Communication device, control method for the same, and program

Abstract

To allow a communication device capable of making communication over a frequency band in excess of 160 MHz in the Wi-Fi Aware standard to notify information about a Primary Channel.SOLUTION: A communication device notifies information about the Wi-Fi Aware compliant Primary Channel out of the channels used to make communication over a frequency bandwidth in excess of 160 MHz by transmitting Wi-Fi Aware compliant frames.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to wireless communication technology.

Background Art

[0002] In recent years, wireless LAN systems compliant with IEEE802.11 have been widely used. Along with this, technologies for easily discovering nearby wireless LAN applications and information with low power consumption have been proposed. As a communication standard for discovering communication devices and services provided by the communication devices with low power consumption, Wi-Fi Aware has been defined by the Wi-Fi Alliance. Patent Document 1 describes NAN (Neighbor Awareness Networking) defined by the Wi-Fi Alliance as a standard for discovering communication devices and services provided by them with low power consumption. Here, Wi-Fi Aware and the NAN standard refer to the same thing.

[0003] In Wi-Fi Aware, for example, a communication device capable of communicating in an 80MHz frequency bandwidth notifies information on an available Primary Channel from within the 80MHz frequency bandwidth. Here, the Primary Channel is, for example, a channel for communicating a management frame for a communication device to perform connection processing with other communication devices.

[0004] On the other hand, the wireless LAN (Local Area Network) technology has been standardized by IEEE802.11, which is a standardization organization for wireless LAN technology. The standards for wireless LAN technology include IEEE802.11 / a / b / g / n / ac / ax, etc. Here, IEEE is an abbreviation for Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. Currently, in IEEE802.11, the standardization of the IEEE802.11be standard is underway, and in the IEEE802.11be standard, communication in a frequency bandwidth exceeding 160MHz is being considered.

Prior Art Documents

[0005] [Patent Document 1] U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014 / 0302787 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0006] However, the current Wi-Fi Aware standard does not define a mechanism for notifying that communication is taking place in a frequency bandwidth exceeding 160MHz. Therefore, in the current Wi-Fi Aware standard, when communicating in a frequency bandwidth exceeding 160MHz, it has not been possible to notify information regarding the Primary Channel within that frequency bandwidth.

[0007] This invention has been made in view of the above problems, and aims to enable a communication device capable of communicating in a frequency band exceeding 160 MHz to notify information regarding the Primary Channel in the Wi-Fi Aware standard. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] To solve the above problems, the communication device according to the present invention is a Wi-Fi Aware compliant communication device, comprising: communication means for communicating Wi-Fi Aware compliant frames; and notification means for notifying information regarding a Wi-Fi Aware compliant Primary Channel among channels for communication with a frequency bandwidth of more than 160 MHz by transmitting the frames by the communication means. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the present invention, in the Wi-Fi Aware standard, a communication device capable of communicating in a frequency band exceeding 160 MHz will be able to notify information regarding the Primary Channel. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0010] [Figure 1] An example of a wireless communication system configuration is shown. [Figure 2] This is a block diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the NAN101. [Figure 3] This is a block diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of NAN101. [Figure 4] This figure shows the frame format of the Extended NAN Action Frame in this embodiment. [Figure 5] This figure shows an example of a Primary Channel Bitmap field in this embodiment. [Figure 6] This figure shows an example of a Primary Channel Bitmap field in this embodiment. [Figure 7] This figure shows an example of a Primary Channel Bitmap field in this embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0011] Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the following, each communication device is assumed to be a communication device having wireless LAN communication functionality compliant with the IEEE 802.11 standard series, but is not limited thereto. Furthermore, each communication device described below is assumed to be a NAN device capable of discovering other communication devices and the services they provide using NAN as defined by the Wi-Fi Alliance, but is not limited thereto. In other words, although technical terms corresponding to a given standard are used in the following descriptions, the following discussions can also be applied to other standards of the same type.

