CN109842496B

CN109842496B - Method and device for determining multicast sending rate and wireless access point

Info

Publication number: CN109842496B
Application number: CN201711189947.1A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 郑飞翔; 张�林; 韦然
Original assignee: Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Current assignee: Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Priority date: 2017-11-24
Filing date: 2017-11-24
Publication date: 2020-10-16
Anticipated expiration: 2037-11-24
Also published as: CN109842496A

Abstract

A method, a device and a wireless access point for determining multicast sending rate are provided. The method comprises the following steps: respectively adopting a plurality of sending rates in a sending rate set to send a plurality of IGMP queries on an air interface, wherein the destination IP layer address of each IGMP query in the IGMP queries is the group address of a multicast group; attempting to receive an IGMP report for each of the plurality of IGMP queries; and selecting one sending rate of the multicast message as the multicast group in the sending rate set according to the number of the IGMP reports of each IGMP query in the plurality of IGMP queries. The present disclosure transmits the IGMP query by using a plurality of transmission rates in the transmission rate set, and selects a transmission rate at which to transmit the multicast packet into the multicast group according to the number of IGMP reports to each IGMP query. Because the selection is carried out according to the number of the IGMP reports, the success rate of sending and the time of the air interface can be considered during the selection, and the sending rate meeting the requirement is selected.

Description

Method and device for determining multicast sending rate and wireless access point

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to the field of wireless communications technologies, and in particular, to a method and an apparatus for determining a multicast transmission rate, and a wireless access point.

Background

A recipient device in a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) replies with an Acknowledgement (ACK) frame after receiving an individual address frame to inform the sender device that the individual address frame has been received. The individual address frame may be retransmitted based on the non-receipt of the acknowledgement frame.

The group address frame (english) has no acknowledgement mechanism. Generally, the lower the transmission rate at which a frame is transmitted, the higher the transmission success rate of the frame. However, the lower the transmission rate used for transmitting frames of the same length, the longer the air interface time occupied for transmitting the frames. Therefore, it is necessary to select a suitable transmission rate for the group address frame to achieve both the transmission success rate and the air interface time occupation.

Disclosure of Invention

In order to solve the problems of the related art, the present disclosure provides a method and an apparatus for determining a multicast transmission rate, and a wireless access point. The technical scheme is as follows:

in a first aspect, a method for determining a multicast transmission rate is provided, where the method includes:

the wireless access point respectively adopts a plurality of sending rates in a sending rate set to send a plurality of Internet Group Management Protocol (IGMP) queries on the air interface, wherein the sending rate set comprises at least two sending rates, a destination Internet Protocol (IP) destination address of each IGMP query in the IGMP queries is a Group address of the multicast Group, and then the wireless access point tries to receive an IGMP report asking for querying each IGMP query in the IGMP queries, and further selects one sending rate of the multicast message as the multicast Group in the sending rate set according to the number of the IGMP reports asking for querying each IGMP in the IGMP queries.

According to the scheme shown in the disclosure, the IGMP queries are sent by adopting a plurality of sending rates in the sending rate set, and the sending rate for sending the multicast message to the multicast group is selected according to the number of IGMP reports for each IGMP query. Because the selection is carried out according to the number of the IGMP reports, the success rate of sending and the time of the air interface can be considered during the selection, and the sending rate meeting the requirement is selected.

In a first possible implementation manner of the first aspect, the wireless access point sequentially sends the plurality of IGMP queries at different sending rates in an order from small to large.

The scheme disclosed by the disclosure provides a sending mode for a plurality of IGMP queries.

In a second possible implementation manner of the first aspect, the wireless access point may use a maximum sending rate of the one or more sending rates corresponding to the one or more IGMP queries that receive the most IGMP reports as a sending rate for sending multicast packets of the multicast group.

According to the scheme disclosed by the disclosure, the maximum sending rate corresponding to the IGMP query receiving the largest number of IGMP reports is the sending rate supported by most members in the multicast group, and the multicast message is sent to the multicast group at the sending rate, so that the sending success rate of the multicast message is greatly improved, and the air interface time is reduced.

In a third possible implementation manner of the first aspect, the wireless access point sequentially sends multiple IGMP queries at different sending rates according to a sequence of sending rates from small to large until the number of IGMP reports of the first IGMP query is smaller than the number of IGMP reports of the second IGMP query, and then the wireless access point uses the sending rate corresponding to the second IGMP query as the sending rate of the multicast packet for sending the multicast group. Wherein, the second IGMP query is an IGMP query sent once before the first IGMP query is sent.

