Wireless communication device, communication control method, and program

Abstract

To provide a wireless communication device, a communication control method, and a program that automatically determine an appropriate multicast transmission rate according to the usage environment of a user.SOLUTION: In a communication system 10, an access point 100 includes a wireless communication unit that communicates with a wireless communication terminal using a first method for transmitting and receiving data or a second method for transmitting data that can be received simultaneously by a plurality of wireless communication terminals; and a control unit that changes the communication rate of the second method on the basis of information indicating the communication volume of the second method per unit time. This makes it possible to automatically determine the appropriate multicast transmission rate.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a wireless communication device, a communication control method, and a program.

Background Art

[0002] Wireless communication using a communication band in the 2.4 GHz band or 5 GHz band, such as a wireless LAN (Local Area Network), can be mainly classified into three communication methods, the unicast method, the multicast method, and the broadcast method, according to the number of nodes (communication partners) communicating simultaneously. The unicast method is a data communication method that is performed one-to-one by specifying a single address, and is used, for example, for browsing a website or sending and receiving emails. The multicast method is a data communication method that is performed one-to-many by specifying a specific address, and is used, for example, for streaming distribution such as video distribution and music distribution. The broadcast method is a data communication method that specifies all destinations in the same network and is performed one-to-unspecified many, and is used for the exchange of control data that does not specify a partner or the search for a communication partner.

[0003] In the unicast method, since a reception confirmation is performed between the transmission side and the reception side, the communication rate can be optimized based on the reception response from the reception side. On the other hand, in the case of the multicast method and the broadcast method, since there are a plurality of reception sides, a reception confirmation is not performed between the transmission side and the reception side, and the communication rate cannot be optimized based on the reception response from the reception side. Patent Document 1 discloses selecting the communication rate of communication in the multicast method and the broadcast method based on the wireless communication information in the case of performing unicast method communication.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

[0005] In wireless communication systems, it is possible to configure the multicast transmission rate, which is the rate at which multicast frames and broadcast frames (multicast / broadcast frames) are transmitted by the wireless communication device. Lowering the multicast transmission rate increases the communication distance between the wireless communication system and the wireless communication terminal. On the other hand, lowering the multicast transmission rate increases the proportion of airtime occupied by multicast / broadcast frames in the communication between the unicast and multicast / broadcast methods used in the wireless communication system, and reduces the throughput of unicast frames.

[0006] When setting multicast transmission rates, it is necessary to set an appropriate multicast transmission rate according to the usage environment, such as the airtime occupied by multicast / broadcast frames in communication. However, it is difficult for users to know the wireless environment they are using. Therefore, it is difficult to determine how to decide on the multicast transmission rate, and it is extremely complicated for users to set the multicast transmission rate themselves.

[0007] One of the purposes of this disclosure is to automatically determine an appropriate multicast transmission rate. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] According to one embodiment of the present invention, a wireless communication device is provided that includes a communication unit that communicates with a wireless communication terminal using a first method for sending and receiving data or a second method for transmitting data that can be simultaneously received by multiple wireless communication terminals, and a control unit that changes the communication rate of the second method based on information indicating the amount of communication of the second method in a unit of time.

[0009] According to another embodiment of the present invention, a communication control method is provided which includes a wireless communication device communicating with a wireless communication terminal in a first method of sending and receiving data or in a second method of transmitting data that can be simultaneously received by a plurality of wireless communication terminals, and changing the communication rate of the second method based on information indicating the amount of communication in the second method per unit time.

[0010] According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, a program is provided that causes a computer to communicate with a wireless communication terminal using a first method of sending and receiving data or a second method of transmitting data that can be simultaneously received by a plurality of wireless communication terminals, and to change the communication rate of the second method based on information indicating the amount of communication using the second method per unit time. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] According to this disclosure, an appropriate multicast transmission rate can be automatically determined. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0012] [Figure 1] This is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a communication system in one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] This is a flowchart showing a communication control process according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 3] This flowchart shows a configuration change process according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 4] This flowchart shows the setting determination process according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 5] This flowchart shows the setting determination process according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 6] This is an example of the percentage of communication volume for the second method recorded from the start of signal control processing. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0013] The embodiments of this disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings and other illustrations. However, this disclosure can be implemented in many different ways and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments described below.

