Detailed Description
Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of a multi-link communication system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The multilink communication system 1 may support an IEEE 802.11 standard, such as an IEEE 802.11BE standard, to enable multilink transmission in Wi-Fi networks and/or Wi-Fi Direct (Wi-Fi Direct) networks. By combining the multi-link multi-radio (MLMR) protocol in the IEEE 802.11BE standard with the operation of each device in the Wi-Fi network and/or Wi-Fi direct, more efficient communication is performed between each device, the stability of each device is effectively maintained, the transmission quality is ensured, and the transmission performance and user experience are improved.
The multi-link communication system 1 may include an access point multi-link device (access point multi-LINK DEVICE, AP MLD) 2, a station multi-LINK DEVICE, STA MLD) 3, and another station 4.STA MLD 3 may also be referred to as a non-access point multi-link device (non-AP MLD). AP MLD 2 may be coupled to STA MLD 3, and STA MLD 3 may be coupled to station 4. Station 4 may be a single link station or a station multilink device. Wi-Fi transmission can be performed between the AP MLD 2 and the STA MLD 3, and point-to-point (P2P) transmission can be performed between the STA MLD 3 and the station 4. When Wi-Fi transmission is performed, the AP MLD 2 may perform uplink or downlink transmission to the STA MLD 3 via a single link or multiple links. When performing point-to-point transmission, one of STA MLD 3 and station 4 may be a Group Owner (GO) and the other may be a P2P client. For example, STA MLD 3 may act as a group owner and station 4 may act as a P2P client. The group owner may establish and manage Wi-Fi direct networks and coordinate data transmissions. On the other hand, the P2P client may receive data from and send data to the group owner. Thus, STA MLD 3 plays the role of both STA MLD and group owner.
Since STA MLD 3 can play various roles in the multi-link communication system 1, its usage scenario may change at any time. For example, the usage scenario of STA MLD 3 may require high transmission (e.g., watching a movie or browsing a web page) at the present time, low latency/high stability (e.g., online gaming) at the next time, and both high transmission and low latency (e.g., miracast video) at the other time. For use scenarios requiring high-throughput capability, STA MLD 3 may transmit via a link that is better in the wireless environment. For usage scenarios requiring low-latency capability, STA MLD 3 may perform multi-link transmission. For use scenarios where both high transmission and low delay capabilities are required, STA MLD 3 may perform multi-link transmission and allocate available radio resources (e.g., antennas and radio links) depending on the amount of transmission.
In some embodiments, STA MLD 3 may select MLMR mode when establishing an online, allowing all links to operate simultaneously and each link to provide maximum transmitter/receiver (Tx/Rx) capability, where the maximum Tx/Rx capability may be related to the total number of antennas of STA MLD 3, tx capability may be the number of antennas used when transmitting data, and Rx capability may be the number of antennas used when receiving data. For example, the total number of antennas may be 2 and the maximum Tx/Rx capability may be 2x2, indicating that data is transmitted using 2 antennas and received using 2 antennas. STA MLD 3 may select MLMR mode when establishing an online, set up for transmission over the first link and the second link, the Tx/Rx capability of the first link may be 2x2, and the Tx/Rx capability of the second link may be 2x2. Then, the STA MLD 3 can adjust the power saving mode and Tx/Rx capability of each link according to the usage scenario, and can meet the requirements of various usage scenarios, so as to achieve high-stability and high-transmission connection under the condition of maintaining in MLMR mode and continuously connecting, and improve transmission performance and user experience.
Fig. 2 is a block diagram of STA MLD 3. STA MLD 3 includes wireless links 341 through 34N, antennas 361 through 36M, and processor 32, where N, M are positive integers, M.gtoreq.N. The antennas 361 through 36M and the processor 32 are coupled to the wireless links 341 through 34N. The number N of wireless links 341 through 34N and the number M of antennas 361 through 36M may be the same or different. For example, n=2, m=2, and sta MLD 3 includes wireless links 341 to 342 and antennas 361 to 362.
