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

Abstract

A wireless communication system according to one embodiment is provided with at least one wireless terminal that is capable of communication using both a first communication method which uses a first frequency band and a second communication method which uses a second frequency band higher than the first frequency band and a multi-device-compatible base station that accommodates the wireless terminal, said wireless communication system being characterized by comprising: a delay determination unit that determines whether or not a delay in communication using the second communication method has exceeded a prescribed value; and a control unit that, when the delay determination unit has determined that the delay has exceeded the prescribed value, carries out control such that the wireless terminal and the base station communicate use the first communication method without using the second communication method until a prescribed time elapses.

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 Art

[0002] In recent wireless communication systems, it is important to increase wireless capacity in order to handle increasing mobile traffic. For example, in IEEE802.11be (Wireless LAN), a function of mounting a plurality of different wireless LAN interfaces on one device and establishing a plurality of transmission paths is adopted, and such a device is called a multi-link device (MLD) (see, for example, Non-Patent Document 1). Also, in IEEE802.11be, the use of the 6 GHz band is being considered.

Prior Art Documents

Non-Patent Documents

[0003]

Non-Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] For example, in a wireless LAN, if there is a wireless terminal with a low transmission rate due to poor communication conditions in the wireless communication system, the channel occupancy time becomes long, and thus the communication speed of the entire system may decrease, including high transmission rate terminals. Also, if the communication of the low transmission rate terminal is disconnected, the terminal becomes unable to communicate.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and an object thereof is to provide a wireless communication system, a wireless communication method, a base station, and a control program capable of preventing a decrease in the communication speed of a high frequency band in a multi-device compatible apparatus using a low frequency band and a high frequency band.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] A wireless communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention includes 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 that houses the wireless terminals. In the wireless communication system, a delay determination unit that determines whether or not a delay in communication of the second communication method exceeds a predetermined value, and when the delay determination unit determines that the delay exceeds the predetermined value, a control unit that controls the wireless terminal and the base station to communicate by the first communication method without using the second communication method until a predetermined time elapses.

[0007] A wireless communication method according to an embodiment of the present invention is 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 that houses the wireless terminals. The method includes a delay determination step of determining whether or not a delay in communication of the second communication method exceeds a predetermined value, and a control step of controlling the wireless terminal and the base station to communicate by the first communication method without using the second communication method until a predetermined time elapses when it is determined that the delay exceeds the predetermined value.

[0008] Further, a base station according to an embodiment of the present invention is a multi-device compatible base station that accommodates 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. In the base station, a delay determination unit that determines whether or not a delay in communication by the second communication method exceeds a predetermined value, and when the delay determination unit determines that the delay exceeds the predetermined value, the wireless terminal and the base station communicate by the first communication method without using the second communication method until a predetermined time elapses. It is characterized by having a control unit that controls to perform the above.

Effect of the Invention

[0009] According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent the communication speed of the high-frequency band in a multi-device compatible device using a low-frequency band and a high-frequency band from decreasing.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0010]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

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

[0012] As shown in FIG. 1, a wireless communication system 10 according to an embodiment includes, 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] The base station 40-1 is a multi-device compatible device and includes a device 80 that becomes an AP (access point) of method 1 and a device 90 that becomes an AP of method 2, and performs wireless communication with each of the first wireless terminal 20 and the second wireless terminal 30-1 according to the control of the control device 50-1.

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

[0016] Note that the base station 40-1 may be integrally configured with the control device 50-1. That is, the base station 40-1 may include each function provided in the control device 50-1.

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

[0018] Device 60 corresponds to the communication method (Method 1) of device 80 included in base station 40-1 and performs wireless communication with device 80. Device 70 corresponds to the 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 device 60 that corresponds only to a part (Method 1) of the communication methods (Method 1 and Method 2) of device 80 and device 90 included in base station 40-1. For example, the second wireless terminal 30-1 performs wireless communication between device 60 that corresponds only to the 5 GHz band and device 80 of 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 perform wireless communication with each other. 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] Base station 40-2 has device 90 that serves as an AP for Method 2 and performs wireless communication with the third wireless terminal 30-2. The third wireless terminal 30-2 is a wireless terminal including device 70 that corresponds only to the communication method (Method 2) of device 90 included in base station 40-2. For example, the third wireless terminal 30-2 performs wireless communication between device 70 that corresponds only to the 6 GHz band and device 90 of base station 40-2.

[0022] That is, the wireless communication system 10 includes a first wireless terminal 20 that can communicate by both a first communication method using a first frequency band (5 GHz) and a second communication method using a second frequency band (6 GHz) 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 includes, for example, a radio unit 41, a memory unit 42, an interface (I / F) unit 43, and a control unit 44.

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

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

[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 includes, for example, a memory unit 51, an interface (I / F) unit 52, an interface (I / F) unit 53, a delay determination unit 54, a timer unit 55, and a control unit 56.

[0029] The memory 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 that communicates with the base station 40-1. The I / F unit 53 is a communication interface that communicates with the network 100.

[0031] The delay determination unit 54 determines, via the I / F unit 52, whether or not the delay in the communication of the second communication method using the second frequency band (6 GHz) between the base station 40-1 and the first wireless terminal 20 exceeds a predetermined value, and outputs the determination result to the memory unit 51.

