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

Abstract

A wireless communication system according to one embodiment is characterized by including: a count measurement unit that measures a retry count of attempts by a first wireless terminal to communicate using a first communication scheme; and a control unit that, when the retry count measured by the count measurement unit exceeds a set retry count that is pre-set and lower than an existing retry count of attempts by a second wireless terminal to communicate using the first communication scheme, performs control such that the first wireless terminal performs wireless communication with a base station by using a second communication scheme without using the first communication scheme until a prescribed period of time has passed.

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 increasing mobile traffic. For example, IEEE802.11be (wireless LAN) incorporates multiple different wireless LAN interfaces in a single device, and employs the function of establishing multiple transmission paths; such a device is called a multi-link device (MLD) (see, for example, Non-Patent Document 1). Furthermore, 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, a multilink device may be configured to use both the 6 GHz band, which is being considered for wireless LANs, and existing wireless LAN frequency bands (e.g., 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz). This multilink device may compete with wireless communication devices (hereinafter referred to as "existing stations") that are not compatible with the multilink device and can only use the existing frequency bands. In this case, the communication speed of the existing stations will decrease.

[0005] In particular, when the existing frequency band is congested, a multilink device may be unable to obtain radio resources on the existing frequency band side even if it uses the multilink device function.

[0006] 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 multi-device compatible wireless terminal that uses low frequency bands and high frequency bands from reducing the communication speed of a wireless terminal that communicates using the low frequency band without using the high frequency band. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] A wireless communication system according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a multi-device compatible base station accommodating one or more first 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 one or more second wireless terminals that cannot communicate using the second communication method but can communicate using the first communication method.The wireless communication system is characterized in that it has a count measurement unit that measures the number of retries the first wireless terminal makes to attempt communication using the first communication method, and a control unit that, when the number of retries measured by the count measurement unit exceeds a preset number of retries that is less than a default number of retries the second wireless terminal makes to attempt communication using the first communication method, controls the first wireless terminal to perform wireless communication with the base station using the second communication method without using the first communication method until a predetermined time has elapsed.

[0008] Furthermore, a wireless communication method according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a multi-device base station that accommodates one or more first wireless terminals that can communicate using both a first communication method using a first frequency band and a second communication method using a second frequency band that is higher than the first frequency band, and one or more second wireless terminals that cannot communicate using the second communication method but can communicate using the first communication method. , the base station or the control device In the wireless communication method, the first wireless terminal controls the number of retries for communication using the first communication method. The counting unit a step of measuring the number of times to measure; and when the measured number of retries exceeds a preset number of retries that is smaller than a default number of retries for the second wireless terminal to attempt communication by the first communication method, the first wireless terminal performs wireless communication with the base station by using the second communication method without using the first communication method until a predetermined time has elapsed. The control unit and a control step of controlling the temperature.

[0009] Furthermore, a base station according to one embodiment of the present invention is a multi-device compatible base station accommodating one or more first 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 one or more second wireless terminals that cannot communicate using the second communication method but can communicate using the first communication method, characterized in that it comprises: a count measurement unit that measures the number of retries the first wireless terminal makes when attempting to communicate using the first communication method; and a control unit that, when the number of retries measured by the count measurement unit exceeds a preset number of retries that is smaller than a default number of retries the second wireless terminal makes when attempting to communicate using the first communication method, controls the first wireless terminal to perform wireless communication with the base station using the second communication method without using the first communication method until a predetermined time has elapsed. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to the present invention, a multi-device compatible wireless terminal that uses low frequency bands and high frequency bands can be prevented from reducing the communication speed of a wireless terminal that communicates using the low frequency band without using the high frequency band. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a wireless communication system according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a specific configuration example of a base station according to an embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a specific configuration example of a control device. [Figure 4] 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the operation of the wireless communication system. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of a control device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] 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.

[0013] As shown in FIG. 1, a wireless communication system 10 according to one embodiment includes, for example, a first wireless terminal 20, second wireless terminals 30-1 and 30-2, base stations 40-1 and 40-2, control devices 50-1 and 50-2, and terminal devices 110, and is connected to a network 100.

[0014] 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.

[0015] The base station 40-1 is a multi-device compatible device, and has a device 80 that serves as an AP (access point) for method 1 and a device 90 that serves as 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 the control device 50-1.

