COMMUNICATION DEVICE, COMMUNICATION DEVICE CONTROL METHOD, AND PROGRAM

Abstract

To allow a communication device capable of making communication over a frequency band in excess of 160 MHz in the Wi-Fi Aware standard to notify information about a Primary Channel.SOLUTION: A communication device notifies information about the Wi-Fi Aware compliant Primary Channel out of the channels used to make communication over a frequency bandwidth in excess of 160 MHz by transmitting Wi-Fi Aware compliant frames.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to wireless communication technology. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, wireless LAN systems compliant with IEEE802.11 have been widely used. Accordingly, technologies have been proposed that allow for easy discovery of nearby wireless LAN applications and information in a power-saving manner. Wi-Fi Aware has been defined by the Wi-Fi Alliance as a communication standard for discovering communication devices and the services they provide in a power-saving manner. Patent Document 1 describes NAN (Neighbor Awareness Networking), which has been defined by the Wi-Fi Alliance as a standard for discovering communication devices and the services they provide in a power-saving manner. Here, Wi-Fi Aware and the NAN standard refer to the same thing.

[0003] In Wi-Fi Aware, a communication device capable of communicating over an 80 MHz frequency bandwidth notifies information about a primary channel available within the 80 MHz frequency bandwidth. Here, the primary channel is a channel for communicating management frames for connecting with other communication devices.

[0004] Meanwhile, standards for wireless LAN (Local Area Network) technology have been established by IEEE802.11, a standardization organization for wireless LAN technology, and include IEEE802.11 / a / b / g / n / ac / ax. IEEE stands for Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. IEEE802.11 is currently developing the IEEE802.11be standard, which is considering communications over a frequency bandwidth of 160 MHz. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014 / 0302787 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] However, the Wi-Fi Aware standard does not define a mechanism for notifying users that they will be communicating in a frequency bandwidth above 160 MHz. As a result, the current Wi-Fi Aware standard is unable to notify users of information about the Primary Channel in a frequency bandwidth above 160 MHz when communicating in that bandwidth.

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and aims to enable a communication device capable of communicating in a frequency band exceeding 160 MHz in the Wi-Fi Aware standard to notify information about the Primary Channel. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention As one aspect of The communication device is a communication device compliant with Wi-Fi Aware, and includes a communication means for communicating frames compliant with Wi-Fi Aware, and a notification means for notifying information about a Primary Channel compliant with Wi-Fi Aware among channels for communication in a frequency bandwidth exceeding 160 MHz by transmitting the frames by the communication means. The notification means notifies information indicating a channel used for high-speed device discovery defined at intervals of 80 MHz as information about the Primary Channel. do. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the present invention, a communication device capable of communicating in a frequency band exceeding 160 MHz under the Wi-Fi Aware standard can notify information about the Primary Channel. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 shows an example of the configuration of a wireless communication system. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of NAN 101. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the functional configuration of NAN 101. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating the frame format of an extended NAN Action Frame in this embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a Primary Channel Bitmap field in this embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a Primary Channel Bitmap field in this embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a Primary Channel Bitmap field in this embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following, each communication device is assumed to be a communication device having a wireless LAN communication function conforming to the IEEE 802.11 standard series, but is not limited to this. Furthermore, each communication device is assumed to be a NAN device capable of discovering other communication devices and the services they provide using a NAN defined by the Wi-Fi Alliance, but is not limited to this. In other words, although the following descriptions use terminology corresponding to a specific standard, the following discussions can also be applied to other similar standards.

[0012] This section explains NAN (Neighbor Awareness Networking). In NAN, service information is communicated during a period called the Discovery Window (hereinafter referred to as DW). As will be described later, service information includes Subscribe messages, which are signals for discovering services, and Publish messages, which are signals for notifying that a service is being provided. The DW is the time specified for each channel during which multiple devices running NAN can converge. A set of communication devices that share a DW schedule is called a NAN cluster.