Each wireless link includes a plurality of components for wireless transmission over a corresponding link (link), including transceivers, digital-to-analog converters, analog-to-digital converters, baseband processors, and the like. For example, wireless link 341 includes a transceiver, a digital-to-analog converter, an analog-to-digital converter, and a baseband processor for wireless transmission over a first link, and wireless link 342 includes a transceiver, a digital-to-analog converter, an analog-to-digital converter, and a baseband processor for wireless transmission over a second link. Wireless link 341 may convert data from processor 32 into Radio Frequency (RF) signals and transmit them out over the first link via one of antennas 361 through 36M, and convert RF signals received by the one antenna from the first link back into data for processing by processor 32. The wireless link 342 may convert data from the processor 32 into RF signals and transmit over the second link via another set of antennas 361 through 36M and convert RF signals received by the other set of antennas from the second link back into data for processing by the processor 32. Processing the RF signals of the first link and the second link using the wireless link 341 and the wireless link 342, respectively, can ensure transmission quality and improve system efficiency. The first link and the second link may be selected from spectrums supported by STA MLD 3, e.g., STA MLD 3 may support 2.4G and 5G spectrums, the first link may operate in the 2.4GHz frequency band, and the second link may operate in the 5GHz frequency band.
The processor 32 may set STA MLD 3 in MLMR mode and each radio link to transmit and receive data through the antennas 361 to 36M while Wi-Fi association is performed and put at least one of the radio links 341 to 34N into a sleep state (doze state). In one embodiment, it is assumed that STA MLD 3 is connected to AP MLD 2 via wireless link 341, and wireless links 342 to 34N are preset to be in a sleep state for AP MLD 2 during the connection, so that wireless links 342 to 34N can be set to be in a sleep state. Immediately prior to transmitting data, processor 32 may adjust the power save (power save) mode and Tx/Rx capabilities of each wireless link based on the usage scenario. The power saving mode may be a sleep state (doze state) or an awake state (AWAKE STATE). In the sleep state, STA MLD 3 can maintain only basic operation without transmission, thereby reducing power consumption. In the awake state, STA MLD 3 may transmit to AP MLD 2 and/or station 4. In some embodiments, processor 32 may adjust the Tx/Rx capabilities of wireless links 341 through 34N via allocating antennas 361 through 36M through wireless links 341 through 34N, e.g., if m=2, allocating antennas 361 and 362 through wireless link 341 may be equivalent to setting wireless link 341 to the maximum Tx/Rx capability (2 x 2), allocating antennas 361 or 362 through wireless link 341 may be equivalent to setting the Tx/Rx capability of wireless link 341 to 1x1. By adjusting the Tx/Rx capability and the power saving mode of each radio link in MLMR mode, STA MLD 3 can transmit using one of radio links 341 to 34N in the delay capability oriented usage scenario, transmit using one of radio links 341 to 34N in the transmission capability oriented usage scenario, and allocate antennas 361 to 36M to radio links 341 to 34N and transmit using radio links 341 to 34N according to the transmission amount in the delay capability oriented and transmission capability oriented usage scenario, giving consideration to the needs of various usage scenarios, achieving a connection with high stability and high transmission while maintaining in MLMR mode and constantly breaking lines, and improving transmission performance and user experience.
Fig. 3 is a flow chart of a method 300 of operation of STA MLD 3, suitable for use by processor 32. The operation method 300 includes steps S302 to S310, steps S302 to S306 are used to perform initial transmission setting for the STA MLD 3, and steps S308 and S310 are used to adjust the transmission setting according to the usage scenario. Any reasonable modification or adjustment of the steps is within the scope of the present disclosure. The details of steps S302 to S310 are as follows:
step S302, the processor 32 sets the STA MLD 3 to MLMR mode;
Step S304, the processor 32 sets the Tx/Rx capability of each radio link to the maximum Tx/Rx capability, i.e. to transmit and receive data through the antennas 361 to 36M;
Step S306, the processor 32 sets a power save (power save) mode of at least one wireless link to a sleep state;
step S308, the processor 32 allocates the antennas 361 to 36M to the wireless links 341 to 34N according to the usage scenario;
In step S310, the processor 32 updates the N power saving modes of the wireless links 341 to 34N according to the usage scenario.
