Communication control device and communication control method

Abstract

[Problem] To share a change destination channel for use in Secondary Channel Access in advance. [Solution] A communication control device comprises a control unit that controls a communication unit which performs communication in a first channel and / or one or more second channels. The control unit executes control such that the communication unit performs transmission, to a first wireless communication device, and / or reception, from the first wireless communication device, of a first signal including information of an interference signal interfering with at least a part of the first channel and information of a third channel including at least one of the second channels.

Description

Communication control device and communication control method

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

[0002] To achieve high-speed wireless communication, it is common to use a wide bandwidth. For example, a communication control device having a wireless communication control function uses a specific 20 MHz band as a primary channel, and by extending the band in addition to the primary channel (channel bonding), it is possible to use a continuous 160 MHz or 320 MHz band. The band extended from the primary channel is called the secondary channel here.

[0003] On the other hand, if a communication control device detects other communications on this primary channel, it is necessary to suppress communications on the entire band including the secondary channel, even if the secondary channel is available. Therefore, in order to make effective use of frequency bands, a method called secondary channel access has been studied, in which communications are performed on a secondary channel on which no communications are detected (for example, Non-Patent Document 1).

[0004] IEEE 802.11 UHR SG Contribution 23 / 00034r1 (IEEE 802.11-23 / 0034r1)

[0005] When performing Secondary Channel Access, it is necessary for the transmitting terminal and the receiving terminal to have a common understanding of the information on the channel to be changed to (Secondary Channel) for Secondary Channel Access. In addition, it is necessary to ensure that the channel does not interfere with communications of terminals in other BSSs (Basic Service Sets).

[0006] However, when Secondary Channel Access is performed, the Primary Channel is being interfered with, i.e., communication between the transmitting terminal and the receiving terminal is not possible. For this reason, it is difficult for the transmitting terminal and the receiving terminal to exchange destination channel information immediately before Secondary Channel Access. Furthermore, since the time during which the Primary Channel is interfered with is usually short, if it takes time to exchange destination channel information, the time available for Secondary Channel Access is limited.

[0007] Non-Patent Document 1 proposes presetting a list of destination channels between a transmitting terminal and a receiving terminal, but does not disclose the specific contents of the pre-set destination channel list or the pre-setting protocol between the transmitting terminal and the receiving terminal.

[0008] Therefore, the present disclosure provides a communication control device and a communication control method that can share in advance a destination channel to be used for Secondary Channel Access.

[0009] In order to solve the above problem, according to the present disclosure, a communication control device is provided, which includes a control unit that controls a communication unit that communicates on at least one of a first channel and one or more second channels, and the control unit controls the communication unit to at least one of transmit to a first wireless communication device or receive from the first wireless communication device a first signal that includes information on an interfering signal that interferes with at least a portion of the first channel and information on a third channel that includes at least one of the second channels.

[0010] The first channel may be a primary channel, and the second channel may be a secondary channel.

[0011] The information on the interference signal includes information on the bandwidth of the interference signal and is associated with information on the third channel, and the control unit may control communication with the first wireless communication device using a fourth channel identified from at least one of the third channels based on information on the bandwidth of the detected interference and information on the bandwidth of the interference signal when interference on the first channel is detected.

[0012] The first signal may include first information including information on the bandwidth of a band that at least partially includes the first channel in which interference is predicted, and second information corresponding to the first information including information on the bandwidth of a band to be used for communication when the band including the first channel is experiencing interference.

[0013] The control unit may detect interference of a fifth channel that at least partially includes the first channel, and identify the fourth channel of the bandwidth specified in the second information from a portion of the one or more second channels that does not overlap with the fifth channel.

[0014] The control unit may perform control to receive or transmit the first signal before detecting interference in the fifth channel.

[0015] The control unit may perform control to store the first information and the second information of the received or transmitted first signal in a first storage unit, and when the fifth channel is subjected to interference, may perform control to identify the fourth channel based on the first information and the second information stored in the first storage unit.

[0016] The control unit may perform control such that, if at least one of the third channels includes a channel that is uniquely determined based on the second information from a portion of the one or more second channels that does not overlap with the fifth channel, the control unit identifies the uniquely determined channel as the fourth channel.

[0017] The first signal may include third information specifying a position of the fourth channel from a portion of the one or more second channels that does not overlap with the fifth channel.

[0018] The third information may include number information specifying the fourth channel from the one or more second channels, and the control unit may identify the position of the fourth channel by comparing the order of the one or more second channels with the number information.

[0019] The control unit may perform control to identify the fourth channel from a plurality of third channels including a sixth channel and a seventh channel having a different bandwidth from the sixth channel, and the second information may include information on the bandwidth of the sixth channel and information on the bandwidth of the seventh channel, and the third information may include information on the position of the sixth channel and information on the position of the seventh channel.

[0020] The sixth channel may have a larger bandwidth than the seventh channel, and the control unit may perform control to perform communication using the sixth channel out of the sixth channel and the seventh channel, and to perform communication using the seventh channel when communication is not possible using the sixth channel.

[0021] The first information may include information on multiple bandwidths of multiple fifth channels including an eighth channel and a ninth channel having a different bandwidth from the eighth channel, and the second information may include information on a bandwidth to be used for communication when the eighth channel is subject to interference, and information on a bandwidth to be used for communication when the ninth channel is subject to interference.

[0022] The third information includes information on the positions of the plurality of third channels and priority information for specifying the fourth channel with higher priority from the plurality of third channels, and the control unit may perform control based on the priority information so that, when communication is not possible on the third channel with higher priority, communication with the first wireless communication device is performed on the third channel with lower priority.

[0023] The priority information may be information corresponding to an arrangement order of the plurality of third channels among the third information.

[0024] When communicating with the first wireless communication device, the control unit may check whether the first channel is being interfered with; if the first channel is being interfered with, check the first bandwidth of the interfered channel including the first channel, and determine the second bandwidth to be used for communication with the first wireless communication device based on the first information and the second information; identify the position of the fourth channel according to the first bandwidth and the second bandwidth from the third information; and control communication with the first wireless communication device using the fourth channel.

[0025] When a tenth channel including the first channel and an eleventh channel separated from the tenth channel in the frequency band are subject to interference, the bandwidth of consecutive channels in the frequency band including the tenth channel and the eleventh channel may be identified as the first bandwidth.

[0026] The first signal may include the first information, the second information, and the third information arranged in this order.

[0027] The control unit controls to transmit or receive a fourth signal that notifies an update of at least one of the first information, the second information, or the third information, or that requests at least one of the first information, the second information, or the third information, and when notifying an update, the fourth signal may include fourth information that includes at least one of the updated first information, the second information, or the third information.

[0028] The present disclosure also provides a communication control method for performing communication on at least one of a first channel and one or more second channels, and controlling the first signal to be at least one of transmitting to a first wireless communication device and receiving from the first wireless communication device, the first signal including information on an interfering signal that interferes with at least a portion of the first channel and information on a third channel that includes at least one of the second channels.

[0029] 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of an overall configuration of a wireless communication system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a Primary Channel and a Secondary Channel. FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a wireless communication device on an AP side including a communication control device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a wireless communication device on an STA side including a communication control device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 5 is a flowchart of SCA according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a sequence of SCA according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a first example of a method for forming a common understanding of a channel on which SCA is performed. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a second example of a method for forming a common understanding of a channel on which SCA is performed. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of SCA_INFO according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a flowchart showing a method for determining a channel to be used for SCA using SCA_INFO. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a frame format of a signal sharing SCA_INFO. FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a detailed frame format of SCA Information. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a detailed frame format of SCA Channel Information. FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a detailed frame format of SCA Channel Position. FIG. 15 is a bitmap table used in a first method of converting binary data of SCA BW Indication and Interference BW. FIG. 16 is an encoding table used in a second method of converting binary data of SCA BW Indication and Interference BW. This is a bitmap table used for converting binary data for the Number of Candidate Channel Position. This is an encoding table used in the first method for converting binary data for the 20 MHz SCA Channel Position. This is an encoding table used in the first method for converting binary data for the 40 MHz SCA Channel Position. This is an encoding table used in the first method for converting binary data for the 80 MHz SCA Channel Position. This is an encoding table used in the second method for converting binary data for the 20 to 80 MHz SCA Channel Position.1 is a flowchart showing a method for forming SCA_INFO according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a frame format of a signal used when updating or checking SCA_INFO is necessary; FIG. 3 is a diagram explaining how to deal with a case where an interfering signal from an interference source is a puncturing signal; FIG. 4 is a diagram explaining how to deal with a case where an interfering signal from an interference source is interference across two bands; FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram of SCA according to a comparative example; FIG. 6 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. 7 is a block diagram showing an example schematic configuration of a smartphone to which the present embodiment is applied; FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing an example schematic configuration of an in-vehicle device to which the present embodiment is applied; FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing an example schematic configuration of a wireless AP to which the present embodiment is applied.

[0030] Hereinafter, embodiments of a communication control device and a communication control method will be described with reference to the drawings. The following description will focus on the main components of the communication control device and the communication control method, but the communication control device and the communication control method may include components and functions that are not shown or described. The following description does not exclude components and functions that are not shown or described.

[0031] In this specification and the drawings, components having substantially the same functional configurations are denoted by the same reference numerals, and descriptions thereof will be omitted 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.

[0032] 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of the overall configuration of a wireless communication system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The wireless communication system in FIG. 1 includes a wireless communication device 100 and a wireless communication device 1.

[0033] The wireless communication device 100 corresponds to a base station (AP), and the wireless communication device 1 corresponds to a terminal (STA) located within the radio wave coverage area (cell) of the wireless communication device 100. The wireless communication devices 100 and 1 constitute one BSS. The wireless communication system of Fig. 1 may also have a configuration including a terminal other than the wireless communication device 1 that communicates with the wireless communication device 100 or 1.

[0034] In this specification, the wireless communication device 100 seen from the wireless communication device 1 is also called a first wireless communication device. Alternatively, the wireless communication device 1 seen from the wireless communication device 100 is also called a first wireless communication device.

[0035] The wireless communication device 100 is, for example, an AP MLD (Access Point Multi Link Device). The wireless communication device 1 is, for example, a Non-AP MLD (Non-Access Point Multi Link Device). In this specification, an example will be described in which the wireless communication devices 100 and 1 are MLDs that support MLO (Multi-Link Operation), but the wireless communication devices 100 and 1 may also be SLDs (Single-Link Devices). Hereinafter, the wireless communication devices 100 and 1 may be referred to as an AP_MLD and a Non-AP_MLD, respectively.

[0036] The wireless communication devices 100 and 1 are connected by a link 2 and are capable of communication. Fig. 1 also illustrates an interference source (Another_Device) 3 that is not connected to the wireless communication devices 100 and 1. The interference source 3 is an electronic device or the like that generates an interference signal.

[0037] The interference signal generated from the interference source 3 is detected within the interference signal detection range 4. The interference signal detection range 4 is, for example, a circular range centered on the interference source 3. The interference signal detection range 4 includes the wireless communication devices 100 and 1, i.e., the interference signal from the interference source 3 causes interference to the wireless communication devices 100 and 1.

[0038] The interference source 3 is assumed to be, for example, a base station (AP) or a terminal (STA) that belongs to a BSS different from that of the wireless communication device 100 or 1. The interference source 3 may also be an electronic device that does not have a wireless communication function, such as a microwave oven.

[0039] The interference signal from the interference source 3 interferes with the primary channel of the band used by the wireless communication devices 100 and 101 for communication. Fig. 2 is a diagram illustrating the primary channel and the secondary channel. Fig. 2 illustrates a band (BW) 10 as an example of a band used for link 2 in Fig. 1. Band 10 in Fig. 2 has a bandwidth of 160 MHz. For link 2, not only a bandwidth of 160 MHz but also a bandwidth of 320 MHz or more, or a bandwidth of 80 MHz or less may be used.

[0040] Band 10 includes one 160 MHz band, two 80 MHz bands, four 40 MHz bands, and eight 20 MHz bands. Any one of these bands serves as the primary channel. Figure 2 shows an example in which one of the 20 MHz bands serves as the primary channel.

[0041] A Secondary Channel is a channel that is used in conjunction with a Primary Channel to expand the bandwidth of wireless communication. A Secondary Channel is not a Primary Channel, does not have a Primary Channel, and does not belong to the Primary Channel. More specifically, among channels with the same bandwidth as the Primary Channel, any channel other than the Primary Channel is a Secondary Channel. Furthermore, among channels with a wider bandwidth than the Primary Channel, any channel that does not include the Primary Channel is also a Secondary Channel. Furthermore, among channels with a narrower bandwidth than the Primary Channel, any channel that does not belong to the Primary Channel is also a Secondary Channel.

[0042] Band 10 in Fig. 2 includes band 11, which is a primary channel, and multiple bands 12, which are secondary channels. In Fig. 2, band 11 is represented by a light dot, and multiple bands 12 are represented by a dark dot. Band 12 includes one 80 MHz band, three 40 MHz bands, and seven 20 MHz bands.

