Wireless communication system, base station, wireless communication method, and communication control program

Abstract

This wireless communication system according to one embodiment comprises: a plurality of wireless terminals that are each capable of multi-link operation and have preset different priorities; and a base station that is capable of multi-link operation. The wireless communication system is characterized in that the base station comprises an identification unit that identifies the degree of priority of each of the wireless terminals, and a setting unit that performs setting so that all links can be used for the wireless terminal identified as having the highest priority by the identification unit, and only some links can be used for the wireless terminal identified as not having the highest priority by the identification unit.

Description

Wireless Communication System, Base Station, Wireless Communication Method, and Communication Control Program

[0001] The present invention relates to a wireless communication system, a base station, a wireless communication method, and a communication control program.

[0002] For example, in the IEEE 802.be standard, multi-link transmission (Multi-Link Operation: MLO) that performs frame transmission by utilizing a plurality of transmission paths (links) with different frequency channels is planned to be defined.

[0003] A wireless device that performs MLO mounts a plurality of different wireless interfaces in one housing, establishes a plurality of transmission paths, and is called a multi-link device (MLD) (see, for example, Non-Patent Document 1).

[0004] "IEEE P802.11beTM / D5.0", Draft Standard for Information technology - Telecommunications and information exchange between systems Local and metropolitan area networks - Specific requirements, Part 11: Wireless LAN Medium Access Control (MAC) and Physical Layer (PHY) Specifications, Amendment 8: Enhancements for extremely high throughput (EHT), Prepared by the 802.11 Working Group of the LAN / MAN Standards Committee of the IEEE Computer Society, November 2023

[0005] However, when multiple MLO-enabled wireless terminals (MLDs) are present within a base station cell, the frequency bandwidth occupied will be several times greater than when multiple non-MLD wireless terminals are present within the same cell. Therefore, when a large number of wireless terminals utilize the multilink function, the frequency bandwidth can become congested, potentially leading to a significant degradation in communication quality.

[0006] In particular, when service applications are of high importance, and there are wireless terminals (premium terminals) that should provide stable communication, the MLO used by surrounding non-premium terminals could make it difficult to ensure the communication quality that should be provided to the premium terminals.

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide a wireless communication system, base station, wireless communication method, and communication control program that can suppress the degradation of communication quality of high-priority wireless terminals when multiple wireless terminals with different priorities are mixed together.

[0008] A wireless communication system according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises a plurality of wireless terminals, each capable of multilink transmission and having different priorities set in advance, and a base station capable of multilink transmission, wherein the base station has an identification unit that identifies the priority level of each of the wireless terminals, and a setting unit that enables the use of all links for wireless terminals identified by the identification unit as having the highest priority, and enables the use of only some links for wireless terminals identified by the identification unit as having a lower priority.

[0009] Furthermore, a base station according to one embodiment of the present invention is a base station that enables multilink transmission and performs wireless communication with a plurality of wireless terminals for which different priorities have been set in advance, and is characterized by having an identification unit that identifies the priority level of each of the wireless terminals, and a setting unit that enables the use of all links for the wireless terminal identified by the identification unit as having the highest priority, and enables the use of only some links for the wireless terminal identified by the identification unit as having a lower priority.

[0010] Furthermore, a wireless communication method according to one embodiment of the present invention is a wireless communication method in which a base station, which is also enabled for multilink transmission, performs wireless communication with a plurality of wireless terminals, each of which is enabled for multilink transmission and has different priorities set in advance, and the method includes an identification step of identifying the high or low priority of each of the wireless terminals, and a setting step of enabling the use of all links for the wireless terminal identified in the identification step as having the highest priority, and enabling the use of only some links for the wireless terminal identified in the identification step as not having the highest priority.

[0011] Furthermore, a communication control program according to one embodiment of the present invention is a communication control program executed by a base station that performs wireless communication with a plurality of wireless terminals, each of which is enabled to perform multilink transmission and has different priorities set in advance, and is a communication control program for causing a computer to function as each part of the base station, having an identification unit that identifies the priority level of each of the wireless terminals, and a setting unit that enables the use of all links for the wireless terminals that the identification unit identifies as having the highest priority, and enables the use of only some links for the wireless terminals that the identification unit identifies as not having the highest priority.

