Information processing device, information processing method, and program

Abstract

[PROBLEM] To enable effective utilization of a frequency band. [Solution] This wireless communication control device comprises a control unit that controls a communication unit that performs communication through a first channel used for wireless communication and / or a second channel used bundled with the first channel in order to extend the band of the wireless communication. In a situation in which first channel transmission rights acquired by a first wireless communication device that acquires transmission rights for the first channel and the second channel are shared with a second wireless communication device, the control unit performs control for performing wireless communication using the second channel with the first wireless communication device, in response to receiving first information instructing communication based on the transmission rights for the second channel.

Description

Information processing device, information processing method, and program

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an information processing device, an information processing method, and a program.

[0002] To achieve high-speed wireless communication, it is common to use a wide bandwidth. For example, an information processing device having a wireless communication control function can use a specific 20 MHz band as a primary channel and extend the band in addition to the primary channel (channel bonding) to use a continuous 160 MHz or 320 MHz band. The band extended from the primary channel is referred to as a secondary channel here. On the other hand, when the information processing device detects other communication on this primary channel, it is necessary to suppress communication on the entire band including the secondary channel, even if the secondary channel is available.

[0003] Furthermore, there is an increasing demand for P2P (Peer to Peer) communication, which allows direct communication between non-AP devices. One known method for achieving P2P communication is TXOP Sharing, in which a master device (AP) that has acquired a transmission right allocates a P2P communication period to subordinate slave devices (see Non-Patent Document 1).

[0004] IEEE Std 802.11-2020

[0005] Non-Patent Document 1 presents, with regard to Secondary Channel Access, differences in possible operations depending on the capability of the device, such as the presence or absence of CCA, presetting of a destination channel list between terminals, implicit channel changes and explicit channel changes, and methods for notifying and setting the destination channel. However, Non-Patent Document 1 assumes that the exclusive use of the Primary Channel is for communication in another BSS, and does not consider a method for exclusive use of the Primary Channel for P2P communication in its own BSS, or a method for accessing a Secondary Channel not used in the P2P communication in its own BSS (a Secondary Channel Access method). As a result, the problem of deactivating the Secondary Channel cannot be solved, and the frequency band cannot be used effectively.

[0006] Therefore, the present disclosure provides an information processing device, an information processing method, and a program that can effectively utilize frequency bands.

[0007] In order to solve the above problem, according to the present disclosure, an information processing device is provided, which includes a control unit that controls a communication unit that communicates on at least one of a first channel used for wireless communication and a second channel that is used in conjunction with the first channel to expand the bandwidth of the wireless communication, and the control unit controls wireless communication using the second channel with the first wireless communication device in response to receiving first information that instructs communication based on the transmission right for the second channel in a situation where the transmission right for the first channel obtained by a first wireless communication device that acquires the transmission right for the first channel and the second channel is shared with a second wireless communication device.

[0008] 1 is a diagram showing an example of the overall configuration of a wireless communication system according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a first wireless communication device including an information processing device according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a second wireless communication device including an information processing device according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a first example of channel extension according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a second example of channel extension according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram of Secondary Channel Access according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a frame format of an MU-RTS TXS Trigger signal. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a first example configuration of user information according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a configuration of common information according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a second example configuration of user information according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a third example configuration of user information according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a configuration of Trigger Dependent according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a format of a trigger frame including information regarding Secondary Channel Access. FIG. 13 is a sequence diagram of Secondary Channel Access according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a configuration of user information according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing an example hardware configuration of a computer that executes a series of processes according to the present embodiment by a program. FIG. 16 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration example of a smartphone to which the present embodiment is applied. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a schematic configuration of an in-vehicle device to which the present embodiment is applied, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a schematic configuration of a wireless AP to which the present embodiment is applied.

[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In this specification and the drawings, components having substantially the same functional configurations are designated by the same reference numerals, and their description will be omitted as appropriate. The drawings are simplified, and components necessary for implementation other than those shown in the drawings are also included as appropriate. Furthermore, when terms such as "first" and "second" are used in this specification or claims, unless otherwise specified, they do not represent any order or importance, but are used to distinguish one configuration from another.

[0010] Fig. 1 shows an example of the overall configuration of a wireless communication system according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. The wireless communication system in Fig. 1 includes a wireless communication device 100, a wireless communication device 1, a wireless communication device 2, and a wireless communication device 3. The wireless communication device 100 corresponds to a base station and is called a first wireless communication device. The wireless communication devices 1, 2, and 3 correspond to terminals located within the radio wave coverage area (cell) of the wireless communication device 100 and are also called second wireless communication devices. The wireless communication devices 100, 1, 2, and 3 constitute one BSS (Basic Service Set) 10.

[0011] The wireless communication device 100 performs a process (also called TXOP sharing) of allocating a transmission opportunity (TXOP) to the wireless communication devices 1, 2, and 3, which allows the wireless communication devices 1, 2, and 3 to occupy a predetermined frequency band for a predetermined period of time.

[0012] The wireless communication device 100 can use a predetermined frequency band, such as the 5 GHz band or the 6 GHz band. Furthermore, the wireless communication device 100 selects one frequency band (channel) of a predetermined width, such as 20 MHz units, from the available frequency bands as a Primary Channel, and can communicate with subordinate wireless communication devices (wireless communication devices 1, 2, or 3 in FIG. 1 ) on the condition that it acquires a transmission right on the Primary Channel. The wireless communication device 100 can also use a channel (extension channel) extended from the Primary Channel (primary channel or reference channel) on the condition that it acquires a transmission right. The extension channel includes the Primary Channel and one or more channels (secondary channels) as frequency bands used in conjunction with the Primary Channel to extend the wireless communication bandwidth. The Primary Channel and the secondary channel are used, for example, by channel bonding. The one or more channels may include one or more frequency bands (channels) of 20 MHz units, or may include channels with frequency bands greater than 20 MHz. The wireless communication device 100 can share or occupy the transmission right acquired for all or part of the frequency band (channel) of the extension channel with any or all of the wireless communication devices 1, 2, and 3. In the example of Fig. 1, the wireless communication device 100 shares the transmission right for channel 11 with the wireless communication device 2 or the wireless communication device 3 for P2P (Peer to Peer) communication.

[0013] Wireless communication device 2 and wireless communication device 3 obtain the transmission right for channel 11 from wireless communication device 100 and perform P2P communication. Meanwhile, wireless communication device 1 communicates with wireless communication device 100 on channel 12. As an example, channel 11 includes the Primary Channel and also includes a portion of the Secondary Channel. Channel 12 also includes the remaining portion of the Secondary Channel.

[0014] When two or more second wireless communication devices are arranged in one BSS, one of them may be referred to as a third wireless communication device. For example, one of two second wireless communication devices (e.g., wireless communication device 3) that obtains a transmission right for a channel including the Primary Channel from the first wireless communication device and performs P2P communication may be referred to as a third wireless communication device. Furthermore, for a second wireless communication device that obtains a transmission right for a channel including the Primary Channel from the first wireless communication device, a second wireless communication device (e.g., wireless communication device 1) that obtains a transmission right for a channel that does not include the Primary Channel (described below) may be referred to as a third wireless communication device.

[0015] The wireless communication device 100 is, for example, an AP MLD (Access Point Multi Link Device). The wireless communication devices 1, 2, and 3 are, for example, Non-AP MLDs (Non-Access Point Multi Link Devices). This specification describes an example in which the wireless communication devices 100, 1, 2, and 3 are MLDs that support Multi-Link Operation (MLO), but this is not limiting. The wireless communication devices 100, 1, 2, and 3 may also be SLDs (Single-Link Devices). Note that this specification may refer to the wireless communication devices 100, 1, 2, and 3 as AP MLD 100, Non-AP MLD 1, Non-AP MLD 2, and Non-AP MLD 3, respectively. Furthermore, some or all of Non-AP MLD 1, Non-AP MLD 2, and Non-AP MLD 3 may be collectively referred to. For example, Non-AP MLD 1, Non-AP MLD 2, and Non-AP MLD 3 may be collectively referred to as Non-AP MLD 1 / 2 / 3.

[0016] In addition to the operations described in this embodiment, the wireless communication devices 100, 1, 2, and 3 may also operate as base stations and terminals of a wireless LAN conforming to the IEEE 802.11 standard, such as IEEE 802.11a / b / g / n / ac / ax / be / bn. For example, the wireless communication devices 100, 1, 2, and 3 may operate based on CSMA / CA (Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Carrier Avoidance) as an access method, and the wireless communication device 100 may transmit a beacon signal at regular time intervals (periodically).

[0017] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a wireless communication device 100 including an information processing device according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. The information processing device according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure is also referred to as a wireless communication control device because it has a function of controlling wireless communication. The information processing device according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure may be realized, for example, as a semiconductor chip having a wireless communication control function. Furthermore, the information processing device according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure may be realized as a smartphone, personal computer, in-vehicle device, or the like, which has a screen display function, a user interface, and the like in addition to the wireless communication control function. The wireless communication device 100 mainly includes a communication unit 110, a control unit 130, and a storage unit 140. The communication unit 110 includes a communication control unit 111, a communication storage unit 112, a common data processing unit 113, APs 101, and APs 102. The communication unit 110 may be realized by one or more large-scale integration (LSI) chips.

[0018] The APs 101 and 102 are used to process different transmission paths (also referred to as links). Each of the APs 101 and 102 includes an individual data processing unit 121, a signal processing unit 122, a wireless interface unit 123, one or more amplifier units 124, and one or more antennas 150. In other words, the individual data processing unit 121, the signal processing unit 122, the wireless interface unit 123, the amplifier unit 124, and the antenna 150 form a single set, constituting an AP. In particular, the set of the individual data processing unit 121 and the signal processing unit 122 in each AP is also referred to as an AP entity. When the wireless communication device 100 is an MLD, two or more APs are components of the wireless communication device 100. Note that when the wireless communication device 100 is an SLD, the wireless communication device 100 is configured with only a single AP (e.g., AP 101). Note that the APs 101 and 102 may also be configured to process the same link.

[0019] The communication control unit 111 controls the operation of each unit and the transmission of information between each unit. It also controls the transfer of control information and management information to be notified to other wireless communication devices to the common data processing unit 113, AP 101, and AP 102. The communication control unit 111 is also called an MLD management entity.

