Terminal and communication method

Abstract

To further improve communication devices that make up a network to which communication terminals are connected.SOLUTION: In a satellite communication system, a controller includes a communication interface capable of communicating with a second communication device via a first communication device, and transmits data addressed to the second communication device and first information via the first communication device. The first communication device addresses and transmits the data to the second communication device in response to receiving the data and the first information, the first information including information indicating a device that multi-casts the data to other terminals, and when the device indicated by the first information is the first communication device, transmits the data to the other terminals by multicast.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 79

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a terminal and a communication method. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, a communication method using multiple antennas is known as MIMO (Multiple-Input Multiple-Out). In multi-antenna communication typified by MIMO, multiple streams of transmission data are modulated and each modulated signal is simultaneously transmitted from different antennas using the same frequency (common frequency), thereby improving the reception quality of data and / or increasing the data communication speed (per unit time).

[0003] Furthermore, in the case of multicast / broadcast communication using multiple antennas, a transmitting device may use a quasi-omni-pattern antenna that has a nearly constant antenna gain over a wide range of directions in space. For example, Patent Document 1 describes that a transmitting device transmits a modulated signal using a quasi-omni-pattern antenna. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] International Publication No. 2011 / 055536 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] There is a demand for further improvements in communication devices that constitute networks to which communication terminals are connected. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A terminal of one embodiment of the present disclosure has a communication interface capable of communicating with a second communication device via a first communication device, transmits data addressed to the second communication device and first information via the first communication device, and in response to receiving the data and the first information, the first communication device transmits the data addressed to the second communication device, the first information includes information indicating a device that multicasts the data to other terminals, and the first communication device is a terminal that multicasts the data to the other terminals when the device indicated by the first information is the first communication device.

[0007] These comprehensive or specific aspects may be realized as a system, a method, an integrated circuit, a computer program, or a recording medium such as a computer-readable CD-ROM, or may be realized as any combination of a system, a method, an integrated circuit, a computer program, and a recording medium. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present disclosure, further improvements may be made to communication devices that constitute a network to which communication terminals are connected. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a base station. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of an antenna unit of a base station. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a base station. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a terminal. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of an antenna unit of a terminal. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a terminal. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a communication state between a base station and a terminal. [Figure 8]FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining the relationship between multiple streams. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a frame configuration. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a frame configuration. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a symbol configuration. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of a communication state between a base station and a terminal. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the relationship between a plurality of modulated signals. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an example of a frame configuration. [Figure 15] FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an example of a frame configuration. [Figure 16] FIG. 16 is a diagram showing an example of a symbol configuration. [Figure 17] FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating an example of a communication state between a base station and a terminal. [Figure 18] FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating an example of a communication state between a base station and a terminal. [Figure 19] FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating an example of a communication state between a base station and a terminal. [Figure 20] FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating an example of a communication state between a base station and a terminal. [Figure 21] FIG. 21 is a diagram showing the relationship between a plurality of modulated signals. [Figure 22] FIG. 22 is a diagram illustrating an example of a communication state between a base station and a terminal. [Figure 23] FIG. 23 is a diagram showing a procedure for communication between a base station and a terminal. [Figure 24] FIG. 24 is a diagram illustrating an example of symbols transmitted by a base station and a terminal. [Figure 25] FIG. 25 is a diagram illustrating an example of symbols transmitted by a base station. [Figure 26] FIG. 26 is a diagram illustrating an example of a communication state between a base station and a terminal. [Figure 27]FIG. 27 is a diagram illustrating an example of symbols transmitted by a base station. [Figure 28] FIG. 28 is a diagram showing a procedure for communication between a base station and a terminal. [Figure 29] FIG. 29 is a diagram illustrating an example of a communication state between a base station and a terminal. [Figure 30] FIG. 30 is a diagram showing a procedure for communication between a base station and a terminal. [Figure 31] FIG. 31 is a diagram illustrating an example of symbols transmitted by a base station. [Figure 32] FIG. 32 is a diagram illustrating an example of symbols transmitted by a base station. [Figure 33] FIG. 33 is a diagram showing a procedure for communication between a base station and a terminal. [Figure 34] FIG. 34 is a diagram showing a procedure for communication between a base station and a terminal. [Figure 35] FIG. 35 is a diagram illustrating an example of symbols transmitted by a base station. [Figure 36] FIG. 36 is a diagram showing a procedure for communication between a base station and a terminal. [Figure 37] FIG. 37 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a base station. [Figure 38] FIG. 38 is a diagram illustrating an example of a frame configuration. [Figure 39] FIG. 39 is a diagram illustrating an example of a frame configuration. [Figure 40] FIG. 40 is a diagram illustrating an example of a frame configuration. [Figure 41] FIG. 41 is a diagram illustrating an example of a frame configuration. [Figure 42] FIG. 42 is a diagram showing an example of allocation of symbol areas to terminals. [Figure 43] FIG. 43 is a diagram showing an example of allocation of symbol areas to terminals. [Figure 44] FIG. 44 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a base station. [Figure 45] FIG. 45 is a diagram illustrating an example of a network configuration. [Figure 46]FIG. 46 is a diagram illustrating an example of a method for setting a frequency. [Figure 47] FIG. 47 is a diagram illustrating an example of an arrangement of communication devices. [Figure 48] FIG. 48 is a diagram illustrating an example of an arrangement of communication devices. [Figure 49] FIG. 49 is a diagram illustrating an example of an arrangement of communication devices. [Figure 50] FIG. 50 is a diagram showing an example of an arrangement of communication devices. [Figure 51] FIG. 51 is a diagram illustrating an example of a frame configuration. [Figure 52] FIG. 52 is a diagram illustrating an example of a frame configuration. [Figure 53] FIG. 53 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a communication device. [Figure 54] FIG. 54 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a communication network. [Figure 55] FIG. 55 is a diagram illustrating an example of a communication sequence. [Figure 56] FIG. 56 is a diagram illustrating an example of a communication sequence. [Figure 57] FIG. 57 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a communication device, a power transmitting device, and the like. [Figure 58] FIG. 58 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a communication device, a power transmitting device, and the like. [Figure 59] FIG. 59 is a diagram illustrating an example of a communication sequence. [Figure 60] FIG. 60 is a diagram illustrating an example of a communication sequence. [Figure 61] FIG. 61 is a diagram showing an example of a communication antenna arrangement. [Figure 62] FIG. 62 is a diagram showing an example of a communication antenna arrangement. [Figure 63] FIG. 63 is a diagram showing an example of a communication antenna arrangement. [Figure 64] FIG. 64 is a diagram showing an example of a communication antenna arrangement. [Figure 65] FIG. 65 is a diagram showing an example of a communication antenna arrangement. [Figure 66] FIG. 66 is a diagram showing an example of a communication antenna arrangement. [Figure 67] FIG. 67 is a diagram showing an example of a communication antenna arrangement. [Figure 68] FIG. 68 is a diagram showing an example of a communication antenna arrangement. [Figure 69] FIG. 69 is a diagram illustrating an example of a network configuration. [Figure 70] FIG. 70 is a diagram showing functional blocks of the controller. [Figure 71] FIG. 71 is a diagram illustrating an example of data transmission by the controller. [Figure 72] FIG. 72 is a diagram illustrating an example of data transmission by the controller. [Figure 73] FIG. 73 is a diagram showing a modified example of the network configuration. [Figure 74] FIG. 74 is a diagram illustrating an example of multicast transfer. [Figure 75] FIG. 75 is a diagram illustrating an example of multicast transfer. [Figure 76] FIG. 76 is a diagram illustrating an example of multicast transfer. [Figure 77] FIG. 77 is a diagram showing an example of multicast transfer. [Figure 78] FIG. 78 is a diagram showing an example of multicast transfer. [Figure 79] FIG. 79 is a diagram showing the processing of the controller. [Figure 80] FIG. 80 is a diagram illustrating an example of a network configuration. [Figure 81] FIG. 81 is a diagram illustrating an example of a frame configuration. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] A terminal according to one embodiment of the present invention has a communication interface capable of communicating with a second communication device via a first communication device, transmits data addressed to the second communication device and first information via the first communication device, and in response to receiving the data and the first information, the first communication device transmits the data addressed to the second communication device, the first information includes information indicating a device that multicasts the data to other terminals, and the first communication device is a terminal that multicasts the data to the other terminals when the device indicated by the first information is the first communication device.

[0011] A communication method according to one embodiment of the present invention is a communication method implemented by a terminal having a communication interface capable of communicating with a second communication device via a first communication device, wherein data addressed to the second communication device and first information are transmitted via the first communication device, and in response to receiving the data and the first information, the first communication device transmits the data addressed to the second communication device, the first information includes information indicating a device that multicasts the data to other terminals, and if the device indicated by the first information is the first communication device, the first communication device transmits the data to the other terminals by multicast.

[0012] A communication device according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises a first communication interface capable of communicating with a plurality of terminals including a first terminal, and a second communication interface capable of communicating with other communication devices, receives data and first information sent from the first terminal to the other communication device via the first communication interface, transmits the data to the other communication device via the second communication interface, the first information includes information indicating a device that multicasts the data to other terminals included in the plurality of terminals, and if the device indicated by the first information is the communication device, transmits the data to the other terminal by multicast.

[0013] A communication method according to one aspect of the present invention is a communication method implemented by a communication device having a first communication interface capable of communicating with a plurality of terminals including a first terminal, and a second communication interface capable of communicating with other communication devices, the method receiving data and first information sent from the first terminal to the other communication device via the first communication interface, transmitting the data to the other communication device via the second communication interface, the first information including information indicating a device that multicasts the data to other terminals included in the plurality of terminals, and if the device indicated by the first information is the communication device, transmitting the data to the other terminal by multicast.

[0014] A communication device according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises a forwarding unit having the function of forwarding data received from a first terminal via wireless communication to another communication device, and a judgment unit that judges whether the data received by the forwarding unit contains first information indicating that the data should be transmitted by multicast, and the forwarding unit further transmits the data by multicast to a second terminal different from the first terminal when the judgment unit determines that the first information is contained in the data.

[0015] According to the above aspect, the communication device can transmit data acquired by the terminal that should be transmitted to one or more other terminals to the one or more other terminals without going through the other communication device. If the data is first transmitted to the other communication device, and then data transmitted again from the other communication device is transmitted to the one or more other terminals, a communication delay may occur. By transmitting the data without going through the other communication device as described above, the occurrence of a communication delay can be prevented. In this way, the communication device can improve communication quality.

[0016] For example, the determination unit may further determine whether the data received by the transfer unit contains second information indicating that the data should be transferred to the other communication device, and if the determination unit determines that the second information is not included in the data, the transfer unit may prohibit the data from being transferred to the other communication device.

[0017] According to the above aspect, when transmitting data to one or more other terminals, the communication device prohibits data transfer to the other communication devices. This reduces the time and power consumption required for transmitting data to the other communication devices. Therefore, the communication device can improve communication quality while reducing the time and power consumption required for data transmission.

[0018] For example, the communication device may further include a memory unit, and the transfer unit may have the function of performing the transfer in an intermittent mode, and in the intermittent mode, the transfer unit may store the received data in the memory unit, read out multiple pieces of data stored in the memory unit when a predetermined condition is met, and transmit the read out multiple pieces of data together to the other communication device.

[0019] According to the above aspect, the communication device transmits a plurality of pieces of data received from a terminal to another communication device in an intermittent mode. By attaching control information to a plurality of pieces of data together, the amount of control information can be reduced compared to attaching control information to each piece of data individually. By reducing the amount of control information, the time and power consumption required to transmit the data are reduced. Therefore, the communication device can improve communication quality while reducing the time and power consumption required to transmit data to other communication devices.

[0020] For example, the transfer unit has a function of performing the transfer in a relay mode, and in the relay mode, the transfer unit transmits the received data to the other communication device without storing it in the memory unit, and the transfer unit may further switch between the intermittent mode and the relay mode.

[0021] According to the above aspect, the communication device transmits data received from a terminal to another communication device in relay mode without delay. By switching between the intermittent mode and the relay mode, the communication device can appropriately use the intermittent mode and the relay mode, for example, by transmitting data that can tolerate delay in the intermittent mode and transmitting data that cannot tolerate delay in the relay mode. Therefore, the communication device can improve communication quality by reducing delay as necessary while reducing the time and power consumption required to transmit data to other communication devices.

[0022] For example, the transfer unit may further have a function to perform the transfer in a relay mode, and in the relay mode, the transfer unit may transmit the received data to the other communication device without storing it in the memory unit, transfer the data received from one of the first terminals in the relay mode, and transfer the data received from another first terminal different from the one first terminal among the first terminals in the intermittent mode.

[0023] According to the above aspect, the communication device can switch between the intermittent mode and the relay mode for each terminal, thereby appropriately using the intermittent mode to transmit data that can tolerate delays and the relay mode to transmit data that cannot tolerate delays, etc. Therefore, the communication device can improve communication quality by reducing delays as needed while reducing the time and power consumption required to transmit data to other communication devices.

[0024] For example, the other communication device may be a communication device included in a satellite communication system.

[0025] According to the above aspect, the communication device can improve the communication quality of communication when transmitting data acquired by the terminal to the satellite communication system.

[0026] Furthermore, a control method for a communication device according to one aspect of the present invention is a control method for a communication device having a forwarding unit having a function of forwarding data received from a first terminal via wireless communication to another communication device, and includes a determination step of determining whether the data received by the forwarding unit contains first information indicating that the data should be transmitted by multicast, and a transmission step of transmitting the data by multicast to a second terminal different from the first terminal if it is determined in the determination step that the first information is contained in the data.

[0027] According to the above aspect, the same effects as those of the above communication device are achieved.

[0028] Hereinafter, a communication device constituting a network to which communication terminals are connected will be described. Specifically, in the first to tenth embodiments, a technology for improving the performance of a communication method using multiple antennas will be described. In the eleventh embodiment, a technology for improving a communication device using one or more antennas will be described.

[0029] (Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 shows an example of the configuration of a base station (or an access point or the like) in this embodiment.

[0030] 101-1 indicates #1 information, 101-2 indicates #2 information, ..., 101-M indicates #M information. 101-i indicates #i information. i is an integer between 1 and M. M is an integer greater than or equal to 2. It is not necessary for all of the information from #1 to #M to be present.

[0031] Signal processing unit 102 receives as input #1 information 101-1, #2 information 101-2, ..., #M information 101-M, and control signal 159. Signal processing unit 102 performs signal processing based on information included in control signal 159, such as "information on the error correction coding method (coding rate, code length (block length))," "information on the modulation method," "information on precoding," "transmission method (multiplexing method)," "whether to perform multicast transmission or unicast transmission (multicast transmission and unicast transmission may be performed simultaneously)," "number of transmission streams when performing multicast," and "transmission method when transmitting a multicast modulated signal (this point will be explained in detail later)," and outputs signal-processed signal 103-1, signal-processed signal 103-2, ..., signal-processed signal 103-M, i.e., signal-processed signal 103-i. Note that it is not necessary for all of signal-processed signals #1 to #M to be present. At this time, the #i information 101-i is subjected to error correction coding, and then mapping is performed using the set modulation method, thereby obtaining a baseband signal.

[0032] Then, baseband signals corresponding to each piece of information are collected and pre-coded. Alternatively, for example, orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) may be applied.

[0033] Radio section 104-1 receives processed signal 103-1 and control signal 159 as input, performs processing such as band limitation, frequency conversion, and amplification based on control signal 159, and outputs transmission signal 105-1. Transmission signal 105-1 is then output as a radio wave from antenna section 106-1.

[0034] Similarly, radio unit 104-2 receives processed signal 103-2 and control signal 159 as input, performs processing such as band limitation, frequency conversion, and amplification based on control signal 159, and outputs transmission signal 105-2. Transmission signal 105-2 is then output as a radio wave from antenna unit 106-2. Description of radio units 104-3 to 104-(M-1) will be omitted.

[0035] Radio section 104-M receives processed signal 103-M and control signal 159 as input, performs band limiting, frequency conversion, amplification, and other processing based on control signal 159, and outputs transmission signal 105-M. Transmission signal 105-M is then output as a radio wave from antenna section 106-M.

[0036] If there is no signal after signal processing, each radio unit does not need to perform the above processing.

[0037] The radio section group 153 receives the received signals 152 received by the receiving antenna group 151 as input, performs processing such as frequency conversion, and outputs a baseband signal group 154 ​​.

[0038] Signal processing unit 155 receives baseband signal group 154 ​​and performs demodulation and error correction decoding, i.e., also performs processing such as time synchronization, frequency synchronization, and channel estimation. At this time, signal processing unit 155 receives and processes modulated signals transmitted from one or more terminals, thereby obtaining data transmitted from each terminal and control information transmitted from each terminal. Therefore, signal processing unit 155 outputs data group 156 corresponding to one or more terminals and control information group 157 corresponding to one or more terminals.

[0039] The setting unit 158 ​​receives the control information group 157 and the setting signal 160 as input, and determines, based on the control information group 157, the "error correction coding method (coding rate, code length (block length))", "modulation method", "precoding method", "transmission method", "antenna settings", "whether to perform multicast transmission / unicast transmission (multicast and unicast transmission may be realized simultaneously)", "number of transmission streams when performing multicast", "transmission method when transmitting a modulated signal for multicast", etc., and outputs a control signal 159 including this determined information.

[0040] Antenna units 106-1, 106-2, ..., 106-M receive control signal 159. The operation at this time will be described with reference to FIG.

[0041] Fig. 2 shows an example of the configuration of antenna units 106-1, 106-2, ..., 106-M. Each antenna unit has multiple antennas as shown in Fig. 2. Although four antennas are depicted in Fig. 2, each antenna unit may have multiple antennas. The number of antennas is not limited to four.

[0042] 2 shows the configuration of the antenna unit 106-i, where i is an integer between 1 and M inclusive.

[0043] The divider 202 receives a transmission signal 201 (corresponding to the transmission signal 105-i in FIG. 1) as input, divides the transmission signal 201, and outputs signals 203-1, 203-2, 203-3, and 203-4.

[0044] Multiplication unit 204-1 receives signal 203-1 and control signal 200 (corresponding to control signal 159 in FIG. 1) as input, multiplies signal 203-1 by coefficient W1 based on the multiplication coefficient information included in control signal 200, and outputs multiplied signal 205-1. Coefficient W1 is defined as a complex number. Therefore, W1 can also be a real number. Therefore, if signal 203-1 is v1(t), then multiplied signal 205-1 can be expressed as W1 × v1(t) (t is time). Multiplied signal 205-1 is then output as a radio wave from antenna 206-1.

[0045] Similarly, multiplication unit 204-2 receives signal 203-2 and control signal 200 as input, multiplies signal 203-2 by coefficient W2 based on the multiplication coefficient information included in control signal 200, and outputs multiplied signal 205-2. Coefficient W2 is defined as a complex number. Therefore, W2 can also be a real number. Therefore, if signal 203-2 is v2(t), multiplied signal 205-2 can be expressed as W2 × v2(t) (t is time). Multiplied signal 205-2 is then output as a radio wave from antenna 206-2.

[0046] Multiplication unit 204-3 receives signal 203-3 and control signal 200 as input, multiplies signal 203-3 by coefficient W3 based on the multiplication coefficient information included in control signal 200, and outputs multiplied signal 205-3. Coefficient W3 is defined as a complex number. Therefore, W3 can also be a real number. Therefore, if signal 203-3 is v3(t), multiplied signal 205-3 can be expressed as W3 × v3(t) (t is time). Multiplied signal 205-3 is then output as a radio wave from antenna 206-3.

[0047] Multiplication unit 204-4 receives signal 203-4 and control signal 200 as input, multiplies signal 203-4 by coefficient W4 based on the multiplication coefficient information included in control signal 200, and outputs multiplied signal 205-4. Coefficient W4 is defined as a complex number. Therefore, W4 can also be a real number. Therefore, if signal 203-4 is v4(t), multiplied signal 205-4 can be expressed as W4 × v4(t) (t is time). Multiplied signal 205-4 is then output as a radio wave from antenna 206-4.

[0048] The absolute values ​​of W1, W2, W3, and W4 may be equal to each other.

[0049] Figure 3 shows a configuration of a base station in this embodiment that is different from the configuration of the base station in Figure 1. In Figure 3, elements that operate in the same way as in Figure 1 are given the same numbers, and their explanation will be omitted below.

[0050] Weighting combination section 301 receives modulated signal 105-1, modulated signal 105-2, ..., modulated signal 105-M, and control signal 159 as input. Weighting combination section 301 then performs weighting combination on modulated signal 105-1, modulated signal 105-2, ..., modulated signal 105-M based on information regarding weighting combination included in control signal 159, and outputs weighted-combined signals 302-1, 302-2, ..., 302-K, where K is an integer greater than or equal to 1. Weighted-combined signal 302-1 is output as a radio wave from antenna 303-1, weighted-combined signal 302-2 is output as a radio wave from antenna 303-2, ..., weighted-combined signal 302-K is output as a radio wave from antenna 303-K.

[0051] The weighted and combined signal yi(t) 302-i (i is an integer between 1 and K) is expressed as follows (t is time):

[0052]

number

[0053] In equation (1), Aij is a value that can be defined as a complex number, and therefore Aij can also be a real number, and xj(t) is modulated signal 105-j, where j is an integer between 1 and M.

[0054] 4 shows an example of the configuration of a terminal. Antenna units 401-1, 401-2, . . . , 401-N receive control signal 410 as input, where N is an integer of 1 or greater.

[0055] Radio section 403-1 receives received signal 402-1 received by antenna section 401-1 and control signal 410 as input, and performs processing such as frequency conversion on received signal 402-1 based on control signal 410, and outputs baseband signal 404-1.

[0056] Similarly, radio section 403-2 receives received signal 402-2 received by antenna section 401-2 and control signal 410 as input, performs processing such as frequency conversion on received signal 402-2 based on control signal 410, and outputs baseband signal 404-2. Note that a description of radio sections 403-3 to 403-(N-1) will be omitted.

[0057] The radio unit 403-N receives the received signal 402-N received by the antenna unit 401-N and the control signal 410 as input, and performs processing such as frequency conversion on the received signal 402-N based on the control signal, and outputs a baseband signal 404-N.

[0058] However, all of the radio units 403-1, 403-2, ..., 403-N do not necessarily have to operate, and therefore all of the baseband signals 404-1, 404-2, ..., 404-N do not necessarily exist.

[0059] Signal processing unit 405 receives baseband signals 404-1, 404-2, . . . , 404-N and control signal 410 as input, performs demodulation and error correction decoding based on control signal 410, and outputs data 406, transmission control information 407, and control information 408. In other words, signal processing unit 405 also performs processes such as time synchronization, frequency synchronization, and channel estimation.

[0060] Setting section 409 receives control information 408 as input, performs settings related to the reception method, and outputs control signal 410 .

[0061] Signal processing unit 452 receives information 451 and transmission control information 407 as input, performs processing such as error correction coding and mapping according to a set modulation method, and outputs a group of baseband signals 453 .

[0062] The radio unit group 454 receives the baseband signal group 453 as input, performs processing such as band limiting, frequency conversion, and amplification, and outputs a transmission signal group 455, which is output as radio waves from a transmission antenna group 456.

[0063] Fig. 5 shows an example of the configuration of antenna units 401-1, 401-2, ..., 401-N. Each antenna unit has multiple antennas as shown in Fig. 5. Although four antennas are depicted in Fig. 5, each antenna unit may have multiple antennas. The number of antennas in an antenna unit is not limited to four.

[0064] 5 shows the configuration of antenna unit 401-i, where i is an integer between 1 and N inclusive.

[0065] Multiplication unit 503-1 receives received signal 502-1 received by antenna 501-1 and control signal 500 (corresponding to control signal 410 in FIG. 4) as input, multiplies received signal 502-1 by coefficient D1 based on the multiplication coefficient information included in control signal 500, and outputs multiplied signal 504-1. Note that coefficient D1 can be defined as a complex number. Therefore, D1 can also be a real number. Therefore, if received signal 502-1 is e1(t), multiplied signal 504-1 can be expressed as D1×e1(t) (t is time).

[0066] Similarly, multiplication unit 503-2 receives received signal 502-2 received by antenna 501-2 and control signal 500 as input, multiplies received signal 502-2 by coefficient D2 based on the multiplication coefficient information included in control signal 500, and outputs multiplied signal 504-2. Note that coefficient D2 can be defined as a complex number. Therefore, D2 can also be a real number. Therefore, if received signal 502-2 is e2(t), multiplied signal 504-2 can be expressed as D2×e2(t) (t is time).

[0067] Multiplication unit 503-3 receives received signal 502-3 received by antenna 501-3 and control signal 500 as input, multiplies received signal 502-3 by coefficient D3 based on the multiplication coefficient information included in control signal 500, and outputs multiplied signal 504-3. Coefficient D3 can be defined as a complex number. Therefore, D3 can also be a real number. Therefore, if received signal 502-3 is e3(t), multiplied signal 504-3 can be expressed as D3×e3(t) (t is time).

[0068] Multiplication unit 503-4 receives received signal 502-4 received by antenna 501-4 and control signal 500 as input, multiplies received signal 502-4 by coefficient D4 based on the multiplication coefficient information included in control signal 500, and outputs multiplied signal 504-4. Note that coefficient D4 can be defined as a complex number. Therefore, D4 ​​can also be a real number. Therefore, if received signal 502-4 is e4(t), multiplied signal 504-4 can be expressed as D4×e4(t) (t is time).

[0069] Combining section 505 receives multiplied signals 504-1, 504-2, 504-3, and 504-4 as input, adds multiplied signals 504-1, 504-2, 504-3, and 504-4, and outputs combined signal 506 (corresponding to received signal 402-i in FIG. 4). Therefore, combined signal 506 is expressed as D1×e1(t)+D2×e2(t)+D3×e3(t)+D4×e4(t).

[0070] Figure 6 shows the configuration of a terminal in this embodiment that is different from the configuration of the terminal in Figure 4, and in Figure 6, components that operate in the same way as in Figure 4 are given the same numbers and will not be described below.

[0071] Multiplication unit 603-1 receives received signal 602-1 received by antenna 601-1 and control signal 410 as input, multiplies received signal 602-1 by coefficient G1 based on the multiplication coefficient information included in control signal 410, and outputs multiplied signal 604-1. Note that coefficient G1 can be defined as a complex number. Therefore, G1 can also be a real number. Therefore, if received signal 602-1 is c1(t), multiplied signal 604-1 can be expressed as G1 × c1(t) (t is time).

[0072] Similarly, multiplication unit 603-2 receives received signal 602-2 received by antenna 601-2 and control signal 410 as input, multiplies received signal 602-2 by coefficient G2 based on the multiplication coefficient information included in control signal 410, and outputs multiplied signal 604-2. Note that coefficient G2 can be defined as a complex number. Therefore, G2 can also be a real number. Therefore, if received signal 602-2 is c2(t), then multiplied signal 604-2 can be expressed as G2 × c2(t) (t is time). Description of multiplication units 603-3 to 603-(L-1) will be omitted.

[0073] Multiplication unit 603-L receives received signal 602-L received by antenna 601-L and control signal 410 as input, multiplies received signal 602-L by coefficient GL based on the multiplication coefficient information included in control signal 410, and outputs multiplied signal 604-L. Note that coefficient GL can be defined as a complex number. Therefore, GL can also be a real number. Therefore, if received signal 602-L is cL(t), multiplied signal 604-L can be expressed as GL × cL(t) (t is time).

[0074] Therefore, multiplication unit 603-i receives received signal 602-i received by antenna 601-i and control signal 410 as input, multiplies received signal 602-i by coefficient Gi based on the multiplication coefficient information included in control signal 410, and outputs multiplied signal 604-i. Note that coefficient Gi can be defined as a complex number. Therefore, Gi can also be a real number. Therefore, if received signal 602-i is ci(t), then multiplied signal 604-i can be expressed as Gi × ci(t) (t is time). Note that i is an integer between 1 and L, inclusive, and L is an integer greater than or equal to 2.

[0075] Processing unit 605 receives multiplied signal 604-1, multiplied signal 604-2, ..., multiplied signal 604-L, and control signal 410 as input, performs signal processing based on control signal 410, and outputs processed signals 606-1, 606-2, ..., 606-N. N is an integer of 2 or more. In this case, multiplied signal 604-i is represented as pi(t), where i is an integer of 1 or more and L or less. Then, processed signal 606-j (rj(t)) is represented as follows (j is an integer of 1 or more and N or less):

[0076]

number

[0077] In addition, in equation (2), Bji is a value that can be defined as a complex number. Therefore, Bji can also take a real number.

[0078] Figure 7 shows an example of the communication state between a base station and a terminal. Note that a base station may also be called an access point or a broadcasting station.

[0079] The base station 700 is equipped with multiple antennas and transmits multiple transmission signals from a transmission antenna 701. In this case, the base station 700 is configured as shown in, for example, FIGS. 1 and 3, and performs transmission beamforming (directivity control) by performing precoding (weighting synthesis) in the signal processing unit 102 (and / or weighting synthesis unit 301).

[0080] FIG. 7 also shows transmit beam 702-1 for transmitting data for stream 1, transmit beam 702-2 for transmitting data for stream 1, and transmit beam 702-3 for transmitting data for stream 1.

[0081] FIG. 7 shows transmit beam 703-1 for transmitting data for stream 2, transmit beam 703-2 for transmitting data for stream 2, and transmit beam 703-3 for transmitting data for stream 2.

[0082] In Figure 7, the number of transmission beams for transmitting data for stream 1 is set to 3, and the number of transmission beams for transmitting data for stream 2 is set to 3, but this is not limited to this, and it is sufficient if there are multiple transmission beams for transmitting data for stream 1 and multiple transmission beams for transmitting data for stream 2.

[0083] FIG. 7 includes terminals 704-1, 704-2, 704-3, 704-4, and 704-5, which have the same configuration as the terminals shown in, for example, FIGS.

[0084] For example, terminal 704-1 controls directivity during reception using signal processing unit 405, and / or antennas 401-1 to 401-N, and / or multipliers 603-1 to 603-L and processing unit 605, to form reception directivities 705-1 and 706-1. Reception directivity 705-1 enables terminal 704-1 to receive and demodulate transmission beam 702-1 for transmitting data of stream 1, and reception directivity 706-1 enables terminal 704-1 to receive and demodulate transmission beam 703-1 for transmitting data of stream 2.

[0085] Similarly, terminal 704-2 controls directivity during reception using signal processing unit 405, and / or antennas 401-1 to 401-N, and / or multipliers 603-1 to 603-L and processing unit 605, to form reception directivities 705-2 and 706-2. Reception directivity 705-2 enables terminal 704-2 to receive and demodulate transmission beam 702-1 for transmitting data of stream 1, and reception directivity 706-2 enables terminal 704-2 to receive and demodulate transmission beam 703-1 for transmitting data of stream 2.

[0086] Terminal 704-3 performs directivity control during reception using "signal processing unit 405," and / or "antennas 401-1 to 401-N," and / or "multiplication units 603-1 to 603-L and processing unit 605," to form reception directivity 705-3 and reception directivity 706-3.

[0087] Receiving directivity 705-3 enables terminal 704-3 to receive and demodulate transmitting beam 702-2 for transmitting data for stream 1, and receiving directivity 706-3 enables terminal 704-3 to receive and demodulate transmitting beam 703-2 for transmitting data for stream 2.

[0088] Terminal 704-4 controls directivity during reception using signal processing unit 405, and / or antennas 401-1 to 401-N, and / or multipliers 603-1 to 603-L and processing unit 605, to form reception directivities 705-4 and 706-4. Reception directivity 705-4 enables terminal 704-4 to receive and demodulate transmission beam 702-3 for transmitting data of stream 1, and reception directivity 706-4 enables terminal 704-4 to receive and demodulate transmission beam 703-2 for transmitting data of stream 2.