[0043] Note that the band 10 in FIG. 2 shows an example in which the minimum bandwidth of the primary channel and secondary channel is 20 MHz, but is not limited to this, and the band 10 may include a primary channel or secondary channel with a smaller bandwidth.

[0044] When the wireless communication devices 100 and 1 communicate using a related technology other than Secondary Channel Access (hereinafter also referred to as SCA), if an interfering signal is detected in the Primary Channel, the wireless communication devices 100 and 1 may have to suppress communication over the entire band of band 10. In this case, even if no interfering signal is detected in the Secondary Channel, the wireless communication devices 100 and 1 cannot use the Secondary Channel for communication.

[0045] Therefore, when the wireless communication devices 100 and 1 detect an interference signal in the primary channel, they perform communication using the secondary channel in which no interference signal is detected, that is, SCA.

[0046] The wireless communication devices 100 and 1 can use any one or more bands for SCA from among the multiple bands included in band 12. Furthermore, the wireless communication devices 100 and 1 share a change destination channel list (described later) in advance, thereby forming a common understanding of which bands within band 12 to use for SCA.

[0047] In this specification, an example will be described in which a change-to channel list is shared and SCA is performed between an AP and a STA as shown in Fig. 1. However, this is not limited to this, and change-to channel list sharing and SCA may also be performed between an AP and two or more STAs. Furthermore, change-to channel list sharing and SCA may also be performed between two or more STAs connected by, for example, TDLS (Tunneled Direct Link Setup).

[0048] Furthermore, the system configuration in question is not limited to the example shown in Figure 1; it is sufficient that there are multiple communication devices with established connections and that an interference signal exists for each communication device, and the positional relationship does not matter as long as the above conditions are met.

[0049] In addition to the operations described in this embodiment, the wireless communication devices 100 and 1 may also operate as a base station and terminal of a wireless LAN conforming to the IEEE 802.11 standard, such as IEEE 802.11a / b / g / n / ac / ad / ax / ay / be / bn and their successor standards. For example, the wireless communication devices 100 and 1 may operate based on CSMA / CA (Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Avoidance) as an access method, and the wireless communication device 100 may transmit a Beacon signal at regular time intervals (periodically).

[0050] The wireless communication devices 100 and 1 include a communication control device (information processing device) according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The communication control device according to the present disclosure has a function of controlling wireless communication, and is therefore also referred to as a wireless communication control device. The communication control device according to the present disclosure may be realized, for example, as a semiconductor chip having a wireless communication control function. Furthermore, the communication control device according to the present disclosure may be realized as a smartphone, a personal computer, an in-vehicle device, an unmanned mobile object such as a drone, an industrial robot, or the like, which is equipped with a screen display function, a user interface, and the like in addition to the wireless communication control function.

[0051] 3 is a block diagram of a wireless communication device 100 including a communication control device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 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, an AP 101, and an AP 102.

[0052] Each of the APs 101 and 102 includes an individual data processing unit 121, a signal processing unit 122, one or more wireless interface units 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 to constitute an AP. In particular, the set of the individual data processing unit 121 and the signal processing unit 122 in each AP is also called an AP Entity.

[0053] As described above, the wireless communication device 100 has an MLD configuration that includes two or more APs. When the wireless communication device 100 is an SLD, the wireless communication device 100 is configured with a single AP (for example, AP 101). The APs 101 and 102 are used to process different transmission paths (links), but a configuration in which the APs 101 and 102 process the same link is also possible.

[0054] 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.

[0055] 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 device 1 and data received from the wireless communication device 1.

[0056] 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 passes the virtual data frame to the individual data processing unit 121 of the AP that has acquired the transmission right. During reception, the common data processing unit 113 performs data decryption processing and reordering processing.

[0057] During transmission, the individual data processing unit 121 performs channel access operation based on carrier sense, adds a MAC (Media Access Control) header and an error detection code to a provisional data frame received from the common data processing unit 113 to generate a data frame, and performs processing to concatenate multiple data frames. During reception, the individual data processing unit 121 performs processing to deconcatenate the MAC header of the received data frame, analyzes it, and detects errors, and passes it to the common data processing unit 113.

[0058] 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, a Higher MAC, or an MLD entity, and the individual data processing unit 121 is also called a Lower MAC.

[0059] During transmission, the signal processing unit 122 performs encoding, interleaving, modulation, etc. on the data frame, adds a PHY header, and generates a symbol stream. Note that the signal processing unit 122 may apply an arbitrary delay (hereinafter, referred to as CSD: Cyclic Shift Delay) to each antenna 150 without spatial separation. During reception, the signal processing unit 122 analyzes the PHY header and performs demodulation, deinterleaving, decoding, etc. on the symbol stream to generate a data frame. Furthermore, the signal processing unit 122 estimates complex channel characteristics and performs spatial separation processing as necessary.

[0060] During transmission, the 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, the radio interface unit 123 performs down-conversion, filtering, and analog-to-digital signal conversion on the received signal to generate a symbol stream.

[0061] 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.

[0062] The control unit 130 controls the communication unit 110 and the communication control unit 111. The control unit 130 may also perform some of the operations of the communication control unit 111. The communication control unit 111 and the control unit 130 may be configured as a single block. The control unit of the communication control device according to 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 communication control device according to 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.

[0063] The storage unit 140 holds information used by the communication unit 110 and the control unit 130. 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.

[0064] The communication unit 110 in FIG. 3 is configured, for example, from a single semiconductor chip. However, the semiconductor chip configuration of the present disclosure is not limited to this. For example, the communication unit 110, control unit 130, and memory unit 140, as well as the communication control unit 111, communication memory unit 112, common data processing unit 113, AP 101 and AP 102 included in the communication unit 110, and the individual data processing unit 121, signal processing unit 122, wireless interface unit 123, and amplifier unit 124 included in the APs 101 and 102, may all be implemented on a single semiconductor chip or by combining multiple semiconductor chips. Furthermore, all or some of these units do not necessarily have to be implemented in a hardware configuration in which each unit is physically distinguishable, but may be configured as a logical unit. For example, a set of one or more processors may be configured to realize the functions of each unit.

[0065] 4 is a block diagram of a wireless communication device 1 including a communication control device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 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.

[0066] Each of the STAs 201 and 202 includes 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). In particular, the set of the individual data processing unit 221 and the signal processing unit 222 is also called a non-AP STA entity.

[0067] As described above, the wireless communication device 1 has an MLD configuration including two or more STAs as components. Note that when the wireless communication device 1 is an SLD, the wireless communication device 1 is configured with a single STA (e.g., STA 201). STAs 201 and 202 are used to process different transmission paths (links), but a configuration in which STAs 201 and 202 process the same link is also possible.

[0068] 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.

[0069] 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.

[0070] 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 passes the provisional data frame to the individual data processing unit 221 of the STA that has acquired the transmission right. During reception, the common data processing unit 213 performs data decryption processing and reordering processing.

[0071] During transmission, the individual data processing unit 221 performs channel access operation based on carrier sense, adds a MAC header and an error detection code to a provisional data frame received from the common data processing unit 213 to generate a data frame, and performs processing to concatenate multiple data frames. During reception, the individual data processing unit 221 performs processing to deconcatenate the MAC header of the received data frame, analyzes it, and detects errors, and passes it to the common data processing unit 213.

[0072] 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, a Higher MAC, or an MLD entity, and the individual data processing unit 221 is also called a Lower MAC.

[0073] During transmission, the signal processing unit 222 performs encoding, interleaving, modulation, etc. on the data frame, adds a PHY header, and generates a symbol stream. Note that the signal processing unit 222 may apply an arbitrary cyclic shift delay to each antenna 250 without spatial separation. During reception, the signal processing unit 222 analyzes the PHY header and performs demodulation, deinterleaving, decoding, etc. on the symbol stream to generate a data frame. Furthermore, the signal processing unit 222 estimates complex channel characteristics and performs spatial separation processing as necessary.

[0074] During transmission, the 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, the radio interface unit 223 performs down-conversion, filtering, and analog-to-digital signal conversion on the received signal to generate a symbol stream.

[0075] 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.

[0076] 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 communication control 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 communication control 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.

[0077] The storage unit 240 holds information used by the communication unit 210 and the control unit 230. 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.

[0078] The communication unit 210 in FIG. 4 is configured, for example, from a single semiconductor chip. However, the semiconductor chip configuration of the present disclosure is not limited to this. For example, the communication unit 210, the control unit 230, and the memory unit 240, as well as the communication control unit 211, communication memory unit 212, common data processing unit 213, STA 201 and STA 202, and the individual data processing unit 221, signal processing unit 222, wireless interface unit 223, and amplifier unit 224 included in the communication unit 210, may all be implemented on a single semiconductor chip or by combining multiple semiconductor chips. Furthermore, all or some of these units do not necessarily have to be implemented in a hardware configuration in which each unit is physically distinguishable, and may be configured as a logical unit. For example, a set of one or more processors may be configured to realize the functions of each unit.

[0079] 5A is a flowchart of SCA according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The flowchart in FIG. 5A can be applied to both AP_MLD and Non-AP_MLD. The control shown in the flowchart in FIG. 5A is performed by, for example, the communication control units 111 and 211.

[0080] In the first stage of Fig. 5A, the AP_MLD and the non-AP_MLD may perform a capability check to check whether they support the functions required for the flowchart of Fig. 5A. For example, the AP_MLD and the non-AP_MLD may check whether they support SCA. The AP_MLD and the non-AP_MLD may also share information about the interference they receive.

[0081] First, the AP_MLD creates a destination channel list (SCA_INFO) for SCA. The destination channel list includes information on (1) interference bandwidth (first bandwidth), (2) bandwidth for SCA (second bandwidth), and (3) location of the band for SCA, and a combination of these three. Details of SCA_INFO will be described later.

[0082] The AP_MLD shares the SCA_INFO with the Non-AP_MLD (step S1). The AP_MLD may share the SCA_INFO via a Beacon frame, a Probe Response frame, an Association Response frame, or a Reassociation Response frame, for example.

[0083] In step S1, the Non-AP_MLD may also form SCA_INFO. The Non-AP_MLD may also form SCA_INFO based on SCA_INFO shared by the AP_MLD. Alternatively, even if SCA_INFO is not shared by the AP_MLD, the Non-AP_MLD may form SCA_INFO based on information shared in a Capability Check or the like.

[0084] In the above case, the Non-AP_MLD shares the created SCA_INFO with the AP_MLD. The sharing of the SCA_INFO from the Non-AP_MLD may be performed by, for example, a Probe Request frame, an Association Request frame, or a Reassociation Request frame.

[0085] Furthermore, if information about the SCA is updated after SCA_INFO is shared between the AP_MLD and the Non-AP_MLD, the AP_MLD or the Non-AP_MLD may instruct the updating of information about the SCA by a Beacon frame, a Probe Response frame, an Association Response frame, or a Reassociation Response frame. Alternatively, if it is necessary to check the latest SCA_INFO, the AP_MLD or the Non-AP_MLD may request the transmission of the latest SCA_INFO by the above frame. The instruction to update information about the SCA and the request to transmit the latest SCA_INFO may be made by an Action frame.

[0086] For example, after SCA_INFO is shared from AP_MLD, if Non-AP_MLD detects interference from other devices in the band specified in SCA_INFO, Non-AP_MLD may instruct updating of information regarding SCA so that the band is not specified in SCA_INFO.

[0087] The AP_MLD or Non-AP_MLD may request the transmission of the latest SCA_INFO at regular intervals.

[0088] The SCA_INFO shared or created in step S1 is stored in a part (first storage unit) of the communication storage units 112 and 212, for example. When an instruction to update information related to the SCA is issued, the SCA_INFO stored in the communication storage units 112 and 212, etc. is updated.

[0089] In this specification, an example will be described in which the AP_MLD and Non-AP_MLD have both the SCA_INFO transmission function and the SCA_INFO reception function. Note that the AP_MLD and Non-AP_MLD may be configured to have either the SCA_INFO transmission function or the SCA_INFO reception function, but not the other. For example, the AP_MLD may have the SCA_INFO transmission function, and the Non-AP_MLD may have the SCA_INFO reception function. In this case, the AP_MLD is configured to unilaterally transmit SCA_INFO to the Non-AP_MLD.

[0090] After sharing the SCA_INFO, the AP_MLD and Non-AP_MLD attempt communication. First, the AP_MLD and Non-AP_MLD determine whether an interference signal is detected on the Primary Channel (step S2). If an interference signal is not detected on the Primary Channel, the AP_MLD and Non-AP_MLD communicate with each other (step S3).

[0091] In step S2, if an interference signal is detected on the primary channel, the AP_MLD and non-AP_MLD attempt communication using SCA. First, the AP_MLD and non-AP_MLD independently determine a channel to be used for SCA (secondary channel) based on the SCA_INFO stored in the communication storage units 112 and 212 (step S4).

