Communication device, communication method, and program

Abstract

When a link is established via a frequency channel in a millimeter wave band, a communication apparatus performs a process of selecting an antenna for communicating with another communication apparatus, and transmits a request frame including information acquired by the performed process to the another communication apparatus.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a communication device compliant with IEEE 802.11. Background Art

[0002] The recent increase in the amount of data to be transmitted has prompted the development of communication technologies such as wireless LAN (local area network). The IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) 802.11 standard series is known as the main wireless LAN communication standard. The IEEE802.11 standard series includes standards such as IEEE 802.11a / b / g / n / ac / ax / be (PTL 1).

[0003] For example, under the IEEE 802.11be standard, multi-link communication is being considered, in which, for example, one AP (access point) establishes multiple links with one STA (station) via multiple different frequency channels and performs communication in parallel. Two or more links can be selected from the same frequency band (any one of the 2.4 GHz band, the 3.6 GHz band, the 4.9 and 5 GHz bands, and the 6 GHz band) or from different frequency bands. The AP and STA supporting multi-link communication are respectively called AP MLD (multi-link device) and STAMLD.

[0004] In the successor standard of IEEE 802.11be, multi-link communication using millimeter waves such as those in the 45 GHz band or the 60 GHz band is being considered to further improve communication performance.

[0005] Citation List

[0006] Patent Literature

[0007] PTL 1: Japanese Patent Publication No. 2018-50133 Summary of the invention

[0008] Technical issues

[0009] As described above, the use of the millimeter wave band for multi-link communication is being considered. However, the previous standards for wireless LAN do not define a mechanism for multi-link communication using the millimeter wave band.

[0010] Therefore, in view of the above problems, the present invention provides a mechanism for multi-link communication using the millimeter wave band.

[0011] Solution to the problem

[0012] To this end, a communication device according to one aspect of the present invention includes: an establishing component for establishing multiple links with another communication device via a frequency channel; an executing component for executing a process of selecting an antenna for communicating with the other communication device when the establishing component establishes a link via a frequency channel in a millimeter wave band; and a sending component for sending a request frame including information obtained by the executing component to the other communication device.

[0013] Advantageous Effects of the Invention

[0014] A mechanism for multi-link communication using millimeter wave bands may be provided. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating an example network configuration.

[0016] Figure 2 is a diagram showing an example hardware configuration of an AP and a STA.

[0017] Figure 3 is a diagram showing an example functional configuration of an AP and a STA.

[0018] Figure 4 is a flowchart of a connection process according to an embodiment.

[0019] Figure 5 is a sequence diagram according to an embodiment.

[0020] Figure 6 An example configuration of a multilink element according to an embodiment is shown.

[0021] Figure 7 An example configuration of an OCI element according to an embodiment is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022] Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0023] (Configuration of wireless communication system)

[0024] Figure 1 An example network configuration according to the present embodiment is shown. Figure 1 A configuration is shown in which a STA (STA 102) participates in a network 100 established by an access point (AP 101). The STA 102 can transmit and receive signals transmitted and received by the AP 101. The present embodiment is applicable to the AP 101.

[0025] AP 101 and STA 102 can perform wireless communication in accordance with the IEEE 802.11UHR (Ultra High Reliability) standard, which is a successor to IEEE 802.11be. IEEE stands for the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. Each communication device can perform communication at a frequency in the 2.4 GHz band, the 3.6 GHz band, the 5 GHz band, the 6 GHz band, or the so-called millimeter wave band (i.e., the 45 GHz band or the 60 GHz band). The frequency bands that can be used by each communication device are not limited to these, and each communication device can use different frequency bands, such as the Sub1 GHz band. AP 101 and STA 102 can perform communication using bandwidths of 20 GHz, 40 MHz, 80 MHz, 160 MHz, 320 MHz, 540 MHz, 640 MHz, 1080 MHz, and 2160 MHz. The bandwidths that can be used by each communication device are not limited to these, and each communication device can use different bandwidths, such as 240 MHz and 4 MHz.