[0020] The communication control unit 111 according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure controls Secondary Channel Access when notifying the P2P period by TXOP Sharing. Specifically, the communication control unit 111 generates a trigger frame for notifying the subordinate wireless communication devices 1, 2, and 3 of the band to be used in P2P communication and the band for performing Secondary Channel Access. Details of Secondary Channel Access and the trigger frame used for Secondary Channel Access will be described later.

[0021] The communication storage unit 112 stores information used by the communication control unit 111. The communication storage unit 112 also stores data to be transmitted to the wireless communication devices 1, 2, and 3 and data received from the wireless communication devices 1, 2, and 3.

[0022] During transmission, the common data processing unit 113 performs sequence management of the data stored in the communication storage unit 112 and the control information and management information received from the communication control unit 111, performs encryption processing, etc., and allocates the processed data to each individual data processing unit 121. During reception, the common data processing unit 113 performs data decryption processing and reordering processing.

[0023] During transmission, each individual data processing unit 121 performs channel access operation based on carrier sense, generates data units by adding a MAC (Media Access Control) header and an error detection code to the data to be transmitted, and performs processing to concatenate multiple data units. During reception, it performs processing to deconcatenate the MAC header of the received data unit, analyzes and detects errors, and requests retransmission.

[0024] The operations of the common data processing unit 113 and each individual data processing unit 121 are not limited to those described above, and for example, one may perform the operation of the other. The common data processing unit 113 is also called an Upper MAC, Higher MAC, or MLD entity, and the individual data processing unit 121 is also called a Lower MAC.

[0025] During transmission, each signal processing unit 122 performs encoding, interleaving, modulation, etc. on the data unit, adds a physical header, and generates a symbol stream. At this time, each signal processing unit 122 may perform spatial separation processing for MIMO (Multi-Input Multi-Output). However, each signal processing unit 122 may not perform spatial separation processing, but may instead apply an arbitrary delay amount (hereinafter, cyclic shift delay (CSD)) to each antenna 150. During reception, each signal processing unit 122 analyzes the physical header and performs demodulation, deinterleaving, decoding, etc. on the symbol stream to generate a data unit. Furthermore, each signal processing unit 122 estimates complex channel characteristics and performs spatial separation processing as needed.

[0026] During transmission, each radio interface unit 123 performs digital-to-analog signal conversion, filtering, up-conversion, and phase control on the symbol stream to generate a transmission signal. During reception, each radio interface unit 123 performs down-conversion, filtering, and analog-to-digital signal conversion on the received signal to generate a symbol stream.

[0027] The amplifier unit 124 of each AP amplifies a signal input from the wireless interface unit 123 or the antenna 150. A part of the amplifier unit 124 may be a component outside the communication unit 110. Alternatively, a part of the amplifier unit 124 may be included in the wireless interface unit 123.

[0028] The control unit 130 controls the communication unit 110 and the communication control unit 111. The control unit 130 may also perform part of the operation of the communication control unit 111. The communication control unit 111 and the control unit 130 may be configured as one block. The control unit of the information processing device according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure corresponds to the communication control unit 111, for example, or corresponds to at least one of the communication unit 110 and the communication control unit 111. The information processing device according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure includes the communication control unit 111, for example, and may also include other components, for example, at least one of the AP 101 and the AP 102.

[0029] The storage unit 140 holds information used by the control unit 130 and the communication unit 110. The storage unit 140 may also perform part of the operations of the communication storage unit 112. The storage unit 140 and the communication storage unit 112 may be configured as a single block.

[0030] Furthermore, each AP may include a storage unit. Note that, although the frequencies or frequency bands of the links used by each AP are different in the first embodiment of the present disclosure, the same case is not excluded.

[0031] The individual data processing unit 121 and the signal processing unit 122 may be configured as one set, and multiple sets may be connected to one wireless interface unit 123. In other words, one wireless interface unit 123 may be shared by multiple APs.

[0032] Furthermore, a configuration may be adopted in which a wireless interface unit 123, an amplifier unit 124, and an antenna 150 are grouped together, and multiple groups are connected to one signal processing unit 122. In other words, the signal processing unit 122 may be shared by multiple APs. In this case, there may be one or multiple individual data processing units 121.

[0033] 3 is a block diagram of a wireless communication device 1 including an information processing device according to the present disclosure. The information processing device has a function of controlling wireless communication, and is therefore also called a wireless communication control device. The information processing device according to the present disclosure may be realized, for example, as a semiconductor chip having a wireless communication control function. Furthermore, the information processing device according to the present disclosure may be realized as a smartphone, personal computer, in-vehicle device, or the like, which has a screen display function, a user interface, and the like in addition to the wireless communication control function. The basic configuration of the wireless communication device 1 is the same as that of the wireless communication device 100. Furthermore, the configurations of the wireless communication devices 2 and 3 are the same as that of the wireless communication device 1.

[0034] The wireless communication device 1 mainly includes a communication unit 210, a control unit 230, and a storage unit 240. The communication unit 210 includes a communication control unit 211, a communication storage unit 212, a common data processing unit 213, STAs 201, and 202. The communication unit 210 can be realized by one or more LSIs.

[0035] The STAs 201 and 202 are used to process different transmission paths (links). However, a configuration in which the STAs 201 and 202 process the same link is also possible. The STAs 201 and 202 each include an individual data processing unit 221, a signal processing unit 222, a wireless interface unit 223, one or more amplifiers 224, and one or more antennas 250. In other words, the individual data processing unit 221, the signal processing unit 222, the wireless interface unit 223, the amplifier 224, and the antenna 250 form a single set to constitute a STA (Station). When the wireless communication device 1 is an MLD, two or more STAs are components of the wireless communication device 1. Note that when the wireless communication device 1 is an SLD, the wireless communication device 1 is composed of only a single STA, for example, the STA 201. In particular, the set of the individual data processing unit 221 and the signal processing unit 222 is also referred to as a non-AP STA entity.

[0036] The communication control unit 211 controls the operation of each unit and the transmission of information between each unit. It also controls the transfer of control information and management information to be notified to other wireless communication devices to the common data processing unit 213, STA 201, and STA 202. The communication control unit 211 is also called an MLD management entity.

[0037] The communication control unit 211 according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure controls each unit based on information notified by the wireless communication device 100. More specifically, the communication control unit 211 analyzes the trigger frame generated by the communication control unit 111 in Fig. 2 to perform P2P communication in a band including a Primary Channel (described later), or controls the common data processing unit 213, the STA 201, the STA 202, and the like to perform communication in a Secondary Channel (described later) based on Secondary Channel Access information notified by the wireless communication device 100.

[0038] The communication storage unit 212 stores information used by the communication control unit 211. The communication storage unit 212 also stores data to be transmitted to the wireless communication device 100 and data received from the wireless communication device 100.

[0039] During transmission, the common data processing unit 213 performs sequence management of the data stored in the communication storage unit 212 and the control information and management information received from the communication control unit 211, performs encryption processing, etc., and allocates the processed data to each individual data processing unit 221. During reception, the common data processing unit 213 performs data decryption processing and reordering processing.

[0040] During transmission, each individual data processing unit 221 performs channel access operation based on carrier sense, generates data units by adding MAC headers and error detection codes to the data to be transmitted, and concatenates multiple data units. During reception, each individual data processing unit 221 performs MAC header deconcatenation processing for received data units, analysis and error detection, and retransmission request operations.

[0041] The operations of the common data processing unit 213 and each individual data processing unit 221 are not limited to those described above, and for example, one may perform the operation of the other. The common data processing unit 213 is also called an Upper MAC, Higher MAC, or MLD entity, and the individual data processing unit 221 is also called a Lower MAC.

[0042] During transmission, each signal processing unit 222 performs encoding, interleaving, modulation, etc. on the data unit, adds a physical header, and generates a symbol stream. At this time, each signal processing unit 222 may perform spatial separation processing for MIMO. However, each signal processing unit 222 may not perform spatial separation processing, but may instead apply cyclic shift delay CSD to each antenna 250. During reception, each signal processing unit 222 analyzes the physical header and performs demodulation, deinterleaving, decoding, etc. on the symbol stream to generate a data unit. Furthermore, each signal processing unit 222 estimates complex channel characteristics and performs spatial separation processing as necessary.

[0043] During transmission, each radio interface unit 223 performs digital-to-analog signal conversion, filtering, up-conversion, and phase control on the symbol stream to generate a transmission signal. During reception, each radio interface unit 223 performs down-conversion, filtering, and analog-to-digital signal conversion on the received signal to generate a symbol stream.

[0044] The amplifier unit 224 of each STA amplifies a signal input from the wireless interface unit 223 or the antenna 250. A part of the amplifier unit 224 may be a component outside the communication unit 210. Alternatively, a part of the amplifier unit 224 may be included in the wireless interface unit 223.

[0045] The control unit 230 controls the communication unit 210 and the communication control unit 211. The control unit 230 may also perform some of the operations of the communication control unit 211. The communication control unit 211 and the control unit 230 may be configured as a single block. The control unit of the information processing device according to the present disclosure corresponds to the communication control unit 211, for example, or corresponds to at least one of the communication unit 210 and the communication control unit 211. The information processing device according to the present disclosure may include the communication control unit 211, for example, and may also include other components, for example, at least one of the STA201 and the STA202.

[0046] The storage unit 240 holds information used by the control unit 230 and the communication unit 210. The storage unit 240 may also perform part of the operations of the communication storage unit 212. The storage unit 240 and the communication storage unit 212 may be configured as a single block.

[0047] Furthermore, each STA may include a storage unit. In this embodiment, the frequencies or frequency bands of the links used by each STA are different, but the same case is not excluded.

[0048] The individual data processing unit 221 and the signal processing unit 222 may be configured as one set, and multiple sets may be connected to one wireless interface unit 223. In other words, one wireless interface unit 223 may be shared by multiple STAs.

[0049] Alternatively, a configuration may be adopted in which a wireless interface unit 223, an amplifier unit 224, and an antenna 250 are grouped together, and multiple groups are connected to one signal processing unit 222. In other words, the signal processing unit 222 may be shared by multiple STAs. In this case, there may be one or multiple individual data processing units 221.

