CN110167111A

CN110167111A - Communication means and device

Info

Publication number: CN110167111A
Application number: CN201810152286.3A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 陈国海; 陈鹏; 吕云屏; 王康
Original assignee: Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Current assignee: Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Priority date: 2018-02-14
Filing date: 2018-02-14
Publication date: 2019-08-23
Anticipated expiration: 2038-02-14
Also published as: WO2019157949A1; CN110167111B

Abstract

This application discloses a kind of communication means and devices.Wherein, this method comprises: wireless device receives the wake-up association from access point apparatus by wake on wireless module, the wake-up association includes scheduling information, and the scheduling information is used to indicate the wakeup time of at least one wireless device；The wireless device determines the wakeup time of itself according to the scheduling information；The wireless device is opened principal communication module in the wakeup time and is communicated.Using the application, facilitates the battery power for saving wireless device, reduce the waste of battery power.

Description

Communication method and device

Technical Field

The present application relates to the field of communications technologies, and in particular, to a communication method and apparatus.

Background

The Internet of things (IoT) refers to a network that connects any article to the Internet through information sensing devices such as radio frequency identification, infrared sensors, global positioning systems, laser scanners, etc. according to a predetermined protocol to exchange and communicate information, so as to realize intelligent identification, positioning, tracking, monitoring and management of the article. Many IoT devices are battery powered, and many are in a state where the IoT devices are always in motion, so that power cannot be supplied using the power source. However, the battery power is very limited, resulting in limited ability for IoT device networking endurance. Therefore, it is desirable to save battery power and avoid unnecessary waste of battery power to ensure that the IoT device has more operating time.

Currently, a wireless device can save power by operating a Primary Connection Radio (PCR) device and a Wake Up Radio (WUR) device by providing 2 radios, i.e., the PCR device and the WUR device. Wherein, the PCR is used for normal data communication, and the power consumption of the PCR in normal operation is 1mW to 100mW, or even higher; the power consumption of the WUR during operation is far less than that of PCR, only tens of microwatts are needed, and the WUR only has a receiving function and no transmitting function. When 2 radio devices work, the WUR monitors an external wake-up signal, when receiving a wake-up frame, the wireless radio devices wake up the PCR for communication, and the WUR is turned off, wherein the communication between the PCR and an Access Point (AP) includes sending a PS-Poll frame to the AP, receiving an ACK returned by the AP, performing data interaction, sending the ACK to the AP, and the like, as shown in fig. 1. The WUR is turned on after the PCR communication is finished, and the PCR is in a sleep state in the time when the data communication is not required, so that the power can be saved by reducing the turn-on time of the PCR. However, there is still a large waste of energy when using this technique for multiuser wake-up for communication.

Disclosure of Invention

The embodiment of the invention provides a communication method and a communication device, which are beneficial to saving battery energy of wireless equipment and reducing waste of the battery energy.

In a first aspect, an embodiment of the present invention provides a communication method, which is applied to a wireless device, where the wireless device includes a main communication module and a wake-up wireless module, and includes: the wireless device receives a wake-up frame from the access point device through the wake-up wireless module, wherein the wake-up frame comprises scheduling information, and the scheduling information is used for indicating the wake-up time of at least one wireless device; the wireless equipment determines the self awakening time according to the scheduling information; the wireless device turns on the main communication module for communication at the wake-up time. Wherein the communication may include communication between the wireless device and the access point device or may be communication between the wireless device and other wireless devices. Therefore, each wireless device can wake up at different wake-up times to communicate by setting a wake-up time for each wireless device, and the main communication module and the wake-up wireless module are closed at other times, so that the battery energy of the wireless devices is saved, and the waste of the battery energy is reduced.

In one possible design, the access point device may send a request to send/clear to send (RTS/CTS) message for channel resource preemption prior to sending the wakeup frame to reduce interference in communications between subsequent wireless devices and the access point device.

In one possible design, the scheduling information may include a wake-up duration for the at least one wireless device. The wake-up duration may refer to a time length for which the wireless device is woken up, that is, a time length for which the main communication module is turned on, or a time length for which communication is performed. The wake-up duration for each wireless device may be the same or different. Optionally, the wake-up duration of the at least one wireless device may display an indication or may implicitly indicate, for example, the scheduling information includes indication information, the indication information is used to indicate the wake-up duration of the at least one wireless device, and the wireless device determines, according to a preset correspondence between the indication information and the wake-up duration, the wake-up duration of the at least one wireless device corresponding to the indication information. The initial retention time duration may be stored in the wireless device, and further optionally, the scheduling information such as the wake-up frame time duration and/or the total communication time duration may also be stored in the wireless device. The initial reserved duration may refer to a time length from the time when the access point device sends the wakeup frame to the time when the first wireless device of the at least one wireless device is awakened (i.e., the main communication module is turned on), or may refer to a time length from the time when the wireless device receives the wakeup frame to the time when the first wireless device of the at least one wireless device is awakened; the wake-up frame duration may refer to a time length of the wake-up frame. The total communication duration may be used to indicate an overall length of time for the at least one wireless device to complete communication or to indicate a time to re-turn on the wake-up radio. Therefore, the wireless device determines the self wake-up time according to the scheduling information such as the wake-up time and the initial reservation time of the at least one wireless device.

In one possible design, the scheduling information may include an initial reservation duration. The wireless device can store the awakening time of the at least one wireless device, so that the wireless device can determine the awakening time of the wireless device according to the initial reserved time, the awakening time of each wireless device and other scheduling information. Further optionally, the wireless device may further store scheduling information such as the wake-up frame duration and/or the total communication duration, so that the wireless device may determine its wake-up time, the time for turning on the wake-up wireless module, and the like according to the scheduling information such as the initial reserved duration, the wake-up duration of at least one wireless device, the wake-up frame duration, the total communication duration, and the like.

In one possible design, the scheduling information may include the initial retention duration and a wake-up duration of the at least one wireless device. Therefore, the wireless device can determine the self awakening time according to the initial reserved time and the awakening time of at least one wireless device. Further optionally, the wireless device may further store scheduling information such as the wake-up frame duration and/or the total communication duration, so that the wireless device may determine its wake-up time, the time for turning on the wake-up wireless module, and the like according to the scheduling information such as the initial reserved duration, the wake-up duration of at least one wireless device, the wake-up frame duration, the total communication duration, and the like.

In one possible design, the scheduling information may include at least one of a total communication duration and a wake-up frame duration. The wireless device may store the wake-up duration of the at least one wireless device or the scheduling information may carry the wake-up duration of the at least one wireless device. Further optionally, the initial reserved time period may be stored in the wireless device or may be carried in the scheduling information. Therefore, each wireless device can determine the self awakening time according to each scheduling message, and can reopen the awakening wireless module when the total communication time length is reached so as to further save the battery energy.

In one possible design, the scheduling information may include a time parameter indicator, which may be used to indicate corresponding time information of the at least one wireless device, and the time information may include at least one of an initial reservation duration, a total communication duration, and a wake-up frame duration. Further, the wireless device may store information such as the wake-up duration of the at least one wireless device. Therefore, the wireless device determines the time information corresponding to the time parameter identifier according to the preset corresponding relationship between the time parameter identifier and the time information, and further determines the self wake-up time according to the time information and other scheduling information such as the wake-up duration of the at least one wireless device, so that the information carried in the wake-up frame is reduced, and the overhead is reduced. Or, the wireless device obtains preset time information such as initial retention time, total communication time, wake-up frame time and the like, and then the wireless device determines the wake-up time of the wireless device according to the time information and other scheduling information such as the wake-up time of the at least one wireless device and the like, so as to further reduce the system overhead.

In one possible design, the scheduling information includes cycle information, the cycle information includes time interval information and number information, and the cycle information is used to instruct the at least one wireless device to perform a wake-up operation according to a time interval corresponding to the time interval information until a wake-up number corresponding to the number information is reached. Therefore, the number of the wake-up frames in the system can be reduced, or the information carried in the wake-up frames can be reduced, and the system overhead can be reduced.

In one possible design, the scheduling information may include a user list indicating a scheduling order of the at least one wireless device; alternatively, the scheduling information may include a wake-on-multiuser identifier indicating a scheduling order of the at least one wireless device; alternatively, the scheduling information may include a multiuser wake-up indicator (multiuser wake-up indicator) operable to indicate a scheduling order of the at least one wireless device and bitmap information operable to indicate a wireless device that is woken up among the wireless devices corresponding to the multiuser wake-up indicator.

In a possible design, the initial reserved time, the wake-up frame time, and/or the total communication time, etc. may be explicitly indicated by the wake-up frame, for example, the wake-up frame may carry specific values of the time lengths; or, the time lengths may also be indicated implicitly by the wakeup frame, for example, according to a preset correspondence between bit positions and time lengths, the wakeup frame carries one or more bits to indicate the time lengths; for another example, the access point device may indicate each of the durations by carrying the duration identifier in the wakeup frame according to a preset correspondence between the duration identifier and the duration, which is not listed here.

In one possible design, after the wireless device receives the wake-up frame from the ap device through the wake-up radio, the wireless device may turn off the wake-up radio to conserve battery power of the wireless device. Optionally, the wireless device may further determine that communication of the last wireless device in the at least one wireless device is completed according to the scheduling information, for example, may calculate a time length that all wireless devices have completed communication according to the scheduling information (e.g., an initial reservation time length and a wake-up time length of the at least one wireless device, such as the initial reservation time length, the wake-up frame time length and the wake-up time length of the at least one wireless device), or determine that communication is completed according to the total communication time length (which may be slightly longer than the calculated time length that all wireless devices have completed communication, so as to ensure that the wireless devices complete communication), and may turn on the wake-up wireless module after the communication is completed. Thereby enabling further battery power savings.

In one possible design, when the wireless device communicates with the access point device through the master communication module, the wireless device may receive a preset frame from the access point device; and may transmit a response frame to the access point device in response to the preset frame. The preset frame may be an 802.11 protocol frame, such as a data frame, a control frame, and the like. The response frame is used to indicate that the wireless device is awake.

