CN119277394A

CN119277394A - Channel state information acquisition method, device and readable storage medium

Info

Publication number: CN119277394A
Application number: CN202310834049.6A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 朱丽花; 陈建祥; 胡晓堃
Original assignee: Ruijie Networks Co Ltd
Current assignee: Ruijie Networks Co Ltd
Priority date: 2023-07-07
Filing date: 2023-07-07
Publication date: 2025-01-07
Also published as: WO2025011126A1

Abstract

The application provides a channel state information acquisition method, a device and a readable storage medium, and relates to the technical field of communication. The method includes the AP sending a first communication frame to the STA, the first communication frame being used to indicate a channel switch, the channel switch being used to acquire CSI. The AP and the STA make the AP acquire CSI of a plurality of channels by performing channel switching between the channels. According to the method, the AP and the STA perform channel switching among a plurality of channels, so that the AP can obtain the CSI with a larger bandwidth, and the accuracy of wireless sensing application can be improved.

Description

Channel state information acquisition method, device and readable storage medium

Technical Field

The present application relates to the field of communications technologies, and in particular, to a method and apparatus for obtaining channel state information, and a readable storage medium.

Background

The wireless sensing technology obtains the characteristics of a signal propagation space by analyzing the change of a wireless signal in the propagation process, thereby realizing the sensing of the environment. Specifically, a signal sent by a sending end arrives at a receiving end in a propagation manner such as direct, reflection or scattering, and the receiving end can acquire channel state Information (CSI for short) by analyzing the received signal, where the CSI includes perceived environmental Information, such as distribution Information of objects in the environment, state Information of living bodies, and the like. The method can realize market people flow detection, family member health state detection and the like by utilizing the existing wireless network under the condition that no additional equipment is required to be deployed.

The larger the frequency domain bandwidth of the CSI acquired by the communication device, the higher the perceived resolution and accuracy. However, for some communication devices capable of supporting only a small channel bandwidth, such as communication devices supporting channel bandwidths of 20MHz, 40MHz and 80MHz, it is difficult to meet the requirements of high-precision sensing applications, so that the wide application of sensing technology is limited.

Disclosure of Invention

The application provides a channel state information acquisition method, a device and a readable storage medium, which are used for solving the problem of lower accuracy of sensing application which can be realized by communication equipment with smaller working channel bandwidth.

In a first aspect, the present application provides a CSI acquisition method, applicable to a wireless access point, the method comprising the access point sending a first communication frame to a terminal, the first communication frame being used to indicate channel switching, the channel switching being used to acquire CSI;

The access point acquires CSI for a plurality of channels by performing channel switching between the channels.

In an alternative embodiment, the first communication frame is specifically configured to instruct switching of an operating channel from a first channel to a second channel, where the plurality of channels includes the first channel and the second channel;

The access point obtains CSI of a plurality of channels by performing channel switching between the channels, including:

the access point switches from the first channel to the second channel;

the access point obtains CSI for the second channel.

In an alternative embodiment, the second channel is the channel with the lowest channel occupancy in the candidate channel set, or the second channel is the channel with the smallest or largest channel identification in the candidate channel set,

The candidate channel set is a set of channels in a communication frequency band of the access point and the terminal, wherein the channels do not acquire CSI.

In an alternative embodiment, the first communication frame includes a channel switch indication (CSA) element, which includes one or more of the following fields:

A channel switching mode field for indicating whether the terminal transmission is limited;

a new channel number field for indicating the second channel;

and a channel switch count field for indicating whether the switch is immediately effective.

In an alternative embodiment, the first communication frame is a beacon frame or a spectrum management action frame.

In an alternative embodiment, the access point obtains CSI of a plurality of channels by performing channel switching between the channels, including:

The access point sending a second communication frame to the terminal, the second communication frame being for indicating to switch an operating channel from the second channel to a third channel, the plurality of channels including the third channel;

The access point switches from the second channel to the third channel;

the access point obtains CSI for the third channel.

In an alternative embodiment, the time interval between the first communication frame and the second communication frame is less than the coherence time of the channel.

In an alternative embodiment, the first communication frame is specifically configured to trigger a channel switch between the plurality of channels.

In an alternative embodiment, the first communication frame includes a first field therein, the first field being for indicating a channel switch mode,

the access point acquires CSI of the plurality of channels by performing channel switching between the plurality of channels using the channel switching mode.

In an alternative embodiment, the channel switching mode is to sequentially switch channels according to a predefined channel number order, or the channel switching mode is to sequentially switch channels according to a channel number order of the plurality of channels from small to large or from large to small.

In an alternative embodiment, the first communication frame includes a second field for indicating a channel number order of the plurality of channels, and the channel switching mode is to sequentially switch channels according to the channel number order indicated by the second field.

In an alternative embodiment, the first communication frame includes a third field for indicating a period duration of the channel switch;

the access point acquires CSI of a plurality of channels by periodically performing channel switching between the plurality of channels with the period duration as a period.

In an alternative embodiment, the period duration is less than the coherence time of the channel.

In a second aspect, the present application provides a CSI acquisition method, applicable to an STA, the method including a terminal receiving a first communication frame from an access point, the first communication frame being for indicating a channel switch, the channel switch being for acquiring CSI;

The terminal transmits signals in the plurality of channels, respectively, by performing channel switching between the plurality of channels, the signals being used to acquire CSI.

the terminal performs channel switching between a plurality of channels, and transmits signals in the plurality of channels, respectively, including:

The terminal is switched from the first channel to the second channel;

the terminal transmits a signal on the second channel.

In an alternative embodiment, the first communication frame includes a channel switch indication, CSA, element that includes one or more of the following fields:

a new channel number field for indicating the second channel;

In an alternative embodiment, the terminal transmits signals in a plurality of channels by switching channels between the channels, respectively, comprising:

the terminal receiving a second communication frame from the access point, the second communication frame being for indicating to switch an operating channel from the second channel to a third channel, the plurality of channels including the third channel;

The access point switches from the second channel to the third channel;

the access point obtains CSI for the third channel.

The terminal performs channel switching between a plurality of channels by using the channel switching mode, and transmits signals to the plurality of channels, respectively.

In an alternative embodiment, the channel switching pattern is to switch channels sequentially in a predefined channel numbering order, or

The channel switching mode is to sequentially switch channels in order of the channel numbers of the plurality of channels from small to large or from large to small.

the terminal periodically performs channel switching between a plurality of channels in which signals are transmitted, respectively, with the period length as a period.

In a third aspect, the present application provides a communication apparatus comprising:

The receiving and transmitting module is used for sending a first communication frame to the terminal, wherein the first communication frame is used for indicating channel switching, and the channel switching is used for acquiring the CSI;

And the processing module is used for controlling the transceiver module to switch channels among a plurality of channels and acquiring the CSI of the channels.

In a fourth aspect, the present application provides a communication apparatus comprising:

A transceiver module configured to receive a first communication frame from an access point, where the first communication frame is configured to indicate a channel switch, and the channel switch is configured to obtain CSI;

And the processing module is used for controlling the transceiver module to switch channels among a plurality of channels and respectively transmitting signals in the channels, wherein the signals are used for acquiring the CSI.

In a fifth aspect, a communications device is provided, comprising a processor coupled to a memory for storing computer-executable instructions, the processor executing the computer-executable instructions stored in the memory to implement the above-described first or second aspect and any one of the possible implementations of the first or second aspect.

In a sixth aspect, a computer readable storage medium is provided, the processor readable storage medium storing a computer program for causing the processor to perform the method of the first or second aspect and any one of the possible implementation manners of the first or second aspect.

In a seventh aspect, there is provided a computer program product comprising computer program code (or instructions) which, when executed by one or more processors, causes an apparatus comprising the processor to perform the method of the first or second aspect and any one of the possible implementations of the first or second aspect.