[0014] While drawings may be schematic in order to clarify the explanation, they are merely examples and do not limit the interpretation of the present invention. Furthermore, the labels "1st," "2nd," etc., attached to each element are merely convenient markers used to distinguish each element and have no further meaning unless specifically explained. In cases where such labels are recognizable to a person with ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention belongs, no further explanation will be provided.

[0015] <Communication System> The communication system of this disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The communication system according to this embodiment is implemented by an access point that relays wireless communication. The access point can automatically determine an appropriate multicast transmission rate according to the user's usage environment and change to the determined multicast transmission rate by the method described below. The access point in this embodiment will be described below. Note that the communication system may be implemented by other communication devices such as routers or network switches instead of access points.

[0016] In the following explanation, "transmission rate" refers to the frame rate transmitted by the wireless communication device, and "reception rate" refers to the frame rate at which the wireless communication terminal receives frames transmitted from the wireless communication device. "Communication rate" is used when there is no distinction between the transmission rate and the reception rate.

[0017] Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a communication system 10 in one embodiment of the present disclosure. The communication system 10 includes an access point 100 and wireless communication terminals 200 (200-1, 200-2), and the communication system 10 may also include a router 300.

[0018] The access point 100 provides a wireless LAN environment for the wireless communication terminal 200. Further, the access point 100 can relay the connection of the wireless communication terminal 200 to a WAN (Wide Area Network) or the Internet via the router 300. In FIG. 1, two wireless communication terminals 200-1 and 200-2 are shown, but one or more wireless communication terminals 200 may exist. Hereinafter, when there is no need to distinguish between the individual wireless communication terminals 200-1 and 200-2, they will simply be described as the wireless communication terminal 200.

[0019] The access point 100 includes a control unit 101, a wireless communication unit 103, a storage unit 105, and an operation unit 107. The access point 100 may include a communication module 109. Each component of the access point 100 is connected to each other by a bus 111.

[0020] The control unit 101 includes an arithmetic processing circuit such as a CPU and a memory. The control unit 101 executes a control program stored in the storage unit 105 by the CPU to realize various functions in the access point 100. The functions to be realized include a communication control function. According to this communication control function, the communication control process described later can be executed. Note that the functions realized by the control unit 101 include, in addition to the above-described communication control function, functions for controlling each part constituting the access point 100. Some or all of the configurations for realizing these functions are not limited to being realized by software by program execution, and may be realized by hardware.

[0021] The control program only needs to be executable by a computer, and may be provided in a state stored in a computer-readable recording medium such as a magnetic recording medium, an optical recording medium, a magneto-optical recording medium, or a semiconductor memory. In this case, the access point 100 only needs to be provided with a device for reading the recording medium. Further, the control program may be downloaded from the outside via a network.

[0022] The wireless communication unit (communication unit) 103 communicates wirelessly with the wireless communication terminal 200. Specifically, the wireless communication unit 103 communicates wirelessly with the wireless communication terminal 200 using a unicast, multicast, or broadcast method, based on communication parameters including the communication rate set by the control unit 101, and transmits and receives frames. Communication parameters may include the communication rate, the bandwidth used for communication, the number of transmission streams, etc. The wireless communication unit 103 can use either the 2.4GHz band or the 5GHz band.

[0023] The storage unit 105 is a storage device such as non-volatile memory, hard disk, or RAM. The storage unit 105 may utilize semiconductor memory such as an SSD (Solid State Drive), as well as magnetic recording media (magnetic tape, magnetic disk, etc.), optical recording media, magneto-optical recording media, or memory-capable elements that serve as storage media. The storage unit 105 functions as a database, storing application programs for implementing communication control functions and other functions executed by the control unit 101, as well as various other information. The application programs may be downloaded from an external source via a network. The storage unit 105 may also reside externally. The storage unit 105 stores threshold data for communication volume via multicast and broadcast communication methods, as described later.

[0024] The control unit 107 includes controls such as a power button and a setting button, and receives user input to these controls and outputs a signal corresponding to that input to the control unit 101.