[0013] Each communication device belonging to a NAN cluster operates in one of the following roles: Master, Non-Master Sync, or Non-Master Non-Sync. A communication device operating as a Master transmits a NAN Synchronization Beacon (hereinafter referred to as a Sync Beacon), which is a beacon that allows each communication device to identify and synchronize with a DW. Furthermore, a communication device operating as a Master transmits a NAN Discovery Beacon, which is a signal that allows communication devices that do not belong to a NAN cluster to recognize the NAN cluster. The NAN Discovery Beacon is transmitted, for example, every 100 TUs (Time Units, 1 TU is 1024 μsec), even outside the DW period. In each NAN cluster, at least one communication device operates as a Master.

[0014] A communication device operating as a Non-Master Sync transmits NAN Sync Beacons but does not transmit NAN Discovery Beacons. A communication device operating as a Non-Master Non-Sync transmits neither NAN Sync Beacons nor NAN Discovery Beacons.

[0015] Communication devices participating in a NAN cluster synchronize with a predetermined periodic DW period in accordance with the NAN Sync Beacon and communicate service information during the DW period. Specifically, each communication device communicates with each other Subscribe messages, which are signals for discovering services during the DW period, and Publish messages, which are signals for notifying that a service is being provided. Furthermore, each communication device can exchange Follow-up messages for exchanging additional information about the service during the DW period. Messages such as Publish, Subscribe, and Follow-up are collectively referred to as Service Discovery Frames (SDFs). Each communication device can advertise or discover services by exchanging SDFs.

[0016] Generally, after discovering / detecting a service, a NAN device may perform communication related to an application to actually execute the service. In this case, the NAN device may establish a PostNAN for application-related communication, rather than a NAN. A PostNAN is a network separate from a NAN cluster. Examples of PostNAN include an infrastructure network, an IBSS, and Wi-Fi Direct. By establishing a PostNAN, a NAN device can perform application-based communication during periods other than the DW period.

[0017] Furthermore, a NAN device can establish a one-to-one connection with another NAN device and communicate with it about applications, without configuring a network separate from the NAN cluster, such as a Post NAN. This communication about applications that conforms to the NAN standard is called NDP (NAN Data Path). A NAN device can execute NDP within a NAN cluster during a period that does not overlap with a DW period. In this case, before executing NDP one-to-one, the NAN device can negotiate with the other NAN device on the timing (period) of the one-to-one execution of NDP.

[0018] An example of the configuration of a wireless communication system according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 1. The wireless communication system according to this embodiment includes NANs 101 to 103, which are communication devices (NAN devices) conforming to the NAN standard, and the NANs 101 to 103 participate in a NAN cluster 104. In this embodiment, the NAN devices (NANs 101 to 103) participating in the NAN cluster 104 establish a network using frequency channel 6 (6ch) in the 2.4 GHz band. The NAN cluster 104 has a DW period length of 16 TU, and the time interval from the start of a DW period to the start of the next DW period is 512 TU. A DW period is a period consisting of 16 DW periods, DW0 to DW15, and the DW period 16 after DWn (n is an integer from 0 to 15) is also DWn. In other words, DW16 corresponds to the next DW0. It is assumed that the NANs 101 to 103 participating in the NAN cluster 104 can always receive wireless signals at least in DW0.

[0019] NAN 101 is a communication device capable of executing each process described below. NAN 101 is assumed to participate in NAN cluster 104 as a Non-Master Non-Sync. NAN 102 is a communication device participating in NAN cluster 104 as a Master. NAN 102 receives wireless signals in all DW periods and transmits NAN Sync Beacons in all DW periods. NAN 103 is a communication device participating in NAN cluster 104 as a Non-Master Non-Sync.

[0020] The NAN devices 101, 102, and 103 participating in the NAN cluster 104 can perform wireless communication in accordance with the IEEE 802.11be standard. IEEE stands for Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. The NAN devices 101, 102, and 103 can communicate at frequencies in the 2.4 Hz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz bands. The frequency bands used by each communication device are not limited to these, and for example, the 60 GHz band may be used. The NAN devices 101, 102, and 103 can communicate using bandwidths of 20 MHz, 40 MHz, 80 MHz, 160 MHz, and 320 MHz. The bandwidths used by each communication device are not limited to these, and for example, bandwidths of 240 MHz, 4 MHz, etc. may be used.