[0092] By sharing SCA_INFO in step S1, the AP_MLD and the Non-AP_MLD form a common understanding of the channel to be used for SCA. This allows the channel determined by the AP_MLD to match the channel determined by the Non-AP_MLD even if the AP_MLD and the Non-AP_MLD do not communicate in step S4. The channel determination method in step S4 will be described in detail later.

[0093] The AP_MLD and Non-AP_MLD determine whether to transmit data on the Secondary Channel determined in Step S4 (Step S5) and whether to receive data on the Secondary Channel (Step S6). Below, an example will be described in which the Non-AP_MLD receives data transmitted by the AP_MLD.

[0094] The AP_MLD on the data transmitting side performs backoff on the secondary channel determined in step S4 (step S7) and attempts to acquire a transmission opportunity (TXOP) (step S8).

[0095] If the TXOP is acquired in step S8, the AP_MLD transmits an RTS (Request to Send) signal, a data signal, etc. to the Non-AP_MLD (step S9).

[0096] After transmitting the data signal, etc., the AP_MLD checks whether interference continues in the Primary Channel (step S10). If interference continues, the AP_MLD determines whether it is necessary to communicate with the Non-AP_MLD in steps S5 and S6, and if necessary, communicates using SCA.

[0097] The Non-AP_MLD, which is the data receiving side, determines whether or not it has received an RTS signal and a data signal from the AP_MLD on the secondary channel determined in step S4 (step S11). If it has received an RTS signal, a data signal, etc. from the AP_MLD, it transmits a CTS (Clear to Send) signal, a BA (Block Ack) signal, etc. (step S12). After transmitting the BA signal, etc., the Non-AP_MLD checks in step S10 whether interference continues on the primary channel.

[0098] 5B shows an example of an SCA sequence according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In FIG. 5B, the AP_MLD and the Non-AP_MLD communicate over Link_1, which has a primary channel CH_P and a secondary channel CH_S. Link_1 corresponds to Link 2 in FIG. 1. Another_Device, which corresponds to the interference source 3 in FIG. 1, communicates over Link_2, which is different from Link_1. Link_2 has CH_P.

[0099] The sequence in Figure 5B shows the signals and frame intervals transmitted and received by the AP_MLD and non-AP_MLD along the solid time axis. Unless otherwise specified, the frame intervals continuously transmitted and received between the AP_MLD and non-AP_MLD are assumed to be SIFS (short interframe space), which allows 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 DIFS (distributed coordination function interframe space), AIFS (arbitration interframe space), PIFS (point coordination function interframe space), EIFS (extended interframe space), and RIFS (reduced interframe space).

[0100] 5B illustrates an example of data transmission from an AP_MLD to a Non-AP_MLD. First, SCA_INFO is shared in step S1. Next, in order to transmit to the Non-AP_MLD, the AP_MLD performs backoff in CH_P and attempts to acquire a transmission opportunity (TXOP).

[0101] 5B, Another_Device also attempts to acquire a TXOP and acquires a TXOP on Link_2 including CH_P before AP_MLD (step S21). Having acquired the TXOP, Another_Device starts transmission on Link_2 (step S22). The signal transmitted in step S22 is detected by AP_MLD and Non-AP_MLD in step S2 as an interference signal on CH_P.

[0102] The AP_MLD that has detected the interfering signal from Another_Device stops backoff in CH_P (step S23). The AP_MLD determines to perform SCA based on the channel position where the interfering signal from Another_Device is located, the channel bandwidth where the interference occurs, and the SCA_INFO shared in step S1.

[0103] In addition, the AP_MLD determines the channel position and channel bandwidth for performing SCA in step S4 of Fig. 5A. In the example of Fig. 5B, the channel for performing SCA is determined to be CH_S.

[0104] After detecting an interference signal from Another_Device, the Non-AP_MLD side also determines the channel on which to perform SCA as CH_S based on the channel position of the interference signal, the bandwidth of the channel being interfered with, and SCA_INFO.

[0105] In step S7, the AP_MLD that has decided to perform SCA performs backoff in CH_S to acquire the TXOP of CH_S. The AP_MLD that has acquired the TXOP transmits an RTS signal to the Non-AP_MLD in CH_S (step S24, step S9 in FIG. 5A). Note that if the AP_MLD detects power exceeding a certain threshold in CH_S, it cancels transmission.

[0106] The Non-AP_MLD waits for a transmission from the AP_MLD on CH_S. The Non-AP_MLD receives the RTS signal and transmits a CTS signal to the AP_MLD (step S25, steps S11 and S12 in FIG. 5A).

[0107] The AP_MLD and Non-AP_MLD, which have exchanged RTS and CTS signals in CH_S, then communicate in CH_S. Specifically, the AP_MLD transmits a data signal (step S26, step S9 in FIG. 5A), and the Non-AP_MLD transmits a BA signal in response to the received data signal (step S27, steps S11 and S12 in FIG. 5A).

[0108] After steps S26 and S27, the AP_MLD and Non-AP_MLD may end communication on CH_S, or may continue communication on CH_S until the exclusive period of Another_Device's CH_P ends.

[0109] 6A is a diagram illustrating a method for forming a common understanding of channels for performing SCA. Figure 6A illustrates 20 MHz band P_20, 40 MHz band P_40, 80 MHz band P_80, and 160 MHz band P_160 as bands 11, which are Primary Channels. Also, 20 MHz bands S_20_1 to S_20_7, 40 MHz bands S_40_1 to S_40_3, and 80 MHz band S_80_1 are illustrated as bands 12, which are Secondary Channels. Bands S_20_1 to S_20_7 are arranged in ascending frequency order. Bands S_40_1 to S_40_3 are arranged in ascending frequency order.

[0110] AP_MLD and Non-AP_MLD assign a common number to multiple secondary channels within band 10. The common number is a number corresponding to the magnitude of the frequency, and specifically, the number X is assigned to band S_20_X in FIG. 6A. Similarly, the number X is also assigned to bands S_40_X and S_80_X. In this example, smaller numbers are assigned in ascending order of frequency, but this is not limiting, and smaller numbers may be assigned in ascending order of frequency. Furthermore, the numbers assigned to multiple secondary channels are not limited to numbers corresponding to the magnitude of the frequency, as long as they can identify the same band in AP_MLD and Non-AP_MLD.

[0111] The AP_MLD and Non-AP_MLD can uniquely identify the band in which SCA is performed by sharing (2) the bandwidth in which SCA is performed and (3) the location of the band in which SCA is performed, among the information included in SCA_INFO. The number X assigned to the Secondary Channel is used as the information (3).

[0112] For example, if the bandwidth for SCA is "YY" MHz and the location of the band for SCA is "X," then band S_YY_X in FIG. 6A can be identified as the band (fourth channel) 21 for SCA. In FIG. 6A, multiple candidate bands 21 for SCA are displayed with dots. As described above, the bandwidth of each band 21 corresponds to (2) Bandwidth for SCA in SCA_INFO.

[0113] The above method has the advantage that it is possible to uniquely identify the band 21 in which SCA is performed, regardless of where the primary channel is located in the band 10.

[0114] In band 10 shown in Figure 6A, the 80 MHz secondary channel is one of bands S_80_1. Therefore, when the bandwidth for SCA is 80 MHz, the band for SCA can be uniquely identified without sharing number X. As described above, for a bandwidth with one secondary channel, information about that bandwidth may be omitted from the information included in SCA_INFO.

[0115] In the example of Figure 6A, information on band (sixth channel) S_80_1, band (seventh channel) S_40_3, and band S_20_6 is shared in SCA_INFO. Because a wideband is preferable for the band to perform SCA, AP_MLD and Non-AP_MLD preferentially use band S_80_1 out of the three bands 21 in Figure 6A. If band S_80_1 cannot be used for SCA due to interference occurring in part of band S_80_1, AP_MLD and Non-AP_MLD use band S_40_3, which has the next widest bandwidth, for SCA. If neither band S_80_1 nor S_40_3 is available, AP_MLD and Non-AP_MLD use band S_20_6.

[0116] 6A illustrates a band (fifth channel) 22 in which interference from an interference source 3 or the like is detected. Band 22 is a band that includes band 11, which is the primary channel. Band 22 may be configured with one band 11 (primary channel). Band 22 may also be configured with band 11 and one or more bands 12 (secondary channels) that are used in conjunction with band 11. The bandwidth of band 22 corresponds to (1) interference bandwidth of SCA_INFO.

[0117] 6A shows an example in which interference is detected between P_20 and S_20_3, which is used in conjunction with P_20. In FIG. 6A, band 22 is indicated by a dot.

[0118] Band 22 cannot be used for SCA. That is, the larger the interference bandwidth from the interference source 3 and the like, the fewer secondary channels can be selected as band 21 for performing SCA.

[0119] AP_MLD and Non-AP_MLD (1) share the band 21 in which SCA is performed for each interference bandwidth. For example, when the interference bandwidth is 20 MHz, the band (channel 8) P_20 is the band in which interference from the interference source 3 is predicted, and therefore band S_20_3 can be specified as the band 21 in which SCA is performed. On the other hand, when the interference bandwidth is 40 MHz, the band in which interference from the interference source 3 is predicted is the band (channel 9) that combines P_20 and S_20_3. In this case, since band S_20_3 cannot be specified as band 21, AP_MLD or Non-AP_MLD specifies, for example, band S_20_6.

[0120] As described above, the AP_MLD and Non-AP_MLD share information on three combinations of (1) interference bandwidth, (2) bandwidth in which SCA is performed, and (3) location of the band in which SCA is performed as SCA_INFO.

[0121] SCA_INFO is configured to uniquely determine (3) from, for example, information (1) and (2). (1) is identified by checking the bandwidth of the interference signal from the interference source 3. As described above, AP_MLD and Non-AP_MLD use SCA in descending order of bandwidth for SCA use. In other words, (2) is identified based on the priority order of bandwidth use. This allows AP_MLD and Non-AP_MLD to uniquely identify the band 21 for SCA use.

[0122] In other words, by sharing SCA_INFO, a common understanding of the band to be used for SCA can be formed between the AP_MLD and the Non-AP_MLD.

[0123] Note that a band that can be designated as band 21 when the interference bandwidth is large can also be designated as band 21 when the interference bandwidth is small. For example, band S_20_6, which can be designated as band 21 when the interference bandwidth is 40 MHz, can also be designated as band 21 when the interference bandwidth is 20 MHz.

[0124] For this reason, the information in SCA_INFO that identifies the band 21 for a large interference bandwidth (e.g., 80 MHz) (i.e., information on the location of the SCA's (2) bandwidth and (3) band) may also serve as information that identifies the band 21 for smaller interference bandwidths (e.g., 40 MHz and 20 MHz). Furthermore, when SCA_INFO includes information on a large interference bandwidth, the information on the smaller interference bandwidths may be omitted.

[0125] Furthermore, if interference other than that from the interference source 3 exists, the band 21 identified by the information in (1) and (2) may be unusable due to the interference. For this reason, the SCA_INFO may include information on multiple candidates (third channels) for the location of the band where SCA is performed (3). For example, in addition to the information on bands S_80_1, S_40_3, and S_20_6 shown in FIG. 6A , the SCA_INFO may also include information on bands S_40_2, S_20_7, etc.

[0126] When the SCA_INFO includes (1) the interference bandwidth and (2) multiple (3) candidate band locations for each SCA bandwidth, the SCA_INFO may also include (4) priority information so that the AP_MLD and Non-AP_MLD can uniquely identify the bands to be used for SCA. In this case, the SCA_INFO is configured, for example, with information (1), (2), and (4) so ​​that (3) is uniquely determined. The AP_MLD and Non-AP_MLD uniquely identify the bands 21 to be used for SCA by using the candidate bands 21 in descending order of (4) priority.

[0127] Note that SCA_INFO may be configured to include other information for uniquely determining (3).

[0128] In addition, AP_MLD and Non-AP_MLD may be used for SCA in order of (4) decreasing priority, rather than in order of SCA bandwidth. For example, if the priority of band S_40_3 is set higher than that of band S_80_1 in SCA_INFO, AP_MLD and Non-AP_MLD may use band S_40_3 for SCA with priority.

[0129] If there are multiple candidates for band 21, in step S11 of Figure 5A, a wireless communication device (e.g., Non-AP_MLD) receiving by SCA may wait for RTS signals, etc. in multiple candidate bands.

[0130] FIG. 6B is a diagram for explaining a method of forming a common understanding of a channel for performing SCA when an AP_MLD and a Non-AP_MLD communicate in the 320 MHz band 10a.

[0131] 6B includes 20 MHz band P_20, 40 MHz band P_40, 80 MHz band P_80, 160 MHz band P_160, and 320 MHz band P_320 as bands 11 that are Primary Channels. Band 10a also includes 20 MHz bands S_20_1 to S_20_15, 40 MHz bands S_40_1 to S_40_7, 80 MHz bands S_80_1 to S_80_3, and 160 MHz band S_160_1 as bands 12 that are Secondary Channels.