According to the scheme shown by the disclosure, all sending rates in the sending rate set do not need to be used, the sending rate for sending the multicast message is selected according to the number of the IGMP reports, the sending times of IGMP query can be reduced, and the sending resources are saved.

In a second aspect, an apparatus for determining a multicast transmission rate is provided, and the apparatus includes means, such as a communication unit and a rate selection unit, for implementing the method for determining a multicast transmission rate according to the first aspect.

In a third aspect, a wireless access point is provided, including: a processor and a wireless communication interface connected to the processor;

wherein the processor is configured to:

indicating a wireless communication interface to respectively adopt a plurality of sending rates in a sending rate set to send a plurality of Internet Group Management Protocol (IGMP) queries on an air interface, wherein the sending rate set comprises at least two sending rates, and the IP address of a target internet protocol of each IGMP query in the plurality of IGMP queries is the group address of a multicast group;

attempting, with the wireless communication interface, to receive an IGMP report for each of the plurality of IGMP queries;

and selecting one sending rate as the multicast message of the multicast group in the sending rate set according to the number of the IGMP reports received by the wireless communication interface for each IGMP query in the plurality of IGMP queries.

In a first possible implementation manner of the third aspect, the processor is configured to instruct the wireless communication interface to sequentially send the multiple IGMP queries at different sending rates in an order from small to large sending rates.

In a second possible implementation manner of the third aspect, the processor is configured to use a maximum sending rate of the one or more sending rates corresponding to the one or more IGMP queries for which the wireless communication interface receives the maximum IGMP report as a sending rate for sending multicast packets of the multicast group.

In a third possible implementation manner of the third aspect, the processor is configured to instruct the wireless communication interface to sequentially send multiple IGMP queries at different sending rates according to a sequence of sending rates from small to large until the number of IGMP reports of a first IGMP query is smaller than the number of IGMP reports of a second IGMP query, where the second IGMP query is an IGMP query sent once before the first IGMP query is sent;

and taking the sending rate corresponding to the second IGMP query as the sending rate of the multicast message of the multicast group.

The technical scheme provided by the disclosure has the following beneficial effects:

and sending the IGMP query by adopting a plurality of sending rates in the sending rate set, and selecting the sending rate for sending the multicast message into the multicast group according to the number of IGMP reports for each IGMP query. Most of the devices in the multicast group can receive the multicast message sent at the sending rate, so the sending success rate is high and the air interface time is short.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is an implementation environment related to a method for determining a multicast transmission rate according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

fig. 2 is a flowchart of a method for determining a multicast transmission rate according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

fig. 3 is a schematic structural diagram of an apparatus for determining a multicast sending rate according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

fig. 4 is a schematic structural diagram of a wireless access point provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 is an implementation environment related to a method for determining a multicast sending rate according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, and with reference to fig. 1, the implementation environment includes: a Wireless Access Point (WAP) 101 and a plurality of WLAN devices 102.

The WAP101 is mainly responsible for detecting the sending rate of the multicast packet of the multicast group, and sending the multicast packet to the plurality of WLAN devices 102 of the multicast group using the detected sending rate.

The WLAN device 102 is a device accessing the multicast group, and may be any device with WLAN or radio access network functions, such as a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a notebook computer, another WAP, and the like.

The embodiment of the present disclosure provides a method for determining a multicast sending rate, taking a WAP and a WLAN device to execute the present invention as an example, referring to fig. 2, the method provided by the embodiment of the present disclosure includes:

201. the WAP sends a plurality of IGMP queries on the air interface by adopting a plurality of sending rates in the sending rate set respectively.

The WAP carries the IGMP inquiry in the group address frame, and sends the group address frame carrying the IGMP inquiry at different sending rates on an air interface. The IGMP Query is a member Query (Membership Query) message. The sending rate set comprises at least two sending rates, and the at least two sending rates are at least two of the sending rates supported by the WAP. For example, the WAP may try all the sending rates it supports. Alternatively, WAP selects some of all the sending rates it supports and only attempts to send IGMP queries at those sending rates.

The WAP may attempt to send multiple IGMP queries in order of the magnitude of the sending rate. For example, the WAP selects different sending rates in turn to send IGMP queries in the order of sending rates from small to large. The IGMP query is used to detect whether each WLAN device in the multicast group can receive a message sent at a certain sending rate in a sending rate set, so as to select a suitable sending rate, improve the sending success rate of the multicast message, and consider the sending time at the air interface side. The IGMP query is a three-layer message, and the destination address IP of the IGMP query is the group address of the multicast group. Thus, during the sending of the IGMP query, the IGMP query can be sent to the members of the corresponding multicast group based on the destination IP address, and the WLAN device in the multicast group attempts to receive the IGMP query.

