Wireless communication device, control method, and program

Abstract

To provide a mechanism for a wireless communication device to appropriately notify the opposite device of a relatively large transmission buffer amount.SOLUTION: Provided is a wireless communication device that complies with the IEEE802.11 series of standards and includes transmitting means for transmitting a wireless frame including two fields indicating information regarding a transmission buffer amount. The two fields consist of a first field capable of storing a first value with an information amount of 3 bits or more, and a second field capable of storing a second value with an information amount of 3 bits or more. The first value and the second value are set so that a third value determined from the first value and the second value is greater than the transmission buffer amount, and the difference between the third value and the transmission buffer amount is minimized.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a wireless communication device, a control method, and a program. [Background technology]

[0002] With the recent increase in data traffic, development of communication technologies such as wireless local area networks (WLANs) is progressing. The IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) 802.11 standard series is known as the main WLAN communication standard. The IEEE 802.11 standard series includes IEEE 802.11a / b / g / n / ac / ax / be. To further improve communication reliability, the IEEE 802.11bn standard is being developed as the successor to the IEEE 802.11be standard. The IEEE 802.11 Working Group (WG), which is formulating the IEEE 802.11bn standard, is defining the goals and scope of the standard in the UHR SG, and the TGbn will specify the detailed technical content to be included in the standard. UHR SG is an abbreviation for Ultra High Reliability Study Group. TGbn is also an abbreviation for Task Group bn. The name UHR was chosen for convenience, reflecting the goals and key features of the successor standard, and may be replaced by a different name once the standard is fully developed. Similarly, the name IEEE 802.11bn may be replaced by a different name once the standard is fully developed. However, this specification and the accompanying claims are essentially applicable to all successor standards to the 802.11be standard.

[0003] To date, the development of these standards has introduced technologies such as expanding communication bandwidth and improving modulation methods, resulting in increased communication speeds. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2018-50133 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] As described above, the IEEE802.11 series of standards has formulated various technologies related to improving communication speeds, but the amount of transmission buffers in terminals has also increased accordingly. The IEEE802.11 series of standards has a function to notify the amount of transmission buffers in order for terminals to acquire an appropriate size communication period, but there is a possibility that terminals will have transmission buffers so large that they cannot be handled by the previous standards.

[0006] The present invention has been made in consideration of at least one of the above-described problems, and an object of one aspect of the present invention is to provide a mechanism for a wireless communication device to appropriately notify a relatively large transmission buffer capacity. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] A wireless communication device according to one aspect of the present invention is a wireless communication device conforming to the IEEE 802.11 series of standards, a transmitting means for transmitting a radio frame including two fields indicating information about a transmission buffer amount, the two fields are comprised of a first field capable of storing a first value with an information amount of 3 bits or more, and a second field capable of storing a second value with an information amount of 3 bits or more, The first value and the second value are set so that a third value determined from the first value and the second value is greater than the transmission buffer amount, and the difference between the third value and the transmission buffer amount is minimized. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to one aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide a mechanism for a wireless communication device to appropriately notify a relatively large transmission buffer amount. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a wireless communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of a communication device according to the present embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the hardware configuration of a communication device according to the embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram showing communication processing executed in the embodiment. [Figure 5] 10 is a diagram showing a frame format for notifying the amount of transmission buffer transmitted in this embodiment. FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a frame format for notifying the amount of transmission buffer transmitted in a modified example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Each embodiment will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0011] (Network configuration) Fig. 1 shows an example of the configuration of a network according to this embodiment. Fig. 1 shows a configuration including one AP 102 and two STAs 103 and 104 as communication devices that perform wireless LAN communication in accordance with the IEEE802.11bn standard. As shown in Fig. 1, a network 101 formed by the AP 102 is indicated by a circle. The STAs 103 and 104 can transmit and receive signals transmitted and received by the AP 102.

[0012] Note that this diagram is merely an example, and other communication devices performing wireless LAN communication may exist in a wider area. These communication devices may perform wireless LAN communication in accordance with the IEEE 802.11be standard. Alternatively, they may be so-called legacy devices that do not comply with the IEEE 802.11bn standard but only comply with the IEEE 802.11a / b / g / n / ac / ax / be standards.

