Communication device, control method, and program

Abstract

A communication device capable of executing first communication with another communication device conforming to the IEEE 802.11 series of standards and second communication with a device other than the other communication device notifies the other communication device of information for specifying a first set of communication parameter sets each composed of a combination of one or more communication parameters, establishes a connection for the first communication with the other communication device, provides, to the other communication device, notification including information indicating a period during which the second communication is scheduled, and information for specifying a second set of communication parameter sets, which is to be used when the first communication between the communication device and the other communication device is executed in the period and in which the use of a part of the first set is restricted, performs the first communication with the other communication device using any of the communication parameter sets included in the first set during a period in which the communication device is not executing the second communication, and performs the first communication with the other communication device using any of the communication parameter sets included in the second set during a period in which the communication device is executing the second communication.

Description

Communication device, control method, and program

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a wireless communication technology that takes into account in-device interference in a device that performs multiple wireless communications.

[0002] In recent years, with the increase in the amount of data to be communicated, the development of communication technologies such as wireless LAN (Local Area Network) has been progressing. As the main communication standards for wireless LAN, the IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) 802.11 standard series is known. The IEEE 802.11 standard series includes IEEE 802.11a / b / g / n / ac / ax / be standards, etc. For further improvement of communication reliability, the development of the IEEE 802.11bn standard is underway as a successor standard to the IEEE 802.11be standard. In the IEEE 802.11 WG (Working Group) that formulates the IEEE 802.11bn standard, in the UHR SG, the goals and scope of study of this standard are determined, and in TGbn, the detailed technical content to be included in this standard is planned to be defined. Note that UHR SG is an abbreviation for Ultra High Reliability Study Group. Also, TGbn is an abbreviation for Task Group bn.

[0003] In the IEEE 802.11bn standard, as one of the technologies for further improving communication reliability, the In-device-Coexistence (IDC) function is being studied. The IDC function is a function for performing communication in a device that performs multiple wireless communications while considering the influence of interference generated within the device. For example, in Patent Document 1, a technique for notifying interference and its period caused by other communications included in one device is described.

[0004] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2010-177854

[0005] The present invention provides a technology that enables communication even in a situation where interference exists within a device in a device that performs multiple wireless communications.

[0006] A communication device capable of performing a first communication with another communication device compliant with the IEEE 802.11 standard series and a second communication with a device other than the other communication device, comprising: establishment means for establishing a connection for the first communication with the other communication device by notifying the other communication device of information for identifying a first set of communication parameter sets composed of a combination of one or more communication parameters; notification means for making a notification to the other communication device including information indicating a period during which the second communication is scheduled and information for identifying a second set of communication parameter sets in which the use of a portion of the first set is restricted and to be used when the first communication between the communication device and the other communication device is performed during that period; and communication means for performing the first communication with the other communication device using any of the communication parameter sets included in the first set during a period when the communication device is not performing the second communication, and performing the first communication with the other communication device using any of the communication parameter sets included in the second set during a period when the communication device is performing the second communication.

[0007] According to this disclosure, multiple wireless communication devices can communicate even when interference exists within the devices.

[0008] Other features and advantages of this disclosure will become apparent from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the accompanying drawings, the same or similar components are given the same reference numeral.

[0009] The attached drawings are included in the specification and constitute part thereof, illustrating embodiments of the present disclosure and used together with the description to explain the principles of the present disclosure. Figure 1 is a diagram showing an example configuration of a wireless communication system. Figure 2 is a diagram showing an example hardware configuration of AP and STA. Figure 3 is a diagram showing an example functional configuration of a communication device that notifies based on the presence of interference in the device. Figure 4 is a diagram showing an example functional configuration of a communication device that receives notification based on the presence of interference in the device. Figure 5 is a diagram showing an example sequence in communication between AP and STA. Figure 6 is a diagram showing an example processing flow executed by the communication device that notifies based on the presence of interference in the device. Figure 7 is a diagram showing an example configuration of a Channel Usage Request frame. Figure 8 is a diagram showing an example configuration of a TWT element. Figure 9 is a diagram showing a frequency band puncture pattern. Figure 10 is a diagram showing a frequency band puncture pattern. Figure 11 is a diagram showing a frequency band puncture pattern. Figure 12 is a diagram showing a frequency band puncture pattern. Figure 13 is a diagram showing an example processing flow executed by the communication device that receives notification based on the presence of interference in the device. Figure 14 is a diagram showing an example configuration of a wireless communication system.

[0010] The embodiments will be described in detail below with reference to the attached drawings. Note that the following embodiments do not limit the scope of the claims. While the embodiments describe multiple features, not all of these features are necessary, and the features may be combined in any way. Furthermore, in the attached drawings, the same or similar configurations are given the same reference numeral, and redundant descriptions are omitted. (System Configuration) Figure 1 shows an example of the configuration of a wireless communication system according to this embodiment. The wireless communication system includes, for example, an access point (AP) 101 and a station (STA) 111. AP 101 and STA 111 are sometimes collectively referred to as the communication device 100. AP 101 and STA 111 are communication devices capable of performing wireless communication in accordance with the IEEE 802.11 standard series. IEEE stands for Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. Figure 1 shows a configuration in which STA111 participates in network 121, which is configured by AP101. Network 121 may be called a Basic Service Set (BSS). In Figure 1, the dotted arrow connecting AP101 and STA111 indicates that AP101 and STA111 are connected wirelessly. In network 121 in Figure 1, a configuration with one AP101 and one STA111 is shown, but there may be multiple AP101s and STA111s in network 121. In that case, multiple STA111s may be connected to one AP101, or one STA111 may be connected to multiple AP101s. STA111 is wirelessly connected to a terminal 131 that is different from AP101. Terminal 131 does not participate in network 121, which is configured by AP101. For example, terminal 131 communicates by directly connecting to STA111. In Figure 1, the dotted arrow connecting STA111 and terminal 131 indicates that STA111 and terminal 131 are connected wirelessly. Although Figure 1 shows an example where one terminal 131 is connected to STA111, multiple terminals 131 may be connected to STA111.

[0011] In this embodiment, AP101 and STA111 are configured to perform a communication method compliant with the successor standard to IEEE 802.11. For example, AP101 and STA111 are configured to perform a communication method compliant with the IEEE 802.11bn standard. The IEEE 802.11bn standard is the successor standard to the IEEE 802.11be standard, which aims for a maximum transmission speed of 46.08 Gbps (Gigabit per second). The main features of the IEEE 802.11bn standard are that it has functions that realize highly reliable communication, low latency communication, improved throughput when communication traffic is congested, and reduced power consumption at the AP. The IEEE 802.11bn standard can also be called the UHR standard. UHR is an abbreviation for Ultra High Reliability. AP101 and STA111 can perform communication methods compliant with a successor standard to the IEEE 802.11bn standard. The wireless frame used in communication between communication devices 100 compliant with the IEEE 802.11bn standard is sometimes called a UHR PPDU. PPDU is an abbreviation for Physical Layer Protocol Data Unit. The designation UHR is a convenient addition based on the goals this standard aims to achieve and the characteristic functions defined in this standard. In other words, a different name may be assigned to this standard when the standard development work is completed. Similarly, the designation IEEE 802.11bn may also be assigned a different name when the standard development work is completed. Including these cases, it should be noted that this specification and the attached claims are essentially applicable to all successor standards to the IEEE 802.11be standard.

[0012] Furthermore, AP101 and STA111 may support at least one of the legacy standards that predate the IEEE 802.11bn standard. That is, AP101 and STA111 can communicate using legacy standard PPDUs. Legacy standards include, for example, the IEEE 802.11a / b / g / n / ac / ax / be standards. AP101 and STA111 may also support other communication standards such as Bluetooth®, NFC, UWB, ZigBee, and MBOA. UWB stands for Ultra Wide Band, MBOA stands for Multi Band OFDM Alliance, and NFC stands for Near Field Communication. UWB includes wireless USB, wireless 1394, WiNET, etc. AP101 and STA111 may also support communication standards such as wired LAN. AP101 is, for example, a wireless LAN router or a personal computer (PC), but is not limited to these. STA111 is, for example, a camera, tablet, smartphone, PC, mobile phone, video camera, smart glasses or other wearable devices, but is not limited to these. STA111 may also be an IoT (Internet of Things) device such as an IoT sensor, smart lock, or smart sensor. The IoT sensor may be an accelerometer, light sensor, humidity sensor, etc. AP101 and STA111 may be information processing devices such as wireless chips that support the IEEE 802.11bn standard and are capable of transmitting and receiving UHR PPDUs. In this case, the hardware circuitry inside the wireless chip can be configured to perform various controls. Furthermore, the wireless chip can be configured to execute various processes through the cooperation of processors such as ASIP, memory, and hardware circuits within the chip. ASIP stands for Application-specific instruction set processor.

[0013] AP101 and STA111 can communicate using radio signals in frequency bands such as the 2.4 GHz, 3.6 GHz, 5 GHz, 6 GHz bands, and millimeter wave bands such as the 45 GHz and 60 GHz bands. The frequency bands used by AP101 and STA111 are not limited to these, and may include, for example, the Sub1 GHz band. Furthermore, AP101 and STA111 can communicate using frequency channels with bandwidths of 20 MHz, 40 MHz, 80 MHz, 160 MHz, 320 MHz, 540 MHz, 640 MHz, 1080 MHz, and 2160 MHz. The bandwidths used by AP101 and STA111 are not limited to these, and may include, for example, 240 MHz or 4 MHz. Note that a 40 MHz frequency channel can be formed by combining two 20 MHz frequency channels. Furthermore, an 80 MHz frequency channel can be formed by combining two 40 MHz frequency channels. Similarly, an 80 MHz frequency channel may be formed by combining four 20 MHz frequency channels. In the same way, frequency channels such as 160 MHz and 320 MHz can be formed by combining or combining multiple channels with narrower frequency bands.

[0014] Terminal 131 connects to STA 111 via a network different from the network 121 configured by AP 101. For example, terminal 131 may connect to STA 111 using Bluetooth®, UWB, etc. Alternatively, terminal 131 may connect to STA 111 using cellular communication standards such as LTE, LAA, NR, NR-U as defined in 3GPP. LTE is an abbreviation for Long-Term Evolution. LAA is an abbreviation for Licensed-Assisted Access. NR is an abbreviation for New Radio. NR-U is an abbreviation for New Radio-Unlicensed. The method by which terminal 131 connects to STA 111 is not limited to these. For example, terminal 131 can connect to STA 111 using a communication method compliant with the IEEE 802.11 standard series. As an example, if STA 111 has multiple wireless communication circuits compliant with the IEEE 802.11 standard series, STA 111 can participate in the network 121 constructed by AP 101 as an STA using the first wireless communication circuit. Then, STA 111 can provide a BSS as an AP using the second wireless communication circuit. In this case, terminal 131 can connect to STA 111 by participating in the BSS provided by STA 111. Also, STA 111 can use the second wireless communication circuit to form an IBSS in the IEEE 802.11 standard series with terminal 131. IBSS is an abbreviation for Independent Basic Service Set. In this case, both STA 111 and terminal 131 can operate as STAs. Terminal 131 is, for example, a camera, tablet, smartphone, PC, mobile phone, video camera, smart glasses, headset, earphones, or other wearable devices, but is not limited to these. Terminal 131 may also be an IoT (Internet of Things) device such as an IoT sensor, smart lock, or smart sensor. When STA 111 connects to terminal 131 using a cellular communication standard, terminal 131 may be a base station, relay station, mobile terminal, etc. in the cellular communication standard. Note that STA 111 may have multiple wireless communication circuits to perform multiple wireless communications, or it may have one wireless communication circuit capable of performing multiple wireless communications.For example, a single wireless communication circuit can perform a first communication using a communication method compliant with the IEEE 802.11 standard series, and a second communication using Bluetooth or cellular communication standards.

