WO2023045823A1 - Wlan中的关联方法、ap和sta - Google Patents

Wlan中的关联方法、ap和sta Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2023045823A1
WO2023045823A1 PCT/CN2022/118980 CN2022118980W WO2023045823A1 WO 2023045823 A1 WO2023045823 A1 WO 2023045823A1 CN 2022118980 W CN2022118980 W CN 2022118980W WO 2023045823 A1 WO2023045823 A1 WO 2023045823A1
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WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
sta
frame
identifier
beacon frame
message
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PCT/CN2022/118980
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English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
廖倩
张彧
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华为技术有限公司
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Publication of WO2023045823A1 publication Critical patent/WO2023045823A1/zh

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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W24/00—Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
    • H04W24/08—Testing, supervising or monitoring using real traffic
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W48/00—Access restriction; Network selection; Access point selection
    • H04W48/08—Access restriction or access information delivery, e.g. discovery data delivery
    • H04W48/10—Access restriction or access information delivery, e.g. discovery data delivery using broadcasted information
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W84/00—Network topologies
    • H04W84/02—Hierarchically pre-organised networks, e.g. paging networks, cellular networks, WLAN [Wireless Local Area Network] or WLL [Wireless Local Loop]
    • H04W84/10—Small scale networks; Flat hierarchical networks
    • H04W84/12—WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]

Definitions

  • the present application relates to the field of wireless communication, in particular to an association method, an access point (access point, AP) and a station (station, STA) in a wireless local area network (wireless local area networks, WLAN).
  • an access point access point
  • station station
  • WLAN wireless local area network
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic flowchart of an association method in a WLAN. As shown in FIG. 1 , in step 101, an STA establishes an association relationship with a first AP.
  • step 102 if the first AP determines that its own load is busy, the first AP sends a handover notification to the STA.
  • the handover notification includes the identity of the second AP.
  • step 103 after receiving the handover notification, the STA sends a disassociation request to the first AP.
  • step 104 the first AP sends a disassociation notification to the STA.
  • step 105 after releasing the association with the first AP, the STA establishes an association relationship with the second AP.
  • the STA must disassociate from the first AP before it can re-associate with the second AP, which causes a high delay for the STA.
  • This application provides an association method, AP and STA in WLAN.
  • the probability of the first STA's association with a busy AP can be reduced, thereby reducing the re-association of the first STA. times to reduce the communication delay of the first STA.
  • the first aspect of the present application provides an association method in a WLAN.
  • the association method includes the following steps: when the load condition of the first AP is idle, the first AP broadcasts a beacon frame to the STA.
  • the beacon frame includes the identifier of the first STA and the identifier of the first AP.
  • a first STA not associated with the first AP may receive the beacon frame.
  • the beacon frame is used to instruct the first STA to associate with the first AP according to the identifier of the first AP.
  • the first STA may receive beacon frames broadcast by other APs.
  • the beacon frames broadcast by other APs carry the identifier of the first STA.
  • the first STA may associate with other APs according to beacon frames broadcast by other APs.
  • the probability that the first STA associates with a busy AP can be reduced, thereby reducing the number of times the first STA re-associates and reducing the communication delay of the first STA.
  • the association method before the first AP broadcasts the beacon frame, the association method further includes the following step: the first AP receives the sounding frame broadcast by the first STA.
  • the first AP acquires the identity of the first STA in the detection frame.
  • the first STA may actively broadcast a detection frame to obtain information about the AP.
  • the detection frame includes the identity of the first STA. Therefore, the first AP can determine which STAs exist around through the detection frames broadcast by the STAs. In this application, acquiring the identity of the first STA through the probe frame can reduce the interaction between the first AP and the first STA, and save communication resources.
  • the association method before the first AP broadcasts the beacon frame, the association method further includes the following step: the first AP broadcasts the first message to the STA.
  • the first AP receives the second message sent by the first STA.
  • the second message is obtained by the first STA according to the first message.
  • the first AP acquires the identifier of the first STA in the second message.
  • some STAs may only passively receive beacon frames sent by the AP.
  • the first AP may broadcast the first message.
  • the first message is used to instruct the first STA to reply to the second message.
  • the second message may be a probe frame. Therefore, the present application can more accurately perceive which STAs exist around, thereby reducing the probability that the first STA is associated with a busy AP.
  • the association method before the first AP broadcasts the beacon frame, the association method further includes the following step: the first AP acquires first channel quality information between the first AP and the first STA. For example, the first AP may measure the sounding frame or the second message sent by the first STA to obtain the first channel quality information.
  • the first AP broadcasts a beacon frame to the STA.
  • the identifier of the first STA is carried in the beacon frame. The first STA associates with the first AP according to the beacon frame.
  • the present application can reduce the probability that the first STA associates with an AP with poor signal quality, thereby improving the communication quality of the first STA.
  • the association method before the first AP broadcasts the beacon frame, the association method further includes the following steps: the first AP obtains the second channel quality information and the second channel quality information between the second AP and the first STA Two AP load conditions.
  • the first STA may also be within the signal coverage of the second AP.
  • the first AP and the second AP are directly connected by wire or wirelessly, the first AP may directly receive the second channel quality information and the load condition of the second AP from the second AP.
  • the first AP and the second AP are connected through an access controller (access controller, AC)
  • the first AP can receive the second channel quality information and the load condition of the second AP through the AC.
  • the first AP broadcasts a beacon frame to the STA.
  • the identifier of the first STA is carried in the beacon frame.
  • the first STA associates with the first AP according to the beacon frame.
  • the beacon frame does not carry the identifier of the first STA.
  • the beacon frame sent by the second AP may carry the identifier of the first STA.
  • the first STA associates with the second AP according to the beacon frame sent by the second AP. Therefore, the first STA may be associated with an AP with better signal quality or better load condition. Therefore, the present application can improve the communication quality of the first STA.
  • the beacon frame is used to instruct the first STA to display the identity of the first AP differently from the identity of other APs, and to associate with the first AP according to the instruction of selecting the identity of the first AP .
  • the first STA may automatically associate with the first AP according to the beacon frame.
  • the first STA may display the identifier of the first AP differently from the identifiers of other APs according to the beacon frame.
  • the beacon frames sent by other APs do not include the identifier of the first STA.
  • the beacon frame sent by the first AP includes the identifier of the first STA.
  • the first STA sorts and displays the multiple APs.
  • the plurality of APs includes a first AP and other APs.
  • the first AP is ranked before the other APs. In this application, even if the first STA has not been associated with the first AP, the probability of the first STA being associated with a busy AP can be reduced, thereby reducing the number of times the first STA re-associates and reducing the communication delay of the first STA.
  • the identifier of the first STA is located in a specific vendor (vendor specific) field of the beacon frame.
  • the first AP may add the identifier of the first STA in the destination address field of the communication frame.
  • a media access control (media access control, MAC) address of the first STA For example, adding the identifier of the first STA in the specific provider field can avoid the confusion of the functions of the identifiers of the two first STAs, thereby improving the reliability of communication.
  • the second aspect of the present application provides an association method in a WLAN.
  • the associating method includes the following steps: the first STA receives a beacon frame from a first AP not associated with the first STA.
  • the beacon frame includes the identifier of the first STA and the identifier of the first AP.
  • the first STA associates with the first AP according to the beacon frame.
  • the identifier of the first STA is obtained according to the load condition of the first AP, and the load condition of the first AP is idle. When the load of the first AP is busy, the identifier of the first STA is not included in the beacon frame.
  • the association method before the first STA receives the beacon frame, the association method further includes the following step: the first STA broadcasts the probe frame.
  • the sounding frame is used for the first AP to obtain the identity of the first STA in the sounding frame.
  • the association method before the first STA receives the beacon frame, the association method further includes the following step: the first STA receives the first message broadcast by the first AP. The first STA sends the second message to the first AP according to the first message. The second message is used for the first AP to obtain the identifier of the first STA in the second message.
  • the beacon frame carries the first STA logo.
  • the first STA associates with the first AP according to the beacon frame.
  • the identifier of the first STA is not carried in the beacon frame.
  • the identifier of the first STA is carried in the beacon frame.
  • the first STA associates with the first AP according to the beacon frame.
  • the beacon frame does not carry the identifier of the first STA.
  • the first STA displays the identifier of the first AP differently from the identifiers of other APs.
  • the first STA receives an instruction to select the identity of the first AP.
  • the first STA associates with the first AP according to the instruction.
  • the identifier of the first STA not associated with the first AP is located in the specific provider field of the beacon frame.
  • the third aspect of the present application provides an association method in a WLAN.
  • the association method includes the following steps: when the load of the first AP is busy, the first AP sends the first communication frame to the first STA not associated with the first AP.
  • the first communication frame is one of a detection reply frame, an authentication reply frame or an access reply frame.
  • the first communication frame includes the identifier of the third AP.
  • the first communication frame is used to instruct the first STA to associate with the third AP according to the identifier of the third AP.
  • the first communication frame does not include the identifier of the third AP.
  • the first STA may associate with the first AP according to the first communication frame.
  • the probability of the first STA being associated with a busy AP can be reduced, thereby reducing the number of times the first STA re-associates and reducing the communication delay of the first STA .
  • the association method before the first AP sends the first communication frame, the association method further includes the following steps: the first AP obtains the load condition of the third AP from the third AP, and when the third AP's When the load condition is idle, the identifier of the third AP is carried in the first communication frame.
  • the first communication frame may carry the identifier of the AP whose load is idle. For example the fourth AP.
  • the probability that the first STA associates with a busy AP can be further reduced, thereby reducing the number of times the first STA re-associates and reducing the communication delay of the first STA.
  • the association method before the first AP sends the first communication frame, the association method further includes the following steps: the first AP acquires the third communication between the third AP and the first STA from the third AP. Channel quality information.
  • the first communication frame When the load condition of the third AP is idle and the quality of the third channel satisfies the threshold condition, the first communication frame carries the identity of the third AP.
  • the first communication frame When the load of the third AP is idle and the quality of the third channel does not meet the threshold condition, the first communication frame does not carry the identifier of the third AP.
  • the present application can reduce the probability that the first STA associates with an AP with poor signal quality, thereby improving the communication quality of the first STA.
  • the identifier of the third AP is located in the specific provider field of the first communication frame.
  • the fourth aspect of the present application provides an association method in a WLAN.
  • the associating method includes the following steps: the first STA receives a first communication frame from a first AP not associated with the first STA.
  • the first communication frame is one of a detection reply frame, an authentication reply frame or an access reply frame.
  • the first communication frame includes the identifier of the third AP.
  • the first STA associates with the third AP according to the first communication frame.
  • the identifier of the third AP is obtained according to the load condition of the first AP.
  • the load condition of the first AP is busy. When the load condition of the first AP is idle, the first communication frame does not include the identifier of the third AP.
  • the first STA may associate with the first AP according to the first communication frame.
  • the first communication frame when the load condition of the third AP is idle, the first communication frame carries the identifier of the third AP.
  • the first communication frame may carry the identifier of the AP whose load is idle, for example, the fourth AP.
  • the first communication frame when the load condition of the third AP is idle and the third channel quality between the third AP and the first STA meets the threshold condition, the first communication frame carries the third AP logo.
  • the first STA associates with the third AP according to the first communication frame.
  • the first communication frame does not carry the identity of the third AP.
  • the first communication frame may carry an identifier of an AP whose load condition is idle, for example, the fourth AP.
  • the identifier of the third AP is located in the specific provider field of the first communication frame.
  • the fifth aspect of the present application provides a first AP.
  • the first AP includes an acquisition module and a sending module.
  • the acquiring module is used to acquire the identifier of the first STA.
  • the sending module is used for broadcasting a beacon frame to STAs when the load condition of the first AP is idle.
  • the beacon frame includes the identifier of the first STA and the identifier of the first AP.
  • the beacon frame is used to instruct the first STA to associate with the first AP according to the identifier of the first AP.
  • the first AP further includes a receiving module.
  • the receiving module is used for receiving the probe frame broadcast by the first STA.
  • the acquiring module is used to acquire the identity of the first STA in the detection frame.
  • the sending module is further configured to broadcast the first message to the STA.
  • the first AP also includes a receiving module.
  • the receiving module is configured to receive the second message sent by the first STA.
  • the second message is obtained by the first STA according to the first message.
  • the acquiring module is configured to acquire the identifier of the first STA in the second message.
  • the acquiring module is further configured to acquire first channel quality information between the first AP and the first STA.
  • the sending module is used for broadcasting a beacon frame to the STA by the first AP when the load of the first AP is idle and the first channel quality information satisfies a threshold condition.
  • the acquiring module is further configured to acquire second channel quality information between the second AP and the first STA and a load condition of the second AP.
  • the sending module is used to broadcast a beacon frame to STAs when the load of the first AP is better than that of the second AP, or when the first channel quality information is better than the second channel quality information.
  • the beacon frame is used to instruct the first STA to display the identity of the first AP differently from the identity of other APs, and to associate with the first AP according to the instruction of selecting the identity of the first AP .
  • the identifier of the first STA is located in the specific provider field of the beacon frame.
  • the sixth aspect of the present application provides a first STA.
  • the first STA includes a receiving module and an associating module.
  • the receiving module is used for receiving a beacon frame from a first AP not associated with the first STA.
  • the beacon frame includes the identifier of the first STA and the identifier of the first AP.
  • the associating module is used for associating the first AP according to the beacon frame. Wherein, the load condition of the first AP is idle.
  • the first STA further includes a sending module.
  • the sending module is used for broadcasting a sounding frame, and the sounding frame is used for the first AP to obtain the identity of the first STA in the sounding frame.
  • the receiving module is further configured to receive the first message broadcast by the first AP.
  • the first STA further includes a sending module, configured to send a second message to the first AP according to the first message.
  • the second message is used for the first AP to obtain the identifier of the first STA in the second message.
  • the beacon frame carries the first STA logo.