[0026] In the above description, AP 101 and STA 102 support the IEEE 802.11UHR standard. In addition to this standard, AP 101 and STA 102 can support old standards before the IEEE 802.11UHR standard. Specifically, AP 101 and STA 102 can support at least one of the IEEE 802.11a / b / g / n / ac / ax / be standards. In addition to the IEEE 802.11 series of standards, AP 101 and STA 102 can also support any other communication standards, such as Bluetooth (registered trademark), NFC, UWB, ZigBee or MBOA. UWB stands for Ultra Wideband, and MBOA stands for Multi-Band OFDM Alliance. NFC stands for Near Field Communication. UWB includes Wireless USB, Wireless 1394, WiNET, etc. AP 101 and STA 102 can also support communication standards for wired communication, such as wired LAN communication. Specific examples of AP 101 include, but are not limited to, wireless LAN routers and personal computers (PCs). Alternatively, the AP 101 may be an information processing device such as a wireless chip capable of performing wireless communications compliant with the IEEE 802.11UHR standard. Specific examples of the STA 102 include, but are not limited to, a camera, a tablet computer, a smartphone, a PC, a mobile phone, a video camera, and a headset. Alternatively, the STA 102 may be an information processing device such as a wireless chip capable of performing wireless communications compliant with the IEEE 802.11UHR standard.

[0027] AP 101 and STA 102 perform multi-link communication by establishing links and communicating via multiple frequency channels. An AP that performs multi-link communication is also referred to as an AP MLD (multi-link device). For example, AP 101 can establish a link 103 with STA 102 via a first frequency channel in the 5 GHz band and communicate with STA 102. At the same time, STA 102 can establish a link 104 with AP 102 via a second frequency channel in the 45 GHz band and communicate with AP 102. In this case, STA 102 performs multi-link communication, wherein a second link 104 via a second frequency channel is maintained in parallel with a link 103 via a first frequency channel. As described above, by establishing a link with STA 102 via multiple frequency channels, AP 101 can provide improved throughput in communication with STA 102.

[0028] As a link between communication devices, in multi-link communication, multiple links in different frequency bands can be established. For example, in addition to link 103 in the 5GHz band and link 104 in the 45GHz band, AP 101 and STA 102 can also establish a third link in the 60GHz band. Alternatively, AP 101 and STA 102 can establish a link via multiple different channels included in the same frequency band. For example, in addition to channel 1 in the 45GHz band as the first link, channel 11 in the 45GHz band can also be established as the second link. A mixture of links in the same frequency band and links in different frequency bands can be used. For example, AP 101 and STA 102 can establish a link on channel 35 in the 60GHz band and a link on channel 15 in the 6GHz band in addition to link 103 on channel 2 in the 60GHz band. By establishing multiple connections with different frequencies with STA 102, AP 101 can establish communication with STA 102 in a frequency band other than a congested frequency band. Therefore, a decrease in the throughput of communication between the AP 101 and the STA 102 and a communication delay can be prevented.

[0029] Each link is assigned a link ID for each network on which the link is built. For example, consider the case where STA 102 participates in a 5 GHz band network in a network built by AP 101. When the link built with AP 101 is link 103, the link is assigned a common link ID = 1. Similarly, when STA 102 participates in a 45 GHz band network and the link built on the network is link 104, the link is assigned link ID = 2. These values ​​are examples, and other values ​​may be assigned, or a link ID may be assigned for each built link or each STA.

[0030] In the IEEE 802.11 series of standards, the bandwidth of each frequency channel in the 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz and 6 GHz frequency bands is defined as 20 MHz. The bandwidth of each frequency channel in the 45 GHz frequency band is defined as 540 MHz, and the bandwidth of each frequency channel in the 60 GHz frequency band is defined as 1080 MHz or 2160 MHz. The term "frequency channel" as used herein refers to the frequency channel defined in the IEEE 802.11 series of standards, and multiple frequency channels are defined in each of the 2.4 GHz frequency band, the 5 GHz frequency band, the 6 GHz frequency band, the 45 GHz frequency band and the 60 GHz frequency band. The combination of adjacent frequency channels can be performed to use a bandwidth greater than or equal to 40 MHz in one frequency channel.