According to IGMP provisions, when a WLAN device in a multicast group receives an IGMP query, the WLAN device does not respond immediately. Instead, the WLAN device delays its response for a random period of Time bounded by a Max Resp Time value derived from the Max Resp Code in the received query message. Because each WLAN device randomly delays sending the IGMP report, if a plurality of WLAN devices receive an IGMP query, each IGMP report to the IGMP query is generally not sent at the same time, so that the IGMP reports do not collide with each other on an air interface. Correspondingly, after the AP sends an IGMP query, if the IGMP query is also sent at the next sending rate, the AP waits for the maximum response time and then sends the next IGMP query.

202. The WLAN device which receives any one of the IGMP queries sends a corresponding IGMP report.

IGMP reports are Membership Report (Membership Report) messages. When receiving an IGMP query, the WLAN device sends an IGMP report after delaying for a random period of time. The WLAN device may carry the IGMP report in a group address frame or a separate address frame. If the WLAN device uses the group address frame to carry the IGMP report, the WLAN device may send the IGMP report over the air interface at any sending rate. For example, the WLAN device may send the IGMP report at the sending rate of the IGMP query corresponding to the IGMP report. As another example, the WLAN device may send the IGMP report at the lowest sending rate.

When the sending rate is the lowest sending rate, the sending success rate of the group address frame carrying the IGMP query is the highest, and all members in the multicast group can possibly receive the IGMP query. As the sending rate increases, the probability that the group address frame carrying the IGMP query is successfully received by the WLAN device decreases, and only some members in the multicast group may be able to receive the IGMP query. Because the multicast traffic is also carried by the group address frame, the sending success rate of the group address frame carrying the IGMP query can represent the sending success rate of the group address frame carrying the multicast traffic. Therefore, the number of IGMP reports for IGMP queries of different sending rates can be used as a basis for selecting the sending rate of the group address frame carrying the multicast traffic of the corresponding multicast group.

203. The WAP attempts to receive IGMP reports for each of the plurality of IGMP queries by the WLAN device.

After the WAP sends the IGMP query at any sending rate, the WAP tries to receive the IGMP report of the IGMP query sent by each WLAN device in the multicast group in the maximum response time, and counts the received IGMP report. If each WLAN device in the multicast group cannot receive the IGMP query sent by the WAP at the sending rate, the number of the IGMP reports received by the WAP within the maximum response time is 0; if only one WLAN device in the multicast group can receive the IGMP query sent by the WAP at the sending rate, the number of the IGMP reports received by the WAP in the maximum response time is 1; if multiple WLAN devices in the multicast group can receive the IGMP query sent by WAP at the sending rate, the number of IGMP reports received by WAP in the maximum response time is multiple.

Considering the complexity of air interface and network environment, the IGMP reports for IGMP query sent by some WLAN devices in the multicast group may not reach WAP, so that the number of IGMP reports for IGMP query sent by WLAN devices will be greater than the number of IGMP reports received by WAP. For these IGMP reports that cannot be received, the embodiment of the present disclosure does not consider the sending rate of the multicast packet of the multicast group according to the number of IGMP reports, that is, the number of IGMP reports received by the WAP is used as a criterion.

204. And the WAP selects one sending rate of the multicast message as the multicast group in the sending rate set according to the number of the IGMP reports of each IGMP query in the plurality of IGMP queries.

And in the process of sending the IGMP query by adopting different sending rates in the sending rate set, the WAP counts the number of IGMP reports of the IGMP query sent by each WLAN device in the multicast group according to each sending rate. And after each rate in the sending rate set is used, the WAP takes one or more sending rates corresponding to one or more IGMP queries which receive the most IGMP reports as the sending rate of the multicast message of the multicast group according to the number of the IGMP reports of each IGMP query in the IGMP queries. Considering that the lower the sending rate, the longer the occupied air interface time, so that the embodiment of the present disclosure may consider both the sending success rate and the space time, select the maximum sending rate from the one or more sending rates corresponding to the one or more IGMP queries that receive the maximum IGMP report, and further use the selected maximum sending rate as the sending rate of the multicast packet of the multicast group.