[0089] Terminal 704-5 controls directivity during reception using signal processing unit 405, and / or antennas 401-1 to 401-N, and / or multipliers 603-1 to 603-L and processing unit 605, to form reception directivities 705-5 and 706-5. Reception directivity 705-5 enables terminal 704-5 to receive and demodulate transmission beam 702-3 for transmitting data of stream 1, and reception directivity 706-5 enables terminal 704-5 to receive and demodulate transmission beam 703-3 for transmitting data of stream 2.

[0090] In Figure 7, the terminal selects at least one of the transmit beams 702-1, 702-2, and 702-3 for transmitting data of stream 1 based on its spatial location and directs its receiving directionality to obtain the data of stream 1 with high quality, and the terminal selects at least one of the transmit beams 703-1, 703-2, and 703-3 for transmitting data of stream 2 based on its spatial location and directs its receiving directionality to obtain the data of stream 2 with high quality.

[0091] Base station 700 transmits transmission beam 702-1 for transmitting data of stream 1 and transmission beam 703-1 for transmitting data of stream 2 using the same frequency (same frequency band) and the same time. Base station 700 then transmits transmission beam 702-2 for transmitting data of stream 1 and transmission beam 703-2 for transmitting data of stream 2 using the same frequency (same frequency band) and the same time. Base station 700 also transmits transmission beam 702-3 for transmitting data of stream 1 and transmission beam 703-3 for transmitting data of stream 2 using the same frequency (same frequency band) and the same time.

[0092] Furthermore, transmission beams 702-1, 702-2, and 702-3 for transmitting data of stream 1 may be beams of the same frequency (same frequency band), or may be beams of different frequencies (different frequency bands). Transmission beams 703-1, 703-2, and 703-3 for transmitting data of stream 2 may be beams of the same frequency (same frequency band), or may be beams of different frequencies (different frequency bands).

[0093] The operation of the setting unit 158 ​​of the base station in FIGS. 1 and 3 will be described.

[0094] Setting unit 158 ​​receives setting signal 160 as input. Setting signal 160 includes information on whether to perform multicast transmission or unicast transmission, and when the base station performs transmission as shown in FIG. 7, the information that "multicast transmission will be performed" is input to setting unit 158 ​​by setting signal 160.

[0095] Setting signal 160 includes information on the "number of transmission streams when multicasting." When the base station transmits as shown in FIG. 7, setting signal 160 inputs the information that "the number of transmission streams is 2" to setting unit 158.

[0096] Furthermore, setting signal 160 may include information on "how many transmission beams to use to transmit each stream." When the base station performs transmission as shown in Fig. 7, setting signal 160 inputs information to setting unit 158 ​​that "the number of transmission beams to transmit stream 1 is 3, and the number of transmission beams to transmit stream 2 is 3."

[0097] 1 and 3 may transmit control information symbols including information such as whether the data symbol is for multicast transmission or unicast transmission, the number of transmission streams when multicasting, and how many transmission beams each stream should be transmitted over. This allows the terminal to receive the data appropriately. The configuration of the control information symbols will be described in detail later.

[0098] FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining the relationship between the #i information 101-i in FIGS. 1 and 3 and "stream 1" and "stream 2" described with reference to FIG. 7. For example, #1 information 101-1 is subjected to processing such as error correction coding to obtain data after error correction coding. This data after error correction coding is called #1 transmission data. Then, mapping is performed on the #1 transmission data to obtain data symbols, which are then allocated to stream 1 and stream 2 to obtain data symbols (data symbol groups) for stream 1 and data symbols (data symbol groups) for stream 2. The stream 1 symbol group includes the stream 1 data symbols (data symbol groups), and the stream 1 symbol group is transmitted from the base station in FIGS. 1 and 3. The stream 2 symbol group includes the stream 2 data symbols (data symbol groups), and the stream 2 symbol group is transmitted from the base station in FIGS. 1 and 3.

[0099] FIG. 9 shows an example of a frame configuration when the horizontal axis represents time.

[0100] Stream 1 #1 symbol group 901-1 in FIG. 9 is a symbol group of transmit beam 702-1 for transmitting data of stream 1 in FIG.

[0101] Stream 1 #2 symbol group 901-2 in FIG. 9 is a symbol group of transmit beam 702-2 for transmitting stream 1 data in FIG.

[0102] Stream 1 #3 symbol group 901-3 in FIG. 9 is a symbol group of transmit beam 702-3 for transmitting stream 1 data in FIG.

[0103] Stream 2 #1 symbol group 902-1 in FIG. 9 is a symbol group of transmit beam 703-1 for transmitting stream 2 data in FIG.

[0104] Stream 2 #2 symbol group 902-2 in FIG. 9 is a symbol group of transmit beam 703-2 for transmitting stream 2 data in FIG.

[0105] Stream 2 #3 symbol group 902-3 in FIG. 9 is a symbol group of transmit beam 703-3 for transmitting stream 2 data in FIG.

[0106] Then, #1 symbol group 901-1 of stream 1, #2 symbol group 901-2 of stream 1, #3 symbol group 901-3 of stream 1, #1 symbol group 902-1 of stream 2, #2 symbol group 902-2 of stream 2, and #3 symbol group 902-3 of stream 2 exist in time interval 1, for example.

[0107] Also, as described earlier, the #1 symbol group 901-1 of stream 1 and the #2 symbol group 902-1 of stream 2 are transmitted using the same frequency (same frequency band), the #2 symbol group 901-2 of stream 1 and the #2 symbol group 902-2 of stream 2 are transmitted using the same frequency (same frequency band), and the #3 symbol group 901-3 of stream 1 and the #3 symbol group 902-3 of stream 2 are transmitted using the same frequency (same frequency band).

[0108] For example, "data symbol group A of stream 1" and "data symbol group A of stream 2" are generated from information using the procedure in Fig. 8. Then, symbol groups "data symbol group A-1 of stream 1" composed of the same symbols as those constituting "data symbol group A of stream 1," "data symbol group A-2 of stream 1" composed of the same symbols as those constituting "data symbol group A of stream 1," and "data symbol group A-3 of stream 1" composed of the same symbols as those constituting "data symbol group A of stream 1" are prepared.

[0109] That is, the symbols constituting "data symbol group A-1 of stream 1," "data symbol group A-2 of stream 1," and "data symbol group A-3 of stream 1" are the same.

[0110] In this case, #1 symbol group 901-1 of stream 1 in Fig. 9 includes "data symbol group A-1 of stream 1," #2 symbol group 901-2 of stream 1 in Fig. 9 includes "data symbol group A-2 of stream 1," and #3 symbol group 901-3 of stream 1 in Fig. 9 includes "data symbol group A-3 of stream 1." In other words, #1 symbol group 901-1 of stream 1, #2 symbol group 901-2 of stream 1, and #3 symbol group 901-3 of stream 1 include the same data symbol group.

[0111] In addition, symbol groups "Stream 2 data symbol group A-1" composed of the same symbols as those constituting "Stream 2 data symbol group A," "Stream 2 data symbol group A-2" composed of the same symbols as those constituting "Stream 2 data symbol group A," and "Stream 2 data symbol group A-3" composed of the same symbols as those constituting "Stream 2 data symbol group A" are prepared.

[0112] That is, the symbols constituting "data symbol group A-1 of stream 2," "data symbol group A-2 of stream 2," and "data symbol group A-3 of stream 2" are the same.

[0113] In this case, #1 symbol group 902-1 of stream 2 in Fig. 9 includes “data symbol group A-1 of stream 2,” #2 symbol group 902-2 of stream 2 in Fig. 9 includes “data symbol group A-2 of stream 2,” and #3 symbol group 902-3 of stream 2 in Fig. 9 includes “data symbol group A-3 of stream 2.” In other words, #1 symbol group 902-1 of stream 2, #2 symbol group 902-2 of stream 2, and #3 symbol group 902-3 of stream 2 include the same data symbol group.

[0114] Fig. 10 shows an example of the frame structure of "stream X symbol group #Y" (X=1, 2; Y=1, 2, 3) explained in Fig. 9. In Fig. 10, the horizontal axis represents time, 1001 represents control information symbols, and 1002 represents stream data symbol groups. In this case, stream data symbol group 1002 is a symbol for transmitting "stream 1 data symbol group A" or "stream 2 data symbol group A" explained using Fig. 9.

[0115] In the frame configuration of Fig. 10, a multi-carrier method such as OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing) may be used, in which case symbols may exist in the frequency axis direction. Each symbol may include a reference symbol for time and frequency synchronization by the receiving device, a reference symbol for signal detection by the receiving device, and a reference symbol for channel estimation by the receiving device. The frame configuration is not limited to that shown in Fig. 10, and the control information symbols 1001 and stream data symbol group 1002 may be arranged in any manner. Reference symbols may also be called preambles or pilot symbols.

[0116] Next, the configuration of the control information symbol 1001 will be described.

[0117] Fig. 11 shows an example of the structure of symbols transmitted as the control information symbols of Fig. 10, with the horizontal axis representing time. In Fig. 11, the terminal receives "training symbols for terminal to control reception directivity" 1101, and thereby determines the signal processing method for directivity control during reception to be performed by "signal processing unit 405" and / or "antennas 401-1 to 401-N" and / or "multiplication units 603-1 to 603-L and processing unit 605".

[0118] By receiving the "symbol for notifying the number of streams to be transmitted when multicasting" 1102, the terminal knows the number of streams it needs to obtain.

[0119] By receiving the "symbol for notifying which stream the data symbol belongs to" 1103, the terminal can know which stream it is receiving among the streams transmitted by the base station.

[0120] An example of the above will be explained.

[0121] A case will be described in which the base station transmits streams and transmission beams as in Fig. 7. Next, specific information of the control information symbols in #1 symbol group 901-1 of stream 1 in Fig. 9 will be described.

[0122] In the case of Figure 7, the base station is transmitting "Stream 1" and "Stream 2", so the information in "Symbol for notifying the number of transmitted streams when multicasting" 1102 is "2".

[0123] Also, since #1 symbol group 901-1 of stream 1 in Figure 9 transmits data symbols of stream 1, the information of ``symbol for notifying which stream the data symbol belongs to'' 1103 is ``stream 1''.

[0124] For example, let us consider a case where a terminal receives #1 symbol group 901-1 of stream 1 in Fig. 9. At this time, the terminal recognizes that it has received "2 transmission streams" from "symbol for notifying the number of transmission streams when multicasting" 1102, and "data symbols of stream 1" from "symbol for notifying which stream the data symbol group of a stream belongs to" 1103.

[0125] The terminal then recognizes that the "number of transmission streams is 2" and the data symbols it is obtaining are "data symbols of stream 1," and therefore recognizes that it needs to obtain "data symbols of stream 2." Therefore, the terminal can begin searching for a symbol group of stream 2. For example, the terminal searches for a transmission beam of any of stream 2 #1 symbol group 902-1, stream 2 #2 symbol group 902-2, or stream 2 #3 symbol group 902-3 in FIG. 9.

[0126] The terminal then obtains the data symbols of both stream 1 and stream 2 by obtaining a transmission beam of either stream 2 #1 symbol group 902-1, stream 2 #2 symbol group 902-2, or stream 2 #3 symbol group 902-3.

[0127] By configuring the control information symbols in this way, the terminal can obtain the effect of accurately obtaining data symbols.

[0128] As described above, in multicast transmission and broadcast data transmission, the base station transmits data symbols using multiple transmission beams, and the terminal selectively receives a beam of good quality from the multiple transmission beams. As a result, the modulated signal transmitted by the base station is subjected to transmission directivity control and reception directivity control, thereby achieving the effect of expanding the area where high data reception quality can be obtained.

[0129] Furthermore, in the above explanation, it has been explained that the terminal controls the reception directivity, but it is possible for the terminal to obtain the above-mentioned effects even if it does not control the reception directivity.

[0130] 10 may be any modulation scheme, and the mapping method of the modulation scheme of the "data symbol group of stream" 1002 may be switched for each symbol. In other words, after mapping, the phase of the constellation on the in-phase I-quadrature Q plane may be switched for each symbol.

[0131] Fig. 12 shows an example of a communication state between a base station and a terminal that is different from that shown in Fig. 7. In Fig. 12, the same numbers are used to denote components that operate in the same way as in Fig. 7.

[0132] The base station 700 is equipped with multiple antennas and transmits multiple transmission signals from a transmission antenna 701. In this case, the base station 700 is configured as shown in, for example, FIGS. 1 and 3, and performs transmission beamforming (directivity control) by performing precoding (weighting synthesis) in the signal processing unit 102 (and / or weighting synthesis unit 301).

[0133] FIG. 12 also shows transmit beam 1202-1 for transmitting "modulated signal 1", transmit beam 1202-2 for transmitting "modulated signal 1", and transmit beam 1202-3 for transmitting "modulated signal 1".

[0134] FIG. 12 shows transmit beam 1203-1 for transmitting "modulated signal 2", transmit beam 1203-2 for transmitting "modulated signal 2", and transmit beam 1203-3 for transmitting "modulated signal 2".

[0135] 12, the number of transmission beams for transmitting "modulated signal 1" is three, and the number of transmission beams for transmitting "modulated signal 2" is three, but this is not limited to this, and it is sufficient if there are multiple transmission beams for transmitting "modulated signal 1" and multiple transmission beams for transmitting "modulated signal 2." "Modulated signal 1" and "modulated signal 2" will be explained in detail later.

[0136] FIG. 12 includes terminals 704-1, 704-2, 704-3, 704-4, and 704-5, which have the same configuration as the terminals in, for example, FIGS.

[0137] For example, terminal 704-1 controls directivity during reception using signal processing unit 405, and / or antennas 401-1 to 401-N, and / or multipliers 603-1 to 603-L and processing unit 605, to form reception directivities 705-1 and 706-1. Reception directivity 705-1 enables terminal 704-1 to receive and demodulate transmission beam 1202-1 for transmitting modulated signal 1, and reception directivity 706-1 enables terminal 704-1 to receive and demodulate transmission beam 1203-1 for transmitting modulated signal 2.

[0138] Similarly, terminal 704-2 controls directivity during reception using "signal processing unit 405," and / or "antennas 401-1 to 401-N," and / or "multiplication units 603-1 to 603-L and processing unit 605," to form reception directivities 705-2 and 706-2. Reception directivity 705-2 enables terminal 704-2 to receive and demodulate transmission beam 1202-1 for transmitting "modulated signal 1," and reception directivity 706-2 enables terminal 704-2 to receive and demodulate transmission beam 1203-1 for transmitting "modulated signal 2."

[0139] Terminal 704-3 performs directivity control during reception using "signal processing unit 405," and / or "antennas 401-1 to 401-N," and / or "multiplication units 603-1 to 603-L and processing unit 605," to form reception directivity 705-3 and reception directivity 706-3.

[0140] Then, receiving directivity 705-3 enables terminal 704-3 to receive and demodulate transmission beam 1202-2 for transmitting "modulated signal 1," and receiving directivity 706-3 enables terminal 704-3 to receive and demodulate transmission beam 1203-2 for transmitting "modulated signal 2."

[0141] Terminal 704-4 controls directivity during reception using "signal processing unit 405," and / or "antennas 401-1 to 401-N," and / or "multiplication units 603-1 to 603-L and processing unit 605," to form reception directivities 705-4 and 706-4. Reception directivity 705-4 enables terminal 704-4 to receive and demodulate transmission beam 1202-3 for transmitting "modulated signal 1," and reception directivity 706-4 enables terminal 704-4 to receive and demodulate transmission beam 1203-2 for transmitting "modulated signal 2."

[0142] Terminal 704-5 controls directivity during reception using "signal processing unit 405," and / or "antennas 401-1 to 401-N," and / or "multiplication units 603-1 to 603-L and processing unit 605," to form reception directivities 705-5 and 706-5. Reception directivity 705-5 enables terminal 704-5 to receive and demodulate transmission beam 1202-3 for transmitting "modulated signal 1," and reception directivity 706-5 enables terminal 704-5 to receive and demodulate transmission beam 1203-3 for transmitting "modulated signal 2."

[0143] A distinctive feature of Figure 12 is that the terminal can obtain "modulated signal 1" with high quality by selecting at least one of the transmission beams 1202-1, 1202-2, and 1202-3 for transmitting "modulated signal 1" based on its spatial position and directing the receiving directionality, and the terminal can obtain "modulated signal 2" with high quality by selecting at least one of the transmission beams 1203-1, 1203-2, and 1203-3 for transmitting "modulated signal 2" based on its spatial position and directing the receiving directionality.

[0144] Note that base station 700 transmits transmission beam 1202-1 for transmitting "modulated signal 1" and transmission beam 1203-1 for transmitting "modulated signal 2" using the same frequency (same frequency band) and the same time. Base station 700 then transmits transmission beam 1202-2 for transmitting "modulated signal 1" and transmission beam 1203-2 for transmitting "modulated signal 2" using the same frequency (same frequency band) and the same time. Base station 700 also transmits transmission beam 1202-3 for transmitting "modulated signal 1" and transmission beam 1203-3 for transmitting "modulated signal 2" using the same frequency (same frequency band) and the same time.

[0145] Furthermore, transmission beams 1202-1, 1202-2, and 1202-3 for transmitting "modulated signal 1" may be beams of the same frequency (same frequency band), or may be beams of different frequencies (different frequency bands). Transmission beams 1203-1, 1203-2, and 1203-3 for transmitting "modulated signal 2" may be beams of the same frequency (same frequency band), or may be beams of different frequencies (different frequency bands).

[0146] The operation of the setting unit 158 ​​of the base station in FIGS. 1 and 3 will be described.

[0147] Setting unit 158 ​​receives setting signal 160 as input. Setting signal 160 includes information on whether to perform multicast transmission or unicast transmission, and when the base station performs transmission as shown in FIG. 12 , the information that "multicast transmission will be performed" is input to setting unit 158 ​​by setting signal 160.

[0148] The setting signal 160 includes information on the "number of modulation signals to be transmitted when multicasting is performed." When the base station transmits as shown in FIG. 12, the setting signal 160 inputs the information that "the number of modulation signals to be transmitted is 2" to the setting unit 158.

[0149] Furthermore, setting signal 160 may include information on "how many transmission beams to use to transmit each modulated signal." When the base station performs transmission as shown in Fig. 12, setting signal 160 inputs information to setting unit 158 ​​that "the number of transmission beams to transmit modulated signal 1 is 3, and the number of transmission beams to transmit modulated signal 2 is 3."

[0150] 1 and 3 may transmit control information symbols including information such as whether the data symbol is for multicast transmission or unicast transmission, the number of modulation signals to be transmitted when multicasting, and the number of transmission beams to be used to transmit each modulation signal. This allows the terminal to receive the data appropriately. The configuration of the control information symbols will be described in detail later.

[0151] FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining the relationship between the #i information 101-i in FIGS. 1 and 3 and the "modulated signal 1" and "modulated signal 2" explained with reference to FIG.

[0152] For example, #1 information 101-1 is subjected to processing such as error correction coding to obtain data after error correction coding. This data after error correction coding is called #1 transmission data. Then, #1 transmission data is mapped to obtain data symbols, which are then allocated to stream 1 and stream 2 to obtain data symbols (data symbol groups) for stream 1 and data symbols (data symbol groups) for stream 2. In this case, the data symbols for stream 1 at symbol number i are designated s1(i), and the data symbols for stream 2 are designated s2(i). Then, "modulated signal 1" tx1(i) at symbol number i is expressed, for example, as follows:

[0153]

number

[0154] Then, "modulated signal 2" tx2(i) at symbol number i is expressed, for example, as follows:

[0155]

number

[0156] In equations (3) and (4), α(i) can be defined by a complex number (and therefore may be a real number), β(i) can be defined by a complex number (and therefore may be a real number), γ(i) can be defined by a complex number (and therefore may be a real number), and δ(i) can be defined by a complex number (and therefore may be a real number). α(i) is not necessarily a function of symbol number i (and may be a fixed value), β(i) is not necessarily a function of symbol number i (and may be a fixed value), γ(i) is not necessarily a function of symbol number i (and may be a fixed value), and δ(i) is not necessarily a function of symbol number i (and may be a fixed value).

[0157] Then, a "symbol group of modulated signal 1" including a "signal in the data transmission region of modulated signal 1" made up of data symbols is transmitted from the base station in Figures 1 and 3. Also, a "symbol group of modulated signal 2" including a "signal in the data transmission region of modulated signal 2" made up of data symbols is transmitted from the base station in Figures 1 and 3.

[0158] Note that signal processing such as phase change and CDD (Cyclic Delay Diversity) may be performed on "modulated signal 1" and "modulated signal 2." However, the signal processing method is not limited to this.

[0159] FIG. 14 shows an example of a frame configuration when the horizontal axis represents time.

[0160] The #1 symbol group (1401-1) of modulated signal 1 in FIG. 14 is a symbol group of transmission beam 1202-1 for transmitting the data of modulated signal 1 in FIG.

[0161] The #2 symbol group (1401-2) of modulated signal 1 in FIG. 14 is a symbol group of transmission beam 1202-2 for transmitting the data of modulated signal 1 in FIG.

[0162] The #3 symbol group (1401-3) of modulated signal 1 in FIG. 14 is a symbol group of transmission beam 1202-3 for transmitting the data of modulated signal 1 in FIG.

[0163] The #1 symbol group (1402-1) of modulated signal 2 in FIG. 14 is a symbol group of transmission beam 1203-1 for transmitting the data of modulated signal 2 in FIG.

[0164] The #2 symbol group (1402-2) of modulated signal 2 in FIG. 14 is a symbol group of transmission beam 1203-2 for transmitting the data of modulated signal 2 in FIG.

[0165] The #3 symbol group (1402-3) of modulated signal 2 in FIG. 14 is a symbol group of transmission beam 1203-3 for transmitting the data of modulated signal 2 in FIG.

[0166] Then, the #1 symbol group (1401-1) of modulated signal 1, the #2 symbol group (1401-2) of modulated signal 1, the #3 symbol group (1401-3) of modulated signal 1, the #1 symbol group (1402-1) of modulated signal 2, the #2 symbol group (1402-2) of modulated signal 2, and the #3 symbol group (1402-3) of modulated signal 2 exist in time interval 1, for example.

[0167] Also, as described earlier, the #1 symbol group (1401-1) of modulated signal 1 and the #1 symbol group (1402-1) of modulated signal 2 are transmitted using the same frequency (same frequency band), the #2 symbol group (1401-2) of modulated signal 1 and the #2 symbol group (1402-2) of modulated signal 2 are transmitted using the same frequency (same frequency band), and the #3 symbol group (1401-3) of modulated signal 1 and the #3 symbol group (1402-3) of modulated signal 2 are transmitted using the same frequency (same frequency band).

[0168] For example, in the procedure of FIG. 13, "signal A in the data transmission region of modulated signal 1" and "signal A in the data transmission region of modulated signal 2" are generated from the information.

[0169] Then, the following signals are prepared: "signal A-1 in the data transmission area of ​​modulated signal 1" composed of signals equivalent to the signals that make up "signal A in the data transmission area of ​​modulated signal 1"; "signal A-2 in the data transmission area of ​​modulated signal 1" composed of signals equivalent to the signals that make up "signal A in the data transmission area of ​​modulated signal 1"; and "signal A-3 in the data transmission area of ​​modulated signal 1" composed of signals equivalent to the signals that make up "signal group A-1 in the data transmission area of ​​modulated signal 1" (in other words, the signals that make up "signal group A-1 in the data transmission area of ​​modulated signal 1", the signals that make up "signal A-2 in the data transmission area of ​​modulated signal 1", and the signals that make up "signal A-3 in the data transmission area of ​​modulated signal 1" are the same).

[0170] In this case, the #1 symbol group (1401-1) of modulated signal 1 in Figure 14 contains "signal A-1 in the data transmission region of modulated signal 1," the #2 symbol group (1401-2) of modulated signal 1 in Figure 14 contains "signal A-2 in the data transmission region of modulated signal 1," and the #3 symbol group (1401-3) of modulated signal 1 in Figure 14 contains "signal A-3 in the data transmission region of modulated signal 1." In other words, the #1 symbol group (1401-1) of modulated signal 1, the #2 symbol group (1401-2) of modulated signal 1, and the #3 symbol group (1401-3) of modulated signal 1 contain equivalent signals.

[0171] In addition, the following signals are prepared: "signal A-1 in the data transmission area of ​​modulated signal 2" composed of signals equivalent to the signals that make up "signal A in the data transmission area of ​​modulated signal 2"; "signal A-2 in the data transmission area of ​​modulated signal 2" composed of signals equivalent to the signals that make up "signal A in the data transmission area of ​​modulated signal 2"; and "signal A-3 in the data transmission area of ​​modulated signal 2" composed of signals equivalent to the signals that make up "signal A-1 in the data transmission area of ​​modulated signal 2" (in other words, the signals that make up "signal A-2 in the data transmission area of ​​modulated signal 2" and the signals that make up "signal A-3 in the data transmission area of ​​modulated signal 2" are the same).

[0172] In this case, #1 symbol group (1402-1) of modulated signal 2 in Figure 14 contains "signal A-1 in the data transmission region of modulated signal 2," #2 symbol group (1402-2) of stream 2 in Figure 14 contains "signal A-2 in the data transmission region of modulated signal 2," and #3 symbol group (1402-3) of modulated signal 2 in Figure 14 contains "signal A-3 in the data transmission region of modulated signal 2." In other words, #1 symbol group (1402-1) of modulated signal 2, #2 symbol group (1402-2) of modulated signal 2, and #3 symbol group (1402-3) of modulated signal 2 contain equivalent signals.

[0173] Fig. 15 shows an example of a frame configuration of "symbol group #Y of modulated signal X" (X=1, 2; Y=1, 2, 3) explained in Fig. 14. In Fig. 15, the horizontal axis represents time, 1501 represents control information symbols, and 1502 represents a modulated signal transmission region for data transmission. In this case, modulated signal transmission region 1502 for data transmission contains symbols for transmitting "signal A in the data transmission region of modulated signal 1" or "signal A in the data transmission region of modulated signal 2" explained using Fig. 14.

[0174] In the frame configuration of Fig. 15, a multi-carrier method such as OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing) may be used, in which case symbols may exist in the frequency axis direction. Each symbol may include a reference symbol for time and frequency synchronization by the receiving device, a reference symbol for signal detection by the receiving device, and a reference symbol for channel estimation by the receiving device. The frame configuration is not limited to that of Fig. 15, and the control information symbols 1501 and the modulated signal transmission region 1502 for data transmission may be arranged in any manner. The reference symbols may be called, for example, preambles or pilot symbols.

[0175] Next, the configuration of the control information symbol 1501 will be described.

[0176] Fig. 16 shows an example of the configuration of symbols transmitted as the control information symbols of Fig. 15, with the horizontal axis representing time. In Fig. 16, 1601 denotes "training symbols for a terminal to control reception directivity," and by receiving "training symbols for a terminal to control reception directivity" 1601, the terminal determines a signal processing method for directivity control during reception to be implemented in "signal processing unit 405," and / or "antennas 401-1 to 401-N," and / or "multiplication units 603-1 to 603-L and processing unit 605."

[0177] 1602 is a "symbol for notifying the number of modulated signals to be transmitted when multicasting is performed," and by receiving "symbol for notifying the number of modulated signals to be transmitted when multicasting is performed" 1602, the terminal knows the number of modulated signals that it needs to obtain.

[0178] 1603 is a "symbol for notifying which modulated signal transmission area for data transmission of a modulated signal is the modulated signal transmission area for data transmission of which modulated signal," and by receiving 1603, "a symbol for notifying which modulated signal transmission area for data transmission of a modulated signal is the modulated signal transmission area for data transmission of which modulated signal," the terminal can know which modulated signal it is receiving out of the modulated signals transmitted by the base station.

[0179] An example of the above will be explained.

[0180] Consider a case where a base station transmits a "modulated signal" and a transmission beam as shown in Fig. 12. Specific information of the control information symbols in #1 symbol group 1401-1 of modulated signal 1 in Fig. 14 will now be described.

[0181] In the case of Figure 12, the base station is transmitting "modulated signal 1" and "modulated signal 2", so the information in "symbol for notifying the number of modulated signals to be transmitted when multicasting" 1602 is "2".

[0182] Furthermore, since the #1 symbol group 1401-1 of modulated signal 1 in Figure 14 transmits a signal in the data transmission area of ​​modulated signal 1, the information in "symbol for notifying which modulated signal transmission area for data transmission of which modulated signal" 1603 is the information "modulated signal 1."

[0183] For example, suppose a terminal receives #1 symbol group 1401-1 of modulated signal 1 in Fig. 14. At this time, the terminal recognizes that it has received "modulated signal number 2" from "symbol for notifying the number of modulated signals to be transmitted when multicasting" 1602, and "modulated signal 1" from "symbol for notifying which modulated signal transmission region for data transmission of which modulated signal" 1603.

[0184] The terminal then recognizes that there are two modulated signals and that the modulated signal it is receiving is modulated signal 1, and therefore recognizes that it needs to receive modulated signal 2. The terminal can then begin searching for modulated signal 2. For example, the terminal searches for a transmission beam for either "modulated signal 2 #1 symbol group" 1402-1, "modulated signal 2 #2 symbol group" 1402-2, or "modulated signal 2 #3 symbol group" 1402-3 in FIG. 14.

[0185] Then, by obtaining either the transmission beam of "#1 symbol group of modulated signal 2" 1402-1, "#2 symbol group of modulated signal 2" 1402-2, or "#3 symbol group of modulated signal 2" 1402-3, the terminal can obtain both "modulated signal 1" and "modulated signal 2", and can obtain data symbols of stream 1 and data symbols of stream 2 with high quality.

[0186] By configuring the control information symbols in this way, it is possible to obtain the effect that the terminal can accurately obtain data symbols.

[0187] As described above, in multicast data transmission and broadcast data transmission, a base station transmits data symbols using multiple transmission beams, and a terminal selectively receives a beam with good quality from the multiple transmission beams. This has the effect of widening the area where high data reception quality can be obtained for the modulated signal transmitted by the base station. This is because the base station controls the transmission directivity and reception directivity.

[0188] Furthermore, in the above explanation, it has been explained that the terminal controls the reception directivity, but it is possible for the terminal to obtain the above-mentioned effects even if it does not control the reception directivity.

[0189] 7 illustrates a case where each terminal receives both the modulated signal of stream 1 and the modulated signal of stream 2, but the present invention is not necessarily limited to this embodiment. For example, there may be a terminal that desires to receive the modulated signal of stream 1, a terminal that desires to receive the modulated signal of stream 2, and a terminal that desires to receive both the modulated signal of stream 1 and the modulated signal of stream 2, and so on.

[0190] (Embodiment 2) In the first embodiment, a method in which a base station transmits data symbols using multiple transmission beams in multicast data transmission and broadcast data transmission has been described. In the present embodiment, as a modification of the first embodiment, a case in which a base station performs multicast data transmission and broadcast data transmission as well as unicast data transmission will be described.

[0191] FIG. 17 shows an example of the communication state between a base station (or an access point, etc.) and a terminal, and the same numbers are used to designate elements that operate in the same way as in FIG. 7, and detailed explanations will be omitted.

[0192] The base station 700 is equipped with multiple antennas and transmits multiple transmission signals from a transmission antenna 701. In this case, the base station 700 is configured as shown in, for example, FIGS. 1 and 3, and performs transmission beamforming (directivity control) by performing precoding (weighting synthesis) in the signal processing unit 102 (and / or weighting synthesis unit 301).

[0193] The transmission beams 702-1, 702-2, 702-3, 703-1, 703-2, and 703-3 are the same as those described with reference to FIG. 7, and therefore will not be described again.

