multicast service indication information may be the same as the first multicast service indication information, or the second multicast service indication information is part of the bits of the first multicast service indication information.
  • the first AP also needs to send the offset and length.
  • the offset and length are used by the STA to learn from the second STA in the MLD. Which AP corresponds to the bits in the multicast service indication information.
  • the offset of the second multicast service indication information with respect to the first multicast service indication information is referred to as the offset of the second multicast service indication information for short. If the second multicast service indication information is all the bits of the first multicast service indication information, the first AP may send the offset and length, or not send the offset and length.
  • the first multicast service indication information includes bits corresponding to each AP in the AP MLD.
  • the corresponding relationship between each bit of the first multicast service indication information and each AP in the AP and MLD can be notified through the aforementioned management frame, or pre-defined according to the size of the link identifier that each AP works. That is, the total number of bits of the first multicast service indication information may be equal to the total number of APs of AP MLD.
  • AP MLD may determine the first multicast according to the size of the link identifier of each AP of AP MLD.
  • Each bit of the service indication information corresponds to each AP one-to-one.
  • case 2.1 case 2.2
  • case 2.2 discuss that the second multicast service indication information is part of the bits of the first multicast service indication information.
  • the second indication information is a multicast service from a multicast service indication information bytes of the first N 1 of the start, all of the bits in the byte N2 end, N 1 is greater than or equal to 0, N 2 is greater than or equal to N 1.
  • the AP corresponding to all bits from bit 0 to bit N 1 *8-1 of the first multicast service indication information has no multicast service, and the AP corresponding to all bits (N 2 +1)*8 and thereafter has no group the second indication information multicast service multicast service, the first AP transmits multicast traffic indication information of a first byte begins, however N1, N end of all bits in byte 2.
  • the length of the second multicast service indication information sent by the first AP is N 2 -N 1 +1; the offset of the second multicast service indication information is N 1 , and further, the first AP in the STA MLD
  • the managed station can determine that the received second multicast service indication information is used to indicate the AP corresponding to bits N 1 *8 to ((N 2 +1)*8-1)) respectively Whether there is a multicast service, and the APs corresponding to all bits from bit 0 to bit N 1 *8-1 do not have multicast services, and the APs corresponding to all bits (N 2 +1)*8 and thereafter do not have multicast services business.
  • the second multicast service indication information may only include each bit of byte 1. Then, the length of the second multicast service indication information is 1 byte, and the offset is 1 byte.
  • each bit in the second multicast service indication information is used to indicate whether the AP corresponding to bit 8 to bit 15 has The multicast service and the AP corresponding to each bit of byte 0 do not have a multicast service, and the AP corresponding to each bit of byte 2 also does not have a multicast service.
  • the offset of the second multicast service indication information may be set to N 1 /2, at this time, N 1 is required to be an even-numbered section number.
  • the second multicast service indication information sent by the first AP includes bits 0 to 7 in the first multicast service indication information.
  • the first STA can learn whether the APs corresponding to bits 0 to 7 have multicast services according to the values of bits 0 to 7.
  • the second multicast service indication information sent by the first AP includes byte 2 in the first multicast service indication information, that is, bits 16 to Bit 22, in this way, the first STA can learn whether the AP corresponding to bit 16 to bit 22 has multicast service according to the value of bit 16 to bit 22.
  • the first STA can learn that AP1, AP4, AP5, and AP8 do not have multicast services, and AP2, AP3, AP6, and AP7 have multicast services.
  • bit 0 is predefined and has no meaning, that is, it does not correspond to any AP
  • bits 1 to 7 correspond to AP1 to AP7 in AP MLD
  • the first STA can learn that AP1, AP2, AP5, and AP6 have groups AP3, AP4, and AP7 do not have multicast services.
  • each AP in the AP MLD and each bit in the first multicast service indication information is determined through a predefined or management frame notification method. Furthermore, it is advantageous for the second multicast service indication information to be part of the bits of the first multicast service indication information, thereby saving signaling overhead.
  • the second multicast service indication information is the bit that starts at byte 0 of the first multicast service indication information, ends at byte N 0 -1, and starts from byte N 1 of the first multicast service indication information , The bit at the end of byte N 2.
  • the bits N 0 *8-1 to N 1 *8-1 of the first multicast service indication information respectively correspond to APs that have no multicast service
  • the bits N 2 *8 and the following bits correspond to If the AP does not have a multicast service
  • the second multicast service indication information sent by the first AP is the bit starting at byte 0 of the first multicast service indication information and ending at byte N 0 -1, and starting from the first The bit that starts at byte N 1 of the multicast service indication information and ends at byte N 2.
  • the length of the second multicast service indication information sent by the first AP is N 0 +N 2 -N 1 +1
  • the offset of the second multicast service indication information is N 1 -N 0
  • the STA The station managed by the first AP in the MLD receives the length and offset, and can determine that the received second multicast service indication information is used to indicate bits 0 to (N 0 -1)*8-1, and bit N 1 *8+1 to bit N 2 *8-1 respectively correspond to whether the AP has multicast service, and bit (N 0 -1)*8 to bit (N 1 -1)*8 respectively correspond to APs that do not have multicast business.
  • the offset of the second multicast service indication information sent by the first AP is 1/2 of the actual offset, so in this case, the first AP sends
  • the offset of is (N 1 -N 0 )/2, and the length is N 0 +N 2 -N 1 +1 bytes.
  • the offset is (N 1 -N 0 )/2. At this time, it is required: if N 0 is an odd number, then N 1 is also an odd number; if N 0 is an even number, then N 1 is also an even number.
  • FIG. 7 shows a schematic flowchart of a method 400 for multi-link multicast service transmission.
  • the multicast service indication information is part of the bits in the part of the virtual bitmap field in the TIM element of the service indication bitmap. That is, the multicast service indication information is part of the bits in the part of the virtual bitmap field shown in FIG. 2.
  • the method 400 for multi-link multicast service transmission includes but is not limited to the following steps:
  • the first AP of the MLD generates multicast service indication information
  • the first AP sends a TIM element
  • the TIM element can be carried in a beacon frame or in other management frames, such as a TIM frame.
  • Part of the virtual bitmap field in the TIM element includes the multicast service indication information, that is, the multicast service indication information is part of the bits in the part of the virtual bitmap field in the service indication bitmap TIM element.
  • the multicast service indication information may only be carried in the DTIM beacon frame.
  • the multicast service indication information may be carried in other frames such as management frames, data frames, or control frames.
  • FIG. 8 shows each bit of a part of the virtual bitmap field in FIG. 2. Taking the part of the virtual bitmap field of 251 bytes as an example, each byte includes 8 bits, as shown in FIG. 8. Byte 0 includes bit 0 to bit 7, byte 1 includes bit 8 to bit 15, ..., and so on, byte 250 includes bit 2000 to bit 2007.
  • the multicast service indication information is part of the continuous bits in the partial virtual bitmap field.
  • the multicast service indication information is bit 1 to bit 7 in the partial virtual bitmap field of FIG. 8. Use bit 1 to bit 7 in the field of this part of the virtual bitmap to indicate whether each AP of the AP MLD has a multicast service.
  • the multicast service indication information is part of the non-contiguous bits in the partial virtual bitmap field.
  • the multicast service indication information is bit 1, bit 2, and bit in the partial virtual bitmap field of FIG. 8. 4.
  • Bit 1, bit 2, and bit 4 in the partial virtual bitmap field can be used to indicate whether each AP of the MLD has a multicast service.
  • STA The first STA of the MLD receives the TIM element
  • the first STA reads the multicast service indication information in the partial virtual bitmap field from the TIM element, and determines whether one or more APs in the AP and MLD have multicast services.
  • step S401 For the relevant description of step S401, refer to the description of step S201 in the multicast service transmission method 200 shown in FIG. 5, which will not be described in detail here.
  • the multi-link multicast service transmission method 400 further includes: for an AP that is determined to have a multicast service, the STA working on the link of the AP in the MLD receives the DTIM beacon frame for the multicast service .
  • the multicast service indication information can be carried in any beacon frame, including a TIM beacon frame and a DTIM beacon frame, in this case, the DTIM beacon frame is the DTIM beacon frame after the TIM beacon frame, or It is the DTIM beacon frame that carries the multicast service indication information.
  • the multicast service indication information is only carried in the DTIM beacon frame in the beacon frame.
  • the above DTIM beacon frame is the DTIM beacon frame carrying the multicast service indication information.
  • the multicast service indication information may also be carried in other frames such as management frames, data frames, or control frames.
  • the partial virtual bitmap is a partial bit of the service indication virtual bitmap field, and each bit corresponds to an AID. Therefore, in this embodiment of the application, the AP MLD allocates AIDs to the APs it includes, and then uses the bits corresponding to these AIDs in the partial virtual bitmap field to respectively indicate whether the APs of the AIDs have multicast services, that is, multicast services.
  • the indication information is the bits corresponding to these AIDs. Among them, the assigned AID of the AP can no longer be used for any AP in the MLD assigned to its associated station.
  • the displayed or privately assigned AID of the AP can no longer be used for the STA MLD that establishes a multi-link association with the AP MLD where the AP is located.
  • the AID assigned to each station of the STA MLD is the same.
  • Type means that the management frame sent by the AP carries the association identifier of each AP in the AP MLD where the AP is located or the association identifier of each AP except the first AP.
  • “implicit” It refers to the AID corresponding to the bits occupied by the AP in the part of the virtual bitmap field in the TIM element, as mentioned in the second method below.
  • the multi-link multicast service transmission method 400 carries multicast service indication information through part of the virtual bitmap field in the beacon frame, which can improve the flexibility of multicast service notification, and the multicast service indication information indicates more information.
  • an AP has multicast services, it can also reduce the power consumption of the STA and MLD.
  • the AIDs of AP601-1 to AP601-3 in AP MLD601 are AID1, AID2, and AID3, respectively.
  • the AID1, AID2, and AID3 respectively correspond to some virtual bits in the TIM beacon frame 3 bits of the picture field. As shown in FIG.
  • AP601-2 sends a beacon frame 2, and some virtual bitmap fields in the beacon frame 2 carry multicast service indication information;
  • STA602- 1 Hear the beacon frame 2 on link 2; read the 3 bits corresponding to AID1, AID2, and AID3 from the part of the virtual bitmap field in the beacon frame 2 as 111, then STA602-1 can learn AP601 -1 to AP601-3 all have multicast services after the corresponding DTIM beacon frame; further, STA602-1 to STA 602-3 can respectively listen to the subsequent multicast services on their respective working links. It can be seen that this implementation avoids that STA602-1 and STA602-3 in the STA MLD602 periodically listen to beacon frames to learn whether the corresponding AP has multicast services, thereby saving the power consumption of the STA MLD602.
  • the STA602-1 that receives the DTIM beacon frame can receive the multicast service after the DTIM beacon frame;
  • the other STAs of the STA MLD602 also need to receive DTIM beacon frames on their respective links and subsequent multicast services.
  • AID configuration methods are discussed in two methods below.
  • method 1 it is explained that AP MLD explicitly allocates AIDs to each AP it includes, and AP MLD allocates AIDs to each AP through the associated identification configuration information.
  • Method 2 AP MLD implicitly allocates AIDs to each AP included in it, that is, the AID corresponding to the first bit of the partial virtual bitmap field corresponding to the multicast service indication information is predefined.
  • This method can be divided into two situations.
  • case 3.1 it is explained that AP MLD AP does not work in the multi-BSSID (Basic Service Set Identifier) mode. Each AP is working in the multi-BSSID mode, how to allocate the AID for each AP of the AP MLD.
  • multi-BSSID Basic Service Set Identifier
  • the part of the virtual bitmap field of the TIM element also needs to allocate AIDs for multiple APs in the multi-basic service set identification set, so AP MLD's assigned AIDs for each AP cannot be the same as the multi-basic service set identification
  • the AIDs allocated by multiple APs in the set are duplicated, or the corresponding bits in the partial virtual bitmap field of each AP of the AP and MLD do not match the multiple non-transmitting APs in the multi-basic service set identifier set in the partial virtual bitmap field. The corresponding bit is repeated.
  • Method 1 AP MLD explicitly assigns AID to each AP it includes
  • the AID configuration method includes but is not limited to the following steps: the first AP of the AP MLD generates association identification configuration information, and the association identification configuration information is used to indicate the association identification corresponding to each AP of the AP MLD.
  • the association identification configuration information includes one or more association identification sub-configuration information.
  • the association identification sub-configuration information includes the AP's AID and the AP's AID.
  • the association sub-configuration information can be carried in the MLD In the MLD element of the information of one or more APs, in the sub-element or field storing the information of a single AP; the first AP sends the association identification configuration information.
  • each bit of the multicast service indication information is used to indicate whether the AP of the AID corresponding to the bit has a multicast service; the AID of each AP corresponds to each bit of the multicast service indication information.
  • the first AP that generates and sends the association identification configuration information and the first AP that generates and sends the multicast service indication information in step S201 may be the same AP in the AP and MLD, or may be different APs in the AP and MLD.
  • the association identification configuration information when the AP MLD is not associated with the STA MLD, the association identification configuration information may be carried in the association response frame sent by the STA MLD. In another implementation manner, when the AP MLD is associated with the STA MLD, the association identification configuration information may be carried in the management frame sent by the STA MLD.
  • the multicast service indication information may be a part of bits in a part of the virtual bitmap, and the part of bits may be continuous or non-continuous.
  • each AP in the AP MLD is allocated The association identifier of is different from the associated identifier assigned to the stations associated with each AP. In other words, the associated identification assigned to each AP in the AP MLD can no longer be assigned to the station managed by each AP.
  • the AIDs assigned by different APs to the stations managed by them are relatively independent, that is, the AIDs assigned by different APs to the stations managed by them can be repeated.
  • the assigned AIDs of AP601-1 to AP601-3 in AP MLD601 are AID1, AID2, and AID3, respectively, and the AID1, AID2, and AID3 cannot be allocated to AP601- 1 to AP601-3 associated stations, such as STA in MLD602, STA in MLD603, and STA604.
  • the AID allocated by AP601-1 to STA602-1 in STA MLD602 may be the same as the AID allocated by AP601-2 to STA602-2 in STA MLD602.
  • the AP MLD can assign an AID to each STA MLD, that is, each STA in the STA MLD shares one AID, and there is no confusion.
  • the AP MLD may assign an AID to each STA in the STA MLD, that is, each STA in the STA MLD has its own AID.
  • an AID is allocated to each AP in the AP MLD, and a part of the virtual bitmap field in the TIM element is used to inform the STA MLD whether each AP in the AP MLD has a multicast service.
  • this embodiment can Improve the flexibility of multicast service notification, and when the multicast service indication information indicates whether multiple APs have multicast services, it can also reduce the power consumption of the STA MLD.
  • the assigned AIDs of AP601-1 to AP601-3 in AP MLD601 are AID1, AID2, and AID3, respectively.
  • the AID1, AID2, and AID3 respectively correspond to some virtual parts in the TIM element. 3 bits of the bitmap field.
  • multiple AIDs allocated by multiple APs in AP MLD are continuous;
  • a part of the virtual bitmap field may not carry the multicast service indication information of the AP that sent the part of the virtual bitmap field (referred to as the reporting AP), but may carry the multicast service indication of other APs that report the MLD where the AP is located Information, where the multicast service indication information of the reported AP is still indicated by bit 0 in the bitmap control field.
  • this part of the virtual bitmap field carries the bit corresponding to the reporting AP, but this bit is reserved and has no meaning.
  • the part of the virtual bitmap field does not carry the bit corresponding to the reporting AP, which is applicable to other embodiments of the present invention, and will not be repeated.
  • Method 2 AP MLD implicitly assigns AID to each AP it includes
  • AP MLD When AP MLD implicitly assigns AIDs to each AP it includes, it is necessary to consider whether any AP in the AP MLD is working in the multi-basic service set identification mode, and the AP working in the multi-basic service set identification mode is a transmission AP. Therefore, the method is divided into two cases for discussion, that is, case 3.1 discusses AP and MLD does not have AP working in the multi-basic service set identification mode, how to allocate AID for each AP included in it; case 3.2 discusses AP one or more APs of MLD are It works in the multi-basic service set identification mode, and at least one AP is a transmission AP in the multi-basic service set identification set.
  • BSSID Basic Service Set Identifier
  • a multiple BSSID set (Multiple BSSID set, which may be called a multiple BSSID set) can be understood as a set of some cooperative APs. All cooperating APs use the same operation set, channel number, and antenna interface.
  • this multi-BSSID set there is only one AP that transmits (Transmitted) BSSID, and other APs are APs that transmit (Nontransmitted) BSSID.
  • the information of the multi-BSSID set (that is, the multi-BSSID element) is carried in the beacon frame or probe response frame or neighbor report sent by the AP of the Transmitted BSSID.
  • the BSSID information of the AP of the Nontransmitted BSSID is derived by the station through the above beacon frame or probe response frame, or the Multiple BSSID element in the neighbor report.
  • the BSSID of the AP of the Nontransmitted BSSID is obtained by the BSSID of the AP that transmits the BSSID and
  • the BSSID Index field in the Multiple BSSID-Index element in the Nontransmitted BSSID profile is calculated.
  • the specific method please refer to the Draft 802.11 REVmd_D3.0 protocol.
  • the multi-BSSID set can be understood as being composed of multiple APs.
  • Each AP manages a BSS, and different APs can have different SSIDs and permissions, such as security mechanisms or transmission opportunities.
  • the multi-BSSID set only APs whose BSSID is Transmitted BSSID can send beacon frames and probe response frames (Probe Response). Therefore, if the probe request frame sent by the STA is for the Multiple BSSID set An AP whose BSSID is Nontransmitted BSSID, then the AP whose BSSID is Transmitted BSSID in the Multiple BSSID set needs to help respond by sending a probe response frame.
  • one of the AP’s BSSIDs is configured as a transmitted BSSID, and the AP with a transmitted BSSID can be called a transmitted AP;
  • the BSSIDs of other APs are configured as non-transmitted (Nontransmitted) BSSID, Nontransmitted APs with BSSIDs can be called nontransmitted APs.
  • the frame format of the multi-BSSID element is shown in Figure 10.
  • the multi-BSSID element includes an element ID field, a length field, a maximum BSSID indication field, and an optional sub-element field.
  • the maximum BSSID indication field is used to indicate the maximum number n of BSSIDs included in the multi-BSSID set
  • the optional sub-element field includes the BSSID information of the AP of the Nontransmitted BSSID.
  • the maximum number of APs allowed in the multi-BSSID set is 2 ⁇ (N n ), and N n is the value indicated by the MaxBSSID Indicator field in the multi-BSSID element shown in FIG. 7. Therefore, bits 1 to 2 ⁇ (N n )-1 of the service indication virtual bitmap field can be allocated to the non-transmitting BSSID APs in the multi-BSSID set to indicate that the NonTxBSS ID (identification) is 1 to 2 respectively. Whether the non-transmitting BSSID AP of n -1 has multicast service.
  • NonTxBSS ID is equal to the value of the BSSID Index field in the Multiple BSSID-Index element in the nontransmitted BSSID profile in the multiple BSSID element.
  • the nontransmitted BSSID profile is in the optional sub-element field.
  • each bit of the multicast service indication information as described in section S201 above corresponds to each AP of the AP MLD, so it can be determined in a predefined manner that the multicast service indication information is in the TIM element The starting bit position in the partial virtual bitmap field.
  • the AID of each AP in the AP MLD is continuously allocated starting from AIDx, for example, according to the size of the link identifier that each AP works, from large to small or from small to large.
  • the AIDx is predefined.
  • the first bit or start bit in the partial virtual bitmap field of the multicast service indication information in the TIM element is predefined.
  • the partial bits in the partial virtual bitmap field in the TIM element corresponding to the multicast service indication information are continuous, that is, the partial virtual bitmap fields in the partial virtual bitmap field in the TIM element corresponding to the multicast service indication information Partially continuous bits.
  • an AP MLD implicitly allocates AIDs to multiple APs, that is, a default continuous AID is allocated to each AP of the AP MLD. For example, by default, each AP in AP MLD is assigned consecutive AIDs starting from AID 1. Assuming that AP MLD has 3 APs: AP1, AP2, and AP3, AP1, AP2, and AP3 are assigned AID1, AID2, and AID3 by default.
  • the default assignment order of AID is assigned according to the order of the link identifiers of each AP. Assuming that the link identifiers of AP1, AP2 and AP3 are link identifier 3, link identifier 2 and link identifier 1, they will be assigned to AP1 by default. , And AP2 and AP3 are assigned AID3, AID2, and AID1 respectively.
  • this embodiment does not need to notify the respective managed stations of the AID corresponding to each AP through the association response frame or management frame described in the above embodiment, but the station knows it by default, which is beneficial to save signaling overhead.
  • APs in a multi-BSSID set cannot send beacon frames
  • this implementation is also applicable to APs.
  • One or more APs of MLD work in multi-BSSID mode, but the one or more APs are non-transmitting APs. In other words, no AP in the MLD is a transmission AP in a multi-BSSID set.
  • a part of the virtual bitmap field may not carry the multicast service indication information of the AP that sent the part of the virtual bitmap field (referred to as the reporting AP), but may carry the multicast service indication of other APs that report the MLD where the AP is located Information, where the multicast service indication information of the reported AP is still indicated by bit 0 in the bitmap control field.
  • the bits corresponding to the part of the virtual bitmap field of the multicast service indication information are still continuous, and at this time, the report of the multicast service indication information of the AP is only skipped.
  • AP1, AP2, and AP3 in AP MLD are invisibly allocated to AID1, AID2, AID3, or bit 1 to bit 3 in the corresponding service indication virtual bitmap field.
  • the multicast service indication information only includes the multicast service indications of AP2 and AP3.
  • bits 1 to 2 in the virtual bitmap field are used; if AP2 sends multicast service Indication information.
  • the multicast service indication information only includes the multicast service indications of AP1 and AP3.
  • bits 1 to 2 in the virtual bitmap field are used.
  • One or more APs of the MLD work in the multi-BSSID mode, and at least one AP is a transmission AP in the multi-BSSID set.
  • the bit corresponding to each AP of AP MLD is indicated by the virtual bitmap of the service
  • the bit x of the field is the initial configuration or predefined.
