Communication control device

Abstract

A communication control apparatus has circuitry configured to receive a control signal from a wireless communication device, transmit a first signal in response to the received control signal, the first signal including information indicating a frequency resource range that includes a plurality of frequency resources within the frequency resource range, receive a second signal from the wireless communication device, the second signal using one of the plurality of frequency resources indicated by the first signal, and allocate a communication resource to the wireless communication device based on the received second signal.

Description

COMMUNICATION CONTROL DEVICECROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefit of Japanese Priority Patent Application JP 2024-196282 filed on November 8, 2024, the entire contents of which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] Embodiments according to the present disclosure relate generally to a communication control device.

[0003] In recent years, applications that handle low-latency traffic such as cross reality (XR) and communication in a factory have emerged. In a case where Wi-Fi is used to communicate low-latency traffic, a mechanism referred to as enhanced distributed channel access (EDCA) for preferentially transmitting low-latency traffic while avoiding communication collision between a plurality of terminals is used. In the EDCA, traffic is divided into low latency or other categories, and a waiting time (backoff time) is randomly selected from among values in different ranges, and set. For the low-latency traffic, by setting a waiting time from a range of smaller values, a terminal that handles low-latency traffic can preferentially acquire an access right.

[0004] Laurent Cariou and et al., “Low latency channel access”, IEEE 802.11 23 / 1065r0, July 10, 2023Sigurd Schelstraete and et al., “CSMA with enhanced Collision Avoidance”, IEEE 802.11 24 / 0773r1, July 11, 2024Sean Coffey and et al., “Low latency, low collision, low power UHR medium access”, IEEE 802.11 24 / 0284r2, April 28, 2024

[0005] In the EDCA, a selected waiting time is selected from a finite range, and thus, in a case where there is a plurality of terminals that handles low-latency traffic, the same waiting time may be selected. In this case, the plurality of terminals simultaneously starts transmission, and a communication collision occurs. That is, communication fails and re-transmission is required. At a time of the re-transmission, a waiting time is randomly selected from values in a range twice an original range. If the re-transmission fails again, a waiting time is further randomly selected from a value in a range of twice again, and a waiting time of the terminals that handle low-latency traffic increases exponentially.

[0006] In the published contributions described above, an enhancement proposal for performing the EDCA in two stages is presented. A plurality of terminals sets a waiting time on the basis of normal EDCA, and the plurality of terminals that has acquired an access right transmits specific signals (DS signals, Short signals, and the like). These terminals perform a second random waiting time that is completed in a time during which other terminals are waiting, reduce possibility that the same waiting time is selected, and perform transmission. However, in the two-stage EDCA, operation is completed on a transmission side, an immediate environment thereof such as reception terminals is not checked, a so-called hidden terminal problem cannot be addressed, and thus communication may fail.

[0007] Furthermore, the published contributions described above indicate methods in which an access point (AP) transmits, after transmitting a specific signal, a signal for allocating a plurality of time slots, and the AP allocates a communication resource to a terminal that has transmitted a specific signal in the specific time slot. However, the specific signal transmitted to the time slot is not synchronized between terminals, a time gap may occur with respect to the AP, and thus communication may fail.Summary

[0008] Therefore, in view of these problems, the present disclosure provides a communication control device that suppresses an exponential increase in a waiting time of a terminal and enhances reliability of communication when performing communication.

[0009] In at least one embodiment, a communication control apparatus has circuitry configured to receive a control signal from a wireless communication device, transmit a first signal in response to the received control signal, the first signal including information indicating a frequency resource range that includes a plurality of frequency resources within the frequency resource range, receive a second signal from the wireless communication device, the second signal using one of the plurality of frequency resources indicated by the first signal, and allocate a communication resource to the wireless communication device based on the received second signal.

[0010] Fig. 1 illustrates an example of an overall configuration of a wireless communication system according to a first embodiment.Fig. 2 is a block diagram of a communication device including a communication control device according to the first embodiment.Fig. 3 is an example of a sequence diagram of the wireless communication system according to the first embodiment.Fig. 4 is a frame format example 1 of a control signal according to the first embodiment.Fig. 5 is a frame format example 2 of the control signal according to the first embodiment.Fig. 6 is a frame format example 3 of the control signal according to the first embodiment.Fig. 7 is a frame format example of a first signal according to the first embodiment.Fig. 8 is an example of a flowchart of when a Non-AP 1 is allocated a communication resource from an AP 100 according to the first embodiment.Fig. 9 is a flowchart of when the AP 100 allocates the communication resource to the Non-AP 1 according to the first embodiment.Fig. 10 is an example of a sequence diagram of a wireless communication system according to a second embodiment.Fig. 11 is an example of a sequence diagram of a wireless communication system according to a third embodiment.Fig. 12 is an example of a sequence diagram of a wireless communication system according to a fourth embodiment.Fig. 13 is a frame format example of a first signal according to the fourth embodiment.Fig. 14 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of hardware of a computer that executes a series of processing with a program according to the first to fourth embodiments.Fig. 15 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration example of a smartphone to which the first to fourth embodiments are applied.Fig. 16 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a schematic configuration of an in-vehicle device to which the first to fourth embodiments are applied.Fig. 17 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a schematic configuration of a wireless AP to which the first to fourth embodiments are applied.

[0011] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that, in the present specification and the drawings, components having substantially the same functional configuration are denoted by the same reference signs, and description thereof is omitted as appropriate. Since the drawings are illustrated in a simplified manner, configurations necessary for implementation other than those illustrated in the drawings are appropriately provided. Furthermore, terms “first”, “second”, and the like used in the present specification or claims do not represent any order or importance unless otherwise specified, and are intended to distinguish one configuration from another configuration.

[0012] Furthermore, “greater than or equal to” and “less than” described in the present disclosure may be read as “greater than” and “less than or equal to”, respectively.

[0013] (First Embodiment) Fig. 1 illustrates an example of an overall configuration of a wireless communication system according to a first embodiment.

[0014] The wireless communication system includes an AP 100 and Non-APs 1 and 2. Furthermore, as illustrated in Fig. 1, the wireless communication systems Non-APs 3 and 4 may be included. The Non-AP 3 is present at a position where signals from the AP 100 and the Non-APs 1 and 2 can be detected, and the Non-AP 4 is present at a position where the signals from the Non-APs 1 and 2 cannot be detected. That is, the Non-AP 4 is in a state of a hidden terminal in the wireless communication system. Furthermore, each Non-AP communicates with the AP 100 by using a link formed with the AP 100. Furthermore, the link is an example of an access channel.

[0015] The AP 100 is a communication device corresponding to a base station. Each of the Non-APs 1 to 4 is a communication device corresponding to a terminal. Note that each device may be a multi-link device (MLD) compatible with MLO. That is, the AP 100 may be an AP MLD, and each of the Non-APs 1 to 4 may be a Non-AP MLD. For example, in a case where a Non-AP is a Non-AP MLD, the Non-AP forms a plurality of links with an AP-MLD to perform communication. Furthermore, the AP 100 and the Non-APs 1 to 4 are examples of communication devices, and, for the sake of description, the AP 100 may also be referred to as a first communication device and each of the Non-APs 1 to 4 may also be referred to as a second communication device.

[0016] For other than the operation described in the present embodiment, the AP 100 and the Non-APs 1 to 4 may also operate as a base station and terminals of a wireless LAN according to an IEEE 802.11 standard, such as IEEE 802.11a / b / g / n / ac / ax / be / bn or a successor standard thereto. For example, the AP 100 and the Non-APs 1 to 4 may perform operation based on carrier sense multiple access with collision avoidance (CSMA / CA) as an access method, and the AP 100 may transmit beacon signals at regular time intervals (periodically).

[0017] Fig. 2 is a block diagram of a communication device including a communication control device according to the first embodiment. In Fig. 2, an example in which the AP 100 includes x number of APs (x is an integer of 2 or more) and operates as an AP MLD will be described. Furthermore, for the Non-APs 1 to 4, APx may be read as STAx, and AP MLD Entity may be read as STA MLDEntity. Furthermore, although an MLD will be described with reference to Fig. 2, it is only required to read x as 1 for an AP and Non-AP MLD other than the MLD, and main configurations thereof are similar.

[0018] The communication device mainly includes a communication unit 110 that may be implemented in circuitry, including programmable circuitry,(a communication control unit 111, a communication storage unit 112, a data processing unit (individual data processing unit 121 and common data processing unit 113), a signal processing unit 122, a wireless interface unit 123, an amplification unit 124, a control unit 130, a storage unit 140, and an antenna 150. Furthermore, in this diagram, one AP among a plurality of APs will be illustrated and described.

[0019] The communication control unit 111 controls operation of each unit and information transmission between the units. Furthermore, control is performed to transfer, to each data processing unit, control information and management information to be notified to another communication device.

[0020] The communication storage unit 112 holds information used by the communication control unit 111. In addition, the communication storage unit 112 holds data to be transmitted and received data.