[0194] Furthermore, the terminals 704-1, 704-2, 704-3, 704-4, and 704-5 and the reception directivities 705-1, 705-2, 705-3, 705-4, 705-5, 706-1, 706-2, 706-3, 706-4, and 706-5 are the same as those described with reference to FIG. 7, and therefore will not be described again.

[0195] 17 is characterized in that the base station performs multicast as explained in FIG. 7, and the base station 700 and the terminal (for example, 1702) perform unicast communication.

[0196] In addition to multicast transmission beams 702-1, 702-2, 702-3, 703-1, 703-2, and 703-3, in Fig. 17, base station 700 generates unicast transmission beam 1701 and transmits individual data to terminal 1702. Note that Fig. 17 shows an example in which base station 700 transmits one transmission beam 1701 to terminal 1702, but the number of transmission beams is not limited to one, and base station 700 may transmit multiple transmission beams (or multiple modulated signals) to terminal 1702.

[0197] Then, terminal 1702 performs directivity control during reception using "signal processing unit 405," and / or "antennas 401-1 to 401-N," and / or "multiplication units 603-1 to 603-L and signal processing unit 605," to form reception directivity 1703. This enables terminal 1702 to receive and demodulate transmission beam 1701.

[0198] In addition, in order to generate transmission beams including transmission beam 1701, the base station performs precoding (weighting synthesis) in, for example, the signal processing unit 102 (and / or the weighting synthesis unit 301) in the configurations shown in Figures 1 and 3.

[0199] Conversely, when terminal 1702 transmits a modulated signal to base station 700, terminal 1702 performs precoding (or weighted combining) and transmits transmission beam 1703, and base station 700 performs directivity control during reception to form reception directivity 1701. This enables base station 700 to receive and demodulate transmission beam 1703.

[0200] Note that base station 700 transmits transmission beam 702-1 for transmitting data of stream 1 and transmission beam 703-1 for transmitting data of stream 2 using the same frequency (same frequency band) and the same time. Base station 700 transmits transmission beam 702-2 for transmitting data of stream 1 and transmission beam 703-2 for transmitting data of stream 2 using the same frequency (same frequency band) and the same time. Base station 700 transmits transmission beam 702-3 for transmitting data of stream 1 and transmission beam 703-3 for transmitting data of stream 2 using the same frequency (same frequency band) and the same time.

[0201] Furthermore, transmission beams 702-1, 702-2, and 702-3 for transmitting data of stream 1 may be beams of the same frequency (same frequency band), or may be beams of different frequencies (different frequency bands). Transmission beams 703-1, 703-2, and 703-3 for transmitting data of stream 2 may be beams of the same frequency (same frequency band), or may be beams of different frequencies (different frequency bands).

[0202] The unicast transmission beam 1701 may be a beam of the same frequency (same frequency band) as the transmission beams 702-1, 702-2, 702-3, 703-1, 703-2, and 703-3, or may be a beam of a different frequency (different frequency band).

[0203] Also, in FIG. 17, the description has been given assuming that there is one terminal performing unicast communication, but the number of terminals performing unicast communication with the base station may be plural.

[0204] At this time, the operation of the setting unit 158 ​​in the base station configuration diagrams 1 and 3 will be described.

[0205] Setting unit 158 ​​receives setting signal 160 as input. Setting signal 160 includes information on "whether to perform multicast transmission or unicast transmission," and when the base station performs transmission as shown in Fig. 17, setting signal 160 inputs information that "both multicast transmission and unicast transmission will be performed" to setting unit 158.

[0206] In addition, setting signal 160 includes information on the "number of transmission streams when multicasting." When the base station transmits as shown in FIG. 17, setting signal 160 inputs the information that "the number of transmission streams is 2" to setting unit 158.

[0207] Furthermore, setting signal 160 may include information on "how many transmission beams to use to transmit each stream." When the base station performs transmission as shown in Fig. 17, setting signal 160 inputs information to setting unit 158 ​​that "the number of transmission beams to transmit stream 1 is 3, and the number of transmission beams to transmit stream 2 is 3."

[0208] 1 and 3 may transmit control information symbols including information on whether the data symbol is for multicast transmission or unicast transmission, information on the number of transmission streams when multicasting, information on how many transmission beams each stream should be transmitted with, etc. This allows the terminal to receive the data appropriately.

[0209] Furthermore, the base station may transmit, to a terminal performing unicast communication, control information symbols for training the base station to perform directivity control and control information symbols for training the terminal to perform directivity control.

[0210] FIG. 18 shows an example of the communication state between a base station (or an access point, etc.) and a terminal, and the same numbers are used for elements that operate in the same way as in FIG. 7 and FIG. 12, and detailed explanations will be omitted.

[0211] The base station 700 is equipped with multiple antennas and transmits multiple transmission signals from a transmission antenna 701. In this case, the base station 700 is configured as shown in, for example, FIGS. 1 and 3, and performs transmission beamforming (directivity control) by performing precoding (weighting synthesis) in the signal processing unit 102 (and / or weighting synthesis unit 301).

[0212] The transmission beams 1202-1, 1202-2, 1202-3, 1203-1, 1203-2, and 1203-3 are the same as those described with reference to FIG. 12, and therefore will not be described again.

[0213] Furthermore, the terminals 704-1, 704-2, 704-3, 704-4, and 704-5 and the reception directivities 705-1, 705-2, 705-3, 705-4, 705-5, 706-1, 706-2, 706-3, 706-4, and 706-5 are the same as those described with reference to FIG. 12, and therefore will not be described again.

[0214] 18 is characterized in that the base station performs multicast as explained in FIG. 12, and the base station 700 and the terminal (for example, 1702) perform unicast communication.

[0215] In addition to multicast transmission beams 1202-1, 1202-2, 1202-3, 1203-1, 1203-2, and 1203-3, in Fig. 18, base station 700 generates unicast transmission beam 1701 and transmits dedicated data to terminal 1702. Note that Fig. 18 shows an example in which base station 700 transmits one transmission beam 1701 to terminal 1702, but the number of transmission beams is not limited to one, and base station 700 may transmit multiple transmission beams (or multiple modulated signals) to terminal 1702.

[0216] Then, terminal 1702 performs directivity control during reception using "signal processing unit 405," and / or "antennas 401-1 to 401-N," and / or "multiplication units 603-1 to 603-L and signal processing unit 605," to form reception directivity 1703. This enables terminal 1702 to receive and demodulate transmission beam 1701.

[0217] In addition, in order to generate transmission beams including transmission beam 1701, the base station performs precoding (weighting synthesis) in, for example, the signal processing unit 102 (and / or the weighting synthesis unit 301) in the configurations shown in Figures 1 and 3.

[0218] Conversely, when terminal 1702 transmits a modulated signal to base station 700, terminal 1702 performs precoding (or weighted combining) and transmits transmission beam 1703, and base station 700 performs directivity control during reception to form reception directivity 1701. This enables base station 700 to receive and demodulate transmission beam 1703.

[0219] Note that base station 700 transmits transmission beam 1202-1 for transmitting "modulated signal 1" and transmission beam 1203-1 for transmitting "modulated signal 2" using the same frequency (same frequency band) and the same time. Base station 700 transmits transmission beam 1202-2 for transmitting "modulated signal 1" and transmission beam 1203-2 for transmitting "modulated signal 2" using the same frequency (same frequency band) and the same time. Base station 700 transmits transmission beam 1202-3 for transmitting "modulated signal 1" and transmission beam 1203-3 for transmitting "modulated signal 2" using the same frequency (same frequency band) and the same time.

[0220] Furthermore, transmission beams 1202-1, 1202-2, and 1202-3 for transmitting "modulated signal 1" may be beams of the same frequency (same frequency band), or may be beams of different frequencies (different frequency bands). Transmission beams 1203-1, 1203-2, and 1203-3 for transmitting "modulated signal 2" may be beams of the same frequency (same frequency band), or may be beams of different frequencies (different frequency bands).

[0221] The unicast transmission beam 1701 may be a beam of the same frequency (same frequency band) as the transmission beams 1202-1, 1202-2, 1202-3, 1203-1, 1203-2, and 1203-3, or may be a beam of a different frequency (different frequency band).

[0222] Also, in FIG. 18, the description has been given assuming that there is one terminal performing unicast communication, but the number of terminals performing unicast communication with the base station may be plural.

[0223] At this time, the operation of the setting unit 158 ​​in the base station configuration diagrams 1 and 3 will be described.

[0224] Setting unit 158 ​​receives setting signal 160 as input. Setting signal 160 includes information on "whether to perform multicast transmission or unicast transmission," and when the base station performs transmission as shown in Fig. 18, setting signal 160 inputs information that "both multicast transmission and unicast transmission will be performed" to setting unit 158.

[0225] In addition, setting signal 160 includes information on the "number of transmission streams when multicasting." When the base station transmits as shown in FIG. 18, setting signal 160 inputs the information that "the number of transmission streams is 2" to setting unit 158.

[0226] Furthermore, the setting signal 160 may include information on "how many transmission beams to use to transmit each stream." When the base station performs transmission as shown in Fig. 18, the setting signal 160 inputs information to the setting unit 158 ​​that "the number of transmission beams to transmit stream 1 is 3, and the number of transmission beams to transmit stream 2 is 3."

[0227] 1 and 3 may transmit control information symbols including information on whether the data symbol is for multicast transmission or unicast transmission, information on the number of transmission streams when multicasting, information on how many transmission beams each stream should be transmitted with, etc. This allows the terminal to receive the data appropriately.

[0228] Furthermore, the base station may transmit, to a terminal performing unicast communication, control information symbols for training the base station to perform directivity control and control information symbols for training the terminal to perform directivity control.

[0229] Next, as a modification of the first embodiment, a case where a base station transmits a plurality of multicast data transmissions will be described.

[0230] FIG. 19 shows an example of the communication state between a base station (or an access point, etc.) and a terminal, and the same numbers are used to designate elements that operate in the same way as in FIG. 7, and detailed explanations will be omitted.

[0231] The base station 700 is equipped with multiple antennas and transmits multiple transmission signals from a transmission antenna 701. In this case, the base station 700 is configured as shown in, for example, FIGS. 1 and 3, and performs transmission beamforming (directivity control) by performing precoding (weighting synthesis) in the signal processing unit 102 (and / or weighting synthesis unit 301).

[0232] The transmission beams 702-1, 702-2, 702-3, 703-1, 703-2, and 703-3 are the same as those described with reference to FIG. 7, and therefore will not be described again.

[0233] Furthermore, the terminals 704-1, 704-2, 704-3, 704-4, and 704-5 and the reception directivities 705-1, 705-2, 705-3, 705-4, 705-5, 706-1, 706-2, 706-3, 706-4, and 706-5 are the same as those described with reference to FIG. 7, and therefore will not be described again.

[0234] Base station 700 transmits transmit beams 1901-1, 1901-2, 1902-1, and 1902-2 in addition to transmit beams 702-1, 702-2, 702-3, 703-1, 703-2, and 703-3.

[0235] A transmission beam 1901-1 is a transmission beam for transmitting data of stream 3. A transmission beam 1901-2 is also a transmission beam for transmitting data of stream 3.

[0236] A transmit beam 1902-1 is a transmit beam for transmitting data of stream 4. A transmit beam 1902-2 is also a transmit beam for transmitting data of stream 4.

[0237] 704-1, 704-2, 704-3, 704-4, 704-5, 1903-1, 1903-2, and 1903-3 are terminals, and are configured, for example, as shown in Figures 4 and 5. The operations of terminals 704-1, 704-2, 704-3, 704-4, and 704-5 are as explained using Figure 7.

[0238] Terminal 1903-1 controls directivity during reception using signal processing unit 405, and / or antennas 401-1 to 401-N, and / or multipliers 603-1 to 603-L and processing unit 605, to form reception directivities 1904-1 and 1905-1. Reception directivity 1904-1 enables terminal 1903-1 to receive and demodulate transmission beam 1901-2 for transmitting data of stream 3, and reception directivity 1905-1 enables terminal 1903-1 to receive and demodulate transmission beam 1902-2 for transmitting data of stream 4.

[0239] Terminal 1903-2 controls directivity during reception using signal processing unit 405, and / or antennas 401-1 to 401-N, and / or multipliers 603-1 to 603-L and processing unit 605, to form reception directivities 1904-2 and 1905-2. Reception directivity 1904-2 enables terminal 1903-2 to receive and demodulate transmission beam 1902-1 for transmitting data of stream 4, and reception directivity 1905-2 enables terminal 1903-2 to receive and demodulate transmission beam 1901-2 for transmitting data of stream 3.

[0240] Terminal 1903-3 controls directivity during reception using signal processing unit 405, and / or antennas 401-1 to 401-N, and / or multipliers 603-1 to 603-L and processing unit 605, to form reception directivities 1904-3 and 1905-3. Reception directivity 1904-3 enables terminal 1903-3 to receive and demodulate transmission beam 1901-1 for transmitting data of stream 3, and reception directivity 1905-3 enables terminal 1903-3 to receive and demodulate transmission beam 1902-1 for transmitting data of stream 4.

[0241] Terminal 1903-4 controls directivity during reception using signal processing unit 405, and / or antennas 401-1 to 401-N, and / or multipliers 603-1 to 603-L and processing unit 605, to form reception directivities 1904-4 and 1905-4. Reception directivity 1904-4 enables terminal 1903-4 to receive and demodulate transmission beam 703-1 for transmitting data of stream 2, and reception directivity 1905-4 enables terminal 1903-4 to receive and demodulate transmission beam 1901-1 for transmitting data of stream 3.

[0242] A characteristic feature of Figure 19 is that a base station transmits multiple streams containing data for multicast, each stream being transmitted using multiple transmission beams, and each terminal selectively receives the transmission beam of one or more of the multiple streams.

[0243] Note that base station 700 transmits transmission beam 702-1 for transmitting data of stream 1 and transmission beam 703-1 for transmitting data of stream 2 using the same frequency (same frequency band) and the same time. Base station 700 transmits transmission beam 702-2 for transmitting data of stream 1 and transmission beam 703-2 for transmitting data of stream 2 using the same frequency (same frequency band) and the same time. Base station 700 transmits transmission beam 702-3 for transmitting data of stream 1 and transmission beam 703-3 for transmitting data of stream 2 using the same frequency (same frequency band) and the same time.

[0244] Base station 700 transmits transmission beam 1901-1 for transmitting data of stream 3 and transmission beam 1902-1 for transmitting data of stream 4 using the same frequency (same frequency band) and the same time. Base station 700 also transmits transmission beam 1901-2 for transmitting data of stream 3 and transmission beam 1902-2 for transmitting data of stream 4 using the same frequency (same frequency band) and the same time.

[0245] Furthermore, transmission beams 702-1, 702-2, and 702-3 for transmitting data of stream 1 may be beams of the same frequency (same frequency band), or may be beams of different frequencies (different frequency bands). Transmission beams 703-1, 703-2, and 703-3 for transmitting data of stream 2 may be beams of the same frequency (same frequency band), or may be beams of different frequencies (different frequency bands).

[0246] Transmission beams 1901-1 and 1901-2 for transmitting data of stream 3 may be beams of the same frequency (same frequency band), or may be beams of different frequencies (different frequency bands). Transmission beams 1902-1 and 1902-2 for transmitting data of stream 4 may be beams of the same frequency (same frequency band), or may be beams of different frequencies (different frequency bands).

[0247] 1, data symbols for stream 1 may be generated, or data symbols for stream 2 may be generated, and data symbols for stream 3 and stream 4 may be generated from #2 information 101-2. Note that #1 information 101-1 and #2 information 101-2 may each be subjected to error correction coding before generating data symbols.

[0248] Also, it is possible to generate data symbols for stream 1 from #1 information 101-1 in Fig. 1, generate data symbols for stream 2 from #2 information 101-2 in Fig. 1, generate data symbols for stream 3 from #3 information 101-3 in Fig. 1, and generate data symbols for stream 4 from #4 information 101-4 in Fig. 1. Note that #1 information 101-1, #2 information 101-2, #3 information 101-3, and #4 information 101-4 may each be subjected to error correction coding before generating data symbols.

[0249] That is, the data symbols of each stream may be generated from any of the information in Fig. 1. This provides the advantage that the terminal can selectively obtain a multicast stream.

[0250] At this time, the operation of setting unit 158 ​​in the base station configuration diagrams 1 and 3 will be described. Setting unit 158 ​​receives setting signal 160 as input. Setting signal 160 includes information on "whether to perform multicast transmission or unicast transmission", and when the base station performs transmission as shown in FIG. 19, the information "to perform multicast transmission" is input to setting unit 158 ​​by setting signal 160.

[0251] Setting signal 160 includes information on the "number of transmission streams when multicasting." When the base station transmits as shown in FIG. 19, setting signal 160 inputs the information that "the number of transmission streams is 4" to setting unit 158.

[0252] Furthermore, the setting signal 160 may include information on "how many transmission beams to use to transmit each stream." When the base station performs transmission as shown in Fig. 19, the setting signal 160 inputs information to the setting unit 158 ​​that "the number of transmission beams to transmit stream 1 is 3, the number of transmission beams to transmit stream 2 is 3, the number of transmission beams to transmit stream 3 is 2, and the number of transmission beams to transmit stream 4 is 2."

[0253] 1 and 3 may transmit control information symbols including information on whether the data symbol is for multicast transmission or unicast transmission, information on the number of transmission streams when multicasting, information on how many transmission beams each stream should be transmitted with, etc. This allows the terminal to receive the data appropriately.

[0254] Next, as a modification of the first embodiment, a case where a base station transmits a plurality of multicast data transmissions will be described.

[0255] Figure 20 shows an example of the communication state between a base station (or an access point, etc.) and a terminal, and parts that operate in the same way as in Figures 7, 12, and 19 are given the same numbers and detailed explanations are omitted.

[0256] The base station 700 is equipped with multiple antennas and transmits multiple transmission signals from a transmission antenna 701. In this case, the base station 700 is configured as shown in, for example, FIGS. 1 and 3, and performs transmission beamforming (directivity control) by performing precoding (weighting synthesis) in the signal processing unit 102 (and / or weighting synthesis unit 301).

[0257] The explanation of the transmission beams 1202-1, 1202-2, 1202-3, 1203-1, 1203-2, and 1203-3 overlaps with the explanation of FIG. 12, and therefore will be omitted.

[0258] 12. Also, the explanation of terminals 704-1, 704-2, 704-3, 704-4, and 704-5 and reception directivities 705-1, 705-2, 705-3, 705-4, 705-5, 706-1, 706-2, 706-3, 706-4, and 706-5 will be omitted as they overlap with the explanation of FIG.

[0259] Base station 700 transmits transmit beams 2001-1, 2001-2, 2002-1, and 2002-2 in addition to transmit beams 1202-1, 1202-2, 1202-3, 1203-1, 1203-2, and 1203-3.

[0260] The transmission beam 2001-1 is a transmission beam for transmitting "modulated signal 3." The transmission beam 2001-2 is also a transmission beam for transmitting "modulated signal 3."

[0261] The transmission beam 2002-1 is a transmission beam for transmitting "modulated signal 4." The transmission beam 2002-2 is also a transmission beam for transmitting "modulated signal 4."

[0262] Terminals 704-1, 704-2, 704-3, 704-4, 704-5, 1903-1, 1903-2, and 1903-3 have the same configuration as, for example, those shown in Figures 4 and 5. The operations of terminals 704-1, 704-2, 704-3, 704-4, and 704-5 are the same as those described with reference to Figure 7.

[0263] Terminal 1903-1 controls directivity during reception using "signal processing unit 405," and / or "antennas 401-1 to 401-N," and / or "multiplication units 603-1 to 603-L and processing unit 605," to form reception directivities 1904-1 and 1905-1. Reception directivity 1904-1 enables terminal 1903-1 to receive and demodulate transmission beam 2001-2 for transmitting "modulated signal 3," and reception directivity 1905-1 enables terminal 1903-1 to receive and demodulate transmission beam 2002-2 for transmitting "modulated signal 4."

[0264] Terminal 1903-2 controls directivity during reception using "signal processing unit 405," and / or "antennas 401-1 to 401-N," and / or "multiplication units 603-1 to 603-L and processing unit 605," to form reception directivities 1904-2 and 1905-2. Reception directivity 1904-2 enables terminal 1903-2 to receive and demodulate transmission beam 2002-1 for transmitting "modulated signal 4," and reception directivity 1905-2 enables terminal 1903-2 to receive and demodulate transmission beam 2001-2 for transmitting "modulated signal 3."

[0265] Terminal 1903-3 controls directivity during reception using "signal processing unit 405," and / or "antennas 401-1 to 401-N," and / or "multiplication units 603-1 to 603-L and processing unit 605," to form reception directivities 1904-3 and 1905-3. Reception directivity 1904-3 enables terminal 1903-3 to receive and demodulate transmission beam 2001-1 for transmitting "modulated signal 3," and reception directivity 1905-3 enables terminal 1903-3 to receive and demodulate transmission beam 2002-1 for transmitting "modulated signal 4."

[0266] Terminal 1903-4 controls directivity during reception using "signal processing unit 405," and / or "antennas 401-1 to 401-N," and / or "multiplication units 603-1 to 603-L and processing unit 605," to form reception directivities 1904-4 and 1905-4. Reception directivity 1904-4 enables terminal 1903-4 to receive and demodulate transmission beam 2001-1 for transmitting "modulated signal 3," and reception directivity 1905-4 enables terminal 1903-4 to receive and demodulate transmission beam 2002-1 for transmitting "modulated signal 4."

[0267] In Figure 20, a base station transmits multiple modulated signals containing data for multicast, each modulated signal being transmitted using multiple transmission beams, and each terminal selectively receives the transmission beam of one or more streams from the multiple modulated signals.

[0268] Note that base station 700 transmits transmission beam 1202-1 for transmitting "modulated signal 1" and transmission beam 1203-1 for transmitting "modulated signal 2" using the same frequency (same frequency band) and the same time. Base station 700 then transmits transmission beam 1202-2 for transmitting "modulated signal 1" and transmission beam 1203-2 for transmitting "modulated signal 2" using the same frequency (same frequency band) and the same time. Base station 700 also transmits transmission beam 1202-3 for transmitting "modulated signal 1" and transmission beam 1203-3 for transmitting "modulated signal 2" using the same frequency (same frequency band) and the same time.

[0269] Base station 700 transmits transmission beam 2001-1 for transmitting "modulated signal 3" and transmission beam 2002-1 for transmitting "modulated signal 4" using the same frequency (same frequency band) and the same time. Base station 700 then transmits transmission beam 2001-2 for transmitting "modulated signal 3" and transmission beam 2002-2 for transmitting "modulated signal 4" using the same frequency (same frequency band) and the same time.

[0270] Furthermore, transmission beams 702-1, 702-2, and 702-3 for transmitting data of stream 1 may be beams of the same frequency (same frequency band), or may be beams of different frequencies (different frequency bands). Transmission beams 703-1, 703-2, and 703-3 for transmitting data of stream 2 may be beams of the same frequency (same frequency band), or may be beams of different frequencies (different frequency bands).

[0271] Transmission beams 2001-1 and 2001-2 for transmitting "modulated signal 3" may be beams of the same frequency (same frequency band), or may be beams of different frequencies (different frequency bands). Furthermore, transmission beams 2002-1 and 2002-2 for transmitting "modulated signal 4" may be beams of the same frequency (same frequency band), or may be beams of different frequencies (different frequency bands).

[0272] At this time, the operation of setting unit 158 ​​in the base station configuration diagrams 1 and 3 will be described. Setting unit 158 ​​receives setting signal 160 as input. Setting signal 160 includes information on "whether to perform multicast transmission or unicast transmission", and when the base station performs the transmission shown in Fig. 19, the information "to perform multicast transmission" is input to setting unit 158 ​​by setting signal 160.

[0273] The setting signal 160 includes information on the "number of modulation signals to be transmitted when multicasting is performed." When the base station performs the transmission shown in FIG. 20, the setting signal 160 inputs the information that "the number of modulation signals to be transmitted is 4" to the setting unit 158.

[0274] Furthermore, setting signal 160 may include information on "how many transmission beams to use to transmit each modulated signal." When the base station performs the transmission shown in Fig. 20, setting signal 160 inputs the following information to setting unit 158: "the number of transmission beams to transmit modulated signal 1 is 3, the number of transmission beams to transmit modulated signal 2 is 3, the number of transmission beams to transmit modulated signal 3 is 2, and the number of transmission beams to transmit modulated signal 4 is 2."

[0275] 1 and 3 may transmit control information symbols including information on whether the data symbol is for multicast transmission or unicast transmission, information on the number of transmission streams when multicasting, information on how many transmission beams each stream should be transmitted with, etc. This allows the terminal to receive the data appropriately.

[0276] In FIG. 20, when the terminal receives both the transmission beam of "modulated signal 1" and the transmission beam of "modulated signal 2", it can obtain the data of stream 1 and the data of stream 2 with high reception quality.

[0277] Similarly, when the terminal receives both the transmission beam of "modulated signal 3" and the transmission beam of "modulated signal 4", it can obtain the data of stream 3 and the data of stream 4 with high reception quality.

[0278] 20 illustrates an example in which the base station transmits "modulated signal 1," "modulated signal 2," "modulated signal 3," and "modulated signal 4," but the base station may transmit "modulated signal 5" and "modulated signal 6" that transmit data for stream 5 and data for stream 6, or may transmit more modulated signals to transmit more streams. Each modulated signal is transmitted using one or more transmission beams.

[0279] Furthermore, as described with reference to FIGS. 17 and 18, there may be one or more transmission beams (or reception directivity control) for unicast.

[0280] The relationship between "modulated signal 1" and "modulated signal 2" is omitted here because it overlaps with the explanation of Fig. 13. Here, the relationship between "modulated signal 3" and "modulated signal 4" will be explained using Fig. 21.

[0281] For example, #2 information 101-2 is subjected to processing such as error correction coding to obtain data after error correction coding. This data after error correction coding is called #2 transmission data. Then, #2 transmission data is mapped to obtain data symbols, which are then allocated to stream 3 and stream 4 to obtain data symbols (data symbol groups) for stream 3 and data symbols (data symbol groups) for stream 4. In this case, the data symbols for stream 3 at symbol number i are designated s3(i), and the data symbols for stream 4 are designated s4(i). Then, "modulated signal 3" tx3(i) at symbol number i is expressed, for example, as follows:

[0282]

number

[0283] Then, "modulated signal 4" tx4(i) at symbol number i is expressed, for example, as follows:

[0284]

number

[0285] In addition, in equations (5) and (6), e(i), f(i), g(i), and h(i) can each be defined as a complex number, and therefore may also be a real number.

[0286] Also, although e(i), f(i), g(i), and h(i) are described, they do not have to be functions of the symbol number i and may be fixed values.

[0287] Then, a "symbol group of modulated signal 3" including a "signal in the data transmission region of modulated signal 3" made up of data symbols is transmitted from the base station in Figures 1 and 3. Also, a "symbol group of modulated signal 4" including a "signal in the data transmission region of modulated signal 4" made up of data symbols is transmitted from the base station in Figures 1 and 3.

[0288] (supplement) Naturally, the embodiments and other contents described in this specification may be combined and implemented.

[0289] Furthermore, each embodiment and other contents are merely examples, and for example, even if a "modulation method, error correction coding method (error correction code to be used, code length, coding rate, etc.), control information, etc." is exemplified, it is possible to implement the same configuration even if a different "modulation method, error correction coding method (error correction code to be used, code length, coding rate, etc.), control information, etc." is applied.

[0290] Regarding the modulation method, even if a modulation method other than the modulation methods described in this specification is used, it is possible to implement the embodiments and other contents described in this specification. For example, APSK (Amplitude Phase Shift Keying), PAM (Pulse Amplitude Modulation), PSK (Phase Shift Keying), and QAM (Quadrature Amplitude Modulation) may be applied, and uniform mapping or non-uniform mapping may be used for each modulation method. Examples of APSK include 16APSK, 64APSK, 128APSK, 256APSK, 1024APSK, and 4096APSK; examples of PAM include 4PAM, 8PAM, 16PAM, 64PAM, 128PAM, 256PAM, 1024PAM, and 4096PAM; examples of PSK include BPSK, QPSK, 8PSK, 16PSK, 64PSK, 128PSK, 256PSK, 1024PSK, and 4096PSK; and examples of QAM include 4QAM, 8QAM, 16QAM, 64QAM, 128QAM, 256QAM, 1024QAM, and 4096QAM.

[0291] Furthermore, the method of arranging 2, 4, 8, 16, 64, 128, 256, 1024, etc. signal points on the IQ plane (modulation method having 2, 4, 8, 16, 64, 128, 256, 1024, etc. signal points) is not limited to the signal point arrangement method of the modulation method shown in this specification.

[0292] The "base station" described in this specification may be, for example, a broadcast station, a base station, an access point, a terminal, a mobile phone, etc. The "terminal" described in this specification may be, for example, a television, a radio, a terminal, a personal computer, a mobile phone, an access point, a base station, etc. Furthermore, the "base station" and "terminal" in this disclosure may be devices having communication functions, and may be configured to be connectable via some kind of interface to devices for executing applications, such as televisions, radios, personal computers, and mobile phones. Furthermore, in this embodiment, symbols other than data symbols, such as pilot symbols and symbols for control information, may be arranged in any manner in a frame.

[0293] The pilot symbols and control information symbols may be named in any way. For example, they may be known symbols modulated using PSK modulation in the transmitter and receiver, or may be synchronized so that the receiver can know the symbols transmitted by the transmitter. The receiver uses these symbols to perform frequency synchronization, time synchronization, channel estimation of each modulated signal (estimation of CSI (Channel State Information)), signal detection, etc. The pilot symbols may also be called preambles, unique words, postambles, reference symbols, etc.

[0294] In addition, the control information symbols are used to transmit information that needs to be transmitted to the communication partner in order to realize communication other than data (application data, etc.) (for example, the modulation method used for communication, the error correction coding method, the coding rate of the error correction coding method, setting information at the upper layer, etc.).

[0295] The present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments and can be implemented with various modifications. For example, in the embodiments, the case where the communication method is performed as a communication device is described, but the present disclosure is not limited to this and the communication method can also be implemented as software.

[0296] For example, a program for executing the above-described communication method may be stored in advance in a ROM (Read Only Memory), and the program may be run by a CPU (Central Processor Unit).

[0297] In addition, a program for executing the above-mentioned communication method may be stored in a computer-readable storage medium, and the program stored in the storage medium may be recorded in the computer's RAM (Random Access Memory), causing the computer to operate in accordance with the program.

[0298] Furthermore, each configuration of the above-described embodiments may be implemented as an LSI (Large Scale Integration), which is typically an integrated circuit having input and output terminals. These may be integrated individually on a single chip, or a single chip may include all or part of the configuration of each embodiment. While the term "LSI" is used here, it may also be referred to as an IC (Integrated Circuit), system LSI, super LSI, or ultra LSI depending on the level of integration. Furthermore, the integration method is not limited to LSI; dedicated circuits or general-purpose processors may also be used. Field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), which can be programmed after LSI fabrication, or reconfigurable processors, which allow the reconfiguration of the connections and settings of circuit cells within an LSI, may also be used. Furthermore, if an integrated circuit technology that can replace LSI emerges due to advances in semiconductor technology or other derivative technologies, that technology may naturally be used to integrate functional blocks. Adaptation of biotechnology, etc., is also a possibility.

[0299] (Embodiment 3) In this embodiment, a multicast communication method when beamforming different from that in the first and second embodiments is applied will be described.

