Relay, communication system, processing method, and program

Abstract

To provide a relay that inhibits, in radio communication performed between a terminal and an access point via the relay, reduction in a radio communication rate between the terminal and the access point even when the radio communication rate between the relay and the terminal does not vary.SOLUTION: A relay of a minimum configuration makes, when a communication rate in second radio communication of a first terminal is lowered by a variation in a communication rate in first radio communication with an access point, a frequency to be used in the first radio communication be a frequency not making the communication rate in the second radio communication be lower than the current rate out of a plurality of frequencies identified with respect to the communication rate in the first radio communication or makes, when the communication rate in the second radio communication is lowered by a variation in a communication rate in third radio communication with a second terminal, a frequency to be used in the third radio communication be a frequency not making the communication rate in the second radio communication be lower than the current rate out of a plurality of frequencies identified with respect to the communication rate in the third radio communication.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 17

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a repeater, a communication system, a processing method, and a program. [Background technology]

[0002] Wireless communication is used in various fields. Patent Document 1 discloses a related technique, which is a wireless communication system that performs wireless communication via a repeater. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2012-175470 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, when a first terminal and an access point perform wireless communication via a repeater, if the wireless communication rate between the repeater and the access point, or between the repeater and a second terminal different from the first terminal, changes, the wireless communication rate between the first terminal and the access point drops even if the wireless communication rate between the repeater and the first terminal does not change. Therefore, there is a demand for a technology that can suppress the drop in the wireless communication rate between a terminal and an access point in wireless communication performed via a repeater, even if the wireless communication rate between the repeater and the terminal does not change.

[0005] Each aspect of the present disclosure aims to provide a repeater, a communication system, a processing method, and a program that can solve the above problems. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, according to one aspect of the present disclosure, a repeater is connected to an access point and a first terminal or a terminal including the first terminal and a second terminal, and is equipped with a setting unit that performs a first process of setting a frequency to be used in wireless communication with the access point to a frequency, among a plurality of frequencies specified for the communication rate in wireless communication with the access point, at which the communication rate in wireless communication with the first terminal does not decrease from a current level, when the terminal does not include the second terminal and the communication rate in wireless communication with the access point of the first terminal decreases due to a decrease in the communication rate in wireless communication with the access point; or, when the terminal includes the second terminal and the communication rate in wireless communication with the second terminal of the first terminal decreases due to a change in the communication rate in wireless communication with the second terminal, performs a second process of setting a frequency to be used in wireless communication with the second terminal to a frequency, among a plurality of frequencies specified for the communication rate in wireless communication with the second terminal, at which the communication rate in wireless communication with the first terminal does not decrease from a current level, when the terminal includes the second terminal and the communication rate in wireless communication with the first terminal decreases due to a change in the communication rate in wireless communication with the second terminal.

[0007] In order to achieve the above object, according to another aspect of the present disclosure, a communication system includes the above-mentioned repeater, the access point connected to the repeater, the first terminal, and the second terminal.

[0008] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, according to another aspect of the present disclosure, a processing method is executed by a repeater connected to an access point and a first terminal or a terminal including the first terminal and a second terminal, and includes, when the terminal does not include the second terminal and a communication rate of the first terminal decreases due to a decrease in the communication rate of the wireless communication with the access point, setting a frequency to be used in the wireless communication with the access point to a frequency among a plurality of frequencies specified for the communication rate of the wireless communication with the access point at which the communication rate of the wireless communication with the first terminal does not decrease below a current level, or, when the terminal includes the second terminal and a communication rate of the first terminal decreases due to a change in the communication rate of the wireless communication with the second terminal, setting a frequency to be used in the wireless communication with the second terminal to a frequency among a plurality of frequencies specified for the communication rate of the wireless communication with the second terminal at which the communication rate of the wireless communication with the first terminal does not decrease below a current level.

[0009] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, according to another aspect of the present disclosure, a program causes a computer of a repeater connected to an access point and a first terminal or a terminal including the first terminal and a second terminal to: when the terminal does not include the second terminal and the communication rate of the first terminal decreases due to a decrease in the communication rate of the wireless communication with the access point, set a frequency to be used in the wireless communication with the access point to a frequency among a plurality of frequencies specified for the communication rate of the wireless communication with the access point at which the communication rate of the wireless communication with the first terminal does not decrease from a current state; or when the terminal includes the second terminal and the communication rate of the first terminal decreases due to a change in the communication rate of the wireless communication with the second terminal, set a frequency to be used in the wireless communication with the second terminal to a frequency among a plurality of frequencies specified for the communication rate of the wireless communication with the second terminal at which the communication rate of the wireless communication with the first terminal does not decrease from a current state. Effect of the Invention

[0010] According to each aspect of the present disclosure, in wireless communication between a terminal and an access point via a repeater, a decrease in the wireless communication rate between the terminal and the access point can be suppressed even when there is no change in the wireless communication rate between the repeater and the terminal. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a communication system according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. [Diagram 2] 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a repeater according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 1 is a first diagram showing an example of a processing flow of a communication system according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a second diagram showing an example of a processing flow of the communication system according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. [Diagram 5]FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a surrounding environment list generated by an access point according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 6] 1 is a diagram showing an example of a surrounding environment list generated by a repeater according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of frequencies identified from FIGS. 5 and 6. [Figure 8] 4 is a diagram showing an example of a change in wireless communication rate in the communication system according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a DFS detection frequency table in the first embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 10] FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a communication system according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a processing flow of a communication system according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 12] FIG. 11 is a conceptual diagram of a communication system when a terminal 30a2 moves according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 13] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a first example of a surrounding environment list generated by a repeater according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 14] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a second example of a surrounding environment list generated by a repeater according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 15] FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a change in wireless communication rate in a communication system according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 16] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a minimum configuration of a repeater according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 17] FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a processing flow of a repeater having a minimum configuration according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 18] FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a configuration of a computer according to at least one embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0012] Hereinafter, the embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. First Embodiment (Communication System Configuration) A communication system 1 according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. The communication system 1 is a system that can suppress a decrease in the wireless communication rate between a terminal and an access point in wireless communication performed between the terminal and the access point via a repeater, even when there is no change in the wireless communication rate between the repeater and the terminal.

[0013] Fig. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a communication system 1 according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in Fig. 1, the communication system 1 includes a wireless LAN (Local Area Network) access point (hereinafter, referred to as "access point") 10, a wireless LAN repeater (hereinafter, referred to as "repeater") 20, and a wireless LAN terminal (hereinafter, referred to as "terminal") 30.

[0014] The access point 10 is a device that connects the terminal 30 to a wireless LAN. The repeater 20 is a device that is installed when radio waves are weak in the wireless LAN. The repeater 20 increases the strength of weak radio waves to expand the range of radio waves. The repeater 20 periodically monitors the surrounding environment. Examples of items that the repeater 20 periodically monitors the surrounding environment include Channel Load (usage rate [%] of the relevant frequency), NF (Noise Figure [dB]), and RSSI (Received Signal Strength Indication [dBm]) of the communication target device.

