Communication device, communication method, and program

Abstract

To provide a technique for improving channel utilization efficiency in a wireless communication system using a communication link consisting of multiple channels.SOLUTION: A communication device capable of communicating with another communication device using one communication link consisting of a first channel used to acquire transmission rights and one or more second channels different from the first channel notifies the other communication device of capability information indicating that an operation to perform communication can be performed using one or more second channels without using the first channel, by using at least one of a UHR (Ultra High Reliability) Capabilities element or a UHR Operation element defined in the IEEE802.11 series standard, and communicates data with the other communication device using one or more channels including either the first channel or the second channel on the basis of the capability information.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a data communication technique in a communication device capable of communicating using a communication link made up of a plurality of channels. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, with the increase in the amount of data being communicated, the development of communication technologies such as wireless LAN (Local Area Network) is progressing. The IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers) 802.11 standard series is known as a major communication standard for wireless LAN. The IEEE 802.11 standard series includes IEEE 802.11a / b / g / n / ac / ax / be standards. In order to further improve the reliability of communication, the IEEE 802.11bn standard is being developed as a successor to the IEEE 802.11be standard. In the IEEE 802.11 Working Group (WG) that formulates the IEEE 802.11bn standard, the UHR SG defines the goals and scope of the standard, and the TGbn defines the detailed technical content to be included in the standard. UHR SG is an abbreviation for Ultra High Reliability Study Group. TGbn is also an abbreviation for Task Group bn.

[0003] As one of the candidate technologies to be included in the IEEE802.11bn standard, a technology for improving channel utilization efficiency in a communication method using a communication link consisting of multiple channels is being considered. For example, Patent Document 1 describes a technology for performing communication using other channels when the Primary Channel used to acquire the transmission right cannot be used. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] U.S. Pat. No. 1,169,6353 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The present invention provides a technique for improving channel utilization efficiency in a communication system that uses a communication link consisting of multiple channels. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A communications device according to one embodiment of the present invention is capable of communicating with other communications devices using a single communication link consisting of a first channel used to acquire a transmission right and one or more second channels different from the first channel, and has a notification means for notifying the other communications devices of capability information indicating that the device is capable of operating to communicate using one or more of the second channels without using the first channel, using at least one of a UHR (Ultra High Reliability) Capabilities element or a UHR Operation element defined in the IEEE 802.11 series standard, and a communication means for communicating data with the other communications devices using one or more channels including either the first channel or the second channel based on the capability information. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to improve the channel utilization efficiency in a communication system that uses a communication link composed of a plurality of channels. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a wireless communication system. [Diagram 2] A diagram showing an example of a UHR Capabilities element. [Diagram 3]A diagram showing an example of a UHR Capabilities element. [Figure 4] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a UHR Operation element. [Diagram 5] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a UHR Operation element. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a hardware configuration of a communication device. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a functional configuration of a communication device. [Figure 8] 10 is an example of a flowchart illustrating a flow of a process executed by a communication device. [Figure 9] 1 is an example of a sequence executed between communication devices. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] Hereinafter, the embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. Note that the following embodiments do not limit the invention according to the claims. Although the embodiments describe a number of features, not all of these features are essential to the invention, and the features may be combined in any manner. Furthermore, in the attached drawings, the same reference numbers are used for the same or similar configurations, and duplicated descriptions are omitted.

[0010] (System Configuration) FIG. 1 shows an example of the configuration of a wireless communication system according to this embodiment. The wireless communication system includes, for example, an access point (AP) 101 and a station (STA) 102. The AP 101 and the STA 102 are communication devices capable of performing wireless communication conforming to the IEEE 802.11 series standard. In this embodiment, the AP 101 and the STA 102 may be collectively referred to as a communication device 100. IEEE is an abbreviation for the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. FIG. 1 shows a configuration in which the STA 102 participates in a network 103 constructed by the AP 101. In FIG. 1, a configuration in which one AP 101 and one STA 102 exist is shown, but there may be a plurality of APs and a plurality of STAs. In addition, at that time, a plurality of STAs may be connected to one AP, and one STA may be connected to a plurality of APs.

[0011] In this embodiment, the AP 101 and the STA 102 are configured to be able to execute a communication method conforming to the IEEE 802.11bn standard. The IEEE 802.11bn standard is a successor standard to the IEEE 802.11be standard that targets a maximum transmission speed of 46.08 Gbps (Giga bit per second). The main feature of the IEEE 802.11bn standard is that it has a function of realizing highly reliable communication, low-latency communication, and improved throughput when communication traffic is congested. A wireless frame used in a communication method conforming to this standard may be called UHR (Ultra High Reliability) PPDU. PPDU is an abbreviation for PLCP Protocol Data Unit, and PLCP is an abbreviation for Physical Layer Convergence Protocol. Note that the names of UHR, IEEE 802.11bn, etc. may be changed to other names when the formulation of the standard is completed. It should be noted that the present specification and the claims attached hereto are applicable to communication devices using all successor standards to the IEEE802.11be. The communication device 100 may be compatible with at least one of legacy standards that are standards prior to the IEEE802.11bn standard. The legacy standards are, for example, the IEEE802.11a / b / g / n / ac / ax / be standards. The communication device 100 may also be compatible with other communication standards such as Bluetooth (registered trademark), NFC, UWB, ZigBee, MBOA, etc. UWB stands for Ultra Wide Band, and MBOA stands for Multi Band OFDM Alliance. NFC stands for Near Field Communication. UWB includes wireless USB, wireless 1394, WiNET, etc. The communication device 100 may also be compatible with communication standards such as wired LAN. The AP 101 is, for example, but not limited to, a wireless LAN router, a personal computer (PC), etc. The AP 101 may be an information processing device such as a wireless chip capable of performing wireless communication compatible with the IEEE802.11bn standard or the like.The STA 102 may be, for example, but is not limited to, a camera, a tablet, a smartphone, a PC (personal computer), a mobile phone, a video camera, a headset, etc. The STA 102 may be an information processing device such as a wireless chip capable of performing wireless communication compatible with the IEEE802.11bn standard or the like.

[0012] The communication device 100 may communicate using radio signals in frequency bands such as 2.4 GHz, 3.6 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz, as well as 45 GHz and 60 GHz bands known as millimeter waves. The frequency bands used by the communication device 100 are not limited to these, and may be, for example, the Sub1 GHz band. The communication device 100 may communicate using bandwidths of 20 MHz, 40 MHz, 80 MHz, 160 MHz, 320 MHz, 540 MHz, 640 MHz, 1080 MHz, and 2160 MHz. The bandwidths used by the communication device 100 are not limited to these, and may be, for example, 240 MHz, 4 MHz, and the like. The IEEE802.11 series standard specifies a frequency channel using a bandwidth of 20 MHz as a basic channel in frequency bands such as 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz. This standard also defines a number of available channels in each of the 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz frequency bands. Moreover, this standard allows a channel to be used in combination with other adjacent channels. In this embodiment, using a channel in combination with other adjacent channels is sometimes called channel bonding. Also, a bundle of channels formed by one or two or more adjacent channels is sometimes called a communication link. That is, one link formed by two channels with a bandwidth of 20 MHz uses a bandwidth of 40 MHz. The AP 101 and the STA 102 may be AP MLD (Multi-Link Device) and STA MLD compatible with Multi-Link, which establishes multiple links simultaneously and communicates.

[0013] The communication device 100 establishes one or more links between devices in order to communicate data with other communication devices. For example, the STA 102 executes a connection procedure with the AP 101 in order to establish a link with the AP 101. When the connection procedure between the STA 102 and the AP 101 is completed, a link is established between the devices. By establishing the link, the communication device 100 can access a wireless medium and communicate data, etc. with the other communication device. For example, when one link using a bandwidth of 160 MHz is established between the devices, the communication device 100 communicates using all or a part of the channels that constitute the link. A link using a bandwidth of 160 MHz can be configured by bundling eight channels with a bandwidth of 20 MHz.