In an eighth aspect, a communication system is provided comprising communication means for performing the method provided in any of the possible implementations of the first aspect and the first aspect, and the system further comprises communication means for performing the method provided in any of the possible implementations of the second aspect and the second aspect.

According to the CSI acquisition method provided by the application, the access point informs the terminal to execute channel switching through the communication frame, so that the access point and the terminal can synchronously perform channel switching, the access point can acquire the CSI of a plurality of channels, the CSI with a larger bandwidth is obtained, and the accuracy of sensing application is improved. The scheme realizes that the frequency domain bandwidth of the CSI which can be acquired by the access point is not limited by the maximum working channel bandwidth supported by the access point and/or the terminal. The higher accuracy of the sensing application can be realized also in the case that the maximum channel bandwidth supported by the access point and/or the terminal is limited.

Drawings

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments consistent with the application and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the application.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a communication system suitable for use with embodiments of the present application;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a 5GHz band channel suitable for use in some embodiments of the application;

Fig. 3 is a schematic flowchart of a CSI acquisition method according to an embodiment of the present application;

Fig. 4 is a schematic flowchart of a first implementation manner of a CSI acquisition method according to an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a format of a CSA word element suitable for use in some embodiments of the application;

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a format of a channel switch related field in an SMA frame suitable for use in some embodiments of the present application;

FIG. 7 is a schematic flow chart diagram of a perception flow suitable for use in some embodiments of the present application;

fig. 8 is a schematic flowchart of a second embodiment of a CSI acquisition method according to an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of the format of fields contained in a first communication frame suitable for use in some embodiments of the present application;

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of a sense of openness integration based on a multi-link operation technique suitable for use in some embodiments of the application;

FIG. 11 is a schematic block diagram of a communication device provided in one embodiment of the present application;

Fig. 12 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device provided in one embodiment of the present application.

Specific embodiments of the present application have been shown by way of the above drawings and will be described in more detail below. The drawings and the written description are not intended to limit the scope of the inventive concepts in any way, but rather to illustrate the inventive concepts to those skilled in the art by reference to the specific embodiments.

Detailed Description

Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary embodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. When the following description refers to the accompanying drawings, the same numbers in different drawings refer to the same or similar elements, unless otherwise indicated. The implementations described in the following exemplary examples do not represent all implementations consistent with the application. Rather, they are merely examples of apparatus and methods consistent with aspects of the application as detailed in the accompanying claims.

The technical scheme provided by the application can be applied to various communication systems, such as a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) system, for example, wireless-Fidelity (Wi-Fi) system and the like. The scheme provided in the embodiment of the present application can be applied to a wireless local area network system supporting the Institute of electrical and electronics engineers (english: institute of ELECTRICAL AND Electronics Engineers, abbreviated IEEE) 802.11 next Generation Wi-Fi protocol, such as 802.11bf, 802.11be, wi-Fi 8, extremely high throughput (english: extremely High Throughput, abbreviated EHT), extremely high reliability (english: ultra High Reliability, abbreviated UHR), wi-Fi AI, etc. 802.11 series protocol, and also can be applied to a sensing (sending) system, an internet of things (english: internet of Things, abbreviated IoT) system, etc. and can also be applied to a cellular system related to the third Generation partnership project (english: 3rd Generation partnership project, abbreviated 3 GPP), for example, a fourth Generation (english: 4 ^th Generation, abbreviated 4G) mobile communication system, such as a long term evolution (Long Term Evolution, abbreviated LTE) system, a fifth Generation (english: 5 ^th Generation, abbreviated 5G) mobile communication system, such as a New wireless (New: internet of Things, abbreviated Radio, 62, etc. for example, a future evolution (english: 62, abbreviated Radio) system, etc. mobile communication system is also applicable to a cellular system related to the third Generation partnership project (3 GPP). Or may also be applied to new communication systems and the like that are emerging in future communication developments.

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of a communication system suitable for use in embodiments of the present application. The communication system includes at least one Access Point (AP), as shown in fig. 1. And, the communication system 100 may further include at least one terminal, which may be a Station (STA), as shown in fig. 1. In the communication system 100, the AP and the STA may perform channel switching through the scheme provided by the present application, so as to achieve that the AP obtains CSI of multiple channels. It should be understood that fig. 1 is only a schematic diagram of a communication system applicable to an embodiment of the present application, and the solution provided by the present application may also be applied to other communication systems, for example, may be applied to a cellular communication system, for example, an access point may be a radio access network (english: radio Access Network, abbreviated as RAN) node in the cellular communication system, and a terminal may be a terminal in the cellular communication system, which is not limited in this aspect of the present application.

The access point provided by the embodiment of the application can be a device with a wireless communication function, which can be a communication device, or can be configured in the communication device, such as a chip or a chip system configured in the communication device. The access point may be a device that supports communication and awareness techniques using WLAN protocols. The AP may establish a wireless communication connection with the STA, accessing the wireless network to the ethernet. The access point may also be a RAN node in a cellular communication system, e.g. the RAN node may be a base station, an evolved NodeB (abbreviated eNodeB or eNB), a transmitting and receiving point (english: transmission Reception Point, abbreviated TRP), a next generation NodeB in a 5G mobile communication system (english: next generation NodeB, abbreviated gNB), a next generation base station in a 6G mobile communication system, or an access network node in a future mobile communication system.

It should be understood that, in the embodiment of the present application, the solution provided by the present application is described by taking the access point as an AP as an example. The application is not limited to the specific implementation of the access point.

The terminal provided by the embodiment of the application can be a device with a wireless communication function, which can be a communication device or can be configured in the communication device, such as a chip or a chip system configured in the communication device. The terminal may be an STA supporting communication using a WLAN protocol, and the terminal may also be a terminal in a cellular communication system, such as a terminal may also be referred to as a User Equipment (UE), a mobile station, a mobile terminal, or the like. Optionally, perceptual techniques may also be supported. By way of example, the terminal may be a wireless communication chip, a wireless sensor, a wireless communication terminal, or the like. Such as mobile phones, tablet computers, smart wearable devices, car-mounted communication devices, computers, etc. supporting wireless communication functions.

It should be understood that, in the embodiment of the present application, the solution provided by the present application is described by taking the terminal as an STA as an example. The specific implementation form of the terminal is not limited by the present application.

For a better understanding of the embodiments of the present application, the following describes channel division in the frequency band by taking the 5GHz frequency band as an example in connection with fig. 2. It should be appreciated that the embodiments of the present application may be applied to various frequency bands, and are not limited to the 5GHz band, such as other frequency bands, such as the 2.4GHz band, the 6GHz band, and the like. Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of channel division in the 5GHz band, suitable for use in some embodiments of the application. As shown in fig. 2, the 5GHz band includes 3 operating frequency ranges, 5170MHz to 5330MHz, 5490MHz to 5730MHz, 5735MHz to 5835MHz, respectively. The bandwidth of the channel in the 5GHz band may be an integer multiple of 20 MHz. For example, the frequency range 5170MHz to 5330MHz can be divided into 8 20MHz channels, and the channel numbers are 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60 and 64 in order from low to high as shown in fig. 2. And, the frequency range may be further divided into 4 40MHz channels, 280 MHz channels, and 1 160MHz channel as shown in fig. 2. The frequency range 5490MHz to 5730MHz may be divided into 12 20MHz channels, with channel numbers of 100, 104, 108, 112, 116, 120, 124, 128, 132, 136, 140 and 144 in order of frequency from low to high as shown in fig. 2, wherein the channels 120 to 128 occupy frequencies overlapping with those of weather radar. And the frequency range may be further divided into 6 40MHz channels, 3 80MHz channels, 1 160MHz channel, and 1 320MHz channel as shown in fig. 2. The frequency range 5735MHz to 5835MHz may be divided into 520 MHz channels, with channel numbers 149, 153, 157, 161 and 165 in order of frequency from low to high as shown in fig. 2. And the frequency range may also be divided into 240 MHz channels and 180 MHz channel. Alternatively, the channel may be a discontinuous channel having a bandwidth of 160MHz formed by two 80MHz bandwidth bands respectively located in different frequency ranges.