[0012] This section explains Neighbor Awareness Networking (NAN). In NAN, service information is communicated during a period called the Discovery Window (hereinafter referred to as DW). Service information includes, as will be explained later, Subscribe messages, which are signals for discovering services, and Publish messages, which are signals for notifying that a service is being provided. The DW is a channel-specific time during which multiple devices running NAN can converge. A group of communication devices that share the DW schedule is called a NAN cluster.

[0013] Each communication device belonging to a NAN cluster operates in one of three roles: Master, Non-Master Sync, or Non-Master Non-Sync. A communication device operating as a Master transmits a NAN Synchronization Beacon (hereinafter referred to as Sync Beacon), which is a beacon used to identify and synchronize each communication device's data warehouse (DW). A communication device operating as a Master also transmits a NAN Discovery Beacon, which is a signal used to make communication devices not belonging to the NAN cluster recognize that NAN cluster. The NAN Discovery Beacon is transmitted even outside the DW period, for example, every 100 TUs (Time Units, 1 TU is 1024 microseconds). In each NAN cluster, at least one communication device operates as a Master.

[0014] A communication device operating as Non-Master Sync transmits NAN Sync Beacons but does not transmit NAN Discovery Beacons. A communication device operating as Non-Master Non-Sync transmits neither NAN Sync Beacons nor NAN Discovery Beacons.

[0015] Communication devices participating in a NAN cluster synchronize with predetermined data writing (DW) periods according to the NAN Sync Beacon and communicate service information during the DW period. Specifically, each communication device communicates Subscribe messages, which are signals for discovering services, and Publish messages, which are signals for notifying that a service is being provided, to each other during the DW period. Furthermore, each communication device can exchange Follow-up messages to exchange additional information about the service during the DW period. These Publish, Subscribe, and Follow-up messages are collectively called Service Discovery Frames (SDFs). Each communication device can advertise or discover services by exchanging SDFs.

[0016] Generally, after a NAN device discovers / detects a service, it may engage in communication related to the application that actually performs that service. In this case, the NAN device may establish a PostNAN for application-related communication, rather than a NAN network. A PostNAN is a network separate from the NAN cluster. Examples of PostNANs include infrastructure networks, IBSS, and Wi-Fi Direct. By establishing a PostNAN, the NAN device can engage in application-related communication during periods other than the DW (Dataworks) period.

[0017] Furthermore, NAN devices can establish one-to-one connections with other NAN devices in the NAN cluster and communicate about applications without configuring a separate network from the NAN cluster, such as Post NAN. This communication about applications compliant with the NAN standard is called NDP (NAN Data Path). NAN devices can perform NDP within the NAN cluster during periods that do not overlap with the DW period. In this case, before performing one-to-one NDP, the NAN device can negotiate with the NAN device of the communication partner device regarding the timing (period) of the one-to-one NDP.

[0018] A configuration example of a wireless communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described using FIG. 1. The wireless communication system of this embodiment includes NAN101 to NAN103, which are communication devices (NAN devices) each conforming to the NAN standard, and NAN101 to 103 are participating in the NAN cluster 104. In this embodiment, the NAN devices (NAN101 to NAN103) participating in the NAN cluster 104 construct a network using the frequency channel 6 (6ch) in the 2.4 GHz band. Here, the NAN cluster 104 is an NAN cluster in which the length of the DW period is 16 TU, and the time interval from the start timing of the DW period to the start timing of the next DW period is 512 TU. Also, the DW period is a period having 16 DW periods from DW0 to DW15 as one cycle, and the DW period 16 DW periods after DWn (n is an integer from 0 to 15) is also DWn. That is, DW16 corresponds to the next DW0. It is assumed that NAN101 to NAN103 participating in the NAN cluster 104 can always receive a wireless signal at least in DW0.

[0019] NAN101 is a communication device capable of executing each of the processes described below. It is assumed that NAN101 participates in the NAN cluster 104 as Non-Master Non-Sync. NAN102 is a communication device that participates in the NAN cluster 104 as a Master. NAN102 receives a wireless signal in all DW periods, and further transmits a NAN Sync Beacon in all DW periods. NAN103 is a communication device that participates in the NAN cluster 104 as Non-Master non-Sync.

