Access point and transmission method

Abstract

To improve reception quality in cooperative communication. [Solution] The access point includes a control circuit that generates first control information which includes information common to at least a portion of the second control information included in the second preamble, which is a component of the second signal transmitted by the second AP, when the first AP and the second AP simultaneously transmit a first signal and a second signal, respectively, and a transmission circuit that transmits a first signal which is a component of the first preamble containing the first control information, wherein the first signal is transmitted to a first STA associated with the first AP, and the second signal is transmitted to a second STA associated with the second AP, the first control information includes a first SIG field and a second SIG field, the second SIG field includes a Common field, a first User field for the first STA and a second User field for the second STA, and the control circuit sets identification information for the first STA and identification information for the second STA in the first User field and the second User field, respectively.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to an access point and a transmission method.

Background Art

[0002] As a successor standard to 802.11ax (hereinafter referred to as "11ax") of the IEEE (the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) 802.11 standard, the technical specification of 802.11be (hereinafter referred to as "11be") is being developed.

[0003] In 11be, the application of coordinated communication in which a plurality of wireless communication devices on the data transmission side cooperate to transmit data to a wireless communication device on the reception side is being considered.

Prior Art Documents

Non-Patent Documents

[0004]

Non-Patent Document 1

Non-Patent Document 2

Non-Patent Document 3

Non-Patent Document 4

Non-Patent Document 5

[0005] However, there is room for further consideration regarding improving reception quality in coordinated communications.

[0006] Non-limiting embodiments of this disclosure contribute to providing access points and transmission methods that can improve reception quality in cooperative communications. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] An access point according to one embodiment of the present disclosure is a first access point comprising: a control circuit that generates first control information which includes information common to at least a portion of second control information included in a second preamble that is a component of the second signal transmitted by the second AP when a first AP and a second AP simultaneously coordinately transmit a first signal and a second signal, respectively; and a transmission circuit that transmits a first signal which is a component of the first preamble that includes the first control information, wherein the first signal is transmitted to a first station (STA) associated with the first AP, and the second signal is transmitted to a second STA associated with the second AP, the first control information includes a first SIG field and a second SIG field, the second SIG field includes a Common field, a first User field for the first STA and a second User field for the second STA, and the control circuit sets identification information for the first STA and identification information for the second STA in the first User field and the second User field, respectively.

[0008] These comprehensive or specific embodiments may be implemented as systems, devices, methods, integrated circuits, computer programs, or recording media, or as any combination of systems, devices, methods, integrated circuits, computer programs, and recording media. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the reception quality can be improved in cooperative communication.

[0010] Further advantages and effects of one embodiment of this disclosure will be made apparent from the specification and drawings. Such advantages and / or effects are provided by several embodiments and features described in the specification and drawings, but not all of them are necessarily provided in order to obtain one or more identical features. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0011] [Figure 1A] Diagram showing an example of the relationship between an AP and a STA using Coordinated Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (C-OFDMA) [Figure 1B] Diagram showing an example of the signals transmitted and received between the AP and the STA shown in Fig. 1A [Figure 2A] Diagram showing an example of the relationship between an AP and a STA combining C-OFDMA and Coordinated Spatial Reuse (CSR) [Figure 2B] Diagram showing an example of the signals transmitted and received between the AP and the STA shown in Fig. 2A [Figure 3] Diagram showing an example of the format of the EHT preamble [Figure 4] Diagram showing an example of the configuration of the HE-SIG-B of the HE Preamble [Figure 5] Table showing an example of the information set in the RU allocation shown in Fig. 4 [Figure 6] Table showing an example of the information set in the Spatial Configuration subfield [Figure 7] Diagram showing an example of the transmission and reception of control packets in cooperative communication [Figure 8] Block diagram showing an example of the configuration of part of a transmission device [Figure 9] Block diagram showing an example of the configuration of part of a receiving device [Figure 10] Block diagram showing an example of the configuration of an AP [Figure 11] Block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a STA [Figure 12A] Diagram showing an example of the relationship between an AP performing C-OFDMA transmission and a STA [Figure 12B] Diagram showing an example of the signal transmitted by the AP shown in Fig. 12A [Figure 13] Diagram showing a first example of a signal in C-OFDMA transmission [Figure 14] Diagram showing a second example of a signal in C-OFDMA transmission [Figure 15] A diagram showing an example of the EHT preamble format. [Figure 16] Block diagram showing an example of AP configuration. [Figure 17] This diagram shows an example of C-OFDMA transmission operation, including the sending and receiving of control packets. [Figure 18A] This diagram shows an example of the relationship between AP and STA in combination with C-OFDMA and CSR. [Figure 18B] Figure 18A shows an example of signals transmitted and received between AP and STA. [Figure 19] Figure showing a first example of the RU Allocation table in this embodiment. [Figure 20] Figure showing a second example of the RU Allocation table in this embodiment. [Figure 21] Figure showing a third example of the RU Allocation table in this embodiment. [Figure 22] Figure showing a fourth example of the RU Allocation table in this embodiment. [Figure 23] Figure showing a fifth example of the RU Allocation table in this embodiment. [Figure 24] A diagram illustrating an example of resource allocation for coordinated transmission. [Figure 25] Figure 24 shows an example of a cooperative flag. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0012] Embodiments of this disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

[0013] (One embodiment) [Cooperative method] In 11be, for example, the application of Multi-AP coordination (hereinafter referred to as "cooperative communication") is being considered, in which multiple wireless communication devices, such as access points (also called "base stations," hereinafter referred to as "APs (Access Points)"), cooperate in sending and receiving data with wireless communication devices, such as terminals (hereinafter referred to as "STAs (Station)"). Multiple coordination methods are being considered for cooperative communication.

[0014] For example, a cooperative method called Coordinated Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (C-OFDMA) is being considered (see, for example, Non-Patent Document 1).

[0015] Figure 1A shows an example of the relationship between an AP and an STA using C-OFDMA. Figure 1B shows an example of signals transmitted and received between the AP and STA shown in Figure 1A.

[0016] Figure 1A shows two APs (AP1 and AP2) and four STAs (STAa, STAb, STAc, and STAd). In Figure 1A, AP1 transmits signals to STAa and STAb using C-OFDMA, and AP2 transmits signals to STAc and STAd using C-OFDMA.

[0017] Figure 1B shows examples of signals transmitted by each AP shown in Figure 1A using C-OFDMA. Figure 1B shows two examples: Option 1 and Option 2.

[0018] In Option 1, each AP transmits signals using C-OFDMA in its own separate frequency band. For example, in Option 1, the 40MHz frequency band is divided (allocated) into a 20MHz frequency band used by AP1 and a 20MHz frequency band used by AP2. AP1 then transmits a signal containing the Preamble and payloads addressed to STAa and STAb using C-OFDMA in the 20MHz frequency band used by AP1. AP2 also transmits a signal containing the Preamble and payloads addressed to STAc and STAd using C-OFDMA in the 20MHz frequency band used by AP2.