[0012] According to the present invention, when multiple wireless terminals with different priorities are present, it is possible to suppress the degradation of communication quality of the wireless terminal with higher priority.

[0013] This figure schematically shows a first configuration example and functions of a wireless communication system according to one embodiment. This figure schematically illustrates a state in which the wireless communication system according to one embodiment suppresses the degradation of communication quality of high-priority wireless terminals. This is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a wireless terminal. This is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a base station. This is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of a wireless communication system according to one embodiment. This is a diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of a base station according to one embodiment. This is a diagram showing an example of the operation when the second configuration example of the wireless communication system stealths the SSID. This is a diagram showing an example of the operation when the third configuration example of the wireless communication system divides each A-AP into Virtual APs. This is a diagram showing an overview of the AP MLD in the fourth configuration example of the wireless communication system. This is a diagram showing a fifth configuration example and an example of the operation of the wireless communication system.

[0014] First, an overview of a wireless communication system 10 according to one embodiment will be described using Figures 1 and 2. Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing a first configuration example and function of a wireless communication system 10 according to one embodiment.

[0015] As shown in Figure 1, a wireless communication system 10 according to one embodiment includes, for example, wireless terminals 20-1 to 20-5 each capable of multilink transmission (e.g., three-link transmission) and one or more base stations (AP MLDs) 30 capable of multilink transmission. Hereinafter, when one of the multiple configurations, such as wireless terminals (Non-AP MLDs) 20-1 to 20-5, is not specified, it will simply be abbreviated as wireless terminal 20, etc.

[0016] In the example shown in Figure 1, each of the wireless terminals 20-1 to 20-5 attempts to communicate with the base station 30 using three links simultaneously. When a large number of wireless terminals 20 utilize the multilink function in this way, the frequency bandwidth can become congested, potentially leading to a significant decrease in the communication quality of each wireless terminal 20.

[0017] Here, wireless terminal 20-1 is designated as a so-called premium terminal, with a higher priority set for communication (communication quality) than wireless terminals 20-2 to 20-5. However, as shown in the example in Figure 1, when multiple wireless terminals 20 (wireless terminal 20-1, which is a premium terminal, and wireless terminals 20-2 to 20-5, which are not premium terminals) utilize the multilink function, it may become difficult to ensure communication quality, such as high-speed communication, that should be provided to wireless terminal 20-1.

[0018] Therefore, in one embodiment of the wireless communication system 10, even when multiple wireless terminals (wireless terminals 20-1 to 20-5) are mixed together, each capable of multilink transmission and having different priorities set in advance, and when wireless communication is performed with a base station 30 that is capable of multilink transmission, the system is configured to suppress a decrease in the communication quality of the high-priority wireless terminal 20-1.

[0019] Figure 2 schematically illustrates a state in which a wireless communication system 10 according to one embodiment suppresses the degradation of communication quality of a high-priority wireless terminal 20-1. In the example shown in Figure 2, for example, the base station 30 determines whether or not to use the multilink function for each of the wireless terminals 20-1 to 20-5 according to the terminal type (whether it is a premium terminal or a non-premium terminal), thereby avoiding congestion of the frequency band in the wireless communication system 10.

[0020] In this case, base station 30, which operates the three links, allows the premium terminal, wireless terminal 20-1, to use all links. Furthermore, base station 30 allows each of the non-premium terminals, wireless terminals 20-2 to 20-5, to use only a portion of the links (for example, one of them) by, for instance, making them aware that base station 30 does not support multilink transmission.

[0021] In other words, even when multiple wireless terminals 20 with different priorities are mixed together, the wireless communication system 10 can alleviate congestion of the frequency band and enable high-speed, high-capacity communication by MLO for the high-priority wireless terminal 20-1, thereby suppressing a deterioration in communication quality.

[0022] Next, the specific configuration of the wireless communication system 10 will be described.