[0300] The configuration of the base station is the same as that described in embodiment 1 using Figures 1 to 3, so a description of parts that operate in the same way as in embodiment 1 will be omitted. Also, the configuration of the terminal that communicates with the base station is the same as that described in embodiment 1 using Figures 4 to 6, so a description of parts that operate in the same way as in embodiment 1 will be omitted.

[0301] An example of the operation of the base station and the terminal in this embodiment will be described below.

[0302] FIG. 22 shows a case where a base station transmits a multicast transmission stream to one terminal.

[0303] In FIG. 22, base station 700 transmits transmission beam 2201-1 of "(multicast) stream 1-1 (first beam of stream 1)" from the transmitting antenna to terminal 2202-1, and terminal 2202-1 generates receiving directivity 2203-1 by performing directivity control and receives transmission beam 2201-1 of "stream 1-1."

[0304] FIG. 23 explains the "procedure for performing communication between a base station and a terminal" that is performed for the communication state between the base station and the terminal as shown in FIG.

[0305] [23-1] First, the terminal makes a request to the base station for multicast transmission of stream 1.

[0306] [23-2] The base station receives [23-1] and recognizes that "multicast transmission of stream 1 is not being performed." Therefore, the base station transmits training symbols for transmission directivity control and reception directivity control to the terminal in order to perform multicast transmission of stream 1.

[0307] [23-3] The terminal receives the training symbols for transmitting directivity control and the training symbols for receiving directivity control transmitted by the base station, and transmits feedback information to the base station so that the base station can control the transmitting directivity and the terminal can control the receiving directivity.

[0308] [23-4] Based on the feedback information sent by the terminal, the base station determines the method of transmission directivity control (such as determining the weighting coefficients to be used when performing directivity control), performs transmission directivity control, and transmits the data symbols of stream 1.

[0309] [23-5] The terminal determines the reception directivity control method (determines the weighting coefficients to be used when performing directivity control, etc.) and starts receiving the data symbols of stream 1 transmitted by the base station.

[0310] Note that the "procedure for communication between a base station and a terminal" in Figure 23 is an example, and the order of transmission of each piece of information is not limited to that in Figure 23, and the procedure can be carried out in the same way even if the order of transmission of each piece of information is changed. Also, Figure 23 describes an example in which the terminal controls the reception directivity, but the terminal may not control the reception directivity. In this case, in Figure 23, the base station does not need to transmit training symbols for reception directivity control, and the terminal does not decide on a reception directivity control method.

[0311] Furthermore, when the base station controls transmission directivity, if the base station has the configuration shown in Fig. 1, for example, multiplication coefficients are set in multiplication units 204-1, 204-2, 204-3, and 204-4 in Fig. 2, and if the base station has the configuration shown in Fig. 3, for example, a weighting coefficient is set in weighting synthesis unit 301. Note that the number of streams to be transmitted is set to "1" in Fig. 22, but this is not limited to this.

[0312] When the terminal performs reception directivity control, if the terminal has the configuration of FIG. 4, for example, multiplication coefficients are set in multiplication units 503-1, 503-2, 503-3, and 503-4 in FIG. 5, and if the terminal has the configuration of FIG. 6, for example, multiplication coefficients are set in multiplication units 603-1, 603-2, ..., 603-L.

[0313] Figure 24 is a diagram showing, on the time axis, an example of symbols transmitted by the base station and symbols transmitted by the terminal when the base station in Figure 23 transmits transmission directivity control symbols, reception directivity control symbols, and data symbols. (a) in Figure 24 is a diagram showing, on the time axis, an example of symbols transmitted by the base station, and (b) in Figure 24 is a diagram showing, on the time axis, an example of symbols transmitted by the terminal, and in both cases, the horizontal axis represents time.

[0314] When communication is performed between a base station and a terminal as shown in Fig. 23, the base station first transmits a "base station transmission directivity control training symbol" 2401 as shown in Fig. 24. For example, the "base station transmission directivity control training symbol" 2401 is composed of a control information symbol and a known PSK symbol.

[0315] Then, the terminal receives the "base station transmission directivity control training symbol" 2401 transmitted by the base station, and transmits, for example, information on the antenna used by the base station for transmission and information on the multiplication coefficient (or weighting coefficient) used for directivity control as feedback information symbol 2402.

[0316] The base station receives "feedback information symbols" 2402 transmitted by the terminal, and determines the antenna to be used for transmission from the feedback information symbols 2402, and also determines the coefficients to be used for transmission directivity control from the feedback information symbols 2402. The base station then transmits "terminal reception directivity control training symbols" 2403. For example, "terminal reception directivity control training symbols" 2403 are composed of control information symbols and known PSK symbols.

[0317] The terminal then receives the "terminal reception directivity control training symbol" 2403 transmitted by the base station and determines, for example, the antenna that the terminal will use for reception and the multiplication coefficient that the terminal will use for reception directivity control.The terminal then transmits a feedback information symbol 2404 indicating that it is ready to receive data symbols.

[0318] The base station then receives the “feedback information symbol” 2404 transmitted by the terminal, and outputs a data symbol 2405 based on the feedback information symbol 2404 .

[0319] 24 is an example, and the order of symbol transmission and the order of base station transmission and terminal transmission are not limited to this. Furthermore, each of "base station transmission directivity control training symbols" 2401, "feedback information symbols" 2402, "terminal reception directivity control training symbols" 2403, "feedback information symbols" 2404, and "data symbols" 2405 may include a preamble, reference symbol, pilot symbol, or symbol for transmitting control information for signal detection, time synchronization, frequency synchronization, frequency offset estimation, and channel estimation.

[0320] FIG. 25 shows an example of symbols transmitted by the base station when the base station transmits data symbols of stream 1 after communication between the base station and the terminal in FIG. 23 is completed, with the horizontal axis representing time.

[0321] 25, the base station transmits the first data symbol of transmission beam 1 of stream 1 as "(multicast) stream 1-1 data symbol (1)" 2501-1-1. After that, interval 2502-1 in which data symbols can be transmitted is arranged.

[0322] Thereafter, the base station transmits the second data symbol of transmission beam 1 of (multicast) stream 1 as “(multicast) stream 1-1 data symbol (2)” 2501-1-2. After that, interval 2502-2 in which data symbols can be transmitted is arranged.

[0323] Thereafter, the base station transmits the third data symbol of transmission beam 1 of (multicast) stream 1 as “(multicast) stream 1-1 data symbol (3)” 2501-1-3.

[0324] In this way, the base station transmits the data symbols of "(multicast) stream 1-1" 2201-1 shown in Fig. 22. Note that in Fig. 25, "(multicast) stream 1-1 data symbol (1)" 2501-1-1, "(multicast) stream 1-1 data symbol (2)" 2501-1-2, "(multicast) data symbol 1-1 data symbol (3)" 2501-1-3, etc. may include, in addition to data symbols, preambles, reference symbols, pilot symbols for signal detection, time synchronization, frequency synchronization, frequency offset estimation, and channel estimation, as well as symbols for transmitting control information.

[0325] In FIG. 25, interval 2502-1 in which data symbols can be transmitted includes unicast transmission interval 2503-1, and interval 2502-2 in which data symbols can be transmitted includes unicast transmission interval 2503-2.

[0326] In Fig. 25, the frame includes unicast transmission intervals 2503-1 and 2503-2. For example, in Fig. 25, the base station may transmit multicast symbols in intervals 2502-1 in which data symbols can be transmitted, excluding unicast transmission interval 2503-1, and in intervals 2502-2 in which data symbols can be transmitted, excluding unicast transmission interval 2503-2. This point will be explained later using an example.

[0327] In this way, providing a unicast transmission interval in a frame is a useful configuration requirement for stable operation of a wireless communication system. An example of this point will be explained later. Note that the unicast transmission interval does not have to be positioned in time as shown in Figure 25, and may be arranged in any time position. Note that in the unicast transmission interval, the base station may transmit symbols, or the terminal may transmit symbols.

[0328] Alternatively, the base station may be configured to directly set the unicast transmission interval, or alternatively, the base station may set the maximum transmission data rate for transmitting multicast symbols.

[0329] For example, if the data transmission speed that a base station can transmit is 2 Gbps (bps: bits per second) and the maximum data transmission speed that the base station can allocate to transmit multicast symbols is 1.5 Gbps, a unicast transmission section equivalent to 500 Mbps can be set.

[0330] In this way, the unicast transmission interval may be indirectly set in the base station. Another specific example will be described later.

[0331] In accordance with the state of Fig. 22, Fig. 25 shows a frame configuration in which "(multicast) stream 1-1 data symbol (1)" 2501-1-1, "(multicast) stream 1-1 data symbol (2)" 2501-1-2, and "(multicast) stream 1-1 data symbol (3)" 2501-1-3 exist, but this is not limited to this. For example, data symbols of multicast streams other than stream 1 (stream 1-1) may exist, or a data symbol of stream 1-2, which is the second transmission beam of stream 1, and a data stream of stream 1-3, which is the third transmission beam of stream 1, may exist. This point will be explained later.

[0332] Figure 26 shows the state when a new terminal is added to the state in which the base station in Figure 22 is transmitting a multicast transmission stream to one terminal, and parts that operate in the same way as in Figure 22 are given the same numbers.

[0333] 26, the newly added terminal is 2202-2. Terminal 2202-2 performs directivity control to generate reception directivity 2203-2 and receives transmission beam 2201-1 of "(multicast) stream 1-1."

[0334] Next, FIG. 26 will be described.

[0335] In the following explanation, it is assumed that terminal 2202-2 newly participates in the multicast communication while base station 700 and terminal 2202-1 are performing multicast communication in Fig. 26. Therefore, as shown in Fig. 27, the base station transmits "terminal reception directivity control training symbol" 2701 and "data symbol" 2702, but does not transmit the "base station transmission training symbol" shown in Fig. 24. In Fig. 27, the horizontal axis represents time.

[0336] FIG. 28 shows an example of the operations performed to bring about a state in which the base station is transmitting multicast transmission beams to two terminals as shown in FIG.

[0337] [28-1] Terminal 2202-2 makes a request to the base station for multicast transmission of stream 1. Note that the request for multicast transmission of stream 1 is transmitted in the unicast transmission interval in FIG.

[0338] [28-2] In response to [28-1], the base station notifies terminal 2202-2 that "multicast stream 1 is being transmitted." The notification that "multicast stream 1 is being transmitted" is transmitted during the unicast transmission interval in FIG. 25.

[0339] [28-3] In response to [28-2], terminal 2202-2 performs reception directivity control to start receiving multicast stream 1. Then, terminal 2202-2 performs reception directivity control and notifies the base station that it has been able to receive "multicast stream 1."

[0340] [28-4] The base station receives [28-3] and confirms that the terminal has received “multicast stream 1.”

[0341] [28-5] The terminal 2202-2 performs reception directivity control and starts receiving "stream 1 for multicast."

[0342] Figure 29 shows the state when a new terminal is added to the state in which the base station in Figure 22 is transmitting a multicast transmission stream to one terminal, and parts that operate in the same way as in Figure 22 are given the same numbers.

[0343] In Fig. 29, the newly added terminal is 2202-2. At this time, the difference from Fig. 26 is that base station 700 newly transmits transmission beam 2201-2 of "(multicast) stream 1-2 (second of stream 1)", and terminal 2202-2 performs directivity control to generate reception directivity 2203-2 and receive transmission beam 2201-2 of "(multicast) stream 1-2".

[0344] Next, the control performed for the state shown in FIG. 29 will be described.

[0345] In the following explanation, in FIG. 29, the base station 700 and terminal 2202-1 are performing multicast communication, and terminal 2202-2 is now newly participating in the multicast communication.

[0346] FIG. 30 shows an example of the operations performed to bring about a state in which the base station is transmitting multicast transmission beams to two terminals as shown in FIG.

[0347] [30-1] Terminal 2202-2 makes a request to the base station for multicast transmission of stream 1. Note that the request for multicast transmission of stream 1 is transmitted in the unicast transmission interval in FIG.

[0348] [30-2] The base station receives [30-1] and notifies terminal 2202-2 that "multicast stream 1 is being transmitted." Note that the notification that "multicast stream 1 is being transmitted" is transmitted during the unicast transmission interval in FIG. 25.

[0349] [30-3] Terminal 2202-2 receives [30-2] and notifies the base station that it is not receiving multicast stream 1. Note that the notification that it is not receiving multicast stream 1 is sent in the unicast transmission section in FIG.

[0350] [30-4] The base station receives [30-3] and decides to transmit another transmission beam for multicast stream 1 (i.e., transmission beam 2201-2 in FIG. 29). Note that although it is decided here to transmit another transmission beam for multicast stream 1, it may also decide not to transmit another transmission beam for multicast stream 1. This point will be explained later.

[0351] Therefore, the base station transmits training symbols for controlling transmission directivity and training symbols for controlling reception directivity to terminal 2202-2 in order to perform multicast transmission of stream 1. In addition to transmitting these symbols, the base station also transmits the transmission beam for stream 1-1 in Fig. 29. This point will be explained later.

[0352] [30-5] Terminal 2202-2 receives the training symbols for transmitting directivity control and the training symbols for receiving directivity control transmitted by the base station, and transmits feedback information to the base station so that the base station can control the transmitting directivity and terminal 2202-2 can control the receiving directivity.

[0353] [30-6] Based on the feedback information transmitted by terminal 2202-2, the base station determines the method of transmission directivity control (such as determining the weighting coefficients to be used when performing directivity control) and transmits the data symbol of stream 1 (transmission beam 2201-2 of stream 1-2 in FIG. 29).

[0354] [30-7] Terminal 2202-2 determines the receiving directivity control method (such as determining the weighting coefficient to be used when performing directivity control) and begins receiving the data symbols of stream 1 transmitted by the base station (transmitting beam 2201-2 of stream 1-2 in Figure 29).

[0355] Note that the "procedure for communication between a base station and a terminal" in Figure 30 is an example, and the order of transmission of each piece of information is not limited to that in Figure 30, and the same procedure can be carried out even if the order of transmission of each piece of information is reversed.

[0356] Also, while Fig. 30 illustrates an example in which the terminal controls the reception directivity, the terminal may not control the reception directivity. In this case, in Fig. 30, the base station does not need to transmit training symbols for reception directivity control, and the terminal does not need to determine the reception directivity control method.

[0357] Furthermore, when the base station performs transmission directivity control, if the base station has the configuration of Fig. 1, for example, multiplication coefficients are set in multiplication units 204-1, 204-2, 204-3, and 204-4 in Fig. 2, and if the base station has the configuration of Fig. 3, for example, a weighting coefficient is set in weighting synthesis unit 301. Note that the number of streams to be transmitted is set to "2" in Fig. 29, but this is not limited to this.

[0358] When terminals 2202-1 and 2202-2 perform reception directivity control, if the terminal configuration is that of FIG. 4, for example, multiplication coefficients are set in multiplication units 503-1, 503-2, 503-3, and 503-4 in FIG. 5, and if the terminal configuration is that of FIG. 6, for example, multiplication coefficients are set in multiplication units 603-1, 603-2, ..., 603-L.

[0359] FIG. 31 shows an example of symbols transmitted by the base station when the base station transmits data symbols of stream 1 after communication between the base station and the terminal in FIG. 30 is completed, with the horizontal axis representing time.

[0360] In Figure 31, since "stream 1-1" of Figure 29 exists, "(multicast) stream 1-1 data symbol (M)" 2501-1-M, "(multicast) stream 1-1 data symbol (M+1)" 2501-1-(M+1), and "(multicast) stream 1-1 data symbol (M+2)" 2501-1-M+2 exist, just like in Figure 25. Note that although "(M), (M+1), (M+2)" are written, this is because (multicast) stream 1-1 existed before (multicast) stream 1-2 existed. Therefore, in Figure 31, M is an integer equal to or greater than 2.

[0361] As shown in FIG. 31, in sections other than unicast transmission sections 2503-1 and 2503-2, there are “(multicast) stream 1-2 data symbol (1)” 3101-1, “(multicast) stream 1-2 data symbol (2)” 3101-2, and “(multicast) stream 1-2 data symbol (3)” 3101-3.

[0362] As explained above, it has the following features:

[0363] "Stream 1-1 data symbol (M) (for multicast)" 2501-1-M, "Stream 1-1 data symbol (M+1) (for multicast)" 2501-1-(M+1), "Stream 1-1 data symbol (M+2) (for multicast)" 2501-1-(M+2), "Stream 1-2 data symbol (1) (for multicast)" 3101-1, "Stream 1-2 data symbol (2) (for multicast)" 3101-2, and "Stream 1-2 data symbol (3) (for multicast)" 3101-3 are all data symbols for transmitting "Stream 1."

[0364] The terminal can obtain "stream 1 data" by obtaining "stream 1-1 data symbols." Also, the terminal can obtain "stream 1 data" by obtaining "stream 1-2 data symbols."

[0365] The directivity of the transmission beam of "(multicast) Stream 1-1 data symbol (M)" 2501-1-M, "(multicast) Stream 1-1 data symbol (M+1)" 2501-1-(M+1), and "(multicast) Stream 1-1 data symbol (M+2)" 2501-1-(M+2) is different from the directivity of the transmission beam of "(multicast) Stream 1-2 data symbol (1)" 3101-1, "(multicast) Stream 1-2 data symbol (2)" 3101-2, and "(multicast) Stream 1-2 data symbol (3)" 3101-3. Therefore, the set of multiplication coefficients (or weighting coefficients) of the base station transmitting device used to generate the transmission beams of ``(multicast) stream 1-1 data symbol (M)'' 2501-1-M, ``(multicast) stream 1-1 data symbol (M+1)'' 2501-1-(M+1), and ``(multicast) stream 1-1 data symbol (M+2)'' 2501-1-(M+2) is different from the set of multiplication coefficients (or weighting coefficients) of the base station transmitting device used to generate the transmission beams of ``(multicast) stream 1-2 data symbol (1)'' 3101-1, ``(multicast) stream 1-2 data symbol (2)'' 3101-2, and ``(multicast) stream 1-2 data symbol (3)'' 3101-3.

[0366] As a result, two terminals can receive the multicast stream sent from the base station. Because directivity control is performed during transmission and reception, the area in which the multicast stream can be received can be expanded. Furthermore, because additional streams and transmission beams are added only when necessary, the frequency, time, and space resources used for transmitting data can be used more efficiently.

[0367] The control described below may be performed. The details of the control are as follows.

[0368] Figure 32 is an example of symbols transmitted by a base station when the base station transmits data symbols (for stream 1) after the communication between the base station and the terminal in Figure 30 is completed, which is different from Figure 31, and the horizontal axis represents time. Note that in Figure 32, the same numbers are used for elements that operate in the same way as in Figures 25 and 31.

[0369] FIG. 32 differs from FIG. 31 in that the unicast transmission intervals 2503-1 and 2503-2 are set to be longer in time, so the base station does not add any more multicast symbols for transmission.

[0370] Fig. 33 shows an example of operation when a new terminal 2202-3 requests the base station to add a transmission beam, in addition to the base station transmitting multicast transmission beams to two terminals (terminals 2202-1 and 2202-2) as shown in Fig. 29. The frame of the modulated signal being transmitted by the base station is shown in Fig. 32.

[0371] [33-1] Terminal 2202-3 makes a request to the base station for multicast transmission of stream 1. Note that the request for multicast transmission of stream 1 is transmitted in the unicast transmission interval in FIG.

[0372] [33-2] In response to [33-1], the base station notifies terminal 2202-3 that it is transmitting multicast stream 1. Note that the notification that it is transmitting multicast stream 1 is transmitted during the unicast transmission interval in FIG.

[0373] [33-3] In response to [33-2], terminal 2202-3 notifies the base station that it has not received multicast stream 1. Note that the notification that it has not received multicast stream 1 is sent during the unicast transmission interval in FIG.

[0374] [33-4] The base station receives [33-3] and determines whether it is possible to transmit a transmission beam for multicast stream 1 that is different from the transmission beam for stream 1-1 and the transmission beam for stream 1-2. At this time, taking into account that this is the frame shown in FIG. 32, the base station determines not to transmit another transmission beam for multicast stream 1. Therefore, the base station notifies terminal 2202-3 that "another transmission beam for multicast stream 1 will not be transmitted." Note that the "notification that another transmission beam for multicast stream 1 will not be transmitted" is transmitted in the unicast transmission section in FIG. 32.

[0375] [33-5] The terminal 2202-3 receives the "notification that another transmission beam for multicast stream 1 will not be transmitted."

[0376] Note that the "procedure for communication between a base station and a terminal" in Figure 33 is an example, and the order of transmission of each piece of information is not limited to that in Figure 33, and the same implementation is possible even if the order of each piece of transmission is reversed. In this way, if there are insufficient communication resources for multicast transmission, it is not necessary to add a multicast transmission beam.

[0377] Fig. 34 shows an example of an operation in which the base station shown in Fig. 29 is transmitting multicast transmission beams to two terminals (terminals 2202-1 and 2202-2), and a new terminal 2202-3 requests the base station to add a transmission beam for another multicast stream (stream 2). Note that the frame of the modulated signal being transmitted by the base station is in the state shown in Fig. 31.

[0378] [34-1] Terminal 2202-3 makes a request to the base station for multicast transmission of stream 2. Note that the request for multicast transmission of stream 2 is transmitted in unicast transmission interval 2503 in FIG.

[0379] [34-2] In response to [34-1], the base station notifies terminal 2202-3 that "transmission of multicast stream 2 is not in progress." The base station also determines whether the base station can add and transmit a transmission beam for multicast stream 2. At this time, taking into account the frame state shown in Figure 31, the base station notifies terminal 2202-3 that "transmission of a transmission beam for multicast stream 2 is supported." The "notification that transmission of multicast stream 2 is not in progress" and the "notification that a transmission beam for multicast stream 2 can be transmitted" are transmitted in unicast transmission section 2503 in Figure 31.

[0380] [34-3] Terminal 2203-3 receives [34-2] and notifies the base station that it is “ready to receive multicast stream 2.” The notification that it is “ready to receive multicast stream 2” is transmitted in unicast transmission phase 2503 in FIG.

[0381] [34-4] The base station receives [34-3] and decides to transmit a transmission beam for multicast stream 2. Therefore, the base station transmits training symbols for transmission directivity control and reception directivity control to terminal 2202-3 in order to perform multicast transmission of stream 2. In addition to transmitting these symbols, the base station also transmits transmission beams for stream 1-1 and stream 1-2, as shown in FIG. 31. This point will be explained later.

[0382] [34-5] Terminal 2202-3 receives the training symbols for transmitting directivity control and the training symbols for receiving directivity control transmitted by the base station, and transmits feedback information to the base station so that the base station can control the transmitting directivity and terminal 2202-3 can control the receiving directivity.

[0383] [34-6] Based on the feedback information transmitted by terminal 2202-3, the base station determines the method of transmission directivity control (such as determining the weighting coefficients to be used when performing directivity control) and transmits the data symbols of stream 2.

[0384] [34-7] Terminal 2202-3 determines the reception directivity control method (determines the weighting coefficients to be used when performing directivity control, etc.) and starts receiving data symbols of stream 2 transmitted by the base station.

[0385] Note that the "procedure for communication between a base station and a terminal" in Figure 34 is an example, and the order of transmission of each piece of information is not limited to that in Figure 34, and the same procedure can be carried out even if the order of transmission of each piece of information is changed. Also, Figure 34 explains an example in which the terminal controls the reception directivity, but the terminal may not control the reception directivity. In this case, in Figure 34, the base station does not need to transmit training symbols for reception directivity control, and the terminal does not decide on a reception directivity control method.

[0386] Furthermore, when the base station performs transmission directivity control, if the base station has the configuration shown in FIG. 1, for example, multiplication coefficients are set in multiplication sections 204-1, 204-2, 204-3, and 204-4 shown in FIG.

[0387] When terminals 2202-1, 2202-2, and 2202-3 perform reception directivity control, if the terminal has the configuration of FIG. 4, for example, multiplication coefficients are set in multiplication units 503-1, 503-2, 503-3, and 503-4 in FIG. 5, and if the terminal has the configuration of FIG. 6, for example, multiplication coefficients are set in multiplication units 603-1, 603-2, ..., 603-L.

[0388] FIG. 35 shows an example of symbols transmitted by the base station when the base station transmits data symbols for stream 1 and stream 2 after communication between the base station and the terminal in FIG. 34 is completed, with the horizontal axis representing time.

[0389] 31 exist, there are also "stream 1-1 data symbol (M)" 2501-1-M, "stream 1-1 data symbol (M+1)" 2501-1-(M+1), "stream 1-1 data symbol (M+2)" 2501-1-(M+2), and there are also "stream 1-2 data symbol (N)" 3101-N, "stream 1-2 data symbol (N+1)" 3101-(N+1), and "stream 1-2 data symbol (N+2)" 3101-(N+2). Note that N and M are integers of 2 or greater.

[0390] As shown in FIG. 35, in sections other than the unicast transmission sections 2503-1 and 2503-2, there are “(multicast) stream 2-1 data symbol (1)” 3501-1, “(multicast) stream 2-1 data symbol (2)” 3501-2, and “(multicast) stream 2-1 data symbol (3)” 3501-3.

[0391] As explained above, this has the following features:

[0392] "Stream 1-1 data symbol (M) (for multicast)" 2501-1-M, "Stream 1-1 data symbol (M+1) (for multicast)" 2501-1-(M+1), "Stream 1-1 data symbol (M+2) (for multicast)" 2501-1-(M+2), "Stream 1-2 data symbol (N) (for multicast)" 3101-N, "Stream 1-2 data symbol (N+1) (for multicast)" 3101-(N+1), and "Stream 1-2 data symbol (N+2) (for multicast)" 3101-(N+2) are all data symbols for transmitting "Stream 1."

[0393] The terminal obtains "stream 1 data" by obtaining "stream 1-1 data symbols." The terminal also obtains "stream 1 data" by obtaining "stream 1-2 data symbols."

[0394] The directivity of the transmission beam of "(multicast) Stream 1-1 data symbol (M)" 2501-1-M, "(multicast) Stream 1-1 data symbol (M+1)" 2501-1-(M+1), and "(multicast) Stream 1-1 data symbol (M+2)" 2501-1-(M+2) is different from the directivity of the transmission beam of "(multicast) Stream 1-2 data symbol (1)" 3101-1, "(multicast) Stream 1-2 data symbol (2)" 3101-2, and "(multicast) Stream 1-2 data symbol (3)" 3101-3.

[0395] Therefore, the set of multiplication coefficients (or weighting coefficients) of the base station transmitting device used to generate the transmission beams of ``(multicast) stream 1-1 data symbol (M)'' 2501-1-M, ``(multicast) stream 1-1 data symbol (M+1)'' 2501-1-(M+1), and ``(multicast) stream 1-1 data symbol (M+2)'' 2501-1-(M+2) is different from the set of multiplication coefficients (or weighting coefficients) of the base station transmitting device used to generate the transmission beams of ``(multicast) stream 1-2 data symbol (1)'' 3101-1, ``(multicast) stream 1-2 data symbol (2)'' 3101-2, and ``(multicast) stream 1-2 data symbol (3)'' 3101-3.

[0396] "Stream 2-1 data symbol (1) (for multicast)" 3501-1, "Stream 2-1 data symbol (2) (for multicast)" 3501-2, and "Stream 2-1 data symbol (3) (for multicast)" 3501-3 are data symbols for transmitting "Stream 2".

[0397] The terminal obtains the data for "Stream 2" by obtaining the "data symbol of Stream 2-1." As a result, the terminal can receive multiple multicast streams (Stream 1 and Stream 2) transmitted by the base station. In this case, directivity control is performed for transmission and reception, which has the effect of expanding the area in which multicast streams can be received. In addition, because additional streams and transmission beams are added only when necessary, the frequency, time, and space resources used to transmit data can be used effectively.

[0398] It should be noted that the control described below may also be performed. The details of the control are as follows.

[0399] Figure 32 is an example of symbols transmitted by a base station when the base station transmits data symbols (of stream 1), which is different from Figure 35, and the horizontal axis represents time. Note that in Figure 32, the same numbers are used for elements that operate in the same way as in Figures 25 and 31.

[0400] The difference between Figure 32 and Figure 35 is that the unicast transmission intervals 2503-1 and 2503-2 are set to be longer in time, so the base station does not add any more multicast symbols, for example, symbols of a new stream, and transmit them.

[0401] Figure 36 shows an example of an operation in which a new terminal 2202-3 requests the base station to add a transmission beam for another multicast stream (stream 2) in addition to the base station transmitting multicast transmission beams to two terminals (terminals 2202-1 and 2202-2) as shown in Figure 29. The frame of the modulated signal transmitted by the base station is shown in Figure 32.

[0402] [36-1] Terminal 2202-3 makes a request to the base station for multicast transmission of stream 2. Note that the request for multicast transmission of stream 2 is transmitted in the unicast transmission interval in FIG.

[0403] [36-2] In response to [36-1], the base station notifies terminal 2202-3 that "multicast stream 2 is not being transmitted." Note that "multicast stream 2 is not being transmitted" is transmitted in the unicast transmission interval in FIG. 32. The base station also determines whether it is possible to transmit the transmission beam for multicast stream 2. The base station takes into account the frame shown in FIG. 32 and determines not to transmit the transmission beam for multicast stream 2. Therefore, the base station notifies terminal 2202-3 that "the transmission beam for multicast stream 2 will not be transmitted." Note that "the notification that the transmission beam for multicast stream 2 will not be transmitted" is transmitted in the unicast transmission interval in FIG. 32.

[0404] [36-3] The terminal 2202-3 receives the "notification that the transmission beam of the multicast stream 2 will not be transmitted."

[0405] Note that the "procedure for communication between a base station and a terminal" in Figure 36 is an example, and the order of transmission of each piece of information is not limited to that in Figure 36, and the procedure for each piece of transmission can be interchanged and still be implemented in the same way. In this way, when there are insufficient communication resources for multicast transmission, it is not necessary to add a stream or a multicast transmission beam.

[0406] A supplementary explanation will be given below regarding the method of setting the unicast transmission periods 2503-1 and 2503-2 shown in FIG.

[0407] For example, in FIG. 35, the maximum number of transmission beams for multicast is determined or set in advance.

[0408] Then, upon receiving a request from each terminal, the base station transmits a multicast transmission beam that is equal to or less than the maximum number of multicast transmission beams. For example, in the case of Figure 35, the number of multicast transmission beams is 3. The base station then transmits multiple multicast transmission beams, and defines the free time after transmitting these as the unicast transmission interval.

[0409] The unicast transmission period may be determined as described above.

[0410] (Supplementary Note 1) Supplementary Note 1 explains the case where a base station is performing unicast communication, that is, individual communication, with multiple terminals.

[0411] 9 may be a broadcast channel, that is, control information that a base station broadcasts to a plurality of terminals in order to perform data communication with the plurality of terminals. Note that the control information is, for example, control information required for the base station and terminals to realize data communication.

[0412] Also, for example, #1 symbol group 901-1 of stream 1, #2 symbol group 901-2 of stream 1, and #3 symbol group 901-3 of stream 1 in Fig. 9 may be a common search space. Note that the common search space is control information for performing cell control. The common search space is control information broadcast to multiple terminals.

[0413] Similarly, for example, #1 symbol group 902-1 of stream 2, #2 symbol group 902-2 of stream 2, and #3 symbol group 902-3 of stream 2 in Figure 9 may be a broadcast channel, i.e., control information that a base station broadcasts to multiple terminals in order to perform data communication with multiple terminals.

[0414] Also, for example, #1 symbol group 902-1 of stream 2, #2 symbol group 902-2 of stream 2, and #3 symbol group 902-3 of stream 2 in FIG. 9 may be a common search space.

[0415] The characteristics of #1 symbol group 901-1 of stream 1, #2 symbol group 901-2 of stream 1, #3 symbol group 901-3 of stream 1, #1 symbol group 902-1 of stream 2, #2 symbol group 902-2 of stream 2, and #3 symbol group 902-3 of stream 2 in Figure 9 are as described in the embodiments explained so far.

