Repeaters, communication systems, processing methods, and programs

Abstract

To provide a repeater capable of suppressing a decrease in a radio communication rate between a terminal and an access point even when there is no change in the radio communication rate between the repeater and the terminal in radio communication performed between the terminal and the access point via the repeater.SOLUTION: The relay device is a relay device connected to an access point and a terminal including a first terminal and a second terminal, and when a communication rate in wireless communication with the first terminal decreases due to a change in a communication rate in wireless communication with the second terminal, the relay device selects a frequency to be used in wireless communication with the second terminal from among a plurality of frequencies specified for communication rates in wireless communication with the second terminal. A CPU that performs a process of setting a frequency at which a communication rate in wireless communication with the first terminal does not decrease from a current communication rate.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 16

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a relay device, a communication system, a processing method, and a program.

Background Art

[0002] Wireless communication is used in various fields. Patent Document 1 discloses a technology related to a wireless communication system that performs wireless communication via a relay device as a related technology.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003] [[ID=第23]]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] By the way, when the first terminal and the access point perform wireless communication via a relay device, if the wireless communication rate between the relay device and the access point or between the relay device and a second terminal different from the first terminal changes, even if the wireless communication rate between the relay device and the first terminal does not change, the wireless communication rate between the first terminal and the access point will decrease. Therefore, in wireless communication in which the terminal and the access point perform via a relay device, even when there is no change in the wireless communication rate between the relay device and the terminal, a technology capable of suppressing a decrease in the wireless communication rate between the terminal and the access point is required.

[0005] Each aspect of the present disclosure aims to provide a relay device, a communication system, a processing method, and a program capable of solving the above problems.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] To achieve the above objective, according to one aspect of the present disclosure, the repeater is connected to an access point and a terminal including a first terminal and a second terminal, and includes a CPU that, when the communication rate of the wireless communication of the first terminal decreases due to a change in the communication rate of the wireless communication between the first terminal and the second terminal, processes a process to set the frequency used for wireless communication between the first terminal and the second terminal to a frequency from a plurality of frequencies specified for the communication rate of wireless communication between the first terminal and the second terminal such that the communication rate of wireless communication between the first terminal does not decrease below the current level.

[0007] To achieve the above objective, according to another aspect of this disclosure, the communication system comprises the relay, the access point connected to the relay, the first terminal, and the second terminal.

[0008] To achieve the above objective, according to another aspect of the present disclosure, a processing method is a processing method performed by a relay connected to an access point and terminals including a first terminal and a second terminal, which, when the communication rate of the wireless communication of the first terminal decreases due to a change in the communication rate of the wireless communication between the first terminal and the second terminal, sets the frequency used for wireless communication between the first terminal and the second terminal to a frequency from among a plurality of frequencies specified for the communication rate of wireless communication between the first terminal and the second terminal such that the communication rate of wireless communication between the first terminal does not decrease from the current level.

[0009] To achieve the above objective, according to another aspect of this disclosure, the program causes a computer in a relay connected to an access point and terminals including a first terminal and a second terminal to, when the communication rate of the wireless communication of the first terminal decreases due to a change in the communication rate of the wireless communication between the first terminal and the second terminal, to set the frequency used for wireless communication between the first terminal and the second terminal to a frequency from a plurality of frequencies specified for the communication rate of wireless communication between the first terminal and the second terminal such that the communication rate of wireless communication between the first terminal does not decrease from the current level. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to each aspect of this disclosure, in wireless communication between a terminal and an access point via a relay, even if there is no change in the wireless communication rate between the relay and the terminal, a decrease in the wireless communication rate between the terminal and the access point can be suppressed. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0011] [Figure 1] This figure shows an example of the configuration of a communication system according to the first embodiment of this disclosure. [Figure 2] This figure shows an example of the configuration of a relay device according to the first embodiment of this disclosure. [Figure 3] Figure 1 shows an example of the processing flow of a communication system according to the first embodiment of this disclosure. [Figure 4] Figure 2 shows an example of the processing flow of a communication system according to the first embodiment of this disclosure. [Figure 5] This figure shows an example of a list of surrounding environments generated by an access point according to the first embodiment of this disclosure. [Figure 6] This figure shows an example of a list of surrounding environments generated by a relay device according to the first embodiment of this disclosure. [Figure 7] This figure shows an example of the frequencies identified from Figures 5 and 6. [Figure 8] This figure shows an example of the change in wireless communication rate in a communication system according to the first embodiment of this disclosure. [Figure 9] This figure shows an example of a DFS detection frequency table in the first embodiment of this disclosure. [Figure 10] This figure shows an example of the configuration of a communication system according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 11] This figure shows an example of the processing flow of a communication system according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 12] This is an image diagram of the communication system when terminal 30a2 moves according to the second embodiment of this disclosure. [Figure 13]FIG. is a diagram showing a first example of a list of surrounding environments generated by a relay device according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 14] FIG. is a diagram showing a second example of a list of surrounding environments generated by a relay device according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 15] FIG. is a diagram showing an example of a change in a wireless communication rate in a communication system according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 16] FIG. is a diagram showing a minimum configuration of a relay device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 17] FIG. is a diagram showing an example of a processing flow of a relay device with a minimum configuration according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 18] FIG. is a schematic block diagram showing a configuration of a computer according to at least one embodiment. BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0012] Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. <First Embodiment> (Configuration of Communication System) The communication system 1 according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. The communication system 1 is a system that can suppress a decrease in the wireless communication rate between a terminal and an access point even when there is no change in the wireless communication rate between the relay device and the terminal in wireless communication performed between the terminal and the access point via the relay device.

[0013] 0000099FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the communication system 1 according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 1, the communication system 1 includes a wireless LAN (Local Area Network) access point (hereinafter referred to as "access point") 10, a wireless LAN relay device (hereinafter referred to as "relay device") 20, and a wireless LAN terminal (hereinafter referred to as "terminal") 30.

[0014] Access point 10 is a device that connects terminal 30 to the wireless LAN. Repeater 20 is a device that is installed when the radio waves are weak in the wireless LAN. Repeater 20 strengthens the weak radio waves, thereby extending the range of the radio waves. Repeater 20 periodically monitors the surrounding environment. Examples of monitoring items that repeater 20 periodically monitors the surrounding environment include Channel Load (usage rate of the relevant frequency [%]), NF (Noise Figure [dB]), and RSSI (Received Signal Strength Indication [dBm]) of the communication target device.