[0019] In Option 2, each AP transmits signals using C-OFDMA within a specific frequency band. For example, in Option 2, AP1 transmits a signal containing the Preamble, the Payload for STAa, and the Payload for STAb using C-OFDMA within a 40MHz frequency band. AP2 also transmits a signal containing the Preamble, the Payload for STAc, and the Payload for STAd using C-OFDMA within a 40MHz frequency band.

[0020] Furthermore, coordinated communication methods combining the aforementioned C-OFDMA with Coordinated Spatial Reuse (CSR) are being considered (for example, Non-Patent Document 2).

[0021] Figure 2A shows an example of the relationship between an AP and an STA that combines C-OFDMA and CSR. Figure 2B shows an example of signals transmitted and received between the AP and STA shown in Figure 2A.

[0022] Figure 2A shows two APs (AP1 and AP2) and four STAs (STA1, STA2, STA3, and STA4). In Figure 2A, AP1 transmits signals to STA1 and STA2, and AP2 transmits signals to STA3 and STA4.

[0023] Figure 2B shows an example of signal transmission between AP1 and AP2 using three Resource Units (RUs): RU1, RU2, and RU3. Each RU is a unit of resource defined, for example, by time and frequency. For example, AP1 transmits a signal to STA1 in RU1, and AP2 transmits a signal to STA4 in RU1. Here, AP1 and AP2 use CSR in RU1. Also, AP1 transmits a signal to STA2 in RU2, and AP2 transmits a signal to STA3 in RU3. Here, AP1 and AP2 use C-OFDMA in RU2 and RU3.

[0024] [Example of preamble structure] The format of the preamble used in 11be (hereinafter referred to as "EHT preamble") is being considered (for example, Non-Patent Document 3).

[0025] Figure 3 shows an example of the EHT preamble format. Figure 3 shows the fields included in the EHT preamble format. Each field is set with corresponding information (parameters or values).

[0026] U-SIG includes Basic Service Set (BSS) color and Bandwidth. The BSS color is information that identifies the AP to which the radio wave belongs. For example, if an STA receives a BSS color different from that of an association AP, the STA can reduce the non-transmission period due to carrier sense by raising the detection threshold in Carrier Sense Multiple Access / Collision Avoidance (CSMA / CA).

[0027] For EHT-SIG, a configuration similar to HE-SIG-B in an 11ax preamble (e.g., HE Preamble) is being considered.

[0028] Figure 4 shows an example configuration of HE-SIG-B in HE Preamble. HE-SIG-B shown in Figure 4 includes a Common field and a User-specific field.

[0029] The Common field includes RU allocation. RU allocation contains information regarding frequency band allocation.

[0030] User-specific fields contain information unique to each user (each STA). For example, a user-specific field may contain one or more user block fields, from the 1st User Block field to the Last User Block field. The 1st User Block field contains the user fields of STA1 and STA2. Although omitted in Figure 4, each of the 2nd User Block field to the Last User Block field may contain one or more user fields. Also omitted in Figure 4, the user field may contain a number assigned to each STA (hereinafter referred to as "AID (Association Identification)"). AID is an example of identification information that identifies an STA. Also omitted in Figure 4, the user field may contain a Spatial Configuration subfield.

[0031] Figure 5 is a table showing an example of the information set in the RU allocation shown in Figure 4. The RU allocation in the Common field shown in Figure 4 is set with an 8-bit index as shown in the table in Figure 5, according to the set RU allocation.

[0032] Figure 6 is a table showing an example of the information set in the Spatial Configuration subfield. In the table in Figure 6, "Nuser" indicates the number of destination STAs. In the table in Figure 6, the 4 bits of information specify the allocation of the number of spatial streams to the number of destination STAs.

[0033] [Example of packet transmission in cooperative communication] In cooperative communication, it is considered that control packets are sent before data packets are sent (for example, Non-Patent Document 5).

[0034] Figure 7 shows an example of the transmission and reception of control packets in cooperative communication. Figure 7 shows an example of packets transmitted and received between the Master AP, Slave AP1, STAa, and STAb.

[0035] For example, before an AP sends a data packet (MAP data), the master AP sends a packet called a MAP selection to the slave AP. The slave AP receives the MAP selection and sends a packet called a MAP selection response to the master AP. The master AP then sends a MAP Trigger to the slave AP. After the master AP and slave AP have sent and received these packets, they send the data packet to the STA.

[0036] [Preamble in coordinated communications] In cooperative communication, when multiple wireless communication devices (e.g., APs or STAs) transmit preambles at the same timing and on the same frequency, the information contained in the preambles (e.g., control information) may differ depending on the preamble (e.g., depending on the wireless communication device that transmitted the preamble). In this case, the wireless communication device receiving the preamble (e.g., AP or STA) may make decoding errors when decoding the received preamble.

[0037] This disclosure contributes to providing a transmitting device and a transmitting method that can reduce decoding errors when receiving preambles transmitted from multiple transmitting devices (e.g., APs) in cooperative communication, and can improve the throughput of cooperative communication.

[0038] [Configuration of the wireless communication system] A wireless communication system according to one embodiment of the present disclosure includes at least two sources (e.g., APs or STAs) and at least one destination (e.g., AP or STA). In the following description, a source corresponds to a "transmitting device" and a destination corresponds to a "receiving device". For example, two source APs correspond to a "first transmitting device" and a "second transmitting device," respectively. Furthermore, when two source APs transmit in coordination, the destination STA may correspond to, for example, a receiving device targeted for coordinated transmission.

[0039] Figure 8 is a block diagram showing a partial configuration example of the transmitting device 10. The transmitting device 10 shown in Figure 8 comprises a control unit (an example of a control circuit) and a wireless transmitting unit (an example of a transmitting circuit). For example, the transmitting device 10 shown in Figure 8 is a first transmitting device and performs transmission in cooperation with a second transmitting device.

[0040] The control unit in Figure 8 generates first control information that includes information common to at least a portion of the second control information transmitted by the second transmitter in the second preamble when the first transmitter and the second transmitter perform transmission in coordination.

[0041] The wireless transmission unit in Figure 8 transmits the first control information in the first preamble.

[0042] Figure 9 is a block diagram showing a partial configuration example of the receiving device 20. The receiving device 20 shown in Figure 9 comprises a control unit and a wireless receiving unit.

[0043] The wireless receiver in Figure 9 receives received signals, including preambles, from multiple transmitting devices.

[0044] The control unit in Figure 9 demodulates the received signal based on the preamble.

[0045] Note that the transmitting device 10 shown in Figure 8 is not limited to the AP example; for example, it could be an STA. For example, an AP and an STA may cooperate to perform transmission.