[0050] 4A is a diagram showing a first example of channel extension according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. In channel extension, a frequency band is generated by aggregating channel P20, which is a single primary channel serving as a reference, and one or more secondary channels corresponding to the required frequency bandwidth among multiple secondary channels prepared for extension. A channel as a frequency band aggregating multiple secondary channels may also be called a secondary channel. In this specification, the primary channel and secondary channel are also referred to as the first channel and the second channel, respectively.

[0051] Channel P20 has a bandwidth of 20 MHz. Channel P20 and 20 MHz channel S20 allow for channel extension to 40 MHz. Channel P20, channel S20, and 40 MHz channel S40 allow for channel extension to 80 MHz. Channel P20, channel S20, channel S40, and 80 MHz channel S80 allow for channel extension to 160 MHz.

[0052] In this specification, for example, channels P20 and S20 may be simply referred to as P20 and S20. Also, in this specification, for example, an extended channel including channels P20 and S20 may be referred to as P20+S20.

[0053] 4B is a diagram showing a second example of channel extension according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. In FIG. 4A, channels P20, S20, S40, and S80 are arranged adjacent to each other, whereas in FIG. 4B, channels P20, S20, and S40 are arranged apart from channel S80. The channel extension shown in FIG. 4A is called 160 MHz channel extension. On the other hand, the channel extension shown in FIG. 4B is called 80+80 MHz channel extension.

[0054] In this specification, the range to which one primary channel can be extended, as shown in Figures 4A and 4B, is called a channel set. A channel set is composed of one primary channel and at least one secondary channel. A channel set may be continuous channels in the frequency domain, as shown in Figure 4A, or may be a band in which any channel is separated, as shown in Figure 4B. When a separated channel set is used, the channel set must be defined in advance within the BSS 10.

[0055] Although both Figures 4A and 4B illustrate channel sets in a 160 MHz band, this is not limiting. The channel set may be a larger band (e.g., 320 MHz) or a smaller band (e.g., 80 MHz). For example, the wireless communication device 100 may use a 320 MHz channel set to perform 320 MHz channel extension or 160 + 160 MHz channel extension. Also, while Figures 4A and 4B illustrate an example of channel extension by a power of 2 multiple of 20 MHz, this is not limiting. For example, the wireless communication device 100 may perform channel extension by 120 MHz (P20 + S20 + S40 + S40) or 240 MHz (P20 + S20 + S40 + S80 + S80). The minimum unit of channel extension does not have to be 20 MHz.

[0056] As described above, the wireless communication device 100 can cause the wireless communication device 1, 2, or 3 to occupy an extension channel generated by using a single Primary Channel or by combining a Primary Channel with any number of Secondary Channels, based on the acquired transmission right. Furthermore, the wireless communication device 100 according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure can also cause the wireless communication device 1, 2, or 3 to occupy a band configured of one or more Secondary Channels that does not include a Primary Channel.

[0057] For example, the wireless communication device 100 can allow wireless communication devices 2 and 3 to occupy the P20+S20 band. In this case, the wireless communication device 100 may use S40 in FIG. 4A , which is not occupied by wireless communication devices 2 and 3, for communication with wireless communication device 1. As described above, occupying a band consisting of one or more secondary channels that do not include a primary channel and performing wireless communication is referred to as secondary channel access in this specification. Furthermore, in this specification, a wireless communication device that performs P2P communication using the primary channel is referred to as a third wireless communication device, and a wireless communication device that performs secondary channel access is referred to as a fourth wireless communication device. Note that, although this disclosure uses at least the primary channel for P2P communication between wireless communication devices 2 and 3, a configuration in which only the secondary channel is used for P2P communication and the primary channel is used for communication between wireless communication devices 100 and 1 is also not excluded. Furthermore, wireless communication layer value 1 may perform P2P communication with other wireless communication devices that belong to BSS 10 but are not shown in FIG. 1 via secondary channel access.

[0058] Secondary Channel Access allows for more efficient use of the secondary channel.

[0059] In related technologies that do not use the Secondary Channel Access of the present disclosure, band occupation requires the occupation of the Primary Channel. For example, when wireless communication devices 2 and 3 occupy the P20+S20 band, wireless communication device 1 cannot occupy P20, and cannot occupy any of S20, S40, and S80, which are used to extend the P20 channel. In other words, wireless communication device 1 must suppress communication in the entire band shown in FIG. 4A.

[0060] 4A is not used for P2P communication between the wireless communication devices 2 and 3, and cannot be used by the wireless communication device 1. In other words, S40 becomes a band that is not effectively used in the BSS 10.

[0061] Secondary Channel Access according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure makes it possible to use S40, which is not effectively utilized in the related art as described above, for communication with the wireless communication device 1. Similarly, S80, which is not occupied by the wireless communication devices 2 and 3, may be used, for example, together with S40, for communication with the wireless communication device 1, or may be occupied by another wireless communication device belonging to BSS 10 (not shown in Fig. 1). This makes it possible to effectively utilize all of the channels shown in Fig. 4A.

[0062] In the first embodiment of the present disclosure, in a channel set shared by one BSS, communication of other wireless communication devices within the BSS is suppressed, except for one or more wireless communication devices occupying the Primary Channel and one or more wireless communication devices performing Secondary Channel Access.

[0063] To occupy a channel, at least one of physical carrier sensing and virtual carrier sensing may be performed. Physical carrier sensing is a process of sensing radio wave conditions to confirm that the channel is not being used by other wireless communication devices. Virtual carrier sensing is a process of confirming that the channel is occupied by a notification from other wireless communication devices.

[0064] 5 is a sequence diagram of Secondary Channel Access according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. Fig. 5 shows an example in which AP MLD100 acquires a transmission right, and a portion of the band in which the transmission right has been acquired is allocated to Non-AP MLD2 and Non-AP MLD3 as a band for P2P communication (e.g., P20+S20) during a first period T1, and the remaining band not allocated to Non-AP MLD1 / 2 / (S40 in this example) is used for communication between Non-AP MLD1 and AP MLD100 during part or all of the first period T1 (second period T2). P20+S20 in Fig. 5 corresponds to channel 11 in Fig. 1, and S40 corresponds to channel 12.

[0065] In this specification, among the Secondary Channels, a channel used for P2P communication as an extension of the Primary Channel (e.g., S20 in Figure 5) may be referred to as the third channel, and a channel used for Secondary Channel Access (e.g., S40 in Figure 5) may be referred to as the fourth channel.

[0066] The sequence in Figure 5 shows the signals and frame intervals transmitted and received by the AP MLD 100 and non-AP MLDs 1 / 2 / 3 along the solid time axis. Unless otherwise specified, the frame intervals continuously transmitted and received between the AP MLD 100 and non-AP MLDs 1 / 2 / 3 are assumed to be short interframe spaces (SIFS), which allow carrier sensing to be omitted. However, this is not limited to this, and SIFS may be replaced by carrier sensing. Furthermore, appropriate frame intervals may be provided in accordance with the IEEE 802.11 standard. Types of frame intervals include distributed coordination function interframe space (DIFS), arbitration interframe space (AIFS), point coordination function interframe space (PIFS), extended interframe space (EIFS), and reduced interframe space (RIFS).

[0067] Before the sequence shown in Fig. 5, the AP MLD 100 and the non-AP MLDs 1 / 2 / 3 may perform a capability check to confirm whether they support the functions required for the sequence of Fig. 5. For example, the AP MLD 100 and the non-AP MLDs 1 / 2 / 3 may confirm whether they support secondary channel access. It may also be confirmed whether the AP MLD 100 and the non-AP MLDs 2 / 3 each support P2P communication. It may also be confirmed whether the non-AP MLDs 2 and 3 support P2P communication. The AP MLD 100 and the non-AP MLDs 1 may also determine one or more bands for secondary channel access, priorities, and identifiers corresponding to the bands.

[0068] First, a clear channel assessment (CCA) 421 is provided in which the AP MLD 100 acquires the transmission right based on a predetermined procedure at P20. The predetermined procedure is, for example, a back-off procedure. After acquiring the transmission right, the AP MLD 100 may transmit a CTS-to-self signal 411.

[0069] The AP MLD 100 that has acquired the transmission right for P20 transmits an MU-RTS TXS Trigger (Multi-User Request To Send Transmission Opportunity Sharing Trigger) signal 401. The MU-RTS TXS Trigger signal 401 is a signal that reserves a channel (P20 + S20 in FIG. 5) that Non-AP MLD2 / 3 uses for P2P communication. Before transmitting the MU-RTS TXS Trigger signal 401, carrier sensing for S20 is performed to acquire the transmission right. Note that carrier sensing for S20 may be performed simultaneously with carrier sensing for acquiring the transmission right for P20. In this specification, the MU-RTS TXS Trigger signal 401 is also referred to as the first signal.

[0070] The AP MLD 100 transmits the MU-RTS TXS Trigger signal 401 using the channel reserved by this MU-RTS TXS Trigger signal 401. Note that the AP MLD 100 may transmit the MU-RTS TXS Trigger signal 401 by channel bonding some or all of the reserved channels.

[0071] The MU-RTS TXS Trigger signal 401 includes information related to channel reservation and information related to Secondary Channel Access. The MU-RTS TXS Trigger signal 401 is transmitted to at least one of Non-AP MLD2 or Non-AP MLD3 and Non-AP MLD1. Note that the AP MLD 100 may transmit (broadcast) the MU-RTS TXS Trigger signal 401 to all subordinate Non-AP MLDs in order to notify the entire BSS 10 of information related to Secondary Channel Access. The AP MLD 100 may also transmit information related to Secondary Channel Access using a signal different from the MU-RTS TXS Trigger signal 401 (for example, a second signal, described below). In this case, the MU-RTS TXS Trigger signal 401 may be transmitted only to at least one of Non-AP MLD2 or Non-AP MLD3.

[0072] The information related to channel reservation includes the period during which P2P communication is performed (i.e., the first period T1), the band to be reserved (P20+S20 in the example of FIG. 5), and information for notifying a predetermined wireless communication device (at least one of Non-AP MLD2 or Non-AP MLD3 in the example of FIG. 5) of the sharing of transmission rights for the reserved band. The first period T1 may be a period during which only P2P communication is performed, or may be a period during which both P2P communication and communication with the AP MLD 100 are performed. In this specification, the information related to channel reservation is referred to as second information.