[0015] Figure 2 shows an example of the configuration of a repeater 20 according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in Figure 2, the repeater 20 includes antennas 201a1, 201a2, 201a3, 201a4, 201b1, 201b2, 201b3, 201b4, transmitting and receiving circuits 202a1, 202a2, 202a3, 202a4, 202b1, 202b2, 202b3, 202b4, a baseband unit 203, a memory unit 204, and a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 205.

[0016] Antennas 201a1, 201a2, 201a3, and 201a4 are sometimes collectively referred to as antenna 201a. Antennas 201b1, 201b2, 201b3, and 201b4 are sometimes collectively referred to as antenna 201b. Antennas 201a and 201b are sometimes collectively referred to as antenna 201. Transmitting and receiving circuits 202a1, 202a2, 202a3, and 202a4 are sometimes collectively referred to as transmitting and receiving circuit 202a. Transmitting and receiving circuits 202b1, 202b2, 202b3, and 202b4 are sometimes collectively referred to as transmitting and receiving circuit 202b. Transmitting and receiving circuits 202a and 202b are sometimes collectively referred to as transmitting and receiving circuit 202.

[0017] Antenna 201a is an antenna for wireless communication with access point 10 and terminal 30 by transmitting and receiving radio waves in the 2.4GHz band, for example. Antenna 201b is an antenna for wireless communication with access point 10 and terminal 30 by transmitting and receiving radio waves in the 5GHz band, for example.

[0018] The transmit / receive circuit 202a1 communicates with the access point 10 and terminal 30 via antenna 201a1 by transmitting and receiving Wi-Fi (Local Area Network) signals. The transmit / receive circuit 202a2 communicates with the access point 10 and terminal 30 via antenna 201a2 by transmitting and receiving Wi-Fi signals. The transmit / receive circuit 202a3 communicates with the access point 10 and terminal 30 via antenna 201a3 by transmitting and receiving Wi-Fi signals. The transmit / receive circuit 202a4 communicates with the access point 10 and terminal 30 via antenna 201a4 by transmitting and receiving Wi-Fi signals.

[0019] The transmit / receive circuit 202b1 communicates with the access point 10 and terminal 30 via the antenna 201b1 by transmitting and receiving wireless LAN signals. The transmit / receive circuit 202b2 communicates with the access point 10 and terminal 30 via the antenna 201b2 by transmitting and receiving wireless LAN signals. The transmit / receive circuit 202b3 communicates with the access point 10 and terminal 30 via the antenna 201b3 by transmitting and receiving wireless LAN signals. The transmit / receive circuit 202b4 communicates with the access point 10 and terminal 30 via the antenna 201b4 by transmitting and receiving wireless LAN signals.

[0020] The baseband unit 203 modulates the transmission data transmitted by the transmitting / receiving circuit 202. The baseband unit 203 also demodulates the received data received by the transmitting / receiving circuit 202.

[0021] The memory unit 204 stores radio wave conditions and various information of the surrounding environment of the repeater 20. Based on the information stored in the memory unit 204, the CPU 205 controls the frequency band used for transmission and reception to the optimal frequency band.

[0022] Terminal 30 is a device that performs wireless communication by connecting to the wireless LAN via the access point 10. Terminal 30 is, for example, a smartphone or a tablet device.

[0023] The processes performed by the access point 10, relay device 20, and terminal 30 described above are merely examples and are not limited to those processes. For example, the access point 10, relay device 20, and terminal 30 may each perform the processes described below.

[0024] Next, the processing performed by the communication system 1 will be described. Figure 3 is the first figure showing an example of the processing flow of the communication system 1 according to the first embodiment of this disclosure. Figure 4 is the second figure showing an example of the processing flow of the communication system 1 according to the first embodiment of this disclosure. Here, referring to Figures 3 and 4, the processing performed by the communication system 1 shown in Figure 1 to optimize the frequency band used for transmission and reception will be described.

[0025] Furthermore, the communication between access point 10 and repeater 20, and the communication between repeater 20 and terminal 30 (i.e., transmission and reception) use the 5GHz band as the frequency band, and are assumed to be operating in quad-channel mode on channel 100 selected by auto-channel select. In addition, the communication between access point 10 and repeater 20, and the communication between repeater 20 and terminal 30 (i.e., transmission and reception) are established at a 2-stream HE80 MCS6 wireless communication rate, and the actual wireless communication rate is assumed to be 518.8Mbps (Mega bits per second). In this case, the wireless communication rate between access point 10 and terminal 30 is 518.8Mbps / 2 = 259.4Mbps. It is also assumed that the wireless communication rate of terminal 30 is reduced.

[0026] The repeater 20 monitors the surrounding environment (step S1). The repeater 20 determines whether the wireless communication rate of terminal 30 has decreased based on the wireless communication rate between it and terminal 30 (step S2). For example, if the repeater 20 determines that the wireless communication rate between it and terminal 30 has fallen below a set threshold (for example, a threshold predetermined in accordance with the wireless communication rate between the repeater 20 and terminal 30 at the start of communication), it determines that the wireless communication rate of terminal 30 has decreased. Alternatively, if the repeater 20 determines that the wireless communication rate between it and terminal 30 exceeds a set threshold, it determines that the wireless communication rate of terminal 30 has not decreased.

[0027] If the repeater 20 determines that the wireless communication rate of the terminal 30 has not decreased (NO in step S2), it returns to the process in step S1. If the repeater 20 determines that the wireless communication rate of the terminal 30 has decreased (YES in step S2), it determines whether there has been a change in the surrounding environment (step S3). For example, if the repeater 20 determines that at least one of the monitoring items that monitor the surrounding environment, such as Channel Load, NF, and RSSI of the communication target device, has fallen outside the set range, it determines that there has been a change in the surrounding environment. For example, if the repeater 20 determines that all of the monitoring items that monitor the surrounding environment are within the set range, it determines that there has been no change in the surrounding environment. Examples of the set range include the range between the upper and lower limits of the values ​​of each monitoring item that monitors the surrounding environment, and the allowable range of change per unit time for each value of each monitoring item.

[0028] If the repeater 20 determines that there is a change in the surrounding environment (YES in step S3), it determines that the change is due to a change in the wireless communication rate between the repeater 20 and the terminal 30. Then, the repeater 20 returns to the process in step S1.

[0029] Furthermore, if the repeater 20 determines that there is no change in the surrounding environment (NO in step S3), it determines that the change is due to a change in the wireless communication rate between the access point 10 and the repeater 20. The repeater 20 then sends a notification to the access point 10 instructing it to perform a predetermined process (step S4).