[0021] Although the NAN devices 101, 102, and 103 are described as being compliant with the IEEE 802.11be standard, they may also be compliant with a legacy standard that predates the IEEE 802.11be standard. Specifically, the NAN devices 101, 102, and 103 may be compliant with at least one of the IEEE 802.11a / b / g / n / ac / ax standards. Alternatively, they may be compliant with a standard that succeeds IEEE 802.11be.

[0022] (NAN101 configuration) 2 shows the hardware configuration of the NAN 101 according to this embodiment. The NAN 101 includes a storage unit 201, a control unit 202, a function unit 203, an input unit 204, a display unit 205, a communication unit 206, and an antenna 207, as an example of the hardware configuration.

[0023] The storage unit 201 is configured with one or more ROMs (Read Only Memories) and / or RAMs (Random Access Memories). The storage unit 201 stores various information such as programs for performing various operations described below and communication parameters for wireless communication. Note that, in addition to memories such as ROMs and RAMs, the storage unit 201 may also use storage media such as flexible disks, hard disks, optical disks, magneto-optical disks, CD-ROMs, CD-Rs, magnetic tapes, non-volatile memory cards, and DVDs.

[0024] The control unit 202 is configured with one or more CPUs (Central Processing Units) or MPUs (Micro Processing Units). The control unit 202 controls the entire NAN 101 by executing programs stored in the storage unit 201. Note that the control unit 202 may also control the entire NAN 101 in cooperation with the programs stored in the storage unit 201 and an OS (Operating System).

[0025] The control unit 202 also controls the functional unit 203 to perform predetermined processes such as capturing images, printing, and projection. The functional unit 203 is hardware that enables the NAN 101 to perform predetermined processes. For example, if the NAN 101 functions as a camera, the functional unit 203 is an imaging unit that performs imaging processing. For example, if the NAN 101 functions as a printer, the functional unit 203 is a printing unit that performs printing processing. For example, if the NAN 101 functions as a projector, the functional unit 203 is a projection unit that performs projection processing. The data processed by the functional unit 203 may be data stored in the storage unit 201, or may be data communicated with another NAN device via the communication unit 206, which will be described later.

[0026] The input unit 204 receives various operations from the user. The display unit 205 displays various information to the user. Note that both the input unit 204 and the display unit 205 may be implemented by a single module, such as a touch panel.

[0027] The communication unit 206 controls wireless communication compliant with the IEEE 802.11 standard series and IP communication. The communication unit 206 also controls the antenna 207 to send and receive wireless signals for wireless communication. The NAN 101 communicates content such as image data, document data, and video data with other communication devices via the communication unit 206. Under the control of the control unit 202, the communication unit 206 can enter a DOZE state without receiving power during a DW period when no wireless signals are sent or received.

[0028] 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the NAN 101. The NAN 101 has, as its functional configuration, a wireless LAN control unit 301, a frame processing unit 302, a NAN control unit 303, and a UI control unit 304, for example.

[0029] The wireless LAN control unit 301 controls transmission and reception of wireless signals to and from other wireless LAN devices such as NAN devices. For example, the wireless LAN control unit 301 controls wireless LAN communications in accordance with the IEEE 802.11 standard series.

[0030] The frame processing unit 302 analyzes frames received by the wireless LAN control unit 301 and creates frames according to instructions from the NAN control unit 303 .

[0031] NAN control unit 303 performs control in accordance with the NAN standard. For example, NAN control unit 303 performs communication control in accordance with the NAN standard via communication unit 206 (FIG. 2).

[0032] The UI control unit 304 controls the display of various information on the output unit 205 (FIG. 2), manages operations performed on the input unit 204 by the user of the device 101, and transmits necessary signals to other functional units.

[0033] Figure 4 shows the frame format of the extended NAN Action Frame that complies with the NAN standard.

[0034] The extended NAN Action Frame has a Category field, an Action field, an OUI field, an OUI Type field, an OUI Subtype field, and an Information Content field 401.