[0031] (AP and STA configuration)

[0032] Figure 2 An example hardware configuration of the STA 102 according to the present embodiment is shown. The STA 102 includes a storage unit 201, a control unit 202, a function unit 203, an input unit 204, an output unit 205, a communication unit 206, and an antenna 207. A plurality of antennas may be included.

[0033] The storage unit 201 includes one or more memories such as ROM or RAM, and stores computer programs for performing various operations described below and various information such as communication parameters for wireless communication. ROM stands for read-only memory, and RAM stands for random access memory. In addition to memories such as ROM or RAM, any other storage medium may be used as the storage unit 201, such as a floppy disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a magnetic tape, a non-volatile memory card, or a DVD. The storage unit 201 may include a plurality of memories, etc.

[0034] The control unit 202 includes one or more processors, such as, for example, a CPU or an MPU. The control unit 202 executes a computer program stored in the storage unit 201 to control the entire AP 101. The control unit 202 can control the entire AP 101 through the cooperation of the computer program stored in the storage unit 201 and the OS (operating system). In addition, the control unit 202 generates data and signals (radio frames) to be transmitted in communication with another communication device. CPU stands for central processing unit, and MPU stands for micro processing unit. The control unit 202 may include multiple processors, such as a multi-core processor, and the multiple processors may control the entire STA 102.

[0035] Furthermore, the control unit 202 controls the function unit 203 to execute predetermined processing such as wireless communication, imaging, printing, and projection. The function unit 203 is hardware for the AP 101 to execute predetermined processing.

[0036] The input unit 204 receives various operations from the user. The output unit 205 performs various outputs to the user via a monitor screen or a speaker. Here, the output of the output unit 205 may include a display on a monitor screen, an audio output from a speaker, a vibration output, etc. The input unit 204 and the output unit 205 may both be implemented by one module, such as a touch screen. The input unit 204 and the output unit 205 may be integrated with the STA 102 or may be separated from the STA 102.

[0037] The communication unit 206 controls wireless communication conforming to the IEEE 802.11be standard. In addition to the IEEE 802.11be standard, the communication unit 206 can also control wireless communication conforming to any other IEEE 802.11 series standard or control wired communication (such as wired LAN communication). The communication unit 206 controls the antenna 207 to send and receive signals generated by the control unit 202 for wireless communication.

[0038] When the STA 102 supports the NFC standard, the Bluetooth standard, etc. in addition to the IEEE 802.11be standard, the communication unit 206 can control wireless communication conforming to these communication standards. When the STA 102 can perform wireless communication conforming to a plurality of communication standards, the STA 102 can include a communication unit and an antenna separately for each communication standard. The STA 102 transmits data such as image data, document data, and video data to the STA 102 via the communication unit 206. The antenna 207 may be configured separately from the communication unit 206, or may be integrated into a single module with the communication unit 206.

[0039] Antenna 207 is an antenna capable of communicating in 2.4 GHz band, 5 GHz band, 6 GHz band, 45 GHz band, and 60 GHz band. In the present embodiment, STA 102 has two antennas. STA 102 may have three antennas. Alternatively, STA 102 may have different antennas for the corresponding frequency bands. When STA 102 has multiple antennas, STA 102 may include a communication unit 206 corresponding to each antenna.

[0040] The AP 101 has a similar hardware configuration as the STA 102 .

[0041] Figure 3 1 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the STA 102 according to the present embodiment. The AP 101 also has a similar configuration.

[0042] The STA 102 includes a multi-link control unit 301 , a multi-link communication setting UI unit 302 , a frame generation unit 305 , and a frame transmission / reception unit 306 .

[0043] The multi-link control unit 301 is a block that controls the following processes: communication start processing for establishing one or more links used by the STA 102 to wirelessly communicate with the AP 101, processing for adding or deleting links after the communication starts, and communication end processing for deleting all links. The connection processing specifically includes authentication processing, association processing, and four-way handshake (4WHS) processing.

[0044] The multi-link communication setting UI (User Interface) unit 302 is a block that provides a UI from the operation screen of the STA 102 to allow the user to input multi-link communication settings of the STA 102 .