  • the first STA associates with the first AP according to the beacon frame.
  • the identifier of the first STA is not carried in the beacon frame.
  • the identifier of the first STA is carried in the beacon frame.
  • the first STA associates with the first AP according to the beacon frame.
  • the beacon frame does not carry the identifier of the first STA.
  • the associating module includes a display unit, a receiving unit, and an associating unit.
  • the display unit is used to distinguish and display the logo of the first AP from the logos of other APs.
  • the receiving unit is used for receiving an instruction for selecting the identity of the first AP.
  • the associating unit is used for associating the first AP according to the instruction.
  • the identifier of the first STA not associated with the first AP is located in the specific provider field of the beacon frame.
  • the seventh aspect of the present application provides a first AP.
  • the first AP includes a sending module and an acquiring module.
  • the obtaining module is used to obtain the identification of the third AP.
  • the sending module is used for sending the first communication frame to the first STA not associated with the first AP when the load of the first AP is busy.
  • the first communication frame is one of a detection reply frame, an authentication reply frame or an access reply frame.
  • the first communication frame includes the identifier of the third AP.
  • the first communication frame is used to instruct the first STA to associate with the third AP according to the identifier of the third AP.
  • the first AP further includes an acquiring module.
  • the obtaining module is used to obtain the load condition of the third AP from the third AP.
  • the identifier of the third AP is carried in the first communication frame.
  • the first communication frame does not carry the identifier of the third AP.
  • the ID of the idle AP may be carried in the first communication frame. For example the fourth AP.
  • the acquiring module is further configured to acquire third channel quality information between the third AP and the first STA from the third AP.
  • the first communication frame carries the identifier of the third AP.
  • the first communication frame does not carry the identifier of the third AP.
  • the identifier of the third AP is located in the specific provider field of the first communication frame.
  • the eighth aspect of the present application provides a first STA.
  • the first STA includes a receiving module and an associating module.
  • a receiving module configured to receive the first communication frame from the first AP not associated with the first STA.
  • the first communication frame is one of a detection reply frame, an authentication reply frame or an access reply frame.
  • the first communication frame includes the identifier of the third AP.
  • the associating module is used for associating the third AP according to the first communication frame. Wherein, the load condition of the first AP is busy.
  • the first communication frame when the load of the third AP is idle, the first communication frame carries the identifier of the third AP.
  • the first communication frame When the load of the third AP is busy, the first communication frame does not carry the identifier of the third AP.
  • the ID of the idle AP may be carried in the first communication frame. For example, the identifier of the fourth AP.
  • the first communication frame when the load of the third AP is idle and the third channel quality information between the third AP and the first STA satisfies a threshold condition, the first communication frame carries the third The ID of the AP. When the load of the third AP is idle and the quality of the third channel does not meet the threshold condition, the first communication frame does not carry the identifier of the third AP.
  • the identifier of the third AP is located in the specific provider field of the first communication frame.
  • the ninth aspect of the present application provides a first AP.
  • the first AP includes a transceiver and a processor.
  • the processor is configured to acquire the identifier of the first STA.
  • the transceiver is used to broadcast a beacon frame to STAs when the load condition of the first AP is idle.
  • the beacon frame includes the identifier of the first STA and the identifier of the first AP.
  • the beacon frame is used to instruct the first STA to associate with the first AP according to the identifier of the first AP.
  • the transceiver and the processor in the first AP are further configured to execute the method in the foregoing first aspect or any optional manner in the first aspect.
  • the tenth aspect of the present application provides a first STA.
  • the first STA includes a transceiver and a processor.
  • the transceiver is configured to receive a beacon frame from a first AP not associated with the first STA.
  • the beacon frame includes the identifier of the first STA and the identifier of the first AP.
  • the processor is used for associating the first AP according to the beacon frame. Wherein, the load condition of the first AP is idle.
  • the transceiver and the processor in the first STA are further configured to execute the method in the foregoing second aspect or any optional manner in the second aspect.
  • the eleventh aspect of the present application provides a first AP.
  • the first AP includes a processor and a transceiver.
  • the processor is used to determine whether the load condition of the first AP is busy.
  • the transceiver is used for sending the first communication frame to the first STA not associated with the first AP when the load condition of the first AP is busy.
  • the first communication frame is one of a detection reply frame, an authentication reply frame or an access reply frame.
  • the first communication frame includes the identifier of the third AP.
  • the first communication frame is used to instruct the first STA to associate with the third AP according to the identifier of the third AP.
  • the transceiver and the processor in the first AP are further configured to execute the method in the foregoing third aspect or any optional manner in the third aspect.
  • the twelfth aspect of the present application provides a first STA.
  • the first STA includes a transceiver and a processor.
  • the transceiver is configured to receive a first communication frame from a first AP not associated with the first STA.
  • the first communication frame is one of a detection reply frame, an authentication reply frame or an access reply frame.
  • the first communication frame includes the identifier of the third AP.
  • the processor is configured to associate with the third AP according to the first communication frame. Wherein, the load condition of the first AP is busy.
  • the transceiver and the processor in the first STA are further configured to execute the method in the foregoing fourth aspect or any optional manner in the fourth aspect.
  • a thirteenth aspect of the present application provides a computer storage medium, where instructions are stored in the computer storage medium, and when the instructions are executed on a computer, the computer executes any one of the implementations of the first aspect or the first aspect. or make the computer execute the method as described in the second aspect or any implementation manner of the second aspect; or cause the computer to execute the method as described in the third aspect or any implementation manner of the third aspect the above-mentioned method; or make the computer execute the method according to the fourth aspect or any implementation manner of the fourth aspect.
  • the fourteenth aspect of the present application provides a computer program product.
  • the computer executes the method described in the first aspect or any implementation manner of the first aspect; or causes The computer executes the method described in the second aspect or any implementation manner of the second aspect; or causes the computer to execute the method described in the third aspect or any implementation manner of the third aspect; or causes the computer to execute the method described in the third aspect or any implementation manner of the third aspect;
  • the computer executes the method according to the fourth aspect or any implementation manner of the fourth aspect.
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic flow diagram of an association method in a WLAN
  • FIG. 2 is a first schematic flow chart of an association method in a WLAN provided in this application;
  • FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a first interface of a first STA provided in this application.
  • FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a second interface of the first STA provided in this application.
  • FIG. 5 is a second schematic flowchart of an association method in a WLAN provided in this application.
  • FIG. 6 is a third schematic flowchart of an association method in a WLAN provided in this application.
  • FIG. 7 is a fourth schematic flowchart of an association method in a WLAN provided in this application.
  • FIG. 8 is a fifth schematic flowchart of an association method in a WLAN provided in this application.
  • FIG. 9 is a sixth schematic flowchart of an association method in a WLAN provided in this application.
  • FIG. 10 is a schematic structural diagram of the first AP provided in this application.
  • FIG. 11 is a schematic structural diagram of a first STA provided in this application.
  • Fig. 12 is a schematic structural diagram of a computer device provided in this application.
  • This application provides an associating method, AP and STA in a wireless local area network (wireless local area networks, WLAN).
  • the first STA can be associated with less time.
  • the STA may associate with the first AP whose load is busy. At this time, the first AP will require the STA to associate with other APs, such as the second AP. Wherein, the STA must disassociate from the first AP before it can re-associate with the second AP, which causes a high time delay for the STA.
  • FIG. 2 is a schematic flowchart of the first association method in the WLAN provided in this application. As shown in Figure 2, the association method in WLAN includes the following steps.
  • step 201 the first STA sends a probe frame.
  • the probe frame is also referred to as a probe request (probe request) frame.
  • the first AP may receive the probe frame unicast or broadcast by the first STA.
  • the detection frame When the detection frame is a unicast frame, the detection frame carries a basic service set identifier (basic service set identifier, BSSID).
  • BSSID basic service set identifier
  • the BSSID carried in the detection frame may not be the BSSID of the first AP.
  • the probe frame may also carry a service set identifier (service set identifier, SSID).
  • the SSID in the probe frame may or may not be the SSID of the first AP.
  • the source address of the probe frame is the media access control (media access control, MAC) address of the first STA.
  • media access control media access control
  • the MAC address of the first STA in the source address field may be used as the identifier of the first STA.
  • the first STA may add the identifier of the first STA in other fields.
  • the first STA adds the identifier of the first STA in the specific provider field.
  • the identifier of the first STA may be a MAC address, an IP address or other identifiers of the first STA.
  • step 202 when the load of the first AP is idle, the first AP adds the identifier of the first STA in the beacon frame.
  • the first AP can determine the load condition of the first AP through load parameters such as channel load (channel load), central processing unit (central processing unit, CPU) utilization rate, air interface occupancy rate, and access number.
  • load parameters such as channel load (channel load), central processing unit (central processing unit, CPU) utilization rate, air interface occupancy rate, and access number.
  • the first AP determines that the load condition of the first AP is busy.
  • the load parameter does not meet the threshold condition
  • the first AP determines that the load condition of the first AP is idle. For example, when the number of accesses of the first AP is greater than or equal to the threshold, the first AP determines that the load of the first AP is busy. When the number of accesses of the first AP is less than the threshold, the first AP determines that the load of the first AP is idle.
  • the detection frame sent by the first STA carries the identifier of the first STA. Therefore, after the first AP receives the detection frame, the first AP can perceive that the first STA is within its own signal coverage.
  • the first AP adds the identifier of the first STA in the beacon frame. For example, the first AP may add the identifier of the first STA in the specific provider field in the beacon frame.
  • the first AP does not add the identifier of the first STA to the beacon frame.
  • step 203 the first AP broadcasts a beacon frame to STAs.
  • the beacon frame is also referred to as a beacon frame.
  • the beacon frame broadcast by the first AP carries the identifier of the first STA.
  • the beacon frame broadcast by the first AP does not carry the identifier of the first STA.
  • step 204 the first STA establishes an association relationship with the first AP according to the beacon frame.
  • the first STA may receive the beacon frame broadcast by the first AP.
  • the identifier of the first STA When the identifier of the first STA is carried in the beacon frame, it indicates that the load of the first AP is idle.
  • the detection frame broadcast by the first AP carries the identifier of the first AP.
  • the identifier of the first AP is the BSSID of the first AP and/or the SSID of the first AP.
  • the first STA accesses the first AP according to the identifier of the first AP. For example, after receiving the beacon frame broadcast by the first AP, the first STA unicasts the sounding frame to the first AP.
  • the destination address of the probe frame is the BSSID of the first AP.
  • the probing frame carries the BSSID of the first AP and the SSID of the first AP.
  • the first STA broadcasts the probe frame to the AP.
  • the detection frame carries the SSID of the first AP.
  • the first AP sends a probe reply frame to the first STA.
  • the probe reply frame is also called (probe response) frame.
  • the first STA sends an authentication frame to the first AP.
  • Authentication frame is also called authentication request (authentication request) frame.
  • the first AP sends an authentication response (authentication response) frame to the first STA.
  • the first STA After the first STA receives the authentication reply frame, the first STA sends an access frame to the first AP.
  • the access frame is also called the access request (association request) frame.
  • the first AP sends an access reply (association response) frame to the first STA.
  • the first AP establishes an association relationship with the first STA.
  • the first STA may be able to receive beacon frames sent by multiple APs.
  • the multiple APs include a first AP and a second AP.
  • the first AP and the second AP may include the same SSID, or may include different SSIDs.
  • the beacon frame broadcast by the first AP does not carry the identifier of the first STA.
  • the beacon frame broadcast by the second AP carries the identifier of the first STA.
  • the first STA establishes an association relationship with the second AP according to the beacon frame broadcast by the second AP.
  • the first AP may be able to receive detection frames sent by multiple STAs.
  • the plurality of STAs includes a first STA and a second STA.
  • the beacon frame broadcast by the first AP may carry identifiers of multiple STAs.
  • the identifiers of the multiple STAs include the identifier of the first STA and the identifier of the second STA.
  • the first STA may automatically associate with the first AP according to the beacon frame of the first AP.
  • the first STA may display the identifier of the first AP differently from the identifiers of other APs.
  • the beacon frames broadcast by other APs do not carry the identifier of the first STA, indicating that the load status of other APs is busy or unknown.
  • the methods for distinguishing display include adding identification, prioritizing and so on. Described below respectively.
  • FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a first interface of a first STA provided in this application.
  • the first STA 300 has received beacon frames of four APs.
  • the SSIDs of the four APs are UNI01 to UNI04.
  • the beacon frames sent by UNI01 and UNI03 carry the identifier of the first STA.
  • the identifier of the first STA indicates that the load conditions of UNI01 and UNI03 are idle.
  • the beacon frames sent by UNI02 and UNI04 do not carry the identifier of the first STA.
  • the beacon frames sent by UNI02 and UNI04 do not carry the identifier of the first STA.
  • the first STA adds the flag "good load” to UNI01 and UNI03, so that UNI01 and UNI03 are distinguished from other APs.
  • the other APs are UNI02 and UNI04.
  • the first STA associates with UNI01 according to the instruction. It should be understood that the identification of "good load” is only an example. In practical applications, the first STA may add other identifiers to UNI01 and UNI03. For example, "recommended priority access" and so on.
  • FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a second interface of the first STA provided in this application.
  • the first STA 400 has received beacon frames of four APs.
  • the SSIDs of the four APs are UNI01 to UNI04.
  • the beacon frames sent by UNI01 and UNI03 carry the identifier of the first STA.
  • the identifier of the first STA indicates that the load conditions of UNI01 and UNI03 are idle.
  • the beacon frames sent by UNI02 and UNI04 do not carry the identifier of the first STA.
  • the first STA sorts the four APs according to whether they carry the identifier of the first STA. Among them, the AP carrying the identity of the first STA is ranked first.
  • UNI01 and UNI03 are sorted first, so that UNI01 and UNI03 are distinguished from other APs.
  • the other APs are UNI02 and UNI04.