[0025] In this embodiment, the communication module 109 communicates with the router 300 and communicates with other devices via the router 300. This communication may be wireless or wired.

[0026] <Communication control processing> The communication control processing performed by the control unit 101 will now be described. In the following description, in communication between the wireless communication unit 103 of the access point 100 and the wireless communication terminal 200, unicast communication will be referred to as the first type of communication, and multicast or broadcast communication will be referred to as the second type of communication. In the first type of communication, the access point 100 and the wireless communication terminal send and receive frames (data) one-to-one, and in the second type of communication, the access point 100 sends frames (data) to multiple wireless communication terminals 200 that can be received simultaneously by the multiple wireless communication terminals 200.

[0027] The control unit 101 changes the transmission rate of communication using the second method based on information indicating the amount of communication using the second method in a unit of time. In this embodiment, the transmission rate of communication using the second method is changed using the ratio of the amount of communication using the first method to the amount of communication using the second method in that unit of time as the information indicating the amount of communication using the second method in that unit of time. The communication control processing performed by the control unit 101 includes processing to change the transmission rate of communication using the second method based on the ratio of the amount of communication using the first method to the amount of communication using the second method in a predetermined unit of time.

[0028] Figure 2 is a flowchart illustrating the communication control process according to this embodiment. In this embodiment, when the communication control process is started, the control unit 101 records the percentage of communication volume using the second method every unit time (a seconds) from the start time (S201). The percentage of communication volume using the second method in a unit time can be obtained by calculating the ratio of the communication volume using the second method to the sum of the communication volume using the first method and the communication volume using the second method in that unit time. The percentage of communication volume using the second method calculated by the control unit 101 may be temporarily stored in the storage unit 105.

[0029] In this embodiment, the ratio of the amount of data transmitted by the first method to the amount of data transmitted by the second method per unit time is not limited to the ratio of the amount of data transmitted by the second method per unit time as described above. For example, the airtime ratio (airtime occupancy rate) of the second method's communication in a unit time compared to the first method's communication may be considered as the ratio of the amount of data transmitted by the first method to the amount of data transmitted by the second method. Alternatively, for example, the ratio of the number of arriving frames in a unit time that are not dependent on frame size for the first method's communication to the number of arriving frames in a unit time that are not dependent on frame size for the second method's communication may be used instead of the ratio of the amount of data transmitted by the first method to the amount of data transmitted by the second method.

[0030] Next, the control unit 101 determines whether a certain amount of time (b seconds) has elapsed since the start time (S202). If a certain amount of time (b seconds) has elapsed since the start time (S202; Yes), the control unit 101 determines whether the set time has been reached (S203). The set time is a predetermined time when the transmission rate of the second method is changed. The set time may be a predetermined time within a day, and can be set by the user as appropriate.

[0031] If the set time is reached (S203; Yes), the control unit 101 executes a setting change process (S204). On the other hand, if the set time has not been reached, the control unit 101 continues to record the percentage of communication volume using the second method every unit of time (a seconds) until the set time is reached (S205).

[0032] Figure 3 is a flowchart of the configuration change process. The configuration change process is the process for changing the transmission rate of the second method. The control unit 101 changes the settings for communication using the second method, including the transmission rate, based on the proportion of communication volume using the second method per unit time.

[0033] When the configuration change process is initiated, the control unit 101 acquires the percentage of the communication volume of the second method in each unit time (a seconds) (S301).

[0034] Next, the control unit 101 sets a predetermined period based on the unit time and the ratio of the amount of communication using the second method in each unit time obtained by the processing in S301 (S302). The control unit 101 extracts a predetermined number (b seconds) of unit times in which the ratio of the amount of communication using the second method in that unit time is relatively large, and sets the extracted unit times as a predetermined period. The number of unit times to be extracted can be two or more and can be set as appropriate by the user. The unit times included in the predetermined period may be continuous or discontinuous. The predetermined period is a period considered in order to determine the transmission rate of communication using the second method.

[0035] Next, the control unit 101 extracts the percentage of the communication volume of the second method within the predetermined period set by the processing in S302 (S303).