In a second aspect, an embodiment of the present invention further provides a communication method, including: the access point equipment generates a wake-up frame, wherein the wake-up frame comprises scheduling information, and the scheduling information is used for indicating the wake-up time of at least one wireless equipment; the access point device transmits the wake-up frame to the at least one wireless device. Therefore, each wireless device can wake up at different wake-up times to communicate by setting a wake-up time for each wireless device, and the main communication module and the wake-up wireless module are closed at other times, so that the battery energy of the wireless devices is saved, and the waste of the battery energy is reduced.

In one possible design, the schedule information may indicate a wake-up time of a wireless device, i.e., the access point device may send a wake-up frame to a wireless device to indicate the wake-up time of the wireless device. For example, when multiple wireless devices are present in the communication system, the access point device may transmit a wake-up frame to each wireless device to indicate the wake-up time of each wireless device, respectively. Thereby helping to improve the efficiency with which the wireless device determines its own wake-up time.

In a possible design, the scheduling information may indicate wakeup times of at least two wireless devices, and the at least two wireless devices may determine their own wakeup times according to the scheduling information carried in the wakeup frame, thereby facilitating improvement of the indication efficiency of the wakeup times and saving signaling overhead.

In one possible design, the scheduling information may include a wake-up duration for the at least one wireless device. The wake-up duration may refer to a time length for which the wireless device is woken up, that is, a time length for which the main communication module is turned on, or a time length for which communication is performed. The wake-up duration for each wireless device may be the same or different. Optionally, the wake-up duration of the at least one wireless device may be indicated by display or implicit indication, for example, the scheduling information includes indication information, and the indication information is used to indicate the wake-up duration of the at least one wireless device. So that the wireless device determines its own wake-up time according to the wake-up duration of the at least one wireless device.

In one possible design, the scheduling information may include an initial reservation duration. The initial retention duration may refer to a time length from the time when the access point device sends the wakeup frame to the time when the first wireless device of the at least one wireless device is awakened (i.e., the main communication module is turned on), or may refer to a time length from the time when the wireless device receives the wakeup frame to the time when the first wireless device of the at least one wireless device is awakened. Therefore, the wireless device can determine the self awakening time according to the initial reserved time length.

In one possible design, the scheduling information may include the initial retention duration and a wake-up duration of the at least one wireless device. So that the wireless device determines its own wake-up time according to the initial reserved time length and the wake-up time length of the at least one wireless device.

In one possible design, the scheduling information may include at least one of a total communication duration and a wake-up frame duration. The wake-up frame duration may refer to a time length of the wake-up frame. The total communication duration may be used to indicate an overall length of time for the at least one wireless device to complete communication or to indicate a time to re-turn on the wake-up radio. Optionally, the scheduling information may carry a wake-up duration of the at least one wireless device. Further optionally, the scheduling information may also carry the initial reserved time length. Therefore, each wireless device determines the self awakening time according to each scheduling message, and can reopen the awakening wireless module when the total communication time length is reached so as to further save the battery energy.

In one possible design, the scheduling information may include a time parameter indicator, which may be used to indicate corresponding time information of the at least one wireless device, and the time information may include at least one of an initial reservation duration, a total communication duration, and a wake-up frame duration. Optionally, the scheduling information may also carry a wake-up duration of the at least one wireless device. Therefore, the information carried in the wake-up frame is reduced, and the overhead is reduced. Or, the time information such as the initial retention time, the total communication time, the wake-up frame time and the like can be preset to further reduce the system overhead.

In a possible design, the initial reserved time, the wake-up frame time, and/or the total communication time, etc. may be explicitly indicated by the wake-up frame, for example, the wake-up frame may carry specific values of the time lengths; or, the time lengths may also be indicated implicitly by the wakeup frame, for example, according to a preset correspondence between bit positions and time lengths, the wakeup frame carries one or more bits to indicate the time lengths; for another example, the access point device may indicate each of the durations by carrying the duration identifier in the wakeup frame according to a preset correspondence between the duration identifier and the duration.

In one possible design, the access point device may also send a preset frame to the wireless device in the communication state and may receive a response frame from the wireless device. Wherein the wireless device in the communication state may refer to a wireless device with the main communication module turned on. The access point device may determine the wireless device in the communication state of the at least one wireless device according to the scheduling information. Optionally, the preset frame may be an 802.11 protocol frame, such as a data frame, a control frame, and the like. The response frame is used to indicate that the wireless device is awake. The response frame is used to indicate that the wireless device is awake.

In a third aspect, a communication device is provided, comprising means or means (means) for performing the steps of the method of the first aspect above. The communication means may be a wireless device or may be provided in a wireless device, or may be at least one processing element or chip.

In a fourth aspect, there is provided a wireless device comprising a transceiver, a memory and a processor, the processor being coupled to the memory and the transceiver, the memory being adapted to store a program, the processor invoking the program stored by the memory to perform the method of the first aspect above, the transceiver being adapted to receive and/or transmit information.

In a fifth aspect, there is provided a communication device comprising means for performing the steps of the method of the second aspect above. The communication device may be an access point device, or may be disposed in an access point device, or may be at least one processing element or chip.

In a sixth aspect, there is provided an access point device comprising a transceiver, a memory and a processor, the processor being coupled to the memory and the transceiver, the memory being adapted to store a program, the processor invoking the program stored in the memory to perform the method of the second aspect above, the transceiver being adapted to receive and/or transmit information.

In a seventh aspect, a communication system is provided, which comprises the access point device and/or at least one wireless device of the above aspects.

In another possible design, the system further includes another device interacting with the access point device and/or the at least one wireless device in the solution provided by the embodiment of the present invention.

In an eighth aspect, a computer storage medium is provided for storing computer software instructions for the communication apparatus or device, which contains a program designed to perform the above aspects.

In a ninth aspect, there is also provided a computer program product comprising instructions which, when run on a computer, cause the computer to perform the method of the above aspects.

A tenth aspect provides a chip system comprising a processor for a communication apparatus or a wireless device to perform the functions referred to in the above aspects, e.g. to obtain or process data and/or information referred to in the above methods. In one possible design, the system-on-chip further includes a memory for storing program instructions and data necessary for the communication device or wireless device. The chip system may be constituted by a chip, or may include a chip and other discrete devices.

In an eleventh aspect, a chip system is provided, which comprises a processor for a communication device or an access point apparatus to implement the functions referred to in the above aspects, e.g. to obtain or process data and/or information referred to in the above methods. In one possible design, the chip system further includes a memory for storing program instructions and data necessary for the communication device or the access point apparatus. The chip system may be constituted by a chip, or may include a chip and other discrete devices.

The scheme provided by the embodiment of the invention can enable each wireless device to wake up for communication at different wake-up times by setting the wake-up time for each awakened wireless device, thereby saving the battery energy of the wireless device and reducing the waste of the battery energy.

Drawings

In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments or the background art of the present invention, the drawings required to be used in the embodiments or the background art of the present invention will be described below.

FIG. 1 is a diagram of a WUR and PCR working scenario;

fig. 2a is a logical block diagram of a wireless device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2b is a logical block diagram of another wireless device provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 3 is an architecture diagram of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 4 is an interaction diagram of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is an interaction diagram of another communication method provided by an embodiment of the invention;

fig. 6a is a schematic diagram of a frame format of a wake-up frame according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 6b is a schematic diagram of another frame format of a wake-up frame according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 6c is a schematic diagram of a frame format of another wake-up frame according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 6d is a schematic diagram of a frame format of another wake-up frame according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 6e is a schematic diagram of a frame format of another wake-up frame according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 6f is a schematic diagram of a frame format of another wake-up frame according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 6g is a schematic diagram of a frame format of another wake-up frame according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 6h is a schematic diagram of a frame format of another wake-up frame according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 7 is an interaction diagram of another communication method provided by the embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 8 is an interaction diagram of another communication method provided by the embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 9a is a schematic diagram of a frame format of another wake-up frame according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 9b is a schematic diagram of a frame format of another wake-up frame according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 9c is a schematic diagram of a frame format of another wake-up frame according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 9d is a schematic diagram of a frame format of another wake-up frame according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 9e is a schematic diagram of a frame format of another wake-up frame according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10a is a schematic diagram of PCR turn-on times;

FIG. 10b is a schematic diagram of another PCR open time;

FIG. 10c is a schematic diagram of an alternative PCR turn-on time;

FIG. 10d is a schematic diagram of an alternative PCR turn-on time;

fig. 11 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 12 is a schematic structural diagram of another wireless device provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 13 is a schematic structural diagram of another communication device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 14 is a schematic structural diagram of an access point device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description

The embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

It should be understood that the technical solution of the present application can be specifically applied to various communication systems, for example: wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs). The system may employ an access technology such as a Long term evolution (Long term evolution, abbreviated as WiFi) system, a Wireless Fidelity (WiFi), and the like, and with the continuous development of a communication technology, the technical scheme of the present application may also employ other access technologies, such as a 5G technology, which may also be referred to as a New Radio (abbreviated as NR) technology, and the present application is not limited.

In this application, a wireless device is a device with communication capabilities that may include a handheld device with wireless communication capabilities, an in-vehicle device, a wearable device, a computing device or other processing device connected to a wireless modem, and the like. Wireless devices in different networks may be called different names, for example: terminals, User Equipment (UE), mobile Stations (STA) such as those in 802.11, subscriber units, stations, cellular phones, personal digital assistants, wireless modems, wireless communication devices, handheld devices, laptop computers, cordless phones, wireless local loop stations, and the like.

In this application, the access point device may be an AP or a wireless device. The access point device may also be called an access point, a wireless access point, a hotspot, or the like, or may also be called other names, and the application is not limited thereto.

The wireless device may include a main communication module and a wake-up wireless module. The master communication module may be a PCR and the wake-up wireless module may be a WUR. The primary communication module may also be referred to as a primary connecting wireless device, primary connecting wireless, primary connecting radio, primary connecting wireless unit, etc., or may also be referred to by other names; the wake-up radio may also be referred to as a wake-up radio, a wake-up wireless unit, etc., or by other names, without limitation.

