Access points, wireless terminal devices, and communication systems

Abstract

The present invention provides access points, wireless terminal devices, and communication systems that suppress delays in wirelessly transmitted traffic. [Solution] In a communication system, an access point AP includes a first radio signal processing unit and a first management unit. The first management unit uses the first radio signal processing unit to establish a first link with a first radio terminal device STA1 and a second link with a second radio terminal device STA2, sets a service period SP in a first cycle, provides the first radio terminal device with an opportunity to transmit data and sets a transmission suppression period QI within the service period to suppress or prohibit data transmission by the second radio terminal device, and sets a transmission suppression period RP outside the service period to suppress or prohibit data transmission by the first radio terminal device.

Claims

1. First wireless signal processing unit, The system includes a first management unit that uses the first wireless signal processing unit to establish a first link with a first wireless terminal device and a second link with a second wireless terminal device, and sets a service period in a first cycle, The first management unit provides the first wireless terminal device with an opportunity to transmit data during the service period and suppresses or prohibits data transmission by the second wireless terminal device, and sets a transmission suppression period outside the service period during which data transmission by the first wireless terminal device is suppressed or prohibited. Access point.

2. The first management unit, at the start of the transmission suppression period, uses the wireless signal processing unit to transmit a first frame to the first wireless terminal device instructing it to prohibit the transmission of data during the transmission suppression period. The access point according to claim 1.

3. The first management unit is configured not to transmit a Clear To Send (CTS) in response to an RTS (Request To Send) received from the first wireless terminal device during the transmission suppression period. The access point according to claim 1.

4. The first management unit sets the length of the transmission suppression period based on the length of the service period or the length of the frame exchange period with the first wireless terminal device performed within the service period. The access point according to claim 1.

5. The first management unit transmits a second frame containing information about the transmission suppression period to the first wireless terminal device using the first wireless signal processing unit before the start of the transmission suppression period. The access point according to claim 1.

6. The access point described in claim 5, The system comprises the first wireless terminal device, The first wireless terminal device comprises a second wireless signal processing unit and a second management unit that establishes the first link using the second wireless signal processing unit and manages the state of the first link. The second management unit sets the access parameters of the first link during the transmission suppression period to have lower priority than the access parameters of the first link outside the service period and outside the transmission suppression period, based on the information contained in the second frame received by the first wireless terminal device. Communication system.

7. The access point described in claim 5, The system comprises the first wireless terminal device, The first wireless terminal device comprises a second wireless signal processing unit and a second management unit that establishes the first link using the second wireless signal processing unit and manages the state of the first link. The second management unit prohibits the transmission of data using the first link during the transmission suppression period, based on the information contained in the second frame received by the first wireless terminal device. Communication system.

8. Wireless signal processing unit, The system includes a management unit that establishes a link with an access point using the aforementioned wireless signal processing unit and manages the status of the link, The aforementioned management department, The system receives first information from the access point, including information about periodic service periods, and transmits data using the link during those service periods. The system receives second information from the access point, including information on transmission suppression periods outside the service period, and suppresses or prohibits the transmission of data using the link during the transmission suppression period. Wireless terminal device.

9. Based on the second information, the management unit sets the access parameters of the link during the transmission suppression period to have a lower priority than the access parameters of the link outside the service period and outside the transmission suppression period. The wireless terminal device according to claim 8.

10. Based on the second information, the management unit prohibits the transmission of data using the link during the transmission suppression period. The wireless terminal device according to claim 8.

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