[0015] In the IEEE 802.11 standard series, AP101 and STA111 use various communication parameters in their communication. These communication parameters include MIMO multiplexing (spatial division multiplexing, spatial stream count), MCS, frequency bandwidth, transmit power, and receive power. MIMO is an abbreviation for Multiple-Input and Multiple-Output. MCS is an abbreviation for Modulation and Coding Scheme. For example, AP101 and STA111 can communicate at high speed by using MIMO. When using MIMO, each AP101 and STA111 has one or more antennas, and the transmitting communication device transmits different signals in parallel from each antenna using the same frequency channel. The series of different signals transmitted from each antenna can be called streams. Each antenna of the receiving communication device receives multiple signals transmitted from each antenna of the transmitting communication device in a mixed state. The receiving communication device separates and decodes each stream transmitted from the transmitting communication device by performing signal processing using the multiple signals received at each of its antennas. In this way, by using MIMO, the amount of data communicated between AP101 and STA111 per unit time can be greater than when MIMO is not used. For example, in the IEEE 802.11ax and IEEE 802.11be standards, up to eight streams can be transmitted in parallel. The MIMO multiplexing number used between AP101 and STA111 can be determined for each frame transmission based on the radio quality, etc. For example, the MIMO multiplexing number can be determined so that it is small when the radio quality is low and large when the radio quality is high. In this way, AP101 and STA111 can perform communication by determining the MIMO multiplexing number based on wireless quality, etc., and switching between high-speed communication and highly reliable communication depending on the wireless quality.

[0016] Furthermore, AP101 and STA111 can switch between high-speed and highly reliable communication by selecting the appropriate MCS according to the wireless quality, etc. For example, the IEEE 802.11be standard specifies BPSK, QPSK, 16-QAM, 64-QAM, 256-QAM, 1024-QAM, and 4096-QAM as modulation schemes. BPSK and QPSK are abbreviations for Binary phase-shift keying and Quadrature phase-shift keying, respectively. QAM is an abbreviation for Quadrature amplification modulation. Generally, modulation schemes with a larger number of levels can perform high-speed (higher data rate) communication, while modulation schemes with a smaller number of levels can perform highly reliable communication. Furthermore, the IEEE 802.11be standard specifies coding rates of 1 / 2, 2 / 3, 3 / 4, and 5 / 6. The coding rate is a communication parameter that indicates the degree of information redundancy. Generally, a higher coding rate allows for faster communication, while a lower coding rate allows for more reliable communication. AP101 and STA111 can determine one of these MCS combinations of modulation scheme and coding rate for each transmission and transmit accordingly. For example, if the radio quality is low, an MCS with a low data rate may be used, and if the radio quality is high, an MCS with a high data rate may be used. In the IEEE 802.11 standard series, each combinatable combination of modulation scheme and coding rate (MCS) is assigned an identifier called an MCS index, and each MCS is uniquely identified by the MCS index.

[0017] Furthermore, the IEEE 802.11 standard series specifies a function that increases communication speed by enabling AP101 to perform multi-user (MU) communication, where wireless resources are multiplexed and communication is performed in parallel with multiple STA111s. For example, AP101 can communicate with multiple STA111s in parallel on the frequency axis by using OFDMA. OFDMA stands for Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access. In OFDMA, the data field of a PPDU transmitted using a frequency channel of a predetermined bandwidth is divided into multiple units on the frequency axis. The predetermined bandwidth can be 20 MHz, 40 MHz, 80 MHz, 160 MHz, 320 MHz, etc. Each of the multiple units is called a Resource Unit (RU). For example, a RU composed of 26 subcarriers is called a 26-tone RU. Based on the number of subcarriers that make up the RU, 26-tone RUs, 52-tone RUs, 106-tone RUs, 242-tone RUs, 484-tone RUs, 996-tone RUs, etc., can be constructed. Each RU can be assigned to each of different STAs. AP101 and one or more STAs 111 can communicate in parallel using the RUs assigned to each STA 111. AP101 can assign RUs based on the bandwidth available to the STAs 111. For example, if AP101 is using a frequency band with a bandwidth of 320 MHz and the STAs 111 have an available bandwidth of 80 MHz, AP101 will assign RUs that fall within the 80 MHz band used by the STAs 111 from the 320 MHz band used by AP101. In this way, AP101 can flexibly allocate RUs to multiple STA111s with different bandwidths by allocating RUs according to the bandwidth available to each STA111.

[0018] In communication between communication devices capable of performing communication compliant with the IEEE 802.11 standard series, the communication parameters that each communication device can use for communication may differ. The IEEE 802.11 standard series specifies communication parameters that are mandatory and optional. For example, the IEEE 802.11be standard mandates that communication in single-stream (single stream without MIMO) communication be possible using MCS associated with MCS indices 0 to 7. That is, other MCS are optional, so whether or not they are supported may vary depending on the communication device. AP101 and STA111 cannot determine whether or not they may use a communication parameter if they do not know whether the other communication device supports that parameter. Therefore, AP101 and STA111 exchange capability information when establishing a connection, for example, to share the communication parameters that each communication device supports. Based on the exchanged capability information, AP101 and STA111 communicate using the combination of communication parameters (communication parameter set) that the other communication device supports. For example, if AP101 is notified of capability information including that STA111 supports 1 to 8 MIMO multiplexing streams, MCS indices 0 to 14, and a frequency bandwidth of 20 to 80 MHz, AP101 will select from these combinations of communication parameters to perform communication. For example, if the radio quality is good, AP101 may allocate RUs included in the 80 MHz bandwidth to STA111 and transmit to STA111 using 8 MIMO multiplexing streams and the MCS with MCS index 14. Alternatively, if the radio quality is poor, AP101 may allocate RUs included in the 80 MHz bandwidth to STA111 and transmit to STA111 using 1 MIMO multiplexing stream (single stream) and the MCS with MCS index 0.

[0019] Here, the communication parameters that can be used for the first communication between AP101 and STA111 may be limited by interference from the second communication between STA111 and terminal 131. This is because, in STA111, the first wireless communication circuit used for communication with AP101 and the second wireless communication circuit used for communication with terminal 131 are located in close proximity to each other. For example, if the first and second communications use similar frequency bands, the power of the wireless signal transmitted from the second wireless communication circuit may interfere with the wireless signal received by the first wireless communication circuit. Such interference from wireless signals can occur even if the frequency bands used in each communication do not overlap. This is due to leakage power that occurs outside the frequency band used by the transmitted signal. The interference power due to such interference may be significantly larger than the received power of the signal transmitted from AP101 that is received by the first wireless communication circuit. Furthermore, even if the frequency bands used in each communication are far apart, interference may occur between baseband signals. In this case as well, interference from the signal transmitted from the second wireless communication circuit may prevent reception in the first wireless communication circuit. Thus, because the STA111 contains a second wireless communication circuit in addition to the first wireless communication circuit used for the first communication with AP101, there may be cases where the STA111 cannot receive signals transmitted from AP101. The interference caused by the second wireless communication circuit is in-device interference (In-device Interference), and therefore it will continue to occur even if, for example, the STA111 moves and its surrounding environment changes. Consequently, if AP101 attempts to communicate without knowing that In-device Interference is occurring in the STA111, there is a possibility that periods of communication failure may occur continuously. Furthermore, even if the first and second wireless communication circuits are configured as a single wireless communication circuit, depending on the configuration of that circuit, transmission by the second communication may interfere with reception by the first communication.

[0020] In light of these circumstances, STA111 in this embodiment provides notification including information indicating the period during which a second communication by the device's second wireless communication circuit is scheduled, and information for identifying a set of communication parameter sets to be used during that period. For example, STA111 has a first wireless communication circuit capable of performing a first communication with another communication device (AP101), and a second wireless communication circuit capable of performing a second communication with a device other than the other communication device. The first and second wireless communication circuits may be configured as a single wireless communication circuit. First, STA111 notifies AP101 of information for identifying a first set of communication parameter sets composed of a combination of one or more communication parameters. STA111 may include information for identifying the first set of communication parameters in its capability information when establishing a connection for the first communication with AP101. Then, STA111 notifies AP101 of information to identify a second set of communication parameter sets to be used when the first communication between STA111 and AP101 is performed during the period when the second communication by STA111's second wireless communication circuit is scheduled. The second set of communication parameter sets is a set in which the use of some of the parameters from the first set is restricted. AP101 obtains from STA111 information to identify the first set, information indicating the period during which the second communication by STA111's second wireless communication circuit is scheduled, and information to identify the second set. Then, AP101 performs the first communication with STA111 using one of the communication parameter sets included in the first set during the period when the second communication by STA111 is not being performed. Also, AP101 performs the first communication with STA111 using one of the communication parameter sets included in the second set during the period when the second communication by STA111 is being performed. With this configuration, STA111 can notify AP101 of the period during which the operation of the second wireless communication circuit in its device restricts the first communication with AP101, and the set of communication parameters to be used during that period.Furthermore, based on notifications from STA111, AP101 can communicate with STA111 using a communication parameter set selected from a limited set of communication parameters while STA111's second wireless communication circuit is operating. This allows AP101 to maintain highly reliable communication with STA111 during periods when interference occurs within STA111's device, and enables high-speed communication during periods when no interference occurs within STA111's device.

[0021] STA111 can determine the second set of communication parameter sets included in the second set such that the maximum number of spatial streams included in the second set is smaller than the maximum number of spatial streams included in the first set. For example, STA111 can limit the maximum number of usable spatial streams during the period when the second communication by the second wireless communication circuit is being performed. This prevents the AP from performing MIMO transmission using a number of spatial streams that STA111 cannot receive. Furthermore, STA111 can determine the second set such that the maximum values ​​of the MCS index and data rate corresponding to the MCS included in the second set are smaller than the maximum values ​​of the MCS index and data rate corresponding to the MCS included in the first set. For example, STA111 can limit the MCS used during the period when the second communication by the second wireless communication circuit is being performed. This prevents the AP from performing transmission using an MCS that STA111 cannot receive. Furthermore, STA111 may determine the second set such that the maximum value of the frequency bandwidth included in the second set is smaller than the maximum value of the frequency bandwidth included in the first set. For example, STA111 may restrict the use of frequency bands where interference occurs with an interference power exceeding a threshold during the period when the second communication by the second wireless communication circuit is being performed. In addition, the number of available spatial streams and MCS may be restricted in frequency bands where interference occurs with an interference power exceeding a threshold. This can prevent AP101 from being allocated frequency resources to STA111 that cannot be used for communication due to interference. STA111 may determine the second set such that the target value of the received power at its own device included in the second set is larger than the target value included in the first set. For example, STA111 may limit the lower limit of AP101's transmitted power so that the received power at its own device exceeds a predetermined value during the period when the second communication by the second wireless communication circuit is being performed. This adjusts the received power at STA111 to exceed the interference power. STA111 can determine the second set such that the maximum value of the transmission power of its own device included in the second set is less than the maximum value of the transmission power of its own device included in the first set.For example, STA111 can limit its own transmission power to a predetermined value during the period when the second communication by the second wireless communication circuit is being performed. This suppresses interference from STA111 to the second communication. The device configuration, functional configuration, and processing examples of a communication device that performs such operation will be described below.