[0036] Next, the control unit 101 performs a setting determination process based on the ratio of the amount of communication data for the second method within the unit time included in the predetermined period extracted by the process in S303 (S304). After that, the control unit 101 reflects the setting determined by the setting determination process in S304 in the transmission rate of the second method to be set next (S305), and completes the series of processes.

[0037] Figures 4 and 5 are flowcharts showing the configuration determination process. The configuration determination process is the process for determining the transmission rate of the second method to be set next.

[0038] The control unit 101 compares the proportion of communication volume using the second method within a predetermined period extracted by the processing in S303 with a first threshold, and determines whether the number of unit times in which the proportion of communication volume using the second method is equal to or greater than the first threshold is equal to or greater than a predetermined number (S401). The first threshold is a predetermined proportion of communication volume using the second method. The first threshold can be set by the user as appropriate. The predetermined number of unit times may be set in advance, or it can be set by the user as appropriate.

[0039] If, as a result of the determination in processing S401, the proportion of communication volume using the second method is equal to or greater than the first threshold, and the number of unit time periods included in the predetermined period is equal to or greater than the predetermined number (S401; Yes), the control unit 101 determines whether, if the current transmission rate of the second method is increased, the transmission rate of the second method to be set next is less than the predetermined upper limit of the transmission rate of the second method (S402). The upper limit of the transmission rate of the second method may be set by the user as appropriate.

[0040] If, as a result of the determination in processing S402, the current transmission rate of the second method is increased and the next transmission rate of the second method to be set is less than the predetermined upper limit of the transmission rate of the second method (S402; Yes), the control unit 101 decides to increase the current minimum value of the transmission rate of the second method (S403).

[0041] If, as a result of the determination in processing S402, the current transmission rate of the second method is increased and the transmission rate of the second method to be set next is equal to or greater than the predetermined upper limit of the transmission rate of the second method (S402; No), the control unit 101 decides not to change the current transmission rate of the second method (S404).

[0042] On the other hand, if the result of the determination in processing S401 is that the proportion of communication volume using the second method is equal to or greater than the first threshold, and the number of unit times included in the predetermined period does not reach the predetermined number (S401; No), the control unit 101 compares the proportion of communication volume using the second method for the unit times included in the predetermined period extracted by processing S303 with the second threshold, and determines whether the number of unit times for which the proportion of communication volume using the second method is equal to or less than the second threshold is equal to or greater than the predetermined number (S405). The second threshold is a predetermined proportion of communication volume using the second method, different from the first threshold. The second threshold is smaller than the first threshold. The second threshold can be set by the user as appropriate. The predetermined number of unit times may be set in advance, or it can be set by the user as appropriate. In processing S405, the predetermined number of unit times referenced for determination may be the same as, or different from, the predetermined number of unit times referenced for determination in processing S401 described above.

[0043] If, as a result of the determination in processing S405, the proportion of communication volume using the second method is less than or equal to the second threshold, and the number of unit times included in the predetermined period is greater than or equal to the predetermined number (S405; Yes), the control unit 101 determines whether the current transmission rate of the second method is at or above the predetermined lower limit of the transmission rate of the second method (S406). The lower limit of the transmission rate of the second method may be set by the user as appropriate.

[0044] If, as a result of the determination in processing S406, the current transmission rate of the second method is not the predetermined lower limit of the transmission rate of the second method (S406; No), the control unit 101 decides to lower the current minimum value of the transmission rate of the second method (S407).

[0045] On the other hand, if the result of the determination in processing S405 is that the proportion of communication volume using the second method is less than or equal to the second threshold, and the number of unit times included in the predetermined period does not reach the predetermined number (S405; No), the control unit 101 decides not to change the current transmission rate of the second method (S404).

[0046] Furthermore, if the result of the determination in processing S406 is that the current transmission rate of the second method is the lower limit of the transmission rate of the second method predetermined (S406; Yes), the control unit 101 decides not to change the current transmission rate of the second method (S404).

[0047] In this way, the control unit 101 automatically determines the transmission rate for the second method to be set next, based on the proportion of the second method's communication volume to the total communication volume of the first method and the second method. This eliminates the need for users to manually set the communication rate considering their wireless usage environment, making it possible to set an appropriate multicast transmission rate according to the usage environment.