[0416] For example, the #1 symbol group 1401-1 of modulated signal 1, the #2 symbol group 1401-2 of modulated signal 1, and the #3 symbol group 1401-3 of modulated signal 1 in Figure 14 may be a broadcast channel, that is, control information that a base station broadcasts to multiple terminals in order to perform data communication with multiple terminals.

[0417] Also, for example, #1 symbol group 1401-1 of modulated signal 1, #2 symbol group 1401-2 of modulated signal 1, and #3 symbol group 1401-3 of modulated signal 1 in FIG. 14 may be a common search space.

[0418] For example, the #1 symbol group 1402-1 of modulated signal 2, the #2 symbol group 1402-2 of modulated signal 2, and the #3 symbol group 1402-3 of modulated signal 2 in FIG. 14 may be a broadcast channel, that is, control information that a base station broadcasts to multiple terminals in order to perform data communication with the multiple terminals.

[0419] Also, for example, #1 symbol group 1402-1 of modulated signal 2, #2 symbol group 1402-2 of modulated signal 2, and #3 symbol group 1402-3 of modulated signal 2 in FIG. 14 may be a common search space.

[0420] Note that #1 symbol group 1401-1 of modulated signal 1, #2 symbol group 1401-2 of modulated signal 1, and #3 symbol group 1401-3 of modulated signal 1 in Figure 14 are as described in the embodiments explained so far, and #1 symbol group 1402-1 of modulated signal 2, #2 symbol group 1402-2 of modulated signal 2, and #3 symbol group 1402-3 of modulated signal 2 in Figure 14 are as described in the embodiments explained so far.

[0421] For example, stream 1-1 data symbol (1) 2501-1-1, stream 1-1 data symbol (2) 2501-1-2, and stream 1-1 data symbol (3) 2501-1-3 in FIG. 25 may be a broadcast channel, i.e., control information that a base station broadcasts to multiple terminals in order to perform data communication with multiple terminals.

[0422] Also, stream 1-1 data symbol (1) 2501-1-1, stream 1-1 data symbol (2) 2501-1-2, and stream 1-1 data symbol (3) 2501-1-3 in FIG. 25 may be a common search space.

[0423] Stream 1-1 data symbol (1) 2501-1-1, stream 1-1 data symbol (2) 2501-1-2, and stream 1-1 data symbol (3) 2501-1-3 in FIG. 25 are as described in the embodiments described above.

[0424] For example, stream 1-1 data symbol (M) 2501-1-M, stream 1-1 data symbol (M+1) 2501-1-(M+1), stream 1-1 data symbol (M+2) 2501-1-(M+2), stream 1-2 data symbol (1) 3101-1, stream 1-2 data symbol (2) 3101-2, and stream 1-2 data symbol (3) 3101-3 in Figures 31 and 32 may be a broadcast channel, i.e., control information that a base station broadcasts to multiple terminals in order to perform data communication with multiple terminals.

[0425] Furthermore, stream 1-1 data symbol (M) 2501-1-M, stream 1-1 data symbol (M+1) 2501-1-(M+1), stream 1-1 data symbol (M+2) 2501-1-(M+2), stream 1-2 data symbol (1) 3101-1, stream 1-2 data symbol (2) 3101-2, and stream 1-2 data symbol (3) 3101-3 in Figures 31 and 32 may be a common search space.

[0426] Note that stream 1-1 data symbol (M) 2501-1-M, stream 1-1 data symbol (M+1) 2501-1-(M+1), stream 1-1 data symbol (M+2) 2501-1-(M+2), stream 1-2 data symbol (1) 3101-1, stream 1-2 data symbol (2) 3101-2, and stream 1-2 data symbol (3) 3101-3 in Figures 31 and 32 are as described in the embodiments explained so far.

[0427] For example, in FIG. 35, stream 1-1 data symbol (M) 2501-1-M, stream 1-1 data symbol (M+1) 2501-1-(M+1), stream 1-1 data symbol (M+2) 2501-1-(M+2), stream 1-2 data symbol (N) 3101-N, stream 1-2 data symbol (N+1) 3101-(N+1), and stream 1-2 data symbol (N+2) 3101-(N+2) may be a broadcast channel, i.e., control information that a base station broadcasts to multiple terminals in order to perform data communication with multiple terminals.

[0428] Also, in FIG. 35, stream 1-1 data symbol (M) 2501-1-M, stream 1-1 data symbol (M+1) 2501-1-(M+1), stream 1-1 data symbol (M+2) 2501-1-(M+2), stream 1-2 data symbol (N) 3101-N, stream 1-2 data symbol (N+1) 3101-(N+1), and stream 1-2 data symbol (N+2) 3101-(N+2) may be a common search space.

[0429] For example, stream 2-1 data symbol (1) 3501-1, stream 2-1 data symbol (2) 3501-2, and stream 2-1 data symbol (3) 3501-3 in Figure 35 may be control information that is broadcast to a broadcast channel, that is, control information that a base station broadcasts to multiple terminals in order to perform data communication with multiple terminals.

[0430] Also, stream 2-1 data symbol (1) 3501-1, stream 2-1 data symbol (2) 3501-2, and stream 2-1 data symbol (3) 3501-3 in FIG. 35 may be a common search space.

[0431] In Figure 35, stream 1-1 data symbol (M) 2501-1-M, stream 1-1 data symbol (M+1) 2501-1-(M+1), stream 1-1 data symbol (M+2) 2501-1-(M+2), stream 1-2 data symbol (N) 3101-N, stream 1-2 data symbol (N+1) 3101-(N+1), and stream 1-2 data symbol (N+2) 3101-(N+2) are as described in the embodiments described so far, and stream 2-1 data symbol (1) 3501-1, stream 2-1 data symbol (2) 3501-2, and stream 2-1 data symbol (3) 3501-3 in Figure 35 are as described in the embodiments described so far.

[0432] 9, 14, 25, 31, 32, and 35, when transmitting each data symbol, a single-carrier transmission method or a multi-carrier transmission method such as OFDM may be used. Also, the time positions of the data symbols are not limited to those shown in FIGS. 9, 14, 25, 31, 32, and 35.

[0433] 25, 31, 32, and 35, the horizontal axis is used to represent time, but the same implementation is possible even if the horizontal axis represents frequency (carrier). When the horizontal axis represents frequency (carrier), the base station transmits each data symbol using one or more carriers or subcarriers.

[0434] (Supplementary Note 2) Supplementary Note 2 explains the case where a base station is performing unicast communication, i.e., individual communication, with multiple terminals.

[0435] 9, #1 symbol group 901-1 of stream 1, #2 symbol group 901-2 of stream 1, #3 symbol group 901-3 of stream 1, #1 symbol group 902-1 of stream 2, #2 symbol group 902-2 of stream 2, and #3 symbol group 902-3 of stream 2 may be data addressed to a base station or data addressed to one of multiple terminals communicating. In this case, the data may include control information.

[0436] Note that the #1 symbol group 901-1 of stream 1, the #2 symbol group 901-2 of stream 1, the #3 symbol group 901-3 of stream 1, the #1 symbol group 902-1 of stream 2, the #2 symbol group 902-2 of stream 2, and the #3 symbol group 902-3 of stream 2 in Figure 9 are as described in the embodiments explained so far.

[0437] 14, #1 symbol group 1401-1 of modulated signal 1, #2 symbol group 1401-2 of modulated signal 1, #3 symbol group 1401-3 of modulated signal 1, #1 symbol group 1401-3 of modulated signal 2, #2 symbol group 1402-2 of modulated signal 2, and #3 symbol group 1402-3 of modulated signal 2 may be data addressed to a base station or data addressed to any one of multiple terminals communicating. In this case, the data may include control information.

[0438] In addition, the #1 symbol group 1401-1 of modulated signal 1, the #2 symbol group 1401-2 of modulated signal 1, the #3 symbol group 1401-3 of modulated signal 1, the #1 symbol group 1401-3 of modulated signal 2, the #2 symbol group 1402-2 of modulated signal 2, and the #3 symbol group 1402-3 of modulated signal 2 in Figure 14 are as described in the embodiments explained so far.

[0439] For example, stream 1-1 data symbol (1) 2501-1-1, stream 1-1 data symbol (2) 2501-1-2, and stream 1-1 data symbol (3) 2501-1-3 in Fig. 25 may be data addressed to a base station or data addressed to one of multiple terminals communicating. In this case, the data may include control information.

[0440] Stream 1-1 data symbol (1) 2501-1-1, stream 1-1 data symbol (2) 2501-1-2, and stream 1-1 data symbol (3) 2501-1-3 in FIG. 25 are as described in the embodiments described above.

[0441] 31 and 32, stream 1-1 data symbol (M) 2501-1-M, stream 1-1 data symbol (M+1) 2501-1-(M+1), stream 1-1 data symbol (M+2) 2501-1-(M+2), stream 1-2 data symbol (1) 3101-1, stream 1-2 data symbol (2) 3101-2, and stream 1-2 data symbol (3) 3101-3 may be data addressed to a base station or data addressed to one of multiple terminals communicating. In this case, the data may include control information.

[0442] Note that stream 1-1 data symbol (M) 2501-1-M, stream 1-1 data symbol (M+1) 2501-1-(M+1), stream 1-1 data symbol (M+2) 2501-1-(M+2), stream 1-2 data symbol (1) 3101-1, stream 1-2 data symbol (2) 3101-2, and stream 1-2 data symbol (3) 3101-3 in Figures 31 and 32 are as described in the embodiments explained so far.

[0443] 35 , stream 1-1 data symbol (M) 2501-1-M, stream 1-1 data symbol (M+1) 2501-1-(M+1), stream 1-1 data symbol (M+2) 2501-1-(M+2), stream 1-2 data symbol (N) 3101-N, stream 1-2 data symbol (N+1) 3101-(N+1), and stream 1-2 data symbol (N+2) 3101-(N+2) may be data addressed to a base station or data addressed to one of multiple terminals communicating. In this case, the data may include control information.

[0444] For example, stream 2-1 data symbol (1) 3501-1, stream 2-1 data symbol (2) 3501-2, and stream 2-1 data symbol (3) 3501-3 in Fig. 35 may be data addressed to a base station or data addressed to one of multiple terminals communicating. In this case, the data may include control information.

[0445] In Figure 35, stream 1-1 data symbol (M) 2501-1-M, stream 1-1 data symbol (M+1) 2501-1-(M+1), stream 1-1 data symbol (M+2) 2501-1-(M+2), stream 1-2 data symbol (N) 3101-N, stream 1-2 data symbol (N+1) 3101-(N+1), stream 1-2 data symbol (N+2) 3101-(N+2), stream 2-1 data symbol (1) 3501-1, stream 2-1 data symbol (2) 3501-2, and stream 2-1 data symbol (3) 3501-3 are as described in the embodiments explained so far.

[0446] 9, 14, 25, 31, 32, and 35, when transmitting each data symbol, a single-carrier transmission method or a multi-carrier transmission method such as OFDM may be used. Also, the time positions of the data symbols are not limited to those shown in FIGS. 9, 14, 25, 31, 32, and 35.

[0447] 25, 31, 32, and 35, the horizontal axis is used to represent time, but the same implementation is possible even if the horizontal axis represents frequency (carrier). When the horizontal axis represents frequency (carrier), the base station transmits each data symbol using one or more carriers or subcarriers.

[0448] (Supplementary Note 3) During the time period when the base station is transmitting stream 1 #1 symbol group 901-1, stream 1 #2 symbol group 901-2, stream 1 #3 symbol group 901-3, stream 2 #1 symbol group 902-1, stream 2 #2 symbol group 902-2, and stream 2 #3 symbol group 902-3 as shown in the frame configuration of Figure 9, the base station may transmit another symbol group using a transmission beam other than the "transmission beam of stream 1 #1 symbol group 901-1, stream 1 #2 symbol group 901-2, stream 1 #3 symbol group 901-3, stream 2 #1 symbol group 902-1, stream 2 #2 symbol group 902-2, and stream 2 #3 symbol group 902-3."

[0449] In addition, the base station in Figure 3 may generate a transmission beam for the above-mentioned ``another symbol group'' by ``signal processing by signal processing unit 102 and signal processing by weighting synthesis unit 301'' or ``signal processing by signal processing unit 102 or signal processing by weighting synthesis unit 301.''

[0450] Furthermore, during the time period when the base station is transmitting #1 symbol group 1401-1 of modulated signal 1, #2 symbol group 1401-2 of modulated signal 1, #3 symbol group 1401-3 of modulated signal 1, #1 symbol group 1402-1 of modulated signal 2, #2 symbol group 1402-2 of modulated signal 2, and #3 symbol group 1402-3 of modulated signal 2, as in the frame configuration of Figure 14, the base station may transmit another symbol group using a transmission beam other than the "transmission beam of #1 symbol group 1401-1 of modulated signal 1, transmission beam of #2 symbol group 1401-2 of modulated signal 1, transmission beam of #3 symbol group 1401-3 of modulated signal 1, transmission beam of #1 symbol group 1402-1 of modulated signal 2, transmission beam of #2 symbol group 1402-2 of modulated signal 2, and transmission beam of #3 symbol group 1402-3 of modulated signal 2."

[0451] In this case, the "other symbol group" may be a symbol group including data symbols addressed to a certain terminal, a symbol group including control information symbols as described elsewhere in this disclosure, or a symbol group including data symbols for another multicast.

[0452] In addition, the base station in Figure 3 may generate a transmission beam for the above-mentioned ``another symbol group'' by ``signal processing by signal processing unit 102 and signal processing by weighting synthesis unit 301'' or ``signal processing by signal processing unit 102 or signal processing by weighting synthesis unit 301.''

[0453] (Supplementary Note 4) During the time period when the base station is transmitting stream 1-1 data symbol (1) 2501-1-1, stream 1-1 data symbol (2) 2501-1-2, and stream 1-1 data symbol (3) 2501-1-3, as in the frame configuration of Figure 25, the base station may transmit a different group of symbols using a transmission beam other than the "transmission beam transmitting stream 1-1 data symbol (1) 2501-1-1, stream 1-1 data symbol (2) 2501-1-2, and stream 1-1 data symbol (3) 2501-1-3."

[0454] Note that in Figure 25, the same applies when the horizontal axis is frequency, and during the time period when the base station is transmitting stream 1-1 data symbol (1) 2501-1-1, stream 1-1 data symbol (2) 2501-1-2, and stream 1-1 data symbol (3) 2501-1-3, the base station may transmit a different group of symbols using a transmission beam other than the "transmission beam transmitting stream 1-1 data symbol (1) 2501-1-1, stream 1-1 data symbol (2) 2501-1-2, and stream 1-1 data symbol (3) 2501-1-3."

[0455] Furthermore, during the time period when the base station is transmitting stream 1-1 data symbol (M) 2501-1-M, stream 1-1 data symbol (M+1) 2501-1-(M+1), and stream 1-1 data symbol (M+2) 2501-1-(M+2), as in the frame configurations of Figures 31 and 32, the base station may transmit another group of symbols using a transmission beam other than the "transmission beam transmitting stream 1-1 data symbol (M) 2501-1-M, stream 1-1 data symbol (M+1) 2501-1-(M+1), and stream 1-1 data symbol (M+2) 2501-1-(M+2)."

[0456] 31 and 32, the same applies when the horizontal axis represents frequency; during the time period when the base station is transmitting stream 1-1 data symbol (M) 2501-1-M, stream 1-1 data symbol (M+1) 2501-1-(M+1), and stream 1-1 data symbol (M+2) 2501-1-(M+2), the base station may transmit a different group of symbols using a transmission beam other than the "transmission beam transmitting stream 1-1 data symbol (M) 2501-1-M, stream 1-1 data symbol (M+1) 2501-1-(M+1), and stream 1-1 data symbol (M+2) 2501-1-(M+2)."

[0457] Then, during the time period when the base station is transmitting stream 1-2 data symbol (1) 3101-1, stream 1-2 data symbol (2) 3101-2, and stream 1-2 data symbol (3) 3101-3, as in the frame configurations of Figures 31 and 32, the base station may transmit a different group of symbols using a transmission beam other than the "transmission beam transmitting stream 1-2 data symbol (1) 3101-1, stream 1-2 data symbol (2) 3101-2, and stream 1-2 data symbol (3) 3101-3."

[0458] In addition, in Figures 31 and 32, the same applies when the horizontal axis is frequency, and during the time period when the base station is transmitting stream 1-2 data symbol (1) 3101-1, stream 1-2 data symbol (2) 3101-2, and stream 1-2 data symbol (3) 3101-3, the base station may transmit a different group of symbols using a transmission beam other than the ``transmission beam transmitting stream 1-2 data symbol (1) 3101-1, stream 1-2 data symbol (2) 3101-2, and stream 1-2 data symbol (3) 3101-3.''

[0459] During the time period when the base station is transmitting stream 1-1 data symbol (M) 2501-1-M, stream 1-1 data symbol (M+1) 2501-(M+1), and stream 1-1 data symbol (M+2) 2501-(M+2) as in the frame configuration of Figure 35, the base station may transmit another group of symbols using a transmission beam other than the "transmission beam transmitting stream 1-1 data symbol (M) 2501-1-M, stream 1-1 data symbol (M+1) 2501-(M+1), and stream 1-1 data symbol (M+2) 2501-(M+2)."

[0460] Note that in Figure 35, the same applies when the horizontal axis is frequency, and during the time period when the base station is transmitting stream 1-1 data symbol (M) 2501-1-M, stream 1-1 data symbol (M+1) 2501-(M+1), and stream 1-1 data symbol (M+2) 2501-(M+2), the base station may transmit a different group of symbols using a transmission beam other than the "transmission beam transmitting stream 1-1 data symbol (M) 2501-1-M, stream 1-1 data symbol (M+1) 2501-(M+1), and stream 1-1 data symbol (M+2) 2501-(M+2)."

[0461] Furthermore, during the time period when the base station is transmitting stream 1-2 data symbol (N) 3101-N, stream 1-2 data symbol (N+1) 3101-(N+1), and stream 1-2 data symbol (N+2) 3101-(N+2) as in the frame configuration of Figure 35, the base station may transmit a different group of symbols using a transmission beam other than the "transmission beam transmitting stream 1-2 data symbol (N) 3101-N, stream 1-2 data symbol (N+1) 3101-(N+1), and stream 1-2 data symbol (N+2) 3101-(N+2)."

[0462] In addition, in Figure 35, the same applies when the horizontal axis is frequency, and during the time period when the base station is transmitting stream 1-2 data symbol (N) 3101-N, stream 1-2 data symbol (N+1) 3101-(N+1), and stream 1-2 data symbol (N+2) 3101-(N+2), the base station may transmit a different group of symbols using a transmission beam other than the "transmission beam transmitting stream 1-2 data symbol (N) 3101-N, stream 1-2 data symbol (N+1) 3101-(N+1), and stream 1-2 data symbol (N+2) 3101-(N+2)."

[0463] Then, during the time period when the base station is transmitting stream 2-1 data symbol (1) 3501-1, stream 2-1 data symbol (2) 3501-2, and stream 2-1 data symbol (3) 3501-3, as in the frame configuration of Figure 35, the base station may transmit another group of symbols using a transmission beam other than the "transmission beam transmitting stream 2-1 data symbol (1) 3501-1, stream 2-1 data symbol (2) 3501-2, and stream 2-1 data symbol (3) 3501-3."

[0464] In addition, in Figure 35, the same applies when the horizontal axis is frequency, and during the time period when the base station is transmitting stream 2-1 data symbol (1) 3501-1, stream 2-1 data symbol (2) 3501-2, and stream 2-1 data symbol (3) 3501-3, the base station may transmit a different group of symbols using a transmission beam other than the ``transmission beam transmitting stream 2-1 data symbol (1) 3501-1, stream 2-1 data symbol (2) 3501-2, and stream 2-1 data symbol (3) 3501-3.''

[0465] In the above, "another symbol group" may be a symbol group containing data symbols addressed to a certain terminal, a symbol group containing control information symbols as described elsewhere in this specification, or a symbol group containing data symbols for another multicast.

[0466] In this case, the base station in Figure 1 may generate a transmission beam for the above-mentioned "different symbol group" through signal processing by signal processing unit 102, or the base station in Figure 1 may generate a transmission beam for the above-mentioned "different symbol group" by selecting antennas from antenna unit 106-1 to antenna unit 106-M.

[0467] In addition, the base station in Figure 3 may generate a transmission beam for the above-mentioned ``another symbol group'' by ``signal processing by signal processing unit 102 and signal processing by weighting synthesis unit 301'' or ``signal processing by signal processing unit 102 or signal processing by weighting synthesis unit 301.''

[0468] In addition, it is not necessary to set the unicast transmission periods 2503-1 and 2503-2 as shown in FIGS.

[0469] (Supplementary Note 5) The following is written in the explanation of Figures 31 and 32:

[0470] "Stream 1-1 data symbol (M) (for multicast)" 2501-1-M, "Stream 1-1 data symbol (M+1) (for multicast)" 2501-1-(M+1), "Stream 1-1 data symbol (M+2) (for multicast)" 2501-1-(M+2), "Stream 1-2 data symbol (1) (for multicast)" 3101-1, "Stream 1-2 data symbol (2) (for multicast)" 3101-2, and "Stream 1-2 data symbol (3) (for multicast)" 3101-3 are all data symbols for transmitting "Stream 1."

[0471] The terminal can obtain "stream 1 data" by obtaining "stream 1-1 data symbols." Also, the terminal can obtain "stream 1 data" by obtaining "stream 1-2 data symbols."

[0472] In addition, the following is written in the explanation regarding Figure 35.

[0473] "Stream 1-1 data symbol (M) (for multicast)" 2501-1-M, "Stream 1-1 data symbol (M+1) (for multicast)" 2501-1-(M+1), "Stream 1-1 data symbol (M+2) (for multicast)" 2501-1-(M+2), "Stream 1-2 data symbol (N) (for multicast)" 3101-N, "Stream 1-2 data symbol (N+1) (for multicast)" 3101-(N+1), and "Stream 1-2 data symbol (N+2) (for multicast)" 3101-(N+2) are all data symbols for transmitting "Stream 1."

[0474] The terminal can obtain "stream 1 data" by obtaining "stream 1-1 data symbols." Also, the terminal can obtain "stream 1 data" by obtaining "stream 1-2 data symbols."

[0475] The following provides a supplementary explanation of the above. For example, in Fig. 35, the above can be realized by the following <Method 1-1>, <Method 1-2>, <Method 2-1>, or <Method 2-2>.

[0476] <Method 1-1> Stream 1-1 data symbol (M) 2501-1-M and stream 1-2 data symbol (N) 3101-N contain the same data.

[0477] Stream 1-1 data symbol (M+1) 2501-1-(M+1) and stream 1-2 data symbol (N+1) 3101-(N+1) contain the same data.

[0478] Stream 1-1 data symbols (M+2) 2501-1-(M+2) and stream 1-2 data symbols (N+2) 3101-(N+2) contain the same data.

[0479] <Method 1-2> There exists a stream 1-2 data symbol (L) 3101-L that contains the same data as the data contained in the stream 1-1 data symbol (K) 2501-1-K, where K and L are integers.

[0480] <Method 2-1> Stream 1-1 data symbol (M) 2501-1-M and stream 1-2 data symbol (N) 3101-N contain some of the same data.

[0481] Stream 1-1 data symbol (M+1) 2501-1-(M+1) and stream 1-2 data symbol (N+1) 3101-(N+1) contain some of the same data.

[0482] Stream 1-1 data symbols (M+2) 2501-1-(M+2) and stream 1-2 data symbols (N+2) 3101-(N+2) contain some of the same data.

[0483] <Method 2-2> There exists a stream 1-2 data symbol (L) 3101-L that contains part of the data contained in the stream 1-1 data symbol (K) 2501-1-K, where K and L are integers.

[0484] That is, the first base station or the first transmission system generates a first packet group including data of a first stream and a second packet group including data of the first stream, transmits the packets included in the first packet group during a first period using a first transmission beam, and transmits the packets included in the second packet group during a second period using a second transmission beam different from the first transmission beam, and the first period and the second period do not overlap with each other.

[0485] Here, the second packet group may include a second packet containing the same data as the data contained in the first packet included in the first packet group. Alternatively, as a configuration different from the above, the second packet group may include a third packet containing the same data as part of the data contained in the first packet included in the first packet group.

[0486] Furthermore, the first transmission beam and the second transmission beam may be transmission beams having different directivities that are transmitted using the same antenna unit, or may be transmission beams that are transmitted using different antenna units.

[0487] In addition to the configuration of the first base station or the first transmission system, the second base station or the second transmission system further generates a third packet group including data of the first stream, and transmits the packets included in the third packet group using a third transmission beam different from the first transmission beam and the second transmission beam during a third period, and the third period does not overlap with the first period and the second period.

[0488] Here, the second base station or the second transmission system may set the first period, the second period, and the third period repeatedly in a predetermined order.

[0489] In addition, the third base station or the third transmission system, in addition to the configuration of the first base station or the first transmission system, further generates a third packet group including data of the first stream, and transmits the packets included in the third packet group using a third transmission beam different from the first transmission beam and the second transmission beam during a third period, at least a portion of which overlaps with the first period.

[0490] Here, the third base station or the third transmission system may repeatedly set the first period, the second period, and the third period, and at least a portion of any of the repeatedly set third periods may overlap with the first period, or at least any one of the repeatedly set third periods may not overlap with the first period.

[0491] In addition, the fourth base station or fourth transmission system, in addition to the configuration of the first base station or first transmission system, further generates a fourth packet including data of the second stream, and transmits the fourth packet during a fourth period using a fourth transmission beam different from the first transmission beam, at least a portion of which overlaps with the first period.

[0492] In the above explanation, it has been explained that the first period and the second period do not overlap with each other, but the first period and the second period may partially overlap with each other, the entire first period may overlap with the second period, or the entire first period may overlap with the entire second period.

[0493] In addition, the fifth base station or the fifth transmission system may generate one or more packet groups containing data of the first stream, transmit each packet group using a different transmission beam, and increase or decrease the number of packet groups generated based on the signal transmitted from the terminal.

[0494] In the above description, the term "stream" is used, but as described elsewhere in this specification, it refers to "stream 1-1 data symbol (M) 2501-1-M, stream 1-1 data symbol (M+1) 2501-1-(M+1), stream 1-1 data symbol (M+2) 2501-1-(M+2), stream 1-2 data symbol (1) 3101-1, stream 1-2 data symbol (2) 3101-2, stream 1-2 data symbol (3) 3101-3" in Figures 31 and 32, and "stream 1-1 data symbol ( Stream 1-1 data symbol (M) 2501-1-M, stream 1-1 data symbol (M+1) 2501-1-(M+1), stream 1-1 data symbol (M+2) 2501-1-(M+2), stream 1-2 data symbol (N) 3101-N, stream 1-2 data symbol (N+1) 3101-(N+1), and stream 1-2 data symbol (N+2) 3101-(N+2) may be symbols containing data symbols addressed to a certain terminal, may be symbols containing control information symbols, or may be symbols containing data symbols for multicast.

[0495] (Fourth embodiment) In this embodiment, a specific example of the communication systems described in the first to third embodiments will be described.

[0496] The communication system in this embodiment is assumed to be configured with (multiple) base stations and multiple terminals. For example, consider a communication system configured with base station 700 and terminals 704-1, 704-2, etc., as shown in Figures 7, 12, 17, 19, 20, 26, and 29.

[0497] FIG. 37 shows an example of the configuration of the base station (700).

[0498] Logical channel generation unit 3703 receives data 3701 and control data 3702 as input, and outputs logical channel signal 3704. Logical channel signal 3704 is assumed to be composed of, for example, logical channels for control such as "BCCH (Broadcast Control Channel), PCCH (Paging Control Channel), CCCH (Common Control Channel), MCCH (Multicast Control Channel), and DCCH (Dedicated Control Channel)," and logical channels for data such as "DTCH (Dedicated Traffic Channel) and MTCH (Multicast Traffic Channel)."

[0499] In addition, "BCCH is a downlink channel for broadcasting system control information", "PCCH is a downlink channel for paging information", "CCCH is a downlink common control channel used when there is no RRC (Radio Resource Control) connection", "MCCH is a downlink channel for multicast channel scheduling and control for one-to-many MBMS (Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Service)", "DCCH is a downlink dedicated control channel used for terminals with RRC connection", "DTCH is a downlink dedicated traffic channel to one terminal UE (User Equipment), a channel dedicated to user data", and "MTCH is a downlink channel for one-to-many MBMS user data".

[0500] The transport channel generation unit 3705 receives the logical channel signal 3704 as input, and generates and outputs the transport channel signal 3706. The transport channel signal 3706 is assumed to be composed of, for example, a BCH (Broadcast Channel), a DL-SCH (Downlink Shared Channel), a PCH (Paging Channel), an MCH (Multicast Channel), and the like.

[0501] The BCH is a channel for system information broadcast throughout the cell, the DL-SCH is a channel for user data, control information and system information, the PCH is a channel for paging information broadcast throughout the cell, and the MCH is a channel for MBMS traffic and control broadcast throughout the cell.

[0502] The physical channel generation unit 3707 receives the transport channel signal 3706 as input, and generates and outputs the physical channel signal 3708. The physical channel signal 3708 is assumed to be configured with, for example, a PBCH (Physical Broadcast Channel), a PMCH (Physical Multicast Channel), a PDSCH (Physical Downlink Shared Channel), a PDCCH (Physical Downlink Control Channel), and the like.

[0503] Note that "PBCH is for transmitting the BCH transport channel," "PMCH is for transmitting the MCH transport channel," "PDSCH is for transmitting the DL-SCH and transport channels," and "PDCCH is for transmitting downlink L1 (Layer 1) / L2 (Layer 2) control signals."

[0504] Modulation signal generation section 3709 receives physical channel signal 3708 as input, generates and outputs modulated signal 3710 based on physical channel signal 3708. Base station 700 then transmits modulated signal 3710 as radio waves.

[0505] First, consider the case where a base station is performing unicast communication, that is, individual communication, with a plurality of terminals.

[0506] In this case, for example, symbol group #1 of stream 1 of 901-1, symbol group #2 of stream 1 of 901-2, and symbol group #3 of stream 1 of 901-3 in Fig. 9 may be a broadcast channel (i.e., control information that a base station broadcasts to a plurality of terminals in order for the base station to perform data communication with the plurality of terminals). Note that the control information is assumed to be, for example, control information required for the base station and terminals to realize data communication.

[0507] Here, the broadcast channel will be explained. The broadcast channel corresponds to the "PBCH", "PMCH", and "part of PD-SCH" in the physical channel (physical channel signal 3708).

[0508] Furthermore, the broadcast channel corresponds to "BCH," "part of DL-SCH," "PCH," and "MCH" in the transport channel (transport channel signal 3706).

[0509] The broadcast channel corresponds to "BCCH", "CCCH", "MCCH", "part of DTCH", and "MTCH" in the logical channels (logical channel signal 3704).

[0510] Similarly, for example, symbol group #1 of stream 2 of 902-1, symbol group #2 of stream 2 of 902-2, and symbol group #3 of stream 2 of 902-3 in Fig. 9 may be a broadcast channel (i.e., control information that a base station broadcasts to multiple terminals in order to perform data communication with the multiple terminals). Note that the control information is assumed to be, for example, control information required for the base station and the terminals to realize data communication.

[0511] The broadcast channel corresponds to the "PBCH", "PMCH", and "part of the PD-SCH" in the physical channel (physical channel signal 3708).

[0512] Furthermore, the broadcast channel corresponds to "BCH," "part of DL-SCH," "PCH," and "MCH" in the transport channel (transport channel signal 3706).

