Access point, terminal and communication method

Abstract

An access point includes: a control circuit that generates a control signal indicating uplink transmissions of a plurality of terminals, the control signal including information pertaining to transmission destinations of the uplink transmissions for each of the plurality of terminals; and a transmission circuit that transmits the control signal.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an access point, a terminal and a communication method. Background Art

[0002] The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) is planning to develop the IEEE 802.11be (hereinafter referred to as "11be") specification as a successor standard to the IEEE 802.11ax (hereinafter referred to as "11ax"). For example, 11ax is also called "High Efficiency (HE)" and 11be is also called "Extremely High Throughput (EHT)". In addition, the required specifications related to the successor standard of 11be are also being studied (for example, refer to non-patent documents 3 and 4). For example, the successor standard of 11be is also called "EHT-plus" or "enhanced 11be (beyond 11be)".

[0003] Prior art literature

[0004] Non-patent literature

[0005] Non-patent document 1: IEEE 802.11-21 / 0268r8, PDT: Channel access for TriggeredTXOP Sharing

[0006] Non-patent document 2: IEEE 802.11-20 / 1312r8, AP assisted SU PPDU Tx for 11be R1

[0007] Non-patent document 3: IEEE 802.11-22 / 0046r1, Next 802.11 generation after 11be

[0008] Non-patent document 4: IEEE 802.11-22 / 0059r0, Beyond 'be'

[0009] Non-patent document 5: IEEE 802.11-22 / 0039r3, CR for 35.2.1.3 part -2

[0010] Non-patent document 6: IEEE 802.11-21 / 0485r3, EHT TF Clarifications Summary of the invention

[0011] However, the method of allocating transmission opportunities in wireless communications such as wireless LAN (Local Area Network) has not been fully studied yet.

[0012] The non-limiting embodiments of the present disclosure help to provide an access point, a terminal, and a communication method that can improve the efficiency of allocating transmission opportunities in wireless communications.

[0013] An access point according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes: a control circuit for generating a control signal for instructing uplink transmission of multiple terminals, wherein the control signal includes information related to transmission destinations of the uplink transmission respectively for the multiple terminals; and a transmission circuit for transmitting the control signal.

[0014] It should be noted that these general or specific aspects may be implemented by a system, an apparatus, a method, an integrated circuit, a computer program or a recording medium, or may be implemented by any combination of systems, apparatuses, methods, integrated circuits, computer programs and recording media.

[0015] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, for example, it is possible to improve the allocation efficiency of transmission opportunities in wireless communications.

[0016] More advantages and effects of an embodiment of the present disclosure will be explained through the description and drawings. These advantages and / or effects are provided by several embodiments, and the features described in the description and drawings, but not necessarily all of them need to be provided in order to obtain one or more of the same features. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] Figure 1 This is a diagram showing an example of a trigger frame.

[0018] Figure 2 This is a diagram showing an example of a common information field (Common Info field).

[0019] Figure 3 This is a diagram showing an example of a user information field (User Info field).

[0020] Figure 4 This is a diagram showing an example of a special user information field (Special User Info field).

[0021] Figure 5 This is a diagram showing an example of a TXOP sharing mode (Sharing mode).

[0022] Figure 6This is a sequence diagram showing an operation example of TXOP sharing mode 2.

[0023] Figure 7 This is a sequence diagram showing an operation example of TXOP sharing for a plurality of terminals (STA: Station) using frequency multiplexing (FDM: Frequency Division Multiplexing).

[0024] Figure 8 This is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a part of an access point (AP: Access Point).

[0025] Fig. 9 This is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a part of a terminal.

[0026] Fig.10 This is a block diagram showing a structural example of an AP.

[0027] Fig.11 This is a diagram showing an example of a TXOP sharing mode.

[0028] Fig.12 This is a diagram showing an example of a user information field.

[0029] Fig.13 This is a diagram showing an example of a notification method of allocated bandwidth.

[0030] Fig.14 This is a diagram showing an example of a notification method of allocated bandwidth.

[0031] Fig.15 This is a diagram showing an example of transmission destination information.

[0032] Fig.16 This is a block diagram showing a structural example of a terminal.

[0033] Fig.17 This is a sequence diagram showing an example of TXOP sharing operations.

[0034] Fig.18 This is a diagram showing an example of transmission destination information.

[0035] Fig.19 This is a sequence diagram showing an example of TXOP sharing operations.

[0036] Fig. 20 This is a diagram showing an example of a user information field.

[0037] Fig.21 This is a sequence diagram showing an example of TXOP sharing operations.

[0038] Fig. 22This is a sequence diagram showing an example of TXOP sharing operations.

[0039] Fig.23 This is a sequence diagram showing an example of TXOP sharing operations.

[0040] Fig.24 It is a diagram showing an example of the EHT Medium Access Control (MAC) Capabilities Information field.

[0041] Fig.25 This is a diagram showing an example of a user information field. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0042] Hereinafter, each embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0043] In 11be, a priority control method called "Enhanced Distributed Channel Access (EDCA)" can be used in the same way as 11ax to prioritize transmission opportunities based on access categories (AC). In EDCA, for example, an AC that has obtained the right to transmit can continuously transmit wireless signals at intervals of the minimum waiting time (SIFS: Short Inter Frame Space). The time during which this continuous transmission can be performed can be called a "transmission opportunity (TXOP)". For example, the upper limit time of TXOP can be specified separately for each AC.

[0044] In 11be, for example, the study is about "TXOP sharing" in which at least a portion of the TXOP time obtained by an access point (AP: Access Point. Alternatively, it is also called "AP-STA (station)", "base station") is allocated to a terminal (also called "STA" or "non-AP STA"). For example, the study is about the process of triggering TXOP sharing by an AP to a STA (for example, "Triggered TXOP sharing procedure") (for example, refer to non-patent documents 1 and 2).

[0045] In 11ax, for example, a mechanism is introduced in which the AP uses a control signal indicating the sending of an uplink signal (hereinafter referred to as a "trigger frame (TF)") to schedule the wireless resources of the STA's uplink signal (for example, called "triggered UL (Uplink) operation (Triggered UL operation)"). The triggered UL operation can improve the efficiency of orthogonal multiplexing of the STA's uplink signal, thereby improving the throughput performance.

[0046] For example, in a triggered UL operation, the AP dynamically grasps the status of each STA's transmission buffer (e.g., BSR: Buffer Status Report) or the status of the STA such as the communication quality, and based on the status of the STA, calculates multiple wireless parameters applied to the uplink signal of each STA (e.g., the uplink response signal for the trigger frame). As wireless parameters, for example, the signal length, modulation and coding scheme (MCS: Modulation and Coding Scheme), number of spatial streams, and transmission power for the uplink signal can be listed. In this way, in a triggered UL operation, the scheduling processing (e.g., calculation) of the AP may be complicated.

[0047] In addition, the uplink response signal is sometimes referred to as a "trigger-based physical layer protocol data unit (TBPPDU)", for example.

[0048] On the other hand, in TXOP sharing, for example, when the AP has allocated a portion of the obtained TXOP to a certain STA, a transmission prohibition period (NAV: Network Allocation Vector) can be set for a STA different from the STA to which a portion of the TXOP is allocated. By setting the NAV, it is possible to suppress the conflict of the transmission signals of the STA to which a portion of the TXOP is allocated. In addition, the STA applying TXOP sharing determines the wireless parameters applied to the transmission signal of the STA based on the transmission buffer status or communication quality of the STA, thereby improving the signal transmission efficiency. For example, in TXOP sharing, the AP may not perform at least a portion of the scheduling of the uplink signal sent by the STA, thereby simplifying the processing of the AP compared to the triggered UL operation.

[0049] In this way, in 11be, for example, in addition to supporting triggered UL operation, TXOP sharing is also supported, thereby suppressing the conflict of uplink signals of STAs and improving throughput performance through simple processing in the AP.

[0050] In the case of enhanced 11be (beyond 11be), for example, the necessity of improving the performance of peer-to-peer (P2P) or direct link (DiL) as communication between terminals is proposed (for example, refer to non-patent documents 3 to 4). For example, the method for an AP to instruct multiple terminals performing P2P communication to share TXOP (for example, a trigger frame format or a process, etc.) has not been fully studied.

[0051] In 11be, for example, a study has been conducted on the use of a trigger frame (hereinafter referred to as a "MU-RTS trigger frame") in which the AP sets the trigger frame type (for example, called "Trigger Type") to multi-user request to send (MU-RTS: Multi-User Request-To-Send) to instruct TXOP sharing (hereinafter also referred to as "TXS") to a terminal (STA) (for example, refer to non-patent document 1). It should be noted that the MU-RTS trigger frame to which TXOP sharing is applied is sometimes referred to as a "MU-RTS TXS trigger frame (MU-RTS TXS TF)".

[0052] Figure 1 is a diagram showing an example of a trigger frame. Figure 1 As shown, for multiple terminals that are frequency-division multiplexing (FDM), the trigger frame includes a field containing information common to multiple terminals (e.g., a "CommonInfo field"), and a field called a "User Info List". The user information list may include, for example, one or more fields containing terminal-specific (or inherent) information (e.g., a "User Info field").

[0053] In addition, in 11be, for example, the trigger frame may include a field (for example, a “special user information field”) including information for a terminal corresponding to 11be (EHT) (not shown).

[0054] Figure 2 is a diagram showing a structural example of a common information field studied in 11be (e.g., EHT) (e.g., refer to non-patent document 5). Figure 3 is a diagram showing a structural example of a user information field in a MU-RTS TXS TF studied in 11be (EHT) (for example, refer to non-patent document 5). Figure 4 This is a diagram showing a structural example of a special user information field (for example, refer to non-patent document 6).

[0055] For example, Figure 2 The trigger type subfield (Trigger Type subfield) in the general information field shown is a subfield that indicates the category of the trigger frame (for example, the category of the signal sent by the AP to the terminal). For example, the AP can indicate the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame to a specified terminal by setting the trigger type to a value indicating MU-RTS (for example, in the case of 11be, the trigger type subfield value (Trigger Typesubfield value) = 3). For example, the terminal can receive a MU-RTS TXS trigger frame, and when the association ID (AID: Association ID) of the terminal is specified in the user information field contained in the received MU-RTS TXS trigger frame, it sends a Clear To Send (CTS: Clear To Send) frame to the AP.

[0056] In 11be, in the case of a MU-RTS TXS trigger frame, for example Figure 2 The area B20-B21 within the illustrated general information field is identified as a "TXOP sharing mode" subfield related to the setting of TXOP sharing.

[0057] In addition, in the case of a trigger frame of a different category from the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame, the area B20-21 in the general information field can be identified as a "GI and HE / EHT-LTF Type" subfield. The GI and HE / EHT-LTF Type subfield may include, for example, parameter information associated with the HE-Long Training Field (LTF) and EHT-LTF. For example, the information contained in the GI and HE / EHT-LTF Type subfield is information that is not used in the transmission of a CTS frame that does not include HE / EHT-LTF.

[0058] Figure 5 This is a diagram showing an example of a TXOP sharing mode studied in 11be (for example, refer to Non-Patent Document 1).

[0059] exist Figure 5 In the case where the TXOP sharing mode is 0 (TXOP sharing mode subfield value (Sharing Mode subfield value) = 0), TXOP sharing (eg, MU-RTS TXOP sharing) is not implemented, and the terminal, for example, sends a CTS frame to the AP as a response corresponding to the MTS frame.

[0060] In addition, Figure 5In the case where the TXOP sharing mode is 1 or 2 (TXOP sharing mode subfield value=1 or (or) 2), TXOP sharing (eg, MU-RTS TXOP sharing) may be implemented.