[0020] In addition, the NAN devices 101, 102, and 103 participating in the NAN cluster 104 can perform wireless communication compliant with the IEEE 802.11be standard. IEEE is the abbreviation of Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. The NAN devices 101, 102, and 103 can communicate at frequencies in the 2.4 GHz band, 5 GHz band, and 6 GHz band. The frequency band used by each communication device is not limited to this, and for example, the 60 GHz band may be used. Also, the NAN devices 101, 102, and 103 can communicate using bandwidths of 20 MHz, 40 MHz, 80 MHz, 160 MHz, and 320 MHz. The bandwidth used by each communication device is not limited to this, and for example, bandwidths such as 240 MHz or 4 MHz may be used.

[0021] In addition, although the NAN devices 101, 102, and 103 are assumed to be compliant with the IEEE 802.11be standard, in addition to this, they may also be compliant with legacy standards that are standards prior to the IEEE 802.11be standard. Specifically, the NAN devices 101, 102, and 103 may be compliant with at least any one of the IEEE 802.11a / b / g / n / ac / ax standards. Alternatively, they may be compliant with a standard that is a successor to IEEE 802.11be.

[0022] (Configuration of NAN101) FIG. 2 shows the hardware configuration of NAN101 in the present embodiment. As an example of its hardware configuration, NAN101 has a storage unit 201, a control unit 202, a functional unit 203, an input unit 20, a display unit 205, a communication unit 206, and an antenna 207.

[0023] The memory unit 201 is composed of one or more ROMs (Read Only Memory) and / or RAMs (Random Access Memory). The memory unit 201 stores various information such as programs for performing various operations described later, and communication parameters for wireless communication. In addition to memory such as ROM and RAM, the memory unit 201 may also use storage media such as flexible disks, hard disks, optical disks, magneto-optical disks, CD-ROMs, CD-Rs, magnetic tapes, non-volatile memory cards, and DVDs.

[0024] The control unit 202 is composed of one or more CPUs (Central Processing Units) or MPUs (Micro Processing Units). The control unit 202 controls the entire NAN101 by executing a program stored in the memory unit 201. Alternatively, the control unit 202 may control the entire NAN101 in cooperation with the program stored in the memory unit 201 and the OS (Operating System).

[0025] Furthermore, the control unit 202 controls the functional unit 203 to perform predetermined processes such as imaging, printing, and projection. The functional unit 203 is the hardware that enables the NAN101 to perform predetermined processes. For example, when the NAN101 functions as a camera, the functional unit 203 is the imaging unit and performs imaging. Also, for example, when the NAN101 functions as a printer, the functional unit 203 is the printing unit and performs printing. Also, for example, when the NAN101 functions as a projector, the functional unit 203 is the projection unit and performs projection. The data processed by the functional unit 203 may be data stored in the storage unit 201, or data communicated with other NAN devices via the communication unit 206, which will be described later.

[0026] The input unit 204 receives various operations from the user. The display unit 205 displays various information to the user. Alternatively, both the input unit 204 and the display unit 205 may be implemented in a single module, similar to a touch panel.

[0027] The communication unit 206 controls wireless communication compliant with the IEEE 802.11 standard series and also controls IP communication. The communication unit 206 also controls the antenna 207 to transmit and receive wireless signals for wireless communication. NAN101 communicates content such as image data, document data, and video data with other communication devices via the communication unit 206. Under control by the control unit 202, during the DW period when no wireless signals are transmitted or received, the communication unit 206 may enter a DOZE state without receiving power supply.

[0028] Figure 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of NAN101. NAN101 has, for example, a wireless LAN control unit 301, a frame processing unit 302, a NAN control unit 303, and a UI control unit 304.

[0029] The wireless LAN control unit 301 performs control for sending and receiving wireless signals with other wireless LAN devices such as NAN devices. For example, the wireless LAN control unit 301 performs wireless LAN communication control in accordance with the IEEE 802.11 standard series.