[0013] The AP 102 and the STAs 103 and 104 can also be configured to support wireless communication based on other communication standards, such as Bluetooth (registered trademark), NFC, or Bluetooth LE (Low Energy). NFC stands for Near Field Communication. The AP 102 and the STAs 103 and 104 can also be configured to support wired communication using an Ethernet cable or wired communication using optical fiber. The AP 102 and the STAs 103 and 104 can also be configured to support cellular wireless communication, such as 5G or LTE (Long Term Evolution). Specific examples of the AP 102 include, but are not limited to, a wireless LAN router or a personal computer (PC). The AP 102 and the STAs 103 and 104 may also be information processing devices, such as wireless chips that support PPDU transmission and reception. In this case, various controls can be performed by hardware circuits within the wireless chip. Various processes can also be performed by a processor, memory, and hardware circuits, such as an ASIP, working together within the wireless chip. ASIP stands for Application-Specific Instruction Set Processor.

[0014] Specific examples of the STAs 103 and 104 include cameras, tablets, smartphones, PCs, mobile phones, video cameras, smart glasses, and wearable devices such as HMDs (head-mounted displays).

[0015] In the following description, the AP 102 and the STAs 103 and 104 will be used as examples.

[0016] (AP and STA configuration) 2 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the AP 102 and the STAs 103 and 104. Here, the AP 102 and the STAs 103 and 104 include a wireless LAN control unit 201, a wireless frame generation unit 202, a wireless frame processing unit 203, a UI control unit 204, and a storage control unit 205.

[0017] The wireless LAN control unit 201 includes an antenna and circuit for transmitting and receiving wireless signals to and from other communication devices, and a program for controlling them. The wireless LAN control unit 201 controls wireless LAN communications based on frames generated by a frame generation unit in accordance with the IEEE802.11 standard series.

[0018] The wireless frame generation unit 202 generates frames to be transmitted by the wireless LAN control unit 201 .

[0019] The UI control unit 204 is configured to include hardware related to a user interface, such as a touch panel or buttons, for accepting operations on the AP 102 by a user who uses the AP 102, and a program for controlling these. The UI control unit 204 also has a function for presenting information to the user, such as displaying images or outputting audio.

[0020] The storage control unit 205 controls writing and reading of data to and from storage units such as ROM and RAM that store programs and data operated by the AP 102.

[0021] 3 shows the hardware configuration of the AP 102 and the STAs 103 and 104 according to this embodiment. The AP and the STAs each include, as an example of their hardware configuration, a storage unit 301, a control unit 302, a function unit 303, an input unit 304, an output unit 305, a communication unit 306, and a wireless antenna 307.

[0022] The storage unit 301 is configured with one or more memories such as a ROM and / or a RAM, and stores various information such as programs for performing various operations described below and communication parameters for wireless communication. The storage unit 301 may be a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), or other storage media such as a flexible disk, a hard disk, or an SSD. SSD stands for Solid State Drive. Alternatively, the storage unit 301 may be an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a magnetic tape, a non-volatile memory card, or a DVD.

[0023] The control unit 302 is configured by, for example, one or more processors such as a CPU or MPU, an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), a DSP (Digital Signal Processor), an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), etc. Here, CPU is an acronym for Central Processing Unit, and MPU is an acronym for Micro Processing Unit. The control unit 302 controls the entire device by executing programs stored in the storage unit 301.

[0024] The control unit 302 may control the device in cooperation with a program stored in the storage unit 301 and an OS (Operating System). The control unit 302 also controls the functional unit 303 to perform predetermined processes such as capturing images, printing, and projection. The functional unit 303 is hardware that causes the AP 102 or the STAs 103 and 104 to perform predetermined processes. For example, if the AP 102 or the STAs 103 and 104 are cameras, the functional unit 303 is an imaging unit that performs imaging processing. For example, if the AP 102 or the STAs 103 and 104 are printers, the functional unit 303 is a printing unit that performs printing processing.

[0025] Furthermore, for example, if the AP 102 or the STAs 103 and 104 are projectors, the function unit 303 is a projection unit that performs projection processing. The data processed by the function unit 303 may be data stored in the storage unit 301, or may be data communicated with another communication device via the communication unit 306, which will be described later.