  • UNI02 and UNI04 are sorted last.
  • the first STA may sort the multiple APs according to the channel quality information. APs with better channel quality information are ranked first. For example, in FIG. 4, the channel quality information of UNI01 is better than that of UNI03. Therefore, UNI01 is sorted first, and UNI03 is sorted last.
  • the first STA may also sort the multiple APs according to the channel quality information. For example, in FIG. 4, the channel quality information of UNI02 is better than that of UNI04. Therefore, UNI02 is sorted first, and UNI04 is sorted last.
  • the first STAs are first sorted according to whether they carry the identifier of the first STA, and then sorted according to channel quality information (referred to as load priority).
  • the first STAs may be sorted according to channel quality information first, and then sorted according to whether they carry the identifier of the first STA (referred to as quality priority).
  • quality priority For example, the first STA grades the channel quality information of multiple APs.
  • the level of channel quality information of UNI01 and UNI02 is 4.
  • the level of channel quality information of UNI03 and UNI04 is 3.
  • the first STA first ranks the multiple APs according to the levels of the channel quality information. APs with better channel quality information are ranked first.
  • UNI01 and UNI02 are sorted first, and UNI03 and UNI04 are sorted last.
  • the first STA is sorted as APs in the same channel quality information level according to whether the identifier of the first STA is carried.
  • the AP carrying the identity of the first STA is sorted first. Therefore, UNI01 is sorted before UNI02, and UNI03 is sorted before UNI04.
  • the sort order of multiple APs is UNI01, UNI02, UNI03, and UNI04.
  • the first STA may simultaneously use identification addition and prioritization. For example, in FIG. 4 , the first STA adds the flag "good load” to UNI01 and UNI03. At this time, the first STA not only sorts the multiple APs in a load-first manner, but also adds an identifier of "good load” to the AP carrying the identifier of the first STA. For example, in FIG. 3 , the first STA not only ranks multiple APs in a quality-first manner, but also adds an identifier "good load” to the AP carrying the identifier of the first STA.
  • the probability that the first STA associates with a busy AP can be reduced, thereby reducing the number of times the first STA re-associates and reducing the communication delay of the first STA.
  • FIG. 5 is a schematic flowchart of a second association method in a WLAN provided in this application. As shown in Fig. 5, the association method in WLAN includes the following steps.
  • a first AP broadcasts a first message to STAs.
  • the first AP may periodically broadcast the first message.
  • the specific format of the first message can be agreed with the STA.
  • a certain field of the first message carries a target identifier.
  • the target identifier is used to instruct the first STA to reply to the second message.
  • the first STA sends a second message to the AP.
  • the first STA sends a second message to the AP.
  • the second message includes the identifier of the first STA.
  • the identifier of the first STA may be the source address of the second message.
  • the second message may be a detection frame.
  • the first STA broadcasts the second message to the AP.
  • the source address in the first message may carry the BSSID of the first AP. Therefore, after receiving the first message, the first STA may also unicast the second message to the first AP.
  • step 503 when the load of the first AP is idle, the first AP adds the identifier of the first STA in the beacon frame.
  • step 504 the first AP broadcasts a beacon frame to STAs.
  • step 505 the first STA establishes an association relationship with the first AP according to the beacon frame.
  • the first STA perceives the first STA through different methods.
  • the first AP may also perceive the first STA through communication frames between the first STA and other APs. For example, after the first STA associates with the third AP, the first STA sends a communication frame to the third AP.
  • the source address of the communication frame is the MAC address of the first STA.
  • the first AP may perceive the first STA through the communication frame.
  • the technical solution in this application will be described by taking the first AP sensing the first STA through the detection frame sent by the first STA as an example.
  • Fig. 6 is a schematic flowchart of a third association method in a WLAN provided in this application. As shown in Fig. 6, the association method in WLAN includes the following steps.
  • the first STA sends a probe frame.
  • the detection frame includes the identifier of the first STA.
  • the first AP acquires first channel quality information between the first AP and the first STA according to the sounding frame.
  • the channel quality information may be received signal strength indication (received signal strength indication, RSSI), channel duty ratio, or transmit power, etc.
  • the first AP may obtain the first channel quality information by measuring the sounding frame sent by the first STA. It should be understood that, in practical applications, the first STA may also obtain the first channel quality information by measuring other signals sent by the first STA. For example, the second message sent by the first STA in step 502 above.
  • the first AP adds the identifier of the first STA in the beacon frame.
  • the first channel quality information is RSSI.
  • the RSSI is greater than or equal to the threshold, it indicates that the first channel quality information satisfies the threshold condition.
  • the RSSI is smaller than the threshold, it indicates that the first channel quality information does not meet the threshold condition.
  • the first AP When the load condition of the first AP is idle and the first channel quality information satisfies the threshold condition, the first AP adds the identifier of the first STA in the beacon frame. When the load condition of the first AP is idle and the first channel quality information does not meet the threshold condition, the first AP does not add the identifier of the first STA to the beacon frame. When the load of the first AP is busy, the first AP does not add the identifier of the first STA to the beacon frame.
  • the beacon frame For the description of the beacon frame, reference may be made to the description in step 202 in FIG. 2 .
  • step 604 the first AP broadcasts a beacon frame to STAs.
  • step 605 the first STA establishes an association relationship with the first AP according to the beacon frame.
  • step 601 For the description of step 601 , reference may be made to the description of step 201 in FIG. 2 , or the description of step 502 in FIG. 5 .
  • step 604 and step 605 reference may be made to the description of the foregoing step 203 and step 204.
  • the first AP only adds the identifier of the first STA to the beacon frame when the first channel quality information satisfies the threshold condition. Therefore, the present application can reduce the probability that the first STA associates with an AP with poor signal quality, thereby improving the communication quality of the first STA.
  • the first STA may be within the signal coverage of multiple APs.
  • the first AP may compare channel quality information between the first STA and multiple APs.
  • the first AP adds The identifier of the first STA.
  • FIG. 7 is a schematic flowchart of a fourth association method in a WLAN provided in this application. As shown in Fig. 7, the association method in WLAN includes the following steps.
  • the first STA sends a probe frame.
  • the sounding frame includes the identification of the first SAT.
  • step 702 the second AP acquires second channel quality information between the second AP and the first STA according to the sounding frame.
  • step 703 the first AP acquires first channel quality information between the first AP and the first STA according to the sounding frame.
  • the second AP sends second channel quality information to the first AP.
  • the second AP may directly send the second channel quality information to the first AP.
  • the second AP may second the channel quality information to the first AP through the AC.
  • the second AP may also send the identity of the first STA to the first AP.
  • the second AP may send the second list to the first AP.
  • the second list includes identifiers of multiple STAs.
  • the identifiers of the multiple STAs include the identifier of the first STA.
  • the first AP sends the first channel quality information to the second AP.
  • the first AP may also send the identity of the first STA to the second AP.
  • the identifier of the first STA may be carried in the first list.
  • the identifiers of STAs sensed by the first AP are recorded in the first list.
  • step 706 when the first channel quality information is better than the second channel quality information, the second AP does not add the identifier of the first STA to the beacon frame.
  • the first STA has no accessible AP.
  • the first AP may send the load condition of the first AP to the second AP.
  • the second AP may send the load condition of the second AP to the first AP.
  • the load of the first AP is idle and the first channel quality information is better than the second channel quality information, no matter whether the load of the second AP is idle or busy, the second AP does not access the first STA in the beacon frame. logo.
  • the second AP adds the identifier of the first STA in the beacon frame. In this embodiment, it is assumed that the load of the first AP is idle.
  • step 707 when the load of the first AP is idle and the first channel quality information is better than the second channel quality information, the first AP adds the identifier of the first STA in the beacon frame.
  • the first AP does not add the identifier of the first STA to the beacon frame.
  • step 708 the second AP broadcasts a beacon frame to the STAs.
  • the identifier of the first STA is not carried in the beacon frame.
  • step 709 the first AP broadcasts a beacon frame to STAs.
  • the identifier of the first STA is carried in the beacon frame.
  • step 710 the first AP establishes an association relationship with the first AP according to the beacon frame broadcast by the first AP.
  • step 702 and step 703 there is no strict timing limitation between step 702 and step 703 .
  • step 704 and step 705 There is no strict timing limitation between step 706 and step 707.
  • step 708 and step 709 There is no strict timing limitation between step 708 and step 709 .
  • step 701 reference may be made to the description of step 201 in FIG. 2 , or the description of step 502 in FIG. 5 .
  • step 702 and step 703 reference may be made to the description of step 602 in FIG. 6 above.
  • step 707 reference may be made to the description of step 202 in FIG. 2 and step 603 in FIG. 6 above.
  • step 710 reference may be made to the description of the aforementioned step 204 in FIG. 2 .
  • channel quality information is exchanged between multiple APs. Therefore, the first STA can associate with an AP with better channel quality, thereby improving the communication quality of the first STA.
  • FIG. 8 is a schematic flowchart of a fifth association method in a WLAN provided in this application. As shown in Fig. 8, the association method in WLAN includes the following steps.
  • the first STA sends a probe frame.
  • the sounding frame includes the identity of the first STA.
  • the second AP sends the load condition of the second AP to the first AP.
  • the second AP may also send the identity of the first STA to the first AP.
  • the identifier of the first STA may be carried in the second list.
  • the identifiers of STAs perceived by the second AP are recorded in the second list.
  • the first AP sends the load condition of the first AP to the second AP.
  • the first AP may also send the identity of the first STA to the second AP.
  • the identifier of the first STA may be carried in the first list.
  • the identifiers of STAs sensed by the first AP are recorded in the first list.
  • step 804 when the load condition of the first AP is better than that of the second AP, the second AP does not add the identifier of the first STA in the beacon frame.
  • step 805 when the load of the first AP is idle and the load of the first AP is better than that of the second AP, the first AP adds the identifier of the first STA to the beacon frame.
  • the load condition of the first AP is better than the load condition of the second AP.
  • the access number of the first AP is smaller than the access number of the second AP.
  • step 806 the second AP broadcasts a beacon frame to the STAs.
  • the identifier of the first STA is not carried in the beacon frame.
  • step 807 the first AP broadcasts a beacon frame to STAs.
  • the identifier of the first STA is carried in the beacon frame.
  • step 808 the first AP establishes an association relationship with the first AP according to the beacon frame broadcast by the first AP.
  • step 802 there is no strict timing limitation between step 802 and step 803 .
  • step 804 There is no strict timing limitation between step 804 and step 805 .
  • step 806 There is no strict timing limitation between step 807 .
  • step 801 reference may be made to the description of step 201 in FIG. 2 , or the description of step 502 in FIG. 5 .
  • step 808 reference may be made to the description of the aforementioned step 204 in FIG. 2 .
  • the first AP can access an AP with a better load, thereby improving the communication quality of the first STA.
  • multiple APs can exchange load information and channel quality information.
  • Each of the multiple APs determines whether to add the identifier of the first STA in the beacon frame according to the load conditions of the multiple APs and the channel quality information between the multiple APs and the first STA.
  • the plurality of APs includes a first AP and a second AP.
  • the first AP sends the load condition of the first AP and the first channel quality information between the first AP and the first STA to the second AP.
  • the second AP sends the load condition of the second AP and the second channel quality information between the second AP and the first STA to the first AP.
  • the first AP When the load of the first AP is better than that of the second AP, or the first channel quality information is better than the second channel quality information, the first AP adds the identifier of the first STA to the beacon frame.
  • the first STA associates with the first AP according to the beacon frame broadcast by the first AP.
  • the load condition of the second AP is better than that of the first AP, and the second channel quality information is better than the first channel quality information
  • the first AP does not add the identifier of the first STA to the beacon frame.
  • the first AP adds the identifier of the first STA to the beacon frame, so that the subsequent first STA can access the first AP through the beacon frame.
  • the first STA may still initiate an access request to the first AP.
  • the first STA may still initiate an access request to the first AP.
  • the user of the first STA selects the first AP that does not carry the identity of the first STA, such as the UNI02 in FIG. 3 above.
  • the first STA may still initiate an access request to the first AP.
  • the first STA must disassociate from the first AP after associating with the first AP. Afterwards, other APs are associated again, which causes a higher delay for the first STA.
  • FIG. 9 is a schematic flowchart of a sixth association method in a WLAN provided in this application. As shown in Fig. 9, the association method in WLAN includes the following steps.
  • step 901 the first STA sends an association request frame to the first AP.
  • the association request frame may be one of a probe frame, an authentication frame or an access frame.
  • the probe frame may be a unicast frame or a broadcast frame.
  • the probe frame carries the SSID of the first AP.
  • the detection frame is a unicast frame
  • the detection frame carries the BSSID and SSID of the first AP.
  • the association request frame is an authentication frame
  • the association request frame is obtained by the first STA according to the probe reply frame sent by the first AP.
  • the association request frame is an access frame
  • the association request frame is obtained by the first STA according to the authentication reply frame sent by the first AP.
  • step 902 when the load of the first AP is busy, the first AP adds the identifier of the third AP in the first communication frame.
  • the first communication frame is one of a detection reply frame, an authentication reply frame or an access reply frame.
  • the association request frame is a probe frame
  • the first communication frame is a probe reply frame.
  • the association request frame is an authentication frame
  • the association request frame is an access frame
  • the first communication frame is an access reply frame.
  • the first AP and the third AP are relatively close, the first AP defaults that the first STA is also within the signal coverage of the third AP.
  • the identifier of the third AP may be stored in the first AP.
  • the first AP may also receive the identity of the third AP from the third AP. Or, after the third AP perceives the first STA, the third AP sends the identifier of the first STA to the first AP.
  • the identifier of the first STA is used to make the first AP perceive that the first STA is also within the signal coverage of the third AP.
  • the identifier of the first STA may be the MAC address of the first STA.
  • the identifier of the third AP may be the SSID or BSSID of the third AP.