[0513] The broadcast channel corresponds to "BCCH", "CCCH", "MCCH", "part of DTCH", and "MTCH" in the logical channels (logical channel signal 3704).

[0514] In this case, the characteristics of symbol group #1 of stream 1 of 901-1, symbol group #2 of stream 1 of 901-2, and symbol group #3 of stream 1 of 901-3 in Figure 9 are as described in the embodiments described so far, and the characteristics of symbol group #1 of stream 2 of 902-1, symbol group #2 of stream 2 of 902-2, and symbol group #3 of stream 2 of 902-3 in Figure 9 are as described in the embodiments described so far.

[0515] Note that there may be cases where stream 2 is not transmitted, such as stream 2 symbol group #1 (902-1), stream 2 symbol group #2 (902-2), and stream 2 symbol group #3 (902-3) in Fig. 9. In particular, when transmitting a broadcast channel signal, the base station may not transmit stream 2 symbol groups (in this case, for example, in Fig. 7, base station 701 does not transmit 703-1, 703-2, and 703-3).

[0516] For example, the symbol group #1 of modulated signal 1 of 1401-1, the symbol group #2 of modulated signal 1 of 1401-2, and the symbol group #3 of modulated signal 1 of 1401-3 in Fig. 14 may be a broadcast channel (i.e., control information that a base station broadcasts to a plurality of terminals in order to perform data communication with the base station). Note that the control information is assumed to be, for example, control information required for the base station and terminals to realize data communication.

[0517] The broadcast channel corresponds to the "PBCH", "PMCH", and "part of the PD-SCH" in the physical channel (physical channel signal 3708).

[0518] Furthermore, the broadcast channel corresponds to "BCH," "part of DL-SCH," "PCH," and "MCH" in the transport channel (transport channel signal 3706).

[0519] The broadcast channel corresponds to "BCCH", "CCCH", "MCCH", "part of DTCH", and "MTCH" in the logical channels (logical channel signal 3704).

[0520] For example, the symbol group #1 of modulated signal 2 of 1402-1, the symbol group #2 of modulated signal 2 of 1402-2, and the symbol group #3 of modulated signal 2 of 1402-3 in Fig. 14 may be a broadcast channel (i.e., control information that a base station broadcasts to a plurality of terminals in order to perform data communication with the base station). Note that the control information is assumed to be, for example, control information required for the base station and terminals to realize data communication.

[0521] The broadcast channel corresponds to the "PBCH", "PMCH", and "part of the PD-SCH" in the physical channel (physical channel signal 3708).

[0522] Furthermore, the broadcast channel corresponds to "BCH," "part of DL-SCH," "PCH," and "MCH" in the transport channel (transport channel signal 3706).

[0523] The broadcast channel corresponds to "BCCH", "CCCH", "MCCH", "part of DTCH", and "MTCH" in the logical channels (logical channel signal 3704).

[0524] The characteristics of symbol group #1 of modulated signal 1 at 1401-1, symbol group #2 of modulated signal 1 at 1401-2, and symbol group #3 of modulated signal 1 at 1401-3 in Figure 14 are as described in the embodiments described so far, and the characteristics of symbol group #1 of modulated signal 2 at 1402-1, symbol group #2 of modulated signal 2 at 1402-2, and symbol group #3 of modulated signal 2 at 1402-3 in Figure 14 are as described in the embodiments described so far.

[0525] For example, stream 1-1 data symbol (1) of 2501-1-1, stream 1-1 data symbol (2) of 2501-1-2, and stream 1-1 data symbol (3) of 2501-1-3 in Fig. 25 may be a broadcast channel (i.e., control information that a base station broadcasts to multiple terminals in order to perform data communication with the multiple terminals). Note that the control information is assumed to be, for example, control information required for the base station and terminals to realize data communication.

[0526] The broadcast channel corresponds to the "PBCH", "PMCH", and "part of the PD-SCH" in the physical channel (physical channel signal 3708).

[0527] Furthermore, the broadcast channel corresponds to "BCH," "part of DL-SCH," "PCH," and "MCH" in the transport channel (transport channel signal 3706).

[0528] The broadcast channel corresponds to "BCCH", "CCCH", "MCCH", "part of DTCH", and "MTCH" in the logical channels (logical channel signal 3704).

[0529] The characteristics of stream 1-1 data symbol (1) of 2501-1-1, stream 1-1 data symbol (2) of 2501-1-2, and stream 1-1 data symbol (3) of 2501-1-3 in Figure 25 are as described in the embodiments explained so far.

[0530] For example, in Figures 31 and 32, stream 1-1 data symbol (M) of 2501-1-M, stream 1-1 data symbol (M+1) of 2501-1-(M+1), stream 1-1 data symbol (M+2) of 2501-1-(M+2), stream 1-2 data symbol (1) of 3101-1, stream 1-2 data symbol (2) of 3101-2, and stream 1-2 data symbol (3) of 3101-3 may be a broadcast channel (that is, control information that a base station broadcasts to multiple terminals in order to perform data communication with multiple terminals). Note that the control information is assumed to be, for example, control information required for the base station and terminals to realize data communication.

[0531] The broadcast channel corresponds to the "PBCH", "PMCH", and "part of the PD-SCH" in the physical channel (physical channel signal 3708).

[0532] Furthermore, the broadcast channel corresponds to "BCH," "part of DL-SCH," "PCH," and "MCH" in the transport channel (transport channel signal 3706).

[0533] The broadcast channel corresponds to "BCCH", "CCCH", "MCCH", "part of DTCH", and "MTCH" in the logical channels (logical channel signal 3704).

[0534] The characteristics of stream 1-1 data symbol (M) of 2501-1-M, stream 1-1 data symbol (M+1) of 2501-1-(M+1), stream 1-1 data symbol (M+2) of 2501-1-(M+2) in Figures 31 and 32, stream 1-2 data symbol (1) of 3101-1, stream 1-2 data symbol (2) of 3101-2, and stream 1-2 data symbol (3) of 3101-3 are as described in the embodiments explained so far.

[0535] For example, in Figure 35, the stream 1-1 data symbol (M) of 2501-1-M, the stream 1-1 data symbol (M+1) of 2501-1-(M+1), the stream 1-1 data symbol (M+2) of 2501-1-(M+2), the stream 1-2 data symbol (N) of 3101-N, the stream 1-2 data symbol (N+1) of 3101-(N+1), and the stream 1-2 data symbol (N+2) of 3101-(N+2) may be a broadcast channel (i.e., control information that a base station broadcasts to multiple terminals in order to perform data communication with multiple terminals). Note that the control information is assumed to be, for example, control information required for the base station and terminals to realize data communication.

[0536] The broadcast channel corresponds to the "PBCH", "PMCH", and "part of the PD-SCH" in the physical channel (physical channel signal 3708).

[0537] Furthermore, the broadcast channel corresponds to "BCH," "part of DL-SCH," "PCH," and "MCH" in the transport channel (transport channel signal 3706).

[0538] The broadcast channel corresponds to "BCCH", "CCCH", "MCCH", "part of DTCH", and "MTCH" in the logical channels (logical channel signal 3704).

[0539] For example, stream 2-1 data symbol (1) of 3501-1, stream 2-1 data symbol (2) of 3501-2, and stream 2-1 data symbol (3) of 3501-3 in Fig. 35 may be a broadcast channel (that is, control information that a base station broadcasts to multiple terminals in order to perform data communication with the multiple terminals). Note that the control information is assumed to be, for example, control information required for the base station and terminals to realize data communication.

[0540] The broadcast channel corresponds to the "PBCH", "PMCH", and "part of the PD-SCH" in the physical channel (physical channel signal 3708).

[0541] Furthermore, the broadcast channel corresponds to "BCH," "part of DL-SCH," "PCH," and "MCH" in the transport channel (transport channel signal 3706).

[0542] The broadcast channel corresponds to "BCCH", "CCCH", "MCCH", "part of DTCH", and "MTCH" in the logical channels (logical channel signal 3704).

[0543] In Figure 35, the characteristics of stream 1-1 data symbol (M) of 2501-1-M, stream 1-1 data symbol (M+1) of 2501-1-(M+1), stream 1-1 data symbol (M+2) of 2501-1-(M+2), stream 1-2 data symbol (N) of 3101-N, stream 1-2 data symbol (N+1) of 3101-(N+1), and stream 1-2 data symbol (N+2) of 3101-(N+2) are as described in the embodiments previously explained, and the characteristics of stream 2-1 data symbol (1) of 3501-1, stream 2-1 data symbol (2) of 3501-2, and stream 2-1 data symbol (3) of 3501-3 in Figure 35 are as described in the embodiments previously explained.

[0544] 9, 14, 25, 31, 32, and 35, when transmitting each data symbol, a single-carrier transmission method or a multi-carrier transmission method such as OFDM may be used. Also, the time positions of the data symbols are not limited to those shown in FIGS. 9, 14, 25, 31, 32, and 35.

[0545] 25, 31, 32, and 35, the horizontal axis is used to represent time, but the same implementation is possible even if the horizontal axis represents frequency (carrier). When the horizontal axis represents frequency (carrier), the base station transmits each data symbol using one or more carriers or subcarriers.

[0546] Note that the symbol group of stream 1 in Fig. 9 may include data (unicast data) (or symbols) to be transmitted individually to terminals. Similarly, the symbol group of stream 2 in Fig. 9 may include data (unicast data) (or symbols) to be transmitted individually to terminals.

[0547] The symbol group of stream 1 in Fig. 14 may include data (unicast data) (or symbols) to be transmitted to individual terminals. Similarly, the symbol group of stream 2 in Fig. 14 may include data (unicast data) (or symbols) to be transmitted to individual terminals.

[0548] Furthermore, the symbols of stream 1-1 in Fig. 25 may include data (unicast data) (or symbols) to be transmitted individually to terminals. The symbols of stream 1-1 and stream 1-2 in Fig. 31 and Fig. 32 may include data (unicast data) (or symbols) to be transmitted individually to terminals.

[0549] The PBCH may be configured to be used to transmit, for example, the minimum information that a UE should read first after a cell search (such as the system bandwidth, the system frame number, and the number of transmit antennas).

[0550] The PMCH may be configured to be "used for operating a Multicast-broadcast single-frequency network (MBSFN)", for example.

[0551] The PDSCH may be configured as, for example, "a shared data channel for transmitting downlink user data, which aggregates and transmits all data regardless of the C (control)-plane / U (user)-plane."

[0552] The PDCCH may be configured to be used, for example, to notify users selected by an eNodeB (gNodeB) (base station) through scheduling of radio resource allocation information.

[0553] By implementing the above, in multicast / broadcast data transmission, the base station transmits data symbols and control information symbols using multiple transmission beams, and the terminal selectively receives a beam with good quality from the multiple transmission beams.Based on this, the terminal receives data symbols, thereby achieving the effect of the terminal being able to obtain high data reception quality.

[0554] (Embodiment 5) In this embodiment, a supplementary explanation will be given on the configuration of the symbol groups of stream 1 and stream 2 in FIG. 9 transmitted by the base station (700).

[0555] Figure 38 shows an example of the frame structure of stream 1 transmitted by the base station (700), where the horizontal axis represents time and the vertical axis represents frequency, showing the frame structure from time 1 to time 10 and carrier 1 to carrier 40. Therefore, Figure 38 shows the frame structure of a multicarrier transmission method such as the OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing) method.

[0556] It is assumed that symbol area 3801_1 of stream 1 in FIG. 38 exists from time 1 to time 10 and from carrier 1 to carrier 9.

[0557] It is assumed that symbol group #i (3800_i) of stream 1 exists from time 1 to time 10, and from carrier 10 to carrier 20. It is assumed that symbol group #i (3800_i) of stream 1 corresponds to symbol group #i (901-i) of stream 1 in FIG.

[0558] It is assumed that symbol area 3801_2 of stream 1 exists from time 1 to time 10 and from carrier 21 to carrier 40.

[0559] In this case, for example, as described in embodiment 4, when a base station transmits (unicasts) individual data to one or more terminals, it can use symbol areas 3801_1 and 3801_2 of stream 1 in Figure 38.

[0560] Symbol group #i (3800_i) of stream 1 in FIG. 38 is used by the base station to transmit multicast data, as explained in the first and fourth embodiments.

[0561] Figure 39 shows an example of the frame structure of stream 2 transmitted by the base station (700), and in the frame structure in Figure 39, the horizontal axis represents time and the vertical axis represents frequency, showing the frame structure from time 1 to time 10 and carrier 1 to carrier 40. Therefore, Figure 39 is a frame of a multicarrier transmission method such as the OFDM method.

[0562] It is assumed that symbol area 3901_1 of stream 2 in FIG. 39 exists from time 1 to time 10 and from carrier 1 to carrier 9.

[0563] It is assumed that symbol group #i (3900_i) of stream 2 exists from time 1 to time 10, and from carrier 10 to carrier 20. It is assumed that symbol group #i (3900_i) of stream 2 corresponds to symbol group #i (902-i) of stream 2 in FIG.

[0564] It is assumed that symbol area 3901_2 of stream 2 exists from time 1 to time 10 and from carrier 21 to carrier 40.

[0565] In this case, for example, as described in embodiment 4, when a base station transmits (unicasts) individual data to one or more terminals, it can use symbol areas 3901_1 and 3901_2 of stream 2 in Figure 39.

[0566] Symbol group #i (3900_i) of stream 2 in FIG. 39 is used by the base station to transmit multicast data, as explained in the first and fourth embodiments.

[0567] The base station will transmit the symbols at time X (in FIG. 38, X is an integer between 1 and 10) and carrier Y (in FIG. 38, Y is an integer between 1 and 40) in FIG. 38 and the symbols at time X and carrier Y in FIG. 39 using the same frequency and at the same time.

[0568] The characteristics of symbol group #1 of stream 1 901-1, symbol group #2 of stream 1 901-2, and symbol group #3 of stream 1 901-3 in Fig. 9 are as described in the embodiments described so far. That is, the characteristics of symbol group #i of stream 1 in Fig. 38 are the same as the symbol group of stream 1 in Fig. 9, and are as described in the embodiments described so far.

[0569] Furthermore, the characteristics of stream 2 symbol group #1 of 902-1, stream 2 symbol group #2 of 902-2, and stream 2 symbol group #3 of 902-3 in Fig. 9 are as described in the embodiments described so far. That is, the characteristics of stream 2 symbol group #i in Fig. 39 are the same as those of stream 2 symbol group #1 of Fig. 9, and are as described in the embodiments described so far.

[0570] If a symbol exists after time 11 on carrier 10 to carrier 20 in the frame configurations of Figures 38 and 39, it may be used for multicast transmission or individual data transmission (unicast transmission).

[0571] Furthermore, when the base station transmits a frame as shown in FIG. 9 using the frame configurations of FIGS. 38 and 39, the implementation described in the first and fourth embodiments may be carried out in the same manner.

[0572] By implementing the above, in multicast / broadcast data transmission, the base station transmits data symbols and control information symbols using multiple transmission beams, and the terminal selectively receives a beam with good quality from the multiple transmission beams.Based on this, the terminal receives data symbols, thereby achieving the effect of the terminal being able to obtain high data reception quality.

[0573] (Sixth embodiment) In this embodiment, a supplementary explanation will be given on the configuration of the symbol group of modulated signal 1 and the symbol group of modulated signal 2 in FIG. 14 transmitted by the base station (700).

[0574] Figure 40 shows an example of the frame structure of modulated signal 1 transmitted by base station (700), where the horizontal axis represents time and the vertical axis represents frequency, showing the frame structure from time 1 to time 10 and carrier 1 to carrier 40. Therefore, Figure 40 shows the frame structure of a multicarrier transmission method such as the OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing) method.

[0575] It is assumed that symbol area 4001_1 of modulated signal 1 in FIG. 40 exists from time 1 to time 10 and from carrier 1 to carrier 9.

[0576] It is assumed that symbol group #i(4000_i) of modulated signal 1 exists from time 1 to time 10, and from carrier 10 to carrier 20. It is assumed that symbol group #i(4000_i) of modulated signal 1 corresponds to symbol group #i(1401-i) of modulated signal 1 in FIG.

[0577] It is assumed that symbol area 4001_2 of modulated signal 1 exists from time 1 to time 10 and from carrier 21 to carrier 40.

[0578] In this case, for example, as described in embodiment 4, when a base station transmits (unicasts) individual data to one or more terminals, it can use symbol areas 4001_1 and 4001_2 of stream 1 in Figure 40.

[0579] Symbol group #i (4000_i) of modulated signal 1 in FIG. 40 is used by the base station to transmit multicast data, as explained in the first and fourth embodiments.

[0580] Figure 41 shows an example of the frame structure of modulated signal 2 transmitted by base station (700), and in the frame structure in Figure 41, the horizontal axis is time and the vertical axis is frequency, showing the frame structure from time 1 to time 10 and carrier 1 to carrier 40. Therefore, Figure 41 is a frame of a multicarrier transmission method such as the OFDM method.

[0581] It is assumed that symbol area 4101_1 of modulated signal 2 in FIG. 41 exists from time 1 to time 10 and from carrier 1 to carrier 9.

[0582] It is assumed that symbol group #i (4100_i) of modulated signal 2 exists from time 1 to time 10, and from carrier 10 to carrier 20. It is assumed that symbol group #i (4100_i) of modulated signal 2 corresponds to symbol group #i (1402-i) of modulated signal 2 in FIG.

[0583] It is assumed that symbol area 4101_2 of modulated signal 2 exists from time 1 to time 10 and from carrier 21 to carrier 40.

[0584] In this case, for example, as described in embodiment 4, when a base station transmits (unicasts) individual data to one or more terminals, it can use symbol areas 4101_1 and 4101_2 of modulated signal 2 in Figure 41.

[0585] Symbol group #i (4100_i) of modulated signal 2 in FIG. 41 is used by the base station to transmit multicast data, as explained in the first and fourth embodiments.

[0586] The base station will transmit the symbol at time X (in FIG. 40, X is an integer between 1 and 10) and carrier Y (in FIG. 40, Y is an integer between 1 and 40) in FIG. 40 and the symbol at time X and carrier Y in FIG. 41 using the same frequency and at the same time.

[0587] The characteristics of symbol group #1 of stream 1 1401_1, symbol group #2 of modulated signal 1 1401_2, and symbol group #3 of modulated signal 1 1401_3 in Fig. 14 are as described in the embodiments described so far. That is, the characteristics of symbol group #i of modulated signal 1 in Fig. 40 are the same as the symbol group of modulated signal 1 in Fig. 14, and are as described in the embodiments described so far.

[0588] Furthermore, the characteristics of symbol group #1 of modulated signal 2 of 1402_1, symbol group #2 of modulated signal 2 of 1402_2, and symbol group #3 of modulated signal 2 of 1402_3 in Fig. 14 are as described in the embodiments described so far. That is, the characteristics of symbol group #i of modulated signal 2 in Fig. 41 are the same as the symbol group of modulated signal 2 in Fig. 14, and are as described in the embodiments described so far.

[0589] If a symbol exists after time 11 on carrier 10 to carrier 20 in the frame configurations of Figures 40 and 41, it may be used for multicast transmission or individual data transmission (unicast transmission).

[0590] Furthermore, when the base station transmits a frame as shown in FIG. 14 using the frame configurations of FIGS. 40 and 41, the implementation described in the first and fourth embodiments may be carried out in the same manner.

[0591] An example of how to use symbol areas 3801_1 and 3801_2 of stream 1 in FIG. 38, symbol areas 3901_1 and 3901_2 of stream 2 in FIG. 39, symbol areas 4001_1 and 4001_2 of modulated signal 1 in FIG. 40, and symbol areas 4101_1 and 4102_2 of modulated signal 2 in FIG. 41 will be described below.

[0592] Figure 42 shows an example of allocation of "symbol areas 3801_1 and 3801_2 of stream 1 in Figure 38, symbol areas 3901_1 and 3901_2 of stream 2 in Figure 39, symbol areas 4001_1 and 4001_2 of modulated signal 1 in Figure 40, and symbol areas 4101_1 and 4102_2 of modulated signal 2 in Figure 41" to terminals. In Figure 42, the horizontal axis represents time and the vertical axis represents frequency (carrier).

[0593] As shown in Fig. 42, for example, "symbol areas 3801_1 and 3801_2 of stream 1 in Fig. 38, symbol areas 3901_1 and 3901_2 of stream 2 in Fig. 39, symbol areas 4001_1 and 4001_2 of modulated signal 1 in Fig. 40, and symbol areas 4101_1 and 4102_2 of modulated signal 2 in Fig. 41" are frequency-divided and assigned to terminals. Then, 4201_1 is a symbol group assigned to terminal #1, 4201_2 is a symbol group assigned to terminal #2, and 4201_3 is a symbol group assigned to terminal #3.

[0594] For example, a base station (700) is communicating with terminals #1, #2, and #3, and when the base station transmits data to terminal #1, the base station transmits the data to terminal #1 using "symbol group 4201_1 allocated to terminal #1" in Figure 42. When the base station transmits data to terminal #2, the base station transmits the data to terminal #2 using "symbol group 4201_2 allocated to terminal #2" in Figure 42. When the base station transmits data to terminal #3, the base station transmits the data to terminal #3 using "symbol group 4201_3 allocated to terminal #3" in Figure 42.

[0595] The method of allocation to terminals is not limited to that shown in Figure 42, and the frequency band (number of carriers) may change over time, and may be set in any way. Furthermore, the method of allocation to terminals may be changed over time.

[0596] Figure 43 is an example different from that of Figure 42 of allocation to terminals of "symbol areas 3801_1 and 3801_2 of stream 1 in Figure 38, symbol areas 3901_1 and 3901_2 of stream 2 in Figure 39, symbol areas 4001_1 and 4001_2 of modulated signal 1 in Figure 40, and symbol areas 4101_1 and 4102_2 of modulated signal 2 in Figure 41." In Figure 43, the horizontal axis represents time and the vertical axis represents frequency (carrier).

[0597] As shown in Fig. 43, for example, "symbol areas 3801_1 and 3801_2 of stream 1 in Fig. 38, symbol areas 3901_1 and 3901_2 of stream 2 in Fig. 39, symbol areas 4001_1 and 4001_2 of modulated signal 1 in Fig. 40, and symbol areas 4101_1 and 4102_2 of modulated signal 2 in Fig. 41" are divided into time and frequency regions and assigned to terminals. Then, 4301_1 is a symbol group assigned to terminal #1, 4301_2 is a symbol group assigned to terminal #2, 4301_3 is a symbol group assigned to terminal #3, 4301_4 is a symbol group assigned to terminal #4, 4301_5 is a symbol group assigned to terminal #5, and 4301_6 is a symbol group assigned to terminal #6.

[0598] For example, a base station (700) is communicating with terminals #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, and #6. When the base station transmits data to terminal #1, it transmits the data to terminal #1 using "symbol group 4301_1 allocated for terminal #1" in FIG. 43. When the base station transmits data to terminal #2, it transmits the data to terminal #2 using "symbol group 4301_2 allocated for terminal #2" in FIG. 43. When the base station transmits data to terminal #3, it transmits the data to terminal #3 using "symbol group 4301_3 allocated for terminal #3" in FIG. 43. When the base station transmits data to terminal #4, it transmits the data to terminal #4 using "symbol group 4301_4 allocated for terminal #4" in FIG. 43. When the base station transmits data to terminal #5, it will transmit the data to terminal #5 using "symbol group 4301_5 allocated for terminal #5" in Fig. 43. When the base station transmits data to terminal #6, it will transmit the data to terminal #6 using "symbol group 4301_6 allocated for terminal #6" in Fig. 43.

[0599] The allocation method to terminals is not limited to that shown in Figure 43, and the frequency band (number of carriers) and time width may be changed and may be set in any way. Furthermore, the allocation method to terminals may be changed over time.

[0600] Furthermore, in the symbol areas of stream 1, stream 2, modulated signal 1, and modulated signal 2 in Figures 38, 39, 40, and 41, different weighting methods may be performed for each carrier, or the weighting method may be determined for multiple carriers. Furthermore, weighting parameters may be set for each assigned terminal, as in Figures 43 and 44. The setting of the weighting method for each carrier is not limited to these examples.

[0601] By implementing the above, in multicast / broadcast data transmission, the base station transmits data symbols and control information symbols using multiple transmission beams, and the terminal selectively receives a beam with good quality from the multiple transmission beams.Based on this, the terminal receives data symbols, thereby achieving the effect of the terminal being able to obtain high data reception quality.

[0602] (Embodiment 7) In this specification, the base station 700 in Figures 7, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, and 22, and the base station described in other embodiments, may have a configuration as shown in Figure 44.

[0603] The following describes the operation of the base station in Fig. 44. In Fig. 44, components that operate in the same way as in Fig. 1 and Fig. 3 are given the same numbers, and descriptions thereof will be omitted.

[0604] Weighting synthesis section 301 receives processed signals 103_1, 103_2, . . . , 103_M and control signal 159 as input, performs weighting synthesis based on control signal 159, and outputs weighted synthesis signals 4401_1, 4401_2, . . . , 4401_K, where M is an integer equal to or greater than 2, and K is an integer equal to or greater than 2.

[0605] For example, if the signal 103_i (where i is an integer between 1 and M) after signal processing is represented as ui(t) (t is time) and the signal 4401_g (where g is an integer between 1 and K) after weighted synthesis is represented as vg(t), then vg(t) can be expressed by the following equation:

[0606]

number

[0607] Radio section 104_g receives weighted and combined signal 4401_g and control signal 159 as input, performs predetermined processing based on control signal 159, and generates and outputs transmission signal 105_g, which is then transmitted from antenna 303_1.

[0608] The transmission method supported by the base station may be a multi-carrier method such as OFDM, or a single-carrier method. The base station may also support both the multi-carrier method and the single-carrier method. There are multiple methods for generating a modulated signal for the single-carrier method, and any of these methods can be implemented. Examples of single-carrier methods include "Discrete Fourier Transform (DFT)-Spread Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM)," "Trajectory Constrained DFT-Spread OFDM," "OFDM-based Single Carrier (SC)," "Single Carrier (SC)-FDMA (Frequency Division Multiple Access)," and "Guard interval DFT-Spread OFDM."

[0609] Although equation (7) is written as a function of time, in the case of a multicarrier system such as OFDM, it may be a function of frequency in addition to time.

[0610] For example, in the OFDM system, different weighting methods may be used for each carrier, or a weighting method may be determined for each group of carriers. The setting of the weighting method for each carrier is not limited to these examples.

[0611] (Supplement 6) Naturally, the embodiments and other contents such as supplements described in this specification may be combined and implemented.

[0612] Furthermore, the configuration of the base station is not limited to those shown in Figures 1 and 3, but the present disclosure can be implemented as long as the base station has multiple transmitting antennas and generates and transmits multiple transmitting beams (transmitting directional beams).

[0613] Furthermore, each embodiment is merely an example, and even if a "modulation method, error correction coding method (error correction code to be used, code length, coding rate, etc.), control information, etc." is exemplified, it is possible to implement the same configuration even if a different "modulation method, error correction coding method (error correction code to be used, code length, coding rate, etc.), control information, etc." is applied.

[0614] Regarding the modulation method, even if a modulation method other than the modulation methods described in this specification is used, it is possible to implement the embodiments and other contents described in this specification. For example, APSK (e.g., 16APSK, 64APSK, 128APSK, 256APSK, 1024APSK, 4096APSK, etc.), PAM (e.g., 4PAM, 8PAM, 16PAM, 64PAM, 128PAM, 256PAM, 1024PAM, 4096PAM, etc.), PSK (e.g., BPSK, QPSK, 8PSK, 16PSK, 64PSK, 128PSK, 256PSK, 1024PSK, 4096PSK, etc.), QAM (e.g., 4QAM, 8QAM, 16QAM, 64QAM, 128QAM, 256QAM, 1024QAM, 4096QAM, etc.), etc. may be applied, and uniform mapping or non-uniform mapping may be used for each modulation scheme. Furthermore, the method of arranging 2, 4, 8, 16, 64, 128, 256, 1024, etc. signal points on the IQ plane (modulation method having 2, 4, 8, 16, 64, 128, 256, 1024, etc. signal points) is not limited to the signal point arrangement method of the modulation method shown in this specification.

[0615] In this specification, the transmitting device may be, for example, communication / broadcasting equipment such as a broadcast station, a base station, an access point, a terminal, or a mobile phone, and the receiving device may be, for example, communication equipment such as a television, a radio, a terminal, a personal computer, a mobile phone, an access point, or a base station. The transmitting device and receiving device in this disclosure may be devices having a communication function, and may be configured to be connectable to a device for executing an application, such as a television, a radio, a personal computer, or a mobile phone, via some kind of interface. In this embodiment, symbols other than data symbols, such as pilot symbols (preambles, unique words, postambles, reference symbols, etc.), symbols for control information, etc., may be arranged in any manner in a frame. Here, the symbols are called pilot symbols and symbols for control information, but any naming method may be used; what is important is the function itself.

[0616] The pilot symbols may be known symbols modulated by PSK modulation in the transmitter and receiver, and the receiver uses these symbols to perform frequency synchronization, time synchronization, channel estimation of each modulated signal (estimation of CSI (Channel State Information)), signal detection, etc. Alternatively, the pilot symbols may allow the receiver to know the symbols transmitted by the transmitter by synchronizing with the receiver.

[0617] In addition, the control information symbols are used to transmit information that needs to be transmitted to the communication partner in order to realize communication other than data (application data, etc.) (for example, the modulation method used for communication, the error correction coding method, the coding rate of the error correction coding method, setting information at the upper layer, etc.).

[0618] The present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments and can be implemented with various modifications. For example, in the embodiments, the case where the communication method is performed as a communication device is described, but the present disclosure is not limited to this and the communication method can also be implemented as software.

[0619] For example, a program for executing the above-described communication method may be stored in advance in a ROM, and the program may be run by a CPU.

[0620] Furthermore, a program for executing the above-described communication method may be stored in a computer-readable storage medium, and the program stored in the storage medium may be recorded in the RAM of a computer, causing the computer to operate in accordance with the program.

[0621] Furthermore, each configuration of the above-described embodiments may be implemented as an LSI, which is typically an integrated circuit having input and output terminals. These may be individually integrated into a single chip, or a single chip may contain all or part of the configuration of each embodiment. While the term "LSI" is used here, it may also be referred to as an IC, system LSI, super LSI, or ultra LSI depending on the level of integration. Furthermore, the integration method is not limited to LSI; it may also be implemented using dedicated circuits or general-purpose processors. It may also be possible to use FPGAs, which can be programmed after LSI fabrication, or reconfigurable processors, which allow the connections and settings of circuit cells within an LSI to be reconfigured. Furthermore, if an integrated circuit technology that can replace LSI emerges due to advances in semiconductor technology or other derivative technologies, it is natural that such technology may be used to integrate functional blocks. The application of biotechnology, etc., is also a possibility.

[0622] Various frame configurations have been described herein. A modulated signal having the frame configuration described herein is transmitted by, for example, a base station (AP) equipped with the transmitting device of Fig. 1 using a multi-carrier system such as OFDM. In this case, when a terminal (user) communicating with the base station (AP) transmits a modulated signal, it is possible to consider an application method in which the modulated signal transmitted by the terminal is a single-carrier system (by using the OFDM system, the base station (AP) can simultaneously transmit data symbol groups to multiple terminals, and by using the single-carrier system, the terminal can reduce power consumption).

[0623] Alternatively, a TDD (Time Division Duplex) system may be applied in which the terminal transmits modulation signals using part of the frequency band used by the modulated signals transmitted by the base station (AP).