[0030] The frame processing unit 302 analyzes the frames received by the wireless LAN control unit 301 and performs processing to create frames according to the instructions of the NAN control unit 303.

[0031] The NAN control unit 303 performs control in accordance with the NAN standard. For example, the NAN control unit 303 performs communication control in accordance with the NAN standard via the communication unit 206 (Figure 2).

[0032] The UI control unit 304 controls the display of various information to the output unit 205 (Figure 2), manages operations performed on the input unit 204 by the user of device 101, and transmits necessary signals to other functional units.

[0033] Figure 4 shows the frame format of an extended NAN Action Frame compliant with the NAN standard.

[0034] The extended NAN Action Frame has a Category field, an Action field, an OUI field, an OUI Type field, an OUI Subtype field, and an Information Content field 401.

[0035] In this embodiment, the Information Content field 401 includes at least the NAN Availability Attribute field 402. The NAN Availability Attribute field 402 includes, for example, information for communication outside the DW, specifically information for communication outside the DW where the NAN device is available. Communication outside the DW refers to, for example, NDP or Post NAN communication.

[0036] The NAN Availability Attribute field is a type of Schedule Attribute, and the Schedule Attribute contains information regarding the scheduling of communications in accordance with the NAN standard.

[0037] The NAN Availability Attribute field 402 includes at least a Band / Channel Entry List field 403. The Band / Channel Entry List field 403 contains information about the frequency channels that a NAN device transmitting the frame shown in Figure 4 can communicate on in NDP and Post-NAN communication. Furthermore, the Band / Channel Entry List field 403 has as many fields as there are Bands / Channels available to the NAN device. For example, if a NAN device can use channels 1 and 19, there will be a Band / Channel Entry List field for channel 1 and a Band / Channel Entry List field for channel 19.

[0038] The Band / Channel Entry List field 403 includes the Non-contiguous Bandwidth field 404, the Version field 405, and the Band or Channel Entries field 406.

[0039] The Non-contiguous Bandwidth field 404 indicates whether the frequency bandwidth available to the NAN device is continuous or not. A value of 0 is stored if the NAN device has access to a continuous frequency bandwidth, and a value of 1 is stored if it has access to a non-contiguous frequency bandwidth. For example, if the NAN device has access to an 80+80MHz frequency bandwidth, a value of 1 is stored in the Non-contiguous Bandwidth field 404.

[0040] In this embodiment, if 1 is stored in the Version field 405, it indicates that the Primary Channel Bitmap field 408 is 2 bytes.

[0041] In this embodiment, the Version field 405 is shown as a field indicating that the Primary Channel Bitmap field 408 is 2 bytes, but this is not limited to this. For example, it may be the Reserved value of the Extended NAN Action Frame shown in Figure 4.

[0042] The Operating Class field 407 contains information about the frequency bands and bandwidths available to the NAN device. For example, this field may indicate that the NAN device is available at 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz. It may also indicate that the NAN device is available at an 80 MHz frequency bandwidth or a 320 MHz frequency bandwidth.

[0043] The Primary Channel Bitmap field 408 contains channel information for communicating a management frame to perform connection processing with other communication devices when a NAN device communicates with those other communication devices using NDP or Post NAN.

[0044] For example, suppose NAN device 101 uses Wi-Fi Aware to search for devices providing a printing service and finds NAN device 102 providing that printing service. In this case, NAN device 101 and NAN device 102 need to establish a link to communicate print data. To establish this link in Post NAN communication, it is necessary to exchange management frames, and the Primary Channel Bitmap field 408 contains information about the channel used when exchanging these management frames.

[0045] <Embodiment 1> Figure 5 shows details of the Primary channel Bitmap field 408 shown in Figure 4. In this embodiment, when 1 is stored in the Version field 405 in Figure 4, the Primary channel Bitmap field 408 is set to 2 bytes.