[0035] In this embodiment, the Information Content field 401 includes at least a NAN Availability Attribute field 402. The NAN Availability Attribute field 402 includes, for example, information for communication outside the DW, and information for communication outside the DW that is available to the NAN device. Communication outside the DW indicates, for example, NDP or Post NAN communication.

[0036] The NAN Availability Attribute field is a type of Schedule Attribute, and the Schedule Attribute contains information about scheduling of communications that conforms to the NAN standard.

[0037] The NAN Availability Attribute field 402 includes at least a Band / Channel Entry List field 403. The Band / Channel Entry List field 403 includes information about frequency channels with which the NAN device transmitting the frame shown in FIG. 4 can communicate in NDP or Post NAN communication. The Band / Channel Entry List field 403 has as many fields as the number of Bands / Channels available to the NAN device. For example, if the NAN device can use channels 1 and 19, a Band / Channel Entry List field for channel 1 and a Band / Channel Entry List field for channel 19 are provided.

[0038] The Band / Channel Entry List field 403 includes a Non-contiguous Bandwidth field 404 , a Version field 405 , and a Band or Channel Entries field 406 .

[0039] The Non-contiguous Bandwidth field 404 indicates whether the frequency bandwidth available to the NAN device is contiguous. If the NAN device can use a contiguous frequency bandwidth, 0 is stored. If the NAN device can use a non-contiguous frequency bandwidth, 1 is stored. For example, if the NAN device can use an 80+80 MHz frequency bandwidth, 1 is stored in the Non-contiguous Bandwidth field 404.

[0040] In this embodiment, when 1 is stored in the Version field 405, it indicates that the Primary Channel Bitmap field 408 is 2 bytes.

[0041] In this embodiment, the Version field 405 is used to indicate that the Primary Channel Bitmap field 408 is 2 bytes, but this is not limiting. For example, the Version field 405 may be a reserved value in the extended NAN Action Frame shown in FIG.

[0042] The Operating Class field 407 includes information about the frequency bands available to the NAN device. For example, this field indicates that the NAN device can use 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz. This field also indicates that the NAN device can use an 80 MHz frequency bandwidth or a 320 MHz frequency bandwidth.

[0043] The Primary Channel Bitmap field 408 includes channel information for communicating a management frame for performing connection processing with another communication device when the NAN device communicates with the other communication device through NDP or Post NAN.

[0044] For example, suppose that the NAN device 101 uses Wi-Fi Aware to search for devices that provide a print service and discovers the NAN device 102 that provides that print service. In this case, the NAN devices 101 and 102 need to establish a link for communicating print data. Establishing this link in Post NAN communication requires exchanging management frames, and the Primary Channel Bitmap field 408 contains information about the channel to be used when exchanging those management frames.

[0045] <Embodiment 1> Fig. 5 shows details of the Primary channel Bitmap field 408 shown in Fig. 4. In this embodiment, when 1 is stored in the Version field 405 in Fig. 4, the Primary channel Bitmap field 408 is set to 2 bytes.

[0046] 5, the Primary Channel available to the NAN device is indicated using 16 bits (2 bytes) from b0 to b15. For example, to notify that the lowest frequency bandwidth of 20 MHz in a 320 MHz bandwidth is available as a Primary Channel for communicating management frames, a 1 is stored in b0 and 0 is stored in the remaining fields from b1 to b15. Alternatively, to notify that the second lowest frequency bandwidth of 20 MHz in a 320 MHz bandwidth is available as a Primary Channel for communicating management frames, a 1 is stored in b1 and 0 is stored in the remaining fields.

[0047] In this embodiment, the NAN device can indicate multiple available primary channels. For example, consider a case where the NAN device notifies that the lowest 20 MHz frequency bandwidth, the fifth 20 MHz frequency bandwidth from the lowest, and the tenth 20 MHz frequency bandwidth from the lowest are available as primary channels. In this case, 1 is stored in b0, b4, and b9 of the Primary Channel Bitmap field, and 0 is stored in the other fields.