[0624] 1 is not limited to the configuration described in the embodiment. For example, antenna units 106-1, 106-2, ..., 106-M do not have to be configured with multiple antennas, and antenna units 106-1, 106-2, ..., 106-M do not have to receive signal 159 as input.

[0625] The configuration of antenna units 401-1, 401-2, ..., 401-N in Fig. 4 is not limited to the configuration described in the embodiment. For example, antenna units 401-1, 401-2, ..., 401-N do not have to be configured with multiple antennas, and antenna units 401-1, 401-2, ..., 401-N do not have to receive signal 410 as input.

[0626] The transmission method supported by the base station and the terminal may be a multi-carrier method such as OFDM, or a single-carrier method. The base station may also support both the multi-carrier method and the single-carrier method. There are multiple methods for generating a modulated signal for the single-carrier method, and any of these methods can be implemented. Examples of single-carrier methods include "Discrete Fourier Transform (DFT)-Spread Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM)," "Trajectory Constrained DFT-Spread OFDM," "OFDM based Single Carrier (SC)," "Single Carrier (SC)-FDMA (Frequency Division Multiple Access)," and "Guard interval DFT-Spread OFDM."

[0627] 1, 3, and 44, at least multicast (broadcast) data is present in information #1 (101_1), information #2 (101_2), ..., information #M (101_M). For example, in FIG. 1, if information #1 (101_1) is multicast data, multiple streams or modulated signals including this data are generated by the signal processing unit 102 and output from the antenna.

[0628] In FIG. 3, if information #1 (101_1) is data for multicast, multiple streams or modulated signals containing this data are generated by the signal processing unit 102 and / or the weighting synthesis unit 301 and output from the antenna.

[0629] In FIG. 44, if information #1 (101_1) is data for multicast, multiple streams or modulated signals containing this data are generated by the signal processing unit 102 and / or the weighting synthesis unit 301 and output from the antenna.

[0630] The state of the multiple streams or modulated signals is as explained using FIGS. 7, 9, 12, 14, 17, 18, and 19.

[0631] Furthermore, data addressed to individual terminals may be included in information #1 (101_1), information #2 (101_2), ..., information #M (101_M) in Figures 1, 3, and 44. This point is as explained in the embodiment of this specification.

[0632] At least one of the FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) and the CPU (Central Processing Unit) may be configured to download all or part of the software required to realize the communication method described in the present disclosure via wireless or wired communication. Furthermore, all or part of the software for updates may be downloaded via wireless or wired communication. The downloaded software may then be stored in a storage unit, and at least one of the FPGA and the CPU may be operated based on the stored software to perform the digital signal processing described in the present disclosure.

[0633] In this case, the device having at least one of the FPGA and the CPU may be connected to the communication modem wirelessly or via a wire, and the communication method described in this disclosure may be realized by this device and the communication modem.

[0634] For example, a communication device such as a base station, AP, or terminal described herein may include at least one of an FPGA and a CPU, and may have an interface for externally obtaining software for operating at least one of the FPGA and the CPU. Furthermore, the communication device may have a storage unit for storing the software obtained from the outside, and may operate the FPGA and CPU based on the stored software to realize the signal processing described in the present disclosure.

[0635] (Embodiment 8) In this embodiment, an example will be described in which data held by communication device #A is transmitted to a plurality of communication devices.

[0636] 45 shows an example of a case where data held by a communication device #A is transmitted to a plurality of communication devices. The communication device #A 4501 stores a first file consisting of first data in a storage unit, and transmits the first data to a communication device #1 4502_1, a communication device #2 4502_2, a communication device #3 4502_3, and a communication device #4 4502_4.

[0637] The communication device #4 of 4502_4 transmits the first data obtained from the communication device #A of 4501 to the server 4506_4 via the network 4503.

[0638] The operations of the communication device #A of 4501, the communication device #1 of 4502_1, the communication device #2 of 4502_2, the communication device #3 of 4502_3, and the communication device #4 of 4502_4 in FIG. 45 will be described in detail.

[0639] The communication device #A of 4501 is assumed to have, for example, the configuration of Fig. 1 (or Fig. 3 or Fig. 44). The communication device #1 of 4502_1, the communication device #2 of 4502_2, the communication device #3 of 4502_3, and the communication device #4 of 4502_4 are assumed to have, for example, the configuration of Fig. 4. Note that the operations of the respective parts of Fig. 1 (Fig. 3, Fig. 44) and Fig. 4 have already been explained, so explanations thereof will be omitted.

[0640] The signal processing unit 102 provided in the communication device #A 4501 receives as input information 101-1 including the first data and a control signal 159, and performs signal processing based on information contained in the control signal 159, such as "information regarding the error correction coding method (coding rate, code length (block length))," "information regarding the modulation method," and "transmission method (multiplexing method)."

[0641] At this time, the signal processing unit 102 generates, from information 101-1 including the first data, a signal after signal processing to be transmitted to the communication device #1 of 4502_1, a signal after signal processing to be transmitted to the communication device #2 of 4502_2, a signal after signal processing to be transmitted to the communication device #3 of 4502_3, and a signal after signal processing to be transmitted to the communication device #4 of 4502_4. As an example, the signal after signal processing to be transmitted to the communication device #1 of 4502_1 is denoted as 103-1, the signal after signal processing to be transmitted to the communication device #2 of 4502_2 is denoted as 103-2, the signal after signal processing to be transmitted to the communication device #3 of 4502_3 is denoted as 103-3, and the signal after signal processing to be transmitted to the communication device #4 of 4502_4 is denoted as 103-4.

[0642] Then, a signal 103-1 after signal processing to be transmitted to communication device #1 of 4502_1 is transmitted via a radio unit 104-1, and a transmission signal 105-1 is transmitted from an antenna 106-1. Similarly, a signal 103-2 after signal processing to be transmitted to communication device #2 of 4502_2 is transmitted via a radio unit 104-2, and a transmission signal 105-2 is transmitted from an antenna 106-2, a signal 103-3 after signal processing to be transmitted to communication device #3 of 4502_3 is transmitted via a radio unit 104-3, and a transmission signal 105-3 is transmitted from an antenna 106-3, and a signal 103-4 after signal processing to be transmitted to communication device #4 of 4502_4 is transmitted via a radio unit 104-4, and a transmission signal 105-4 is transmitted from an antenna 106-4.

[0643] At this time, a method for setting the frequencies of the transmission signals 105-1, 105-2, 105-3, and 105-4 will be described with reference to FIG.

[0644] 46, the horizontal axis represents frequency and the vertical axis represents power. Transmission signals 105-1, 105-2, 105-3, and 105-4 are signals having one of the following spectra: spectrum 4601 in a first frequency band (first channel), spectrum 4602 in a second frequency band (second channel), or spectrum 4603 in a third frequency band (third channel).

[0645] Specific examples will be described with reference to FIGS. 47, 48, 49, and 50.

[0646] Fig. 47 shows the positional relationship of the communication device #A of 4501, the communication device #1 of 4502_1, the communication device #2 of 4502_2, the communication device #3 of 4502_3, and the communication device #4 of 4502_4 in Fig. 45. Therefore, Fig. 47 describes the numbers added in Fig. 45.

[0647] In the case of Figure 47, communication device #A 4501 can use spectrum 4601 of the first frequency band in Figure 46 as the spectrum used by transmission signal 105-1 to be transmitted to communication device #1 4502_1, spectrum 4601 of the first frequency band in Figure 46 as the spectrum used by transmission signal 105-2 to be transmitted to communication device #2 4502_2, spectrum 4601 of the first frequency band in Figure 46 as the spectrum used by transmission signal 105-3 to be transmitted to communication device #3 4502_3, and spectrum 4601 of the first frequency band in Figure 46 as the spectrum used by transmission signal 105-4 to be transmitted to communication device #4 4502_4. In this way, the "frequency band used by the transmission signal transmitted to communication device #1 of 4502_1," the "frequency band used by the transmission signal transmitted to communication device #2 of 4502_2," the "frequency band used by the transmission signal transmitted to communication device #3 of 4502_3," and the "frequency band used by the transmission signal transmitted to communication device #4 of 4502_4" can be set to the same frequency. By doing so, it is possible to obtain the effect of improving frequency utilization efficiency.

[0648] Here, we will explain the temporal existence of "transmission signal 105-1 to be transmitted to communication device #1 of 4502_1," "transmission signal 105-2 to be transmitted to communication device #2 of 4502_2," "transmission signal 105-3 to be transmitted to communication device #3 of 4502_3," and "transmission signal 105-4 to be transmitted to communication device #4 of 4502_4."

[0649] Fig. 51 shows an example of a frame configuration of a modulated signal transmitted by communication device A of 4501, and shows an example of symbol arrangement in horizontal axis time. In Fig. 51, 5101-1 indicates a data symbol group addressed to communication device #1 of 4502_1 or a part of the data symbol group addressed to communication device #1 of 4502_1, 5101-2 indicates a data symbol group addressed to communication device #2 of 4502_2 or a part of the data symbol group addressed to communication device #2 of 4502_2, 5101-3 indicates a data symbol group addressed to communication device #3 of 4502_3 or a part of the data symbol group addressed to communication device #3 of 4502_3, and 5101-4 indicates a data symbol group addressed to communication device #4 of 4502_4 or a part of the data symbol group addressed to communication device #4 of 4502_4.

[0650] "Data symbol group addressed to communication device #1 of 4502_1 or part of data symbol group addressed to communication device #1 of 4502_1" 5101_1, "data symbol group addressed to communication device #2 of 4502_2 or part of data symbol group addressed to communication device #2 of 4502_2" 5101-2, "data symbol group addressed to communication device #3 of 4502_3 or part of data symbol group addressed to communication device #3 of 4502_3" 5101_3, and "data symbol group addressed to communication device #4 or part of data symbol group addressed to communication device #4 of 4502_4" 5101_4 all exist in time interval 1.

[0651] Fig. 48 shows a positional relationship different from that shown in Fig. 47, which is that of the communication device #A of 4501, the communication device #1 of 4502_1, the communication device #2 of 4502_2, the communication device #3 of 4502_3, and the communication device #4 of 4502_4 in Fig. 45. Therefore, Fig. 48 shows the numbers added in Fig. 45.

[0652] In the case of Figure 48, communication device #A 4501 uses spectrum 4601 of the first frequency band in Figure 46 as the spectrum used by transmission signal 105-1 to be transmitted to communication device #1 4502_1, spectrum 4601 of the first frequency band in Figure 46 as the spectrum used by transmission signal 105-2 to be transmitted to communication device #2 4502_2, spectrum 4601 of the first frequency band in Figure 46 as the spectrum used by transmission signal 105-3 to be transmitted to communication device #3 4502_3, and spectrum 4602 of the second frequency band in Figure 46 as the spectrum used by transmission signal 105-4 to be transmitted to communication device #4 4502_4. In this case, the frequency band used by the transmission signal 105-3 transmitted to communication device #3 of 4502_3 is different from the frequency band used by the transmission signal 105-4 transmitted to communication device #4 of 4502_4. If transmission device #A of 4501 makes the frequency band used by the transmission signal 105-3 transmitted to communication device #3 of 4502_3 and the frequency band used by the transmission signal 105-4 transmitted to communication device #4 of 4502_4 the same, it will be difficult for communication device #3 of 4502_3 and communication device #4 of 4502_4 to separate their beams, resulting in significant interference and a decrease in the data reception quality.

[0653] By doing as described above, it is possible to obtain the effect of improving frequency utilization efficiency while ensuring high data reception quality.

[0654] Here, we will explain the temporal existence of "transmission signal 105-1 to be transmitted to communication device #1 of 4502_1," "transmission signal 105-2 to be transmitted to communication device #2 of 4502_2," "transmission signal 105-3 to be transmitted to communication device #3 of 4502_3," and "transmission signal 105-4 to be transmitted to communication device #4 of 4502_4."

[0655] Fig. 51 shows an example of a frame configuration of a modulated signal transmitted by communication device A of 4501, and shows an example of symbol arrangement in horizontal axis time. In Fig. 51, 5101-1 indicates a data symbol group addressed to communication device #1 of 4502_1 or a part of the data symbol group addressed to communication device #1 of 4502_1, 5101-2 indicates a data symbol group addressed to communication device #2 of 4502_2 or a part of the data symbol group addressed to communication device #2 of 4502_2, 5101-3 indicates a data symbol group addressed to communication device #3 of 4502_3 or a part of the data symbol group addressed to communication device #3 of 4502_3, and 5101-4 indicates a data symbol group addressed to communication device #4 of 4502_4 or a part of the data symbol group addressed to communication device #4 of 4502_4.

[0656] "Data symbol group addressed to communication device #1 of 4502_1 or part of data symbol group addressed to communication device #1 of 4502_1" 5101_1, "data symbol group addressed to communication device #2 of 4502_2 or part of data symbol group addressed to communication device #2 of 4502_2" 5101-2, "data symbol group addressed to communication device #3 of 4502_3 or part of data symbol group addressed to communication device #3 of 4502_3" 5101_3, and "data symbol group addressed to communication device #4 or part of data symbol group addressed to communication device #4 of 4502_4" 5101_4 all exist in time interval 1.

[0657] Even in the case of Figure 47, communication device #A 4501 can use spectrum 4601 of the first frequency band in Figure 46 as the spectrum used by transmission signal 105-1 to be transmitted to communication device #1 4502_1, spectrum 4601 of the first frequency band in Figure 46 as the spectrum used by transmission signal 105-2 to be transmitted to communication device #2 4502_2, spectrum 4601 of the first frequency band in Figure 46 as the spectrum used by transmission signal 105-3 to be transmitted to communication device #3 4502_3, and spectrum 4602 of the second frequency band in Figure 46 as the spectrum used by transmission signal 105-4 to be transmitted to communication device #4 4502_4.

[0658] Fig. 49 shows a positional relationship different from that shown in Fig. 47 and Fig. 48, of the communication device #A of 4501, the communication device #1 of 4502_1, the communication device #2 of 4502_2, the communication device #3 of 4502_3, and the communication device #4 of 4502_4 in Fig. 45. Therefore, Fig. 49 shows the numbers added in Fig. 45.

[0659] In the case of Figure 49, communication device #A 4501 uses spectrum 4601 of the first frequency band in Figure 46 as the spectrum used by transmission signal 105-1 to be transmitted to communication device #1 4502_1, spectrum 4602 of the second frequency band in Figure 46 as the spectrum used by transmission signal 105-2 to be transmitted to communication device #2 4502_2, spectrum 4602 of the second frequency band in Figure 46 as the spectrum used by transmission signal 105-3 to be transmitted to communication device #3 4502_3, and spectrum 4603 of the third frequency band in Figure 46 as the spectrum used by transmission signal 105-4 to be transmitted to communication device #4 4502_4. In this case, the frequency band used by the transmission signal 105-1 transmitted to communication device #1 of 4502_1, the frequency band used by the transmission signal 105-3 transmitted to communication device #3 of 4502_3, and the frequency band used by the transmission signal 105-4 transmitted to communication device #4 of 4502_4 are different because if transmission device #A of 4501 makes the "frequency band used by the transmission signal 105-1 transmitted to communication device #1 of 4502_1, the frequency band used by the transmission signal 105-3 transmitted to communication device #3 of 4502_3, and the frequency band used by the transmission signal 105-4 transmitted to communication device #4 of 4502_4" the same, communication device #1 of 4502_1, communication device #3 of 4502_3, and communication device #4 of 4502_4 will have difficulty separating beams, resulting in significant interference and a decrease in data reception quality.

[0660] By doing as described above, it is possible to obtain the effect of improving frequency utilization efficiency while ensuring high data reception quality.

[0661] Here, we will explain the temporal existence of "transmission signal 105-1 to be transmitted to communication device #1 of 4502_1," "transmission signal 105-2 to be transmitted to communication device #2 of 4502_2," "transmission signal 105-3 to be transmitted to communication device #3 of 4502_3," and "transmission signal 105-4 to be transmitted to communication device #4 of 4502_4."

[0662] Fig. 51 shows an example of a frame configuration of a modulated signal transmitted by communication device A of 4501, and shows an example of symbol arrangement in horizontal axis time. In Fig. 51, 5101-1 indicates a data symbol group addressed to communication device #1 of 4502_1 or a part of the data symbol group addressed to communication device #1 of 4502_1, 5101-2 indicates a data symbol group addressed to communication device #2 of 4502_2 or a part of the data symbol group addressed to communication device #2 of 4502_2, 5101-3 indicates a data symbol group addressed to communication device #3 of 4502_3 or a part of the data symbol group addressed to communication device #3 of 4502_3, and 5101-4 indicates a data symbol group addressed to communication device #4 of 4502_4 or a part of the data symbol group addressed to communication device #4 of 4502_4.

[0663] "Data symbol group addressed to communication device #1 of 4502_1 or part of data symbol group addressed to communication device #1 of 4502_1" 5101_1, "data symbol group addressed to communication device #2 of 4502_2 or part of data symbol group addressed to communication device #2 of 4502_2" 5101-2, "data symbol group addressed to communication device #3 of 4502_3 or part of data symbol group addressed to communication device #3 of 4502_3" 5101_3, and "data symbol group addressed to communication device #4 or part of data symbol group addressed to communication device #4 of 4502_4" 5101_4 all exist in time interval 1.

[0664] Even in the case of Figure 47, communication device #A 4501 can use spectrum 4601 of the first frequency band in Figure 46 as the spectrum used by transmission signal 105-1 to be transmitted to communication device #1 4502_1, spectrum 4602 of the second frequency band in Figure 46 as the spectrum used by transmission signal 105-2 to be transmitted to communication device #2 4502_2, spectrum 4602 of the second frequency band in Figure 46 as the spectrum used by transmission signal 105-3 to be transmitted to communication device #3 4502_3, and spectrum 4603 of the third frequency band in Figure 46 as the spectrum used by transmission signal 105-4 to be transmitted to communication device #4 4502_4.

[0665] Fig. 50 shows a positional relationship different from that shown in Fig. 47, Fig. 48, and Fig. 49 of the communication device #A of 4501, the communication device #1 of 4502_1, the communication device #2 of 4502_2, the communication device #3 of 4502_3, and the communication device #4 of 4502_4 in Fig. 45. Therefore, Fig. 50 shows the numbers added in Fig. 45.

[0666] In the case of Figure 50, communication device #A 4501 uses spectrum 4601 of the first frequency band in Figure 46 as the spectrum used by transmission signal 105-1 to be transmitted to communication device #1 4502_1, spectrum 4602 of the second frequency band in Figure 46 as the spectrum used by transmission signal 105-2 to be transmitted to communication device #2 4502_2, spectrum 4602 of the second frequency band in Figure 46 as the spectrum used by transmission signal 105-3 to be transmitted to communication device #3 4502_3, and spectrum 4601 of the first frequency band in Figure 46 as the spectrum used by transmission signal 105-4 to be transmitted to communication device #4 4502_4.

[0667] In this case, the frequency band used by the transmission signal 105-1 transmitted to communication device #1 of 4502_1 is different from the frequency band used by the transmission signal 105-2 transmitted to communication device #2 of 4502_2. If transmission device #A of 4501 makes the frequency band used by the transmission signal 105-1 transmitted to communication device #1 of 4502_1 and the frequency band used by the transmission signal 105-2 transmitted to communication device #2 of 4502_2 the same, it will be difficult for communication device #1 of 4502_1 and communication device #2 of 4502_2 to separate their beams, resulting in significant interference and a decrease in the data reception quality.

[0668] Similarly, the frequency band used by the transmission signal 105-3 transmitted to communication device #3 of 4502_3 is different from the frequency band used by the transmission signal 105-4 transmitted to communication device #4 of 4502_4 because if transmission device #A of 4501 makes the frequency band used by the transmission signal 105-3 transmitted to communication device #3 of 4502_3 and the frequency band used by the transmission signal 105-4 transmitted to communication device #4 of 4502_4 the same, it will be difficult for communication device #3 of 4502_3 and communication device #4 of 4502_4 to separate their beams, resulting in significant interference and a decrease in the data reception quality.

[0669] By doing as described above, it is possible to obtain the effect of improving frequency utilization efficiency while ensuring high data reception quality.

[0670] Here, we will explain the temporal existence of "transmission signal 105-1 to be transmitted to communication device #1 of 4502_1," "transmission signal 105-2 to be transmitted to communication device #2 of 4502_2," "transmission signal 105-3 to be transmitted to communication device #3 of 4502_3," and "transmission signal 105-4 to be transmitted to communication device #4 of 4502_4."

[0671] Fig. 51 shows an example of a frame configuration of a modulated signal transmitted by communication device A of 4501, and shows an example of symbol arrangement in horizontal axis time. In Fig. 51, 5101-1 indicates a data symbol group addressed to communication device #1 of 4502_1 or a part of the data symbol group addressed to communication device #1 of 4502_1, 5101-2 indicates a data symbol group addressed to communication device #2 of 4502_2 or a part of the data symbol group addressed to communication device #2 of 4502_2, 5101-3 indicates a data symbol group addressed to communication device #3 of 4502_3 or a part of the data symbol group addressed to communication device #3 of 4502_3, and 5101-4 indicates a data symbol group addressed to communication device #4 of 4502_4 or a part of the data symbol group addressed to communication device #4 of 4502_4.

[0672] "Data symbol group addressed to communication device #1 of 4502_1 or part of data symbol group addressed to communication device #1 of 4502_1" 5101_1, "data symbol group addressed to communication device #2 of 4502_2 or part of data symbol group addressed to communication device #2 of 4502_2" 5101-2, "data symbol group addressed to communication device #3 of 4502_3 or part of data symbol group addressed to communication device #3 of 4502_3" 5101_3, and "data symbol group addressed to communication device #4 or part of data symbol group addressed to communication device #4 of 4502_4" 5101_4 all exist in time interval 1.

[0673] Even in the case of Figure 47, communication device #A 4501 can use spectrum 4601 of the first frequency band in Figure 46 as the spectrum used by transmission signal 105-1 to be transmitted to communication device #1 4502_1, spectrum 4602 of the second frequency band in Figure 46 as the spectrum used by transmission signal 105-2 to be transmitted to communication device #2 4502_2, spectrum 4602 of the second frequency band in Figure 46 as the spectrum used by transmission signal 105-3 to be transmitted to communication device #3 4502_3, and spectrum 4601 of the first frequency band in Figure 46 as the spectrum used by transmission signal 105-4 to be transmitted to communication device #4 4502_4.

[0674] Also, in the case of Figure 50, communication device #A 4501 uses spectrum 4601 of the first frequency band of Figure 46 as the spectrum used by transmission signal 105-1 to be transmitted to communication device #1 4502_1, spectrum 4602 of the second frequency band of Figure 46 as the spectrum used by transmission signal 105-2 to be transmitted to communication device #2 4502_2, spectrum 4602 of the second frequency band of Figure 46 as the spectrum used by transmission signal 105-3 to be transmitted to communication device #3 4502_3, and spectrum 4603 of the third frequency band of Figure 46 as the spectrum used by transmission signal 105-4 to be transmitted to communication device #4 4502_4, and still achieves the effect of improving frequency utilization efficiency while maintaining high data reception quality.

[0675] Furthermore, in the case of Figure 50, communication device #A 4501 uses spectrum 4601 of the first frequency band of Figure 46 as the spectrum used by transmission signal 105-1 to be transmitted to communication device #1 4502_1, spectrum 4602 of the second frequency band of Figure 46 as the spectrum used by transmission signal 105-2 to be transmitted to communication device #2 4502_2, spectrum 4601 of the first frequency band of Figure 46 as the spectrum used by transmission signal 105-3 to be transmitted to communication device #3 4502_3, and spectrum 4603 of the third frequency band of Figure 46 as the spectrum used by transmission signal 105-4 to be transmitted to communication device #4 4502_4, and still achieves the effect of improving frequency utilization efficiency while maintaining high data reception quality.

[0676] Note that communication device #1 of 4502_1, communication device #2 of 4502_2, communication device #3 of 4502_3, and communication device #4 of 4502_4 have, for example, the configuration of Figure 4, and by receiving the desired signal and operating the receiving part of Figure 4, the desired data is obtained.

[0677] As described above, when transmitting the same data to multiple communication devices, Use multiple beams and multiple frequency bands Use multiple beams and specific frequency bands Use specific beams and multiple frequency bands By adopting either of the above methods, it is possible to obtain the effect of obtaining high data reception quality and high frequency utilization efficiency.

[0678] Next, we will explain the case where communication device #A of 4501 has, for example, the configuration of Figure 3, and communication device #1 of 4502_1, communication device #2 of 4502_2, communication device #3 of 4502_3, and communication device #4 of 4502_4 have, for example, the configuration of Figure 4.

[0679] The signal processing unit 102 provided in the communication device #A 4501 receives as input information 101-1 including the first data and a control signal 159, and performs signal processing based on information contained in the control signal 159, such as "information regarding the error correction coding method (coding rate, code length (block length))," "information regarding the modulation method," and "transmission method (multiplexing method)."

[0680] At this time, the signal processing unit 102 generates, from information 101-1 including the first data, a signal after signal processing to be transmitted to the communication device #1 of 4502_1, a signal after signal processing to be transmitted to the communication device #2 of 4502_2, a signal after signal processing to be transmitted to the communication device #3 of 4502_3, and a signal after signal processing to be transmitted to the communication device #4 of 4502_4. As an example, the signal after signal processing to be transmitted to the communication device #1 of 4502_1 is denoted as 103-1, the signal after signal processing to be transmitted to the communication device #2 of 4502_2 is denoted as 103-2, the signal after signal processing to be transmitted to the communication device #3 of 4502_3 is denoted as 103-3, and the signal after signal processing to be transmitted to the communication device #4 of 4502_4 is denoted as 103-4.

[0681] Then, radio unit 104-1 receives as input signal 103-1 after signal processing for transmission to communication device #1 of 4502_1, and outputs transmission signal 105-1. Similarly, radio unit 104-2 receives as input signal 103-2 after signal processing for transmission to communication device #2 of 4502_2, and outputs transmission signal 105-2. Then, radio unit 104-3 receives as input signal 103-3 after signal processing for transmission to communication device #3 of 4502_3, and outputs transmission signal 105-3. Moreover, radio unit 104-4 receives as input signal 103-4 after signal processing for transmission to communication device #4 of 4502_4, and outputs transmission signal 105-4.

[0682] Weighting combination section 301 receives at least transmission signal 105-1, transmission signal 105-2, transmission signal 105-3, and transmission signal 105-4 as input, performs weighting combination calculations, and outputs weighted combination signals 302-1, 302-2, ..., 302-K, which are output as radio waves from antennas 303-1, 303-2, ..., 303-K, respectively. Therefore, transmission signal 105-1 is transmitted using one or more antennas 303-1, 303-2, ..., 303-K. Similarly, transmit signal 105-2 is transmitted using one or more of antennas 303-1, 303-2, ..., 303-K, transmit signal 105-3 is transmitted using one or more of antennas 303-1, 303-2, ..., 303-K, and transmit signal 105-4 is transmitted using one or more of antennas 303-1, 303-2, ..., 303-K.

[0683] Each of the antennas 303-1, 303-2, . . . , 303-K may have the configuration shown in FIG.

[0684] At this time, a method for setting the frequencies of the transmission signals 105-1, 105-2, 105-3, and 105-4 will be described with reference to FIG.

[0685] 46, the horizontal axis represents frequency and the vertical axis represents power. Transmission signals 105-1, 105-2, 105-3, and 105-4 are signals having one of the following spectra: spectrum 4601 in a first frequency band (first channel), spectrum 4602 in a second frequency band (second channel), or spectrum 4603 in a third frequency band (third channel).

[0686] Specific examples will be described with reference to FIGS. 47, 48, 49, and 50.

[0687] Fig. 47 shows the positional relationship of the communication device #A of 4501, the communication device #1 of 4502_1, the communication device #2 of 4502_2, the communication device #3 of 4502_3, and the communication device #4 of 4502_4 in Fig. 45. Therefore, Fig. 47 describes the numbers added in Fig. 45.

[0688] In the case of Figure 47, communication device #A 4501 can use spectrum 4601 of the first frequency band in Figure 46 as the spectrum used by transmission signal 105-1 to be transmitted to communication device #1 4502_1, spectrum 4601 of the first frequency band in Figure 46 as the spectrum used by transmission signal 105-2 to be transmitted to communication device #2 4502_2, spectrum 4601 of the first frequency band in Figure 46 as the spectrum used by transmission signal 105-3 to be transmitted to communication device #3 4502_3, and spectrum 4601 of the first frequency band in Figure 46 as the spectrum used by transmission signal 105-4 to be transmitted to communication device #4 4502_4. In this way, the "frequency band used by the transmission signal transmitted to communication device #1 of 4502_1," the "frequency band used by the transmission signal transmitted to communication device #2 of 4502_2," the "frequency band used by the transmission signal transmitted to communication device #3 of 4502_3," and the "frequency band used by the transmission signal transmitted to communication device #4 of 4502_4" can be set to the same frequency. By doing so, it is possible to obtain the effect of improving frequency utilization efficiency.

[0689] Here, we will explain the temporal existence of "transmission signal 105-1 to be transmitted to communication device #1 of 4502_1," "transmission signal 105-2 to be transmitted to communication device #2 of 4502_2," "transmission signal 105-3 to be transmitted to communication device #3 of 4502_3," and "transmission signal 105-4 to be transmitted to communication device #4 of 4502_4."

[0690] Fig. 51 shows an example of a frame configuration of a modulated signal transmitted by communication device A of 4501, and shows an example of symbol arrangement in horizontal axis time. In Fig. 51, 5101-1 indicates a data symbol group addressed to communication device #1 of 4502_1 or a part of the data symbol group addressed to communication device #1 of 4502_1, 5101-2 indicates a data symbol group addressed to communication device #2 of 4502_2 or a part of the data symbol group addressed to communication device #2 of 4502_2, 5101-3 indicates a data symbol group addressed to communication device #3 of 4502_3 or a part of the data symbol group addressed to communication device #3 of 4502_3, and 5101-4 indicates a data symbol group addressed to communication device #4 of 4502_4 or a part of the data symbol group addressed to communication device #4 of 4502_4.

[0691] "Data symbol group addressed to communication device #1 of 4502_1 or part of data symbol group addressed to communication device #1 of 4502_1" 5101_1, "data symbol group addressed to communication device #2 of 4502_2 or part of data symbol group addressed to communication device #2 of 4502_2" 5101-2, "data symbol group addressed to communication device #3 of 4502_3 or part of data symbol group addressed to communication device #3 of 4502_3" 5101_3, and "data symbol group addressed to communication device #4 or part of data symbol group addressed to communication device #4 of 4502_4" 5101_4 all exist in time interval 1.

[0692] Fig. 48 shows a positional relationship different from that shown in Fig. 47, which is that of the communication device #A of 4501, the communication device #1 of 4502_1, the communication device #2 of 4502_2, the communication device #3 of 4502_3, and the communication device #4 of 4502_4 in Fig. 45. Therefore, Fig. 48 shows the numbers added in Fig. 45.

[0693] In the case of Figure 48, communication device #A 4501 uses spectrum 4601 of the first frequency band in Figure 46 as the spectrum used by transmission signal 105-1 to be transmitted to communication device #1 4502_1, spectrum 4601 of the first frequency band in Figure 46 as the spectrum used by transmission signal 105-2 to be transmitted to communication device #2 4502_2, spectrum 4601 of the first frequency band in Figure 46 as the spectrum used by transmission signal 105-3 to be transmitted to communication device #3 4502_3, and spectrum 4602 of the second frequency band in Figure 46 as the spectrum used by transmission signal 105-4 to be transmitted to communication device #4 4502_4. In this case, the frequency band used by the transmission signal 105-3 transmitted to communication device #3 of 4502_3 is different from the frequency band used by the transmission signal 105-4 transmitted to communication device #4 of 4502_4. If transmission device #A of 4501 makes the frequency band used by the transmission signal 105-3 transmitted to communication device #3 of 4502_3 and the frequency band used by the transmission signal 105-4 transmitted to communication device #4 of 4502_4 the same, it will be difficult for communication device #3 of 4502_3 and communication device #4 of 4502_4 to separate their beams, resulting in significant interference and a decrease in the data reception quality.