[0132] When communicating in the 320 MHz band 10a, similarly to FIG. 6A, by sharing SCA_INFO, a common understanding of the band to be used for SCA can be formed between the AP_MLD and the Non-AP_MLD.

[0133] In the band 10a, the band of the 160 MHz Secondary Channel is one of the bands, S_160_1, so information on setting the SCA bandwidth to 160 MHz can be omitted from the SCA_INFO.

[0134] As shown in FIG. 6A etc., the AP_MLD and Non-AP_MLD extract band 21 from a portion of one or more secondary channels that does not overlap with band 22 based on the shared SCA_INFO.

[0135] 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of SCA_INFO according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In the example of FIG. 7, SCA_INFO includes information on (1) interference bandwidth, (2) SCA bandwidth, (4) priority, and (3) the location of the band where SCA is performed.

[0136] If multiple candidates for the location of the band where SCA is to be performed are not registered in SCA_INFO, (4) priority information may be omitted.

[0137] Each line in Fig. 7 except for the first line is also called a record. SCA_INFO consists of one or more records.

[0138] In the example of Figure 7, the smaller the priority value, the higher the priority of using the band. In the example of Figure 7, when the interference bandwidth is 20 MHz, an example is shown in which band S_40_1 is used with the highest priority. When bands S_40_1 to S_40_3 cannot be used for SCA, band S_20_1 is used with priority. Also, when the interference bandwidth is 80 MHz, an example is shown in which S_40_2 is used with the highest priority. When bands S_40_2 to S_40_3 cannot be used for SCA, band S_20_4 is used with priority. Note that in Figure 7, records etc. for which the interference bandwidth is 40 MHz are not shown.

[0139] The communication storage units 112 and 212 may store SCA_INFO in a table format as shown in Fig. 7. Alternatively, the SCA_INFO may be stored in another format. For example, the SCA_INFO may be stored in a frame format, which will be described later.

[0140] Fig. 8 is an example of a flowchart showing a method for determining a channel to be used for SCA using SCA_INFO. The flowchart in Fig. 8 can be applied to both AP_MLD and Non-AP_MLD. The flowchart in Fig. 8 is used in step S4 in Fig. 5A.

[0141] 8 is performed by, for example, the communication control units 111 and 211. An example in which the communication control unit 111 performs the control of the flowchart in FIG.

[0142] First, the communication control unit 111 acquires the interference bandwidth from the interference signal detected in step S2 of Fig. 5A (step S31). Based on the interference bandwidth (e.g., 20 MHz) acquired in step S31, the communication control unit 111 determines the bandwidth for performing SCA (step S32).

[0143] In step S32, the communication control unit 111 extracts one or more corresponding records from the SCA_INFO in Fig. 7 based on the interference bandwidth acquired in step S31. The communication control unit 111 acquires the bandwidth for performing SCA from the extracted record. If multiple bandwidths for performing SCA are acquired, the communication control unit 111 determines the largest bandwidth as the bandwidth for performing SCA (e.g., 40 MHz in Fig. 7).

[0144] Next, the communication control unit 111 extracts candidates for the location of the SCA band (hereinafter simply referred to as candidates) (step S33). The communication control unit 111 further extracts records of the bandwidth for which SCA will be performed determined in step S32 from the records extracted in step S32, and obtains one or more candidates. If multiple candidates are obtained, one candidate is selected based on the priority shown in Fig. 7. In step S33, for example, one candidate with the highest priority (for example, band S_40_1 in Fig. 7) is selected.

[0145] Next, the communication control unit 111 determines whether the candidate determined in step S33 is usable (step S34). If no interference or the like is detected in the candidate, the communication control unit 111 determines that the candidate is usable. In this case, the communication control unit 111 determines that the candidate is usable as the band in which SCA will be performed (hereinafter also referred to as the SCA band) (step S35).

[0146] If it is determined in step S34 that the candidate cannot be used, the communication control unit 111 determines whether or not another candidate can be extracted (step S36). If there is one or more candidates among the multiple candidates acquired in step S33 that have not been determined in step S34, they can be extracted as other candidates (for example, bands S_40_2 and S_40_3 in FIG. 7).

[0147] If it is determined in step S36 that another candidate should be extracted, the communication control unit 111 determines in step S33 one of the other candidates that has the highest priority (for example, band S_40_2 in FIG. 7 ). In step S34, it is determined whether the determined candidate is available, and if it is determined that it is available, it is determined as the SCA band in step S35. If it is determined that it is not available, it is determined in step S36 whether another candidate can be extracted.

[0148] The communication control unit 111 repeats steps S33 to S36 until the SCA band is determined in step S35 or until no other candidates can be extracted in step S36 (that is, all candidates have been extracted).

[0149] If it is determined in step S36 that no other candidate can be extracted, the communication control unit 111 determines whether or not another bandwidth can be used as the SCA bandwidth (step S37). If there is a bandwidth that has not been determined as the bandwidth for SCA among the multiple bandwidths acquired in step S32, that bandwidth can be used as the other bandwidth.

[0150] If it is determined in step S37 that another bandwidth is available, the communication control unit 111 determines in step S32 the largest bandwidth from among the other bandwidths (e.g., 20 MHz in FIG. 7) as the bandwidth for performing SCA. After this, in steps S33 to S36, one or more candidate band locations for performing SCA are extracted, and it is determined whether the SCA band is determined or whether all candidates are unavailable for SCA.

[0151] If all the candidates are unavailable for SCA, it is determined in step S37 whether another bandwidth is available. If all the bandwidths obtained in step S32 are unavailable, it is determined in step S37 that another bandwidth is unavailable.

[0152] If it is determined in step S37 that another bandwidth is not available, the communication control unit 111 determines that SCA is not possible (step S38). In this case, the AP_MLD and Non-AP_MLD wait for communication until, for example, the interfering signal from the interference source 3 is no longer detected.

[0153] 9A to 9D are diagrams showing an example of a frame format of a signal (first signal) that shares SCA_INFO. Frame 300 shown in FIG. 9A is transmitted and received in step S1 of FIG. 5A. An IEEE 802.11 element may be used for frame 300. Frame 300 may also be stored in a Beacon frame, a Probe Request / Response frame, an Association Request / Response frame, a Reassociation Request / Response frame, or an Action frame and transmitted.

[0154] 9A includes an Element ID 301, a Length 302, an Element ID Extension 303, and Information 304. The Element ID 301 and the Element ID Extension 303 store information about the type of the frame 300. The Length 302 stores information about the length of the frame 300. The Information 304 corresponds to the main body of the frame 300, and stores information about SCA_INFO.

[0155] 9B is a diagram showing a detailed frame format of Information 304. Information 304 includes Interference BW (first information) 311 and one or more pieces of SCA Channel Information 312. Interference BW 311 stores information about the bandwidth in which corresponding interference is predicted in frame 300. The information included in Interference BW 311 corresponds to the information on (1) Interference Bandwidth (IBW) in SCA_INFO.

[0156] The Interference BW 311 is configured with a number of bits according to the type of interference bandwidth in which interference is predicted. Specifically, the type of interference bandwidth in which interference is predicted is a bandwidth (e.g., 20 MHz, 40 MHz, 80 MHz, and 160 MHz) smaller than the bandwidth (e.g., 320 MHz) of the band that can be used for communication by AP_MLD and Non-AP_MLD.

[0157] 10A is a bitmap table used in the first method of converting binary data stored in Interference BW 311. Interference BW 311 is composed of four bits, B0 to B3, and each bit indicates whether Information 304 supports information on each interference bandwidth. Bit B0 is, for example, the least significant bit. Bit B3 is, for example, the most significant bit.

[0158] Bit B0 indicates whether or not a 20 MHz interference bandwidth is supported, and if bit B0 is "1", it indicates that it is supported. Similarly, bits B1 to B3 indicate whether or not interference bandwidths of 40 MHz, 80 MHz, and 160 MHz are supported, respectively.

[0159] In the information 304, one or more pieces of SCA channel information 312 are arranged according to the interference bandwidth supported by the interference BW 311. That is, the information 304 has the number of pieces of SCA channel information 312 according to the number of interference bandwidths supported by the interference BW 311.

[0160] 9B shows an example in which Interference BW 311 supports three interference bandwidths of 20 MHz, 40 MHz, and 80 MHz (IBW = 20 MHz, 40 MHz, 80 MHz). Accordingly, Information 304 in FIG. 9B includes three pieces of SCA Channel Information 312a, 312b, and 312c. SCA Channel Information 312a includes information about the bands in which SCA is performed when the interference bandwidth is 20 MHz. Similarly, SCA Channel Information 312b and 312c include information about the bands in which SCA is performed when the interference bandwidth is 40 MHz and 80 MHz.

[0161] Interference BW 311 has a number of bits according to the type of interference bandwidth that can be supported. The bitmap table of FIG. 10A can support interference bandwidths from 20 MHz to 160 MHz. The bitmap table of FIG. 10A can support communication and SCA when AP_MLD and Non-AP_MLD are used in a 320 MHz band. Note that Interference BW 311 may be configured with 3 bits or less, or 5 bits or more. When Interference BW 311 is configured with 5 bits or more, Information 304 can support communication and SCA when AP_MLD and Non-AP_MLD are used in a 640 MHz or higher band.

[0162] The binary data stored in the interference BW 311 may be converted using other methods. Fig. 10B is an encoding table used in a second method of converting the binary data stored in the interference BW 311. The encoding table of Fig. 10B can support an interference bandwidth of 20 MHz to 160 MHz, as in Fig. 10A, but the interference BW 311 can be configured with two bits (bits B0 and B1).

[0163] In the Encoding Table of Fig. 10B, the number of supported interference bandwidths increases each time Interference BW 311 is incremented. Fig. 10B shows an example in which when Interference BW 311 is "00", an interference bandwidth of 20 MHz is supported, but by incrementing, support for interference bandwidths of 40 MHz, 80 MHz, and 160 MHz increases, and when it is "11", an interference bandwidth of 20 MHz to 160 MHz can be supported.

[0164] 9C is a diagram showing a detailed frame format of the SCA Channel Information 312. The SCA Channel Information 312 includes an SCA BW Indication (second information) 321, a Number of Candidate Channel Positions 322, and one or more SCA Channel Positions (third information) 323.

[0165] Information about the bandwidth for performing SCA is stored in the SCA BW Indication 321. The information included in the SCA BW Indication 321 corresponds to the (2) SCA bandwidth information of the SCA_INFO.

[0166] The binary data stored in the SCA BW Indication 321 indicates whether or not the SCA bandwidth is supported at the SCA Channel Position 323 .

[0167] The SCA BW Indication 321 is configured with a number of bits corresponding to the type of bandwidth that can be used for SCA. The type of bandwidth that can be used for SCA is a bandwidth that is smaller than the bandwidth that can be used for communication by AP_MLD and Non-AP_MLD, similar to the Interference BW 311.

[0168] To convert the binary data of the SCA BW Indication 321, the bitmap table in FIG. 10A or the encoding table in FIG. 10B can be used, similarly to the Interference BW 311.

[0169] 10A and the encoding table of Fig. 10B may be stored in, for example, a part (second storage unit) of the communication storage units 112 and 212. The same bitmap table or encoding table may be used to convert the SCA BW indication 321 and the interference BW 311, or bitmap tables or encoding tables with different internal data may be used. Furthermore, one of the SCA BW indication 321 and the interference BW 311 may be converted using a bitmap table, and the other may be converted using an encoding table.

[0170] The conversion of the binary data of the SCA BW Indication 321 or the Interference BW 311 may be performed by a logical or physical encoder configured based on the conversion rules specified in the Bitmap Table of FIG. 10A (or the Encoding Table of FIG. 10B).

[0171] In this specification, the conversion rules for the SCA BW Indication 321 and the Interference BW 311 shown in FIG. 10A and the like are also referred to as the first rule and the second rule, respectively.

[0172] Number of Candidate Channel Position 322 in Fig. 9C stores information regarding the number of candidates for band 21 for SCA. The binary data of Number of Candidate Channel Position 322 is converted, for example, based on the Encoding Table in Fig. 11. Number of Candidate Channel Position 322 is composed of, for example, two bits (bits B0 and B1), and each time Number of Candidate Channel Position 322 is incremented, the number of candidates for band 21 for SCA increases by one.

[0173] SCA Channel Information 312 has SCA Channel Positions 323 according to the number specified in Number of Candidate Channel Positions 322. Fig. 9C shows an example in which "2" is specified in Number of Candidate Channel Positions 322 and SCA Channel Information 312 has two SCA Channel Positions 323a and 323b.

[0174] When there are multiple candidates for the band 21 on which SCA is performed, the priority may be determined by the order of the SCA Channel Positions 323. For example, in the example of Fig. 9C, the SCA Channel Position 323a located at the beginning of the SCA Channel Information 312 can be treated as candidate information with a higher priority than the SCA Channel Position 323b located at the end. The order of the SCA Channel Positions 323 corresponds to the (4) Priority Information of the SCA_INFO.

