CN117354874A

CN117354874A - Communication method and related equipment

Info

Publication number: CN117354874A
Application number: CN202210753002.2A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 黄建云; 陈芬
Original assignee: Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Current assignee: Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Priority date: 2022-06-29
Filing date: 2022-06-29
Publication date: 2024-01-05
Also published as: WO2024002114A1

Abstract

The embodiment of the application discloses a communication method and related equipment, which are used for maintaining communication between access point equipment and site equipment in the process of detecting the availability of a radar channel and preventing service interruption. The method of the embodiment of the application is applied to the access point equipment and comprises the following steps: and sending a first message to the site equipment, wherein the first message is used for indicating first access point information of a first channel, and the first channel is a channel on a target frequency band. And detecting availability of a second channel, wherein the second channel is a radar channel on a 5G frequency band, and the 5G frequency band is different from the target frequency band. Communication with the station apparatus is effected over the first channel before confirming that the second channel is available.

Description

Communication method and related equipment

Technical Field

Embodiments of the present application relate to the field of communications, and in particular, to a communication method and related devices.

Background

The wireless signals between the gateway equipment and the stations can be transmitted on channels with frequency bands of 5G, 2.4G and the like. Compared with the channel in the 2.4G frequency band, the channel in the 5G frequency band has high power and wide frequency band, and the transmission performance of the signal is better. The channels of the 5G frequency band include radar channels, which may transmit both radar signals and wireless signals.

Radar signals are more important signals than wireless signals. In order to avoid interference of the wireless signal on the transmission of the radar signal, the wireless signal needs to avoid the radar signal. Therefore, before the gateway device transmits the wireless signal through the radar channel, the availability detection needs to be performed on the radar channel, so that the gateway device can transmit the wireless signal through the channel after no radar signal is transmitted on the channel.

However, in the process of availability detection of the radar channel, the gateway device cannot communicate with the station (transmit wireless signals) through the radar channel, resulting in traffic interruption.

Disclosure of Invention

The embodiment of the application provides a communication method and related equipment, which are used for maintaining communication between access point equipment and site equipment in the process of detecting the availability of a radar channel and preventing service interruption.

In a first aspect, embodiments of the present application provide a communication method. The method is applied to the access point device, and comprises the following steps: the access point device sends a first message to the station device. The first message is used for indicating first access point information (access point message, AP information) of a first channel, where the first channel is a channel on a target frequency band. The access point device performs availability detection on the second channel. The second channel is a radar channel on a 5G frequency band, and the 5G frequency band and the target frequency band are different frequency bands. The access point device may enable communication with the station device over the first channel before confirming that the second channel is available.

In the embodiment of the application, before the availability of the radar channel is confirmed (for example, in the case that the availability detection is not completed on the radar channel), the communication between the access point device and the station device is maintained through the first channel of the target frequency band, and the service is ensured not to be interrupted in the process of carrying out the availability detection on the radar channel.

In an alternative implementation, after the access point device confirms that the second channel is available, the access point device may send a second message, where the second message is used to indicate second access point information of the second channel. Wherein the second access point information is the same as the service differentiation number (extended service set identifier, ESSID) of the first access point information. That is, for a station device, the first channel (indicated by the first access point information) and the second channel (indicated by the second access point information) are channels of different access points of the same access point device (e.g., different channels of a 2.4G band access point and a 5G band access point). After the second message is sent, the access point device can realize communication with the station device through the second channel.

In the embodiment of the application, after confirming that the radar channel (the second channel) is available, the second message is sent to inform the station equipment of the access point information of the radar channel, so that communication between the access point equipment and the station equipment is realized through the radar channel. Thereby enabling the conversion of the communication channel from a non-radar channel to a radar channel after the radar channel is available.

In an alternative implementation, the access point device may further determine the working channel to be the second channel before the access point device sends the first message to the station device. If the availability detection of the second channel is not completed, the access point device may determine a first channel from the target frequency band, where the first channel is used to temporarily replace the second channel in the process of performing the availability detection of the second channel to implement communication between the access point device and the station device. The access point device may then determine the ESSID of the first channel and the second channel (the ESSID of both channels being the same).

In the embodiment of the application, the second channel is a channel of a 5G frequency band, and under the condition that the availability detection of the second channel is not completed, the access point device determines the first channel from other frequency bands (target frequency bands) outside the 5G frequency band, and the first channel is used for temporarily replacing the second channel to realize communication with the station device, so that service is not interrupted in the process of carrying out the availability detection of the radar channel. And the first channel and the second channel have the same ESSID, the access point equipment is unchanged for the station equipment, and the access point equipment can be reconnected through the second channel after the second channel is available, so that the user does not need to reselect the ESSID.

In an alternative implementation, the access point device may determine that the working channel is the second channel according to a channel selection rule. In the channel selection rule, the priority of the weather radar channel is higher than the priority of the radar channel, and the priority of the radar channel is higher than the priority of the non-radar channel.

The radar channel has a high power and a low congestion level compared to the non-radar channel. Thus better communication quality can be achieved through radar channel communication than through non-radar channels. By the communication method provided by the embodiment of the application, the service is ensured not to be interrupted in the process of detecting the availability of the radar channel. Therefore, setting the priority of the radar channel higher than that of the non-radar channel can achieve better communication quality. Since the availability detection time of the weather radar channel is long, the degree of congestion of the weather radar channel is low among the radar channels. The priority of the weather radar channel is set to be higher than that of the radar channel, so that better communication quality can be realized on the basis of the radar channel.