When the STA MLD 3 establishes Wi-Fi connection with the AP MLD 2, the STA MLD 3 activates MLMR mode (step S302) and sets the Tx/Rx capability of each wireless link to the maximum Tx/Rx capability (step S304). In some embodiments, STA MLD 3 may simultaneously activate MLMR mode and set the Tx/Rx capability of each wireless link to the maximum Tx/Rx capability in the management frame. In step S306, the processor 32 sets the power saving mode of at least one of the wireless links 341 to 34N to the sleep state since no transmission has been made. STA MLD 3 may transmit a null data frame (null DATA FRAME) on the corresponding link of each wireless link to set the power save mode. The zero data frame includes a power save bit, and if the power save bit is 1 (referred to as zero data frame null (1) in the subsequent paragraph), the power save mode is set to the sleep state; if the power saving bit is 0 (referred to as zero data frame null (0) in the subsequent paragraphs), it indicates that the power saving mode is set to the awake state. In step S306, the STA MLD 3 transmits a null data frame null (1) on at least one link to set the at least one radio link to a sleep state.
Before each data transmission, the processor 32 allocates the antennas 361 to 36M to the wireless links 341 to 34N according to the usage scenario (step S308) and updates the N power saving modes of the wireless links 341 to 34N according to the usage scenario (step S310), that is, the processor 32 flexibly adjusts the antennas and the wireless links to be used for each data transmission according to the usage scenario. The usage scenario may be a delay capability orientation scenario, a transmission capability orientation scenario, or a combined capability orientation scenario with both delay capability orientation and transmission capability orientation.
In some embodiments, when the usage scenario is a transmission capability oriented scenario, the processor 32 may select one of the wireless links 341 through 34N, set the power saving mode of the selected one of the wireless links 341 through 34N to an awake state, and allocate all of the antennas 361 through 36M to the selected wireless link in order to achieve the effect of a multi-link single radio (MLSR) mode in MLMR mode. In the present embodiment, the connection status of the selected wireless link is superior to the connection status of the other wireless links 341 to 34N, and the other wireless links other than the selected wireless link are maintained in the sleep state. In some embodiments, the processor 32 may determine the connection status of each wireless link based on the idle channel assessment (CLEAR CHANNEL ASSESSMENT, CCA) result and/or the network allocation vector (Network Allocation Vector, NAV) of the corresponding link of each wireless link. For example, the processor 32 may determine that the online status is busy when detecting that the preamble (preamble) and/or channel energy of the data transmission in air exceeds a default threshold; processor 32 may determine that the connection is idle when it detects that the preamble and/or channel energy of the data transmission in the air does not exceed a default threshold. In another example, the processor 32 may determine that the online condition is busy when the NAV is detected to have a non-zero value; when the NAV is detected to have a zero value, the processor 32 may determine that the online condition is idle. The longer the connection status of the wireless link is idle in the predetermined period, the more excellent the connection status.
Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram of an operation method of the STA MLD 3 in a transmission capability orientation scenario, wherein the horizontal axis is time. In the embodiment of fig. 4, n=2, m=2, and STA MLD 3 and AP MLD 2 perform data transmission of a transmission capability oriented scene (e.g., an ornamental movie) through a first link L1 or a second link L2, where the first link L1 corresponds to the wireless link 341 and the second link L2 corresponds to the wireless link 342.
Prior to time t1, STA MLD 3 prepares to transmit capability oriented data transmission 410, processor 32 selects to transmit data transmission 410 on first link L1, and STA MLD 3 transmits a zero data frame null (0) on first link L1 to place wireless link 341 in the awake state. The Tx/Rx capability of the wireless link 341 and the Tx/Rx capability of the wireless link 341 are the maximum Tx/Rx capability 2x2. Between time t1 and time t2, wireless link 341 uses maximum Tx/Rx capability 2x2 for data transmission 410 and wireless link 342 remains in sleep state 420 without data transmission.
At time t2, STA MLD 3 prepares to transmit capability oriented data transmission 424 and processor 32 selects to transmit data 424 on second link L2. Between time t2 and time t3, STA MLD 3 transmits a null data frame null (1) 412 on the first link L1 to put the wireless link 341 into a sleep state. Between time t3 and time t6, wireless link 341 remains in sleep state 414 without data transmission. Between time t3 and time t4, STA MLD 3 transmits a null data frame null (0) 422 on the second link L2 to place the wireless link 342 in the awake state. Between time t4 and time t5, wireless link 342 uses maximum Tx/Rx capability 2x2 for data transmission 424.
At time t5, STA MLD 3 prepares to transmit capability oriented data transmission 418 and processor 32 selects to transmit data 418 on first link L1. Between time t5 and time t6, STA MLD 3 transmits a null data frame null (1) 426 on the second link L2 to put the wireless link 342 into a sleep state. Between time t6 and time t8, wireless link 342 remains in sleep state 428 without data transfer. Between time t6 and time t7, STA MLD 3 transmits a null data frame null (0) 416 on the first link L1 to place the wireless link 342 into the awake state. Between time t7 and time t8, wireless link 341 uses maximum Tx/Rx capability 2x2 for data transmission 418.