The larger the frequency domain bandwidth of the CSI acquired by the communication equipment is, the more detailed sensing information can be acquired by the CSI with more frequency components, and the accuracy of sensing applications such as positioning, breath detection and the like can be improved. Because the channel bandwidth supported by some communication devices is limited, for example, the communication devices with the maximum supported channel bandwidth of 20MHz, 40MHz or 80MHz can not acquire CSI with larger frequency domain bandwidth, so that the accuracy of sensing application of the communication devices is lower, and high-accuracy sensing application can not be realized. Therefore, how to obtain CSI with larger bandwidth for the supported communication device with limited maximum channel bandwidth to improve accuracy of sensing application and support sensing application with higher accuracy requirement is a problem to be solved. The application provides that the AP can inform the STA of channel switching through the communication frame so as to acquire the CSI of different channels, and acquire the CSI of a plurality of channels so as to acquire the CSI with larger bandwidth and improve the accuracy of sensing application.

Fig. 3 is a schematic flowchart of a CSI acquisition method according to an embodiment of the present application. The method includes, but is not limited to, the following steps 301 and 302.

301, The ap transmits a first communication frame to the STA, the first communication frame indicating a channel switch, the channel switch for acquiring CSI.

The STA receives the first communication frame from the AP and determines to perform channel switching based on the first communication frame. In the application, the purpose of the AP informing the STA to perform channel switching through the first communication frame is to acquire the CSI of a plurality of channels so as to acquire the CSI with a larger bandwidth, thereby realizing higher-precision sensing application. The manner in which the AP informs the STA to perform channel switching may include, but is not limited to, the following two implementations:

In the first embodiment, the AP transmits a communication frame for indicating channel switching once, and the AP and the STA perform channel switching once.

In one embodiment, the first communication frame is specifically configured to instruct switching of the working channel from the first channel to the second channel.

Illustratively, the first communication frame may include an identification of the second channel. After receiving the first communication frame, the STA may determine to switch the working channel from the current first channel to the second channel according to the identifier of the second channel included in the first communication frame.

For example, the AP and the STA operate on a first channel, the AP may acquire CSI of the first channel based on a signal sent by the STA on the first channel, after the AP acquires CSI of the first channel, the AP may send the first communication frame to the STA to notify the STA to switch the working channel from the first channel to the second channel, after sending the first communication frame, the STA may switch the working channel from the first channel to the second channel after receiving the first communication frame, so that the AP acquires CSI of the second channel.

In the second embodiment, the AP transmits a communication frame for triggering channel switching once, and the AP and the STA perform channel switching between a plurality of channels. That is, after the communication frame is triggered, the AP and the STA may sequentially switch between multiple channels that need to acquire CSI, so that the AP sequentially acquires CSI of the multiple channels.

In the second embodiment, the first communication frame is used to trigger the AP and the STA to perform channel switching between multiple channels.

The AP and STA may perform channel switching among a plurality of channels in one of, but not limited to, the following three channel switching modes.

Channel switching mode 0, the ap and the STA sequentially switch channels according to a predefined channel number order of the plurality of channels.

In an exemplary embodiment, before the AP transmits the first communication frame, the AP and the STA agree on the channel number sequence of the multiple channels through information interaction, and after the AP transmits the first communication frame for triggering channel switching, the STA may sequentially switch channels according to the channel number sequence after receiving the first communication frame. The channel number sequences of the plurality of channels may be randomly generated by the AP, and the probability of switching to a channel with a higher channel occupancy rate at the time of channel switching can be reduced by the randomly generated channel number sequences.

Channel switching mode 1, the ap and the STA sequentially switch channels in order of the channel numbers of the plurality of channels from small to large or from large to small.

For example, the AP and the STA may perform channel switching in order of channel numbers from small to large (or from large to small). After the AP triggers channel switching through the first communication frame, the AP and the STA perform channel switching between the plurality of channels in order of the channel numbers reaching consensus from small to large (or from large to small). The multiple channels specifically comprise which channels can be agreed by the AP and the STA through information interaction before the first communication frame, or the AP can inform the STA through the first communication frame, and the AP and the STA agree on the multiple channels needing to acquire the CSI through the first communication frame, so that the AP and the STA perform channel switching among the multiple channels, and the AP can acquire the CSI of the multiple channels in sequence. The channel switching mode 1 switches according to the sequence of channel numbers, and the implementation complexity is low.

Channel switching mode 2, the first communication frame includes a field for indicating the channel number order of the plurality of channels (this field may be referred to as a channel number sequence field), and the AP and the STA may sequentially switch channels according to the channel number order indicated by this field.

That is, the order in which the AP performs channel switching with the STA may be notified to the STA by the AP through the first communication frame, and the STA performs channel switching according to the channel number order of the plurality of channels indicated by the first communication frame. Specifically, the AP may acquire a channel number sequence set by a user (or referred to as an AP manager), and the AP generates a first communication frame according to the channel number sequence, where a channel number sequence field in the first communication frame is used to indicate the channel number sequence. The STA can determine a plurality of channels to be subjected to channel switching through the channel numbers contained in the field, and determine the order of channel switching according to the arrangement order of the channel numbers in the field. The channel switching mode 2 can realize switching according to the user requirement and is flexible.

After determining the channel switching sequence in the channels, the AP and the STA sequentially perform channel switching among the channels, so that the AP can sequentially acquire the CSI of the channels.

302, The AP and the STA perform channel switching between multiple channels, and the AP acquires CSI of the multiple channels.

In the first embodiment, after the AP transmits the first communication frame, the STA switches the working channel from the first channel to the second channel after receiving the first communication frame. The STA transmits a signal for acquiring CSI on the second channel, and the AP receives the signal on the second channel to acquire CSI of the second channel. Thus, through channel switching between the AP and the STA, the AP may acquire CSI of the first channel and CSI of the second channel. The plurality of channels includes the first channel and the second channel.

In the present application, a signal transmitted by an STA for acquiring CSI may be referred to as a sensing signal, and an AP may measure CSI of a channel based on a received sensing signal from the STA. Illustratively, the sense signal may be a preamble, e.g., the sense signal may include a Long training field (english: long TRAINING FILED, abbreviated LTF) and/or a Short training field (english: short TRAINING FILED, abbreviated STF), but the application is not limited thereto, and the sense signal may be other signals or sequences.

Optionally, if the AP also needs to acquire CSI with a larger bandwidth, the AP may send again a communication frame for triggering channel switching. The AP transmits a second communication frame to the STA, the second communication frame indicating to switch the operating channel from the second channel to the third channel. And the AP and the STA switch the working channel from the second channel to a third channel according to the second communication frame, the STA transmits a signal on the third channel, and the AP receives the signal on the third channel to acquire the CSI of the third channel. So that the AP can acquire CSI of the first channel, the second channel, and the third channel. The plurality of channels includes the third channel. If the AP needs to acquire CSI with a larger bandwidth, the AP may also send a communication frame for triggering channel switching again, and notify the STA of the channel to which switching is required to acquire CSI of the corresponding channel.

For the second embodiment, the AP and the STA trigger channel switching in response to the first communication frame, the AP and the STA perform channel switching between multiple channels, and the AP may sequentially acquire CSI of the multiple channels.

For example, the plurality of channels includes a first channel and a second channel, the AP and the STA may determine a channel switching order according to the channel switching mode, for example, the AP and the STA may switch from the first channel to the second channel, the STA transmits a signal on the first channel, the AP switches to the second channel after acquiring CSI of the first channel based on the signal, and the AP acquires CSI of the second channel based on the signal transmitted by the STA on the second channel. If the plurality of channels further include other channels, the AP and the STA switch to the other channels again, and sequentially acquire CSI of each channel according to the channel switching sequence determined by the channel switching mode.