[0015] 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of the repeater 20 according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the repeater 20 includes antennas 201a1, 201a2, 201a3, 201a4, 201b1, 201b2, 201b3, and 201b4, transmission / reception circuits 202a1, 202a2, 202a3, 202a4, 202b1, 202b2, 202b3, and 202b4, a baseband unit 203, a memory unit 204, and a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 205.

[0016] The antennas 201a1, 201a2, 201a3, and 201a4 may be collectively referred to as antenna 201a. The antennas 201b1, 201b2, 201b3, and 201b4 may be collectively referred to as antenna 201b. The antennas 201a and 201b may be collectively referred to as antenna 201. The transmitting and receiving circuits 202a1, 202a2, 202a3, and 202a4 may be collectively referred to as transmitting and receiving circuit 202a. The transmitting and receiving circuits 202b1, 202b2, 202b3, and 202b4 may be collectively referred to as transmitting and receiving circuit 202b. The transmitting and receiving circuits 202a and 202b may be collectively referred to as transmitting and receiving circuit 202.

[0017] The antenna 201a is an antenna for performing wireless communication with the access point 10 and the terminal 30 by transmitting and receiving radio waves in the 2.4 GHz band, for example. The antenna 201b is an antenna for performing wireless communication with the access point 10 and the terminal 30 by transmitting and receiving radio waves in the 5 GHz band, for example.

[0018] The transmission / reception circuit 202a1 communicates with the access point 10 and the terminal 30 via the antenna 201a1 by transmitting and receiving signals via a wireless LAN (Local Area Network). The transmission / reception circuit 202a2 communicates with the access point 10 and the terminal 30 via the antenna 201a2 by transmitting and receiving signals via the wireless LAN. The transmission / reception circuit 202a3 communicates with the access point 10 and the terminal 30 via the antenna 201a3 by transmitting and receiving signals via the wireless LAN. The transmission / reception circuit 202a4 communicates with the access point 10 and the terminal 30 via the antenna 201a4 by transmitting and receiving signals via the wireless LAN.

[0019] The transmission / reception circuit 202b1 communicates with the access point 10 and the terminal 30 via the antenna 201b1 by transmitting and receiving via wireless LAN. The transmission / reception circuit 202b2 communicates with the access point 10 and the terminal 30 via the antenna 201b2 by transmitting and receiving via wireless LAN. The transmission / reception circuit 202b3 communicates with the access point 10 and the terminal 30 via the antenna 201b3 by transmitting and receiving via wireless LAN. The transmission / reception circuit 202b4 communicates with the access point 10 and the terminal 30 via the antenna 201b4 by transmitting and receiving via wireless LAN.

[0020] The baseband unit 203 modulates the transmission data transmitted by the transmission / reception circuit 202. The baseband unit 203 also demodulates the reception data received by the transmission / reception circuit 202.

[0021] The memory unit 204 stores various information such as radio wave conditions in the surrounding environment of the repeater 20. The CPU 205 controls the frequency band used for transmission and reception to an optimal frequency band based on the information stored in the memory unit 204.

[0022] The terminal 30 is a device that performs wireless communication by connecting to a wireless LAN via the access point 10. The terminal 30 is, for example, a smartphone or a tablet device.

[0023] The above-mentioned processes performed by the access point 10, the repeater 20, and the terminal 30 are merely examples, and the present invention is not limited to these processes. For example, the access point 10, the repeater 20, and the terminal 30 may each perform the processes described below.

[0024] Next, a process performed by the communication system 1 will be described. Fig. 3 is a first diagram showing an example of a process flow of the communication system 1 according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. Fig. 4 is a second diagram showing an example of a process flow of the communication system 1 according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. Here, a process of setting the frequency band used for transmission and reception to an optimal frequency band performed by the communication system 1 shown in Fig. 1 will be described with reference to Figs. 3 and 4.

[0025] It is assumed that the communication between the access point 10 and the repeater 20 and the communication between the repeater 20 and the terminal 30 (i.e., transmission and reception) uses the 5 GHz frequency band, and operates in quad channel at channel 100 selected by auto channel selection. It is assumed that the communication between the access point 10 and the repeater 20 and the communication between the repeater 20 and the terminal 30 (i.e., transmission and reception) is established at a wireless communication rate of 2stream HE80 MCS6, and the actual wireless communication rate is 518.8 Mbps (Mega bit per second). It is assumed that the wireless communication rate between the access point 10 and the terminal 30 is 518.8 Mbps / 2=259.4 Mbps. It is also assumed that the wireless communication rate of the terminal 30 is reduced.

[0026] The repeater 20 monitors the surrounding environment (step S1). The repeater 20 determines whether the wireless communication rate of the terminal 30 has decreased based on the wireless communication rate with the terminal 30 (step S2). For example, when the repeater 20 determines that the wireless communication rate with the terminal 30 has become equal to or lower than a set threshold (for example, a threshold value that is predetermined corresponding to the wireless communication rate between the repeater 20 and the terminal 30 at the start of communication), the repeater 20 determines that the wireless communication rate of the terminal 30 has decreased. Also, for example, when the repeater 20 determines that the wireless communication rate with the terminal 30 exceeds the set threshold, the repeater 20 determines that the wireless communication rate of the terminal 30 has not decreased.

[0027] When the repeater 20 determines that the wireless communication rate of the terminal 30 has not decreased (NO in step S2), the repeater 20 returns to the process of step S1. When the repeater 20 determines that the wireless communication rate of the terminal 30 has decreased (YES in step S2), the repeater 20 determines whether or not there has been a change in the surrounding environment (step S3). For example, when the repeater 20 determines that at least one of the monitoring items for monitoring the surrounding environment, such as Channel Load, NF, and RSSI of the communication target device, is out of the set range, the repeater 20 determines that there has been a change in the surrounding environment. When the repeater 20 determines that all of the monitoring items for monitoring the surrounding environment are within the set range, the repeater 20 determines that there has been no change in the surrounding environment. Examples of the set range include the range between the upper limit and lower limit of each of the monitoring items for monitoring the surrounding environment, and the allowable range of the amount of change per unit time for each of the monitoring items.

[0028] When the relay device 20 determines that there is a change in the surrounding environment (YES in step S3), it determines that the change is due to a change in the wireless communication rate between the relay device 20 and the terminal 30. Then, the relay device 20 returns to the process of step S1.

[0029] Furthermore, if the relay device 20 determines that there is no change in the surrounding environment (NO in step S3), it determines that the change is due to a change in the wireless communication rate between the access point 10 and the relay device 20. Then, the relay device 20 transmits a notification to the access point 10 to cause it to execute a predetermined process (step S4).