[0030] Access point 10 receives a notification from repeater 20. Based on the received notification, access point 10 determines whether or not it has detected radar waves (step S5). If access point 10 determines that it has detected radar waves (YES in step S5), it checks the frequency of the detected radar waves. Then, access point 10 updates the DFS detection frequency table (step S6). The information that access point 10 updates is the frequency and date of the detected radar waves. This updated DFS detection frequency table is used when performing frequency selection. Access point 10 monitors the surrounding environment. The items monitored by access point 10 are the same as those monitored by repeater 20. Then, access point 10 creates a list of the surrounding environment based on the monitoring results (step S7).

[0031] Furthermore, if the access point 10 determines that it has not detected any radar waves (NO in step S5), it proceeds to step S7 without performing the process in step S6.

[0032] Figure 5 shows an example of a list of surrounding environments generated by an access point 10 according to the first embodiment of this disclosure. The list of surrounding environments generated by the access point 10 will now be explained with reference to Figure 5. The access point 10 will classify the information obtained by monitoring the surrounding environment into four levels and display these four levels of classification in the generated list of surrounding environments. For example, in the generated list of surrounding environments, the access point 10 will classify a Channel Load of 0% as L1, a Channel Load of 1-25% as L2, a Channel Load of 26-50% as L3, and a Channel Load of 51% or more as L4.

[0033] Furthermore, in the generated list of surrounding environments, access point 10 displays the measured value of NF [dB] and the measured value of RSSI [dBm], as shown in Figure 5. Access point 10 also calculates the SNR (Signal to Noise Ratio) from NF and RSSI. In addition, in the generated list of surrounding environments, access point 10 displays the expected wireless communication rate between access point 10 and repeater 20.

[0034] Here, if the Channel Load is L1 or L2, the wireless communication rate is determined by NF and RSSI. Also, if the Channel Load is anything other than L1 or L2 (i.e., if the Channel Load is L3 or L4), the wireless communication rate is likely to be lower than the calculated result. Therefore, for example, if there is one L3 at the frequency used, a correction value of 0.8 is used; if there are two or more L3s, a correction value of 0.6 is used; and if there is even one L4, a correction value of 0.4 is used and multiplied by the wireless communication rate. Specifically, for example, if the surrounding environment of the access point is as shown in Figure 5, an S / N ratio of 25dB is secured in the 5GHz band, so a wireless communication rate of 2stream HE80 MCS6 648.5Mbps is expected. However, with the 100ch currently in use, the S / N ratio is only 15dB due to the deterioration of NF, and the wireless communication rate has changed to 2stream HE80 MCS3 288.2Mbps. Considering the Channel Load correction value of 0.6, the wireless communication rate is 230.6Mbps. Therefore, in this state, the wireless communication rate between access point 10 and terminal 30 is 230.6 / 2 = 115.3 Mbps. In this case, if there are any frequencies currently in use in the 5GHz band where the corrected wireless communication rate using the channel load correction value exceeds 230.6 Mbps, or in the 2.4GHz band where it exceeds 115.3 Mbps, then there is a possibility of improving the current wireless communication rate.

[0035] Therefore, access point 10 determines whether there are any frequencies in the generated list of surrounding environments that exceed the current wireless communication rate (step S8). If access point 10 determines that there are no frequencies in the generated list of surrounding environments that exceed the current wireless communication rate (NO in step S8), it continues communication using the current frequency (step S9). This process in step S9 is based on the idea that the current frequency is optimal if there are no frequencies that exceed the current wireless communication rate. Then, access point 10 returns to the process in step S7 and generates the list of surrounding environments again.

[0036] Furthermore, if the access point 10 determines in the generated list of surrounding environments that there are frequencies that exceed the current wireless communication rate (YES in step S8), it identifies them as candidate frequencies after revision to exceed the current wireless communication rate (step S10). For example, in the list of surrounding environments shown in Figure 5, the wireless communication rates are 518.8 Mbps for channels 36-48 in the 5GHz band, 259.4 Mbps for channels 52-62, and 518.8 Mbps for channels 132-144. Also, for example, in the list of surrounding environments shown in Figure 5, the wireless communication rates are 220.2 Mbps for channels 6-10 in the 2.4GHz band and 165.2 Mbps for channels 9-13. Therefore, there is a possibility of improving the wireless communication rate at five frequencies compared to the current rate. Note that in each embodiment of this disclosure, "revision" corresponds to "changing" the state if it is changed to a state different from the previous state, and "maintaining" the state if it is changed to the same state as the previous state.

[0037] Note that 5GHz band communications are divided into W52, W53, and W56 groups. When revising the frequency to the W53 or W56 group, communication must be stopped for one minute by radar search. Therefore, if there is a terminal 30 that is currently communicating, revising to the W52 or 2.4GHz band takes precedence over revising to W53 or W56. For example, in the surrounding environment list shown in Figure 5, three frequencies, 36-48ch (518.8Mbps), 6-10ch (220.2Mbps), and 9-13ch (165.2Mbps), are targeted for revising. Here, the identified frequencies are frequencies that can obtain a good wireless communication rate around the access point 10, but this does not necessarily mean that a similarly good wireless communication rate can be obtained around the repeater 20. Therefore, the repeater 20 also identifies candidate frequencies for revising in the surrounding environment list generated by the repeater 20 (step S11).

[0038] Figure 6 shows an example of a list of surrounding environments generated by the repeater 20 according to the first embodiment of this disclosure. In the example shown in Figure 6, the wireless communication rates are 389.1 Mbps for channels 100-112 in the 5GHz band, 389.1 Mbps for channels 116-128, and 518.8 Mbps for channels 132-144. In the example shown in Figure 6, the wireless communication rates are 220.2 Mbps for channels 6-10 in the 2.4GHz band and 165.2 Mbps for channels 9-13. In this case, there is a possibility of improving the current wireless communication rates on five frequencies. However, similar to the access point 10, if the repeater 20 is to switch to W53 or W56 in the 5GHz band, it is necessary to stop communication for one minute by radar search. Therefore, if there is a terminal 30 that is currently communicating, switching to W52 or the 2.4GHz band takes precedence over switching to W53 or W56. For example, in the surrounding environment list shown in Figure 6, three frequencies—100-112ch (389.1Mbps), 6-10ch (220.2Mbps), and 9-13ch (165.2Mbps)—are subject to review. Therefore, the repeater 20 determines whether or not the 5GHz band exists at the frequencies identified in both the access point 10 and the repeater 20 (step S12).