[0021] At a time of transmission, the data processing unit performs sequence management of the data held in the communication storage unit 112 and the control information and management information received from the communication control unit 111, performs encryption processing or the like to generate a data unit, performs channel access operation based on carrier sensing, add a media access control (MAC) header and an error detection code to data to be transmitted, and performs multiple concatenation processing on the data unit. At a time of reception, the data processing unit performs de-concatenation processing, analysis, and error detection on the MAC header of the received data unit, performs re-transmission request operation, and performs decoding processing and re-ordering processing on the data unit. Note that the data processing unit may include the individual data processing unit 121 that performs operation necessary for communication in a single frequency band, and the common data processing unit 113 that is connected to a plurality of individual data processing units 121 and performs operation common to communication in a plurality of frequency bands.

[0022] Furthermore, the AP 100 may not include the common data processing unit 113, and in this case, the common data processing unit 113 of another communication device performs processing. Note that, even if the AP 100 includes the common data processing unit 113, the AP 100 may operate such that, instead of the common data processing unit 113 in its own device, a common data processing unit 113 in another communication device performs processing.

[0023] The signal processing unit 122 includes a transmission signal processing unit and a reception signal processing unit. The transmission signal processing unit performs encoding, interleaving, modulation, and the like on the data unit, and adds a physical header (PHY Header) thereto, to generate a symbol stream. Note that an arbitrary delay amount (hereinafter, cyclic shift delay: CSD) may be applied to each antenna without spatial separation. The reception signal processing unit analyzes the physical header and performs demodulation, deinterleaving, decoding, and the like on the symbol stream to generate the data unit. Furthermore, the reception signal processing unit also performs complex channel characteristic estimation and spatial separation processing as necessary. Note that, in the present embodiment, the signal processing unit 122 is also referred to as a PHY unit.

[0024] The wireless interface unit 123 includes a wireless transmission interface unit and a wireless reception interface unit. The wireless transmission interface unit performs digital-analog signal conversion, filtering, up-conversion, and phase control on the symbol stream to generate a transmission signal. The wireless reception interface unit performs down-conversion, filtering, and analog-digital signal conversion on a reception signal to generate the symbol stream.

[0025] The amplification unit 124 includes a transmission amplification unit and a reception amplification unit. The transmission amplification unit amplifies a signal that is input from the wireless transmission interface unit. The reception amplification unit amplifies a signal that is input from an antenna. Part of an amplification unit may be a component placed outside the communication unit. Furthermore, a part of the amplification unit may be included in the wireless interface unit. Note that the wireless interface unit and the amplification unit 124 are also collectively referred to as an RF unit in the present embodiment.

[0026] The control unit 130 controls the communication unit 110 and the communication control unit 111. Furthermore, the control unit 130 may also perform part of the operation of the communication control unit 111 instead. Furthermore, the communication control unit 111 and the control unit 130 may be configured as one block. The communication control device according to the present disclosure is, for example, a chip implemented by one or more LSIs. The control unit of the communication control device according to the present disclosure corresponds to the communication control unit 111 as an example, or corresponds to at least either the communication unit 110 or the communication control unit 111. Furthermore, the communication control device according to the present disclosure includes the communication control unit 111 as an example, and may include at least one of other components, for example, an APx.

[0027] The storage unit 140 holds information used by the communication unit 110 and the control unit 130. Furthermore, the storage unit 140 may also perform part of the operation of the communication storage unit 112 instead. The storage unit 140 and the communication storage unit 112 may be configured as one block.

[0028] The wireless interface unit 123, the amplification unit 124, and the antenna 150 may be one set, and two or more sets thereof may be components of the communication device. The data processing unit and the signal processing unit may be one set, and two or more sets may be connected to one wireless interface unit 123.

[0029] The communication unit 110 may be implemented by one or more LSIs. Note that a configuration of the communication unit 110 is an example, and is not limited thereto. For example, three or more blocks may be included. Furthermore, in a case where three or more blocks are included, some plurality of blocks may share the same antenna via an antenna switch.

[0030] Hereinafter, the APx included in the AP 100 is also referred to as a first wireless communication unit, and the APx included in each of the Non-APs 1 to 4 is also referred to as a second wireless communication unit. Furthermore, the control unit included in the AP 100 is also referred to as a first control unit, and the control unit included in each of the Non-APs 1 to 4 is also referred to as a second control unit.

[0031] Fig. 3 is an example of a sequence diagram of the wireless communication system according to the first embodiment.

[0032] In the present embodiment, the AP 100 allocates a communication resource to a single Non-AP on the basis of two-stage random selection on a time axis and the frequency axis by a plurality of Non-APs. Specifically, the plurality of Non-APs having tried to acquire an access right sets a random backoff time on the time axis with EDCA and waits for the period, and then performs random selection once further on the frequency axis on the basis of information provided from the AP 100 and attempts communication at the frequency. The AP 100 allocates the communication resource to the single Non-AP according to a result of the random selection.

[0033] Before execution of this sequence, a capability check indicating support for a function of resource allocation in the present embodiment may be executed between the AP 100 and the Non-AP 1, the AP 100 and the Non-AP 2, the AP 100 and the Non-AP 3, and the AP 100 and the Non-AP 4. Furthermore, each of the Non-APs 1 and 2 may decide whether or not to execute communication resource allocation operation according to the present embodiment, on the basis of at least one of an amount of data held in its own terminal, a length (PPDU length, the number of aggregations of data, a bit depth of data, or the like) of a signal to be transmitted at a time or whether or not the length exceeds a predetermined threshold value as described later, an access category (also referred to as AC), and information regarding a request delay and QoS.

[0034] The following sequence is executed on the basis of the control unit of the AP 100 and the control unit of each of the Non-APs 1 to 4. For example, the control unit 130 controls the communication unit 110 and the communication control unit 111 to achieve transmission and reception of each signal and resource allocation.

[0035] In this sequence diagram, first, the Non-APs 1 to 4 that have confirmed that a channel is idle starts random backoff on the basis of EDCA. That is, each of the Non-APs 1 to 4 randomly selects a Backoff counter from a range of a backoff window corresponding to the access category of the data held by its own device, and subtracts the counter every time a predetermined time elapses. The Non-APs 1 to 4 start operation of performing transmission in a case where the counter becomes zero. Rhombuses in the sequence diagram represent the number of counter, and indicate a state in which the counters are subtracted as proceeding to right on the time axis. Furthermore, this diagram indicates a state where the same number of counters are selected for the Non-AP 1 and the Non-AP 2.

[0036] Each of the Non-APs 1 and 2 of which Backoff counter becomes zero transmits, to the AP 100, a control signal related to acquisition of the access right (hereinafter, also described as an Initial Control frame), in order to perform the random selection on the frequency axis. The control signal includes information indicating a control signal. For example, this information may be included in the PHY Header. Furthermore, the control signal may include information indicating a transmission suppression period. The information indicating the transmission suppression period is, for example, a network allocation vector (NAV) value. Furthermore, the control signal may include information indicating that transmission of the first signal as described later is requested. The control signal may be, for example, a signal including A-Control defined in IEEE 802.11, or may be a signal including an MU RTS Trigger.

[0037] The AP 100 that has received the control signal transmits the first signal to the Non-APs 1 and 2. In this sequence diagram, an Initial Control response will be described as the first signal. The first signal may be transmitted in broadcast. The first signal includes information indicating the transmission suppression period. The first signal includes, in addition to information indicating the first signal, information indicating a frequency resource range including a plurality of frequency resources. For example, the frequency resource range may be indicated by presenting the plurality of frequency resources. Each of the frequency resources may be a resource unit (RU, or communication resource), and the frequency resource range may be indicated by presenting an RU having a highest frequency and an RU having a lowest frequency among the plurality of RUs. Furthermore, the frequency resource range may list frequencies of the plurality of RUs. Furthermore, the plurality of frequency resources may not exist in continuous frequency domains, and for example, there may be a resource that is not used as a frequency resource in a certain frequency resource range. Information indicating the frequency resource range is only required to be any information from which the plurality of frequency resources included in a predetermined frequency domain can be identified.

[0038] Furthermore, the first signal may include information regarding a request of transmitting a second signal as described later, the request requesting, to a Non-AP, transmission of the second signal by using any one of the plurality of frequency resources indicated by the first signal.

[0039] Each of the frequency resources may be a subcarrier asset including a plurality of orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) subcarriers. Furthermore, the frequency resource range may be a list of subcarrier sets. The frequency resources may be defined by resources having a narrower frequency band than the OFDM subcarriers or waveforms different from the ODFM subcarriers.

[0040] In a case where a frequency band of a frequency resources is different from a frequency band used to transmit the control signal, a subsequent signal may be transmitted in accordance with a narrower frequency band of either a frequency band of the frequency resource or a frequency band when the control signal is transmitted.

[0041] Furthermore, the first signal may include information regarding a transmission parameter used by a Non-AP, when the communication resource is allocated to the Non-AP. For example, the first signal may be a signal including a null data packet feedback report poll (NFRP) Trigger frame in IEEE 802.11.

[0042] Furthermore, the AP 100 does not need to simultaneously receive a plurality of control signals from the plurality of Non-APs, and may perform the above-described operation on the basis of a plurality of control signals received within a certain range of asynchronization or within a predetermined time gap. Furthermore, the AP 100 may determine whether or not the plurality of control signals has been received, on the basis of whether or not reception power of the received control signal or part (such as PHY Header) of or entire (such as PHY Header and MAC frame) control signal has been demodulated. For example, it is conceivable that, in a case where the AP 100 has received some signal and at least the PHY Header has been demodulated, the AP 100 determines, on the basis of this information, whether or not the control signal has been received.