Generally, when the sending rate is low, the sending success rate is higher, the number of IGMP reports received by the WAP for IGMP query is larger, if the air interface and the network environment are better, the WAP sends a plurality of IGMP queries sequentially at different sending rates according to the sequence of the sending rates from small to large until the number of IGMP reports of the first IGMP query is smaller than the number of IGMP reports of the second IGMP query, and then the WAP takes the sending rate corresponding to the second IGMP query as the sending rate of the multicast packet for sending the multicast group. Wherein, the second IGMP query is an IGMP query sent once before the first IGMP query is sent.

In the method provided by the embodiment of the present disclosure, the IGMP query is sent at multiple sending rates in the sending rate set, and the sending rate for sending the multicast packet to the multicast group is selected according to the number of IGMP reports for each IGMP query. Because most members in the multicast group can receive the multicast message sent at the sending rate, the sending success rate is higher, and the air interface time is shorter.

Referring to fig. 3, an apparatus for determining a multicast transmission rate according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes: a communication unit 301 and a rate selection unit 302.

The communication unit 301 is configured to execute step 201 and step 203 in fig. 2.

The rate selection unit 302 is configured to perform step 204 in fig. 2.

The device provided by the embodiment of the disclosure transmits the IGMP query by using a plurality of transmission rates in the transmission rate set, and selects the transmission rate for transmitting the multicast packet to the multicast group according to the number of IGMP reports to each IGMP query. Because most members in the multicast group can receive the multicast message sent at the sending rate, the sending success rate is higher, and the air interface time is shorter.

Referring to fig. 4, a schematic structural diagram of a wireless access point 400 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown. The wireless access point 400 includes a memory 401, a processor 402, and a wireless communication interface 403. Optionally, the wireless access point 400 may also include a wired network interface 404 through which the wireless access point 400 may connect to a network.

Memory 401 may include, for example, Random Access Memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), flash memory, optical storage, tape, magnetic disk storage, or other storage devices. The processor 402 includes a Central Processing Unit (CPU) or various chips, etc. The wireless communication interface 403 includes a radio frequency module or an antenna, etc. The memory 401, processor 402, wireless communication interface 403, and wired network interface 404 may be connected by a bus. The processor 402 performs all or a portion of the steps of the embodiment shown in fig. 2.

In particular, the amount of the solvent to be used,

the memory 401 is used for storing computer instructions.

Processor 402 executes computer instructions for performing the following operations:

the wireless communication interface 403 is instructed to send multiple IGMP queries on the air interface at multiple sending rates in a sending rate set, where the sending rate set includes at least two sending rates, and a destination internet protocol IP address of each IGMP query in the multiple IGMP queries is a group address of a multicast group.

An IGMP report is attempted to be received for each of the plurality of IGMP queries with the wireless communication interface 403.

One transmission rate of the multicast packet as the multicast group is selected from the transmission rate set according to the number of IGMP reports received by the wireless communication interface 403 for each of the plurality of IGMP queries.

In one embodiment, the processor 402 is configured to instruct the wireless communication interface 403 to sequentially transmit the plurality of IGMP queries at different transmission rates in a descending order of transmission rate.

In another embodiment, the processor 402 is configured to use a maximum sending rate of the one or more sending rates corresponding to the one or more IGMP queries received by the wireless communication interface 403 with the maximum IGMP report as a sending rate for sending multicast packets of the multicast group.

In another embodiment, the processor 402 is configured to instruct the wireless communication interface 403 to sequentially send multiple IGMP queries at different sending rates in an order from small sending rate to large sending rate until the number of IGMP reports of a first IGMP query is smaller than the number of IGMP reports of a second IGMP query, where the second IGMP query is an IGMP query sent once before the first IGMP query is sent.

It should be noted that, taking the wireless access point 400 including the memory 401, the processor 402 and the wireless communication interface 403 as an example, if the processor 402 has a storage function and can store computer instructions, the wireless access point 400 may not include the memory 401, but include the processor 402 and the wireless communication interface 403.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that all or part of the steps for implementing the above embodiments may be implemented by hardware, or may be implemented by a program instructing relevant hardware, where the program may be stored in a computer-readable storage medium, and the above-mentioned storage medium may be a read-only memory, a magnetic disk or an optical disk, etc.

The above description is intended to be exemplary only and not to limit the present disclosure, and any modification, equivalent replacement, or improvement made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure is to be considered as the same as the present disclosure.