[0061] For example, when the TXOP sharing mode is 1 (also referred to as "TXOP sharing mode 1"), the scheduled terminal may send a wireless frame to a connected AP (e.g., an associated AP) during an allocation period corresponding to a portion of the TXOP. For example, when the TXOP sharing mode is 1, the terminal does not send a wireless frame to an AP or STA different from the connected AP.

[0062] In addition, for example, when the TXOP sharing mode is 2 (also referred to as "TXOP sharing mode 2"), Figure 6 As shown, during the allocated period corresponding to a part of the TXOP (time allocated in MU-RTS TX TF), the scheduled terminal (e.g., non-AP STA1 or STA1. For example, also referred to as "terminal 1") is able to send wireless frames to the connected AP or other terminals (e.g., non-AP STA2 or STA2. For example, also referred to as "terminal 2").

[0063] The MU-RTS trigger frame to which TXOP sharing is applied when the above-mentioned TXOP sharing mode is 1 or more (or, when not zero) is sometimes referred to as "MU-RTS TXS trigger frame (MU-RTS TXS TF)".

[0064] Here, if Figure 6 As shown in FIG. 1 , when the AP responds to the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame from the scheduled terminal (e.g., terminal 1), and the AP receives a CTS frame (e.g., a CTS response) from the terminal, the AP may determine that TXOP sharing is appropriately indicated to the terminal. In this case, the AP may not send a signal different from an ACK (Acknowledgement) response (e.g., a Block Ack) requested by the terminal scheduled during the allocation period. In addition, for example, Figure 6 As shown, when the carrier sensing between the Point Coordination Function (PCF) Interframe Space (PIFS) is idle (IDLE) during the allocation period, the AP can also take back the TXOP from the terminal, and the AP sends signals to other terminals during the remaining TXOP.

[0065] For example, in 11be, the number of terminals indicated by the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame is one. In the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame, set a Figure 3 In addition, during the allocation period for the terminal in TXOP sharing, the terminal can determine parameters such as the MCS of the transmitted signal and transmit a single user (SU: Single User) PPDU of a specified frequency band (for example, 20 MHz×N (N is an integer) frequency bands). In addition, for example, Figure 3 As shown, the Allocation Duration subfield of the User Information field is used to indicate the allocation period for the terminal.

[0066] Here, for example, a method (eg, triggering frame format or procedure) for the AP to instruct a plurality of terminals for which inter-terminal communication (eg, P2P-link) is set to share TXOP has not yet been fully studied.

[0067] In the non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure, an example of a method in which an AP instructs a plurality of terminals (eg, also referred to as “P2P terminals”) to share TXOPs is described.

[0068] (Implementation Method 1)

[0069] In this embodiment, a case where TXOP sharing for a plurality of terminals is performed using FDM will be described.

[0070] Figure 7 This diagram shows an example of a sequence in which the AP shares TXOP using FDM for terminal 1 (STA1) and terminal 3 (STA3) in the case of TXOP sharing mode 2 (for example, when the scheduled terminal communicates with the connected AP or other terminals).

[0071] exist Figure 7 As an example, a P2P link is set between terminal 1 (STA1) and terminal 2 (STA2), and a P2P link is set between terminal 3 (STA3) and terminal 4 (STA4). In addition, a terminal pair for P2P communication can be set using a process called "Tunneled Direct Link Setup (TDLS)" in 802.11.

[0072] exist Figure 7In the example, the AP may use the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame to allocate orthogonal frequency resources (eg, 20 MHz channel × N (channels in units of 20 MHz)) to the terminal 1 and the terminal 3 respectively.

[0073] Here, terminal 1 and terminal 3 can each determine the duration and sending destination (eg, connection destination AP or other P2P terminal) of the uplink signal (eg, SU PPDU). Figure 7 As shown in FIG. 1 , the duration of the SU PPDU is different between terminal 1 and terminal 3, so the transmission timing and reception timing in the AP may overlap. For example, if the transmission timing and reception timing overlap, the AP that does not correspond to full-duplex communication does not process one of the transmission signal and the reception signal. In addition, even if the AP corresponds to full-duplex communication, for example, self-interference (the adjacent channel interference of the transmission signal included in the received signal) may occur, resulting in deterioration of reception performance.

[0074] For example, Figure 7 As shown in FIG. 1 , the ACK (e.g., Block Ack) frame sent from the AP to the terminal 1 and the SU PPDU frame (e.g., DATA to AP in non-TB PPDU) sent from the terminal 3 to the AP may overlap. In this case, for example, sometimes the AP may not be able to receive the SU PPDU frame from the terminal 3, and STA3 may resend the SUPPDU. In this way, the time resources allocated by the AP may not be effectively used.

[0075] In this embodiment, for example, a method of controlling the transmission destination in the time resource shared by TXOP for a plurality of P2P terminals will be described.

[0076] [Structure of wireless communication system]

[0077] The wireless communication system of this embodiment may include, for example, Figure 8 The AP100 and Fig. 9 The terminal (STA) 200 shown. It may be that at least one of the AP100 and the terminal 200 exists in two or more in the wireless communication system. For example, the AP100 may send a trigger frame (e.g., a MU-RTS TXS trigger frame) indicating TXOP sharing to the terminal 200. The terminal 200 may receive the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame and send a signal to the AP100 or other terminals based on the resources (e.g., allocated time (or, allocated period) and allocated frequency band (or, allocated channel)) indicated by the received MU-RTS TXS trigger frame.

[0078] Figure 8 FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a portion of the AP 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 8 In the AP 100 shown, the control unit (e.g., corresponding to the control circuit) generates a control signal (e.g., a trigger frame) instructing uplink transmission of multiple terminals, and the control signal includes information related to the transmission destination of the uplink transmission for each of the multiple terminals (e.g., transmission destination information). The transmission unit (e.g., corresponding to the transmission circuit) transmits the control signal.

[0079] Fig. 9 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a portion of a terminal 200 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Fig. 9 In the terminal 200 shown, a receiving unit (e.g., corresponding to a receiving circuit) receives a control signal (e.g., a trigger frame) instructing uplink transmission of multiple terminals, wherein the control signal includes information related to the transmission destination of the uplink transmission for each of the multiple terminals (e.g., transmission destination information). A control unit (e.g., corresponding to a control circuit) controls the uplink transmission based on the control signal.

[0080] [Structural example of AP100]

[0081] The AP 100 , for example, generates a trigger frame (eg, a MU-RTS TXS trigger frame) indicating TXOP sharing for a plurality of terminals, and transmits the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame to the terminal 200 .

[0082] Fig.10 It is a block diagram showing a configuration example of AP100. Fig.10 The AP100 shown may, for example, include a scheduling unit 101, a general information generating unit 102, a user information generating unit 103, a trigger frame generating unit 104, an error correction coding unit 105, a modulation unit 106, a wireless transceiver unit 107, a demodulation unit 108, an error correction decoding unit 109 and a terminal information retention unit 110.

[0083] For example, the scheduling unit 101 , the general information generating unit 102 , the user information generating unit 103 , the trigger frame generating unit 104 , and the terminal information retaining unit 110 may be included in an access control unit (eg, a medium access control (MAC) processing unit).

[0084] in addition, Fig.10 At least one of the scheduling unit 101, the general information generating unit 102, the user information generating unit 103, the trigger frame generating unit 104, the error correction coding unit 105, the modulation unit 106, the demodulation unit 108, the error correction decoding unit 109 and the terminal information retaining unit 110 shown in the figure may be included in, for example, Figure 8 In addition, Fig.10The wireless transceiver 107 shown may be included in Figure 8 The sending part shown.

[0085] The scheduling unit 101 can, for example, perform scheduling for the terminal 200. For example, the scheduling unit 101 can determine the TXOP sharing mode and allocated wireless resources (for example, including at least one of the allocated period and allocated frequency band in TXOP sharing) applied to the terminal 200 based on the terminal information input from the terminal information storage unit 110.

[0086] For example, in addition to the TXOP sharing mode for one terminal, the TXOP sharing mode for multiple terminals may also be included in the TXOP sharing mode. When the TXOP sharing mode for multiple terminals is applied, the scheduling unit 101 may, for example, determine information related to the transmission destination of uplink transmission (hereinafter referred to as "transmission destination information") for multiple terminals 200 to which TXOP sharing is applied.

[0087] The transmission destination information may include, for example, information indicating whether uplink transmission to AP100 is permitted. For example, the transmission destination information may include information indicating a transmission destination that is permitted to use the allocated wireless resources to transmit and receive signals. As an example, the transmission destination information may also be information indicating whether communication with AP100 and one of the other terminals other than the plurality of terminals 200 to which TXOP sharing is applied is permitted, or communication with other terminals is permitted (or communication with AP100 is not permitted).

[0088] In addition, the allocated wireless resources may include, for example, a period of a portion of the TXOP obtained by the AP 100 (for example, time resources). In addition, for example, in the case of TXOP sharing for multiple terminals using FDM, the allocated wireless resources may include a channel (for example, a frequency band in units of 20 MHz) allocated to each terminal 200. For example, the allocated wireless resources (for example, the allocated frequency band) may include a frequency band that is at least a portion of the frequency band to which the trigger frame is allocated, and may also include a frequency band different from the frequency band to which the trigger frame is allocated.

[0089] In addition, the terminal information may include, for example, capability information of the terminal 200, a transmission buffer status, control information related to P2P settings, and information related to a sub-channel selective transmission mode (Sub-Channel Selective Transmission (SST) Mode).

[0090] The capability information may include, for example, information indicating whether the terminal 200 can transmit and receive in a channel different from the primary channel (e.g., a secondary channel). In addition, when the terminal 200 corresponds to transmission on multiple links, the capability information may include, for example, information indicating whether it can transmit and receive simultaneously (e.g., whether it is a terminal corresponding to simultaneous transmission and reception (STR: Simultaneous transmit and receive)).

[0091] The sending buffer state may include, for example, information related to the AC and size of the sending buffer in the terminal 200 that is sent to the AP 100. In addition, the sending buffer state may also include, for example, information related to the AC and size of the sending buffer sent to other terminals (for example, also referred to as "direct link peer (DLP: Direct Link Peer) STA") connected to the terminal 200 in the P2P link (or, direct link).

[0092] The P2P setting information may include, for example, information of a terminal (e.g., terminal ID) that performs P2P communication with the terminal 200. In addition, the P2P setting information may include, for example, information indicating whether to perform off-channel (setting for performing P2P communication outside the operating frequency band of the AP 100).

[0093] The information related to the SST mode may include, for example, information indicating whether the terminal 200 is a terminal set in the SST mode. In addition, when the terminal 200 is a terminal set in the SST mode, the information related to the SST mode may include, for example, information indicating a subchannel (a channel different from a main channel) used when a target wake-up time (TWT: Target wake time) is applied.

[0094] The scheduling unit 101 outputs information on the determined TXOP sharing pattern and allocated radio resources of each terminal 200 to the general information generation unit 102 and the user information generation unit 103 , for example.

[0095] The common information generating unit 102 may generate control information included in the common information field common to multiple terminals 200. The common information generating unit 102 may generate information of the trigger type subfield and the TXOP sharing mode subfield based on the information related to TXOP sharing input from the scheduling unit 101, for example.

[0096] Furthermore, the general information generation unit 102 may generate information on the allocation period for the terminal 200 based on the information on the allocation of radio resources input from the scheduling unit 101 , for example.