[0073] Furthermore, the AP MLD 100 may check in advance whether the non-AP MLD 2 / 3 is holding traffic addressed to the AP MLD 100, and may determine, based on that information, whether the first period T1 is a period during which only P2P communication is performed or a period during which both P2P communication and communication with the AP MLD 100 are performed. The confirmation of whether traffic is being held may be performed by exchanging a Buffer Status Report Poll (BSRP) frame and a Buffer Status Report (BSR).

[0074] The information regarding Secondary Channel Access includes the band for Secondary Channel Access (S40 in the example of FIG. 5) and information instructing a predetermined wireless communication device (Non-AP MLD1 in the example of FIG. 5) to perform communication based on the transmission right of the Secondary Channel. It may also include information regarding the period for performing Secondary Channel Access (i.e., the second period T2). The second period T2 may be set shorter than the first period T1. This enables reception of a signal when Non-AP MLD2 / 3 that has completed P2P communication transmits to AP MLD100. In this specification, the information regarding Secondary Channel Access is referred to as first information.

[0075] Upon receiving an MU-RTS TXS Trigger signal 401 containing information related to P2P communication from the AP MLD 100, the Non-AP MLD2 or Non-AP MLD3 transmits a CTS signal 402 to the AP MLD 100 using P20 and S20, which are bands for P2P communication included in the MU-RTS TXS Trigger signal 401. The Non-AP MLD2 and Non-AP MLD3 then perform P2P communication using P20 and S20. Note that the Non-AP MLD2 / 3 do not need to use the entire band for P2P communication specified by the MU-RTS TXS Trigger signal 401, and may perform P2P communication using only a portion of P20 or S20. The Non-AP MLD2 / 3 may also perform channel bonding on some or all of the band for P2P communication specified by the MU-RTS TXS Trigger signal 401.

[0076] The AP MLD 100 that transmitted the MU-RTS TXS Trigger signal 401 acquires the transmission right through a predetermined procedure based on the information about Secondary Channel Access included in the MU-RTS TXS Trigger signal 401 in the CCA 422. The predetermined procedure includes a procedure for checking whether the Secondary Channel (S40 in this example) is being used by another wireless communication device. If the Secondary Channel is not being used by another wireless communication device, the AP MLD 100 can acquire the transmission right for the Secondary Channel. The predetermined procedure may be, for example, a back-off procedure, or a confirmation that a signal (e.g., a PIFS) has not been detected for a certain period of time. The start point of the PIFS may be the end of the signal 401. Alternatively, a Non-AP MLD 1 may perform a similar operation.

[0077] The AP MLD 100 or Non-AP MLD 1 that has acquired the transmission right performs communication in S40. The AP MLD 100 may end communication on the Secondary Channel (S40) after completing one data transmission. The AP MLD 100 may wait for reception on the Primary Channel each time one data transmission is completed, and once it has confirmed that there is no transmission addressed to itself from Non-AP MLD 2 or Non-AP MLD 3, it may resume communication on the Secondary Channel.

[0078] As described above, Non-AP MLD2 / 3 performs wireless communication using the primary channel based on information regarding channel reservation in the MU-RTS TXS Trigger signal 401. Non-AP MLD1 performs wireless communication using the secondary channel (S40) based on information regarding secondary channel access in the MU-RTS TXS Trigger signal 401. Non-AP MLD1 performs secondary channel access when the primary channel is being used by Non-AP MLD2 / 3, but can also perform wireless communication using the primary channel in other situations. Non-AP MLD1 may perform P2P communication using the primary channel with Non-AP MLD2 / 3. One or both of Non-AP MLD2 / 3 may perform secondary channel access.

[0079] 6A is a diagram showing the frame format of the MU-RTS TXS Trigger signal 401. The frame shown in Fig. 6A is made up of Frame Control 501, Duration 502, RA (Receiver Address) 503, TA (Transmitter Address) 504, Common Info 505, User Info 506, Padding 507, and FCS (Frame Check Sequence) 508.

[0080] Frame control 501 stores information related to the settings of this frame. Duration 502 stores information related to the length of this frame. RA 503 stores information related to the receiving address. Note that, in the first embodiment of the present disclosure, RA 503 may be a broadcast address. TA 504 stores information related to the transmitting address. Common information 505 is information commonly notified to destination terminals of this frame. User information 506 stores information (hereinafter, individual information) that is individually notified to each destination terminal of this frame. Individual information is composed of multiple fields. Furthermore, individual information is included in user information 506 for each destination terminal. In the case of BSS 10 of FIG. 1 , user information 506 includes at least individual information (individual fields) corresponding to each of Non-AP MLD1 / 2 / 3. Padding 507 is provided to adjust the length of this frame. FCS 508 stores information related to error detection.

[0081] The MU-RTS TXS Trigger signal 401 according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure stores information about Secondary Channel Access by extending or changing the common information 505 and the user information 506. Note that in this specification, the information about Secondary Channel Access is also referred to as second channel connection information.

[0082] 6B is a diagram showing a first configuration example of user information 506 according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. Each of the multiple pieces of individual information in user information 506a in FIG. 6B is composed of an identifier (AID12: Association ID 12) 511, a Secondary Channel 512, an Allocation Duration 513, a Secondary Channel Access 514, a reserved field (Reserve) 515, and an extension field (PS180) 516.

[0083] The identifier 511 stores a part of the AID (Association ID) as an identifier of the destination terminal. The secondary channel 512 stores information specifying the channel used for secondary channel access. In this specification, the information stored in the secondary channel 512 is also referred to as bandwidth information of the second channel.

[0084] The Secondary Channel 512 includes band information of the secondary channel (e.g., S40 in FIG. 5) to be allocated in the Secondary Channel Access. The Secondary Channel 512 may include a center frequency and a bandwidth. Alternatively, the Secondary Channel 512 may include a predetermined identifier. Alternatively, the Secondary Channel 512 may include an Operating Class, a Channel Set, or a Channel Center Frequency Index defined in Global Operating Classes.

[0085] Allocation Duration 513 stores information about the period during which Secondary Channel Access is performed (i.e., the second period T2).

[0086] Secondary Channel Access 514 stores information indicating whether the corresponding Non-AP MLD1 / 2 / 3 performs communication via Secondary Channel Access. In the case of Fig. 5, Secondary Channel Access 514 for Non-AP MLD1 stores a value (e.g., 1) indicating that Secondary Channel Access is to be performed, and Secondary Channel Access 514 for Non-AP MLD2 / 3 stores a value (e.g., 0) indicating that Secondary Channel Access is not to be performed. Storing a value indicating that Secondary Channel Access is not to be performed in Secondary Channel Access 514 may indicate that the transmission right for the band reserved by the MU-RTS TXS Trigger signal 401 (P20+S20 in Fig. 5) is shared. Non-AP MLD1 / 2 / 3 each switch whether to perform Secondary Channel Access based on the value of Secondary Channel Access 514.

[0087] The reserved field 515 is a field ignored by the non-AP MLD1 / 2 / 3, and arbitrary information is stored in the reserved field 515 by the AP MLD 100. Alternatively, the reserved field 515 may be defined as a secondary channel access scheme. In this case, the reserved field 515 stores information such as the communication method (MCS: Modulation Coding Scheme) for secondary channel access, the number of spatial streams (Nss), an AP-initiated access (trigger-based access) notification, a STA-initiated access permission, and a P2P communication permission.

[0088] The extension field 516 is used to store extension information of the information related to the band. Note that in the first embodiment of the present disclosure, the extension field 516 is not used for Secondary Channel Access.

[0089] 6C is a diagram showing the configuration of the common information 505 according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. The common information 505 includes a mode designation (Mode) 521 and Trigger Dependent Common Info 522.

[0090] The mode designation 521 is a field corresponding to the GI and HE / EHT-LTF Type / Triggered TXOP Sharing Mode in a normal MU-RTS TXS Trigger signal. This field specifies either the GI (Guard Interval) and LTF (Long Training Field) type or the Triggered TXOP Sharing mode, but the mode designation 521 according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure is used to specify the Triggered TXOP Sharing mode. Furthermore, particularly according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure, the mode designation 521 stores a predetermined number for setting the Triggered TXOP Sharing mode to a mode compatible with Secondary Channel Access. The predetermined number is a number (e.g., 3) that does not overlap with the Triggered TXOP Sharing Mode subfield value defined in the IEEE 802.11 standard. Table 1 shows the rules for the Secondary Channel Access mode.

[0091]

[0092] By storing a number specified by a predetermined rule (for example, the rule in Table 1) in the mode specification 521, the AP MLD 100 can notify the Non-AP MLD 1 / 2 / 3 that the MU-RTS TXS Trigger signal 401 contains information regarding Secondary Channel Access.

[0093] In the Trigger Dependent Common Info 522 according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure, when information regarding Secondary Channel Access is notified to the entire Non-AP MLD under the AP MLD 100, the information stored in the user information 506 shown in FIG. 6B may be stored.

[0094] The Non-AP MLD according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure uses a control unit (for example, the communication control unit 211 in FIG. 3 ) to detect information addressed to itself from the user information 506 in the MU-RTS TXS Trigger signal 401, etc. Furthermore, the Non-AP MLD performs P2P communication using the primary channel based on the information detected by the control unit. Furthermore, if the mode designation 521 is a predetermined value (also called an identification number), the Non-AP MLD searches for information related to secondary channel access, and if the secondary channel access 514 is a predetermined value, performs secondary channel access based on the bandwidth information stored in the secondary channel 512.

[0095] Fig. 7 is a diagram showing a second configuration example of the user information 506 according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. The user information 506b shown in Fig. 7 can store RU (Resource Units) Allocation, which is information related to resource unit allocation. The user information 506b has RU Allocation / Secondary Channel 531 instead of Secondary Channel 512 in Fig. 6B.

[0096] The information stored in RU Allocation / Secondary Channel 531 differs depending on whether the corresponding Non-AP MLD performs Secondary Channel Access. Whether a Non-AP MLD performs Secondary Channel Access is specified, for example, from the value of Secondary Channel Access 514. Bandwidth information of the Secondary Channel to be used (S40 in the example of FIG. 5) is stored in RU Allocation / Secondary Channel 531 related to a Non-AP MLD that performs Secondary Channel Access (for example, Non-AP MLD1 in FIG. 5). In this case, the information stored in RU Allocation / Secondary Channel 531 is the same as that of Secondary Channel 512 in FIG. 6B.