Through the scheme provided by the application, the AP informs the STA of executing channel switching through the communication frame, so that the AP and the STA can synchronously execute channel switching, the AP can acquire the CSI of a plurality of channels, the CSI with larger bandwidth is obtained, and the accuracy of sensing application is improved. The scheme realizes that the frequency domain bandwidth of the CSI which can be acquired by the AP is not limited by the maximum working channel bandwidth supported by the AP and/or the STA. Higher accuracy sensing applications can also be implemented in situations where the maximum channel bandwidth supported by the AP and/or STA is limited.

Specific implementations of the first and second embodiments are exemplarily described below with reference to fig. 4 and 8, respectively, and it should be understood that the present application is not limited thereto.

Fig. 4 is a schematic flowchart of a first implementation manner of a CSI acquisition method according to an embodiment of the present application. The method includes, but is not limited to, steps 401 through 403 as follows. Optionally, if the AP needs to acquire CSI of more than two channels, the method may further include the following steps 404 and 405.

The ap acquires 401 CSI for the first channel.

Specifically, the AP and the STA operate on a first channel, and the AP receives a signal sent by the STA and obtains CSI of the first channel based on the signal.

After acquiring CSI of the first channel, the AP determines that CSI of the second channel needs to be acquired, and the AP may perform 402.

In one embodiment, the AP may determine the channel to which to switch to as the second channel based on a channel switching policy.

In one example, the channel switching policy may be a channel switching policy 1, where the channel switching policy 1 refers to that the AP determines a channel with the lowest channel occupancy in the candidate channel set, and switches the channel to the channel with the lowest channel occupancy to obtain CSI of the channel. The candidate channel set is a set of channels in a communication band of the AP and the STA that do not acquire CSI. The AP selects a channel with the lowest channel occupancy rate in the candidate channel set, that is, selects a channel which is idle, the probability that the AP and the STA can collide with each other during CSI measurement (or sensing measurement) of the channel is smaller, and the efficiency of acquiring CSI on the channel is higher.

For example, when the AP communicates with the STA in the frequency range of 5170MHz to 5330MHz in the 5GHz band as shown in fig. 2, the AP may select a plurality of channels from 8 channels 36 to 64 having a channel bandwidth of 20MHz to obtain CSI having a desired bandwidth. For example, the AP needs to acquire CSI of 80MHz bandwidth, and the AP has acquired CSI of channel 36, i.e., channel 36 is one example of the first channel, the candidate channel set includes 7 channels in total from channel 40 to channel 64 where no CSI is acquired. The AP determines, according to the channel occupancy of each of the channels 40 to 64, the channel with the lowest channel occupancy, e.g., the channel with the lowest channel occupancy is channel 52, and then the second channel is channel 52, and the AP may notify the STA to switch the working channel to channel 52 in step 402 to obtain the CSI of channel 52. After obtaining the CSI of the channel 52, the candidate channel set includes the channels 40 to 48, 56, 60 and 64, and the AP redetermines the channel with the lowest channel occupancy rate in the updated candidate channel set, and notifies the STA to switch to the channel to obtain the CSI of the channel, and so on, until the AP obtains the CSI of the 80MHz bandwidth.

In this example, the bandwidth of CSI that the AP needs to acquire is illustrated as 80 MHz. In a specific implementation, the bandwidth size of CSI that the AP needs to acquire may be determined with reference to the accuracy requirements of a specific sensing application. For example, when the AP needs to implement a sensing application with low accuracy, such as detecting whether there is living body (or object) activity in a room, the AP may determine that CSI with a small bandwidth needs to be acquired. If the AP needs to implement a sensing application with a high requirement for sensing accuracy, such as sensing the respiratory rate of a living body, the AP may determine that CSI needs to obtain a larger bandwidth. When the bandwidth size of the CSI to be acquired cannot be determined, the AP may instruct the STA to perform channel switching by taking CSI of all channels as a target.

In another example, the channel switching policy may be a channel switching policy 2, where the channel switching policy 2 is that a channel number order of channels for which CSI is to be acquired is a channel switching order.

For example, the AP may instruct to switch channels in order of from small to large channel numbers, and then the AP may determine, from the candidate channel set, a channel with the smallest channel number as the second channel. For example, the AP needs to acquire CSI of 160MHz, e.g., the AP needs to acquire CSI of 8 channels of channels 36 to 64 having a channel bandwidth of 20MHz as shown in fig. 2. The AP has acquired the CSI of channel 36, i.e., channel 36 is one example of a first channel, then the candidate set of channels includes 7 channels from channel 40 to channel 60 that did not acquire CSI. The AP determines the channel 40 with the smallest channel number in the candidate channel set as the second channel, and the AP may notify the STA to switch the working channel to the channel 40 through the first communication frame in step 402 to obtain the CSI of the channel 40. After obtaining the CSI of the channel 40, the AP sends a next communication frame for indicating channel switching to the STA, informing the STA to switch the working channel to the channel 44 with the smallest channel number among the channels to be obtained CSI, and so on. However, the present application is not limited thereto, and the AP may acquire CSI in order of channel numbers from large to small.

The ap transmits a first communication frame to the STA, the first communication frame indicating to switch the operating channel from the first channel to the second channel 402.

Accordingly, the STA receives the first communication frame from the AP.

In one embodiment, the first communication frame may include a channel switch indication (CSA) element.

The CSA element may include, but is not limited to, one or more of the following fields:

a channel switching Mode (CHANNEL SWITCH Mode) field for indicating whether STA transmission is limited;

a new channel Number (NEW CHANNEL Number) field for indicating the second channel;

A channel switch Count (CHANNEL SWITCH Count) field to indicate whether the switch is immediately in effect.

If the first communication frame indicates the second channel through the new channel number field in the CSA element, if the new channel number field includes the channel number of the second channel, the STA determines to switch to the second channel according to the channel number indicated by the new channel number field.

The CSA element may also include a channel switch mode field by which STAs may be instructed to transmit unrestricted. The AP informs the STA that the transmission is not limited during channel switching through the field, so that the signal for acquiring the CSI transmitted by the STA can not stop transmitting due to channel switching, and the time effect of acquiring the CSI by the AP can be ensured. Illustratively, when the channel switch Mode field is 0 (i.e., CHANNEL SWITCH mode=0), indicating that STA transmission is not limited, the channel switch Mode field in the CSA element in the first communication frame is 0. However, the present application is not limited thereto, and in the specific implementation, the STA may transmit a restriction when the channel switching mode field is 1.

The CSA element may further include a channel switch count field, through which the AP may instruct the switch to take effect immediately, and after the AP sends the first communication frame, the STA may perform channel switch after receiving the first communication frame, so that the duration of channel switch may be reduced as much as possible, so that the AP may obtain CSI of different channels in the channel coherence time. Illustratively, when the channel switch Count field is 0 (i.e., CHANNEL SWITCH count=0), which indicates that the switch is immediately in effect, the channel switch Count field in the CSA element in the first communication frame is 0. However, the application is not limited thereto, and in practice it is also possible that the handover is not immediately effected when the channel handover count field is a non-zero value. Or in another embodiment, the AP may indicate the effective time of the handoff through the channel handoff count field, that is, the STA may determine that the handoff is not immediately effective according to the channel handoff count field indicating a non-zero value, and determine the effective time of the handoff according to the non-zero value. Illustratively, the non-zero value indicated by the channel switch count field may be a number of periods N of the communication frame for indicating channel switch, and the STA may determine to perform channel switch after N periods of the communication frame for indicating channel switch according to the number of periods N, and correspondingly, the AP may implement channel switch with the STA synchronously after N periods. The AP and the STA may agree on the period of the communication frame for indicating channel switching through information interaction before transmitting the first communication frame. The AP transmits a communication frame for indicating channel switching to the STA in one period when it is required to inform the STA to perform channel switching. If the AP needs to notify the STA to switch from the first channel to the second channel, the AP sends the first communication frame in one period, and if the channel switch count field in the first communication frame indicates to perform switching after N periods, the AP and the STA switch to the second channel after N periods.