[0046] Figure 5 shows the Primary Channel available to the NAN device using 16 bits (2 bytes) from b0 to b15. For example, to indicate that the lowest frequency bandwidth of 20 MHz in a 320 MHz bandwidth is available as the Primary Channel for communicating management frames, 1 is stored in b0 and 0s are stored in the remaining b1 to b15. Alternatively, to indicate that the second lowest frequency bandwidth of 20 MHz in a 320 MHz bandwidth is available as the Primary Channel for communicating management frames, 1 is stored in b1 and 0s are stored in the remaining fields.

[0047] In this embodiment, the NAN device can indicate multiple available Primary Channels. For example, consider a case where the NAN device indicates that the lowest frequency bandwidth of 20 MHz, the 5th lowest frequency bandwidth of 20 MHz, and the 10th lowest frequency bandwidth of 20 MHz are available as Primary Channels. In this case, the Primary channel Bitmap field will store 1 in b0, b4, and b9, and 0 in the other fields.

[0048] In this embodiment, an example is shown where the Primary channel Bitmap field 408 is set to 2 bytes when 1 is stored in the Version field 405, but the embodiment is not limited to this. For example, the Primary channel Bitmap field 408 may be set to 2 bytes when the Operating Class field 406 indicates that the NAN device can utilize 6 GHz. According to this embodiment, by setting the Primary channel Bitmap field to 2 bytes, it becomes possible to notify the Primary Channel in a 320 MHz frequency bandwidth.

[0049] <Embodiment 2> Embodiment 1 showed an example where the Primary channel Bitmap field was expanded to 2 bytes to indicate the Primary Channel in a 320 MHz frequency bandwidth. In this embodiment, the Primary channel Bitmap field remains 1 byte, and an example is shown where one of the Primary Channels in a 320 MHz frequency bandwidth available to the NAN device is indicated. In this embodiment, if the Operating Class field indicates that the 320 MHz frequency bandwidth is available, field 408 indicates that the Primary Channel in the 320 MHz frequency bandwidth is available. In this embodiment, if 1 is stored in the Version field 405 in Figure 4, the Primary channel Bitmap field indicates that the Primary Channel in a 320 MHz frequency bandwidth is available.

[0050] In this embodiment, the Version field 405 is shown as a field indicating a 320MHz frequency width in the Primary Channel Bitmap field 408, but this is not limited to this. For example, it may be the Reserved value of the Extended NAN Action Frame shown in Figure 4.

[0051] Figure 6 shows details of the Primary channel Bitmap field 408 in this embodiment.

[0052] In the 80MHz and 160MHz frequency bandwidths shown in Figure 6, the NAN device can indicate multiple available Primary Channels. For example, consider the case where, in the 80MHz frequency bandwidth, the device indicates that the lowest frequency bandwidth of 20MHz and the fourth lowest frequency bandwidth of 20MHz are available as Primary Channels. In this case, the Primary channel Bitmap field will store 1 in b0 and b3, and 0 in the other fields.

[0053] On the other hand, in the 320MHz frequency bandwidth shown in Figure 6, the NAN device can only advertise one available Primary Channel.

[0054] Suppose a NAN device has a 320MHz frequency bandwidth available that includes channels 33 through 89. The 320MHz frequency bandwidth includes, from lowest to highest frequency channel, channels 33, 37, 41, 43, 45, 49, 53, 57, 61, 65, 69, 73, 77, 81, 85, and 89. If the NAN device advertises channel 37 as its Primary Channel, then since channel 37 is the second lowest frequency channel, we store 1 in b1 and 0 in the other fields.

[0055] Furthermore, Figure 5 shows an example where the first four bits of b0 to b3 are used to notify the NAN device of only one available Primary Channel, but this is not limited to this. For example, the first four bits of b0 to b3 could be used to indicate one Primary Channel, and the latter four bits of b4 to b7 could be used to indicate another Primary Channel, thereby notifying the NAN device of two available Primary Channels.