[0043] Furthermore, in a case where it is determined that the control signal has been received from only one Non-AP, the AP 100 may omit transmission operation of the second signal and third signal as described later, and permit the Non-AP, which is a transmission source of the control signal, to transmit the data signal.

[0044] Note that another Non-AP that has received the control signal sets the transmission suppression period in its own terminal on the basis of the information indicating the transmission suppression period, and suppresses transmission. In this sequence diagram, the Non-AP 3 that has received the control signal (a dash-dotted line in the drawing) sets the transmission suppression period in its own terminal on the basis of the information indicating the transmission suppression period received from the Non-AP 1 or 2.

[0045] After transmitting the control signal, the Non-APs 1 and 2 receive the first signal from the AP 100. Each of the Non-APs 1 and 2 selects any frequency resource from the frequency resource range indicated by the first signal, and transmits the second signal. In transmitting the second signal, a Non-AP randomly decides a frequency resource. The Non-AP may transmit the second signal by using a further part of the frequency band in the selected frequency resource.

[0046] An entire second signal may be transmitted by using the frequency resource randomly decided from the frequency resources indicated by the first signal. Furthermore, part of the second signal, for example, part of the PHY Header may be transmitted by using the frequency band in which the control signal is transmitted or the entire frequency resource range indicated by the first signal, and a remaining part may be transmitted by using the frequency resource randomly decided from the frequency resources indicated by the first signal. In this sequence diagram, a vertical axis for signals indicates the frequency axis, a first half portion of each of the second signals is transmitted by using the entire frequency resource range, and a second half portion (denoted as Feedback in the drawing) of each of the second signals is transmitted by using the frequency resource randomly decided from the frequency resource range. In this example, for the second half portions of the second signals, the Non-AP 1 is transmitted by using a higher frequency as the frequency resource, than the Non-AP 2 is.

[0047] Furthermore, this sequence diagram is illustrated as a diagram in which the second signal is transmitted, as a diagram in a case of using RUs for convenience, but in a case where the second signal is done by using the subcarrier set including a plurality of OFDM subcarriers, the second half portion of the signal is illustrated as if the signal is being transmitted by using a plurality of resources or the entire resource.

[0048] In the second signal, a portion randomly decided from the frequency resources (in this example, the second half portion of the second signal) includes information regarding an identifier of a transmission terminal. This part may include information regarding the transmission parameter used when the communication resource is allocated. The second signal may be a Trigger-Based Physical layer convergence protocol data unit (TB PPDU) in IEEE 802.11.

[0049] Note that another Non-AP that has received the first signal sets the transmission suppression period in its own terminal on the basis of the information indicating the transmission suppression period, and suppresses transmission. In this sequence diagram, the Non-AP 4 that has received the first signal (a dash-dot-dot line in the drawing) sets the transmission suppression period in its own terminal on the basis of the information indicating the transmission suppression period received from the AP 100.

[0050] After receiving the second signal, the AP 100 checks whether or not the second signal is transmitted by using an arbitrarily set frequency resource from among the plurality of frequency resources indicated by the first signal (in the present embodiment, one frequency resource is set). In a case where the second signal is transmitted by using the frequency resource set by the AP 100, the AP 100 decides to allocate the communication resource to the Non-AP that has transmitted the second signal. This sequence diagram illustrates an example in which the second signal transmitted by the Non-AP 1 is transmitted by using the frequency resource set by the AP 100.

[0051] The number of frequency resources set from the plurality of frequency resources indicated by the first signal is not limited to one, and may be any number. For example, the number of frequency resources to be set may be decided according to the number of frequency resources indicated by the first signal, the number of Non-APs connected to the AP 100, a traffic type to be handled, the number of other Non-APs present around the AP 100, a radio wave use status, or a radio wave congestion status.

[0052] For example, in a communication system, in a case where the number of Non-APs connected to the AP 100 is large and it is expected that a large number of control signals and second signals will be transmitted, the AP 100 may set the number of frequency resources set from among the plurality of frequency resources indicated by the first signal to a small number, and otherwise, may set to a large number. Specifically, the number of frequency resources may be decided so as to be a rate of a reciprocal of the number of the Non-APs that transmit the control signal and the second signal (for example, 1 / 2 when the number of Non-APs is two), with respect to the number of frequency resources indicated by the first signal.

[0053] After deciding the Non-AP to which the communication resource is to be allocated, the AP 100 transmits the third signal to the Non-AP. In this sequence diagram, the AP 100 decides to allocate the communication resource to the Non-AP 1, and thus transmits the third signal to the Non-AP 1. The third signal may include communication resource information indicating the communication resource to be allocated to the Non-AP 1. The communication resource information may include information regarding the frequency resource, information regarding a spatial stream, information regarding transmission power, information regarding a modulation and coding scheme, and other information regarding a communication parameter. The third signal may be a signal including information for requesting (soliciting) the Non-AP 1 to transmit a subsequent signal, and may be, for example, a signal including a Basic Trigger frame in IEEE 802.11.

[0054] Furthermore, the third signal may be, for example, a signal including the Initial Control response (ICR) corresponding to a clear to send (CTS). In this case, the third signal may not include the communication resource information indicating the communication resource to be allocated to the Non-AP 1, and is only required to simply include information indicating permission to the Non-AP 1 to transmit the subsequent signal. Furthermore, the third signal may be, for example, a signal including an ICR corresponding to Ack such as Multi-STA Block Ack. In this case also, the third signal may not include the communication resource information indicating the communication resource to be allocated to the Non-AP 1, and is only required to include information indicating a confirmation of receipt of the second signal, and to include information indicating permission to the Non-AP 1 to transmit the subsequent signal. The third signal is not limited to these examples, and various signals can be adopted as long as the third signal includes information requesting the Non-AP 1 to transmit the subsequent signal or information indicating that transmission is permitted.

[0055] The Non-AP to which the communication resource is allocated by a third signal transmits the data signal (Data) by using the allocated communication resource. In this example, the communication resource is allocated to the Non-AP 1, and the Non-AP 1 transmits the data signal to the AP 100 by using the communication resource. Upon receiving the data signal from the Non-AP 1, the AP 100 transmits a delivery acknowledgement signal to the Non-AP 1. The delivery acknowledgement signal may be transmitted, for example, as Block ACK (BA).

[0056] The above-described transmission and reception of the signals may be executed at predetermined time intervals. In this sequence diagram, a short inter frame space (SIFS) is provided as the predetermined time interval. For example, SIFSs are provided between after transmission of the control signal and start of transmission of the first signal, between after transmission of the first signal and start of transmission of the second signal, between after transmission of the second signal and start of the third signal, and between after transmission of the third signal and before start of the delivery acknowledgement signal.

[0057] Fig. 4 is a frame format example 1 of the control signal according to the first embodiment.

[0058] A PHY Header is a portion corresponding to the PHY Header described above, and includes information regarding a PHY setting for this signal and information indicating the transmission suppression period. Furthermore, the information indicating the control signal may be included in the PHY Header. For example, in a case where this information is included in the PHY Header, it is indicated by a specific bit of UHR SIG.

[0059] A Payload is a portion corresponding to a body of the signal and stores a MAC frame. The Payload includes Frame Control, Duration, Addresses 1 to 3, Sequence Control, HT Control, Frame Body, and FCS. Furthermore, the HT Control includes A-Control in which a plurality of pairs of a Control ID and Control Information are stored. Note that, in this example, Padding is performed to adjust a length of a field of A-Control. Furthermore, the Control Information may include an ACI Bitmap, a Queue Size, a Delay Boundary, and a Preferred Resource.

[0060] The Frame Control includes information regarding setting of the MAC frame, and the Duration includes information regarding a length of the MAC frame. Furthermore, each of the Addresses 1 to 3 includes information regarding addresses of the transmission source and a transmission destination, and the Sequence Control includes information regarding a sequence number of a frame.

[0061] The Control ID includes information regarding a type of a Control field to be stored, and information indicating the control signal may be included in the Control ID.

[0062] In the Control Information, the ACI Bitmap includes information regarding an access category of data that a terminal transmits, and the Queue Size includes information regarding a data amount of data belonging to the access category indicated by the ACI Bitmap among buffered data. Furthermore, the Delay Boundary includes information regarding an upper limit of delay of data belonging to the access category indicated by the ACI Bitmap, and the Preferred Resource includes information regarding the frequency resource desired to be used for communication.

[0063] The Frame Body stores a data body. However, in the control signal according to the present embodiment, information may not be stored with this field as QoS Null. The FCS stores information regarding error detection.

[0064] Fig. 5 is a frame format example 2 of the control signal according to the first embodiment.

[0065] Unlike Fig. 4, in this frame format, a Payload portion includes a Two-Stage EDCA Request. Furthermore, this Payload includes the Frame Control, the Duration, the Addresses 1 to 2, the ACI Bitmap, the Queue Size, the Delay Boundary, a Preferred Resource, and the FCS, in addition to the Two-Stage EDCA Request.