[0023] Figure 3 is a block diagram showing an example configuration of a wireless terminal 20. As shown in Figure 3, the wireless terminal 20 includes, for example, a data processing unit 21, a management unit 22, a MAC frame processing unit (Upper) 23, a plurality of MAC frame processing units (Lower) 24, and a plurality of transmitting / receiving units 25. Furthermore, each combination of the MAC frame processing unit 24 and the transmitting / receiving unit 25 constitutes an Affiliate Station (Affiliate STA) 200.

[0024] The data processing unit 21 outputs data received from the upper layer via the LLC layer to the MAC frame processing unit 23. The data processing unit 21 also outputs data received from the MAC frame processing unit 23 to the upper layer via the LLC layer.

[0025] Note that the premium wireless terminal 20-1 and the non-premium wireless terminals 20-2 to 20-5 each have the same configuration. However, wireless terminals 20-2 to 20-5 use, for example, only one transmitting / receiving unit 25 and one MAC frame processing unit 24, and perform processing for only one affiliate STA.

[0026] The management unit 22 has a connection management function and manages information (such as the MAC address of the affiliate AP to which each RF connects) belonging to the base station 30 that is connected to the wireless terminal 20 via multilink, obtained by analyzing the beacon transmitted by the base station 30.

[0027] Then, the management unit 22 uses information about affiliate APs to determine the connection destination for each RF from among the affiliate APs that are receiving beacons, and generates a multilink association request.

[0028] For example, wireless terminals 20-2 to 20-5, which are non-premium terminals, perform beacon analysis and manage information about connected affiliate APs, but are configured to temporarily disable functions related to multilink connections.

[0029] The MAC frame processing unit (Upper) 23 inputs and outputs management information to and from the management unit 22, and inputs and outputs data to and from the data processing unit 21. For example, the MAC frame processing unit 23 processes frames input from the MAC frame processing unit 24 (such as aggregation / de-aggregation). The MAC frame processing unit 23 also sends the management information and data input from the data processing unit 21 and the management unit 22 to the MAC frame processing unit 24 of the affiliate STA under the destination wireless terminal 20.

[0030] The MAC frame processing unit (Lower) 24 performs processing such as decoding of data input from the transmission / reception unit 25 based on connection information input from the management unit 22.

[0031] The transmitting / receiving unit 25 establishes individual wireless connections with the affiliate APs of the base station 30 and transmits and receives management information and data to and from the MAC frame processing unit 23.

[0032] Figure 4 is a block diagram showing an example configuration of a base station 30. As shown in Figure 4, the base station 30 has, for example, a plurality of data processing units 31, a plurality of MAC frame processing units (Upper: U-MAC) 32, a plurality of MAC frame processing units (Lower) 33, a plurality of transceiver units 34, and a plurality of management units 35, and is connected to, for example, a network (NW) not shown. In addition, each combination of MAC frame processing units 33 and transceiver units 34 constitutes an affiliate AP (Affiliated Access Point) 300.

[0033] The data processing unit 31 outputs data received from the network side via the LLC layer to the MAC frame processing unit 32. The data processing unit 31 also outputs data received from the MAC frame processing unit 32 to the network side via the LLC layer.

[0034] Furthermore, the base station 30 uses, for example, three affiliate APs 300 for the premium wireless terminal 20-1, and only one affiliate AP 300 for each of the non-premium wireless terminals 20-2 to 20-5.

[0035] The MAC frame processing unit (Upper) 32 performs input and output of management information with the management unit 35 and input and output of data with the data processing unit 31. For wireless terminals 20-2 to 20-5, which are non-premium terminals, the base station 30 uses three MAC frame processing units 32 individually for each of the three affiliate APs 300. In other words, each of the wireless terminals 20-2 to 20-5 connects to one of the affiliate APs 300 and uses the parts connected to each affiliate AP 300. Furthermore, for wireless terminal 20-1, which is a premium terminal, the base station 30 aggregates the information from the three affiliate APs 300 into one MAC frame processing unit 32. In other words, wireless terminal 20-1 connects to three affiliate APs 300 and uses three MAC frame processing units 33, and aggregates the information from the three MAC frame processing units 33 into one MAC frame processing unit 32.