[0694] By doing as described above, it is possible to obtain the effect of improving frequency utilization efficiency while ensuring high data reception quality.

[0695] Here, we will explain the temporal existence of "transmission signal 105-1 to be transmitted to communication device #1 of 4502_1," "transmission signal 105-2 to be transmitted to communication device #2 of 4502_2," "transmission signal 105-3 to be transmitted to communication device #3 of 4502_3," and "transmission signal 105-4 to be transmitted to communication device #4 of 4502_4."

[0696] Fig. 51 shows an example of a frame configuration of a modulated signal transmitted by communication device A of 4501, and shows an example of symbol arrangement in horizontal axis time. In Fig. 51, 5101-1 indicates a data symbol group addressed to communication device #1 of 4502_1 or a part of the data symbol group addressed to communication device #1 of 4502_1, 5101-2 indicates a data symbol group addressed to communication device #2 of 4502_2 or a part of the data symbol group addressed to communication device #2 of 4502_2, 5101-3 indicates a data symbol group addressed to communication device #3 of 4502_3 or a part of the data symbol group addressed to communication device #3 of 4502_3, and 5101-4 indicates a data symbol group addressed to communication device #4 of 4502_4 or a part of the data symbol group addressed to communication device #4 of 4502_4.

[0697] "Data symbol group addressed to communication device #1 of 4502_1 or part of data symbol group addressed to communication device #1 of 4502_1" 5101_1, "data symbol group addressed to communication device #2 of 4502_2 or part of data symbol group addressed to communication device #2 of 4502_2" 5101-2, "data symbol group addressed to communication device #3 of 4502_3 or part of data symbol group addressed to communication device #3 of 4502_3" 5101_3, and "data symbol group addressed to communication device #4 or part of data symbol group addressed to communication device #4 of 4502_4" 5101_4 all exist in time interval 1.

[0698] Even in the case of Figure 47, communication device #A 4501 can use spectrum 4601 of the first frequency band in Figure 46 as the spectrum used by transmission signal 105-1 to be transmitted to communication device #1 4502_1, spectrum 4601 of the first frequency band in Figure 46 as the spectrum used by transmission signal 105-2 to be transmitted to communication device #2 4502_2, spectrum 4601 of the first frequency band in Figure 46 as the spectrum used by transmission signal 105-3 to be transmitted to communication device #3 4502_3, and spectrum 4602 of the second frequency band in Figure 46 as the spectrum used by transmission signal 105-4 to be transmitted to communication device #4 4502_4.

[0699] Fig. 49 shows a positional relationship different from that shown in Fig. 47 and Fig. 48, of the communication device #A of 4501, the communication device #1 of 4502_1, the communication device #2 of 4502_2, the communication device #3 of 4502_3, and the communication device #4 of 4502_4 in Fig. 45. Therefore, Fig. 49 shows the numbers added in Fig. 45.

[0700] In the case of Figure 49, communication device #A 4501 uses spectrum 4601 of the first frequency band in Figure 46 as the spectrum used by transmission signal 105-1 to be transmitted to communication device #1 4502_1, spectrum 4602 of the second frequency band in Figure 46 as the spectrum used by transmission signal 105-2 to be transmitted to communication device #2 4502_2, spectrum 4602 of the second frequency band in Figure 46 as the spectrum used by transmission signal 105-3 to be transmitted to communication device #3 4502_3, and spectrum 4603 of the third frequency band in Figure 46 as the spectrum used by transmission signal 105-4 to be transmitted to communication device #4 4502_4. In this case, the frequency band used by the transmission signal 105-1 transmitted to communication device #1 of 4502_1, the frequency band used by the transmission signal 105-3 transmitted to communication device #3 of 4502_3, and the frequency band used by the transmission signal 105-4 transmitted to communication device #4 of 4502_4 are different because if transmission device #A of 4501 makes the "frequency band used by the transmission signal 105-1 transmitted to communication device #1 of 4502_1, the frequency band used by the transmission signal 105-3 transmitted to communication device #3 of 4502_3, and the frequency band used by the transmission signal 105-4 transmitted to communication device #4 of 4502_4" the same, communication device #1 of 4502_1, communication device #3 of 4502_3, and communication device #4 of 4502_4 will have difficulty separating beams, resulting in significant interference and a decrease in data reception quality.

[0701] By doing as described above, it is possible to obtain the effect of improving frequency utilization efficiency while ensuring high data reception quality.

[0702] Here, we will explain the temporal existence of "transmission signal 105-1 to be transmitted to communication device #1 of 4502_1," "transmission signal 105-2 to be transmitted to communication device #2 of 4502_2," "transmission signal 105-3 to be transmitted to communication device #3 of 4502_3," and "transmission signal 105-4 to be transmitted to communication device #4 of 4502_4."

[0703] Fig. 51 shows an example of a frame configuration of a modulated signal transmitted by communication device A of 4501, and shows an example of symbol arrangement in horizontal axis time. In Fig. 51, 5101-1 indicates a data symbol group addressed to communication device #1 of 4502_1 or a part of the data symbol group addressed to communication device #1 of 4502_1, 5101-2 indicates a data symbol group addressed to communication device #2 of 4502_2 or a part of the data symbol group addressed to communication device #2 of 4502_2, 5101-3 indicates a data symbol group addressed to communication device #3 of 4502_3 or a part of the data symbol group addressed to communication device #3 of 4502_3, and 5101-4 indicates a data symbol group addressed to communication device #4 of 4502_4 or a part of the data symbol group addressed to communication device #4 of 4502_4.

[0704] "Data symbol group addressed to communication device #1 of 4502_1 or part of data symbol group addressed to communication device #1 of 4502_1" 5101_1, "data symbol group addressed to communication device #2 of 4502_2 or part of data symbol group addressed to communication device #2 of 4502_2" 5101-2, "data symbol group addressed to communication device #3 of 4502_3 or part of data symbol group addressed to communication device #3 of 4502_3" 5101_3, and "data symbol group addressed to communication device #4 or part of data symbol group addressed to communication device #4 of 4502_4" 5101_4 all exist in time interval 1.

[0705] Even in the case of Figure 47, communication device #A 4501 can use spectrum 4601 of the first frequency band in Figure 46 as the spectrum used by transmission signal 105-1 to be transmitted to communication device #1 4502_1, spectrum 4602 of the second frequency band in Figure 46 as the spectrum used by transmission signal 105-2 to be transmitted to communication device #2 4502_2, spectrum 4602 of the second frequency band in Figure 46 as the spectrum used by transmission signal 105-3 to be transmitted to communication device #3 4502_3, and spectrum 4603 of the third frequency band in Figure 46 as the spectrum used by transmission signal 105-4 to be transmitted to communication device #4 4502_4.

[0706] Fig. 50 shows a positional relationship different from that shown in Fig. 47, Fig. 48, and Fig. 49 of the communication device #A of 4501, the communication device #1 of 4502_1, the communication device #2 of 4502_2, the communication device #3 of 4502_3, and the communication device #4 of 4502_4 in Fig. 45. Therefore, Fig. 50 shows the numbers added in Fig. 45.

[0707] In the case of Figure 50, communication device #A 4501 uses spectrum 4601 of the first frequency band in Figure 46 as the spectrum used by transmission signal 105-1 to be transmitted to communication device #1 4502_1, spectrum 4602 of the second frequency band in Figure 46 as the spectrum used by transmission signal 105-2 to be transmitted to communication device #2 4502_2, spectrum 4602 of the second frequency band in Figure 46 as the spectrum used by transmission signal 105-3 to be transmitted to communication device #3 4502_3, and spectrum 4601 of the first frequency band in Figure 46 as the spectrum used by transmission signal 105-4 to be transmitted to communication device #4 4502_4.

[0708] In this case, the frequency band used by the transmission signal 105-1 transmitted to communication device #1 of 4502_1 is different from the frequency band used by the transmission signal 105-2 transmitted to communication device #2 of 4502_2. If transmission device #A of 4501 makes the frequency band used by the transmission signal 105-1 transmitted to communication device #1 of 4502_1 and the frequency band used by the transmission signal 105-2 transmitted to communication device #2 of 4502_2 the same, it will be difficult for communication device #1 of 4502_1 and communication device #2 of 4502_2 to separate their beams, resulting in significant interference and a decrease in the data reception quality.

[0709] Similarly, the frequency band used by the transmission signal 105-3 transmitted to communication device #3 of 4502_3 is different from the frequency band used by the transmission signal 105-4 transmitted to communication device #4 of 4502_4 because if transmission device #A of 4501 makes the frequency band used by the transmission signal 105-3 transmitted to communication device #3 of 4502_3 and the frequency band used by the transmission signal 105-4 transmitted to communication device #4 of 4502_4 the same, it will be difficult for communication device #3 of 4502_3 and communication device #4 of 4502_4 to separate their beams, resulting in significant interference and a decrease in the data reception quality.

[0710] By doing as described above, it is possible to obtain the effect of improving frequency utilization efficiency while ensuring high data reception quality.

[0711] Here, we will explain the temporal existence of "transmission signal 105-1 to be transmitted to communication device #1 of 4502_1," "transmission signal 105-2 to be transmitted to communication device #2 of 4502_2," "transmission signal 105-3 to be transmitted to communication device #3 of 4502_3," and "transmission signal 105-4 to be transmitted to communication device #4 of 4502_4."

[0712] Fig. 51 shows an example of a frame configuration of a modulated signal transmitted by communication device A of 4501, and shows an example of symbol arrangement in horizontal axis time. In Fig. 51, 5101-1 indicates a data symbol group addressed to communication device #1 of 4502_1 or a part of the data symbol group addressed to communication device #1 of 4502_1, 5101-2 indicates a data symbol group addressed to communication device #2 of 4502_2 or a part of the data symbol group addressed to communication device #2 of 4502_2, 5101-3 indicates a data symbol group addressed to communication device #3 of 4502_3 or a part of the data symbol group addressed to communication device #3 of 4502_3, and 5101-4 indicates a data symbol group addressed to communication device #4 of 4502_4 or a part of the data symbol group addressed to communication device #4 of 4502_4.

[0713] "Data symbol group addressed to communication device #1 of 4502_1 or part of data symbol group addressed to communication device #1 of 4502_1" 5101_1, "data symbol group addressed to communication device #2 of 4502_2 or part of data symbol group addressed to communication device #2 of 4502_2" 5101-2, "data symbol group addressed to communication device #3 of 4502_3 or part of data symbol group addressed to communication device #3 of 4502_3" 5101_3, and "data symbol group addressed to communication device #4 or part of data symbol group addressed to communication device #4 of 4502_4" 5101_4 all exist in time interval 1.

[0714] Even in the case of Figure 47, communication device #A 4501 can use spectrum 4601 of the first frequency band in Figure 46 as the spectrum used by transmission signal 105-1 to be transmitted to communication device #1 4502_1, spectrum 4602 of the second frequency band in Figure 46 as the spectrum used by transmission signal 105-2 to be transmitted to communication device #2 4502_2, spectrum 4602 of the second frequency band in Figure 46 as the spectrum used by transmission signal 105-3 to be transmitted to communication device #3 4502_3, and spectrum 4601 of the first frequency band in Figure 46 as the spectrum used by transmission signal 105-4 to be transmitted to communication device #4 4502_4.

[0715] Also, in the case of Figure 50, communication device #A 4501 uses spectrum 4601 of the first frequency band of Figure 46 as the spectrum used by transmission signal 105-1 to be transmitted to communication device #1 4502_1, spectrum 4602 of the second frequency band of Figure 46 as the spectrum used by transmission signal 105-2 to be transmitted to communication device #2 4502_2, spectrum 4602 of the second frequency band of Figure 46 as the spectrum used by transmission signal 105-3 to be transmitted to communication device #3 4502_3, and spectrum 4603 of the third frequency band of Figure 46 as the spectrum used by transmission signal 105-4 to be transmitted to communication device #4 4502_4, and still achieves the effect of improving frequency utilization efficiency while maintaining high data reception quality.

[0716] Furthermore, in the case of Figure 50, communication device #A 4501 uses spectrum 4601 of the first frequency band of Figure 46 as the spectrum used by transmission signal 105-1 to be transmitted to communication device #1 4502_1, spectrum 4602 of the second frequency band of Figure 46 as the spectrum used by transmission signal 105-2 to be transmitted to communication device #2 4502_2, spectrum 4601 of the first frequency band of Figure 46 as the spectrum used by transmission signal 105-3 to be transmitted to communication device #3 4502_3, and spectrum 4603 of the third frequency band of Figure 46 as the spectrum used by transmission signal 105-4 to be transmitted to communication device #4 4502_4, and still achieves the effect of improving frequency utilization efficiency while maintaining high data reception quality.

[0717] Note that communication device #1 of 4502_1, communication device #2 of 4502_2, communication device #3 of 4502_3, and communication device #4 of 4502_4 have, for example, the configuration of Figure 4, and by receiving the desired signal and operating the receiving part of Figure 4, the desired data is obtained.

[0718] Next, we will explain the case where communication device #A of 4501 has, for example, the configuration of Figure 44, and communication device #1 of 4502_1, communication device #2 of 4502_2, communication device #3 of 4502_3, and communication device #4 of 4502_4 have, for example, the configuration of Figure 4.

[0719] The signal processing unit 102 provided in the communication device #A 4501 receives as input information 101-1 including the first data and a control signal 159, and performs signal processing based on information contained in the control signal 159, such as "information regarding the error correction coding method (coding rate, code length (block length))," "information regarding the modulation method," and "transmission method (multiplexing method)."

[0720] At this time, the signal processing unit 102 generates, from information 101-1 including the first data, a signal after signal processing to be transmitted to the communication device #1 of 4502_1, a signal after signal processing to be transmitted to the communication device #2 of 4502_2, a signal after signal processing to be transmitted to the communication device #3 of 4502_3, and a signal after signal processing to be transmitted to the communication device #4 of 4502_4. As an example, the signal after signal processing to be transmitted to the communication device #1 of 4502_1 is denoted as 103-1, the signal after signal processing to be transmitted to the communication device #2 of 4502_2 is denoted as 103-2, the signal after signal processing to be transmitted to the communication device #3 of 4502_3 is denoted as 103-3, and the signal after signal processing to be transmitted to the communication device #4 of 4502_4 is denoted as 103-4.

[0721] Weighting synthesis section 301 receives as input at least processed signal 103-1, processed signal 103-2, processed signal 103-3, and processed signal 103-4, performs a weighting synthesis operation, and outputs weighted synthesis signals 4402-1, 4402-2, ..., 4402-K. Therefore, processed signal 103-1 is transmitted using one or more antennas among antennas 303-1, 303-2, ..., 303-K. Similarly, signal 103-2 after signal processing is transmitted using one or more antennas among antennas 303-1, 303-2, ..., 303-K, signal 103-3 after signal processing is transmitted using one or more antennas among antennas 303-1, 303-2, ..., 303-K, and signal 103-4 after signal processing is transmitted using one or more antennas among antennas 303-1, 303-2, ..., 303-K.

[0722] Each of the antennas 303-1, 303-2, . . . , 303-K may have the configuration shown in FIG.

[0723] At this time, a method for setting the frequencies of the processed signals 103-1, 103-2, 103-3, and 103-4 will be described with reference to FIG.

[0724] 46, the horizontal axis represents frequency and the vertical axis represents power. After frequency conversion, signals 103-1, 103-2, 103-3, and 103-4 after signal processing become signals with one of the following spectra: spectrum 4601 in the first frequency band (first channel), spectrum 4602 in the second frequency band (second channel), and spectrum 4603 in the third frequency band (third channel).

[0725] 1 and 3, for example, when a modulated signal of first frequency band 4601, a modulated signal of second frequency band 4602, and a modulated signal of third frequency band 4603 are generated, the antenna unit of FIG. 1 and the weighting combiner units of FIG. 3 and 44 may be set so that the directivity of the modulated signal of first frequency band 4601 differs from the directivity of the modulated signal of second frequency band 4602. Similarly, the antenna unit of FIG. 1 and the weighting combiner units of FIG. 3 and 44 may be set so that the directivity of the modulated signal of first frequency band 4601 differs from the directivity of the modulated signal of third frequency band 4603. Furthermore, the antenna unit of FIG. 1 and the weighting combiner units of FIG. 3 and 44 may be set so that the directivity of the modulated signal of second frequency band 4602 differs from the directivity of the modulated signal of third frequency band 4603.

[0726] Specific examples will be described with reference to FIGS. 47, 48, 49, and 50.

[0727] Fig. 47 shows the positional relationship of the communication device #A of 4501, the communication device #1 of 4502_1, the communication device #2 of 4502_2, the communication device #3 of 4502_3, and the communication device #4 of 4502_4 in Fig. 45. Therefore, Fig. 47 describes the numbers added in Fig. 45.

[0728] In the case of Figure 47, communication device #A 4501 can use spectrum 4601 of the first frequency band in Figure 46 as the spectrum to be used after frequency conversion by signal processed signal 103-1 to be transmitted to communication device #1 4502_1, spectrum 4601 of the first frequency band in Figure 46 as the spectrum to be used after frequency conversion by signal processed signal 103-2 to be transmitted to communication device #2 4502_2, spectrum 4601 of the first frequency band in Figure 46 as the spectrum to be used after frequency conversion by signal processed signal 103-3 to be transmitted to communication device #3 4502_3, and spectrum 4601 of the first frequency band in Figure 46 as the spectrum to be used after frequency conversion by signal processed signal 103-4 to be transmitted to communication device #4 4502_4. In this way, the "frequency band used by the transmission signal transmitted to communication device #1 of 4502_1," the "frequency band used by the transmission signal transmitted to communication device #2 of 4502_2," the "frequency band used by the transmission signal transmitted to communication device #3 of 4502_3," and the "frequency band used by the transmission signal transmitted to communication device #4 of 4502_4" can be set to the same frequency. By doing so, it is possible to obtain the effect of improving frequency utilization efficiency.

[0729] Here, we will explain the temporal existence of "signal 103-1 after signal processing to be transmitted to communication device #1 of 4502_1," "signal 103-2 after signal processing to be transmitted to communication device #2 of 4502_2," "signal 103-3 after signal processing to be transmitted to communication device #3 of 4502_3," and "signal 103-4 after signal processing to be transmitted to communication device #4 of 4502_4."

[0730] Fig. 51 shows an example of a frame configuration of a modulated signal transmitted by communication device A of 4501, and shows an example of symbol arrangement in horizontal axis time. In Fig. 51, 5101-1 indicates a data symbol group addressed to communication device #1 of 4502_1 or a part of the data symbol group addressed to communication device #1 of 4502_1, 5101-2 indicates a data symbol group addressed to communication device #2 of 4502_2 or a part of the data symbol group addressed to communication device #2 of 4502_2, 5101-3 indicates a data symbol group addressed to communication device #3 of 4502_3 or a part of the data symbol group addressed to communication device #3 of 4502_3, and 5101-4 indicates a data symbol group addressed to communication device #4 of 4502_4 or a part of the data symbol group addressed to communication device #4 of 4502_4.

[0731] "Data symbol group addressed to communication device #1 of 4502_1 or part of data symbol group addressed to communication device #1 of 4502_1" 5101_1, "data symbol group addressed to communication device #2 of 4502_2 or part of data symbol group addressed to communication device #2 of 4502_2" 5101-2, "data symbol group addressed to communication device #3 of 4502_3 or part of data symbol group addressed to communication device #3 of 4502_3" 5101_3, and "data symbol group addressed to communication device #4 or part of data symbol group addressed to communication device #4 of 4502_4" 5101_4 all exist in time interval 1.

[0732] Fig. 48 shows a positional relationship different from that shown in Fig. 47, which is that of the communication device #A of 4501, the communication device #1 of 4502_1, the communication device #2 of 4502_2, the communication device #3 of 4502_3, and the communication device #4 of 4502_4 in Fig. 45. Therefore, Fig. 48 shows the numbers added in Fig. 45.

[0733] In the case of Figure 48, communication device #A 4501 uses spectrum 4601 of the first frequency band in Figure 46 as the spectrum to be used after frequency conversion by signal processed signal 103-1 to be transmitted to communication device #1 4502_1, spectrum 4601 of the first frequency band in Figure 46 as the spectrum to be used after frequency conversion by signal processed signal 103-2 to be transmitted to communication device #2 4502_2, spectrum 4601 of the first frequency band in Figure 46 as the spectrum to be used after frequency conversion by signal processed signal 103-3 to be transmitted to communication device #3 4502_3, and spectrum 4602 of the second frequency band in Figure 46 as the spectrum to be used after frequency conversion by signal processed signal 103-4 to be transmitted to communication device #4 4502_4. In this case, the frequency band used after frequency conversion by signal processed signal 103-3 to be transmitted to communication device #3 of 4502_3 is different from the frequency band used after frequency conversion by signal processed signal 103-4 to be transmitted to communication device #4 of 4502_4.This is because if transmitting device #A of 4501 makes "the frequency band used after frequency conversion by signal processed signal 103-3 to be transmitted to communication device #3 of 4502_3 and the frequency band used after frequency conversion by signal processed signal 103-4 to be transmitted to communication device #4 of 4502_4" the same, communication device #3 of 4502_3 and communication device #4 of 4502_4 will have difficulty separating beams, resulting in large interference and a decrease in data reception quality.

[0734] By doing as described above, it is possible to obtain the effect of improving frequency utilization efficiency while ensuring high data reception quality.

[0735] Here, we will explain the temporal existence of "signal 103-1 after signal processing to be transmitted to communication device #1 of 4502_1," "signal 103-2 after signal processing to be transmitted to communication device #2 of 4502_2," "signal 103-3 after signal processing to be transmitted to communication device #3 of 4502_3," and "signal 103-4 after signal processing to be transmitted to communication device #4 of 4502_4."

[0736] Fig. 51 shows an example of a frame configuration of a modulated signal transmitted by communication device A of 4501, and shows an example of symbol arrangement in horizontal axis time. In Fig. 51, 5101-1 indicates a data symbol group addressed to communication device #1 of 4502_1 or a part of the data symbol group addressed to communication device #1 of 4502_1, 5101-2 indicates a data symbol group addressed to communication device #2 of 4502_2 or a part of the data symbol group addressed to communication device #2 of 4502_2, 5101-3 indicates a data symbol group addressed to communication device #3 of 4502_3 or a part of the data symbol group addressed to communication device #3 of 4502_3, and 5101-4 indicates a data symbol group addressed to communication device #4 of 4502_4 or a part of the data symbol group addressed to communication device #4 of 4502_4.

[0737] "Data symbol group addressed to communication device #1 of 4502_1 or part of data symbol group addressed to communication device #1 of 4502_1" 5101_1, "data symbol group addressed to communication device #2 of 4502_2 or part of data symbol group addressed to communication device #2 of 4502_2" 5101-2, "data symbol group addressed to communication device #3 of 4502_3 or part of data symbol group addressed to communication device #3 of 4502_3" 5101_3, and "data symbol group addressed to communication device #4 or part of data symbol group addressed to communication device #4 of 4502_4" 5101_4 all exist in time interval 1.

[0738] Even in the case of Figure 47, communication device #A 4501 can use spectrum 4601 of the first frequency band in Figure 46 as the spectrum to be used after frequency conversion by signal processed signal 103-1 to be transmitted to communication device #1 4502_1, spectrum 4601 of the first frequency band in Figure 46 as the spectrum to be used after frequency conversion by signal processed signal 103-2 to be transmitted to communication device #2 4502_2, spectrum 4601 of the first frequency band in Figure 46 as the spectrum to be used after frequency conversion by signal processed signal 103-3 to be transmitted to communication device #3 4502_3, and spectrum 4602 of the second frequency band in Figure 46 as the spectrum to be used after frequency conversion by signal processed signal 103-4 to be transmitted to communication device #4 4502_4.

[0739] Fig. 49 shows a positional relationship different from that shown in Fig. 47 and Fig. 48, of the communication device #A of 4501, the communication device #1 of 4502_1, the communication device #2 of 4502_2, the communication device #3 of 4502_3, and the communication device #4 of 4502_4 in Fig. 45. Therefore, Fig. 49 shows the numbers added in Fig. 45.

[0740] In the case of Figure 49, communication device #A 4501 uses spectrum 4601 of the first frequency band in Figure 46 as the spectrum of signal processed signal 103-1 to be transmitted to communication device #1 4502_1 after frequency conversion, uses spectrum 4602 of the second frequency band in Figure 46 as the spectrum to be used by signal processed signal 103-2 to be transmitted to communication device #2 4502_2 after frequency conversion, uses spectrum 4602 of the second frequency band in Figure 46 as the spectrum to be used by signal processed signal 103-3 to be transmitted to communication device #3 4502_3 after frequency conversion, and uses spectrum 4603 of the third frequency band in Figure 46 as the spectrum to be used by signal processed signal 103-4 to be transmitted to communication device #4 4502_4 after frequency conversion. At this time, the frequency band used by the signal 103-1 after signal processing to be transmitted to the communication device #1 of 4502_1, the frequency band used by the transmission signal 105-3 to be transmitted to the communication device #3 of 4502_3 after frequency conversion, and the frequency band used by the signal 103-4 after signal processing to be transmitted to the communication device #4 of 4502_4 after frequency conversion are different because the transmitting device #A of 4501 has determined that "the frequency band used by the signal 103-1 after signal processing to be transmitted to the communication device #1 of 4502_1 after frequency conversion" is If the frequency bands used by the communication device #1 of 4502_1, the communication device #3 of 4502_3, and the communication device #4 of 4502_4 after frequency conversion are the same, it will be difficult for the communication device #1 of 4502_1, the communication device #3 of 4502_3, and the communication device #4 of 4502_4 to separate the beams, resulting in large interference and a decrease in the data reception quality.

[0741] By doing as described above, it is possible to obtain the effect of improving frequency utilization efficiency while ensuring high data reception quality.

[0742] Here, we will explain the temporal existence of "signal 103-1 after signal processing to be transmitted to communication device #1 of 4502_1," "signal 103-2 after signal processing to be transmitted to communication device #2 of 4502_2," "signal 103-3 after signal processing to be transmitted to communication device #3 of 4502_3," and "signal 103-4 after signal processing to be transmitted to communication device #4 of 4502_4."

[0743] Fig. 51 shows an example of a frame configuration of a modulated signal transmitted by communication device A of 4501, and shows an example of symbol arrangement in horizontal axis time. In Fig. 51, 5101-1 indicates a data symbol group addressed to communication device #1 of 4502_1 or a part of the data symbol group addressed to communication device #1 of 4502_1, 5101-2 indicates a data symbol group addressed to communication device #2 of 4502_2 or a part of the data symbol group addressed to communication device #2 of 4502_2, 5101-3 indicates a data symbol group addressed to communication device #3 of 4502_3 or a part of the data symbol group addressed to communication device #3 of 4502_3, and 5101-4 indicates a data symbol group addressed to communication device #4 of 4502_4 or a part of the data symbol group addressed to communication device #4 of 4502_4.

[0744] "Data symbol group addressed to communication device #1 of 4502_1 or part of data symbol group addressed to communication device #1 of 4502_1" 5101_1, "data symbol group addressed to communication device #2 of 4502_2 or part of data symbol group addressed to communication device #2 of 4502_2" 5101-2, "data symbol group addressed to communication device #3 of 4502_3 or part of data symbol group addressed to communication device #3 of 4502_3" 5101_3, and "data symbol group addressed to communication device #4 or part of data symbol group addressed to communication device #4 of 4502_4" 5101_4 all exist in time interval 1.

[0745] Even in the case of Figure 47, communication device #A 4501 can use spectrum 4601 of the first frequency band in Figure 46 as the spectrum to be used after frequency conversion by signal processed signal 103-1 to be transmitted to communication device #1 4502_1, spectrum 4602 of the second frequency band in Figure 46 as the spectrum to be used after frequency conversion by signal processed signal 103-2 to be transmitted to communication device #2 4502_2, spectrum 4602 of the second frequency band in Figure 46 as the spectrum to be used after frequency conversion by signal processed signal 103-3 to be transmitted to communication device #3 4502_3, and spectrum 4603 of the third frequency band in Figure 46 as the spectrum to be used after frequency conversion by signal processed signal 103-4 to be transmitted to communication device #4 4502_4.

[0746] Fig. 50 shows a positional relationship different from that shown in Fig. 47, Fig. 48, and Fig. 49 of the communication device #A of 4501, the communication device #1 of 4502_1, the communication device #2 of 4502_2, the communication device #3 of 4502_3, and the communication device #4 of 4502_4 in Fig. 45. Therefore, Fig. 50 shows the numbers added in Fig. 45.

[0747] In the case of Figure 50, communication device #A 4501 uses spectrum 4601 of the first frequency band in Figure 46 as the spectrum to be used after frequency conversion by signal processed signal 103-1 to be transmitted to communication device #1 4502_1, spectrum 4602 of the second frequency band in Figure 46 as the spectrum to be used after frequency conversion by signal processed signal 103-2 to be transmitted to communication device #2 4502_2, spectrum 4602 of the second frequency band in Figure 46 as the spectrum to be used after frequency conversion by signal processed signal 103-3 to be transmitted to communication device #3 4502_3, and spectrum 4601 of the first frequency band in Figure 46 as the spectrum to be used after frequency conversion by signal processed signal 103-4 to be transmitted to communication device #4 4502_4.

[0748] In this case, the frequency band used after frequency conversion by signal processed signal 103-1 to be transmitted to communication device #1 of 4502_1 is different from the frequency band used after frequency conversion by signal processed signal 103-2 to be transmitted to communication device #2 of 4502_2. This is because if transmitting device #A of 4501 makes "the frequency band used after frequency conversion by signal processed signal 103-1 to be transmitted to communication device #1 of 4502_1 and the frequency band used after frequency conversion by signal processed signal 103-2 to be transmitted to communication device #2 of 4502_2" the same, communication device #1 of 4502_1 and communication device #2 of 4502_2 will have difficulty separating beams, resulting in large interference and a decrease in data reception quality.

[0749] Similarly, the frequency band used after frequency conversion by signal processed signal 103-3 to be transmitted to communication device #3 of 4502_3 is different from the frequency band used after frequency conversion by signal processed signal 103-4 to be transmitted to communication device #4 of 4502_4. This is because if transmitting device #A of 4501 makes "the frequency band used after frequency conversion by signal processed signal 103-3 to be transmitted to communication device #3 of 4502_3 and the frequency band used after frequency conversion by signal processed signal 103-4 to be transmitted to communication device #4 of 4502_4" the same, communication device #3 of 4502_3 and communication device #4 of 4502_4 will have difficulty separating beams, resulting in significant interference and a decrease in data reception quality.

[0750] By doing a...

Claims

1. A terminal, comprising a communication interface capable of communicating with a second communication device via a first communication device, transmitting data addressed to the second communication device and first information via the first communication device, in response to receiving the data and the first information, the first communication device transmits the data to the second communication device, wherein the first information includes information indicating a device for multicasting the data to other terminals, when the device indicated by the first information is the first communication device, multicasting the data to the other terminals terminal.

2. A communication method implemented by a terminal comprising a communication interface capable of communicating with a second communication device via a first communication device, transmitting data addressed to the second communication device and first information via the first communication device, in response to receiving the data and the first information, the first communication device transmits the data to the second communication device, wherein the first information includes information indicating a device for multicasting the data to other terminals, when the device indicated by the first information is the first communication device, multicasting the data to the other terminals communication method.

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