[0014] The communication device 100 performs carrier sensing before transmitting data to determine whether transmission is possible. For example, the communication device 100 measures the strength of a signal received on a channel that the device intends to use for transmission (received signal strength), and when the received signal strength exceeds a predetermined threshold, determines that a signal exists on the channel. The communication device 100 also determines whether a signal exists based on information such as a Duration field included in the signal received on the channel. For example, the communication device 100 stores a period indicated by a Duration field included in the received signal as a Network Allocation Vector (NAV) in the device. The communication device 100 may handle the stored NAV as a period during which the device does not transmit. The operation of the communication device 100 to set a period during which the device does not transmit based on information such as a Duration field of the received signal is also called setting a NAV. When the communication device 100 determines that a signal exists on the channel by carrier sensing, or when the period of the set NAV has not expired, the communication device 100 may determine that transmission is not possible. In this case, the state of the channel may be called a busy state. On the other hand, a state in which no signal is detected on a channel in carrier sense and no NAV is set may be called an idle state. When the channel is in an idle state, the communication device 100 may determine that transmission is possible. Note that, for example, when communicating using a link with a bandwidth of 160 MHz, the communication device 100 may determine whether transmission is possible using only a Primary Channel (PCH). The PCH is one of eight channels with a bandwidth of 20 MHz that constitute a link with a bandwidth of 160 MHz, and may be notified to the STA 102 by a Beacon frame that is periodically broadcast by the AP 101, for example. For example, when the communication device 100 determines that transmission is possible as a result of performing carrier sense on the PCH for a predetermined period of time, it may perform transmission by channel bonding using other channels included in the same link. Also, when the communication device 100 determines that transmission is not possible as a result of performing carrier sense on the PCH, it may postpone transmission even if other channels included in the same link are in an idle state.Each channel other than the PCH constituting one link may be called a secondary channel (SCH). The secondary channel may also be called a non-primary channel (NPCH).

[0015] In the communication device 100, when a signal is received on a certain channel, if a signal is transmitted on another channel (for example, an adjacent channel) arranged at a frequency close to the channel, the received signal may not be properly received. For example, assume that the communication device 100 can simultaneously perform transmission processing and reception processing using different channels. When the communication device 100 receives using a certain channel, if it transmits on an adjacent channel, the power of the transmission signal leaks into the channel of the received signal, causing interference with the received signal. Generally, the power due to such leakage of the transmission signal is much greater than the received power of the received signal, so the received signal is not properly received. In order to avoid such a situation, the IEEE802.11 series standard provides a PCH as a channel commonly used between communication devices to determine whether transmission is possible. That is, while one communication device is transmitting using the PCH, the other communication device does not transmit even if the other channel is in an idle state. This can solve the problem of interference caused by power leakage between the above-mentioned channels. However, when the PCH is busy, other channels (SCHs) that are idle are not used, which reduces frequency utilization efficiency. For example, when the communication device 100 transmits using only the PCH of the 20 MHz band, even if the other seven SCHs are idle, the other communication device cannot transmit using those SCHs. In addition, when there is another network constructed by another AP (not shown) in the geographical vicinity of the AP 101, the PCH may be determined to be busy because the other network uses the PCH. At this time, since the AP 101 is not transmitting, even if the STA 102 transmits to the AP 101 using the channel of the SCH, the AP 101 can properly receive the signal transmitted by the STA 102. In this way, if the remaining 140 MHz of idle SCHs are not used due to the use of the 20 MHz PCH by another network, the frequency resources cannot be used efficiently.In this embodiment, when a PCH is being used by another communication device, a function is provided for performing communication between communication devices using an SCH (or NPCH) included in the same link as the PCH without using the PCH. As an example, when the PCH is busy between communication devices, a Secondary Primary Channel (SPCH) is set to determine whether transmission using the SCH (or NPCH) is possible. When the communication device 100 determines that the PCH is being used by another communication device, it subsequently determines whether transmission is possible in the SPCH, and when it determines that transmission is possible, it performs transmission using one or more SCHs including the SPCH. In this way, channel access for performing transmission using one or more channels including the SPCH without using the PCH can be called NPCH access (Non-Primary Channel Access). In NPCH access, the transmitting communication device performs a transmission process of transmitting a signal to the other communication device using one or more SCHs including the SPCH channel. Meanwhile, the receiving communication device performs a reception process of receiving a signal transmitted from the other communication device using one or more SCHs including the SPCH channel. In order to perform NPCH access, the communication device 100 shares information with the other communication device in advance, such as the presence or absence of the capability to perform NPCH access, the channel to be set for SPCH, etc. An example of notification of capability information at the time of connection between communication devices in this embodiment and an operation of channel access based on the capability information will be described below.

[0016] (Operation when notifying capability information between communication devices) The AP 101 periodically broadcasts information required for other communication devices (such as the STA 102) to connect to the AP 101 using a Beacon frame (Beacon). The STA 102 recognizes the AP 101 by receiving the Beacon and starts a wireless connection procedure. If the AP 101 does not transmit a Beacon or if the STA 102 cannot properly receive a Beacon transmitted by the AP 101, the STA 102 may start a wireless connection procedure without receiving a Beacon. For example, the STA 102 may start a wireless connection procedure using a Service Set Identifier (SSID) or the like registered in advance by a user or the like. In order to connect to the AP 101, the STA 102 first transmits a Probe Request frame (Probe Request) to the AP 101. When the AP 101 receives the Probe Request, the AP 101 transmits a Probe Response frame (Probe Response) addressed to the STA 102. When the STA102 receives the Probe Response, it transmits an Authentication frame (Authentication) to the AP101. When the AP101 receives the Authentication, it transmits the Authentication to the STA102. When the STA102 receives the Authentication, it transmits an Association Request frame (Association Request). When the AP101 receives the Association Request, it transmits an Association Response frame (Association Response). In this manner, a connection procedure between the AP101 and the STA102 is executed, and a link using a wireless medium is established between the AP101 and the STA102. After the above connection procedure, the AP101 and the STA102 may execute a 4-way handshake or the like for exchanging security information. The AP101 and the STA102 may also execute a wireless connection procedure using a method other than the above.

[0017] In the wireless connection procedure, the AP 101 and the STA 102 share information with the other communication device that can specify the presence or absence of the capability to perform NPCH access, the channel to be used as SPCH, and the like. In this embodiment, information that specifies the function that the communication device 100 has for performing wireless communication can be called capability information. The capability information can include various information exchanged by the communication device 100 to perform NPCH access with another communication device. For example, the capability information can include information that the device itself can perform NPCH access, the number of channels that can perform carrier sense in parallel, information that specifies the SPCH, and the priority of the SPCH. The priority of the SPCH is a priority indicating which SPCH the communication device 100 will preferentially perform carrier sense on when multiple SPCHs are set. The communication device 100 can notify the other communication device of capability information indicating that the device itself can perform NPCH access. In addition, the communication device 100 can acquire capability information indicating that the other communication device can perform NPCH access from the other communication device. The capability to perform NPCH access may be either the capability to perform transmission processing in NPCH access or the capability to perform reception processing in NPCH access, or may be both. Also, the communication device 100 may perform notification of the capability information of its own device spontaneously, or may perform notification of the capability information of its own device upon request by the communication device of the other party.

[0018] In order to notify the capability information of the AP 101, the AP 101 may periodically broadcast a Beacon including the capability information. By broadcasting using a Beacon, the AP 101 may efficiently notify an unspecified number of STAs 102 of the capability information. Furthermore, the STAs 102 may grasp the capability information of the AP 101 before starting the connection procedure, thereby reducing the amount of information exchanged in the connection procedure. Note that a FILS Discovery frame may be used instead of a Beacon. The FILS Discovery frame may be used to notify only a part of the information included in the Beacon (SSID, channel information, etc.). Furthermore, the AP 101 may notify the STAs 102 of the capability information by using a Probe Response or an Association Response transmitted to the STAs 102. The STAs 102 may notify the APs 101 of the capability information of their own device by using a Probe Request or an Association Request.