It should be understood that the main communication module and the wake-up Radio module may be a Radio Unit (RU). One or more radio frequency units may be configured in a wireless device, including the main communication module and the wake-up radio module. Alternatively, as shown in fig. 2a, the main communication module and the wake-up wireless module may be independent rf units, for example, when one wireless device is configured with multiple rf units, one of the rf units (for example, the WUR defined in 802.11ba, i.e., the wake-up wireless module) may receive wireless data with very low power consumption, for example, for receiving a wake-up frame. When receiving the wake-up (wake-up of the present device), the other rf units (e.g. the PCR defined in 802.11ba, i.e. the main communication module) may be turned on for communication at a predetermined time, such as the wake-up time of the present application. Optionally, the main communication module and the wake-up wireless module may share an antenna. Alternatively, as shown in fig. 2b, the main communication module and the wake-up wireless module may be integrated into a single radio unit. When only one radio frequency unit is provided, the radio frequency unit has at least two working modes, namely a normal transceiving working mode (similar to PCR, which is referred to as PCR mode for short and corresponds to a host communication module) and a receiving wake-up mode (similar to WUR, which is referred to as WUR mode for short and corresponds to a wake-up wireless module) with extremely low power consumption (tens of microwatts or several microwatts). Further optionally, the encoding mode and/or the modulation mode used by the main communication module and the wake-up wireless module may be the same or different.

For the convenience of understanding, for a wireless device configured with only one radio frequency unit, when switching to the very low power consumption receiving mode for operation, the wireless device may be defined as turning on a wake-up wireless module such as WUR and turning off a main communication module such as PCR; when the wireless unit is switched to the normal data transceiving mode to work, the main communication module such as the PCR is defined to be turned on, the wireless module such as the WUR is turned off and awakened, and when the radio frequency unit is turned off and does not work, the main communication module such as the PCR and the wireless module such as the WUR are defined to be turned off.

Referring to fig. 3, fig. 3 is a schematic diagram of a communication system provided in the present application. As shown in fig. 3, the communication system includes an access point device, such as an AP, and at least one wireless device (e.g., STA1, STA2, STA3.. STAn-1, STAn in fig. 3), which may connect using an access technology, such as LTE or WiFi, for communication. Therefore, the method and the device can set the awakening time for each awakened STA, so that the STAs can awaken at different awakening times to communicate, the battery energy of the wireless device is saved, and the waste of the battery energy is reduced.

Referring to fig. 4, fig. 4 is an interaction diagram of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present invention, and as shown in fig. 4, the communication method according to the embodiment of the present invention may include the following steps:

401. the access point device generates a wake-up frame that includes scheduling information.

402. The access point device transmits a wake-up frame to at least one wireless device.

Wherein the scheduling information is usable to indicate a wake-up time of the at least one wireless device. In particular, the access point device may generate a wake-up frame and transmit the wake-up frame to one or more wireless devices to instruct the one or more wireless devices to perform a wake-up operation.

Optionally, before sending the wakeup frame, the access point device may send a request to send/clear to send (RTS/CTS) message to perform channel resource preemption, so as to reduce communication interference between the subsequent wireless device and the access point device.

403. The wireless device determines the self wake-up time according to the scheduling information.

Specifically, the wireless device may receive the wake-up frame from the access point device through the wake-up wireless module, and then determine its own wake-up time according to the scheduling information carried in the wake-up frame. Further, the wireless device may turn off the wake-up radio after the wireless device receives a wake-up frame from the access point device to conserve battery power of the wireless device.

Optionally, the scheduling information may indicate a wake-up time of a wireless device, that is, the access point device may send a wake-up frame to a wireless device to indicate the wake-up time of the wireless device. For example, when multiple wireless devices are present in the communication system, the access point device may transmit a wake-up frame to each wireless device to indicate the wake-up time of each wireless device, respectively. The wireless device may receive a wake-up frame from the access point device to determine its wake-up time based on the scheduling information therein. Thereby helping to improve the efficiency with which the wireless device determines its own wake-up time. Further optionally, the wake-up frame may carry an identifier of the wireless device, and the identifier of the wireless device, i.e. the identifier of the awakened device, may be carried in an Address field (e.g. Address field) of the frame, or may be carried in the content of the frame (e.g. MAC Header), so that the wireless device may receive its own wake-up frame. Optionally, the identifier of the wireless device may be AID (Association ID), WID (Wake UP ID), OUI (organization Unique ID), etc., or GID (Group Wake UP ID), MWID (Multi User Wake ID). Further optionally, the wake-up frame may also carry an identifier of the access point device, such as txid (transmitter id), so that the wireless device may determine whether the wake-up frame is a wake-up frame sent by a corresponding access point device, that is, determine whether to receive or parse the wake-up frame. The AID, WID, OUI, GID, MWID, and TXID may be AID, WID, OUI, GID, MWID, and TXID in 802.11 ba.

Optionally, the scheduling information may indicate wakeup times of at least two wireless devices, and the at least two wireless devices may determine their own wakeup times according to the scheduling information carried in the wakeup frame, that is, the at least two wireless devices receive the same wakeup frame, thereby facilitating improvement of the indication efficiency of the wakeup times and saving signaling overhead.

Further optionally, the scheduling information may include a user list, where the user list may be used to indicate a scheduling order of at least one wireless device being woken up, that is, to indicate at least one wireless device being woken up for communication in a time sequence, for example, an identifier of the at least one wireless device, such as AID, WID, OUI, or the like, may be included in the user list, and the scheduling order or the time sequence may be determined according to a position of the identifier of the wireless device in the user list, such as the same order as an arrangement of the identifiers of the wireless devices in the user list; alternatively, the scheduling information may include a multi-user wake-up flag, such as MWID or GID, etc., for indicating at least one wireless device that wakes up for communication in a time sequence; or, the scheduling information includes a multi-user wake-up flag indicating a scheduling order of at least one wireless device and bitmap information indicating that the multi-user wake-up flag corresponds to a wireless device that is woken up in the wireless devices, for example, the wireless device with bitmap information of 1 is woken up, and the wireless device with bitmap information of 0 is not to be woken up. Therefore, the wireless device can determine the awakened wireless devices and the awakening sequence of the wireless devices according to the scheduling information. For example, when the scheduling information includes a user list or a multiple user wakeup identifier, the wireless device may determine that the wireless device in the user list or the wireless device corresponding to the multiple user wakeup identifier is a wireless device that needs to be woken up, and a wakeup sequence of each wireless device may be the same as an order of the wireless devices in the user list or an order of the wireless devices corresponding to the multiple user wakeup identifier; for another example, when the scheduling information includes the multiple user wake-up identifier and the bitmap information, the wireless device may determine that the bitmap information of the wireless device corresponding to the multiple user wake-up identifier is 1, which is a wireless device that needs to be woken up, and the wake-up sequence of each wireless device is the same as the sequence of the wireless device corresponding to the multiple user wake-up identifier.

404. The wireless device turns on the main communication module for communication at the wake-up time.

Further, after determining the wake-up time of the wireless device, the wireless device may wake up at the wake-up time, that is, turn on the main communication module, such as a PCR, so as to facilitate communication through the main communication module. Optionally, the communication may be communication between the wireless device and the access point device, such as data interaction, or communication between the wireless device and other wireless devices, which is not limited in this application. Further optionally, when the wireless device communicates with the access point device through the master communication module, the access point device may determine, according to the scheduling information, a wireless device in a communication state in the at least one wireless device, and send an 802.11 frame, such as a data frame or a control frame or other frames, to the wireless device. The wireless device may receive the data frame from the access point device and send a response frame, which may be an ACK frame, a data frame, a control frame, or the like, to the access point device, which may be used to indicate that the wireless device is awake. The access point device may receive the response frame, data frame, and control frame from the wireless device to communicate between the access point device and the wireless device.

Optionally, the scheduling information may include a wake-up duration of the at least one wireless device. The wake-up duration may refer to a time length for which the wireless device is woken up, that is, a time length for turning on the main communication module, or a time length for performing communication; the wake-up duration of each of the at least one wireless device may be the same or different. The wake-up duration of the at least one wireless device may be associated with the user list, the multiple user wake-up flag, and the bitmap information, and may be used to indicate the at least one wireless device to be woken up, the order in which the at least one wireless device is to be woken up (i.e., the scheduling order), and the wake-up duration corresponding to each wireless device. Further optionally, the scheduling information such as the initial retention time, the wake-up frame time, and/or the total communication time may also be preset, for example, before the access point device sends the wake-up frame, the access point device and the wireless device are set through message interaction, and the wireless device may store the information such as the initial retention time, the wake-up frame time, and/or the total communication time. The initial reserved duration may refer to a time length from the time when the access point device sends the wakeup frame to the time when the first wireless device of the at least one wireless device is awakened (i.e., the main communication module is turned on), or may refer to a time length from the time when the wireless device receives the wakeup frame to the time when the first wireless device of the at least one wireless device is awakened; the wake-up frame duration may be used to indicate the length (duration) of the wireless device wake-up frame; the total communication duration may be used to indicate an overall length of time for the at least one wireless device to complete communication or to indicate a time to re-turn on the wake-up radio. For example, the wireless device may also have an initial reserved duration stored so that the wireless device can determine its wake-up time based on the wake-up duration of the at least one wireless device and the initial reserved duration. For another example, the wireless device may further store a wake-up frame duration, so that the wireless device can determine its own wake-up time according to the wake-up duration of the at least one wireless device and the wake-up frame duration; or when the wireless device stores the initial reserved time length, determining the self wake-up time according to the wake-up time length of the at least one wireless device, the initial reserved time length and the wake-up frame time length. For another example, the wireless devices may also store the total communication duration, so that each wireless device may turn on the wake-up wireless module again when the total communication duration arrives, instead of turning on the wake-up wireless module immediately after completing communication by itself, to further save battery power. Or, optionally, the wireless device may determine a total communication duration of the at least one wireless device according to the initial retention duration and the wake-up duration of each of the at least one wireless device, or according to the initial retention duration, the wake-up frame duration and the wake-up duration of each of the at least one wireless device, and then determine a time for turning on the wake-up wireless module according to the total communication duration. Therefore, the wireless device can determine the self wake-up time, the time for opening and waking up the wireless module and the like according to the scheduling information of the at least one wireless device, such as the wake-up time, the initial retention time, the wake-up frame time, the total communication time and the like.