[0046] (Embodiment 1) In Embodiment 1, at least a portion of the control information included in the preamble is set to the same information (same value) among the preambles transmitted by each cooperating AP. In other words, when AP1 and AP2 transmit in cooperation, AP1 generates control information that includes information common to at least a portion of the control information transmitted by AP2 in its preamble. AP1 then transmits the generated control information in its preamble.

[0047] The method for setting the same value is not limited. For example, at least a portion of the control information included in the preamble may be replaced with AP group-specific information or AP group-specific parameters. Alternatively, at least a portion of the control information included in the preamble may be a value common to the AP group. Furthermore, the control information set to the same value may be the BSS color or the entire U-SIG. In addition, the preamble may be a preamble that is transmitted simultaneously in coordination, or a preamble included in data that is transmitted in coordination in response to a trigger signal. The configuration and operation according to this embodiment will be described in <Example 1-1>.

[0048] In Embodiment 1, the control information to be set to the same value may be the entire user-specific field or EHT-SIG, in addition to U-SIG or BSS color, or it may be GI (Guard Interval) and EHT-LTF. Furthermore, all control information included in the preamble may be set to the same value. The operation according to this embodiment will be described in <Example 1-2>.

[0049] In Embodiment 1, changes to the control information included in the preamble may be notified in a control packet transmitted in advance. The operation according to this embodiment will be described in <Example 1-3>.

[0050] The following describes an example of operation, including the setting of control information included in the preamble when performing downlink cooperative communication using C-OFDMA. Note that the configuration and operation related to uplink communication may be omitted in the following explanation. Also, in the case of uplink communication, the same settings and operations may be applied to the preambles of packets destined for multiple different APs (for example, packets from STA1 to AP1 and packets from STA2 to AP2).

[0051] [AP Configuration] Figure 10 is a block diagram showing an example configuration of AP10.

[0052] AP10 includes a preamble generation unit 101, a transmit packet generation unit 102, and a wireless transmission unit 103. The preamble generation unit 101 and the transmit packet generation unit 102 may be included in a control unit (see Figure 8), for example.

[0053] The preamble generation unit 101 generates a preamble in a specified format by setting information (values ​​or parameters) in each field included in the preamble format. The generated preamble will be described later.

[0054] The transmission packet generation unit 102 acquires the transmission data and preamble, generates a packet containing the transmission data and preamble, and outputs the generated packet to the wireless transmission unit 103.

[0055] The wireless transmission unit 103 converts the acquired packets into wireless signals and transmits them via the antenna.

[0056] [STA composition] Figure 11 is a block diagram showing an example configuration of STA20.

[0057] STA20 includes a wireless receiving unit 201, a received packet decoding unit 202, and a preamble extraction unit 203. The received packet decoding unit 202 and the preamble extraction unit 203 may be included in a control unit (see Figure 9).

[0058] The wireless receiver 201 receives a wireless signal via the antenna and outputs the received signal (e.g., a received packet) after performing wireless signal processing such as frequency conversion and demodulation to the received packet decoding unit 202.

[0059] The received packet decoding unit 202 separates the preamble and the received data portion from the received packet and outputs the preamble to the preamble extraction unit 203.

[0060] The preamble extraction unit 203 outputs at least a portion of the information extracted from the preamble to the received packet decoding unit 202.

[0061] The received packet decoding unit 202 decodes the received data portion based on the information obtained from the preamble extraction unit 203. The received packet decoding unit 202 then outputs the received data obtained by decoding to the data processing unit (not shown) of the upper layer.

[0062] <Example 1-1> Figure 12A shows an example of the relationship between an AP performing C-OFDMA transmission and an STA. Figure 12B shows an example of a signal transmitted by the AP shown in Figure 12A.

[0063] Figure 12A shows two APs (AP1 and AP2) and two STAs (STA1 and STA2). STA1 and STA2 are located within the radio wave range Ar1 of AP1 and the radio wave range Ar2 of AP2, and receive signals transmitted by AP1 and AP2. In Figure 12A, AP1 performs a C-OFDMA transmission to STA1, and AP2 performs a C-OFDMA transmission to STA2.

[0064] Figure 12B shows examples of signals transmitted via C-OFDMA by AP1 to STA1 and by AP2 to STA2. As shown in Figure 12B, the data transmitted by AP1 to STA1 and the data transmitted by AP2 to STA2 use different resources in the frequency direction. On the other hand, AP1 and AP2 transmit preambles (EHT preambles) at the same timing (same time interval) and frequency.

[0065] The preamble is a signal in sub-channel units (e.g., 20MHz bandwidth), and even if the data is a signal in a sub-channel frequency band (e.g., 20MHz bandwidth), the preamble can be a signal in the sub-channel frequency band. If the preamble is, for example, an EHT preamble, the BSS color is included in the U-SIG field shown in Figure 3.

[0066] AP1 and AP2 each have separate BSS colors. In non-cooperative communication, AP1 and AP2 each transmit a preamble containing their respective BSS colors. In cooperative transmission (e.g., C-OFDMA transmission), AP1 and AP2 may set the BSS color in AP1's preamble and the BSS color in AP2's preamble to the same value and transmit a preamble containing the same BSS color.

[0067] Furthermore, an AP that initiates transmission using Carrier Sense Multiple Access / Collision Avoidance (CSMA / CA) is referred to as a Sharing AP (also called a "Coordinator AP" or "first AP"), and an AP whose Multi-AP coordination is controlled by the Sharing AP may be referred to as a Shared AP (also called a "Coordinated AP" or "second AP").

[0068] The same BSS color value may be an intrinsic value of an AP within the AP group, for example, the BSS color of a Sharing AP. Alternatively, the same BSS color value may be the BSS color of a Master AP as shown in Non-Patent Document 5.

[0069] The receiving STA may perform the same actions as when the BSS color included in the preamble is the BSS color of the cooperating AP, if the BSS color included in the preamble is the BSS color of the association AP. The STA may be notified in advance of the BSS color of the cooperating AP. This notification may be made within the association or using beacons.

[0070] This allows AP1 and AP2 to transmit the same BSS color, and STA1 and STA2, which receive signals from both AP1 and AP2, to receive the same BSS color, thereby reducing the possibility of BSS color decoding errors. Furthermore, since the BSS color is a value referenced by each of the receiving STAs, the possibility of decoding errors occurring in each of the receiving STAs is reduced.

[0071] Note that BSS colors with the same value may contain different information from the BSS colors of AP1 and AP2, such as AP group-specific information. In other words, the BSS color set in coordinated transmission may differ from the AP's BSS color set in non-coordinated transmission. For example, AP group-specific information may be a common BSS color within the AP group (hereinafter referred to as the "coordinated BSS color"). In this case, the AP may notify the STA with which it is associated of the coordinated BSS color in advance. This notification may be made through the association or by using beacons.