[0022] (Example of Device Configuration) Figure 2 shows an example of the hardware configuration of AP101 and STA111 in this embodiment. AP101 and STA111, as an example of their hardware configuration, have, for example, a storage unit 201, a control unit 202, a function unit 203, an input unit 204, and an output unit 205. AP101 and STA111 also have a first communication unit 206, a second communication unit 207, an antenna 208, and an antenna 209. Note that AP101 or STA111 does not necessarily have a second communication unit 207. AP101 and STA111 may have multiple antennas.

[0023] The storage unit 201 is composed of one or more memories, including ROM and RAM, and may store various information such as control programs for each functional unit constituting AP101 and STA111 to perform various operations, and parameters for communication. ROM and RAM are abbreviations for Read Only Memory and Random Access Memory, respectively. In addition to memories such as ROM and RAM, the storage unit 201 may also be composed of storage media such as flexible disks, hard disks, optical disks, magneto-optical disks, CD-ROMs, CD-Rs, magnetic tapes, non-volatile memory cards, and DVDs.

[0024] The control unit 202 is composed of one or more processors, such as a CPU and an MPU, and controls the entire AP101 or STA111 device by executing a control program stored in the storage unit 201. Alternatively, the control unit 202 may control the entire AP101 or STA111 device through cooperation between the control program stored in the storage unit 201 and the OS (Operating System). CPU and MPU are abbreviations for Central Processing Unit and Micro Processing Unit, respectively. If the control unit 202 has multiple processors that can be implemented as a multi-core system, it may be configured so that the entire AP101 or STA111 device is controlled by multiple processors.

[0025] Furthermore, the control unit 202 controls the functional unit 203 to perform predetermined processes such as communication, imaging, printing, and projection. The functional unit 203 is the hardware that enables AP101 and STA111 to perform the predetermined processes described above. For example, if the device is a camera, the functional unit 203 is the imaging unit and performs imaging processing. Also, for example, if the device is a printer, the functional unit 203 is the printing unit and performs printing processing. Also, for example, if the device is a projector, the functional unit 203 is the projection unit and performs projection processing.

[0026] The input unit 204 receives various operations from the user. The output unit 205 outputs various information to the user via a monitor screen or speaker. The output from the output unit 205 may be a display on the monitor screen, audio output via a speaker, vibration output, etc. The input unit 204 and the output unit 205 may both be implemented in a single module, such as a touch panel. The input unit 204 and the output unit 205 may be integrated with the communication device 100, or they may be separate devices.

[0027] The first communication unit 206 and the second communication unit 207 each perform wireless communication control. For example, the first communication unit 206 performs wireless communication control compliant with the IEEE 802.11bn standard. In addition to the IEEE 802.11bn standard, the first communication unit 206 may also perform wireless communication control compliant with other IEEE 802.11 series standards such as legacy standards. The first communication unit 206 may be referred to as the first wireless communication circuit in the following description. The second communication unit 207 may perform wireless communication control compliant with the IEEE 802.11 standard series. In addition, the second communication unit 207 may perform control of other wireless communication standards such as NFC, Bluetooth, UWB, and cellular communication standards. The second communication unit 207 may be referred to as the second wireless communication circuit in the following description. The first communication unit 206 and the second communication unit 207 control the antennas 208 and 209 to transmit and receive signals for wireless communication generated by the control unit 202. The first communication unit 206 and the second communication unit 207 are so-called wireless chips and may themselves include one or more processors and memories. Furthermore, if AP101 and STA111 can perform wireless communication compliant with multiple communication standards, AP101 and STA111 may be configured to have separate communication units and antennas corresponding to each communication standard. For example, AP101 and STA111 may have a third communication unit to perform wireless communication compliant with three or more communication standards. AP101 and STA111 communicate data with the other party's communication device via the first communication unit 206 and the second communication unit 207. Antennas 208 and 209 may be configured separately from the first communication unit 206 and the second communication unit 207, or they may be configured together with the first communication unit 206 and the second communication unit 207 as a single module.

[0028] Antennas 208 and 209 are antennas capable of communication in the 2.4 GHz band, 5 GHz band, 6 GHz band, and millimeter wave, for example. Figure 2 shows AP101 and STA111 having antennas 208 and 209, each composed of two antennas. Antennas 208 and 209 may each consist of one or three or more antennas, and the device may have one or more antennas for each usable frequency band. Furthermore, if AP101 or STA111 has multiple antennas, AP101 or STA111 may have one communication unit for each antenna.

[0029] (Example of Functional Configuration) The functional configurations of AP101 and STA111 in this embodiment will be described. Figure 3 shows an example of a block diagram of a communication device (e.g., STA111) that has a first wireless communication circuit and a second wireless communication circuit and notifies the other communication device of the presence of interference within the device. Figure 4 shows an example of a block diagram of a communication device (e.g., AP101) that is notified of the presence of interference within the device from the other communication device, which has a first wireless communication circuit and a second wireless communication circuit. These functions can be realized, for example, by the control unit 202 executing a program stored in the storage unit 201, or by the processing function units in the first communication unit 206 and the second communication unit 207. Note that Figures 3 and 4 are diagrams that explain the main functions of this embodiment, and other functions are omitted. For this reason, for example, functions for establishing a connection between AP and STA, functions for control for communication, and functions that communication devices generally have can be naturally included. Furthermore, the multiple functional blocks in Figures 3 and 4 may be integrated into a single functional block, or a single functional block may be divided into multiple functional blocks.

[0030] Figure 3 shows an example configuration of a communication device 100 that notifies the other party's communication device of the presence of interference within its device. The communication device 100 may include a first communication control unit 301, a second communication control unit 302, a connection establishment unit 303, an information notification unit 304, and a communication parameter determination unit 305. In the following description, the communication device that notifies the other party's communication device of the presence of interference within its device will be referred to as STA111. The first communication control unit 301 performs the first communication with AP101. The first communication control unit 301 may be referred to as the first wireless communication circuit in the following description. The first communication control unit 301 may perform communication using the second set of communication parameters during periods when the second wireless communication circuit restricts the first communication, and may perform communication using the first set of communication parameters during other periods. The second communication control unit 302 performs the second communication with terminal 131. For example, the second communication control unit 302 may communicate with the terminal 131 using Bluetooth Low Energy. The second communication control unit 302 may be referred to as the second wireless communication circuit in the following description. The connection establishment unit 303 establishes a connection with the AP 101 for the first communication. For example, the connection establishment unit 303 establishes the connection by notifying the AP 101 of capability information that includes information for identifying a first set of communication parameter sets to which the STA 111 corresponds.

[0031] The information notification unit 304 notifies AP 101 based on the identification of the existence of a second communication other than the first communication at STA 111. For example, the information notification unit 304 may provide a notification that includes information to identify a period during which the first communication is restricted. The information notification unit 304 may also provide a notification that includes information to identify a second set of usable communication parameter sets during the period during which the first communication is restricted. Based on the second set of communication parameter sets determined by the communication parameter determination unit 305, the information notification unit 304 may provide AP 101 with information to help AP 101 identify that second set. The communication parameter determination unit 305 determines a second set of usable communication parameter sets during the period during which the first communication is restricted. For example, the communication parameter determination unit 305 measures the interference power generated in the first communication control unit 301 while the second communication control unit 302 is transmitting to terminal 131. Furthermore, the communication parameter determination unit 305 measures the received power of the signal received from AP 101 by the first communication control unit 301. Using the measured values ​​obtained from these measurements, the communication parameter determination unit 305 can calculate the SINR for the signal received from AP 101 and determine the usable communication parameter set based on the calculated SINR. SINR is an abbreviation for Signal to Interference and Noise Ratio. The communication parameter determination unit 305 may also measure the period during which the first communication is restricted due to the transmission to terminal 131 by the second communication control unit 302. In this case, information specifying the period during which the first communication is restricted, as measured by the communication parameter determination unit 305, may be notified to AP 101 using the information notification unit 304. The communication parameter determination unit 305 may also identify the period during which the first communication is restricted using other methods without measuring the interference power generated while the transmission to terminal 131 is performed by the second communication control unit 302. For example, the communication parameter determination unit 305 can determine the period during which the second communication control unit 302 transmits in the second communication, based on input from the user or application, or information set in the device itself.Furthermore, the communication parameter determination unit 305 can obtain schedule information regarding the period for which transmission will be performed from the second communication control unit 302, and based on this schedule information, it can identify periods during which the first communication will be restricted. The communication parameter determination unit 305 can identify these identified periods as periods during which the first communication will be restricted.

[0032] Figure 4 shows an example configuration of a communication device 100 that receives notification of interference within its device from the other party's communication device. The communication device 100 may include a connection establishment unit 401, an information acquisition unit 402, and a wireless communication control unit 403. In the following description, the communication device that receives notification of interference within its device from the other party's communication device will be referred to as AP101. The connection establishment unit 401 establishes a connection for the first communication with STA111. For example, the connection establishment unit 401 establishes the connection by acquiring capability information that includes information for identifying a first set of communication parameter sets that STA111 corresponds to. The information acquisition unit 402 acquires information from STA111 for identifying a period during which the first communication is restricted. The information acquisition unit 402 also acquires information for identifying a second set of usable communication parameter sets during the period during which the first communication is restricted. The wireless communication control unit 403 performs first communication with STA 111 based on a first set of communication parameter sets identified by information obtained from STA 111, a period during which the first communication is restricted, and a second set of communication parameter sets. For example, the wireless communication control unit 403 may use one of the communication parameter sets in the second set to communicate during the period during which the first communication is restricted, and use one of the communication parameter sets in the first set to communicate during other periods. Furthermore, if the wireless communication control unit 403 obtains information from STA 111 to identify a frequency band in which the interference power is lower than a threshold, it may allocate frequency resources (RUs) in that frequency band to STA 111 and perform communication with STA 111.

[0033] (Sequence Example) An overview of the communication performed between AP101 and STA111 is described. Figure 5 shows an example of a message sequence exchanged between AP101 and STA111. In addition to the message sequence exchanged in the first communication between AP101 and the first wireless communication circuit of STA111, Figure 5 also shows an example of data exchange in the second communication between the second wireless communication circuit of STA111 and terminal 131. In this example, data exchange is performed at predetermined intervals between the second wireless communication circuit of STA111 and terminal 131. The period during which periodic data exchange is performed between the second wireless communication circuit of STA111 and terminal 131 is defined as the first period. The period between each of the first periods is defined as the second period. For example, if data exchange between the second wireless communication circuit of STA111 and terminal 131 is performed intermittently, no data exchange is performed during the second period. In this case, AP101 and STA111 may operate targeting interference caused by the periodic exchange of messages in the second communication occurring during the first period. On the other hand, if the second communication involves both periodic and irregular message exchanges, periodic message exchanges may occur during the first period, and irregular messages may also be exchanged during the second period. If the second communication occurring during the second period is unpredictable, AP101 and STA111 may operate targeting interference caused by the periodic exchange of messages in the second communication occurring during the first period. Furthermore, if there are many irregular message exchanges in the second communication, AP101 and STA111 may operate targeting the first period during which the second communication takes place, whenever that period is identified.