  • the identifier of the third AP may be the BSSID of the third AP.
  • the first AP may add the identifier of the third AP in the specific provider field in the first communication frame.
  • the first AP does not add the identifier of the third AP to the first communication frame.
  • the first AP associates with the first STA according to the association request frame.
  • step 903 the first AP sends a first communication frame to the first STA.
  • the identifier of the third AP is carried in the first communication frame.
  • the first STA establishes an association relationship with the third AP.
  • the identifier of the third AP is carried in the first communication frame.
  • the first STA After receiving the first communication frame, the first STA establishes an association relationship with the third AP according to the identifier of the third AP.
  • the probability of the first STA being associated with a busy AP can be reduced, thereby reducing the number of times the first STA re-associates and reducing the communication delay of the first STA .
  • the first AP may acquire the load status of the third AP from the third AP.
  • the identifier of the third AP is carried in the first communication frame.
  • the first STA associates with the third AP according to the identifier of the third AP.
  • the first communication frame does not carry the identifier of the third AP.
  • the first communication frame carries identifiers of other APs.
  • the first STA associates with other APs according to the identifiers of other APs.
  • the first AP may acquire third channel quality information between the third AP and the first STA from the third AP.
  • the first communication frame When the load condition of the third AP is idle and the third channel quality information satisfies the threshold condition, the first communication frame carries the identifier of the third AP.
  • the first STA associates with the third AP according to the identifier of the third AP.
  • the first communication frame When the load of the third AP is idle and the third channel quality information does not meet the threshold condition, the first communication frame does not carry the identifier of the third AP.
  • the first communication frame carries identifiers of other APs.
  • the first STA associates with other APs according to the identifiers of other APs.
  • the association method in the WLAN is referred to as the association method for short.
  • the associating method in FIG. 9 does not conflict with the associating method in any of the above-mentioned FIG. 2 , FIG. 5 to FIG. 8 .
  • the first STA may receive a beacon frame that does not include the identifier of the first STA from the first AP. At this moment, the load condition of the first AP is busy. The first STA may still send an association request frame to the first AP.
  • the first AP may send the first communication frame including the identifier of the third AP to the first STA by using the association method in FIG. 9 . Therefore, regarding the associating method in FIG. 9 , the associating method in any one of the aforementioned FIG. 2 , FIG. 5 to FIG. 8 can be cited. Similarly, the associating method in any one of Fig. 2 , Fig. 5 to Fig. 8 may also refer to the associating method in Fig. 9 .
  • FIG. 10 is a schematic structural diagram of the first AP provided in this application.
  • the first AP 1000 includes an acquisition module 1001 and a sending module 1002.
  • the first AP 1000 may be the first AP in any one of the aforementioned FIG. 2 , FIG. 5 to FIG. 9 .
  • the acquiring module 1001 is configured to acquire the identity of the first STA.
  • the sending module 1002 is configured to broadcast a beacon frame to STAs when the load of the first AP is idle.
  • the beacon frame includes the identifier of the first STA and the identifier of the first AP.
  • the beacon frame is used to instruct the first STA to associate with the first AP according to the identifier of the first AP.
  • the acquiring module 1001 is configured to acquire the identity of the third AP.
  • the sending module 1002 is configured to send a first communication frame to a first STA not associated with the first AP when the load of the first AP is busy.
  • the first communication frame is one of a detection reply frame, an authentication reply frame or an access reply frame.
  • the first communication frame includes the identifier of the third AP.
  • the first communication frame is used to instruct the first STA to associate with the third AP according to the identifier of the third AP.
  • the first AP 1000 may also include a receiving module, an adding module, and the like.
  • Each module in the first AP 1000 is used to perform the operations that can be performed by the first AP in any one of the preceding figures 2, 5 to 9.
  • the receiving module is configured to execute step 201 .
  • the adding module is used to execute step 202 .
  • the sending module 1002 is configured to execute step 203 .
  • the receiving module and sending module 1002 are used to execute step 204 .
  • the receiving module is used to execute step 901 .
  • the adding module is used to execute step 902 .
  • the sending module 1002 is configured to execute step 903 .
  • FIG. 11 is a schematic structural diagram of a first STA provided in this application. As shown in FIG. 11 , the first STA 1100 includes a receiving module 1101 and an associating module 1102. The first STA 1100 may be the first STA in any one of the foregoing Figures 2, 5 to 9.
  • the receiving module 1101 is configured to receive a beacon frame from a first AP not associated with the first STA.
  • the beacon frame includes the identifier of the first STA and the identifier of the first AP.
  • the associating module 1102 is used for associating the first AP according to the beacon frame. Wherein, the load condition of the first AP is idle.
  • the receiving module 1101 is configured to receive a first communication frame from a first AP not associated with the first STA.
  • the first communication frame is one of a detection reply frame, an authentication reply frame or an access reply frame.
  • the first communication frame includes the identifier of the third AP.
  • the associating module 1102 is used for associating the third AP according to the first communication frame. Wherein, the load condition of the first AP is busy.
  • the first STA 1100 may also include a sending module and the like.
  • Each module in the first STA 1100 is configured to perform operations that can be performed by the first STA in any one of the preceding figures 2, 5 to 9.
  • the sending module is configured to execute step 201 .
  • the receiving module 1101 is configured to execute step 203 .
  • the association module 1102 is used to execute step 204.
  • the sending module is configured to execute step 901 .
  • the receiving module 1101 is configured to execute step 903 .
  • the association module 1102 is used to execute step 904 .
  • Fig. 12 is a schematic structural diagram of a computer device provided in this application.
  • the computer device in this application may be the first AP or the first STA in any one of the above-mentioned FIG. 2 , FIG. 5 to FIG. 9 .