[0072] Furthermore, the AP group may be a Static Multi-AP Group or a Dynamic Multi-AP Group (see Non-Patent Document 6), or a Virtual BSS (see Non-Patent Document 7). Alternatively, the AP group may be designated by the first AP installed (the AP that does not receive a beacon specifying the cooperative BSS color).

[0073] As a result, the STA receives a preamble containing the association AP's BSS color in non-cooperative communication, and a preamble containing the cooperative BSS color in cooperative communication. The STA can then determine whether or not cooperation is occurring based on the received preamble, and can perform Spatial Reuse between the association AP and other APs in non-cooperative communication.

[0074] Furthermore, APs included in a Static Multi-AP Group, Dynamic Multi-AP Group, or Virtual BSS may use a common BSS color (AP group-specific information) for both non-coordinated and coordinated communications within the AP group.

[0075] Additionally, the BSS color for coordination may be either a Virtual BSS color or a Multi-AP Group color.

[0076] Furthermore, while Figure 12B shows an example of a signal when C-OFDMA is performed on a single sub-channel, C-OFDMA transmission may also be performed on multiple sub-channels.

[0077] Figure 13 shows a first example of signals in C-OFDMA transmission. Figure 13 shows an example of signals transmitted by AP1 and AP2 via C-OFDMA on two subchannels. In the example in Figure 13, AP1 transmits a signal to STAa on subchannel #1 and a signal to STAb on subchannel #2. AP2 transmits a signal to STAc on subchannel #1 and a signal to STAd on subchannel #2. The data transmitted by AP1 to STAa and the data transmitted by AP2 to STAc use different resources in the frequency direction. Similarly, the data transmitted by AP1 to STAb and the data transmitted by AP2 to STAd use different resources in the frequency direction. On the other hand, the preamble transmitted by AP1 on subchannel #1 and the preamble transmitted by AP2 on subchannel #1 are transmitted at the same timing (same time interval) and at the same frequency. Similar to subchannel #1, the preamble transmitted on subchannel #2 is also transmitted at the same timing (same time interval) and frequency.

[0078] Even in such cases, the preambles transmitted in subchannel #1 may be the same value preamble. Similarly, the preambles transmitted in subchannel #2 may be the same value preamble. Furthermore, the preamble transmitted in subchannel #1 and the preamble transmitted in subchannel #2 may be the same value preamble or may be different value preambles.

[0079] Figure 14 shows a second example of signals in C-OFDMA transmission. Figure 14 shows an example of signals transmitted by AP1 and AP2 via C-OFDMA on two subchannels. In the example in Figure 14, AP1 transmits a signal to STAa on subchannel #1 and signals to STAb and STAc on subchannel #2. AP2 transmits a signal to STAd on subchannel #1. The data transmitted by AP1 to STAa and the data transmitted by AP2 to STAd use different resources in the frequency direction. Similarly, the data transmitted by AP1 to STAb and the data transmitted by AP1 to STAc use different resources in the frequency direction. On the other hand, the preamble transmitted by AP1 on subchannel #1 and the preamble transmitted by AP2 on subchannel #1 are transmitted at the same timing (same time interval) and at the same frequency. Also, since AP2 does not use subchannel #2, AP2 does not need to transmit a preamble on subchannel #2. In this case, the preamble transmitted by AP1 on subchannel #2 will not overlap with other preambles at the same timing (same time interval) and frequency.

[0080] In this case, the preambles transmitted on subchannel #1 may have the same value. Also, since subchannel #2 is not used by AP2, the preambles transmitted on subchannel #2 do not have to have the same value. Furthermore, the preambles transmitted on subchannel #1 and subchannel #2 may have the same value or different values.

[0081] <Examples 1-2> In Example 1-1, the control information that has the same value may include the user-specific field or the entire EHT-SIG, in addition to the U-SIG or BSS color.

[0082] Figure 15 shows an example of the EHT preamble format. The common and user fields in Figure 15 are the same as the HE-SIG-B configuration example of the HE Preamble shown in Figure 4.

[0083] For example, one User Block field contains information for two destination STAs (User field #STA1 and User field #STA2). For example, there are a number of User Block fields equal to the number obtained by dividing the number of destination STAs by two and rounding it up. In Figure 15, these are labeled "1st User Block field," "2nd User Block field," ... "Last User Block field."

[0084] The user-specific field included in the EHT preamble may contain information about the STAs (Site Administrators) that are the destinations of each cooperating AP.

[0085] For example, in the example in Figure 12A, AP1's destination STA is STA1, and AP2's destination STA is STA2. In this example, the destination STAs for the cooperating APs are STA1 and STA2. Since there are two destination STAs for the cooperating APs, the user-specific field contains one User Block field (for example, the 1st User Block field). In the example in Figure 12A, the AID of User field #STA1 within the 1st User Block field is set to the AID of STA1 in Figure 12A, and the AID of User field #STA2 is set to the AID of STA2 in Figure 12A.

[0086] If each associated AP individually specifies an AID for an STA, each cooperating AP may configure itself to avoid assigning duplicate AIDs to STAs in order to identify the destination STA. For example, each AP may specify a range for AID assignment and assign AIDs to associated STAs within that range.

[0087] Furthermore, to prevent overlapping allocation ranges between APs, each AP may notify cooperating APs of its allocation range. APs that receive this notification may specify an allocation range that does not overlap with the notified range. In addition, each AP's allocation range may be notified via beacon.

[0088] Furthermore, in order to identify the destination STA, information identifying the source AP may be added to the individual information for each STA (information corresponding to the User field in HE-SIG-B). In order to reduce the number of bits in the preamble, the information identifying the source AP may be a value associated with the BSS color (referred to as "partial BSS color"). The information identifying the source AP (partial BSS color) may be notified to the STA in the association, or it may be notified to the STA using a beacon.

[0089] Furthermore, to ensure that the AIDs of the STAs associated with each of the cooperating APs do not overlap, the AID assignment of the STAs may be performed by the device managing the Static Multi-AP Group or Virtual BSS, or by one of the cooperating APs (a designated AP, for example, the Master AP in the case of Master / Slave-APs).

[0090] Furthermore, in order to make the modulation signals of the EHT-SIG identical, the EHT-SIG MCS included in the U-SIG may be set to the same value.

[0091] Furthermore, in order to ensure that each piece of control information included in the preamble has the same value, the GI (including GI-type), which is determined by the effects of multipath interference such as the movement speed of the destination STA, may be set to the same value among coordinating APs. Additionally, the EHT-LTF (including EHT-LTF size and EHT-LTY type), which is determined from the MIMO multiplexing number, may be set to the same value, or it may be divided by frequency band for each AP, or multiplexed using a code (e.g., p-matrix), or time-division multiplexing may be used.

[0092] <Examples 1-3> Changes to the control information contained in the preamble shown in Examples 1-1 and 1-2 may be notified in advance by a control packet sent beforehand (for example, before sending the packet containing the preamble).