[0034] STA111 connects to AP101 by performing a connection procedure with AP101 (F501). For example, AP101 periodically transmits Beacon frames. Beacon frames may include information such as the identifier of the BSS (self-BSS) configured by AP101, and capability information regarding the functions that AP can perform, including information indicating the communication parameters that AP can use. STA111 receives Beacon frames transmitted from AP101. Based on the information obtained from the Beacon frame, STA111 may initiate the connection procedure by transmitting a Probe Request frame to AP101. Upon receiving a Probe Request frame, AP101 transmits a Probe Response frame. AP101 and STA111 can authenticate each other's communication devices by exchanging Authentication frames. Once authentication is complete, STA111 sends an Association Request frame. Upon receiving the Association Request frame, AP101 sends an Association Response frame. The connection procedure is completed when STA111 receives the Association Response frame, and a connection is established between AP101 and STA111. AP101 and STA111 may then perform a 4-way Handshake to share security information. AP101 and STA111 may also reconnect if necessary. If reconnection is performed, STA111 sends an Association Request frame, and AP101 responds with an Association Response frame.

[0035] AP101 and STA111 exchange capability information about their respective executable functions using the above-mentioned frames used in connection and reconnection procedures. This capability information may include the corresponding communication parameters. For example, AP101 and STA111 may notify the other communication device of capability information including information indicating communication parameters such as the MIMO multiplexing count, MCS, and frequency bandwidth supported by their respective devices. AP101 and STA111 may also notify the other communication device of the maximum transmit power available to their respective devices and the target received power when receiving. AP101 and STA111 may also notify the other communication device of the capability of supporting optional communication parameters other than those mandated by the standard. AP101 and STA111 may notify the other communication device of their respective capabilities using predetermined information elements included in any of the above-mentioned frames exchanged in connection and reconnection procedures. These information elements may be called Information Element. The predetermined information elements may be, for example, HT Capabilities elements, VHT Capabilities elements, HE Capabilities elements, EHT Capabilities elements, etc. The predetermined information elements may be, for example, HT Operation elements, VHT Operation elements, HE Operation elements, EHT Operation elements. The predetermined information elements may also be other information elements. For example, the predetermined information elements may be UHR Capabilities elements or UHR Operation elements, etc. AP101 and STA111 perform communication based on capability information notified by the other party. For example, AP101 and STA111 select one or more corresponding setting values ​​notified by the other party's communication device for each communication parameter such as MIMO multiplexing, MCS, and frequency bandwidth, and transmit data using the selected combination of setting values. Such combinations of setting values ​​for each communication parameter will be called a communication parameter set.For example, STA111 may indicate that it corresponds to eight setting values ​​for MIMO multiplexing (1 to 8 lines), fifteen setting values ​​for MCS index (0 to 14), and three setting values ​​for frequency bandwidth (20 to 80 MHz). In this case, STA111 indicates that it corresponds to 360 different communication parameter sets. In this example, the first set is defined as a set of communication parameter sets that can be used without considering interference from a second communication, based on the capability information of STA111, such as a communication parameter set derived from capability information exchanged in connection or reconnection procedures.

[0036] If STA111 detects the presence of interference (In-device Interference, hereinafter sometimes abbreviated as IDI) within its own device that restricts the first communication with AP101, it notifies AP101 (F502). Restricting the first communication includes, for example, making some of the communication parameter sets included in the first set unusable. For example, STA111 may detect that the first communication is restricted during a first period after the connection with AP101 is completed, by a second wireless communication circuit within its own device operating to perform a second communication with terminal 131. The frame that STA111 uses to notify AP101 of the presence of IDI may be called an IDC Setup frame. IDC is an abbreviation for In-device Interference. An IDC Setup frame may be one of the Action frames. Furthermore, STA111 may detect the existence of an IDI before establishing a connection with AP101. Also, STA111 may perform a reconnection based on its detection of the existence of an IDI after establishing a connection with AP101. In these cases, STA111 may notify AP101 of the existence of an IDI using frames used in the connection and reconnection procedures. When AP101 receives notification from STA111 that an IDI exists, it sends a response (F503). For example, AP101 sends an IDC Response frame. An IDC Response frame may be one of the Action frames. This allows AP101 and STA111 to share information that an IDI exists at STA111 and that the available communication parameter set is restricted. In the frame used to notify AP101 of the existence of an IDI, STA111 may notify information to identify the first period during which the second communication takes place and the communication parameter set available during that period. For example, a second period during the first period in which the second communication takes place may be indicated as Internal. This allows AP101 to identify the first and second periods in Figure 5. AP101 can also identify the set of communication parameters available during the first period in which the second communication takes place.In STA111, one or more sets of communication parameters available during the first period in which IDI occurs will be referred to as the second set.

[0037] AP101 communicates data with STA111 based on the period during which the second communication is to take place, as notified by STA111, and the first and second sets of communication parameter sets. For example, during the first period during which the second communication takes place, AP101 transmits data to STA111 using the communication parameter set included in the second set (F504). Also, during the second period, AP101 transmits data to STA111 using the communication parameter set included in the first set (F505). In this way, AP101 can achieve both highly reliable and high-speed communication by switching the set of communication parameter sets used, taking into account whether or not it is a period during which IDI occurs in STA111. Note that, in the above explanation, the period notified from STA111 to AP101 is described as the period during which the second communication takes place, but this period may be defined differently. For example, this period may be notified to AP101 as a period during which IDI occurs or is detected, or as a period during which periodic communication of the second communication occurs or is expected to occur. Alternatively, this period may be notified to AP101 as a period during which the second wireless communication circuit of STA111 is transmitting. Furthermore, STA111 may notify AP101 as a period during which the first communication is restricted or simply a period during which the second set of communication parameters should be used. In the following explanation, this period will be described as a period during which the first communication is restricted.

[0038] (Operation of the device that notifies based on the presence of IDI) The process performed by the communication device that notifies based on the presence of IDI will be described. In this example, STA111 will be described as the communication device that notifies based on the presence of IDI. Figure 6 shows an example of the processing flow of the process performed by STA111. This process may be started based on the power of STA111 being turned on and STA111 detecting AP101. STA111 performs the connection process with AP101 (S601). For example, STA111 may perform the connection process using the connection procedure shown in F501 of Figure 5. In the connection procedure, STA111 may notify AP101 of information to identify the first set of communication parameter sets to which its device corresponds.

[0039] STA111 determines whether any other communications are taking place in its own device besides the first communication with AP101 (S602). For example, STA111 determines whether there is an IDI that restricts the first communication with AP101 in its own device. As an example, STA111 may determine whether there are any other wireless communication circuits operating in addition to the first wireless communication circuit used for the first communication. If there are other wireless communication circuits operating, STA111 may determine that there is other communication (YES in S602). In addition, STA111 may perform measurements to detect interference in the frequency band used for the first communication in its own device in order to determine whether there is an IDI that restricts the first communication with AP101 in its own device. If STA111 detects that there is an interference source within its own device that causes interference in at least a part of the frequency band used for the first communication, it may determine that there is other communication (YES in S602). STA111 may evaluate the correlation between the period during which the data error rate in the first communication increases and the period during which the second communication takes place, and if a certain correlation is determined, it may determine that there is other communication (YES in S602). STA111 may also determine that there is other communication based on input from the user or input from an application running on its own device. STA111 may also determine that there is no other communication if the existence of the second communication does not restrict the first communication with AP101 (NO in S602). If STA111 determines that no other communication is taking place on its own device besides the first communication with AP101 (NO in S602), it will communicate data with AP101 without notifying AP101 that an IDI exists.

[0040] If STA111 determines that there is communication in addition to the first communication with AP101 (i.e., a second communication is taking place) (YES in S602), it notifies AP101 of the existence of an IDI (S604). For example, STA111 may notify AP101 of information to identify the period during which the first communication is restricted and the second set of communication parameter sets that can be used during that period. STA111 may also determine whether or not to notify AP101 of the existence of an IDI based on whether or not periodic communication takes place in the second communication (S603). For example, if periodic communication is included in the second communication, STA111 may notify AP101 of the period during which that periodic communication occurs. STA111 may also notify AP101 of the timing at which each periodic communication begins and the duration for which each continues. By obtaining information from STA111 that identifies the period during which periodic communication occurs, AP101 can switch the set of communication parameter sets used during that period. For example, if the second wireless communication circuit operates intermittently, STA111 can notify AP101 of information specifying the period and duration of its operation. Also, when measuring interference power from the second wireless communication circuit, STA111 can notify AP101 of information specifying the period and duration of the second communication based on the periodicity of the detected interference power. Furthermore, if the second communication includes multiple periodic communications with different periods, STA111 can notify AP101 of information specifying the period for each periodic communication. AP101 can switch the set of communication parameter sets used based on each period. In addition, if the second communication includes both periodic and non-periodic communications, STA111 can notify AP101 of information specifying the period for identifying the periodic communications. In this case, it becomes possible to improve the reliability of the first communication against interference from periodic communications in the second communication. Furthermore, even if the second communication does not include periodic communication, STA111 may notify AP101 of information that allows it to identify the period during which the second wireless communication circuit transmits.For example, if information is obtained that identifies the schedule for transmission by the second wireless communication circuit, STA111 may notify AP101 of the period during which the first communication will be restricted based on that information. Also, if STA111 identifies a period during which the first communication will be restricted based on input from the user or input from an application running on STA111, STA111 may notify AP101 of that period.

[0041] (Information for identifying a second set of communication parameter sets) When STA111 notifies AP101 that an IDI exists, it may notify AP101 of information for identifying a second set of communication parameter sets that can be used during the period when the first communication is restricted. For example, STA111 may notify AP101 of information for identifying the MCS that its device can receive. As an example, when STA111 measures the interference power generated when the second wireless communication circuit is transmitting, it may identify the receivable MCS based on that interference power and the power of the frame received from AP101. STA111 may have a correspondence table that associates the SINR measured in its device with the MCS that can be received at that time. STA111 calculates the SINR based on the power received from AP101 and the interference power from the second wireless communication circuit, and identifies the receivable MCS associated with the calculated SINR on the correspondence table. In this case, STA111 may notify AP101 of the identified receivable MCS as the maximum value of the MCS available in the second set of communication parameter sets.

[0042] Similarly, STA111 can notify AP101 of information to determine the MIMO multiplexing number that its device can receive. For example, STA111 can determine the receivable MIMO multiplexing number based on the interference power generated by the second wireless communication circuit during transmission and the power of the frame received from AP101. As an example, STA111 may have a correspondence table that associates the SINR measured in its device with the MIMO multiplexing number that can be received at that time, similar to the MCS example described above. STA111 calculates the SINR based on the power received from AP101 and the interference power from the second wireless communication circuit, and identifies the receivable MIMO multiplexing number associated with the calculated SINR in the correspondence table. In this case, STA111 can notify AP101 of the identified receivable MIMO multiplexing number as the maximum value of the MIMO multiplexing number available in the second set of communication parameter sets.

[0043] Furthermore, STA111 can notify AP101 of the MCS and MIMO multiplexing counts that are available during the period when the first communication is restricted, if these settings are pre-configured in the device or configured by user or application input. This allows STA111 to notify AP101 of the available communication parameter set even if it cannot measure interference power from the second wireless communication circuit. For example, STA111 may be configured with MCS index 0 to N as the MCS available during the period when the first communication is restricted, and with 1 as the available MIMO multiplexing count. However, the MCS and MIMO multiplexing counts that are available during the period when the first communication is restricted may not be configured in STA111 but may be configured in AP101 or the standard. In this case, STA111 can notify AP101 of the period when the first communication is restricted, allowing communication using the second set of communication parameter sets to be performed during that period.