[0039] If the repeater 20 determines that there is no 5GHz band at the frequencies specified by both the access point 10 and the repeater 20 (NO in step S12), it sets the frequency band used for communication between the repeater 20 and the access point 10 to the 2.4GHz band (step S13) and uses the frequency with the highest wireless communication rate within the frequency band to be used (in this case, the 2.4GHz band) (step S14). The repeater 20 then notifies the access point 10 of this frequency band. The access point 10 receives this notification from the repeater 20. In response to the received notification, the access point 10 sets the frequency band used for communication between the repeater 20 and the access point 10 to the 2.4GHz band and uses the frequency of the frequency band to be used (in this case, the 2.4GHz band). The frequency band and frequency used for communication between the repeater 20 and the terminal 30 are maintained.

[0040] Furthermore, if the repeater 20 determines that a 5GHz band exists among the frequencies identified by both the access point 10 and the repeater 20 (YES in step S12), it sets the frequency band used for communication between the repeater 20 and the access point 10 to the 5GHz band (step S15), and performs the processing in step S14, that is, it sets the frequency with the highest wireless communication rate among the frequency bands used (in this case, the 5GHz band). Figure 7 shows an example of frequencies identified from Figures 5 and 6. In the example shown in Figure 7, a 5GHz band does not exist among the identified frequencies. Therefore, the repeater 20 and the access point 10 set the frequency band used for communication between the access point 10 and the repeater 20 to 2.4GHz. Then, as shown in Figure 7, the repeater 20 and the access point 10 set the frequency to 6-10ch (220.2Mbps), which is expected to provide a greater improvement in wireless communication rate among the two identified frequencies.

[0041] Figure 8 is a diagram showing an example of the change in the wireless communication rate in the communication system 1 according to the first embodiment of this disclosure. Figure 8 shows the wireless communication rates between the access point 10 and the repeater 20, between the repeater 20 and the terminal 30, and the terminal 30 in the initial state, after the wireless communication rate between the access point 10 and the repeater 20 has changed from the initial state, and after the frequency used in communication between the access point 10 and the repeater 20 has been reviewed after the wireless communication rate has changed.

[0042] In the initial state shown in Figure 8, the wireless communication rate between access point 10 and repeater 20, and between repeater 20 and terminal 30, is 518.8 Mbps. In this case, the wireless communication rate of terminal 30 is 259.4 Mbps. If the wireless communication rate between access point 10 and repeater 20 changes to 230.6 Mbps from the initial state shown in Figure 8, the wireless communication rate of terminal 30 decreases to 115.3 Mbps. After the wireless communication rate changes shown in Figure 8, the wireless communication rate after reviewing the frequency used for communication between access point 10 and repeater 20 (i.e., the communication rate after reviewing the changed wireless communication rate between access point 10 and repeater 20 to the highest wireless communication rate) is 220.2 Mbps. In this case, the wireless communication rate of terminal 30 is 220.2 Mbps. In other words, in the example shown in Figure 8, by improving the wireless communication rate between the modified access point 10 and the repeater 20, the communication rate of the terminal 30 can be improved from 115.3 Mbps to 220.2 Mbps.

[0043] After the frequency band and frequency have been reviewed, the repeater 20 checks the wireless communication rate between the access point 10 and the terminal 30 for a certain period of time. The repeater 20 then determines whether the wireless communication rate after the frequency band and frequency review exceeds the wireless communication rate before the frequency band and frequency review (for example, 115.3 Mbps) (step S16). If the repeater 20 determines that the wireless communication rate after the frequency band and frequency review does not exceed the wireless communication rate before the frequency band and frequency review (NO in step S16), it returns to the process in step S7.

[0044] Furthermore, if the repeater 20 determines that the wireless communication rate after the revision of the frequency band and frequency exceeds the wireless communication rate before the revision of the frequency band and frequency (YES in step S16), it determines that the frequency band and frequency are optimal and continues communication using the current frequency (step S17).

[0045] In Japan, the 2.4GHz band is the ISM (Industrial Scientific and Medical) band. Therefore, the utilization rate of the 2.4GHz band tends to be higher than that of the 5GHz band. As a result, it is generally considered better to use the 5GHz band than the 2.4GHz band. Accordingly, the repeater 20 determines whether or not there has been communication with the terminal 30 within a certain period of time (step S18). For example, the repeater 20 performs this determination periodically.

[0046] If the repeater 20 determines that there is communication with the terminal 30 (YES in step S18), it performs the process in step S17, that is, it continues communication at the current frequency.

[0047] Furthermore, if the repeater 20 determines that there is no communication with the terminal 30 (for example, within a certain period of time) (NO in step S18), it uses the frequency with the highest wireless communication rate in the 5GHz band for communication with the terminal 30 (step S19). In determining the revised frequency, in addition to the surrounding environment list shown in Figures 5 and 6, the DFS detection frequency table updated in the processing of step S6 is used. Figure 9 shows an example of the DFS detection frequency table in the first embodiment of this disclosure. As shown in Figure 9, the DFS detection frequency table is a table that represents the radar detection history, associating the number of DFS detections with the detection date for each frequency. In the example shown in Figure 9, both 52ch and 112ch have multiple radar detection histories. Therefore, frequencies containing these 52ch and 112ch are not selected. Frequencies containing 124ch and 136ch, which have a radar detection history of only one, are selected. However, from Figures 5 and 6, it can be seen that the wireless communication rate of the frequency containing 136ch is better than the wireless communication rate of the frequency containing 124ch. Furthermore, channel 132, which has a relatively high channel load on access point 10, is more likely to trigger carrier sensing. Therefore, it is better not to set it as the primary channel. As a result, in the first embodiment of this disclosure, channel 140 or 144 will be set as the primary channel.

[0048] The communication system 1 according to the first embodiment of this disclosure has been described above. The relay device 20 (an example of a relay device) of the communication system 1 is a relay device connected to an access point 10 (an example of an access point) and a terminal 30 (an example of a first terminal), and includes a CPU 205 (an example of a setting unit) that performs a first processing to set the frequency used for wireless communication between the access point 10 to a frequency from a plurality of frequencies specified for the communication rate of wireless communication between the access point 10, such that the communication rate of wireless communication between the terminal 30 does not decrease below the current level, when the communication rate of wireless communication between the terminal 30 decreases due to a decrease in the communication rate of wireless communication between the access point 10.