In an alternative implementation, the second channel comprises a 5G band weather radar channel.

In an alternative implementation, the target frequency band comprises a 2.4G frequency band or a 6G frequency band.

In the embodiment of the application, since the first channels of the 2.4G frequency band and the 6G frequency band do not need to be subjected to availability detection, the time delay from determining to use the first channels to realizing communication through the first channels is small. Therefore, in the process of availability detection of the radar channel (the second channel), the first channel of the 2.4G frequency band or the 6G frequency band is used for temporarily replacing the radar channel to realize communication with the station equipment, so that the time delay of the access point equipment of the station equipment can be reduced.

In an alternative implementation, the second access point information includes a basic service set identifier (basic service set identifier, BSSID) of the second channel. The BSSID of the second channel is different from the BSSID of the first channel in the first access point information.

In the embodiment of the present application, the first channel is a channel of a target frequency band other than the 5G frequency band, so the BSSID of the first channel is access point information of the target frequency band. The second channel is a channel of the 5G band, and thus the second BSSID is access point information of the 5G band. In the embodiment of the present application, the first channel and the second channel have the same ESSID, and different BSSIDs, that is, for the station device, the first channel and the second channel are different access points with the same ESSID. For example, the BSSID of the first channel may represent a first chip for implementing targeted frequency band communication and the BSSID of the second channel may represent a second chip for implementing 5G frequency band communication. The two access points (chips) are used for realizing communication at different stages (after the availability detection and the radar channel availability are carried out), the chip is not required to have the function of supporting communication of different channels, the requirement on the chip is reduced, and the application scene of the method provided by the embodiment of the application is enlarged.

In an alternative implementation, the access point device may also close the communication interface between the first channel and the station device after the access point device determines that the second channel is available.

In the embodiment of the present application, the first channel is only temporarily replaced when the second channel is not available (i.e. before the availability detection of the second channel is completed or in case it is determined that the second channel is not available). Therefore, after the second channel is available, the communication interface between the first channel and the site equipment is closed, so that the communication resource on the first channel can be released, and the utilization rate of the communication resource is improved. And the communication interface of the first channel is closed, so that the station equipment can switch the communication channel from the first channel to the second channel (the radar channel of the 5G frequency band), and the communication quality is improved.

In an alternative implementation, the access point device includes a first access point and a second access point, where the first access point information is used to indicate information of the first access point, and the second access point information is used to indicate information of the second access point. The access point device may also send a third message after the access point device confirms the availability of the second channel. The third message is used for indicating the station equipment to switch to the second access point.

In the embodiment of the present application, the station device may actively switch channels according to the third packet. The third message can enable the station to perceive the access point information of the second channel in advance, so that the time delay of the station equipment for realizing channel switching is small, and the service interruption time length caused by the time delay of channel switching is reduced.

In an alternative implementation, the first access point information in the first message further includes an encryption manner and a key of the first channel, and the second access point information in the second message includes an encryption manner and a key of the second channel. The encryption mode of the second channel is the same as that of the first channel, and the key of the second channel is the same as that of the first channel.

In a second aspect, embodiments of the present application provide an access point device. The access point device includes a first chip and a second chip. The first chip is used for sending a first message to the station. The first message is used for indicating first access point information of a first channel, and the first channel is a channel on a target frequency band. The second chip is used for carrying out availability detection on a second channel. The second channel is a radar channel on a 5G frequency band, and the 5G frequency band is different from the target frequency band. The first chip is further configured to enable communication with the station apparatus over the first channel prior to confirming that the second channel is available.

In the embodiment of the application, the first chip is used for realizing the communication of the first channel, and the second chip is used for realizing the availability detection of the second channel. The two chips are respectively responsible for data transmission on one channel, the chips are not required to have the function of multi-channel communication, the requirements on the chips are low, and the application range of the scheme is wide.

In an alternative implementation, the second chip is further configured to: after confirming that the second channel is available, a second message is sent to the station apparatus. The second message is used for indicating second access point information of a second channel, and the second access point information is the same as the ESSID of the first access point information. And enabling communication with the station apparatus through the second channel.

In an alternative embodiment, the access point device may comprise at least one of a gateway device, a wireless router, and a wireless bridging device.

In an alternative implementation, the access point device further comprises a processing module. The processing module is used for: determining the working channel as a second channel; determining a first channel from the target frequency band under the condition that the availability detection of the second channel is not completed; and determining ESSIDs of the first channel and the second channel, wherein the ESSIDs of the first channel and the second channel are the same.

In an alternative implementation, the processing module is specifically configured to: and determining the working channel as a second channel according to the channel selection rule. In the channel selection rule, the priority of the weather radar channel is higher than the priority of the radar channel, and the priority of the radar channel is higher than the priority of the non-radar channel.

In an alternative implementation, the second access point information includes a BSSID of the second channel. The BSSID of the second channel is different from the BSSID of the first channel in the first access point information.

In an alternative implementation, the first chip is further configured to: after confirming that the second channel is available, the communication interface between the first channel and the station apparatus is closed.