[0048] The above describes how to change the transmission rate of the second method, that is, the transmission rate setting for communication using the multicast method or the broadcast method. However, the reception rate of communication using the second method may be changed at the same time as the transmission rate setting is changed. For example, when the control unit 101 decides to increase the minimum value of the transmission rate of the second method (S403) in the setting determination process, it may also decide to increase the minimum value of the supported reception rate at the same time. Also, when it decides to decrease the minimum value of the transmission rate of the second method (S406), it may also decide to decrease the minimum value of the supported reception rate at the same time.

[0049] Furthermore, the control unit 101 may change the transmission rate setting of the first method, as well as the transmission rate setting of the second method, at the same time. By changing the transmission / reception rate setting of the first method in addition to changing the transmission / reception rate setting of the second method, the gap in the communication distance for transmission and reception in communication using the first method and communication using the second method can be reduced.

[0050] When the control unit 101 raises or lowers the minimum transmission rate of the second method, it gradually raises or lowers the transmission rate up to a predetermined upper or lower limit. For example, suppose the lower limit of the transmission rate of the second method is 1 Mbps, the upper limit is 12 Mbps, and the transmission rate of the second method can be selected from 1 Mbps, 2 Mbps, 5 Mbps, 6 Mbps, 9 Mbps, 11 Mbps, and 12 Mbps. In this case, if the current transmission rate of the second method is 1 Mbps, and the control unit 101 decides to raise the minimum transmission rate of the second method in the setting decision process (S403), the control unit 101 sets the next transmission rate of the second method to 2 Mbps. Also, if the current transmission rate of the second method is 11 Mbps, and the control unit 101 decides to lower the minimum transmission rate of the second method in the setting decision process (S406), the control unit 101 sets the next transmission rate of the second method to 9 Mbps.

[0051] The first and second thresholds used in processing S401 and S405 may be pre-set, or they may be variable depending on the number of wireless communication terminals 200 connected to the access point 100.

[0052] The following describes a specific example of communication control processing performed by the control unit 101 of the access point 100. The communication control processing described here is an example of this embodiment, and this embodiment is not limited to the communication control processing described below.

[0053] In the communication control process described below, the control unit 101 will change the setting of the transmission rate for the second method every 24 hours, with 3:00 AM as the setting time. Furthermore, the amount of communication using the second method will be acquired every 30 minutes (1800 seconds) per day. That is, the unit time (a seconds) in S201 in Figure 2 will be 1800 seconds (a=1800). The length of the predetermined period, which is considered in determining the transmission rate of communication using the second method, will be 288,000 seconds (8 hours). This is equivalent to 16 units of time (1800 seconds). The transmission rate for the second method can be selected from 1 Mbps, 2 Mbps, 5 Mbps, 6 Mbps, 9 Mbps, 11 Mbps, and 12 Mbps. Furthermore, the current transmission rate for the second method will be assumed to be 1 Mbps.

[0054] Figure 6 shows an example of the percentage of second-method communication volume recorded by the control unit 101 from the start of communication control processing. The control unit 101 may also obtain the percentage of second-method communication volume by calculating the ratio of the second-method communication volume to the sum of the first-method communication volume and the second-method communication volume in a unit time, i.e., 1800 seconds. The control unit 101 records the percentage of second-method communication volume per unit time until the set time for changing the transmission rate setting of the second method is reached. Figure 6 shows the percentage of second-method communication volume recorded from 3:00 to 2:30 on the current day.

[0055] When the set time (3:00 AM on the day) is reached, the control unit 101 determines the transmission rate for the second method to be set next, based on the ratio of the amount of communication volume for the second method per unit time over the 24 hours recorded up to the set time. In the following, the processing by the control unit 101 will be explained in correspondence with the setting change process described with reference to Figure 3 and the setting determination process described with reference to Figures 4 and 5.

[0056] When the set time (3:00 AM on the day) is reached, the control unit 101 obtains the percentage of the second method communication volume per unit time for the 24 hours recorded from 3:00 AM the previous day to 2:30 AM on the day (S301).