[0175] Information about the location of the band where SCA is performed is stored in SCA Channel Position 323. The information included in SCA Channel Position 323 corresponds to (3) information about the band where SCA is performed in SCA_INFO.

[0176] 9D is a diagram showing a detailed frame format of the SCA Channel Position 323. The SCA Channel Position 323 is made up of one or more XX MHz SCA Channel Positions 331. The SCA Channel Position 323 is made up of XX MHz SCA Channel Positions 331, the number of which corresponds to the number of SCA bandwidths supported by the SCA Channel Position 323. The XX MHz SCA Channel Position 331 stores information about the location of the band where SCA is performed for each supported SCA bandwidth.

[0177] As described above, the SCA bandwidth (SBW) supported by SCA Channel Position 323 is specified by SCA BW Indication 321. The example of Fig. 9C shows an example in which SCA BW Indication 321 supports three SCA bandwidths: 20 MHz, 40 MHz, and 80 MHz (SBW = 20 MHz, 40 MHz, 80 MHz). Accordingly, Fig. 9D shows an example in which SCA Channel Position 323 includes 20 MHz SCA Channel Position 331a, 40 MHz SCA Channel Position 331b, and 80 MHz SCA Channel Position 331c. The 20 MHz SCA Channel Position 331a, 40 MHz SCA Channel Position 331b, and 80 MHz SCA Channel Position 331c store information about the location of the bands in which SCA is performed, with bandwidths of 20 MHz, 40 MHz, and 80 MHz, respectively.

[0178] As shown in Fig. 6B, when the AP_MLD and Non-AP_MLD communicate in the 320 MHz band, information on the 160 MHz SCA bandwidth can be omitted from SCA_INFO. Therefore, information on the location of the 160 MHz SCA band can also be omitted from SCA Channel Position 323. Similarly, when the AP_MLD and Non-AP_MLD communicate in the 160 MHz band shown in Fig. 6A, 80 MHz SCA Channel Position 331c can be omitted.

[0179] 12A to 12C show encoding tables used in the first method of binary data conversion for XX MHz SCA Channel Position 331. In the first method of binary data conversion, the number of constituent bits differs for each corresponding bandwidth of XX MHz SCA Channel Position 331, and a different encoding table is used.

[0180] 12A shows an encoding table used to convert the binary data of the 20 MHz SCA Channel Position 331a. The 20 MHz SCA Channel Position 331a is composed of, for example, 4 bits (bits B0 to B3). The binary data of the 20 MHz SCA Channel Position 331a can be converted into the number of the band location where SCA is performed.

[0181] For example, when the 20 MHz SCA Channel Position 331a is "0001" (bits B3=B2=B1=0, B0=1), the band S_20_1 (1st lowest S20) in FIG. 6B is specified. Also, when the 20 MHz SCA Channel Position 331a is "0010", the band S_20_2 (2nd lowest S20) in FIG. 6B is specified. As described above, the 20 MHz SCA Channel Position 331a can specify the bands S_20_1 to S_20_15 in FIG. 6B.

[0182] When the 20 MHz SCA Channel Position 331a is "0000", it is used as NA (Not Applicable) which specifies that SCA is not performed, or as a reserved slot. Note that "0000" may not be specified.

[0183] The encoding table in Fig. 12A corresponds to the case where AP_MLD and Non-AP_MLD communicate in a 320 MHz band. Note that when AP_MLD and Non-AP_MLD communicate in a band of 160 MHz or less, the 20 MHz SCA Channel Position 331a may be configured with 3 bits or less. Alternatively, by configuring the 20 MHz SCA Channel Position 331a with 5 bits or more, it is possible to accommodate the case where AP_MLD and Non-AP_MLD communicate in a band of 640 MHz or more.

[0184] In the Encoding Table of Fig. 12A, available values ​​are determined according to the bandwidth (BW) that the AP_MLD and Non-AP_MLD communicate with. For example, "1000" to "1111" are only available when the AP_MLD and Non-AP_MLD communicate with a bandwidth wider than 160 MHz (available when BW>160 MHz).

[0185] 12B is an encoding table used to convert binary data for the 40 MHz SCA channel position 331b. The 40 MHz SCA channel position 331b is configured with, for example, 3 bits (bits B0 to B2) and can specify bands S_40_1 to S_40_7 in FIG. 6B.

[0186] 12C is an encoding table used to convert binary data for the 80 MHz SCA channel position 331c. The 80 MHz SCA channel position 331c is configured with, for example, two bits (bits B0 to B1) and can specify bands S_80_1 to S_80_3 in FIG. 6B.

[0187] In general, in the first method of converting binary data for XX MHz SCA Channel Position 331, XX MHz SCA Channel Position 331 is configured with bits corresponding to the number of candidates for band locations where SCA is performed for each bandwidth. The number of candidates for band locations corresponds to the bandwidth of bands that two or more wireless communication devices can use for communication and the bandwidth of bands used for SCA. By incrementing XX MHz SCA Channel Position 331, the candidate band locations where SCA is performed can be changed.

[0188] For example, if AP_MLD and Non-AP_MLD communicate in a 320 MHz band and perform SCA in a 20 MHz band, the number of candidates for the SCA band location is 15, excluding the Primary Channel, among the 320 MHz divided by 20 MHz. Accordingly, the 20 MHz SCA Channel Position 331 is configured with 4 bits.

[0189] 13 shows an encoding table used in the second method of binary data conversion for the XX MHz SCA channel position 331. In the second method of binary data conversion, the 20 MHz SCA channel position 331a, 40 MHz SCA channel position 331b, and 80 MHz SCA channel position 331c are converted using a common encoding table. Furthermore, the 20 MHz SCA channel position 331a, 40 MHz SCA channel position 331b, and 80 MHz SCA channel position 331c are each configured with, for example, 5 bits (bits B0 to B4).

[0190] In the second method of binary data conversion, if the XXMHz SCA Channel Position 331 is "00001" to "01111", bands S_20_1 to S_20_15 in FIG. 6B are specified. If the XXMHz SCA Channel Position 331 is "10001" to "10111", bands S_40_1 to S_40_7 in FIG. 6B are specified. If the XXMHz SCA Channel Position 331 is "11001" to "11011", bands S_80_1 to S_80_3 in FIG. 6B are specified. If the XXMHz SCA Channel Position 331 is "00000", "10000", "11000", or "11100" to "11111", it is NA, reserved, or cannot be specified.

[0191] The Encoding Table in Fig. 13 is 5 bits long and can accommodate AP_MLD and Non-AP_MLD communications in a 320 MHz band. Note that by setting the XX MHz SCA Channel Position 331 to 4 bits or less or 6 bits or more, AP_MLD and Non-AP_MLD communications in a narrower or wider band can be accommodated.

[0192] In general, in the second method of converting binary data of XX MHz SCA Channel Position 331, XX MHz SCA Channel Position 331 is configured with bits corresponding to the number of candidates for the band location where SCA is performed. By incrementing XX MHz SCA Channel Position 331, it is possible to specify candidates for the band location where SCA is performed and change the bandwidth where SCA is performed.

[0193] 6B, for example, S_20_1 to S_20_15, S_40_1 to S_40_7, S80_1 to S_80_3, and S_160_1 total 26. Accordingly, the XX MHz SCA Channel Position 331 is configured with 5 bits.

[0194] In the second-method conversion of binary data of XX MHz SCA Channel Position 331, it is possible to determine which band of 20 MHz to 80 MHz XX MHz SCA Channel Position 331 supports from the bit data of XX MHz SCA Channel Position 331 without using information in SCA BW Indication 321. When the second-method conversion of binary data is used, SCA BW Indication 321 in Fig. 9C may be omitted. Furthermore, because the second-method conversion of binary data uses a single encoding table, control is simpler than in the first-method conversion of binary data.

[0195] On the other hand, in the first format conversion of binary data, the number of bits of SCA Channel Position 323 can be reduced more than in the second format conversion of binary data.

[0196] In addition to a number specifying the location of the band in FIG. 6B, the XX MHz SCA Channel Position 331 may store a specific frequency, a defined identifier indicating a specific frequency (such as Global Operating Classes), or information specifying a position based on a common standard between the transmitting side and the receiving side.

[0197] Each table of Figures 11, 12A to 12C, and 13 may be stored in communication storage units 112 and 212, etc., similar to the Bitmap Table of Figure 10A, or may be realized as a logical or physical encoder.

[0198] In this specification, the conversion rules for the SCA BW Indication 321 shown in FIGS. 12A to 12C or 13 are also referred to as the third rules.

[0199] 9A to 9D illustrate an example in which, from the beginning of frame 300, (1) Interference BW 311, which corresponds to information about the interference bandwidth (IBW), (2) SCA BW Indication 321, which corresponds to information about the SCA bandwidth, and (3) Channel Position 323, which corresponds to information about the band in which SCA is performed, are arranged in this order. This order corresponds to the order in which the data in SCA_INFO in FIG. 8 is referenced and the order in which the SCA_INFO data, described below, is formed, thereby making it possible to efficiently read the data in frame 300 or to form frame 300. Note that the order in which Interference BW 311, SCA BW Indication 321, SCA Channel Position 323, and other elements (such as Number of Candidate Channel Position 322) are arranged in frame 300 is not limited to the example shown in FIGS. 9A to 9D and may be arbitrary.

[0200] FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing a method for forming SCA_INFO according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The flowchart of FIG. 14 is used in step S1 of FIG. 5A. The flowchart of FIG. 14 can be applied to both AP_MLD and Non-AP_MLD. The control shown in the flowchart of FIG. 14, the creation of SCA_INFO, and the creation of frame 300 shown in FIG. 9A and the like are performed by, for example, the communication control unit 111 or 211. An example in which Non-AP_MLD performs the control of the flowchart of FIG. 14 will be described below.

[0201] First, the Non-AP_MLD determines whether or not it has received SCA_INFO from the communication partner (for example, AP_MLD) (step S41). If SCA_INFO has been received, it determines whether or not to apply the received SCA_INFO (step S42).

[0202] As a criterion for the determination in step S42, for example, if there is no interference or the like occurring in the candidate bands for SCA specified in SCA_INFO, the Non-AP_MLD can apply the received SCA_INFO. In this case, the Non-AP_MLD stores the received SCA_INFO in the communication storage unit 212 or the like, and transmits a predetermined response signal to the AP_MLD. The response signal may include the received SCA_INFO.

[0203] If SCA_INFO is not received in step S41, or if it is determined in step S42 that the received SCA_INFO is not applicable, the Non-AP_MLD generates SCA_INFO.

[0204] First, the Non-AP_MLD determines the corresponding interference bandwidth from among the predicted interference bandwidths (step S43). Based on the determined interference bandwidth, the Non-AP_MLD determines the bandwidth that can be used for SCA (hereinafter also referred to as the SCA bandwidth) (step S44). Next, the Non-AP_MLD determines one or more candidate bands to be used for SCA (step S45).

[0205] Next, it is determined whether a candidate band to be used for SCA for the interference bandwidth determined in step S43 has been determined (step S46). If there is a bandwidth that can be used for SCA other than the SCA bandwidth determined in step S44, the Non-AP_MLD determines the SCA bandwidth again in step S44.

[0206] If it is determined in step S46 that the candidate bands to be used for SCA have been determined, the Non-AP_MLD checks whether there are any other predicted interference bandwidths and determines whether the correspondence to the other interference bandwidths has been determined (step S47). If there are any interference bandwidths among the predicted interference bandwidths for which the correspondence has not been determined, the Non-AP_MLD again determines the corresponding interference bandwidth in step S43.

[0207] In step S47, it is determined that the correspondence to other interference bandwidths has been determined, and thus SCA_INFO is formed. The Non-AP_MLD stores the formed SCA_INFO in the communication storage unit 212, etc. Furthermore, the Non-AP_MLD transmits the formed SCA_INFO to the AP_MLD in frame 300, such as that shown in FIG. 9A (step S48).

[0208] In step S48, the Non-AP_MLD may transmit the formed SCA_INFO in one frame 300. Alternatively, the Non-AP_MLD may divide the formed SCA_INFO into multiple pieces and transmit them in multiple frames 300. For example, the Non-AP_MLD may transmit part of the predicted interference bandwidth, part of the SCA bandwidth, or part of the candidate bands to be used for SCA in one frame 300, and transmit the remaining parts in one or more other frames 300.

[0209] 15 is a diagram showing the frame format of a signal (second signal) used when information related to the SCA is updated or when it is necessary to check the latest SCA_INFO. An IEEE 802.11 Action frame may be used for frame 340 shown in FIG.

[0210] The frame 340 has a Category 341, a Protected UHR Action 342, a Dialog Token (fifth information) 343, and an SCA_INFO (fourth information) 344. The Category 341 stores information about the type of the frame 340. The Protected UHR Action 342 stores information about the version that the frame 340 corresponds to and whether or not it is encrypted.