[0044] Also, STA111 can notify AP101 of information for specifying the frequency band that the own device can receive. For example, when interference by the second wireless communication circuit occurs in a part of the frequency band used for the first communication, the first communication can be executed even during the period when the second communication is being performed by using a frequency band other than that. As an example, when AP101 performs communication with STA111 by OFDMA, the first communication can be executed even during the period when the second communication is being performed by allocating RUs in a frequency band with low interference power by the second wireless communication circuit to STA111. STA111 can notify AP101 of information for specifying the frequency band in which interference power exceeding a predetermined threshold is detected during transmission by the second wireless communication circuit. For example, when STA111 corresponds to a bandwidth of 80 MHz, it is assumed that interference power exceeding a predetermined threshold is detected in one of the 40-MHz bands and no interference power exceeding the predetermined threshold is detected in the other 40-MHz band. In this case, STA111 can notify the AP of the 40-MHz bandwidth that the own device can use as the maximum value of the bandwidth of the communication parameter set that can be used. Note that, as will be described later, STA111 may notify AP101 in detail of the frequency band in which interference power is detected. In this case, AP101 can allocate RUs included in the frequency band in which no interference power is detected to STA111.

[0045] STA111 can notify AP101 of a value indicating the interference power generated during transmission by the second wireless communication circuit as information for specifying a second set of communication parameter sets that can be used during the period when the first communication is restricted. The interference power given from the second wireless communication circuit to the first wireless communication circuit may be within a certain range without significant fluctuations because it is interference within the device. In this case, by notifying AP101 of the value indicating the interference power, AP101 can set a second set of communication parameter sets to be used in consideration of the interference power during the period when the first communication is restricted, and can select a communication parameter set to be used for communication from among them.

[0046] Furthermore, STA111 may notify AP101 of the target received power, which is the received power that the signal transmitted by AP101 can receive at its own device. For example, if the number of MCS and MIMO multiplexing numbers that can be used during a period when the first communication is restricted is predetermined, STA111 may calculate the received power required to receive a signal using them based on the interference power generated during transmission by the second wireless communication circuit. STA111 may notify AP101 of the calculated received power as the target received power. AP101 transmits using a transmission power equal to or greater than the transmission power specified based on the target received power notified by STA111. This enables communication even during periods when the first communication is restricted. On the other hand, STA111 may set the target received power so as not to interfere with the second communication. For example, if interference from a signal transmitted by AP101 is detected in the second communication, STA111 may notify AP101 of a low target received power so as not to interfere with the second communication. This makes it possible to protect the second communication when the second communication requires high communication quality.

[0047] Similarly, STA111 can notify AP101 of the maximum transmit power available to its own device. For example, interference may occur in the second communication when STA111 transmits uplink data. By notifying AP101 of the maximum transmit power available during the period when the first communication is limited, STA111 can limit the range of transmit power that AP101 specifies to STA111 to a range that does not interfere with the second communication. Similarly, STA111 can notify AP101 of the MCS and MIMO multiplexing numbers available to its own device, depending on the transmit power available to its own device. This allows STA101 to specify a communication parameter set that matches the transmit power available to its own device when AP101 specifies the MCS and MIMO multiplexing numbers to be used. AP101 can also specify the communication parameter set to be used in the frame transmitted by STA111 by transmitting a Trigger frame when STA111 is transmitting uplink data. For example, the Trigger frame may notify STA111 of the MCS, MIMO multiplexing number, RU, target received power at AP101, etc. AP101 may select a set of communication parameters to be set in the Trigger frame based on a second set of communication parameter sets available to STA111.

[0048] (Frame Format Configuration) This section describes an example of the configuration of frames and fields used when STA111 notifies AP101 of information for identifying a second set of communication parameters. For example, STA111 can notify AP101 of information for identifying a second set of communication parameters using an Action frame. By using an Action frame, STA111 can notify AP101 of information for identifying a second set of communication parameters at any time after establishing a connection with AP101. Figure 7 shows an example of the configuration when notifying information for identifying a second set of communication parameters using a Channel Usage Request frame as defined in the IEEE 802.11 standard series. The Channel Usage Request frame is one type of Action frame. The Channel Usage Request frame includes the Category field 701, the WNM Action field 702, the Dialog Token field 703, and the Channel Usage Elements field 704. The Channel Usage Request frame also includes the Supported Operating Classes Element field 705. Furthermore, the Channel Usage Request frame includes the TWT Element field 706 and the Timeout Interval Element field 707. AP101 uses a Channel Usage Response frame when responding to a Channel Usage Request frame. The Channel Usage Response frame may also include at least a portion of the Category field 701 to the Timeout Interval Element field 707. For example, as will be described later, if the TWT Element field 706 is included, the response to the Channel Usage Request frame may be indicated using the IDC Setup Command subfield 822.Also, in a predetermined subfield of the Channel Usage Response frame, by setting the same value as the corresponding subfield of the Channel Usage Request frame, a confirmation response to that information can be indicated.

[0049] The Category field 701 indicates the category of the frame in the Action frame. For example, when the value of the Category field 701 is 10, it is indicated that it is a WNM Action frame. WNM is an abbreviation for Wireless Network Management. The WNM Action field 702 is used to specify the frame format. By setting the value of the WNM Action field 702 to 21, it is indicated that it is the frame format of the Channel Usage Request frame. The Dialog Token field 703 indicates identification information for identifying a transaction of a series of frame exchanges including requests and responses. For example, assume that the value of the Dialog Token field 703 is set to 5 in the Channel Usage Request frame. In this case, the value of the Dialog Token field 703 of the corresponding Channel Usage Response frame is also set to 5. The Channel Usage Elements field 704 includes one or more Channel Usage Elements indicating the channels available to STA111. The Supported Operating Classes Elements field 705 includes a list of Operating Classes in which STA111 can operate. The Timeout Interval Element field 707 includes a Timeout Interval Element indicating the timeout time in a predetermined procedure.

[0050] The TWT Element field 706 may consist of the information shown in Figure 8. The TWT Element field 706 includes the Element ID field 801, the Length field 802, the Control field 803, and the Request Type field 804. The TWT Element field 706 includes the Target Wake Time field 805, the Nominal Minimum TWT Wake Duration field 806. The TWT Element field 706 includes the TWT Wake Interval Mantissa field 807, the Link ID Bitmap field 808, and the IDC Info field 809. The Element ID field 801 is the identification information of the information element, and a value of 216 indicates that it is a TWT element. The Length field 802 indicates the length of the information element from the Length field 802 onward. The Control field 803 includes the Unavailability Mode subfield 811, the Negotiation Type subfield 812, and the TWT Information Frame Disabled subfield 813. The Control field 803 also includes the Wake Duration Unit subfield 814, the Link ID Bitmap Present subfield 815, and the Aligned TWT subfield 816.

[0051] The Unavailability Mode subfield 811 indicates whether or not it is Unavailability Mode. For example, setting the value of the Unavailability Mode subfield 811 to 1 indicates that it is Unavailability Mode. For example, in this example, a value of 1 may be set. That is, in this example, indicating that it is Unavailability Mode may indicate that it is notifying of a period during which the first communication will be restricted. The Negotiation Type subfield 812 indicates whether the TWT parameters included in the TWT element are for negotiating the parameters of a broadcast TWT or individual TWTs, or indicate a Wake TBTT interval. In this example, a value of 0 may be set. In other words, in this example, setting the value of the Negotiation Type subfield 812 to 0 may indicate that the subsequent Target Wake Time subfield 805 indicates the start time of the individual period to be scheduled. Similarly, the TWT Wake Interval Exponent subfield 824 and the TWT Wake Interval Mantissa subfield 807 may indicate the interval between individual periods. Setting the value of the TWT Information Frame Disabled subfield 813 to 1 indicates that the reception of TWT Information frames is disabled. In this example, the value may be set to 0. The Wake Duration Unit subfield 814 indicates the time unit of the period indicated by the Normal Minimum TWT Wake Duration field 806. Setting the Wake Duration Unit subfield 814 to 1 indicates a time unit of 256 μs, and setting it to 0 indicates a time unit of 1 TU. 1 TU is equal to 1024 μs. In this example, a value of 1 can be set. The Link ID Bitmap Present subfield 815 indicates whether the Link ID Bitmap field 808 exists or not.If the value of the Link ID Bitmap Present subfield 815 is set to 0, it indicates that the parameters contained in this TWT element will only apply to the link to which this TWT element is notified. If the value of the Bitmap Present subfield 815 is set to 1, the Link ID Bitmap field 808 indicates the link to which the parameters contained in this TWT element will apply. In this example, the value can be set to 1. The Aligned TWT subfield 816 indicates whether the elements of the TWT will be adjusted across multiple links. In this example, the value can be set to 0.

[0052] If the value of the Unavailability Mode subfield 811 is set to 1, the Request Type field 804 may include subfields from the Fully Unavailability subfield 821 onwards. In this case, the Request Type field 804 may include the Fully Unavailability subfield 821 and the IDC Setup Command subfield 822. Additionally, the Request Type field 804 may include the TWT Flow Identifier subfield 823 and the TWT Wake Interval Exponent subfield 824. The Fully Unavailability subfield 821 indicates whether STA 111 will be completely unable to communicate during the period in which the first communication is restricted. Setting the value of the Fully Unavailability subfield 821 to 1 may indicate that STA 111 will be completely unable to communicate. Alternatively, setting the value of the Fully Unavailability subfield 821 to 0 may indicate that communication is possible using the second set of communication parameters identified based on the IDC Info field 809.

[0053] The IDC Setup Command subfield 822 indicates the type of message in negotiations using the TWT element. Setting the value of the IDC Setup Command subfield 822 to 0 may indicate that it is a Request message. For example, if the IDC Setup frame in F502 of Figure 5 contains a TWT element, the value of the IDC Setup Command subfield 822 may be set to 0. That is, the IDC Setup frame may be a Channel Usage Request frame with the value of the IDC Setup Command subfield 822 set to 0. Setting the value of the IDC Setup Command subfield 822 to 1 may indicate that it is an Update message. For example, it can be used when modifying a second set of communication parameter sets after they have been shared between AP101 and STA111. Setting the value of the IDC Setup Command subfield 822 to 2 may indicate that it is a Suspend message. It can be used when temporarily suspending the use of a second set of communication parameter sets after they have been shared between AP101 and STA111. Setting the value of the IDC Setup Command subfield 822 to 3 may indicate that it is a Teardown message. For example, it can be used when canceling a second set of communication parameter sets after they have been shared between AP101 and STA111. Setting the value of the IDC Setup Command subfield 822 to 4 may indicate that it is an Accept message. For example, if the IDC Response frame in Figure 5 contains a TWT element, the value of the IDC Setup Command subfield 822 may be set to 4. In other words, the IDC Response frame may be a Channel Usage Response frame in which the value of the IDC Setup Command subfield 822 is set to 4.The value of the IDC Setup Command subfield 822 can be set to 5 to indicate that it is a Reject message. For example, this can be used to indicate that AP 101 will not accept notification from STA 101 and will continue to send and receive data using the first set of communication parameter sets even during a period when the first communication is restricted. As an example, AP 101 may use a Reject message if it does not have the function to switch between the first and second sets of communication parameter sets depending on the presence or absence of IDI in STA 111. The TWT Flow Identifier subfield 823 indicates identification information that identifies a series of negotiations using TWT elements. In this example, the value may be set to 0.