[0019] The communication device 100 may passively acquire capability information by waiting for notification of capability information from the other communication device, or may actively acquire capability information by making a request to the other communication device. For example, the STA 102 may acquire capability information of the AP 101 by receiving a Beacon transmitted from the AP 101. The STA 102 may request capability information from the AP 101 using a Probe Request or an Association Request, and may acquire capability information from the AP 101 using a Probe Response or an Association Response. The AP 101 may request notification of capability information from the STA 102 using the Probe Response or the Association Response.

[0020] As an example, the capability information may be notified using a UHR Capabilities element. The UHR Capabilities element may be included in the above-mentioned Beacon, Probe Request, Probe Response, Association Request, Association Response, etc. The UHR Capabilities element may be included in a frame other than these. For example, the UHR Capabilities element may be included in an Action frame (Action). In this case, after a link between devices is established, it is possible to flexibly change the link setting. For example, it is possible to change the SCH to be set as the SPCH or change the priority of the SPCH according to the surrounding environment. FIG. 2 shows an example of the UHR Capabilities element. The UHR Capabilities element includes an Element ID field 201, a Length field 202, and an Extended Element ID field 203. The UHR Capabilities element may also include a Secondary Transmit Capable (STC) field 204 and a Secondary Receive Capable (SRC)1 field 205. The UHR Capabilities element may further include an SRC2 field 206, an SRC3 field 207, and an SRC4 field 208. The combination of the Element ID field 201 and the Extended Element ID field 203 indicates the type of element. For example, an element in which the Element ID field 201 is set to 255 and the Extended Element ID field 203 is set to 138 is a UHR Capabilities element. The Length field 202 indicates the length of this element. The STC field 204 indicates whether the communication device 100 can perform transmission processing in NPCH access. The SRC1 field 205 indicates that the number of channels that the communication device can receive is 1 when the other communication device transmits using NPCH access.Similarly, the SRC2 field 206 indicates that the number of channels that the own device can receive in parallel (the number of receivable channels) is 2 when the other communication device transmits using NPCH access. The SRC3 field 207 indicates that the number of receivable channels is 3. The SRC4 field 208 indicates that the number of receivable channels is 4. For example, when only the SRC1 field 205 is set to 1 and the SRC2 field 206 to the SRC4 field 208 are each set to 0, it indicates that the number of receivable channels is 1. Note that the STC field 204 and the SRC1 field 205 to the SRC4 field 208 may be combined into one field. In this case, one bit indicates that the own device can perform both transmission and reception in NPCH access. Also, the SRC1 field 205 to the SRC4 field 208 may be combined into one field. In this case, one bit indicates that the own device can perform reception processing in NPCH access. In addition, when the communication device 100 can simultaneously perform reception processing on five or more channels, an SRC5 field (not shown), an SRC6 field (not shown), etc. may be provided. In this case, it is possible to indicate to the other communication device that reception processing is possible on more channels simultaneously. In addition, the number of channels that the communication device 100 can simultaneously receive is, for example, the number of reception circuits that the communication device 100 has. By having each reception circuit correspond to each channel (SPCH, etc.), reception processing of signals received on multiple channels can be performed in parallel. In addition, the number of channels that the communication device 100 can simultaneously receive may be the number of channels that the communication device 100 can carrier sense in parallel (the number of channels capable of carrier sense). For example, when the communication device 100 has only one reception circuit, the communication device 100 can perform carrier sense in parallel on multiple channels, select one channel from the channels in which a signal is detected, and perform reception processing of the received signal. In addition, the number of channels that the communication device 100 can simultaneously receive may be the number of reception antennas that the communication device 100 has.When the antennas are associated with each other so that they can process signals of different channels, the communication device 100 can execute reception processing of signals received on each channel in parallel. Similarly, the communication device 100 may notify the other communication device of the number of carrier sense-enabled channels and the number of receivable channels using separate fields. In this case, it becomes easy to adjust the scheduling of NPCH access between the devices.

[0021] FIG. 3 shows another example of the UHR Capabilities element. In FIG. 3, a Secondary Receive Capable (SRC) field 301 is provided instead of the SRC1 field 205 to the SRC4 field 208 in FIG. 2. The SRC field 301 may be configured with, for example, two bits. As an example, when the communication device 100 cannot perform reception processing in NPCH access, the communication device 100 may set the value of the SRC field 301 to 0. Furthermore, when the number of receivable channels is 1, 2, or 4, the communication device 100 may set the value of the SRC field 301 to 1, 2, or 3, respectively. Note that, when the number of receivable channels is 3, the communication device 100 may set the value of the SRC field 301 to 3. Furthermore, the communication device 100 may separately provide an SRC field for indicating that the communication device 100 can perform reception processing in NPCH access and another field for indicating the number of receivable channels (a number of receivable channels field, not shown). When the SRC field indicates that the communication device 100 is capable of receiving processing in NPCH access, the number of receivable channels field can indicate the number of receivable channels.

[0022] The communication device 100 may notify the other communication device of capability information by using elements and fields other than the UHR Capabilities element. For example, the communication device 100 may notify the capability information by using the Extended Capabilities field. In this case, the communication device 100 may exchange capability information with a communication device that does not comply with the IEEE802.11bn standard but is capable of executing NPCH access. In addition, new elements and fields may be formulated for exchanging capability information related to NPCH access. By formulating new elements and fields, it becomes possible to flexibly exchange information required for NPCH access between communication devices.

[0023] (Action to set SPCH) When there are multiple SCHs, the communication device 100 may determine an SPCH from among them. There may be one SPCH or multiple SPCHs. The SPCH may be determined by one communication device and notified to the other communication device, or may be adjusted between the devices. For example, the AP 101 may determine an SPCH to be used in common by all STAs connected to the device and notify the STAs using a Beacon or the like. In addition, when the AP 101 sets an SPCH individually between each STA connected to the device, the AP 101 may adjust the SPCH in a connection procedure between each STA (exchange of Association Request and Association Response, etc.). As an example, the SPCH may be notified using a UHR Operation element. The UHR Operation element may be included in the above-mentioned Beacon, Probe Request, Probe Response, Association Request, Association Response, Action, etc. The UHR Operation element may be included in another frame.

[0024] FIG. 4 shows an example of a UHR Operation element. The UHR Operation element includes an Element ID field 401, a Length field 402, and an Extended Element ID field 403. The UHR Operation element also includes a Secondary Channel Number field 404, a Secondary Channel field 405, and a Secondary Simultaneous field 406. The Element ID field 401 and the Extended Element ID field 403 are the same as the Element ID field 401 and the Extended Element ID field 403 in FIG. 2, and therefore a description thereof will be omitted. The Length field 402 indicates the length of this element. The Secondary Channel Number field 404 indicates the number of subsequent Secondary Channel (SC) fields 405. There are as many Secondary Channel (SC) fields 405 as the number of values ​​specified in the field 404. FIG. 4 shows an example in which 2 is stored in 404, and there are two 405 fields (405-1 and 405-2). These SC fields 405 are fields that indicate the position of the SPCH on the frequency axis. The Secondary Channel Number field 404 may also be called a Secondary Primary Channel Number field. The Secondary Channel field 405 may also be called a Secondary Primary Channel field. The communication device 100 may indicate the position of the SPCH on the frequency axis by storing the channel number of the SPCH in the SC field 405. For example, when a channel number is used to indicate the position of the SPCH, the SC field 405 may be configured with a field indicating the Operating Class of the SPCH and a field indicating the Channel. The Operating Class is an identifier that can uniquely identify a frequency band determined by the country or region in which the communication device 100 is used.Moreover, the Channel is an identifier capable of uniquely identifying each channel included in the frequency band identified by the Operating Class. Moreover, the communication device 100 may indicate the position of the SPCH by storing in the SC field 405 the relative position of the SPCH on the frequency axis with respect to the PCH. For example, it is assumed that the communication device 100 uses a link with a bandwidth of 160 MHz in the 6 GHz band, and sets 1ch in that band as the PCH (20 MHz bandwidth). It is also assumed that the SCHs (20 MHz bandwidth) are 5ch, 9ch, 13ch, 17ch, 21ch, 25ch, and 29ch, respectively. When the communication device 100 sets 21ch as the SPCH, it sets 20 as the value of the SC field 405. That is, 20, which is the relative distance on the frequency axis from 1ch, which is the PCH, to 21ch, which is the SPCH, can be set as the value of the SC field 405. Furthermore, the communication device 100 may assign consecutive identifiers (0, 1, 2, ...) in ascending order of frequency to the positions (1ch, 5ch, 9ch, ...) of the PCH and each SCH on the frequency axis. For example, when the communication device 100 sets 21ch as the SPCH, it may set 5, which is another identifier of 21ch, as the value of the SC field. This may reduce the number of bits of the field used to notify the position of the SPCH on the frequency axis. Furthermore, the communication device 100 may indicate the position of the SPCH on the frequency axis by storing the center frequency of the SPCH in the SC field 405. In this case, since the bandwidth that can be used is determined according to the center frequency depending on the frequency band, the value of the SC field 405 may indicate the bandwidth in addition to the center frequency of the SPCH. For example, when the value of the SC field 405 is 6065, it may be indicated that the SPCH is a channel with a center frequency of 6065 MHz and a bandwidth of 80 MHz at 6 GHz. The SC field 405 may also include information indicating the bandwidth of the SCH. For example, when the value of a field (not shown) indicating the bandwidth is 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4, it may indicate that the bandwidth of the SPCH is 20 MHz, 40 MHz, 80 MHz, 160 MHz, or 320 MHz, respectively.Furthermore, the communication device 100 can store in the SC field 405 a combination of two or more of the following: Operating Class, channel number, center frequency, and bandwidth.

