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US-20260129419-A1 - METHOD AND ELECTRONIC DEVICE FOR MULTI-LINK OPERATION (MLO) SILENT SCAN

US20260129419A1US 20260129419 A1US20260129419 A1US 20260129419A1US-20260129419-A1

Abstract

A method for a Multi-Link Operation (MLO) silent scan applicable to a station is provided. The method includes the following steps. An access point (AP) is connected through a first channel and a second channel. The first channel is within a first channel group, and the second channel is within a second channel group. Full channels within the second channel group or the first channel group are scanned alternatively, and communication with the AP through the first channel or the second channel alternatively is maintained during the scan.

Inventors

  • Zi-Yi WEN
  • Jen-Chieh Liu
  • Ying-You Lin

Assignees

  • MEDIATEK INC.

Dates

Publication Date
20260507
Application Date
20251023

Claims (20)

  1. 1 . A method for a Multi-Link Operation (MLO) silent scan, applicable to a station, comprising: connecting an access point (AP) through a first channel and a second channel; wherein the first channel is within a first channel group, and the second channel is within a second channel group, and scanning full channels within the second channel group or the first channel group alternatively, and maintaining communication with the AP through the first channel or the second channel alternatively during the scanning.
  2. 2 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the step of scanning the full channels within the second channel group or the first channel group alternatively, and maintaining communication with the AP through the first channel or the second channel alternatively during the scanning comprises: scanning the full channels within the first channel group in response to pausing the communication with the AP through the first channel; resuming the communication with the AP through the first channel; scanning the full channels within the second channel group in response to pausing the communication with the AP through the second channel; and resuming the communication with the AP through the second channel.
  3. 3 . The method as claimed in claim 2 , further comprising: scanning the full channels within a third channel group in response to pausing the communication with the AP through the second channel.
  4. 4 . The method as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the first channel group comprises Wi-Fi channels near 2.4 GHz, the second channel group comprises Wi-Fi channels near 5 GHz, and the third channel group comprises Wi-Fi channels near 6 GHz.
  5. 5 . The method as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the step of scanning the full channels within the first channel group in response to pausing the communication with the AP through the first channel comprises: sending a null frame with a positive flag to the AP through the first channel, so that the AP pauses communication with the station through the first channel based on the null frame.
  6. 6 . The method as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the step of resuming the communication with the AP through the first channel comprises: sending a null frame with a negative flag to the AP through the first channel, so that the AP resumes communication with the station through the first channel based on the null frame.
  7. 7 . The method as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the positive flag indicates one, which indicates that the station enters a sleep mode.
  8. 8 . The method as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the negative flag indicates zero, which indicates that the station stays up.
  9. 9 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising: performing the MLO silent scan in a Simultaneous Transmit and Receive (STR) mode; or performing the MLO silent scan in a Multi-Link Single Radio (MLSR) mode.
  10. 10 . The method as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the null frame comprises null Quality of Service (QoS) data.
  11. 11 . An electronic device, comprising: a memory, configured to store codes for a Multi-Link Operation (MLO) silent scan; a processor, electrically connected to the memory, configured to execute the codes to: connect an access point (AP) through a first channel and a second channel; wherein the first channel is within a first channel group, and the second channel is within a second channel group; and scan full channels within the second channel group or the first channel group alternatively, and remain communication with the AP through the first channel or the second channel alternatively during the scanning.
  12. 12 . The electronic device as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the processor is configured to: scan the full channels within the first channel group in response to pausing the communication with the AP through the first channel; resume the communication with the AP through the first channel; scan the full channels within the second channel group in response to pausing communication with the AP through the second channel; and resume the communication with the AP through the second channel.
  13. 13 . The electronic device as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the processor is configured to: scan the full channels within a third channel group in response to pausing the communication with the AP through the second channel.
  14. 14 . The electronic device as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the first channel group comprises Wi-Fi channels near 2.4 GHz, the second channel group comprises Wi-Fi channels near 5 GHz, and the third channel group comprises Wi-Fi channels near 6 GHz.
  15. 15 . The electronic device as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the processor is configured to: send a null frame with a positive flag to the AP through the first channel, so that the AP pauses communication with the station through the first channel based on the null frame.