[0030] The access point 10 receives a notification from the repeater 20. In response to the received notification, the access point 10 determines whether or not radar waves have been detected (step S5). If the access point 10 determines that radar waves have been detected (YES in step S5), the access point 10 checks the frequency of the detected radar waves. Then, the access point 10 updates the DFS detection frequency table (step S6). The contents updated by the access point 10 are the frequency and date of the detected radar waves. This updated DFS detection frequency table is used when performing frequency selection. The access point 10 monitors the surrounding environment. The items monitored by the access point 10 are the same as the monitoring items monitored by the repeater 20. Then, the access point 10 creates a list of the surrounding environment based on the monitoring results (step S7).

[0031] Moreover, if the access point 10 determines that radar waves have not been detected (NO in step S5), the access point 10 skips the process of step S6 and proceeds to the process of step S7.

[0032] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a surrounding environment list generated by the access point 10 according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. Here, the surrounding environment list generated by the access point 10 will be described with reference to FIG. The access point 10 classifies information obtained by monitoring the surrounding environment into four stages, and displays the four-stage classification in the generated surrounding environment list. For example, in the generated surrounding environment list, the access point 10 classifies a Channel Load of 0% into L1, a Channel Load of 1 to 25% into L2, a Channel Load of 26 to 50% into L3, and a Channel Load of 51% or more into L4.

[0033] In addition, the access point 10 indicates the actual measurement value of NF [dB] and RSSI [dBm] in the generated surrounding environment list, as shown in Fig. 5. The access point 10 also calculates SNR (Signal to Noise Ratio) from NF and RSSI. The access point 10 also indicates the wireless communication rate assumed between the access point 10 and the repeater 20 in the generated surrounding environment list.

[0034] Here, when the Channel Load is L1 or L2, the wireless communication rate is determined by the NF and RSSI. Also, when the Channel Load is other than L1 or L2 (i.e., when the Channel Load is L3 or L4), the wireless communication rate is likely to be inferior to the calculated result. Therefore, for example, when there is one L3 in the frequency to be used, 0.8 is used as a correction value, when there are two or more L3s, 0.6 is used, and when there is at least one L4, 0.4 is used as a correction value and multiplied by the wireless communication rate. Specifically, for example, when the surrounding environment of the access point is under the conditions shown in FIG. 5, since the SN ratio is secured at 25 dB in the 5 GHz band, the wireless communication rate is expected to be 648.5 Mbps for 2stream HE80 MCS6. However, in the currently used 100ch, the SN ratio is secured at only 15 dB due to the deterioration of the NF, and the wireless communication rate has changed to 288.2 Mbps for 2stream HE80 MCS3. Considering the correction value of 0.6 for the Channel Load, the wireless communication rate is 230.6 Mbps. Therefore, in this state, the wireless communication rate between the access point 10 and the terminal 30 is 230.6 / 2=115.3 Mbps. In this case, if any of the currently used frequencies has a wireless communication rate after correction using the Channel Load correction value of 230.6 Mbps for the 5 GHz band or 115.3 Mbps for the 2.4 GHz band, there is a possibility that the wireless communication rate will be improved from the current wireless communication rate.

[0035] Therefore, the access point 10 determines whether or not there is a frequency in the generated surrounding environment list that exceeds the current wireless communication rate (step S8). If the access point 10 determines that there is no frequency in the generated surrounding environment list that exceeds the current wireless communication rate (NO in step S8), it continues communication at the current frequency (step S9). The process of step S9 is based on the idea that the absence of a frequency that exceeds the current wireless communication rate means that the current frequency is optimal. The access point 10 then returns to the process of step S7 to generate the surrounding environment list again.

[0036] Furthermore, when the access point 10 determines that there is a frequency in the generated surrounding environment list that exceeds the current wireless communication rate (YES in step S8), it specifies the frequency as a candidate for a frequency after reviewing the frequency to exceed the current wireless communication rate (step S10). For example, in the surrounding environment list shown in FIG. 5, the wireless communication rate is 518.8 Mbps in 36-48 ch in the 5 GHz band, 259.4 Mbps in 52-62 ch, and 518.8 Mbps in 132-144 ch. Also, for example, in the surrounding environment list shown in FIG. 5, the wireless communication rate is 220.2 Mbps in 6-10 ch in the 2.4 GHz band, and 165.2 Mbps in 9-13 ch. Therefore, there is a possibility that the wireless communication rate will be improved from the current wireless communication rate in five frequencies. Note that "review" in each embodiment of the present disclosure corresponds to "changing" the state when the state is changed from the previous state, and corresponds to "maintaining" the state when the state is changed to the same state as the previous state.

[0037] In addition, the communication in the 5 GHz band is divided into groups W52, W53, and W56. When revising the frequency to the W53 or W56 group, it is necessary to stop the communication for one minute by radar search. Therefore, when a terminal 30 in communication exists, revising to the W52 or 2.4 GHz band is prioritized over revising to the W53 or W56. For example, in the case of the surrounding environment list shown in FIG. 5, three frequencies, 36-48ch (518.8Mbps), 6-10ch (220.2Mbps), and 9-13ch (165.2Mbps), are targeted as the revised frequency. Here, the identified frequency is a frequency at which a good wireless communication rate can be obtained around the access point 10, but it is not necessarily a frequency at which a good wireless communication rate can be obtained around the repeater 20. Therefore, the repeater 20 similarly identifies candidates for the revised frequency in the surrounding environment list generated by the repeater 20 (step S11).

[0038] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a surrounding environment list generated by the repeater 20 according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. In the example shown in FIG. 6, the wireless communication rate is 389.1 Mbps on 100-112 ch in the 5 GHz band, 389.1 Mbps on 116-128 ch, and 518.8 Mbps on 132-144 ch. Also, in the example shown in FIG. 6, the wireless communication rate is 220.2 Mbps on 6-10 ch in the 2.4 GHz band, and 165.2 Mbps on 9-13 ch. In this case, there is a possibility that the wireless communication rate can be improved from the current wireless communication rate in five frequencies. However, as with the access point 10, when the repeater 20 revises the 5 GHz band to W53 or W56, it is necessary to stop communication for one minute by radar search. Therefore, when a terminal 30 in communication exists, the revises to W52 or the 2.4 GHz band are prioritized over the revises to W53 or W56. For example, in the case of the surrounding environment list shown in Fig. 6, three frequencies, 100-112ch (389.1Mbps), 6-10ch (220.2Mbps), and 9-13ch (165.2Mbps), are targeted for the revised frequencies. Therefore, the repeater 20 determines whether the 5GHz band is included in the frequencies identified in both the access point 10 and the repeater 20 (step S12).

[0039] When the repeater 20 determines that the 5 GHz band is not included in the frequencies identified by both the access point 10 and the repeater 20 (NO in step S12), the repeater 20 sets the frequency band to be used in the communication between the repeater 20 and the access point 10 to the 2.4 GHz band (step S13), and sets the frequency with the highest wireless communication rate among the frequency bands to be used (in this case, the 2.4 GHz band) (step S14). The repeater 20 then notifies the access point 10 of the frequency band. The access point 10 receives the notification from the repeater 20. In response to the received notification, the access point 10 sets the frequency band to be used in the communication between the repeater 20 and the access point 10 to the 2.4 GHz band, and sets the frequency of the frequency band to be used (in this case, the 2.4 GHz band). The frequency band and frequency to be used in the communication between the repeater 20 and the terminal 30 are maintained.