[0025] When multiple SPCHs are set, the communication device 100 may notify the other communication device of the priority given to each SPCH. For example, the communication device 100 may give each SPCH a priority indicating which SPCH is to be used preferentially for carrier sense in NPCH access. If the number of channels capable of carrier sense in the communication device 100 is equal to or greater than the number of SPCHs, the communication device 100 may perform carrier sense in parallel in each SPCH. On the other hand, if the number of SPCHs is greater than the number of channels capable of carrier sense in the communication device 100, the communication device 100 may perform carrier sense of each channel in order according to the priority given to each SPCH. The communication device 100 may include the priority given to each SPCH in the SC field 405. In addition, the communication device 100 may store the SC field 405 corresponding to each SPCH in one UHR Operation element and notify it. At this time, the communication device 100 may place information of each SPCH in the UHR Operation element according to the priority of each SPCH. Since the SPCH information is arranged according to the priority assigned to each SPCH, the priority of each SPCH is implicitly indicated, so that the priority of the SPCH can be notified without increasing the bits of the SC field 405.

[0026] The Secondary Channel Simultaneous field 406 indicates the number of channels on which the communication device 100 can perform carrier sense. The Secondary Channel Simultaneous field 406 may also be referred to as a Secondary Primary Channel Simultaneous field. When the number of channels on which carrier sense can be performed is 1, the communication device 100 may set the Secondary Channel Simultaneous field 406 to 0. That is, the communication device 100 may indicate that it performs carrier sense on each SPCH in order according to the priority level assigned to the SPCH by setting the Secondary Channel Simultaneous field 406 to 0. Also, when the number of channels on which carrier sense can be performed is 2, the communication device 100 may set the Secondary Channel Simultaneous field 406 to 1. In this case, when the communication device 100 detects that the PCH is busy, it performs carrier sense on two SPCHs in parallel according to the priority level assigned to the SPCH. Note that communication device 100 may indicate the number of receivable channels in the UHR Operation element by using Secondary Channel Simultaneous field 406. Note that communication device 100 may notify the number of carrier sense available channels and the number of receivable channels by using different fields.

[0027] FIG. 5 shows another example of the UHR Operation element. The Element ID field 401, the Length field 402, and the Extended Element ID 403 are the same as those in FIG. 4, and therefore the description will be omitted. In FIG. 5, instead of the Secondary Channel Number field 404 and the SC field 405, a Secondary Channel Bitmap field 501 and a Secondary Order field 502 are included. The Secondary Channel Bitmap field 501 may be also called a Secondary Primary Channel Bitmap field. The Secondary Order field 502 may be also called a Secondary Primary Channel Order. The Secondary Channel Bitmap field 502 may indicate the position of the SPCH on the frequency axis in one link formed by the PCH and the SCH. For example, when the communication device 100 uses a link having a bandwidth of 160 MHz formed by channels 1ch to 29ch in the 6 GHz band, each channel may be associated with each bit of the Secondary Channel Bitmap field 502. As an example, when the SPCH is 17ch, the fourth bit from the left end of the Secondary Channel Bitmap field 502 can be set to 1.

[0028] The Secondary Order field 502 indicates information for identifying the priority of each SPCH. The bandwidth available for NPCH access may differ depending on the arrangement of the PCH and SPCH on the frequency axis in the link used by the communication device 100 and the position on the frequency axis of the SPCH detected as being in an idle state. For example, when the PCH is set to 1ch in a 160MHz link, transmission using the bands of 20MHz, 40MHz, or 80MHz including 1ch cannot be performed in NPCH access that does not use the PCH. Therefore, for example, when the SPCH is 5ch, any one of 9ch to 13ch, or any one of 17ch to 29ch, the maximum bandwidth available for NPCH access is 20MHz, 40MHz, and 80MHz, respectively. Therefore, the communication device 100 can increase the amount of data that can be communicated in NPCH access by assigning a higher priority to the SPCH with a larger bandwidth that can be used in NPCH access. For example, when the communication device 100 assigns priority to the SPCH in descending order of the bandwidth that can be used in NPCH access, the communication device 100 can set the Secondary Order field 502 to 0. For example, when 1ch is PCH and 5ch, 7ch, and 17ch are SPCH, the Secondary Order field 502 being set to 0 indicates that carrier sense is performed in the order of 1ch, 17ch, 7ch, and 5ch. In this way, the Secondary Order field 502 allows the order of SCHs in which carrier sense is performed when NPCH access is used to be shared between devices. Note that the method of assigning priority to each SPCH is not limited to the above, and for example, the SPCH farther from the PCH on the frequency axis may be assigned a higher priority. This can reduce interference between communication performed using the PCH and communication performed using NPCH access. Also, the SPCH closer to the PCH on the frequency axis may be assigned a higher priority. When the PCH is busy, if many communication devices performing NPCH access attempt to communicate using SCHs farther from the PCH, there is a high possibility that signals will collide.Some communication devices may set an SCH close to a PCH on the frequency axis as an SPCH, thereby reducing the probability of signal collision. For example, a communication device that communicates a small amount of data may set one of the SCHs close to a PCH as an SPCH. The priority order given to the SPCH may be determined by a combination of these methods. If the priority order of the SPCH is previously determined in a communication standard, the Secondary Order field 502 may be deleted. The predetermined priority order of the SPCH may be used between communication devices. In this case, the Secondary Order field 502 may also be deleted.

[0029] When the communication device 100 can set the SPCH for transmission and the SPCH for reception separately, a field indicating information of the SPCH for transmission and a field indicating information of the SPCH for reception may be provided separately for each field shown in Figs. 4 and 5. This enables flexible transmission and reception control. In addition, in the present embodiment, an example is described in which the information included in the UHR Capabilities element and the information included in the UHR Operation element are notified by separate elements, but these may be notified by the same element. This allows information required for NPCH access to be exchanged collectively. Note that, when the number of channels capable of carrier sense in the communication device 100 is greater than the number of channels capable of receiving in the other device, the communication device 100 may set the number of channels capable of receiving in the other communication device as the number of channels on which the communication device 100 performs carrier sense in parallel. The number of channels on which the communication device 100 performs carrier sense in parallel may be called the number of channels on which carrier sense is performed. In addition, when the number of channels capable of carrier sense in the communication device 100 is equal to or less than the number of channels capable of receiving in the other device, the communication device 100 may set the number of channels capable of carrier sense in the communication device 100 as the number of channels on which carrier sense is performed in parallel. In this embodiment, the information notified using the UHR Capabilities element and the UHR Operation element may be included in the capability information. Also, the information shown in Figures 4 and 5 may be included in the UHR Capabilities element, and the information shown in Figures 2 and 3 may be included in the UHR Operation element.