  • n APs or n APs in the AP MLD that belong to a multi-BSSID set, where Ny of an AP that does not work in multi-BSSID mode is equal to 0, and an AP that works in multi-BSSID mode and is not a BSSID-transmitting AP Ny is equal to 0; the Ny of the AP working in the multi-BSSID mode and transmitting the BSSID is equal to the value indicated by the MaxBSSID Indicator field of the multi-BSSID set where it is located.
  • the multicast service indication information starts with the bit x of the service indication virtual bitmap field, and x is equal to max ⁇ 2 ⁇ (N 1 ), 2 ⁇ (N 2 ),..., 2 ⁇ (N y ),..., 2 ⁇ (N n ) ⁇ .
  • the AID corresponding to the first bit of the partial consecutive bits in the partial virtual bitmap field corresponding to the multicast service indication information is AIDx.
  • the AID of each AP in the AP MLD is continuously allocated starting from AIDx.
  • x is equal to max ⁇ 2 ⁇ (N 1 ), 2 ⁇ (N 2 ),..., 2 ⁇ (N y ),..., 2 ⁇ (N n ) ⁇ .
  • the corresponding bit in the service indication virtual bitmap of each AP of the AP MLD is configured or pre-defined starting from bit x. Among them, x is equal to max ⁇ 2 ⁇ (N 1 ), 2 ⁇ (N 2 ),..., 2 ⁇ (N y ),..., 2 ⁇ (N n ) ⁇ .
  • AP MLD has two APs, AP1 and AP2.
  • AP1 and AP2 both work in multiple BSSID mode and are APs that transmit BSSIDs.
  • the maximum BSSID indication field in the Multiple BSSID element sent by AP1 is 3, and the maximum BSSID indication field in the Multiple BSSID element sent by AP2 is 2.
  • the maximum number of APs with nontransmitted BSSIDs in the multi-BSSID set supported by AP1 is 7, and the maximum number of APs with nontransmitted BSSIDs in the multi-BSSID set supported by AP2 is 3. Therefore, the start AID of the AID allocated by AP MLD for AP1 and AP2 is AID8, or the start bit of AP1 and AP2 in the service indication virtual bitmap field is bit 8.
  • a part of the virtual bitmap field may not carry the multicast service indication information of the AP that sent the part of the virtual bitmap field (referred to as the reporting AP), but may carry the multicast service indication of other APs that report the MLD where the AP is located Information, where the multicast service indication information of the reported AP is still indicated by bit 0 in the bitmap control field.
  • the bits corresponding to the part of the virtual bitmap field of the multicast service indication information are still continuous, and at this time, the report of the multicast service indication information of the AP is only skipped.
  • the start bit of AP1 and AP2 in the service indication virtual bitmap field is bit 8, and AP1 and AP2 in the AP MLD correspond to bits 8 to 9 in the service indication virtual bitmap field.
  • the multicast service indication information only includes AP2's multicast service indication, and bit 8 in the virtual bitmap field is used at this time; if AP2 sends multicast service indication information, this time The multicast service indication information only includes AP1's multicast service indication, and bit 8 in the partial virtual bitmap field is used at this time.
  • the multi-link multicast service transmission method 400 and the multi-link multicast service transmission method 500 may also be as described in the multi-link multicast service transmission method 200.
  • One or more APs in the AP MLD Send a beacon frame carrying indication information of the multicast service, and one or more STAs in the STA MLD listen to the beacon frame.
  • the multicast service indication information is carried in some virtual bitmap fields in the TIM element, correspondingly Yes, one or more APs in the AP MLD can send the beacon frame, and any multiple STAs of the STA MLD listen to the beacon frame.
  • this embodiment greatly improves the flexibility of the STA MLD to listen to the multicast service indication information.
  • one or some STAs of the STA MLD listen to the multicast service indication information, which can also reduce the power consumption of the STA MLD.
  • the multicast service indication information is only carried in the DTIM beacon frame.
  • the first STA in steps S203 and S204 may be a station working on the main link in the STA MLD, and the first STA of the MLD listens to the beacon sent by the AP working on the main link frame.
  • the first STA in steps S203 and S204 is a station in the STA MLD that works on the main link.
  • the STA MLD can inform the AP MLD of its own main link, such as STA MLD.
  • the station located on the main link in the MLD informs the AP of its link ID to the corresponding AP in the MLD.
  • the AP working on the main link in the AP MLD sends a beacon frame, but other APs may not send it, which helps to save the power consumption of the AP MLD, or it helps the AP MLD send multicast service indication information more effectively. For example, repeated transmission on multiple links.
  • the multicast service indication information sent by the first AP may include bits corresponding to the AIDs of some APs, or include some The bit corresponding to the AID of the station to save the bit overhead required by the TIM element.
  • the multicast service indication information is part of the virtual bitmap field in the TIM element
  • the part of the virtual bitmap field is part of the service indication virtual bitmap field
  • the AP service indication virtual bitmap field is not sent. It is also not carried in the TIM element.
  • the following are divided into two cases, namely, case 4.1 and case 4.2 discuss the length field, offset, and part of the virtual bitmap field in the TIM element (ie, multicast service indication information).
  • this case 4.1 can be applied to the case where each AP of the AP MLD does not work in the multi-BSSID mode, or the case where the AP works in the multi-BSSID mode but is a non-transmitting AP. Optionally, it can also be applied to other situations.
  • Multicast traffic indication message is a traffic indication virtual bitmap field byte N 1, all bits in byte N end 2, wherein, N 1, greater than or equal to 0, N 2 is greater than or equal to N 1.
  • the compression method in the protocol is adopted, and when multiple APs with consecutive association identifiers do not have multicast services, the bits corresponding to these association identifiers may not be carried in some virtual bitmap fields. That is, the offset in the TIM element is used to reduce the number of bits of the multicast service indication information in the part of the virtual bitmap field.
  • the multicast traffic indication message is a traffic indication virtual bitmap field byte N 1, all bits in byte N 2 ends.
  • the offset of the multicast service indication information can be set to N 1 /2, that is, N 1 is an even number Byte number.
  • the length field in the TIM element sent by the first AP is N 2 -N 1 +1+3, and the offset of the TIM element is (1/2) N 1 , and further, the station managed by the first AP in the STA MLD receives
  • the multicast service indication information is used to indicate the downlink service or the corresponding AID that the station corresponding to the bit N 1 *8 to bit ((N 2 +1)*8-1)) respectively does not receive.
  • the AP of the AID does not send the multicast service, confirm that all the bits from bit 0 to bit N 1 *8-1 correspond to the AP of the AID without multicast service, and the bit (N 2 +1)*8 and all the following The AP of the AID corresponding to the bit has no multicast service.
  • the multicast service indication information sent by the first AP is Bits 0 to 7 in the virtual bitmap field.
  • the first STA can learn the value of bits 0 to 7 according to the value of bit 0 to bit 7. Whether the AP corresponding to the AID in bit 7 has multicast services. If the AP's AID is not in the range of the AID corresponding to bit 0 to bit 7, then the AP also does not send multicast services to its associated sites or surrounding sites.
  • the multicast service indication information sent by the first AP is partial virtual bits Byte 2 of the image field, namely bit 16 to bit 23, so if the AP’s AID is in the range of the AID corresponding to bit 16 to bit 23, the first STA can learn bit 16 according to the value of bit 16 to bit 23 Whether the AP corresponding to the AID in bit 23 has multicast service. If the AP's AID is not in the range of the AID corresponding to bits 16 to 23, the AP also does not send multicast services to its associated sites or surrounding sites.
  • the first STA It can be learned that AP1, AP4, AP5, and AP8 do not have multicast services, and AP2, AP3, AP6, and AP7 have multicast services.
  • bit 0 is predefined and has no meaning, that is, it does not correspond to any AP
  • bits 1 to 7 correspond to AP1 to AP7 in AP MLD
  • the first STA can learn that AP1, AP2, AP5, and AP6 have groups AP3, AP4, and AP7 do not have multicast services.
  • Case 4.2 Applicable to case 3.2 in the second method above.
  • the relevant content of this case 4.2 can be applied to the situation where one or more APs of the AP MLD work in the multi-BSSID mode and one AP is the transmitting AP.
  • it can also be applied to other situations.
  • Method A multicast traffic indication information is located in the partial virtual bitmap field, wherein the partial virtual bitmap field are traffic indication virtual bitmap field start byte 0, N 2 bits at the end of the byte.
  • N 2 is the smallest byte number so that the values from bit (N 2 +1)*8 to bit 2007 in the service indication virtual bitmap field are all 0, and the service indication virtual bitmap field is the largest
  • the offset is 0, and the length field is N 2 +1+3.
  • Method B The multicast service indication information is located in the partial virtual bitmap field, where part of the virtual bitmap field is the bit that starts at byte 0 of the service indication virtual bitmap field and ends at byte N0-1, and the service indication The virtual bitmap field starts with byte N1 and ends with byte N2.
  • the maximum number of bytes of the service indication virtual bitmap field is byte 251
  • the corresponding maximum AID is AID2007.
  • the bits N 0 *8-1 to N 1 *8-1 of the virtual bitmap field of the service indicator field correspond to downlink services not received by the station of the AID or multicast services not sent by the AP of the corresponding AID.
  • the multicast service indication information sent by the first AP may include service indication virtual
  • the bits in the bitmap field start with byte 0 and end at bytes N0-1; and include the bits starting from byte N1 of the virtual bitmap field of the service indicator and ending at byte N2. Another requirement: if N 0 is an odd number, then N 1 is also an odd number; if N 0 is an even number, then N 1 is also an even number.
  • the offset of the TIM element is (N 1 -N 0 )/2, and the length field is N 0 +N 2 -N 1 +4 bytes.
  • the offset is (N 1 -N 0 )/2.
  • the maximum value of the value indicated by the MaxBSSID Indicator field of each AP is n
  • the minimum number of bytes of N0 needs to satisfy N 0 *8-2 n -N_AP ⁇ 8, where N_AP is the number of APs included in the AP MLD or the number of APs minus one.
  • the offset is (N 1 -N 0 )/2 bytes, and the length is N 0 +N 2 -N 1 +4 bytes.
  • the methods provided in the embodiments of this application are respectively introduced from the perspective of AP MLD and STA MLD.
  • the AP MLD and STA MLD may include a hardware structure and a software module, and the above functions are implemented in the form of a hardware structure, a software module, or a hardware structure plus a software module.
  • One of the above-mentioned functions can be executed in a hardware structure, a software module, or a hardware structure plus a software module.
  • the communication device of the embodiment of the present application will be described in detail below in conjunction with FIG. 11 to FIG. 14.
  • the communication device is an access point of an access point multi-link device or a site of a site multi-link device. Further, the communication device may be a device in AP MLD; or, the communication device may be a device in STA MLD Device.
  • FIG. 11 shows a schematic block diagram of a communication device 100.
  • the communication device 100 corresponds to any one of the above-mentioned multicast service transmission method 200 suitable for multi-link to 500 of the multicast service transmission method suitable for multi-link AP MLD or AP Any AP of MLD.
  • the communication device 100 is an AP or an MLD AP in FIG. 3(a) to FIG. 3(c) or a device therein;
  • the communication device 100 includes:
  • the processing unit 101 is configured to generate multicast service indication information, where the multicast service indication information is used to indicate whether one or more APs of the AP MLD have multicast services;
  • the communication unit 102 is configured to send the multicast service indication information.
  • the multicast service indication information generated by the processing unit 101 can indicate whether it or another AP has a multicast service, and then the communication unit 102 sends it to the site multi-link device. Therefore, it is advantageous for any site in the site multi-link equipment to listen to the multicast service indication information, which improves the flexibility of multicast service notification.
  • the multicast service indication information indicates whether each AP or multiple APs of the AP MLD have multicast services
  • it is beneficial for any site in the multi-link equipment of the site to know whether multiple APs have multicast services.
  • Each site of the site multi-link equipment needs to detect whether there is a multicast service on its respective link, thereby saving the power consumption of the site multi-link equipment.
  • each bit of the multicast service indication information corresponds to each AP of the AP MLD; the value of each bit is used to indicate whether the AP corresponding to the bit has a multicast service .
  • the details are as the related content in the embodiment shown in FIG. 5 to FIG. 6 in the foregoing method embodiment.
  • the multicast service indication information sent by the transceiver may be part of the bits of the multicast service indication information generated by the processor, such as the related content described in case 2.1 to case 2.2, which will not be detailed here.
  • the multicast service indication information is part of bits in the part of the virtual bitmap field in the TIM element of the service indication bitmap.
  • the multicast service indication information is part of the continuous bits in the part of the virtual bitmap field in the TIM element of the service indication bitmap.
  • the AP MLD allocates AIDs to each AP it includes, and then uses the bits corresponding to these AIDs in a part of the virtual bitmap to respectively indicate whether the APs of the AIDs have multicast services, that is, multicast service indication information
  • the bits corresponding to these AIDs please refer to the related content shown in FIGS. 7 to 9 in the foregoing method embodiment section.
  • the AID corresponding to each AP of the AP MLD is explicitly assigned or implicitly predefined, or it needs to be considered when the AP MLD works in the multi-BSSID mode and is an AP that transmits BSSIDs. How to determine the AP MLD corresponding to each AP For AID, please refer to method one and method two in the above method embodiment part, which will not be described in detail here.
  • the processing unit 101 is also used to generate association identification configuration information, and the association identification configuration information is used to indicate each of the AP MLD
  • the association identifier AID corresponding to each bit of the multicast service indication information is associated with each AP management of the AP MLD.
  • the AID of the site is different.
  • the AID corresponding to the first bit of the partial continuous bits in the partial virtual bitmap field corresponding to the multicast service indication information is predefined.
  • the AID corresponding to the first bit of the partial consecutive bits in the partial virtual bit bitmap field in the partial virtual bitmap field in the service indicator bitmap TIM element corresponding to the multicast service indicator information is AIDx;
  • the x is equal to max ⁇ 2 ⁇ (N 1 ), 2 ⁇ (N 2 ),..., 2 ⁇ (N y ),..., 2 ⁇ (N n ) ⁇ ; wherein, the n is in the AP MLD
  • N y is the AP that transmits the BSSID y broadcasts the value of the maximum basic service set identification BSSID indication field in the Multiple BSSID element, the AP that transmits the BSSID y It is the yth AP that transmits the BSSID in the AP MLD.
  • the communication unit 102 is further configured to send a service indication bitmap DTIM beacon frame and a multicast service following the DTIM beacon frame. Wherein, when the AP where the communication device 100 is located has a multicast service, the communication unit 102 may perform this operation.
  • the communication device 100 described in the embodiment of the present application can correspondingly execute the multi-link multicast service transmission method 200 to the multi-link multicast service transmission method 500 in the embodiment of the present application, and each unit in the communication device 100
  • the above-mentioned operations or functions are used to implement the corresponding procedures of the methods in FIG. 5 and FIG.
  • FIG. 12 shows a schematic block diagram of the communication device 200.
  • the communication device 200 corresponds to the STA MLD, or STA, any STA of the MLD, or STA described in any one of the above-mentioned multicast service transmission method 200 suitable for multi-link to the multicast service transmission method 500 suitable for multi-link MLD's STA working on the main link.
  • the communication device 200 is the STA of the MLD shown in FIG. 1 or the device therein; or the communication device 200 is the STA of the MLD shown in FIG. 3(a) to FIG. 3(c) or the STA of the MLD Device
  • the communication device 200 includes:
  • the communication unit 201 is configured to receive multicast service indication information from an AP MLD, where the multicast service indication information is used to indicate whether one or more APs of the AP MLD have multicast services;
  • the processing unit 202 is configured to determine whether the one or more APs have a multicast service according to the multicast service indication information.
  • the processing unit 202 can learn whether one or more APs have multicast services according to the multicast service indication information.
  • the communication device 200 can not only learn whether the AP associated with itself has a multicast service, but also whether other APs of the MLD have a multicast service, thereby improving the flexibility of multicast service notification.
  • the multicast service indication information indicates whether multiple APs of the AP MLD or each AP has a multicast service, that is, any STA of the MLD where the communication device 200 is located can learn the multiple APs or each AP of the MLD.
  • Whether the AP has a multicast service avoids that each STA of the MLD where the communication device 200 is located needs to listen to whether the corresponding AP has a multicast service, which saves the power consumption of the STA and the MLD where the communication device 200 is located.
  • the STA corresponding to the communication device 200 is a station of the STA MLD working on the main link.
  • the communication unit 201 receives the multicast service indication information from the AP MLD, specifically: the communication unit 201 listens to the multicast service indication information from an AP of the AP MLD on the main link.
  • This implementation manner helps other STAs of the STA MLD avoid periodically listening to the multicast service indication information, thereby saving the power consumption of the STA MLD.
  • the communication device 200 determines the main link, please refer to the description of the above method embodiment, which will not be described in detail here.
  • the communication unit 201 is further configured to receive a DTIM beacon frame sending a service indication bitmap and a multicast service after the DTIM beacon frame. In this embodiment, when the processing unit 202 determines that the corresponding AP has a multicast service, the communication unit 201 may perform this operation.
  • each bit of the multicast service indication information corresponds to each AP of the AP MLD; the value of each bit is used to indicate whether the AP corresponding to the bit has a multicast service .
  • the details are as the related content in the embodiment shown in FIG. 5 to FIG. 6 in the foregoing method embodiment.
  • the multicast service indication information sent by the transceiver may be part of the bits of the multicast service indication information generated by the processor, such as the related content described in case 2.1 to case 2.2, which will not be detailed here.
  • the multicast service indication information is part of bits in the part of the virtual bitmap field in the TIM element of the service indication bitmap.
  • the multicast service indication information is part of the continuous bits in the part of the virtual bitmap field in the TIM element of the service indication bitmap.
  • the AP MLD allocates AIDs to each AP it includes, and then uses the bits corresponding to these AIDs in a part of the virtual bitmap to respectively indicate whether the APs of the AIDs have multicast services, that is, multicast service indication information
  • the bits corresponding to these AIDs please refer to the related content shown in FIGS. 7 to 9 in the foregoing method embodiment section.
  • the AID corresponding to each AP of the AP MLD is explicitly assigned or implicitly predefined, or it needs to be considered when the AP MLD works in the multi-BSSID mode and is an AP that transmits BSSIDs. How to determine the AP MLD corresponding to each AP For AID, please refer to method one and method two in the above method embodiment part, which will not be described in detail here.
  • the communication unit 201 is also used to receive association identification configuration information, and the association identification configuration information is used to indicate each AP MLD.
  • the association identifier AID corresponding to each bit of the multicast service indication information is associated with each AP management of the AP MLD.
  • the AID of the site is different.
  • the AID corresponding to the first bit of the partial continuous bits in the partial virtual bitmap field corresponding to the multicast service indication information is predefined.
  • the AID corresponding to the first bit of the partial consecutive bits in the partial virtual bit bitmap field in the partial virtual bitmap field in the service indicator bitmap TIM element corresponding to the multicast service indicator information is AIDx;
  • the x is equal to max ⁇ 2 ⁇ (N 1 ), 2 ⁇ (N 2 ),..., 2 ⁇ (N y ),..., 2 ⁇ (N n ) ⁇ ; wherein, the n is in the AP MLD
  • N y is the BSSID-transmitting AP y broadcasted by the multiple basic service set identifier Multiple BSSID element in the maximum basic service set identifier BSSID indication field value
  • the transmitted BSSID AP y is the AP MLD
  • the communication device 200 described in the embodiment of the present application can correspondingly execute the multi-link multicast service transmission method 200 to the multi-link multicast service transmission method 500 in the embodiment of the present application, and each unit in the communication device 200
  • the above-mentioned operations or functions are used to implement the corresponding procedures of one STA or the first STA in the STA and MLD in each method in FIG. 5 and FIG.
  • FIG. 13 shows a schematic block diagram of the communication device 300.
  • the communication device 300 corresponds to the AP MLD or AP MLD described in any of the above-mentioned multicast service transmission method 200 suitable for multi-link to the multi-link multicast service transmission method 500 described above. Any AP.
  • the communication device 300 may be that the communication device 300 is the AP or the AP of the MLD in FIG. 1; or the communication device 300 is the AP and the MLD in FIG. 3(a) to FIG. 3(c) AP or the device in it.
  • the communication device 300 is a chip, a chip system, or a processor that implements the foregoing method embodiments.
  • the communication device 300 can be used to implement the methods described in the foregoing method embodiments, and for details, please refer to the descriptions in the foregoing method embodiments.
  • the communication device 300 corresponds to the STA MLD or STA MLD described in any of the foregoing multicast service transmission method 200 suitable for multi-link to the multicast service transmission method 500 suitable for multi-link.
  • the communication device 300 is the STA of the MLD in FIG. 1 or the device therein; or the communication device 300 is the STA of the MLD in FIG. 3(a) to FIG. 3(c) or the device thereof .
  • the communication device 300 is a chip, a chip system, or a processor that implements the foregoing method embodiments.
  • the communication device 300 can be used to implement the methods described in the foregoing method embodiments, and for details, please refer to the descriptions in the foregoing method embodiments.
  • the communication device 300 may include one or more processors 301.
  • the processor 301 may be a general-purpose processor or a dedicated processor or the like. For example, it can be a baseband processor or a central processing unit.
  • the baseband processor can be used to process communication protocols and communication data
  • the central processor can be used to control communication devices (such as base stations, baseband chips, terminals, terminal chips, DU or CU, etc.), execute computer programs, and process Computer program data.
  • the communication device 300 may also include a transceiver 305.
  • the transceiver 305 may be called a transceiver unit, a transceiver, or a transceiver circuit, etc., for implementing the transceiver function.
  • the transceiver 305 may include a receiver and a transmitter.
  • the receiver may be referred to as a receiver or a receiving circuit, etc., to implement a receiving function;
  • the transmitter may be referred to as a transmitter or a transmitting circuit, etc., to implement a transmitting function.
  • the communication device 300 may further include an antenna 306.
  • the communication device 300 may include one or more memories 302, on which instructions 304 may be stored, and the instructions 304 may be computer programs that can be run on the communication device 300, so that the communication device 300 Perform the method described in the above method embodiment.
  • the memory 302 may also store data.
  • the communication device 300 and the memory 302 can be provided separately or integrated together.