[0093] [AP Configuration] Figure 16 is a block diagram showing an example configuration of AP30. The AP30 shown in Figure 16 includes a control data generation unit 301, a preamble generation unit 302, a transmission packet generation unit 303, a wireless transmission / reception unit 304, a received packet decoding unit 305, and a control data extraction unit 306.

[0094] The control data generation unit 301 acquires control data from a control signal (or control information) or the control data extraction unit 306 (described later) and generates control data for a control packet and / or control data to be set in the preamble. The control data generation unit 301 outputs the control data for the control packet to the transmission packet generation unit 303. The control data generation unit 301 also outputs the control data to be set in the preamble to the preamble generation unit 302.

[0095] The preamble generation unit 302 generates a preamble in a specified format by setting information (values ​​or parameters) in each field included in the preamble format. Here, the preamble generation unit 302 may refer to the control data from the control data generation unit 301.

[0096] The transmission packet generation unit 303 acquires the transmission data and preamble and generates a packet (data packet) containing the transmission data and preamble. The transmission packet generation unit 303 also generates a control packet containing control data for the control packet acquired from the control data generation unit 301. The transmission packet generation unit 303 outputs the generated packet to the wireless transceiver unit 304.

[0097] The wireless transceiver 304 converts the acquired packets into wireless signals and transmits them via the antenna. The wireless transceiver 304 also receives wireless signals via the antenna and outputs the received signals (received packets) after processing them, such as frequency conversion and demodulation, to the received packet decoding unit 305.

[0098] The received packet decoding unit 305 separates the received data portion from the received packet and decodes the received data portion. The received packet decoding unit 305 outputs the received data obtained by decoding to the data processing unit (not shown) of the upper layer. The received packet decoding unit 305 also acquires control data from the received packet and outputs it to the control data extraction unit 306.

[0099] The control data extraction unit 306 determines the control data to be notified to the STA or the cooperating AP based on the acquired control data, and outputs the determined control data to the control data generation unit 301.

[0100] Figure 17 shows an example of C-OFDMA transmission operation, including the transmission and reception of control packets.

[0101] In Figure 17, AP1 uses MAP selection to notify AP2 of information to set the control information included in the co-transmission preamble to the same value. For example, the information notified using MAP selection may include information specified in the BSS color and / or user-specific field.

[0102] The BSS color to be notified may be any of the Sharing AP BSS color, Master AP BSS color, or coordination BSS color shown in Example 1-1. Alternatively, instead of notifying the BSS color, a U-SIG containing the BSS color may be notified.

[0103] Furthermore, the information specified in the user-specific field to be notified may be the EHT-SIG included in the preamble in cooperative transmission. Also, the destination STA assignment for AP2 may be determined by at least one of AP1, the Master AP, the device managing the Static Multi-AP Group, or the device managing the Virtual BSS. Alternatively, the destination STA assignment for AP2 may be determined by AP2 itself. If AP2 determines the assignment, the EHT-SIG notified by AP1 may be the value excluding AP2's STA assignment.

[0104] AP2 notifies via MAP selection, or changes the AID of the destination STA selected by AP2 to an AID in the unused area. The unused area of ​​AIDs may be defined in the specifications. Alternatively, information regarding the unused area of ​​AIDs may be included in AP group-specific information and notified to APs that house the Master AP, the device managing the Static Multi-AP Group, or the device managing the Virtual BSS. Alternatively, information regarding the unused area of ​​AIDs may be notified by the first installed AP via a beacon. The first installed AP may, for example, be an AP that does not receive a beacon specifying the unused area of ​​AIDs.

[0105] AP2 uses the MAP selection response to notify its associated STAs of the BSS color included in the co-transmission preamble, the AID of AP2's destination STA before the change, and the AID after the change. AP2 also uses the MAP selection response to notify AP1 of the AID of AP2's destination STA before the change and the AID after the change.

[0106] An STA associated with AP2 determines the source of a received packet based on the preamble of the packet received after the MAP selection response. For example, if the BSS color included in the preamble is the same as the BSS color notified by the MAP selection response, the STA determines that the source of the received packet is the associated AP. Also, if the original AID notified by the MAP selection response is the STA's AID, the STA replaces its AID with the modified AID when receiving a packet from the associated AP next.

[0107] AP1 uses MAP selection or MAP Trigger to notify the associated STA of the BSS color included in the preamble of the coordinated transmission.

[0108] An STA associated with AP1 determines the source of a received packet based on the packet's preamble after being notified of the BSS color using MAP selection or MAP Trigger. For example, if the BSS color included in the preamble is the BSS color notified by MAP selection or MAP Trigger, the STA determines that the source of the received packet is the associated AP.

[0109] Note that while Figure 17 shows an example of AP2 notifying of an AID change via MAP selection response, AP1 may also notify of the pre- and post-change AIDs via MAP selection or MAP Trigger. In this case, if the pre-change AID notified via MAP selection response is the AID of STAx, an STA associated with AP1 (e.g., STAx) will replace STAx's AID with the post-change AID when it receives a packet from the next associated AP.

[0110] This allows specifying the BSS color for cooperation before cooperative transmission, and even when the combination of cooperating APs changes dynamically (for example, a dynamic multi-AP group), the BSS color of the AP group containing the cooperating APs can be specified. In addition, the number of unused AID fields can be set to the number of STAs of the recipient of the OFDMA transmission.

[0111] Furthermore, while examples using control signals referred to as MAP selection, MAP selection response, and MAP Trigger have been provided, this disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, some or all of the control signals may be transmitted or received via wired communication. If some or all of the control signals cannot reach between APs, communication may be conducted via relay stations (e.g., STAs and APs located between APs).

[0112] Furthermore, Figure 17 shows an example in which control packets transmitted in advance (for example, before a data packet is sent) are a MAP selection, a MAP selection response, and a MAP Trigger, but this disclosure is not limited to this. The control packets transmitted in advance may also be packets referred to as COA frames and Trigger frames (see Non-Patent Document 8).

[0113] (Embodiment 2) Embodiment 2 shows an example in which the control information included in the preamble when the cooperative transmission method is CSR includes frequency band allocation information including the number of cooperative transmission destination STAs. The operation of this example will be explained in <Example 2-1>.

[0114] Furthermore, Embodiment 2 describes an example in which the table referenced by RU Allocation is switched according to information indicating whether or not cooperation is present. The operation of this example will be described in <Example 2-2>.

[0115] Furthermore, Embodiment 2 describes an example in which the table referenced by RU Allocation is switched according to the number of cooperating APs. The operation of this example will be explained in <Example 2-3>.

[0116] Furthermore, Embodiment 2 describes an example in which the table referenced by RU Allocation is switched according to the transmission frequency bandwidth. The operation of this example will be described in <Example 2-4>.

[0117] Furthermore, Embodiment 2 describes an example in which the presence or absence of cooperation is notified in the User field. The operation of this example will be explained in <Example 2-5>.