[0211] The Dialog Token 343 stores information indicating whether to notify an SCA_INFO update or to request the latest SCA_INFO information. The Dialog Token 343 is configured, for example, with one bit. For example, "0" of the Dialog Token 343 indicates a notification of an SCA_INFO update, and for example, "1" indicates a request for the latest SCA_INFO information.

[0212] 9A to 9D is stored in SCA_INFO 344. When frame 340 is used to request the latest information in SCA_INFO, SCA_INFO 344 may be omitted, or the SCA_INFO stored by the sender of frame 340 may be stored.

[0213] The SCA_INFO 344 may be divided into multiple frames 340 and transmitted, similar to the frame 300 .

[0214] 16A is a diagram illustrating how to deal with the case where the interference signal of the interference source 3 is a puncturing (missing) signal. FIG. 16A shows an example in which a band 22a in which interference from the interference source 3 or the like is detected is formed by a band (tenth channel) 31 including the Primary Channel and a band (eleventh channel) 32 separated from band 31 by frequency band. In FIG. 16A, band 31 is made up of band P_20, and band 32 is made up of bands S_20_2 and S_20_3. That is, the interference signal in FIG. 16A is a puncturing signal with a missing portion between bands 31 and 32 (band S_20_1 in the example of FIG. 16A).

[0215] For the puncturing signal shown in Fig. 16A, AP_MLD and Non-AP_MLD may consider that a continuous band 33 in the frequency band including bands 31 and 32 is interfered with. In the example of Fig. 16A, band 33 is composed of band P_80.

[0216] That is, in step S31 of FIG. 8, the AP_MLD and the Non-AP_MLD may acquire the interference bandwidth of band 33 (80 MHz in the example of FIG. 16A).

[0217] Fig. 16B shows an example in which the interference signal from interference source 3 is interference spanning two bands. In the example of Fig. 16B, band 22b in which interference from interference source 3 or the like is detected is made up of bands P_20 and S_20_2. Bands P_20 and S_20_2 are continuous frequency bands. Meanwhile, band S_20_2 is part of band S_40_1, and band P_20 is part of band P_40. That is, in Fig. 16B, band 22b spanning two bands S_40_1 and P_40 is subject to interference.

[0218] In Fig. 16B as well, the AP_MLD and Non-AP_MLD may consider that a continuous band 34, which is a frequency band including bands S_40_1 and P_40, is being interfered with. In the example of Fig. 16B, band 34 is made up of band P_80. Furthermore, in step S31 of Fig. 8, the AP_MLD and Non-AP_MLD may obtain the interference bandwidth of band 34 (80 MHz in the example of Fig. 16B).

[0219] In addition to the above measures, the interference signals in FIGS. 16A and 16B can also be addressed by setting multiple candidate band locations for SCA in SCA_INFO.

[0220] The AP_MLD and Non-AP_MLD according to the embodiments of the present disclosure may have a function of turning the SCA function ON or OFF depending on a user operation or a communication situation. An example of a user operation is an operation using a user interface (e.g., a touch panel, keys, buttons, a microphone, a display, an LED indicator, a speaker, etc.) arranged on the AP_MLD and Non-AP_MLD. In addition, the user operation may include an operation performed via a user interface of another terminal device (e.g., a smartphone, a tablet, a PC, a dedicated terminal, etc.).

[0221] The AP_MLD and Non-AP_MLD may be configured to have an output function such as a management screen that switches the SCA function ON or OFF. The AP_MLD and Non-AP_MLD may be configured to have a display device that displays the above management screen, or an external display device may be connected to the AP_MLD and Non-AP_MLD. Alternatively, another terminal may be configured to receive display information of the management screen from the AP_MLD and Non-AP_MLD by accessing an IP address or the like that identifies the AP_MLD and Non-AP_MLD, and to transmit information regarding the setting results via the management screen.

[0222] When the SCA function is turned off, the AP_MLD and the Non-AP_MLD do not perform communication by SCA as shown in steps S2 to S12 in FIG. 5A.

[0223] Furthermore, the AP_MLD and Non-AP_MLD may be configured to share SCA_INFO regardless of whether the SCA function is ON or OFF, or may be configured not to share SCA_INFO when the SCA function is OFF. Furthermore, the AP_MLD and Non-AP_MLD may be configured to have a function to switch the SCA_INFO sharing function ON or OFF in addition to the function to switch the SCA function ON or OFF. The SCA_INFO sharing function may be switched ON or OFF via the user interface of the AP_MLD and Non-AP_MLD or another terminal, similar to the ON or OFF of the SCA function described above.

[0224] When SCA_INFO is not shared (including when the above-mentioned SCA_INFO sharing is OFF), information regarding SCA_INFO is not included in the Beacon frame, Probe Request / Response frame, Association Request / Response frame, Reassociation Request / Response frame, Action frame, or Ack frame transmitted and received by the AP_MLD and Non-AP_MLD. More specifically, information such as Interference BW 311, SCA Channel Information 312, and SCA Channel Position 323 is not included in frame 300 in FIG. 9A.

[0225] When the AP_MLD and Non-AP_MLD are MLD, the ON / OFF of the SCA function or the SCA_INFO sharing function may be configured to be configurable for each link. For example, the SCA function may be ON for the first link and OFF for the second link. Alternatively, the wireless communication devices 100 and 1 may be configured to be able to set the SCA function or the SCA_INFO sharing function for a specific band. For example, the SCA function may be OFF for 2.4 GHz and ON for 5 GHz or 6 GHz.

[0226] Either the AP_MLD or the Non-AP_MLD may transmit a signal (hereinafter also referred to as an instruction signal) to the other instructing the other to switch the SCA function or the SCA_INFO sharing function ON or OFF. The instruction signal may be transmitted simultaneously from, for example, the AP_MLD to multiple STAs belonging to the same BSS. The instruction signal may also be transmitted by user operation, or may be transmitted automatically when the setting of the SCA function or the SCA_INFO sharing function is changed by user operation. The AP_MLD, Non-AP_MLD, or other STA that receives the instruction signal may return a response signal indicating whether or not it can support the switching of the SCA function or the SCA_INFO sharing function. The AP_MLD or Non-AP_MLD that transmitted the instruction signal may cancel the switching of the SCA function or the SCA_INFO sharing function in accordance with the received response signal. The above-mentioned instruction signal and response signal may be transmitted, for example, in any one of a Beacon frame, a Probe Response frame, an Association Response frame, a Reassociation Response frame, or an Action frame.

[0227] The setting information of the SCA function or the SCA_INFO sharing function may be notified to the user via a user interface (for example, a display, an LED indicator, or a speaker). The setting information may be shared between the AP_MLD and the Non-AP_MLD, or may be shared from the AP_MLD or the Non-AP_MLD to other wireless communication devices. On a management screen or the like, the setting information of multiple devices (APs and their subordinate STAs) may be displayed side by side, or the settings for multiple links or bands may be displayed side by side. A response signal to the instruction signal may be notified to the user via the user interface.

[0228] The SCA_INFO according to the present disclosure may be notified to the user via the user interface of the AP_MLD and Non-AP_MLD or other terminals. The SCA_INFO may be displayed on the above-mentioned management screen or the like, for example, in the table format of FIG. 7. The SCA_INFO may also be arbitrarily set by the user. Furthermore, a terminal other than the AP_MLD and Non-AP_MLD may transmit SCA_INFO set automatically or set by user operation to the AP_MLD and Non-AP_MLD. The AP_MLD and Non-AP_MLD may receive the SCA_INFO set by the other terminals, for example, in step S41 of FIG. 14, and perform the processes of steps S42 to S48.

[0229] When an AP_MLD (or a Non-AP_MLD) performs SCA with two or more wireless communication devices, the AP_MLD (or a Non-AP_MLD) may adjust the bands for performing SCA in the two or more SCA_INFOs shared with each device so that they do not overlap. Furthermore, the Non-AP_MLD (or an AP_MLD) may transmit SCA_INFO to a terminal that is not a communication partner via SCA, or may receive SCA_INFO created by another terminal. When the Non-AP_MLD (or an AP_MLD) receives SCA_INFO created by another terminal, it may create SCA_INFO so that the bands for performing SCA do not overlap with the received SCA_INFO.

[0230] Fig. 17 shows a sequence of SCA according to a comparative example. Fig. 17 differs from Fig. 5B in that SCA_INFO is not shared in advance. That is, step S1 of Fig. 5B does not exist in Fig. 17.

[0231] 17 attempts to acquire a TXOP on Link_1, which includes CH_P. However, Another_Device acquires a TXOP on Link_2, which includes CH_P, before AP_MLD does, and starts transmission on Link_2. Upon detecting an interference signal from Another_Device, AP_MLD stops backoff on CH_P. As a result, AP_MLD decides to perform SCA using CH_S.

[0232] 17, however, since SCA_INFO is not shared between the AP_MLD and the Non-AP_MLD, a common understanding of the channel to be used for SCA is not formed. In other words, the Non-AP_MLD cannot recognize that CH_S is used for SCA. Therefore, even if the AP_MLD transmits an RTS signal using CH_S in step S24, the Non-AP_MLD cannot receive the RTS signal and cannot return a CTS signal.

[0233] It is also difficult to share SCA_INFO immediately before SCA communication. In Fig. 17, the AP_MLD decides to perform SCA in step S23. However, at the time of step S23, the AP_MLD cannot use Link_1 for communication. Furthermore, other channels cannot be used because a common understanding has not been formed between the AP_MLD and the Non-AP_MLD.

[0234] As described above, in the example of FIG. 17, AP_MLD and Non-AP_MLD cannot communicate using SCA.

[0235] In contrast, the AP_MLD and Non-AP_MLD according to an embodiment of the present disclosure share SCA_INFO in advance, and therefore can form a common understanding regarding the channel to be used for SCA, and thus can communicate by SCA.

[0236] As described above, the embodiment of the present disclosure discloses specific contents of SCA_INFO as a change-to channel list, a pre-setting protocol for SCA_INFO between a transmitting terminal and a receiving terminal, a frame format used for transmitting SCA_INFO, etc., as shown in Figures 5A, 5B, 9A to 9D, and 14, etc. As a result, the AP_MLD and Non-AP_MLD according to the embodiment of the present disclosure can share in advance a change-to channel to be used for Secondary Channel Access by using SCA_INFO.

[0237] <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.

[0238] FIG. 18 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.

[0239] 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 .

[0240] An input / output interface 805 is further 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. Information related to the present technology, such as information related to links used for communication and information related to SCA operation, may be output or displayed from the output unit 807. Information related to the present technology, such as information related to links used for communication and information related to SCA operation, may be input from the input unit 806, and confirmation or response to the information output or displayed on the output unit 807 may be input. In addition, a storage unit 808 including a hard disk or nonvolatile memory, a communication unit 809 including a network interface, etc., and a drive 810 that drives removable media 811 are connected to the input / output interface 805.

[0241] In the computer configured as described above, the CPU 801 performs the above-described series of processes by, for example, loading a program stored in the storage unit 808 into the RAM 803 via the input / output interface 805 and the bus 804 and executing the program. For example, the CPU 801 may execute a processing program corresponding to the flowcharts of FIGS. 5A, 5B, 8, and 14 of the present technology. Furthermore, the storage unit 808 may store information corresponding to FIGS. 7, 9C to 9D, 10A, 10B, 11, 12A to 12C, 13, and 15 of the present technology. Furthermore, the communication unit 809 may transmit signals corresponding to the frame formats of FIGS. 9C to 9D and 15 of the present technology.

[0242] 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.

[0243] 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.

[0244] <Application Examples> The present technology can be applied to various products. For example, the wireless communication device 100 in FIG. 3 and the wireless communication device 1 in FIG. 4 may be realized as a mobile terminal such as a smartphone, a smartwatch, 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 projector, a desktop PC, a printer, a digital scanner, or a network storage; or an in-vehicle terminal such as a car navigation device or a drive recorder. The wireless communication device 100 and the wireless communication device 1 may also be realized as an M2M (Machine-to-Machine Communication) terminal such as an industrial robot, a smart meter, a vending machine, a remote monitoring device, or a POS (Point of Sale) terminal, or an IoT (Internet of Things) terminal. The wireless communication device 100 and the wireless communication device 1 may also be realized as an autonomous mobile terminal such as a land robot, an aerial robot, an underwater robot, or a drone. 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.

[0245] 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. The wireless communication device 100 and the wireless communication device 1 may also be realized as a cellular communication base station and a femtocell. Furthermore, the wireless communication device 100 and the wireless communication device 1 may be wireless communication modules (for example, integrated circuit modules configured on a single die) mounted on these devices.

[0246] <Configuration example of smartphone> Fig. 19 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration example of a smartphone to which the present technology is applied. Fig. 19 shows a configuration example of a smartphone 900, but is not limited to this and may be a configuration example of the various devices and functions described above.

[0247] 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. The smartphone 900 may include all or some of the above.

[0248] The processor 901 may be, for example, a CPU or a SoC (System on Chip), and controls the functions of the application layer and other layers of the smartphone 900.

[0249] The memory 902 includes RAM and ROM, and stores programs and data executed by the processor 901 .