  • the communication device 300 is used to implement the functions of the AP and the AP of the MLD in the multi-link multicast service transmission method 200 in the foregoing method embodiment to the multi-link multicast service transmission method 500:
  • the processor 301 may be used to perform step S201 in FIG. 5; step S401 in FIG. 7; alternative implementations of the AID corresponding to the AP in the above method one and method two, such as generating an association identification configuration suitable for multi-link multicast Service transmission method information.
  • the transceiver 305 is configured to perform step S202 in FIG. 5; step S402 in FIG. 7; an optional implementation manner of the AID corresponding to the AP in the foregoing method one and method two, such as sending association identification configuration information.
  • the communication device 300 is used to implement the functions of the STA in the multi-link multicast service transmission method 200 in the above-mentioned method embodiment to the MLD STA in the multi-link multicast service transmission method 500:
  • the transceiver 305 is configured to perform step S203 in FIG. 5; step S403 in FIG. 7; an optional implementation manner of the AID corresponding to the AP in the foregoing method one and method two, such as receiving association identification configuration information.
  • the processor 301 may be configured to perform step S204 in FIG. 5; step S404 in FIG. 7; an optional implementation manner for determining the AID of the AP in the above-mentioned method one and method two, such as determining the AP's MLD according to the associated identification configuration information Association ID.
  • the processor 301 may include a transceiver for implementing receiving and sending functions.
  • the transceiver may be a transceiver circuit, or an interface, or an interface circuit.
  • the transceiver circuits, interfaces, or interface circuits used to implement the receiving and transmitting functions can be separated or integrated.
  • the foregoing transceiver circuit, interface, or interface circuit can be used for code/data reading and writing, or the foregoing transceiver circuit, interface, or interface circuit can be used for signal transmission or transmission.
  • the processor 301 may store an instruction 303, which may be a computer program, and the computer program 303 runs on the processor 301 to enable the communication device 300 to execute the method described in the foregoing method embodiment.
  • the computer program 303 may be solidified in the processor 301.
  • the processor 301 may be implemented by hardware.
  • the communication device 300 may include a circuit, and the circuit may implement the sending or receiving or communication function in the foregoing method embodiment.
  • the processor and transceiver described in this application can be implemented in integrated circuit (IC), analog IC, radio frequency integrated circuit RFIC, mixed signal IC, application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), printed circuit board ( printed circuit board, PCB), electronic equipment, etc.
  • the processor and transceiver can also be manufactured by various IC process technologies, such as complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS), nMetal-oxide-semiconductor (NMOS), and P-type Metal oxide semiconductor (positive channel metal oxide semiconductor, PMOS), bipolar junction transistor (BJT), bipolar CMOS (BiCMOS), silicon germanium (SiGe), gallium arsenide (GaAs), etc.
  • CMOS complementary metal oxide semiconductor
  • NMOS nMetal-oxide-semiconductor
  • PMOS bipolar junction transistor
  • BiCMOS bipolar CMOS
  • SiGe silicon germanium
  • GaAs gallium arsenide
  • the communication device described in the above embodiment may be an AP MLD or AP MLD AP, but the scope of the communication device described in this application is not limited to this, and the structure of the communication device may not be limited by FIG. 13.
  • the communication device may be a stand-alone device or may be part of a larger device.
  • the communication device may be:
  • the IC collection may also include storage components for storing data and computer programs;
  • ASIC such as a modem (Modem)
  • the communication device can be a chip or a chip system
  • the chip shown in FIG. 14 includes a processor 401 and an interface 402.
  • the number of processors 401 may be one or more, and the number of interfaces 402 may be multiple.
  • the processor 401 is configured to generate multicast service indication information, where the multicast service indication information is used to indicate whether one or more APs of the AP MLD have multicast services;
  • the interface 402 is used to send the multicast service indication information.
  • the multicast service indication information generated by the processor can indicate whether it or other APs have a multicast service, which is then sent by the transceiver to the site multi-link device. Therefore, it is advantageous for any site in the site multi-link equipment to listen to the multicast service indication information, which improves the flexibility of multicast service notification.
  • the multicast service indication information indicates whether each AP or multiple APs of the AP MLD have multicast services
  • it is beneficial for any site in the multi-link equipment of the site to know whether multiple APs have multicast services.
  • Each site of the site multi-link equipment needs to detect whether there is a multicast service on its respective link, thereby saving the power consumption of the site multi-link equipment.
  • the chip can also perform the functions of the AP in the multi-link multicast service transmission method 200 to the MLD AP in the multi-link multicast service transmission method 500, which will not be described in detail here.
  • the chip is used to implement the functions of the STA and MLD STA in the multi-link multicast service transmission method 200 in the foregoing method embodiment to the multi-link multicast service transmission method 500.
  • the interface 402 is used to receive multicast service indication information from the AP MLD, where the multicast service indication information is used to indicate whether one or more APs of the AP MLD have multicast services.
  • the processor 401 is configured to determine whether the one or more APs have a multicast service according to the multicast service indication information.
  • the processor can learn whether one or more APs have multicast services according to the multicast service indication information.
  • the chip can not only know whether the AP it is associated with has multicast services, but also whether other APs of the MLD have multicast services, thereby improving the flexibility of multicast service notifications.
  • the multicast service indication information indicates whether multiple APs of the AP MLD or each AP has multicast services, that is, any STA of the MLD where the chip is located can learn whether multiple APs of the AP MLD or whether each AP is There is a multicast service, which prevents each STA of the STA where the chip is located from needing to listen to whether the corresponding AP has a multicast service, which saves the power consumption of the STA where the chip is located.
  • the chip can also perform the functions of the STA in the multi-link multicast service transmission method 200 to the MLD STA in the multi-link multicast service transmission method 500, which will not be described in detail here.
  • the present application also provides a computer-readable storage medium on which a computer program is stored, and when the computer-readable storage medium is executed by a computer, the function of any of the foregoing method embodiments is realized.
  • This application also provides a computer program product, which, when executed by a computer, realizes the functions of any of the foregoing method embodiments.
  • the computer program product includes one or more computer programs.
  • the computer may be a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a computer network, or other programmable devices.
  • the computer program may be stored in a computer-readable storage medium, or transmitted from one computer-readable storage medium to another computer-readable storage medium.
  • the computer program may be downloaded from a website, computer, server, or data center.
  • the computer-readable storage medium may be any available medium that can be accessed by a computer or a data storage device such as a server or a data center integrated with one or more available media.
  • the usable medium may be a magnetic medium (for example, a floppy disk, a hard disk, and a magnetic tape), an optical medium (for example, a high-density digital video disc (digital video disc, DVD)), or a semiconductor medium (for example, a solid state disk, SSD)) etc.
  • At least one in this application can also be described as one or more, and the multiple can be two, three, four or more, which is not limited in this application.
  • the technical feature is distinguished by “first”, “second”, “third”, “A”, “B”, “C”, and “D”, etc.
  • first”, “Second”, “Third”, “A”, “B”, “C” and “D” there is no order or size order among the technical features.
  • the corresponding relationships shown in the tables in this application can be configured or pre-defined.
  • the value of the information in each table is only an example, and can be configured to other values, which is not limited in this application.
  • the corresponding relationship shown in some rows may not be configured.
  • appropriate deformation adjustments can be made based on the above table, such as splitting, merging, and so on.
  • the names of the parameters shown in the titles in the above tables may also adopt other names that can be understood by the communication device, and the values or expressions of the parameters may also be other values or expressions that can be understood by the communication device.
  • other data structures can also be used, such as arrays, queues, containers, stacks, linear tables, pointers, linked lists, trees, graphs, structures, classes, heaps, hash tables, or hash tables. Wait.
  • the pre-definition in this application can be understood as definition, pre-definition, storage, pre-storage, pre-negotiation, pre-configuration, curing, or pre-burning.

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Abstract

本申请适用于多链路的组播业务传输方法及装置。AP MLD的第一AP发送的组播业务指示信息用于指示AP MLD的一个AP是否有组播业务。该AP为第一AP或AP MLD的其他AP，STA MLD的第一STA可获知第一AP或其他AP是否有组播业务，改善了AP的组播业务通知的灵活性。该组播业务指示信息用于指示AP MLD的多个或所有AP中每个AP是否有组播业务，该第一STA即可获知多个AP是否有组播业务，避免STA MLD的各STA均需侦听各AP是否有组播业务，节省了STA MLD的功耗。本申请可应用于支持IEEE 802.11ax下一代WiFi EHT协议，如802.11be等802.11系列协议的无线局域网系统。

Description

适用于多链路的组播业务传输方法及装置 技术领域
本申请涉及通信技术领域，尤其涉及一种适用于多链路的组播业务传输方法及装置。
背景技术
为了大幅提升无线局域网(wireless local area network，WLAN)系统的业务传输速率，电气和电子工程师协会(IEEE，Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers)802.11ax标准在现有正交频分复用(OFDM，Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing)技术的基础上，进一步采用正交频分多址(OFDMA，Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access)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。另外，美国联邦通信委员会(FCC，Federal Communications Commission)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设备工作范围从2.4GHz，5GHz拓展到2.4GHz，5GHz和6GHz等。