[0066] The Two-Stage EDCA Request includes information regarding execution of communication resource allocation operation by the two-stage random selection according to the present embodiment, that is, operation of communication resource allocation based on the random selection on the time axis and random selection on the frequency axis with EDCA. Furthermore, this field may include information indicating the control signal.

[0067] Fig. 6 is a frame format example 3 of the control signal according to the first embodiment.

[0068] Unlike Fig. 4, in this frame format, the Payload portion includes a Trigger. Furthermore, this Payload includes the Frame Control, the Duration, the Addresses 1 to 2, and the FCS in addition to the Trigger. The Trigger is a Trigger frame body and includes Common Info and User Info List.

[0069] The Common Info includes information common to terminals that perform transmission, and includes the Two-Stage EDCA Request described above. Furthermore, similarly to the above, this field may include the information indicating the control signal. The information indicating the control signal may be indicated by a Trigger Type subfield. Furthermore, the Common Info may include the ACI Bitmap, the Queue Size, the Delay Boundary, and the Preferred Resource.

[0070] The User Info List includes information for each transmission terminal. Furthermore, this field may be empty. Furthermore, the User Info List may include the ACI Bitmap, the Queue Size, the Delay Boundary, and the Preferred Resource.

[0071] Fig. 7 is a frame format example of a first signal according to the first embodiment.

[0072] A PHY Header is a portion corresponding to the PHY Header described above, and includes information regarding a PHY setting for this signal and information indicating the transmission suppression period.

[0073] A Payload is a portion corresponding to a body of the signal and stores a MAC frame. The Payload includes the Frame Control, the Duration, the Addresses 1 to 2, the Trigger, and the FCS.

[0074] The Frame Control includes information regarding setting of the MAC frame, and the Duration includes information regarding a length of the MAC frame. Furthermore, each of the Addresses 1 to 2 includes information regarding addresses of the transmission source and the transmission destination, and the Trigger includes the Common Info and the User Info List.

[0075] The Common Info includes information common to the reception terminals, and this field includes the information indicating the first signal.

[0076] The User Info List includes a Feedback Type and Resource Information. The Feedback Type includes the request of transmission of the second signal using the frequency resource indicated by the Resource Information, and the Resource Information includes information indicating the frequency resource range including the plurality of frequency resources. In a case where the terminals are allocated to different frequency resources, terminal information is stored for each frequency resource.

[0077] The FCS stores information regarding error detection.

[0078] Fig. 8 is an example of a flowchart of when a Non-AP 1 is allocated the communication resource from the AP 100 according to the first embodiment.

[0079] In this flowchart, operation of allocating the communication resource to the Non-AP 1 by the AP 100 will be described following the sequence diagram described above.

[0080] In Step S1, after confirming that the channel is idle, the Non-AP 1 starts the random backoff on the basis of the EDCA. At this time, the Non-AP 1 randomly selects the Backoff counter from the range of the backoff window corresponding to the access category of the data held by its own device, and subtracts the counter every time a predetermined time elapses. Furthermore, the Non-AP 1 checks whether or not the Backoff counter is zero every predetermined time. In a case where the Backoff counter is zero (Yes in Step S1), in Step S2, the Non-AP 1 transmits the control signal to the AP 100 in order to perform random selection on the frequency axis.

[0081] In Step S3, every time a predetermined time elapses, the Non-AP 1 checks whether or not the first signal has been received from the AP 100. An upper limit may be set for the number of checks and a total elapsed time. For example, in a case where the number of checks or the total elapsed time reaches the upper limit, the Non-AP 1 may judge that the first signal has not been received (No in Step S3) and end the processing. In a case where the first signal is received in Step S3, in Step S4, the Non-AP 1 randomly selects the frequency resource from the frequency resource range indicated by the first signal, and transmits the second signal to the AP 100 by using the frequency band.

[0082] In Step S5, after transmitting the second signal, every time a predetermined time elapses, the Non-AP 1 checks whether or not the first signal has been received again from the AP 100 during this time. The operation at this time is similar to that in Step S3. In a case where the Non-AP 1 again receives the first signal from the AP 100 at this timing (Yes in Step S5), returning to Step S4, the Non-AP 1 randomly selects the frequency resource from the frequency resource range indicated by this first signal, and transmits the second signal to the AP 100 by using the frequency band. In a case where the first signal has not been received from the AP 100 in Step S5 (No in Step S5), in Step S6, every time a predetermined time has elapsed, the Non-AP 1 checks whether or not the third signal has been received from the AP 100. The operations in Step S6 and Step S5 may be performed in parallel.

[0083] In a case where the Non-AP 1 has received the third signal in Step S6 (Yes in Step S6), the Non-AP 1 starts communication by using the communication resource indicated by the third signal in Step S7. Furthermore, in a case where the Non-AP 1 has not received the third signal in Step S6 (No in Step S6), the Non-AP 1 ends the processing without starting the communication.

[0084] Furthermore, in a case where the Backoff counter is not zero in Step S1 (No in Step S1), in Step S8, at a predetermined timing during subtraction of the Backoff counter, the Non-AP 1 checks whether or not the Non-AP 1 has received the control signal from another Non-AP, for example, Non-AP 2 or the like, or has received the first signal for another Non-AP. In a case where the Non-AP 1 has received the control signal transmitted from the another Non-AP or has received the first signal for another Non-AP transmitted from the AP 100 (Yes in Step S8), in Step S9, the transmission suppression is executed for a period described in these signals. After the transmission suppression period ends, returning to Step S1 again, the subtraction of the Backoff counter is started. In a case where the Non-AP 1 has not received the control signal transmitted from another Non-AP, or has not received the first signal for another Non-AP transmitted from the AP 100 in Step S8 (No in Step S8), returning to Step S1 again, the subtraction of the Backoff counter is started.

[0085] Fig. 9 is a flowchart of when the AP 100 allocates the communication resource to the Non-AP 1 according to the first embodiment.

[0086] In this flowchart, operation of allocating the communication resource to the Non-AP 1 by the AP 100 will be described following the sequence diagram described above. That is, in this flowchart, description will be given assuming that the AP 100 has received the control signal from the Non-AP 1 and the Non-AP 2.

[0087] In Step S21, the AP 100 checks whether or not the control signal has been received from the Non-AP present in the wireless communication system. This confirmation is performed, for example, every time a predetermined time elapses. In a case where the control signal has been received from one or a plurality of Non-APs in Step S1 (Yes in Step S21), the AP 100 transmits the first signal including the information indicating the frequency resource range to the Non-AP serving as the transmission source of the control signal in Step S22. Furthermore, the first signal may be transmitted in the broadcast. In this example, the control signal is transmitted from the Non-APs 1 and 2, and the AP 100 transmits the first signal to these Non-APs.

[0088] In Step S23, the AP 100 checks whether or not the second signal using the frequency resource indicated by the first signal has been received from one or a plurality of Non-APs. In a case where the AP 100 has received the second signal (Yes in Step S23), in Step S24, the AP 100 determines whether or not to transmit the first signal again. This is considered to be a case, for example, where there are two or more Non-APs that have transmitted the second signal by using the frequency resource set from the frequency resource range. In a case where it is judged that the AP 100 transmits the first signal again (Yes in Step S24), returning to Step S22, the AP 100 again sets an arbitrary frequency resource from the frequency resource range and transmits the first signal.

[0089] In a case where it is judged that the AP 100 does not to transmit the first signal again (No in Step S24), in Step S25, the AP 100 decides to allocate the communication resource to the Non-AP that has transmitted the second signal by using the frequency resource set among the plurality of frequency resources indicated by the first signal. In Step S26, the third signal is transmitted to the Non-AP 1 to which the communication resource is to be allocated.

[0090] In Step S27, the AP 100 starts communication with the Non-AP 100 by using the corresponding communication resource, and performs data transmission or the like.

[0091] In Step S23, in a case where the AP 100 has not received the second signal (No in Step S23), the processing proceeds to Step S26, and the third signal is transmitted again to the Non-AP to which the communication resource has already been decided to be allocated.

[0092] In the present embodiment, an example has been described in which the AP 100 allocates communication resources to a plurality of Non-APs on the basis of two-stage random selection on the time axis and the frequency axis by a plurality of Non-APs. However, operation of allocating communication resources with random backoff based on normal EDCA (first mode) and operation described in the present embodiment (second mode) may be switched and used.

[0093] At a timing before the Non-AP transmits the control signal, for example, the AP 100 and each Non-AP may perform the above-described capability check to decide in which mode each communication device proceeds with the processing. In a case where it is decided by the capability check that the communication resource allocation operation with the random backoff based on the normal EDCA is to be executed, the AP 100 decides not to transmit the above-described first signal to a Non-AP. Meanwhile, the Non-AP decides not to transmit the second signal described above. This switching is not limited to the capability check, and may be performed in various communications.

[0094] According to the present embodiment, the AP 100 allocates a communication resource to a single Non-AP on the basis of two-stage random selection on the time axis and the frequency axis by the plurality of Non-APs. Therefore, as in a case where the communication resource is allocated by using only the time axis, even if communication collision occurs once, it is not necessary to provide a waiting time that is twice an original waiting time, and it is possible to prevent an exponential increase in waiting time of the terminals.