[0030] (Operation when a communication device transmits data) The operation of the communication device 100 in this embodiment when performing channel access and transmitting data will be described. When the communication device 100 detects that data has been accumulated in a transmission queue provided in the device itself, the communication device 100 starts a channel access procedure to transmit the data. First, the communication device 100 performs carrier sense on the PCH. When a signal is detected in the carrier sense, the communication device 100 determines whether the signal is transmitted from a communication device belonging to the network 103. A signal transmitted from a communication device belonging to the network 103 may be called a signal from its own BSS (Basic Service Set). Furthermore, a signal transmitted from a communication device belonging to a network other than the network 103 may be called a signal from an OBSS (Overlapping BSS). For example, the communication device 100 may determine whether the signal is a signal from its own BSS or a signal from an OBSS based on whether a BSS Color field included in the received signal matches the BSS Color of its own BSS. Furthermore, the communication device 100 may determine whether the signal is from its own BSS or from an OBSS based on whether the values ​​stored in the destination field, source field, etc. included in the received signal match the parameters of its own BSS. Furthermore, the communication device 100 sets the NAV for the PCH using the period indicated in the Duration field included in the received signal. The communication device 100 determines whether to perform NPCH access based on the signal detected in the PCH. For example, if the signal detected in the PCH is a signal from the OBSS, the communication device 100 may execute the following procedure to perform NPCH access. Furthermore, if the signal detected in the PCH is a signal from its own BSS, the communication device 100 may determine not to perform NPCH access. Note that there are cases where the NAV has already been set in the PCH at the time when it is detected that data has been accumulated in the transmission queue provided in the communication device 100. In this case, the communication device 100 may determine whether to perform NPCH access by determining whether the signal received when the NAV was set was a signal from its own BSS or a signal from an OBSS.When the communication device 100 does not detect a signal in the PCH, it measures a back-off counter and determines whether the PCH is in an idle state. That is, when the communication device 100 does not detect a signal for a period determined by the back-off counter, it determines that the PCH is in an idle state. When it is determined that the PCH is in an idle state, the communication device 100 transmits a signal using one or more channels including the PCH. Note that the communication device 100 may perform carrier sense of the SCH for a predetermined period after determining that the PCH is in an idle state. In addition, the communication device 100 may perform carrier sense of the SCH in parallel with carrier sense of the PCH. The communication device 100 may determine a channel to be used for transmission based on the results of carrier sense performed in each of the PCH and the SCH, and transmit a signal. For example, the communication device 100 may transmit a signal using the PCH and one or more SCHs determined to be in an idle state.

[0031] When the communication device 100 detects a signal in the PCH and proceeds with the NPCH access procedure, the communication device 100 performs carrier sense of the SPCH. When multiple SPCHs are set between the communication devices, the communication device 100 performs carrier sense in the order of the priority given to the SPCH. In addition, when the communication device 100 can perform carrier sense of multiple SPCHs in parallel, the communication device 100 may perform carrier sense in parallel for multiple SPCHs selected in the order of the priority given to the SPCH. When the communication device 100 does not detect a signal in the SPCH, it measures a back-off counter in the same manner as the carrier sense in the PCH, and determines whether or not it is in an idle state. The back-off counter used for carrier sense of the PCH and the back-off counter used for carrier sense of the SPCH may be different from each other. When the number of communication devices that can perform NPCH access is small, the possibility of signal collision is relatively low, so the communication device 100 may set a shorter back-off counter compared to the carrier sense in the PCH. In addition, when multiple SPCHs are set, the back-off counters used for carrier sense of each SPCH may be different from each other. The communication device 100 may start transmission using the SPCH that first acquires the transmission right among the SPCHs that have been carrier sensed in parallel. The communication device 100 may use one common back-off counter to perform carrier sense in the PCH and carrier sense in the SPCH. In this case, the communication device 100 may perform carrier sense in the SPCH using the remaining back-off counter after counting down in the carrier sense in the PCH. When the communication device 100 determines that any SPCH is in an idle state, it transmits a signal using one or more SCHs including the SPCH. After determining that the SPCH is in an idle state, the communication device 100 may perform carrier sense of other SCHs for a predetermined period of time. The communication device 100 may determine a channel to be used for transmission based on the results of carrier sense performed in each of the SPCH and the SCH, and transmit a signal. For example, the communication device 100 may transmit a signal using one or more SPCHs and SCHs that have been determined to be in an idle state.When the communication device 100 detects a signal in the SPCH, it determines whether the detected signal is a signal from its own BSS or a signal from the OBSS. When the detected signal is a signal from its own BSS, the communication device 100 may stop the NPCH access and postpone the transmission until the NAV period set in the PCH expires. For example, when the AP 101 detects a signal from its own BSS in the SPCH, this signal is a signal addressed to the AP 101, so if the AP 101 transmits in another SCH while receiving this signal, the signal may not be properly received. On the other hand, when the STA 102 detects a signal from its own BSS in the SPCH, if this signal is addressed to the device, if the device transmits in another SCH while the device is receiving this signal, the signal may not be properly received. Also, if this signal is addressed to the AP 101, if the STA 102 transmits a signal in another SCH while the AP 101 is receiving this signal, if the AP 101 transmits a response to one of the signals, the other signal may not be properly received. Therefore, when the communication device 100 detects a signal from its own BSS in the SPCH, it may stop NPCH access. If the detected signal is a signal from the OBSS, the communication device 100 determines whether there are other SPCHs for which carrier sense has not been performed. If there are other SPCHs, the communication device 100 performs carrier sense in the order of the priority given to the SPCHs, from highest to lowest. The communication device 100 performs carrier sense in the order of the priority given to the SPCHs, and if all SPCHs are busy, postpones transmission until the NAV period set in the PCH expires.

[0032] (Operation when a communication device receives data) The operation of the communication device 100 in this embodiment when receiving data will be described. The communication device 100 monitors the presence or absence of a signal on the PCH while no data is stored in the transmission queue of the device. When a signal is detected on the PCH, the communication device 100 judges whether the signal is from the own BSS or from the OBSS. When the signal is from the own BSS, the communication device 100 judges whether the signal is addressed to the device. When the signal is addressed to the device, the reception process is continued. When the signal is not addressed to the device, the reception process may be stopped. When the detected signal is a signal from the OBSS, the communication device 100 sets a NAV on the PCH. In addition, the communication device 100 monitors the presence or absence of a signal on the SPCH in preparation for receiving a signal by NPCH access. When multiple SPCHs are set, the communication device 100 may monitor the presence or absence of a signal on each SPCH in parallel. When a signal is detected on the SPCH, the communication device 100 judges whether the signal is from the own BSS or from the OBSS. If the signal is from the own BSS, the communication device 100 determines whether the signal is addressed to the own device. If the signal is addressed to the own device, the reception process is continued. If the signal is not addressed to the own device, the communication device 100 may stop the reception process for the signal. If the detected signal is a signal from an OBSS, the communication device 100 may stop the reception process for the signal. If a priority is assigned to the SPCH, the communication device 100 may monitor the signal on each SPCH according to the priority. If the communication device 100 receives a signal from an OBSS in an SPCH with a high priority, the communication device 100 may stop carrier sense in the SPCH and start carrier sense in the SPCH with the next highest priority. If the communication device 100 does not detect a signal on the SPCH for a certain period of time, the communication device of the other party may change to the SPCH with the next highest priority and perform carrier sense by detecting a signal on this SPCH. For this reason, if the communication device 100 does not detect a signal on the SPCH for a certain period of time, the communication device 100 may change the target of monitoring to the SPCH with the next highest priority.The communication device 100 may use, as the predetermined period, a period longer than the maximum value of the carrier sense period (including the back-off counter) used in NPCH access. By monitoring the signal on the SPCH for a period longer than the carrier sense period, it may confirm that the other communication device is unlikely to transmit on this SPCH, and then may change to the next SPCH. The predetermined period may be determined according to the number of channels on which carrier sense is performed, or may be determined according to the NAV set in the PCH. Furthermore, the predetermined period may be a period determined by a standard, and may be, for example, a period obtained by dividing the period excluding the predetermined period from the NAV by the number of channels on which carrier sense is possible. Note that the communication device 100 may receive signals on the PCH in parallel even during a period in which the communication device 100 is monitoring signals on the SPCH in preparation for NPCH access. The communication device 100 may start monitoring signals on the PCH when the period of the NAV set on the PCH expires or when the set NAV is released. The NAV set on the PCH may be released, for example, when a signal indicating the completion of communication is received on the PCH.