[0054] The period during which the first communication is restricted (the first period in Figure 5) and the period between the periods during which the first communication is restricted (the second period in Figure 5) can be indicated using multiple subfields. For example, they can be indicated by the TWT Wake Internal Exponent subfield 824, the Target Wake Time fields 805 to the TWT Wake Internal Mantissa field 807. The period between the period during which the first communication is restricted and the period during which the next first communication is restricted (the second period in Figure 5) can be indicated as TWT wake Internal. For example, TWT wake Interval can be represented using the TWT Wake Interval Exponent subfield 824 and the TWT Wake Interval Mantissa field 807. TWT wake Interval can be represented by an exponent with base 2, mantissa value of TWT Wake Interval Mantissa field 807, and exponent value of TWT Wake Interval Exponent subfield 824. The unit is μs.

[0055] The Target Wake Time field 805 indicates the timing at which the first communication is restricted. If the value of the IDC Setup Command subfield 822 is set to 0 or 1, the Target Wake Time field 805 indicates the start time of the period during which the first communication is restricted (the first period in Figure 5). The start time of the period during which the first communication is restricted may be indicated using the AP101's TSF (Timing Synchronization Function). The Target Wake Time field 805 may be 8 octets long. For TWT elements where the value of the IDC Setup Command subfield 822 is set to 2, 3, or 4, the Target Wake Time field 805 may not be present.

[0056] The Nominal Minimum TWT Wake Duration field 806 indicates the minimum length of time during which the restriction on the first communication occurs. The length of the period indicated by the Nominal Minimum TWT Wake Duration field 806 is expressed using the time unit indicated by the Wake Duration Unit subfield 814. Thus, the first and second periods in Figure 5 can be expressed using the TWT Wake Interval Exponent 824, Target Wake Time 805 to TWT Wake Interval Mantissa 807. The period between the periods during which the restriction on the first communication occurs may be expressed by other methods. For example, the period during which the first communication is restricted may be indicated as TWT wake Interval. In this case, the period during which the first communication is restricted may be indicated using the TWT Wake Interval Exponent subfield 824 and the TWT Wake Interval Mantissa field 807. Furthermore, the period between the period during which the first communication is restricted and the next period during which the first communication is restricted is indicated by the Target Wake Time field 805 and the Nominal Minimum TWT Wake Duration field 806.

[0057] The Link ID Bitmap field 808 may be used when a multilink is established between AP101 and STA111, and a second set of communication parameters is applied to multiple links during a period when the first communication is restricted. For example, the Link ID Bitmap field 808 indicates the links to which the second set of communication parameters is applied in a bitmap representation. In this case, the bit value corresponding to the links to which the second set of communication parameters is applied may be set to 1, and the bit value corresponding to the links to which it is not applied may be set to 0.

[0058] The IDC Info field 809 contains information for identifying a second set of communication parameters. The IDC Info field 809 may include the Length subfield 831, the Control subfield 832, the BW subfield 833, and the Channel Bitmap subfield 834. The IDC Info field 809 may also include the Available NSS subfield 835, the Tx MCS subfield 836, and the Rx MCS subfield 837. The IDC Info field 809 may also include the Txpower subfield 838 and the Target RSSI subfield 839. The Length subfield 831 indicates the length of the IDC Info field 809. Furthermore, if the length of the IDC Info field 809 is determined based on the Control subfield 832, the Length subfield 831 does not need to exist. This reduces the amount of data that needs to be communicated. The Control subfield 832 indicates the presence or absence of each subsequent subfield. For example, each of the 0th to 6th bits of the Control subfield 832 may indicate the presence or absence of each of the BW subfield 833 to the Target RSSI subfield 839.

[0059] The BW subfield 833 indicates the bandwidth that STA 111 can communicate with during the period when the first communication is restricted. For example, if the value of the BW subfield 833 is set to any of 0 to 4, it may indicate that communication is possible using bandwidths of up to 20 MHz, 40 MHz, 80 MHz, 160 MHz, and 320 MHz, respectively. Alternatively, STA 111 may indicate the usable frequency band using the BW subfield 833 and the subsequent Channel Bitmap field 834. For example, STA 111 may indicate an 80 MHz bandwidth using the BW subfield 833, and then indicate each of the usable 20 MHz bandwidths within that 80 MHz bandwidth using a bitmap. In this case, the length of the Channel Bitmap field 834 may be determined based on the value of the BW subfield 833. For example, if the BW subfield 833 indicates a bandwidth of 40 MHz, the Channel Bitmap field 834 may consist of 2 bits. In this case, the bits corresponding to the 20 MHz bandwidths that can be communicated, starting from the lowest frequencies, may be set to a value of 1. For example, if a bandwidth of 40 MHz is indicated and only the higher 20 MHz frequency is communicable, the bitmap of the Channel Bitmap field 834 may be set to "01". On the other hand, if only the lower 20 MHz frequency is communicable, the bitmap may be set to "10". Furthermore, if the BW subfield 833 indicates a bandwidth of 80 MHz, the Channel Bitmap field 834 may consist of 4 bits. For example, by setting the bitmap of the Channel Bitmap field 834 to "1011", it may be indicated that the second lowest 20 MHz bandwidth on the frequency axis is not communicable. Similarly, if the BW subfield 833 indicates a bandwidth of 160 MHz, the Channel Bitmap field 834 may consist of 8 bits. If the BW subfield 833 indicates a bandwidth of 320 MHz, the Channel Bitmap field 834 may consist of 16 bits.In this way, by combining the BW subfield 833 and the Channel Bitmap field 834, the STA111 can communicate in a precise frequency band using fewer bits.

[0060] The method by which STA111 notifies the frequency bands in which it can communicate is not limited to the above. For example, each of the 16 20 MHz bands contained within the 320 MHz bandwidth may be assigned a decimal number from 0 to 15 in descending order of frequency, and these numbers may be used to indicate bands in which communication is not possible. In this case, 4 bits are used to indicate one band in which communication is not possible, and if there are multiple bands in which communication is not possible, multiple 4-bit areas corresponding to each band may be used. This makes it possible for STA111 to notify the frequency bands in which it can communicate with less information.

[0061] Furthermore, STA111 can notify AP101 of the communicationable frequency bands using predetermined patterns. For example, one identification information (index) may be assigned to each puncture pattern that indicates the communicationable frequency bands and the non-communicationable frequency bands. Figure 9 shows an example of a puncture pattern with a bandwidth of 20 MHz in units of 80 MHz bandwidth. The 0th index may be associated with a pattern indicating that the lowest frequency 20 MHz bandwidth band is not communicable. Similarly, each of the 1st to 3rd indices may be associated with patterns indicating that the 2nd to 4th 20 MHz bandwidth bands, in descending order of frequency, are not communicable. In this case, STA111 can notify AP101 of the communicationable frequency bands by notifying it of the index associated with each pattern. Furthermore, the correspondence between the patterns and indices shown in Figure 9 may be adapted from the MRU arrangement and MRU index specified in the IEEE 802.11be standard. For example, each of the 0th to 3rd indices can be associated with each of the MRU1 to MRU4 of the 80 MHz bandwidth 484+242-tone MRU. In this case, each of the values ​​0 to 3 shown in the Channel Bitmap field 834 can be associated with each of the MRU1 to MRU4.

[0062] Figure 10 shows an example of a puncture pattern with 20 MHz and 40 MHz bandwidths in a 160 MHz bandwidth. The 0th index can be associated with a pattern indicating that the lowest frequency 20 MHz bandwidth is uncommunicable. Similarly, each of the 1st to 7th indices can be associated with patterns indicating that the 2nd to 8th 20 MHz bandwidths, in descending order of frequency, are uncommunicable. The 8th index can be associated with a pattern indicating that the lowest frequency 40 MHz bandwidth is uncommunicable. Similarly, each of the 9th to 11th indices can be associated with patterns indicating that the 2nd to 4th 40 MHz bandwidths, in descending order of frequency, are uncommunicable. For these associations as well, the MRU arrangement and MRU index specified in the IEEE 802.11be standard can be adapted. For example, each of the 0th to 7th indices can be associated with each of the MRU1 to MRU8 of the 996+484+242-tone MRU with a bandwidth of 160 MHz. Similarly, each of the 8th to 11th indices can be associated with each of the MRU1 to MRU4 of the 996+484-tone MRU with a bandwidth of 160 MHz. In this case, each of the values ​​0 to 7 shown in the Channel Bitmap field 834 can be associated with each of the MRU1 to MRU8 of the 996+484+242-tone MRU with a bandwidth of 160 MHz. Furthermore, each of the values ​​8 to 11 shown in Channel Bitmap field 834 can be associated with MRU1 to MRU4 of the 996+484-tone MRU with a bandwidth of 160 MHz.

[0063] Figure 11 shows an example of a puncture pattern with 40 MHz and 80 MHz bandwidths in a 320 MHz bandwidth. The 0th index can be associated with a pattern indicating that the lowest frequency 40 MHz bandwidth is uncommunicable. Similarly, each of the 1st to 7th indices can be associated with patterns indicating that the 2nd to 8th 40 MHz bandwidths, in ascending order of frequency, are uncommunicable. The 8th index can be associated with a pattern indicating that the lowest frequency 80 MHz bandwidth is uncommunicable. Similarly, each of the 9th to 11th indices can be associated with patterns indicating that the 2nd to 4th 80 MHz bandwidths, in ascending order of frequency, are uncommunicable. For these associations as well, the MRU arrangement and MRU index specified in the IEEE 802.11be standard can be adapted. For example, each of the 0th to 7th indices can be associated with each of the MRU1 to MRU8 of a 3x996+484-tone MRU with a bandwidth of 320 MHz. Similarly, each of the 8th to 11th indices can be associated with each of the MRU1 to MRU4 of a 3x996-tone MRU with a bandwidth of 320 MHz. In this case, each of the values ​​0 to 7 shown in the Channel Bitmap field 834 can be associated with each of the MRU1 to MRU8 of a 3x996+484-tone MRU with a bandwidth of 320 MHz. Furthermore, each of the 8 to 11 values ​​shown in Channel Bitmap field 834 can be associated with MRU1 to MRU4 of a 3x996-tone MRU with a bandwidth of 320 MHz.

[0064] Figure 12 shows an example of a puncture pattern when communication is impossible in the 80 MHz bandwidth bands at higher frequencies (index 12 to index 17) or lower frequencies (index 18 to index 23) as shown in Figure 11. For these mappings, the MRU arrangement and MRU indices specified in the IEEE 802.11be standard can be adapted. For example, each of the index 12 to index 23 can be mapped to each of the MRU1 to MRU12 of the 2×996+484-tone MRU with a bandwidth of 320 MHz. In this case, each of the values ​​12 to 23 shown in Channel Bitmap field 834 can be mapped to each of the MRU1 to MRU12 of the 2×996+484-tone MRU with a bandwidth of 320 MHz. In this way, by using the pre-shared mapping between puncture patterns and indices between STA111 and AP101, STA111 can notify various patterns within the frequency band it can communicate with using less information. Furthermore, by repurposing the MRU placement and MRU index specified in the IEEE 802.11be standard, the mapping between available frequency resources and indices can be unified, making management more efficient.