[0057] Next, the control unit 101 sets a predetermined period based on the unit time and the proportion of the second method communication volume in each unit time obtained by the processing in S301 (S302). Here, the length of the predetermined period, which is the period considered in order to determine the transmission rate of communication by the second method, is 288,000 seconds (8 hours). Therefore, the control unit 101 extracts 288,000 seconds of unit time in which the proportion of the second method communication volume in that unit time is relatively large, and sets the extracted unit time as the predetermined period. Since the unit time is 1,800 seconds, the control unit 101 extracts 16 (288,000 / 1,800) units of time in which the proportion of the second method communication volume in that unit time is relatively large as the predetermined period.

[0058] Referring to Figure 6, the proportion of data traffic using the second method recorded between 8:30 AM and 4:00 PM on the previous day (288,000 seconds / 8 hours) is relatively large. Therefore, the period from 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM on the previous day is set as the predetermined period.

[0059] Next, the control unit 101 extracts the percentage of second-method communication volume for each unit time from 8:30 to 16:00 on the previous day (S303). The control unit 101 then determines whether the number of unit times in which the percentage of second-method communication volume is equal to or greater than the first threshold is greater than or equal to a predetermined number (S401). As an example, the first threshold is 90% and the predetermined number is 8. Of the percentage of second-method communication volume for each unit time from 8:30 to 16:00 on the previous day, the percentage of second-method communication volume recorded from 10:00 to 14:30 on the previous day exceeds 90%. The period from 10:00 to 14:30 on the previous day corresponds to 10 unit times. Therefore, the control unit 101 determines that the number of unit times in which the percentage of second-method communication volume is equal to or greater than the first threshold is greater than or equal to a predetermined number (S401; Yes).

[0060] Next, the control unit 101 determines whether, if the current transmission rate of the second method is increased, the next transmission rate of the second method to be set is less than the predetermined upper limit of the transmission rate of the second method (S402). Here, the current transmission rate of the second method is 1 Mbps, and the upper limit of the transmission rate of the second method is 12 Mbps, so the control unit 101 determines that, if the current transmission rate of the second method is increased, the next transmission rate of the second method to be set is less than the predetermined upper limit of the transmission rate of the second method (S402; Yes).

[0061] As a result, the control unit 101 decides to increase the current minimum transmission rate of the second method (S403). Specifically, the control unit 101 decides to change the transmission rate of the second method from the currently set 1 Mbps to 2 Mbps and reflects this result in the settings (S305).

[0062] <Variation> Although one embodiment of the present disclosure has been described above, those skilled in the art will be able to conceive of various modifications and alterations within the scope of the present invention, and it will be understood that such modifications and alterations also fall within the scope of the present invention.

[0063] In one embodiment of the present disclosure described above, the transmission rate for communication by the second method is set based on the ratio of communication volume by the first method to communication volume by the second method in a unit time, as information indicating the communication volume of the second method in a unit time, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. In embodiments of the present disclosure, the communication volume of communication by the second method in a unit time may be the communication volume of communication by the second method in a unit time, the airtime of communication by the second method in a unit time, or the number of arriving frames that do not depend on the frame size of communication by the second method in a unit time, and the transmission rate for communication by the second method may be set based on these.

[0064] In one embodiment of the present disclosure described above, the first and second thresholds used in processing S401 and S405 may be preset or variable depending on the number of wireless communication terminals 200 connected to the access point 100, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. In embodiments of the present disclosure, for example, the first and second thresholds may be set based on the size of coverage desired by the user.

[0065] Furthermore, in one embodiment of this disclosure, the first threshold and the second threshold may be determined using a pre-trained model that has been trained in advance to determine an appropriate transmission rate for the second method, using the trend of the percentage of the amount of communication traffic for the second method per unit time as input.

[0066] In one embodiment of this disclosure, when acquiring the percentage of second-method communication volume per unit time in the setting change process, the control unit 101 does not have to use the percentage of second-method communication volume per unit time recorded on holidays. In this case, the control unit 101 may acquire and use the percentage of second-method communication volume per unit time recorded on the most recent weekday.

[0067] In one embodiment of this disclosure, the communication rate of the second method on holidays may be fixed. That is, on holidays, the control unit 101 does not need to change the setting of the communication rate of the second method.