[0049] This repeater 20 (an example of a repeater) makes it possible to suppress a decrease in the wireless communication rate between terminal 30 (an example of a terminal) and access point 10 (an example of an access point) in wireless communication conducted via the repeater 20, even when there is no change in the wireless communication rate between the repeater 20 and terminal 30.

[0050] <Second Embodiment> (Communication system configuration) Next, a communication system 1 according to a second embodiment of this disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. Figure 10 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a communication system 1 according to a second embodiment of this disclosure. As shown in Figure 10, the communication system 1 comprises an access point 10, a repeater 20, and terminals 30a1 and 30a2. As shown in Figure 10, the two terminals 30a1 and 30a2 communicate with the access point 10 via the repeater 20. In the second embodiment of this disclosure, terminals 30a1 and 30a2 are sometimes collectively referred to as terminal 30a.

[0051] The access point 10 is a device that connects terminals 30a to a wireless LAN. Each of the terminals 30a is similar to, for example, terminal 30 in the first embodiment of this disclosure. The first and second embodiments differ, as will be described below, in that the processing performed by the repeater 20 and the wireless communication rate between terminal 30a1 and the access point 10 decreases when terminal 30a2 moves.

[0052] Next, the processing performed by the communication system 1 will be described. Figure 11 is a diagram showing an example of the processing flow of the communication system 1 according to the second embodiment of this disclosure. Here, the processing performed by the communication system 1 shown in Figure 10 to optimize the frequency band used for transmission and reception will be described.

[0053] Furthermore, the communication between access point 10 and repeater 20, and the communication between repeater 20 and terminal 30a (i.e., transmission and reception) use the 5GHz band as the frequency band and operate in quad-channel mode on channel 100 selected by auto-channel select. In addition, the communication between access point 10 and repeater 20, and the communication between repeater 20 and terminal 30 (i.e., transmission and reception) are established at a 2-stream HE80 MCS6 wireless communication rate, and the actual wireless communication rate is 518.8Mbps. In the initial state, the two terminals 30a have similar wireless communication rates and are grouped using MU-MIMO (Multi-User-Multiple Input Multiple Output) functionality, and the communication between repeater 20 and terminal 30a operates as MU-MIMO. In this case, each terminal 30a can communicate simultaneously due to the effect of the MU-MIMO function. Therefore, the wireless communication rate for each terminal 30a is 518.8 / 2 = 259.4Mbps.

[0054] Figure 12 is an image diagram of the communication system 1 when terminal 30a2 moves according to the second embodiment of this disclosure. Here, let's assume that, compared to the initial state, terminal 30a2 has moved to a location further away from the repeater 20 than in the initial state, as shown in Figure 12. Let's also assume that as a result, terminal 30a2 is removed from the MU-MIMO grouping. Let's also assume that a large difference occurs between the wireless communication rate of terminal 30a1 and the wireless communication rate of terminal 30a2. In this case, the MU-MIMO grouping function is disabled, and the wireless communication rate decreases for both terminal 30a1 and terminal 30a2.

[0055] In the example shown here, we assume that there are no changes in the surrounding environments of access point 10 and repeater 20, and that the wireless communication rate between access point 10 and repeater 20 remains constant. We then assume that the wireless communication rate between terminal 30a1 and repeater 20 is 518.8 / 3 = 172.9 Mbps. Furthermore, due to the effect of moving to a location far from repeater 20, the rate has become 2stream HE80 MCS2 173 Mbps (after channel load correction), and we assume that the wireless communication rate between terminal 30a2 and repeater 20 is 173 / 3 = 57.7 Mbps. The reason for reducing the wireless communication rate by one-third here is that the communication between repeater 20 and each terminal 30a is no longer using the MU-MIMO grouping function, and the communication between repeater 20 and terminal 30a1, and between repeater 20 and terminal 30a2, has become time-division multiplexing. In this case, even though there is no change in communication between terminal 30a1 and the repeater 20, the wireless communication rate decreases due to the movement of terminal 30a2 (for example, it changes from 259.4 Mbps to 172.9 Mbps, a decrease of 80 Mbps).

[0056] The same frequency band (5GHz band in this example) is used for communication between access point 10 and repeater 20, and for communication between repeater 20 and each terminal 30a. If terminal 30a2 moves to a location away from repeater 20 and is removed from the MU-MIMO grouping, it is possible to mitigate the degree of decrease in the wireless communication rate of terminal 30a1 by using a frequency band that does not decrease below the current wireless communication rate.

[0057] Therefore, once communication is established between the access point 10 and the terminal 30a, the repeater 20 monitors the surrounding environment (step S31). Based on the monitoring results of the surrounding environment, the repeater 20 generates a list of surrounding environments (step S32). Then, the repeater 20 determines whether or not there are frequencies that exceed the current wireless communication rate (step S33).

[0058] If the repeater 20 determines that there are no frequencies that exceed the current wireless communication rate (NO in step S33), it continues communication using the current frequency (step S34). This process in step S34 is based on the idea that if there are no frequencies that exceed the current wireless communication rate, changing the current frequency would not benefit any of the terminals 30a. Then, the repeater 20 returns to the process in step S32 and generates the surrounding environment list again.

[0059] Figure 13 shows a first example of a list of surrounding environments generated by a repeater 20 according to a second embodiment of this disclosure. For example, in the list of surrounding environments shown in Figure 13, the wireless communication rate in the 2.4GHz band is 41.3Mbps regardless of the frequency. Furthermore, by changing the frequency band for communication with terminal 30a2 from 5GHz to 2.4GHz, the repeater 20 can improve the wireless communication rate of terminal 30a1 from 172.9Mbps to 259.4Mbps. However, when the repeater 20 changes the frequency band for communication with terminal 30a2 from 5GHz to 2.4GHz, the wireless communication rate of terminal 30a2 becomes 41.3Mbps. In other words, when the frequency band for communication between the repeater 20 and terminal 30a2 is changed from 5GHz to 2.4GHz, the wireless communication rate of terminal 30a2 does not improve from the wireless communication rate of 57.7Mbps before changing to 2.4GHz.

[0060] Figure 14 shows a second example of a list of surrounding environments generated by the repeater 20 according to the second embodiment of this disclosure. Note that the list of surrounding environments shown in Figure 14 is an example of a list of surrounding environments generated by the repeater 20 after it has generated the list of surrounding environments shown in Figure 13.