[0097] The association between the TXOP sharing mode and the information indicating the TXOP sharing mode in the trigger frame (the value of the TXOP sharing mode subfield) may be, for example, information in a tabular form (eg, called a "TXOP sharing mode table") or information in a form different from the tabular form. Fig.11 FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a TXOP sharing mode table. The TXOP sharing mode table may also be defined in a specification document, for example. Fig.11 The TXOP sharing mode table shown in FIG. 1 may include, for example, Figure 5 The TXOP sharing mode described in Non-Patent Document 1 shown in FIG. 1 (for example, TXOP sharing mode=one of 0 to 2), and the TXOP sharing mode for a plurality of terminals 200 (for example, TXOP sharing mode=3).

[0098] For example, in the case of implementing TXOP sharing, the general information generating unit 102 may set the trigger type subfield to MU-RTS and set the TXOP sharing mode subfield to a specified value (for example, Fig.11 In the case of the TXOP sharing mode table, it is set to a value greater than 1), thereby generating a MU-RTS TXS trigger frame.

[0099] The general information generating unit 102 may output the generated information related to the general information field to the trigger frame generating unit 104 .

[0100] In addition, the term "setting" of a field (e.g., a subfield) within a trigger frame may be replaced with other terms such as "definition" or "interpretation".

[0101] The user information generating unit 103 may, for example, generate control information included in a special user information field or a user information field dedicated to the terminal 200. The user information generating unit 103 may, for example, generate information related to the special user information field or the user information field dedicated to the terminal 200 based on a prescribed format, and generate information related to a user information list, the user information list including user information fields for each of the plurality of terminals 200. The user information generating unit 103 may, for example, output information related to the user information list to the trigger frame generating unit 104.

[0102] In addition, the user information generating unit 103 can be based on the information related to the allocation of wireless resources input from the scheduling unit 101, such as Fig.12As shown, the ID of the terminal 200 (information of the AID12 subfield), information related to the allocated frequency band for the terminal 200 (for example, a frequency band in units of 20 MHz channels) (for example, information of the RU allocation subfield), information related to the allocation period for the terminal 200 (information of the allocation duration subfield), and transmission destination information related to the transmission destination that is allowed to use the wireless resources allocated to the terminal 200 for transmission and reception (for example, information of the destination mode subfield). The user information generating unit 103 can, for example, output the generated user information list to the trigger frame generating unit 104.

[0103] For the allocated frequency band information of the terminal 200 (for example, Fig.12 The information notified by the RU allocation subfield of the 11ax RU allocation subfield may indicate, for example, a 20 MHz×N frequency resource location allocated to the terminal 200. For example, the method of notifying the frequency resource of the CTS frame using the MU-RTS used in 11ax may also be applied as the method of notifying the frequency resource location of the 20 MHz×N frequency resource.

[0104] Fig.13 11ax supports MU-RTS, for example, by combining the "UL BW subfield" contained in the general information field of the MU-RTS trigger frame and the "RU allocation subfield" contained in the user information field of the MU-RTS trigger frame, the frequency resources for CTS can be notified to the terminal 200 separately for each terminal 200. Fig.13 As shown, the UL BW subfield specifies the operating bandwidth of the uplink (e.g., 20 MHz, 40 MHz, 80 MHz, or 160 MHz), and the RU allocation subfield specifies the location of the frequency resources allocated for communication during the allocation period. Fig.13 The method shown in FIG. 1 is the same as that shown in FIG. 1 , indicating the channel used by the terminal 200 during the allocation period of the TXOP sharing. Fig.13 A method different from the method shown indicates a channel to be used by the terminal 200 during the allocation period of TXOP sharing.

[0105] In addition, when notifying the location of the frequency resource for communication during the allocation period in the operating frequency band including the 320 MHz newly supported by 11be, for example, Figure 4The “UL Bandwidth Extension subfield” included in the special user information field shown in the figure can notify the terminal 200 of the operating bandwidth through, for example, a combination of the UL BW subfield of the general information field and the UL Bandwidth Extension subfield of the special user information field.

[0106] In addition, although Fig.13 The notification method shown is a method for notifying the frequency resource location including the primary 20MHz channel (Primary 20MHzchannel), but the present embodiment is not limited thereto. For example, the following method may also be used. Fig.14 As shown, arbitrary frequency resources of 20 MHz×N channels in the operating frequency band not including the main 20 MHz channel are notified.

[0107] In addition, in the information related to the allocation period for the terminal 200 (for example, Fig.12 The information notified by the allocation duration subfield of the MU-RTS TXS TF may include, for example, the following information, which indicates the allocation period shared to the terminal 200 within the TXOP obtained by the AP 100, within a specified time granularity (for example, in units of 16us) and within a specified time length (for example, a maximum of 8ms) from the end timing of the MU-RTS TXS TF.

[0108] In addition, in the transmission destination information (for example, Fig.12 The destination mode subfield of the notification) may include, for example, Fig.15 The information shown. Fig.15 As shown, for example, when the value of the destination mode subfield is 0, other terminals can be set instead of AP100 as the transmission destinations that are allowed to use the allocated wireless resources for transmission and reception (for example, only other terminals can be set). Fig.15 As shown, for example, when the value of the destination mode subfield is 1, the AP 100 or other terminals can be set as the transmission destinations that are allowed to use the allocated wireless resources for transmission and reception.

[0109] In addition, for example, in the case where a TXOP sharing mode for a plurality of terminals is applied (for example, in Fig.11 3), the transmission destination information that allows the use of the allocated wireless resources for transmission and reception may also be notified to the terminal 200. For example, when the TXOP sharing mode for one terminal is applied, the transmission destination information that allows the use of the allocated wireless resources for transmission and reception may not be notified to the terminal 200.

[0110] In addition, the number of user information fields contained in the user information list may be associated with the TXOP sharing mode indicated by the TXOP sharing mode subfield. For example, in the case where the TXOP sharing mode is a mode for applying TXOP sharing for one terminal (for example, in Fig.11 In the TXOP sharing mode table shown in FIG. 1 , when TXOP sharing mode = 1, 2 is indicated, the user information list may include a user information field. In addition, in the case where the TXOP sharing mode is a mode for applying TXOP sharing to multiple terminals (for example, in Fig.11 In the TXOP sharing mode table shown in FIG. 1 , when TXOP sharing mode = 3 is indicated, the user information list may include multiple user information fields.

[0111] Furthermore, in the special user information field, control information for one terminal 200 may be included regardless of the TXOP sharing mode.

[0112] The trigger frame generating unit 104 may be based on Figure 1 The format shown generates the following trigger frame, which includes the information of the general information field input from the general information generating unit 102 and the information of the user information list (for example, the special user information field and at least one user information field) input from the user information generating unit 103. In the trigger frame, for example, in addition to the general information field and the user information list, at least one of a MAC header, padding, and a frame check sequence (FCS) may be included. The trigger frame generating unit 104 may output the generated trigger frame to the error correction coding unit 105, for example.

[0113] For example, the error correction coding unit 105 may perform error correction coding on the transmission data signal including the trigger frame input from the trigger frame generation unit 104 , and output the coded signal to the modulation unit 106 .

[0114] The modulation unit 106 performs modulation processing on the signal input from the error correction coding unit 105 , for example, and outputs the modulated signal to the wireless transmission / reception unit 107 .

[0115] In addition, when the modulated data signal is an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) signal, AP100 (for example, the modulation unit 106) can map the modulated signal to a specified frequency resource, perform inverse fast Fourier transform (IFFT) processing to convert it into a time waveform, and add a cyclic prefix (CP) to form an OFDM signal.

[0116] The wireless transceiver 107 performs wireless transmission processing such as D / A (Digital / Analog) conversion and up-conversion to a carrier frequency on the modulated signal input from the modulation unit 106, and transmits the signal after the wireless transmission processing to the terminal 200 via the antenna. In addition, the wireless transceiver 107 receives a signal transmitted from the terminal 200 via the antenna, performs wireless reception processing such as down-conversion to a baseband frequency and A / D (Analog / Digital) conversion on the received signal, and outputs the signal after the wireless reception processing to the demodulation unit 108.

[0117] The demodulation unit 108, for example, demodulates the signal input from the wireless transceiver unit 107, and outputs the demodulated signal to the error correction decoding unit 109. In addition, when the signal input to the demodulation unit 108 is an OFDM signal, the AP 100 (for example, the demodulation unit 108) can perform CP removal processing and fast Fourier transform (FFT) processing.

[0118] Error correction decoding unit 109 decodes the signal input from demodulation unit 108, for example, to obtain a reception data signal from terminal 200. Error correction decoding unit 109 outputs decoded data including the terminal information to terminal information storage unit 110, for example, when the decoded reception data includes the terminal information.

[0119] The terminal information retention unit 110 can, for example, obtain (or retain) terminal information (for example, which may include capability information of the terminal 200, the status of the sending buffer, P2P setting information, or information related to the SST mode) from the decoded data input by the self-error correction decoding unit 109, and output the obtained terminal information to the scheduling unit 101.

[0120] [Configuration Example of Terminal 200]

[0121] The terminal 200 receives a trigger frame (e.g., a MU-RTS TXS trigger frame) indicating TXOP sharing from the AP 100, and sends an uplink response signal (e.g., a CTS frame) to the trigger frame to the AP 100. Then, the terminal 200 communicates with the allowed transmission destination (e.g., the AP 100 or other terminals) using the allocated channel during the allocation period, for example, based on the indication of the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame.

[0122] Fig.16 It is a block diagram showing a configuration example of the terminal 200 . Fig.16The terminal 200 shown may include, for example, a wireless transceiver unit 201, a demodulator unit 202, an error correction decoding unit 203, a general information acquisition unit 204, a user information acquisition unit 205, a scheduling unit 206, a data generation unit 207, an error correction coding unit 208 and a modulation unit 209.

[0123] For example, at least one of the general information acquisition unit 204, the user information acquisition unit 205, the scheduling unit 206, and the data generation unit 207 may be included in an access control unit (for example, a MAC processing unit).

[0124] in addition, Fig.16 At least one of the demodulation unit 202, the error correction decoding unit 203, the general information acquisition unit 204, the user information acquisition unit 205, the scheduling unit 206, the data generation unit 207, the error correction coding unit 208 and the modulation unit 209 shown in the figure may be included in, for example, Fig. 9 In addition, Fig.16 The wireless transceiver unit 201 shown may be included in Fig. 9 The receiving part shown.

[0125] The wireless transceiver 201 receives a reception signal using, for example, an antenna, performs wireless reception processing such as down-conversion and A / D conversion on the reception signal, and outputs the signal after the wireless reception processing to the demodulator 202. In addition, the wireless transceiver 201 performs wireless transmission processing such as up-conversion and D / A conversion on the signal input from the modulator 209, and transmits the signal after the wireless transmission processing from the antenna.

[0126] The demodulation unit 202 demodulates the received data input from the wireless transceiver unit 201, and outputs the demodulated signal to the error correction decoding unit 203. In addition, when the signal input to the demodulation unit 202 is an OFDM signal, the terminal 200 (for example, the demodulation unit 202) can perform CP removal processing and FFT processing, for example.

[0127] The error correction decoding unit 203 can decode the demodulated signal input from the demodulation unit 202, and output the decoded signal as a received data signal. In addition, the error correction decoding unit 203 outputs the trigger frame in the received data signal to the general information acquisition unit 204 and the user information acquisition unit 205, for example.

[0128] The common information acquisition unit 204 may extract information corresponding to the common information field from the trigger frame input from the self-error correction decoding unit 203 , and acquire the common terminal information related to TXOP sharing.

[0129] The terminal common information related to TXOP sharing may include, for example, information related to the TXOP sharing mode and information related to the allocated channel for the terminal 200. In addition, the terminal common information may include information related to the allocated period for the terminal 200. In addition, the terminal common information may include, for example, information indicating the TXOP sharing mode for multiple terminals based on FDM.

[0130] The general information acquisition unit 204 may output the extracted terminal general information to the user information acquisition unit 205 .