[0036] The MAC frame processing unit (Lower) 33 performs processing such as decoding of data input from the transmission / reception unit 34 based on connection information from the management unit 35.

[0037] The transmitting / receiving unit 34 establishes a wireless connection with the wireless terminal 20 (or Non-MLD STA, not shown) or the like.

[0038] The management unit 35 includes, for example, an identification unit 36 ​​and a setting unit 37, and has connection management functions. The management unit 35 also manages information on the wireless terminals 20 (or Non-MLD STAs, not shown) to which each affiliate AP 300 or base station 30 connects. The information managed by the management unit 35 includes, for example, the MAC address of the wireless terminal 20 and the capabilities of the wireless terminal 20.

[0039] Then, the management unit 35 transmits connection management information to a control device (such as a network control device) not shown via, for example, the NW, and performs management and control according to a control instruction from the control device.

[0040] The identification unit 36 identifies the priority levels of the wireless terminals 20-1 to 20-5 respectively.

[0041] The setting unit 37 enables the use of all links for the wireless terminal 20 (that is, the wireless terminal 20-1) identified by the identification unit 36 as having the highest priority. Also, the setting unit 37 sets to enable the use of only some links for the wireless terminal 20 (that is, the wireless terminals 20-2 to 20-5) identified by the identification unit 36 as not having the highest priority.

[0042] Also, the setting unit 37 may set to enable the use of only one link for the wireless terminal 20 identified by the identification unit 36 as having the lowest priority. Further, the setting unit 37 may set to notify the wireless terminal 20 identified by the identification unit 36 as not having the highest priority that a part of the functions provided by the base station 30 (for example, some links) cannot be used.

[0043] Note that the identification unit 36 and the setting unit 37 are not limited to the configuration provided in the base station 30, and may be provided in, for example, a control device (such as a network control device) not shown that controls the wireless communication system 10.

[0044] That is, the base station 30 may perform control to suppress degradation of the communication quality of the high-priority wireless terminal 20-1, or the control device may perform control via the NW.

[0045] As a specific example, the base station 30 identifies a premium terminal among a plurality of wireless terminals 20 and constructs a multi-link configuration with the premium terminal. Also, the base station 30 may notify NW information (SSID / Link Capability) that can be identified only by the premium terminal and construct a normal multi-link configuration with the premium terminal.

[0046] Further, the base station 30 may identify the premium terminal by a notification from the NW or pre-registration in the whitelist method (MAC address of the MLD or affiliate STA). Further, the base station 30 may receive and identify specific signaling transmitted by the wireless terminal 20 (at the time of Association / Link Setup), or may use a connection attempt to an unknown SSID or the like by a non-premium terminal.

[0047] That is, the base station 30 may be configured to notify only the premium terminal with the SSID in a stealth configuration.

[0048] Further, the base station 30 may set Virtual APs (SSIDs) in each affiliate AP 300 and divide them into an SSID with multi-link enabled and an SSID with multi-link disabled. Then, the base station 30 may induce the connection of the premium terminal to the SSID with multi-link enabled.

[0049] Further, the base station 30 may set a plurality of Virtual APs (SSIDs) and prepare several link sets.

[0050] Further, the base station 30 may set up VLANs, divide the link sets for premium terminals and the link sets for non-premium terminals, and provide an L2 configuration according to each VLAN.

[0051] Further, the base station 30 may set different priorities (premium levels) at multiple levels for each wireless terminal 20, and set a premium terminal that can use all links, a quasi-premium terminal that can use only some links, and a non-premium terminal that can use only a single link.

[0052] Then, for non-premium terminals, the base station 30 operates each affiliate AP 300 not in the MLO configuration but as a non-MLO access point. For example, the base station 30 may disable the MLD capability for non-premium terminals and notify the non-premium terminals from each affiliate AP 300.

[0053] As a result, non-premium terminals can only belong to one of the affiliate APs 300 owned by the base station 30, making it impossible for them to use MLO.

[0054] Next, an example of the operation of the wireless communication system 10 according to one embodiment will be described. Figure 5 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the wireless communication system 10 according to one embodiment.