IEEE 802.11ax下一代WiFi协议-极高吞吐量(EHT，extremely high throughput)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。IEEE 802.11ax下一代WiFi协议-EHT设备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-EHT设备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。本文将多频段或多信道统称为多链路。
IEEE 802.11ax下一代WiFi-EHT设备中使用多链路合作技术把不连续的多链路聚合起来形成超大带宽。多链路合作技术除了聚合更大的带宽，还可以使用多链路合作技术同时发送同业务的数据包给同一个站点。可见，多链路合作技术使得速率传输得到大幅度提升，但是针对于下行组播业务传输，由于站点多链路设备中的每个站点需要周期性的处于工作状态从而观察接入点多链路设备中的每个接入点是否会发送下行组播业务，导致需要耗费更多的能量。
发明内容
本申请提供了一种适用于多链路的组播业务传输方法及装置，有利于节省站点多链路设备的功耗。
第一方面，本申请提供一种适用于多链路的组播业务传输方法，该方法中，接入点多链路设备AP MLD的第一接入点AP生成组播业务指示信息，该组播业务指示信息用于指示该AP MLD的一个或多个AP是否有组播业务；第一AP发送该组播业务指示信息。
一种实施方式中，组播业务指示信息用于指示AP MLD的一个AP是否有组播业务，该AP为第一AP或AP MLD的其他AP。该实施方式与第一AP管理的站点仅能获知该第一AP是否有组播业务的方式相比，改善了组播业务通知的灵活性。
另一种实施方式中，组播业务指示信息用于指示AP MLD的多个AP中每个AP是否有 组播业务。该实施方式与第一AP管理的站点仅能获知该第一AP是否有组播业务的方式相比，避免了STA MLD中每个STA均需周期性侦听对应的AP是否有组播业务，即该实施方式中STA MLD的一个站点可获知多个AP是否有组播业务，从而节省了STA MLD的功耗。
又一种实施方式中，组播业务指示信息用于指示AP MLD的每个AP是否有组播业务。该实施方式与第一AP管理的站点仅能获知该第一AP是否有组播业务的方式相比，避免了STA MLD中每个STA均需周期性侦听对应的AP是否有组播业务，即该实施方式中STA MLD的一个站点可获知每个AP是否有组播业务，从而节省了STA MLD的功耗。
一种实施方式中，组播业务指示信息的每个比特分别与AP MLD的一个或多个AP中每个AP相对应；每个比特用于指示该比特对应的AP是否有组播业务，或每个比特的值用于指示该比特对应的AP是否有组播业务。
另一种实施方式中，组播业务指示信息的每个比特分别与AP MLD的每个AP相对应；每个比特用于指示该比特对应的AP是否有组播业务，或每个比特的值用于指示该比特对应的AP是否有组播业务。
一种实施方式中，组播业务指示信息的每个比特与AP MLD的每个AP之间的对应关系，或组播业务指示信息的每个比特与AP MLD的一个或多个AP中每个AP之间的对应关系，可通过STA MLD与AP MLD之间的关联响应帧或管理帧配置。
另一种实施方式中，组播业务指示信息的每个比特与AP MLD的每个AP之间的对应关系，或组播业务指示信息的每个比特与AP MLD的一个或多个AP中每个AP之间的对应关系，是预定义的。另一种实施方式中，组播业务指示信息是业务指示位图TIM元素中部分虚拟比特位图字段中的部分比特。
一种实施方式中，组播业务指示信息是该部分虚拟比特位图字段中的部分连续比特，如组播业务指示信息是部分虚拟比特位图字段中的比特1至比特7，即可利用该部分虚拟比特位图字段中的比特1至比特7指示AP MLD的各AP是否有组播业务。
另一实施方式中，组播业务指示信息是该部分虚拟比特位图字段中的部分非连续比特，如组播业务指示信息是部分虚拟比特位图字段中的比特1、比特2、比特4，即可利用部分虚拟比特位图字段中的比特1、比特2、比特4指示AP MLD的各AP是否有组播业务。
一种实现方式中，AP MLD的第一AP生成关联标识配置信息，该关联标识配置信息用于指示该AP MLD的每个AP对应的关联标识；第一AP发送该关联标识配置信息。其中，每个AP的AID对应组播业务指示信息的每个比特。也就是说，组播业务指示信息的每个比特用于指示该比特对应的AID的AP是否有组播业务。其中，该关联标识配置信息可通过关联响应帧或管理帧发送给STA MLD。
另一种实现方式中，组播业务指示信息对应的所述部分连续比特的第一个比特或起始比特对应的AID是预定义的。也就是说，该部分连续比特的第一个比特或起始比特是预定义的。或者，组播业务指示信息在TIM元素中部分虚拟比特位图字段中的起始比特位置是预定义的。或者，AP MLD的各AP的AID是以AIDx为起始连续分配的，该AIDx是预定义的。其中，该实现方式中，组播业务指示信息是是业务指示位图TIM元素中部分虚拟比特位图字段中的部分连续比特。
其中，AP MLD中各AP被分配的关联标识与各AP关联的站点被分配的关联标识不同。也就是说，AP MLD中各AP被分配的关联标识不能再由各AP分配给其管理的站点。但不同AP给其管理的站点分配的AID是相对独立的，即不同AP给其管理的站点所分配的AID可 以重复。
另外，若AP MLD中存在一个或多个AP是工作在多BSSID模式下且为传输BSSID的AP，则上述两种实现方式中，AP MLD中各AP的AID是以AIDx为起始连续分配的，该x等于max{2^(N 1)，2^(N 2)，…，2^(N y)，…，2^(N n)}；其中，所述n为该AP MLD中的传输BSSID的AP的个数，N y是AP MLD中的第y个传输BSSID的AP广播的多基本服务集标识Multiple BSSID元素中的最大基本服务集标识BSSID指示字段的值。
或者，AP MLD中各AP的AID是以AIDx为起始连续分配的，该x等于max{2^(N 1)，2^(N 2)，…，2^(N y)，…，2^(N n)}；n为该AP MLD中的AP的个数，N y是AP MLD中的第y个AP广播的多基本服务集标识Multiple BSSID元素中的最大基本服务集标识BSSID指示字段的值，其中，默认非传输AP或非工作在多BSSID模式下的AP的最大BSSID指示字段的值为0。
也就是说，组播业务指示信息对应的部分虚拟比特字段中的部分连续比特的起始比特或第一个比特是比特x，x等于max{2^(N 1)，2^(N 2)，…，2^(N y)，…，2^(N n)}。或者，组播业务指示信息对应的部分虚拟比特字段中的部分连续比特的起始比特或第一个比特对应的AID是AIDx，x等于max{2^(N 1)，2^(N 2)，…，2^(N y)，…，2^(N n)}。其中，n、N y的物理含义可参见上述描述，此处不再详述。
另外，组播业务指示信息对应TIM元素中部分虚拟比特位图字段中的部分比特，故第一AP根据组播业务指示信息在业务指示虚拟比特位图字段中的起始字节N 1以及结束字节N 2，确定TIM元素中的偏移量和长度字段；第一AP可发送该偏移量和长度字段。从而有利于STA MLD中该第一AP关联的站点根据组播业务指示信息、偏移量和长度字段，确定组播业务指示信息的每个比特对应的AP是否有组播业务。
可选的，本申请实施例中，组播业务指示信息可采用偏移量进行压缩。一种实现方式中，若组播业务指示信息的每个比特对应的AP是按照AP MLD的各AP工作的链路标识大小依次分配的，且链路标识连续的多个AP均没有组播业务，则组播业务指示信息可只包括该多个AP之外的其他AP对应的比特，也就是说，第一AP发送的组播业务指示信息可包括该多个AP之外的其他AP对应的比特。
为阐述方便，第一AP生成的组播业务指示信息称为第一组播业务指示信息，将第一AP发送的组播业务指示信息称为第二组播业务指示信息。第二组播业务指示信息可与第一组播业务指示信息相同，或第二组播业务指示信息是第一组播业务指示信息的部分比特。第二组播业务指示信息相对于第一组播业务指示信息的偏移量简称为第二组播业务指示信息的偏移量。
若第一组播业务指示信息的字节N 1之前的比特以及字节N 2之后的所有比特分别对应的AP均没有组播业务，其中，N 1大于或等于0，N 2大于或等于1，则第二组播业务指示信息是第一组播业务指示信息的字节N 1开始，在字节N 2结束的所有比特。
那么，第一AP发送的第二组播业务指示信息的长度为N 2-N 1+1；第二组播业务指示信息的偏移量为N 1/2，进而，STA MLD中第一AP管理的站点接收到该长度、偏移量，可确定接收的第二组播业务指示信息用于指示比特N 1*8至比特((N 2+1)*8-1))分别对应的AP是否有组播业务，以及比特0至比特N 1*8-1的所有比特对应的AP没有组播业务，以及比特(N 2+1)*8及其之后的所有比特对应的AP没有组播业务。
本申请中所说的比特a，指的是第a位比特，例如比特0，是指第0位比特。
若第一组播业务指示信息的比特N 0*8-1至比特N 1*8-1分别对应的AP均没有组播业务，以及比特N 2*8及其之后的比特分别对应的AP也没有组播业务，则第二组播业务指示信息是第一组播业务指示信息的字节0开始，在字节N0-1结束的比特，以及从第一组播业务指示信息的字节N 1开始，在字节N2结束的比特。那么，第一AP发送的第二组播业务指示信息的长度为N 0+N 2-N 1+1，第二组播业务指示信息的偏移量为N 1-N 0，进而，STA MLD中第一AP管理的站点接收到该长度、偏移量，可确定接收的第二组播业务指示信息用于指示比特0至比特(N 0-1)*8-1，以及比特(N 1-1)*8+1至比特N 2*8+1分别对应的AP是否有组播业务，而比特(N 0-1)*8至比特(N 1-1)*8分别对应的AP均没有组播业务。
另一种实现方式中，在关联标识连续的多个AP均没有组播业务时，部分虚拟比特位图字段中可不携带这些关联标识对应的比特。即使用TIM元素中的偏移量，减少部分虚拟比特位图字段中组播业务指示信息的比特数。假设组播业务指示信息为TIM元素中的部分虚拟比特位图字段。
若业务指示虚拟比特位图字段的字节N 1之前的比特以及字节N 2之后的所有比特对应的AID的AP均没有组播业务，其中，N 1大于或等于0，N 2大于或等于1，则组播业务指示信息是业务指示虚拟比特位图字段的字节N 1开始，在字节N 2结束的所有比特。那么，第一AP发送的TIM元素的长度字段为N 2-N 1+1+3以及TIM元素的偏移量为(1/2)N 1，进而，STA MLD中第一AP管理的站点根据接收的该长度、偏移量，确定组播业务指示信息用于指示比特N 1*8至比特((N 2+1)*8-1))分别对应的AID的AP是否有组播业务，并确定比特0至比特N 1*8-1的所有比特对应的AID的AP没有组播业务，以及比特(N 2+1)*8及其之后的所有比特对应的AID的AP没有组播业务。
若业务指示虚拟比特位图字段的字节N0至字节N 1-1的所有比特分别对应的AID的AP均没有组播业务，则组播业务指示信息是业务指示虚拟比特位图字段的字节0开始，在字节N 0-1结束的比特，以及从业务指示虚拟比特位图字段的字节N 1开始，在字节N 2结束的比特。那么，第一AP发送的TIM元素的长度字段为N 0+N 2-N 1+1+3，TIM元素的偏移量为(N1-N0)1/2，进而，STA MLD中第一AP管理的站点根据接收的TIM元素的该长度字段、偏移量，可确定接收的组播业务指示信息用于指示比特0至比特(N 0-1)*8-1，以及比特(N 1-1)*8+1至比特N 2*8+1分别对应的AID的AP是否有组播业务，而比特(N 0-1)*8至比特(N 1-1)*8分别对应的AID的AP均没有组播业务。
可选的，第一AP发送的组播业务指示信息携带于业务指示位图DTIM信标帧。进一步的，第一AP在DTIM信标帧之后发送组播业务。
可选的，针对信标帧，该组播业务指示信息可仅携带于DTIM信标帧中。可选的，该组播业务指示信息还可携带于TIM信标帧、管理帧、数据帧、控制帧等其他帧中。
可选的，若该组播业务指示信息携带于TIM信标帧、管理帧、数据帧或控制帧中，该第一AP若有组播业务的AP，则第一AP还可以发送业务指示位图DTIM信标帧以及在所述DTIM信标帧之后的组播业务。
第二方面，本申请还提供一种适用于多链路的组播业务传输方法，该方法是从站点多链路设备STA MLD的角度阐述的。该方法中，STA MLD的第一站点STA接收来自AP MLD的组播业务指示信息，所述组播业务指示信息用于指示所述AP MLD的一个或多个AP是否有组播业务。
可选的，所述第一STA可根据所述组播业务指示信息，确定或获知所述一个或多个AP是否有组播业务。
一种实施方式中，组播业务指示信息用于指示AP MLD的一个AP是否有组播业务，该AP为第一AP或AP MLD的其他AP。该实施方式中，第一STA能获知该第一AP或AP MLD的其他AP是否有组播业务，改善了组播业务通知的灵活性。
另一种实施方式中，组播业务指示信息用于指示AP MLD的多个AP中每个AP是否有组播业务。该实施方式中，第一STA可获知多个AP是否有组播业务，避免了STA MLD中每个STA均需周期性侦听对应的AP是否有组播业务，从而节省了STA MLD的功耗。
又一种实施方式中，组播业务指示信息用于指示AP MLD的每个AP是否有组播业务。该实施方式中第一STA可获知AP MLD的每个AP是否有组播业务，避免了STA MLD中每个STA均需周期性侦听对应的AP是否有组播业务，从而节省了STA MLD的功耗。
一种实施方式中，所述STA MLD的所述第一STA是工作在主链路的站点，所述STA MLD的第一STA接收来自AP MLD的组播业务指示信息，包括：所述STA MLD的第一STA在所述主链路上侦听来自AP MLD的一个AP的组播业务指示信息。
可选的，针对信标帧，该组播业务指示信息可仅携带于DTIM信标帧。
可选的，该组播业务指示信息可携带于TIM信标帧、管理帧、数据帧或控制帧等其他帧中。
可选的，该组播业务指示信息携带于TIM信标帧、管理帧、数据帧或控制帧等其他帧中，第一STA可接收DTIM信标帧，并在该DTIM信标帧之后接收组播业务；相应的，对于STA MLD中的其他STA，若根据该组播业务指示信息获知对应的AP也有组播业务，则该其他STA可接收DTIM信标帧并在该DTIM信标帧之后接收组播业务。
可选的，该组播业务携带于DTIM信标帧中，该第一STA可在该DTIM信标帧之后接收组播业务；相应的，对于STA MLD中的其他STA，若根据该组播业务指示信息获知对应的AP也有组播业务，则该其他STA可接收DTIM信标帧并在该DTIM信标帧之后接收组播业务。
另一种实施方式中，所述第一STA确定第一STA工作的链路上的AP有组播业务，则可在该链路上接收来自该AP的发送业务指示位图DTIM信标帧以及所述DTIM信标帧之后的组播业务。
一种实施方式中，所述组播业务指示信息的每个比特分别与所述AP MLD的每个AP相对应；所述每个比特的值用于指示该比特对应的AP是否有组播业务。该实施方式的相关阐述可参见上述第一方面的相关内容，此处不再详述。
另一种实施方式中，所述组播业务指示信息是业务指示位图TIM元素中部分虚拟比特位图字段中的部分比特。该实施方式的相关阐述可参见上述第一方面的相关内容，此处不再详述。
又一种实施方式中，所述组播业务指示信息是业务指示位图TIM元素中部分虚拟比特位图字段中的部分连续比特。该实施方式的相关阐述可参见上述第一方面的相关内容，此处不再详述。
由于部分虚拟比特位图字段中的一些比特对应的AID是分配给站点的，这些比特用于分别指示对应的站点是否有单播业务，故该实施方式中，AP MLD中各AP被分配的关联标识与各AP关联的站点被分配的关联标识不同。也就是说，AP MLD中各AP被分配的关联标识 不能再由各AP分配给其管理的站点。但不同AP给其管理的站点分配的AID是相对独立的，即不同AP给其管理的站点所分配的AID可以重复。
一种实施方式中，所述STA MLD中第一STA接收关联标识配置信息，所述关联标识配置信息用于指示所述AP MLD的每个AP对应的关联标识AID；所述每个AP的AID对应所述组播业务指示信息的每个比特；第一STA根据所述关联标识配置信息，确定所述AP MLD的每个AP对应的AID。该实施方式的相关阐述可参见上述第一方面的相关内容，此处不再详述。
另一种实施方式中，所述组播业务指示信息对应的部分虚拟比特位图字段中的该部分连续比特的第一个比特对应的AID是预定义的。该实施方式的相关阐述可参见上述第一方面的相关内容，此处不再详述。
又一种实施方式中，所述部分连续比特的第一个比特对应的AID是AIDx；所述x等于max{2^(N 1)，2^(N 2)，…，2^(N y)，…，2^(N n)}；其中，所述n为所述AP MLD中传输基本服务集标识的AP的个数，N y是传输BSSID的APy广播的多基本服务集标识Multiple BSSID元素中的最大基本服务集标识BSSID指示字段的值，所述传输BSSID的AP y是所述AP MLD中的第y个传输BSSID的AP。该实施方式的相关阐述可参见上述第一方面的相关内容，此处不再详述。
可选的，本申请实施例中，组播业务指示信息可采用偏移量进行压缩。一种实现方式中，若组播业务指示信息的每个比特对应的AP是按照AP MLD的各AP工作的链路标识大小依次分配的，且链路标识连续的多个AP均没有组播业务，则组播业务指示信息可只包括该多个AP之外的其他AP对应的比特，也就是说，第一AP发送的组播业务指示信息可包括该多个AP之外的其他AP对应的比特。该实施方式的相关阐述可参见上述第一方面的相关内容，此处不再详述。
第三方面，本申请提供了一种接入点多链路设备的接入点，该接入点多链路设备的接入点具有实现上述第一方面所述的方法示例中AP MLD的第一AP的部分或全部功能，比如接入点多链路设备的接入点的功能可具备本申请中的部分或全部实施例中的功能，也可以具备单独实施本申请中的任一个实施例的功能。所述功能可以通过硬件实现，也可以通过硬件执行相应的软件实现。所述硬件或软件包括一个或多个与上述功能相对应的单元或模块。
一种实现方式中，该接入点多链路设备的接入点的结构中可包括处理单元和通信单元，所述处理单元被配置为支持接入点多链路设备的接入点执行上述方法中相应的功能。所述通信单元用于支持接入点多链路设备的接入点与其他设备之间的通信。所述接入点多链路设备的接入点还可以包括存储单元，所述存储单元用于与处理单元和发送单元耦合，其保存接入点多链路设备的接入点必要的计算机程序和数据。
一种实施方式中，所述接入点多链路设备的接入点包括：
所述处理单元，用于生成组播业务指示信息，所述组播业务指示信息用于指示AP MLD的一个或多个AP是否有组播业务；
所述通信单元，用于发送所述组播业务指示信息。
可见，该接入点多链路设备的接入点中，处理单元生成的组播业务指示信息能够指示自身或其他AP是否有组播业务，进而由通信单元发送给站点多链路设备。从而有利于站点多链路设备中的任意一个站点可侦听该组播业务指示信息，改善了组播业务通知的灵活性。另 外，该组播业务指示信息指示AP MLD的每个AP或多个AP是否有组播业务时，有利于站点多链路设备中的任意一个站点可获知多个AP是否有组播业务，避免了站点多链路设备的每个站点都需侦各自链路上是否有组播业务，从而节省了站点多链路设备的功耗。
作为示例，处理单元可以为处理器，通信单元可以为收发器或通信接口，存储单元可以为存储器。
另一种实施方式中，所述接入点多链路设备的接入点包括：
所述处理器，用于生成组播业务指示信息，所述组播业务指示信息用于指示AP MLD的一个或多个AP是否有组播业务；
所述收发器，用于发送所述组播业务指示信息。
可见，该接入点多链路设备的接入点中，处理器生成的组播业务指示信息能够指示自身或其他AP是否有组播业务，进而由收发器发送给站点多链路设备。从而有利于站点多链路设备中的任意一个站点可侦听该组播业务指示信息，改善了组播业务通知的灵活性。另外，该组播业务指示信息指示AP MLD的每个AP或多个AP是否有组播业务时，有利于站点多链路设备中的任意一个站点可获知多个AP是否有组播业务，避免了站点多链路设备的每个站点都需侦各自链路上是否有组播业务，从而节省了站点多链路设备的功耗。
可选的，该接入点多链路设备的接入点还可以执行上述第一方面的任一个或多个实施方式，此处不再详述。
第四方面，本申请还提供了一种站点多链路设备的站点，该站点多链路设备的站点具有实现上述第二方面所述的方法示例中STA MLD的第一STA的部分或全部功能，比如站点多链路设备的站点的功能可具备本申请中的部分或全部实施例中的功能，也可以具备单独实施本申请中的任一个实施例的功能。所述功能可以通过硬件实现，也可以通过硬件执行相应的软件实现。所述硬件或软件包括一个或多个与上述功能相对应的单元或模块。
一种实施方式中，该站点多链路设备的站点的结构中可包括处理单元和通信单元，所述处理单元被配置为支持站点多链路设备的站点执行上述方法中相应的功能。所述通信单元用于支持站点多链路设备的站点与其他设备之间的通信。所述站点多链路设备的站点还可以包括存储单元，所述存储单元用于与处理单元和发送单元耦合，其保存站点多链路设备的站点必要的计算机程序和数据。
一种实施方式中，所述站点多链路设备的站点包括：
所述通信单元，用于接收来自AP MLD的组播业务指示信息，所述组播业务指示信息用于指示所述AP MLD的一个或多个AP是否有组播业务。
可选的，该站点多链路设备的站点还包括处理单元；
所述处理单元，用于根据所述组播业务指示信息，确定所述一个或多个AP是否有组播业务。
可见，该站点多链路设备的站点中，处理单元可根据组播业务指示信息，获知一个或多个AP是否有组播业务。也就是说，该站点多链路设备的站点不仅可以获知自身关联的AP是否有组播业务，还可以获知AP MLD的其他AP是否有组播业务，从而改善了组播业务通知的灵活性。另外，该组播业务指示信息指示AP MLD的多个AP或每个AP是否有组播业务，即该站点多链路设备的任一STA即可获知AP MLD的多个AP或每个AP是否有组播业务，避免该STA MLD的每个STA均需侦听对应的AP是否有组播业务，节省了该STA MLD的功耗。
作为示例，处理单元可以为处理器，通信单元可以为收发器或通信接口，存储单元可以为存储器。
另一种实施方式中，所述站点多链路设备的站点包括：
所述收发器，用于接收来自AP MLD的组播业务指示信息，所述组播业务指示信息用于指示所述AP MLD的一个或多个AP是否有组播业务。
可选的，该站点多链路设备的站点还包括处理器；
所述处理器，用于根据所述组播业务指示信息，确定所述一个或多个AP是否有组播业务。
可见，该站点多链路设备的站点中，处理器可根据组播业务指示信息，获知一个或多个AP是否有组播业务。也就是说，该站点多链路设备的站点不仅可以获知自身关联的AP是否有组播业务，还可以获知AP MLD的其他AP是否有组播业务，从而改善了组播业务通知的灵活性。另外，该组播业务指示信息指示AP MLD的多个AP或每个AP是否有组播业务，即该STA MLD的任一STA即可获知AP MLD的多个AP或每个AP是否有组播业务，避免该STA MLD的每个STA均需侦听对应的AP是否有组播业务，节省了STA MLD的功耗。
可选的，该站点多链路设备的站点还可以执行上述第二方面的任一个或多个实施方式，此处不再详述。
第五方面，本发明实施例提供了一种计算机可读存储介质，用于储存计算机程序，所述计算机程序在通信装置中运行时，所述通信装置执行上述第一方面所述的适用于多链路的组播业务传输方法。
第六方面，本发明实施例提供了一种计算机可读存储介质，用于储存计算机程序，所述计算机程序在通信装置中运行时，所述通信装置执行上述第二方面所述的适用于多链路的组播业务传输方法。
第七方面，本申请还提供了一种包括计算机程序的计算机程序产品，当其在通信装置上运行时，使得通信装置执行上述第一方面所述的适用于多链路的组播业务传输方法。
第八方面，本申请还提供了一种包括计算机程序的计算机程序产品，当其在通信装置上运行时，使得通信装置执行上述第二方面所述的适用于多链路的组播业务传输方法。
第九方面，本申请提供了一种芯片系统，该芯片系统包括至少一个处理器和接口，用于支持AP MLD的任一AP，如第一AP，实现第一方面所涉及的功能，例如，确定或处理上述方法中所涉及的数据和信息中的至少一种。在一种可能的设计中，所述芯片系统还包括存储器，所述存储器，用于保存AP MLD的AP必要的计算机程序和数据。该芯片系统，可以由芯片构成，也可以包括芯片和其他分立器件。
第十方面，本申请提供了一种芯片系统，该芯片系统包括至少一个处理器和接口，用于支持STA MLD的任一STA，如第一STA，实现第二方面所涉及的功能，例如，确定或处理上述方法中所涉及的数据和信息中的至少一种。在一种可能的设计中，所述芯片系统还包括存储器，所述存储器，用于保存STA MLD的STA必要的计算机程序和数据。该芯片系统，可以由芯片构成，也可以包括芯片和其他分立器件。
附图说明
图1是本申请实施例提供的一种AP MLD和STA MLD的结构示意图；
图2是本申请实施例提供的一种TIM元素的帧格式示意图；
图3(a)是本申请实施例提供的一种通信系统100的结构示意图；
图3(b)是本申请实施例提供的一种通信系统200的结构示意图；
图3(c)是本申请实施例提供的一种通信系统300的结构示意图；
图4是本申请实施例提供的一种组播业务传输方法100的示意图；
图5是本申请实施例提供的一种适用于多链路的组播业务传输方法200的流程示意图；
图5a是本申请实施例提供的一种适用于多链路的组播业务传输方法中的MLD参数字段的示意图；