[0131] The user information acquisition unit 205 may, for example, extract information corresponding to the user information list (e.g., at least one user information field and a special user information field) from the trigger frame input from the self-error correction decoding unit 203, and perform reception processing of the user information field based on the terminal general information (e.g., including the TXOP sharing mode) input from the general information acquisition unit 204. For example, when the TXOP sharing mode indicates TXOP sharing for multiple terminals, the user information acquisition unit 205 may perform reception processing of multiple user information fields. In addition, when the TXOP sharing mode indicates TXOP sharing for one terminal, the user information acquisition unit 205 may perform reception processing of one user information field.

[0132] For example, the user information acquisition unit 205 can decode the information identifying the terminal 200 contained in the user information field (for example, the terminal ID or AID), and when it is determined that there is an allocation indication sent to the terminal 200, obtain at least one of the terminal-specific information related to TXOP sharing (for example, allocated wireless resources such as allocation period and allocated channel, and destination information related to the sending destination allowed to use the allocated wireless resources for sending and receiving) and terminal general information (for example, information including TXOP sharing mode and UL BW) from the user information field.

[0133] The user information acquisition unit 205 may output the terminal-specific information and the terminal-common information to the scheduling unit 206 and the data generation unit 207 , for example.

[0134] The scheduling unit 206 may determine the allocated wireless resources and the destination of uplink transmission based on the information (e.g., including terminal-specific information and terminal-common information) input from the user information acquisition unit 205. The scheduling unit 206 may control the data transmission in the allocated wireless resources shared by the TXOP indicated by the AP 100 based on the allocated wireless resources. The control of data transmission may include, for example, control related to the allocated period, the allocated channel, and the destination within the allocated period.

[0135] For example, the scheduling unit 206 can output control information related to data generation to the data generation unit 207 (for example, including wireless parameters applied to the data signal (signal length, modulation method, error correction coding rate, spatial multiplexing number, transmission power, etc.)).

[0136] Here, a part of the wireless parameters applied to the data signal (for example, at least one of the signal length, modulation method, error correction coding rate, spatial multiplexing number, and transmission power) may be determined by the terminal 200 based on parameters such as the transmission buffer status or communication quality of the terminal 200. In other words, a part of the wireless parameters applied to the data signal may not be indicated by the AP 100.

[0137] In addition, the signal length of the data may be, for example, a length within the allocated period indicated by the AP 100. In addition, based on the allocated channel indicated by the AP 100, the transmission channel allocated to the data signal may be determined.

[0138] In addition, the destination for transmission within the allocation period can be determined based on the information acquired by the user information acquisition unit 205. Fig.15 In the definition shown, when the Destination Mode subfield value of the User Information field is 0, the scheduling unit 206 sets (e.g., limits) the destination of the signal during the allocation period to other terminals for which P2P is set. For example, when the Destination Mode subfield value is 0, the AP 100 may not be set as the destination of the signal during the allocation period.

[0139] In addition, for example, Fig.15 In the definition shown, when the destination mode subfield value is 1, the scheduler 206 sets the destination of the signal in the allocation period to another terminal for which P2P is set or the AP 100. For example, the scheduler 206 may select the destination according to the priority of the transmission packet.

[0140] The data generation unit 207 generates a data signal (e.g., a CTS frame, data sent to AP100 or data sent to other terminals) based on the control information input from the scheduling unit 206 and the information input from the user information acquisition unit 205, and outputs the data signal to the error correction coding unit 208.

[0141] For example, the data generation unit 207 may generate a CTS frame after receiving a MU-RTS TXS trigger frame (for example, immediately after receiving the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame). In addition, the data generation unit 207 may generate a data signal (for example, SU-PPDU) for an allowed transmission destination after sending a CTS frame (for example, after SIFS has passed since the CTS frame was sent).

[0142] The error correction coding unit 208 performs error correction coding on the data signal input from the data generation unit 207, and outputs the coded signal to the modulation unit 209. The coding rate for the data signal can be determined by the terminal 200, for example.

[0143] The modulation unit 209 modulates the signal input from the error correction coding unit 208, and outputs the modulated signal to the wireless transceiver unit 201. In addition, the modulation method applied by the modulation unit 209 can be determined by the terminal 200, for example. In addition, when the modulated signal is an OFDM signal, the terminal 200 (for example, the modulation unit 209) can perform IFFT processing after mapping the modulated signal to the frequency resource, and add a CP, thereby forming an OFDM signal.

[0144] [Operation Example of AP 100 and Terminal 200]

[0145] Next, an operation example of the AP 100 and the terminal 200 according to the present embodiment will be described.

[0146] The following method is described, which uses a trigger frame (e.g., MU-RTS TXS trigger frame) generated by AP100 (e.g., general information generating unit 102, user information generating unit 103 and trigger frame generating unit 104) to indicate TXOP sharing (e.g., allocation of a portion of the transmission opportunity (TXOP) obtained by AP100) for multiple terminals 200 different from AP100 (e.g., non-AP terminals).

[0147] Furthermore, among the plurality of terminals 200 different from the AP 100 , for example, a pair of terminals 200 that perform P2P communication (for example, inter-terminal communication) may be included.

[0148] <Example of notification of terminal general information>

[0149] The terminal general information may include, for example, information related to the TXOP sharing mode.

[0150] AP100 can be based on Fig.11 The TXOP sharing mode table shown generates information of the TXOP sharing mode subfield (e.g., the TXOP sharing mode subfield value). Fig.11 The TXOP sharing mode table shown may include, for example, information indicating TXOP sharing for multiple terminals (eg, TXOP sharing mode subfield value = 3).

[0151] For example, in the case of indicating TXOP sharing for multiple terminals 200 different from the AP 100, the AP 100 may generate the following trigger frame, which contains a trigger frame indicating Fig.11The TXOP sharing mode subfield value in the TXOP sharing mode table shown is 3. For example, the AP 100 may set information related to TXOP sharing for multiple terminals (eg, information indicating that multiple terminals share a transmission opportunity) in a common information field common to the terminals 200 in the trigger frame.

[0152] Furthermore, when setting information related to TXOP sharing for a plurality of terminals, the AP 100 may set, for example, a plurality of user information fields dedicated to a plurality of terminals 200 to which TXOP sharing is applied in a trigger frame.

[0153] <Example of notification of terminal-specific information>

[0154] The terminal-specific information may include, for example, allocated frequency band information for terminal 200 (eg, 20 MHz×N frequency band), information on the allocated period for terminal 200, and transmission destination information that allows transmission and reception using the allocated wireless resources for terminal 200.

[0155] For example, the allocated band may be set to a band included in the transmission band of the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame transmitted by the AP 100. For example, the allocated band may be a band to which at least a part of the band of the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame is allocated.

[0156] For example, a part of the TXOP period acquired by AP 100 may be set as the allocation period. Alternatively, different periods may be indicated as the allocation periods to a plurality of terminals 200.

[0157] In addition, the information related to the allocation period is not limited to being included in the terminal-specific information, but may also be included in other areas. For example, the information related to the allocation period may also be included as terminal general information in a subfield that is part of the general information field (e.g., UL length subfield (Length subfield), reserved subfield (Reserved subfield)).

[0158] In the transmission destination information, for example, Fig.15 As shown, other terminals (for example, terminals that have completed P2P settings with terminal 200) are set (for example, limited) as the transmission destinations that are allowed to use the allocated wireless resources for transmission and reception, or AP100 and other terminals can be set as the transmission destinations that are allowed to use the allocated wireless resources for transmission and reception. When AP100 and other terminals are set in the transmission destination information, terminal 200 can select one of AP100 and other terminals as the transmission destination.

[0159] For example, Fig.12As shown, AP100 can set a subfield indicating the sending destination information (e.g., destination mode subfield) in the user information field. Figure 3 In the area B29 which is a reserved area in the existing user information field, a subfield indicating the transmission destination information (for example, a destination mode subfield) is set.

[0160] In addition, the name of the subfield indicating the destination information is not limited to the destination mode, and may be other names. In addition, the subfield indicating the destination information is not limited to the area of ​​B29, and may be set in other areas. In addition, the types of destinations that can be notified by the destination information (for example, candidate destinations) are not limited to the following types. Fig.15 The two types shown may be three or more.

[0161] In addition, for example, when a TXOP sharing mode for multiple terminals is applied (for example, Fig.11 In the case of TXOP sharing mode = 3), Fig.12 The area B29 of the user information field shown is set as the destination mode subfield. When TXOP sharing for multiple terminals is not applied, Fig.12 The area B29 of the user information field shown is set as other subfields (eg, reserved area).

[0162] For example, when Fig.15 In the definition shown, when the destination mode subfield = 0, other terminals (for example, P2P terminals) can be set instead of AP100 as the terminals allowed to use the Fig.12 The AID12 subfield indicates the transmission destination to which the radio resources are allocated for transmission and reception of the terminal 200. For example, when the Destination Mode subfield value = 0, the transmission destination is limited to other terminals (for example, P2P terminals), and uplink transmission to the AP 100 is not allowed.

[0163] In addition, for example, when Fig.15 In the definition shown in FIG. 1 , when the destination mode subfield value = 1, one of the AP 100 and other terminals (eg, P2P terminals) can be set as the one that is allowed to use the destination mode subfield. Fig.12 The AID12 subfield shown indicates the transmission destination to which the radio resources are allocated for transmission and reception of the terminal 200. For example, when the Destination Mode subfield value = 1, uplink transmission to the AP 100 is permitted.

[0164] In addition, the association between the Destination Mode subfield value and the transmission destination (for example, P2P terminal, and AP 100 and P2P terminal) that is allowed to use the allocated wireless resources for transmission and reception is not limited to Fig.15For example, the transmission destination may be set to allow transmission and reception with AP 100 but not with P2P terminals.

[0165] In addition, when the destination mode subfield value=1, the transmission destination of the signal transmitted from the terminal 200 and the duration of the transmission signal can be determined by the terminal 200, for example.

[0166] For example, when the transmission band of terminal 1 among multiple terminals 200 (for example, including terminal 1 and terminal 2) whose TXOP is shared by one MU-RTS TXS trigger frame is set to the main 20 MHz, the transmission band of terminal 2 may also be set to a frequency resource that does not include the main channel. In this case, terminal 2 may, for example, respond to the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame and send a CTS frame and data using a frequency resource that does not include the main channel (for example, a frequency band indicated to terminal 2).

[0167] In addition, the terminal 200 that receives the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame can, for example, send a CTS frame based on the carrier sensing result in the frequency resource for CTS notified by the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame. For example, when the frequency resource for CTS notified by the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame does not include the main channel, the terminal 200 can send a CTS frame in the notified frequency resource even if the main channel is busy.

[0168] For example, the base station 100 may receive a response signal (CTS frame) to the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame in an allocated band for each terminal 200 (eg, a transmission band of the terminal 200 or a frequency resource for CTS) indicated by the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame.

[0169] Furthermore, the method of notifying the allocated channels is not limited to the above-mentioned case of indicating the positions of the 20 MHz×N frequency resources allocated to the terminal 200, and may be a method of notifying other frequency resources.

[0170] Fig.17 This is a diagram showing an example of a sequence in which TXOP sharing is instructed to a plurality of terminals, and a transmission destination for which transmission and reception are permitted using allocated wireless resources is instructed to each terminal 200 .

[0171] exist Fig.17 For example, AP100 (denoted as "AP") can provide a plurality of terminals 200 ( Fig.17 The non-AP STA1 (hereinafter, terminal 1) and the non-AP STA3 (hereinafter, terminal 3) indicate information related to the TXOP sharing mode as terminal common information.