[0026] The input unit 304 receives various operations from the user. The output unit 305 outputs various types of information to the user. Here, the output by the output unit 305 includes at least one of display on a screen, audio output by a speaker, vibration output, and the like. Note that both the input unit 304 and the output unit 305 may be implemented by a single module, such as a touch panel. Furthermore, the input unit 304 and the output unit 305 may be integrated with the AP 102 or the STAs 103 and 104, respectively, or may be separate units.

[0027] The communication unit 306 includes a so-called wireless LAN chip and controls wireless communication compliant with the IEEE 802.11 standard series and IP communication. In this embodiment, the communication unit 306 is capable of executing processing compliant with at least the IEEE 802.11bn standard. The communication unit 306 is a processing device that generates UHR PPDUs defined in the IEEE 802.11bn standard, and may also have a function to generate PPDUs of types defined in earlier standards. PPDU is an abbreviation for Physical layer (PHY) Protocol Data Unit.

[0028] Furthermore, the communication unit 306 controls the wireless antenna 307 to transmit and receive wireless signals for wireless communication. The AP and STA communicate content such as image data, document data, and video data with other communication devices via the communication unit 306. The wireless antenna 307 may be physically configured with two or more antennas to achieve MIMO (Multi-Input and Multi-Output) transmission and reception. The wireless antenna 307 may be configured as a separate unit from the communication unit 306, or may be configured together with the communication unit 306 as a single module. The wireless antenna 307 is an antenna capable of communication in the 2.4 GHz band, 5 GHz band, 6 GHz band, 45 GHz band, and 60 GHz band.

[0029] Although the communication device in FIG. 3 has one antenna, the communication device may have two or more antennas. Alternatively, the communication device may have a different antenna for each frequency band. In the example of FIG. 3, the configuration includes only one communication unit 306, but a separate communication unit may be provided for each of multiple wireless antennas. The AP 102 may be any communication device having the configurations of FIGS. 2 and 3, and may be a so-called AP-dedicated communication device such as a wireless LAN router, or may be a communication device with AP functionality such as a smartphone, camera, or printer.

[0030] (Processing flow) Next, an embodiment of a sequence in a wireless communication system executed by the AP and STA as described above will be described.

[0031] FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram showing an example of processing in which the STAs 103 and 104 notify the AP 102 of the amount of transmission buffer, and the STAs 103 and 104 perform data communication with the AP 102 using a communication frequency determined by the AP 102 based on the notified information.

[0032] In this embodiment, first, the AP 102 transmits a BSRP (Buffer Status Report Poll) frame 401 to the STAs 103 and 104 to request notification of the amount of data in the transmission buffer.

[0033] Upon receiving the BSRP frame 401, the STAs 103 and 104 simultaneously transmit a QoS Null frame 402 including a BSR to the AP 102 a fixed time after the reception. BSR is an abbreviation for Buffer Status Report. In this embodiment, the STAs transmit the QoS Null frame 402 including a BSR to the AP 102 using the BSRP frame as a trigger, but this is not limited to this. In other words, the STAs 103 and 104 may transmit a frame including a BSR to the AP 102 at an appropriate timing determined by themselves without using a BSRP frame.

[0034] An example of the frame structure of the QoS Null frame 402 is shown in FIG.

[0035] The format of the QoS Null frame includes a Frame Control field 501, a Duration / ID field 502, an Address1 field 503, and an Address2 field 504. It also includes an Address3 field 505, a Sequence Control field 506, an Address4 field 507, a QoS Control field 508, an A-Control field 509, and an FCS field 510.

[0036] The QoS Control field 508 is composed of an Ack Policy field 511 , an A-MSDU Present field 512 , and a Queue Size field 513 .

[0037] The Queue Size field 513 is 8 bits long and consists of a 3-bit Scaling Factor subfield and a 5-bit Unscaled Value subfield. Hereinafter, the Scaling Factor subfield will also be referred to as SF, and the Unscaled Value subfield will also be referred to as UV. The Queue Size is expressed as a combination of SF and UV, and an example is shown in Table 1. Note that Ceil() is a function that outputs an integer by rounding up the decimal point of the real number in the argument. In Table 1, the value of the Scaling Factor subfield and the actual bit string are shown in parentheses.