[0032] For example, the base station 40-1 or the first wireless terminal 20 measures the time until it receives an ACK for a frame it has transmitted. Then, the delay determination unit 54 acquires the measurement result of the time from the base station 40-1 or the first wireless terminal 20 via the I / F unit 52, and determines whether the delay exceeds a predetermined value.

[0033] The timer unit 55 measures the time taken for each process etc. in the control device 50-1 and outputs it to the storage unit 51.

[0034] The control unit 56 controls each part constituting the control device 50-1. For example, when the delay determination unit 54 determines that the delay exceeds a predetermined value, the control unit 56 controls the base station 40-1 and the first wireless terminal 20 to perform wireless communication 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 elapses.

[0035] Next, an operation example of the wireless communication system 10 will be described. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation example of the wireless communication system 10.

[0036] In the wireless communication system 10, for example, the control device 50-1 determines whether the base station 40-1 and the first wireless terminal 20 perform MLD communication (S100). If they do not perform MLD communication (S100: No), the process proceeds to the process of S102. If they perform MLD communication (S100: Yes), the process proceeds to the process of S104.

[0037] In the process of S102, the base station 40-1 and the first wireless terminal 20 perform non-MLD communication.

[0038] In the process of S104, the base station 40-1 and the first wireless terminal 20 perform MLD communication.

[0039] Next, the control device 50-1 determines whether or not the delay in the communication using the second communication method in the second frequency band (6 GHz) between the base station 40-1 and the first wireless terminal 20 exceeds a predetermined value (S106). For example, if it is not greater than or equal to the predetermined value (S106: No), the process returns to the process of S104, and if it is less than the predetermined value (S106: Yes), the process proceeds to the process of S118.

[0040] In the process of S108, the base station 40-1 and the first wireless terminal 20 communicate using only the first communication method (existing frequency band link).

[0041] In the process of S110, after the control device 50-1 determines that the base station 40-1 and the first wireless terminal 20 have started communicating using only the first communication method, it determines whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed. If it is determined that the predetermined time has not elapsed (S110: No), the process returns to the process of S108, and if it is determined that the predetermined time has elapsed (S110: Yes), the process returns to the process of S100.

[0042] As described above, the wireless communication system 10 according to one embodiment regards a wireless terminal in which the delay in the communication using the second communication method exceeds a predetermined value as, for example, a low transmission rate terminal with poor communication conditions, and does not use the high frequency band for the predetermined time and communicates using only the low frequency band. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the communication speed of the high frequency band (for example, 6 GHz) in a multi-device compatible device using the low frequency band (for example, 5 GHz) and the high frequency band (for example, 6 GHz) from decreasing, that is, to prevent the communication quality from decreasing.

[0043] Note that each function of the control device 50-1 may be partially or entirely configured 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 it is also possible to record the program on a storage medium or provide it through 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, in the control device 50-1, an input unit 500, an output unit 510, a communication unit 520, a CPU 530, a memory 540, and an HDD 550 are connected via a bus 560, and it has functions as a computer. Also, the control device 50-1 is enabled 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 such as a display. The communication unit 520 is, for example, a network interface, etc.

[0047] The CPU 530 controls each part constituting the control device 50-1 and performs predetermined processing and the like. The memory 540 and the HDD 550 are storage parts for storing data and the like.

[0048] The storage medium 570 is enabled to store a program and the like for causing the control device 50-1 to execute its functions. Note that the architecture constituting the control device 50-1 is not limited to the example shown in FIG. 5.

Description of Reference Numerals

[0049] 10... Wireless communication system, 20... First wireless terminal, 30-1... Second wireless terminal, 30-2... Third wireless terminal, 40-1, 40-2... Base stations, 41... Wireless section, 42... Memory section, 43... I / F section, 44... Control section, 50-1, 50-2... Control devices, 51... Memory section, 52, 53... I / F sections, 54... Delay determination section, 55... Timer section, 56... Control section, 60, 70, 80, 90... Devices, 100... Network, 500... Input section, 510... Output section, 520... Communication section, 530... CPU, 540... Memory, 550... HDD, 560... Bus, 570... Storage medium

Claims

1. In 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 that houses the wireless terminals, a delay determination unit that determines whether or not a delay in communication by the second communication method exceeds a predetermined value; a control unit that, when the delay determination unit determines that the delay exceeds the predetermined value, controls the wireless terminal and the base station to communicate by the first communication method without using the second communication method until a predetermined time elapses A wireless communication system characterized by comprising:

2. The first communication method and the second communication method are wireless communication methods compliant with the wireless LAN standard The wireless communication system according to claim 1, characterized in that:

3. In 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 that houses the wireless terminals, a delay determination step of determining whether or not a delay in communication by the second communication method exceeds a predetermined value; a control step of, when it is determined that the delay exceeds the predetermined value, controlling the wireless terminal and the base station to communicate by the first communication method without using the second communication method until a predetermined time elapses A wireless communication method characterized by including:

4. The first communication method and the second communication method are wireless communication methods compliant with the wireless LAN standard The wireless communication method according to claim 3, characterized in that:

5. In a multi-device compatible base station that houses 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 delay determination unit that determines whether or not a delay in communication by the second communication method exceeds a predetermined value; a control unit that, when the delay determination unit determines that the delay exceeds the predetermined value, controls the wireless terminal and the base station to communicate by the first communication method without using the second communication method until a predetermined time elapses A base station characterized by comprising:

6. The first communication method and the second communication method are wireless communication methods compliant with the wireless LAN standard The base station according to claim 5, characterized in that.

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

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