[0016] Method 1 is, for example, a 5 GHz band wireless communication method in IEEE802.11 (wireless LAN). Method 1 may also be a method for performing wireless communication using the 2.4 GHz band in addition to the 5 GHz band. 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.

[0017] Note that base station 40-1 may be configured integrally with control device 50-1, that is, base station 40-1 may have each of the functions of control device 50-1.

[0018] The base station 40-2 has a device 80 that serves as an AP of the method 1, and performs wireless communication with, for example, the second wireless terminal 30-2.

[0019] The first wireless terminal 20 is a multi-device compatible wireless terminal (STA) equipped with devices 60 and 70 compatible with the respective communication methods (method 1 and method 2) of devices 80 and 90 provided in a multi-device compatible base station 40-1 compatible with both the 5 GHz band and the 6 GHz band.

[0020] Device 60 supports the communication method (method 1: first communication method) of device 80 provided in base station 40-1, and performs wireless communication with device 80. Device 70 supports the communication method (method 2: second communication method) of device 90 provided in base station 40-1, and performs wireless communication with device 90.

[0021] Each of the second wireless terminals 30-1 and 30-2 is a wireless terminal equipped with a device 60 that is compatible only with the communication method (method 1) of the device 80 that the base station 40-1 or the base station 40-2 is equipped with. For example, the second wireless terminal 30-1 has a device 60 that is compatible only with the 5 GHz band and performs wireless communication with the device 80 of the base station 40-1. Also, the second wireless terminal 30-2 has a device 60 that is compatible only with the 5 GHz band and performs wireless communication with the device 80 of the base station 40-2.

[0022] 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.

[0023] In other words, the wireless communication system 10 is a wireless communication system that includes a first wireless terminal 20 that can communicate using both a first communication method that uses a first frequency band (5 GHz) and a second communication method that uses 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 second wireless terminals 30-1 and 30-2 that cannot communicate using the second communication method but can communicate using the first communication method.

[0024] However, in the wireless communication system 10, it is possible that each of the second wireless terminals 30-1 and 30-2 will compete with the first wireless terminal 20 that can communicate using the same communication method (method 1).

[0025] Therefore, for example, the control device 50-1 performs control so as to prevent the first wireless terminal 20 from reducing the communication speed of the second wireless terminal 30-1 and the like.

[0026] 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 storage unit 42, an interface (I / F) unit 43, and a control unit 44.

[0027] The wireless unit 41 includes the above-mentioned device 80 and device 90, and performs wireless communication with, for example, the first wireless terminal 20 and the second wireless terminal 30-1, respectively.

[0028] The storage unit 42 stores information received by the base station 40-1 via the radio unit 41 or the I / F unit 43, etc.

[0029] The I / F unit 43 is a communication interface that communicates with the control device 50-1.

[0030] The control unit 44 controls each unit that constitutes the base station 40-1.

[0031] 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.

[0032] The storage unit 51 is a storage device that stores data within the control device 50-1.

[0033] 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.

[0034] The number measurement unit 54 measures the number of retries that the first wireless terminal 20 attempts to communicate by the first communication method using the first frequency band (5 GHz) via the I / F unit 52, and outputs the measurement result to the storage unit 51.

[0035] The timer unit 55 measures the time required for each process in the control device 50-1 and outputs the time to the storage unit 51.

[0036] The control unit 56 controls each unit constituting the control device 50-1. For example, the control unit 56 controls the first wireless terminal 20 to perform wireless communication with the base station 40-1 using the second communication method without using the first communication method until a predetermined time has elapsed when the number of retries measured by the number measurement unit 54 exceeds a preset number of retries that is less than the default number of retries for the second wireless terminals 30-1 and 30-2 to attempt communication using the first communication method via the I / F unit 52.

[0037] Next, a description will be given of an example of the operation of the wireless communication system 10. FIG.

[0038] 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 will perform MLD communication (S100), and if MLD communication will not be performed (S100: No), proceeds to processing S102, and if MLD communication will be performed (S102: Yes), proceeds to processing S104.

[0039] In the process of S102, the base station 40-1 and the first wireless terminal 20 communicate using the first communication method (existing frequency band link). At this time, the base station 40-1 sets the number of retries for the first frequency band to a default value and performs wireless communication with the first wireless terminal 20 using the first frequency band.