[0048] In the present embodiment, an example has been shown in which the Primary Channel Bitmap field 408 is set to 2 bytes when 1 is stored in the Version field 405, but this is not limiting. For example, when the Operating Class field 406 indicates that the NAN device can use 6 GHz, the Primary Channel Bitmap field 408 may be set to 2 bytes. According to this embodiment, setting the Primary Channel Bitmap field to 2 bytes makes it possible to notify the Primary Channel in the 320 MHz frequency width.

[0049] <Embodiment 2> In the first embodiment, an example is shown in which the Primary Channel Bitmap field is expanded to 2 bytes and a Primary Channel in a 320 MHz frequency width is notified. In the present embodiment, an example is shown in which the Primary Channel Bitmap field remains 1 byte and notifies one of the Primary Channels in a 320 MHz frequency width that can be used by the NAN device. Also, in this embodiment, when the Operating Class field indicates that a 320 MHz frequency bandwidth is available, the field 408 indicates that a Primary Channel in a 320 MHz frequency bandwidth is available. Also, in this embodiment, when 1 is stored in the Version field 405 of FIG. 4, the Primary Channel Bitmap field indicates that a Primary Channel in a 320 MHz frequency bandwidth is available.

[0050] In this embodiment, the Version field 405 is shown as a field indicating that the 320 MHz frequency width is indicated in the Primary Channel Bitmap field 408, but this is not limiting. For example, it may be a Reserved value in the extended NAN Action Frame shown in FIG.

[0051] FIG. 6 shows details of the Primary channel Bitmap field 408 in this embodiment.

[0052] In the 80 MHz and 160 MHz frequency bandwidths shown in Figure 6, a NAN device can indicate multiple available primary channels. For example, consider a case where a NAN device notifies that the lowest 20 MHz frequency bandwidth and the fourth lowest 20 MHz frequency bandwidth are available as primary channels in an 80 MHz frequency bandwidth. In this case, the Primary channel Bitmap field stores 1 in b0 and b3, and stores 0 in the other fields.

[0053] On the other hand, in the 320 MHz frequency bandwidth shown in FIG. 6, a NAN device can advertise only one available primary channel.

[0054] For example, assume that a NAN device has available a 320 MHz frequency bandwidth that includes channels 33 to 89. The 320 MHz frequency bandwidth includes, from lowest to highest, channels 33, 37, 41, 43, 45, 49, 53, 57, 61, 65, 69, 73, 77, 81, 85, and 89. If the NAN device reports channel 37 as its Primary Channel, since channel 37 is the second lowest frequency channel, it stores a 1 in b1 and zeros in the other fields.

[0055] 5 shows an example in which the first four bits of b0 to b3 are used to indicate only one available primary channel for the NAN device, but this is not limiting. For example, the first four bits of b0 to b3 may indicate one available primary channel, and the last four bits of b4 to b7 may indicate another available primary channel, thereby indicating two available primary channels for the NAN device.

[0056] Also, if a NAN device can use 160MHz+160MHz, it will notify the Primary Channel of the first 160MHz using the first 4 bits from b0 to b3, and the Primary Channel of the second 160MHz using the last 4 bits from b4 to b7.

[0057] According to this embodiment, the Primary channel Bitmap field remains 1 byte, and it is possible to notify the Primary Channel included in the 320 MHz frequency bandwidth available to the NAN device.

[0058] <Embodiment 3> In the second embodiment, the Primary Channel Bitmap field remains 1 byte, and an example is shown in which a NAN device notifies a Primary Channel included in a 320 MHz frequency bandwidth that can be used. In the present embodiment, the Primary Channel Bitmap field remains 1 byte, and an example is shown in which a PSC (Preferred Scan Channel) is notified as the Primary Channel. Here, the PSC is a channel that a STA scans to quickly discover an AP, and in the 6 GHz frequency band, the PSC is set at intervals of 80 MHz frequency bandwidth. Therefore, there are four PSCs in the 320 MHz frequency bandwidth. Furthermore, in this embodiment, if the Operating Class field indicates that the 320 MHz frequency bandwidth is available, the field 408 indicates that the Primary Channel in the 320 MHz frequency bandwidth is available.