[0045] The frame generation unit 305 is a block that generates a frame used for frame exchange when communicating with a connection destination AP.

[0046] The frame transmission / reception unit 306 transmits a wireless frame including a data frame and a probe request frame generated by the frame generation unit 305 and receives a wireless frame from a counterpart device.

[0047] (Processing Flow)

[0048] Some embodiments will now be described, such as the flow of processes performed by the AP and the STA as described above, and a sequence in a wireless communication system.

[0049] (Example 1)

[0050] Figure 4 1 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing performed by the control unit 202 that executes the program stored in the storage unit 201 of the STA 102. The flowchart shows processing performed when the STA 102 is connected to the AP 101. The processing starts when the STA function is activated, such as when the power of the STA 102 is turned on, when the STA 102 receives an instruction to connect to the AP 101, or when the wireless function is turned on.

[0051] It is confirmed whether the STA 102 performs a multi-link operation (S401). This process may be determined by an instruction from a user, or may be automatically implemented by an application or an OS.

[0052] If it is confirmed in S401 that the STA 102 does not perform a multi-link operation, the STA 102 connects to the AP through an existing connection process (S411) to perform data communication (S410).

[0053] If it is confirmed in S401 that the STA 102 performs a multi-link operation, it is confirmed whether the STA 102 operates in a 45 GHz band or a 60 GHz band included in a millimeter wave band ( S402 ).

[0054] If it is confirmed in S402 that the STA 102 does not operate in the millimeter wave band, the STA 102 collectively performs connection processing through a plurality of links in a frequency band other than the millimeter wave band as a multi-link connection processing conforming to the IEEE 802.11be standard (S410).

[0055] If it is confirmed in S402 that STA 102 operates in multi-link communication including millimeter wave band communication, STA 102 sends a DMG (directional multi-gigabit) beacon (S403). The transmission of the DMG beacon in S403 can be omitted. The DMG beacon is a beacon to be transmitted in the millimeter wave band and is mainly used to determine the sector number described below. The processing of S403 and S404 can be performed in the processing of S406 described below.

[0056] Next, it is determined whether a beacon or a DMG beacon is received from the AP MLD operating in the millimeter wave frequency band (S404). The order of S403 and S404 may be reversed.

[0057] If it is determined in S404 that a beacon or a DMG beacon is not received from the AP in the millimeter wave band, it is determined in S405 whether a timeout occurs (S405). If it is determined in S405 that a timeout occurs, the process proceeds to S409, and the STA 102 performs connection processing for multi-link communication using a frequency band other than the millimeter wave band. Then, the flowchart ends.

[0058] If it is determined in S404 that a beacon or a DMG beacon is received, beamforming training (S406) is performed using the received beacon or the DMG beacon. Since the millimeter wave band has high directivity, adjusting the radio waves by beamforming is essential for performing communication with the other device. Therefore, when the frequency channel on at least one link performing multi-link communication includes the millimeter wave band, even if the connection processing for multiple links is performed together through one link, some radio waves in the millimeter wave band are sent and received. It is also very important. Therefore, in S409, the connection processing for the link in the non-millimeter wave band is also performed together through the channel in the millimeter wave band to be used. This can reduce the connection processing planned to be performed in other bands. In addition, due to the high directivity, the millimeter wave band is a band that is easily disconnected when the relative positions of AP 101 and STA 102 move. Thus, by performing the connection processing in the millimeter wave band, the risk of no connection in other bands can be reduced.

[0059] In the millimeter wave band, the range of radio wave arrival is limited compared to the 2.4 GHz band, the 5 GHz band, the 6 GHz band, and the like. Therefore, there may be a situation where radio waves arrive in a band other than the millimeter wave band but do not arrive in the millimeter wave band. Therefore, if connection processing is performed in a band other than the millimeter wave band, communication may not be performed in the millimeter wave band during multi-link communication. Therefore, in the connection processing for multi-link communication, if the connection processing can be implemented using a link via a frequency channel in the millimeter wave band, it is desirable to use the link to jointly perform connection processing for multiple links. Therefore, No can always be selected in S407. On the contrary, when priority is given to connection with the other device, Yes is selected in S407. Assume that S406 is an adjustment phase for determining the sector to be used by AP 101 through training.