Claims

1. A method for determining a multicast transmission rate, the method comprising:

the method comprises the steps that a wireless access point respectively adopts multiple sending rates in a sending rate set to send multiple Internet Group Management Protocol (IGMP) queries on an air interface, wherein the sending rate set comprises at least two sending rates, and the IP address of a target Internet protocol of each IGMP query in the IGMP queries is the group address of a multicast group;

the wireless access point attempting to receive an IGMP report for each of the plurality of IGMP queries;

and the wireless access point takes one of one or more sending rates corresponding to one or more IGMP queries which receive the most IGMP reports as the sending rate for sending the multicast messages of the multicast group.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless access point sends a plurality of internet group management protocol, IGMP, queries at a plurality of sending rates in the set of sending rates, respectively, comprising:

and the wireless access point sequentially adopts different sending rates to send the plurality of IGMP queries according to the sequence of the sending rates from small to large.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the wireless access point uses one of the one or more sending rates corresponding to the one or more IGMP queries that receive the most IGMP reports as the sending rate for sending the multicast packets of the multicast group, and comprises:

and the wireless access point takes the maximum sending rate in one or more sending rates corresponding to one or more IGMP queries which receive the maximum IGMP report as the sending rate for sending the multicast message of the multicast group.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless access point sends multiple internet group management protocol IGMP queries over the air interface using multiple sending rates in the set of sending rates, respectively, comprising:

the wireless access point sequentially adopts different sending rates to send the plurality of IGMP queries according to the sequence of the sending rates from small to large until the number of IGMP reports of a first IGMP query is less than that of IGMP reports of a second IGMP query, wherein the second IGMP query is an IGMP query sent once before the first IGMP query is sent;

the wireless access point selects one sending rate in the sending rate set as the sending rate of the multicast message of the multicast group according to the number of the IGMP reports of each IGMP query in the IGMP queries, and the method comprises the following steps:

and the wireless access point takes the sending rate corresponding to the second IGMP query as the sending rate of the multicast message of the multicast group.

5. An apparatus for determining a multicast transmission rate, the apparatus comprising:

a communication unit, configured to send, over an air interface, a plurality of internet group management protocol IGMP queries respectively using multiple sending rates in a sending rate set, where the sending rate set includes at least two sending rates, and a destination internet protocol IP address of each IGMP query in the plurality of IGMP queries is a group address of a multicast group;

the communication unit is configured to attempt to receive an IGMP report for each of the plurality of IGMP queries;

and the rate selection unit is used for the wireless access point to take one of one or more sending rates corresponding to one or more IGMP queries which receive the most IGMP reports as the sending rate of the multicast message of the multicast group.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the communication unit is configured to sequentially transmit the plurality of IGMP queries at different transmission rates in descending order of transmission rate.

7. The apparatus according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the rate selecting unit is configured to use a maximum sending rate of the one or more sending rates corresponding to the one or more IGMP queries that receive the most IGMP reports as the sending rate for sending the multicast packets of the multicast group.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the communication unit is configured to sequentially send the plurality of IGMP queries at different sending rates in an order from small sending rate to large sending rate until the number of IGMP reports of a first IGMP query is smaller than the number of IGMP reports of a second IGMP query, where the second IGMP query is an IGMP query sent once before the first IGMP query is sent;

and the rate selection unit is configured to use a sending rate corresponding to the second IGMP query as a sending rate for sending the multicast packet of the multicast group.

9. A wireless access point, comprising: a processor and a wireless communication interface connected to the processor;

wherein the processor is configured to:

the wireless communication interface is instructed to respectively adopt a plurality of sending rates in a sending rate set to send a plurality of Internet Group Management Protocol (IGMP) queries on an air interface, the sending rate set comprises at least two sending rates, and the IP address of a target internet protocol of each IGMP query in the plurality of IGMP queries is the group address of a multicast group;

and taking one of one or more sending rates corresponding to one or more IGMP queries received by the wireless communication interface at most by the IGMP report as the sending rate of the multicast message of the multicast group.

10. The wireless access point of claim 9, wherein the processor is configured to instruct the wireless communication interface to sequentially transmit the plurality of IGMP queries at different transmission rates in a descending order of transmission rate.

11. The wireless access point of claim 9 or 10, wherein the processor is configured to use a maximum sending rate of the one or more sending rates corresponding to the one or more IGMP queries for which the wireless communication interface receives the maximum IGMP report as the sending rate for sending the multicast packets of the multicast group.

12. The wireless access point of claim 9, wherein the processor is configured to instruct the wireless communication interface to sequentially send the plurality of IGMP queries at different sending rates in an order from a smaller sending rate to a larger sending rate until a number of IGMP reports of a first IGMP query is smaller than a number of IGMP reports of a second IGMP query, wherein the second IGMP query is an IGMP query sent one time before the first IGMP query is sent;