In other embodiments, when the usage scenario is a delay capability oriented scenario, STA MLD 3 may use all available wireless links for data transmission because the more links for data transmission the lower the delay and the more stable the data transmission. Thus, when the usage scenario is a delay capability oriented scenario, the processor 32 sets the N power saving modes of the wireless links 341 to 34N to the awake state and equally allocates the antennas 361 to 36M to the wireless links 341 to 34N. For example, if n=2, m=2, in the delay capability orientation scenario, the processor 32 may equally allocate the antennas 361 and 362 to the wireless links 341 and 342 such that the Tx/Rx capabilities of the wireless links 341 and 342 are both 1x1.
Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram of an operation method of the STA MLD 3 in a delay capability orientation scenario, wherein the horizontal axis is time. In the embodiment of fig. 5, n=2, m=2, and STA MLD 3 and AP MLD 2 perform data transmission of a delay-capability-oriented scenario (e.g., online game) through a first link L1 and a second link L2, the first link L1 corresponding to the wireless link 341, the second link L2 corresponding to the wireless link 342.
In the delay capability oriented scenario, STA MLD 3 uses all available wireless links (wireless link 341 and wireless link 342) for data transmission. Before time t1, STA MLD 3 prepares for delay capability oriented data transmission 510 and data transmission 520, sets both the Tx/Rx capability of wireless link 341 and the Tx/Rx capability of wireless link 341 to 1x1, and STA MLD 3 transmits a null data frame null (0) on first link L1 and second link L2 to set wireless link 341 and wireless link 342 to the awake state. Between time t1 and time t2, wireless link 341 uses Tx/Rx capability 1x1 for data transmission 510 and wireless link 342 uses Tx/Rx capability 1x1 for data transmission 520.
In other embodiments, when the usage scenario is a comprehensive capability oriented scenario, the processor 32 sets the N power saving modes of the wireless links 341 to 34N to an awake state and unevenly allocates the antennas 361 to 36M to the wireless links 341 to 34N. For example, n=2, m=4, the processor 32 may set the power saving mode of the wireless links 341 to 342 to an awake state, allocate three of the antennas 361 to 364 to the wireless link 341, and allocate the remaining one of the antennas 361 to 364 to the wireless link 342.
Fig. 6 is a schematic diagram of an operation method of the STA MLD 3 in the comprehensive capability orientation scenario, wherein the horizontal axis is time. In the embodiment of fig. 6, n=2, m=4, and STA MLD 3 and AP MLD 2 perform integrated capability oriented (both transmission capability oriented and delay capability oriented scenes) data transmission (e.g., miracast video) through a first link L1, STA MLD 3 and station 4 perform transmission capability oriented scenes data transmission (e.g., web browsing) through a second link L2, the first link L1 corresponding to wireless link 341, and the second link L2 corresponding to wireless link 342.
Before time t1, STA MLD 3 sets the Tx/Rx capability of wireless link 341 to 3x3, sets the Tx/Rx capability of wireless link 342 to 1x1, and STA MLD 3 transmits a null data frame null (0) on first link L1 and second link L2 to set wireless link 341 and wireless link 342 to the awake state. Between time t1 and time t2, wireless link 341 uses Tx/Rx capability 3x3 for data transmission 610 and wireless link 342 uses Tx/Rx capability 1x1 for data transmission 620.
The embodiments of fig. 1-6 adjust the power saving mode and Tx/Rx capability of each radio link at MLMR according to the usage scenario, and achieve a highly stable and high-transmission connection without breaking the line, so as to improve the transmission performance and user experience.
The foregoing description is only of the preferred embodiments of the invention, and all changes and modifications that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.
Reference numerals
1 Multilink communication system
Access point multilink device (AP MLD)
3 Station multilink device (STA MLD)
4 Site
32 Processor
341 To 34N radio links
361 To 36M antennas
300 Method of operation
S302 to S310 steps
L1 first Link
L2:
t1 to t8 time
410,418,424,510,520,610,620 Data Transmission
412,416,422,426 Zero data frame 414,420,428 sleep state