[0172] For example, the plurality of terminals 200 to which TXOP sharing for the plurality of terminals is applied may be terminals that have completed P2P (for example, have completed TDLS setup or have completed direct link setup). Fig.17 In the example shown, a P2P link (for example, TDLS) is pre-set between terminal 1 and non-AP STA2 (hereinafter, terminal 2), and a P2P link (for example, TDLS) is pre-set between terminal 3 and non-AP STA4 (hereinafter, terminal 4). Fig.17 AP100 can notify Fig.11 The TXOP sharing mode subfield value shown is 3, which indicates to Terminal 1 and Terminal 3 that TXOP sharing is performed for multiple terminals.

[0173] In addition, Fig.17 For example, AP100 may notify the destination information that allows the use of the allocated wireless resources for transmission and reception (for example, communication with one of other terminals and AP100 is allowed, or communication with other terminals is allowed), information related to the allocated channel (for example, RU allocation), and information related to the allocation period (for example, Fig.17 The time allocated in the MU-RTS TXS TF (Time allocated in MU-RTS TXS TF) shown in FIG. 1 is terminal-specific information for each of the plurality of terminals 200 (for example, the terminal 1 and the terminal 3). Fig.17 In the example of , the same period is indicated as the allocation period for terminal 1 and terminal 3.

[0174] For example, in Fig.17 In the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame, AP100 can use the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame to notify Terminal 1 of the destination mode subfield value = 1, thereby indicating that Terminal 2 or AP100 is the transmission destination that is allowed to use the allocated wireless resources for transmission and reception. Fig.17 In the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame, AP100 can use the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame to notify Terminal 3 of the destination mode subfield value = 0, thereby indicating that Terminal 4 is the transmission destination that is allowed to use the allocated wireless resources for transmission and reception. Fig.17 In the example, AP100 allows terminal 1 to perform uplink transmission to AP100, but does not allow terminal 3 to perform uplink transmission to AP100.

[0175] In addition, Fig.17 In , AP100 can, for example, instruct Terminal 1 and Terminal 3 to communicate using orthogonal frequency resources (20 MHz×N channels). Fig.17 In the example shown, the 20 MHz channel #1 is indicated to the terminal 1, and the 20 MHz channel #2 is indicated to the terminal 3.

[0176] exist Fig.17 For example, terminal 1 and terminal 3 can send a CTS frame (CTS response) to AP100 and a data signal (DATA) to each sending destination in the respective allocation channels of terminal 1 and terminal 3 during the allocation period shared by TXOP based on the received MU-RTS TXS trigger frame.

[0177] For example, in Fig.17 In the example, the terminal 1 can send a CTS frame to the AP 100 in the indicated 20 MHz channel #1, and then send a data signal (for example, SU PPDU) to the AP 100 that is allowed as a transmission destination. Fig.17 In the example, terminal 3 can send a CTS frame to AP 100 in the indicated 20 MHz channel #2, and then send a data signal to terminal 4 which is allowed as the transmission destination.

[0178] In this way, the AP 100 can, for example, cause each terminal 200 to send (e.g., reply) a CTS frame in the allocated frequency band indicated by the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame (e.g., including a frequency band that does not include the main channel). Thus, the AP 100 can, for example, receive a CTS frame in the allocated frequency band indicated by the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame and understand that the scheduled terminal 200 has started communicating during the allocated period (e.g., the instruction from the AP 100 has been delivered normally).

[0179] In addition, for example, Fig.17 In the illustrated example, during the allocation period of TXOP sharing, of the terminals 1 and 3 to which TXOP sharing is applied, the terminal 1 is allowed to communicate with the AP 100 , and the terminal 3 is not allowed to make notifications with the AP 100 .

[0180] With this setting, the AP 100 communicates (for example, receives a data signal and sends an ACK) with one terminal 200 (for example, the terminal 1) among the terminals 1 and 3 to which the TXOP sharing is applied during the allocation period of the TXOP sharing. Fig.17 In the example shown, AP100 communicates with terminal 1 during the TXOP sharing allocation period, and does not communicate with other terminals 2 to 4 different from terminal 1. As a result, in AP100, for example, Fig.17 As shown, the transmission timing of the signal (e.g., Block Ack) for terminal 1 is suppressed from overlapping with the reception timing of the signal from other terminals (e.g., one of terminals 2 to 4). In addition, in AP100, for example, it is possible to suppress the reception timing of the signal from terminal 1 from overlapping with the transmission timing of the signal for other terminals (e.g., one of terminals 2 to 4).

[0181] Thus, in this embodiment, the AP 100 generates and transmits a trigger frame for instructing uplink transmission of multiple terminals, and the trigger frame includes transmission destination information related to the transmission destination of the uplink transmission for each of the multiple terminals 200. For example, the AP 100 indicates the transmission destination information for the multiple terminals 200 (for example, whether uplink transmission to the AP 100 is permitted) to communicate with one of the multiple terminals 200 to which TXOP sharing is applied within the allocated period of TXOP sharing.

[0182] Thus, one trigger frame can be used to instruct a plurality of terminals 200 to share TXOPs, thereby improving allocation efficiency in TXOP sharing.

[0183] In addition, in the present embodiment, for example, it is possible to appropriately control the transmission destination in the time resource shared by the TXOP for a plurality of terminals 200 (for example, P2P terminals), and thus it is possible to suppress the overlap of the transmission timing and the reception timing for the plurality of terminals 200 in the AP 100. Thus, for example, it is possible to suppress the overlap of the ACK frame transmitted from the AP 100 to a certain terminal 200 and the SU PPDU frame transmitted from the other terminal 200 to the AP 100. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the retransmission of the SU PPDU by the other terminal 200 due to the failure of the AP 100 to receive the SU PPDU frame from the other terminal 200, and thus it is possible to improve the utilization efficiency of the time resource allocated by the AP 100.

[0184] In addition, Fig.17 For example, at least a part of the wireless parameters used for TXOP sharing can be determined (or scheduled) by the terminal 200 instead of being scheduled by the AP 100. Therefore, TXOP sharing for multiple terminals 200 can be achieved through simple processing.

[0185] Therefore, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to improve allocation efficiency in TXOP sharing in wireless communications.

[0186] In addition, if the AP 100 has a function of suppressing self-interference, it is not necessary to suppress the overlap between the transmission timing and the reception timing in the AP 100. Fig.17 In the case where AP100 has the function of suppressing self-interference, it can also use the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame to notify the terminal 1 and the terminal 3 of the destination mode subfield value = 1. Thus, for example, both the terminal 1 and the terminal 3 are indicated as other terminals (terminal 2 or terminal 4) or AP100 as the sending destinations allowed to use the allocated wireless resources for transmission and reception, and the terminal 1 and the terminal 3 can flexibly select the sending destination of the uplink transmission.

[0187] In addition, in the present embodiment, AP100 notifies the terminal 200 of TXOP sharing for multiple terminals based on the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame format agreed upon in 11be version 1 (for example, the format specified in 11be version 1). As a result, for example, a terminal corresponding to 11be version 1 (for example, referred to as a "11be version 1 corresponding terminal") that supports TXOP sharing for one terminal and a terminal 200 that supports TXOP sharing for multiple terminals in the present embodiment (for example, a terminal corresponding to a future version) can apply a common trigger frame format. For example, using the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame format described in the present embodiment, the TXOP sharing mode corresponding to the 11be version 1 corresponding terminal (for example, a value of one of 0, 1, and 2) is set (for example, a setting limited to a part of the values), thereby, AP100 can notify the TXOP sharing mode for the 11be version 1 corresponding terminal.

[0188] (Variation 1 of Implementation Example 1)

[0189] exist Fig.17 In the example shown, the transmission destination information indicates the transmission destinations that are allowed to use the allocated wireless resources for transmission and reception for the entire allocation period for the plurality of terminals 200. Fig.17 In the example shown, when Terminal 1 and Terminal 3 each retain transmission data to AP 100 in a buffer, Terminal 3 is not allowed to transmit to AP 100 and therefore does not transmit transmission data to AP 100 during the allocation period of TXOP sharing. The indication content of the transmission destination information is not limited to this.

[0190] In variation 1, for example, Fig.18 As shown, the terminal-specific information notified by AP100 includes the transmission destination information that allows the use of the allocated wireless resources for transmission and reception for each part of the TXOP shared allocation period. For example, the transmission destination information may also indicate the transmission destination of the uplink transmission in each of the multiple parts (or time) divided into the TXOP shared allocation period (a part of the TXOP time).

[0191] exist Fig.18 In the example shown, the sending destination information (for example, information of the destination mode subfield) can also divide the allocation period into a first half and a second half, and indicate the sending destinations in the first half and the second half of the allocation period that are allowed to use the allocated wireless resources for transmission and reception.

[0192] For example, in Fig.18When the value of the Destination Mode subfield in is 0, the communication to AP100 in each of the first half and the second half of the allocation period is set to not allowed. When the value of the Destination Mode subfield is 1, the communication to AP100 in the first half of the allocation period is set to not allowed, and the communication to AP100 in the second half of the allocation period is set to allowed. When the value of the Destination Mode subfield is 2, the communication to AP100 in the first half of the allocation period is set to allowed, and the communication to AP100 in the second half of the allocation period is set to not allowed. When the value of the Destination Mode subfield is 3, the communication to AP100 in each of the first half and the second half of the allocation period is set to allowed.

[0193] Fig.19 This is a diagram showing an example of a sequence in which TXOP sharing is instructed to a plurality of terminals, and a transmission destination for which transmission and reception are permitted using allocated wireless resources is instructed to each terminal 200 .

[0194] exist Fig.19 In the example shown, AP100 communicates (e.g., receives data signals and sends ACK) with one of Terminal 1 and Terminal 3 to which TXOP sharing is applied in each part (first half and second half) of the allocation period of TXOP sharing. For example, AP100 can use the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame to notify Terminal 1 of the value of the destination mode subfield = 2 and to notify Terminal 3 of the value of the destination mode subfield = 1. Thus, Fig.19 As shown in FIG. 1 , AP 100 communicates with terminal 1 in the first half of the TXOP shared allocation period, and does not communicate with terminal 2, terminal 3, and terminal 4 other than terminal 1. Fig.19 As shown, AP 100 communicates with terminal 3 in the second half of the allocated period of TXOP sharing, and does not communicate with terminal 1 , terminal 2 , and terminal 4 other than terminal 3 .

[0195] Thus, in Modification 1, AP 100 instructs to communicate with one of the terminals 200 among the terminals 200 to which TXOP sharing is applied during the allocation period of TXOP sharing, thereby suppressing the overlap of transmission and reception timing in AP 100. Fig.19 As shown, by dividing the period allowed for transmission to AP100 during the allocated period of TXOP sharing, even if multiple terminals 200 (for example, terminal 1 and terminal 3) applying TXOP sharing each retain the transmission data sent to AP100 in the buffer, the multiple terminals 200 can each still send the transmission data sent to AP100.

[0196] In addition, although Fig.18 and Fig.19 , the case where the TXOP shared allocation period is equally divided into two parts, the first half and the second half, is described, but the method of setting the parts into which the TXOP shared allocation period is divided is not limited to this. For example, the number of divisions of the allocation period is not limited to two, and it can also be divided into three or more periods (or parts). In addition, it is not limited to the case of being equally divided, and the allocation period can also be divided unequally.

[0197] In addition, although Fig.18 The following case is described as an example, that is, when the value of the destination mode subfield is any value, transmission to other terminals is allowed, but it is not limited to this, and whether to allow transmission to other terminals can also be set according to the value of the destination mode subfield. For example, it can also be set that when the value of the destination mode subfield is a certain value, transmission to AP100 is allowed, but transmission to other terminals is not allowed.