In an alternative implementation, the first chip is used to operate the first access point and the second chip is used to operate the second access point. The first access point information is used for indicating information of the first access point, and the second access point information is used for indicating information of the second access point. The first chip is also used for sending a third message. The third message is used for indicating the station equipment to switch to the second access point.

The advantageous effects of the second aspect are referred to in the first aspect and are not described here in detail.

A third aspect of embodiments of the present application provides a transmission network comprising an access point device according to the second aspect, the access point device being configured to perform the communication method of the first aspect.

A fourth aspect of the embodiments provides a computer-readable storage medium having a program stored therein, which when executed by a computer, performs the method of the first aspect.

A fifth aspect of the embodiments of the present application provides a computer program product which, when executed on a computer, performs the method of the first aspect.

Advantageous effects of the third to fifth aspects are referred to in the first aspect, and are not described here again.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of a wireless communication network of the present application;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a 5G band channel in wireless communications;

fig. 3 is a schematic flow chart of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 4 is another flow chart of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a channel including a weather radar channel as used in an embodiment of the present application;

Fig. 6 is a schematic diagram of a channel usage situation of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 7 is a schematic structural diagram of an access point device according to an embodiment of the present application.

Detailed Description

Embodiments of the present application are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. As one of ordinary skill in the art can appreciate, with the development of technology and the appearance of new scenes, the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of the present application are applicable to similar technical problems.

The terms first, second and the like in the description and in the claims of the present application and in the above-described figures, are used for distinguishing between similar objects and not necessarily for describing a particular sequential or chronological order. It is to be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances and are merely illustrative of the manner in which the embodiments of the application described herein have been described for objects of the same nature. Furthermore, the terms "comprises," "comprising," and "having," and any variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, system, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements is not necessarily limited to those elements, but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. In addition, "at least one" means one or more, and "a plurality" means two or more. "and/or", describes an association relationship of an association object, and indicates that there may be three relationships, for example, a and/or B, and may indicate: a alone, a and B together, and B alone, wherein a, B may be singular or plural. The character "/" generally indicates that the context-dependent object is an "or" relationship. "at least one of" or the like means any combination of these items, including any combination of single item(s) or plural items(s). For example, at least one (one) of a, b, or c may represent: a, b, c, a-b, a-c, b-c, or a-b-c, wherein a, b, c may be single or plural.

The wireless communication technology is a common communication technology, which enables communication through a wireless local area network (wireless local area network, WLAN). As shown in fig. 1, in a wireless local area network WLAN 1000, an access point device (AP) 1100 and a plurality of station devices 1200 (e.g., 1200-1 to 1200-n in the figure) are included. Communication is performed between the access point device 1100 and the station device 1200 by transmitting radio waves. By way of example, the WLAN may be a WiFi network. In WiFi networks, radio waves may be transmitted on channels of different frequency bands, such as channels of the 2.4G band, the 5G band, and channels of the 6G band that may occur in the future.

In the embodiment of the application, the frequency ranges of different frequency bands are not coincident, and the access points of different frequency bands are implemented by different entities (e.g., chips) on the access point device. For example, the access point device 1100 may include two chips, one for operating an access point for the 2.4G frequency band and the other for operating an access point for the 5G frequency band.

In the embodiment of the present application, the access point may also be referred to as a virtual access point, where a virtual access point is a service provided by an access point device for a station device. An access point device may include a plurality of entities (e.g., chips) thereon, each of which may operate a virtual access point (access point) to provide services to (enable communication with) the station device.

Alternatively, instead of dividing the frequency band in such a manner as to be 2.4G frequency band and 5G frequency band, the embodiments of the present application may also divide the frequency band by a chip. For example, the frequency ranges in which the access point device 1100 enables communication may include a frequency range (first frequency range) that is not used for transmitting radar signals, and a frequency range (second frequency range) that is used for transmitting radar signals. An access point of a first frequency range may be operated by a first chip in the access point device 1100 and an access point of a second frequency range may be operated by a second chip in the access point device 1100, thereby dividing the two frequency ranges into different frequency bands. In this division, the first frequency range may be referred to as a target frequency band, and the second frequency range may be referred to as a 5G frequency band.

In the embodiment of the present application, besides the WiFi network, the WLAN may be other networks, as long as the WLAN can implement communications in multiple frequency bands, which is not limited in this application.

The access point device 1100 may be a gateway device, a wireless router, a wireless bridge device, or the like, which is not limited in this application. The site device 1200 may be a user device such as a mobile phone, a computer, a set top box, and the application is not limited thereto. In the embodiment of the present application, the station apparatus is also referred to as a Station (STA).

Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of a channel in the 5G band. As shown in fig. 2, the 5G band includes a plurality of 20MHz wide channels, such as channels 36 through 165 in the figure. In the process of wireless communication, channels with different bandwidths can be selected. As shown in fig. 2, channels with bandwidths of 20MHz, 40MHz, 80MHz, 160MHz and the like can be selected on the 5G frequency band. Because the frequency range of the 5G frequency band is larger, a channel with wider bandwidth can be selected on the 5G frequency band, so that larger communication bandwidth, lower time delay and larger multi-user concurrency are realized.