[0250] The storage 903 includes a storage medium such as a semiconductor memory or a hard disk.

[0251] 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 .

[0252] 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.

[0253] The sensor 907 includes a group of sensors such as a positioning sensor, a gyro sensor, a geomagnetic sensor, and an acceleration sensor.

[0254] The microphone 908 converts the sound input to the smartphone 900 into an audio signal.

[0255] 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.

[0256] The display device 910 has a screen such as a liquid crystal display (LCD), an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display, or a quantum dot (QD) display, and converts the audio signal output from the smartphone 900 into audio.

[0257] The wireless communication interface 913 supports one or more wireless LAN standards such as IEEE802.11a, 11b, 11g, 11n, 11ac, 11ad, 11ax, 11ay, 11be, 11bn, and successor standards thereof, and performs wireless communication.

[0258] 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.

[0259] 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.

[0260] 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.

[0261] The wireless communication interface 913 may support other types of wireless communication methods in addition to the wireless LAN method, such as a short-range wireless communication method such as Bluetooth, a proximity wireless communication method such as NFC, or a 3GPP cellular communication method such as 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G, and 6G. The wireless communication interface 913 may be a one-chip module that supports multiple wireless communication methods, or may be a combination of modules that support some of the wireless communication methods.

[0262] The antenna switch 914 switches the connection destination of the antenna 915 between multiple circuits included in the wireless communication interface 913 (for example, circuits for different wireless communication methods, or transmission system circuits and reception system circuits).

[0263] The antenna 915 has a single or multiple antenna elements (for example, multiple antenna elements constituting a MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output) antenna, or multiple antenna elements constituting an array antenna) and is used for transmitting and receiving radio signals via the wireless communication interface 913.

[0264] 19 , the smartphone 900 may include multiple antennas (for example, a wireless LAN antenna, a proximity wireless communication antenna, and a cellular communication antenna). In this case, the antenna switch 914 may be omitted from the configuration of the smartphone 900.

[0265] 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.

[0266] The battery 918 supplies power to each block of the smartphone 900 shown in FIG. 19 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. The battery 918 may also be charged via the external connection interface 904. The battery 918 may also have a function that allows reading information regarding the remaining amount of power, the cumulative power-on time, or the cumulative amount of power supply, and the processor 901, the wireless communication interface 913, or the auxiliary controller 919 may control any of the functions of the above-described embodiments based on the information read from the battery 918.

[0267] In the smartphone 900 shown in FIG. 19 , for example, the wireless communication device 100 of FIG. 3 and the wireless communication device 1 of FIG. 4 may be implemented in the wireless communication interface 913. For example, processing programs corresponding to the flowcharts of FIGS. 5A, 5B, 8, and 14 may be executed in the wireless communication interface 913. The wireless communication interface 913 may also store information corresponding to FIGS. 7, 9C to 9D, 10A, 10B, 11, 12A to 12C, 13, and 15 of the present technology. The wireless communication interface 913 may also transmit signals corresponding to the frame formats of FIGS. 9C to 9D and 15 of the present technology. At least a part of these functions may be implemented in the processor 901 or the auxiliary controller 919.

[0268] 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 have a wireless AP function. The processor 901 or the wireless communication interface 913 may have a tethering function that uses a wireless LAN system and a cellular communication system, and may transmit payload data received via the cellular communication system via the wireless LAN system, or may transmit payload data received via the wireless LAN system via the cellular communication system. The smartphone 900 may have a tethering function enabled by user input.

[0269] 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.

[0270] 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 related to the present technology, for example, information related to a link used for communication and information related to SCA operation, may be output from at least one of the display device 910 and the speaker 911. Furthermore, the input device 909 may be configured to input a confirmation or response to the information output from at least one of the display device 910 and the speaker 911.

[0271] <Configuration example of in-vehicle device> Fig. 20 is a block diagram showing an example of a schematic configuration of an in-vehicle device 920 to which the present technology is applied. Fig. 20 is described as an example of the configuration of the in-vehicle device 920, but the configuration is not limited to this and may be an example of the configuration of the various devices and functions described above.

[0272] 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. The in-vehicle device 920 may be configured to include all or some of the above.

[0273] 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.

[0274] The memory 922 includes RAM and ROM, and stores programs and data executed by the processor 921 .

[0275] 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.

[0276] The sensor 925 includes a group of sensors such as a gyro sensor, a geomagnetic sensor, a millimeter wave radar, a camera (an imaging element such as a CCD or CMOS), and a barometric pressure sensor.

[0277] 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 vehicle-side data.

[0278] The content player 927 plays content stored on a storage medium (for example, a CD or DVD) inserted into the storage medium interface 928, or content received via the wireless communication interface 933, etc.

[0279] The input device 929 includes, for example, a touch sensor, a button, or a switch that detects a touch on the screen of the display device 930, and accepts operations or information input from the user. For example, the input device 929 may be configured to input a confirmation or response to information output from at least one of the display device 930 and the speaker 931.

[0280] The display device 930 has a screen such as an LCD or OLED display, and displays images of navigation functions or content being played, or information related to the technology, such as information about the links used for communication and information about SCA operation.

[0281] The speaker 931 outputs the audio of the navigation function or the content being played, or information about the present technology, such as information about the link used for communication and information about SCA operation.

[0282] 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.

[0283] The wireless communication interface 933 supports one or more wireless LAN standards, such as IEEE 802.11a, 11b, 11g, 11n, 11ac, 11ad, 11ax, 11ay, 11be, 11bn, and their successor standards, and performs wireless communication. In infrastructure mode, the wireless communication interface 933 communicates with other devices via a wireless LAN AP. In ad hoc mode or a direct communication mode such as Wi-Fi Direct, the wireless communication interface 933 communicates directly with other devices. Note that, unlike ad hoc mode, in Wi-Fi Direct, one of two terminals operates as an AP, but communication is performed directly between the terminals.

[0284] The wireless communication interface 933 typically includes a baseband processor, an RF circuit, a power amplifier, and the like. The wireless communication interface 933 may be a one-chip module integrating a memory for storing a communication control program, a processor for executing the program, and related circuits. In addition to the WLAN system, the wireless communication interface 933 may support other types of wireless communication systems, such as a short-range wireless communication system such as Bluetooth, a proximity wireless communication system such as NFC, or 3GPP cellular communication systems such as 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G, and 6G. The wireless communication interface 933 may be a one-chip module that supports multiple wireless communication systems, or a combination of modules that support some of the wireless communication systems.

[0285] The antenna switch 934 switches the connection destination of the antenna 935 between multiple circuits included in the wireless communication interface 933 (for example, circuits for different wireless communication methods, or transmission system circuits and reception system circuits).

[0286] The antenna 935 has a single or multiple antenna elements (e.g., multiple antenna elements constituting a MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output) antenna, or multiple antenna elements constituting an array antenna) and is used for transmitting and receiving radio signals via the wireless communication interface 933.

[0287] 20, the in-vehicle device 920 may include a plurality of antennas 935 (for example, an antenna for wireless LAN, an antenna for a close-proximity wireless communication system, and an antenna for a cellular communication system). In this case, the antenna switch 934 may be omitted from the configuration of the in-vehicle device 920.

[0288] The battery 938 supplies power to each block of the in-vehicle device 920 shown in Fig. 20 via a power supply line partially indicated by a dashed line in the figure. The battery 938 may also store power supplied from the vehicle side. Alternatively, the in-vehicle device 920 may not be equipped with a battery and may instead use power supplied from the vehicle side via a voltage regulator or a capacitor.

[0289] In the in-vehicle device 920 shown in Fig. 20 , for example, the wireless communication device 100 of Fig. 3 and the wireless communication device 1 of Fig. 4 may be implemented in the wireless communication interface 933. For example, processing programs corresponding to the flowcharts of Figs. 5A, 5B, 8, and 14 may be executed in the wireless communication interface 933. Furthermore, the wireless communication interface 933 may store information corresponding to Figs. 7, 9C to 9D, 10A, 10B, 11, 12A to 12C, 13, and 15 of the present technology. Furthermore, the wireless communication interface 933 may transmit signals corresponding to the frame formats of Figs. 9C to 9D and 15 of the present technology. Furthermore, at least a part of these functions may be implemented in the processor 921.

[0290] The wireless communication interface 933 may also operate as the wireless communication device 100 or the wireless communication device 1 described above and provide a wireless connection to a terminal owned by a user in the vehicle. For example, the wireless communication interface 933 may connect the in-vehicle device 920 to other peripheral devices, and the in-vehicle device 920 may use CarPlay (registered trademark) or Android Auto (registered trademark). Note that the wireless communication interface 933 may also connect the in-vehicle device 920 to other peripheral devices using a short-range wireless communication method, infrastructure mode, or a wireless LAN method using Wi-Fi Direct.

[0291] The in-vehicle device 920 may operate as a wireless AP (software AP) by the processor 921 executing an AP function at the application level. The wireless communication interface 933 may have a wireless AP function. The processor 921 or the wireless communication interface 933 may have a tethering function that uses a wireless LAN system and a cellular communication system, and may transmit payload data received via the cellular communication system via the wireless LAN system, or may transmit payload data received via the wireless LAN system via the cellular communication system. The in-vehicle device 920 may have the tethering function enabled by user input.

[0292] Furthermore, 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 may generate vehicle-side data such as vehicle speed information, engine rotation speed information, information about the vehicle-side battery, or malfunction information, and output the generated data to the in-vehicle network 941, and the processor 921 or the wireless communication interface 933 may control any of the functions of the above-described embodiments based on the vehicle-side data acquired via the in-vehicle network 941.

[0293] <Configuration example of wireless AP> Fig. 21 is a block diagram showing an example of a schematic configuration of a wireless AP 950 to which the present technology is applied. Fig. 21 is described as an example of the configuration of the wireless AP 950, but is not limited to this and may be an example of the configuration of the various devices and functions described above.

[0294] 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. The wireless AP 950 may include all or some of the above.

[0295] 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).

[0296] 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).

[0297] The input device 954 includes, for example, buttons and switches, and receives operations from the user. For example, the input device 954 may input a confirmation or response to information output from the display device 955. The input device 954 may also input, by user operation, switching the wireless function on / off and switching between the router function and the access point function.

[0298] The display device 955 includes an LED lamp or the like to display the operational status of the wireless AP 950. The display device 955 may display information related to the present technology, such as information about the link used for communication and information about SCA operation.

[0299] 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 network interface 957 may output payload data included in a wireless signal input from the wireless communication interface 963 as a wired signal, or may receive payload data output as a wireless signal from the wireless communication interface 963 as a wired signal. The network interface 957 may input and output wired signals in parallel with or independently of the wireless communication interface 963 inputting and outputting wireless signals. The wired communication network 958 may be a LAN such as Ethernet (registered trademark) or a WAN (Wide Area Network).

[0300] The wireless communication interface 963 supports one or more wireless LAN standards such as IEEE 802.11a, 11b, 11g, 11n, 11ac, 11ad, 11ax, 11ay, 11be, 11bn, and their successor standards, and provides wireless connection to nearby terminals as an AP. When the wireless AP 950 is installed in a cellular communication base station or a femtocell, the wireless communication interface 963 may support other types of wireless communication systems, such as 3GPP cellular communication systems such as 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G, and 6G, in addition to the wireless LAN system. The wireless communication interface 963 may be a one-chip module that supports multiple wireless communication systems, or a combination of modules that support some of the wireless communication systems.

[0301] The wireless communication interface 963 typically includes a baseband processor, an RF circuit, a power amplifier, and the like.

[0302] 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.

[0303] The antenna switch 964 switches the connection destination of the antenna 965 between multiple circuits (e.g., circuits for different wireless communication methods, or transmission circuits and reception circuits) included in the wireless communication interface 963. The antenna 965 has a single antenna element or multiple antenna elements (e.g., multiple antenna elements constituting a MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output) antenna, or multiple antenna elements constituting an array antenna), and is used for transmitting and receiving wireless signals via the wireless communication interface 963.

[0304] In the wireless AP 950 shown in FIG. 21 , for example, the wireless communication device 100 of FIG. 3 and the wireless communication device 1 of FIG. 4 may also be implemented in the wireless communication interface 963. For example, processing programs corresponding to the flowcharts of FIGS. 5A, 5B, 8, and 14 may be executed in the wireless communication interface 963. The wireless communication interface 963 may also store information corresponding to FIGS. 7, 9C to 9D, 10A, 10B, 11, 12A to 12C, 13, and 15 of the present technology. The wireless communication interface 963 may also transmit signals corresponding to the frame formats of FIGS. 9C to 9D and 15 of the present technology. At least some of these functions may be implemented in the controller 951.

[0305] 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.