[0040] Furthermore, when the repeater 20 determines that the 5 GHz band is included in the frequencies identified by both the access point 10 and the repeater 20 (YES in step S12), it sets the frequency band to be used in the communication between the repeater 20 and the access point 10 to the 5 GHz band (step S15) and performs the process of step S14, that is, sets the frequency band with the highest wireless communication rate among the frequency bands to be used (in this case, the 5 GHz band). FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of the frequencies identified from FIG. 5 and FIG. 6. In the example shown in FIG. 7, the 5 GHz band is not included in the identified frequencies. Therefore, the repeater 20 and the access point 10 set the frequency band to be used in the communication between the access point 10 and the repeater 20 to 2.4 GHz. Then, the repeater 20 and the access point 10 set the frequency band of 6 to 10 ch (220.2 Mbps) to be used in the communication between the access point 10 and the repeater 20, which is expected to improve the wireless communication rate, from the two frequencies identified as shown in FIG. 7.

[0041] Fig. 8 is a diagram showing an example of changes in wireless communication rate in the communication system 1 according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. Fig. 8 shows wireless communication rates between the access point 10 and the relay 20, between the relay 20 and the terminal 30, and of the terminal 30 in an initial state, after the wireless communication rate between the access point 10 and the relay 20 has changed from the initial state, and after the frequency used in communication between the access point 10 and the relay 20 has been revised after the wireless communication rate has changed.

[0042] In the initial state shown in FIG. 8, the wireless communication rate between the access point 10 and the repeater 20 and between the repeater 20 and the terminal 30 is 518.8 Mbps. In this case, the wireless communication rate of the terminal 30 is 259.4 Mbps. If the wireless communication rate between the access point 10 and the repeater 20 changes from the initial state shown in FIG. 8 to 230.6 Mbps, the wireless communication rate of the terminal 30 drops to 115.3 Mbps. After the wireless communication rate shown in FIG. 8 changes, the wireless communication rate after reviewing the frequency used in the communication between the access point 10 and the repeater 20 (i.e., the communication rate after reviewing the wireless communication rate between the changed access point 10 and the repeater 20 to the highest wireless communication rate) is 220.2 Mbps. In this case, the wireless communication rate of the terminal 30 is 220.2 Mbps. That is, in the example shown in FIG. 8, by improving the changed wireless communication rate between the access point 10 and the repeater 20, the communication rate of the terminal 30 can be improved from 115.3 Mbps to 220.2 Mbps.

[0043] After reviewing the frequency band and frequency, the repeater 20 checks the wireless communication rate between the access point 10 and the terminal 30 for a certain period of time. Then, the repeater 20 determines whether the wireless communication rate after reviewing the frequency band and frequency exceeds the wireless communication rate before reviewing the frequency band and frequency (e.g., 115.3 Mbps) (step S16). When the repeater 20 determines that the wireless communication rate after reviewing the frequency band and frequency does not exceed the wireless communication rate before reviewing the frequency band and frequency (NO in step S16), the repeater 20 returns to the process of step S7.

[0044] In addition, if the repeater 20 determines that the wireless communication rate after the frequency band and frequency are revised exceeds the wireless communication rate before the frequency band and frequency are revised (YES in step S16), it determines that the frequency band and frequency are optimal and continues communication using the current frequency (step S17).

[0045] In Japan, the 2.4 GHz band is an ISM (Industrial Scientific and Medical) band. Therefore, the utilization rate of the 2.4 GHz band tends to be higher than that of the 5 GHz band. As a result, it is considered that it is basically better to use the 5 GHz band rather than the 2.4 GHz band. Therefore, the repeater 20 judges whether or not there is communication with the terminal 30 within a certain period of time (step S18). For example, the repeater 20 performs this judgment periodically.

[0046] When the relay device 20 determines that communication with the terminal 30 is being performed (YES in step S18), the relay device 20 performs the process of step S17, that is, continues communication using the current frequency.

[0047] Furthermore, when the repeater 20 determines that there is no communication with the terminal 30 (for example, within a certain period of time) (NO in step S18), the repeater 20 sets the frequency with the highest wireless communication rate in the 5 GHz band for communication with the terminal 30 (step S19). In order to determine the frequency after the review, the DFS detection frequency table updated in the process of step S6 is used in addition to the surrounding environment list shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of the DFS detection frequency table in the first embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 9, the DFS detection frequency table is a table showing a radar detection history in which the number of DFS detections and the detection date are associated with each frequency. In the example shown in FIG. 9, there are multiple radar detection histories for each of 52ch and 112ch. Therefore, the frequencies including 52ch and 112ch are not selected. Furthermore, the frequencies including 124ch and 136ch, which have one radar detection history, are targets for selection. However, it can be seen from FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 that the wireless communication rate of the frequency including 136ch is better than the wireless communication rate of the frequency including 124ch. In addition, there is a high possibility that carrier sense will be triggered for 132ch, which has a relatively high channel load on the access point 10 side. Therefore, it is better not to set it as the primary channel. As a result, in the first embodiment of the present disclosure, 140ch or 144ch is set as the primary channel.

[0048] The communication system 1 according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure has been described above. The repeater 20 (an example of a repeater) of the communication system 1 is a repeater connected to terminals including an access point 10 (an example of an access point) and a terminal 30 (an example of a first terminal), and includes a CPU 205 (an example of a setting unit) that performs a first process of setting a frequency to be used in wireless communication with the access point 10 to a frequency at which the communication rate in wireless communication with the terminal 30 does not decrease from the current communication rate, among a plurality of frequencies identified for the communication rate in wireless communication with the access point 10, when the communication rate in wireless communication with the terminal 30 decreases due to a decrease in the communication rate in wireless communication with the access point 10.

[0049] This repeater 20 (an example of a repeater) can suppress a decrease in the wireless communication rate between a terminal 30 (an example of a terminal) and an access point 10 (an example of an access point) in wireless communication conducted via the repeater 20, even when there is no change in the wireless communication rate between the repeater 20 and the terminal 30.

[0050] <Second embodiment> (Communication System Configuration) Next, a communication system 1 according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a configuration of the communication system 1 according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 10, the communication system 1 includes an access point 10, a repeater 20, and terminals 30a1 and 30a2. As shown in FIG. 10, the communication system 1 includes two terminals, 30a1 and 30a2, which communicate with the access point 10 via the repeater 20. In the second embodiment of the present disclosure, the terminals 30a1 and 30a2 may be collectively referred to as terminals 30a.

[0051] The access point 10 is a device that connects the terminal 30a to a wireless LAN. Each of the terminals 30a is similar to the terminal 30 according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure, for example. As described below, the first embodiment and the second embodiment differ in the process performed by the repeater 20 and in that the wireless communication rate between the terminal 30a1 and the access point 10 decreases due to the movement of the terminal 30a2.