  16. 16 . The electronic device as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the processor is configured to: send a null frame with a negative flag to the AP through the first channel, so that the AP resumes communication with the station through the first channel based on the null frame.
  17. 17 . The electronic device as claimed in claim 15 , wherein the positive flag indicates one, which indicates that the station enters a sleep mode.
  18. 18 . The electronic device as claimed in claim 16 , wherein the negative flag indicates zero, which indicates that the station stays up.
  19. 19 . The electronic device as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the processor is configured to: perform the MLO silent scan in a Simultaneous Transmit and Receive (STR) mode; or perform the MLO silent scan in a Multi-Link Single Radio (MLSR) mode.
  20. 20 . The electronic device as claimed in claim 15 , wherein the null frame comprises null Quality of Service (QoS) data.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application No. 63/714,944, Nov. 1, 2024, the entirety of which is incorporated by reference herein. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic device, and, in particular, it relates to a method and an electronic device for a Multi-Link Operation (MLO) silent scan. Description of the Related Art Wi-Fi 7's Multi-Link Operation (MLO) allows devices to simultaneously connect across multiple frequency bands, enhancing network reliability by seamlessly switching to another link if one experiences interference or performance issues. Wi-Fi scans are essential for maintaining high-quality connections during user movement such as roaming scans, so the Wi-Fi scans must be performed effectively without compromising the basic connection quality. However, Wi-Fi scans may pause data transmission on devices, increasing latency and affecting real-time applications like Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) or online gaming. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An embodiment of the present invention provides a method for a Multi-Link Operation (MLO) silent scan applicable to a station. The method includes the following steps. A Wi-Fi 7 access point (AP) is connected through a first channel and a second channel. The first channel is within a first channel group, and the second channel is within a second channel group. Full channels within the second channel group or the first channel group are scanned alternatively, and communication with the AP through the first channel or the second channel alternatively is maintained during the scan. According to the method described above, the step of scanning the full channels within the second channel group or the first channel group alternatively, and maintaining communication with the AP through the first channel or the second channel alternatively during the scan includes the following steps. The full channels within the first channel group are scanned in response to pausing the communication with the AP through the first channel. The communication with the AP through the first channel is resumed. The full channels within the second channel group are scanned in response to pausing the communication with the AP through the second channel. The communication with the AP through the second channel is resumed. The method further includes the following step. The full channels within a third channel group are scanned in response to pausing the communication with the AP through the second channel According to the method described above, the first channel group includes Wi-Fi channels near 2.4 GHz. The second channel group includes Wi-Fi channels near 5 GHz. The third channel group includes Wi-Fi channels near 6 GHz. According to the method described above, the step of scanning the full channels within the first channel group in response to pausing the communication with the AP through the first channel includes the following step. A null frame with a positive flag is sent to the AP through the first channel, so that the AP pauses communication with the station through the first channel based on the null frame. According to the method described above, the step of resuming the communication with the AP through the first channel includes the following step. A null frame with a negative flag is sent to the AP through the first channel, so that the AP resumes communication with the station through the first channel based on the null frame. According to the method described above, the positive flag indicates one, which indicates that the station enters a sleep mode. According to the method described above, the negative flag indicates zero, which indicates that the station stays up. The method further includes the following steps. The MLO silent scan in a Simultaneous Transmit and Receive (STR) mode is performed. Alternatively, the MLO silent scan in a Multi-Link Single Radio (MLSR) mode is performed. According to the method described above, the null frame includes null Quality of Service (QoS) data. An embodiment of the present invention also provides an electronic device. The electronic device includes a memory and a processor. The memory store codes for a Multi-Link Operation (MLO) silent scan. The processor is electrically connected to the memory. The processor executes the codes to connect an access point (AP) through a first channel and a second channel. The first channel is within a first channel group, and the second channel is within a second channel group. The processor executes the codes to scan full channels within the second channel group or the first channel group alternatively, and remain communication with the AP through the first channel or the second channel alternatively during the scan. According to the electronic device described above, the processor scans the full channels within the first channel group in response to pausing the commu