[0095] Furthermore, according to the present embodiment, even if a communication collision occurs once, the wireless communication system does not need to provide a waiting time that is twice the original waiting time for a Non-AP that holds data of an access category with high priority. Therefore, it is possible to prevent communication from being interrupted during the waiting time by another Non-AP trying to transmit data of an access category with low priority, and the communication resource being allocated to the Non-AP.

[0096] Furthermore, according to the present embodiment, by broadcasting the first signal from the AP 100, the wireless communication system can also suppress transmission of a Non-AP that cannot be confirmed from the Non-AP that has transmitted the control signal, by which a hidden problem can be addressed. Therefore, reliability of communication can be improved.

[0097] Furthermore, according to the present embodiment, the AP 100 does not need to simultaneously receive a plurality of control signals from the Non-APs, and even in a case where these signals are received within a certain range of a synchronization deviation within a certain range of asynchronization or within a predetermined time gap, it is possible to proceed with subsequent processing as long as information indicating the control signal is decoded, and thus to enhance reliability of communication.

[0098] (Second Embodiment) Fig. 10 is an example of a sequence diagram of a wireless communication system according to a second embodiment.

[0099] In the present embodiment, an AP 100 allocates a communication resource to a plurality of Non-APs on the basis of two-stage random selection on a time axis and a frequency axis by the plurality of Non-APs. Specifically, the plurality of Non-APs having tried to acquire an access right sets a random backoff time on the time axis with EDCA and waits for the period, and then performs random selection once further on the frequency axis on the basis of information provided from the AP 100 and attempts communication at the frequency. The AP 100 allocates the communication resource to the plurality of Non-APs on the basis of a result of the random selection. Furthermore, in the present embodiment, parts different from those of the first embodiment will be mainly described.

[0100] Before this sequence is executed, each of the AP 100 and a Non-AP 1, and the AP 100 and a Non-AP 2 may exchange information regarding a frequency resource desired to be used for communication. This information may be included in a control signal, for example. Furthermore, the control signal may be transmitted by using the frequency resource indicated by this information.

[0101] Unlike the first embodiment, in this sequence diagram, the AP 100 allocates the communication resource to the Non-APs 1 and 2. Because the AP 100 allocates the communication resource to the plurality of Non-APs, a first signal may include information regarding the number of terminals to which the communication resource is allocated, or an upper limit number of terminals.

[0102] The number of Non-APs to which the communication resource is allocated may be decided on the basis of information regarding the frequency resource desired to be used for the communication, the information being included in the information exchange before the execution of this sequence or in the control signal. For example, in a case where the Non-APs 1 and 2 present different frequency resources as the information regarding the frequency resources desired to be used for the communication, the AP 100 may allocate to the Non-APs 1 and 2 the frequency resources desired for the respective terminals, as the communication resources.

[0103] Furthermore, in a case where the frequency resource desired to be used for the communication is exchanged between the Non-APs and the AP 100, at a time of transmitting the first signal, the AP 100 may select a frequency resource range so that the frequency resources desired for the respective Non-AP are included, and transmit the first signal including this information.

[0104] Furthermore, in a case where the range of frequency resources is selected so that the respective desirable frequency resource are included in the first signal, the Non-APs 1 and 2 transmit a second signal by using the frequency resource desired to be used by the respective Non-APs for communication among the presented frequency resource range.

[0105] This sequence diagram illustrates how the Non-APs 1 and 2 select different frequency resources and transmit the second signal to the AP 100. A plurality of frequency resources is arbitrarily set from among the plurality of frequency resources indicated by the first signal, and the AP 100 decides to allocate the communication resources to the Non-APs (Non-APs 1 and 2 in this example) that have transmitted the second signal by using these frequency resources.

[0106] After deciding to allocate the communication resources, the AP 100 transmits a third signal to the Non-APs 1 and 2. The Non-APs 1 and 2 that have received the third signal communicate with the AP 100 by using the respective allocated communication resources. For example, the Non-APs 1 and 2 transmit a data signal to the AP 100. Upon receiving the data signals from the Non-APs 1 and 2, the AP 100 transmits a delivery acknowledgement signal to these Non-APs. In this sequence diagram, the delivery acknowledgement signal is illustrated as Multi-STA BA.

[0107] According to the present embodiment, the wireless communication system allocates the communication resources to the plurality of Non-APs on the basis of the first signal transmitted by the AP 100 and the second signal transmitted by the plurality of Non-APs. Because the communication resources are allocated to the plurality of Non-APs, efficient traffic control can be achieved.

[0108] (Third Embodiment) Fig. 11 is an example of a sequence diagram of a wireless communication system according to a third embodiment.

[0109] In the present embodiment, an AP 100 allocates a communication resource to a single Non-AP on the basis of two-stage random selection on a time axis and a frequency axis by a plurality of Non-APs. In the present embodiment, random selection on the frequency axis is performed a plurality of times. Specifically, the plurality of Non-APs having tried to acquire an access right sets a random backoff time on the time axis with EDCA and waits for the period, and then performs random selection the plurality of times further on the frequency axis on the basis of information provided from the AP 100 and attempts communication at the frequency. The AP 100 allocates the communication resource to a single Non-AP on the basis of a result of the random selection. Furthermore, in the present embodiment, parts different from those of the first embodiment will be mainly described.

[0110] The AP 100 may decide the number of times the Non-AP is caused to perform the random selection on the frequency axis in advance. For example, the number of times of the random selection may be a predetermined fixed value, or may be decided on the basis of a network status, the number of connected terminals, or traffic handled by the connected terminals. For example, the AP 100 may store, in a beacon signal, the number of times a Non-AP is caused to perform the random selection on the frequency axis, and notify each Non-AP of the number of times. The AP 100 may decide, with other communication, the number of times a Non-AP is caused to perform the random selection on the frequency axis.

[0111] A second signal may include an upper limit number of times for causing the Non-AP to perform the random selection on the frequency axis. Furthermore, the second signal may include information regarding a remaining number of times, information indicating that there is a remaining number of times of the random selection, information indicating a last random selection, information indicating how many random selections has been performed so far, and the like.

[0112] This sequence diagram illustrates a state in which a Non-AP is caused to perform the random selection in the frequency axis twice. In transmission of the second signal of a first time, each of Non-APs 1 and 2 transmits the second signal by using the same frequency resource. That is, these signals collide with each other. Upon receiving the second signals of the first time, the AP 100 transmits the first signal again. The first signal at this time may be transmitted only to Non-APs that have transmitted the second signal of the first time, that is, to the Non-APs 1 and 2, or may be transmitted in broadcast.

[0113] Each of the Non-APs 1 and 2 that have received the first signal transmits a second signal of a second time to the AP 100 on the basis of the information. The second signal of the second time may be transmitted by using a frequency resource different from the frequency resource used for the transmission of the second signal of the first time.

[0114] Upon receiving the second signals of the second time, the AP 100 checks whether or not these second signals are transmitted by using a frequency resource arbitrarily set from a frequency resource range indicated by the AP 100 when the first signal of the second time is transmitted. In a case where there is only one Non-AP that has transmitted the second signal by using the frequency resource set by the AP 100, the AP 100 decides to allocate the communication resource to the Non-AP.

[0115] The transmission of the first signal by the AP 100 and the accompanying transmission of the second signals by the Non-APs 1 and 2 are performed up to an upper limit number of times or repeatedly until a situation is reached in which one Non-AP that transmits the second signal by using the frequency resource set by the AP 100 is identified. That is, in a case where a plurality of Non-APs transmits the second signal by using the same frequency resource and a collision occurs, or in a case where the second signal is transmitted without using any Non-AP the frequency resource set by the AP 100, the signal transmission is repeated.

[0116] Furthermore, the Non-AP to which the communication resource is allocated may be decided according to the number of times the second signal is transmitted. For example, among the Non-APs that have transmitted the second signals, the AP 100 may preferentially allocate the communication resource to the Non-AP to which the communication resource is allocated one or more times. Furthermore, in a case where it is known that the communication resource has been allocated a plurality of times, the AP 100 may allocate the communication resource to such a Non-AP. Furthermore, in a case where the second signal is broadcast, in a case where the Non-AP to which the communication resource is to be allocated can be identified in stages by repeating the transmission of the second signal, the AP 100 may allocate the communication resource to the Non-AP that transmits the second signal by using the set frequency resource.

[0117] According to the present embodiment, the AP 100 causes Non-APs to perform random selection on the frequency axis a plurality of times, and allocates the communication resource to a plurality of Non-APs. Therefore, the AP 100 can more reliably allocate the communication resource to each Non-AP, and can enhance reliability of communication.

[0118] (Fourth Embodiment) Fig. 12 is an example of a sequence diagram of a wireless communication system according to a fourth embodiment.

[0119] In the present embodiment, in addition to random selection on a time axis by a plurality of Non-APs, an AP 100 allocates a communication resource to a single Non-AP on the basis of an uplink OFDMA random access (UORA) mechanism. Specifically, after the plurality of Non-APs trying to acquire an access right sets a random backoff time on the time axis with EDCA and waits for the period, the AP 100 allocates a communication resource to the Non-APs with the UORA mechanism. Furthermore, in the present embodiment, parts different from those of the first embodiment will be mainly described.