[0052] Next, a description will be given of processing performed by the communication system 1. Fig. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a processing flow of the communication system 1 according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure. Here, a description will be given of processing performed by the communication system 1 shown in Fig. 10 to set the frequency band used for transmission and reception to an optimal frequency band.

[0053] In addition, the communication between the access point 10 and the repeater 20 and the communication between the repeater 20 and the terminal 30a (i.e., transmission and reception) uses the 5 GHz band as a frequency band, and operates in quad channel at channel 100 selected by auto channel selection. In addition, the communication between the access point 10 and the repeater 20 and the communication between the repeater 20 and the terminal 30 (i.e., transmission and reception) are established at a wireless communication rate of 2stream HE80 MCS6, respectively, and the actual wireless communication rate is 518.8 Mbps. In addition, in the initial state, the two terminals 30a have approximately the same wireless communication rate, are grouped by the function of MU-MIMO (Multiple User-Multiple Input Multiple Output), and the communication between the repeater 20 and the terminal 30a operates as MU-MIMO. In this case, each of the terminals 30a can communicate simultaneously due to the effect of the function of MU-MIMO. Therefore, the wireless communication rate of each of the terminals 30a is 518.8 / 2=259.4 Mbps.

[0054] Fig. 12 is an image diagram of the communication system 1 when the terminal 30a2 according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure moves. Here, it is assumed that the terminal 30a2 moves to a location farther away from the repeater 20 than in the initial state as shown in Fig. 12. It is also assumed that as a result, the terminal 30a2 is removed from the MU-MIMO grouping. It is also assumed that a large difference occurs between the wireless communication rate of the terminal 30a1 and the wireless communication rate of the terminal 30a2. In this case, the MU-MIMO grouping function is disabled, and the wireless communication rates of both the terminal 30a1 and the terminal 30a2 decrease.

[0055] In the example shown here, it is assumed that there is no change in the surrounding environment of the access point 10 and the repeater 20, and that the wireless communication rate between the access point 10 and the repeater 20 is constant. Then, it is assumed that the wireless communication rate between the terminal 30a1 and the repeater 20 is 518.8 / 3=172.9Mbps. In addition, it is assumed that the wireless communication rate between the terminal 30a2 and the repeater 20 is 173Mbps (after channel load correction) due to the effect of moving to a location away from the repeater 20, and the wireless communication rate between the terminal 30a2 and the repeater 20 is 173 / 3=57.7Mbps. Note that the reason why the wireless communication rate is reduced to one third here is that the communication between the repeater 20 and the terminal 30a is no longer communication using the grouping function of MU-MIMO, and the communication between the repeater 20 and the terminal 30a1 and the communication between the repeater 20 and the terminal 30a2 are time-shared. In this case, even though there is no change in the communication between the terminal 30a1 and the repeater 20, the wireless communication rate drops due to the movement of the terminal 30a2 (for example, the rate changes from 259.4 Mbps to 172.9 Mbps, a drop of 80 Mbps).

[0056] The same frequency band (5 GHz band in this example) is used for communication between the access point 10 and the repeater 20, and for communication between the repeater 20 and the terminal 30a. If the frequency band used for communication of the terminal 30a2 can be set to a frequency band that is not lower than the current wireless communication rate when the terminal 30a2 moves away from the repeater 20 and falls out of the MU-MIMO grouping, it is possible to mitigate the degree of decrease in the wireless communication rate of the terminal 30a1.

[0057] Therefore, when communication between the access point 10 and the terminal 30a is established, the repeater 20 monitors the surrounding environment (step S31). Based on the results of the monitoring of the surrounding environment, the repeater 20 generates a list of surrounding environments (step S32). Then, the repeater 20 determines whether or not there is a frequency that exceeds the current wireless communication rate (step S33).

[0058] When the repeater 20 determines that there is no frequency that exceeds the current wireless communication rate (NO in step S33), it continues communication at the current frequency (step S34). The process of step S34 is based on the idea that if there is no frequency that exceeds the current wireless communication rate, there is no benefit for each terminal 30a even if the current frequency is changed. Then, the repeater 20 returns to the process of step S32 to generate the surrounding environment list again.

[0059] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a first example of a surrounding environment list generated by the repeater 20 according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure. For example, in the surrounding environment list shown in FIG. 13, the wireless communication rate in the 2.4 GHz band is 41.3 Mbps regardless of the frequency. In addition, the repeater 20 can improve the wireless communication rate of the terminal 30a1 from 172.9 Mbps to 259.4 Mbps by changing the frequency band in communication with the terminal 30a2 from 5 GHz to 2.4 GHz. However, when the repeater 20 changes the frequency band in communication with the terminal 30a2 from 5 GHz to 2.4 GHz, the wireless communication rate of the terminal 30a2 is 41.3 Mbps. In other words, when the frequency band in communication between the repeater 20 and the terminal 30a2 is changed from 5 GHz to 2.4 GHz, the wireless communication rate of the terminal 30a2 is not improved from the wireless communication rate of 57.7 Mbps before changing to 2.4 GHz.

[0060] Fig. 14 is a diagram showing a second example of a surrounding environment list generated by the repeater 20 according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure. Note that the surrounding environment list shown in Fig. 14 is an example of a surrounding environment list generated by the repeater 20 after generating the surrounding environment list shown in Fig. 13.

[0061] As time passes, the process of step S33 is judged as NO, and the process of step S34 and the process of step S32 are performed, so that the surrounding environment of the repeater 20 changes as shown in the surrounding environment list in FIG. 14. In this case, a frequency that exceeds the current wireless communication rate exists. Therefore, the repeater 20 judges in the process of step S33 that a frequency that exceeds the current wireless communication rate exists (YES in step S33). Then, the repeater 20 reconsiders the frequency band for communication with the terminal 30a2 (i.e., from 5 GHz to 2.4 GHz) (step S35), and selects the frequency with the highest wireless communication rate (i.e., 6ch with 82.6 Mbps) (step S36).

[0062] Fig. 15 is a diagram showing an example of changes in wireless communication rates in the communication system 1 according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure. Fig. 15 shows wireless communication rates between the access point 10 and the relay 20, between the relay 20 and each of the terminals 30a, and each of the terminals 30a in an initial state, after the wireless communication rates between the relay 20 and each of the terminals 30a have decreased due to the terminal 30a2 moving from the initial state, and after the frequency used in communication between the relay 20 and each of the terminals 30a2 has been revised.