[0055] In step 100 (S100), the wireless terminal 20 (Non-AP MLD) attempts to connect to the affiliate AP 300 of the base station 30.

[0056] In step 102 (S102), the base station 30 identifies (determines) whether the wireless terminal 20 (Non-AP MLD) is a premium terminal. If the wireless terminal 20 is a premium terminal (S102: Yes), the process proceeds to S104. If the wireless terminal 20 is not a premium terminal (S102: No), the process proceeds to S108.

[0057] In step 104 (S104), the base station 30 notifies the premier terminal of its capability, indicating that MLO configuration is possible.

[0058] In step 106 (S106), the Premier terminal performs a multilink setup and conducts MLO communication with the base station 30.

[0059] In step 108 (S108), the base station 30 notifies the non-premium terminal of the capability that MLO configuration is not possible.

[0060] In step 110 (S110), the non-premium terminal performs non-MLO communication with the affiliate AP300 that performed the connection attempt.

[0061] In this way, the wireless communication system 10 identifies the priority level of each wireless terminal 20, and enables the use of all links for wireless terminals 20 identified as having the highest priority, while enabling the use of only some links for wireless terminals 20 identified as having a lower priority. Therefore, when multiple wireless terminals 20 with different priorities are present, the deterioration of communication quality for high-priority wireless terminals 20 can be suppressed.

[0062] Furthermore, each function of the wireless terminal 20 and the base station 30 may be partially or entirely composed of hardware such as a PLD (Programmable Logic Device) or FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), or it may be composed of a program executed by a processor such as a CPU.

[0063] For example, the base station 30 can be implemented using a computer and a program, and the program can be recorded on a storage medium or provided via a network.

[0064] Figure 6 shows an example of the hardware configuration of a base station 30 according to one embodiment. As shown in Figure 6, for example, the base station 30 has an input unit 50, an output unit 51, a communication unit 52, a CPU 53, a memory 54, and an HDD 55 connected via a bus 56, and is equipped with computer functions. The base station 30 is also configured to be able to input and output data to and from a computer-readable storage medium 57.

[0065] The input unit 50 is, for example, a keyboard and mouse. The output unit 51 is, for example, a display device such as a display that outputs images. The communication unit 52 is, for example, a wired and wireless network interface, and may also have the function of an output unit that outputs data to the outside.

[0066] The CPU 53 controls each component of the base station 30 and performs predetermined processing. The memory 54 and HDD 55 are storage units that store data, etc.

[0067] The storage medium 57 is capable of storing programs and the like that cause the base station 30 to execute its functions. Note that the architecture of the base station 30 is not limited to the example shown in Figure 6.

[0068] Next, the configuration and operation examples of another wireless communication system according to one embodiment will be described. Figure 7 shows an example of operation when the second configuration example of the wireless communication system has its SSID hidden.

[0069] In the second configuration example of the wireless communication system, the AP MLD has A-AP (Affiliate AP) 1 using 2.4 GHz, A-AP 2 using 5 GHz, and A-AP 3 using 6 GHz. Additionally, the Non-AP MLD (Premier Terminal) has A-STA (Affiliate STA) 1 using 2.4 GHz, A-STA 2 using 5 GHz, and A-STA 3 using 6 GHz. Furthermore, the Non-AP MLD (Non-Premier Terminal) also has A-STA (Affiliate STA) 4 using 2.4 GHz, A-STA 5 using 5 GHz, and A-STA 6 using 6 GHz.

[0070] In the second configuration example of the wireless communication system, each A-AP of the AP MLD transmits a beacon to each A-STA of the Non-AP MLD (premium terminal) and Non-AP MLD (non-premium terminal) indicating that the MLO is disabled (S200, S202, S204).

[0071] When A-STA2, a Non-AP MLD (Premier Terminal), attempts to connect to the AP MLD's MLD MAC address (stealth) (S206), the AP MLD responds with a probe (S208).

[0072] Furthermore, when the Non-AP MLD (non-premium terminal) A-STA5 attempts to connect to the AP MLD A-AP2 (S210), the AP MLD A-AP2 responds with a probe (S212).