Optionally, the scheduling information may include an initial retention time period. The wireless device can store the awakening time of the at least one wireless device, so that the wireless device can determine the awakening time of the wireless device according to the initial reserved time, the awakening time of each wireless device and other scheduling information. Further optionally, the wireless device may further store scheduling information such as the wake-up frame duration and/or the total communication duration, so that the wireless device may determine its wake-up time, the time for turning on the wake-up wireless module, and the like according to the scheduling information such as the initial reserved duration, the wake-up duration of at least one wireless device, the wake-up frame duration, the total communication duration, and the like.

Optionally, the scheduling information may include an initial reservation duration and a wake-up duration of the at least one wireless device. Therefore, the wireless equipment can determine the self awakening time according to the initial reserved time and the awakening time of each piece of wireless equipment and other scheduling information. Further optionally, the wireless device may further store scheduling information such as the wake-up frame duration and/or the total communication duration, so that the wireless device may determine its wake-up time, the time for turning on the wake-up wireless module, and the like according to the scheduling information such as the initial reserved duration, the wake-up duration of at least one wireless device, the wake-up frame duration, the total communication duration, and the like.

Optionally, the scheduling information includes at least one of a total communication duration and an awake frame duration. The wireless devices may store the wake-up time of each wireless device (the wake-up time of each wireless device may be the same or different) or the scheduling information may carry the wake-up time of each wireless device. Further optionally, the initial reserved time period may be stored in the wireless device or may be carried in the scheduling information. Therefore, the wireless device can determine the self wake-up time, the time for opening and waking up the wireless module and the like according to the wake-up time, the initial retention time, the wake-up frame time and the total communication time of at least one wireless device.

Optionally, the scheduling information may include a time parameter identifier, where the time parameter identifier is used to indicate time information corresponding to the at least one wireless device, and the time information includes at least one of an initial reservation duration, a total communication duration, and a wake-up frame duration. Further, the wireless devices may store information such as wake-up time lengths of the wireless devices (the wake-up time lengths of the wireless devices may be the same or different). Therefore, the wireless device can determine the time information corresponding to the time parameter identifier included in the scheduling information according to the preset corresponding relationship between the time parameter identifier and the time information, and further the wireless device can determine the self wake-up time, the time for opening the wake-up wireless module and the like according to the wake-up time, the initial retention time, the wake-up frame time and the total communication time of each wireless device.

Further optionally, the scheduling information may further include cycle information, where the cycle information may include time interval information and number information, and the cycle information may be used to instruct the at least one wireless device to perform a wake-up operation according to a time interval corresponding to the time interval information, for example, perform a wake-up operation according to the scheduling information in the wake-up frame until the number of wake-up times corresponding to the number information is reached. Therefore, the number of the wake-up frames in the system can be reduced, or the information carried in the wake-up frames can be reduced, and the system overhead can be reduced.

Further optionally, the at least one wireless device may wake up sequentially (i.e., only one wireless device wakes up at a time), or some of the at least one wireless device may wake up simultaneously, such as the simultaneously waking wireless device and the AP may communicate simultaneously via 802.11ax and using OFDMA techniques.

It should be understood that the scheduling information may include an initial reserved time length, an awake frame time length, and/or a total communication time length, which may be explicitly indicated by the awake frame, for example, the awake frame may carry specific values of the time lengths; or, the time length may also be implicitly indicated by the wakeup frame, for example, the access point device may indicate each of the time lengths by carrying one or more bits in the wakeup frame according to a preset correspondence between a bit and the time length, and the wireless device may determine the corresponding time length according to the correspondence between the bit and the time length; for another example, the access point device may indicate each of the durations and the like by carrying the duration ID in the wakeup frame according to a corresponding relationship between a preset duration Identifier (ID) (e.g., a bit string, a character, etc.) and the duration, and the wireless device may determine the corresponding duration according to the corresponding relationship between the duration ID and the duration; alternatively, the access point device and the wireless device may indicate and determine the time durations in other manners, which are not listed here. The manner in which the wake-up frame indicates (includes or carries) each time duration is not limited in this application.

Further optionally, the wireless device may turn on the wake-up wireless module for the next round of communication after determining that the communication of the last wireless device of the at least one wireless device is completed, instead of turning on the wake-up wireless module immediately after the own main communication module completes the communication. For example, each wireless device may re-turn on its own wake-up wireless module after determining that the total communication duration reaches, or the wireless device may re-turn on its own wake-up wireless module after determining that the total communication duration of each wireless device calculated according to the initial reserved duration, the wake-up duration of each wireless device, the wake-up frame duration, and other information arrives. Thereby enabling further battery power savings.

The following describes the communication method of the present application in detail, taking an AP as an access point device, a STA as a wireless device, a PCR as a master communication module, and a WUR as a wake-up wireless module as an example.

Referring to fig. 5, fig. 5 is an interaction diagram of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present invention, and as shown in fig. 5, the communication method according to the embodiment of the present invention may include the following steps:

501. the AP transmits a wakeup frame, which includes scheduling information. The scheduling information may include an initial reservation duration and a wake-up duration of each STA.

Optionally, before sending the wakeup frame, the AP may send an RTS/CTS message to perform channel resource preemption, so as to reduce communication interference between the subsequent STA and the AP.

The wake-up frame may explicitly indicate the wake-up duration, for example, the wake-up frame may carry the wake-up duration of each STA, i.e., the duration that the PCR is turned on (turn-on duration); alternatively, the wakeup frame may implicitly indicate the wakeup duration of each STA, for example, the wakeup frame carries one or more bits to indicate the wakeup duration of the STA according to a preset correspondence between bit positions and the wakeup duration, or the wakeup frame carries a duration ID to indicate the wakeup duration of the STA according to a preset correspondence between a duration ID (e.g., a bit string, a character, etc.) and the wakeup duration, which is not listed here. The indication method of the wake-up duration of the STA is not limited in this application. Further optionally, the wakeup frame may include a user List such as a STA List (STA List), or a multi-user wakeup flag such as MWID or GID, or MWID and bitmap information, or GID and bitmap information, so as to indicate the wakeup duration of each STA to be woken up through the STA List, MWID, GID, MWID and bitmap information, or GID and bitmap information, etc. Thus, the STA can determine the wakeup time of each STA according to the STA list, or the multi-user wakeup flag, such as MWID or GID, or MWID and bitmap information, or GID and bitmap information, etc. The STA list may include an identification (STA id) of each STA, which may be a MAC address or AID or WID, etc.

For example, assuming that the identification of STA1 is AID _0 and the identification of STA2 is AID _1, the wakeup frame may carry the wakeup duration, i.e., the PCR on duration, of each STA, as shown in the following table one:

watch 1

STA ID	PCR open time (ms)
		AID_0	5
AID_1	10

For another example, the STA ID is carried in the wakeup frame, and the specific value of the wakeup duration is not carried, but the specific value of the wakeup duration is replaced by the duration ID, as shown in the following table two.

Watch two

STA ID	Duration ID
		AID_0	0
AID_1	1

The corresponding relationship between the duration ID and the wakeup duration (the specific duration value) may be preset, so that the AP may indicate the wakeup duration according to the corresponding relationship, and the STA may determine the wakeup duration of each STA according to the corresponding relationship. For example, if the preset duration ID 0 corresponds to 5ms and 1 corresponds to 10ms, the STA (e.g., STA1 or STA2) may determine that the wake-up duration of STA1 is 5ms and the wake-up duration of STA2 is 10 ms. Therefore, each STA can determine the respective awakening time length, namely the PCR opening time length according to the time length indicated by the time length ID so as to save the number of bits required by the time length representation, reduce the data volume corresponding to the time length in the awakening frame and reduce the expenditure.

Optionally, the Frame format of the wake-up Frame may be preset, and for example, the Frame format may include one or more fields of a Frame Type (e.g., Frame Type), a wake-up Operation Mode (e.g., WakeUp Operation Mode, WOM), a sender ID (e.g., Transmitter ID, TXID), Other information (e.g., Other Info), Multi-User wake-up information (e.g., Multi User WU Info), a Frame check sequence (e.g., Frame sequence, FCS), and Other fields, or may further include Other fields, which is not limited in this application. Further optionally, the scheduling information such as the initial reserved duration and the wakeup duration of each STA may be carried in a MultiUser WU Info field. For example, as shown in fig. 6a to 6f, the wake-up frame may include an Initial reserved Time (e.g., Initial Reserve Time) field. Further, as shown in fig. 6a, the wakeup frame may indicate the wakeup Time of each awakened STA through the STA list field, for example, the wakeup duration of STA1 identified as AID _0 (or WID _0) is Time 1, the wakeup duration of STA2 identified as AID _1 (or WID _1) is Time 2, STA1(AID _0) is awakened first, and STA2(AID _1) is awakened again; as shown in fig. 6b, the wakeup frame may indicate the STA to be woken up through the STA list field, and indicate the wakeup time of the STA to be woken up through a wakeup duration field, such as a Slot Length SlotLength (for example, it may be a time unit corresponding to the wakeup duration of each STA, the STA list has one STA ID appearing once, and the corresponding wakeup duration is increased by one time unit), and if the Slot Length is 2ms, the wakeup duration of the STA1 identified as AID _0 (or WID _0) (appearing once in the STA list) is 2ms, the wakeup duration of the STA2 identified as AID _1 (or WID _1) (appearing once in the STA list) is 2ms, and may wake up the STA1(AID _0) first and then wake up the STA2(AID _ 1); as shown in fig. 6c, the wakeup frame may indicate the STAs to be waked through the MWID (or GID), and indicate the wakeup Time of each STA to be waked through a wakeup Time range, such as Time List, where the wakeup Time of the STA to be waked is Time 1 and Time 2, respectively, and the wakeup sequence is indicated by the MWID, such as the sequence of the STAs corresponding to the MWID is the same; as shown in fig. 6d, the wakeup frame may indicate the STA to be woken up through MWID (or GID) and indicate the wakeup time of the STA to be woken up through Slot Length; as shown in fig. 6e, the wakeup frame may indicate the STA to be waked through the MWID (or GID) and the bitmap information, for example, the STA with bitmap information of 1 in the STA corresponding to the MWID is the STA to be waked, and may indicate the wakeup time of the STA to be waked through the Slot Length; as shown in fig. 6f, the wakeup frame may indicate the awakened STAs by MWID (or GID) and bitmap information, and may indicate the wakeup Time of each awakened STA by Time List. Optionally, the Multi User WU Info may also carry a total communication duration, a wakeup frame duration, and the like. Optionally, in another Frame format, the wake-up Frame may further include one or more fields such as a MAC Header, a Frame content (e.g., Frame Body), and an FCS, or may further include other fields. The awakened STA List (e.g., AID or WID), MWID or GID, etc. may also be carried by an Address field (e.g., Address field in MAC Header field) in the 802.11ba, the awakening duration, e.g., Time List or Slot Length, may be carried by a frame content part, and the frame content field may also carry an initial reserved duration, a total communication duration, an awakening frame duration, etc. For example, as shown in fig. 6g, the MAC Header may carry a list of STAs that are awake (e.g., AID or WID), MWID or GID, etc., and the frame content portion carries the awake duration; as shown in fig. 6h, if the MAC Header can carry MWID or GID of the awakened STA, etc., it can also indicate the awakened STA of the MWID or GID, such as carrying a list of STAs indicating the awakened STA in the MWID or GID by the frame content part. The frame format of the wakeup frame, and the indication modes of the wakeup frame indicating the initial reservation duration, the wakeup time of each STA being awakened, and other scheduling information are not limited in the present application.