In one embodiment, the format of the CSA element in the first communication frame may multiplex the format of the existing CSA element applicable to some embodiments of the present application as shown in fig. 5, and as shown in fig. 5, the CSA element may include an element identifier (abbreviated ID) field of 1 byte for indicating that the element is a CSA element, and a Length field of 1 byte for indicating the Length of the CSA element. And the CSA element may further include a channel switch mode field, a new channel number field, and a channel switch count field, the 3 fields may be 1 byte, respectively, and specific indication manners of the 3 fields may refer to the foregoing description.

It should be appreciated that the communication frame including the existing CSA element is used to instruct to switch the channel to ensure the communication quality when the communication quality of the channel is degraded, such as congestion, interference, etc., cannot meet the communication quality requirement. The first communication frame including the CSA element in the application indicates to switch channels for obtaining the CSI so as to improve the perception precision. By multiplexing the existing CSA element format, the scheme of the application can be compatible with the communication equipment supporting the existing protocol, so that the communication equipment supporting the existing protocol can realize high-precision sensing application.

The first communication frame may be a Beacon (Beacon) frame or a spectrum management action (Spectrum Management Action, SMA) frame, for example.

For example, the first communication frame is an SMA frame, and the format of the fields related to channel switching in the SMA frame may be as shown in fig. 6, and the SMA frame may include a class (Category) field of 1 byte, a spectrum management action (Spectrum Management Action) field of 1 byte, and a CSA element field of 5 bytes. The 5-byte CSA element field may be as shown in fig. 6. And, the SMA frame may further include a slave channel offset element (Secondary Channel Offset element) field for indicating an offset between the slave channel and the master channel, which may be set according to the channel bandwidth, such as may be set according to the frequency domain position of the slave channel relative to the master channel, the field being 0 bytes or 3 bytes. And, the SMA frame may include a mesh (mesh network) channel switching parameter element (MESH CHANNEL SWITCH PARAMETERS ELEMENT) field of 0 or 8 bytes, which is included in the SMA frame when channel switching is performed in the mesh mode, the field including parameters for channel switching. The SMA frame may include a Wide Bandwidth channel switching element (width Bandwidth CHANNEL SWITCH ELEMENT) field of 0 or 5 bytes that contains the channel Bandwidth and center frequency of the channel to which switching is required when the channel Bandwidth is greater than 40 MHz. The SMA frame may include a variable byte number new transmit power envelope element (NEW TRANSMIT Power Envelope element) field to indicate a local maximum transmit power at a specified bandwidth.

After receiving the first communication frame, the STA may determine to switch the working channel from the first channel to the second channel according to the indication of the first communication frame. Thereby performing step 403.

And 403, switching the working channel from the first channel to the second channel by the AP and the STA, and acquiring the CSI of the second channel by the AP.

And the AP and the STA switch the working channel from the first channel to the second channel, the STA transmits signals on the second channel, and the AP acquires the CSI of the second channel based on the second channel. The AP and the STA switch through channels, and the AP may acquire CSI of the first channel and the second channel. For example, if the first channel and the second channel are both channels with 20MHz bandwidth, the AP may obtain CSI of the channel with 40MHz bandwidth formed by the first channel and the second channel through channel switching.

If the AP needs to acquire CSI of other channels, the AP may determine a channel to be switched to next according to a channel switching policy adopted by the AP. If the AP determines that the channel to be switched to next is the third channel according to the channel switching policy, the AP and the STA continue to execute step 404 and step 405.

The ap transmits 404 a second communication frame to the STA, the second communication frame indicating to switch the operating channel from the second channel to the third channel.

Accordingly, the STA receives the second communication frame from the AP and determines to switch the operating channel from the second channel to the third channel.

The second communication frame may include a CSA element, where the format of the CSA element in the second communication frame is the same as the format of the CSA element in the first communication frame described above, that is, a field included in the CSA element in the second communication frame is the same as the field included in the CSA element in the first communication frame described above, where a channel number indicated by the new channel number field of the CSA element in the second communication frame is a number of the third channel. And the STA determines to switch the working channel from the current second channel to the third channel according to the channel number indicated by the new channel number field. The CSA element in the second communication frame may further include a channel switch mode field, which may indicate that STA transmission is not limited, and the STA may determine that the STA transmits a signal for acquiring channel information without being affected by channel switch to stop transmission. And, the CSA field in the second communication frame may further include a channel switch count field, from which the STA may determine whether the switch is immediately effective.

In one embodiment, a time interval between the first communication frame and the second communication frame is less than a channel coherence time.

That is, the time interval between the time when the AP transmits the first communication frame and the time when the AP transmits the second communication frame is smaller than the channel coherence time, which makes the period of channel switching between the AP and the STA smaller than the channel coherence time, so that continuity of CSI can be maintained, and the large bandwidth CSI of the plurality of channels acquired by the AP can be directly applied to wireless sensing, that is, sensing information can be obtained by analyzing the large bandwidth CSI.

The time interval between the first communication frame and the second communication frame may also be set according to the specific requirements of the sensing application, such as according to the sensitivity of the sensing application to time. In addition, if the period of channel switching is greater than or equal to the channel coherence time, the AP may preprocess the CSI by means of data preprocessing, e.g. removing offset, and apply the preprocessed CSI with a large bandwidth to wireless sensing.

And 405, the AP and the STA switch the working channel from the second channel to the third channel, and the AP acquires the CSI of the third channel.

After the AP and the STA switch the working channel from the second channel to the third channel, the STA transmits a signal on the third channel, and the AP acquires the CSI of the third channel according to the received signal. Thus, the AP acquires CSI of the first channel, the second channel, and the third channel. If the AP needs to acquire CSI of other channels, the AP may determine a channel to be switched to next according to a channel switching policy adopted by the AP, and notify the STA, so as to acquire CSI of the channel.

Through the scheme provided by the embodiment shown in fig. 4, the AP notifies the STA to perform channel switching through the communication frame, so that the AP and the STA can perform channel switching synchronously, the AP can obtain CSI of multiple channels, obtain CSI with a larger bandwidth, and improve accuracy of sensing application. The method and the device realize that the frequency domain bandwidth of the CSI which can be acquired by the AP is not limited by the maximum working channel bandwidth supported by the AP and/or the STA. In addition, in the embodiment, the existing CSA element format can be multiplexed, so that the scheme can be compatible with the communication equipment supporting the existing protocol, the communication equipment supporting the existing protocol can realize high-precision sensing application, and the scheme is low in realization cost.

The embodiment shown in fig. 4 can be applied to the sensing flow. Fig. 7 is a schematic flow chart of a perception flow applicable to some embodiments of the present application. The sensing flow as shown in fig. 7 may include, in order, the sensing initiator and the sensing responder performing a sensing session establishment procedure, a sensing measurement instance, a sensing measurement termination, and a sensing session termination. Wherein, the perception initiator may be an AP, and the perception responder may be an STA. The sensing measurement can be performed in a session mode, so that the AP and the STA need to establish the sensing session through a sensing session establishment process before performing the sensing measurement, and after the sensing session is established, when the AP needs to perform the sensing measurement, the AP can initiate the sensing measurement establishment process to establish the sensing measurement so as to complete the related configuration parameter interaction of the sensing measurement. After the sensing measurement is established, the AP and the STA may perform a sensing measurement instance, and specifically, the AP may acquire CSI based on a signal from the STA, and obtain sensing information required for the application by analyzing the CSI. After the sensing measurement is completed, the AP and the STA may perform a sensing measurement termination procedure and a sensing session termination procedure. It should be appreciated that fig. 7 is only one schematic flow chart of a sensing flow, and in implementations the sensing flow may include some or all of the flows shown in fig. 7, or may also include other flows shown in fig. 7.