[0063] In the initial state shown in FIG. 15, the wireless communication rate between the access point 10 and the repeater 20 and between the repeater 20 and the terminal 30 is 518.8 Mbps. In this case, the wireless communication rate of each of the terminals 30a is 259.4 Mbps. In addition, when the terminal 30a2 shown in FIG. 15 moves from the initial state and the wireless communication rate between the repeater 20 and each of the terminals 30a decreases, the wireless communication rate of the terminal 30a1 decreases to 172.9 Mbps. In addition, when the terminal 30a2 shown in FIG. 15 moves from the initial state and the wireless communication rate between the repeater 20 and each of the terminals 30a decreases, the wireless communication rate of the terminal 30a2 decreases to 57.7 Mbps. In addition, when the frequency used in the communication between the repeater 20 and the terminal 30a2 shown in FIG. 15 is reviewed and the wireless communication rate of the terminal 30a2 is set to 82.6 Mbps, the wireless communication rate of the terminal 30a1 becomes 259.4 Mbps. That is, in the example shown in FIG. 15, the communication rate of terminal 30a1 can be improved from 172.9 Mbps to 259.4 Mbps by improving the reduced wireless communication rate between repeater 20 and terminal 30a2 from 57.7 Mbps to 82.6 Mbps.

[0064] The communication system 1 according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure has been described above. The repeater 20 (an example of a repeater) of the communication system 1 is a repeater connected to an access point 10 (an example of an access point) and terminals including a terminal 30a1 (an example of a first terminal) and a terminal 30a2 (an example of a second terminal), and includes a CPU 205 (an example of a setting unit) that performs a second process of setting a frequency to be used in wireless communication with the terminal 30a2 to a frequency at which the communication rate in wireless communication with the terminal 30a1 does not decrease from the current communication rate, among a plurality of frequencies identified for the communication rate in wireless communication with the terminal 30a2, when the communication rate in wireless communication with the terminal 30a1 decreases due to a decrease in the communication rate in wireless communication with the terminal 30a2.

[0065] This repeater 20 (an example of a repeater) can suppress a decrease in the wireless communication rate between terminal 30a1 (an example of a terminal) and access point 10 (an example of an access point) in wireless communication conducted via the repeater 20, even when there is no change in the wireless communication rate between the repeater 20 and terminal 30a1.

[0066] In the second embodiment of the present disclosure, it has been described that the terminal 30a2 moves away from the relay 20 compared to the initial state, and thus falls out of the MU-MIMO grouping, causing the communication rate of the relay 20 to change. In the second embodiment of the present disclosure, it has been described that the change causes the wireless communication rate between the terminal 30a1 and the access point 10 to decrease. However, another embodiment of the present disclosure includes a case in which the terminal 30a2 moves closer to the relay 20 compared to the initial state, causing the terminal 30a2 to fall out of the MU-MIMO grouping, and thus causing the communication rate of the relay 20 to change. In another embodiment of the present disclosure, it has been described that the change causes the wireless communication rate between the terminal 30a1 and the access point 10 to decrease.

[0067] FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a minimum configuration of the repeater 20 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The repeater 20 is a repeater connected to an access point and a first terminal or a terminal including the first terminal and a second terminal. As shown in FIG. 16, the repeater 20 includes a setting unit 300. When the terminal does not include the second terminal and the communication rate of the first terminal decreases due to a decrease in the communication rate of the wireless communication with the access point, the setting unit 300 performs a first process of setting a frequency to be used in wireless communication with the access point to a frequency at which the communication rate of the wireless communication with the first terminal does not decrease from the current state among a plurality of frequencies specified for the communication rate of the wireless communication with the access point, or when the terminal includes the second terminal and the communication rate of the first terminal decreases due to a change in the communication rate of the wireless communication with the second terminal, the setting unit 300 performs a second process of setting a frequency to be used in wireless communication with the second terminal to a frequency at which the communication rate of the wireless communication with the first terminal does not decrease from the current state among a plurality of frequencies specified for the communication rate of the wireless communication with the second terminal. The setting unit 300 can be realized, for example, by using the functions of the CPU 205 illustrated in FIG.

[0068] 17 is a diagram showing an example of a processing flow of the relay device 20 having the minimum configuration according to the embodiment of the present disclosure. Next, the processing of the relay device 20 having the minimum configuration according to the embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to FIG.

[0069] The setting unit 300 performs a first process in a repeater connected to an access point and a first terminal or a terminal including the first terminal and a second terminal, in which, when the terminal does not include the second terminal and the communication rate of the first terminal decreases due to a decrease in the communication rate of the wireless communication with the access point, the setting unit 300 sets a frequency to be used in wireless communication with the access point to a frequency, among a plurality of frequencies specified for the communication rate of the wireless communication with the access point, at which the communication rate of the wireless communication with the first terminal does not decrease from a current level; or, when the terminal includes the second terminal and the communication rate of the first terminal decreases due to a change in the communication rate of the wireless communication with the second terminal, the setting unit 300 sets a frequency to be used in wireless communication with the second terminal to a frequency, among a plurality of frequencies specified for the communication rate of the wireless communication with the second terminal, at which the communication rate of the wireless communication with the first terminal does not decrease from a current level (step S101).

[0070] The above describes a minimum configuration of the repeater 20 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. With this repeater 20, in wireless communication between a terminal and an access point via the repeater, even if there is no change in the wireless communication rate between the repeater and the terminal, the repeater 20 can suppress a decrease in the wireless communication rate between the terminal and the access point.

[0071] It should be noted that the order of the processes in the embodiments of the present disclosure may be changed as long as appropriate processes are performed.

[0072] Although the embodiment of the present disclosure has been described, the above-mentioned communication system 1, the access point 10, the repeater 20, the terminals 30, 30a1, 30a2, and other control devices may have a computer system inside. The above-mentioned process steps are stored in a computer-readable recording medium in the form of a program, and the above-mentioned process is performed by the computer reading and executing the program. Specific examples of computers are shown below.

[0073] 18 is a schematic block diagram showing the configuration of a computer according to at least one embodiment. As shown in FIG. 18, the computer 5 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 6, a main memory 7, a storage 8, and an interface 9.

[0074] For example, the above-mentioned communication system 1, access point 10, repeater 20, terminals 30, 30a1, 30a2, and other control devices are each implemented in a computer 5. The operations of each of the above-mentioned processing units are stored in the form of a program in storage 8. CPU 6 reads the program from storage 8, loads it in main memory 7, and executes the above-mentioned processes according to the program. CPU 6 also secures storage areas in main memory 7 corresponding to each of the above-mentioned storage units according to the program.

[0075] Examples of the storage 8 include a hard disk drive (HDD), a solid state drive (SSD), a magnetic disk, a magneto-optical disk, a compact disc read only memory (CD-ROM), a digital versatile disc read only memory (DVD-ROM), and a semiconductor memory. The storage 8 may be an internal medium directly connected to the bus of the computer 5, or an external medium connected to the computer 5 via an interface 9 or a communication line. In addition, when the program is distributed to the computer 5 via a communication line, the computer 5 that receives the program may load the program into the main memory 7 and execute the above-mentioned process. In at least one embodiment, the storage 8 is a non-transitory tangible storage medium.

[0076] The program may also realize some of the functions described above. Furthermore, the program may be a file that can realize the functions described above in combination with a program already recorded in the computer system, that is, a so-called differential file (differential program).

[0077] Although some embodiments of the present disclosure have been described, these embodiments are merely examples and do not limit the scope of the disclosure. Various additions, omissions, substitutions, and modifications may be made to these embodiments without departing from the spirit of the disclosure.