[0060] The term "sector" is used to check the relative positions of the AP 101 and the STA 102, and refers to a value assigned to each physical direction in which the AP 101 transmits radio waves.

[0061] The control for selecting the best antenna between the communicating parties is performed in two stages: SLS (sector level scanning) and BRP (beam refinement protocol). SLS has four elements: ISS (initiator sector scanning), RSS (responder sector scanning), SSW (sector scanning) feedback, and SSW ACK. The initiator performs ISS, and the responder performs RSS. Both AP 101 and STA 102 can be the initiator or the responder. In this embodiment, AP 101 is the initiator.

[0062] The detailed process of S406 is given below. The process of S406 may include the processes of S403 and S403.

[0063] First, in the ISS, the initiator (AP 101) sends a DMG beacon frame or an SSW frame to the responder (STA 102). Here, the initiator sends the frame while changing the sector number and physical transmission direction (antenna transmission pattern of radio waves) of the frame. There are two types of sector numbers, namely TXSS (transmit sector sweep) and RXSS (receive sector sweep), which can process sector numbers for transmission and reception, respectively. What the initiator sends in the ISS is the sector number processed in the TXSS.

[0064] The responder, upon receiving a frame from the initiator, selects the sector number of the antenna pattern with the best reception sensitivity. The responder then sends the selected sector number and the responder's sector number to the initiator. The responder may send one or more frames in the RSS. In the case of sending multiple frames, the responder sends multiple frames to the initiator while changing the sector number and physical transmission direction in a similar manner to the initiator. After each of the initiator and the responder receives the sector number from the other and selects the sector number, the initiator sends SSW feedback and determines the sector number of the antenna pattern with the best reception sensitivity. The responder, upon receiving the SSW feedback, responds with an SSW ACK.

[0065] Afterwards, a more detailed antenna pattern can be defined through BRP (Beam Refinement Protocol). Through the transmission and reception of BRP frames, AP 101 and STA 102 can obtain SNR (Signal-to-Noise Ratio) and channel measurement feedback and fine-tune the antenna pattern. The implementation of BRP is optional, as BRP is only implemented when necessary.

[0066] After selecting an antenna pattern with good reception sensitivity through beamforming, information about the antenna pattern and capability information to be used in the millimeter wave band are assigned to the multilink element (S408). When multilink setup is to be performed jointly in the millimeter wave band, the information acquired in S406 is not assigned to the multilink element, but link information of other bands is assigned to the multilink element (S408). In the case where multilink setup is to be performed on a link using a frequency channel in the millimeter wave band, ML probe requests and responses are sent and received through radio wave transmission based on the adjustment result of beamforming.

[0067] Figure 6 An example configuration of a multilink element to which the information acquired in S406 is assigned is shown. The information acquired in S406 may be information about an optimal antenna pattern, a result of a radio wave measurement on a channel, or the like. When a probe request, a probe response, an ML probe request, or an ML probe response is to be sent via a link in a millimeter wave band, the information acquired through beamforming is included in the preamble of the PHY of the frame before the above-mentioned frame is sent. Alternatively, the above-mentioned frame is sent within a time period determined in S406 based on the information acquired through beamforming. In addition, a multilink element is assigned to the above-mentioned frame to be sent to reflect the result of the adjustment in S406.

[0068] The multilink element includes an element ID 601, a length 602, an element ID extension 603, a multilink control 604, an MLD MAC address 605, and a per-STA profile 606. In this embodiment, there are only per-STA profiles 606 equal in number to link-1.

[0069] The element ID 601 and the element ID extension 603 indicate that the element is a multilink element. The length 602 indicates the length of the entire multilink element.

[0070] The multilink control 604 includes a bitmap indicating what information is included in the common information field described below, and a type field indicating the type of the multilink element.

[0071] The fields from the MLD MAC address 605 to the field before the respective STA profile 606 include information common to the established links. In addition, based on the value indicated by the multilink control, it is determined whether the MLD MAC address 605 and the respective STA profile 606 are included in the multilink element.