The embodiment shown in fig. 4, when applied to the sensing flow shown in fig. 7, may be specifically applied to the AP and STA performing the sensing measurement instance procedure. If the AP and the STA enter a sensing measurement example process, the AP acquires the CSI of the first channel and then sends a first communication frame to the STA to indicate channel switching, the AP and the STA switch to the second channel, and the AP acquires the CSI of the second channel. If the AP also needs to acquire the CSI of other channels, the AP sends the communication frame indicating the channel switching again, so that the AP acquires the CSI of a plurality of channels, the CSI with larger bandwidth is obtained, and the accuracy of sensing application is improved. However, the present application is not limited thereto, and the embodiment shown in fig. 4 may be applied to other sensing processes other than the sensing process shown in fig. 7.

The first embodiment of the CSI obtaining method provided by the present application is exemplarily described above with reference to fig. 4, and the specific implementation manner of the second embodiment of the CSI obtaining method provided by the present application is exemplarily described below with reference to fig. 8.

Fig. 8 is a schematic flowchart of a second embodiment of a CSI acquisition method according to an embodiment of the present application. The method includes, but is not limited to, the following steps 801 and 802. Optionally, if the AP needs to acquire CSI of more than two channels, the method further includes step 803.

801, The ap sends a first communication frame to the STA, the first communication frame for triggering a channel switch for acquiring CSI.

The AP informs the STA through the first communication frame that channel switching between the plurality of channels is triggered.

The first communication frame may include, but is not limited to, one or more of the following fields:

a first field for indicating a channel switching mode;

a second field for indicating a channel switching sequence;

A third field for indicating a period duration of channel switching;

A fourth field for indicating that channel auto-switching is enabled.

For example, the first communication frame may include a fourth field, through which the STA is informed that channel switching between the plurality of channels is triggered (or is enabled), i.e., the first communication frame enables the AP and the STA to autonomously switch between the plurality of channels. Alternatively, the fourth field is used to characterize that the first communication frame is a communication frame for triggering a channel switch. This fourth field may be referred to as a channel auto-switch enable (Channel Auto Switch Enable) field.

The first communication frame may further include a third field for indicating a channel switching period duration, and the AP and the STA periodically perform channel switching between the plurality of channels with the period duration as a period, so that the AP sequentially acquires CSI of the plurality of channels. This third field may be referred to as a channel switch period (CHANNEL SWITCH INTERVAL) field.

In one example, the period duration is less than the channel correlation time, so that continuity of CSI of multiple channels acquired by the AP can be maintained, so that the acquired large bandwidth CSI of multiple channels can be directly applied to wireless sensing, for example, sensing information can be obtained by analyzing the large bandwidth CSI. In another example, the AP may set the period duration according to the requirements of the aware application, such as a sensitivity determination of the aware application to time. However, the present application is not limited thereto, and if the period of channel switching is greater than or equal to the channel coherence time, the AP may perform preprocessing on the CSI by means of data preprocessing, such as offset cancellation, and the preprocessed CSI with a large bandwidth may be applied to wireless sensing.

In one embodiment, the first communication frame includes a first field for indicating a channel switch mode. The channel switching mode may be one of the channel switching modes 0 to 2 described in the embodiment shown in fig. 3.

Illustratively, this first field may be referred to as a channel switch mode field. The three channel switching modes are summarized in table 1. For example, the channel switch mode field may include 2 bits, the 2 bits indicating 0 indicating that channel switch mode 0 is employed, the 2 bits indicating 1 indicating that channel switch mode 1 is employed, and the 2 bits indicating 2 indicating that channel switch mode 2 is employed.

TABLE 1

In the above description, the channel switching mode field specifically indicates one channel switching mode among 3 candidate channel switching modes, and in the implementation, the candidate channel switching modes that can be indicated by the channel switching mode field may be two, for example, may be two of channel switching modes 0 to 2, and the channel switching mode field may indicate that one of the channel switching modes is adopted by 1 bit indication 0 or 1, or may include more candidate switching modes, which is not limited in the present application.

In another embodiment, the first communication frame may not include a field for indicating a channel switching mode, and the AP and the STA may perform channel switching using a predefined one of the channel switching modes. The predefined channel switching pattern may be one of the channel switching patterns 0 to 2 described above, or another channel switching pattern.

The AP and the STA may perform channel switching in a predefined multiple channels, for example, before the AP sends the first communication frame, the AP may determine the multiple channels that need to acquire CSI, and the AP may notify the STA through information interaction that the multiple channels specifically include those channels, and after the AP triggers channel switching through the first communication frame, the AP and the STA perform channel switching between the multiple channels.

Alternatively, the first communication frame may include the above-mentioned second field for indicating a channel switching Sequence, and the second field may be referred to as a channel switching Sequence (CHANNEL SWITCH Sequence) field.

The AP may inform the STA of the channel set that needs to perform channel switching through the second field, e.g., the second field may include channel numbers of a plurality of channels. The STA determines a plurality of channels to be subjected to channel switching according to the channel numbers contained in the second field. Optionally, if the AP and the STA use the channel switching mode 0, the channel numbers in the second field may be arranged according to the channel number sequence determined by the AP, so that the STA can determine, based on the second field, not only a plurality of channels that need to perform channel switching, but also a channel switching sequence. But the present application is not limited thereto.

If the AP and the STA use the channel switching mode 2, the second field (i.e., the channel switching sequence field) in the first communication frame is used to indicate the channel number sequence of the multiple channels, and the AP and the STA perform channel switching according to the channel number sequence indicated by the channel switching sequence field. Specifically, the channel switching sequence field in the first communication frame includes channel numbers of a plurality of channels for obtaining CSI, the STA can determine the plurality of channels for which channel switching needs to be performed according to the channel numbers included in the channel switching sequence, and the STA can determine the order for performing channel switching according to the arrangement order of the channel numbers in the channel switching sequence.

The first communication frame may specifically include, but is not limited to, one or more of the fields shown in fig. 9, the functions of each of which may be referred to the description above.

And 802, the AP and the STA switch the working channel from the first channel to the second channel, and the AP acquires the CSI of the second channel.

After the first communication frame triggers the AP and the STA to perform channel switching among a plurality of channels, the AP and the STA perform channel switching among the plurality of channels according to the adopted channel switching mode and the corresponding channel switching sequence, so that the AP acquires the CSI of the plurality of channels. If the STA transmits a signal on the first channel, the AP obtains CSI for the first channel based on the signal. And the AP and the STA synchronously switch the channels according to the period duration of the channel switching, and switch the working channel from the first channel to the second channel when the next channel switching period arrives. The STA transmits a signal on the second channel, and the AP acquires CSI of the second channel based on the channel. The AP thus obtains the CSI of the first channel and the CSI of the second channel, that is, the large bandwidth CSI of the large bandwidth channel consisting of the first channel and the second channel is obtained through channel switching. If the channel to be acquired of the CSI also comprises other channels, the AP and the STA continue to perform channel switching according to the channel switching sequence, and the AP acquires the CSI of the corresponding channel. If the next channel switching cycle in the channel switching order needs to switch to the third channel, the AP and STA perform step 803.

803, The AP and the STA switch the working channel from the second channel to the third channel, and the AP acquires the CSI of the third channel.

After switching to the third channel, the STA transmits a signal on the third channel, and the AP acquires the CSI of the third channel based on the signal. If the channel requiring to acquire the CSI also comprises other channels, the AP and the STA continue to perform channel switching according to the channel switching sequence, and the AP acquires the CSI of the corresponding channel. Specifically, reference may be made to the foregoing description until the AP and the STA switch to the last channel to obtain CSI, so that the AP obtains CSI of multiple channels.