[0073] Then, the AP MLD and Non-AP MLD (Premier terminal) perform a multilink setup using three links (S214), and each A-AP and A-STA of the corresponding frequency performs frame exchange (S216, S218, S220).

[0074] Furthermore, Non-AP MLDs (non-premium terminals) connect only to AP MLD A-AP2 and perform frame exchange (S222).

[0075] Figure 8 shows an example of operation when the third configuration example of the wireless communication system divides each A-AP into Virtual APs.

[0076] In the third configuration example of the wireless communication system, the AP MLD has VA-AP (Virtual Affiliate AP) 1 using 2.4 GHz with MLO enabled, VA-AP2 using 5 GHz, VA-AP3 using 6 GHz, and VA-AP4 using 2.4 GHz with MLO disabled, VA-AP5 using 5 GHz, and VA-AP6 using 6 GHz.

[0077] Furthermore, Non-AP MLD (Premium Terminal) has A-STA (Affiliate STA) 1 using 2.4 GHz, A-STA 2 using 5 GHz, and A-STA 3 using 6 GHz. Also, Non-AP MLD (Non-Premium Terminal) has A-STA (Affiliate STA) 4 using 2.4 GHz, A-STA 5 using 5 GHz, and A-STA 6 using 6 GHz.

[0078] Each VA-AP (Virtual Affiliate AP) transmits (notifies) a beacon to its corresponding A-STA (S300).

[0079] When A-STA2, a Non-AP MLD (Premier Terminal), sends a probe request to VA-AP2 or the AP MLD (S302), VA-AP2 responds with a probe (S304).

[0080] Then, the AP MLD and Non-AP MLD (Premier terminal) perform multilink setup (S306), and each VA-AP and A-STA with MLO enabled for the corresponding frequency performs frame exchange.

[0081] On the other hand, even if A-STA5, a Non-AP MLD (non-premium terminal), attempts to connect to VA-AP2 of the AP MLD or to the AP MLD (S308), VA-AP2 of the AP MLD does not accept the connection request because it is from a non-premium terminal, and therefore does not send a probe response.

[0082] However, when the Non-AP MLD (non-premium terminal) A-STA5 attempts to connect to the AP MLD VA-AP5, whose MLO is disabled (S310), the AP MLD VA-AP5 responds with a probe (S312).

[0083] Figure 9 shows an overview of the AP MLD in the fourth configuration example of the wireless communication system. In the fourth configuration example of the wireless communication system, the AP MLD subdivides the VA-AP into "MLO enabled (premium terminals only)", "MLO enabled (some non-premium terminals can also use it)", and "MLO disabled", and is configured to allow detailed control of the links that wireless terminals can connect to.

[0084] In the example shown in Figure 9, the premium terminal can perform MLO on all links (VA-AP1 to VA-AP3). On the other hand, the non-premium terminal can perform MLO only on the 2.4GHz and 5GHz links (VA-AP4 and VA-AP5). Alternatively, the non-premium terminal may not be able to perform MLO on VA-AP6 to VA-AP8.

[0085] Figure 10 shows a fifth configuration example and an example of operation of a wireless communication system. In the fifth configuration example of the wireless communication system, the NW control device connected to the higher-level NW identifies the Premier terminal.

[0086] For example, the NW control device stores information about premium terminals in advance in order to identify them (S400: pre-registration).

[0087] When a Non-AP MLD sends an assignment request to an AP MLD (S402), the AP MLD transmits information about the wireless terminal that sent the assignment request (assigned terminal information), including the MAC address and capability (whether or not it supports MLD), to the wireless device control unit (S404).

[0088] The wireless device control unit transmits AP information (whether or not it supports MLD), associated terminal information, etc., collected from the AP MLD to the NW control unit (S406).

[0089] The NW control device compares the capabilities of the collected wireless terminals (whether or not they support MLD) with the pre-registered premium terminals and extracts APs to which premium terminals belong (S408).

[0090] The wireless device control unit acquires the AP information assigned to the premium terminal (L2 result) (S410) and controls the AP assigned to the premium terminal to identify the premium terminal and the non-premium terminal and perform multilink (S412).