[0120] The AP 100 may decide whether or not to execute the operation described in the present embodiment, according to the number of terminals supporting the UORA. Furthermore, the AP 100 may determine whether or not to execute the operation described in the present embodiment, by deciding whether or not a size of traffic to be handled is a size in which transmission by a UORA resource is possible.

[0121] The AP 100 may store a UORA parameter set element in a beacon signal and notify each of the Non-APs of the UORA parameter set element. The UORA parameter set element includes information regarding a range of numerical values to be selected as an OBO counter. Each of the Non-APs may select the OBO counter in advance on the basis of information included in the UORA parameter set element and hold the OBO counter in its own device.

[0122] In this sequence, the Non-APs transmit a control signal to the AP 100 after a backoff time elapses. The AP 100 that has received the control signal transmits a first signal to Non-APs 1 and 2. The first signal may be transmitted in broadcast. The first signal includes information indicating a transmission suppression period. Furthermore, the first signal includes frequency resources allocated for the UORA and information indicating a frequency resource allocated for the UORA. Furthermore, the first signal may include information indicating the frequency resources allocated for the UORA for a terminal that has transmitted the control signal. Similar to an embodiment described above, the frequency resource may be an RU. Furthermore, the first signal may be information including a Basic Trigger frame or a Buffer Status Report (BSR) Poll Trigger frame in IEEE 802.11.

[0123] In this sequence diagram, the Basic Trigger frame is used as the first signal, and an example is illustrated in which the Non-APs transmit a data signal as a response, but the sequence diagram is not limited to this example. For example, the sequence may be a sequence in which a BSR Poll Trigger frame is used as the first signal, and a signal including a BSR is transmitted as a response.

[0124] After the transmission of the control signal, on the basis of the UORA mechanism, the Non-APs 1 and 2 that have received the first signal decide whether to perform transmission and a frequency resource to be used for transmission of the data signal, by using information indicating the control signal, the frequency resources allocated for the UORA, the information indicating the frequency resources allocated for the UORA, and the information indicating the frequency resource allocated for the UORA for the terminal that has transmitted the control signal.

[0125] In the UORA mechanism, for example, each Non-AP subtracts the number of frequency resources allocated for the UORA, from a counter value referred to as the OBO counter selected randomly. Among each of the Non-APs, a Non-AP for which a subtraction result is zero or less is permitted to transmit. At this time, the Non-AP decides the frequency resource to be used for the transmission of the data signal on the basis of an absolute value of a difference between the number of frequency resources allocated for the UORA and the OBO counter internally held. For example, in a case where the value of the OBO counter allocated to the Non-AP 1 is 2 and the number of frequency resources allocated for the UORA is 4, the difference is -2, which is a value equal to or less than zero. Meanwhile, in a case where first to seventh frequency resources are allocated as a frequency resource range, in which the fourth to seventh frequency resources are the frequency resources allocated for the UORA, the Non-AP 1 randomly selects a frequency resource from the frequency resources allocated for the UORA and transmits the data signal.

[0126] Fig. 13 is a frame format example of the first signal according to the fourth embodiment.

[0127] In this frame format, parts different from those of the example in Fig. 7 will be mainly described. In this frame format, a Trigger includes Common Info and User Info List.

[0128] The Common Info may include information indicating a frequency resource allocated for the UORA. Furthermore, this information may be indicated by a Trigger Type subfield.

[0129] The User Info List includes AID12, SS, and Allocation / RA-RU Information. The User Info List may include information regarding communication parameters (frequency resource, MCS, transmission power, and the like). In this case, a frequency resource allocated for the UORA is also included in the communication parameter.

[0130] The AID12 includes information indicating a frequency resource allocated for the UORA, for example, a value such as 0 or 2025, and information indicating a frequency resource allocated for the UORA for the terminal that transmits the control signal, for example, a value (2044 or the like) which is Reserve in an AID subfield encoding allocated to the AID12.

[0131] SS Allocation / RA-RU Information includes information regarding the frequency resources allocated for the UORA. The information regarding the frequency resources allocated for the UORA is, for example, information regarding a total number of frequency resources allocated for the UORA or information indicating that there is still a frequency resource allocated for the UORA.

[0132] According to the present embodiment, in addition to the random selection on the time axis with the EDCA, the Non-AP decides the frequency resource used by the Non-AP for transmission of the data signal by using the UORA mechanism. Therefore, as in a case where the communication resource is allocated by using only the time axis, even if communication collision occurs once, it is not necessary to provide a waiting time that is twice an original waiting time, and it is possible to prevent an exponential increase in waiting time of the terminals.

[0133] <Configuration Example of Computer> The above-described series of processing can be executed by hardware or software. In a case where the series of processing is executed by software, a program included in the software is installed from a program recording medium to a computer incorporated in dedicated hardware, a general-purpose personal computer and the like.

[0134] Fig. 14 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of hardware of a computer that executes the series of processing described above according to a program.

[0135] A central processing unit (CPU) 801, a read only memory (ROM) 802, and a random access memory (RAM) 803 are connected to each other by a bus 804.

[0136] An input / output interface 805 is further connected to the bus 804. The input / output interface 805 is connected to an input unit 806 including a keyboard, a mouse, and the like, and an output unit 807 including a display, a speaker, and the like. Furthermore, a storage unit 808 including a hard disk, a non-volatile memory, or the like, a communication unit 809 including a network interface or the like, and a drive 810 that drives a removable medium 811 are connected to the input / output interface 805.

[0137] In the computer configured as described above, for example, the CPU 801 loads a program stored in the storage unit 808 into the RAM 803 via the input / output interface 805 and the bus 804 and executes the program to perform the above-described series of processing. For example, the CPU 801 may execute processing programs corresponding to the flowcharts in Figs. 8 and 9 according to the present technology.

[0138] The program executed by the CPU 801 is provided, for example, by being recorded on the removable medium 811 or via a wired or wireless transmission medium such as a local area network, the Internet, or digital broadcasting, and is installed on the storage unit 808.

[0139] Note that the program executed by the computer may be a program in which processing is performed in time series in the order described in the present specification, or may be a program in which processing is performed in parallel or at necessary timing such as when a call is made.

[0140] <Application Examples> The present technology can be applied to various products. For example, the communication device may be implemented as a mobile terminal such as a smartphone, a tablet personal computer (PC), a notebook PC, a portable game terminal, or a digital camera, a fixed terminal such as a television receiver, a projector, a printer, a digital scanner, or a network storage, or an in-vehicle terminal such as a car navigation device or a drive recorder device. Furthermore, the communication device may be implemented as a machine to machine communication (M2M) terminal such as a smart meter, a vending machine, a remote monitoring device, or a point of sale (POS) terminal, or an Internet of Things (IoT) terminal. Furthermore, the communication device may be implemented as a terminal that requires low delay and high reliability, such as an extended reality / cross reality (XR) device. Moreover, the communication device may be a wireless communication module (for example, an integrated circuit module including one die) mounted on these terminals.

[0141] Meanwhile, for example, the communication device may be implemented as a wireless LAN AP (wireless base station) having a router function or not having a router function. Furthermore, the communication device may be implemented as a mobile wireless LAN router. Furthermore, the communication device may be implemented as a base station of a cellular communication scheme, or a femtocell. Moreover, the communication device may be a wireless communication module (for example, an integrated circuit module including one die) mounted on these devices.

[0142] <Configuration Example of Smartphone> Fig. 15 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration example of a smartphone 900 to which the present technology is applied. Fig. 15 illustrates a configuration example of the smartphone 900, but is not limited thereto, and may be a configuration example of various devices and functions described above.

[0143] A smartphone 900 includes a processor 901, a memory 902, a storage 903, an external connection interface 904, a camera 906, a sensor 907, a microphone 908, an input device 909, and a display device 910. Furthermore, the smartphone 900 includes a speaker 911, a wireless communication interface 913, an antenna switch 914, an antenna 915, a bus 917, a battery 918, and an auxiliary controller 919. Note that the smartphone 900 may include all of the above, or may include a part thereof.

[0144] The processor 901 may be, for example, a CPU or a system on chip (SoC), and controls functions of an application layer and other layers of the smartphone 900.

[0145] The memory 902 includes a RAM and a ROM, and stores a program to be executed by the processor 901, and data.

[0146] The storage 903 may include a storage medium such as a semiconductor memory or a hard disk.

[0147] The external connection interface 904 is an interface for connecting an external device such as a memory card or a universal serial bus (USB) device to the smartphone 900.

[0148] The camera 906 includes an imaging element such as a charge coupled device (CCD) or a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS), for example, and generates a captured image.

[0149] The sensor 907 includes, for example, a sensor group including a positioning sensor, a gyro sensor, a geomagnetic sensor, an acceleration sensor, and the like.

[0150] The microphone 908 converts audio input to the smartphone 900 into an audio signal.

[0151] The input device 909 includes, for example, a touch sensor that detects a touch on a screen of the display device 910, a keypad, a keyboard, a button, and a switch, or the like, and receives an operation or information input from a user.

[0152] The display device 910 has a screen such as a liquid crystal display (LCD), an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display, or a quantum dot (QD) display, and displays an output image of the smartphone 900.

[0153] The speaker 911 converts the audio signal output from the smartphone 900 into audio.

[0154] The wireless communication interface 913 supports one or more of wireless LAN standards such as IEEE 802.11a, 11b, 11g, 11ac, 11ad, 11ax, 11ay, 11be, 11bn, and their successor standards, and performs wireless communication.