[0061] As time passes, the process in step S33 is determined to be NO, and the processes in steps S34 and S32 are performed, the environment surrounding the repeater 20 changes as shown in the surrounding environment list in Figure 14. In this case, there is a frequency that exceeds the current wireless communication rate. Therefore, in the process in step S33, the repeater 20 determines that there is a frequency that exceeds the current wireless communication rate (YES in step S33). Then, the repeater 20 reconsiders the frequency band for communication with terminal 30a2 (i.e., from 5GHz to 2.4GHz) (step S35), and sets it to the frequency with the highest wireless communication rate (i.e., channel 6 which has 82.6Mbps) (step S36).

[0062] Figure 15 is a diagram showing an example of the change in the wireless communication rate in the communication system 1 according to the second embodiment of this disclosure. Figure 15 shows the wireless communication rates between the access point 10 and the repeater 20, between the repeater 20 and the terminal 30a, and for each terminal 30a, in the initial state, after the wireless communication rate between the repeater 20 and the terminal 30a decreases as the terminal 30a2 moves from the initial state, and after the frequency used in communication between the repeater 20 and the terminal 30a2 is reviewed.

[0063] In the initial state shown in Figure 15, the wireless communication rate between access point 10 and repeater 20, and between repeater 20 and terminal 30, is 518.8 Mbps. In this case, the wireless communication rate for each terminal 30a is 259.4 Mbps. Furthermore, if terminal 30a2 moves from the initial state as shown in Figure 15, and the wireless communication rate between repeater 20 and each terminal 30a decreases, the wireless communication rate for terminal 30a1 decreases to 172.9 Mbps. Also, if terminal 30a2 moves from the initial state as shown in Figure 15, and the wireless communication rate between repeater 20 and each terminal 30a decreases, the wireless communication rate for terminal 30a2 decreases to 57.7 Mbps. Furthermore, if the frequency used for communication between repeater 20 and terminal 30a2 is revised as shown in Figure 15, and the wireless communication rate for terminal 30a2 is set to 82.6 Mbps, the wireless communication rate for terminal 30a1 becomes 259.4 Mbps. In other words, in the example shown in Figure 15, by improving the wireless communication rate between the degraded repeater 20 and terminal 30a2 from 57.7 Mbps to 82.6 Mbps, the communication rate of terminal 30a1 can be improved from 172.9 Mbps to 259.4 Mbps.

[0064] The communication system 1 according to the second embodiment of this disclosure has been described above. The relay device 20 (an example of a relay device) of the communication system 1 is a relay device connected to an access point 10 (an example of an access point) and terminals including terminal 30a1 (an example of a first terminal) and terminal 30a2 (an example of a second terminal), and includes a CPU 205 (an example of a setting unit) that performs a second processing when the communication rate of wireless communication between terminal 30a1 decreases due to a decrease in the communication rate of wireless communication between terminal 30a2, and sets the frequency used for wireless communication between terminal 30a2 to a frequency from a plurality of frequencies specified for the communication rate of wireless communication between terminal 30a2 that does not cause the communication rate of wireless communication between terminal 30a1 to decrease from the current level.

[0065] This repeater 20 (an example of a repeater) makes it possible to suppress a decrease in the wireless communication rate between terminal 30a1 (an example of a terminal) and access point 10 (an example of an access point) in wireless communication conducted via the repeater 20, even when there is no change in the wireless communication rate between the repeater 20 and terminal 30a1.

[0066] In the second embodiment of this disclosure, it was explained that terminal 30a2 moves to a location further away from the repeater 20 than in its initial state, causing it to be removed from the MU-MIMO grouping and resulting in a change in the communication rate of the repeater 20. Furthermore, in the second embodiment of this disclosure, it was explained that this change causes a decrease in the wireless communication rate between terminal 30a1 and access point 10. However, another embodiment of this disclosure includes a case where terminal 30a2 moves closer to the repeater 20 than in its initial state, causing it to be removed from the MU-MIMO grouping and resulting in a change in the communication rate of the repeater 20. And another embodiment of this disclosure also includes a case where this change causes a decrease in the wireless communication rate between terminal 30a1 and access point 10.

[0067] Figure 16 shows the minimum configuration of a repeater 20 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The repeater 20 is a repeater connected to an access point and a first terminal or a terminal including the first terminal and the second terminal. As shown in Figure 16, the repeater 20 includes a setting unit 300. The setting unit 300 performs a first process in which, if the terminal does not include the second terminal and the communication rate of the first terminal's wireless communication decreases due to a decrease in the communication rate of the wireless communication between the access point, the frequency used in the wireless communication between the access point is set to a frequency from among a plurality of frequencies specified for the communication rate of the wireless communication between the access point, such that the communication rate of the wireless communication between the first terminal does not decrease below the current level. Alternatively, if the terminal includes the second terminal and the communication rate of the first terminal's wireless communication decreases due to a change in the communication rate of the wireless communication between the second terminal, the setting unit 300 performs a second process in which, if the terminal includes the second terminal and the communication rate of the first terminal's wireless communication decreases due to a change in the communication rate of the wireless communication between the second terminal, the frequency used in the wireless communication between the first terminal is set to a frequency from among a plurality of frequencies specified for the communication rate of the wireless communication between the second terminal, such that the communication rate of the wireless communication between the first terminal does not decrease below the current level. The setting unit 300 can be implemented, for example, using the functions of the CPU 205 as illustrated in Figure 2.

[0068] Figure 17 shows an example of the processing flow of the minimal configuration repeater 20 according to the embodiment of this disclosure. Next, the processing of the minimal configuration repeater 20 according to the embodiment of this disclosure will be described with reference to Figure 17.

[0069] The setting unit 300, in a relay connected to an access point and a first terminal or a terminal including the first terminal and the second terminal, performs a first process in which, if the terminal does not include the second terminal and the communication rate of the first terminal's wireless communication decreases due to a decrease in the communication rate of the wireless communication between the access point, sets the frequency used for wireless communication between the access point to a frequency from among a plurality of frequencies specified for the communication rate of wireless communication between the access point, such that the communication rate of wireless communication between the first terminal does not decrease below the current level. Alternatively, if the terminal includes the second terminal and the communication rate of the first terminal's wireless communication decreases due to a change in the communication rate of wireless communication between the second terminal, it performs a second process in which the frequency used for wireless communication between the second terminal to a frequency from among a plurality of frequencies specified for the communication rate of wireless communication between the second terminal, such that the communication rate of wireless communication between the first terminal does not decrease below the current level (step S101).

