Internet of things-based communication method and apparatus

A communications apparatus applied to a second access point, comprising:

• a receiver, configured to receive first indication information from a first access point, wherein the first indication information indicates whether each internet of things device served by an access point coordinating cluster has to-be-received downlink data, the access point coordinating cluster comprises a plurality of access points including at least the first access point and the second access point, and the internet of things device is initially associated with the first access point;
• and
• a transmitter, configured to send the first indication information received by the receiver to the internet of things device.

A communications apparatus applied to a first access point in an access point coordinating cluster including a plurality of access points, comprising:

• a receiver, configured to receive, from each of the plurality of access points in the access point coordinating cluster other than the first access point, a data packet and signal strength of the data packet received by the respective access point, wherein the plurality of access points comprise at least the first access point and a second access point, and an internet of things device is initially associated with the first access point;
• and
• a transmitter is configured to send instruction information to the second access point, wherein the instruction information instructs the second access point to send back an acknowledgment message to the internet of things device.