[0155] The wireless communication interface 913 communicates with other devices via the wireless LAN AP in an infrastructure mode. Furthermore, the wireless communication interface 913 directly communicates with other devices in an ad hoc mode or a direct communication mode such as Wi-Fi Direct.

[0156] Note that, in Wi-Fi Direct, unlike the ad hoc mode, one of two terminals operates as an AP, but communication is directly performed between the terminals.

[0157] The wireless communication interface 913 typically includes a baseband processor, a radio frequency (RF) circuit, and a power amplifier, and the like. The wireless communication interface 913 may be a one-chip module in which a memory that stores a communication control program, a processor that executes the program, and related circuits are integrated.

[0158] In addition to the wireless LAN scheme, the wireless communication interface 913 may support other types of wireless communication schemes such as a short-range wireless communication scheme such as Bluetooth, a proximity wireless communication scheme such as NFC, and a 3GPP cellular communication scheme such as 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G, and 6G. The wireless communication interface 913 may be a one-chip module supporting a plurality of wireless communication schemes, or may be a combination of modules supporting some wireless communication schemes.

[0159] The antenna switch 914 switches a connection destination of the antenna 915 among a plurality of circuits (for example, circuits for different wireless communication schemes, or a transmission circuit and a reception circuit) included in the wireless communication interface 913.

[0160] The antenna 915 has a single or a plurality of antenna elements (for example, a plurality of antenna elements forming a multiple input multiple output (MIMO) antenna, or a plurality of antenna elements forming an array antenna), and is used for transmission and reception of a wireless signal by the wireless communication interface 913.

[0161] Note that the smartphone 900 is not limited to the example in Fig. 15, and may include a plurality of antennas (for example, an antenna for the wireless LAN, an antenna of the proximity wireless communication scheme, an antenna for the cellular communication scheme, and the like). In that case, the antenna switch 914 may be omitted from the configuration of the smartphone 900.

[0162] The bus 917 connects the processor 901, the memory 902, the storage 903, the external connection interface 904, the camera 906, the sensor 907, the microphone 908, the input device 909, the display device 910, the speaker 911, the wireless communication interface 913, and the auxiliary controller 919 to each other.

[0163] The battery 918 supplies power to each block of the smartphone 900 illustrated in Fig. 15 via a feed line partially indicated by the broken line in the drawing. The auxiliary controller 919 causes operation of minimum necessary functions of the smartphone 900, for example, in a sleep mode. Furthermore, the battery 918 may be charged via the external connection interface 904. Furthermore, the battery 918 may have a function capable of reading information regarding a remaining amount of power, an accumulated energization time, or an accumulated supply power amount, and the processor 901, the wireless communication interface 913, or the auxiliary controller 919 may control any function of the above-described embodiments on the basis of information read from the battery 918.

[0164] In the smartphone 900 illustrated in Fig. 15, for example, the control unit 130 or communication control unit 111 in Fig. 2 may be implemented in the wireless communication interface 913. For example, processing programs corresponding to the flowcharts in Figs. 8 and 9 may be executed in the wireless communication interface 913. Furthermore, at least some of these functions may be implemented in the processor 901 or the auxiliary controller 919.

[0165] Note that the smartphone 900 may operate as a wireless AP (software AP) when the processor 901 executes an AP function at an application level. Furthermore, the wireless communication interface 913 may have the wireless AP function. Furthermore, the processor 901 or the wireless communication interface 913 may have a tethering function using the wireless LAN scheme and the cellular communication scheme, and may transmit Payload data received by the cellular communication scheme by using the wireless LAN scheme, or transmit the Payload data received by the wireless LAN scheme by using the cellular communication scheme. A tethering function of the smartphone 900 may be enabled by user input.

[0166] Moreover, the smartphone 900 may include a biometric authentication unit (fingerprint authentication, palm-shape authentication, voice authentication, blood vessel authentication, face authentication, iris authentication, and retina authentication). At that time, the wireless communication interface 913 in which the control unit 130 or communication control unit 111 in Fig. 2 is implemented is configured to receive power supply from the same battery 918 as at least one of the display device 910, the speaker 911, or the biometric authentication unit.

[0167] Furthermore, in the smartphone 900, information is displayed from at least one of the display device 910 or the speaker 911 on the basis of communication with an external device through the wireless communication interface 913. At that time, the information regarding the present technology may be output from at least one of the display device 910 or the speaker 911 as the information.

[0168] <Configuration Example of In-vehicle Device> Fig. 16 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration example of an in-vehicle device 920 to which the present technology is applied. Fig. 16 illustrates a configuration example of the in-vehicle device 920, but is not limited thereto, and may be a configuration example of various devices and functions described above.

[0169] The in-vehicle device 920 includes a processor 921, a memory 922, a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) module 924, a sensor 925, a data interface 926, a content player 927, and a storage medium interface 928. Furthermore, the in-vehicle device 920 includes an input device 929, a display device 930, a speaker 931, a wireless communication interface 933, an antenna switch 934, an antenna 935, and a battery 938. Note that the in-vehicle device 920 may have a configuration including all of the above, or may have a configuration including a part thereof.

[0170] The processor 921 may be, for example, a CPU or an SoC, and controls a navigation function and other functions of the in-vehicle device 920. Furthermore, the processor 921 can also control a drive system of a vehicle, such as a brake, an accelerator, or a steering, on the basis of information obtained through communication based on the present technology.

[0171] The memory 922 includes a RAM and a ROM, and stores a program to be executed by the processor 921, and data.

[0172] The GNSS module 924 measures the location (for example, latitude, longitude, and altitude) of the in-vehicle device 920 by using a GNSS signal received from a GNSS satellite.

[0173] The sensor 925 includes, for example, a sensor group including a gyro sensor, a geomagnetic sensor, a millimeter-wave radar, a camera (imaging element such as the CCD or CMOS), and an air pressure sensor.

[0174] The data interface 926 is connected to an in-vehicle network 941 via, for example, a terminal (not illustrated), and acquires data generated on a vehicle side, such as vehicle-side data.

[0175] The content player 927 reproduces content stored in a storage medium (for example, a CD or a DVD) inserted into the storage medium interface 928, or content received via the wireless communication interface 933.

[0176] The input device 929 includes, for example, a touch sensor that detects a touch on a screen of the display device 930, a button, a switch, or the like, and receives an operation or information input from the user. For example, the input device 929 may input confirmation or a response to information output from at least either the display device 930 or the speaker 931.

[0177] The display device 930 has a screen such as an LCD, an OLED display, or a QD display, and displays information such as an image of a navigation function or a content to be reproduced. Furthermore, the processor 921 controls the display of the display device 930 on the basis of information received via a link configured between the AP 100 and a Non-AP, and operation of the input device 929 by the user.

[0178] The speaker 931 outputs sound of the navigation function or the content to be reproduced.

[0179] Note that, in the in-vehicle device 920, the navigation function and the function of the content player 927 are optional. The navigation function and the content player 927 may be removed from the configuration of the in-vehicle device 920.

[0180] The wireless communication interface 933 supports one or more of wireless LAN standards such as IEEE 802.11a, 11b, 11g, 11n, 11ac, 11ad, 11ax, 11ay, 11be, 11bn, and their successor standards, and executes wireless communication.

[0181] The wireless communication interface 933 communicates with other devices via the wireless LAN AP in the infrastructure mode. Furthermore, the wireless communication interface 933 directly communicates with other devices in the ad hoc mode or the direct communication mode such as Wi-Fi Direct.

[0182] Note that, in Wi-Fi Direct, unlike the ad hoc mode, one of two terminals operates as an AP, but communication is directly performed between the terminals.

[0183] The wireless communication interface 933 typically includes a baseband processor, an RF circuit, and a power amplifier. The wireless communication interface 933 may be a one-chip module in which a memory that stores a communication control program, a processor that executes the program, or related circuits are integrated.

[0184] In addition to the wireless LAN scheme, the wireless communication interface 933 may support other types of wireless communication schemes such as a short-range wireless communication scheme such as Bluetooth, a proximity wireless communication scheme such as NFC, or a 3GPP cellular communication scheme such as 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G, and 6G. The wireless communication interface 933 may be a one-chip module supporting a plurality of wireless communication schemes, or may be a combination of modules supporting some wireless communication schemes.

[0185] The antenna switch 934 switches a connection destination of the antenna 935 among a plurality of circuits (for example, circuits for different wireless communication schemes, or a transmission circuit and a reception circuit) included in the wireless communication interface 933.

[0186] The antenna 935 has a single or a plurality of antenna elements (for example, a plurality of antenna elements forming a multiple input multiple output (MIMO) antenna, or a plurality of antenna elements forming an array antenna), and is used for transmission and reception of a wireless signal by the wireless communication interface 933.

[0187] Note that the in-vehicle device 920 is not limited to the example in Fig. 16, and may include a plurality of antennas 935 (for example, an antenna for the wireless LAN, an antenna of the proximity wireless communication scheme, an antenna for the cellular communication scheme, and the like). In that case, the antenna switch 934 may be omitted from the configuration of the in-vehicle device 920.