[0065] The Available NSS subfield 835 indicates information for identifying the number of MIMO multiplexing numbers that STA111 can communicate. For example, STA111 may set a value corresponding to the maximum number of MIMO multiplexing numbers that it can receive during a period when the first communication is restricted. The Tx MCS subfield 836 indicates information for identifying the MCS that STA111 can use for transmission. For example, STA111 may set a value corresponding to the maximum number of MCS that it can use for transmission during a period when the first communication is restricted. The Rx MCS subfield 837 indicates information for identifying the MCS that STA111 can receive. For example, STA111 may set a value corresponding to the maximum number of MCS that it can receive during a period when the first communication is restricted. Note that the Tx MCS subfield 836 and the Rx MCS subfield 837 may each consist of 5 bits. This allows the IEEE 802.11bn standard to notify the corresponding MCS index when a new MCS is added. For example, each MCS index can be associated with each MCS as shown in Table 1. STA111 may also provide a subfield indicating the number of MIMO multiplexing operations that can be communicated for each MCS index, instead of the Available NSS subfields 835 to Rx MCS field 837. For example, STA111 may provide a subfield indicating the maximum number of MIMO multiplexing operations that can be communicated when using an MCS corresponding to any of MCS indexes 0 to N0. Furthermore, STA111 may provide a subfield indicating the maximum number of MIMO multiplexing operations that can be communicated when using an MCS corresponding to any of MCS indexes 0 to N1 (N1 > N0). Furthermore, STA111 may include a subfield that notifies AP101 of interference power from the second wireless communication circuit, either in place of or in addition to the Available NSS subfields 835 to Rx MCS subfield 837. Depending on the magnitude of the IDI, STA111 may not be able to communicate using the communication parameter settings that are required by the standard.For example, the IEEE 802.11be standard mandates support for MCS corresponding to MCS indexes 0 to 9, but if the IDI is large, communication using some of these MCS may not be possible. In this case, STA111 can notify AP101 that some of the mandated MCS cannot be used during the period in which the first communication is restricted. For example, STA111 can notify AP101 that the maximum usable MCS index is smaller than the maximum value of the MCS index mandated by the standard. Similarly, STA111 can notify AP101 that for other communication parameters, the maximum usable value is smaller than the maximum value of the setting that must be supported, or the minimum usable value is larger than the minimum value of the setting that must be supported.

[0066] Table 1

[0067] The Txpower subfield 838 indicates information for identifying the transmit power that STA111 can transmit. For example, STA111 may set a value corresponding to the maximum transmit power that the device can use when transmitting during a period when the first communication is restricted. The Target RSSI subfield 839 indicates information for identifying the RSSI target value that STA111 can receive. For example, STA111 may set a value corresponding to the maximum receive power that the device needs to receive during a period when the first communication is restricted.

[0068] Thus, STA111 can notify AP101 of information that identifies the period during which the first communication is restricted and a second set of communication parameters that can be used during that period, using the TWT element included in the Channel Usage Request frame. STA111 may also notify AP101 of information that identifies the period during which the first communication is restricted and a second set of communication parameters that can be used during that period, using other frames or other information elements. For example, when connecting to AP101, STA111 can make such notification using a Probe Request frame, Association Request frame, Reassociation Request frame, etc., which include the TWT element. If STA111 knows that a second communication exists when connecting to or reconnecting to AP101, it can efficiently notify AP101 by making the notification during the connection or reconnection procedure. Furthermore, when multilink communication is taking place between AP101 and STA111, STA111 may use Link Reconfiguration Request frames and Link Reconfiguration Response frames. Similarly, STA111 may use TID-To-Link Mapping Request frames, TID-To-Link Mapping Response frames, and TID-To-Link Mapping Teardown frames. By including a TWT element containing the IDC Info subfield 809, etc., in these multilink frames, it becomes possible to efficiently notify when IDI restrictions change due to a change in the link used to transmit data. STA111 may notify AP101 by including a TWT element containing the IDC Info subfield 809, etc., in the Operating Mode Indication (OMI) frame.

[0069] (Operation of the receiving device that receives the notification based on the existence of an IDI) The processing performed by the communication device that receives the notification based on the existence of an IDI will be described. Here, we will use the example that AP101 is the communication device that receives the notification based on the existence of an IDI. Figure 13 shows an example of the processing flow of the processing performed by AP101. This processing flow may be started based on the fact that STA111 has started the connection procedure to AP101. AP101 performs the connection process with STA111 (S1301). For example, AP101 may perform the connection process using the connection procedure shown in F501 of Figure 5. In the connection procedure, AP101 may obtain information for STA111 to identify the first set of corresponding communication parameter sets. AP101 determines whether or not it has received a notification based on the existence of an IDI from STA111 (S1302). For example, AP101 may receive a notification from STA111 during the connection process (S1301) that includes information to identify the period during which the first communication is restricted and a second set of communication parameters that can be used during that period. Also, AP101 may receive a notification from STA111 after establishing a connection with STA111 that includes information to identify the period during which the first communication is restricted and a second set of communication parameters that can be used during that period. For this reason, AP101 may periodically execute the processes included in the processing flow of Figure 13 even after establishing a connection with STA111.

[0070] If AP101 does not receive a notification from STA111 based on the existence of IDI (NO in S1302), it identifies a first set of communication parameter sets based on capability information exchanged when establishing a connection with STA111. AP101 selects a set of communication parameter sets to be used for communication from the identified first set of communication parameter sets and executes the communication (S1303).

[0071] If AP101 receives a notification from STA111 based on the existence of an IDI (YES in S1302), it identifies a period during which the first communication will be restricted based on the information contained in the notification. For example, if the notification received from STA111 includes information specifying the period, start time, duration, etc., of the period during which the first communication will be restricted, AP101 can identify a period during which the first communication will be restricted based on this information. Also, if the notification received from STA111 indicates a specific period, AP101 can identify that period as the period during which the first communication will be restricted. For example, the specific period may be a period identified based on schedule information, etc., of transmissions performed in STA111's second wireless communication circuit. In this case, STA111 can notify AP101 each time a period during which transmissions from the second wireless communication circuit are scheduled is identified in its own device. Furthermore, AP101 can identify a second set of communication parameter sets that can be used during the period during which the first communication will be restricted, based on the information contained in the notification received from STA111. For example, AP101 can identify the maximum MIMO multiplexing count, the maximum MCS index, the maximum data rate associated with the MCS, the maximum bandwidth, the maximum transmit power, the target value of the receive power, etc., from the notification received from STA111. Based on this information, AP101 can identify a second set of communication parameter sets from a first set of communication parameter sets that can be used during the period when the first communication is restricted. For example, AP101 can determine that an MCS corresponding to an MCS index exceeding the maximum MCS index notified by STA111 cannot be used, but an MCS corresponding to an MCS index less than or equal to that maximum can be used.

[0072] If AP101 receives notification from STA111 based on the presence of IDI (YES in S1302), it switches the set of available communication parameter sets for communication depending on whether or not it is a period in which the first communication is restricted (S1304). If it is a period in which the first communication is restricted (YES in S1304), AP101 communicates using one of the communication parameter sets included in the second set (S1305). If it is not a period in which the first communication is restricted (NO in S1304), AP101 communicates using one of the communication parameter sets included in the first set (S1303). For example, if it is a period in which the first communication is restricted, AP101 may operate to allocate an RU in a frequency band where the interference power of the IDI at STA111 is less than a threshold. As an example, AP101 may be notified by STA111 of one of the indices associated with the puncture patterns in Figures 9 to 12. In this case, AP101 assigns RUs to STA111 that are included in the frequency band indicated as the frequency band on which communication is possible in the puncture pattern corresponding to the notified index.

[0073] Furthermore, when AP101 transmits data to STA111 during a period when the first communication is restricted, it selects the MIMO multiplexing count and MCS within a range that does not exceed the notified maximum MIMO multiplexing count and MCS index maximum value, and then transmits the data. Also, if AP101 is notified of a target value for received power by STA111, it controls the transmit power so that STA111 receives the data at that target value. For example, AP101 calculates the propagation loss between AP101 and STA111 based on the signal received from STA111. Then, AP101 transmits the data using a transmit power greater than the sum of the target value for received power notified by STA111 and the calculated propagation loss. In this way, when AP101 transmits data to STA111 during a period when the first communication is restricted, it selects a set of communication parameters within a range where each communication parameter does not exceed the communication parameter limits notified by STA111.

[0074] On the other hand, AP101 may specify a set of communication parameters to be used by STA111 for data transmission during periods when the first communication is restricted. In this case, AP101 may specify a set of communication parameters so that each communication parameter does not exceed the communication parameter limits notified by STA111. For example, AP101 may specify a set of communication parameters in a Trigger frame. As an example, AP101 may specify the MCS index that STA111 should use in the UL MCS subfield included in the Trigger frame. In this case, AP101 sets the specified MCS index so that it does not exceed the maximum value of the MCS index notified by STA111. The UL MCS subfield may be the UL EHT-MCS subfield or the UL UHR-MCS subfield, etc. Furthermore, AP101 may specify the number of MIMO multiplexers that STA111 should use using the SS Allocation subfield included in the Trigger frame. In this case, AP101 sets the number of MIMO multiplexers specified to STA111 so as not to exceed the maximum number of MIMO multiplexers notified by STA111. In addition, AP101 may specify a target value for the received power at AP101 in the UL Target Receive Power subfield included in the Trigger frame. In this case, AP101 may specify a target value for the received power so as not to exceed the maximum value of the received power at AP101 calculated based on the maximum transmit power notified by STA111 and the propagation loss between AP101 and STA111.

[0075] Furthermore, AP101 can optimize the settings of communication parameters such as MIMO multiplexing and MCS based on the radio quality in communication with STA111. For example, AP101 can request STA111 to report on the radio quality and determine the settings of communication parameters such as MIMO multiplexing and MCS based on the obtained radio quality report. This control that selects an appropriate set of communication parameters such as MIMO multiplexing and MCS according to the radio quality is called link adaptation. AP101 may perform link adaptation independently in a first period in which the first communication is restricted and a second period in which the first communication is not restricted. That is, AP101 can determine a first setting of communication parameters to be used in the first period and a second setting of communication parameters to be used in the second period based on the radio quality with STA111 in each period. AP101 can then periodically update both the first and second setting values. In this way, by performing link adaptation independently during the first period in which the first communication is restricted and the second period in which the first communication is not restricted, an appropriate set of communication parameters can be selected according to the wireless quality of each period. Although the above explanation used an example in which AP101 determines the set of communication parameters based on a report from STA111, STA111 may also request AP101 to report on the wireless quality and select an appropriate set of communication parameters. Furthermore, AP101 and STA111 may each evaluate the wireless quality between themselves and the other party's communication device and determine appropriate settings for the communication parameters. In this case as well, each communication device can independently determine and update the settings for its communication parameters during the first and second periods, thereby selecting an appropriate set of communication parameters according to the period.

[0076] (Modified Example) In the above example, the first communication between AP101 and STA111 is limited when STA111, which participates in the BSS configured by AP101, has multiple wireless communication circuits. In this example, we will explain a case in which communication between AP and STA is limited because AP has multiple wireless communication circuits. For example, AP may be implemented in a smartphone, etc., and perform first communication with STA implemented in a PC or tablet, etc., and that smartphone may have a second wireless communication circuit that performs second communication with terminals such as earphones or smartwatches. Such an AP that can maintain the BSS regardless of changes in the position of its own device (movement of its own device) may be called a mobile AP. Figure 14 shows an example of the configuration of a wireless communication system according to this modified example. AP102, STA112, and terminal 132 are each configured in the same way as in Figure 1, except that terminal 132 performs second communication with AP102 instead of STA112. AP102 is a mobile AP implemented in a portable device such as a smartphone, and may have a third wireless communication circuit for connecting to the core network, in addition to the first and second wireless communication circuits. STA112 is a device such as a tablet, which can connect to the core network via a smartphone.