[0059] In this embodiment, when 1 is stored in the Version field 405 in FIG. 4, the Primary channel Bitmap field indicates that a Primary Channel in a 320 MHz frequency width is available.

[0060] In this embodiment, the Version field 405 is shown as a field indicating that the 320 MHz frequency width is indicated in the Primary Channel Bitmap field 408, but this is not limiting. For example, it may be a Reserved value in the extended NAN Action Frame shown in FIG.

[0061] FIG. 7 shows details of the Primary channel Bitmap field 408 in this embodiment.

[0062] 7, b0 to b7 indicate the Primary Channels that can be used by a NAN device. For example, to notify that the PSC of the lowest frequency channel in a 320 MHz bandwidth can be used as the Primary Channel for communicating management frames, a 1 is stored in b0 and 0 is stored in the remaining fields b1 to b7. Alternatively, to notify that the PSC of the second lowest frequency channel in a 320 MHz bandwidth can be used as the Primary Channel for communicating management frames, a 1 is stored in b1 and 0 is stored in the remaining fields.

[0063] A NAN device can also indicate multiple available Primary Channels. For example, if a NAN device notifies that it can use the PSC, which is the lowest frequency channel, and the PSC, which is the third from the lowest frequency bandwidth, as Primary Channels, b0 and b2 are set to 1, and the other fields are set to 0.

[0064] According to this embodiment, by notifying the PSC, it becomes possible to notify the Primary Channel in the 320 MHz frequency width while keeping the Primary channel Bitmap field at 1 byte.

[0065] <Other embodiments> In this embodiment, an extended NAN Action Frame conforming to the NAN is shown, but the present invention is not limited to this.

[0066] For example, the information included in the NAN Attributes shown in this embodiment may be added to the NAN Attributes of the Service Discovery Frame or the NAN Information Elements. Note that the NAN Information Elements are elements added to the NAN Sync Beacon or the NAN Discovery Beacon.

[0067] Alternatively, an Extended NAN Availability Attribute field may be provided instead of the NAN Availability Attribute field. This field contains the same information as the NAN Availability Attribute field 402, but the Primary Channel Bitmap field is set to 2 bytes. Because the Primary Channel Bitmap field of the Extended NAN Availability Attribute field is set to 2 bytes, it is possible to notify the Primary Channel in a 320 MHz frequency band.

[0068] Furthermore, the Primary Channel Bitmap field of the Extended NAN Availability Attribute field may be expressed as shown in Fig. 6 of embodiment 2. In this case, the Information Content shown in Fig. 4 includes the NAN Availability Attribute and the Extended NAN Availability Attribute.

[0069] In this case, the 20 MHz to 160 MHz frequency bandwidth shown in Fig. 7 may be indicated by the NAN Availability Attribute, and the 320 MHz frequency bandwidth may be indicated by the Extended NAN Availability Attribute. In this case, 4 bits of the Primary Channel Bitmap field is sufficient, but instead of 4 bits, a 1-octet or 2-octet Primary Channel Bitmap field may be prepared.

[0070] Furthermore, the Primary Channel Bitmap field of the Extended NAN Availability Attribute field may be expressed as shown in Fig. 7 of embodiment 3. In this case, the Information Content shown in Fig. 4 includes the NAN Availability Attribute and the Extended NAN Availability Attribute. Furthermore, the 20 MHz to 160 MHz frequency bandwidth shown in Fig. 7 can be indicated by the NAN Availability Attribute, and the 320 MHz frequency bandwidth shown in Fig. 7 can be indicated by the Extended NAN Availability Attribute.

[0071] Furthermore, the field / subfield names and bit positions / sizes are not limited to those listed in the table, and similar information may be stored with different field / subfield names or in a different order or size.

[0072] It is also possible to provide a system or device with a recording medium storing software program code for implementing the above-described functions, and have the computer (CPU, MPU) of the system or device read and execute the program code stored in the recording medium. In this case, the program code itself read from the recording medium will implement the functions of the above-described embodiments, and the recording medium storing the program code will constitute the above-described device.