As shown in fig. 2, in the frequency range of the 5G band, a partial frequency range is a frequency range of a radar channel. The radar channel may transmit both radar signals and wireless signals. Since radar signals are more important than wireless signals, wireless signals need to avoid radar signals. Therefore, after the access network equipment determines to use the radar channel for wireless communication, the availability detection is carried out on the radar channel; after determining that no radar signal is transmitted on the radar channel (i.e., confirming that the radar channel is available), wireless signal transmission is performed.

Since a certain period of time is required for availability detection of the radar channel, wireless communication (referred to as silence in the embodiment of the present application) cannot be performed between the access point device and the station device during the period of time, which results in service interruption. Thus, to avoid traffic disruption, the access point device typically prefers to choose a non-radar channel for wireless communication, resulting in a high level of congestion for the non-radar channel.

To solve the above-mentioned drawbacks, embodiments of the present application provide a communication method and related apparatus. In the communication method provided by the embodiment of the application, in the process of detecting the availability of the radar channel, wireless communication is performed through the channel outside the 5G frequency band, so that service interruption is prevented.

For convenience of understanding, the AP represents the access point device, and the STA represents the station device, and the communication method provided in the embodiments of the present application is described below. Notably, the AP and STA are merely exemplary illustrations of access point devices and station devices and are not limiting.

Fig. 3 is a flowchart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application. As shown in fig. 3, the communication method provided in the embodiment of the present application includes:

301. the access point device sends a first message to the station device, wherein the first message is used for indicating first access point information of a first channel, and the first channel is a channel on a target frequency band.

During the availability detection of the radar channel, the radar channel is not available for transmitting wireless signals (i.e., wireless communication is disabled, the radar channel is silent). To enable wireless communication during periods of radar channel silence, the AP may determine a channel to temporarily replace the radar channel to enable wireless communication. In the self-application embodiment, the radar channel that the AP determines to use is referred to as a second channel, and the channel that temporarily replaces the radar channel is referred to as a first channel. The second channel is a radar channel on the 5G frequency band, and the first channel is a channel on the target frequency band. The target frequency band is a different frequency band from the 5G frequency band. For example, the target frequency band may be a 2.4G frequency band or a 6G frequency band.

After determining the first channel, the AP may send a first message to the STA. The first message includes access point information of a first channel, which is referred to as first access point information in this embodiment of the present application. In the embodiment of the application, the AP may include a plurality of access points, and different access points are used to implement wireless communications in different frequency bands. For example, the AP may include a first access point and a second access point, the first access point being an access point of a 2.4G band for implementing wireless communication of the 2.4G band; the second access point is an access point of the 5G frequency band and is used for implementing wireless communication of the 5G frequency band. Since an AP selects a channel in a frequency band (access point) for wireless communication, the access point information of a certain access point may include information of a channel used by the access point. In the embodiment of the present application, the access point information of a certain channel represents the access point information of an access point using the channel in the access point device. For example, the AP selects channel 1 (first channel) in the 2.4G band (target band) as a temporary substitute for the radar channel, and performs wireless communication during silence. The access point information of channel 1 represents the access point information of the 2.4G band access point in the AP.

The first access point information may include a service identification number (extended service set identifier, ESSID) of the target band access point (using the first channel). Optionally, the first access point information may further include other information of the first access point (first channel), such as BSSID, encryption mode, key, etc., which is not limited in this application.

Alternatively, the first message may be a broadcast message of the AP. The message is used for notifying the STA of the access point information of the target frequency band access point (namely the access point information of the first channel), so that the STA and the target frequency band access point can realize communication on the first channel. In addition to the broadcast message, the first message may also be other messages, for example, an STA probe message that the AP responds to the STA, a prob response message that the AP responds to the STA, etc., which is not limited in this application.

302. The access point device performs availability detection on a second channel, wherein the second channel is a radar channel on a 5G frequency band, and the 5G frequency band is different from the target frequency band.

The AP may perform an availability check on the second channel (radar channel) to determine if a transmission of radar signals is occurring on the second channel. If the radar signal is not transmitted on the second channel, the second channel is usable, otherwise, the second channel is not usable.

Optionally, in the embodiment of the present application, the time of occurrence of step 302 may be not earlier than the time of occurrence of step 301 (steps 301 and 302 are performed simultaneously or step 301 is performed before step 302), so as to ensure smooth communication between the station device and the access point device in the process of performing availability detection on the second channel.

Alternatively, step 302 may also be performed before step 301, which is not limited in this application.

303. The access point device communicates with the station device over the first channel before confirming that the second channel is available.

The second channel is not available until the second channel is confirmed to be available. The STA may learn, according to the first message in step 301, access point information of the target frequency band access point using the first channel on the AP. Thus, after step 301, the AP may enable communication with the STA over the first channel before confirming that the second channel is available (including before completing the availability detection of the second channel).

In step 302, the access point device performs availability detection on the second channel. Alternatively, if the detection result is unavailable (e.g., the radar signal is detected on the second channel), the access point device may continue to perform availability detection on the second channel until the availability of the second channel is confirmed, and step 303 is performed. Alternatively, if the detection result is unavailable, the access point device may return to step 301 to confirm a new second channel, and perform availability detection on the new second channel (i.e., perform steps 301 and 302 for the new second channel) in conjunction with a new first channel for temporarily replacing the new second channel. The process is repeated until the identified second channel is available, and step 303 is performed.