[0077] Mobile AP 102 in Figure 14 can operate similarly to STA 111 in Figure 5. Similarly, STA 112 can operate similarly to AP 101 in Figure 5. For example, in the connection procedure with STA 112, mobile AP 102 notifies STA 112 of the first set of communication parameter sets corresponding to its own device. Furthermore, if mobile AP 102 determines that there is a second communication in addition to the first communication with STA 112, it notifies STA 112 of the existence of the IDI. For example, if mobile AP 102 determines that there is a second communication when establishing a connection with STA 112, it may notify STA 112 of the existence of the IDI using frames used in the connection procedure. In this case, mobile AP 102 may use Probe Response frames, Association Response frames, Response Response frames, etc., to make the notification. Furthermore, if the mobile AP 102 determines that a second communication exists after establishing a connection with the STA 112, it may send a notification based on the existence of the IDI using an Action frame. For example, the mobile AP may send a notification using a Change Usage Request frame, an IDC Setup frame, etc. The mobile AP 102 may also periodically send notifications based on the existence of the IDI using a Beacon frame. In this case, the mobile AP 102 can send a notification to all STA 112 connected to its device at once. As an example, the mobile AP 102 may periodically send a Beacon frame containing a TWTelement field 706 that includes an IDC Info subfield 809 to send a notification based on the existence of the IDI.

[0078] STA112 can operate similarly to AP101 in Figure 5. For example, when STA112 receives a notification from mobile AP102 based on the existence of an IDI, it performs communication based on the information contained in the received notification. As an example, STA112 may identify a period during which first communication with mobile AP102 is restricted based on the notification from mobile AP102. STA112 may also identify a second set of communication parameter sets available during that period based on the notification from mobile AP102. During the period during which first communication with mobile AP102 is restricted, STA112 performs communication using one of the communication parameter sets included in the second set. Outside of the period during which first communication is restricted, STA112 may perform communication using one of the communication parameter sets included in the first set.

[0079] Furthermore, when the mobile AP 102 is communicating with the STA 112 via multilink, it can send notifications using Link Reconfiguration Notification frames, Link Recommendation frames, etc. By including a TWT element containing the IDC Info subfield 809, etc., in these frames, it becomes possible to efficiently notify the STA 112 when the restrictions imposed by IDI change due to a change in the link used to transmit data. In the above explanation, the example of AP 102 being a mobile AP implemented in a portable device such as a smartphone was used, but AP 102 may also be implemented in a fixed device. Also, if the STA 112 has AP functionality, the network 121 may be configured as a multi-AP configuration in which both AP 102 and STA 112 operate as APs. In this case, one or more STAs may participate in the BSS configured by STA 112 as an AP.

[0080] As described above, according to this embodiment, when the communication device establishes a connection for the first communication with the other party's communication device, it notifies the other party of a first set of communication parameter sets that it corresponds to. The communication device also makes a notification that includes information indicating a period during which the first communication will be restricted, and information for identifying a second set of communication parameter sets to be used during that period. On the other hand, the other party's communication device communicates based on the first set of communication parameter sets, the period during which the first communication will be restricted, and the second set of communication parameter sets. For example, the other party's communication device communicates using one of the communication parameter sets in the second set during the period during which the first communication will be restricted, and communicates using one of the communication parameter sets in the first set during other periods. With this configuration, the first communication can be performed using a highly reliable communication parameter set even during the period during which the first communication will be restricted. In this way, even when other wireless communication circuits are operating inside the communication device, communication is performed by switching between a highly reliable communication parameter set and a high-speed communication parameter set depending on the operating status of those circuits, thereby achieving both highly reliable and high-speed communication. The names of frames, fields, subfields, etc., described in this embodiment may be other names. Also, the configuration of each frame, field, subfield, etc., and the information contained therein may differ in part, some parts may be omitted, and other information may be included. In this embodiment, MIMO multiplexing number, MCS, bandwidth, transmit power, and receive power were used as communication parameters for explanation, but the communication parameters used in communication between communication devices are not limited to these. For example, any communication parameter that is restricted by the presence of other wireless communication circuits inside the communication device may be included in the first set or the second set of communication parameters.

[0081] The present invention can also be realized by supplying a program that implements one or more of the functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or device via a network or storage medium, and by having one or more processors in the computer of that system or device read and execute the program. It can also be realized by a circuit (e.g., ASIC) that implements one or more functions. (Other embodiments) The present disclosure can also be realized by supplying a program that implements one or more of the functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or device via a network or storage medium, and by having one or more processors in the computer of that system or device read and execute the program. It can also be realized by a circuit (e.g., ASIC) that implements one or more functions.

[0082] The technical ideas derived from this disclosure are not limited to the exemplary embodiments disclosed, but are intended to encompass various modifications of the exemplary embodiments, or substitutions with equivalent structures or functions. The scope of the following claims should be interpreted in the broadest way to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures and functions.

[0083] This application claims priority based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2024-175264, filed on October 4, 2024, and all of its contents are incorporated herein by reference.

Claims

1. A communication device capable of performing a first communication with another communication device compliant with the IEEE 802.11 standard series and a second communication with a device other than the other communication device, comprising: establishing means for establishing a connection for the first communication with the other communication device by notifying the other communication device of information for identifying a first set of communication parameter sets composed of a combination of one or more communication parameters; notifying means for making a notification to the other communication device including information indicating a period during which the second communication is scheduled and information for identifying a second set of communication parameter sets in which the use of a portion of the first set is restricted and which should be used when the first communication between the communication device and the other communication device is performed during that period; and communication means for performing the first communication with the other communication device using any of the communication parameter sets included in the first set during a period when the communication device is not performing the second communication, and performing the first communication with the other communication device using any of the communication parameter sets included in the second set during a period when the communication device is performing the second communication.

2. The communication device according to claim 1, further comprising a determination means for determining the second set.

3. The communication device according to claim 2, wherein one or more communication parameters include a spatial stream number, and the determination means determines the second set such that the maximum value of the spatial stream number included in the second set is less than the maximum value of the spatial stream number included in the first set.

4. The communication device according to claim 2 or 3, wherein one or more communication parameters include a Modulation and Coding Scheme (MCS), and the determination means determines the second set such that the maximum value of the data rates corresponding to the MCS included in the second set is less than the maximum value of the data rates corresponding to the MCS included in the first set.

5. The communication device according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein one or more communication parameters include a frequency bandwidth, and the determination means determines the second set such that the maximum value of the frequency bandwidth included in the second set is smaller than the maximum value of the frequency bandwidth included in the first set.

6. The communication device according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein one or more communication parameters include a target value of the received power of a signal transmitted by the other communication device in the communication device, and the determination means determines the second set such that the target value in the second set is greater than the target value in the communication device in the first set.

7. The communication device according to any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein one or more communication parameters include the transmission power of the communication device, and the determination means determines the second set such that the maximum value of the transmission power of the communication device included in the second set is less than the maximum value of the transmission power of the communication device included in the first set.

8. The communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the notification means provides the notification which includes information indicating the period during which the second communication occurs as information indicating the period during which the second communication is performed.

9. The communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the second set restricts the use of a portion of the communication parameter set used by the other communication device when transmitting signals to the communication device.

10. The communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the second set restricts the use of a portion of the communication parameter set used by the communication device when transmitting signals to the other communication device from the first set.

11. The communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the notification means performs the notification using a Probe Request frame, an Association Request frame, a Reassociation Request frame, or an Action frame.

12. The communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the second communication is a communication compliant with the Bluetooth standard.

13. The communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the second communication is a communication conforming to a cellular communication standard.

14. A communication device having communication means capable of performing a first communication with the communication device and a second communication with another communication device other than the communication device using a wireless frame compliant with the IEEE 802.11 standard series, wherein the communication means obtains from the other communication device information for identifying a first set of communication parameter sets consisting of a combination of one or more communication parameters, information indicating a period during which the second communication by the other communication device is scheduled to be performed, and information for identifying a second set of communication parameter sets in which the use of a portion of the first set is restricted, to be used when the first communication between the communication device and the other communication device is performed during that period, and performs the first communication with the other communication device using any of the communication parameter sets included in the first set during the period when the other communication device is performing the second communication.

15. The communication device according to claim 14, wherein one or more communication parameters include a spatial stream number, and the second set is determined such that the maximum value of the spatial stream number included in the second set is less than the maximum value of the spatial stream number included in the first set.

16. The communication device according to claim 14 or 15, wherein one or more communication parameters include a Modulation and Coding Scheme (MCS), and the second set is determined such that the maximum value of the data rate corresponding to the MCS included in the second set is less than the maximum value of the data rate corresponding to the MCS included in the first set.

17. The communication device according to any one of claims 14 to 16, wherein one or more communication parameters include a frequency bandwidth, and the second set is determined such that the maximum value of the frequency bandwidth included in the second set is less than the maximum value of the frequency bandwidth included in the first set.

18. The communication device according to any one of claims 14 to 17, wherein one or more communication parameters include a target value of the received power of a signal transmitted by the communication device in the other communication device, and the second set is determined such that the target values ​​included in the second set are greater than the target values ​​included in the first set.

19. The communication device according to any one of claims 14 to 18, wherein one or more communication parameters include the transmission power of the other communication device, and the second set is determined such that the maximum value of the transmission power of the other communication device included in the second set is less than the maximum value of the transmission power of the other communication device included in the first set.

20. The communication device according to any one of claims 14 to 19, wherein the communication means acquires at least information indicating the period during which the other communication device performs the second communication.

21. The communication device according to any one of claims 14 to 20, wherein the second set restricts the use of a portion of the communication parameter set used by the communication device when transmitting signals to the other communication device from the first set.

22. The communication device according to any one of claims 14 to 20, wherein the second set restricts the use of a portion of the communication parameter set used by the other communication device when transmitting signals to the communication device.

23. The communication device according to any one of claims 14 to 22, wherein the communication means performs the acquisition using a Probe Request frame, an Association Request frame, a Reassociation Request frame, or an Action frame.

24. The communication device according to any one of claims 14 to 23, wherein the second communication is a communication compliant with the Bluetooth standard.

25. The communication device according to any one of claims 14 to 23, wherein the second communication is a communication conforming to a cellular communication standard.

26. A control method performed by a communication device capable of performing a first communication with another communication device compliant with the IEEE 802.11 standard series and a second communication with a device other than the other communication device, comprising: notifying the other communication device of information for identifying a first set of communication parameter sets consisting of a combination of one or more communication parameters, thereby establishing a connection with the other communication device for the first communication; making a notification to the other communication device including information indicating a period during which the second communication is scheduled, and information for identifying a second set of communication parameter sets in which the use of a portion of the first set is restricted, to be used when the first communication between the communication device and the other communication device is performed during that period; performing the first communication with the other communication device using any of the communication parameter sets included in the first set during a period when the communication device is not performing the second communication; and performing the first communication with the other communication device using any of the communication parameter sets included in the second set during a period when the communication device is performing the second communication.

27. A control method performed by a communication device, comprising: performing a first communication with the communication device and a second communication with another communication device capable of performing a first communication with the communication device and a second communication with another device other than the communication device, using a wireless frame conforming to the IEEE 802.11 standard series to perform the first communication; obtaining from the other communication device the following in the communication: information for identifying a first set of communication parameter sets composed of a combination of one or more communication parameters; information indicating a period during which the second communication by the other communication device is scheduled; and information for identifying a second set of communication parameter sets, during which the use of a portion of the first set is restricted and which should be used when the first communication between the communication device and the other communication device is performed; and performing the first communication with the other communication device using any of the communication parameter sets included in the first set during the period when the other communication device is performing the second communication.

28. A program for causing a computer to function as each of the means of the communication device described in any one of claims 1 to 13.

29. A program for causing a computer to function as one of the means of a communication device according to any one of claims 14 to 25.

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