Optionally, the initial reserved duration may be explicitly indicated or implicitly indicated, for example, the wake-up frame may directly carry a specific value of the initial reserved duration; or, the wake-up frame may carry a time parameter identifier, and indicate the initial reserved duration through a preset correspondence between the time parameter identifier and the initial reserved value.

502. WUR of STA1 and STA2 is off (WUR: off).

Further, STA1 and STA2 may turn off their WURs after receiving the wake-up frame to conserve battery power.

503. The STA1 determines time 1 of PCR turn-on according to the wakeup frame, and turns on PCR (PCR: on) at time 1 for data interaction with the AP.

Specifically, assuming that the STA1 is determined to be woken up first according to the wake-up frame, the STA1 may determine its own wake-up time according to the initial reserved time length. For example, if the initial reservation duration is 40ms, the STA1 may turn on the PCR to communicate with the AP (or may also communicate with other STAs) 40ms after receiving the wake frame or 40ms after the AP transmits the wake frame. The wake-up duration of the STA may be an on duration of a PCR of the STA.

In communicating, STA1 may send a PS-Poll frame, a data frame, or a control frame, such as an ACK frame, to the AP to report to the AP that STA1 is awake and the AP may send an acknowledgement response message, such as an ACK, to STA 1. The STA1 receives the ACK returned by the AP, performs data interaction with the AP, and sends the ACK to the AP after the data interaction is completed. Alternatively, optionally, when the wake-up time of STA1 is reached, STA1 may keep silent, wait for the AP to send an 802.11 frame, such as a data frame, a control frame, etc., to STA1, and STA1 may receive the 802.11 frame and send a PS-Poll frame, a data frame, or a control frame, such as an ACK frame, to the AP, thereby reducing STA overhead.

504. STA1 turns off PCR (PCR: off).

505. The STA2 determines time 2 when the PCR is turned on according to the wakeup frame, and turns on the PCR at time 2 (PCR: on) for data interaction with the AP.

Specifically, the STA2 may increase its wake-up time according to the initial reservation duration determination and the wake-up time of the STA 1. For example, if the initial reservation duration is 40ms and the wake-up durations of STA1 and STA2 are both 2ms, STA2 may turn on the PCR to communicate with the AP 40+ 2-42 ms after receiving the wake-up frame or 42ms after the AP transmits the wake-up frame. Further, the STA1 may turn off the PCR after the wake-up time is over, such as at the 42ms, or may turn off the PCR directly if the STA1 completes the communication before the 42ms, to save battery power.

506. STA2 turns off PCR (PCR: off).

Further, the STA2 may turn off the PCR after the wake-up time is over, such as after 44ms at 42+2(40+2+2), or may turn off the PCR directly if the STA2 completes the communication before 44ms, to save battery power.

507. STA1 and STA2 turn on WURs (i.e., PCR: off, WUR: on).

Further, after all the awakened STAs corresponding to the awakening frame complete communication, the STAs may turn on the WUR. For example, STA1 and STA2 both complete communication in the 44ms, i.e., the WUR can be turned on in the 44ms to listen for a new wake-up frame. The WUR may also be turned on after the time according to the duration of the total communication duration has elapsed.

Optionally, the wake-up frame may further include scheduling information such as a wake-up frame duration and a total communication duration, for example, corresponding fields may be added to indicate or carry the wake-up frame duration and the total communication duration, which are not described herein again. Or, optionally, the total communication duration and/or the wake-up frame duration may also be preset to obtain the information. Furthermore, each STA can determine its own wake-up time by combining the wake-up frame duration and the like, and can determine the time for turning on the WUR and the like according to the total communication duration. For example, if the initial reservation duration is 40ms, the wakeup frame duration is 6ms, and the wakeup durations of STA1 and STA2 are both 2ms, then STA1 may open the PCR for communication when 40+ 6ms after receiving the wakeup frame or 46ms after the AP sends the wakeup frame; the STA2 may turn on the PCR for communication when 40+6+2 is 48ms after receiving the wakeup frame or 48ms after the AP sends the wakeup frame; STA1 may turn off the PCR after the wake-up time is over, such as at the 48ms, or, if STA1 completes the communication before the 48ms, it may turn off the PCR directly to conserve battery power; the STA2 may turn off the PCR after the wake-up time is over, such as after 50ms at 4+6+2+2, or may turn off the PCR directly if the STA2 completes the communication before 50ms, to save battery power. Further, STA1 and STA2 may turn on the WUR after the last STA that is woken up, i.e., STA2, has completed communication, e.g., if the total duration of communication is calculated to be 50ms, STA1 and STA2 may turn on the WUR after 50 ms. Alternatively, if there is a total duration of communication (carried by the scheduling information or preset), for example, the total duration of communication is 60ms, the STA1 and STA2 may turn on the WUR after the 60 ms.

Further optionally, the AP may also inform the wake-up duration of each STA participating in the multi-user wake-up communication through other frames. After obtaining the wake-up time, each STA may store the wake-up time of each STA, and may use the wake-up time as a default value of each STA, so as to facilitate subsequent use. Therefore, the wake-up frame can no longer carry the wake-up time information of the STA, so that the data volume corresponding to the time in the wake-up frame can be reduced, and the system overhead is further reduced.

Further optionally, each STA may further perform a wake-up operation according to the period information, for example, perform a wake-up operation according to a time interval corresponding to the period information until the number of wake-up times corresponding to the period information is reached, so as to further reduce system overhead. The period information may be carried in the wakeup frame, or may be carried in other frames, for example, a field may be added to the wakeup frame or other frames to carry the period information; alternatively, the period information may be preset, and the present application is not limited thereto. For example, if the period information indicates that the time interval is 60ms and the number of times of waking is 3, the STA1 and STA2 may perform a waking operation every 60ms, please refer to the above description, and may end after performing 3 waking operations (180ms), and turn on the WUR to listen to a new wake frame.

Further optionally, if the AP does not receive the response from the STA within a preset time range (for example, within the total communication duration range described above, or within an awake duration range corresponding to a certain STA), the STA is awake using unicast (at a subsequent time, or at a time allocated to the STA), for example, a wakeup frame is sent to the STA, so as to implement communication with the STA.

In the embodiment of the invention, the AP can ensure that each STA can determine the time for opening the PCR for communication according to the initial reserved time and the awakening time of each STA by indicating the initial reserved time and the awakening time of each STA in the awakening frame, so that the STA realizes the awakening for communication at the awakening time of the STA, and closes the PCR and the WUR at other times instead of immediately opening the PCR after receiving the awakening frame, thereby saving the battery energy of the wireless equipment and being beneficial to avoiding the waste of the battery energy.

Referring to fig. 7, fig. 7 is an interaction diagram of another communication method according to an embodiment of the present invention, and as shown in fig. 7, the communication method according to the embodiment of the present invention may include the following steps:

701. the AP sends a wakeup frame, which includes scheduling information, where the scheduling information includes a wakeup duration for each STA.

Compared with the embodiment shown in fig. 5, in the embodiment of the present invention, the initial reservation duration may be obtained by presetting, for example, by setting message interaction before the AP sends the wakeup frame, and may be stored in the STA.

Optionally, the wakeup frame may explicitly indicate the wakeup duration, for example, the wakeup frame may carry the wakeup duration of each STA; or, the wakeup frame may implicitly indicate the wakeup duration of each STA, for example, according to a corresponding relationship between a preset bit and the wakeup duration, the wakeup frame carries one or more bits to indicate the wakeup duration of the STA, or according to a corresponding relationship between a preset duration identifier ID and the wakeup duration, the wakeup frame carries a duration ID to indicate the wakeup duration of the STA, and the like, which is not described herein again. Further optionally, the wake-up frame may include a user list such as a list of STAs, or a multi-user wake-up identifier such as an MWID or a GID, or an MWID and bitmap information, or a GID and bitmap information.

Further optionally, the frame format of the wake-up frame is similar to the frame format schematic diagrams shown in fig. 6a to 6h, except that the Initial Reserve Time field is not reserved in the wake-up frame, or the Initial Reserve Time field may not carry any content, which is not described herein again.

702. WUR of STA1 and STA2 is off (WUR: off).

703. The STA1 determines time 1 of PCR turn-on according to the wakeup frame, and turns on PCR (PCR: on) at time 1 for data interaction with the AP.

Specifically, assuming that the STA1 is determined to be woken up first according to the wake-up frame, the STA1 may determine its own wake-up time according to the preset initial reserved time length. For example, if the initial reservation duration is 40ms, the STA1 may turn on the PCR to communicate with the AP (or may also communicate with other STAs) 40ms after receiving the wake frame or 40ms after the AP transmits the wake frame.

704. STA1 turns off PCR (PCR: off).

705. The STA2 determines time 2 when the PCR is turned on according to the wakeup frame, and turns on the PCR at time 2 (PCR: on) for data interaction with the AP.