图5b是本申请实施例提供的一种适用于多链路的组播业务传输方法中的能力信息字段的示意图；
图5c是本申请实施例提供的一种适用于多链路的组播业务传输方法中的又一能力信息字段的示意图；
图5d是本申请实施例提供的一种适用于多链路的组播业务传输方法中的RNR元素的示意图；
图5e是本申请实施例提供的一种适用于多链路的组播业务传输方法中的TBTT信息字段的示意图；
图6是本申请实施例提供的一种适用于多链路的组播业务传输方法300的示意图；
图7是本申请实施例提供的一种适用于多链路的组播业务传输方法400的流程示意图；
图8是本申请实施例提供的一种部分虚拟比特位图字段的示意图；
图9是本申请实施例提供的一种适用于多链路的组播业务传输方法500的示意图；
图10是本申请实施例提供的一种BSSID元素的帧格式示意图；
图11是本申请实施例提供的一种通信装置100的结构示意图；
图12是本申请实施例提供的一种通信装置200的结构示意图；
图13是本申请实施例提供的一种通信装置300的结构示意图；
图14是本申请实施例提供的一种芯片的结构示意图。
具体实施方式
下面结合本申请实施例中的附图对本申请实施例中的技术方案进行清楚、完整的描述。
为了更好的理解本申请实施例公开的适用于多链路的组播业务传输方法及相关装置，首先对本申请实施例的相关概念进行描述。
1、多链路设备
本申请实施例适用的无线通信系统可以为无线局域网(Wireless local area network，WLAN)或蜂窝网，该组播业务传输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)。相比于仅支持单条链路传输的设备来说，多链路设备具有更高的传输效率和更高的吞吐量。
多链路设备包括一个或多个隶属的站点STA(affiliated STA)，隶属的STA是一个逻辑上的站点，可以工作在一条链路上。其中，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或多链路AP设备或AP多链路设备(AP multi-link device，AP MLD)，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,STA MLD)。为描述方便，“多链路设备包括隶属STA”在本申请实施例中也简要描述为“多链路设备包括STA”。
值得注意的是，多链路设备包括多个逻辑站点，每个逻辑站点工作在一条链路上，但允许多个逻辑站点工作在同一条链路上。
多链路设备可以遵循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)站点，或遵循基于802.11be或兼容支持802.11be的站点，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。
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。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。
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STA MLD具有无线收发功能，可以为支持802.11系列协议，可以与AP MLD或其他STA MLD或单链路设备进行通信，例如，STA MLD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，STA MLD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，STA MLD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AP MLD为STA MLD提供服务的装置，可以支持802.11系列协议。例如，AP MLD可以为通信服务器、路由器、交换机、网桥等通信实体，或，所述AP MLD可以包括各种形式的宏基站，微基站，中继站等，当然AP MLD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STA MLD和AP MLD的具体形式不做特殊限制，在此仅是示例性说明。其中，802.11协议可以为支持802.11be或兼容802.11be的协议。
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。
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，本申请实施例中的多链路设备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1示出了AP MLD为多天线，STA MLD为单天线的结构示意图，802.11标准关注AP MLD和STA MLD中的物理层(Physical layer，PHY)和媒体接入控制(Media Access Control，MAC)层部分。
2、链路标识
链路标识表征的是工作在一条链路上的一个站点，也就是说，如果一条链路上有多于1个站点，则需要多于1个链路标识表征他们。下文提到的链路有时也表示工作在该条链路上的站点。
AP MLD与STA MLD在数据传输时，可以采用链路标识来标识一条链路或一条链路上的站点。在通信之前，AP MLD与STA MLD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。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。
一个示例中，AP MLD在建立基本服务集(basic service set，BSS)时发送的管理帧，比如信标(beacon)帧，会携带一个元素，该元素包括多个链路标识信息字段。链路标识信息字段可以指示一个链路标识与工作在该链路标识对应的链路上的站点的对应关系。链路标识信息字段不仅包括链路标识，还包括以下一个或多个信息：媒体接入控制(Media Access Control，MAC)地址，操作集，信道号。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。对于AP来说，AP的MAC地址也就是AP的BSSID(basic service set identifier，基本服务集标识)。另一个示例中，在多链路设备关联过程中，AP MLD和STA多链路设备协商多个链路标识信息字段。其中，多链路设备关联是指AP MLD的一个AP与STA MLD的一个STA进行一次关联，该关联可帮助STA MLD的多个STA与AP MLD的多个AP分别关联，其中，一个STA关联到一个AP。
在后续的通信中，AP MLD或者STA多链路设备会通过链路标识来表征STA多链路设备中的一个站点，链路标识还可表征该站点的MAC地址，工作的操作集，信道号中的一个或多个属性。其中，MAC地址可以换成关联后AP MLD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地址或者站点的关联标识(association identifier，AID)。
3、业务指示位图元素
业务指示位图(traffic indication map，TIM)信标帧和发送业务指示位图(delivery traffic indication map，DTIM)信标帧中均携带有业务指示位图(traffic indication map，TIM)元素。TIM元素字段的帧格式如图2所示，其中：
元素标识符(identifier，ID)字段：用于识别图2所示的元素为TIM元素。
长度字段：用于指示该TIM元素的长度，统计该字段后的总长度，即DTIM计数字段、DTIM周期字段、比特位图控制字段以及部分虚拟比特位图字段的总长度，单位是字节。
DTIM计数(DTIM count)字段：用于指示携带该TIM元素的当前信标帧距离下一个DTIM信标帧到达前还有多少个TIM信标帧出现。即该DTIM计数字段是一个计数值，该计数值是变化的。当该DTIM计数字段的值为0时，表示当前信标帧是DTIM信标帧；当该DTIM技术字段的值不为0或为非0时，表示该当前信标帧是TIM信标帧。
DTIM周期(DTIM period)字段：用于指示DTIM信标帧的周期时长，即到达间隔，该到达间隔以TIM信标帧周期为单位。例如，若DTIM周期设置成1，那么，每个TIM元素字段中DTIM计数都等于0，即每一个信标帧就是DTIM信标帧。
比特位图控制(Bitmap control)字段：如图2所示，Bitmap control字段中比特0用于指示接入点AP发送DTIM信标帧之后是否发送组播数据业务，或者说，如果DTIM信标帧中的Bitmap control字段中的比特0指示AP是否缓存组播业务，以及该组播业务不是通过组播AID发送出去的；Bitmap control字段中比特1～7用于指示部分虚拟比特位图(partial virtual bitmap)的偏移量，该偏移量以字节(即8个比特)为单位。
部分虚拟比特位图(partial virtual bitmap)：部分虚拟比特位图字段中每个比特对应一个关联标识(association identifier，AID)，用于指示该AID对应的站点是否有单播业务。或者部分虚拟比特位图字段中每个比特对应一个组播AID，用于指示组播AID对应的一组站点是否下行业务。部分虚拟比特位图字段为业务指示虚拟比特位图(traffic indication virtual bitmap)字段的部分比特，其中，业务指示虚拟比特位图字段为251字节，用于指示AID 0到AID 2007对应的站点是否有下行业务。
其中，元素ID字段、长度字段、DTIM计数字段、DTIM周期字段和比特位图控制字段分别占据1字节。
虽然本申请实施例主要以部署IEEE 802.11的网络为例进行说明，本领域技术人员容易理解，本申请涉及的各个方面可以扩展到采用各种标准或协议的其它网络，例如，BLUETOOTH(蓝牙)，高性能无线LAN(high performance radio LAN，HIPERLAN)(一种与IEEE 802.1 1标准类似的无线标准，主要在欧洲使用)以及广域网(WAN)、无线局域网(wireless local area network,WLAN)、个人区域网(personal area network,PAN)或其它现在已知或以后发展起来的网络。因此，无论使用的覆盖范围和无线接入协议如何，本申请提供的各种方面可以适用于任何合适的无线网络。
图3(a)以无线局域网为例，介绍了本申请实施例应用的一种通信系统100。该通信系统100包括：站点101和站点102。其中，站点101可以与站点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。站点101可以为多链路设备，站点102可以为单链路设备或多链路设备等。一种场景中，站点101为AP MLD，站点102为STA MLD或站点(比如单链路站点)。另一场景中，站点101为STA MLD，站点102为AP(比如单链路AP)或AP MLD。又一种场景中，站点101为AP MLD，站点102为AP MLD或AP；又一种场景中，站点101为STA MLD，站点102为STA MLD或STA(比如单链路站点)。当然，该无线局域网还可包括其他设备。图3(a)示意的设备的数量及类型仅是示例性的。
图3(b)、图3(c)分别示出了通信系统200、通信系统300的结构示意图。其中，通信系统200、通信系统300以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为示例。
图3(b)示出了一种AP MLD和STA MLD通信的场景，AP MLD包括隶属的AP1和AP2，STA MLD包括隶属的STA1和STA2，且AP MLD和STA MLD采用链路1和链路2并行进行通信。
图3(c)示出了AP MLD601与STA MLD602，STA MLD603以及STA604进行通信的场景，AP MLD601包括隶属的AP601-1至AP601-3；STA MLD602包括隶属的三个STA602-1、STA602-2和STA602-3；STA MLD603包括2个隶属的STA603-1，STA603-2；STA604-1，STA604为单链路设备。AP MLD601可以分别采用链路1、链路2和链路3与STA MLD602进行通信；采用链路2和链路3与STA MLD603进行通信；采用链路1与STA604通信。一 个示例中，STA604工作在2.4GHz频段；STA MLD603中，STA603-1工作在5GHz频段，STA603-2工作在6GHz频段；STA MLD602中，STA602-1工作在2.4GHz频段，STA602-2工作在5GHz频段，STA602-3工作在6GHz频段。AP MLD601中工作在2.4GHz频段的AP601-1可以通过链路1与STA604和STA MLD602中的STA602-2之间传输上行或下行数据。AP MLD601中工作在5GHz频段的AP601-2可以通过链路2与STA MLD 603中工作在5GHz频段的STA603-1之间传输上行或下行数据，还可通过链路2与和STA MLD602中工作在5GHz频段的STA602-2之间传输上行或下行数据。AP MLD601中工作在6GHz频段的AP601-3可通过链路3与STA MLD602中工作在6GHz频段的STA602-3之间传输上行或下行数据，还可通过链路3与STA MLD中的STA603-2之间传输上行或下行数据。
需要说明的是，图3(b)仅示出了AP MLD支持2个频段，图3(c)仅以AP MLD601支持三个频段(2.4GHz，5GHz，6GHz)，每个频段对应一条链路，AP MLD601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 MLD和STA MLD还可以支持更多或更少的频段，即AP MLD和STA MLD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。
目前，单链路设备，如处于节能模式的站点STA，是通过周期性侦听业务指示位图(traffic indication map，TIM)信标帧，根据TIM信标帧中比特位图控制字段中的比特0确定在发送业务指示位图(delivery traffic indication map，DTIM)信标帧之后是否有组播业务。然而对于多链路设备的场景，若也采用比特位图控制字段中的比特0确定在DTIM信标帧之后是否有组播业务，那么，如图3(a)至图3(c)所示的通信系统中，STA MLD中的每个STA均需周期性的侦听链路上的TIM信标帧，通过各自侦听的TIM信标帧中比特位图控制字段中的比特0的值，获知该链路的AP是否在发送DTIM信标帧之后是否会发送组播业务。如果有组播业务，STA在相应的DTIM信标帧后接收AP发送的组播业务。其中，该组播业务紧接着DTIM信标帧之后发送，比如距DTIM信标帧结束的SIFS(短帧间隔，short inter-frame space)时间后。
其中，在802.11协议中，STA通常有两种工作模式，一种是非节能模式，另一种节能模式。当STA工作在非节能模式时，该STA上无论是否有数据传输，都处于活跃状态(active state，也可以称为苏醒状态)。当STA工作在节能模式时，在与AP传输数据时，STA可以处于活跃状态(active state)；在与AP之间没有数据传输的时候，STA可以处于休眠状态(doze state)以节省功耗。STA是否处于节能模式，可以通过向AP发送帧，该帧中的MAC头中的帧控制字段(frame control field)中的节能比特置1告知AP该STA处于节能模式，该帧中的MAC头中的帧控制字段(frame control field)中的节能比特置0告知AP该STA处于非节能模式。
如图4所示的组播业务传输方法100，以图3(c)中AP MLD601与STA MLD602之间进行通信为例，STA MLD602的STA 602-1需要在链路1上侦听TIM信标帧1，以通过TIM信标帧1中比特位图控制字段中的比特0获知AP601-1在DTIM信标帧1之后是否发送组播业务1；以及STA MLD602的STA 602-2需要在链路2上侦听TIM信标帧2，以通过TIM信标帧2中比特位图控制字段中的比特0获知AP601-2在DTIM信标帧2之后是否发送组播业务2；以及STA MLD602的STA 602-3需要在链路3上侦听TIM信标帧3，以通过TIM信标 帧3中比特位图控制字段中的比特0获知AP601-3在DTIM信标帧3之后是否发送组播业务3。可见，若STA MLD602的链路个数继续增加，STA MLD602的功耗会大幅度的提高。
因此，如何降低STA MLD的功耗成为一个亟待解决的问题。
本申请实施例提供的适用于多链路的组播业务传输方法能够降低STA MLD的功耗。以下结合附图进行详细阐述。
其中，本申请实施例以实施例一和实施例二分别阐述。其中，实施例一与实施例二的不同之处在于，该实施例一以组播业务指示信息的每个比特用于指示该比特对应的AP是否有组播业务为中心展开阐述；实施例二以组播业务指示信息是TIM元素中部分虚拟位图(partial virtual bitmap)字段中的部分比特为中心展开阐述的。
实施例一
图5示出了本申请实施例提供的适用于多链路的组播业务传输方法200，该适用于多链路的组播业务传输方法200是以在AP MLD与STA MLD组成的通信系统中实施为例进行阐述的。其中，该AP MLD包括一个或多个AP，第一AP为该多个AP中的任意一个AP；STA MLD包括一个或多个STA，第一STA为该多个STA中的任意一个STA。如上所述，AP MLD可与STA MLD之间建立了多链路关联。该适用于多链路的组播业务传输方法200可包括但不限于以下步骤：
步骤S201、AP MLD的第一AP生成组播业务指示信息；
其中，第一AP为AP MLD中的任一AP。
该组播业务指示信息可称为组播业务指示字段或组播业务指示，本申请实施例不做限定。该组播业务指示信息的描述包括以下两种表述：(1)该组播业务指示信息用于指示AP MLD的一个或多个AP是否有组播业务；(2)该组播业务指示信息用于指示AP MLD的一个或多个AP在DTIM信标帧之后是否发送组播业务；又一示例，该组播业务指示信息的描述包括以下两种表述(3)该组播业务指示信息用于指示AP MLD的一个或多个AP是否缓存组播业务；(4)该组播业务指示信息用于指示AP MLD的一个或多个AP的组播业务不是通过组播AID形式发送出去的。本申请实施例以表述(1)为例进行后续阐述。
一方面，组播业务可包括组播管理帧和组播数据帧，其中帧的类型是通过MAC头中帧控制字段的类型字段标识来指示；另一方面，组播业务可分为广播业务和多播业务，即AP发送的组播业务是通过广播或多播的形式发送给该AP关联的站点或关联的站点。
在同一个AP MLD中，每个AP在各自工作的链路上独立的发送组播管理帧；每个AP在各自工作的链路上对其已关联的STA MLD中的每个对应的STA发送同样的组播数据帧。可以理解的是，组播管理帧是链路级别的，对于其他链路的传统站点，或者对于没有在该链路建立关联的STA MLD是无需接收的，从而节省对应站点的功耗。而AP MLD中的每个AP在每个链路上发送一样的组播数据帧可以避免single radio(单无线射频的)STA MLD中的站点丢失组播数据帧，或者说避免单无线射频的STA MLD频繁切换链路去接收组播数据帧。一种可选的实施方式中，组播业务指示信息用于指示AP MLD的一个AP是否有组播业务。其中，该AP可以是该第一AP，也可以是AP MLD中除该第一AP之外的其他AP。例如，图3(c)中，第一AP是AP601-1，该AP601-1生成的组播业务指示信息可用于指示AP MLD601中AP601-2是否有组播业务；或者，该AP601-1生成的组播业务指示信息可用于指示AP MLD601中AP601-1是否有组播业务。
另一种可选的实施方式中，组播业务指示信息用于指示AP MLD的多个AP是否有组播 业务。其中，该多个AP可以是AP MLD中的部分AP，也可以是AP MLD中的所有AP。例如，图3(c)中，第一AP是AP601-1，该AP601-1生成组播业务指示信息。其中，该组播业务指示信息可用于指示AP MLD601中AP601-1是否有组播业务以及AP601-2是否有组播业务；或者，该组播业务指示信息可用于指示AP MLD601中AP601-1是否有组播业务、AP601-2是否有组播业务、AP601-3是否有组播业务。
一种可选的实施方式中，组播业务指示信息的每个比特分别与AP MLD的每个AP相对应。其中，每个比特的值用于指示该比特对应的AP是否有组播业务；或者每个比特用于指示该比特对应的AP是否有组播业务。可选的，组播业务指示信息的每个比特按照AP MLD的每个AP所工作的链路标识的大小分别与AP MLD的每个AP相对应。换句话说，组播业务指示信息的比特高低顺序与链路标识的大小顺序对应，该链路标识是AP MLD中各AP所工作的链路标识。
另一种实现方式中，组播业务指示信息的比特与每个链路(或者说AP MLD的每个AP)一一对应，比如说组播业务指示信息的每比特与每个链路标识一起使用。可选的,组播业务指示信息的每个比特分别位于精简邻居汇报(Reduced Neighbor Report，RNR)元素(element)中的信标帧目标传输时间(target beacon transmission time,TBTT)信息字段，具体来讲，在TBTT信息字段中增加如图5a所示的MLD(多链路设备，multi-link device)参数字段(MLD parameters subfield)，其中MLD参数字段包括多链路设备标识(MLD ID)，链路标识(link ID)，改变序号(change sequence)，组播业务指示。多链路设备标识用来指示被汇报AP所在的MLD的标识，链路标识用来标识被汇报AP在AP MLD中的序号，改变序号用来指示被汇报AP的关键BSS参数更新的计数值；组播业务指示用来指示被汇报AP是否有组播业务，组播业务标识可以占用1比特。可选的，组播业务可以包括组播管理帧业务，组播数据帧业务，一种实现方式中，分别用2个字段指示组播管理帧业务，组播数据帧业务，比如分别占用1比特，具体为组播管理帧业务指示，组播数据帧业务指示，用来分别指示被汇报AP是否有相应的组播管理帧业务，组播数据帧业务；另一种实现中，可以仅指示组播管理帧业务，组播数据帧业务中的一个，用1个字段进行指示即可，例如用组播管理帧业务指示字段用来指示被汇报的AP是否有相应的组播管理帧业务，或用组播数据帧业务指示字段指示被汇报AP是否有相应的组播数据帧业务。
可选的，发送组播业务指示信息的AP仍可以通过现有的方法，即TIM元素中的比特位图控制字段中的比特0来指示该AP是否用下行组播业务。
通常来讲，RNR元素用来使未关联站点发现周围AP的元素，而已关联站点可能会忽略解读该RNR元素，因此本申请实施例提供一种提示RNR元素中是否有组播业务指示的方法，即通过信标帧或探测响应帧中的能力信息字段中来实现。在能力信息字段中增加组播业务标志，用来指示RNR元素中是否有至少一个被汇报AP有组播业务，该组播业务标志可以用1bit进行指示，例如该组播业务标志的1比特置为1，表示至少有一个被汇报AP有组播业务；作为一种等同的替代方案，也可以用1比特置为0表示至少有一个被汇报AP有组播业务。详见图5b所示，该探测响应帧中的能力信息字段中增加组播业务标志，当其指示为“有组播业务”的值时，可以指示关联站点或非关联站点解读RNR元素。图5b所示能力信息字段中，还可以包括改变序号更新标志(CSN updated flag)，其用来指示是否有被汇报AP的改变序号字段值变化，当其指示为至少有一个被汇报AP的改变序号字段值变化时，可以指示关联 站点或非关联站点解读RNR元素。
或者另一种实现中，见图5c所示，在能力元素中增加RNR标志，用来指示是否至少有一个被汇报AP的改变序号字段值变化或者有组播业务，即指示站点解读RNR元素，该RNR标志可以用1bit进行指示。当RNR标志的值置为1时，表示至少有一个被汇报AP“有组播业务”或者表示至少有一个被汇报AP的改变序号字段值变化，以指示关联站点或非关联站点解读RNR元素。当然，作为等同的替代方案，这里的RNR标志的值置为1，也可以用RNR标志的值为0表示表示至少有一个被汇报AP“有组播业务”或者表示至少有一个被汇报AP的改变序号字段值变化。
上述图5b和图5c所示的两种实现方式中，能力信息字段还包括ESS(extened service set，拓展服务集)，IBSS(independent basic service set，独立基本服务集)，Privacy(隐私)，Short Preamble(短前导码)，Spectrum Management(频谱管理)，QoS(quality of service，服务质量)，Short Slot Time(短时隙)，APSD(automatic power save delivery，自动功率解释传递)，Radio Measurement(无线管理)，EPD(Ethertype Protocol Discrimination，以太协议辨别)等字段，具体见802.11REVmd D3.0协议。在站点端，比如已关联的站点或者已关联的站点MLD，可以通过信标帧，探测响应帧中的能力元素中增加的1比特组播业务标志或者1比特的RNR标志，来选择是否解析RNR元素中，或者默认一直解析RNR元素。
为更好的理解本申请实施例，对于上述实施例提及的RNR元素，说明如下：
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。STA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，RNR元素一般会携带一个或者多个邻居AP信息(Nighbor 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，下面把信息称为邻居AP的精简信息，图5d示意了一种指示格式，精简邻居汇报元素包括的字段如图所示：