[0306] Furthermore, part or all of the communication control device described in the above embodiments may be realized, for example, as a semiconductor chip (IC (Integrated Circuit)) having a wireless communication control function. Also, it may be realized by a single semiconductor chip equipped with multiple functions, such as a SoC (System on Chip), or by combining multiple semiconductor chips each having a single function, such as a processor. Furthermore, it may be realized by combining multiple SoCs, or by combining a semiconductor chip with a single function with a SoC. Also, it may be realized by a semiconductor chip such as an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) dedicated to realizing each unit, or by a combination of a general-purpose processor with software or firmware, or by a semiconductor chip such as an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array).

[0307] 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.

[0308] 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.

[0309] 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.

[0310] Furthermore, the effects described in this specification are merely examples and are not limiting, and other effects may also be present.

[0311] 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.

[0312] 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.

[0313] 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.

[0314] 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.

[0315] The present technology may be configured as follows: (1) A communication control device including a control unit that controls a communication unit that communicates on at least one of a first channel and one or more second channels, wherein the control unit controls the communication unit to at least one of transmit to a first wireless communication device or receive from the first wireless communication device a first signal including information on an interference signal that interferes with at least a part of the first channel and information on a third channel including at least one of the second channels. (2) The communication control device according to (1), wherein the first channel is a primary channel, and the second channel is a secondary channel. (3) The information on the interference signal includes information on a bandwidth of the interference signal and is associated with information on the third channel, and when interference on the first channel is detected, the control unit controls to communicate with the first wireless communication device using a fourth channel identified from at least one of the third channels based on information on the bandwidth of the detected interference and information on the bandwidth of the interference signal. (4) The communication control device according to (3), wherein the first signal includes first information including information on the bandwidth of a band that at least partially includes the first channel where interference is predicted, and second information including information on the bandwidth of a band that corresponds to the first information and is used for communication when the band including the first channel is being interfered with. (5) The communication control device according to (4), wherein the control unit detects interference of a fifth channel that at least partially includes the first channel, and identifies the fourth channel of the bandwidth specified in the second information from a portion of the one or more second channels that does not overlap with the fifth channel. (6) The communication control device according to (5), wherein the control unit controls receiving or transmitting the first signal before detecting interference of the fifth channel. (7) The communication control device according to (5) or (6), wherein the control unit controls storing the first information and the second information of the received or transmitted first signal in a first storage unit, and when the fifth channel is being interfered with, controls identifying the fourth channel based on the first information and the second information stored in the first storage unit.(8) The communication control device according to any one of (5) to (7), wherein, when at least one of the third channels includes a channel that is uniquely determined based on the second information from a portion of the one or more second channels that does not overlap with the fifth channel, the control unit performs control to identify the uniquely determined channel as the fourth channel. (9) The communication control device according to any one of (5) to (8), wherein the first signal includes third information that specifies a position of the fourth channel from a portion of the one or more second channels that does not overlap with the fifth channel. (10) The communication control device according to (9), wherein the third information includes number information that specifies the fourth channel from the one or more second channels, and the control unit identifies the position of the fourth channel by comparing an order of the one or more second channels with the number information. (11) The communication control device according to (9) or (10), wherein the control unit performs control to identify the fourth channel from a plurality of the third channels including a sixth channel and a seventh channel having a different bandwidth from the sixth channel, and the second information includes information on the bandwidth of the sixth channel and information on the bandwidth of the seventh channel, and the third information includes information on a position of the sixth channel and information on a position of the seventh channel. (12) The communication control device according to (11), wherein the sixth channel has a bandwidth larger than that of the seventh channel, and the control unit performs control to communicate using the sixth channel out of the sixth and seventh channels, and when communication is not possible on the sixth channel, to communicate using the seventh channel. (13) A communication control device described in any one of (9) to (12), wherein the first information includes information on multiple bandwidths of multiple fifth channels including an eighth channel and a ninth channel having a different bandwidth from the eighth channel, and the second information includes information on a bandwidth to be used for communication when the eighth channel is experiencing interference and information on a bandwidth to be used for communication when the ninth channel is experiencing interference.(14) The communication control device according to any one of (9) to (13), wherein the third information includes information on positions of the plurality of third channels and priority information for specifying the fourth channel with higher priority from the plurality of third channels, and the control unit performs control such that, when communication is not possible on the third channel with higher priority based on the priority information, communication with the first wireless communication device is performed on the third channel with lower priority. (15) The communication control device according to (14), wherein the priority information is information according to an arrangement order of the plurality of third channels in the third information. (16) The communication control device according to any one of (9) to (15), wherein, when communicating with the first wireless communication device, the control unit checks whether the first channel is being interfered with, and if the first channel is being interfered with, checks a first bandwidth of the interfered channel including the first channel and determines a second bandwidth to be used for communicating with the first wireless communication device based on the first information and the second information, specifies a position of the fourth channel according to the first bandwidth and the second bandwidth from the third information, and communicates with the first wireless communication device using the fourth channel. (17) The communication control device according to (16), wherein, if a tenth channel including the first channel and an eleventh channel separated from the tenth channel in frequency band are being interfered with, specifies a bandwidth of consecutive channels in a frequency band including the tenth channel and the eleventh channel as the first bandwidth. (18) A communication control device according to (16) or (17), which performs control to convert the first bandwidth into the first information based on a first rule indicating the relationship between the first bandwidth and the first information, convert the second bandwidth into the second information based on a second rule indicating the relationship between the second bandwidth and the second information, extract the third information from the first signal based on the converted first information and second information, and convert the third information into the position of the fourth channel based on a third rule indicating the relationship between the third information and the position of the fourth channel.(19) The communication control device according to (16) or (17), which performs control to acquire from a second storage unit a first table indicating a relationship between the first bandwidth and the first information, a second table indicating a relationship between the second bandwidth and the second information, and a third table indicating a relationship between the third information and a position of the fourth channel, convert the first bandwidth into the first information based on the first table, convert the second bandwidth into the second information based on the second table, extract the third information from the first signal based on the converted first information and second information, and convert the third information into the position of the fourth channel based on the third table. (20) The communication control device according to any one of (9) to (19), wherein the first signal is arranged with the first information, the second information, and the third information arranged in this order. (21) The communication control device according to any one of (9) to (20), wherein the control unit controls to transmit or receive a fourth signal that notifies an update of at least one of the first information, the second information, or the third information, or that requests at least one of the first information, the second information, or the third information, and when notifying of the update, the fourth signal includes fourth information that includes at least one of the updated first information, the second information, or the third information. (22) The communication control device according to any one of (1) to (21), wherein the control unit controls to switch whether to permit communication through the second channel, to the communication unit. (23) The communication control device according to any one of (1) to (22), wherein the control unit controls to switch whether to permit transmission and reception of the first signal with the first wireless communication device. (24) The communication control device according to any one of (1) to (23), which supports one or more of IEEE802.11a, 11b, 11g, 11n, 11ac, 11ad, 11ax, 11ay, 11be, 11bn, or successor standards thereof. (25) The communication control device according to any one of (1) to (24), which supports at least one of a wireless LAN system or a 3GPP cellular communication system. (26) The communication control device according to any one of (1) to (25), which is configured with one or more semiconductor chips.(27) A communication control method, which performs communication on at least one of a first channel and one or more second channels, and controls to at least one of transmit a first signal to a first wireless communication device or receive a first signal from the first wireless communication device, the first signal including information on an interfering signal that interferes with at least a portion of the first channel and information on a third channel including at least one of the second channels.

[0316] 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.

[0317] 1, 100 wireless communication device, 2 link, 3 interference source, 4 interference signal detection range, 10, 10a, 11, 12, 21, 22, 22a, 22b, 31, 32, 33, 34 band, 101, 102 AP, 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, 201, 202 STA, 300, 340 frame, 301 Element ID, 302 Length, 303 Element ID Extension, 304 Information, 311 Interference BW, 312, 312a, 312b, 312c SCA Channel Information, 321 SCA BW Indication, 322 Number of Candidate Channel Position, 323, 323a, 323b SCA Channel Position, 331 XXMHz SCA Cannel Position, 331a 20 MHz SCA Cannel Position, 331b 40 MHz SCA Cannel Position, 331c 80 MHz SCA Cannel Position, 341 Category, 342 Protected UHR Action, 343 Dialog Token, 344 SCA_INFO

Claims

1. A communication control device comprising a control unit that controls a communication unit that communicates on at least one of a first channel and one or more second channels, wherein the control unit controls the communication unit to at least one of transmit to a first wireless communication device or receive from the first wireless communication device a first signal that includes information on an interfering signal that interferes with at least a portion of the first channel and information on a third channel that includes at least one of the second channels.

2. The communication control device according to claim 1, wherein the first channel is a primary channel, and the second channel is a secondary channel.

3. The communication control device according to claim 2, wherein the information on the interference signal includes information on the bandwidth of the interference signal and is associated with information on the third channel, and when interference on the first channel is detected, the control unit controls communication with the first wireless communication device using a fourth channel identified from at least one of the third channels based on information on the bandwidth of the detected interference and information on the bandwidth of the interference signal.

4. A communication control device as described in claim 3, wherein the first signal includes first information including information on the bandwidth of a band that at least partially includes the first channel in which interference is predicted, and second information corresponding to the first information including information on the bandwidth of a band to be used for communication when the band including the first channel is experiencing interference.

5. The communication control device according to claim 4, wherein the control unit detects interference of a fifth channel that at least partially includes the first channel, and identifies the fourth channel of the bandwidth specified in the second information from the portion of the one or more second channels that does not overlap with the fifth channel.

6. The communication control device according to claim 5, wherein the control unit controls reception or transmission of the first signal before detecting interference on the fifth channel.

7. A communication control device according to claim 5, wherein the control unit controls the first information and the second information of the received or transmitted first signal to be stored in a first storage unit, and when the fifth channel is subject to interference, controls the fourth channel to be identified based on the first information and the second information stored in the first storage unit.

8. The communication control device according to claim 5, wherein, when at least one of the third channels includes a channel that is uniquely determined based on the second information from a portion of the one or more second channels that does not overlap with the fifth channel, the control unit performs control to identify the uniquely determined channel as the fourth channel.

9. The communication control device according to claim 5, wherein the first signal includes third information that specifies the position of the fourth channel from a portion of the one or more second channels that does not overlap with the fifth channel.

10. A communication control device as described in claim 9, wherein the third information includes number information specifying the fourth channel from the one or more second channels, and the control unit compares the order of the one or more second channels with the number information to identify the position of the fourth channel.

11. The communication control device described in claim 9, wherein the control unit performs control to identify the fourth channel from a plurality of third channels including a sixth channel and a seventh channel having a different bandwidth from the sixth channel, and the second information includes information on the bandwidth of the sixth channel and information on the bandwidth of the seventh channel, and the third information includes information on the position of the sixth channel and information on the position of the seventh channel.

12. The communication control device according to claim 11, wherein the sixth channel has a bandwidth larger than that of the seventh channel, and the control unit performs control to communicate using the sixth channel out of the sixth channel and the seventh channel, and to communicate using the seventh channel when communication is not possible using the sixth channel.

13. A communication control device as described in claim 9, wherein the first information includes information on multiple bandwidths of multiple fifth channels including an eighth channel and a ninth channel having a different bandwidth from the eighth channel, and the second information includes information on a bandwidth to be used for communication when the eighth channel is experiencing interference and information on a bandwidth to be used for communication when the ninth channel is experiencing interference.

14. The communication control device according to claim 9, wherein the third information includes information on the positions of the plurality of third channels and priority information for specifying the fourth channel with higher priority from the plurality of third channels, and the control unit controls communication with the first wireless communication device on the third channel with lower priority based on the priority information when communication is not possible on the third channel with higher priority.

15. The communication control device according to claim 14, wherein the priority information is information corresponding to the arrangement order of the plurality of third channels among the third information.

16. The communication control device according to claim 9, wherein the control unit, when communicating with the first wireless communication device, checks whether the first channel is being interfered with, and if the first channel is being interfered with, checks the first bandwidth of the interfered channel including the first channel and determines the second bandwidth to be used for communication with the first wireless communication device based on the first information and the second information, identifies the position of the fourth channel according to the first bandwidth and the second bandwidth from the third information, and controls communication with the first wireless communication device using the fourth channel.

17. A communication control device according to claim 16, wherein, when a tenth channel including the first channel and an eleventh channel separated from the tenth channel in frequency band are subject to interference, the bandwidth of consecutive channels in a frequency band including the tenth channel and the eleventh channel is identified as the first bandwidth.

18. The communication control device according to claim 9, wherein the first signal includes the first information, the second information, and the third information arranged in this order.

19. The communication control device according to claim 9, wherein the control unit controls the transmission or reception of a fourth signal that notifies an update of at least one of the first information, the second information, or the third information, or that requests at least one of the first information, the second information, or the third information, and when notifying an update, the fourth signal includes fourth information that includes at least one of the updated first information, the second information, or the third information.

20. A communication control method, comprising: performing communication on at least one of a first channel and one or more second channels; and controlling the first signal, which includes information on an interfering signal that interferes with at least a portion of the first channel and information on a third channel that includes at least one of the second channels, to be transmitted to a first wireless communication device or received from the first wireless communication device.

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