[0097] RU Allocation is stored in RU Allocation / Secondary Channel 531 for Non-AP MLDs that do not perform Secondary Channel Access (for example, Non-AP MLD2 / 3 in FIG. 5). RU Allocation is an allocation number indicating the band to be allocated to the corresponding Non-AP MLD from among the bands reserved by the MU-RTS TXS Trigger signal 401. RU Allocation can specify which band to allocate to Non-AP MLD 2 / 3.

[0098] In the above case, the extension field 516 is used to extend the field of the RU Allocation / Secondary Channel 531. That is, the extension field 516 stores a part of the RU Allocation.

[0099] 8A is a diagram showing a third configuration example of user information 506 according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. The user information 506c shown in FIG. 8A supports upward MIMO (also referred to as uplink communication) defined in the IEEE 802.11 standard and includes information about uplink communication. The user information 506c includes an identifier 511, resource unit allocation information (RU Allocation) 541, an uplink forward error correction (UL FEC Coding Type) 542, an uplink high efficiency modulation and coding scheme (UL-HE MCS) 543, an uplink dual carrier modulation (UL DCM) 544, spatial stream (SS) allocation / random access resource units (RA-RU) information 545, uplink received power (UL Target Receive Power) 546, a reserved field 515, and a trigger dependent 547.

[0100] The resource unit allocation information 541 stores the RU Allocation in FIG. 7. The uplink forward error correction 542 stores information regarding the designation of forward error correction in the uplink. The uplink modulation and coding scheme 543 stores information regarding the designation of the modulation and coding scheme in the uplink. The uplink DCM 544 stores information regarding the designation of the use of dual carrier modulation in the uplink. The SS Allocation / RA-RU Information 545 stores information regarding the designation of a spatial stream or information regarding the designation of random access using resource units. The uplink received power 546 stores information regarding the received power of the uplink.

[0101] Trigger Dependent 547 according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure stores information related to Secondary Channel Access. Fig. 8B is a diagram showing the configuration of Trigger Dependent 547 according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. Trigger Dependent 547 includes Secondary Channel 512, Allocation Duration 513, and Secondary Channel Access 514.

[0102] Figure 6A etc. shows an example in which information about Secondary Channel Access is included in MU-RTS TXS Trigger signal 401. Information about Secondary Channel Access may be transmitted in a trigger frame separate from MU-RTS TXS Trigger signal 401. Figure 9 is a diagram showing the format of a trigger frame 550 that includes information about Secondary Channel Access.

[0103] The trigger frame 550 is composed of frame control 501, duration 502, RA 503, TA 504, secondary channel access 514, allocation duration 513, secondary channel 512, secondary channel access scheme 551, and FCS 508. Secondary channel access scheme 551 stores the same information as the secondary channel access scheme described in Fig. 6A. RA 503 in Fig. 9 stores the MAC address of the STA when a non-AP MLD for secondary channel access is specified, and stores a broadcast address when a non-AP MLD for secondary channel access is not specified.

[0104] The AP MLD 100 transmits a trigger frame 550 to a non-AP MLD (e.g., non-AP MLD1) that performs secondary channel access, for example, after the CCA 422 in FIG. 5 . The non-AP MLD1 receives the trigger frame 550 and performs secondary channel access based on the secondary channel access 514, as in FIG. 6B . Note that the non-AP MLD1 can also perform P2P communication using the primary channel using the MU-RTS TXS trigger signal 401, as in the example of FIG. 6A . When the trigger frame 550 is used, a normal MU-RTS TXS trigger signal may be used as the MU-RTS TXS trigger signal 401. In this specification, the trigger frame 550 is referred to as the second signal.

[0105] In this way, the information processing device according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure enables Secondary Channel Access, which performs wireless communication using a band consisting of one or more Secondary Channels. By using Secondary Channel Access, while another Non-AP MLD occupies the Primary Channel, the Secondary Channel not occupied by the other Non-AP MLD can be occupied by another Non-AP MLD, thereby enabling the Secondary Channel. This allows the Secondary Channel to be utilized more efficiently than when Secondary Channel Access is not used.

[0106] Second Embodiment Fig. 10 is a sequence diagram of Secondary Channel Access according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure. The MU-RTS TXS Trigger signal (first signal) 451 in Fig. 10 differs from the MU-RTS TXS Trigger signal 401 in Fig. 5 in that it reserves not only the band used for P2P communication (P20 + S20) but also the band used for Secondary Channel Access (S40). This makes it possible to omit CCA 422, which acquires the right to transmit S40.

[0107] The MU-RTS TXS Trigger signal 451 is transmitted over the channel (P20+S20+S40) reserved by the MU-RTS TXS Trigger signal 451. The AP MLD 100 transmits the MU-RTS TXS Trigger signal 451 to the Non-AP MLD 1 that performs Secondary Channel Access and to at least one of the Non-AP MLD 2 and Non-AP MLD 3 that perform P2P communication. Note that the AP MLD 100 may transmit the MU-RTS TXS Trigger signal 451 to, for example, all of the subordinate Non-AP MLDs.

[0108] Non-AP MLD 2 / 3, which has received MU-RTS TXS Trigger signal 451, transmits CTS signal 402 to AP MLD 100 using P20 and S20, which are bands for P2P communication. Non-AP MLD 1, which has received MU-RTS TXS Trigger signal 451, transmits CTS signal 452 to AP MLD 100 using S40, which is a band for Secondary Channel Access.

[0109] In the second embodiment of the present disclosure, it is possible to omit the CCA 422. This makes it possible to omit the PIFS signal detection process or back-off procedure for S40, and also to shorten the time until the Non-AP MLD1 starts wireless communication by Secondary Channel Access.

[0110] 11 is a diagram showing the configuration of user information 506d according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure. Each of the multiple pieces of individual information in the user information 506d is composed of an identifier 511, resource unit allocation information 541, an Allocation Duration 513, a Secondary Channel Access 514, a reserved field 515, and an extension field 516.

[0111] The resource unit allocation information 541 in Fig. 11 specifies the band to be allocated to Non-AP MLD2 / 3 for P2P communication and the band to be allocated to Non-AP MLD1 for Secondary Channel Access, out of the bands reserved by the MU-RTS TXS Trigger signal 451. Note that the extension field 516 in Fig. 11 stores part of the RU Allocation.

[0112] 10, of the channels reserved by the MU-RTS TXS Trigger signal 451, P20+S20 are assigned to Non-AP MLD2 and Non-AP MLD3, and S40 is assigned to Non-AP MLD1, but this is not limitative. The MU-RTS TXS Trigger signal 451 can arbitrarily set the bands to be assigned to Non-AP MLD1 / 2 / 3 using resource unit allocation information 541.

[0113] The MU-RTS TXS Trigger signal 451 is not limited to the example of Fig. 11 and may use any of the formats shown in Fig. 6A to Fig. 8B. Information related to Secondary Channel Access may also be transmitted by trigger frame 550 shown in Fig. 9.

[0114] In this way, the MU-RTS TXS Trigger signal 451 according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure reserves a band to be used for P2P communication and a band to be used for Secondary Channel Access, thereby omitting the CCA 422 and shortening the time until the Non-AP MLD1 starts wireless communication by Secondary Channel Access.

[0115] <Example of Computer Configuration> The above-described series of processes can be executed by hardware or software. When the series of processes is executed by software, the program constituting the software is installed from a program recording medium into a computer incorporated in dedicated hardware, or into a general-purpose personal computer, etc.

[0116] FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of a computer that executes the above-described series of processes by a program.

[0117] A CPU (Central Processing Unit) 801 , a ROM (Read Only Memory) 802 , and a RAM (Random Access Memory) 803 are interconnected by a bus 804 .

[0118] An input / output interface 805 is also connected to the bus 804. An input unit 806 including a keyboard, a mouse, etc., and an output unit 807 including a display, a speaker, etc. are connected to the input / output interface 805. In addition, a storage unit 808 including a hard disk, a nonvolatile memory, etc., a communication unit 809 including a network interface, etc., and a drive 810 that drives removable media 811 are also connected to the input / output interface 805.

[0119] In a computer configured as described above, the CPU 801 performs the above-described series of processes by, for example, loading a program stored in the memory unit 808 into the RAM 803 via the input / output interface 805 and the bus 804 and executing it.

[0120] The program executed by the CPU 801 is provided, for example, by being recorded on a removable medium 811 or via a wired or wireless transmission medium such as a local area network, the Internet, or digital broadcasting, and is installed in the storage unit 808.

[0121] The program executed by the computer may be a program that processes in chronological order according to the order described in this specification, or may be a program that processes in parallel or at the required timing, such as when called.

[0122] <Application Examples> The present technology can be applied to various products. For example, the wireless communication device 100 in FIG. 2 and the wireless communication device 1 in FIG. 3 may be realized as a mobile terminal such as a smartphone, a tablet PC (Personal Computer), a notebook PC, a portable game terminal, or a digital camera; a fixed terminal such as a television receiver, a printer, a digital scanner, or a network storage; or an in-vehicle terminal such as a car navigation system. Furthermore, the wireless communication device 100 and the wireless communication device 1 may be realized as a machine-to-machine communication (M2M) terminal such as a smart meter, a vending machine, a remote monitoring device, or a point-of-sale (POS) terminal. Furthermore, the wireless communication device 100 and the wireless communication device 1 may be a wireless communication module (e.g., an integrated circuit module configured on a single die) mounted on these terminals.

[0123] On the other hand, for example, the wireless communication device 100 and the wireless communication device 1 may be realized as a wireless LAN AP (wireless base station) with or without a router function. The wireless communication device 100 and the wireless communication device 1 may also be realized as a mobile wireless LAN router. Furthermore, the wireless communication device 100 and the wireless communication device 1 may be a wireless communication module (for example, an integrated circuit module configured on a single die) mounted on these devices.

[0124] <Configuration Example of Smartphone> FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration example of a smartphone to which the present technology is applied.

[0125] The smartphone 900 includes a processor 901, a memory 902, a storage 903, an external connection interface 904, a camera 906, a sensor 907, a microphone 908, an input device 909, and a display device 910. The smartphone 900 also includes a speaker 911, a wireless communication interface 913, an antenna switch 914, an antenna 915, a bus 917, a battery 918, and an auxiliary controller 919.