In the embodiment of the application, the access point device performs wireless communication through the first channel on the target frequency band in the process of performing availability detection on the radar channel. In the usability detection process, the smoothness of communication between the access point equipment and the site equipment is ensured, and the service interruption is prevented.

In the embodiment of the application, the first channel is a channel determined by the access point device to temporarily replace the second channel before the second channel does not complete the availability detection. In an alternative implementation, in order to reduce the delay of switching the station device from the first channel to the second channel, the first access point information (the access point information of the target band access point using the first channel) and the second access point information (the access point information of the 5G band access point using the second channel) determined by the access point device may have part of the same information, such as ESSID, encryption mode, secret key, and the like. So that the station apparatus can achieve a fast seamless handover from the first channel to the second channel after the second channel is available. With respect to the determination of the first access point information and the second access point information, see in particular the description of steps 401 to 403 in fig. 4.

In an alternative implementation, after determining that the second channel is available, the access point device may send a second message to the station device. The second message is used for notifying the station equipment of second access point information of the 5G frequency band access point using the second channel, so that the station equipment can realize switching from the first channel to the second channel. See in particular the description of steps 407 and 410 in fig. 4 for the transmission of the second message and the switching of the station apparatus to the second channel.

In an alternative implementation, the access point device may cause the station device to implement channel switching by closing the communication interface of the first channel, sending a third message to the station device, and so on, see in particular the description of steps 408 and 409 in fig. 4.

It should be noted that, the steps related to any aspect of the determination of the first access point information and the second access point information, the sending of the second message, the switching of the station device to the second channel, and the access point device causing the station device to implement channel switching (such as closing the communication interface of the first channel, sending the third message to the station device, etc.) may occur in the same embodiment (such as the embodiment shown in fig. 4), may also occur in different embodiments separately, or may occur in different embodiments in any combination, which is not limited in this application.

As shown in fig. 4, another flow of the communication method provided in the embodiment of the present application includes:

401. the access point device determines the working channel as a second channel, and the second channel is a radar channel on the 5G frequency band.

After the AP is powered on, the AP can select a radar channel (a second channel) from the 5G frequency band as a working channel. For example, the AP may determine channel 120 in fig. 2 to be an operating channel.

Alternatively, the AP may select the second channel as the working channel in the case of reselecting the channel. For example, if the current working channel is a radar channel and a radar signal starts to appear on the radar channel, the AP reselects a working channel (a new radar channel) to implement communication in order to avoid the radar signal. Alternatively, if the communication is performed on the current working channel, the communication quality is poor, and the AP may also reselect one working channel to achieve higher quality communication.

In a normal case, if the radar channel is determined to be an operating channel, the access point device cannot perform wireless communication during the process of detecting the availability of the radar channel. Therefore, in order to avoid service interruption during the process of availability detection, a non-radar channel is generally preferentially selected as an operating channel from among radar channels and non-radar channels. The non-radar channels are therefore highly congested compared to the radar channels.

By the communication method provided by the embodiment of the application, wireless communication can be maintained in the process of availability detection of the radar channel, so that the non-radar channel can be preferentially selected from the radar channel and the non-radar channel. Compared with a non-radar channel, the radar channel preferentially selected in the embodiment of the application has the advantages of low congestion degree, high power, large available bandwidth and the like, and can achieve better communication quality.

Among radar channels, weather radar channels are included. Since the weather radar channel has a long availability detection time, in a normal case, if the weather radar channel is selected, wireless communication cannot be performed for a longer period of time (compared to a non-weather radar channel). Therefore, in a normal case, the priority of the selected channel is: weather radar channel < non-radar channel. That is, in a normal case, the probability of selecting the weather radar channel is the lowest, and the degree of congestion of the weather radar channel is the lowest. According to the embodiment of the application, the weather radar channel can be preferentially selected, so that the congestion degree of the selected channel is further reduced, and better communication quality is realized.

Alternatively, in the embodiment of the present application, the AP may determine the working channel according to a channel selection rule. In the channel selection rule, the priority of the weather radar channel is higher than the priority of the radar channel, and the priority of the radar channel is higher than the priority of the non-radar channel. The second channel determined by the channel selection rule has lower congestion degree and better communication quality.

Alternatively, the access point device may select a radar channel with a larger bandwidth in the 5G frequency band as the working channel, for example, select a channel with a bandwidth of 40MHz, 80MHz, 160MHz, or the like. Since the weather radar channel has a long availability detection time, it is usually avoided to select a channel including the weather radar frequency range as an operation channel (e.g., a channel shaded in fig. 5) in order to avoid that wireless communication is not possible for a long time between the station apparatus and the access point apparatus. The congestion level of these channels is small.

The embodiment of the application can select the channels including the frequency range of the weather radar as the working channels, so that the working channels have large bandwidth and small congestion degree, and better communication quality is realized. Alternatively, in the case of a larger bandwidth, the second channel may be a large bandwidth channel including a weather radar channel frequency range and a non-weather radar channel frequency range. For example, the AP may select a channel with a 160MHz bandwidth on the 5G band, including a frequency range of 100 channels (i.e., the lowest channel in fig. 5) as the operating channel.

According to the embodiment of the application, the working channel is selected from the weather radar channel and the radar channel, compared with the working channel is selected from the non-radar channel and the radar channel; the working channel is selected from the weather radar channel, the interference is smaller, and the AP allowed transmitting power is stronger, so that the communication quality between the access point equipment and the site equipment can be improved.