[0040] In the processing of S104, the base station 40-1 sets the number of retries for the first frequency band to a value smaller than the default value in accordance with the control of the control device 50-1, and performs MLD communication with the first wireless terminal 20. At this time, the base station 40-1 sets the number of retries for the first frequency band to the above-mentioned set number of retries.

[0041] Next, the control device 50-1 determines whether the number of retries between the base station 40-1 and the first wireless terminal 20 to attempt communication using the first communication method in MLD communication has exceeded the set number of retries (S106), and if it has not exceeded the set number of retries (S106: No), proceeds to processing S108, and if it has exceeded the set number of retries (S106: Yes), proceeds to processing S110.

[0042] In the process of S108, the base station 40-1 and the first wireless terminal 20 retry MLD communication.

[0043] In the process of S110, the base station 40-1 and the first wireless terminal 20 communicate using only the second communication method (6 GHz band link).

[0044] In the processing of S112, the control device 50-1 determines whether a predetermined time has elapsed since the base station 40-1 and the first wireless terminal 20 started communication using only the second 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.

[0045] In this way, when the measured retry count exceeds the set retry count, the wireless communication system 10 according to one embodiment controls the first wireless terminal 20 to perform wireless communication with the base station 40-1 using the second communication method without using the first communication method until a predetermined time has elapsed. Therefore, the wireless communication system 10 can prevent the multi-device-compatible first wireless terminal 20 from reducing the communication speed of the second wireless terminal 30-1 and the like.

[0046] In addition, when the wireless communication system 10 uses the 5 GHz band and the 2.4 GHz band as the first communication method, the wireless communication system 10 may control the first wireless terminal 20 to perform wireless communication with the base station 40-1 using the second communication method without using only the 5 GHz band or the 2.4 GHz band until a predetermined time has elapsed.

[0047] In addition, 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.

[0048] 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.

[0049] 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 the functions of 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.

[0050] 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, etc. The communication unit 520 is, for example, a network interface, etc.

[0051] 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, etc.

[0052] The storage medium 570 is capable of storing programs for causing the control device 50-1 to execute functions, etc. The architecture constituting the control device 50-1 is not limited to the example shown in FIG. [Explanation of symbols]

[0053] 10 wireless communication system, 20 first wireless terminal, 30-1, 30-2 second 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 a multi-device base station accommodating one or more first 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 one or more second wireless terminals that cannot communicate using the second communication method but can communicate using the first communication method, a number measurement unit that measures the number of retries that the first wireless terminal attempts to communicate using the first communication method; a control unit that controls the first wireless terminal to perform wireless communication with the base station by using the second communication method without using the first communication method until a predetermined time has elapsed, when the number of retries measured by the number measurement unit exceeds a preset number of retries that is less than a default number of retries for the second wireless terminal to attempt communication by the first communication method; A wireless communication system comprising:

2. The first communication method and the second communication method are wireless communication methods that comply with wireless LAN standards.

2. The wireless communication system according to claim 1, wherein:

3. A wireless communication method in which a multi-device compatible base station accommodating one or more first 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 one or more second wireless terminals that cannot communicate by the second communication method but can communicate by the first communication method, is controlled by the base station or a control device, a retry count measurement step in which a retry count measurement unit measures the number of retries that the first wireless terminal attempts to communicate using the first communication method; a control step in which, when the measured number of retries exceeds a preset number of retries that is less than a default number of retries for the second wireless terminal to attempt communication using the first communication method, the control unit controls the first wireless terminal to perform wireless communication with the base station using the second communication method without using the first communication method until a predetermined time has elapsed; A wireless communication method comprising:

4. The first communication method and the second communication method are wireless communication methods that comply with wireless LAN standards.

4. The wireless communication method according to claim 3, wherein:

5. A multi-device compatible base station accommodating one or more first wireless terminals capable of communication 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 one or more second wireless terminals that cannot communicate by the second communication method but can communicate by the first communication method, a number measurement unit that measures the number of retries that the first wireless terminal attempts to communicate using the first communication method; a control unit that controls the first wireless terminal to perform wireless communication with the base station by using the second communication method without using the first communication method until a predetermined time has elapsed, when the number of retries measured by the number measurement unit exceeds a preset number of retries that is less than a default number of retries for the second wireless terminal to attempt communication by the first communication method; A base station comprising:

6. The first communication method and the second communication method are wireless communication methods that comply with wireless LAN standards. 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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