[0070] The minimum configuration of the repeater 20 according to the embodiment of this disclosure has been described above. With this repeater 20, in wireless communication between a terminal and an access point via the repeater, even when there is no change in the wireless communication rate between the repeater and the terminal, a decrease in the wireless communication rate between the terminal and the access point can be suppressed.

[0071] In addition, the order of processing in the embodiments of this disclosure may be changed, as long as appropriate processing is performed.

[0072] Although embodiments of this disclosure have been described, the above-mentioned communication system 1, access point 10, repeater 20, terminals 30, 30a1, 30a2, and other control devices may have a computer system inside. The above-described processing steps are stored in program form on a computer-readable recording medium, and the above processing is performed when the computer reads and executes this program. A specific example of a computer is shown below.

[0073] Figure 18 is a schematic block diagram showing the configuration of a computer according to at least one embodiment. As shown in Figure 18, the computer 5 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 6, main memory 7, storage 8, and interface 9.

[0074] For example, the aforementioned communication system 1, access point 10, repeater 20, terminals 30, 30a1, 30a2, and other control devices are each implemented in computer 5. The operation of each of the aforementioned processing units is stored in storage 8 in the form of a program. CPU 6 reads the program from storage 8, loads it into main memory 7, and executes the above processing according to the program. CPU 6 also allocates memory areas in main memory 7 corresponding to each of the aforementioned storage units according to the program.

[0075] Examples of storage 8 include HDDs (Hard Disk Drives), SSDs (Solid State Drives), magnetic disks, magneto-optical disks, CD-ROMs (Compact Disc Read Only Memory), DVD-ROMs (Digital Versatile Disc Read Only Memory), and semiconductor memory. Storage 8 may be an internal medium directly connected to the bus of computer 5, or an external medium connected to computer 5 via interface 9 or a communication line. Furthermore, if this program is distributed to computer 5 via a communication line, computer 5, upon receiving the program, may expand it into main memory 7 and execute the above processing. In at least one embodiment, storage 8 is a tangible storage medium that is not temporary.

[0076] Furthermore, the above program may implement some of the functions described above. Moreover, the above program may be a file that can implement the above functions in combination with a program already recorded in the computer system, a so-called differential file (differential program).

[0077] While several embodiments of this disclosure have been described, these embodiments are illustrative and do not limit the scope of the disclosure. These embodiments may be modified in various ways, without departing from the gist of the disclosure.

[0078] Furthermore, some or all of the above embodiments may also be described as follows, but are not limited to these.

[0079] (Note 1) A relay device connected to an access point and a first terminal or a terminal including the first and second terminals, If the terminal does not include the second terminal, and the communication rate of the first terminal's wireless communication decreases due to a decrease in the communication rate of the wireless communication between the first terminal and the access point, the setting unit performs a first process to set the frequency used for wireless communication between the first terminal and the access point to a frequency from among a plurality of frequencies specified for the communication rate of wireless communication between the access point, such that the communication rate of wireless communication between the first terminal does not decrease below the current level. Or, if the terminal includes the second terminal, and the communication rate of the first terminal's wireless communication decreases due to a change in the communication rate of wireless communication between the second terminal, the setting unit performs a second process to set the frequency used for wireless communication between the first terminal and the second terminal to a frequency from among a plurality of frequencies specified for the communication rate of wireless communication between the second terminal, such that the communication rate of wireless communication between the first terminal does not decrease below the current level. A relay device equipped with the following features.

[0080] (Note 2) If the setting unit is a setting unit that performs the first processing, it specifies the communication rate in the wireless communication with the access point, and if the setting unit is a setting unit that performs the second processing, it specifies the communication rate in the wireless communication with the second terminal, Equipped with, If the setting unit is a setting unit that performs the first processing, it sets the frequency used for wireless communication with the access point to a frequency from among the multiple frequencies identified by the identification unit that does not reduce the communication rate in wireless communication with the first terminal from the current rate. If the setting unit is a setting unit that performs the second processing, it sets the frequency used for wireless communication with the second terminal to a frequency from among the multiple frequencies identified by the identification unit that does not reduce the communication rate in wireless communication with the first terminal from the current rate. The repeater described in Appendix 1.

[0081] (Note 3) The first surrounding environment is a confirmation unit that checks the surrounding environment of the relay device itself, If the setting unit is a setting unit that performs the first processing, it determines, based on the first surrounding environment, whether the cause of the decrease in the communication rate in wireless communication with the first terminal is a decrease in the communication rate in wireless communication with the access point; if the setting unit is a setting unit that performs the second processing, it determines, based on the first surrounding environment, whether the cause of the decrease in the communication rate in wireless communication with the first terminal is a change in the communication rate in wireless communication with the second terminal; Equipped with, If the setting unit is a setting unit that performs the first processing, and the determination unit determines, based on the first surrounding environment, that the cause of the decrease in the communication rate in wireless communication with the first terminal is a decrease in the communication rate in wireless communication with the access point, the identification unit identifies the communication rate in wireless communication with the access point at the multiple frequencies. If the setting unit is a setting unit that performs the second processing, and the determination unit determines, based on the first surrounding environment, that the cause of the decrease in the communication rate in wireless communication with the first terminal is a change in the communication rate in wireless communication with the second terminal, the identification unit identifies the communication rate in wireless communication with the second terminal at the multiple frequencies. The repeater described in Appendix 2.

[0082] (Note 4) The first surrounding environment is a confirmation unit that checks the surrounding environment of the relay device itself, If the setting unit is a setting unit that performs the first processing, it determines, based on the first surrounding environment, whether the cause of the decrease in the communication rate in wireless communication with the first terminal is a decrease in the communication rate in wireless communication with the access point; if the setting unit is a setting unit that performs the second processing, it determines, based on the first surrounding environment, whether the cause of the decrease in the communication rate in wireless communication with the first terminal is a decrease in the communication rate in wireless communication with the second terminal; Equipped with, If the setting unit is a setting unit that performs the first processing, and the determination unit determines, based on the first surrounding environment, that the cause of the decrease in the communication rate in wireless communication with the first terminal is a decrease in the communication rate in wireless communication with the access point, the setting unit sets the frequency used for wireless communication with the access point to a frequency among the plurality of frequencies that does not cause the communication rate in wireless communication with the first terminal to decrease below the current level. If the setting unit is a setting unit that performs the second processing, and the determination unit determines, based on the first surrounding environment, that the cause of the decrease in the communication rate in wireless communication with the first terminal is a change in the communication rate in wireless communication with the second terminal, the setting unit sets the frequency used for wireless communication with the second terminal to a frequency among the plurality of frequencies that does not cause the communication rate in wireless communication with the first terminal to decrease below the current level. A relay device as described in any one of the notes 1 through 3.