[0198] (Variation 2 of Implementation Example 1)

[0199] Although in Modification 1, as a method of notifying the transmission destination information indicating the transmission destinations permitted to use the allocated wireless resources for transmission and reception in each portion of the allocated period shared by the TXOP, the following case is described, that is, Fig.18 As shown in the figure, the combination of whether or not to allow transmission and reception in each part of the allocation period is defined and associated with the value of the destination mode subfield, but the present invention is not limited to this.

[0200] In the second modification, as a method of notifying the transmission destination information indicating the transmission destination to which the wireless resource allocation for transmission and reception is permitted for each portion of the allocation period shared by the TXOP, the AP 100 may also notify the same terminal 200 of a plurality of user information fields corresponding to a plurality of portions of the allocation period, respectively. For example, the AP 100 may also indicate the transmission destination information (e.g., destination mode) indicating whether the use of the allocated wireless resource for transmission and reception is permitted for each allocation duration (e.g., each portion of the allocation period) in the plurality of user information fields for the same terminal 200.

[0201] For example, Fig. 20 As shown, multiple user information fields with the same AID (or repeated AID) set may be configured in one trigger frame. For example, each of the multiple user information fields corresponds to a different period (part) within the allocation period, and different values ​​may be set as the transmission destination information (for example, the value of the destination mode subfield) in each user information field.

[0202] Thus, for example, even in Fig.19In the case where the terminal 1 and the terminal 3 each retain the transmission data to the AP 100 in the buffer as in the example of , the allocation period for allowing transmission to the AP 100 can be flexibly set (for example, divided) according to the amount of the transmission data buffer of each of the terminal 1 and the terminal 3. Thus, according to the modification example 2, the transmission data to the AP 100 can be efficiently transmitted.

[0203] (Implementation Method 2)

[0204] In this embodiment, a case where TXOP sharing is performed with different allocation periods for a plurality of terminals (for example, STAs) will be described.

[0205] The wireless communication system according to this embodiment may include AP 100 and terminal 200 similarly to Embodiment 1.

[0206] The AP 100 sets different allocation times for each terminal 200 (eg, P2P terminal) according to the amount of each transmission buffer of the terminal 200 performing P2P, thereby improving the utilization efficiency of radio resources and improving system performance.

[0207] For example, the resource utilization efficiency of the allocation period may be reduced due to the setting of the sub-channel and the allocation period in TXOP sharing.

[0208] As an example, the following situation is described, that is, if Fig.21 As shown in FIG. 1 , 20 MHz channel #1 (primary channel) is allocated to terminal 1 (non-AP STA1), and 20 MHz channel #2 (secondary channel) is allocated to terminal 3 (non-AP STA3). Fig.21 As shown, the allocation periods (time allocated in the MU-RTS TXS TF) set for the terminal 1 and the terminal 3 are different. For example, the allocation period set for the terminal 3 is shorter than the allocation period set for the terminal 1.

[0209] In this case, if Fig.21 As shown in the figure, after the allocation period of 20 MHz channel #2 (sub-channel) for terminal 3 ends, the wireless resources (allocated frequency band) of 20 MHz channel #2 (sub-channel) shown by the dotted line become idle resources, and the wireless resources of 20 MHz channel #1 (primary channel) are used by terminal 1. Therefore, because the primary channel is being used by terminal 1, the carrier sensing result in AP100 is busy. Therefore, although the wireless resources (allocated frequency band) of 20 MHz channel #2 (sub-channel) are idle resources (for example, the carrier sensing result is idle), AP100 cannot send signals in the resources corresponding to the sub-channel, and the system performance may be degraded.

[0210] In this embodiment, a method of efficiently performing TXOP sharing with different allocation periods for a plurality of terminals 200 using one MU-RTS TXS trigger frame will be described.

[0211] [Structure of base station]

[0212] The structure example of AP100 in this embodiment can be Fig.10 For example, in the AP 100 of this embodiment, the operation of the scheduling unit 101 may be different from that of the first embodiment.

[0213] The scheduling unit 101 determines the allocation period and the allocated radio resources to be applied to the terminal 200 based on the terminal information input from the terminal information storage unit 110 , for example.

[0214] For example, the scheduling unit 101 may determine the allocation period of each terminal 200 according to the amount of the transmission buffer of the terminal 200 to be scheduled. In addition, for example, it may be set that the shorter the determined allocation period is among the multiple terminals 200 scheduled using one MU-RTS TXS trigger frame, the easier it is for the scheduling unit 101 to allocate the allocation band to the main channel (a 20 MHz×N channel including a 20 MHz main channel). For example, the scheduling unit 101 may allocate the main channel to the terminal 200 with the smallest allocation period among the multiple terminals 200 scheduled using one MU-RTS TXS trigger frame, and allocate the sub-channel to the other terminals 200. As a result, in the allocation period shared by the TXOP (for example, the time of a part of the TXOP), the allocation time for the terminal 200 allocated to the main channel among the multiple terminals 200 is shorter than the allocation time for the terminal 200 allocated to the sub-channel.

[0215] In addition, the scheduling unit 101 may determine the data length (e.g., PPDU length) to be transmitted after the end of the allocation period in the primary channel, for example, based on the difference in the allocation time for the plurality of terminals 200. For example, the scheduling unit 101 may determine the data length (e.g., PPDU length) based on the difference between the allocation period in the secondary channel and the allocation period in the primary channel in the allocation time for the plurality of terminals 200. For example, the PPDU length to be transmitted after the end of the allocation period in the primary channel may be determined based on the difference between the maximum allocation period and the minimum allocation period between the terminals 200 to be scheduled.

[0216] The processing of other components in AP100 may be the same as that in the first embodiment, for example.

[0217] [Terminal structure]

[0218] The configuration example of the terminal 200 of this embodiment can be Fig.16For example, in the terminal 200 of this embodiment, the operation of the demodulation unit 202 may be different from that of the first embodiment.

[0219] For example, in Embodiment 1, the demodulation unit 202 first performs demodulation processing on the primary channel determined by the connected AP 100, and does not perform demodulation processing on the secondary channel when the demodulated signal is not a signal addressed to the terminal 200.

[0220] In this embodiment, for example, the following specification can be adopted, that is, when TXOP sharing for multiple terminals 200 is applied in the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame, a specification allowing PPDU to be sent to a sub-channel that does not include a main channel during the TXOP period obtained by AP100 (for example, the period notified by the UL length subfield of the terminal general information of the trigger frame).

[0221] Therefore, in this embodiment, for example, AP100 and terminal 200 can be allowed to communicate in a secondary channel that does not include the main channel within the TXOP time of AP100 or the time notified by the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame (for example, the UL length subfield).

[0222] In the terminal 200, the demodulation unit 202 may perform the same demodulation processing on the secondary channel in addition to the demodulation processing on the primary channel. For example, the demodulation unit 202 may perform the demodulation processing on the secondary channel regardless of whether the signal demodulated on the primary channel is a signal addressed to the terminal 200.

[0223] Furthermore, in order to reduce the amount of processing in the terminal 200 , the terminal 200 that performs the demodulation processing of the sub-channel may be limited to the terminal 200 indicated by the user information subfield of the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame.

[0224] The processing of other components in terminal 200 may be the same as that of Embodiment 1, for example.

[0225] [Operation Example of AP 100 and Terminal 200]

[0226] Next, an operation example of the AP 100 and the terminal 200 according to the present embodiment will be described.

[0227] Fig. 22 This is a diagram showing an example of a sequence in which TXOP sharing is instructed to a plurality of terminals 200 and a transmission destination for which transmission and reception are permitted to be performed using allocated wireless resources is instructed to each terminal 200 .

[0228] exist Fig. 22 For example, AP100 (denoted as "AP") can provide a plurality of terminals 200 ( Fig. 22Terminal 1 and Terminal 3) indicate information related to the TXOP sharing mode as terminal common information.

[0229] For example, the plurality of terminals 200 to which TXOP sharing for the plurality of terminals is applied may be terminals that have completed P2P (for example, have completed TDLS setup or have completed direct link setup). Fig. 22 In the example shown, a P2P link is pre-set between terminal 1 and terminal 2 (for example, TDLS is set), and a P2P link is pre-set between terminal 3 and terminal 4 (TDLS is set). Fig. 22 AP100 can notify Fig.11 The TXOP sharing mode subfield value shown is 3, which indicates to Terminal 1 and Terminal 3 that TXOP sharing is performed for multiple terminals.

[0230] In addition, Fig. 22 For example, AP100 can notify the sending destination information (for example, destination mode) that allows the use of allocated wireless resources for transmission and reception, information related to the allocated channel (for example, RU allocation), and information related to the allocation period as terminal-specific information for multiple terminals 200 (for example, terminal 1 and terminal 3) respectively.

[0231] For example, in Fig. 22 In the example shown, AP100 can instruct terminal 3, which has a smaller transmission buffer, to allocate a longer period ( Fig. 22 The shorter the allocation period ( Fig. 22 Time allocated in MU-RTS TXS TF to STA3). Therefore, Fig. 22 In the example shown, the allocation period for terminal 3 is shorter than the allocation period for terminal 1 .

[0232] Furthermore, AP 100 may set the allocated frequency band for terminal 3 as the main channel (20 MHz channel #1), and set the allocated frequency bands for other terminals 200 (eg, including terminal 1) as sub-channels (eg, including 20 MHz channel #2).

[0233] Thus, after the allocation period of the terminal 3 in the primary channel ends, as long as the result of the carrier sensing within the prescribed time (for example, PIFS) is idle, Fig. 22As shown, even when the secondary channel is already in use, AP100 can still send signals to other terminals in the primary channel which is an idle resource. Therefore, according to this embodiment, in TXOP sharing with different allocation periods for multiple terminals 200, wireless resources after the allocation period of some terminals 200 ends can be effectively used, so that the utilization efficiency of resources can be improved, thereby improving the system performance.

[0234] In addition, the AP 100 may set the data length (PPDU length) to be transmitted after the allocation period in the primary channel ends to the difference between the maximum allocation period and the minimum allocation period between the scheduled terminals 200. Fig. 22 In the example of , AP 100 can determine the PPDU length based on the difference between the allocation period of terminal 1 and the allocation period of terminal 3. This can effectively utilize idle resources, thereby improving system performance.

[0235] In addition, for example, during the remaining TXOP period after the allocation period of all terminals 200 ends, AP 100 can use the entire frequency band including the transmission frequency band of the trigger frame of the sub-20 MHz channel to transmit signals. As a result, wireless resources can be effectively used in sharing TXOPs with different allocation periods for multiple terminals 200. Therefore, system performance can be improved.

[0236] For example, Fig.23 As shown, AP100 can send signals to other terminals in the primary channel after the allocation period of terminal 3 ends.

[0237] Then, the AP 100 may transmit signals in the secondary channel in addition to the primary channel during the remaining TXOP period after the allocation period of all the terminals 200 (for example, the terminal 1 and the terminal 3) ends. Fig.23 As shown, the AP 100 can transmit the PPDU in the secondary channel that does not include the primary channel. In addition, the terminal 200 can perform the demodulation process of the secondary channel regardless of the demodulation result in the primary channel, for example.

[0238] like Fig.23 As shown, even when the main channel is allocated to another terminal after the allocation period of terminal 3 ends, AP 100 can still perform communication on the sub-channel excluding the main channel after the allocation period of terminal 1 on the sub-channel ends.

[0239] Thus, the AP 100 can transmit signals in the sub-20 MHz channel during the remaining TXOP period after the allocation periods of all the terminals 200 have ended. Thus, according to the present embodiment, wireless resources can be effectively utilized, and system performance can be improved.