  • a computer device 1200 includes a processor 1201 and a transceiver 1202 .
  • the processor 1201 may be a central processing unit (central processing unit, CPU), a network processor (network processor, NP) or a combination of CPU and NP.
  • the processor 1201 may further include a hardware chip or other general-purpose processors.
  • the aforementioned hardware chip may be an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a programmable logic device (PLD) or a combination thereof.
  • the transceiver 1202 may be a wireless radio frequency module.
  • the processor 1201 is configured to acquire the identifier of the first STA.
  • the transceiver 1202 is configured to broadcast a beacon frame to STAs when the load condition of the first AP is idle.
  • the beacon frame includes the identifier of the first STA and the identifier of the first AP.
  • the beacon frame is used to instruct the first STA to associate with the first AP according to the identifier of the first AP.
  • the transceiver 1202 is configured to receive a beacon frame from a first AP not associated with the first STA.
  • the beacon frame includes the identifier of the first STA and the identifier of the first AP.
  • the processor 1201 is configured to associate with the first AP according to the beacon frame. Wherein, the load condition of the first AP is idle.
  • the processor 1201 is configured to determine whether the load of the first AP is busy.
  • the transceiver 1202 is configured to send a first communication frame to a first STA not associated with the first AP when the load of the first AP is busy.
  • the first communication frame is one of a detection reply frame, an authentication reply frame or an access reply frame.
  • the first communication frame includes the identifier of the third AP.
  • the first communication frame is used to instruct the first STA to associate with the third AP according to the identifier of the third AP.
  • the transceiver 1202 is configured to receive the first communication frame from the first AP not associated with the first STA.
  • the first communication frame is one of a detection reply frame, an authentication reply frame or an access reply frame.
  • the first communication frame includes the identifier of the third AP.
  • the processor 1201 is configured to associate with the third AP according to the first communication frame. Wherein, the load condition of the first AP is busy.
  • the computer device 1200 further includes a memory 1203 .
  • Memory 1203 may be volatile memory or nonvolatile memory, or may include both volatile and nonvolatile memory.
  • the non-volatile memory may be a read-only memory (read-only memory, ROM), a programmable read-only memory (programmable ROM, PROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (erasable PROM, EPROM) and the like.
  • the volatile memory may be random access memory (RAM).
  • Computer programs that can be executed by the processor 1201 are stored in the memory 1203 .
  • the processor 1201 When the processor 1201 reads and executes the computer program, it may perform operations that the first AP or the first STA in any one of FIG. 2 , FIG. 5 to FIG. 9 may perform.
  • the present application also provides a digital processing chip.
  • the digital processing chip integrates circuits and one or more interfaces for realizing the functions of the processor 1201 described above.
  • the digital processing chip can complete the method steps of any one or more embodiments in the foregoing embodiments.

Abstract

本申请提供了一种WLAN中的关联方法，应用于无线通信领域。WLAN中的关联方法包括以下步骤：当第一AP的负载情况为空闲时，第一AP向STA广播信标帧。信标帧包括第一STA的标识和第一AP的标识。信标帧用于指示第一STA根据第一AP的标识关联第一AP。在本申请中，通过在信标帧中添加第一STA的标识，可以降低第一STA关联到繁忙的AP的概率，从而减少第一STA重新关联的次数，降低第一STA的通信时延。

Description

WLAN中的关联方法、AP和STA
本申请要求于2021年9月27日提交中国国家知识产权局、申请号202111136892.4、申请名称为“WLAN中的关联方法、AP和STA”的中国专利申请的优先权，其全部内容通过引用结合在本申请中。
技术领域
本申请涉及无线通信领域，尤其涉及无线局域网(wireless local area networks，WLAN)中的关联方法、接入点(access point，AP)和站点(station，STA)。
背景技术
随着WLAN的普及，一个STA通常可以在多个AP的信号覆盖范围内。此时，为了提升STA的网络质量，STA可以通过AP发送的信标帧获取多个AP的接收的信号强度指示(received signal strength indication，RSSI)。STA根据RSSI在多个AP中确定接入的AP。但是，在STA接入AP后，若AP的负载情况为繁忙，则STA必须接入其它的AP。具体地，图1为WLAN中的关联方法的流程示意图。如图1所示，在步骤101中，STA和第一AP建立关联关系。在步骤102中，若第一AP确定自身的负载情况为繁忙，则第一AP向STA发送切换通知。切换通知包括第二AP的标识。在步骤103中，在接收到切换通知后，STA向第一AP发送解除关联请求。在步骤104中，第一AP向STA发送解除关联通知。在步骤105中，在解除与第一AP的关联后，STA与第二AP建立关联关系。
在实际应用中，STA必须在解除与第一AP的关联后才能重新关联第二AP，造成STA的时延较高。
发明内容
本申请提供了一种WLAN中的关联方法、AP和STA，通过在信标帧中添加第一STA的标识，可以降低第一STA关联到繁忙的AP的概率，从而减少第一STA重新关联的次数，降低第一STA的通信时延。
本申请第一方面提供了一种WLAN中的关联方法。关联方法包括以下步骤：当第一AP的负载情况为空闲时，第一AP向STA广播信标帧。信标帧包括第一STA的标识和第一AP的标识。未与第一AP关联的第一STA可以接收到信标帧。信标帧用于指示第一STA根据第一AP的标识关联第一AP。其中，当第一AP的负载情况为繁忙时，第一AP广播的信标帧中不携带第一STA的标识。此时，第一STA可以接收到其它AP广播的信标帧。当其它AP的负载情况为空闲时，其它AP广播的信标帧中携带有第一STA的标识。第一STA可以根据其它AP广播的信标帧关联其它AP。
在本申请中，通过在信标帧中添加第一STA的标识，可以降低第一STA关联到繁忙的AP的概率，从而减少第一STA重新关联的次数，降低第一STA的通信时延。
在第一方面的一种可选方式中，在第一AP广播信标帧之前，关联方法还包括以下步骤：第一AP接收第一STA广播的探测帧。第一AP在探测帧中获取第一STA的标识。在实际应用中，第一STA可以主动广播探测帧，以获取AP的相关信息。其中，探测帧中包括第一 STA的标识。因此，第一AP可以通过STA广播的探测帧确定周围存在哪些STA。在本申请中，通过探测帧获取第一STA的标识，可以减少第一AP与第一STA之间的交互，节约通信资源。
在第一方面的一种可选方式中，在第一AP广播信标帧之前，关联方法还包括以下步骤：第一AP向STA广播第一消息。第一AP接收第一STA发送的第二消息。第二消息是第一STA根据第一消息得到的。第一AP在第二消息中获取第一STA的标识。在实际应用中，有些STA可能只会被动的接收AP发送的信标帧。此时，为了感知周围存在哪些STA，第一AP可以广播第一消息。第一消息用于指示第一STA回复第二消息。第二消息可以是探测帧。因此，本申请可以更加准确的感知周围存在哪些STA，从而降低第一STA关联到繁忙的AP的概率。
在第一方面的一种可选方式中，在第一AP广播信标帧之前，关联方法还包括以下步骤：第一AP获取第一AP与第一STA之间的第一信道质量信息。例如，第一AP可以测量第一STA发送的探测帧或第二消息，得到第一信道质量信息。当第一AP的负载情况为空闲，第一信道质量信息满足阈值条件时，第一AP向STA广播信标帧。信标帧中携带第一STA的标识。第一STA根据信标帧关联第一AP。当第一AP的负载情况为空闲，第一信道质量信息不满足阈值条件时，信标帧中不携带第一STA的标识。其中，本申请可以降低第一STA关联到信号质量较差的AP的概率，从而提高第一STA的通信质量。
在第一方面的一种可选方式中，在第一AP广播信标帧之前，关联方法还包括以下步骤：第一AP获取第二AP与第一STA之间的第二信道质量信息和第二AP的负载情况。其中，第一STA可能也在第二AP的信号覆盖范围内。当第一AP和第二AP直接通过有线或无线相连时，第一AP可以直接从第二AP接收第二信道质量信息和第二AP的负载情况。当第一AP和第二AP通过接入控制器(access controller，AC)相连时，第一AP可以通过AC接收第二信道质量信息和第二AP的负载情况。当第一AP的负载情况优于第二AP的负载情况，或，第一信道质量信息优于第二信道质量信息时，第一AP向STA广播信标帧。信标帧中携带第一STA的标识。第一STA根据信标帧关联第一AP。当第二AP的负载情况优于第一AP的负载情况，和，第二信道质量信息优于第一信道质量信息时，信标帧中不携带第一STA的标识。此时，第二AP发送的信标帧中可以携带第一STA的标识。第一STA根据第二AP发送的信标帧关联第二AP。因此，第一STA可以关联到信号质量更好或负载情况更好的AP。因此，本申请可以提高第一STA的通信质量。
在第一方面的一种可选方式中，信标帧用于指示第一STA将第一AP的标识区别于其它AP的标识进行显示，根据选定第一AP的标识的指令关联第一AP。其中，对于关联过第一AP的第一STA，第一STA可以根据信标帧自动关联第一AP。对于未关联过第一AP的第一STA，第一STA可以根据信标帧将第一AP的标识区别于其它AP的标识进行显示。例如，其它AP发送的信标帧不包括第一STA的标识。第一AP发送的信标帧包括第一STA的标识。第一STA将多个AP进行排序显示。多个AP包括第一AP和其它AP。第一AP的排序在其它AP之前。在本申请中，即使第一STA未关联过第一AP，也可以降低第一STA关联到繁忙的AP的概率，从而减少第一STA重新关联的次数，降低第一STA的通信时延。
在第一方面的一种可选方式中，第一STA的标识位于信标帧的特定供应商(vendor specific)字段。其中，在第一STA与第一AP的交互过程中，第一AP可能会在通信帧的目的地址字段中添加第一STA的标识。例如第一STA的介质访问控制(media access control，MAC)地址。在本申请中，在特定供应商字段中添加第一STA的标识，可以避免两个第一STA的标识的功能混淆，从而提高通信的可靠性。
本申请第二方面提供了一种WLAN中的关联方法。关联方法包括以下步骤：第一STA从未与第一STA关联的第一AP接收信标帧。信标帧包括第一STA的标识和第一AP的标识。第一STA根据信标帧关联第一AP。其中，第一STA的标识是根据第一AP的负载情况得到的，第一AP的负载情况为空闲。当第一AP的负载情况为繁忙时，信标帧中不包括第一STA的标识。
在第二方面的一种可选方式中，在第一STA接收信标帧之前，关联方法还包括以下步骤：第一STA广播探测帧。探测帧用于第一AP获取探测帧中第一STA的标识。
在第二方面的一种可选方式中，在第一STA接收信标帧之前，关联方法还包括以下步骤：第一STA接收第一AP广播的第一消息。第一STA根据第一消息向第一AP发送第二消息。第二消息用于第一AP获取第二消息中第一STA的标识。
在第二方面的一种可选方式中，当第一AP的负载情况为空闲，第一STA和第一AP之间的第一信道质量信息满足阈值条件时，信标帧中携带第一STA的标识。第一STA根据信标帧关联第一AP。当第一AP的负载情况为空闲，第一信道质量信息不满足阈值条件时，信标帧中不携带第一STA的标识。
在第二方面的一种可选方式中，当第一AP的负载情况优于第二AP的负载情况，或，第一STA和第一AP之间的第一信道质量信息优于第一STA与第二AP之间的第二信道质量信息时，信标帧中携带第一STA的标识。第一STA根据信标帧关联第一AP。当第二AP的负载情况优于第一AP的负载情况，和，第二信道质量信息优于第一信道质量信息时，信标帧中不携带第一STA的标识。
在第二方面的一种可选方式中，第一STA将第一AP的标识区别于其它AP的标识进行显示。第一STA接收选定第一AP的标识的指令。第一STA根据指令关联第一AP。