Specifically, the STA2 may increase its wake-up time according to the initial reservation duration determination and the wake-up time of the STA 1. For example, if the initial reservation duration is 40ms, the wake-up duration of STA1 is 5ms, and the wake-up duration of STA2 is 2ms, STA2 may turn on the PCR to communicate with the AP when 40+ 5ms after receiving the wake-up frame or 45ms after the AP transmits the wake-up frame. Further, the STA1 may turn off the PCR after the wake-up time is over, such as at the 45ms, or may turn off the PCR directly if the STA1 completes the communication before the 45ms, to conserve battery power.

706. STA2 turns off PCR (PCR: off).

Further, the STA2 may turn off the PCR after the wake-up time is over, such as after 45+2(40+5+2) ═ 47ms, or, if the STA2 completes the communication before 47ms, the PCR may be turned off directly to save battery power.

707. STA1 and STA2 turn on WURs (i.e., PCR: off, WUR: on).

Further, after all the awakened STAs corresponding to the awakening frame complete communication, the STAs may turn on the WUR. For example, STA1 and STA2 both complete communication in the 47ms, i.e., the WUR may be turned on in the 47 ms.

Optionally, the wakeup frame may further include scheduling information such as a wakeup frame duration and a total communication duration, for example, corresponding fields may be added to indicate or carry the wakeup frame duration and the total communication duration; or, the information such as the total communication duration and/or the wake-up frame duration may also be preset. Furthermore, each STA may further determine its own wake-up time by combining the wake-up frame duration and the like, and may determine the time for opening the WUR and the like according to the total communication duration, which is not described herein again.

In the embodiment of the invention, the AP can indicate the awakening time of each STA in the awakening frame, so that each STA can determine the time for opening the PCR for communication according to the awakening time of each STA, the preset initial reserved time and other scheduling information, the STA realizes the awakening for communication at the awakening time of the STA, and closes the PCR and the WUR at other times instead of immediately opening the PCR after receiving the awakening frame, thereby saving the battery energy of the wireless equipment and being beneficial to avoiding the waste of the battery energy.

Referring to fig. 8, fig. 8 is an interaction diagram of another communication method according to an embodiment of the present invention, and as shown in fig. 8, the communication method according to the embodiment of the present invention may include the following steps:

801. the AP transmits a wakeup frame including scheduling information, wherein the scheduling information includes a list of STAs, or MWID, or GID, or MWID and bitmap information, or GID and bitmap information.

The wake-up duration of each STA may be preset and stored in the STA, for example, the wake-up time of each STA may be the same, and the wake-up time of each STA may also be different. Or when the wakeup frame includes the STA list, the wakeup duration of the STA may be indicated by presetting a time unit corresponding to the wakeup duration, for example, if the time unit is, for example, 2ms in slot length, the wakeup duration of the corresponding STA may be indicated by the number of occurrences of the STA ID in the STA list, and if the STA ID of the STA1 occurs 1 time, the wakeup duration corresponding to the STA1 is 2 ms; if the STA ID of the STA2 appears 2 times, the wake-up duration for the STA2 is 2 × 2 — 4ms, which is not listed here.

The frame format of the wakeup frame may be preset, for example, similar to fig. 6a to 6h, the STA list, or MWID, or GID, or MWID and bitmap information, or GID and bitmap information, may be carried in the above field, such as Multi User WU Info field, or carried in the address field of MAC Header. For example, as shown in fig. 9a, the wake-up frame may carry a STA list, by which the AP may indicate the STA that is woken up and its wake-up sequence (which may be determined according to the STA's position in the STA list); as shown in fig. 9b, the wakeup frame may indicate the awakened STA and its wakeup sequence through the MWID (or GID); as shown in fig. 9c, the wakeup frame may indicate the STA to be woken up through the MWID (or GID) and the bitmap information, for example, the STA with bitmap information of 1 in the STA corresponding to the MWID is the STA to be woken up; as shown in fig. 9d, the address field of the MAC Header may carry a list of STAs that are woken up (e.g., AID or WID), MWID or GID, etc.; as shown in fig. 9e, if the address field of the MAC Header carries the MWID or GID of the awakened STA, etc., the STA list indicating the awakened STA in the MWID or GID can also be carried by the frame content part, which is not listed here.

Further, the initial reservation duration may be preset and may be stored in the STA. Alternatively, the initial reservation duration may not be set, and the STA IDs that are really valid for indicating the awakened STA are arranged backward in the list by adding several reserved STA IDs or false STA IDs at the top in the STA list to indicate the initial reservation duration. For example, the STA list includes AID, AID _0, AID _1, and a time unit corresponding to the wake-up duration is 2ms, where the AID is an invalid STA ID. It may be determined that the initial reservation duration is 2 × 5 to 10ms, the wake-up duration of the STA1(AID _0) is 2ms, and the wake-up duration of the STA2(AID _1) is 2 × 2 to 4 ms.

Further optionally, the wakeup frame may further include other scheduling information such as a wakeup frame duration and a total communication duration, for example, a corresponding field may be added to the wakeup frame, and the field carries the other scheduling information; or, other scheduling information such as the wake-up frame duration, the total communication duration, and the like may also be preset, and the embodiment of the present invention is not limited.

Further optionally, one or more of the initial reservation time, the slot length, the total communication duration, and the wake-up frame duration may be further indicated by a time parameter identifier. For example, a time parameter ID _1{ initial retention time 40ms (TR _ ID _1), a wake-up duration such as Slot Length 2ms (SL _ ID _1), a total communication duration 130ms (OA _ ID _1) }, a time parameter ID _2{ initial retention time 10ms (TR _ ID _2), a wake-up duration 5ms (SL _ ID _2), a total communication duration 160ms (OA _ ID _2) }, a time parameter ID _. }, { … … }, a time parameter ID _ n { initial retention time 10ms (TR _ ID _ n), a wake-up duration 5ms (SL _ ID _ n), a total communication duration 190ms (OA _ ID _ n) } and the like are preset. So that the AP can indicate the above-mentioned initial reservation time, slot length, total communication duration, etc. by the time parameter ID, which can be carried in the wakeup frame.

802. WUR of STA1 and STA2 is off (WUR: off).

803. The STA1 determines time 1 of PCR turn-on according to the wakeup frame, and turns on PCR (PCR: on) at time 1 for data interaction with the AP.

Specifically, assuming that the STA1 is determined to be woken up first according to the wake-up frame, the STA1 may determine its own wake-up time according to the preset initial reservation duration, the wake-up frame duration, and other scheduling information. For example, if the initial reservation duration is 40ms and the wake-up frame duration is 6ms, the STA1 may turn on the PCR to communicate with the AP (or may also communicate with other STAs) 40+ 6ms after receiving the wake-up frame or 46ms after the AP transmits the wake-up frame. The wake-up duration of the STA may be an on duration of a PCR of the STA.

804. STA1 turns off PCR (PCR: off).

805. The STA2 determines time 2 when the PCR is turned on according to the wakeup frame, and turns on the PCR at time 2 (PCR: on) for data interaction with the AP.

Specifically, the STA2 may determine its own wake-up time according to the initial reservation duration, the wake-up frame duration, the wake-up duration of the STA1, and other scheduling information. For example, the wake-up duration of STA1 and STA2 is 2ms, and STA2 may turn on the PCR to communicate with the AP when 46+2(40+6+2) is 48ms after receiving the wake-up frame or 48ms after the AP transmits the wake-up frame. Further, the STA1 may turn off the PCR after the wake-up time is over, such as at the 48ms, or may turn off the PCR directly if the STA1 completes the communication before the 48ms, to conserve battery power.

806. STA2 turns off PCR (PCR: off).

Further, the STA2 may turn off the PCR after the wake-up time is over, such as after 50ms at 48+2(40+6+2+2), or may turn off the PCR directly if the STA2 completes the communication before 50ms, to save battery power.

807. STA1 and STA2 turn on WURs (i.e., PCR: off, WUR: on).

Further, after all the awakened STAs corresponding to the awakening frame complete communication, the STAs may turn on the WUR. For example, STA1 and STA2 both complete communication in that 50ms, i.e., the WUR can be turned on in that 50 ms.

In the embodiment of the invention, the AP may carry scheduling information such as an STA list (or MWID, or GID, or MWID and bitmap information, or GID and bitmap information) in the wakeup frame, so that each STA can determine the time for itself to turn on the PCR for communication according to the STA list (or MWID, or GID, or MWID and bitmap information, or GID and bitmap information) and the scheduling information such as the preset initial reserved time, so that the STA wakes up for communication at its own wakeup time, turns off the PCR and WUR at other times, instead of immediately turning on the PCR after receiving the wakeup frame, thereby saving battery energy of the wireless device and helping to avoid waste of battery energy.

The battery energy consumption according to the present invention will be described below by way of example. Assuming that there are 15 STAs in the system that are awake, the time required for each STA to communicate is 2ms, the PCR on time of each STA in the conventional scheme is shown in fig. 10a and 10b, the STAs are in an on state after being awake until the communication is completed, and the total PCR on time of the 15 STAs is 2+4+6+ … +28+30, which is 240 ms. With the technical solution of the present application, the on-time of each PCR is 2ms, that is, the PCR is turned on only when data exchange is performed, and the WUR and the PCR are turned off at other times, as shown in fig. 10c and 10d, the total PCR on-time of 15 STAs is 2+2+2+ … +2+2 ═ 30 ms. Therefore, according to the technical scheme, the PCR can be opened within the communication time range of the STA, namely the awakening time, the PCR and the WUR are closed within the time without communication, and the WUR of all the STA is opened to wait for the awakening frame after the whole communication is finished, so that the battery energy is greatly saved, and particularly when the STA is more, the waste of the battery energy is favorably avoided.

Fig. 11 shows a schematic diagram of a possible structure of the communication apparatus according to the above embodiments, where the communication apparatus may be a wireless device, or may be disposed in a wireless device, or may be at least one processing element or chip. Referring to fig. 11, the communication device 1100 may include: a communication unit 1101 and a processing unit 1102. Wherein these units may perform the respective functions of the wireless devices such as the STA in the above method examples, for example, the communication unit 1101 is configured to receive a wake-up frame from the access point device through the wake-up wireless module, where the wake-up frame includes scheduling information, and the scheduling information is used to indicate a wake-up time of at least one wireless device; a processing unit 1102, configured to determine a self wake-up time according to the scheduling information; the communication unit 1101 is further configured to turn on the main communication module for communication at the wake-up time.