[0240] In addition, for example, when Fig.23 In the case where the terminal 200 that performs the demodulation processing of the sub-channel is limited to the terminal 200 indicated by the user information subfield of the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame, the signal transmitted in the sub-channel may be a signal transmitted to the terminal 1 or the terminal 3. When the terminal 200 is instructed to share the TXOP for multiple terminals, it may perform the demodulation processing of the sub-channel in addition to the demodulation processing of the main channel during the TXOP notified by the trigger frame.

[0241] In addition, although Fig. 22 and Fig.23 In the illustrated example, a case where the number of terminals 200 to which TXOP sharing is applied is two is described, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and the number of terminals 200 may be three or more.

[0242] In addition, although Fig. 22 and Fig.23 The example shown illustrates a case where the PPDU length is determined based on the difference between the maximum allocation period and the minimum allocation period in the allocation period for the terminal 200 to which TXOP sharing is applied, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the PPDU length may be determined based on the difference between the allocation period for the primary channel and the allocation period that is longer than the allocation period for the primary channel in the allocation period for the terminal 200 to which TXOP sharing is applied.

[0243] In addition, although Fig. 22 and Fig.23 The example shown illustrates a case where the allocated frequency band for the terminal 200 with the minimum allocated period set among the terminals 200 to which TXOP sharing is applied is set as the primary channel, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the above-described embodiment can also be applied between the primary channel and the secondary channel with an allocated period set longer than that for the primary channel.

[0244] In the above, each embodiment of the present disclosure has been described.

[0245] (Other embodiments)

[0246] (1) Although the examples of transmission and reception in the sub-channels (for example, channels not including the main 20 MHz channel) are described in Embodiments 1 and 2, the following setting example may be applied as a setting method of the sub-channels.

[0247] <Setting Example 1>

[0248] In setting example 1, the terminal 200 scheduled by the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame can also transmit the P2P link in the frequency band indicated by the trigger frame during the TXOP sharing period. For example, when the frequency band indicated by the trigger frame is a frequency band including a sub-channel (or, a frequency band not including a main channel), the terminal 200 can also transmit the P2P link in the frequency band.

[0249] For example, in Configuration Example 1, the same rules as those for UL MU transmission using a conventional trigger frame (eg, Basic Trigger, etc.) can be applied. Thus, in Configuration Example 1, transmission in the secondary channel can be easily realized by applying the conventional rules.

[0250] <Setting Example 2>

[0251] In setting example 2, it is assumed that the terminal 200 assigned to the sub-channel by the AP 100 is a terminal set in the sub-channel selectivity (SST) mode (for example, referred to as an "SST terminal").

[0252] For example, the AP 100 may instruct the SST terminal to transmit in the sub-channel set by the SST mode during the TXOP sharing period by using the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame that instructs TXOP sharing.

[0253] SST setup is established by negotiation of a trigger-enabled TWT, for example, similar to 11ax, and AP100 may also instruct transmission in the subchannel using the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame (e.g., extended MU-RTS TXS TF) of setting example 2 during the TWT. Thus, in setting example 2, transmission in the subchannel can be easily achieved by reusing existing functions.

[0254] <Setting Example 3>

[0255] In setting example 3, the channel departure setting mechanism (TDLS Channel Switch Request / Response frame) for negotiating a channel for transmission and reception between P2P terminal pairs in TDLS can also be used as a method of pre-notifying a channel for transmission and reception during an allocation period shared by TXOP. In this way, in setting example 3, transmission in a sub-channel can be easily realized by reusing an existing function.

[0256] In the above, setting examples 1 to 3 have been described.

[0257] Furthermore, any one of the above setting examples 1 to 3 may be applied in combination. For example, by combining setting example 1 and setting example 2, the terminal 200 assigned to the secondary channel by the AP 100 may be an SST terminal, and the terminal 200 assigned to the primary channel by the AP 100 may be a terminal 200 not set to the SST mode.

[0258] (2) Although the TXOP sharing for the terminal 200 that has completed the TDLS (P2P link) setting has been described in Embodiments 1 and 2, the following operation example may be applied as an operation of TXOP sharing associated with TDLS.

[0259] <Action Example 1>

[0260] In action example 1, when TXOP sharing is being performed in one of the multiple links, a non-STR (non-simultaneous transmit and receive) terminal that has completed the TDLS setting in the multiple links may not send (or respond to) a CTS frame for an RTS frame from AP100 in other links.

[0261] As a result, for example, even when TXOP sharing is set in a plurality of P2P links, it is possible to suppress the overlap of transmission timing and reception timing of non-STR terminals.

[0262] <Action Example 2>

[0263] In action example 2, a TDLS procedure for TXOP sharing may also be newly defined.

[0264] In the existing TDLS, AP100 can relay request frames and response frames (hereinafter also referred to as "request / response frames") between P2P terminals. In this case, the setting contents in TDLS are exchanged with encapsulated data, so AP100 does not need to decode the request / response frames between P2P terminals.

[0265] In action example 2, in TDLS for TXOP sharing, AP100 may also decode and interpret (or determine, grasp) the content of request / response frames between P2P terminals. For example, the request / response frame for TXOP sharing may also include terminal information (e.g., terminal ID, capability information, etc.) of the destination of the P2P communication.

[0266] Thus, the AP 100 can determine the information related to the P2P link, and thus, for example, can avoid the terminal pair (e.g., communication partner) in the P2P link from simultaneously instructing TXOP sharing to duplicate multiple terminals 200. For example, when the AP 100 understands that a P2P link is set between terminal 1 and terminal 2 and a P2P link is set between terminal 1 and terminal 3 by interpreting the request / response frame between the P2P terminals, it is possible not to simultaneously instruct TXOP sharing to terminal 2 and terminal 3, each of which is a terminal pair of terminal 1.

[0267] Thus, in Operation Example 2, it is possible to suppress the overlap of the transmission timing and reception timing of the P2P terminal. In the above example, for Terminal 1, it is possible to suppress the overlap of the transmission and reception timing between Terminal 2 and Terminal 3.

[0268] In addition, when channel separation is implemented in the setting of the P2P link (for example, the setting of performing P2P communication outside the operating frequency band of AP100), AP100 can grasp the channel separation by interpreting the request / response frame between P2P terminals. The P2P terminal that implements channel separation cannot be scheduled in the operating frequency band of AP100, for example. Therefore, AP100 can also exclude the terminal 200 that implements channel separation from the scheduling object of TXOP sharing. Therefore, the scheduling efficiency of TXOP sharing in AP100 can be improved.

[0269] <Action Example 3>

[0270] In the action example 3, a frame (for example, a type of a TDLS action frame) that is notified by the terminal 200 to the AP 100 or negotiated with the AP 100 may be newly defined.

[0271] In Action Example 3, for example, a new frame may be defined instead of using the existing request / response frame as in Action Example 2. This allows the exchange of information shown in Action Example 2 to be performed more efficiently.

[0272] In the above, operation examples 1 to 3 have been described.

[0273] In addition, any one of the above-mentioned action examples 1 to 3 may be applied in combination. For example, by combining action example 2 and action example 3, a process may be performed in which part of the information associated with TDLS for TXOP sharing is notified to AP100 by an existing TDLS frame, and the other information is notified to AP100 by a newly defined frame.

[0274] (3) In each of the above-mentioned embodiments, capability information indicating whether the terminal 200 supports each mode of the TXOP sharing mode may be defined and notified to the AP 100 by the terminal 200 .

[0275] For example, when the TXOP sharing mode 3 described in the above embodiments is set, Fig.24 As shown, in the field notifying capability information (e.g., EHT MAC capability information field (Capabilities Information field)), a subfield indicating whether terminal 200 supports TXOP sharing mode 3 (e.g., a subfield supporting triggered TXOP sharing mode 3 (Triggered TXOP Sharing Mode 3 Support subfield)) is set (e.g., added).

[0276] For example, a portion of the reserved bits in the existing EHT MAC capability information field (in Fig.24 In the example shown, B9) defines a subfield that supports triggered TXOP sharing mode 3.

[0277] Thus, the AP 100 can instruct TXOP sharing according to the TXOP sharing mode supported by the terminal 200 (for example, limited to the TXOP sharing mode supported by the terminal 200 ).

[0278] (4) In the above-mentioned embodiments, when frequency division multiplexing (FDM) is performed on the signals of a plurality of terminals 200, the AP 100 may include the maximum transmission power that each terminal 200 (for example, including the scheduled terminal 200 and the P2P terminal of the terminal 200) can transmit during the allocated period in the terminal-specific information (for example, the user information field) of the trigger frame and notify the maximum transmission power that can be transmitted. By notifying the maximum transmission power that can be transmitted, interference with adjacent channels in frequency division multiplexing can be suppressed.

[0279] For example, Fig.25 As shown, the user information field in each of the above embodiments may also be used (for example, Fig.12 ) is a part of the reserved area, indicating the maximum transmit power (in Fig.25 The maximum transmit power subfield (MaximumTransmitPower subfield) is in the middle.

[0280] For example, the AP 100 may determine the maximum transmission power of each terminal 200 based on the path loss or reception power information between the terminal 200 and the AP and the P2P terminal, which is fed back in advance by the terminal 200 .

[0281] (5) In the above embodiments, the AP notifies a plurality of terminals of TXOP sharing. However, the device that notifies TXOP sharing is not limited to the STA.

[0282] For example, the notification method described in Implementation 1 and Implementation 2 for TXOP sharing by AP for multiple terminals can also be applied as the following method, that is, a method in which a shared AP (Sharing AP) in multi-AP coordinated transmission (Multi-AP Coordination transmission) notifies the shared AP (Shared AP) of the allocation of wireless resources (time resources and frequency resources).

[0283] Multi-AP coordinated communications include "Coordinated-Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA)" in which the allocated frequency resources are different among multiple APs, and "Coordinated-Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA)" in which the allocated frequency resources are different among multiple APs. In these multi-AP coordinated communications, the above-mentioned notification method using the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame can also be used to allocate wireless resources from the shared AP to the shared AP.

[0284] For example, the above-mentioned TXOP sharing (wireless resource allocation) by an AP to multiple terminals may be replaced by wireless resource allocation (including TXOP sharing) by a shared AP to multiple sharing APs in multi-AP coordinated communication.

[0285] In addition, the above-mentioned TXOP sharing (wireless resource allocation) by the AP to multiple P2P terminals can also be replaced by wireless resource allocation (including TXOP sharing) by the shared AP to multiple pairs as follows in multi-AP coordinated communication, where the pair is a pair of sharing AP and the terminals under the shared AP.

[0286] In addition, when the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame is used in multi-AP coordinated communication, the TXOP sharing mode for multi-AP coordinated communication can also be explicitly notified. Figure 2 In the reserved area of ​​the TXOP sharing mode of the general information field shown, the TXOP sharing mode for multi-AP coordinated communication is notified. Alternatively, a subfield for notifying the TXOP sharing mode for multi-AP coordinated communication may be set in a part of a subfield of the general information field (for example, a part of a subfield not used to send a CTS frame).

[0287] (6) Although the sequence diagrams shown in the above embodiments illustrate, as an example, the case where the CTS frame is responded to the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame, an embodiment of the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, the presence or absence of a response to the CTS frame may also be indicated to the terminal 200 by the AP 100 using a trigger frame. Thus, in an environment where it is assumed that there are few hidden terminals, the response to the CTS frame from the terminal 200 can be omitted, thereby improving throughput performance.

[0288] (7) In the above-mentioned embodiments, the field for configuring each control information including the TXOP sharing mode, the destination mode, or the maximum transmission power is not limited to the above-mentioned field, and may be configured in other fields. In addition, the number of bits used to notify each control information including the TXOP sharing mode, the destination mode, or the maximum transmission power is not limited to the above-mentioned example, and may be other bit numbers.