[0118] <Example 2-1> When the cooperative transmission method is CSR, the control information included in the preamble shown in Examples 1-1 and 1-2 may include frequency band allocation information including the number of cooperative transmission destination STAs. The frequency band allocation information may be, for example, the information shown in the indices in the information table set in RU Allocation shown in Figure 5.

[0119] Figure 18A shows an example of the relationship between AP and STA in a combination of C-OFDMA and CSR. Figure 18B shows an example of signals transmitted and received between AP and STA as shown in Figure 18A.

[0120] Figure 18A shows two APs (AP1 and AP2) and three STAs (STA1, STA2, and STA3). In Figure 18A, AP1 transmits signals to STA1 and STA2, and AP2 transmits signals to STA3.

[0121] As shown in Figures 18A and 18B, AP1 performs C-OFDMA transmission to STA1 and STA2, and CSR transmission is performed in the transmission from AP1 to STA1 and from AP2 to STA3. In this example, as shown in Examples 1-1 and 1-2, the preambles transmitted by AP1 and AP2 are set to the same value. As a result, when STA2, which is located in a position where the radio waves of both AP1 and AP2 can reach, receives signals from AP1 and AP2, the preambles of the received signals will be the same value, thus reducing the possibility of preamble decoding errors.

[0122] In 11ax, the number of frequency bands (hereinafter referred to as "RU") and MIMO multiplexing numbers to be transmitted are specified by referring to the RU Allocation table (an example of reference information) shown in Figure 5. The number of destination STAs that match the number of RUs and MIMO multiplexing numbers specified by referring to the RU Allocation table are then specified in the user field. In the table in Figure 5, the MIMO multiplexing numbers are indicated by y0, y1, and y2 in the indices.

[0123] To set the user-specific fields of coordinating APs to the same value, it is desirable that the preamble include user fields for each of the coordinating APs' destination STAs.

[0124] For example, in the examples shown in Figures 18A and 18B, signals (data signals) destined for STA1 and STA3 are transmitted within the same RU. In CSR, signals for multiple STAs are multiplexed within the same RU. For example, in the example in Figure 18B, the number of STAs multiplexed in CSR is 1. Therefore, the RU Allocation table in Figure 5 does not allow specifying the number of destination STAs for each AP. For example, by using a table that can represent the number of STAs multiplexed in CSR, as shown below, the user-specific fields of cooperating APs can be set to the same value.

[0125] Figure 19 shows a first example of the RU Allocation table in this embodiment.

[0126] The table in Figure 19 shows an example where the maximum number of STAs multiplexed in a CSR is 3, based on 9-bit indices. #1, #2, ..., #9 in Figure 19 represent tone numbers. Also, a0 and a1 in the 9-bit indices represent the number of STAs multiplexed in a CSR. For example, the number of STAs multiplexed in a CSR is expressed as "a1 × 2 + a0". Here, a multiplexing count of 0 (i.e., "a1, a0" = "0,0") represents no CSR coordinated transmission. Also, the tone numbers marked with "*1" in Figure 19 represent RUs multiplexed in a CSR. For example, if the indices are "0000000 a1,a0", the CSR multiplexing of the number of STAs represented by a0,a1 is performed by the resource with tone number #1.

[0127] Furthermore, y0, y1, and y2 in the indices represent the MIMO multiplexing count. Also, "*2" in Figure 19 represents the RU that will be MIMO multiplexed. For example, the MIMO multiplexing count is expressed as "y2 × 4 + y1 × 2 + y0". Here, a multiplexing count of 0 (i.e., "y2, y1, y0" = "0, 0, 0") represents no MIMO multiplexing. For example, if the indices is "000011y2,y1,y0", then MIMO multiplexing with the multiplexing count represented by y0, y1, and y2 will be performed on 242 tone resources consisting of tone numbers #1 to #9.

[0128] Furthermore, if the indices is "0101y2y1y0a1a0", then in the 106 tone resources corresponding to tone numbers #1 to #4, CSR multiplexing with a number of STAs represented by a0 and a1 will be performed, and in the 106 tone resources corresponding to tone numbers #6 to #9, MIMO multiplexing with a number of multiplexes represented by y0, y1, and y2 will be performed.

[0129] In the example shown in Figures 18A and 18B, the indices are "010100001" ("0101y2y1y0a1a0" with no MIMO multiplexing and STA multiplexing count of 1). Also, three user fields are assigned (two for tone numbers #1, 2, 3, and 4, and one for tone numbers #6, 7, 8, and 9). In the user fields, the AIDs for STA1 and STA3 are set for #1, 2, 3, and 4, and the AID for STA2 is set for #6, 7, 8, and 9.

[0130] <Example 2-2> In Example 2-1, the table referenced in RU Allocation may be switched depending on the information indicating whether or not coordination is present. The information indicating whether or not coordination is present may be the coordination BSS color shown in Example 1-1, or a flag indicating whether or not coordination is present may be added to the preamble.

[0131] The table referenced in RU Allocation is not particularly limited, depending on the information indicating whether or not coordination is present. For example, in the case of no coordination, the RU Allocation table shown in Figure 5 may be used. In the case of coordination, the RU Allocation table shown below may be used.

[0132] Figure 20 shows a second example of the RU Allocation table in this embodiment.

[0133] The table in Figure 20 shows an example where the maximum number of STAs multiplexed in CSR is 2, using 8-bit indices. #1, #2, ..., #9 in Figure 20 represent tone numbers. a and b in the 8-bit indices represent the number of STAs multiplexed in CSR. "*1" in Figure 20 represents the RU multiplexed in CSR indicated by a. "*2" in Figure 20 represents the RU multiplexed in CSR indicated by b. y0, y1, and y2 in the 8-bit indices represent the MIMO multiplexing count. "*3" in Figure 20 represents the RU multiplexed in MIMO. For example, the number of STAs multiplexed in CSR is represented by "a+1" and "b+1". Also, for example, the MIMO multiplexing count is represented by "y2×4+y1×2+y0". Here, a multiplexing count of 0 represents no MIMO.

[0134] For example, if indices is "0100y2y1y0a", then in the 106 tone resources corresponding to tone numbers #1 to #4, CSR multiplexing with the number of STAs represented by a will be performed, and in the 106 tone resources corresponding to tone numbers #6 to #9, MIMO multiplexing with the number of multiplexes represented by y0, y1, and y2 will be performed.

[0135] In the examples in Figures 18A and 18B, the indices are "01000000" ("0100y2y1y0a" with no MIMO multiplexing and STA multiplexing count of 1). Also, three user fields are assigned (two for tone numbers #1, 2, 3, and 4, and one for tone numbers #6, 7, 8, and 9). In the user fields, the AIDs for STA1 and STA3 are set for #1, 2, 3, and 4, and the AID for STA2 is set for #6, 7, 8, and 9.