其中，对于TBTT信息头(信标帧目标传输时间(target beacon transmission time，TBTT)info Header)字段，其携带以下信息：
TBTT信息字段类型(TBTT info Field Type)字段：指示TBTT信息(TBTT info)的类型。其与TBTT信息长度(TBTT info length)字段一起指示TBTT info字段的格式。
过滤的邻居AP(Filtered neighbor AP)字段：指示该邻居AP信息(Neighbor AP info)字段中所携带的所有BSS的SSID是否与Probe Request帧中的SSID相匹配。
保留(Reserved)字段(1bit)。
TBTT信息计数(TBTT info count)字段：指示TBTT信息集合(TBTT info set)中含有TBTT信息字段(TBTT info field)的个数。
TBTT信息长度(TBTT info Length)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1所示：
表1
Figure PCTCN2021098467-appb-000001
Figure PCTCN2021098467-appb-000002
下面给出当TBTT信息长度为12字节时，TBTT信息(TBTT info)字段的具体格式，如图5e所示：
邻居AP的目标信标传输时间偏置(Neighbor AP TBTT offset)字段：指示邻居AP与汇报AP的Beacon发送时间的偏置。
BSS标识符(BSSID)字段：指示该邻居AP所对应的BSS标识符。
短服务集标识(Short SSID)字段：指示邻居AP所属的服务集标识符。
20MHz功率谱密度,指示默认情况传输的功率，单位为dBm/MHz的功率谱密度(power spectrum density,PSD)等效全向辐射功率(equivalent isotropically radiated power,EIRP)；
BSS参数(BSS Parameter)字段：指示邻居AP的相关参数，如图5e，其包含以下信息：
推荐使用随信道隧道机制(OCT recommended)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。
相同服务集标识(Same SSID)字段：指示该邻居AP和汇报AP是否具有相同的SSID。
多基本服务集标识(Multiple BSSID)字段：指示该邻居AP是不是属于某个multiple BSSID集合的一部分。
传输基本服务集标识(Transmitted BSSID)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。
与2.4/5GHz AP共位置且为扩展服务集成员(Member Of ESS With 2.4/5GHz Co-Located AP)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。
主动探测响应活跃(Unsolicited Probe Response Active)字段：指示该邻居AP是否开启主动探测响应。
共位置AP(Co-located AP)字段：指示邻居AP与汇报AP是否是共位置的。
例如，该AP MLD601包括3个AP，该组播业务指示信息为三个比特，该三个比特按照该3个AP所工作的链路标识从大到小分别与该3个AP相对应，假设3个AP所工作的链路标识如下：AP601-1的链路标识为3、AP601-2的链路标识为2、AP601-3的链路标识为1，则该组播业务指示信息的第一个比特与AP601-1对应，该组播业务指示信息的第二个比特与AP601-2对应，该组播业务指示信息的第三个比特与AP601-3对应。若该组播业务指示信息为011，则表示AP601-1没有组播业务，AP601-2、AP601-3有组播业务。当然，该三比特也可以按照3个AP所工作的链路标识从小到大分别与该3个AP相对应。
一种可选的实施方式中，组播业务指示信息的比特个数也可以是固定值，该固定个数的比特中，除与AP个数对应的比特之外的比特可以默认置零；例如固定为4个比特，其中从最高位比特开始的3位比特与AP MLD中的3个AP对应，之后的1个比特置零。即该固定个数的比特可多于AP MLD的AP个数。
S202、所述第一AP发送该组播业务指示信息；
S203、STA MLD中的第一STA接收该组播业务指示信息；
其中，该第一STA为该第一AP管理的站点或周边的站点。其中，第一AP周边的站点包括第一AP管理的站点和未关联的站点，下文以AP管理的站点为例，阐述本申请实施例所述的组播业务传输方法。可选的，第一STA可为STA MLD的任一站点，可以获知AP MLD的每个AP或者部分AP否有组播业务，故STA MLD的任一站点可从其关联的AP接收到该组播业务指示信息。
S204、所述第一STA根据该组播业务指示信息，确定AP MLD中一个或多个AP是否有组播业务。
一种实施方式中，该适用于多链路的组播业务传输方法还包括：对于AP MLD的有组播业务的AP，该AP可在该组播业务指示信息之后的下一个待发送的DTIM信标帧之后发送组播业务；相应的，STA MLD的在该AP的链路上工作的站点可在该链路上接收DTIM信标帧，接收之后的组播业务。具体来讲，STA MLD的站点在该AP的链路上工作的站点可在该链路上接收、解析DTIM信标帧后的组播管理帧，丢弃非第一STA所在链路上的其他链路上的DTIM信标帧后的组播数据帧，此时STA MLD的第一STA已在其链路上接收了对应的组播数据帧。可选的，该DTIM帧为该组播业务指示信息之后的下一个DTIM信标帧。可选的，若第一AP也有组播业务，则可在该组播业务指示信息之后下一个待发送的DTIM信标帧之后发送组播业务；相应的，第一STA可在该组播业务指示信息之后接收DTIM信标帧，接收在该DTIM信标帧之后接收组播业务。
在本发明的实施例中该组播业务指示信息可携带于管理帧、比如信标帧，TIM帧等，数据帧或控制帧等其他帧中。
可选的，组播业务指示信息可以位于DTIM信标帧里，该信标帧也就是组播业务指示信息所在的DTIM信标帧。也就是说，第一AP发送的组播业务指示信息对于信标帧来说，可仅位于DTIM信标帧中。具体的，对于AP MLD的有组播业务的AP，该AP可在该组播业务指示信息之后下一个待发送的DTIM信标帧之后发送组播业务；相应的，该AP对应的站点根据组播业务指示信息获知AP有组播业务，可接收DTIM信标帧，接收该DTIM信标帧之后接收组播业务。具体来讲，STA MLD的站点在该AP的链路上工作的站点可在该链路上接收、解析DTIM信标帧后的组播管理帧，丢弃非第一STA所在链路上的其他链路上的DTIM信标帧后的组播数据帧，此时STA MLD的第一STA已在其链路上接收了对应的组播数据帧。可选的，若第一AP也有组播业务，则可在携带组播业务指示信息的DTIM信标帧之后发送组播业务；相应的，第一STA可在携带该组播业务指示信息的DTIM信标帧之后接收组播业务。
例如，假设图3(c)所示的通信系统300，AP MLD601中AP601-2发送的组播业务指示信息为111，且该组播业务指示信息的第一个比特与AP601-1对应，该组播业务指示信息的第二个比特与AP601-2对应，该组播业务指示信息的第三个比特与AP601-3对应。如图3(c)所示，AP601-2通过链路2与STA MLD603中的STA603-1以及STA MLD602中的STA602-2 通信，因此，STA603-1、STA602-2可侦听到AP601-2发送的组播业务指示信息为111。
一种实施方式中，对于STA MLD602来说，STA602-2可确定AP601-1、AP601-2、AP601-3均有组播业务，进而，STA MLD602中工作在AP601-1的链路1上的STA602-1侦听DTIM信标帧1以及之后的组播业务1；STA MLD602中工作在AP601-2的链路2上的STA602-2侦听DTIM信标帧2以及之后的组播业务2；STA MLD602中工作在AP601-3的链路3上的STA602-3侦听DTIM信标帧3以及之后的组播业务3。
另一种实施方式中，若该组播业务指示信息携带于DTIM信标帧中，则接收到该DTIM信标帧的STA602-2，可在该DTIM信标帧之后接收组播业务；而STA MLD602的其他STA还需分别接收各自链路上的DTIM信标帧，以及之后的组播业务。
可选的，STA604也可从链路1侦听到该组播业务指示信息，但若该STA604不关心组播业务指示信息所指示的其他AP是否有组播业务，可不接收这些AP的组播业务；若该STA604关心组播业务指示信息所指示的其他AP是否有组播业务，如STA604具有频段选择接收能力，则该STA604可根据该组播业务指示信息获知其他AP是否有组播业务。
对于STA MLD603来说，STA603-1可确定AP601-1、AP601-2、AP601-3均有组播业务，其中，STA MLD603中没有工作在AP601-1的链路1上的站点。因此，STA MLD603中工作在AP601-2的链路2上的STA603-1侦听DTIM信标帧2以及之后的组播业务2；STA MLD603中工作在AP601-3的链路3上的STA603-2侦听DTIM信标帧3以及之后的组播业务3。
另一种实施方式中，若该组播业务指示信息携带于DTIM信标帧中，则接收到该DTIM信标帧的STA603-1可在该DTIM信标帧之后接收组播业务；而STA MLD603的其他STA还需分别接收各自链路上的DTIM信标帧，以及之后的组播业务。
值得注意的是，本发明提及的侦听也可以理解为接收。
图6示出了该示例中AP MLD601与STA MLD602之间的适用于多链路的组播业务传输方法300，如图6所示，STA MLD602可由STA602-2侦听AP601-2发送的组播业务指示信息，即可获知AP601-1以及AP601-3是否有组播业务，与上述图4所示的组播业务传输方法100中，STA MLD602中每个STA都需要在各自的链路上侦听AP MLD601发送的TIM信标帧，以通过TIM信标帧获知AP MLD601在DTIM信标帧之后是否发送组播业务相比，大大节省了STA MLD602的功耗。
可见，本申请实施例中，AP MLD的第一AP可生成并发送组播业务指示信息，该组播业务指示信息能够指示AP MLD的一个AP是否有组播业务，该AP可为第一AP或为AP MLD中除第一AP外的其他AP，进而使得STA MLD的一个STA可获知自身关联的AP是否有组播业务，或AP MLD的其他AP是否有组播业务。与STA MLD中各STA仅能侦听自身关联的AP是否有组播业务的方式相比，本申请实施例有利于改善AP MLD通知组播业务的灵活性。
本申请实施例中，AP MLD的第一AP可生成并发送组播业务指示信息，该组播业务指示信息能够指示AP MLD的多个AP中每个AP或部分AP是否有组播业务，进而STA MLD的一个站点即可获知多个AP是否有组播业务。与STA MLD中各STA仅能侦听自身关联的AP是否有组播业务的方式相比，本申请实施例有利于降低STA MLD的功耗。
本申请实施例中，AP MLD中一个或多个AP均可发送组播业务指示信息，以及STA MLD中一个或多个STA可侦听组播业务指示信息，以下对可选的实施方式进行阐述。
情况1、发送组播业务指示信息的AP与侦听组播业务指示信息的STA
一种可选的实施方式中，AP MLD中的每个AP均发送组播业务指示信息，STA MLD中任意一个STA可以侦听其中一条链路上的组播业务指示信息，或者STA MLD中任意多个STA来侦听各自工作的链路上的组播业务指示信息。例如，图3(c)中，AP601-1和AP601-3也可以执行步骤S201、S202分别发送组播业务指示信息，而STA MLD602中任意一个或多个STA可以侦听相应链路上的组播业务指示信息。其中，每个AP发送的组播指示信息中每个比特对应的AP是固定的。若STA MLD602中多个STA侦听相应链路上的组播业务指示信息，则该多个STA可为STA MLD的所有STA或部分STA。可见，该实施方式大大改善了STA MLD侦听组播业务指示信息的灵活性。并且，STA MLD中一个或部分STA侦听组播业务指示信息，也能在一定程度上降低STA MLD的功耗。
另一种可选的实施方式中，步骤S203、S204中的第一STA可为STA MLD中工作在主链路上的站点，STA MLD的第一STA侦听工作在主链路上的AP发送的组播业务指示信息。
又一种可选的实施方式中，步骤S203、S204中的第一STA为STA MLD中工作在主链路上的站点，可选的，STA MLD可告知AP MLD其自身工作的主链路，比如STA MLD中位于主链路的站点将其链路标识告知AP MLD中其对应的AP。这样，AP MLD中工作在该主链路上的AP发送组播业务指示信息，而其他AP可不发送，从而有利于节省AP MLD的功耗或者说有利于AP MLD更有效的发送组播业务指示信息，比如在多条链路上重复发送。
以下对AP MLD如何获知STA MLD工作的主链路的实施方式进行阐述。
一种实施方式中，AP MLD可获取STA MLD确定的主链路的标识信息。示例性的，该主链路的标识信息可以包括以下信息中的一项或多项：主链路对应的操作集(operating class)和信道号(channel number)；或者，主链路的MAC地址(或者BSSID)；或者，主链路的标识号(identifier，ID)。本申请实施例对于主链路的标识信息包括的具体内容并不进行限定，只要能用于唯一识别工作在主链路的一个站点的信息均可以为本申请实施例所述的主链路的标识信息。上述主链路的MAC地址可以是工作在主链路上的STA的MAC地址，或者是工作在主链路上的AP的MAC地址。当主链路的MAC地址为工作在主链路上的AP的MAC地址时，该主链路的MAC地址也可以称为BSSID。
一种实现方式中，在AP MLD与STA MLD未关联的情况下，AP MLD获取主链路的标识信息，可以包括：AP MLD接收来自STA MLD的关联请求帧。该AP MLD接收关联请求帧的链路为STA MLD确定的主链路，或者，该AP MLD接收的关联请求帧中携带STA MLD确定的主链路的链路标识信息。也就是说，AP MLD可将接收到关联请求帧所在的链路上的站点(或者说发送该关联请求帧的站点)确定为主链路的链路标识；或者，AP MLD获取关联请求帧携带的主链路的链路标识信息。
另一种实现方式中，在AP MLD与STA MLD已经关联的情况下，AP MLD获取主链路的链路标识信息，可以包括：AP MLD接收来自STA MLD的消息帧，该消息帧携带STA MLD确定的主链路的链路标识信息。该消息帧为管理帧，数据帧，或控制帧等。
可以理解的，在该实现方式中，消息帧用于告知AP MLD该STA MLD更换后的主链路，即该消息帧携带的主链路的标识信息为更换后的主链路的链路标识信息。可选的，该管理帧还可以包括更换计数，用于表示主链路更换的倒计时。
可选的，AP MLD也可以选择一条链路作为主链路，主链路的链路标识用来指示该工作在主链路上AP。AP需要将该主链路的链路标识发送其关联的站点或者周围站点。步骤S201 中第一AP为工作在主链路上的AP，那么第一AP发送的组播业务指示信息可用于指示工作在主链路上的第一AP是否有组播业务；或该组播业务指示信息可用于指示工作在次链路上的AP是否有组播业务；或该组播业务指示信息可用于指示工作在主链路上的第一AP是否有组播业务，以及工作在次链路上的AP是否有组播业务。其中，该次链路为AP MLD中第一AP之外的其他AP所工作的链路，或该次链路包括多条链路中除主链路以外的链路。
本申请实施例中，第一AP发送的组播业务指示信息可为第一AP生成的组播业务指示信息的部分比特或全部比特。其中，第一AP发送的组播业务指示信息为第一AP生成的组播业务指示信息的部分比特，有利于节省信令开销。以下对该实施方式进行阐述。
其中，组播业务指示信息的每个比特分别与AP MLD的每个AP相对应，若该组播业务指示信息的N 1个比特之前的比特分别对应的AP均没有组播业务，以及N 2个比特之后的比特分别对应的AP均没有组播业务，则第一AP发送的组播业务指示信息可只包括第N 1个比特至第N 2个比特。其中，N 1可以为大于或等于0且小于生成的组播业务指示信息的总比特数，N 2可以大于N 1且小于或等于生成的组播业务指示信息的总比特数。可见，该实施方式有利于节省信令开销。另外，在该情况下，组播业务指示信息还包括偏移量和长度字段，偏移量用来指示N1，长度用来指示组播业务信息的N 2-N 1+1。
为阐述方便，下文将第一AP生成的组播业务指示信息称为第一组播业务指示信息，将第一AP发送的组播业务指示信息称为第二组播业务指示信息。第二组播业务指示信息可与第一组播业务指示信息相同，或第二组播业务指示信息是第一组播业务指示信息的部分比特。
若第二组播业务指示信息是第一组播业务指示信息的部分比特，则第一AP还需发送偏移量和长度，该偏移量和长度用于STA MLD中第一STA获知第二组播业务指示信息中分别是哪些AP对应的比特。其中，第二组播业务指示信息相对于第一组播业务指示信息的偏移量简称为第二组播业务指示信息的偏移量。若第二组播业务指示信息是第一组播业务指示信息的全部比特，则第一AP可以发送偏移量和长度，也可以不发送偏移量和长度。
其中，第一组播业务指示信息包括AP MLD中每个AP对应的比特。另外，第一组播业务指示信息的各比特与AP MLD中每个AP的对应关系，可通过上述管理帧通知，或根据每个AP所工作的链路标识的大小预定义。即第一组播业务指示信息的总比特数可等于AP MLD的AP总个数，可选的，AP MLD可根据AP MLD的每个AP所工作的链路标识的大小，确定第一组播业务指示信息的每个比特与每个AP一一对应。
以下分两种情况，即情况2.1、情况2.2讨论第二组播业务指示信息是第一组播业务指示信息的部分比特。
情况2.1：第二组播业务指示信息是从第一组播业务指示信息的字节N 1开始，在字节N2结束的所有比特，N 1大于或等于0，N 2大于或等于N 1。
第一组播业务指示信息的比特0至比特N 1*8-1的所有比特对应的AP没有组播业务，以及比特(N 2+1)*8及其之后的所有比特对应的AP没有组播业务，则第一AP发送的第二组播业务指示信息可是第一组播业务指示信息的字节N1开始，在字节N 2结束的所有比特。
该情况中，第一AP发送的第二组播业务指示信息的长度为N 2-N 1+1；第二组播业务指示信息的偏移量为N 1，进而，STA MLD中第一AP管理的站点接收到该长度、偏移量，可确定接收的第二组播业务指示信息用于指示比特N 1*8至比特((N 2+1)*8-1))分别对应的AP是否有组播业务，以及比特0至比特N 1*8-1的所有比特对应的AP没有组播业务，以及比特(N 2+1)*8及其之后的所有比特对应的AP没有组播业务。
例如，假设第一组播业务指示信息为三个字节，其中，字节0中各比特对应的AP均没有组播业务，以及字节2中各比特对应的AP均没有组播业务，则第二组播业务指示信息可只包括字节1的各个比特。那么，第二组播业务指示信息的长度为1个字节，偏移量为1个字节。这样，第一STA接收到该第二组播业务指示信息以及长度和偏移量后，可获知该第二组播业务指示信息中的各比特用于指示比特8至比特15对应的AP是否有组播业务，以及字节0的各比特对应的AP均没有组播业务，以及字节2的各比特对应的AP也没有组播业务。
另一种实施方式，为了降低发送偏移量所需的信令开销，即降低用于指示偏移量所需的比特数，可将第二组播业务指示信息的偏移量设置为N 1/2，此时要求N 1是偶数字节号。
例如，若第一AP发送的偏移量为0，长度为1个字节，则第一AP发送的第二组播业务指示信息包括第一组播业务指示信息中的比特0至比特7，这样第一STA可根据比特0至比特7的值，获知比特0至比特7分别对应的AP是否有组播业务。若第一AP发送的偏移量为1，长度为1个字节，则第一AP发送的第二组播业务指示信息包括第一组播业务指示信息中的字节2，即比特16至比特22，这样，第一STA可根据比特16至比特22的值，获知比特16至比特22分别对应的AP是否有组播业务。
再例如，若第一AP发送的偏移量为0，长度为1个字节，并且第二组播业务指示信息为01100110，且比特0至7分别于AP MLD中的AP1至AP8对应，则第一STA可获知AP1、AP4、AP5以及AP8没有组播业务，AP2、AP3、AP6、AP7有组播业务。可选的，若比特0预定义没有任何意义，即不对应任何AP，则比特1至比特7分别于AP MLD中的AP1至AP7对应，第一STA可获知AP1、AP2、AP5、AP6有组播业务，AP3、AP4以及AP7没有组播业务。
可见，情况一中通过预定义或管理帧通知的方式，确定AP MLD中每个AP与第一组播业务指示信息中每个比特之间的对应关系。进而，有利于第二组播业务指示信息是第一组播业务指示信息的部分比特，从而有利于节省信令开销。
情况2.2：第二组播业务指示信息是第一组播业务指示信息的字节0开始，在字节N 0-1结束的比特，以及从第一组播业务指示信息的字节N 1开始，在字节N 2结束的比特。
该情况中，第一组播业务指示信息的比特N 0*8-1至比特N 1*8-1分别对应的AP均没有组播业务，以及比特N 2*8及其之后的比特分别对应的AP也没有组播业务，则第一AP发送的第二组播业务指示信息是第一组播业务指示信息的字节0开始，在字节N 0-1结束的比特，以及从第一组播业务指示信息的字节N 1开始，在字节N 2结束的比特。
相应的，第一AP发送的第二组播业务指示信息的长度为N 0+N 2-N 1+1，第二组播业务指示信息的偏移量为N 1-N 0，进而，STA MLD中第一AP管理的站点接收到该长度、偏移量，可确定接收的第二组播业务指示信息用于指示比特0至比特(N 0-1)*8-1，以及比特N 1*8+1至比特N 2*8-1分别对应的AP是否有组播业务，而比特(N 0-1)*8至比特(N 1-1)*8分别对应的AP均没有组播业务。
一种实施方式中，为节省偏移量所需的比特数，第一AP发送的第二组播业务指示信息的偏移量是实际偏移量的1/2，故该情况第一AP发送的偏移量为(N 1-N 0)/2，长度为N 0+N 2-N 1+1个字节。另外，由于偏移量为(N 1-N 0)/2。此时要求：如果N 0是奇数，则N 1也是奇数；如果N 0是偶数，则N 1也是偶数。
实施例二
图7示出了一种适用于多链路的组播业务传输方法400的流程示意图。该适用于多链路的组播业务传输方法400中，组播业务指示信息是业务指示位图TIM元素中部分虚拟比特位图字段中的部分比特。即组播业务指示信息为图2所示的部分虚拟位图字段中的部分比特。如图7所示，该适用于多链路的组播业务传输方法400包括但不限于以下步骤：
S401、AP MLD的第一AP生成组播业务指示信息；
S402、第一AP发送TIM元素；
该TIM元素可以携带信标帧中，也可以携带其他管理帧中，比如TIM帧。TIM元素中部分虚拟比特位图字段包括该组播业务指示信息，即组播业务指示信息是业务指示位图TIM元素中部分虚拟比特位图字段中的部分比特。
另外，如实施例一所述，可选的，针对信标帧，组播业务指示信息可仅携带于DTIM信标帧中。可选的，组播业务指示信息可携带于管理帧、数据帧或控制帧等其他帧中。
例如，图8示出了图2中部分虚拟比特位图字段的各个比特，以该部分虚拟比特位图字段为251个字节为例，每个字节包括8个比特，如图8所示，字节0包括比特0至比特7，字节1包括比特8至比特15，…，以此类推，字节250包括比特2000至比特2007。
一种实施方式中，组播业务指示信息是该部分虚拟比特位图字段中的部分连续比特，如组播业务指示信息是图8部分虚拟比特位图字段中的比特1至比特7，即可利用该部分虚拟比特位图字段中的比特1至比特7指示AP MLD的各AP是否有组播业务。
另一实施方式中，组播业务指示信息是该部分虚拟比特位图字段中的部分非连续比特，如组播业务指示信息是图8部分虚拟比特位图字段中的比特1、比特2、比特4，即可利用部分虚拟比特位图字段中的比特1、比特2、比特4指示AP MLD的各AP是否有组播业务。
S403、STA MLD的第一STA接收TIM元素；
S404、第一STA从该TIM元素中读取部分虚拟比特位图字段中的组播业务指示信息，并确定AP MLD中的一个或多个AP是否有组播业务。
其中，步骤S401的相关阐述可参见上述图5所示的组播业务传输方法200中步骤S201的阐述，此处不再详述。
可选的，该多链路的组播业务传输方法400还包括：针对确定有组播业务的AP，STA MLD中工作在该AP的链路上的STA接收DTIM信标帧后的组播业务。
一种示例，组播业务指示信息可以携带于任何一个信标帧，包括TIM信标帧和DTIM信标帧，此时上述DTIM信标帧为该TIM信标帧之后的DTIM信标帧，或者就是携带该组播业务指示信息的DTIM信标帧。
另一种示例，组播业务指示信息仅携带于信标帧中的DTIM信标帧，此时上述DTIM信标帧为携带该组播业务指示信息的DTIM信标帧。
可选的，该组播业务指示信息也可携带于管理帧、数据帧或控制帧等其他帧中。
具体的，对于AP MLD的其他AP以及STA MLD的其他STA如何操作，可参见实施例一部分的阐述，此处不再详述。
如上述图2的阐述，部分虚拟比特位图是业务指示虚拟比特位图字段的部分比特，每个比特对应的一个AID。因此，本申请实施例中，AP MLD为其包括的各AP分配AID，进而采用部分虚拟比特位图字段中这些AID对应的比特，以分别指示AID的AP是否有组播业务，即组播业务指示信息为这些AID对应的比特。其中，AP被分配的AID不能再用于AP MLD中的任何一个AP分配给其关联的站点。还可以理解成，AP被显示或隐私分配的AID不能再 用于与该AP所在的AP MLD建立多链路关联的STA MLD，其中STA MLD的每个站点被分配的AID是相同的，“显式”指的是AP发送的管理帧携带该AP所在AP MLD中的每个AP的关联标识或者除第一个AP外的每个AP的关联标识，如下述方法一提到，“隐式”指的是AP在TIM元素中部分虚拟比特位图字段中的占用的比特对应的AID，如下述方法二提到。