[0056] Furthermore, if the NAN device has 160MHz + 160MHz available, the first 4 bits of b0 to b3 indicate the primary channel for the first half of 160MHz, and the last 4 bits of b4 to b7 indicate the primary channel for the second half of 160MHz.

[0057] According to this embodiment, the Primary channel Bitmap field remains 1 byte, while the NAN device can notify the Primary Channel that is included in the 320 MHz frequency bandwidth available to it.

[0058] <Embodiment 3> Embodiment 2 shows an example where the Primary channel Bitmap field remains 1 byte, and the Primary Channel included in the 320 MHz frequency bandwidth available to the NAN device is notified. In this embodiment, the Primary channel Bitmap field remains 1 byte, and an example is shown where the PSC (Preferred Scan Channels) is notified as the Primary Channel. Here, the PSC is a channel that the STA scans to quickly discover APs, and in the 6 GHz frequency band, the PSC is set at intervals of 80 MHz frequency bandwidth. Therefore, there are four PSCs in the 320 MHz frequency bandwidth. Also in this embodiment, if the Operating Class field indicates that the 320 MHz frequency bandwidth is available, field 408 indicates that the Primary Channel in the 320 MHz frequency bandwidth is available.

[0059] Furthermore, in this embodiment, when 1 is stored in the Version field 405 of Figure 4, the Primary channel Bitmap field indicates that a Primary Channel with a frequency width of 320 MHz is available.

[0060] In this embodiment, the Version field 405 is shown as a field indicating a 320MHz frequency width in the Primary Channel Bitmap field 408, but this is not limited to this. For example, it may be the Reserved value of the Extended NAN Action Frame shown in Figure 4.

[0061] Figure 7 shows details of the Primary channel Bitmap field 408 in this embodiment.

[0062] Figure 7 shows the Primary Channels available to the NAN device using b0 to b7. For example, to indicate that the lowest frequency channel PSC in the 320MHz bandwidth is available as the Primary Channel for communicating management frames, 1 is stored in b0 and 0s are stored in the remaining b1 to b7. Alternatively, to indicate that the second lowest frequency channel PSC in the 320MHz bandwidth is available as the Primary Channel for communicating management frames, 1 is stored in b1 and 0s are stored in the remaining fields.

[0063] Furthermore, a NAN device can indicate multiple available Primary Channels. For example, if a NAN device indicates that the lowest frequency channel (PSC) and the third PSC from the lowest frequency bandwidth are available as Primary Channels, then 1 will be stored in b0 and b2, and 0 in the other fields.

[0064] According to this embodiment, by notifying the PSC, it becomes possible to notify the Primary Channel in a 320MHz frequency bandwidth while keeping the Primary channel Bitmap field at 1 byte.

[0065] <Other Embodiments> In this embodiment, an extended NAN Action Frame compliant with NAN is shown, but the embodiment is not limited thereto.

[0066] For example, the NAN Attributes of a Service Discovery Frame or NAN Information Elements may be assigned the information included in the NAN Attributes shown in this embodiment. Note that NAN Information Elements are elements assigned to NAN Sync Beacons and NAN Discovery Beacons.

[0067] Alternatively, a new field called Extended NAN Availability Attribute may be created instead of the NAN Availability Attribute field. This field contains the same information as the NAN Availability Attribute field 402, but the Primary Channel Bitmap field is set to 2 bytes. Because the Primary Channel Bitmap field of the Extended NAN Availability Attribute field is set to 2 bytes, it can notify the Primary Channel in a 320 MHz frequency bandwidth.

[0068] Alternatively, the Primary Channel Bitmap field of the Extended NAN Availability Attribute field may be represented as shown in Figure 6 of Embodiment 2. In this case, the Information Content shown in Figure 4 includes the NAN Availability Attribute and the Extended NAN Availability Attribute.

[0069] In this case, the 20MHz to 160MHz frequency bandwidth shown in Figure 7 may be indicated by the NAN Availability Attribute, and the 320MHz frequency bandwidth by the Extended NAN Availability Attribute. In this case, a 4-bit Primary Channel Bitmap field is sufficient, but instead of 4 bits, a 1-octet or 2-octet Primary Channel Bitmap field may be provided.