在第二方面的一种可选方式中，未与第一AP关联的第一STA的标识位于信标帧的特定供应商字段。
本申请第三方面提供了一种WLAN中的关联方法。关联方法包括以下步骤：当第一AP的负载情况为繁忙时，第一AP向未与第一AP关联的第一STA发送第一通信帧。第一通信帧为探测回复帧、认证回复帧或接入回复帧中的一种。第一通信帧包括第三AP的标识。第一通信帧用于指示第一STA根据第三AP的标识关联第三AP。当第一AP的负载情况为空闲时，第一通信帧不包括第三AP的标识。第一STA可以根据第一通信帧关联第一AP。
在本申请中，通过在第一通信帧中添加第三AP的标识，可以降低第一STA关联到繁忙的AP的概率，从而减少第一STA重新关联的次数，降低第一STA的通信时延。
在第三方面的一种可选方式中，在第一AP发送第一通信帧之前，关联方法还包括以下步骤：第一AP从第三AP获取第三AP的负载情况，当第三AP的负载情况为空闲时，第一 通信帧中携带第三AP的标识。当第三AP的负载情况为繁忙时，第一通信帧中可以携带负载情况为空闲的AP的标识。例如第四AP。在本申请中，可以进一步降低第一STA关联到繁忙的AP的概率，从而减少第一STA重新关联的次数，降低第一STA的通信时延。
在第三方面的一种可选方式中，在第一AP发送第一通信帧之前，关联方法还包括以下步骤：第一AP从第三AP获取第三AP和第一STA之间的第三信道质量信息。当第三AP的负载情况为空闲，第三信道质量满足阈值条件时，第一通信帧中携带第三AP的标识。当第三AP的负载情况为空闲，第三信道质量不满足阈值条件时，第一通信帧中不携带第三AP的标识。本申请可以降低第一STA关联到信号质量较差的AP的概率，从而提高第一STA的通信质量。
在第三方面的一种可选方式中，第三AP的标识位于第一通信帧的特定供应商字段。
本申请第四方面提供了一种WLAN中的关联方法。关联方法包括以下步骤：第一STA从未与第一STA关联的第一AP接收第一通信帧。第一通信帧为探测回复帧、认证回复帧或接入回复帧中的一种。第一通信帧包括第三AP的标识。第一STA根据第一通信帧关联第三AP。其中，第三AP的标识是根据第一AP的负载情况得到的。第一AP的负载情况为繁忙。当第一AP的负载情况为空闲时，第一通信帧不包括第三AP的标识。第一STA可以根据第一通信帧关联第一AP。
在第四方面的一种可选方式中，当第三AP的负载情况为空闲时，第一通信帧中携带第三AP的标识。当第三AP的负载情况为繁忙时，第一通信帧中可以携带负载情况为空闲的AP的标识，例如第四AP。
在第四方面的一种可选方式中，当第三AP的负载情况为空闲，第三AP和第一STA之间的第三信道质量满足阈值条件时，第一通信帧中携带第三AP的标识。第一STA根据第一通信帧关联第三AP。当第三AP的负载情况为空闲，第三AP和第一STA之间的第三信道质量不满足阈值条件时，第一通信帧中不携带第三AP的标识。第一通信帧中可以携带负载情况为空闲的AP的标识，例如第四AP。
在第四方面的一种可选方式中，第三AP的标识位于第一通信帧的特定供应商字段。
本申请第五方面提供了一种第一AP。第一AP包括获取模块和发送模块。获取模块用于获取第一STA的标识。发送模块用于当第一AP的负载情况为空闲时，向STA广播信标帧。信标帧包括第一STA的标识和第一AP的标识。信标帧用于指示第一STA根据第一AP的标识关联第一AP。
在第五方面的一种可选方式中，第一AP还包括接收模块。接收模块用于接收第一STA广播的探测帧。获取模块用于在探测帧中获取第一STA的标识。
在第五方面的一种可选方式中，发送模块还用于向STA广播第一消息。第一AP还包括接收模块。接收模块用于接收第一STA发送的第二消息。第二消息是第一STA根据第一消息得到的。获取模块用于在第二消息中获取第一STA的标识。
在第五方面的一种可选方式中，获取模块还用于获取第一AP与第一STA之间的第一信道质量信息。发送模块用于当第一AP的负载情况为空闲，第一信道质量信息满足阈值条件时，第一AP向STA广播信标帧。
在第五方面的一种可选方式中，获取模块还用于获取第二AP与第一STA之间的第二信道质量信息和第二AP的负载情况。发送模块用于当第一AP的负载情况优于第二AP的负载情况，或，第一信道质量信息优于第二信道质量信息时，向STA广播信标帧。
在第五方面的一种可选方式中，信标帧用于指示第一STA将第一AP的标识区别于其它AP的标识进行显示，根据选定第一AP的标识的指令关联第一AP。
在第五方面的一种可选方式中，第一STA的标识位于信标帧的特定供应商字段。
本申请第六方面提供了一种第一STA。第一STA包括接收模块和关联模块。接收模块用于从未与所述第一STA关联的第一AP接收信标帧。信标帧包括第一STA的标识和第一AP的标识。关联模块用于根据信标帧关联第一AP。其中，第一AP的负载情况为空闲。
在第六方面的一种可选方式中，第一STA还包括发送模块。发送模块用于广播探测帧，探测帧用于第一AP获取探测帧中第一STA的标识。
在第六方面的一种可选方式中，接收模块还用于接收第一AP广播的第一消息。第一STA还包括发送模块，发送模块用于根据第一消息向第一AP发送第二消息。第二消息用于第一AP获取第二消息中第一STA的标识。
在第六方面的一种可选方式中，当第一AP的负载情况为空闲，第一STA和第一AP之间的第一信道质量信息满足阈值条件时，信标帧中携带第一STA的标识。第一STA根据信标帧关联第一AP。当第一AP的负载情况为空闲，第一信道质量信息不满足阈值条件时，信标帧中不携带第一STA的标识。在第六方面的一种可选方式中，当第一AP的负载情况优于第二AP的负载情况，或，第一STA和第一AP之间的第一信道质量信息优于第一STA与第二AP之间的第二信道质量信息时，信标帧中携带第一STA的标识。第一STA根据信标帧关联第一AP。当第二AP的负载情况优于第一AP的负载情况，和，第二信道质量信息优于第一信道质量信息时，信标帧中不携带第一STA的标识。
在第六方面的一种可选方式中，关联模块包括显示单元、接收单元和关联单元。显示单元用于将第一AP的标识区别于其它AP的标识进行显示。接收单元用于接收选定第一AP的标识的指令。关联单元用于根据指令关联第一AP。
在第六方面的一种可选方式中，未与第一AP关联的第一STA的标识位于信标帧的特定供应商字段。
本申请第七方面提供了一种第一AP。第一AP包括发送模块和获取模块。获取模块用于获取第三AP的标识。发送模块用于当第一AP的负载情况为繁忙时，向未与第一AP关联的第一STA发送第一通信帧。第一通信帧为探测回复帧、认证回复帧或接入回复帧中的一种。第一通信帧包括第三AP的标识。第一通信帧用于指示第一STA根据第三AP的标识关联第三AP。
在第七方面的一种可选方式中，第一AP还包括获取模块。获取模块用于从第三AP获取第三AP的负载情况。当第三AP的负载情况为空闲时，第一通信帧中携带第三AP的标识。当第三AP的负载情况为繁忙时，第一通信帧中不携带第三AP的标识。第一通信帧中可以携带空闲的AP的标识。例如第四AP。
在第七方面的一种可选方式中，获取模块还用于从第三AP获取第三AP和第一STA之 间的第三信道质量信息。当第三AP的负载情况为空闲，第三信道质量满足阈值条件时，第一通信帧中携带第三AP的标识。当第三AP的负载情况为空闲，第三信道质量不满足阈值条件时，第一通信帧中不携带第三AP的标识。
在第七方面的一种可选方式中，第三AP的标识位于第一通信帧的特定供应商字段。
本申请第八方面提供了一种第一STA。第一STA包括接收模块和关联模块。接收模块，用于从未与第一STA关联的第一AP接收第一通信帧。第一通信帧为探测回复帧、认证回复帧或接入回复帧中的一种。第一通信帧包括第三AP的标识。关联模块用于根据第一通信帧关联第三AP。其中，第一AP的负载情况为繁忙。
在第八方面的一种可选方式中，当第三AP的负载情况为空闲时，第一通信帧中携带第三AP的标识。当第三AP的负载情况为繁忙时，第一通信帧中不携带第三AP的标识。第一通信帧中可以携带空闲的AP的标识。例如第四AP的标识。
在第八方面的一种可选方式中，当第三AP的负载情况为空闲，第三AP与第一STA之间的第三信道质量信息满足阈值条件时，第一通信帧中携带第三AP的标识。当第三AP的负载情况为空闲，第三信道质量不满足阈值条件时，第一通信帧中不携带第三AP的标识。
在第八方面的一种可选方式中，第三AP的标识位于第一通信帧的特定供应商字段。
本申请第九方面提供了一种第一AP。第一AP包括收发器和处理器。处理器用于获取第一STA的标识。收发器用于当第一AP的负载情况为空闲时，向STA广播信标帧。信标帧包括第一STA的标识和第一AP的标识。信标帧用于指示第一STA根据第一AP的标识关联第一AP。
在第九方面的一种可选方式中，第一AP中的收发器和处理器还用于执行前述第一方面或第一方面中的任意一种可选方式中的方法。
本申请第十方面提供了一种第一STA。第一STA包括收发器和处理器。收发器用于从未与所述第一STA关联的第一AP接收信标帧。信标帧包括第一STA的标识和第一AP的标识。处理器用于根据信标帧关联第一AP。其中，第一AP的负载情况为空闲。
在第十方面的一种可选方式中，第一STA中的收发器和处理器还用于执行前述第二方面或第二方面中的任意一种可选方式中的方法。
本申请第十一方面提供了一种第一AP。第一AP包括处理器和收发器。处理器用于确定第一AP的负载情况是否为繁忙。收发器用于当第一AP的负载情况为繁忙时，向未与第一AP关联的第一STA发送第一通信帧。第一通信帧为探测回复帧、认证回复帧或接入回复帧中的一种。第一通信帧包括第三AP的标识。第一通信帧用于指示第一STA根据第三AP的标识关联第三AP。
在第十一方面的一种可选方式中，第一AP中的收发器和处理器还用于执行前述第三方面或第三方面中的任意一种可选方式中的方法。
本申请第十二方面提供了一种第一STA。第一STA包括收发器和处理器。收发器用于从未与第一STA关联的第一AP接收第一通信帧。第一通信帧为探测回复帧、认证回复帧或接入回复帧中的一种。第一通信帧包括第三AP的标识。处理器用于根据第一通信帧关联第三AP。其中，第一AP的负载情况为繁忙。
在第十二方面的一种可选方式中，第一STA中的收发器和处理器还用于执行前述第四方面或第四方面中的任意一种可选方式中的方法。
本申请第十三方面提供了一种计算机存储介质，所述计算机存储介质中存储有指令，所述指令在计算机上执行时，使得所述计算机执行如第一方面或第一方面任意一种实施方式所述的方法；或使得所述计算机执行如第二方面或第二方面任意一种实施方式所述的方法；或使得所述计算机执行如第三方面或第三方面任意一种实施方式所述的方法；或使得所述计算机执行如第四方面或第四方面任意一种实施方式所述的方法。
本申请第十四方面提供了一种计算机程序产品，所述计算机程序产品在计算机上执行时，使得所述计算机执行如第一方面或第一方面任意一种实施方式所述的方法；或使得所述计算机执行如第二方面或第二方面任意一种实施方式所述的方法；或使得所述计算机执行如第三方面或第三方面任意一种实施方式所述的方法；或使得所述计算机执行如第四方面或第四方面任意一种实施方式所述的方法。
附图说明
图1为WLAN中的关联方法的流程示意图；
图2为本申请中提供的WLAN中的关联方法的第一个流程示意图；
图3为本申请中提供的第一STA的第一个界面示意图；
图4为本申请中提供的第一STA的第二个界面示意图；
图5为本申请中提供的WLAN中的关联方法的第二流程示意图；
图6为本申请中提供的WLAN中的关联方法的第三个流程示意图；
图7为本申请中提供的WLAN中的关联方法的第四个流程示意图；
图8为本申请中提供的WLAN中的关联方法的第五个流程示意图；
图9为本申请中提供的WLAN中的关联方法的第六个流程示意图；
图10为本申请中提供的第一AP的结构示意图；
图11为本申请中提供的第一STA的结构示意图；
图12为本申请中提供的计算机设备的结构示意图。
具体实施方式
本申请提供了一种无线局域网(wireless local area networks，WLAN)中的关联方法、AP和STA，通过在信标帧中添加第一站点(station，STA)的标识，可以降低第一STA关联到繁忙的接入点(access point，AP)的概率，从而减少第一STA重新关联的次数，降低第一STA的通信时延。应理解，本申请中使用的“第一”、“第二”等仅用于区分描述的目的，而不能理解为指示或暗示相对重要性，也不能理解为指示或暗示顺序。
在WLAN中，STA可能会关联到负载情况为繁忙的第一AP。此时，第一AP会要求STA关联其它AP，例如第二AP。其中，STA必须在解除与第一AP的关联后才能重新关联第二AP，造成STA的时延较高。
为此，本申请中提供了一种WLAN中的关联方法。图2为本申请中提供的WLAN中的关联方法的第一个流程示意图。如图2所示，WLAN中的关联方法包括以下步骤。
在步骤201中，第一STA发送探测帧。
其中，探测帧也称为探测请求(probe request)帧。第一AP可以接收到第一STA单播或广播的探测帧。当探测帧为单播帧时，探测帧中携带基本服务集标识符(basic service set identifier，BSSID)。探测帧中携带的BSSID可以不是第一AP的BSSID。探测帧中还可以携带服务集标识符(service set identifier，SSID)。探测帧中的SSID可以是第一AP的SSID，也可以不是第一AP的SSID。探测帧的源地址为第一STA的介质访问控制(media access control，MAC)地址。源地址字段中第一STA的MAC地址可以作为第一STA的标识。在实际应用中，第一STA可以在其它字段中添加第一STA的标识。例如第一STA在特定供应商字段加入第一STA的标识。第一STA的标识可以是第一STA的MAC地址、IP地址或其它标识。
在步骤202中，当第一AP的负载情况为空闲时，第一AP在信标帧中加入第一STA的标识。
第一AP可以通过通道负载(channel load)、中央处理器(central processing unit，CPU)利用率、空口占用率、接入个数等负载参数确定第一AP的负载情况。当负载参数满足阈值条件时，第一AP确定第一AP的负载情况为繁忙。当负载参数不满足阈值条件时，第一AP确定第一AP的负载情况为空闲。例如，当第一AP的接入个数大于或等于阈值时，第一AP确定第一AP的负载情况为繁忙。当第一AP的接入个数小于阈值时，第一AP确定第一AP的负载情况为空闲。
根据前述步骤201的描述可知，第一STA发送的探测帧中携带有第一STA的标识。因此，在第一AP接收到探测帧后，第一AP可以感知第一STA在自身的信号覆盖范围内。当第一AP的负载情况为空闲时，第一AP在信标帧中加入第一STA的标识。例如，第一AP可以在信标帧中的特定供应商字段中加入第一STA的标识。当第一AP的负载情况为繁忙时，第一AP不在信标帧中加入第一STA的标识。
在步骤203中，第一AP向STA广播信标帧。
其中，信标帧也称为beacon帧。当第一AP的负载情况为空闲时，第一AP广播的信标帧携带第一STA的标识。当第一AP的负载情况为繁忙时，第一AP广播的信标帧不携带第一STA的标识。
在步骤204中，第一STA根据信标帧和第一AP建立关联关系。
第一STA可以接收到第一AP广播的信标帧。当信标帧中携带有第一STA的标识时，表征第一AP的负载情况为空闲。其中，第一AP广播的探测帧中携带有第一AP的标识。第一AP的标识为第一AP的BSSID和/或第一AP的SSID。第一STA根据第一AP的标识接入第一AP。例如，在接收到第一AP广播的信标帧后，第一STA向第一AP单播探测帧。探测帧的目的地址为第一AP的BSSID。探测帧中携带第一AP的BSSID和第一AP的SSID。或者，第一STA向AP广播探测帧。探测帧中携带第一AP的SSID。在第一AP接收到探测帧后，第一AP向第一STA发送探测回复帧。探测回复帧也叫(probe response)帧。在第一STA接收到探测回复帧后，第一STA向第一AP发送认证帧。认证帧也叫认证请求(authentication request)帧。在第一AP接收到认证帧后，第一AP向第一STA发送认证回复(authentication response)帧。在第一STA接收到认证回复帧后，第一STA向第一AP发送接入帧。接入帧 也叫接入请求(association request)帧。之后，第一AP向第一STA发送接入回复(association response)帧。第一AP和第一STA建立关联关系。
在实际应用中，第一STA可能可以接收到多个AP发送的信标帧。例如多个AP包括第一AP和第二AP。第一AP和第二AP可以包括相同的SSID，也可以包括不同的SSID。当第一AP的负载情况为繁忙时，第一AP广播的信标帧中不携带第一STA的标识。与前述第一AP的描述类似，当第二AP的负载情况为空闲时，第二AP广播的信标帧中携带第一STA的标识。此时，第一STA根据第二AP广播的信标帧与第二AP建立关联关系。