[0091] AP MLD performs the process of enabling the MLO configuration for premium terminals and disabling the MLO configuration for non-premium terminals (S414).

[0092] Thus, in one embodiment of the wireless communication system, the control to suppress the degradation of communication quality of high-priority wireless terminals may be performed by the base station, or by a control device via the network.

[0093] The functions realized by the components described herein may be implemented in a circuitry or processing circuitry, including general-purpose processors, application-specific processors, integrated circuits, ASICs (Application Specific Integrated Circuits), CPUs (a Central Processing Unit), conventional circuits, and / or combinations thereof, programmed to realize the functions described herein.

[0094] A processor includes transistors and other circuits and is considered circuitry or processing circuitry. A processor may also be a programmed processor that executes programs stored in memory.

[0095] In this specification, circuitry, unit, and means are hardware programmed to perform or execute the functions described herein. Such hardware may be any hardware disclosed herein, or any hardware known to be programmed to perform or execute the functions described herein.

[0096] If the hardware is a processor that is considered to be a type of circuitry, then the circuitry, means, or unit is a combination of hardware and software used to constitute the hardware and / or processor.

[0097] 10... Wireless communication system, 20-1 to 20-5... Wireless terminal, 21... Data processing unit, 22... Management unit, 23... MAC frame processing unit, 24... MAC frame processing unit, 25... Transmit / receive unit, 30... Base station, 31... Data processing unit, 32... MAC frame processing unit, 33... MAC frame processing unit, 34... Transmit / receive unit, 35... Management unit, 36... Identification unit, 37... Setting unit, 50... Input unit, 51... Output unit, 52... Communication unit, 53... CPU, 54... Memory, 55... HDD, 56... Bus, 57... Storage medium, 200... Affiliate STA, 300... Affiliate AP

Claims

1. A wireless communication system comprising a plurality of wireless terminals, each capable of multilink transmission and having different priorities set in advance, and a base station capable of multilink transmission, wherein the base station has an identification unit that identifies the priority level of each of the wireless terminals, and a setting unit that enables the use of all links for the wireless terminal identified by the identification unit as having the highest priority, and enables the use of only some links for the wireless terminal identified by the identification unit as having a lower priority.

2. The wireless communication system according to claim 1, characterized in that the setting unit is configured to notify the wireless terminal identified by the identification unit as not having the highest priority that some of the functions provided by the base station will be disabled.

3. A base station that enables multilink transmission for each of several wireless terminals and performs wireless communication with multiple wireless terminals for which different priorities have been set in advance, characterized in that it has an identification unit that identifies the priority level of each of the wireless terminals, and a setting unit that enables the use of all links for wireless terminals identified by the identification unit as having the highest priority, and enables the use of only some links for wireless terminals identified by the identification unit as having a lower priority.

4. The base station according to claim 3, characterized in that the setting unit is configured to notify the wireless terminal identified by the identification unit as not having the highest priority that some of the functions provided by the base station will be disabled.

5. A wireless communication method in which a base station, which is also enabled for multilink transmission, performs wireless communication between a plurality of wireless terminals, each enabled for multilink transmission and having different priorities set in advance, the method comprising: an identification step of identifying the priority level of each of the wireless terminals; and a setting step of enabling the use of all links for the wireless terminal identified in the identification step as having the highest priority, and enabling the use of only some links for the wireless terminal identified in the identification step as not having the highest priority.

6. The wireless communication method according to claim 5, characterized in that the setting step is configured to notify the wireless terminal identified in the identification step as not having the highest priority that some of the functions provided by the base station will be disabled.

7. A communication control program executed by a base station that enables multilink transmission and performs wireless communication with multiple wireless terminals, each having different priorities set in advance, wherein each part of the base station has an identification unit that identifies the priority level of each of the wireless terminals, and a setting unit that enables the use of all links for wireless terminals identified by the identification unit as having the highest priority, and enables the use of only some links for wireless terminals identified by the identification unit as having a lower priority.

8. The communication control program according to claim 7, characterized in that the setting unit is configured to notify the wireless terminal identified by the identification unit as not having the highest priority that some of the functions provided by the base station will be disabled.

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