[0070] Furthermore, the Primary Channel Bitmap field of the Extended NAN Availability Attribute field may be represented as shown in Figure 7 of Embodiment 3. In this case, the Information Content shown in Figure 4 includes the NAN Availability Attribute and the Extended NAN Availability Attribute. Additionally, the 20MHz to 160MHz frequency bandwidth shown in Figure 7 can be represented by the NAN Availability Attribute, and the 320MHz frequency bandwidth shown in Figure 7 can be represented by the Extended NAN Availability Attribute.

[0071] Furthermore, the names of the fields / subfields and the positions and sizes of the bits are not limited to those listed in the table; similar information may be stored with different field / subfield names, in different orders, or with different sizes.

[0072] Alternatively, a recording medium containing program code for software that implements the above-described functions may be supplied to a system or device, and the computer (CPU, MPU) of the system or device may read and execute the program code stored on the recording medium. In this case, the program code read from the storage medium itself will implement the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the storage medium containing that program code will constitute the above-described device.

[0073] For storing program code, storage media such as flexible disks, hard disks, optical disks, magneto-optical disks, CD-ROMs, CD-Rs, magnetic tapes, non-volatile memory cards, ROMs, and DVDs can be used.

[0074] Furthermore, the above-mentioned functions may be realized not only by the computer executing the program code it reads, but also by the operating system (OS) running on the computer performing some or all of the actual processing based on the instructions of that program code. OS stands for Operating System.

[0075] Furthermore, the program code read from the storage medium is written to the memory of a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer. Then, based on the instructions of that program code, the CPU of the function expansion board or function expansion unit may perform some or all of the actual processing to realize the above-mentioned functions.

[0076] The present invention can also be realized by supplying a program that implements one or more of the functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or device via a network or storage medium, and by having one or more processors in the computer of that system or device read and execute the program. It can also be realized by a circuit (e.g., an ASIC) that implements one or more functions. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0077] 301 Wireless LAN Control Unit 302 Frame Processing Unit 303 NAN Control Unit 304 UI ​​Control Unit

Claims

1. A communication device that complies with Wi-Fi Aware A communication means for communicating frames conforming to Wi-Fi Aware; a notification means for notifying information on a primary channel conforming to Wi-Fi Aware among channels for communication in a frequency bandwidth exceeding 160 MHz by transmitting the frame by the communication means; A communication device comprising:

2. 2. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the notification means notifies information about the primary channel when the communication device is capable of communicating in a 6 GHz frequency band.

3. 3. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the notification means notifies information indicating a channel used for high speed discovery of devices defined at intervals of 80 MHz as the information regarding the Primary Channel.

4. 4. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the information about the Primary Channel is included in a Schedule Attribute of the frame.

5. 4. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the information on the Primary Channel is included in a NAN Availability Attribute of the frame.

6. 4. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the information about the Primary Channel is included in NAN Information Elements of the frame.

7. 7. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the information on the primary channel is information on a channel for communicating a management frame conforming to the IEEE 802.11 standard series.

8. 8. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the frame is a NAN Action Frame that complies with Wi-Fi Aware.

9. 8. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the frame is a Service Discovery Frame (SDF) frame conforming to Wi-Fi Aware.

10. 8. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the frame is a NAN Synchronization Beacon conforming to Wi-Fi Aware.

11. 8. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the frame is a NAN Discovery Beacon conforming to Wi-Fi Aware.

12. A communication method for a communication device conforming to Wi-Fi Aware A communication step of communicating a frame conforming to Wi-Fi Aware; a notification step of notifying information on a primary channel conforming to Wi-Fi Aware among channels for communication in a frequency bandwidth exceeding 160 MHz by transmitting the frame through the communication step; A communication method for a communication device, comprising:

13. A program for causing a computer to function as each of the means of the communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 11.

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