在实际应用中，第一AP可能可以接收到多个STA发送的探测帧。例如，多个STA包括第一STA和第二STA。当第一AP的负载情况为空闲时，第一AP广播的信标帧中可以携带多个STA的标识。例如多个STA的标识包括第一STA的标识和第二STA的标识。
对于关联过第一AP的第一STA，第一STA可以根据第一AP的信标帧自动关联第一AP。对于未关联过第一AP的第一STA，第一STA可以将第一AP的标识区别于其它AP的标识进行显示。其它AP广播的信标帧中未携带第一STA的标识，表征其它AP的负载情况为繁忙或未知。区别显示的方法包括添加标识、优先排序等。下面分别进行描述。
例如，图3为本申请中提供的第一STA的第一个界面示意图。如图3所示，第一STA 300接收到了四个AP的信标帧。四个AP的SSID分别为UNI01～UNI04。其中，UNI01和UNI03发送的信标帧中携带有第一STA的标识。第一STA的标识表征UNI01和UNI03的负载情况为空闲。UNI02和UNI04发送的信标帧中未携带有第一STA的标识。UNI02和UNI04发送的信标帧中未携带有第一STA的标识。第一STA为UNI01和UNI03添加标识“负载良好”，使得UNI01和UNI03区别于其它AP。其它AP为UNI02和UNI04。在接收到选定UNI01的指令后，第一STA根据该指令关联UNI01。应理解，标识“负载良好”只是一个示例。在实际应用中，第一STA可以为UNI01和UNI03添加其它标识。例如“建议优先接入”等。
例如，图4为本申请中提供的第一STA的第二个界面示意图。如图4所示，第一STA 400接收到了四个AP的信标帧。四个AP的SSID分别为UNI01～UNI04。其中，UNI01和UNI03发送的信标帧中携带有第一STA的标识。第一STA的标识表征UNI01和UNI03的负载情况为空闲。UNI02和UNI04发送的信标帧中未携带有第一STA的标识。第一STA根据是否携带第一STA的标识对4个AP进行排序。其中，携带有第一STA的标识的AP排序在前。例如，在图4中，UNI01和UNI03排序在前，使得UNI01和UNI03区别于其它AP。其它AP为UNI02和UNI04。UNI02和UNI04排序在后。对于携带有第一STA的标识的多个AP，第一STA可以根据信道质量信息对多个AP进行排序。信道质量信息较优的AP排序在前。例如，在图4中，UNI01的信道质量信息优于UNI03的信道质量信息。因此，UNI01排序在前，UNI03排序在后。类似地，对于未携带有第一STA的标识的多个AP，第一STA也可以根据信道质量信息对多个AP进行排序。例如，在图4中，UNI02的信道质量信息优于UNI04的信道质量信息。因此，UNI02排序在前，UNI04排序在后。
应理解，在前述优先排序的示例中，第一STA先按照是否携带第一STA的标识进行排序，再按照信道质量信息进行排序(简称负载优先)。在实际应用中，第一STA可以先按照信道质量信息进行排序，再按照是否携带第一STA的标识进行排序(简称质量优先)。例如， 第一STA对多个AP的信道质量信息进行分级。UNI01和UNI02的信道质量信息的级别为4。UNI03和UNI04的信道质量信息的级别为3。第一STA先按照信道质量信息的级别对多个AP排序。信道质量信息较优的AP排序在前。因此，UNI01和UNI02排序在前，UNI03和UNI04排序在后。之后，第一STA再按照是否携带第一STA的标识为相同信道质量信息级别中的AP排序。携带第一STA的标识的AP排序在前。因此，UNI01的排序在UNI02之前，UNI03的排序在UNI04之前。多个AP的排序顺序为UNI01、UNI02、UNI03和UNI04。
应理解，在实际应用中，第一STA可以同时采用添加标识和优先排序。例如，在图4中，第一STA为UNI01和UNI03添加标识“负载良好”。此时，第一STA既采用了负载优先的方式对多个AP进行排序，也为携带第一STA的标识的AP添加标识“负载良好”。例如，在图3中，第一STA既采用了质量优先的方式对多个AP进行排序，也为携带第一STA的标识的AP添加标识“负载良好”。
在本申请中，通过在信标帧中添加第一STA的标识，可以降低第一STA关联到繁忙的AP的概率，从而减少第一STA重新关联的次数，降低第一STA的通信时延。
在前述图1的示例中，第一AP通过第一STA的探测帧感知第一STA。在实际应用中，有些STA可能只会被动的接收AP发送的信标帧，而不会主动的广播探测帧。因此，为了感知周围存在哪些STA，第一AP可以触发第一STA发送信号。第一AP通过第一STA发送的信号感知周围存在哪些STA。具体地，图5为本申请中提供的WLAN中的关联方法的第二流程示意图。如图5所示，WLAN中的关联方法包括以下步骤。
在步骤501中，第一AP向STA广播第一消息。第一AP可以周期性的广播第一消息。第一消息的具体格式可以和STA约定。例如，第一消息的某个字段中携带有目标标识。目标标识用于指示第一STA回复第二消息。
在步骤502中，第一STA向AP发送第二消息。在接收第一消息后，第一STA向AP发送第二消息。第二消息中包括第一STA的标识。第一STA的标识可以是第二消息的源地址。其中，第二消息可以是探测帧。此时，第一STA向AP广播第二消息，关于步骤502中的描述可以参考前述图2步骤201中的描述。第一消息中的源地址可以携带第一AP的BSSID。因此，在接收第一消息后，第一STA也可以向第一AP单播第二消息。
在步骤503中，当第一AP的负载情况为空闲时，第一AP在信标帧中加入第一STA的标识。
在步骤504中，第一AP向STA广播信标帧。
在步骤505中，第一STA根据信标帧和第一AP建立关联关系。
步骤503至步骤505中的描述可以参考前述图2中步骤202至步骤204中的描述。在图2和图5中，第一STA通过不同的方法感知第一STA。在实际应用中，第一AP还可以通过第一STA与其它AP之间的通信帧感知第一STA。例如，在第一STA与第三AP关联后，第一STA向第三AP发送通信帧。通信帧的源地址为第一STA的MAC地址。第一AP可以通过通信帧感知第一STA。在后续的描述中，将以第一AP通过第一STA发送的探测帧感知第一STA为例，对本申请中的技术方案进行描述。
图6为本申请中提供的WLAN中的关联方法的第三个流程示意图。如图6所示，WLAN 中的关联方法包括以下步骤。
在步骤601中，第一STA发送探测帧。探测帧中包括第一STA的标识。
在步骤602中，第一AP根据探测帧获取第一AP和第一STA之间的第一信道质量信息。信道质量信息可以是接收的信号强度指示(received signal strength indication，RSSI)、信道占空比、或发射功率等。第一AP通过测量第一STA发送的探测帧，可以得到第一信道质量信息。应理解，在实际应用中，第一STA还可以通过测量第一STA发送的其它信号得到第一信道质量信息。例如前述步骤502中第一STA发送的第二消息。
在步骤603中，当第一AP的负载情况为空闲，第一信道质量信息满足阈值条件时，第一AP在信标帧中加入第一STA的标识。关于第一AP确定第一AP的负载情况的描述可以参考前述图2中步骤202中的描述。假设第一信道质量信息为RSSI。当RSSI大于或等于阈值时，表征第一信道质量信息满足阈值条件。当RSSI小于阈值时，表征第一信道质量信息不满足阈值条件。当第一AP的负载情况为空闲，第一信道质量信息满足阈值条件时，第一AP在信标帧中加入第一STA的标识。当第一AP的负载情况为空闲，第一信道质量信息不满足阈值条件时，第一AP不在信标帧中加入第一STA的标识。当第一AP的负载情况为繁忙时，第一AP不在信标帧中加入第一STA的标识。关于信标帧的描述，可以参考前述图2中步骤202中的描述。
在步骤604中，第一AP向STA广播信标帧。
在步骤605中，第一STA根据信标帧和第一AP建立关联关系。
关于步骤601的描述，可以参考前述图2中步骤201的描述，也可以参考前述图5中步骤502中的描述。关于步骤604和步骤605的描述，可以参考前述步骤203和步骤204的描述。
在本申请中，在第一信道质量信息满足阈值条件时，第一AP才在信标帧中加入第一STA的标识。因此，本申请可以降低第一STA关联到信号质量较差的AP的概率，从而提高第一STA的通信质量。
在实际应用中，第一STA可能在多个AP的信号覆盖范围内。此时，第一AP可以比较第一STA与多个AP之间的信道质量信息。当第一AP的负载情况为空闲，第一AP与第一STA之间的第一信道质量信息优于其它AP与第一STA之间的信道质量信息时，第一AP在信标帧中加入第一STA的标识。例如，图7为本申请中提供的WLAN中的关联方法的第四个流程示意图。如图7所示，WLAN中的关联方法包括以下步骤。
在步骤701中，第一STA发送探测帧。探测帧包括第一SAT的标识。
在步骤702中，第二AP根据探测帧获取第二AP和第一STA之间的第二信道质量信息。
在步骤703中，第一AP根据探测帧获取第一AP和第一STA之间的第一信道质量信息。
在步骤704中，第二AP向第一AP发送第二信道质量信息。当第一AP和第二AP直接通过有线或无线相连，且建立有相关协议时，第二AP可以直接向第一AP发送第二信道质量信息。当第一AP和第二AP通过AC相连时，第二AP可以通过AC向第一AP第二信道质量信息。其中，为了让第一AP感知第一STA也在第二AP的信号覆盖范围内，第二AP还可以向第一AP发送第一STA的标识。当第二AP感知到多个STA时，第二AP可以向第一AP 发送第二列表。第二列表中包括多个STA的标识。多个STA的标识包括第一STA的标识。
在步骤705中，第一AP向第二AP发送第一信道质量信息。为了让第二AP感知第一STA也在第一AP的信号覆盖范围内，第一AP还可以向第二AP发送第一STA的标识。第一STA的标识可以携带在第一列表中。第一列表中记录了第一AP感知的STA的标识。
在步骤706中，当第一信道质量信息优于第二信道质量信息时，第二AP不在信标帧中加入第一STA的标识。为了避免第一AP处于繁忙状态，导致第一STA没有可接入的AP。第一AP可以向第二AP发送第一AP的负载情况。第二AP可以向第一AP发送第二AP的负载情况。当第一AP的负载情况为空闲，第一信道质量信息优于第二信道质量信息时，不管第二AP的负载情况是空闲或繁忙，第二AP不在信标帧中接入第一STA的标识。当第一AP的负载情况为繁忙，第二AP的负载情况为空闲时，不管第一信道质量信息是否优于第二信道质量信息，第二AP在信标帧中加入第一STA的标识。在本实施例中，假设第一AP的负载情况为空闲。
在步骤707中，当第一AP的负载情况为空闲，第一信道质量信息优于第二信道质量信息时，第一AP在信标帧中加入第一STA的标识。当第一AP的负载情况为空闲，第二信道质量信息优于第一信道质量信息时，第一AP不在信标帧中加入第一STA的标识。
在步骤708中，第二AP向STA广播信标帧。信标帧中不携带第一STA的标识。
在步骤709中，第一AP向STA广播信标帧。信标帧中携带第一STA的标识。
在步骤710中，第一AP根据第一AP广播的信标帧与第一AP建立关联关系。
应理解，步骤702和步骤703之间没有严格的时序限定。步骤704和步骤705之间没有严格的时序限定。步骤706和步骤707之间没有严格的时序限定。步骤708和步骤709之间没有严格的时序限定。关于步骤701的描述，可以参考前述图2中步骤201的描述，也可以参考前述图5中步骤502中的描述。关于步骤702和步骤703的描述，可以参考前述图6中步骤602中的描述。关于步骤707的描述，可以参考前述图2中步骤202和图6中步骤603的描述。关于前述步骤710的描述，可以参考前述图2中步骤204的描述。
在本申请中，多个AP之间交互信道质量信息。因此，第一STA可以关联到信道质量更好的AP，从而提高第一STA的通信质量。
在WLAN系统中，多个AP的负载可能不均衡。为此，多个AP可以交互负载情况。例如，图8为本申请中提供的WLAN中的关联方法的第五个流程示意图。如图8所示，WLAN中的关联方法包括以下步骤。
在步骤801中，第一STA发送探测帧。探测帧包括第一STA的标识。
在步骤802中，第二AP向第一AP发送第二AP的负载情况。为了让第一AP感知第一STA也在第二AP的信号覆盖范围内，第二AP还可以向第一AP发送第一STA的标识。第一STA的标识可以携带在第二列表中。第二列表中记录有第二AP感知到的STA的标识。
在步骤803中，第一AP向第二AP发送第一AP的负载情况。为了让第二AP感知第一STA也在第一AP的信号覆盖范围内，第一AP还可以向第二AP发送第一STA的标识。第一STA的标识可以携带在第一列表中。第一列表中记录有第一AP感知到的STA的标识。
在步骤804中，当第一AP的负载情况优于第二AP的负载情况时，第二AP不在信标帧 中加入第一STA的标识。
在步骤805中，当第一AP的负载情况为空闲，第一AP的负载情况优于第二AP的负载情况时，第一AP在信标帧中加入第一STA的标识。当第一AP的负载情况为空闲，第二AP的负载情况优于第一AP的负载情况时，第一AP不在信标帧中加入第一STA的标识。在本实施例中，假设第一AP的负载情况优于第二AP的负载情况。例如，第一AP的接入个数小于第二AP的接入个数。
在步骤806中，第二AP向STA广播信标帧。信标帧中不携带第一STA的标识。
在步骤807中，第一AP向STA广播信标帧。信标帧中携带第一STA的标识。
在步骤808中，第一AP根据第一AP广播的信标帧与第一AP建立关联关系。
应理解，步骤802和步骤803之间没有严格的时序限定。步骤804和步骤805之间没有严格的时序限定。步骤806和步骤807之间没有严格的时序限定。关于步骤801的描述，可以参考前述图2中步骤201的描述，也可以参考前述图5中步骤502中的描述。关于前述步骤808的描述，可以参考前述图2中步骤204的描述。
在本申请中，多个AP之间交互负载情况。因此，第一AP可以接入负载情况较好的AP，从而提高第一STA的通信质量。
在实际应用中，多个AP之间既可以交互负载情况，也可以交互信道质量信息。多个AP中的每个AP根据多个AP的负载情况和多个AP与第一STA之间的信道质量信息确定是否在信标帧中加入第一STA的标识。例如，多个AP包括第一AP和第二AP。第一AP向第二AP发送第一AP的负载情况和第一AP与第一STA之间的第一信道质量信息。第二AP向第一AP发送第二AP的负载情况和第二AP与第一STA之间的第二信道质量信息。当第一AP的负载情况优于第二AP的负载情况，或第一信道质量信息优于第二信道质量信息时，第一AP在信标帧中加入第一STA的标识。第一STA根据第一AP广播的信标帧关联第一AP。当第二AP的负载情况优于第一AP的负载情况，第二信道质量信息优于第一信道质量信息时，第一AP不在信标帧中加入第一STA的标识。
在前述WLAN中的关联方法中，第一AP通过在信标帧中加入第一STA的标识，使得后续第一STA可以通过信标帧接入第一AP。但是，在实际应用中，可能存在第一STA不支持对信标帧进行扩展。因此，即使第一AP的负载情况为繁忙，第一AP的信标帧中未携带第一STA的标识，第一STA仍可能向第一AP发起接入请求。或者，对于未接入过第一AP的第一STA。第一STA的用户选择的是未携带第一STA的标识的第一AP，例如前述图3中的UNI02。此时，即使第一AP的负载情况为繁忙，第一STA仍可能向第一AP发起接入请求。此时，第一STA必须在关联第一AP后，解除第一AP的关联。之后，再关联其它的AP，造成第一STA的时延较高。
为此，本申请中提供了一种WLAN中的关联方法。图9为本申请中提供的WLAN中的关联方法的第六个流程示意图。如图9所示，WLAN中的关联方法包括以下步骤。
在步骤901中，第一STA向第一AP发送关联请求帧。
在确定接入第一AP后，第一STA向第一AP发送探测帧。关联请求帧可以是探测帧、认证帧或接入帧中的一种。当关联请求帧是探测帧时，探测帧可以单播帧或广播帧。当探 测帧是广播帧时，探测帧中携带第一AP的SSID。当探测帧是单播帧时，探测帧中携带第一AP的BSSID和SSID。当关联请求帧是认证帧时，关联请求帧是第一STA根据第一AP发送的探测回复帧得到的。当关联请求帧是接入帧时，关联请求帧是第一STA根据第一AP发送的认证回复帧得到的。
在步骤902中，当第一AP的负载情况为繁忙时，第一AP在第一通信帧中加入第三AP的标识。
关于第一AP的负载情况的描述，可以参考前述图2中步骤202中的描述。第一通信帧是探测回复帧、认证回复帧或接入回复帧中的一种。其中，当关联请求帧是探测帧时，第一通信帧是探测回复帧。当关联请求帧是认证帧时，第一通信帧是认证回复帧。当关联请求帧是接入帧时，第一通信帧是接入回复帧。当第一AP和第三AP的位置较近时，第一AP默认第一STA也在第三AP的信号覆盖范围内。第一AP中可以保存有第三AP的标识。第一AP也可以从第三AP接收第三AP的标识。或者，在第三AP感知到第一STA后，第三AP向第一AP发送第一STA的标识。第一STA的标识用于让第一AP感知第一STA也在第三AP的信号覆盖范围内。第一STA的标识可以是第一STA的MAC地址。当第一AP和第三AP有不同的SSID时，第三AP的标识可以是第三AP的SSID或BSSID。当第一AP和第三AP有相同的SSID时，第三AP的标识可以是第三AP的BSSID。第一AP可以在第一通信帧中的特定供应商字段中加入第三AP的标识。当第一AP的负载情况为空闲时，第一AP不在第一通信帧中加入第三AP的标识。第一AP根据关联请求帧与第一STA关联。