[0038] [Table 1] SF and UV can be uniquely determined from Queue Size, but the correspondence may differ from the above. Also, some SF and UV pairs may be reserved values, and Queue Size may not be assigned. The above example can express transmission buffer sizes of up to 1 gigabyte or more, and is expected to be able to respond to appropriate notification of transmission buffer sizes even with the expected higher communication rates in the future.

[0039] The AP 102 that receives the QoS Null frame 402 can calculate the transmission buffer size from the SF and UV values. The calculation formulas corresponding to SF values ​​0 to 7 are as shown in Table 2. The calculation formulas correspond to the calculation formulas for the SF and UV values ​​from the Queue Size shown in Table 1. If the calculation formula shown in Table 1 is a different example, the calculation formula shown in Table 2 will be changed accordingly. In Table 2, the value of the Scaling Factor subfield and the actual bit string are shown in parentheses.

[0040] [Table 2] The QoS Null frame 402 transmitted by the STAs 103 and 104 to the AP 102 may be an A-MPDU containing multiple QoS Null frames. Each QoS Null frame contained in the A-MPDU has a different TID (Traffic Identifier) ​​value, so that the A-MPDU can contain information about the transmission buffer capacity corresponding to multiple TIDs.

[0041] The AP 102 transmits a MU-RTS (Multi-user Respond to send) frame 403 to the STAs 103 and 104. Upon receiving the MU-RTS frame 403, the STAs 103 and 104 transmit a CTS (Clear to send) frame 404 to the AP 102.

[0042] The AP 102 transmits a Basic Trigger frame 405 to the STAs 103 and 104 as a trigger signal for the STAs 103 and 104 to perform MU UL OFDMA communication. MU UL OFDMA is an abbreviation for Multi-user Uplink Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access.

[0043] The Basic Trigger frame 405 stores information required to execute MU UL OFDMA communication, such as the ID of the STA terminal that transmits frames in MU UL OFDMA communication and information on the frequency to be used.

[0044] The allocation of frequencies used for MU-UL OFDMA communication to each STA can be determined based on BSR information transmitted from each STA to the AP. For example, a larger number of RUs (Resource Units) can be allocated to a STA with a larger transmission buffer. The STAs 103 and 104 transmit a TB PPDU 406 to the AP 102 based on information contained in the received Basic Trigger frame 405. TB PPDU stands for Trigger-Based PPDU. The AP 102 transmits a Multi-STA Block Ack frame 407 including TB PPDU reception information to the STAs 103 and 104.

[0045] In this embodiment, information about the transmission buffer capacity is included in the QoS Control field 608 of the QoS Null frame 402, but other variations are also possible. For example, it is possible to use a QoS Null frame having the frame format shown in FIG. 6. The QoS Null frame includes a Frame Control field 601, a Duration / ID field 602, an Address1 field 603, an Address2 field 604, and an Address3 field 605. It also includes a Sequence Control field 606, an Address4 field 607, a QoS Control field 608, an A-Control field 609, and an FCS field 610. In this embodiment, the QoS Null frame consists of these fields 601 to 610, but it may also include other fields.

[0046] The A-Control field 609 is composed of a Control List subfield 611 and a Padding subfield 612, and has a combined length of 30 bits.

[0047] The Control List subfield 611 is composed of a Control ID subfield 613 and a Control Information subfield 614. The Control ID subfield 613 contains a value that means that the Control List subfield 611 contains BSR information.

[0048] The Control Information subfield 614 includes an ACI Bitmap subfield 615, a Delta TID subfield 616, and an ACI High subfield 617. It also includes a Scaling Factor subfield 618, a Queue Size High subfield 619, and a Queue Size All subfield 620. Note that although the Control Information subfield 614 consists of these subfields 615 to 620, it may also include other subfields.

[0049] The transmission buffer amount expressed by the Queue Size High subfield 619 is the transmission buffer amount corresponding to the access category (AC) given in the 2-bit ACI High subfield 617 (hereinafter referred to as the designated AC transmission buffer amount).