[0072] For each STA profile 606, whether the field 606 is included in the multilink element is determined based on the type of Type in the multilink control 604 described above.

[0073] Each STA configuration file 606 contains information for each link.

[0074] Each STA profile 606 includes sub-elements ID 611, length 612, and data 613. Data 613 contains details of information for each link given below.

[0075] The data 613 includes a STA control field 621 , STA information 622 , capability information 623 , element 1 624 , and a non-Inferitance element 625 .

[0076] The STA control field 621 includes a link ID 631, a complete configuration file 632, and a current MAC address (MAC AddressPresent) 633. The link ID 631 specifies the link number. For example, in this embodiment, the link ID 631 specifies 1 to indicate Figure 1 , and designate 2 to indicate link 104.

[0077] The complete profile 632 includes a flag indicating whether all information about the link is included. For example, when STA102 is to respond to obtain all information about the link of AP 101, the value of the complete profile 632 is set to 1, and all information about the link is included in the field after 622.

[0078] For example, consider allocating multiple link elements over links via frequency channels in the millimeter wave band. Figure 1103 operates at 5 GHz. Therefore, link 103 and link 104 differ in the elements allocated to beacons or probe requests / probe responses. Link 103 sends the following information. That is, the supported rate element, DS parameter set element, power constraint element, HT capability element, HT information element, extended capability element, VHT capability element, and VHT operation element are allocated to the field after element 1 624 described below as information specific to the 5 GHz band. Even if the value of the complete profile 632 is 1, any elements shared with other links can be omitted. In addition, information that does not need to be notified before connection can be omitted. When the complete profile 632 is set to 0, some or all of the elements to be included in the element 1 field 624 can be omitted. The field following the current MAC address 633 indicates an additional field present in the subsequent field, i.e., the field indicated by the STA information 622.

[0079] In this embodiment, for a probe request / response, the full profile 632 is set to 0, and for a ML probe request / response, the full profile 632 is set to 1.

[0080] Fields from element 1 624 up to the field before the non-Inferitance element 625 are allocated elements specific to each link.

[0081] In this embodiment, the case where the above-mentioned multi-link element is allocated to 5 GHz is considered, and information about the millimeter wave frequency band is allocated in the element 1 field 624 .

[0082] For example, the antenna sector ID pattern element defined in IEEE 802.11 may be assigned to the element 1 field as an element to which the information acquired in S406 is assigned. The sector number selected in SLS is assigned to the antenna sector ID pattern element. The sector number is the information acquired in S406.

[0083] For example, any one of the wake-up scheduling element, the extended scheduling element, and the STA availability element may also be added. Any one of the DMG TSPEC element, the next DMG ATI element, the DMG capability element, the DMG operation element, the DMG BSS parameter change element, and the DMG beam refinement element may also be added. Any one of the channel management feedback element, the wake-up window element, the next PCP list element, the PCP handover element, and the DMG link margin element may also be added. Any one of the switching flow element, the session conversion element, the dynamic tone pairing report element, and the cluster report element may also be added. Any one of the relay capability element, the relay transfer parameter set element, and the beam link maintenance element may also be added. Any one of the DMG link adaptation confirmation element, the ECPAC policy element, the cluster time offset element, and the channel measurement feedback element may also be added. Any one of the EDMG capability element, the EDMG operation element, the QoS trigger non-scheduling element, and the unsolicited block confirmation extension element may also be added. Any one of the TDD slot structure element, the TDD slot scheduling element, and the TDD routing element may also be added.

[0084] Further consider the elements that may be allocated to the element 1 field 624 and that may be commonly allocated for the 5 GHz band and the millimeter wave band.

[0085] You can Figure 7 The OCI (Operation Channel Information) element shown is allocated to the Element 1 field to indicate on which channel the link indicated by the Link ID 631 field operates. The OCI element is an element indicating the current operation channel number.

[0086] The OCI element includes an element ID 701, a length 702, an element ID extension 703, an operation category 704, a primary channel number 705, a frequency segment 1 channel number 706, and optionally an OCT operation category 707, an OCT primary channel number 708, and an OCT frequency segment 1 channel number 709.