在步骤903中，第一AP向第一STA发送第一通信帧。第一通信帧中携带第三AP的标识。
在步骤904中，第一STA和第三AP建立关联关系。第一通信帧中携带有第三AP的标识。在接收到第一通信帧后，第一STA根据第三AP的标识与第三AP建立关联关系。关于第一STA与第三AP建立关联关系的描述，可以参考前述第一STA与第一AP建立关联关系的描述。
在本申请中，通过在第一通信帧中添加第三AP的标识，可以降低第一STA关联到繁忙的AP的概率，从而减少第一STA重新关联的次数，降低第一STA的通信时延。
为了避免第三AP的负载情况为繁忙，导致第一STA重新关联第三AP以外的AP，第一AP可以从第三AP获取第三AP的负载情况。当第三AP的负载情况为空闲时，第一通信帧中携带第三AP的标识。第一STA根据第三AP的标识关联第三AP。当第三AP的负载情况为繁忙时，第一通信帧中不携带第三AP的标识。第一通信帧中携带其它AP的标识。第一STA根据其它AP的标识关联其它AP。
为了提高第一STA的通信质量，第一AP可以从第三AP获取第三AP与第一STA之间的第三信道质量信息。当第三AP的负载情况为空闲，第三信道质量信息满足阈值条件时，第一通信帧中携带第三AP的标识。第一STA根据第三AP的标识关联第三AP。当第三AP的负载情况为空闲，第三信道质量信息不满足阈值条件时，第一通信帧中不携带第三AP的标识。第一通信帧中携带其它AP的标识。第一STA根据其它AP的标识关联其它AP。
本申请中WLAN中的关联方法简称为关联方法。应理解，图9中的关联方法与前述图2、 图5至图8中任一图中的关联方法并不冲突。具体地，在采用了图2、图5至图8中任一图中的关联方法后，第一STA可能会从第一AP接收到不包括第一STA的标识的信标帧。此时，第一AP的负载情况为繁忙。第一STA仍可以向第一AP发送关联请求帧。在接收到关联请求帧后，第一AP可以采用图9中的关联方法向第一STA发送包括第三AP的标识的第一通信帧。因此，关于图9中的关联方法，可以引用前述图2、图5至图8中任一图中的关联方法。类似地，图2、图5至图8中任一图中的关联方法，也可以引用图9中的关联方法。
前面对本申请中提供的WLAN中的关联方法进行描述，下面对本申请中提供的AP和STA进行描述。图10为本申请中提供的第一AP的结构示意图。如图10所示，第一AP 1000包括获取模块1001和发送模块1002。第一AP 1000可以是前述图2、图5至图9中任一图中的第一AP。
当第一AP 1000是前述图2、图5至图8中任一图中的第一AP时，获取模块1001用于获取第一STA的标识。发送模块1002用于当第一AP的负载情况为空闲时，向STA广播信标帧。信标帧包括第一STA的标识和第一AP的标识。信标帧用于指示第一STA根据第一AP的标识关联第一AP。
当第一AP 1000是前述图9中的第一AP时，获取模块1001用于获取第三AP的标识。发送模块1002用于当第一AP的负载情况为繁忙时，向未与第一AP关联的第一STA发送第一通信帧。第一通信帧为探测回复帧、认证回复帧或接入回复帧中的一种。第一通信帧包括第三AP的标识。第一通信帧用于指示第一STA根据第三AP的标识关联第三AP。
在其它实施例中，第一AP 1000还可以包括接收模块、添加模块等。第一AP 1000中的各个模块用于执行前述图2、图5至图9中任一图中的第一AP可以执行的操作。例如，在图2中，接收模块用于执行步骤201。添加模块用于执行步骤202。发送模块1002用于执行步骤203。接收模块和发送模块1002用于执行步骤204。例如，在图9中，接收模块用于执行步骤901。添加模块用于执行步骤902。发送模块1002用于执行步骤903。
图11为本申请中提供的第一STA的结构示意图。如图11所示，第一STA 1100包括接收模块1101和关联模块1102。第一STA 1100可以是前述图2、图5至图9中任一图中的第一STA。
当第一STA 1100是前述图2、图5至图8中任一图中的第一STA时，接收模块1101用于从未与所述第一STA关联的第一AP接收信标帧。信标帧包括第一STA的标识和第一AP的标识。关联模块1102用于根据信标帧关联第一AP。其中，第一AP的负载情况为空闲。
当第一STA 1100是前述图9中的第一STA时，接收模块1101用于从未与第一STA关联的第一AP接收第一通信帧。第一通信帧为探测回复帧、认证回复帧或接入回复帧中的一种。第一通信帧包括第三AP的标识。关联模块1102用于根据第一通信帧关联第三AP。其中，第一AP的负载情况为繁忙。
在其它实施例中，第一STA 1100还可以包括发送模块等。第一STA 1100中的各个模块用于执行前述图2、图5至图9中任一图中的第一STA可以执行的操作。例如，在图2中，发送模块用于执行步骤201。接收模块1101用于执行步骤203。关联模块1102用于执 行步骤204。例如，在图9中，发送模块用于执行步骤901。接收模块1101用于执行步骤903。关联模块1102用于执行步骤904。
前面对本申请中的第一AP和第一STA进行描述，下面对本申请中的计算机设备进行描述。图12为本申请中提供的计算机设备的结构示意图。本申请中的计算机设备可以是前述图2、图5至图9中任一图中的第一AP或第一STA。如图12所示，计算机设备1200包括处理器1201和收发器1202。
其中，处理器1201可以是中央处理器(central processing unit，CPU)，网络处理器(network processor，NP)或者CPU和NP的组合。处理器1201还可以进一步包括硬件芯片或其他通用处理器。上述硬件芯片可以是专用集成电路(application specific integrated circuit，ASIC)，可编程逻辑器件(programmable logic device，PLD)或其组合。收发器1202可以是无线射频模块。
当计算机设备1200为前述图2、图5至图8中任一图中的第一AP时，处理器1201用于获取第一STA的标识。收发器1202用于当第一AP的负载情况为空闲时，向STA广播信标帧。信标帧包括第一STA的标识和第一AP的标识。信标帧用于指示第一STA根据第一AP的标识关联第一AP。
当计算机设备1200为前述图2、图5至图8中任一图中的第一STA时，收发器1202用于从未与所述第一STA关联的第一AP接收信标帧。信标帧包括第一STA的标识和第一AP的标识。处理器1201用于根据信标帧关联第一AP。其中，第一AP的负载情况为空闲。
当计算机设备1200为前述图9中的第一AP时，处理器1201用于确定第一AP的负载情况是否为繁忙。收发器1202用于当第一AP的负载情况为繁忙时，向未与第一AP关联的第一STA发送第一通信帧。第一通信帧为探测回复帧、认证回复帧或接入回复帧中的一种。第一通信帧包括第三AP的标识。第一通信帧用于指示第一STA根据第三AP的标识关联第三AP。
当计算机设备1200为前述图9中的第一STA时，收发器1202用于从未与第一STA关联的第一AP接收第一通信帧。第一通信帧为探测回复帧、认证回复帧或接入回复帧中的一种。第一通信帧包括第三AP的标识。处理器1201用于根据第一通信帧关联第三AP。其中，第一AP的负载情况为繁忙。
在其它实施例中，计算机设备1200还包括存储器1203。存储器1203可以是易失性存储器或非易失性存储器，或可包括易失性和非易失性存储器两者。其中，非易失性存储器可以是只读存储器(read-only memory，ROM)、可编程只读存储器(programmable ROM，PROM)、可擦除可编程只读存储器(erasable PROM，EPROM)等。易失性存储器可以是随机存取存储器(random access memory，RAM)。
存储器1203中存储有可供处理器1201执行的计算机程序。当处理器1201读取并执行计算机程序时，可以执行上述图2、图5至图9中任一图中第一AP或第一STA可以执行的操作。
本申请还提供一种数字处理芯片。该数字处理芯片中集成了用于实现上述处理器1201的功能的电路和一个或者多个接口。当该数字处理芯片连接存储器时，该数字处理芯片可 以完成前述实施例中的任意一个或多个实施例的方法步骤。
以上，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。

Claims (26)

  1. 一种无线局域网WLAN中的关联方法，其特征在于，包括：
    当第一接入点AP的负载情况为空闲时，所述第一AP向站点STA广播信标帧；
    所述信标帧包括第一STA的标识和所述第一AP的标识，所述信标帧用于指示所述第一STA根据所述第一AP的标识关联所述第一AP。
  2. 根据权利要求1所述的方法，其特征在于，在所述第一AP广播信标帧之前，所述方法还包括：
    所述第一AP接收所述第一STA广播的探测帧；
    所述第一AP在所述探测帧中获取所述第一STA的标识。
  3. 根据权利要求1所述的方法，其特征在于，在所述第一AP广播信标帧之前，所述方法还包括：
    所述第一AP向STA广播第一消息；
    所述第一AP接收所述第一STA发送的第二消息，所述第二消息是所述第一STA根据所述第一消息得到的；
    所述第一AP在所述第二消息中获取所述第一STA的标识。
  4. 根据权利要求1至3中任意一项所述的方法，其特征在于，在所述第一AP广播信标帧之前，所述方法还包括：
    所述第一AP获取所述第一AP与所述第一STA之间的第一信道质量信息；
    当第一AP的负载情况为空闲时，所述第一AP向STA广播信标帧包括：
    当所述第一AP的负载情况为空闲，所述第一信道质量信息满足阈值条件时，所述第一AP向STA广播所述信标帧。
  5. 根据权利要求1至4中任意一项所述的方法，其特征在于，在所述第一AP广播信标帧之前，所述方法还包括：
    所述第一AP获取第二AP与所述第一STA之间的第二信道质量信息和所述第二AP的负载情况；
    当第一AP的负载情况为空闲时，所述第一AP向STA广播信标帧包括：
    当所述第一AP的负载情况优于所述第二AP的负载情况，或，所述第一信道质量信息优于所述第二信道质量信息时，所述第一AP向STA广播所述信标帧。
  6. 根据权利要求1至5中任意一项所述的方法，其特征在于，所述信标帧用于指示所述第一STA根据所述第一AP的标识关联所述第一AP包括：
    所述信标帧用于指示所述第一STA将所述第一AP的标识区别于其它AP的标识进行显示，根据选定所述第一AP的标识的指令关联所述第一AP。
  7. 根据权利要求1至6中任意一项所述的方法，其特征在于，所述第一STA的标识位于所述信标帧的特定供应商字段。
  8. 一种无线局域网WLAN中的接入方法，其特征在于，包括：
    第一站点STA从未与所述第一STA关联的第一接入点AP接收信标帧，所述信标帧包括所述第一STA的标识和所述第一AP的标识；
    所述第一STA根据所述信标帧关联所述第一AP；
    其中，所述第一AP的负载情况为空闲。
  9. 根据权利要求8所述的方法，其特征在于，在所述第一STA接收信标帧之前，所述方法还包括：
    所述第一STA广播探测帧，所述探测帧用于所述第一AP获取所述探测帧中所述第一STA的标识。
  10. 根据权利要求8所述的方法，其特征在于，在所述第一STA接收信标帧之前，所述方法还包括：
    所述第一STA接收所述第一AP广播的第一消息；
    所述第一STA根据所述第一消息向所述第一AP发送第二消息，所述第二消息用于所述第一AP获取所述第二消息中所述第一STA的标识。
  11. 根据权利要求8至10中任意一项所述的方法，其特征在于，
    所述第一STA根据所述信标帧关联所述第一AP包括：
    所述第一STA将所述第一AP的标识区别于其它AP的标识进行显示；
    所述第一STA接收选定所述第一AP的标识的指令；
    所述第一STA根据所述指令关联所述第一AP。
  12. 根据权利要求8至11中任意一项所述的方法，其特征在于，未与所述第一AP关联的所述第一STA的标识位于所述信标帧的特定供应商字段。
  13. 一种无线局域网WLAN中的关联方法，其特征在于，包括：
    当第一接入点AP的负载情况为繁忙时，所述第一AP向未与所述第一AP关联的第一STA发送第一通信帧，所述第一通信帧为探测回复帧、认证回复帧或接入回复帧中的一种；
    所述第一通信帧包括第三AP的标识，所述第一通信帧用于指示所述第一STA根据所述第三AP的标识关联所述第三AP。
  14. 根据权利要求13所述的方法，其特征在于，在所述第一AP发送第一通信帧之前，所述方法还包括：
    所述第一AP从所述第三AP获取所述第三AP的负载情况，当所述第三AP的负载情况为空闲时，所述第一通信帧中携带所述第三AP的标识。
  15. 根据权利要求14所述的方法，其特征在于，在所述第一AP发送第一通信帧之前，所述方法还包括：
    所述第一AP从所述第三AP获取所述第三AP和所述第一STA之间的第三信道质量信息，当所述第三AP的负载情况为空闲，所述第三信道质量信息满足阈值条件时，所述第一通信帧中携带所述第三AP的标识。
  16. 根据权利要求13至15中任意一项所述的方法，其特征在于，所述第三AP的标识位于所述第一通信帧的特定供应商字段。
  17. 一种无线局域网WLAN中的关联方法，其特征在于，包括：
    第一站点STA从未与所述第一STA关联的第一接入点AP接收第一通信帧，所述第一通信帧为探测回复帧、认证回复帧或接入回复帧中的一种，所述第一通信帧包括所述第三AP 的标识；
    所述第一STA根据所述第一通信帧关联所述第三AP；
    其中，所述第一AP的负载情况为繁忙。
  18. 根据权利要求17所述的方法，其特征在于，所述第三AP的标识位于所述第一通信帧的特定供应商字段。
  19. 一种第一接入点AP，其特征在于，包括：
    获取模块，用于获取第一站点STA的标识；
    发送模块，用于当第一AP的负载情况为空闲时，向STA广播信标帧；
    所述信标帧包括所述第一STA的标识和所述第一AP的标识，所述信标帧用于指示所述第一STA根据所述第一AP的标识关联所述第一AP。
  20. 根据权利要求19所述的第一AP，其特征在于，所述第一AP还包括：
    接收模块，用于接收所述第一STA广播的探测帧；
    所述获取模块用于获取第一STA的标识包括：
    所述获取模块用于在所述探测帧中获取所述第一STA的标识。
  21. 根据权利要求19所述的第一AP，其特征在于，
    所述发送模块还用于向STA广播第一消息；
    所述接收模块还用于接收所述第一STA发送的第二消息，所述第二消息是所述第一STA根据所述第一消息得到的；
    所述获取模块用于获取第一STA的标识包括：
    所述获取模块用于在所述第二消息中获取所述第一STA的标识。
  22. 一种第一站点STA，其特征在于，包括：
    接收模块，用于从未与所述第一STA关联的第一接入点AP接收信标帧，所述信标帧包括所述第一STA的标识和所述第一AP的标识；
    关联模块，用于根据所述信标帧关联所述第一AP；
    其中，所述第一AP的负载情况为空闲。
  23. 根据权利要求22所述的第一STA，其特征在于，所述第一STA还包括：
    发送模块，用于广播探测帧，所述探测帧用于所述第一AP获取所述探测帧中所述第一STA的标识。
  24. 根据权利要求22所述的第一STA，其特征在于，
    所述接收模块还用于接收所述第一AP广播的第一消息；
    所述第一STA还包括：
    发送模块，用于根据所述第一消息向所述第一AP发送第二消息，所述第二消息用于所述第一AP获取所述第二消息中所述第一STA的标识。
  25. 一种第一接入点AP，其特征在于，包括：
    获取模块，用于获取第三AP的标识；
    发送模块，用于当第一AP的负载情况为繁忙时，向未与所述第一AP关联的第一站点STA发送第一通信帧，所述第一通信帧为探测回复帧、认证回复帧或接入回复帧中的一种；
    所述第一通信帧包括所述第三AP的标识，所述第一通信帧用于指示所述第一STA根据所述第三AP的标识关联所述第三AP。
  26. 一种第一站点STA，其特征在于，包括：
    接收模块，用于从未与第一STA关联的第一接入点AP接收第一通信帧，所述第一通信帧为探测回复帧、认证回复帧或接入回复帧中的一种，所述第一通信帧包括所述第三AP的标识；
    关联模块，用于根据所述第一通信帧关联所述第三AP；
    其中，所述第一AP的负载情况为繁忙。
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