[0126] The processor 901 may be, for example, a CPU or a SoC (System on Chip), and limits the functions of the application layer and other layers of the smartphone 900.

[0127] The memory 902 includes RAM and ROM, and stores programs and data executed by the processor 901 .

[0128] The storage 903 includes a storage medium such as a semiconductor memory or a hard disk.

[0129] The external connection interface 904 is an interface for connecting an external device such as a memory card or a USB (Universal Serial Bus) device to the smartphone 900 .

[0130] The camera 906 has an imaging element such as a charge coupled device (CCD) or a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS), and generates a captured image.

[0131] The sensor 907 includes a group of sensors such as a positioning sensor, a gyro sensor, a geomagnetic sensor, and an acceleration sensor.

[0132] The microphone 908 converts the sound input to the smartphone 900 into an audio signal.

[0133] The input device 909 includes, for example, a touch sensor that detects a touch on the screen of the display device 910, a keypad, a keyboard, a button, or a switch, and accepts operations or information input from the user.

[0134] The display device 910 has a screen such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) or an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display, and converts the audio signal output from the smartphone 900 into audio.

[0135] The wireless communication interface 913 supports one or more wireless LAN standards such as IEEE802.11a, 11b, 11g, 11ac, 11ad, 11ax, 11ay, 11be, and 11bn, and performs wireless communication.

[0136] The wireless communication interface 913 communicates with other devices via a wireless LAN AP in infrastructure mode, and directly with other devices in ad hoc mode or a direct communication mode such as Wi-Fi Direct.

[0137] Unlike ad hoc mode, in Wi-Fi Direct, one of the two terminals acts as an AP, but communication is carried out directly between the terminals.

[0138] The wireless communication interface 913 typically includes a baseband processor, an RF (Radio Frequency) circuit, a power amplifier, etc. The wireless communication interface 913 may be a one-chip module that integrates a memory that stores a communication control program, a processor that executes the program, and related circuits.

[0139] The wireless communication interface 913 may support other types of wireless communication systems, such as a short-range wireless communication system, a proximity wireless communication system, or a cellular communication system, in addition to the wireless LAN system.

[0140] The antenna switch 914 switches the connection destination of the antenna 915 between multiple circuits (for example, circuits for different wireless communication methods) included in the wireless communication interface 913 .

[0141] The antenna 915 has a single or multiple antenna elements (for example, multiple antenna elements constituting a MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output) antenna) and is used for transmitting and receiving radio signals via the wireless communication interface 913 .

[0142] 13, the smartphone 900 may include multiple antennas (for example, an antenna for wireless LAN and an antenna for a close-proximity wireless communication system). In this case, the antenna switch 914 may be omitted from the configuration of the smartphone 900.

[0143] The bus 917 connects the processor 901, memory 902, storage 903, external connection interface 904, camera 906, sensor 907, microphone 908, input device 909, display device 910, speaker 911, wireless communication interface 913, and auxiliary controller 919 to each other.

[0144] The battery 918 supplies power to each block of the smartphone 900 shown in Fig. 13 via a power supply line partially indicated by a dashed line in the figure. The auxiliary controller 919 operates the minimum necessary functions of the smartphone 900, for example, in sleep mode.

[0145] 13 , for example, the wireless communication device 100 in FIG. 2 and the wireless communication device 1 in FIG. 3 may be implemented in the wireless communication interface 913. Furthermore, at least some of these functions may be implemented in the processor 901 or the auxiliary controller 919.

[0146] The smartphone 900 may operate as a wireless AP (software AP) by the processor 901 executing an AP function at the application level. The wireless communication interface 913 may also have a wireless AP function.

[0147] Furthermore, the smartphone 900 may be provided with a biometric authentication unit (fingerprint authentication, palm shape authentication, voice authentication, blood vessel authentication, face authentication, iris authentication, retina authentication). In this case, the wireless communication interface 913 in which the wireless communication device 100 in Fig. 2 or the wireless communication device 1 in Fig. 3 is implemented is configured to receive power supply from the same battery 918 as the display device 910, the speaker 911, and at least one of the biometric authentication unit.

[0148] Furthermore, in the smartphone 900, information is displayed on at least one of the display device 910 and the speaker 911 based on communication with an external device via the wireless communication interface 913. At this time, information relating to the present technology may be output from at least one of the display device 910 and the speaker 911.

[0149] <Configuration Example of In-Vehicle Device> FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing an example of a schematic configuration of an in-vehicle device 920 to which the present technology is applied.

[0150] The in-vehicle device 920 is configured to include a processor 921, a memory 922, a GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) module 924, a sensor 925, a data interface 926, a content player 927, and a storage medium interface 928. The in-vehicle device 920 is also configured to include an input device 929, a display device 930, a speaker 931, a wireless communication interface 933, an antenna switch 934, an antenna 935, and a battery 938.

[0151] The processor 921 may be, for example, a CPU or an SoC, and controls the navigation function and other functions of the in-vehicle device 920. The processor 921 can also control the vehicle's driving system, such as the brake, accelerator, or steering, based on information obtained through communication based on the present technology.

[0152] The memory 922 includes RAM and ROM, and stores programs and data executed by the processor 921 .

[0153] The GNSS module 924 measures the position (e.g., latitude, longitude, and altitude) of the in-vehicle device 920 using GNSS signals received from GNSS satellites.

[0154] The sensor 925 includes a group of sensors such as a gyro sensor, a geomagnetic sensor, and an air pressure sensor.

[0155] The data interface 926 is connected to an in-vehicle network 941 via a terminal (not shown), for example, and acquires data generated on the vehicle side, such as in-vehicle data.

[0156] The content player 927 plays content stored on a storage medium (e.g., a CD or DVD) inserted into the storage medium interface 928 .

[0157] The input device 929 includes, for example, a touch sensor that detects a touch on the screen of the display device 930, a button, or a switch, and accepts operations or information input from the user.

[0158] The display device 930 has a screen such as an LCD or OLED display, and displays images of navigation functions or content being played.

[0159] The speaker 931 outputs the audio of the navigation function or the content being played.

[0160] Note that the navigation function and the function of the content player 927 are optional in the in-vehicle device 920. The navigation function and the content player 927 may be removed from the configuration of the in-vehicle device 920.

[0161] The wireless communication interface 933 supports one or more wireless LAN standards such as IEEE 802.11a, 11b, 11g, 11n, 11ac, 11ad, 11ax, 11ay, and 11be, and performs wireless communication. The wireless communication interface 933 communicates with other devices via a wireless LAN AP in infrastructure mode. The wireless communication interface 933 also communicates directly with other devices in ad hoc mode or a direct communication mode such as Wi-Fi Direct.

[0162] The wireless communication interface 933 typically includes a baseband processor, an RF circuit, a power amplifier, etc. The wireless communication interface 933 may be a one-chip module that integrates a memory that stores a communication control program, a processor that executes the program, and related circuits. In addition to the wireless LAN system, the wireless communication interface 933 may support other types of wireless communication systems, such as a short-range wireless communication system, a proximity wireless communication system, or a cellular communication system.

[0163] The antenna switch 934 switches the connection destination of the antenna 935 among the multiple circuits included in the wireless communication interface 933 .

[0164] The antenna 935 has a single or multiple antenna elements and is used for transmitting and receiving radio signals via the wireless communication interface 933 .

[0165] 14, the in-vehicle device 920 may include a plurality of antennas 935. In that case, the antenna switch 934 may be omitted from the configuration of the in-vehicle device 920.

[0166] 14 via a power supply line partially indicated by a dashed line in the figure, the battery 938 may be implemented in the wireless communication interface 933 of the in-vehicle device 920 shown in Fig. 14, and the wireless communication device 100 of Fig. 2 and the wireless communication device 1 of Fig. 3 may be implemented in the wireless communication interface 933. Furthermore, at least a part of these functions may be implemented in the processor 921.

[0167] The wireless communication interface 933 may also operate as the wireless communication device 100 or the wireless communication device 1 described above, and provide wireless connection to a terminal carried by a user in a vehicle.

[0168] Moreover, the present technology may be realized as an in-vehicle system (or vehicle) 940 including one or more blocks of the above-described in-vehicle device 920, an in-vehicle network 941, and a vehicle-side module 942. The vehicle-side module 942 generates vehicle-side data such as vehicle speed, engine rotation speed, or failure information, and outputs the generated data to the in-vehicle network 941.

[0169] <Configuration Example of Wireless AP> FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing an example of a schematic configuration of a wireless AP 950 to which the present technology is applied.

[0170] The wireless AP 950 includes a controller 951 , a memory 952 , an input device 954 , a display device 955 , a network interface 957 , a wireless communication interface 963 , an antenna switch 964 , and an antenna 965 .

[0171] The controller 951 may be, for example, a CPU or a DSP (Digital Signal processor) and operates various functions of the IP (Internet Protocol) layer and higher layers of the wireless AP 950 (e.g., access restriction, routing, encryption, firewall, and log management).

[0172] The memory 952 includes RAM and ROM, and stores programs executed by the controller 951 and various control information (for example, a terminal list, a routing table, an encryption key, security settings, and logs).

[0173] The input device 954 includes, for example, buttons and switches, and receives operations from the user.

[0174] The display device 955 includes an LED lamp or the like and displays the operating status of the wireless AP 950 .

[0175] The network interface 957 is a wired communication interface for connecting the wireless AP 950 to a wired communication network 958. The network interface 957 may have multiple connection terminals. The wired communication network 958 may be a LAN such as Ethernet (registered trademark) or a WAN (Wide Area Network).

[0176] The wireless communication interface 963 supports one or more wireless LAN standards such as IEEE802.11a, 11b, 11g, 11n, 11ac, 11ad, 11ax, 11ay, and 11be, and provides wireless connection to nearby terminals as an AP.

[0177] The wireless communication interface 963 typically includes a baseband processor, an RF circuit, a power amplifier, and the like.

[0178] The wireless communication interface 963 may be a one-chip module that integrates a memory that stores a communication control program, a processor that executes the program, or related circuits.

[0179] The antenna switch 964 switches the connection of the antenna 965 between multiple circuits included in the wireless communication interface 963. The antenna 965 has a single or multiple antenna elements and is used for transmitting and receiving wireless signals via the wireless communication interface 963.