[0087] The operation category 704 may indicate the operation category of the channel. In this embodiment, the operation is performed in the 45 GHz frequency band, so the value of the operation category 704 is set to 183, for example.

[0088] The main channel number 705 may indicate a channel number, and indicate one channel number selected from channel numbers that may be indicated in a class indicated by the operation category 704. For example, when an operation is performed on channel 1, a value of 1 may be set.

[0089] Assigning the OCI element to the Element 1 field may indicate an operation category and a channel number operated on the link indicated by the link ID 631 .

[0090] Return to reference Figure 4 , sending a multilink element to the counterpart device via an ML probe request, wherein the information of each link is allocated to each STA profile field 606 in the multilink element, so that the counterpart device can be informed of information specific to the link. AP 101 sends an ML probe response to the counterpart device (S409).

[0091] After that, through the authentication process (S411) and the association process (S412), the connection process is performed, and the flowchart ends. After that, a four-way handshake and a group key exchange may be performed to exchange keys for encryption before making a connection.

[0092] Figure 5 FIG. 1 shows a communication between AP 101 and STA 102 based on Figure 4 The sequence of the communication of the processing of S403 and subsequent processing.

[0093] AP 101 transmits a DMG beacon in the 45 GHz band in the millimeter wave band and in the 5 GHz band outside the millimeter wave band (S5011 and S5012). STA 102 also transmits a beacon in the 45 GHz band (S5011). The transmission of the DMG beacon from STA 102 may be omitted. In response to the transmission and reception of the DMG beacon, SLS (sector level scanning) is performed in the 45 GHz band (S5021) to determine the relative positions of AP 101 and STA 102. Based on these values, a probe request (S5031) and a probe response (S5041) are transmitted in the 45 GHz band.

[0094] The probe request (S5032) and the probe response (S5042) are also performed in a similar manner in the 5 GHz band. However, it is sufficient to perform the probe request / response communication at least in the millimeter wave band.

[0095] Subsequently, an ML probe request (S5051) and an ML probe response (S5061) are sent and received to obtain information about each link. In S5051 and S5061, frame exchange is performed to obtain link information that cannot be obtained via the probe response. For example, in the case where one or more connections have been made before the current connection and parameters have been exchanged during the first connection, frame exchange in S5051 and S5061 does not need to be performed. Assume Figure 6 The multilink element shown in is allocated via ML probe request (S5051) and ML probe response (S5061), and the complete profile in the returned response is set to 1. The multilink element itself can be allocated via probe request (S5031) and probe response (S5041). In this embodiment, it is assumed that the connection sequence after the ML probe request (S5051) is performed at 45GHz.

[0096] Next, authentication (S5071) is performed to perform authentication between AP 101 and STA 102. Further, parameters are exchanged via association request (S5081) and association response (S5091) to establish a connection. Transmission parameters for connection are determined based on the exchanged parameters (S510). In S5010, a 4-way handshake may be performed for communication encryption. After mutual authentication and key exchange for encryption are completed, data communication is started (S5111, S5121, S5112, and S5122).

[0097] The present embodiment enables connection processing for multi-link communication to be performed using frequency channels in the millimeter wave band. In addition, in multi-link communication including millimeter wave band communication, connection processing for multiple links can be performed collectively on one link.

[0098] (Other embodiments)

[0099] This embodiment describes a multi-link communication in which multiple links are established via a 45 GHz band and a 5 GHz band, but is not limited thereto. It is sufficient for one or two of the bands used by the links established in the multi-link communication to use a millimeter wave band. In other words, this embodiment gives an example of using the 45 GHz band as a millimeter wave band, but the 60 GHz band may be used instead. Instead of the 5 GHz band given in this embodiment, a 2.4 GHz band, a 6 GHz band, a Sub1 GHz band, a 45 GHz band, or a 60 GHz band may also be used.

[0100] A recording medium storing the program code of the software for realizing the above functions can be provided to the system or device, and the computer (CPU or MPU) in the system or device can read and execute the program code stored in the recording medium. In this case, the program code read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-mentioned embodiment, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the above-mentioned device.

[0101] The storage medium for providing the program code may be, for example, a floppy disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a magnetic tape, a non-volatile memory card, a ROM, a DVD, or the like.