[0078] Note that some or all of the above-described embodiments can be described as, but are not limited to, the following supplementary notes.

[0079] (Appendix 1) A repeater connected to an access point and a first terminal or a terminal including the first terminal and a second terminal, a setting unit that performs a first process of setting a frequency to be used in wireless communication with the access point to a frequency at which the communication rate in wireless communication with the first terminal does not decrease from a current value, among a plurality of frequencies specified for the communication rate in wireless communication with the access point, when the terminal does not include the second terminal and a communication rate in wireless communication of the first terminal has decreased due to a decrease in the communication rate in wireless communication with the access point; or a second process of setting a frequency to be used in wireless communication with the second terminal to a frequency at which the communication rate in wireless communication with the first terminal does not decrease from a current value, among a plurality of frequencies specified for the communication rate in wireless communication with the second terminal, when the terminal includes the second terminal and a communication rate in wireless communication of the first terminal has decreased due to a change in the communication rate in wireless communication with the second terminal; A repeater equipped with the above.

[0080] (Appendix 2) a specifying unit that specifies a communication rate in wireless communication with the access point when the setting unit is a setting unit performing the first processing, and that specifies a communication rate in wireless communication with the second terminal when the setting unit is a setting unit performing the second processing; Equipped with When the setting unit is a setting unit performing the first processing, the setting unit sets a frequency to be used in wireless communication with the access point to a frequency among the plurality of frequencies identified by the identification unit that will not cause a communication rate in wireless communication with the first terminal to decrease from a current rate, and when the setting unit is a setting unit performing the second processing, the setting unit sets a frequency to be used in wireless communication with the second terminal to a frequency among the plurality of frequencies identified by the identification unit that will not cause a communication rate in wireless communication with the first terminal to decrease from a current rate. Attachment 1.

[0081] (Appendix 3) A confirmation unit that confirms a first surrounding environment, which is a surrounding environment of the repeater itself; a determination unit that, when the setting unit is a setting unit that performs the first processing, determines whether or not a decrease in a communication rate in wireless communication with the first terminal is caused by a decrease in a communication rate in wireless communication with the access point, based on the first surrounding environment, and, when the setting unit is a setting unit that performs the second processing, determines whether or not a decrease in a communication rate in wireless communication with the first terminal is caused by a change in a communication rate in wireless communication with the second terminal, based on the first surrounding environment; Equipped with When the setting unit is a setting unit that performs the first processing, and when the determination unit determines based on the first surrounding environment that a decrease in the communication rate in the wireless communication with the first terminal is caused by a decrease in the communication rate in the wireless communication with the access point, the identification unit identifies the communication rates in the wireless communication with the access point at the multiple frequencies; when the setting unit is a setting unit that performs the second processing, and when the determination unit determines based on the first surrounding environment that a decrease in the communication rate in the wireless communication with the first terminal is caused by a change in the communication rate in the wireless communication with the second terminal, the identification unit identifies the communication rates in the wireless communication with the second terminal at the multiple frequencies. A repeater as described in Appendix 2.

[0082] (Appendix 4) A confirmation unit that confirms a first surrounding environment, which is a surrounding environment of the repeater itself; a determination unit that, when the setting unit is a setting unit that performs the first processing, determines whether or not a decrease in a communication rate in wireless communication with the first terminal is caused by a decrease in a communication rate in wireless communication with the access point, based on the first surrounding environment, and, when the setting unit is a setting unit that performs the second processing, determines whether or not a decrease in a communication rate in wireless communication with the first terminal is caused by a decrease in a communication rate in wireless communication with the second terminal, based on the first surrounding environment; Equipped with When the setting unit is a setting unit performing the first processing, and when the determination unit determines based on the first surrounding environment that a decrease in the communication rate in the wireless communication with the first terminal is caused by a decrease in the communication rate in the wireless communication with the access point, the setting unit sets a frequency to be used in the wireless communication with the access point, among the multiple frequencies, at which the communication rate in the wireless communication with the first terminal does not decrease from a current level; when the setting unit is a setting unit performing the second processing, and when the determination unit determines based on the first surrounding environment that a decrease in the communication rate in the wireless communication with the first terminal is caused by a change in the communication rate in the wireless communication with the second terminal, the setting unit sets a frequency to be used in the wireless communication with the second terminal, among the multiple frequencies, at which the communication rate in the wireless communication with the first terminal does not decrease from a current level. 4. A repeater according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

[0083] (Appendix 5) When the setting unit is a setting unit that performs the first processing, the setting unit sets, based on the surrounding environment of the access point, a frequency among the frequencies to be used in wireless communication with the access point at which a communication rate in wireless communication with the terminal does not decrease from a current rate, and when the setting unit is a setting unit that performs the second processing, the setting unit sets, based on the surrounding environment of the access point, a frequency among the frequencies to be used in wireless communication with the access point at which a communication rate in wireless communication with the terminal does not decrease from a current rate. 5. A repeater according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

[0084] (Appendix 6) A repeater as described in Appendix 1; the access point, the first terminal, and the second terminal connected to the repeater; A communication system comprising:

[0085] (Appendix 7) A processing method executed by a repeater connected to an access point and a first terminal or a terminal including the first terminal and a second terminal, comprising: When the terminal does not include the second terminal and a communication rate in wireless communication of the first terminal decreases due to a decrease in the communication rate in wireless communication with the access point, a frequency to be used in wireless communication with the access point is set to a frequency, among a plurality of frequencies specified for the communication rate in wireless communication with the access point, at which the communication rate in wireless communication with the first terminal does not decrease from a current rate; or the terminal includes the second terminal, and when a communication rate in the wireless communication of the first terminal is reduced due to a change in the communication rate in the wireless communication with the second terminal, a frequency to be used in the wireless communication with the second terminal is set to a frequency at which the communication rate in the wireless communication with the first terminal is not reduced from a current rate, among a plurality of frequencies specified for the communication rate in the wireless communication with the second terminal; A processing method comprising:

[0086] (Appendix 8) A repeater computer connected to the access point and the first terminal or the first terminal and the second terminal, When the terminal does not include the second terminal and a communication rate in wireless communication of the first terminal decreases due to a decrease in the communication rate in wireless communication with the access point, a frequency to be used in wireless communication with the access point is set to a frequency, among a plurality of frequencies specified for the communication rate in wireless communication with the access point, at which the communication rate in wireless communication with the first terminal does not decrease from a current rate; or the terminal includes the second terminal, and when a communication rate in the wireless communication of the first terminal is reduced due to a change in the communication rate in the wireless communication with the second terminal, a frequency to be used in the wireless communication with the second terminal is set to a frequency at which the communication rate in the wireless communication with the first terminal is not reduced from a current rate, among a plurality of frequencies specified for the communication rate in the wireless communication with the second terminal; A program that executes the following. [Explanation of symbols]