[0289] In addition, in each of the above-mentioned embodiments, the field indicating the allocation period of TXOP sharing is not limited to the UL length subfield, and may be other subfields.

[0290] In addition, in the above-mentioned embodiments, the structure of the trigger frame, and the structure of the general information field and the user information field in the trigger frame are not limited to the above-mentioned examples. For example, it can also be other structures after at least one of the addition of other subfields and the deletion of part of the subfields in the above-mentioned fields.

[0291] Furthermore, for example, a plurality of terminals 200 allocated in TXOP sharing may multiplex signals in a resource in which at least one of a frequency resource and a time resource is different during the allocation period.

[0292] In addition, in the above-mentioned embodiments, although the case of using the MU-RTS TXS trigger frame to notify a shared AP to multiple terminals is described as an example, the trigger type in the process of notifying the shared AP to multiple terminals is not limited to MU-RTS, and can be other trigger types or a new trigger type defined in a future version.

[0293] In addition, the other terminal notified by the terminal 200 in the P2P communication may be a terminal under the AP 100 to which the terminal 200 is connected, or may be any terminal under an AP different from the AP 100 to which the terminal 200 is connected.

[0294] In addition, although the above-mentioned embodiment is described as an example based on the 11be format, the format of an embodiment of the present disclosure is not limited to the 11be format. An embodiment of the present disclosure can also be applied to the next generation standard of IEEE 802.11p, i.e., IEEE 802.11bd (NGV (Next Generation V2X, next generation vehicle wireless communication technology)), which is an in-vehicle standard.

[0295] (Replenish)

[0296] The information indicating whether the terminal 200 supports the functions, actions or processes shown in the above-mentioned embodiments may be sent (or notified) by the terminal 200 to the base station 100 as capability information or capability parameters of the terminal 200, for example.

[0297] The capability information may also include the following information element (IE: Information Element), which indicates whether the terminal 200 supports at least one of the functions, actions, and processes shown in the above embodiments, respectively, for each terminal 200. Alternatively, the capability information may also include the following information element, which indicates whether the terminal 200 supports a combination of two or more of the functions, actions, and processes shown in the above embodiments. An information element may also be simply referred to as an "element".

[0298] For example, the AP 100 may determine (or decide or assume) the function, action or process supported (or not supported) by the terminal 200 that sends the capability information based on the capability information received from the terminal 200. The AP 100 may implement an action, process or control corresponding to the result of the determination based on the capability information. For example, the AP 100 may control TXOP sharing for multiple STAs based on the capability information received from the terminal 200.

[0299] Furthermore, if the terminal 200 does not support a part of the functions, actions or processes shown in the above embodiments, this may be replaced by limiting the functions, actions or processes of the part in the terminal 200. For example, information or a request related to such limitation may be notified to the AP 100.

[0300] The information related to the capability or limitation of the terminal 200 may be defined in the standard, for example, or may be implicitly notified to the AP 100 by being associated with information known to the AP 100 or information sent to the AP 100 .

[0301] The present disclosure can be implemented by software, hardware, or software in cooperation with hardware. The functional blocks used in the description of the above embodiments are partially or entirely implemented as LSI (Large Scale Integration) as an integrated circuit, and the processes described in the above embodiments may also be partially or entirely controlled by one LSI or a combination of LSIs. LSI can be composed of individual chips, or it can be composed of one chip in a manner that includes part or all of the functional blocks. LSI may also include data input and output. LSI may also be referred to as "IC (Integrated Circuit)", "System LSI", "Super LSI", "Ultra LSI" depending on the degree of integration.

[0302] The method of integrated circuitization is not limited to LSI, and can also be implemented by a dedicated circuit, a general-purpose processor or a dedicated processor. In addition, an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) that can be programmed after LSI manufacturing, or a reconfigurable processor (Reconfigurable Processor) that can reconfigure the connection or setting of the circuit block inside the LSI can also be used. The present disclosure can also be implemented as digital processing or analog processing.

[0303] Furthermore, if integrated circuit technology that replaces LSI emerges as semiconductor technology advances or other technologies are derived, it is of course possible to use this technology to achieve integration of functional blocks. There is also the possibility of applying biotechnology, etc.

[0304] The present disclosure can be implemented in all kinds of devices, equipment, and systems (collectively referred to as "communication devices") with communication functions. The communication device may also include a wireless transceiver and a processing / control circuit. The wireless transceiver may also include a receiving unit and a transmitting unit, or perform the functions of these parts. The wireless transceiver (transmitting unit, receiving unit) may also include an RF (Radio Frequency) module and one or more antennas. The RF module may also include an amplifier, an RF modulator / demodulator, or a device similar to these. Non-limiting examples of communication devices include: telephones (mobile phones, smart phones, etc.), tablet computers, personal computers (PCs) (laptops, desktops, notebook computers, etc.), cameras (digital cameras, digital video cameras, etc.), digital players (digital audio / video players, etc.), wearable devices (wearable cameras, smart watches, tracking devices, etc.), game consoles, e-book readers, telehealth / telemedicine (telehealth / medical prescription) equipment, vehicles or transportation vehicles with communication functions (cars, airplanes, ships, etc.), and combinations of the above-mentioned various devices.

[0305] Communication devices are not limited to portable or mobile devices, but also include all kinds of devices, equipment, and systems that cannot be carried or fixed. Examples include: smart home devices (home appliances, lighting equipment, smart meters or meters, control panels, etc.), vending machines, and all other "things" that can exist on the IoT (Internet of Things) network.

[0306] The communication includes data communication performed by a cellular system, a wireless LAN (Local Area Network) system, a communication satellite system, etc., and also includes data communication performed by a combination of these systems.

[0307] In addition, the communication device also includes devices such as controllers or sensors connected or linked to the communication device that performs the communication function described in the present invention. For example, it includes a controller or sensor that generates a control signal or data signal used by the communication device that performs the communication function of the communication device.

[0308] In addition, the communication device includes infrastructure equipment that communicates with the above-mentioned non-limiting various devices or controls the above-mentioned various devices, such as base stations, access points, and all other devices, equipment, and systems.

[0309] An access point according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes: a control circuit for generating a control signal for instructing uplink transmission of multiple terminals, wherein the control signal includes information related to transmission destinations of the uplink transmission respectively for the multiple terminals; and a transmission circuit for transmitting the control signal.

[0310] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the radio resources allocated to the uplink transmission are at least a portion of the time of the transmission opportunity obtained by the access point and at least a portion of the frequency band allocated with the control signal.

[0311] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the information related to the sending destination indicates whether the uplink sending to the access point is allowed.

[0312] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the information related to the transmission destination indicates that communication with another terminal different from the multiple terminals and one of the access points is permitted, or communication with the other terminal is permitted.

[0313] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the plurality of terminals are terminals for which inter-terminal communication is set.

[0314] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, a receiving circuit is further included, which receives a response signal to the control signal in a frequency band indicated by the control signal.

[0315] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the information related to the transmission destination indicates the transmission destination in each of a plurality of parts into which the part of time is divided.

[0316] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, within the portion of time, an allocation time for a terminal among the plurality of terminals allocated to a primary channel is shorter than an allocation time for a terminal allocated to a secondary channel.

[0317] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, during the transmission opportunity, the access point and the multiple terminals are allowed to communicate in a frequency band that does not include a primary channel.

[0318] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, during the portion of time, the access point and the plurality of terminals are allowed to communicate in a frequency band that does not include a primary channel.

[0319] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the terminal indicated with the frequency band not including the main channel is a terminal set to a sub-channel selectivity mode (SST mode).

[0320] A terminal according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes: a receiving circuit for receiving a control signal indicating uplink transmission of multiple terminals, wherein the control signal includes information related to a transmission destination of the uplink transmission for each of the multiple terminals; and a control circuit for controlling the uplink transmission based on the control signal.

[0321] In a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, an access point performs the following processing: generates a control signal indicating allocation of uplink transmissions of multiple terminals, the control signal including information related to transmission destinations of the uplink transmissions for the multiple terminals respectively; and transmits the control signal.

[0322] In a communication method of one embodiment of the present disclosure, a terminal performs the following processing: receiving a control signal indicating allocation of uplink transmission of multiple terminals, the control signal including information related to the transmission destination of the uplink transmission respectively for the multiple terminals; and controlling the uplink transmission based on the control signal.

[0323] The disclosed contents of the specification, drawings, and abstract contained in the Japanese patent application No. 2022-084544 filed on May 24, 2022 are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

[0324] Industrial Applicability

[0325] One embodiment of the present disclosure is useful for a wireless communication system.

[0326] Description of Reference Numerals

[0327] 100 AP

[0328] 101, 206 Dispatching Department

[0329] 102 General Information Generation Department

[0330] 103 User information generation unit

[0331] 104 Trigger frame generation unit

[0332] 105, 208 Error Correction Coding Unit

[0333] 106, 209 Modulation Department

[0334] 107, 201 Wireless transceiver unit

[0335] 108, 202 Demodulation Unit

[0336] 109, 203 Error correction decoding unit

[0337] 110 Terminal Information Retention Department

[0338] 200 Terminal

[0339] 204 General Information Acquisition Department

[0340] 205 User Information Acquisition Department

[0341] 207 Data Generation Unit

Claims

1. An access point, characterized in that: include: A control circuit, generating a control signal instructing uplink transmission of a plurality of terminals, wherein the control signal includes information related to transmission destinations of the uplink transmission for the plurality of terminals respectively; as well as The sending circuit sends the control signal.

2. The access point according to claim 1, wherein: The radio resources allocated to the uplink transmission are at least a portion of the time of the transmission opportunity obtained by the access point and at least a portion of the frequency band to which the control signal is allocated.

3. The access point according to claim 1, wherein: The information related to the transmission destination indicates whether the uplink transmission to the access point is permitted.

4. The access point according to claim 1, wherein: The information on the transmission destination indicates that communication with one of other terminals different from the plurality of terminals and the access point is permitted, or communication with the other terminal is permitted.

5. The access point of claim 1, wherein: The plurality of terminals are terminals for which inter-terminal communication is set.

6. The access point of claim 1, wherein: Also included is a receiving circuit that receives a response signal to the control signal in a frequency band indicated by the control signal.

7. The access point according to claim 2, wherein: The information on the transmission destination indicates the transmission destination in each of a plurality of parts into which the part of time is divided.

8. The access point of claim 2, wherein: During the portion of time, an allocation time for a terminal allocated to a primary channel among the plurality of terminals is shorter than an allocation time for a terminal allocated to a secondary channel.

9. The access point of claim 2, wherein: During the transmission opportunity, the access point and the plurality of terminals are allowed to communicate in a frequency band that does not include a primary channel.

10. The access point of claim 2, wherein: During the portion of time, the access point and the plurality of terminals are allowed to communicate in a frequency band that does not include a primary channel.

11. The access point of claim 10, wherein: The terminal to which the frequency band not including the main channel is indicated is a terminal to which the sub-channel selective mode, ie, the SST mode, is set.

12. A terminal, characterized in that: include: A receiving circuit, receiving a control signal instructing uplink transmission of a plurality of terminals, wherein the control signal includes information related to transmission destinations of the uplink transmission for the plurality of terminals respectively; as well as The control circuit controls the uplink transmission based on the control signal.

13. A communication method, characterized in that: The access point performs the following processing: generating a control signal indicating allocation of uplink transmissions of a plurality of terminals, the control signal including information related to transmission destinations of the uplink transmissions for the plurality of terminals respectively; as well as The control signal is sent.

14. A communication method, characterized in that: The terminal performs the following processing: receiving a control signal indicating allocation of uplink transmissions of a plurality of terminals, the control signal including information related to transmission destinations of the uplink transmissions for the plurality of terminals respectively; as well as Based on the control signal, the uplink transmission is controlled.

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