[0102] The program code read by the computer is executed to implement the above functions. In addition, the OS operating on the computer can perform some or all of the actual processing based on the instructions of the program code to implement the above functions. OS stands for Operating System.

[0103] In addition, the program code read from the storage medium is written into a memory included in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer. The CPU included in the function expansion board or the function expansion unit can perform some or all of the actual processing based on the instructions of the program code to realize the above functions.

[0104] The present invention may also be implemented by a process in which a program for implementing one or more functions of the above-described embodiments is provided to a system or device via a network or storage medium, and one or more processors in a computer of the system or device read and execute the program. The present invention may also be implemented by a circuit (e.g., ASIC) that implements the one or more functions.

[0105] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be changed and modified in various ways without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, in order to make the public aware of the scope of the present invention, the following claims are made.

[0106] This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2022-125086, filed on August 4, 2022, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0107] Reference numerals list

[0108] 201 Storage Unit

[0109] 202 control unit

[0110] 203 functional units

[0111] 204 Input Units

[0112] 205 output unit

[0113] 206 Communication Unit

Claims

1. A communication device, comprising: Establishing means for establishing a plurality of links in parallel between the communication device and another communication device via a plurality of different frequency channels; as well as a sending component, configured to send a predetermined frame to the other communication device, wherein The establishing means establishes at least one link among the plurality of links via a frequency channel in a millimeter wave frequency band.

2. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein The transmitting section transmits the predetermined frame via a predetermined frequency channel in the millimeter wave frequency band.

3. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein The predetermined frame includes predetermined information on a predetermined link to be established by the establishing section via the frequency channel in the millimeter wave frequency band.

4. The communication device according to claim 1, further comprising an executing means for executing a process regarding beamforming for communication with the other communication device when the establishing means establishes a link via the frequency channel in the millimeter wave frequency band, wherein The predetermined frame further includes information on the beamforming.

5. The communication device according to claim 4, wherein The beamforming process is a process of selecting an antenna for communicating with the other communication device.

6. The communication device according to claim 5, wherein The information is included in a multilink element of the predetermined frame.

7. The communication device according to claim 5, wherein The predetermined frame is a probe request frame that complies with the IEEE 802.11 standard series.

8. The communication device according to claim 5, wherein The predetermined frame is an association request frame that complies with the IEEE 802.11 standard series.

9. The communication device according to claim 5, wherein The predetermined frame is a multi-link ML detection request frame that complies with the IEEE 802.11 standard series.

10. A communication device, comprising: A selecting means for selecting a predetermined link to perform an establishment process for establishing the first link and the second link based on the frequency of the first link and the frequency of the second link; as well as Establishing means for performing connection processing with another communication device via the predetermined link selected by the selecting means to establish the first link and the second link in parallel between the communication device and the another communication device.

11. The communication device according to claim 10, wherein The selection section selects a link having a higher frequency between the first link and the second link as the predetermined link.

12. The communication device according to claim 10, wherein When the first link is a link via a frequency channel in a millimeter wave band, and When the second link is a link via a frequency channel in a frequency band other than the millimeter wave frequency band, The selecting means selects the first link as the predetermined link.

13. The communication device according to any one of claims 10 or 12, wherein The millimeter wave frequency band is a 45 GHz frequency band or a 60 GHz frequency band.

14. A method for controlling a communication device, the method comprising: An establishing step of establishing a plurality of links in parallel between the communication device and another communication device via a plurality of different frequency channels; as well as The sending step is to send a predetermined frame to the other communication device, wherein The establishing step establishes at least one link of the plurality of links via a frequency channel in a millimeter wave frequency band.

15. A method for controlling a communication device, the method comprising: A selecting step of selecting a predetermined link to perform an establishment process for establishing the first link and the second link based on the frequency of the first link and the frequency of the second link; as well as An establishing step of performing a connection process with another communication device via the predetermined link selected in the selecting step to establish the first link and the second link in parallel between the communication device and the another communication device.

16. A program for causing a computer to execute the method for controlling a communication device according to claim 14 or claim 15.

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