Optionally, factors such as the number of neighbor APs on the channel, interference intensity, channel load, maximum transmission power of the channel and the like can be comprehensively considered in the channel selection rule, which is not limited in the application.

402. If the availability detection of the second channel is not completed, the access point device determines the first channel on a target frequency band, and the target frequency band is different from the 5G frequency band.

If the availability detection of the second channel is not complete, the AP may determine the first channel on the target frequency band. The first channel is used for temporarily replacing the second channel in the process of availability detection of the second channel to realize communication between the AP and the STA.

Optionally, the AP may select the first channel with the smallest interference on the target frequency band.

403. The access point device determines access point information for a first channel and a second channel, the ESSIDs of the first channel and the second channel being the same.

In the embodiment of the application, a plurality of virtual access points (also referred to as access points) can be operated on the AP, and different access points are used to implement wireless communication in different frequency bands. The target frequency band access point using the first channel is called a first access point, and the 5G frequency band access point using the second channel is called a second access point.

After selecting the second channel (radar channel), the AP may determine second access point information of the second access point, i.e., access point information of the 5G band access point. The second access point information may include ESSID, BSSID, channel information (i.e., information of the second channel, such as bandwidth, identification, etc. of the channel) of the 5G band access point. Optionally, the second access point information determined by the AP may also include an encryption manner and a key for communication between the 5G band access point and the STA.

Because the first channel is a channel for temporarily replacing the second channel, in order to facilitate the site device to quickly switch from the first channel to the second channel, the ESSID is the same as the ESSID of the second access point information in the first access point information of the first channel determined by the AP. If the second access point information includes the encryption mode and the key, the first access point information also includes the encryption mode and the key for communication between the target frequency band access point and the STA. The encryption mode and the secret key in the information of the two access points are the same, so that the channel switching can be realized rapidly.

Alternatively, the access point device may determine the first access point information and the second access point information simultaneously, or may determine the first access point information according to the second access point information after determining the second access point information. As long as the determination of the second access point information occurs after step 401 and the determination of the first access point information occurs after step 402, the present application is not limited thereto.

404. The access point device sends a first message to the station device.

405. The access point device performs availability detection on the second channel.

406. The access point device communicates with the station device over the first channel before confirming that the second channel is available.

Steps 404 to 406 refer to steps 301 to 303 of the embodiment shown in fig. 3, and are not described here again.

Optionally, in the embodiment of the present application, the time of occurrence of step 405 may be not earlier than the time of occurrence of step 404 (steps 404 and 405 are performed simultaneously or step 404 is performed after step 405), so that the time delay between powering up (or reselecting the channel) the access point device and implementing communication between the access point device and the station device is reduced, and the station device may be served earlier.

Alternatively, step 405 may also be performed before step 404, which is not limited in this application.

407. After confirming that the second channel is available, the access point device sends a second message to the station device, where the second message is used to indicate second access point information of the second channel, and the second access point information is the same as the ESSID of the first access point information.

After completing the availability detection of the second channel and confirming the availability of the second channel, the AP may enable communication with the STA through the second channel. Therefore, the AP may send a second message to the STA, where the second access point information in the second message is the access point information of the 5G band access point using the second channel in the AP.

The second access point information may include the ESSID of the 5G band access point (using the second channel) as known in step 403. In the embodiment of the present application, the first access point information is the same as the ESSID in the second access point information. I.e., the ESSID of the target band access point (using the first channel) is the same as the ESSID of the 5G band access point (using the second channel).

Since the first access point information is the same as the ESSID, key, etc. of the second access point information, i.e., the access credentials (ESSID, key, etc.) of the first access point and the second access point are the same. Thus, the station apparatus may automatically switch from the first access point to the second access point, the switching of the access points being imperceptible to the user.

Optionally, the second access point information in the second message may further include BSSID, encryption mode, key, etc. of the 5G band access point (using the second channel), which is not limited in this application. The encryption mode in the second access point information is the same as the encryption mode in the first access point information; the key in the second access point information is the same as the key in the first access point information to enable fast handoff from the first channel to the second channel.

Alternatively, the second message may be a Beacon frame of the access point, a prob response frame of the access point, or the like, which is not limited in this application.

408. The access point device closes a communication interface between the first channel and the station device.

After confirming that the second channel is available, the AP and the STA may communicate with the STA through the better second channel. Alternatively, the AP may close the communication interface between the first channel and the STA to avoid the AP and the STA from continuing to communicate over the first channel. The communication interface may be a software logic interface on the AP, through which the AP may implement communication with the STA on the first channel.

It should be noted that, in the embodiment of the present application, step 408 is an optional step, and step 408 may not be performed.

409. The access point device sends a third message to the station device.

Optionally, the AP may send a third message to the STA, where the third message is used to instruct the STA to switch the access point. Optionally, the third message may include information of the second channel or the 5G band, which is used to instruct the STA to switch to the second access point (i.e., the 5G band access point).

Alternatively, the third message may be a BTM Request frame or a distssoc frame in the 802.11v protocol, which is not limited in this application.

It should be noted that, in the embodiment of the present application, step 409 is an optional step, and step 409 may not be performed.