[0033] (Device configuration) 6 shows an example of a hardware configuration of the communication device 100. As an example of the hardware configuration, the communication device 100 has, for example, a storage unit 601, a control unit 602, a function unit 603, an input unit 604, an output unit 605, a communication unit 606, and an antenna 607. The communication device 100 may have multiple antennas.

[0034] The storage unit 601 is configured with one or more memories including a ROM, a RAM, etc., and may store various information such as control programs for each functional unit constituting the communication device 100 to perform various operations and parameters for communication. ROM and RAM are abbreviations for Read Only Memory and Random Access Memory, respectively. The storage unit 601 may be configured to include storage media such as a flexible disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a magnetic tape, a non-volatile memory card, and a DVD, in addition to memories such as a ROM and a RAM.

[0035] The control unit 602 is configured with one or more processors including, for example, a CPU, an MPU, etc., and controls the entire communication device 100 by executing a control program stored in the storage unit 601. The control unit 602 may control the entire communication device 100 in cooperation with the control program stored in the storage unit 601 and an OS (Operating System). The CPU and MPU are abbreviations for Central Processing Unit and Micro Processing Unit, respectively. When the control unit 602 has multiple processors that can be implemented by a multi-core or the like, the entire communication device 100 may be configured to be controlled by the multiple processors.

[0036] Furthermore, the control unit 602 controls the functional unit 603 to execute predetermined processes such as communication, image capture, printing, and projection. The functional unit 603 is hardware for the communication device 100 to execute the above-mentioned predetermined processes. For example, if the device is a camera, the functional unit 603 is an image capture unit and performs image capture processing. Also, for example, if the device is a printer, the functional unit 603 is a print unit and performs print processing. Also, for example, if the device is a projector, the functional unit 603 is a projection unit and performs projection processing.

[0037] The input unit 604 receives various operations from the user. The output unit 605 outputs various types of information to the user via a monitor screen or a speaker. The output from the output unit 605 may be a display on a monitor screen, a voice output from a speaker, a vibration output, or the like. The input unit 604 and the output unit 605 may both be implemented as a single module, such as a touch panel. The input unit 604 and the output unit 605 may be devices integrated with the communication device 100, or may be separate devices.

[0038] The communication unit 606 controls wireless communication conforming to the IEEE802.11bn standard. The communication unit 606 may control wireless communication conforming to other IEEE802.11 series standards such as legacy standards in addition to the IEEE802.11bn standard. The communication unit 606 controls the antenna 607 to transmit and receive signals for wireless communication generated by the control unit 602. The communication unit 606 is a so-called wireless chip, and may itself include one or more processors and memories. If the communication device 100 supports other wireless communication standards such as the NFC standard and the Bluetooth standard and wired communication such as wired LAN in addition to the IEEE802.11bn standard, the communication unit 606 may control communication conforming to these communication standards. If the communication device 100 can perform wireless communication conforming to multiple communication standards, the communication device 100 may have a configuration having a communication unit and an antenna corresponding to each communication standard separately. The communication device 100 communicates data with the other communication device via the communication unit 606. The antenna 607 may be configured separately from the communication unit 606, or may be configured as one module together with the communication unit 606. The communication device 100 may include as many communication units 606 as necessary to set multiple SPCHs.

[0039] The antenna 607 is an antenna capable of communication in, for example, the 2.4 GHz band, the 5 GHz band, the 6 GHz band, millimeter waves, etc. In Fig. 6, the communication device 100 is shown having two antennas 607, but the communication device 100 may have one or three or more antennas, and may have one or more antennas for each frequency band that the device can use. In addition, when the communication device 100 has multiple antennas, the communication device 100 may have a communication unit 606 for each antenna.

[0040] (Functional configuration) 7 shows an example of a functional configuration of the communication device 100. The functional configuration in this embodiment is an example of a functional configuration realized by, for example, one or more processors executing a program stored in one or more memories. The communication device 100 includes a frame control unit 701, a NAV detection unit 702, a wireless communication control unit 703, and an SPCH control unit 704.

[0041] The frame control unit 701 executes generation and analysis of signals (frames) when communicating with a communication device of a partner. The frame control unit 701 generates, for example, a management frame for the communication device 100 to execute a connection procedure. The management frames include a Beacon, a Probe Request, a Probe Response, an Association Request, and an Association Response. The management frames generated by the frame control unit 701 are not limited to these, and may include, for example, an Authentication frame and an Action frame. The frame control unit 701 may also generate a control frame, a data frame, and the like. The frame control unit 701 may generate a UHR Capabilities element and a UHR Operation element (hereinafter, UHR Capabilities element, etc.) defined in the IEEE802.11 series standard. The UHR Capabilities element, etc. may include capability information such as the presence or absence of the capability of the communication device 100 to perform NPCH access. The capability to perform NPCH access is, for example, the capability to perform an operation for performing communication using NPCH (second channel) without using PCH (first channel). Moreover, the capability to perform NPCH access may include either or both of a capability related to transmission and a capability related to reception. There may be one or more NPCHs. The frame control unit 701 may generate the above management frame including a UHR Capabilities element, etc. The UHR Capabilities element, etc. may include the number of channels on which the communication device 100 can perform carrier sense in parallel. The UHR Capabilities element, etc. may include specific information for identifying an SPCH. The SPCH may be called a third channel in that it is included in the NPCH and is used to acquire a transmission right when the PCH cannot be used. The SPCH may be identified by a channel number defined by a standard, etc. The SPCH may also be identified by an assumed position on the frequency axis relative to the PCH.When there are multiple SPCHs, the frame control unit 701 may include a priority indicating which of the SPCHs is to be given priority in performing carrier sensing in the UHR Capabilities element, etc. The frame control unit 701 may generate a frame including the UHR Capabilities element, etc., based on a request from the other communication device. The frame control unit 701 may also acquire the UHR Capabilities element, etc., by analyzing a frame received from the other communication device. The frame control unit 701 may acquire a Duration value by analyzing the received frame, and notify the NAV detection unit 702 of the Duration value.

[0042] The NAV detection unit 702 sets the NAV of each channel based on the value of Duration extracted by the frame control unit 701. The wireless communication control unit 703 performs a transmission process for each frame generated by the frame control unit 701. The wireless communication control unit 703 also notifies the frame control unit 701 of the frame received via the antenna 607. For example, the wireless communication control unit 703 may transmit or receive a data frame (data) using one or more channels including at least one of the PCH and the NPCH. As an example, the wireless communication control unit 703 performs carrier sense of the PCH when transmitting a data frame. When a signal is detected in the PCH or the NAV detection unit 702 sets the NAV in the PCH, the wireless communication control unit 703 performs carrier sense of the SPCH to perform NPCH access. When the wireless communication control unit 703 does not detect a signal in the SPCH and the NAV detection unit 702 does not set the NAV in the SPCH, for example, the wireless communication control unit 703 transmits a data frame using one or more NPCHs including the SPCH. The SPCH control unit 704 performs setting and control for performing NPCH access. The SPCH control unit 704 determines an SPCH from among multiple NPCHs included in the link. The SPCH can be determined based on a UHR Capabilities element included in a Beacon broadcast by the AP 101. The SPCH can also be determined based on an exchange of capability information between devices in a connection procedure between the AP 101 and the STA 102. The SPCH control unit 704 can control the wireless communication control unit 703 so that the NPCH access is completed before the NAV period set by the NAV detection unit 702 expires.