Optionally, the scheduling information includes a wake-up duration of the at least one wireless device.

Optionally, the scheduling information includes an initial retention duration.

Optionally, the scheduling information includes at least one of a total communication duration and an awake frame duration.

Optionally, the scheduling information includes a time parameter identifier, where the time parameter identifier is used to indicate time information corresponding to the at least one wireless device, and the time information includes at least one of an initial reserved time length, a total communication time length, and a wakeup frame time length.

Optionally, the scheduling information includes cycle information, the cycle information includes time interval information and number information, and the cycle information is used to instruct the at least one wireless device to perform a wakeup operation according to a time interval corresponding to the time interval information until the number of wakeup times corresponding to the number information is reached.

Optionally, the scheduling information includes a user list, where the user list is used to indicate a scheduling order of the at least one wireless device; or, the scheduling information includes a wake-on-multiuser identifier, where the wake-on-multiuser identifier is used to indicate a scheduling order of the at least one wireless device; or the scheduling information includes a multiuser wake-up identifier and bitmap information, where the multiuser wake-up identifier is used to indicate a scheduling order of the at least one wireless device, and the bitmap information is used to indicate a wireless device that is woken up in the wireless devices corresponding to the multiuser wake-up identifier.

Optionally, the scheduling information includes indication information, where the indication information is used to indicate a wake-up duration of the at least one wireless device;

the processing unit 1102 may be specifically configured to determine the wake-up duration of the at least one wireless device corresponding to the indication information according to a preset correspondence between the indication information and the wake-up duration, and determine the wake-up time of the wireless device according to the scheduling information and the wake-up duration of the at least one wireless device.

It should be understood that the division of the unit in the embodiment of the present invention is illustrative, and is only one logical function division, and there may be another division manner in actual implementation. Each functional unit in the embodiments of the present invention may be integrated into one processing unit, or each unit may exist alone physically, or two or more units are integrated into one unit. The integrated unit can be realized in a form of hardware, and can also be realized in a form of a software functional unit.

Alternatively, the communication apparatus may implement, by the above-mentioned unit, part or all of the steps performed by the wireless device, such as the STA, in the communication method in the embodiments shown in fig. 4 to 8. It should be understood that the embodiments of the present invention are device embodiments corresponding to method embodiments, and the description of the method embodiments also applies to the embodiments of the present invention.

Fig. 12 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of a wireless device 1200 according to an embodiment of the invention. As shown in fig. 12, the wireless device 1200 includes a processor 1202, a transceiver 1204, one or more antennas 1206, a memory 1208, an I/O (Input/Output) interface 1210, and a bus 1212. The transceiver 1204 further includes a transmitter 12042 and a receiver 12044, and the memory 1208 is further configured to store instructions 12082 and data 12084. Further, the processor 1202, the transceiver 1204, the memory 1208, and the I/O interface 1210 are communicatively coupled to each other via a bus 1212, and the plurality of antennas 1206 are coupled to the transceiver 1204.

The processor 1202 may be a general-purpose processor, such as, but not limited to, a Central Processing Unit (CPU), or a special-purpose processor, such as, but not limited to, a Digital Signal Processor (DSP), an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), and so on. Further, the processor 1202 may be a combination of multiple processors. In particular, in the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of the present invention, the processor 1202 may be configured to perform, for example, the operations performed by the processing unit 1102 in the communication apparatus 1100 shown in fig. 11, the steps 402 in the communication method shown in fig. 4, the steps 502 and 504 in fig. 5, the steps 702 and 704 in fig. 7, and the steps 802 and 804 in fig. 8. The processor 1202 may be a processor specially designed to perform the above steps and/or operations, or may be a processor that performs the above steps and/or operations by reading and executing the instructions 12082 stored in the memory 1208, and the processor 1202 may need the data 12084 in the process of performing the above steps and/or operations.

The transceiver 1204 may include a transmitter 12042 and a receiver 12044, where the transmitter 12042 is configured to transmit signals via at least one of the plurality of antennas 1206. Receiver 12044 is configured to receive signals via at least one antenna among multiple antennas 1206. In particular, in the technical solution provided in the embodiment of the present invention, the transmitter 12042 may be specifically configured to be executed by at least one antenna among the multiple antennas 1206, for example, the operations executed by the communication unit 1101 in the communication apparatus 1100 shown in fig. 11, the steps 403 in the communication method shown in fig. 4, the steps 503 and 505 in fig. 5, the steps 703 and 705 in fig. 7, and the steps 803 and 805 in fig. 8.

The Memory 1208 may be various types of storage media, such as Random Access Memory (RAM), Read Only Memory (ROM), Non-Volatile RAM (NVRAM), Programmable ROM (PROM), Erasable PROM (EPROM), Electrically Erasable PROM (EEPROM), flash Memory, optical Memory, and registers. The memory 1208 is specifically configured to store the instructions 12082 and the data 12084, and the processor 1202 may perform the above steps and/or operations by reading and executing the instructions 12082 stored in the memory 1208, wherein the data 12084 may be needed in the process of performing the above steps and/or operations.

I/O interface 1210 is used to receive instructions and/or data from and output instructions and/or data to peripheral devices.

It should be noted that in particular implementations, the wireless device 1200 may also include other hardware components, which are not listed here.

The steps of a method or algorithm described in connection with the disclosure herein may be embodied in hardware or in software instructions executed by a processor. The software instructions may be comprised of corresponding software modules that may be stored in Random Access Memory (RAM), flash Memory, Read Only Memory (ROM), Erasable Programmable ROM (EPROM), Electrically Erasable Programmable ROM (EEPROM), registers, a hard disk, a removable disk, a compact disc read only Memory (CD-ROM), or any other form of storage medium known in the art. An exemplary storage medium is coupled to the processor such the processor can read information from, and write information to, the storage medium. Of course, the storage medium may also be integral to the processor. The processor and the storage medium may reside in an ASIC. Additionally, the ASIC may reside in the wireless device. Of course, the processor and the storage medium may reside as discrete components in the wireless device.

Fig. 13 shows a schematic diagram of a possible structure of the communication apparatus in the above embodiment, where the communication apparatus may be an access point device, or may be disposed in the access point device, or may be at least one processing element or chip. Referring to fig. 13, the communication device 1300 may include: a processing unit 1301 and a communication unit 1302. Wherein these units may perform the corresponding functions of the access point device, such as the AP in the above method example, for example, the processing unit 1301 is configured to generate a wake-up frame, where the wake-up frame includes scheduling information, and the scheduling information is used to indicate a wake-up time of at least one wireless device; a communication unit 1302, configured to send the wake-up frame to the at least one wireless device.

Optionally, the scheduling information includes an initial retention duration.

Optionally, the scheduling information includes a user list, where the user list is used to indicate a scheduling order of the at least one wireless device; or, the scheduling information includes a wake-on-multiuser identifier, where the wake-on-multiuser identifier is used to indicate a scheduling order of the at least one wireless device; or the scheduling information includes a multiuser wake-up identifier and bitmap information, where the multiuser wake-up identifier is used to indicate a scheduling order of the at least one wireless device, and the bitmap information is used to indicate a wireless device that is woken up in the wireless device and corresponds to the multiuser wake-up identifier.

Optionally, the communication apparatus may implement, by the above-mentioned unit, part or all of the steps performed by the access point device, such as the AP, in the communication method in the embodiments shown in fig. 4 to fig. 8. It should be understood that the embodiments of the present invention are device embodiments corresponding to method embodiments, and the description of the method embodiments also applies to the embodiments of the present invention.

Fig. 14 is a schematic hardware configuration diagram of an access point device 1400 according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in fig. 14, access point device 1400 includes a processor 1402, a transceiver 1404, one or more antennas 1406, a memory 1408, an I/O (Input/Output) interface 1410, and a bus 1412. The transceiver 1404 further includes a transmitter 14042 and a receiver 14044, and the memory 1408 is further operable to store instructions 14082 and data 14084. Further, processor 1402, transceiver 1404, memory 1408, and I/O interface 1410 are communicatively coupled to each other via bus 1412, and multiple antennas 1406 are coupled to transceiver 1404.

The processor 1402 may be a general-purpose processor, such as, but not limited to, a Central Processing Unit (CPU), or a special-purpose processor, such as, but not limited to, a Digital Signal Processor (DSP), an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), and the like. Further, the processor 1402 may be a combination of multiple processors. In particular, in the solutions provided in the embodiments of the present invention, the processor 1402 may be configured to perform, for example, operations performed by the processing unit 1301 in the communication apparatus 1300 shown in fig. 13, and/or other operations referred to herein. The processor 1402 may be a processor specially designed to perform the above steps and/or operations, or may be a processor that performs the above steps and/or operations by reading and executing the instructions 14082 stored in the memory 1408, and the processor 1402 may need the data 14084 in the course of performing the above steps and/or operations.

The transceiver 1404 may include a transmitter 14042 and a receiver 14044, wherein the transmitter 14042 is configured to transmit signals through at least one of the plurality of antennas 1406. The receiver 14044 is configured to receive signals via at least one antenna from the plurality of antennas 1406. Specifically, in the technical solution provided in the embodiment of the present invention, the transmitter 14042 may be specifically configured to be executed by at least one antenna among the multiple antennas 1406, for example, the steps 401 in the communication method shown in fig. 4, the steps 501, 503, and 505 in fig. 5, the steps 701, 703, and 705 in fig. 7, the steps 801, 803, and 805 in fig. 8, and the operation executed by the communication unit 1302 in the communication apparatus 1300 shown in fig. 13.

The Memory 1408 may be various types of storage media, such as Random Access Memory (RAM), Read Only Memory (ROM), Non-Volatile RAM (NVRAM), Programmable ROM (PROM), Erasable PROM (EPROM), Electrically Erasable PROM (EEPROM), flash Memory, optical Memory, registers, and the like. The memory 1408 is specifically configured to store the instructions 14082 and the data 14084, and the processor 1402 may execute the steps and/or operations described above by reading and executing the instructions 14082 stored in the memory 1408, and the data 14084 may be needed in the process of executing the steps and/or operations.

I/O interface 1410 is used to receive instructions and/or data from peripheral devices and to output instructions and/or data to peripheral devices.