[0136] By creating separate tables for cases with and without coordination, the table for cases with coordination will contain patterns with coordination but not patterns without coordination, thus reducing the number of bits in the RU Allocation sent or increasing the number of allocation patterns.

[0137] <Example 2-3> In Example 2-1, the table referenced in RU Allocation may be switched depending on the number of cooperating APs. Information indicating the number of cooperating APs may be added to the preamble.

[0138] The table referenced in RU Allocation is not particularly limited depending on the number of cooperating APs. For example, if the number of cooperating APs is 0, in other words, if there is no cooperation, the RU Allocation table shown in Figure 5 may be used.

[0139] The following are examples of RU Allocation tables when the number of cooperating APs is 1 or more. Below, we show examples of RU Allocation tables for when the number of cooperating APs is 1 and when the number of cooperating APs is 2.

[0140] Figure 21 shows a third example of the RU Allocation table in this embodiment. In Figure 21, the allocations for one Sharing AP and one Shared AP cooperating with the Sharing AP are associated with 8-bit indices.

[0141] Figure 22 shows a fourth example of the RU Allocation table in this embodiment. In Figure 22, the allocations for one Sharing AP and two Shared APs cooperating with the Sharing AP are associated with 8-bit indices.

[0142] In Figures 21 and 22, the column for non-cooperative RUs is marked with "-", and the column for cooperative RUs is marked with the tone number.

[0143] For example, in Figure 22, when indices is "00000101", Shared AP1 performs coordinated transmission on tone numbers #6, 7, 8, and 9, and Shared AP2 performs coordinated transmission on tone numbers #6 and 7.

[0144] Thus, according to this embodiment, a separate RU can be specified for each cooperative AP.

[0145] <Example 2-4> In Example 2-1, Example 2-2, or Example 2-3, the table referenced in RU Allocation may be switched depending on the transmission frequency bandwidth. The transmission frequency bandwidth may be information notified by the Band width included in the U-SIG of the preamble.

[0146] When the transmission frequency bandwidth is 242 tones (20 MHz), at least one of the RU Allocation tables shown in Figures 19, 20, 21, and 22 may be used, and may be switched depending on whether or not coordination is performed, or the number of APs coordinating.

[0147] An example of an RU Allocation table for a transmission frequency bandwidth of 484 tones (40 MHz) is shown below.

[0148] Figure 23 shows a fifth example of the RU Allocation table in this embodiment. Figure 23 shows an example of the RU Allocation table when the transmission frequency bandwidth is 484 tones (40 MHz).

[0149] In the example in Figure 23, for each tone number except #5 and #14, the size of the assignable RU is 52 tones or more. Note that the tone numbers marked with "*1" in Figure 23 represent RUs in which the STA numbers indicated by a0 and a1 are multiplexed. "*2" in Figure 23 represents RUs in which the STA numbers indicated by b0 and b1 are multiplexed. "*3" in Figure 23 represents RUs in which MIMO multiplexing is performed.

[0150] In this way, by setting a lower limit on the number of tones that can be allocated to RU according to the transmission frequency bandwidth, it is possible to prevent the number of bits in indices from increasing as the transmission frequency bandwidth increases.

[0151] <Example 2-5> In Example 2-1, the presence or absence of coordination may be indicated in the User field. For example, a coordination flag indicating whether coordination is enabled or disabled may be added to the User field. In this case, the RU Allocation table may be the table shown in Figure 5.

[0152] The following provides an example illustrating the relationship between the RU Allocation table mentioned above and coordinated transmission.

[0153] Figure 24 shows an example of resource allocation for coordinated transmission. Figure 24 shows an example of resources allocated to communication between three APs (AP1, AP2, and AP3) and six users (User#1 to User#6). Note that the allocation in Figure 24 is in RU units; for example, RU1 corresponds to tone numbers #1 and #2, RU2 corresponds to tone numbers #3 and #4, and RU3 corresponds to tone numbers #6, #7, #8, and #9.

[0154] Figure 25 shows an example of a cooperation flag for the example in Figure 24. Figure 25 shows six User fields corresponding to the six users shown in Figure 24, and an example of a cooperation flag for each User field.

[0155] For example, in the assignment example in Figure 24, the User field may be set to "00010000" in the table shown in Figure 5, with the cooperation flag shown in Figure 25 added.

[0156] This allows the conventional RU Allocation table to be used to notify frequency band allocation information, including the number of co-transmitting destination STAs.

[0157] The Spatial Configuration subfield, which is set based on the table shown in Figure 6, specifies the allocation of a spatial stream to each destination STA using 4 bits, according to the number of destination STAs (Nuser in Figure 6). In the preamble for the CSR shown in Embodiment 2, the destination STA may not be able to identify the number of destination STAs for each source AP. For example, by adding the number of destination STAs for each source AP to the common field of the EHT-SIG, the allocation of a spatial stream to each destination STA can be identified in the table shown in Figure 6.

[0158] The embodiments described above illustrate an example in which multiple APs perform coordinated communication with an STA, but this disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, some of the multiple APs may be replaced by STAs. For example, this disclosure may apply when one or more APs and one or more STAs perform coordinated communication with another STA. Alternatively, this disclosure may apply when two or more STAs perform coordinated communication with another STA.

[0159] Furthermore, the terms used to represent each signal (each packet) in the embodiments described above are examples only, and this disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, a packet may be a slot, time slot, mini slot, frame, subframe, etc.

[0160] Furthermore, the "...part" in the above-described embodiment may be a "...circuitry", a "...device", a "...unit", or a "...module".

[0161] This disclosure can be implemented in software, hardware, or software in conjunction with hardware. Each functional block used in the description of the above embodiments may be implemented in part or in whole as an integrated circuit (LSI), and each process described in the above embodiments may be controlled in part or in whole by a single LSI or a combination of LSIs. An LSI may consist of individual chips, or it may consist of a single chip that includes some or all of the functional blocks. An LSI may have data inputs and outputs. Depending on the degree of integration, LSIs may be referred to as ICs, system LSIs, super LSIs, or ultra LSIs.

[0162] The method of integration is not limited to LSIs; it may also be implemented using dedicated circuits, general-purpose processors, or dedicated processors. Furthermore, FPGAs (Field Programmable Gate Arrays) that can be programmed after LSI manufacturing, or reconfigurable processors that allow for the reconfiguration of the connections and settings of circuit cells within the LSI, may also be used. This disclosure may be implemented as digital or analog processing.

[0163] Furthermore, if advancements in semiconductor technology or other derived technologies lead to the emergence of integrated circuit technologies that replace LSIs, then naturally, it would be possible to use those technologies to integrate functional blocks. The application of biotechnology, for example, is a possibility.