[0050] The transmission buffer capacity represented by the Queue Size All subfield 620 is the sum of the transmission buffer capacity corresponding to the TID represented by the ACI Bitmap subfield 615 and the Delta TID subfield 616. Hereinafter, this sum is also referred to as the "total transmission buffer capacity."

[0051] The Scaling Factor subfield 618 is 3 bits long, and the Queue Size High subfield 619 and the Queue Size All subfield 620 are each 7 bits long. In this embodiment, the Scaling Factor subfield 618 and these two subfields 619 and 620 are used to represent two types of transmission buffer capacity (specified AC transmission buffer capacity and total transmission buffer capacity). The value of the Scaling Factor subfield 618 gives the corresponding Scaling Factor (SF) shown in Table 3 below, as an example.

[0052] [Table 3] The value (unit: bytes) obtained by multiplying SF by the value indicated in the Queue Size High subfield 619 is the specified AC transmission buffer size. The value (unit: bytes) obtained by multiplying SF by the value indicated in the Queue Size All subfield 620 is the total AC transmission buffer size. The Queue Size High subfield 619 is set so that the product of SF and the Queue Size High subfield is equal to or greater than the specified AC transmission buffer size and is the smallest possible product. The same applies to the Queue Size All subfield 620. According to the above example, transmission buffer sizes of up to 1 gigabyte or more can be expressed, and it is believed that this will enable appropriate notification of transmission buffer sizes even for the higher communication rates expected in the future.

[0053] If the Queue Size High subfield 619 is 126, it may mean that the total transmission buffer capacity is 126 x SF or more. Also, if the Queue Size All subfield 620 is 127, it may mean that the total transmission buffer capacity cannot be determined or is unknown. The same applies to the Queue Size All subfield 620.

[0054] In this embodiment, an example is shown in which SF is multiplied by 8 when the value of the Scaling Factor subfield 618 increases by 1, but the multiplier may be different. However, since the purpose of this embodiment is to express a transmission buffer capacity that is large enough for the intended use, it is considered desirable for the multiplier to be a certain value or higher.

[0055] Also, a reserved value or a value having another meaning may be used instead of assigning an SF to part of the Scaling Factor subfield 618. The Queue Size High subfield 619 and the Queue Size All subfield 620 may be 6 bits or less.

[0056] The AP 102 that receives the QoS Null frame 402 can calculate the designated AC transmission buffer size and the total transmission buffer size. That is, the designated AC transmission buffer size and the total transmission buffer size can be calculated from the values ​​of the Scaling Factor subfield 618, the Queue Size High subfield 619, and the Queue Size All subfield 620. Specifically, the Scaling Factor (SF) is calculated from the value of the Scaling Factor subfield 618 and Table 3. Then, the designated AC transmission buffer size is calculated by multiplying it by the value of the Queue Size High subfield 619, and the total buffer size is calculated by multiplying it by the value of the Queue Size All subfield 620.

[0057] As described above, a wireless communication device can appropriately notify other wireless communication devices of the amount of data in the transmission buffer within the device.

[0058] (Other embodiments) It is also possible to provide a system or device with a recording medium on which program code for software that realizes the above-described functions is recorded, and have the computer (CPU, MPU) of the system or device read and execute the program code stored on the recording medium. In this case, the program code itself read from the recording medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments, and the recording medium on which the program code is stored constitutes the above-described device.

[0059] Examples of storage media that can be used to supply the program code include flexible disks, hard disks, optical disks, magneto-optical disks, CD-ROMs, CD-Rs, magnetic tapes, non-volatile memory cards, ROMs, and DVDs.

[0060] In addition, not only can the above-mentioned functions be realized by the computer executing the program code it has read, but the OS running on the computer can also perform some or all of the actual processing based on the instructions of the program code to realize the above-mentioned functions.

[0061] Furthermore, the program code read from the storage medium may be written to a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into a computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, and a CPU provided in the function expansion board or function expansion unit may then perform some or all of the actual processing based on the instructions of the program code to realize the above-mentioned functions.

