Wireless communication system, wireless communication method, base station, and control program

Abstract

A wireless communication system according to one embodiment is characterized by having: a count measurement unit for measuring, in a wireless communication system comprising one or more wireless terminals capable of dual-scheme communication by a first communication scheme using a first frequency band and a second communication scheme using a second frequency band that is higher than the first frequency band and a multidevice-compliant base station that accommodates the wireless terminals, a retry count of attempting communication by the second communication scheme; and a control unit for exercising control so that the base station performs wireless communication, by the first communication scheme without using the second communication scheme, to a wireless terminal the count of which, as measured by the count measurement unit, has exceeded a prescribed count.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a wireless communication system, a wireless communication method, a base station, and a control program. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent wireless communication systems, it is important to increase wireless capacity to handle the increasing mobile traffic. For example, IEEE802.11be (wireless LAN) has a function of installing multiple different wireless LAN interfaces in one device and establishing multiple transmission paths, and such a device is called a multi-link device (MLD) (see, for example, Non-Patent Document 1). In addition, the use of the 6 GHz band is being considered for IEEE802.11be. [Prior art documents] [Non-patent literature]

[0003] [Non-Patent Document 1] EVGENY KHOROV et al., "Current Status and Directions of IEEE 802.11be, the Future Wi-Fi 7", IEEE Access, VOLUME 8, 2020, Received April 15, 2020, accepted May 1, 2020, date of publication May 8, 2020, date of current version May 21, 2020., pp.88664-88688 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] For example, in a wireless LAN, if a low-transmission-rate wireless terminal in a poor communication condition exists in a wireless communication system, the channel occupancy time becomes long, which may cause the communication speed of the entire system, including high-transmission-rate terminals, to decrease. Also, if the communication of a low-transmission-rate terminal is cut off, that terminal will not be able to communicate.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide a wireless communication system, a wireless communication method, a base station, and a control program that can prevent a decrease in the communication speed of the high frequency band in a multi-device compatible device that uses low and high frequency bands. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A wireless communication system according to one embodiment of the present invention includes one or more wireless terminals capable of communicating using both a first communication method using a first frequency band and a second communication method using a second frequency band higher than the first frequency band, and a multi-device compatible base station accommodating the wireless terminals.The wireless communication system is characterized in that the system has a retry count measurement unit that measures the number of retries to attempt communication using the second communication method, and a control unit that controls the base station to perform wireless communication using the first communication method without using the second communication method until a predetermined time has elapsed, for the wireless terminal for which the number of retries measured by the retry count measurement unit exceeds a predetermined number.

[0007] Furthermore, a wireless communication method according to one embodiment of the present invention is a wireless communication method for controlling one or more wireless terminals capable of communicating using both a first communication method using a first frequency band and a second communication method using a second frequency band higher than the first frequency band, and a multi-device compatible base station accommodating the wireless terminals, the method including a count measurement step of measuring a retry count for attempting communication using the second communication method, and a control step of controlling the base station to perform wireless communication using the first communication method without using the second communication method until a predetermined time has elapsed, for the wireless terminal for which the measured count exceeds a predetermined number.

[0008] Furthermore, a base station according to one embodiment of the present invention is a multi-device compatible base station accommodating one or more wireless terminals capable of communicating using both a first communication method using a first frequency band and a second communication method using a second frequency band higher than the first frequency band, and is characterized in having a number measurement unit that measures a number of retries to attempt communication using the second communication method, and a control unit that controls the base station to perform wireless communication using the first communication method without using the second communication method until a predetermined time has elapsed, for the wireless terminal for which the number of retries measured by the number measurement unit exceeds a predetermined number. Effect of the Invention

[0009] According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent a decrease in communication speed in the high frequency band in a multi-device compatible apparatus that uses both low and high frequency bands. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a wireless communication system according to an embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a specific configuration example of a base station according to an embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a specific configuration example of a control device. [Figure 4] 1 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the wireless communication system. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of a control device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] An example of the configuration of a wireless communication system 10 according to an embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a wireless communication system 10 according to an embodiment.

[0012] As shown in FIG. 1, a wireless communication system 10 in one embodiment has, for example, a first wireless terminal 20, a second wireless terminal 30-1, a third wireless terminal 30-2, a base station 40-1, a base station 40-2, a control device 50-1, a control device 50-2, and a terminal device 110, and is connected to a network 100.

[0013] The control device 50-1 is connected to the network 100, and controls the base station 40-1 so that the base station 40-1 performs wireless communication with the first wireless terminal 20 and the second wireless terminal 30-1, respectively.

[0014] Base station 40-1 is a multi-device compatible device and has device 80 which is an AP (access point) for method 1 and device 90 which is an AP for method 2, and performs wireless communication with each of the first wireless terminal 20 and the second wireless terminal 30-1 under the control of control device 50-1.

[0015] Method 1 is, for example, a 5 GHz band wireless communication method in IEEE802.11 (wireless LAN). Method 2 is, for example, a 6 GHz band wireless communication method in IEEE802.11 (wireless LAN). A multi-device compatible device can perform wireless communication using methods 1 and 2 simultaneously.