[0180] 15, for example, the wireless communication device 100 in FIG. 2 and the wireless communication device 1 in FIG. 3 may also be implemented in the wireless communication interface 963. Furthermore, at least some of these functions may be implemented in the controller 951.

[0181] The above-described embodiment shows an example for realizing the present technology, and the matters in the embodiment correspond to the matters specifying the invention in the claims. Similarly, the matters specifying the invention in the claims correspond to the matters in the embodiment of the present technology having the same title. However, the present technology is not limited to the embodiment, and can be realized by applying various modifications to the embodiment without departing from the gist of the present technology.

[0182] Furthermore, the processing procedures described in the above embodiments may be regarded as a method having a series of these procedures, or as a program for causing this computer to execute these procedures or a recording medium for storing the program.

[0183] Examples of the recording medium that can be used include a CD (Compact Disc), an MD (MiniDisc), a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc), a memory card, and a Blu-ray (registered trademark) Disc.

[0184] In this specification, a system refers to a collection of multiple components (devices, modules (components), etc.), regardless of whether all of the components are contained in the same housing. Therefore, multiple devices housed in separate housings and connected via a network, and a single device housed in a single housing with multiple modules, are both systems.

[0185] Furthermore, the effects described in this specification are merely examples and are not limiting, and other effects may also be present.

[0186] The embodiments of the present technology are not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the present technology.

[0187] For example, the present technology can be configured as a cloud computing system in which a single function is shared and processed collaboratively by a plurality of devices via a network.

[0188] Furthermore, each step described in the above flowchart can be executed by one device, or can be shared and executed by a plurality of devices.

[0189] Furthermore, when one step includes multiple processes, the multiple processes included in that one step can be executed by one device or can be shared and executed by multiple devices.

[0190] The present technology may have the following configurations. [Note] [Item 1] An information processing device including a control unit that controls a communication unit that performs communication on at least one of a first channel used for wireless communication and a second channel that is used in combination with the first channel to extend a bandwidth of the wireless communication, wherein the control unit controls wireless communication with a first wireless communication device using the second channel in response to receiving first information instructing communication based on a transmission right for the second channel in a situation where a transmission right for the first channel acquired by a first wireless communication device that acquires transmission rights for the first channel and the second channel is shared with a second wireless communication device. [Item 2] The information processing device according to Item 1, wherein the control unit controls wireless communication using the first channel with a third wireless communication device different from the first wireless communication device or the second wireless communication device in response to receiving second information notifying sharing of the transmission right for the first channel acquired by the first wireless communication device. [Item 3] The information processing device according to Item 2, wherein the first wireless communication device controls a target wireless communication device, and the control unit detects information addressed to the target wireless communication device from a first signal received from the first wireless communication device, and performs control such that wireless communication using the second channel is performed when the detected information is the first information, and wireless communication using the first channel is performed when the detected information is the second information. [Item 4] The information processing device according to Item 3, wherein the second channel includes a third channel and a fourth channel, and the first signal is transmitted in a band including the first channel and the third channel, and the control unit performs control such that, when the first signal includes the second information, wireless communication with the third wireless communication device or the second wireless communication device is performed in the band in which the first signal was received, and when the first signal includes the first information, wireless communication with the first wireless communication device is performed in the fourth channel.[Item 5] The information processing device according to Item 3, wherein the second channel includes a third channel and a fourth channel, the first signal is transmitted in a band including at least the first channel, the third channel, and the fourth channel, and the control unit performs control such that, when the first signal includes the first information, wireless communication with the first wireless communication device is performed using the fourth channel, and when the first signal includes the second information, wireless communication is performed with the third wireless communication device or the second wireless communication device based on the first channel and the third channel. [Item 6] The information processing device according to Item 4 or 5, wherein the first signal includes a plurality of individual fields storing individual information for each of a plurality of wireless communication devices including the second wireless communication device and the target wireless communication device, and the control unit detects information addressed to the target wireless communication device from the individual field for the target wireless communication device. [Item 7] The information processing device according to Item 6, wherein the individual information includes information on a period during which use of the second channel is permitted and information indicating whether a wireless communication device corresponding to the individual information is instructed to use the second channel. [Item 8] The information processing device according to Item 6 or 7, wherein the individual information includes information about uplink communication of the wireless communication device corresponding to the individual information. [Item 9] The information processing device according to Item 5, wherein the first signal includes individual information for each of a plurality of wireless communication devices including the second wireless communication device and the target wireless communication device, and the individual information for each of the plurality of wireless communication devices includes an assignment number indicating a band to be assigned to the wireless communication device corresponding to the individual information in the band in which the first signal is transmitted, and the control unit performs control to identify the fourth channel based on the assignment number when the individual information corresponding to the target wireless communication device includes the first information, and to identify at least one of the first channel or the third channel based on the assignment number when the individual information corresponding to the target wireless communication device includes the second information.[Item 10] The information processing device according to any one of items 3 to 9, wherein the first signal includes an identification number for identifying that the first signal is a signal instructing the target wireless communication device to perform communication based on a transmission right of the second channel, and the control unit searches for the first information from the first signal when the identification number is included. [Item 11] The information processing device according to any one of items 6 to 10, wherein the first signal is an MU-RTS TXS Trigger (Multi-User Request To Send Transmission Opportunity Sharing Trigger) signal that includes the individual information in User Info. [Item 12] The information processing device according to item 2, wherein the control unit controls to perform wireless communication using the first channel when a first signal is transmitted from the first wireless communication device and the first signal includes the second information, and controls to perform wireless communication using the second channel when a second signal is transmitted from the first wireless communication device and the second signal includes the first information. [Item 13] The information processing device according to any one of items 4 to 12, wherein the first information includes bandwidth information of the fourth channel, and the control unit performs control to perform wireless communication using the fourth channel based on the bandwidth information of the fourth channel. [Item 14] The individual information, when including the first information, includes bandwidth information of the fourth channel in the first information, and when including the second information, includes an assignment number in the second information indicating a band in a band in which the first signal is transmitted that is to be assigned to the wireless communication device corresponding to the individual information, and when the individual information includes bandwidth information of the fourth channel, the control unit performs control to perform wireless communication using the fourth channel based on the bandwidth information of the fourth channel, and when the individual information includes the assignment number, controls to perform wireless communication using the first channel and the third channel based on the assignment number.[Item 15] The information processing device according to item 13 or 14, wherein the bandwidth information of the fourth channel is any one of a predetermined identifier, an operating class, a channel set, and a channel center frequency index, or a center frequency and bandwidth of the fourth channel. [Item 16] The information processing device according to any one of items 1 to 15, wherein the first channel is a primary channel, and the second channel is a secondary channel. [Item 17] The information processing device according to any one of items 1 to 16, wherein the first channel and the second channel are consecutive channels in the frequency domain or separated channels in the frequency domain. [Item 18] The information processing device according to any one of items 1 to 17, wherein, in a situation where the first channel is shared with the second wireless communication device during a first period, the control unit performs control to perform wireless communication using the second channel during a second period that is a part of the first period or the same period as the first period, in response to receiving the first information. [Item 19] An information processing method that controls communication on at least one of a first channel used for wireless communication and a second channel that is used in combination with the first channel to expand the bandwidth of the wireless communication, and in a situation where the transmission right for the first channel acquired by a first wireless communication device that acquires transmission rights for the first channel and the second channel is shared with a second wireless communication device, performs control to perform wireless communication with the first wireless communication device using the second channel in response to receiving first information that instructs communication based on the transmission right for the second channel.[Item 20] A program comprising: a step of controlling communication on at least one of a first channel used for wireless communication and a second channel used in bundling with the first channel to extend a bandwidth of the wireless communication, wherein the controlling step comprises a step of controlling wireless communication using the second channel with a first wireless communication device in response to receiving first information instructing communication based on a transmission right for the second channel, in a situation where a transmission right for the first channel obtained by a first wireless communication device that acquires transmission rights for the first channel and the second channel is shared with a second wireless communication device. [Item 21] An information processing device comprising: a control unit that controls communication on the first channel used for wireless communication and the second channel used in bundling with the first channel to extend a bandwidth of the wireless communication, wherein the control unit acquires transmission rights for the first channel and the second channel, shares the transmission right for the first channel with a second wireless communication device, and controls communication with a third wireless communication device based on the transmission right for the second channel. [Item 22] The information processing device according to Item 21, wherein the control unit acquires a transmission right for the first channel and performs control to transmit second information notifying the second wireless communication device of sharing of the transmission right for the first channel. [Item 23] The information processing device according to Item 22, wherein the control unit controls to transmit a first signal to a plurality of wireless communication devices including the second wireless communication device and the third wireless communication device, and the first signal includes first information instructing the third wireless communication device to communicate based on the transmission right for the second channel and the second information. [Item 24] The information processing device according to Item 23, wherein the second channel includes a third channel and a fourth channel, and the control unit transmits the first signal in a band including the first channel and the third channel, performs the wireless communication with the third wireless communication device on the fourth channel, and performs control to share the transmission rights for the first channel and the third channel with the second wireless communication device.[Item 25] The information processing device according to Item 23, wherein the second channel includes a third channel and a fourth channel, and the control unit transmits the first signal in a band including the first channel, the third channel, and the fourth channel, performs the wireless communication with the third wireless communication device on the fourth channel, and controls sharing of transmission rights for the first channel and the third channel with the second wireless communication device. [Item 26] The information processing device according to Item 24 or 25, wherein the first signal includes a plurality of individual fields storing individual information for each of the plurality of wireless communication devices, and the individual fields include the first information and the second information. [Item 27] ​​The information processing device according to Item 26, wherein the individual information includes information on a period during which use of the second channel is permitted and information indicating whether the wireless communication device corresponding to the individual information has been instructed to use the second channel. [Item 28] The information processing device according to Item 26 or 27, wherein the individual information includes information on uplink communication of the wireless communication device corresponding to the individual information. [Item 29] The information processing device according to item 25, wherein the first signal includes individual information for each of the plurality of wireless communication devices, the individual information for each of the plurality of wireless communication devices includes an assignment number indicating a band to be assigned to the wireless communication device corresponding to the individual information in the band in which the first signal is transmitted, the individual information corresponding to the third wireless communication device includes the assignment number indicating that the fourth channel is assigned to the third wireless communication device, and the individual information corresponding to the second wireless communication device includes the assignment number indicating that at least one of the first channel or the third channel is assigned to the second wireless communication device. [Item 30] The information processing device according to any one of items 23 to 29, wherein the first signal includes an identification number that allows the third wireless communication device to identify that the first signal is a signal instructing communication based on a transmission right for the second channel and instructs the third wireless communication device to search for the first information from the first signal.[Item 31] The information processing device according to any one of items 26 to 30, wherein the first signal is a MU-RTS TXS Trigger (Multi-User Request To Send Transmission Opportunity Sharing Trigger) signal that includes the individual information in User Info. [Item 32] The information processing device according to item 22, wherein the control unit performs control to transmit a first signal that includes the second information, and to transmit a second signal to the third wireless communication device after the first signal, and the second signal includes first information that instructs the third wireless communication device to communicate based on a transmission right for the second channel. [Item 33] The information processing device according to any one of items 24 to 32, wherein the first information includes bandwidth information of the fourth channel to be used by the third wireless communication device. [Item 34] The information processing device according to any one of items 26 to 31, wherein the first information includes bandwidth information of the fourth channel to be used by the third wireless communication device, and the second information includes an assignment number indicating that at least one of the bandwidths of the first channel or the third channel has been assigned to the second wireless communication device. [Item 35] The information processing device according to item 33 or 34, wherein the bandwidth information of the fourth channel is any one of a predetermined identifier, an operating class, a channel set, and a channel center frequency index, or a center frequency and bandwidth of the fourth channel. [Item 36] The information processing device according to any one of items 21 to 35, wherein the first channel is a primary channel, and the second channel is a secondary channel. [Item 37] The information processing device according to any one of items 21 to 36, wherein the first channel and the second channel are consecutive channels in the frequency domain or separated channels in the frequency domain.[Item 38] The information processing device according to any one of items 21 to 37, wherein the control unit controls the second wireless communication device to share the first channel during a first period, and controls the third wireless communication device to perform wireless communication using the second channel during a second period that is a part of the first period or the same period as the first period. [Item 39] An information processing method comprising: controlling communication on a first channel used for wireless communication and a second channel that is used in combination with the first channel to extend a bandwidth of the wireless communication; acquiring transmission rights for the first channel and the second channel; sharing the transmission right for the first channel with a second wireless communication device; and performing control to communicate with a third wireless communication device based on the transmission right for the second channel. [Item 40] A program comprising a step of controlling communication on a first channel used for wireless communication and a second channel used in combination with the first channel to expand the bandwidth of the wireless communication, wherein the step of controlling communication comprises a step of acquiring transmission rights for the first channel and the second channel, sharing the transmission right for the first channel with a second wireless communication device, and performing communication with a third wireless communication device based on the transmission right for the second channel.