[0087] 1. Communication Systems 5. Computers 6, 205··CPU 7. Main memory 8. Storage 9. Interface 10. Wireless LAN access point 20. Wireless LAN repeater 30, 30a1, 30a2... Wireless LAN terminal 201a1, 201a2, 201a3, 201a4, 201b1, 201b2, 201b3, 201b4... Antennas 202a1, 202a2, 202a3, 202a4, 202b1, 202b2, 202b3, 202b4...Transmitting and receiving circuits 203 Baseband section 204 Memory section

Claims

1. A repeater connected to an access point and a first terminal or a terminal including the first terminal and a second terminal, a setting unit that performs a first process of setting a frequency to be used in wireless communication with the access point to a frequency, among a plurality of frequencies specified for the communication rate in wireless communication with the access point, at which the communication rate in wireless communication with the first terminal does not decrease from a current rate, when the terminal does not include the second terminal and a communication rate in wireless communication with the access point of the first terminal has decreased due to a decrease in the communication rate in wireless communication with the access point; or a second process of setting a frequency to be used in wireless communication with the second terminal to a frequency, among a plurality of frequencies specified for the communication rate in wireless communication with the second terminal, at which the communication rate in wireless communication with the first terminal does not decrease from a current rate, when the terminal includes the second terminal and a communication rate in wireless communication with the first terminal has decreased due to a change in the communication rate in wireless communication with the second terminal; A repeater equipped with the above.

2. a specifying unit that specifies a communication rate in wireless communication with the access point when the setting unit is a setting unit performing the first processing, and that specifies a communication rate in wireless communication with the second terminal when the setting unit is a setting unit performing the second processing; Equipped with When the setting unit is a setting unit performing the first processing, the setting unit sets a frequency to be used in wireless communication with the access point to a frequency among the plurality of frequencies identified by the identification unit that will not cause a communication rate in wireless communication with the first terminal to decrease from a current rate, and when the setting unit is a setting unit performing the second processing, the setting unit sets a frequency to be used in wireless communication with the second terminal to a frequency among the plurality of frequencies identified by the identification unit that will not cause a communication rate in wireless communication with the first terminal to decrease from a current rate. The repeater according to claim 1 .

3. A confirmation unit that confirms a first surrounding environment, which is a surrounding environment of the repeater itself; a determination unit that, when the setting unit is a setting unit that performs the first processing, determines whether or not a decrease in a communication rate in wireless communication with the first terminal is caused by a decrease in a communication rate in wireless communication with the access point, based on the first surrounding environment, and, when the setting unit is a setting unit that performs the second processing, determines whether or not a decrease in a communication rate in wireless communication with the first terminal is caused by a change in a communication rate in wireless communication with the second terminal, based on the first surrounding environment; Equipped with when the setting unit is a setting unit that performs the first processing, and when the determination unit determines based on the first surrounding environment that a decrease in the communication rate in the wireless communication with the first terminal is caused by a decrease in the communication rate in the wireless communication with the access point, the identification unit identifies the communication rates in the wireless communication with the access point at the multiple frequencies; when the setting unit is a setting unit that performs the second processing, and when the determination unit determines based on the first surrounding environment that a decrease in the communication rate in the wireless communication with the first terminal is caused by a change in the communication rate in the wireless communication with the second terminal, the identification unit identifies the communication rates in the wireless communication with the second terminal at the multiple frequencies. The repeater according to claim 2 .

4. A confirmation unit that confirms a first surrounding environment, which is a surrounding environment of the repeater itself; a determination unit that, when the setting unit is a setting unit that performs the first processing, determines whether or not a decrease in a communication rate in wireless communication with the first terminal is caused by a decrease in a communication rate in wireless communication with the access point, based on the first surrounding environment, and, when the setting unit is a setting unit that performs the second processing, determines whether or not a decrease in a communication rate in wireless communication with the first terminal is caused by a change in a communication rate in wireless communication with the second terminal, based on the first surrounding environment; Equipped with when the setting unit is a setting unit that performs the first processing, and when the determination unit determines based on the first surrounding environment that a decrease in the communication rate in the wireless communication with the first terminal is caused by a decrease in the communication rate in the wireless communication with the access point, the setting unit sets a frequency to be used in the wireless communication with the access point, among the multiple frequencies, at which the communication rate in the wireless communication with the first terminal does not decrease from a current level; when the setting unit is a setting unit that performs the second processing, and when the determination unit determines based on the first surrounding environment that a decrease in the communication rate in the wireless communication with the first terminal is caused by a change in the communication rate in the wireless communication with the second terminal, the setting unit sets a frequency to be used in the wireless communication with the second terminal, among the multiple frequencies, at which the communication rate in the wireless communication with the first terminal does not decrease from a current level. The repeater according to claim 1 .

5. When the setting unit is a setting unit that performs the first processing, the setting unit sets, based on the surrounding environment of the access point, a frequency among the frequencies to be used in wireless communication with the access point that will not cause a communication rate in wireless communication with the terminal to decrease from a current rate, and when the setting unit is a setting unit that performs the second processing, the setting unit sets, based on the surrounding environment of the access point, a frequency among the frequencies to be used in wireless communication with the access point that will not cause a communication rate in wireless communication with the terminal to decrease from a current rate. The repeater according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. A repeater according to claim 1; the access point, the first terminal, and the second terminal connected to the repeater; A communication system comprising:

7. A processing method executed by a repeater connected to an access point and a first terminal or a terminal including the first terminal and a second terminal, comprising: When the terminal does not include the second terminal and a communication rate in wireless communication of the first terminal decreases due to a decrease in the communication rate in wireless communication with the access point, a frequency to be used in wireless communication with the access point is set to a frequency at which the communication rate in wireless communication with the first terminal does not decrease from a current rate among a plurality of frequencies specified for the communication rate in wireless communication with the access point, or the terminal includes the second terminal, and when a communication rate in the wireless communication of the first terminal is reduced due to a change in a communication rate in the wireless communication with the second terminal, a frequency to be used in the wireless communication with the second terminal is set to a frequency at which the communication rate in the wireless communication with the first terminal is not reduced from a current rate, among a plurality of frequencies specified for the communication rate in the wireless communication with the second terminal; A processing method comprising:

8. A repeater computer connected to the access point and the first terminal or the first terminal and the second terminal, When the terminal does not include the second terminal and a communication rate in wireless communication of the first terminal decreases due to a decrease in the communication rate in wireless communication with the access point, a frequency to be used in wireless communication with the access point is set to a frequency at which the communication rate in wireless communication with the first terminal does not decrease from a current rate among a plurality of frequencies specified for the communication rate in wireless communication with the access point, or the terminal includes the second terminal, and when a communication rate in the wireless communication of the first terminal is reduced due to a change in a communication rate in the wireless communication with the second terminal, a frequency to be used in the wireless communication with the second terminal is set to a frequency at which the communication rate in the wireless communication with the first terminal is not reduced from a current rate, among a plurality of frequencies specified for the communication rate in the wireless communication with the second terminal; A program that executes the following.

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