可见，该多链路的组播业务传输方法400通过信标帧中的部分虚拟比特位图字段携带组播业务指示信息，能够改善组播业务通知的灵活性，并且组播业务指示信息指示多个AP是否有组播业务时，还能够降低STA MLD的功耗。
假设图3(c)所示的通信系统300，AP MLD601中AP601-1至AP601-3的AID分别是AID1、AID2、AID3，该AID1、AID2、AID3分别对应TIM信标帧中部分虚拟比特位图字段的3个比特。如图9所示的适用于多链路的组播业务传输方法500，AP601-2发送信标帧2，该信标帧2中部分虚拟比特位图字段中携带组播业务指示信息；STA602-1侦听到链路2上的该信标帧2；从该信标帧2中部分虚拟比特位图字段读取AID1、AID2、AID3对应的3个比特为111，则STA602-1可获知AP601-1至AP601-3在对应的DTIM信标帧之后均有组播业务；进而，STA602-1至STA 602-3可分别在各自工作的链路上侦听之后的组播业务。可见，该实施方式避免了STA MLD602中STA602-1和STA602-3周期性侦听信标帧以获知对应的AP是否有组播业务，从而节省了STA MLD602的功耗。
可选的，若对于信标帧，组播业务指示信息仅携带于DTIM信标帧中，则接收到该DTIM信标帧的STA602-1，可在该DTIM信标帧之后接收组播业务；而STA MLD602的其他STA还需分别接收各自链路上的DTIM信标帧，以及之后的组播业务。
以下对AID配置方法分两种方法讨论，即方法一中阐述AP MLD显式的为其包括的各AP分配AID，AP MLD通过关联标识配置信息为各AP分配AID。方法二AP MLD隐式的为其包括的各AP分配AID，即组播业务指示信息对应的部分虚拟比特位图字段中的部分连续比特的第一个比特对应的AID是预定义的。该方法又可以分为两种情况，情况3.1中阐述AP MLD的AP没有工作在多BSSID(基本服务集标识)模式下如何预定义AP对应的AID；情况3.2中阐述在AP MLD的一个或多个AP是工作在多BSSID模式下，如何为AP MLD的各AP被分配的AID。该情况下，TIM元素的部分虚拟比特位图字段中还需为该多基本服务集标识集合中的多个AP分配AID，故AP MLD的各AP被分配的AID不能与该多基本服务集标识集合中的多个AP分配的AID重复，或者说AP MLD的各AP在部分虚拟比特位图字段对应的比特不与多基本服务集标识集合中的多个非传输AP在部分虚拟比特位图字段对应的比特重复。
方法一：AP MLD显式地为其包括的各AP分配AID
可选的，该AID配置方法包括但不限于以下步骤：AP MLD的第一AP生成关联标识配置信息，该关联标识配置信息用于指示AP MLD的每个AP对应的关联标识，具体来讲，关联标识配置信息包括一个或多个关联标识子配置信息，其中关联标识子配置信息对一个AP，包括该AP的AID以及AP的AID，可选的该关联子配置信息可以携带于用于MLD中的一个多个AP的信息的MLD元素中的存放单个AP信息的子元素或字段中；第一AP发送该关联标识配置信息。其中，组播业务指示信息的每个比特用于指示该比特对应的AID的AP是否有组播业务；每个AP的AID对应组播业务指示信息的每个比特。
其中，生成并发送关联标识配置信息的第一AP与上述步骤S201生成并发送组播业务指示信息的第一AP可为AP MLD中的同一个AP，也可以为AP MLD中的不同AP。
一种实现方式中，在AP MLD与STA MLD未关联的情况下，该关联标识配置信息可携带于STA MLD发送的关联响应帧中。另一种实现方式中，在AP MLD与STA MLD关联的情况下，该关联标识配置信息可携带于STA MLD发送的管理帧中。
该实施方式中，由于是由AP MLD为其中的各AP分配AID的，故组播业务指示信息可为部分虚拟比特位图中的部分比特，该部分比特可为连续的或非连续的。
另外，由于部分虚拟比特位图字段中的一些比特对应的AID是分配给站点的，这些比特用于分别指示对应的站点是否有单播业务，故该实施方式中，AP MLD中各AP被分配的关联标识与各AP关联的站点被分配的关联标识不同。也就是说，AP MLD中各AP被分配的关联标识不能再由各AP分配给其管理的站点。但不同AP给其管理的站点分配的AID是相对独立的，即不同AP给其管理的站点所分配的AID可以重复。例如，假设图3(c)所示的通信系统300，AP MLD601中AP601-1至AP601-3被分配的AID分别是AID1、AID2、AID3，则该AID1、AID2、AID3不能再分配给AP601-1至AP601-3关联的站点，如STA MLD602中的STA、STA MLD603中的STA以及STA604。但AP601-1给STA MLD602中的STA602-1分配的AID可与AP601-2给STA MLD602中的STA602-2分配的AID相同。由于STA602-1的AID即使与STA602-2的AID相同，但两者分别工作在不同的链路，即链路1、链路2上，故不会将AID相同的STA602-1与STA602-2混淆。还可以理解成，AP MLD中的AP被显式或隐式分配的AID不能再用于与该AP所在的AP MLD建立多链路关联的STA MLD，其中STA MLD的每个站点被分配的AID是相同的，“隐式”指的是AP在TIM元素中部分虚拟比特位图字段中的占用的比特对应的AID，如下述方法二提到。
可选的，由于STA MLD中的各STA在不同的基本服务集BSS中，故AP MLD可给每个STA MLD分配一个AID，即STA MLD中的各STA共享一个AID，也不会出现混淆。或者，AP MLD可给STA MLD中的每个STA分配一个AID，即STA MLD中的各STA分别有自己的AID。
可见，该实施方式通过为AP MLD中各AP分配AID的方式，利用TIM元素中的部分虚拟比特位图字段来告知STA MLD，该AP MLD中各AP是否有组播业务。与上述组播业务处理方法100中通过各链路上TIM信标帧中比特位图控制字段中的比特0分别告知各自链路上的AP是否有组播业务的方式相比，该实施方式能够改善组播业务通知的灵活性，并且组播业务指示信息指示多个AP是否有组播业务时，还能够降低STA MLD的功耗。
例如，假设图3(c)所示的通信系统300，AP MLD601中AP601-1至AP601-3被分配的AID分别是AID1、AID2、AID3，该AID1、AID2、AID3分别对应TIM元素中部分虚拟比特位图字段的3个比特。
可选的，AP MLD中多个AP分配的多个AID是连续的；
可选的，部分虚拟比特位图字段可以不携带发送该部分虚拟比特位图字段的AP(称为汇报AP)的组播业务指示信息，但携带汇报AP所在MLD的其他AP的组播业务指示信息，其中汇报AP的组播业务指示信息仍通过比特位图控制字段中比特0指示。
其中，这里的不携带有2种实施方式，一种是该部分虚拟比特位图字段携带汇报AP对应的比特，但该比特为保留，没有任何意义。另一种是该部分虚拟比特位图字段不携带该汇报AP对应的比特，适用于本发明的其他实施例，不再赘述。
方法二：AP MLD隐式地为其包括的各AP分配AID
AP MLD隐式为其包括的各AP分配AID时，需要考虑AP MLD中是否有AP是工作在多基本服务集标识模式，以及工作在该多基本服务集标识模式的AP是传输AP。因此，方法二分两种情况讨论，即情况3.1讨论AP MLD中没有AP是工作在多基本服务集标识模式，如何为其包括的各AP分配AID；情况3.2讨论AP MLD的一个或多个AP是工作在多基本服务集标识模式，且至少有一个AP是多基本服务集标识集合中的传输AP。
为便于理解，先对多基本服务集标识(Basic Service Set identifier，BSSID)的相关概念进行阐述。
一种实施方式中，多基本服务集标识集合(Multiple BSSID set，可称多BSSID集合)可理解是一些合作AP的集合。所有合作AP使用同一个操作集，信道号，以及天线接口。在该多BSSID集合中，只有一个传输(Transmitted)BSSID的AP，其他的AP都为非传输(Nontransmitted)BSSID的AP。多BSSID集合的信息(也就是多BSSID元素)携带于Transmitted BSSID的AP发送的信标帧或者探测响应帧或邻居汇报。Nontransmitted BSSID的AP的BSSID的信息是由站点通过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，其中Nontransmitted BSSID的AP的BSSID是通过传输BSSID的AP的BSSID和其Nontransmitted BSSID profile中的Multiple BSSID-Index元素中的BSSID Index字段计算出来，具体方法请参考Draft 802.11REVmd_D3.0协议。
另一种实施方式中，该多BSSID集合可理解为由多个AP构成。每个AP管理一个BSS，不同AP可以具有不同的SSID以及权限，比如安全机制或者传输机会等。
其中，多BSSID集合中，只有BSSID为Transmitted BSSID的AP可以发送信标帧(beacon)和探测响应帧(Probe Response)，因此，若STA发送的探测请求帧(Probe Request)是给Multiple BSSID集合中的一个BSSID为Nontransmitted BSSID的AP，则该Multiple BSSID集合中BSSID为Transmitted BSSID的AP需要帮忙响应以发送探测响应帧。
其中，多BSSID集合的多个AP中，其中一个AP的BSSID被配置为传输(Transmitted)BSSID，transmitted BSSID的AP可称为传输(transmitted)AP；其他AP的BSSID被配置为非传输(Nontransmitted)BSSID，Nontransmitted BSSID的AP可称为非传输(Nontransmitted)AP。
其中，多BSSID元素的帧格式如图10所示，多BSSID元素包括元素ID字段，长度字段，最大BSSID指示字段，可选的子元素字段。其中，最大BSSID指示字段用于指示多BSSID集合中包含的BSSID的最大个数n，可选的子元素字段包括Nontransmitted BSSID的AP的BSSID的信息。
多BSSID集合最大允许的AP个数为2^(N n)，N n是图7所示的多BSSID元素中的MaxBSSID Indicator字段指示的数值。故可将业务指示虚拟比特位图字段的比特1到比特2^(N n)-1分别分配给该多BSSID集合中的非传输BSSID的AP，以分别指示NonTxBSS ID(标识)为1到2 n-1的非传输BSSID的AP是否有组播业务。其中NonTxBSS ID的值等于多BSSID元素中的nontransmitted BSSID profile中的Multiple BSSID-Index元素中的BSSID Index字段的值。其中，nontransmitted BSSID profile在可选的子元素字段中。
情况3.1 AP MLD中没有AP是工作在多基本服务集标识模式
一种实施方式中，如上述S201部分所述的组播业务指示信息的每个比特分别与AP MLD的每个AP相对应，故可通过预定义的方式确定组播业务指示信息在TIM元素中部分虚拟比特位图字段中的起始比特位置。
也就是说，AP MLD中各AP的AID是以AIDx为起始连续分配的，比如根据各AP所工作的链路标识的大小从大到小或者从小到大连续分配的。其中，该AIDx是预定义的。或者，该组播业务指示信息在TIM元素中部分虚拟比特位图字段中的第一个比特或起始比特是预定义的。
该实施方式中，组播业务指示信息对应的该TIM元素中部分虚拟比特位图字段中的部分比特是连续的，即组播业务指示信息对应的该TIM元素中部分虚拟比特位图字段中的部分连续比特。
例如，AP MLD隐性的给其多个AP分配AID，即把一段默认连续的AID分配给AP MLD的每个AP。比如，默认从AID 1开始给AP MLD中每个AP分配连续的AID，假设AP MLD有3个AP为：AP1，AP2和AP3，则默认给AP1，AP2和AP3分别分配AID1，AID2，AID3。
其中，AID默认分配的顺序按照各AP工作的链路标识的顺序分配，假设AP1，AP2和AP3的链路标识分别为链路标识3，链路标识2和链路标识1，则默认给AP1，和AP2和AP3分别分配AID3，AID2，AID1。
可见，该实施方式不需要通过上述实施方式所述的关联响应帧或管理帧等把各AP对应的AID告知各自管理的站点，而是站点端默认知道，从而有利于节省信令开销。
另外，由于多BSSID集合中非传输AP不能发送信标帧，因此该实施方式还适用于AP MLD的一个或多个AP是工作在多BSSID模式，但是所述一个或多个AP是非传输AP，也就说该MLD中没有AP是多BSSID集合中传输AP。
可选的，部分虚拟比特位图字段可以不携带发送该部分虚拟比特位图字段的AP(称为汇报AP)的组播业务指示信息，但携带汇报AP所在MLD的其他AP的组播业务指示信息，其中汇报AP的组播业务指示信息仍通过比特位图控制字段中比特0指示。此时，组播业务指示信息在部分虚拟比特位图字段对应的比特仍是连续，此时只是跳过了汇报AP的组播业务指示信息。举例，AP MLD中的AP1，和AP2和AP3隐形分别被分配到AID1，AID2，AID3，或者对应业务指示虚拟比特位图字段中的比特1～比特3。如果AP1发送组播业务指示信息，此时组播业务指示信息仅包括AP2和AP3的组播业务指示，此时用部分虚拟比特位图字段中的比特1～比特2；如果AP2发送组播业务指示信息，此时组播业务指示信息仅包括AP1和AP3的组播业务指示，此时用部分虚拟比特位图字段中的比特1～比特2。
情况3.2 AP MLD的一个或多个AP是工作在多BSSID模式，另外至少有一个AP是多BSSID集合中的传输AP。
假设AP MLD中共有n个传输BSSID的AP，第y个传输BSSID的AP所在的多BSSID集合的MaxBSSID Indicator字段指示的数值为Ny，则AP MLD的各AP对应的比特从业务指示虚拟比特位图字段的比特x为起始配置或预定义。或者，假设AP MLD中共有n个AP或n个AP分别属于多BSSID集合，其中，没有工作在多BSSID模式的AP的Ny等于0，以及工作在多BSSID模式下且为非传输BSSID的AP的Ny等于0；工作在多BSSID模式的AP且为传输BSSID的AP的Ny等于其所在的多BSSID集合的MaxBSSID Indicator字段指示的数值。
一种实施方式，组播业务指示信息是业务指示虚拟比特位图字段的比特x为起始的，x等于max{2^(N 1)，2^(N 2)，…，2^(N y)，…，2^(N n)}。
也就是说，组播业务指示信息对应的部分虚拟比特位图字段中部分连续比特的第一个比 特对应的AID是AIDx。或者，所述AP MLD中各AP的AID，是以AIDx为起始连续分配的。x等于max{2^(N 1)，2^(N 2)，…，2^(N y)，…，2^(N n)}。或者，AP MLD的各AP在业务指示虚拟比特位图中对应的比特是从比特x为起始配置或预定义。其中，x等于max{2^(N 1)，2^(N 2)，…，2^(N y)，…，2^(N n)}。
例如，AP MLD有两个AP，分别是AP1和AP2。其中，AP1和AP2均是都工作multiple BSSID模式且是传输BSSID的AP，AP1发送的Multiple BSSID元素中的最大BSSID指示字段为3，而AP2发送的Multiple BSSID元素中的最大BSSID指示字段为2，那么AP1中支持的多BSSID集合中nontransmitted BSSID的AP最大个数7，而AP2中支持的多BSSID集合中nontransmitted BSSID的AP最大个数3。因此，AP MLD为AP1和AP2分配的AID的起始AID为AID8，或AP1和AP2在业务指示虚拟比特位图字段中的起始比特是比特8。
另外，因此该实施方式还适用于AP MLD的一个或多个AP是工作在多BSSID模式。可选的，部分虚拟比特位图字段可以不携带发送该部分虚拟比特位图字段的AP(称为汇报AP)的组播业务指示信息，但携带汇报AP所在MLD的其他AP的组播业务指示信息，其中汇报AP的组播业务指示信息仍通过比特位图控制字段中比特0指示。此时，组播业务指示信息在部分虚拟比特位图字段对应的比特仍是连续，此时只是跳过了汇报AP的组播业务指示信息。在上面举例中AP1和AP2在业务指示虚拟比特位图字段中的起始比特是比特8，AP MLD中的AP1和AP2对应业务指示虚拟比特位图字段中的比特8～比特9。如果AP1发送组播业务指示信息，此时组播业务指示信息仅包括AP2的组播业务指示，此时用部分虚拟比特位图字段中的比特8；如果AP2发送组播业务指示信息，此时组播业务指示信息仅包括AP1的组播业务指示，此时用部分虚拟比特位图字段中的比特8。
同理，该多链路的组播业务传输方法400、多链路的组播业务传输方法500也可以如多链路的组播业务传输方法200所述的，AP MLD中一个或多个AP发送携带组播业务指示信息的信标帧，以及STA MLD中一个或多个STA侦听该信标帧。不同之处在于，该多链路的组播业务传输方法400、多链路的组播业务传输方法500中组播业务指示信息是在TIM元素中的部分虚拟比特位图字段中携带的，相应的，AP MLD中的一个或多个AP可发送该信标帧，STA MLD的任意多个STA来侦听该信标帧。可见，该实施方式大大改善了STA MLD侦听组播业务指示信息的灵活性。并且，STA MLD的一个或部分STA侦听组播业务指示信息，还能够降低STA MLD的功耗。可选的，组播业务指示信息仅携带于DTIM信标帧中。
另一种实施方式中，步骤S203、S204中的第一STA可为STA MLD中工作在主链路上的站点，STA MLD的第一STA侦听工作在主链路上的AP发送的信标帧。
又一种实施方式中，步骤S203、S204中的第一STA为STA MLD中工作在主链路上的站点，可选的，STA MLD可告知AP MLD其自身工作的主链路，比如STA MLD中位于主链路的站点将其链路标识告知AP MLD中其对应的AP。这样，AP MLD中工作在该主链路上的AP发送信标帧，而其他AP可不发送，从而有利于节省AP MLD的功耗或者说有利于AP MLD更有效的发送组播业务指示信息，比如在多条链路上重复发送。
另外，对AP MLD如何获知STA MLD工作的主链路的实施方式可参见上述阐述，此处不再详述。
同理，该多链路的组播业务传输方法400、多链路的组播业务传输方法500中，第一AP发送的组播业务指示信息可包括部分AP的AID对应的比特，或者包括部分站点的AID对应 的比特，以节省TIM元素所需的比特开销。假设组播业务指示信息为TIM元素中的部分虚拟比特位图字段，其中部分虚拟比特位图字段为业务指示虚拟比特位图字段的一部分比特，AP业务指示虚拟比特位图字段没有被发送出去，也没携带于TIM元素中。以下分两种情况，即情况4.1、情况4.2讨论TIM元素中的长度字段、偏移量以及部分虚拟比特位图字段(即组播业务指示信息)。
情况4.1：可适用于方法一和方法二的情况3.1
也就是说，该情况4.1的相关内容可适用于AP MLD的各AP没有工作在多BSSID模式的情况，或有工作在多BSSID模式但属于非传输AP的情况。可选的，也可适用于其他情况。
组播业务指示信息是业务指示虚拟比特位图字段的字节N 1开始，在字节N 2结束的所有比特，其中，N 1，大于或等于0，N 2大于或等于N 1。
该情况中，采用协议中的压缩方式，在关联标识连续的多个AP均没有组播业务时，部分虚拟比特位图字段中可不携带这些关联标识对应的比特。即使用TIM元素中的偏移量，减少部分虚拟比特位图字段中组播业务指示信息的比特数。
若业务指示虚拟比特位图字段的最大的偶数字节N 1之前的比特以及最小的字节N 2之后的所有比特对应的AID的站点没有接收的下行业务或者对应的AID的AP没有发送的组播业务，则组播业务指示信息是业务指示虚拟比特位图字段的字节N 1开始，在字节N 2结束的所有比特。
为了降低发送偏移量所需的信令开销，即降低用于指示偏移量所需的比特数，可将组播业务指示信息的偏移量设置为N 1/2，即N 1是偶数字节号。
那么，第一AP发送的TIM元素中长度字段为N 2-N 1+1+3，TIM元素的偏移量为(1/2)N 1，进而，STA MLD中第一AP管理的站点接收到该长度、偏移量，确定组播业务指示信息用于指示比特N 1*8至比特((N 2+1)*8-1))分别对应的AID的站点没有接收的下行业务或者对应的AID的AP没有发送的组播业务，确定比特0至比特N 1*8-1的所有比特对应的AID的AP没有组播业务，以及比特(N 2+1)*8及其之后的所有比特对应的AID的AP没有组播业务。
例如，若第一AP发送的TIM元素中偏移量为0，长度字段为4个字节(即部分虚拟比特位图为1个字节)，则第一AP发送的组播业务指示信息是部分虚拟位图字段中的比特0至比特7，这样，如果AP的AID在比特16至比特23对应的AID的范围内，则第一STA可根据比特0至比特7的值，获知比特0至比特7中对应的AID的AP是否有组播业务。如果AP的AID不在比特0至比特7对应的AID的范围内，则该AP也没组播业务发送给其关联的站点或者周围的站点。
再例如，若第一AP发送的偏移量为1，长度为4个字节(即部分虚拟比特位图为1个字节)，则第一AP发送的组播业务指示信息是部分虚拟位图字段的字节2，即比特16至比特23，这样，如果AP的AID在比特16至比特23对应的AID的范围内，则第一STA可根据比特16至比特23的值，获知比特16至比特23中对应的AID的AP是否有组播业务。如果AP的AID不在比特16至比特23对应的AID的范围内，则该AP也没组播业务发送给其关联的站点或者周围的站点。
再例如，若第一AP发送的偏移量为0，长度为4个字节，部分虚拟位图字段为01100110，且比特0至7分别于AP MLD中的AP1至AP8对应，则第一STA可获知AP1、AP4、AP5 以及AP8没有组播业务，AP2、AP3、AP6、AP7有组播业务。可选的，若比特0预定义没有任何意义，即不对应任何AP，则比特1至比特7分别于AP MLD中的AP1至AP7对应，第一STA可获知AP1、AP2、AP5、AP6有组播业务，AP3、AP4以及AP7没有组播业务。
情况4.2：适用于上述方法二中的情况3.2。
也就是说，该情况4.2的相关内容可适用于AP MLD的一个或多个AP工作在多BSSID模式下且有一个AP是传输AP的情况。可选的，也可适用于其他情况。
方法A：组播业务指示信息位于部分虚拟比特位图字段，其中部分虚拟比特位图字段是业务指示虚拟比特位图字段的字节0开始，在字节N 2结束的比特。其中，其中N 2是最小的字节数号以至于业务指示虚拟比特位图字段中从比特(N 2+1)*8到比特2007的值全为0，其中业务指示虚拟比特位图字段最大字节数号为251，对应的最大AID为2^251-1＝2007。此时偏移量为0，长度字段为N 2+1+3。
方法B：组播业务指示信息位于部分虚拟比特位图字段，其中部分虚拟比特位图字段是业务指示虚拟比特位图字段的字节0开始，在字节N0-1结束的比特，以及业务指示虚拟比特位图字段的字节N1开始，在字节N2结束的比特。
其中，业务指示虚拟比特位图字段的最大字节数是字节251，所对应的最大AID为AID2007。该情况中，业务指示虚拟比特位图字段的比特N 0*8-1至比特N 1*8-1分别对应的AID的站点没有接收的下行业务或者对应的AID的AP没有发送的组播业务，以及比特N 2*8至比特2007分别对应的AID的站点没有接收的下行业务或者对应的AID的AP没有发送的组播业务，则第一AP发送的组播业务指示信息可包括业务指示虚拟比特位图字段中的字节0开始，在字节N0-1结束的比特；以及包括从业务指示虚拟比特位图字段的字节N1开始，在字节N2结束的比特。另外要求：如果N 0是奇数，则N 1也是奇数；如果N 0是偶数，则N 1也是偶数。
该情况下TIM元素的偏移量为(N 1-N 0)/2，长度字段为N 0+N 2-N 1+4个字节。另外，由于偏移量为(N 1-N 0)/2。
另外，若AP MLD存在工作在多BSSID模式下且为传输BSSID的AP，且假设工作在多BSSID模式下且为传输BSSID的各AP的MaxBSSID Indicator字段指示的数值中的最大值为n，则该情况中，N0的最小字节数号需满足N 0*8-2 n-N_AP<8，其中N_AP为该AP MLD包括的AP个数或AP的个数减1。此时，偏移量为(N 1-N 0)/2个字节，长度为N 0+N 2-N 1+4个字节。
上述本申请提供的实施例中，分别从AP MLD、STA MLD的角度对本申请实施例提供的方法进行了介绍。为了实现上述本申请实施例提供的方法中的各功能，AP MLD、STA MLD可以包括硬件结构、软件模块，以硬件结构、软件模块、或硬件结构加软件模块的形式来实现上述各功能。上述各功能中的某个功能可以以硬件结构、软件模块、或者硬件结构加软件模块的方式来执行。下面将结合图11至图14详细描述本申请实施例的通信装置。其中，该通信装置是接入点多链路设备的接入点或站点多链路设备的站点，进一步的，该通信装置可以为AP MLD中的装置；或者，该通信装置为STA MLD中的装置。
图11示出了通信装置100的示意性框图，通信装置100对应上述适用于多链路的组播业务传输方法200至适用于多链路的组播业务传输方法500中任一方法所述的AP MLD或AP MLD的任一AP。可选的，该通信装置100为图3(a)至图3(c)中的AP MLD的AP或其中的装置；
该通信装置100包括：
所述处理单元101，用于生成组播业务指示信息，所述组播业务指示信息用于指示AP MLD的一个或多个AP是否有组播业务；
所述通信单元102，用于发送所述组播业务指示信息。