[0083] (Note 5) If the setting unit is a setting unit that performs the first processing, the setting unit shall, based on the surrounding environment of the access point, set the frequency to be used for wireless communication with the access point to a frequency among the frequencies such that the communication rate for wireless communication with the terminal does not decrease from the current level. If the setting unit is a setting unit that performs the second processing, the setting unit shall, based on the surrounding environment of the access point, set the frequency to be used for wireless communication with the access point to a frequency among the frequencies such that the communication rate for wireless communication with the terminal does not decrease from the current level. A repeater listed in any one of the appendices 1 through 4.

[0084] (Note 6) The relay device described in Appendix 1, The access point connected to the relay, the first terminal, and the second terminal, A communication system equipped with [the following features].

[0085] (Note 7) A processing method performed by a relay device connected to an access point and a first terminal or a terminal including the first terminal and the second terminal, If the aforementioned terminal does not include the second terminal, and the communication rate of the first terminal's wireless communication decreases due to a decrease in the communication rate of the wireless communication between the first terminal and the access point, the frequency used for wireless communication between the first terminal and the access point shall be one of a plurality of frequencies specified for the communication rate of wireless communication between the first terminal and the access point, such that the communication rate of wireless communication between the first terminal does not decrease below the current level, or If the terminal includes the second terminal, and the communication rate of the first terminal's wireless communication decreases due to a change in the communication rate of the wireless communication between the first terminal and the second terminal, the frequency used for wireless communication between the first terminal and the second terminal shall be one of a plurality of frequencies specified for the communication rate of wireless communication between the first terminal and the second terminal, such that the communication rate of wireless communication between the first terminal and the second terminal does not decrease below the current level. A processing method that includes this.

[0086] (Note 8) The computer of the relay device connected to the access point and the first terminal or the terminal including the first and second terminals, If the aforementioned terminal does not include the second terminal, and the communication rate of the first terminal's wireless communication decreases due to a decrease in the communication rate of the wireless communication between the first terminal and the access point, the frequency used for wireless communication between the first terminal and the access point shall be one of a plurality of frequencies specified for the communication rate of wireless communication between the first terminal and the access point, such that the communication rate of wireless communication between the first terminal does not decrease below the current level, or If the terminal includes the second terminal, and the communication rate of the first terminal's wireless communication decreases due to a change in the communication rate of the wireless communication between the first terminal and the second terminal, the frequency used for wireless communication between the first terminal and the second terminal shall be one of a plurality of frequencies specified for the communication rate of wireless communication between the first terminal and the second terminal, such that the communication rate of wireless communication between the first terminal and the second terminal does not decrease below the current level. A program that executes the command. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0087] 1. Communication system 5. Computers 6,205...CPU 7. Main Memory 8. Storage 9. Interface 10. Wireless LAN access point 20. Wireless LAN Repeater 30, 30a1, 30a2... Wireless LAN terminals 201a1, 201a2, 201a3, 201a4, 201b1, 201b2, 201b3, 201b4... Antenna 202a1, 202a2, 202a3, 202a4, 202b1, 202b2, 202b3, 202b4... Transceiver circuits 203...Bass Band Section 204...Memory section

Claims

1. A relay device connected to an access point and terminals including a first terminal and a second terminal, A CPU that, when the communication rate of the wireless communication between the first terminal decreases due to a change in the communication rate of the wireless communication between the first terminal and the second terminal, performs a process to set the frequency used for wireless communication between the first terminal and the second terminal to a frequency from among a plurality of frequencies specified for the communication rate of wireless communication between the first terminal and the second terminal that does not cause the communication rate of wireless communication between the first terminal to decrease from the current level. A relay device equipped with the following features.

2. The aforementioned CPU is The communication rate for wireless communication with the second terminal is specified, and the frequency used for wireless communication with the second terminal is selected from the specified plurality of frequencies such that the communication rate for wireless communication with the first terminal does not decrease from the current rate. The repeater according to claim 1.

3. The aforementioned CPU is First, check the surrounding environment of the relay device itself. Based on the first surrounding environment, it is determined whether the cause of the decrease in the communication rate in wireless communication with the first terminal is a change in the communication rate in wireless communication with the second terminal. When it is determined, based on the first surrounding environment, that the cause of the decrease in the communication rate in wireless communication with the first terminal is a change in the communication rate in wireless communication with the second terminal, the communication rates in wireless communication with the second terminal at the multiple frequencies are identified. The repeater according to claim 2.

4. The aforementioned CPU is First, check the surrounding environment of the relay device itself. Based on the first surrounding environment, it is determined whether the cause of the decrease in the communication rate in wireless communication with the first terminal is a change in the communication rate in wireless communication with the second terminal. If it is determined, based on the first surrounding environment, that the cause of the decrease in the communication rate in wireless communication with the first terminal is a change in the communication rate in wireless communication with the second terminal, then the frequency used for wireless communication with the second terminal shall be one of the plurality of frequencies such that the communication rate in wireless communication with the first terminal does not decrease below the current level. The repeater according to claim 1.

5. The aforementioned CPU is Based on the surrounding environment of the access point, the frequency used for wireless communication with the access point is selected from among the frequencies such that the communication rate for wireless communication with the terminal does not decrease compared to the current rate. A relay device according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. The relay device described in claim 1, The access point connected to the relay, the first terminal, and the second terminal, A communication system equipped with [the following features].

7. A processing method performed by a relay device connected to an access point and terminals including a first terminal and a second terminal, When the communication rate of the wireless communication between the first terminal decreases due to a change in the communication rate of the wireless communication between the first terminal and the second terminal, the frequency used for wireless communication between the first terminal and the second terminal shall be one of a plurality of frequencies specified for the communication rate of wireless communication between the first terminal and the second terminal, such that the communication rate of wireless communication between the first terminal and the second terminal does not decrease below the current level. A processing method that includes this.

8. The computer of the relay device connected to the access point and the terminals including the first and second terminals, When the communication rate of the wireless communication between the first terminal decreases due to a change in the communication rate of the wireless communication between the first terminal and the second terminal, the frequency used for wireless communication between the first terminal and the second terminal shall be one of a plurality of frequencies specified for the communication rate of wireless communication between the first terminal and the second terminal, such that the communication rate of wireless communication between the first terminal and the second terminal does not decrease below the current level. A program that executes the command.

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