[0016] Note that base station 40-1 may be configured integrally with control device 50-1, that is, base station 40-1 may have each function that control device 50-1 has.

[0017] The first wireless terminal 20 is a multi-device compatible wireless terminal (STA) equipped with device 60 and device 70 compatible with the respective communication methods (method 1 and method 2) of device 80 and device 90 provided in a multi-device compatible base station 40-1 compatible with both the 5 GHz band and the 6 GHz band.

[0018] Device 60 supports a communication method (method 1) of device 80 included in base station 40-1, and performs wireless communication with device 80. Device 70 supports a communication method (method 2) of device 90 included in base station 40-1, and performs wireless communication with device 90.

[0019] The second wireless terminal 30-1 is a wireless terminal including a device 60 that supports only a part (method 1) of the communication methods (methods 1 and 2) of the devices 80 and 90 included in the base station 40-1. For example, the second wireless terminal 30-1 includes a device 60 that supports only the 5 GHz band and performs wireless communication with the device 80 of the base station 40-1.

[0020] The control device 50-2 is connected to the terminal device 110 and controls the first wireless terminal 20 so that, for example, the first wireless terminal 20 and the base station 40-1 each perform wireless communication. The control device 50-2 may have substantially the same configuration as the control device 50-1. The terminal device 110 is a computer or the like that controls the control device 50-2.

[0021] The base station 40-2 has a device 90 that is an AP of method 2, and performs wireless communication with a third wireless terminal 30-2. The third wireless terminal 30-2 is a wireless terminal that has a device 70 that is compatible only with the communication method (method 2) of the device 90 that the base station 40-2 has. For example, the third wireless terminal 30-2 has a device 70 that is compatible only with the 6 GHz band and performs wireless communication with the device 90 of the base station 40-2.

[0022] In other words, the wireless communication system 10 is a wireless communication system that includes a first wireless terminal 20 capable of communicating using both a first communication method using a first frequency band (5 GHz) and a second communication method using a second frequency band (6 GHz) that is higher than the first frequency band, and a multi-device-compatible base station 40-1 that accommodates the first wireless terminal 20 and the second wireless terminal 30-1.

[0023] Next, a specific configuration example of the base station 40-1 will be described. Fig. 2 is a diagram showing a specific configuration example of the base station 40-1 according to an embodiment. As shown in Fig. 2, the base station 40-1 has, for example, a radio unit 41, a storage unit 42, an interface (I / F) unit 43, and a control unit 44.

[0024] The wireless unit 41 includes the above-mentioned device 80 and device 90, and performs wireless communication with each of the first wireless terminal 20 and the second wireless terminal 30-1.

[0025] The storage unit 42 stores information received by the base station 40-1 via the wireless unit 41 or the I / F unit 43, and the like.

[0026] The I / F unit 43 is a communication interface that communicates with the control device 50-1.

[0027] The control unit 44 controls each unit constituting the base station 40-1.

[0028] Next, a specific configuration example of the control device 50-1 will be described. Fig. 3 is a diagram showing a specific configuration example of the control device 50-1. As shown in Fig. 3, the control device 50-1 has, for example, a storage unit 51, an interface (I / F) unit 52, an interface (I / F) unit 53, a count measurement unit 54, a timer unit 55, and a control unit 56.

[0029] The storage unit 51 is a storage device that stores data within the control device 50-1.

[0030] The I / F unit 52 is a communication interface for communicating with the base station 40-1. The I / F unit 53 is a communication interface for communicating with the network 100.

[0031] The count measurement unit 54 measures the number of retries when the base station 40-1 and the first wireless terminal 20 attempt communication using the second communication method using the second frequency band (6 GHz) via the I / F unit 52, and outputs the measurement result to the memory unit 51.

[0032] Timer unit 55 measures the time required for each process in control device 50-1, and outputs the time to storage unit 51.

[0033] The control unit 56 controls each unit constituting the control device 50-1. For example, the control unit 56 controls, via the I / F unit 52, the base station 40-1 to perform wireless communication with a wireless terminal (e.g., the first wireless terminal 20) for which the number of times measured by the number measuring unit 54 exceeds a predetermined number of times, by the first communication method using the first frequency band (5 GHz) without using the second communication method using the second frequency band (6 GHz), until a predetermined time has elapsed.

[0034] Next, a description will be given of an example of the operation of the wireless communication system 10. FIG.

[0035] In the wireless communication system 10, for example, the control device 50-1 determines whether or not the base station 40-1 and the first wireless terminal 20 are to perform MLD communication (S100), and if MLD communication is not to be performed (S100: No), proceeds to processing of S102, and if MLD communication is to be performed (S102: Yes), proceeds to processing of S104.

[0036] In the process of S102, the base station 40-1 and the first wireless terminal 20 perform non-MLD communication.

[0037] In the process of S104, the base station 40-1 and the first wireless terminal 20 perform MLD communication.