可见，该通信装置100中，处理单元101生成的组播业务指示信息能够指示自身或其他AP是否有组播业务，进而由通信单元102发送给站点多链路设备。从而有利于站点多链路设备中的任意一个站点可侦听该组播业务指示信息，改善了组播业务通知的灵活性。另外，该组播业务指示信息指示AP MLD的每个AP或多个AP是否有组播业务时，有利于站点多链路设备中的任意一个站点可获知多个AP是否有组播业务，避免了站点多链路设备的每个站点都需侦各自链路上是否有组播业务，从而节省了站点多链路设备的功耗。
一种实施方式中，所述组播业务指示信息的每个比特分别与所述AP MLD的每个AP相对应；所述每个比特的值用于指示该比特对应的AP是否有组播业务。具体如上述方法实施例中图5至图6所示的实施例中的相关内容。
另外，收发器发送的组播业务指示信息可为处理器生成的组播业务指示信息的部分比特，如情况2.1至情况2.2所述的相关内容，此处不再详述。
另一种实施方式中，所述组播业务指示信息是业务指示位图TIM元素中部分虚拟比特位图字段中的部分比特。或者，所述组播业务指示信息是业务指示位图TIM元素中部分虚拟比特位图字段中的部分连续比特。
可见，该实施方式中，AP MLD为其包括的各AP分配AID，进而采用部分虚拟比特位图中这些AID对应的比特，以分别指示AID的AP是否有组播业务，即组播业务指示信息为这些AID对应的比特。具体可参见上述方法实施例部分图7至图9所示的相关内容。
另外，AP MLD的各AP对应的AID是显式分配、或是隐式预定义，或需要考虑AP MLD有工作在多BSSID模式下且是传输BSSID的AP时如何确定AP MLD的各AP对应的AID，可参见上述方法实施例部分的方法一、方法二，此处不再详述。
例如，AP MLD的各AP对应的AID是显式分配的，则该通信装置中，处理单元101还用于生成关联标识配置信息，所述关联标识配置信息用于指示所述AP MLD的每个AP对应的关联标识AID；所述每个AP的AID对应所述组播业务指示信息的每个比特；通信单元102还用于发送所述关联标识配置信息。
另外，该实施方式中，由于部分虚拟比特位图字段中某些比特对应的AID是站点的AID，故组播业务指示信息的各比特对应的关联标识AID与所述AP MLD的每个AP管理的站点的AID不同。
再例如，所述组播业务指示信息对应的部分虚拟比特位图字段中的部分连续比特的第一个比特对应的AID是预定义的。
又例如，所述组播业务指示信息对应的业务指示位图TIM元素中部分虚拟比特位图字段中的部分连续比特的第一个比特对应的AID是AIDx；
所述x等于max{2^(N 1)，2^(N 2)，…，2^(N y)，…，2^(N n)}；其中，所述n为所述AP MLD中传输基本服务集标识BSSID的AP的个数，N y是传输BSSID的AP y广播的多基本服务集标识Multiple BSSID元素中的最大基本服务集标识BSSID指示字段的值，所述传输BSSID的AP y是所述AP MLD中的第y个传输BSSID的AP。
该通信装置100中，通信单元102还用于发送业务指示位图DTIM信标帧以及所述DTIM 信标帧之后的组播业务。其中，该通信装置100所在的AP有组播业务时，通信单元102可执行该操作。
应理解，本申请实施例所述的通信装置100可对应执行本申请实施例中多链路的组播业务传输方法200至多链路的组播业务传输方法500，并且通信装置100中的各个单元的上述操作或功能分别为了实现图5和图7中的各个方法的相应流程，为了简洁，在此不再赘述。
图12示出了通信装置200的示意性框图。通信装置200对应上述适用于多链路的组播业务传输方法200至适用于多链路的组播业务传输方法500中任一方法所述的STA MLD，或STA MLD的任一STA，或STA MLD的在主链路上工作的STA。可选的，或该通信装置200为图1所示的STA MLD的STA或其中的装置；或该通信装置200为图3(a)至图3(c)中的STA MLD的STA或其中的装置；
该通信装置200包括：
通信单元201，用于接收来自AP MLD的组播业务指示信息，所述组播业务指示信息用于指示所述AP MLD的一个或多个AP是否有组播业务；
处理单元202，用于根据所述组播业务指示信息，确定所述一个或多个AP是否有组播业务。
可见，该通信装置200中，处理单元202可根据组播业务指示信息，获知一个或多个AP是否有组播业务。也就是说，该通信装置200不仅可以获知自身关联的AP是否有组播业务，还可以获知AP MLD的其他AP是否有组播业务，从而改善了组播业务通知的灵活性。另外，该组播业务指示信息指示AP MLD的多个AP或每个AP是否有组播业务，即该通信装置200所在的STA MLD的任一STA即可获知AP MLD的多个AP或每个AP是否有组播业务，避免该通信装置200所在的STA MLD的每个STA均需侦听对应的AP是否有组播业务，节省了该通信装置200所在的STA MLD的功耗。
一种实施方式中，通信装置200对应的STA是STA MLD的在主链路工作的站点。这样，通信单元201接收来自AP MLD的组播业务指示信息，具体为：通信单元201在该主链路上侦听来自AP MLD的一个AP的组播业务指示信息。该实施方式有利于STA MLD的其他STA避免周期性侦听该组播业务指示信息，从而节省了STA MLD的功耗。
其中，该通信装置200如何确定主链路，可参见上述方法实施例部分的阐述，此处不再详述。
一种实施方式中，通信单元201还用于接收发送业务指示位图DTIM信标帧以及所述DTIM信标帧之后的组播业务。该实施方式在处理单元202确定其对应的AP有组播业务时，该通信单元201可执行该操作。
一种实施方式中，所述组播业务指示信息的每个比特分别与所述AP MLD的每个AP相对应；所述每个比特的值用于指示该比特对应的AP是否有组播业务。具体如上述方法实施例中图5至图6所示的实施例中的相关内容。
另外，收发器发送的组播业务指示信息可为处理器生成的组播业务指示信息的部分比特，如情况2.1至情况2.2所述的相关内容，此处不再详述。
另一种实施方式中，所述组播业务指示信息是业务指示位图TIM元素中部分虚拟比特位图字段中的部分比特。或者，所述组播业务指示信息是业务指示位图TIM元素中部分虚拟比特位图字段中的部分连续比特。
可见，该实施方式中，AP MLD为其包括的各AP分配AID，进而采用部分虚拟比特位图中这些AID对应的比特，以分别指示AID的AP是否有组播业务，即组播业务指示信息为这些AID对应的比特。具体可参见上述方法实施例部分图7至图9所示的相关内容。
另外，AP MLD的各AP对应的AID是显式分配、或是隐式预定义，或需要考虑AP MLD有工作在多BSSID模式下且是传输BSSID的AP时如何确定AP MLD的各AP对应的AID，可参见上述方法实施例部分的方法一、方法二，此处不再详述。
例如，AP MLD的各AP对应的AID是显式分配的，则该通信装置200中，通信单元201还用于接收关联标识配置信息，所述关联标识配置信息用于指示所述AP MLD的每个AP对应的关联标识AID；所述每个AP的AID对应所述组播业务指示信息的每个比特；所述处理单元202还用于根据所述关联标识配置信息，确定所述AP MLD的每个AP对应的AID。
另外，该实施方式中，由于部分虚拟比特位图字段中某些比特对应的AID是站点的AID，故组播业务指示信息的各比特对应的关联标识AID与所述AP MLD的每个AP管理的站点的AID不同。
再例如，所述组播业务指示信息对应的部分虚拟比特位图字段中的部分连续比特的第一个比特对应的AID是预定义的。
又例如，所述组播业务指示信息对应的业务指示位图TIM元素中部分虚拟比特位图字段中的部分连续比特的第一个比特对应的AID是AIDx；
所述x等于max{2^(N 1)，2^(N 2)，…，2^(N y)，…，2^(N n)}；其中，所述n为所述AP MLD中传输BSSID的AP的个数，N y是传输BSSID的AP y广播的多基本服务集标识Multiple BSSID元素中的最大基本服务集标识BSSID指示字段的值，所传输BSSID的AP y是所述AP MLD中的第y个传输BSSID的AP。
应理解，本申请实施例所述的通信装置200可对应执行本申请实施例中多链路的组播业务传输方法200至多链路的组播业务传输方法500，并且通信装置200中的各个单元的上述操作或功能分别为了实现图5和图7中的各个方法中STA MLD中的一STA或第一STA的相应流程，为了简洁，在此不再赘述。
图13示出了通信装置300的示意性框图。一种实现方式中，通信装置300对应上述适用于多链路的组播业务传输方法200至适用于多链路的组播业务传输方法500中任一方法所述的AP MLD，或AP MLD的任一AP。可选的，该通信装置300可以为该通信装置300为图1中的AP MLD的AP或其中的装置；或该通信装置300为图3(a)至图3(c)中的AP MLD的AP或其中的装置。可选的，该通信装置300为实现上述各方法实施例的芯片、芯片系统、或处理器等。该通信装置300可用于实现上述方法实施例中描述的方法，具体可以参见上述方法实施例中的说明。
另一种实现方式中，通信装置300对应上述适用于多链路的组播业务传输方法200至适用于多链路的组播业务传输方法500中任一方法所述的STA MLD，或STA MLD的任一STA，或STA MLD的在主链路上工作的STA。可选的，或该通信装置300为图1中的STA MLD的STA或其中的装置；或该通信装置300为图3(a)至图3(c)中的STA MLD的STA或其中的装置。可选的，该通信装置300为实现上述各方法实施例的芯片、芯片系统、或处理器等。该通信装置300可用于实现上述方法实施例中描述的方法，具体可以参见上述方法实施例中的说明。
通信装置300可以包括一个或多个处理器301。处理器301可以是通用处理器或者专用处理器等。例如可以是基带处理器或中央处理器。基带处理器可以用于对通信协议以及通信数据进行处理，中央处理器可以用于对通信装置(如，基站、基带芯片，终端、终端芯片，DU或CU等)进行控制，执行计算机程序，处理计算机程序的数据。
通信装置300还可以包括收发器305。收发器305可以称为收发单元、收发机、或收发电路等，用于实现收发功能。收发器305可以包括接收器和发送器，接收器可以称为接收机或接收电路等，用于实现接收功能；发送器可以称为发送机或发送电路等，用于实现发送功能。可选的，通信装置300还可以包括天线306。
可选的，通信装置300中可以包括一个或多个存储器302，其上可以存有指令304，该指令304可为计算机程序，所述计算机程序可在通信装置300上被运行，使得通信装置300执行上述方法实施例中描述的方法。可选的，所述存储器302中还可以存储有数据。通信装置300和存储器302可以单独设置，也可以集成在一起。
对于通信装置300用于实现上述方法实施例中多链路的组播业务传输方法200至多链路的组播业务传输方法500中的AP MLD的AP的功能：
处理器301可用于执行图5中的步骤S201；图7中的步骤S401；上述方法一、方法二中AP对应的AID的可选实施方式，如生成关联标识配置适用于多链路的组播业务传输方法信息。
收发器305用于执行图5中的步骤S202；图7中的步骤S402；上述方法一、方法二中AP对应的AID的可选实施方式，如发送关联标识配置信息。
对于通信装置300用于实现上述方法实施例中多链路的组播业务传输方法200至多链路的组播业务传输方法500中的STA MLD的STA的功能：
收发器305用于执行图5中的步骤S203；图7中的步骤S403；上述方法一、方法二中AP对应的AID的可选实施方式，如接收关联标识配置信息。
处理器301可用于执行图5中的步骤S204；图7中的步骤S404；上述方法一、方法二中确定AP的AID的可选实施方式，如根据关联标识配置信息确定AP MLD的各AP的关联标识。
在一种实现方式中，处理器301中可以包括用于实现接收和发送功能的收发器。例如该收发器可以是收发电路，或者是接口，或者是接口电路。用于实现接收和发送功能的收发电路、接口或接口电路可以是分开的，也可以集成在一起。上述收发电路、接口或接口电路可以用于代码/数据的读写，或者，上述收发电路、接口或接口电路可以用于信号的传输或传递。
在一种实现方式中，处理器301可以存有指令303，该指令可为计算机程序，计算机程序303在处理器301上运行，可使得通信装置300执行上述方法实施例中描述的方法。计算机程序303可能固化在处理器301中，该种情况下，处理器301可能由硬件实现。
在一种实现方式中，通信装置300可以包括电路，所述电路可以实现前述方法实施例中发送或接收或者通信的功能。本申请中描述的处理器和收发器可实现在集成电路(integrated circuit，IC)、模拟IC、射频集成电路RFIC、混合信号IC、专用集成电路(application specific integrated circuit，ASIC)、印刷电路板(printed circuit board，PCB)、电子设备等上。该处理器和收发器也可以用各种IC工艺技术来制造，例如互补金属氧化物半导体(complementary metal oxide semiconductor，CMOS)、N型金属氧化物半导体(nMetal-oxide-semiconductor，NMOS)、P型金属氧化物半导体(positive channel metal oxide semiconductor，PMOS)、双极 结型晶体管(bipolar junction transistor，BJT)、双极CMOS(BiCMOS)、硅锗(SiGe)、砷化镓(GaAs)等。
以上实施例描述中的通信装置可以是AP MLD或AP MLD的AP，但本申请中描述的通信装置的范围并不限于此，而且通信装置的结构可以不受图13的限制。通信装置可以是独立的设备或者可以是较大设备的一部分。例如所述通信装置可以是：
(1)独立的集成电路IC，或芯片，或，芯片系统或子系统；
(2)具有一个或多个IC的集合，可选的，该IC集合也可以包括用于存储数据，计算机程序的存储部件；
(3)ASIC，例如调制解调器(Modem)；
(4)可嵌入在其他设备内的模块；
(5)接收机、终端、智能终端、蜂窝电话、无线设备、手持机、移动单元、车载设备、网络设备、云设备、人工智能设备等等；
(6)其他等等。
对于通信装置可以是芯片或芯片系统的情况，可参见图14所示的芯片的结构示意图。图14所示的芯片包括处理器401和接口402。其中，处理器401的数量可以是一个或多个，接口402的数量可以是多个。
对于芯片用于实现上述方法实施例中多链路的组播业务传输方法200至多链路的组播业务传输方法500中的AP MLD的AP的功能：
一种实现方式中，
处理器401，用于生成组播业务指示信息，所述组播业务指示信息用于指示AP MLD的一个或多个AP是否有组播业务；
接口402，用于发送所述组播业务指示信息。
可见，该芯片中，处理器生成的组播业务指示信息能够指示自身或其他AP是否有组播业务，进而由收发器发送给站点多链路设备。从而有利于站点多链路设备中的任意一个站点可侦听该组播业务指示信息，改善了组播业务通知的灵活性。另外，该组播业务指示信息指示AP MLD的每个AP或多个AP是否有组播业务时，有利于站点多链路设备中的任意一个站点可获知多个AP是否有组播业务，避免了站点多链路设备的每个站点都需侦各自链路上是否有组播业务，从而节省了站点多链路设备的功耗。
可选的，该芯片还可以执行多链路的组播业务传输方法200至多链路的组播业务传输方法500中的AP MLD的AP的功能，此处不再详述。
对于芯片用于实现上述方法实施例中多链路的组播业务传输方法200至多链路的组播业务传输方法500中的STA MLD的STA的功能。
一种实现方式中，接口402，用于接收来自AP MLD的组播业务指示信息，所述组播业务指示信息用于指示所述AP MLD的一个或多个AP是否有组播业务。
可选的，处理器401，用于根据所述组播业务指示信息，确定所述一个或多个AP是否有组播业务。
可见，该芯片中，处理器可根据组播业务指示信息，获知一个或多个AP是否有组播业务。也就是说，该芯片不仅可以获知自身关联的AP是否有组播业务，还可以获知AP MLD的其他AP是否有组播业务，从而改善了组播业务通知的灵活性。另外，该组播业务指示信息指示AP MLD的多个AP或每个AP是否有组播业务，即该芯片所在的STA MLD的任一 STA即可获知AP MLD的多个AP或每个AP是否有组播业务，避免该芯片所在的STA MLD的每个STA均需侦听对应的AP是否有组播业务，节省了该芯片所在的STA MLD的功耗。
可选的，该芯片还可以执行多链路的组播业务传输方法200至多链路的组播业务传输方法500中的STA MLD的STA的功能，此处不再详述。
本领域技术人员还可以了解到本申请实施例列出的各种说明性逻辑块(illustrative logical block)和步骤(step)可以通过电子硬件、电脑软件，或两者的结合进行实现。这样的功能是通过硬件还是软件来实现取决于特定的应用和整个系统的设计要求。本领域技术人员可以对于每种特定的应用，可以使用各种方法实现所述的功能，但这种实现不应被理解为超出本申请实施例保护的范围。
本申请还提供了一种计算机可读存储介质，其上存储有计算机程序，该计算机可读存储介质被计算机执行时实现上述任一方法实施例的功能。
本申请还提供了一种计算机程序产品，该计算机程序产品被计算机执行时实现上述任一方法实施例的功能。
在上述实施例中，可以全部或部分地通过软件、硬件、固件或者其任意组合来实现。当使用软件实现时，可以全部或部分地以计算机程序产品的形式实现。所述计算机程序产品包括一个或多个计算机程序。在计算机上加载和执行所述计算机程序时，全部或部分地产生按照本申请实施例所述的流程或功能。所述计算机可以是通用计算机、专用计算机、计算机网络、或者其他可编程装置。所述计算机程序可以存储在计算机可读存储介质中，或者从一个计算机可读存储介质向另一个计算机可读存储介质传输，例如，所述计算机程序可以从一个网站站点、计算机、服务器或数据中心通过有线(例如同轴电缆、光纤、数字用户线(digital subscriber line，DSL))或无线(例如红外、无线、微波等)方式向另一个网站站点、计算机、服务器或数据中心进行传输。所述计算机可读存储介质可以是计算机能够存取的任何可用介质或者是包含一个或多个可用介质集成的服务器、数据中心等数据存储设备。所述可用介质可以是磁性介质(例如，软盘、硬盘、磁带)、光介质(例如，高密度数字视频光盘(digital video disc，DVD))、或者半导体介质(例如，固态硬盘(solid state disk，SSD))等。
本领域普通技术人员可以理解：本申请中涉及的第一、第二等各种数字编号仅为描述方便进行的区分，并不用来限制本申请实施例的范围，也表示先后顺序。
本申请中的至少一个还可以描述为一个或多个，多个可以是两个、三个、四个或者更多个，本申请不做限制。在本申请实施例中，对于一种技术特征，通过“第一”、“第二”、“第三”、“A”、“B”、“C”和“D”等区分该种技术特征中的技术特征，该“第一”、“第二”、“第三”、“A”、“B”、“C”和“D”描述的技术特征间无先后顺序或者大小顺序。
本申请中各表所示的对应关系可以被配置，也可以是预定义的。各表中的信息的取值仅仅是举例，可以配置为其他值，本申请并不限定。在配置信息与各参数的对应关系时，并不一定要求必须配置各表中示意出的所有对应关系。例如，本申请中的表格中，某些行示出的对应关系也可以不配置。又例如，可以基于上述表格做适当的变形调整，例如，拆分，合并等等。上述各表中标题示出参数的名称也可以采用通信装置可理解的其他名称，其参数的取值或表示方式也可以通信装置可理解的其他取值或表示方式。上述各表在实现时，也可以采用其他的数据结构，例如可以采用数组、队列、容器、栈、线性表、指针、链表、树、图、结构体、类、堆、散列表或哈希表等。
本申请中的预定义可以理解为定义、预先定义、存储、预存储、预协商、预配置、固化、 或预烧制。
本领域普通技术人员可以意识到，结合本文中所公开的实施例描述的各示例的单元及算法步骤，能够以电子硬件、或者计算机软件和电子硬件的结合来实现。这些功能究竟以硬件还是软件方式来执行，取决于技术方案的特定应用和设计约束条件。专业技术人员可以对每个特定的应用来使用不同方法来实现所描述的功能，但是这种实现不应认为超出本申请的范围。
所属领域的技术人员可以清楚地了解到，为描述的方便和简洁，上述描述的系统、装置和单元的具体工作过程，可以参考前述方法实施例中的对应过程，在此不再赘述。
以上所述，仅为本申请的具体实施方式，但本申请的保护范围并不局限于此，任何熟悉本技术领域的技术人员在本申请揭露的技术范围内，可轻易想到变化或替换，都应涵盖在本申请的保护范围之内。因此，本申请的保护范围应以所述权利要求的保护范围为准。

Claims (23)

  1. 一种适用于多链路的组播业务传输方法，其特征在于，所述方法包括：
    接入点多链路设备AP MLD的第一接入点AP生成组播业务指示信息，所述组播业务指示信息用于指示所述AP MLD的一个或多个AP是否有组播业务；
    所述第一AP发送所述组播业务指示信息。
  2. 根据权利要求1所述的方法，其特征在于，
    所述组播业务指示信息用于指示所述AP MLD的每个AP是否有组播业务。
  3. 根据权利要求1或2所述的方法，其特征在于，
    所述组播业务指示信息的每个比特分别与所述AP MLD的每个AP相对应；
    所述每个比特的值用于指示该比特对应的AP是否有组播业务。
  4. 根据权利要求1至3任一项所述的方法，其特征在于，
    所述组播业务指示信息包括业务指示位图TIM元素中部分虚拟比特位图字段中的部分比特，所述TIM元素中部分虚拟比特位图字段中的部分比特用来指示所述AP MLD除第一AP外的每个AP是否有组播业务。
  5. 根据权利要求4所述的方法，其特征在于，
    所述业务指示位图TIM元素中部分虚拟比特位图字段中的部分比特是连续比特。
  6. 根据权利要求1至5任一项所述的方法，其特征在于，
    所述组播业务指示信息的各比特对应的关联标识AID与所述AP MLD的每个AP管理的站点的AID不同。
  7. 一种适用于多链路的组播业务传输方法，其特征在于，所述方法包括：
    站点多链路设备STA MLD的第一站点STA接收来自AP MLD的组播业务指示信息，所述组播业务指示信息用于指示所述AP MLD的一个或多个AP是否有组播业务。
  8. 根据权利要求7所述的方法，其特征在于，
    所述STA MLD的第一STA接收来自AP MLD的组播业务指示信息，包括：
    所述STA MLD的第一STA侦听来自AP MLD的一个AP的组播业务指示信息。
  9. 根据权利要求7或8所述的方法，其特征在于，所述组播业务指示信息携带于发送业务指示位图DTIM信标帧。
  10. 根据权利要求9所述的方法，其特征在于，所述方法还包括：
    所述第一STA接收所述DTIM信标帧之后的组播业务。
  11. 一种接入点多链路设备的接入点，其特征在于，所述接入点多链路设备的接入点包括收发器和处理器；
    所述处理器，用于生成组播业务指示信息，所述组播业务指示信息用于指示AP MLD的一个或多个AP是否有组播业务；
    所述收发器，用于发送所述组播业务指示信息。
  12. 根据权利要求11所述的接入点多链路设备的接入点，其特征在于，
    所述组播业务指示信息用于指示所述AP MLD的每个AP是否有组播业务。
  13. 根据权利要求11或12所述的接入点多链路设备的接入点，其特征在于，
    所述组播业务指示信息的每个比特分别与所述AP MLD的每个AP相对应；
    所述每个比特的值用于指示该比特对应的AP是否有组播业务。
  14. 根据权利要求11至13任一项所述的接入点多链路设备的接入点，其特征在于，
    所述组播业务指示信息是业务指示位图TIM元素中部分虚拟比特位图字段中的部分比特。
  15. 根据权利要求11至14任一项所述的接入点多链路设备的接入点，其特征在于，
    所述组播业务指示信息是业务指示位图TIM元素中部分虚拟比特位图字段中的部分连续比特。
  16. 根据权利要求11至15任一项所述的接入点多链路设备的接入点，其特征在于，
    所述组播业务指示信息的各比特对应的关联标识AID与所述AP MLD的每个AP管理的站点的AID不同。
  17. 一种站点多链路设备的站点，其特征在于，所述站点多链路设备的站点包括收发器；
    所述收发器，用于接收来自AP MLD的组播业务指示信息，所述组播业务指示信息用于指示所述AP MLD的一个或多个AP是否有组播业务。
  18. 根据权利要求17所述的站点多链路设备的站点，其特征在于，所述站点多链路设备的站点是工作在主链路的，
    所述收发器接收来自AP MLD的组播业务指示信息，具体为：
    所述收发器，用于在主链路上侦听来自AP MLD的一个AP的组播业务指示信息。
  19. 根据权利要求17或18所述的站点多链路设备的站点，其特征在于，
    所述组播业务指示信息携带于发送业务指示位图DTIM信标帧。
  20. 根据权利要求19所述的方法，其特征在于，
    所述收发器，还用于接收所述DTIM信标帧之后的组播业务。
  21. 一种芯片系统，其特征在于，包括至少一个处理器和接口；
    所述处理器，用于生成组播业务指示信息，所述组播业务指示信息用于指示AP MLD的一个或多个AP是否有组播业务；
    所述接口，用于发送所述组播业务指示信息。
  22. 一种芯片系统，其特征在于，包括至少一个处理器和接口；
    所述接口，用于接收来自AP MLD的组播业务指示信息，所述组播业务指示信息用于指示所述AP MLD的一个或多个AP是否有组播业务。
  23. 一种计算机可读存储介质，其特征在于，用于存储计算机程序，当所述计算机程序在计算机上运行时，使得所述计算机执行如权利要求1至6中任一项所述的方法；或，执行如权利要求7至10中任一项所述的方法。
PCT/CN2021/098467 2020-06-04 2021-06-04 适用于多链路的组播业务传输方法及装置 WO2021244652A1 (zh)

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