Through the scheme provided by the embodiment shown in fig. 8, the AP notifies the STA to perform channel switching through the communication frame, so that the AP and the STA can perform channel switching synchronously, the AP can obtain CSI of multiple channels, obtain CSI with a larger bandwidth, and improve accuracy of sensing application. The method and the device realize that the frequency domain bandwidth of the CSI which can be acquired by the AP is not limited by the maximum working channel bandwidth supported by the AP and/or the STA. In addition, in this embodiment, after the AP sends the first communication frame triggering channel switching only once, the AP and the STA perform channel switching between a plurality of channels that need to acquire CSI according to the first communication frame, so that the AP acquires CSI with a large bandwidth, multiple sending communication frames can be avoided, signaling overhead is reduced, and radio resource utilization rate is improved.

The embodiment shown in fig. 8 can be applied to the sensing flow. For example, when the embodiment shown in fig. 8 is applied to the sensing procedure shown in fig. 7, the AP may transmit the first communication frame during the sensing establishment procedure to inform the STA of channel switching between the channels during the performing of the sensing measurement instance when the embodiment shown in fig. 8 is applied to the sensing procedure shown in fig. 7. After the AP and the STA enter a sensing measurement example process, the AP and the STA perform channel switching among a plurality of channels according to the period time so that the AP sequentially acquires the CSI of the channels to obtain the CSI with larger bandwidth, and the accuracy of sensing application is improved. However, the present application is not limited thereto, and the embodiment shown in fig. 8 may be applied to other sensing processes other than the sensing process shown in fig. 7.

In one embodiment of the scheme provided by the application, in order to solve the problem that the AP and the STA frequently interact with each other to occupy wireless channel resources and influence the transmission performance of communication service data in the realizing of the sensing process, the application provides that the sensing process and the data communication can be simultaneously carried out on different frequency bands. Specifically, the AP and the STA may use a multi-Link Operation (abbreviated as MLO) technology to implement simultaneous communication connection in two frequency bands, and the two frequency bands are respectively 2.4GHZ and 5GHZ, as shown in fig. 10, where the AP and the STA may implement simultaneous communication connection in the 2.4GHZ and 5GHZ frequency, and a communication Link1 (denoted as Link 1) in the 2.4GHZ frequency may implement communication service data transmission between the AP and the STA, and a communication Link2 (denoted as Link 2) in the 5GHZ frequency may implement data interaction in a sensing flow. The method can avoid the influence on the transmission performance of the peer business data caused by the occupation of channel resources by the data interaction of the perception flow, and realizes the integration of communication and perception. It should be understood that the present application is not limited thereto, LINK1 may be a 5GHz band, LINK2 may be a 2.4GHz band, or LINK1 and LINK2 may be a 2.4GHz band, a 6GHz band, respectively, and may be other different bands.

The CSI obtaining method provided by the embodiment of the application is described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The following describes in detail a communication device and a communication apparatus provided by the embodiment of the present application with reference to fig. 11 and 12. In order to implement the functions in the method provided by the embodiment of the present application, each network element may include a hardware structure and/or a software module, and implement the functions in the form of a hardware structure, a software module, or a hardware structure plus a software module. Some of the functions described above are performed in a hardware configuration, a software module, or a combination of hardware and software modules, depending on the specific application of the solution and design constraints.

Fig. 11 is a schematic block diagram of a communication device 1100 according to an embodiment of the present application. The communication device 900 comprises a processing module 1101 and a transceiver module 1102.

In an implementation manner, the communication device 1100 corresponds to an AP in the foregoing method embodiment, and is configured to perform a step performed by the AP in the foregoing method embodiment or implement a function of the AP in the foregoing method embodiment.

When the communication apparatus 1100 corresponds to the AP, the transceiver module 1102 is configured to send a first communication frame to a STA of a station, where the first communication frame is used to indicate a channel switch, and the channel switch is used to acquire CSI;

The processing module 1101 is configured to control the transceiver module 1102 to perform channel switching between a plurality of channels, and obtain CSI of the plurality of channels.

Optionally, the first communication frame is specifically configured to instruct switching of the working channel from a first channel to a second channel, where the plurality of channels includes the first channel and the second channel, or the first communication frame is specifically configured to trigger channel switching between the plurality of channels.

For a specific description of the first communication frame, reference may be made to the description in the foregoing method embodiment, and for brevity, a description is omitted here.

Optionally, the transceiver module 1102 is further configured to send a second communication frame to the STA, the second communication frame being configured to instruct switching of an operating channel from the second channel to a third channel, the plurality of channels including the third channel;

the processing module 1101 is further configured to control the transceiver module 1102 to switch the AP from the second channel to the third channel, and obtain CSI of the third channel.

Optionally, the first communication frame includes a third field, where the third field is used to indicate a period duration of the channel switching, and the processing module 1101 is specifically configured to control the transceiver module 1102 to periodically switch channels between a plurality of channels with the period duration as a period, so as to obtain CSI of the plurality of channels.

The communication device may be a chip configured in an AP, and when the communication device is a chip configured in an AP, the transceiver module 1102 may be an input/output interface, and the processing module 1101 may be a logic circuit of the chip. Optionally, the communication apparatus may further include a storage module, where the storage module is configured to store program instructions, and the processing module 1101 may be configured to execute the program instructions stored in the storage unit, so that the transceiver module 1102 implements the CSI obtaining method provided by the embodiment of the present application.

In another embodiment, the communication device 1100 corresponds to an STA in the above method embodiment, and is configured to perform the steps performed by the STA in the above method embodiment or implement the functions of the STA in the above method embodiment.

When the communication apparatus 1100 corresponds to the STA, the transceiver module 1102 is configured to receive a first communication frame from an AP, where the first communication frame is used to indicate a channel switch, and the channel switch is used to acquire CSI;

The processing module 1101 is configured to control the transceiver module 1102 to perform channel switching between a plurality of channels, and send signals in the plurality of channels, respectively, where the signals are used to obtain CSI.

Optionally, the transceiver module 1102 is further configured to receive a second communication frame from the AP, where the second communication frame is configured to instruct switching of an operating channel from the second channel to a third channel, and the plurality of channels includes the third channel;

The processing module 1101 is further configured to control the transceiver module 1102 to switch from the second channel to the third channel, and send a signal for acquiring CSI on the third channel.

Optionally, the first communication frame includes a third field, where the third field is used to indicate a period duration of the channel switching, and the processing module 1101 is specifically configured to control the transceiver module 1102 to periodically switch channels between a plurality of channels with the period duration as a period, and send signals in the plurality of channels respectively.

The communication device may be a chip configured in the STA, and when the communication device is a chip configured in the STA, the transceiver module 1102 may be an input/output interface, and the processing module 1101 may be a logic circuit of the chip. Optionally, the communication apparatus may further include a storage module, where the storage module is configured to store program instructions, and the processing module 1101 may be configured to execute the program instructions stored in the storage unit, so that the transceiver module 1102 implements the CSI obtaining method provided by the embodiment of the present application.

Fig. 12 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device 1200 according to an embodiment of the present application, as shown in fig. 12, the communication device 1200 includes a processor 1201, a memory 1202, and a transceiver 1203, where the transceiver 1203 is configured to receive information or send information, and the memory 1202 is configured to store computer-executed instructions. A processor 1201, configured to execute computer-executable instructions stored in the memory 1202 and control the transceiver to perform receiving or transmitting information, so as to implement each step executed by the AP or STA in the CSI acquisition method provided in the foregoing embodiment. Reference may be made in particular to the relevant description of the embodiments of the method described above.

Alternatively, the memory 1202 may be separate or integrated with the processor 1201.

When the memory 1202 is provided separately, the communication device further comprises a bus 1203 for connecting said memory 1202 and the processor 1201.

The communication device provided by the embodiment of the present application may execute the technical solution shown in the foregoing method embodiment, and its implementation principle and beneficial effects are similar, and will not be described herein again.

An embodiment of the present application provides a computer-readable storage medium, in which computer-executable instructions are stored, for implementing the CSI acquisition method provided in the above embodiment when the computer-executable instructions are executed by a processor.