[0043] (Processing flow) In this embodiment, the flow of processing executed by AP 101 and STA 102 configured as described above will be described. Fig. 8 is a flowchart showing the operation of communication device 100 (AP 101 or STA 102). This operation flow is processed by AP 101 and STA 102 reading and executing a computer program stored in storage unit 601 by a connection procedure with the other communication device, by control unit 602. Hereinafter, the operation of AP 101 will be described, but STA 102 also operates in the same way.

[0044] The AP 101 executes a procedure for wireless connection with the STA 102 (S801). If the UHR Capabilities element is not included in the Association Request or the like received from the STA 102, the AP 101 determines that the STA 102 does not support NPCH access (NO in S802). The AP 101 may also determine that the STA 102 does not support NPCH access if the UHR Capabilities element includes capability information indicating that the STA 102 does not support NPCH access. In these cases, the AP 101 executes a normal processing flow (S817). The normal processing flow is, for example, a processing flow in which, when the PCH is busy, the STA 102 does not execute NPCH access and waits for transmission until the PCH becomes idle, or performs a power saving operation without feeding power to the antenna during that period. If the AP 101 determines that the STA 102 supports NPCH access based on the UHR Capabilities element (YES in S802), the AP 101 stores the support for NPCH access as an attribute of the STA 102 (S803). In addition, in a connection procedure with the STA 102, the AP 101 may share the number of channels on which carrier sense is performed simultaneously in NPCH access (the number of channels on which carrier sense is performed) and the priority level to be assigned to the SPCH and each SPCH. When the AP 101 detects that data has accumulated in the transmission queue (YES in S804), it performs carrier sense on the PCH. When it is determined that the PCH is in an idle state because the NAV is not set on the PCH (NO in S805), the AP 101 transmits data using the PCH (S806). The AP 101 may transmit data using this PCH and an idle SCH. When the NAV is set on the PCH by a signal received from the OBSS (YES in S805), the AP 101 performs carrier sense on the SPCH. When multiple SPCHs are set, carrier sense may be performed in parallel on the same number of SPCHs as the number of channels on which carrier sense is performed, starting from the SPCH with the highest priority.When the AP101 determines that the SPCH is idle because no NAV is set on the SPCH (NO in S807), it transmits data by NPCH access including this SPCH (S808). On the other hand, when the NAV is set on the SPCH by the signal received from the OBSS (YES in S807), it checks whether there is an SPCH with the next highest priority. If there is an SPCH with the next highest priority (YES in S809), the AP101 returns to S807 and performs carrier sense on that SPCH. If there is no other SPCH set, the AP101 waits until the NAV of the PCH ends (S810). When the NAV of the PCH ends, the AP101 returns to S805 and continues processing.

[0045] When no data is stored in the transmission queue (NO in S804), AP101 monitors the presence or absence of a signal on the PCH. When the NAV is set by a signal from the OBSS detected on the PCH (YES in S811), AP101 monitors the presence or absence of a signal on the SPCH. When multiple SPCHs are set, AP101 monitors the presence or absence of signals in the same number of SPCHs as the number of channels on which carrier sense is performed, starting from the SPCH with the highest priority. On the other hand, when no signal is received on the PCH (NO in S811 and NO in S812), AP101 returns to S804 and continues the process. Also, when a signal addressed to the device itself is received before the NAV is set on the PCH (NO in S811 and YES in S812), the AP101 executes the reception process of the signal (S816). When the NAV is set by a signal detected on the SPCH (YES in S813), AP101 checks whether there is an SPCH with the next highest priority. If there is an SPCH with the next highest priority (YES in S815), AP101 returns to S813 and monitors the presence or absence of a signal on that SPCH. On the other hand, if AP101 receives a signal addressed to itself before the NAV is set on the SPCH (NO in S813 and YES in S814), it executes reception processing for that signal (S816). If a predetermined period has passed without detecting a signal on the SPCH, AP101 checks whether there is an SPCH with the next highest priority. If there is an SPCH with the next highest priority (YES in S815), AP101 returns to S813 and monitors the presence or absence of a signal on that SPCH. If there is no other SPCH set (NO in S815), AP101 returns to S804. If the NAV is not set on the SPCH with the highest priority, AP101 may monitor the presence or absence of a signal on that SPCH until the NAV set on the PCH expires. Even if data occurs in the STA 102 during a period in which the NAV is set in the PCH and the STA 102 starts NPCH access, the AP 101 can receive the signal properly.

[0046] 9 shows an example of a sequence between the AP 101 and the STA 102 in this embodiment. First, the AP 101 and the STA 102 execute a connection procedure (F901, F902). For example, an Association Request and an Association Response are exchanged between the devices. The UHR Capabilities element and the UHR Operation element included in the Association Request and the Association Response can share capability information related to NPCH access. The AP 101 and the STA 102 transmit and receive data based on the capability information of NPCH access notified or acquired from each other (F903, F904). For example, when NAV is set in the PCH, carrier sense is performed in order from the SPCH with the highest priority, and NPCH access is executed.

[0047] As described above, according to the present embodiment, the capability information regarding NPCH access and the SPCH on which carrier sense should be performed in NPCH access are shared between communication devices. Then, in a wireless communication system that performs communication using a link formed by a PCH and one or more SCHs, even if NAV is set in the PCH, data can be transmitted and received using the NPCH. This can improve the efficiency of frequency usage in the link used for communication between these communication devices. Note that in the present embodiment, communication using NPCH access between the AP 101 and the STA 102 is shown, but the present technology can also be applied to communication between multiple STAs. In addition, in the present embodiment, communication using a link with a bandwidth of 160 MHz is shown, but the present technology can also be applied to any communication using two or more channels. In the present embodiment, the case where the CH for determining whether or not transmission is possible using the SCH (or NPCH) is called SPCH for convenience is exemplified, but the present invention is not limited to this. Among multiple secondary channels, the CH with a high priority for determining whether or not transmission is possible may be called PSCH (Primary Secondary Channel). Whichever term is used, it means that this is a channel that should be used to determine whether or not transmission using SCH (or NPCH) is possible.

[0048] The present invention can also be realized by a process in which a program for implementing one or more of the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or device via a network or a storage medium, and one or more processors in a computer of the system or device read and execute the program. The present invention can also be realized by a circuit (e.g., ASIC) that implements one or more of the functions.