[0073] Examples of storage media that can be used to supply the program code include flexible disks, hard disks, optical disks, magneto-optical disks, CD-ROMs, CD-Rs, magnetic tapes, non-volatile memory cards, ROMs, and DVDs.

[0074] In addition, the above-mentioned functions may be realized not only by the computer executing the read program code, but also by the operating system (OS) running on the computer performing some or all of the actual processing based on the instructions of the program code. OS is an abbreviation for Operating System.

[0075] Furthermore, the program code read from the storage medium may be written to a memory provided on a function expansion board inserted into a computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, and a CPU provided on the function expansion board or function expansion unit may then perform some or all of the actual processing based on the instructions of the program code to realize the above-mentioned functions.

[0076] The present invention can also be realized by supplying a program that realizes one or more functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or device via a network or a storage medium, and having one or more processors in the computer of the system or device read and execute the program. It can also be realized by a circuit (e.g., ASIC) that realizes one or more functions. [Explanation of symbols]

[0077] 301 Wireless LAN control unit 302 Frame Processing Unit 303 NAN control unit 304 UI ​​control section

Claims

1. A communication device that complies with Wi-Fi Aware A communication means for communicating frames conforming to Wi-Fi Aware; a notification means for notifying information about a primary channel compliant with Wi-Fi Aware among channels for communication in a frequency bandwidth exceeding 160 MHz by transmitting the frame by the communication means; and The communication device, wherein the notification means notifies information indicating a channel used for high-speed device discovery defined at intervals of 80 MHz as information about the Primary Channel.

2. 2. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the information about the primary channel is included in a schedule attribute of the frame.

3. 2. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the information about the primary channel is included in a NAN availability attribute of the frame.

4. 2. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the information about the primary channel is included in NAN information elements of the frame.

5. 5. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the information about the primary channel is information about a channel for communicating a management frame conforming to the IEEE 802.11 standard series.

6. 6. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the frame is a NAN Action Frame that complies with Wi-Fi Aware.

7. 7. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the frame is a Service Discovery Frame (SDF) frame conforming to Wi-Fi Aware.

8. 8. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the frame is a NAN Synchronization Beacon conforming to Wi-Fi Aware.

9. 8. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the frame is a NAN Discovery Beacon that complies with Wi-Fi Aware.

10. A communication device compliant with Wi-Fi Aware. a communication means for communicating a frame including a NAN Availability Attribute as information about a Wi-Fi Aware compliant Primary Channel; when a first value is stored in a predetermined field of the NAN Availability Attribute of the frame, a bitmap of 2 bytes for storing information about a Primary Channel is stored in a second predetermined field of the NAN Availability Attribute of the frame communicated by the communication means; When a second value different from the first value is stored in the predetermined field of the frame, a bitmap of one byte that stores information about a Primary Channel is stored in the second predetermined field of the NAN Availability Attribute of the frame communicated by the communication means.

11. The communication device according to claim 10, wherein the frame is a NAN Action Frame compliant with Wi-Fi Aware.

12. The communication device according to claim 10, wherein the frame is a Service Discovery Frame (SDF) frame conforming to Wi-Fi Aware.

13. The communication device according to claim 10, wherein the frame is a NAN Synchronization Beacon compliant with Wi-Fi Aware.

14. The communication device according to claim 10, wherein the frame is a NAN Discovery Beacon compliant with Wi-Fi Aware.

15. A communication device as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 14, characterized in that the specified field is an Operating Class field.

16. A communication method for a communication device compliant with Wi-Fi Aware A transmission control step of transmitting a frame including a NAN Availability Attribute as information about a Wi-Fi Aware compliant Primary Channel. When a first value is stored in a predetermined field of the NAN Availability Attribute of the frame, a bitmap of 2 bytes for storing information about a Primary Channel is stored in a second predetermined field of the frame; A communication method for a communication device, characterized in that when a second value different from the first value is stored in the specified field of the frame, a bitmap of one byte that stores information about the Primary Channel is stored in the second specified field of the frame.

17. A program for causing a computer to function as each of the means of the communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

18. A program for causing a computer to function as each means of a communication device described in any one of claims 10 to 15.

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