Embodiments of the present application may also provide a computer program product executable by a processor, which may implement the CSI acquisition method provided in the above embodiments when the computer program product is executed.

The communication device, the computer readable storage medium and the computer program product of the embodiments of the present application may execute the method executed by the terminal device, and specific implementation processes and beneficial effects thereof are referred to above and are not described herein.

All or part of the steps for implementing the method embodiments described above may be performed by hardware associated with program instructions. The aforementioned program may be stored in a readable memory. The program, when executed, performs the steps comprising the method embodiments described above, and the aforementioned memory (storage medium) comprises read-only memory (ROM), RAM, flash memory, hard disk, solid state disk, magnetic tape (english: MAGNETIC TAPE), floppy disk (english: floppydisk), optical disk (english: optical disc), and any combination thereof.

Embodiments of the present application are described with reference to flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus (systems) and computer program products according to embodiments of the application. It will be understood that each flow and/or block of the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of flows and/or blocks in the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions may be provided to a processing unit of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, embedded processor, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via the processing unit of the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, create means for implementing the functions specified in the flowchart flow or flows and/or block diagram block or blocks.

These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computer-readable memory that can direct a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to function in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored in the computer-readable memory produce an article of manufacture including instruction means which implement the function specified in the flowchart flow or flows and/or block diagram block or blocks. These computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer or other programmable apparatus to produce a computer implemented process such that the instructions which execute on the computer or other programmable apparatus provide steps for implementing the functions specified in the flowchart flow or flows and/or block diagram block or blocks.

Other embodiments of the application will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the application disclosed herein. This application is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the application following, in general, the principles of the application and including such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice within the art to which the application pertains. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope and spirit of the application being indicated by the following claims.

It is to be understood that the application is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown in the drawings, which have been described above, and that various modifications and changes may be effected without departing from the scope thereof. The scope of the application is limited only by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A method for acquiring channel state information (CSI), comprising:

The access point sends a first communication frame to the terminal, where the first communication frame is used to indicate channel switching, and the channel switching is used to obtain CSI;

The access point obtains CSIs of the multiple channels by performing channel switching among the multiple channels.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first communication frame is specifically used to indicate switching a working channel from a first channel to a second channel, and the plurality of channels include the first channel and the second channel;

The access point obtains CSI of the multiple channels by performing channel switching between the multiple channels, including:

The access point switches from the first channel to the second channel;

The access point obtains the CSI of the second channel.

3. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that the second channel is a channel with the lowest channel occupancy rate in the candidate channel set; or, the second channel is a channel with the smallest or largest channel identifier in the candidate channel set,

The candidate channel set is a set of channels for which CSI is not obtained in the communication frequency band between the access point and the terminal.

4. The method according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the first communication frame includes a channel switching indication CSA element, and the CSA element includes one or more of the following fields:

A channel switching mode field is used to indicate whether the terminal transmission is restricted;

A new channel number field, used to indicate the second channel;

The channel switch count field is used to indicate whether the switch takes effect immediately.

5 . The method according to claim 4 , wherein the first communication frame is a beacon frame or a spectrum management action frame.

6. The method according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the access point obtains the CSI of the multiple channels by switching channels between the multiple channels, comprising:

The access point sends a second communication frame to the terminal, where the second communication frame is used to instruct to switch a working channel from the second channel to a third channel, where the plurality of channels include the third channel;

The access point switches from the second channel to the third channel;

The access point obtains the CSI of the third channel.

7 . The method according to claim 6 , wherein the time interval between the first communication frame and the second communication frame is smaller than the coherence time of the channel.

8. The method according to claim 1 is characterized in that the first communication frame is specifically used to trigger channel switching between the multiple channels.

9. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that the first communication frame includes a first field, and the first field is used to indicate a channel switching mode.

The access point performs channel switching among the multiple channels by adopting the channel switching mode to obtain CSIs of the multiple channels.

10. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that

The channel switching mode is to switch channels in sequence according to a predefined channel number sequence; or,

The channel switching mode is to switch the channels in sequence according to the channel numbers of the multiple channels in ascending order or in descending order.

11. The method according to claim 9 is characterized in that the first communication frame includes a second field, the second field is used to indicate the channel number sequence of the multiple channels, and the channel switching mode is to switch channels in sequence according to the channel number sequence indicated by the second field.

12. The method according to any one of claims 8 to 11, characterized in that the first communication frame comprises a third field, and the third field is used to indicate the cycle duration of the channel switching;

The access point obtains the CSI of the multiple channels by periodically switching channels among the multiple channels with the period duration as a period.

13. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that the period duration is smaller than the coherence time of the channel.

14. A method for acquiring channel state information (CSI), comprising:

The station terminal receives a first communication frame from an access point, where the first communication frame is used to indicate a channel switch, and the channel switch is used to obtain CSI;

The terminal switches channels among the multiple channels and sends signals respectively in the multiple channels, where the signals are used to obtain CSI.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the first communication frame is specifically used to indicate switching a working channel from a first channel to a second channel, and the plurality of channels include the first channel and the second channel;

The terminal sends signals respectively in the multiple channels by switching channels among the multiple channels, including:

The terminal switches from the first channel to the second channel;

The terminal sends the signal on the second channel.

16. The method according to claim 15, characterized in that the first communication frame includes a channel switching indication CSA element, and the CSA element includes one or more of the following fields:

A new channel number field, used to indicate the second channel;

17. The method according to claim 16, characterized in that the first communication frame is a beacon frame or a spectrum management action frame.

18. The method according to claim 15 or 16, characterized in that the terminal sends signals in the multiple channels respectively by switching channels among the multiple channels, comprising:

The terminal receives a second communication frame from the access point, where the second communication frame is used to indicate that a working channel is switched from the second channel to a third channel, where the plurality of channels include the third channel;

The terminal switches from the second channel to the third channel;

The terminal sends the signal on a third channel.

19. The method according to claim 18, characterized in that the time interval between the first communication frame and the second communication frame is smaller than the coherence time of the channel.

20. The method according to claim 14, characterized in that the first communication frame is specifically used to trigger channel switching between the multiple channels.

21. The method according to claim 20, characterized in that the first communication frame includes a first field, and the first field is used to indicate a channel switching mode.

The terminal performs channel switching among a plurality of channels by adopting the channel switching mode, and sends signals in the plurality of channels respectively.

22. The method according to claim 21, characterized in that

23. The method according to claim 21 is characterized in that the first communication frame includes a second field, the second field is used to indicate the channel number sequence of the multiple channels, and the channel switching mode is to switch channels in sequence according to the channel number sequence indicated by the second field.

24. The method according to any one of claims 20 to 23, characterized in that the first communication frame comprises a third field, and the third field is used to indicate the cycle duration of the channel switching;

The terminal periodically switches channels among the multiple channels with the period duration as a period, and transmits signals in the multiple channels respectively.

25. The method according to claim 24, characterized in that the period duration is smaller than the coherence time of the channel.

26. A communication device, comprising:

A transceiver module, configured to send a first communication frame to a terminal, wherein the first communication frame is used to indicate a channel switch, and the channel switch is used to obtain CSI;

The processing module is used to control the transceiver module to perform channel switching between multiple channels and obtain CSIs of the multiple channels.

27. A communication device, comprising:

A transceiver module, configured to receive a first communication frame from an access point, wherein the first communication frame is used to indicate a channel switch, and the channel switch is used to obtain CSI;

The processing module is used to control the transceiver module to switch channels between multiple channels and send signals in the multiple channels respectively, wherein the signals are used to obtain CSI.

28. A communication device, comprising a processor, wherein the processor is coupled to a memory;

The processor executes the computer-executable instructions stored in the memory to implement the method according to any one of claims 1 to 13, or to implement the method according to any one of claims 14 to 25.

29. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that the computer-readable storage medium stores computer-executable instructions, and when the computer-executable instructions are executed by a processor, they are used to implement the method according to any one of claims 1 to 25.