[0164] This disclosure is applicable to all types of devices, systems, and equipment having communication capabilities (collectively referred to as communication equipment). Communication equipment may include a radio transceiver and a processing / control circuit. A radio transceiver may include a receiver and a transmitter, or both as functions. A radio transceiver (transmitter, receiver) may include an RF (Radio Frequency) module and one or more antennas. The RF module may include an amplifier, an RF modulator / demodulator, or similar. Non-exclusive examples of communication devices include telephones (mobile phones, smartphones, etc.), tablets, personal computers (PCs) (laptops, desktops, notebooks, etc.), cameras (digital still / video cameras, etc.), digital players (digital audio / video players, etc.), wearable devices (wearable cameras, smartwatches, tracking devices, etc.), game consoles, digital book readers, telehealth / telemedicine devices, vehicles or mobile transport with communication capabilities (cars, airplanes, ships, etc.), and combinations of the above-mentioned devices.

[0165] Communication devices are not limited to portable or movable devices, but also include all kinds of non-portable or fixed devices, devices, and systems, such as smart home devices (appliances, lighting equipment, smart meters or measuring instruments, control panels, etc.), vending machines, and any other "things" that may exist on an IoT (Internet of Things) network.

[0166] Communication includes data communication via cellular systems, wireless LAN systems, and communication satellite systems, as well as data communication using combinations of these.

[0167] Furthermore, the communication device also includes devices such as controllers and sensors that are connected to or linked to a communication device that performs the communication functions described in this disclosure. For example, this includes controllers and sensors that generate control signals and data signals used by the communication device that performs the communication functions of the communication device.

[0168] Furthermore, communication equipment includes infrastructure facilities such as base stations, access points, and any other devices, devices, and systems that communicate with or control the aforementioned non-limited types of equipment.

[0169] A transmitting device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure is a first transmitting device comprising a control circuit that generates first control information which includes information common to at least a portion of the second control information transmitted by the second transmitting device in a second preamble when the first transmitting device and the second transmitting device perform transmission in cooperation, and a transmitting circuit that transmits the first control information in a first preamble.

[0170] In one embodiment of this disclosure, the common information is the Basic Service Set (BSS) color.

[0171] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the control circuit makes the BSS color different from the BSS color during non-coordinated transmission.

[0172] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the control circuit sets the BSS color to the BSS color in the second control information.

[0173] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the control circuit sets the BSS color to the BSS color for non-cooperative transmission, and the BSS color of the second control information is set to the BSS color for non-cooperative transmission set by the control circuit.

[0174] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the control circuit sets identification information of the receiving device to be transmitted in the first control information.

[0175] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the control circuit sets identification information in the first control information that is different from the identification information of the target receiving device set in the second control information.

[0176] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the transmitting circuit transmits to the second transmitting device information relating to candidates for the identification information that can be set in the first control information.

[0177] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the control circuit sets information identifying the first transmitting device in the user field of the first preamble.

[0178] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the transmitting circuit transmits identification information of the target receiving device to be set in the second control information to the second transmitting device.

[0179] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the control circuit transmits information regarding the change in the setting of the first control information to the receiving device targeted for coordinated transmission before transmitting the first preamble.

[0180] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, when the control circuit performs Coordinated Spatial Reuse (CSR) in cooperation with the second transmitting device, the control circuit sets allocation information, which includes information regarding the number of receiving devices targeted by the CSR, in the first control information.

[0181] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the control circuit sets the allocation information to an RU allocation addressed to the target receiving device.

[0182] In one embodiment of this disclosure, the setting of the RU allocation is based on reference information different from the reference information used in non-CSR situations.

[0183] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the reference information in setting the RU allocation is based on the number of target receiving devices.

[0184] In one embodiment of this disclosure, the reference information in setting the RU allocation is based on the transmission frequency band used for the CSR.

[0185] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the control circuit sets information indicating whether or not to perform the CSR in the user field of the first preamble.

[0186] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the first control information is the same as the second control information.

[0187] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, a transmission method is provided in which a first transmitting device generates first control information which includes information common to at least a portion of the second control information transmitted by the second transmitting device in the second preamble when the first transmitting device and the second transmitting device perform transmission in cooperation, and transmits the first control information in the first preamble.

[0188] All disclosures in the specification, drawings, and abstract contained in the Japanese application No. 2020-044482, filed on March 13, 2020, are incorporated herein by reference. [Industrial applicability]

[0189] One embodiment of this disclosure is useful for a mobile communication system. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0190] 10, 30 AP (Transmitter) 20 STA (Receiver) 101, 302 Preamble generation section 102, 303 Transmit Packet Generation Unit 103 Wireless Transmitter 201 Wireless Receiver 202, 305 Received packet decoding unit 203 Preamble Extraction Section 301 Control Data Generation Unit 304 Wireless Transceiver Unit 306 Control Data Extraction Unit

Claims

1. A control circuit that generates first control information which includes information common to at least a portion of the second control information contained in the second preamble, which is a component of the second signal transmitted by the second AP, when the first AP and the second AP simultaneously transmit the first signal and the second signal in a coordinated manner, A transmitting circuit that transmits a first signal whose components include a first preamble containing the first control information, Equipped with, The first signal is transmitted to the first station (STA) associated with the first AP, The second signal is transmitted to the second STA associated with the second AP, The first control information includes a first SIG field and a second SIG field, The second SIG field includes a Common field, a first User field for the first STA, and a second User field for the second STA. The control circuit sets the identification information of the first STA and the identification information of the second STA in the first User field and the second User field, respectively. First AP.

2. The control circuit sets the entirety of the first control information to the same value as the second control information. The first AP according to claim 1.

3. The control circuit sets the entire information contained in the first preamble to the same value as the information contained in the second preamble. The first AP according to claim 1.

4. The aforementioned first preamble is used for a specific generation of signals newer than IEEE 802.11ax. The first AP according to claim 1.

5. The first preamble and the second preamble are transmitted at the same frequency. The first AP according to claim 1.

6. The control circuit sets the MCS (Modulation and Coding Scheme) of the second SIG field to the same value as the common information. The first AP according to claim 1.

7. The control circuit sets information identifying the first AP in the user field of the first preamble. The first AP according to claim 1.

8. The control circuit transmits information regarding the change in the setting of the first control information to the receiving device targeted for coordinated transmission before transmitting the first preamble. The first AP according to claim 1.

9. When the first AP (Access Point) and the second AP simultaneously transmit the first signal and the second signal, respectively, first control information is generated that includes information common to at least a portion of the second control information contained in the second preamble, which is a component of the second signal transmitted by the second AP. A first signal is transmitted, the first preamble containing the first control information being used as a component. The first signal is transmitted to the first station (STA) associated with the first AP, The second signal is transmitted to the second STA associated with the second AP, The first control information includes a first SIG field and a second SIG field, The second SIG field includes a Common field, a first User field for the first STA, and a second User field for the second STA. The identification information of the first STA and the identification information of the second STA are set in the first User field and the second User field, respectively. Sending method.

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