[0062] The present invention can also be realized by supplying a program that realizes one or more functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or device via a network or a storage medium, and having one or more processors in the computer of the system or device read and execute the program. It can also be realized by a circuit (e.g., ASIC) that realizes one or more functions.

[0063] Although each embodiment has been described in detail above, it is not limited to the specific embodiment, and various modifications and changes are possible within the scope of the claims. It is also possible to combine all or a plurality of components of the above-described embodiments.

[0064] The following additional notes are provided regarding the above-described embodiments.

[0065] [Appendix 1] A wireless communication device that complies with the IEEE 802.11 series of standards, a transmitting means for transmitting a radio frame including two fields indicating information about a transmission buffer amount, the two fields are comprised of a first field capable of storing a first value with an information amount of 3 bits or more, and a second field capable of storing a second value with an information amount of 3 bits or more, A wireless communication device, characterized in that the first value and the second value are set so that a third value determined from the first value and the second value is greater than the transmission buffer capacity, and so that a difference between the third value and the transmission buffer capacity is minimized. [Appendix 2] 2. The wireless communication device according to claim 1, further comprising: a setting unit that sets the first value and the second value based on the transmission buffer amount. [Appendix 3] A wireless communication device that complies with the IEEE 802.11 series of standards, receiving means for receiving a wireless frame including two fields indicating information about a transmission buffer capacity of another wireless communication device from the other wireless communication device; the two fields are comprised of a first field capable of storing a first value with an information amount of 3 bits or more, and a second field capable of storing a second value with an information amount of 3 bits or more, A wireless communication device, characterized in that the first value and the second value are set so that a third value determined from the first value and the second value is greater than the transmission buffer capacity, and so that a difference between the third value and the transmission buffer capacity is minimized. [Appendix 4] 3. The wireless communication device according to claim 2, further comprising: a calculation means for calculating the third value based on the first value and the second value. [Appendix 5] The wireless communication device according to any one of Supplementary Notes 1 to 4, characterized in that the third value is the sum of a multiplied value obtained by multiplying a fourth value corresponding to the first value by the second value and a fifth value corresponding to the first value. [Appendix 6] the radio frame includes a QoS Control field; The wireless communication device according to any one of Supplementary Notes 1 to 5, wherein the first field and the second field are included in the QoS Control field. [Appendix 7] The first field can store the first value with an information amount of 3 bits, The wireless communication device according to any one of Supplementary Notes 1 to 6, wherein the second field is capable of storing the second value with an information amount of 5 bits. [Appendix 8] the radio frame includes an A-Control field; The wireless communication device according to any one of Supplementary Notes 1 to 5, characterized in that the first field and the second field are included in the A-Control field. [Appendix 9] the A-Control field includes a Control subfield; The wireless communication device described in Supplementary Note 8, characterized in that the first field and the second field are included in the Control subfield. [Appendix 10] The first field can store the first value with an information amount of 3 bits, the second field is capable of storing the second value with an information amount of 7 bits, The wireless communication device described in Supplementary Note 8 or 9, characterized in that the third value is a multiplied value obtained by multiplying a fourth value corresponding to the first value by the second value. [Appendix 11] There are two second fields: 11. The wireless communication device according to any one of Supplementary notes 8 to 10, wherein the two second fields can store different second values. [Appendix 12] 12. The wireless communication device according to any one of Supplementary Notes 1 to 11, wherein a part of the set of the first value and the second value is a reserved value. [Appendix 14] A program for causing a computer to function as each of the means provided in the wireless communication device described in any one of Supplementary Notes 1 to 4. [Appendix 15] A method for controlling a wireless communication device conforming to the IEEE 802.11 series of standards, transmitting a radio frame including two fields indicating information about a transmission buffer amount; the two fields are comprised of a first field capable of storing a first value with an information amount of 3 bits or more, and a second field capable of storing a second value with an information amount of 3 bits or more, a control method characterized in that the first value and the second value are set so that a third value determined from the first value and the second value is greater than the transmission buffer capacity, and a difference between the third value and the transmission buffer capacity is minimized. [Appendix 16] A method for controlling a wireless communication device conforming to the IEEE 802.11 series of standards, receiving a wireless frame from another wireless communication device, the wireless frame including two fields indicating information about a transmission buffer capacity of the other wireless communication device; the two fields are comprised of a first field capable of storing a first value with an information amount of 3 bits or more, and a second field capable of storing a second value with an information amount of 3 bits or more, a control method characterized in that the first value and the second value are set so that a third value determined from the first value and the second value is greater than the transmission buffer capacity, and a difference between the third value and the transmission buffer capacity is minimized. [Explanation of symbols]