[0038] Next, the control device 50-1 determines whether the number of retries between the base station 40-1 and the first wireless terminal 20 attempting to communicate using the second communication method in MLD communication has exceeded a predetermined number (S106), and if it has not exceeded a predetermined number (S106: No), proceeds to processing of S108, and if it has exceeded a predetermined number (S106: Yes), proceeds to processing of S110.

[0039] In the process of S108, the base station 40-1 and the first wireless terminal 20 retry the MLD communication.

[0040] In the process of S110, the base station 40-1 and the first wireless terminal 20 communicate with each other using only the first communication method (the existing frequency band link).

[0041] In the processing of S112, the control device 50-1 determines whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed since the base station 40-1 and the first wireless terminal 20 started communication using only the first communication method, and if it determines that the predetermined time has not elapsed (S112: No), it returns to the processing of S110, and if it determines that the predetermined time has elapsed (S112: Yes), it returns to the processing of S100.

[0042] In this way, the wireless communication system 10 in one embodiment regards a wireless terminal whose retry count exceeds a predetermined number as, for example, a low transmission rate terminal in poor communication conditions, and performs communication using only the low frequency band without using the high frequency band for a predetermined period of time, thereby preventing a decrease in communication speed in the high frequency band (e.g., 6 GHz) in a multi-device compatible device that uses both a low frequency band (e.g., 5 GHz) and a high frequency band (e.g., 6 GHz), i.e., preventing a decrease in communication quality.

[0043] Each function of the control device 50-1 may be configured in part or in whole by hardware such as a PLD (Programmable Logic Device) or an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), or may be configured as a program executed by a processor such as a CPU.

[0044] For example, the control device 50-1 can be realized using a computer and a program, and the program can be recorded on a storage medium or provided via a network.

[0045] Fig. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the control device 50-1. As shown in Fig. 5, the control device 50-1 has an input unit 500, an output unit 510, a communication unit 520, a CPU 530, a memory 540, and an HDD 550 connected via a bus 560, and has a function as a computer. The control device 50-1 is also configured to be able to input and output data to and from a computer-readable storage medium 570.

[0046] The input unit 500 is, for example, a keyboard and a mouse, etc. The output unit 510 is, for example, a display device, etc. The communication unit 520 is, for example, a network interface, etc.

[0047] The CPU 530 controls each unit constituting the control device 50-1 and performs predetermined processing, etc. The memory 540 and the HDD 550 are storage units that store data and the like.

[0048] The storage medium 570 is capable of storing programs and the like for executing the functions of the control device 50-1. Note that the architecture constituting the control device 50-1 is not limited to the example shown in FIG. [Explanation of symbols]

[0049] 10 wireless communication system, 20 first wireless terminal, 30-1 second wireless terminal, 30-2 third wireless terminal, 40-1, 40-2 base station, 41 wireless unit, 42 memory unit, 43 I / F unit, 44 control unit, 50-1, 50-2 control device, 51 memory unit, 52, 53 I / F unit, 54 count measurement unit, 55 timer unit, 56 control unit, 60, 70, 80, 90 device, 100 network, 500 input unit, 510 output unit, 520 communication unit, 530 CPU, 540 memory, 550 HDD, 560 bus, 570 storage medium

Claims

1. A wireless communication system including one or more wireless terminals capable of communicating by both a first communication method using a first frequency band and a second communication method using a second frequency band higher than the first frequency band, and a multi-device-compatible base station accommodating the wireless terminals, a retry count measurement unit for measuring a retry count for attempting communication using the second communication method; a control unit that controls the base station to perform wireless communication by the first communication method without using the second communication method until a predetermined time has elapsed, for the wireless terminal when the number of times measured by the number measuring unit exceeds a predetermined number; A wireless communication system comprising:

2. The first communication method and the second communication method are wireless communication methods conforming to a wireless LAN standard.

2. The wireless communication system according to claim 1,

3. A wireless communication method for controlling one or more wireless terminals capable of communicating by both a first communication method using a first frequency band and a second communication method using a second frequency band higher than the first frequency band, and a multi-device-compatible base station accommodating the wireless terminals, comprising: a retry count measurement step of measuring a retry count for attempting communication using the second communication method; a control step of controlling the base station to perform wireless communication by the first communication method without using the second communication method for the wireless terminal for which the number of measurements has exceeded a predetermined number until a predetermined time has elapsed; 13. A wireless communication method comprising:

4. The first communication method and the second communication method are wireless communication methods conforming to a wireless LAN standard.

4. The wireless communication method according to claim 3,

5. A multi-device-compatible base station accommodating one or more wireless terminals capable of communicating by both a first communication method using a first frequency band and a second communication method using a second frequency band higher than the first frequency band, a retry count measurement unit for measuring a retry count for attempting communication using the second communication method; a control unit that controls the base station to perform wireless communication by the first communication method without using the second communication method until a predetermined time has elapsed, for the wireless terminal when the number of times measured by the number measuring unit exceeds a predetermined number; A base station comprising:

6. The first communication method and the second communication method are wireless communication methods conforming to a wireless LAN standard. The base station according to claim 5 .

7. A control program for causing a computer to function as each unit of the base station according to claim 5 or 6.

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