[0049] (Summary of the embodiment) At least some of the above-described embodiments can be summarized as follows. (Item 1) A communication device capable of communicating with another communication device using one communication link including a first channel used for acquiring a transmission right and one or more second channels different from the first channel, a notification means for notifying another communication device of capability information indicating that the communication device can perform an operation for performing communication using one or more of the second channels without using the first channel, by using at least one of a UHR (Ultra High Reliability) Capabilities element and a UHR Operation element defined in the IEEE 802.11 series standard; a communication means for communicating data with the other communication device using one or more channels including either the first channel or the second channel based on the capability information; have A communication device comprising: (Item 2) The notification means notifies, as the capability information, that at least one of data transmission and data reception is possible through one or more of the second channels without using the first channel. 2. The communication device according to item 1, (Item 3) The notification means notifies the other communication device of the capability information based on a request from the other communication device. 3. The communication device according to item 1 or 2, (Item 4) The notification means notifies the number of channels on which carrier sense can be performed in parallel as the capability information. 4. The communication device according to item 3, (Item 5) The notification means notifies the capability information including specification information for specifying a third channel that is included in the second channel and is used to acquire a transmission right when the first channel is unavailable. 5. The communication device according to any one of items 1 to 4, (Item 6) The notification means notifies information capable of identifying a channel number of the third channel as the identification information. 6. The communication device according to item 5, (Item 7) The notification means notifies, as the specific information, information capable of identifying a relative position of the third channel with respect to the first channel on a frequency axis. 6. The communication device according to item 5, (Item 8) The notification means notifies the other communication device of the capability information including a priority order indicating which of the third channels is to be given priority for performing carrier sense when there are a plurality of the third channels. 8. The communication device according to any one of items 5 to 7, (Item 9) A communication device capable of communicating with another communication device using one communication link including a first channel used for acquiring a transmission right and one or more second channels different from the first channel, An acquisition means for acquiring capability information indicating that the communication device can perform an operation for performing communication using one or more of the second channels without using the first channel, the capability information being included in at least one of a UHR (Ultra High Reliability) Capabilities element and a UHR Operation element defined in the IEEE 802.11 series standard, from another communication device; a communication means for communicating data with the other communication device using one or more channels including either the first channel or the second channel based on the capability information; have A communication device comprising: (Item 10) The acquiring means acquires, as the capability information, information that the other communication device can at least one of transmit and receive data through one or more of the second channels without using the first channel. 10. The communication device according to item 9, (Item 11) The acquiring means requests the other communication device to notify the capability information. 11. The communication device according to item 9 or 10, (Item 12) The acquiring means acquires, as the capability information, the number of channels on which the other communication device can perform carrier sense in parallel. 12. The communication device according to any one of items 9 to 11, (Item 13) The acquiring means acquires the capability information including specification information that specifies a third channel that is included in the second channel and is used to acquire a transmission right when the first channel is unavailable. 13. The communication device according to any one of items 9 to 12, (Item 14) The acquiring means acquires, as the identification information, information capable of identifying a channel number of the third channel. Item 14. The communication device according to item 13, (Item 15) The acquiring means notifies, as the identifying information, information capable of identifying a relative position on a frequency axis of the third channel with respect to the first channel. Item 14. The communication device according to item 13, (Item 16) The acquiring means acquires the capability information including a priority order indicating which of the third channels the other communication device is to give priority to when performing carrier sensing when there are a plurality of the third channels. 16. The communication device according to any one of items 13 to 15, (Item 17) The UHR Capabilities element or the UHR Operation element is included in a Beacon frame, a Probe Request frame, a Probe Response frame, an Association Request frame, an Association Response frame, or an Action frame defined in the IEEE 802.11 series standard. 10. The communication device according to item 1 or 9, (Item 18) A communication method executed by a communication device capable of communicating with another communication device using one communication link including a first channel used for acquiring a transmission right and one or more second channels different from the first channel, comprising: a notification step of notifying another communication device of capability information indicating that the communication device is capable of performing an operation for performing communication using one or more of the second channels without using the first channel, by using at least one of a UHR (Ultra High Reliability) Capabilities element and a UHR Operation element defined in the IEEE 802.11 series standard; a communication step of communicating data with the other communication device using one or more channels including either the first channel or the second channel based on the capability information; have A communication method comprising: (Item 19) A communication method executed by a communication device capable of communicating with another communication device using one communication link including a first channel used for acquiring a transmission right and one or more second channels different from the first channel, comprising: acquiring capability information indicating that the communication device is capable of performing an operation for performing communication using one or more of the second channels without using the first channel, the capability information being included in at least one of a UHR (Ultra High Reliability) Capabilities element and a UHR Operation element defined in the IEEE 802.11 series standard, from another communication device; a communication step of communicating data with the other communication device using one or more channels including either the first channel or the second channel based on the capability information; have A communication method comprising: (Item 20) A computer installed in the communication device 20. A program for executing the communication method according to item 18 or 19.

[0050] The invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications and variations are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the following claims are appended to apprise the public of the scope of the invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0051] 101: AP, 102: STA, 103: Network

Claims

1. A communication device capable of communicating with another communication device using one communication link including a first channel used for acquiring a transmission right and one or more second channels different from the first channel, a notification means for notifying another communication device of capability information indicating that the communication device is capable of performing an operation for performing communication using one or more of the second channels without using the first channel, by using at least one of a UHR (Ultra High Reliability) Capabilities element and a UHR Operation element defined in the IEEE 802.11 series standard; a communication means for communicating data with the other communication device using one or more channels including either the first channel or the second channel based on the capability information; have A communication device comprising:

2. The notification means notifies, as the capability information, that at least one of data transmission and data reception is possible through one or more of the second channels without using the first channel.

2. The communication device according to claim 1 .

3. The notification means notifies the other communication device of the capability information based on a request from the other communication device.

2. The communication device according to claim 1 .

4. The notification means notifies the number of channels on which carrier sense can be performed in parallel as the capability information.

4. The communication device according to claim 3.

5. The notification means notifies the capability information including specification information for specifying a third channel, which is a channel included in the second channel and is used to acquire a transmission right when the first channel is unavailable.

2. The communication device according to claim 1 .

6. The notification means notifies information capable of identifying a channel number of the third channel as the identification information.

6. The communication device according to claim 5,

7. The notification means notifies, as the specific information, information capable of identifying a relative position of the third channel with respect to the first channel on a frequency axis.

6. The communication device according to claim 5,

8. The notification means notifies the other communication device of the capability information including a priority order indicating which of the third channels is to be given priority for performing carrier sense when there are a plurality of the third channels.

6. The communication device according to claim 5,

9. A communication device capable of communicating with another communication device using one communication link including a first channel used for acquiring a transmission right and one or more second channels different from the first channel, an acquisition means for acquiring capability information indicating that the communication device can perform an operation for performing communication using one or more of the second channels without using the first channel, the capability information being included in at least one of a UHR (Ultra High Reliability) Capabilities element and a UHR Operation element defined in the IEEE 802.11 series standard, from another communication device; a communication means for communicating data with the other communication device using one or more channels including either the first channel or the second channel based on the capability information; have A communication device comprising:

10. The acquiring means acquires, as the capability information, information that the other communication device can at least one of transmit and receive data through one or more of the second channels without using the first channel.

10. The communication device according to claim 9 .

11. The acquiring means requests the other communication device to notify the capability information.

10. The communication device according to claim 9 .

12. The acquiring means acquires, as the capability information, the number of channels on which the other communication device can perform carrier sense in parallel.

10. The communication device according to claim 9 .

13. The acquiring means acquires the capability information including specification information for identifying a third channel that is included in the second channel and is used to acquire a transmission right when the first channel is unavailable.

10. The communication device according to claim 9 .

14. The acquiring means acquires, as the identification information, information capable of identifying a channel number of the third channel.

14. The communication device according to claim 13 .

15. The acquiring means notifies, as the specific information, information capable of identifying a relative position on a frequency axis of the third channel with respect to the first channel.

14. The communication device according to claim 13 .

16. The acquiring means acquires the capability information including a priority order indicating which of the third channels the other communication device is to give priority to when performing carrier sensing when there are a plurality of the third channels.

14. The communication device according to claim 13 .

17. The UHR Capabilities element or the UHR Operation element is included in a Beacon frame, a Probe Request frame, a Probe Response frame, an Association Request frame, an Association Response frame, or an Action frame defined in the IEEE 802.11 series standard.

10. The communication device according to claim 1 or 9.

18. A communication method executed by a communication device capable of communicating with another communication device using one communication link including a first channel used for acquiring a transmission right and one or more second channels different from the first channel, the method comprising: a notification step of notifying another communication device of capability information indicating that the communication device is capable of performing an operation for performing communication using one or more of the second channels without using the first channel, by using at least one of a UHR (Ultra High Reliability) Capabilities element and a UHR Operation element defined in the IEEE 802.11 series standard; a communication step of communicating data with the other communication device using one or more channels including either the first channel or the second channel based on the capability information; have A communication method comprising:

19. A communication method executed by a communication device capable of communicating with another communication device using one communication link including a first channel used for acquiring a transmission right and one or more second channels different from the first channel, the method comprising: an acquisition step of acquiring capability information indicating that the communication device is capable of performing an operation for performing communication using one or more of the second channels without using the first channel, the capability information being included in at least one of a UHR (Ultra High Reliability) Capabilities element and a UHR Operation element defined in the IEEE 802.11 series standard, from another communication device; a communication step of communicating data with the other communication device using one or more channels including either the first channel or the second channel based on the capability information; have A communication method comprising:

20. A computer installed in the communication device A program for executing the communication method according to claim 18 or 19.

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