[0068] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, when the control unit 101 decides to raise the minimum value of the transmission rate of the second method during the setting determination process, and simultaneously decides to raise the minimum value of the supported reception rate, it may determine whether or not there is a wireless communication terminal connected at the lower limit of the reception rate at that time. If there is, the control unit 101 does not change the setting of the minimum value of the supported reception rate. On the other hand, if there is no such terminal, the control unit 101 raises the minimum value of the supported reception rate.

[0069] The embodiments and modifications described above as one embodiment of this disclosure can be combined as appropriate, insofar as they do not contradict each other. Furthermore, any configurations based on the embodiments, in which a person skilled in the art has added, deleted, or modified components, or added, omitted, or modified processes, are also included in the scope of the invention, as long as they retain the gist of this disclosure.

[0070] Any effects or benefits other than those brought about by the embodiments described above, if they are clear from the description of this embodiment or can be easily predicted by a person skilled in the art, are naturally considered to be brought about by one embodiment of this disclosure. [Explanation of symbols]

[0071] 10...Communication system, 100...Access point, 101...Control unit, 103...Wireless communication unit, 105...Storage unit, 107...Operation unit, 109...Communication module, 200...Wireless communication terminal, 300...Router

Claims

1. A communication unit that communicates with wireless communication terminals using a first method for sending and receiving data, or a second method for transmitting data that can be received simultaneously by multiple wireless communication terminals, If the number of unit times in a predetermined period in which the ratio of the amount of communication using the second method to the amount of communication using the first method is equal to or greater than a first threshold is greater than or equal to a predetermined number, the control unit increases the communication rate of the second method. Includes, The aforementioned value is the ratio of the amount of communication using the second method to the sum of the amount of communication using the first method and the amount of communication using the second method for each unit of time, in a wireless communication device.

2. The control unit, The wireless communication device according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined period is set based on the unit time and the ratio of the amount of communication of the second method in the unit time.

3. The wireless communication device according to claim 2, wherein the control unit sets the first threshold according to the number of connected wireless communication terminals.

4. The wireless communication device according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the control unit reduces the communication rate of the second method if the number of unit times for which the value is less than or equal to a second threshold smaller than the first threshold is greater than or equal to a predetermined number.

5. The wireless communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein each unit time in the predetermined period is continuous or discontinuous.

6. The first method is a unicast method, The wireless communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the second method is a multicast or broadcast method.

7. Wireless communication device, Communication is performed using either a first method of sending and receiving data with a wireless communication terminal, or a second method of transmitting data that can be simultaneously received by multiple wireless communication terminals. If the number of unit time periods in a predetermined time period in which the ratio of the amount of communication using the second method to the amount of communication using the first method is equal to or greater than a first threshold is equal to or greater than a predetermined number, the communication rate of the second method is increased. This includes, A communication control method in which the value is the ratio of the amount of communication by the second method to the sum of the amount of communication by the first method and the amount of communication by the second method for each unit time.

8. Increasing the communication rate of the second method mentioned above means The communication control method according to claim 7, further comprising setting the predetermined period based on the unit time and the ratio of the amount of communication of the second method in the unit time.

9. The communication control method according to claim 8, wherein the first threshold is set according to the number of connected wireless communication terminals.

10. The communication control method according to claim 8 or 9, further comprising reducing the communication rate of the second method if the number of unit times in which the value is less than or equal to a second threshold smaller than the first threshold is greater than or equal to a predetermined number.

11. The communication control method according to any one of claims 7 to 10, wherein each unit time in the predetermined period is continuous or discontinuous.

12. The first method is a unicast method, The communication control method according to any one of claims 7 to 11, wherein the second method is a multicast or broadcast method.

13. On the computer, Communication is performed using either a first method of sending and receiving data with a wireless communication terminal, or a second method of transmitting data that can be simultaneously received by multiple wireless communication terminals. If the number of unit time periods in a predetermined time period in which the ratio of the amount of communication using the second method to the amount of communication using the first method is equal to or greater than a first threshold is equal to or greater than a predetermined number, the communication rate of the second method is increased. Let them do it, The program wherein the value is the ratio of the amount of communication using the second method to the sum of the amount of communication using the first method and the amount of communication using the second method for each unit time.

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