It should be noted that, in a specific implementation, the access point device 1400 may also include other hardware components, which are not listed here.

The steps of a method or algorithm described in connection with the disclosure herein may be embodied in hardware or in software instructions executed by a processor. The software instructions may be comprised of corresponding software modules that may be stored in Random Access Memory (RAM), flash Memory, Read Only Memory (ROM), Erasable Programmable ROM (EPROM), Electrically Erasable Programmable ROM (EEPROM), registers, a hard disk, a removable disk, a compact disc read only Memory (CD-ROM), or any other form of storage medium known in the art. An exemplary storage medium is coupled to the processor such the processor can read information from, and write information to, the storage medium. Of course, the storage medium may also be integral to the processor. The processor and the storage medium may reside in an ASIC. Additionally, the ASIC may reside in the access point device. Of course, the processor and the storage medium may reside as discrete components in the access point device.

The application also provides a communication system, which comprises the access point device such as the AP and the wireless device such as the STA. Optionally, the system may further include other devices interacting with the above device in the scheme provided in the embodiment of the present invention.

In implementation, the steps of the above method may be performed by integrated logic circuits of hardware in a processor or instructions in the form of software. The steps of a method disclosed in connection with the embodiments of the present application may be directly implemented by a hardware processor, or may be implemented by a combination of hardware and software modules in a processor. The software module may be located in ram, flash memory, rom, prom, or eprom, registers, etc. storage media as is well known in the art. The storage medium is located in a memory, and a processor reads information in the memory and completes the steps of the method in combination with hardware of the processor. To avoid repetition, it is not described in detail here.

It should also be understood that the reference herein to first, second, third and various numerical designations is merely a convenient division to describe and is not intended to limit the scope of embodiments of the present invention.

It should be understood that the term "and/or" herein is merely one type of association relationship that describes an associated object, meaning that three relationships may exist, e.g., a and/or B may mean: a exists alone, A and B exist simultaneously, and B exists alone. In addition, the character "/" herein generally indicates that the former and latter related objects are in an "or" relationship.

It should be understood that, in the various embodiments of the present application, the sequence numbers of the above-mentioned processes do not mean the execution sequence, and the execution sequence of the processes should be determined by their functions and inherent logic, and should not constitute any limitation to the implementation process of the embodiments of the present invention.

Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the various illustrative logical blocks and steps (step) described in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein may be implemented as electronic hardware or combinations of computer software and electronic hardware. Whether such functionality is implemented as hardware or software depends upon the particular application and design constraints imposed on the implementation. Skilled artisans may implement the described functionality in varying ways for each particular application, but such implementation decisions should not be interpreted as causing a departure from the scope of the present application.

It is clear to those skilled in the art that, for convenience and brevity of description, the specific working processes of the above-described systems, apparatuses and units may refer to the corresponding processes in the foregoing method embodiments, and are not described herein again.

In the above embodiments, the implementation may be wholly or partially realized by software, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof. When implemented in software, may be implemented in whole or in part in the form of a computer program product. The computer program product includes one or more computer instructions. When loaded and executed on a computer, cause the processes or functions described in accordance with the embodiments of the invention to occur, in whole or in part. The computer may be a general purpose computer, a special purpose computer, a network of computers, or other programmable device. The computer instructions may be stored in a computer readable storage medium or transmitted from one computer readable storage medium to another, for example, from one website site, computer, server, or data center to another website site, computer, server, or data center via wired (e.g., coaxial cable, fiber optic, Digital Subscriber Line (DSL)) or wireless (e.g., infrared, wireless, microwave, etc.). The computer-readable storage medium can be any available medium that can be accessed by a computer or a data storage device, such as a server, a data center, etc., that incorporates one or more of the available media. The usable medium may be a magnetic medium (e.g., floppy Disk, hard Disk, magnetic tape), an optical medium (e.g., DVD), or a semiconductor medium (e.g., Solid State Disk (SSD)), among others.

Claims

1. A communication method applied to a wireless device, the wireless device comprising a main communication module and a wake-up wireless module, the method comprising:

the wireless device receives a wake-up frame from the access point device through the wake-up wireless module, wherein the wake-up frame comprises scheduling information, and the scheduling information is used for indicating the wake-up time of at least one wireless device;

the wireless equipment determines the self awakening time according to the scheduling information;

and the wireless equipment turns on the main communication module for communication at the awakening time.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the scheduling information comprises a wake-up duration of the at least one wireless device.

3. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the scheduling information comprises an initial reservation duration.

4. The method according to any of claims 1-3, wherein the scheduling information comprises at least one of a total communication duration and a wake-up frame duration.

5. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the scheduling information comprises a time parameter identifier indicating time information corresponding to the at least one wireless device, and wherein the time information comprises at least one of an initial reservation duration, a total communication duration, and a wake-up frame duration.

6. The method according to any of claims 1-5, wherein the scheduling information includes period information, the period information includes time interval information and number information, and the period information is used to instruct the at least one wireless device to perform a wake-up operation according to a time interval corresponding to the time interval information until a wake-up number corresponding to the number information is reached.

7. The method of any of claims 1-6, wherein the scheduling information comprises a user list indicating a scheduling order of the at least one wireless device; or,

the scheduling information comprises a multi-user wake-up flag, and the multi-user wake-up flag is used for indicating a scheduling sequence of the at least one wireless device; or,

the scheduling information includes a multiuser wake-up identifier for indicating a scheduling order of the at least one wireless device and bitmap information for indicating a wireless device that is woken up among the wireless devices corresponding to the multiuser wake-up identifier.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein the scheduling information comprises indication information indicating a wake-up duration of the at least one wireless device; the wireless device determines the self wake-up time according to the scheduling information, and the method comprises the following steps:

the wireless equipment determines the awakening time length of the at least one wireless equipment corresponding to the indication information according to the corresponding relation between the preset indication information and the awakening time length;

and the wireless equipment determines the self awakening time according to the scheduling information and the awakening time of the at least one wireless equipment.

9. A method of communication, comprising:

the access point equipment generates a wake-up frame, wherein the wake-up frame comprises scheduling information, and the scheduling information is used for indicating the wake-up time of at least one wireless equipment;

the access point device sends the wake-up frame to the at least one wireless device.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the scheduling information comprises a wake-up duration of the at least one wireless device.

11. The method according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the scheduling information comprises an initial reservation duration.

12. The method according to any of claims 9-11, wherein the scheduling information comprises at least one of a total communication duration and a wake-up frame duration.

13. The method of claim 9 or 10, wherein the scheduling information comprises a time parameter identifier indicating time information corresponding to the at least one wireless device, and wherein the time information comprises at least one of an initial reserved duration, a total communication duration, and a wake-up frame duration.

14. The method according to any of claims 9-13, wherein the scheduling information includes period information, the period information includes time interval information and number information, and the period information is used to instruct the at least one wireless device to perform a wake-up operation according to a time interval corresponding to the time interval information until a wake-up number corresponding to the number information is reached.

15. The method of any of claims 9-14, wherein the scheduling information comprises a user list indicating a scheduling order of the at least one wireless device; or,

the scheduling information includes a multiuser wake-up identifier for indicating a scheduling order of the at least one wireless device and bitmap information for indicating wireless devices awakened in the wireless device corresponding to the multiuser wake-up identifier.

16. A communication apparatus disposed in a wireless device, the wireless device including a main communication module and a wake-up wireless module, comprising: a communication unit and a processing unit;

the communication unit is configured to receive, through the wakeup wireless module, a wakeup frame from an access point device, where the wakeup frame includes scheduling information, and the scheduling information is used to indicate a wakeup time of at least one wireless device;

the processing unit is used for determining the self awakening time according to the scheduling information;

the communication unit is further configured to turn on the main communication module for communication at the wake-up time.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the scheduling information comprises a wake-up duration of the at least one wireless device.

18. The apparatus of claim 16 or 17, wherein the scheduling information comprises an initial reservation duration.

19. The apparatus according to any of claims 16-18, wherein the scheduling information comprises at least one of a total communication duration and a wake-up frame duration.

20. The apparatus of claim 16 or 17, wherein the scheduling information comprises a time parameter identifier indicating time information corresponding to the at least one wireless device, and wherein the time information comprises at least one of an initial reserved duration, a total communication duration, and a wake-up frame duration.

21. The apparatus according to any of claims 16-20, wherein the scheduling information includes period information, the period information includes time interval information and number information, and the period information is used to instruct the at least one wireless device to perform a wake-up operation according to a time interval corresponding to the time interval information until a wake-up number corresponding to the number information is reached.

22. The apparatus of any of claims 16-21, wherein the scheduling information comprises a user list indicating a scheduling order of the at least one wireless device; or,

23. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the scheduling information comprises indication information indicating a wake-up duration of the at least one wireless device;

the processing unit is specifically configured to determine a wake-up duration of the at least one wireless device corresponding to the indication information according to a preset correspondence between the indication information and the wake-up duration, and determine a wake-up time of the processing unit according to the scheduling information and the wake-up duration of the at least one wireless device.

24. A communications apparatus, comprising: a processing unit and a communication unit;

the processing unit is configured to generate a wake-up frame, where the wake-up frame includes scheduling information, and the scheduling information is used to indicate a wake-up time of at least one wireless device;

the communication unit is configured to send the wake-up frame to the at least one wireless device.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the scheduling information comprises a wake-up duration of the at least one wireless device.

26. The apparatus of claim 24 or 25, wherein the scheduling information comprises an initial reservation duration.

27. The apparatus according to any of claims 24-26, wherein the scheduling information comprises at least one of a total communication duration and a wake-up frame duration.

28. The apparatus of claim 24 or 25, wherein the scheduling information comprises a time parameter identifier indicating time information corresponding to the at least one wireless device, and wherein the time information comprises at least one of an initial reserved duration, a total communication duration, and a wake-up frame duration.

29. The apparatus according to any of claims 24-28, wherein the scheduling information includes period information, the period information includes time interval information and number information, and the period information is used to instruct the at least one wireless device to perform a wake-up operation according to a time interval corresponding to the time interval information until a wake-up number corresponding to the number information is reached.

30. The apparatus of any of claims 24-29, wherein the scheduling information comprises a user list indicating a scheduling order of the at least one wireless device; or,