410. The access point device communicates with the station device via a second channel.

The STA may determine second access point information of a 5G band access point (second access point) using the second channel according to the second message received in step 407. The second access point is a 5G access point, and the first access point is an access point of the target frequency band. The STA may determine that the second access point is a better access point than the first access point (a 5G channel is better than a 2.4G channel or a 6G channel of the target frequency band), so the STA may switch channels, and communication with the AP is achieved through the second channel.

Optionally, if step 408 is performed, the ap closes the communication interface with the first channel between the STA and the ap. In order to continue to communicate with the AP, the STA can only switch channels, thereby enabling communication with the AP over the second channel.

Optionally, if step 409 is performed, the STA may actively switch channels according to the third message. The third message can enable the station to perceive the access point information of the second channel in advance, so that the time delay of the STA for realizing channel switching is small, and the service interruption time length caused by the time delay of channel switching is reduced.

As shown in fig. 6, by using the communication method provided in the embodiment of the present application, before the availability detection of the second channel is completed, wireless communication may be performed between the access point device and the station device through the first channel, so as to ensure that the service is not interrupted. After confirming that the second channel is available, the channel can be switched between the access point device and the site device, and communication is realized through the better second channel, so that better communication quality is realized.

The communication method provided by the embodiment of the present application is described above through fig. 3 to 6, and an access point device implementing the method is described below. As shown in fig. 7, an access point device 700 provided in an embodiment of the present application includes a first chip 710 and a second chip 720. The first chip 710 is used for running an access point of a target frequency band, and the second chip 720 is used for running an access point of a 5G frequency band.

Specifically, the first chip 710 is configured to send a first message to a station device. The first message is used for indicating first access point information of a first channel, and the first channel is a channel on a target frequency band. The second chip 720 is used for availability detection of the second channel. The second channel is a radar channel on a 5G frequency band, and the 5G frequency band is different from the target frequency band. The first chip 710 is also configured to enable communication with the station apparatus over the first channel before confirming that the second channel is available.

The first chip 710 is used to implement steps 301 and 303 of the embodiment shown in fig. 3, and steps 404, 406, 408 and 409 of the embodiment shown in fig. 4; the second chip 720 is used to implement step 302 of the embodiment shown in fig. 3, steps 405, 407, and 410 of the embodiment shown in fig. 4. The access point device 700 is used to implement the communication methods described in fig. 3 or fig. 4.

In the embodiment of the present application, the availability detection of the second channel may be implemented by the second chip 720 while the first channel communication is implemented by the first chip 710. The two chips are respectively responsible for data transmission on one channel, the chips are not required to have the function of multi-channel communication, the requirements on the chips are low, and the application range of the scheme is wide.

Alternatively, the two entities (the first chip 710 and the second chip 720) for operating the first access point and the second access point may have various forms. For example, the first chip 710 and the second chip 720 may be two chips in a hardware structure, or may be two independent software modules on the access point device 700, or two independent modules on a computing board/chip (respectively used for being responsible for communication in different frequency bands), which is not limited in this application.

In an alternative implementation, the second chip 720 is further configured to: after confirming that the second channel is available, a second message is sent to the station apparatus. The second message is used for indicating second access point information of a second channel, and the second access point information is the same as the ESSID of the first access point information. And enabling communication with the station apparatus through the second channel.

Alternatively, the second chip 720 may notify the first chip 710 that the second channel is available after confirming that the second channel is available. The first chip 710 may send the second message to the station apparatus. Alternatively, the second chip 720 may inform the first chip 710 that the second channel is available through the processing module 730.

In an alternative implementation, the access point device 700 may also include a processing module 730. The processing module 730 is configured to: and determining the working channel as a second channel. And if the availability detection of the second channel is completed, determining the first channel from the target frequency band. The ESSIDs of the first channel and the second channel are determined. The processing module 730 is configured to implement steps 401-403 of the embodiment shown in fig. 4.

Alternatively, the processing module 730 may be a central processing unit (central processing unit, CPU), field-programmable gate array (FPGA), or the like, which is not limited in this application.

In an alternative implementation, the processing module 730 is specifically configured to: and determining the working channel as a second channel according to the channel selection rule. In the channel selection rule, the priority of the weather radar channel is higher than the priority of the radar channel, and the priority of the radar channel is higher than the priority of the non-radar channel.

In an alternative implementation, the second access point information includes a BSSID of the second channel that is different from the BSSID of the first channel in the first access point information.

In an alternative implementation, the first chip 710 is further configured to: after confirming that the second channel is available, the communication interface between the first channel and the station apparatus is closed.

Alternatively, the second chip 720 may notify the first chip 710 that the second channel is available after confirming that the second channel is available. The first chip 710 may shut down the communication interface. Alternatively, the second chip 720 may inform the first chip 710 that the second channel is available through the processing module 730.

In an alternative implementation, the first chip 710 is used to operate a first access point and the second chip 720 is used to operate a second access point. The first access point information is used for indicating information of the first access point, and the second access point information is used for indicating information of the second access point. The first chip 710 is also for: and sending a third message, wherein the third message is used for indicating the station equipment to switch to the second access point.

The structure of the access point device 700 shown in fig. 7 is applied to the WLAN 1000 shown in fig. 1, which is the communication network provided in the embodiment of the present application.