[0066] 101 Network 102 AP 103, 104 STA

Claims

1. A wireless communication device that complies with the IEEE 802.11 series of standards, a transmitting means for transmitting a radio frame including two fields indicating information about a transmission buffer amount, the two fields are comprised of a first field capable of storing a first value with an information amount of 3 bits or more, and a second field capable of storing a second value with an information amount of 3 bits or more, A wireless communication device, characterized in that the first value and the second value are set so that a third value determined from the first value and the second value is greater than the transmission buffer capacity, and so that the difference between the third value and the transmission buffer capacity is minimized.

2. 2. The wireless communication device according to claim 1, further comprising: setting means for setting the first value and the second value based on the transmission buffer amount.

3. A wireless communication device that complies with the IEEE 802.11 series of standards, receiving means for receiving a wireless frame including two fields indicating information about a transmission buffer capacity of another wireless communication device from the other wireless communication device; the two fields are comprised of a first field capable of storing a first value with an information amount of 3 bits or more, and a second field capable of storing a second value with an information amount of 3 bits or more, A wireless communication device, characterized in that the first value and the second value are set so that a third value determined from the first value and the second value is greater than the transmission buffer capacity, and so that the difference between the third value and the transmission buffer capacity is minimized.

4. 3. The wireless communication device according to claim 2, further comprising: a calculation unit that calculates the third value based on the first value and the second value.

5. 5. The wireless communication device according to claim 1, wherein the third value is a sum of a multiplied value obtained by multiplying a fourth value corresponding to the first value by the second value and a fifth value corresponding to the first value.

6. the radio frame includes a QoS Control field; The wireless communication device according to claim 1 , wherein the first field and the second field are included in the QoS Control field.

7. the first field is capable of storing the first value with an information amount of 3 bits, 5. The wireless communication device according to claim 1, wherein the second field is capable of storing the second value with an information amount of 5 bits.

8. the radio frame includes an A-Control field; 5. The wireless communication device according to claim 1, wherein the first field and the second field are included in the A-Control field.

9. The A-Control field includes a Control subfield, The wireless communication device according to claim 8 , wherein the first field and the second field are included in the Control subfield.

10. the first field is capable of storing the first value with an information amount of 3 bits, the second field is capable of storing the second value with an information amount of 7 bits, The wireless communication device according to claim 8 , wherein the third value is a multiplied value obtained by multiplying a fourth value corresponding to the first value by the second value.

11. There are two second fields:

9. The wireless communication device according to claim 8, wherein different second values ​​can be stored in the two second fields.

12. The wireless communication device according to claim 1 , wherein a part of the set of the first value and the second value is a reserved value.

13. A program for causing a computer to function as each of the means provided in the wireless communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

14. A method for controlling a wireless communication device conforming to the IEEE 802.11 series of standards, comprising: transmitting a radio frame including two fields indicating information about a transmission buffer capacity; the two fields are comprised of a first field capable of storing a first value with an information amount of 3 bits or more, and a second field capable of storing a second value with an information amount of 3 bits or more, a control method characterized in that the first value and the second value are set so that a third value determined from the first value and the second value is greater than the transmission buffer capacity, and a difference between the third value and the transmission buffer capacity is minimized.

15. A method for controlling a wireless communication device conforming to the IEEE 802.11 series of standards, comprising: receiving a wireless frame from another wireless communication device, the wireless frame including two fields indicating information about a transmission buffer capacity of the other wireless communication device; the two fields are comprised of a first field capable of storing a first value with an information amount of 3 bits or more, and a second field capable of storing a second value with an information amount of 3 bits or more, a control method characterized in that the first value and the second value are set so that a third value determined from the first value and the second value is greater than the transmission buffer capacity, and a difference between the third value and the transmission buffer capacity is minimized.

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