[0191] The aspects of the present disclosure are not limited to the individual embodiments described above, but include various modifications that may be conceived by those skilled in the art, and the effects of the present disclosure are not limited to the above-described contents. In other words, various additions, modifications, and partial deletions are possible within the scope of the conceptual idea and spirit of the present disclosure, which is derived from the contents defined in the claims and their equivalents.

[0192] 1, 2, 3, 100 wireless communication device, 11, 12 channel, 110, 210 communication unit, 111, 211 communication control unit, 112, 212 communication storage unit, 113, 213 common data processing unit, 121, 221 individual data processing unit, 122, 222 signal processing unit, 123, 223 wireless interface unit, 124, 224 amplifier unit, 130, 230 control unit, 140, 240 storage unit, 150, 250 antenna, 401, 451 MU-RTS TXS trigger signal, 402, 452 CTS signal, 411 CTS-to-Self signal, 501 frame control, 502 duration, 503 RA, 504 TA, 505 Common information, 506, 506a, 506b, 506c, 506d User information, 507 Padding, 508 FCS, 511 Identifier, 512 Secondary Channel, 513 Allocation Duration, 514 Secondary Channel Access, 515 Reserved field, 516 Extension field, 521 Mode designation, 522 Trigger Dependent Common Info, 531 RU Allocation / Secondary Channel, 541 Resource unit allocation information, 542 Uplink forward error correction, 543 Uplink modulation and coding scheme, 544 Uplink DCM, 545 SS Allocation / RA-RU Information, 546 Uplink received power, 547 Trigger Dependent, 550 Trigger frame, 551 Secondary Channel Access Scheme

Claims

1. An information processing device comprising a control unit that controls a communication unit that communicates on at least one of a first channel used for wireless communication and a second channel that is used in bundling with the first channel to expand the bandwidth of the wireless communication, wherein the control unit controls wireless communication using the second channel with the first wireless communication device in response to receiving first information instructing communication based on the transmission right for the second channel in a situation where the transmission right for the first channel obtained by a first wireless communication device that acquires the transmission right for the first channel and the second channel is shared with a second wireless communication device.

2. The information processing device of claim 1, wherein the control unit performs wireless communication using the first channel with a third wireless communication device different from the first wireless communication device or the second wireless communication device in response to receiving second information notifying sharing of transmission rights for the first channel acquired by the first wireless communication device.

3. The information processing device of claim 2, wherein the first wireless communication device controls a target wireless communication device, and the control unit detects information addressed to the target wireless communication device from a first signal received from the first wireless communication device, and performs wireless communication using the second channel when the detected information is the first information, and performs wireless communication using the first channel when the detected information is the second information.

4. The information processing device of claim 3, wherein the second channel includes a third channel and a fourth channel, the first signal is transmitted in a band including the first channel and the third channel, and the control unit controls to perform the wireless communication with the third wireless communication device or the second wireless communication device in the band in which the first signal is received when the first signal includes the second information, and to perform the wireless communication with the first wireless communication device in the fourth channel when the first signal includes the first information.

5. The information processing device of claim 3, wherein the second channel includes a third channel and a fourth channel, the first signal is transmitted in a band including at least the first channel, the third channel and the fourth channel, and the control unit controls to perform wireless communication with the first wireless communication device using the fourth channel when the first signal includes the first information, and to perform wireless communication with the third wireless communication device or the second wireless communication device based on the first channel and the third channel when the first signal includes the second information.

6. The information processing device according to claim 4, wherein the first signal includes a plurality of individual fields storing individual information for each of a plurality of wireless communication devices including the second wireless communication device and the target wireless communication device, and the control unit detects information addressed to the target wireless communication device from the individual field for the target wireless communication device.

7. An information processing device as described in claim 6, wherein the individual information includes information regarding a period during which use of the second channel is permitted, and information indicating whether or not a wireless communication device corresponding to the individual information is instructed to use the second channel.

8. The information processing device according to claim 6, wherein the individual information includes information about uplink communication of the wireless communication device corresponding to the individual information.

9. The information processing device of claim 5, wherein the first signal includes individual information for each of a plurality of wireless communication devices including the second wireless communication device and the target wireless communication device, and the individual information for each of the plurality of wireless communication devices includes an assignment number indicating a band to be assigned to the wireless communication device corresponding to the individual information in the band in which the first signal is transmitted, and the control unit performs control to identify the fourth channel based on the assignment number when the individual information corresponding to the target wireless communication device includes the first information, and to identify at least one of the first channel or the third channel based on the assignment number when the individual information corresponding to the target wireless communication device includes the second information.

10. The information processing device of claim 3, wherein the first signal includes an identification number for identifying that the signal is an instruction for the target wireless communication device to communicate based on a transmission right for the second channel, and the control unit searches for the first information from the first signal when the identification number is included.

11. The information processing device according to claim 6, wherein the first signal is a Multi-User Request To Send Transmission Opportunity Sharing Trigger (MU-RTS TXS Trigger) signal including the individual information in User Info.

12. The information processing device of claim 2, wherein the control unit controls wireless communication using the first channel when a first signal is transmitted from the first wireless communication device and the first signal includes the second information, and controls wireless communication using the second channel when a second signal is transmitted from the first wireless communication device and the second signal includes the first information.

13. The information processing device according to claim 4, wherein the first information includes bandwidth information of the fourth channel, and the control unit controls wireless communication using the fourth channel based on the bandwidth information of the fourth channel.

14. The information processing device of claim 6, wherein, when the individual information includes the first information, the first information includes bandwidth information of the fourth channel, and when the individual information includes the second information, the second information includes an assignment number indicating a band of the band in which the first signal is transmitted that is to be assigned to the wireless communication device corresponding to the individual information, and when the individual information includes bandwidth information of the fourth channel, the control unit controls wireless communication using the fourth channel based on the bandwidth information of the fourth channel, and when the individual information includes the assignment number, controls wireless communication using the first channel and the third channel based on the assignment number.

15. The information processing device according to claim 13, wherein the bandwidth information of the fourth channel is any one of a predetermined identifier, an Operating class, a Channel set, and a Channel center frequency index, or is a center frequency and a bandwidth of the fourth channel.

16. The information processing device according to claim 1, wherein the first channel is a primary channel, and the second channel is a secondary channel.

17. The information processing device according to claim 1, wherein the first channel and the second channel are continuous channels in the frequency domain or separated channels in the frequency domain.

18. The information processing device according to claim 1, wherein, in a situation where the first channel is shared with the second wireless communication device during a first period, the control unit controls wireless communication using the second channel during a second period which is either a portion of the first period or the same period as the first period, in response to receiving the first information.

19. An information processing method comprising: controlling communication on at least one of a first channel used for wireless communication and a second channel used in bundling with the first channel to expand the bandwidth of the wireless communication; and, in a situation in which the transmission right for the first channel acquired by a first wireless communication device that acquires the transmission right for the first channel and the second channel is shared with a second wireless communication device, performing wireless communication using the second channel with the first wireless communication device in response to receiving first information instructing communication based on the transmission right for the second channel.

20. A program comprising a step of controlling communication on at least one of a first channel used for wireless communication and a second channel used in bundling with the first channel to expand the bandwidth of the wireless communication, the step of controlling including a step of performing wireless communication with the first wireless communication device using the second channel in response to receiving first information instructing communication based on the transmission right for the second channel in a situation where the transmission right for the first channel acquired by a first wireless communication device that acquires the transmission right for the first channel and the second channel is shared with a second wireless communication device.

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