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

In the several embodiments provided in this application, it should be understood that the disclosed systems, apparatuses, and methods may be implemented in other ways. For example, the apparatus embodiments described above are merely illustrative, e.g., the division of the units is merely a logical function division, and there may be additional divisions when actually implemented, e.g., multiple units or components may be combined or integrated into another system, or some features may be omitted or not performed. Alternatively, the coupling or direct coupling or communication connection shown or discussed with each other may be an indirect coupling or communication connection via some interfaces, devices or units, which may be in electrical, mechanical or other form.

The units described as separate units may or may not be physically separate, and units shown as units may or may not be physical units, may be located in one place, or may be distributed on a plurality of network units. Some or all of the units may be selected according to actual needs to achieve the purpose of the solution of this embodiment.

In addition, each functional unit in each embodiment of the present application may be integrated in one processing unit, or each unit may exist alone physically, or two or more units may be integrated in one unit. The integrated units may be implemented in hardware or in software functional units.

The integrated units, if implemented in the form of software functional units and sold or used as stand-alone products, may be stored in a computer readable storage medium. Based on such understanding, the technical solution of the present application may be embodied in essence or a part contributing to the prior art or all or part of the technical solution in the form of a software product stored in a storage medium, including several instructions to cause a computer device (which may be a personal computer, a server, or a network device, etc.) to perform all or part of the steps of the methods described in the embodiments of the present application. And the aforementioned storage medium includes: a U-disk, a removable hard disk, a read-only memory (ROM), a random access memory (random access memory, RAM), a magnetic disk, or an optical disk, or other various media capable of storing program codes.

Claims

1. A method of communication, for application to an access point device, the method comprising:

transmitting a first message to site equipment, wherein the first message is used for indicating first access point information of a first channel, and the first channel is a channel on a target frequency band;

detecting availability of a second channel, wherein the second channel is a radar channel on a 5G frequency band, and the 5G frequency band is different from the target frequency band;

communication with the station device is effected over the first channel prior to confirming that the second channel is available.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

after confirming that the second channel is available, sending a second message to the station device, where the second message is used to indicate second access point information of the second channel, and the second access point information is the same as a service identification number ESSID of the first access point information;

and realizing communication with the station equipment through the second channel.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein before said sending the first message to the station device, the method further comprises:

Determining a working channel as the second channel;

if the availability detection of the second channel is not finished, determining the first channel from the target frequency band;

determining the ESSIDs of the first channel and the second channel.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said determining that the operating channel is the second channel comprises:

determining the working channel as the second channel according to a channel selection rule; in the channel selection rule, the priority of the weather radar channel is higher than the priority of the radar channel, and the priority of the radar channel is higher than the priority of the non-radar channel.

5. The method according to any one of claim 1 to 4, wherein,

the second channel comprises a weather radar channel of the 5G frequency band.

6. The method according to any one of claim 1 to 5, wherein,

the target frequency band includes a 2.4G frequency band or a 6G frequency band.

7. The method according to any one of claim 1 to 6, wherein,

the second access point information includes a BSSID of the second channel that is different from a BSSID of the first channel in the first access point information.

8. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein after confirming that the second channel is available, further comprising:

and closing a communication interface between the first channel and the station equipment.

9. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the access point device comprises a first access point and a second access point, the first access point information being used to indicate information of the first access point, the second access point information being used to indicate information of the second access point;

the method further includes, after confirming availability of the second channel:

and sending a third message, wherein the third message is used for indicating the station equipment to switch to the second access point.

10. An access point device, comprising:

the first chip is used for sending a first message to the site equipment, wherein the first message is used for indicating first access point information of a first channel, and the first channel is a channel on a target frequency band;

the second chip is used for detecting availability of a second channel, the second channel is a radar channel on a 5G frequency band, and the 5G frequency band is different from the target frequency band;

The first chip is further configured to implement communication with the station device through the first channel before confirming that the second channel is available.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the second chip is further configured to:

after confirming that the second channel is available, sending a second message to the station device, where the second message is used to indicate second access point information of the second channel, and the second access point information is the same as the ESSID of the first access point information; and realizing communication with the station equipment through the second channel.

12. The apparatus according to claim 10 or 11, characterized by further comprising:

a processing module for:

determining a working channel as the second channel;

if the availability detection of the second channel is completed, determining the first channel from the target frequency band;

determining the ESSIDs of the first channel and the second channel.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the processing module is specifically configured to:

14. The apparatus according to any one of claims 10 to 13, wherein,

the second channel comprises a weather radar channel of the 5G frequency band.

15. The apparatus according to any one of claims 10 to 14, wherein,

16. The apparatus according to any one of claims 10 to 15, wherein,

17. The apparatus according to any one of claims 10 to 16, wherein,

the first chip is further configured to:

after confirming that the second channel is available, closing a communication interface between the first channel and the station device.

18. The apparatus according to any one of claims 10 to 17, wherein the first chip is configured to operate a first access point, the second chip is configured to operate a second access point, the first access point information is configured to indicate information of the first access point, and the second access point information is configured to indicate information of the second access point;

The first chip is further configured to:

19. A communication network comprising the access point device of any of claims 10 to 18.

20. A computer-readable storage medium, in which a program is stored, which when executed by a computer, performs the method of any one of claims 1 to 9.

21. A computer program product, characterized in that the computer performs the method according to any of claims 1 to 9 when the computer program product is executed on a computer.