[0188] The battery 938 supplies power to each block of the in-vehicle device 920 illustrated in Fig. 16 via a feed line partially indicated by the broken line in the drawing. Furthermore, the battery 938 may accumulate power supplied from the vehicle side. Furthermore, the in-vehicle device 920 may not be equipped with a battery and use the power supplied from the vehicle side via a voltage regulator or a capacitor.

[0189] In the in-vehicle device 920 illustrated in Fig. 16, for example, the control unit 130 or communication control unit 111 in Fig. 2 may be implemented in the wireless communication interface 933. For example, processing programs corresponding to the flowcharts in Figs. 8 and 9 may be executed in the wireless communication interface 933. Furthermore, at least some of these functions may be implemented in the processor 921.

[0190] Furthermore, the wireless communication interface 933 may operate as the communication device described above and provide wireless connection to a terminal possessed by a user in the vehicle. For example, the wireless communication interface 933 may connect the in-vehicle device 920 to another peripheral device, and the in-vehicle device 920 may use CarPlay (registered trademark) or Android Auto (registered trademark). Note that the wireless communication interface 933 may connect the in-vehicle device 920 to another peripheral device with the short-range wireless communication scheme, the infrastructure mode, or the wireless LAN scheme by Wi-Fi Direct.

[0191] Note that the in-vehicle device 920 may operate as a wireless AP (software AP) when the processor 921 executes an AP function at an application level. Furthermore, the wireless communication interface 933 may have the wireless AP function. Furthermore, the processor 921 or the wireless communication interface 933 has a tethering function using the wireless LAN scheme and the cellular communication scheme, and may transmit Payload data received by the cellular communication scheme by the wireless LAN scheme or may transmit the Payload data received by the wireless LAN scheme by the cellular communication scheme. A tethering function of the in-vehicle device 920 may be enabled by user input.

[0192] Furthermore, the present technology may be implemented as an in-vehicle system (or vehicle) 940 including one or more blocks of the in-vehicle device 920 described above, the in-vehicle network 941, and a vehicle-side module 942. The vehicle-side module 942 may generate the vehicle-side data such as vehicle speed information, engine revolution information, information regarding a vehicle-side battery, or failure information, and output the generated data to the in-vehicle network 941, and the processor 921 or the wireless communication interface 933 may control any function of the above-described embodiments on the basis of the vehicle-side data acquired via the in-vehicle network 941.

[0193] <Configuration Example of Wireless AP> Fig. 17 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration example of a wireless AP 950 to which the present technology is applied. Fig. 17 illustrates a configuration example of the wireless AP 950, but is not limited thereto, and may be a configuration example of various devices and functions described above.

[0194] The wireless AP 950 includes a controller 951, a memory 952, an input device 954, a display device 955, a network interface 957, a wireless communication interface 963, an antenna switch 964, and an antenna 965. Note that the wireless AP 950 may include all of the above, or may include a part thereof.

[0195] The controller 951 may be, for example, a CPU or a digital signal processor (DSP), and operates various functions (for example, access restriction, routing, encryption, firewall, log management, and the like) of the Internet protocol (IP) layer and higher layer of the wireless AP 950.

[0196] The memory 952 includes a RAM and a ROM, and stores a program to be executed by the controller 951 and various control information (for example, a terminal list, a routing table, an encryption key, a security setting, a log, and the like).

[0197] The input device 954 includes, for example, a button, a switch, and the like, and receives an operation from the user. For example, the input device 954 may input confirmation or a response to information output from the display device 955. Furthermore, in response to operation from the user, the input device 954 may receive an input of switching on / off of a wireless function and switching of a router function / access point function.

[0198] The display device 955 includes an LED lamp and the like, and displays information such as an operation status of the wireless AP 950. Furthermore, the display device 910 may be configured as a projector that projects an output image onto a screen. Furthermore, the processor (not illustrated) controls the display of the display device 955 on the basis of information received via a first link or a second link, and operation of the input device 954 by the user. Furthermore, the processor may be implemented in the controller 951.

[0199] The network interface 957 is a wired communication interface for connecting the wireless AP 950 to a wired communication network 958. The network interface 957 may have a plurality of connection terminals. The network interface 957 may output, as a wired signal, Payload data included in a wireless signal input from the wireless communication interface 963, may receive, as a wired signal, an input of Payload data output as a wireless signal from the wireless communication interface 963, or may operate, in parallel with or independently of input and output of a wireless signal by the wireless communication interface 963, to input and output a wired signal. The wired communication network 958 may be a LAN such as Ethernet (registered trademark), or may be a wide area network (WAN).

[0200] The wireless communication interface 963 supports one or more of wireless LAN standards, such as IEEE 802.11a, 11b, 11g, 11n, 11ac, 11ad, 11ax, 11ay, 11be, 11bn, and their successor standards, and provides wireless connectivity as an AP to nearby terminals. Note that, in a case where the wireless AP 950 is mounted on the base station of the cellular communication scheme, or the femtocell, in addition to the wireless LAN scheme, the wireless communication interface 963 may support other types of wireless communication schemes such as a 3GPP cellular communication scheme such as 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G, and 6G. The wireless communication interface 963 may be a one-chip module supporting a plurality of wireless communication schemes, or may be a combination of modules supporting some wireless communication schemes.

[0201] The wireless communication interface 963 typically includes a baseband processor, a RF circuit, a power amplifier, and the like.

[0202] The wireless communication interface 963 may be a one-chip module in which a memory that stores a communication control program, a processor that executes the program, or related circuits are integrated.

[0203] The antenna switch 964 switches a connection destination of the antenna 965 among a plurality of circuits (for example, circuits for different wireless communication schemes, or a transmission circuit and a reception circuit) included in the wireless communication interface 963.

[0204] The antenna 965 has a single or a plurality of antenna elements (for example, a plurality of antenna elements forming a multiple input multiple output (MIMO) antenna, or a plurality of antenna elements forming an array antenna), and is used for transmission and reception of a wireless signal by the wireless communication interface 963.

[0205] In the wireless AP 950 illustrated in Fig. 17, for example, the control unit 130 or communication control unit 111 in Fig. 2 may be implemented in the wireless communication interface 963. For example, processing programs corresponding to the flowcharts in Figs. 8 and 9 may be executed in the wireless communication interface 963. Furthermore, at least some of these functions may be implemented in the controller 951.

[0206] Note that, the above-described embodiments describe an example for embodying the present technology, and there is a correspondence relationship between the matters in the embodiments and the matters specifying the disclosure in claims. Similarly, there is a correspondence relationship between the matters specifying the disclosure in claims and the matters in the embodiments of the present technology having the same names. However, the present technology is not limited to the embodiments, and can be embodied by making various modifications to the embodiments without departing from the gist thereof.

[0207] Furthermore, part or all of the communication devices described in the above-described embodiments may be implemented as, for example, a semiconductor chip (integrated circuit (IC)) having a wireless communication control function. Furthermore, the part or all of the communication devices may be implemented by one semiconductor chip, such as a system on chip (SoC), on which a plurality of functions is mounted, or may be implemented by combining a plurality of semiconductor chips having a single function such as a processor. Moreover, the part or all of the communication devices may be implemented by combining a plurality of SoCs, or may be implemented by combining a semiconductor chip having a single function, and a SoC. Furthermore, the part or all of the communication devices may be implemented by a semiconductor chip, such as an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), dedicated for implementing each unit, or may be implemented by a combination of a general-purpose processor, software, firmware, and the like, or a semiconductor chip such as a field programmable gate array (FPGA).

[0208] Furthermore, the procedures described in the above-described embodiment may be considered as a method including a series of procedures and may be considered as a program for causing this computer to execute the series of procedures and a recording medium that stores the program.

[0209] As this recording medium, for example, a compact disc (CD), a MiniDisc (MD), a digital versatile disc (DVD), a memory card, a Blu-ray (registered trademark) Disc, and the like can be used.

[0210] Note that, in the present specification, a system means an assembly of a plurality of components (devices, modules (parts), and the like), and it does not matter whether or not all the components are located in the same housing. Therefore, a plurality of devices housed in separate housings and connected via a network and one device in which a plurality of modules is housed in one housing are both systems.

[0211] Furthermore, the effects described in the present specification are merely examples and not restrictive, and there may also be other effects.

[0212] An embodiment of the present technology is not limited to the embodiment described above, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present technology.

[0213] For example, the present technology may be configured as cloud computing in which one function is shared by a plurality of devices via a network and processed in cooperation.

[0214] Furthermore, each step described in the flowchart described above can be performed by one device or can be shared and performed by a plurality of devices.

[0215] Moreover, in a case where a plurality of processes is included in one step, the plurality of processes included in the one step can be executed by one device or can be shared and executed by a plurality of devices.

[0216] The present embodiment can also have the following configurations.Supplementary note

[0217] The disclosure at least describes variations of the inventive apparatus, system and method. Examples include (1) In one embodiment, a communication control apparatus includes circuitry configured to: receive a control signal from a wireless communication device, transmit a first signal in response to the received control signal, the first signal including information indicating a frequency resource range that includes a plurality of frequency resources within the frequency resource range, receive a second signal from the wireless communication device, the second signal using one of the plurality of frequency resources indicated by the first signal, and allocate a communication resource to the wireless communication device based on the received second signal. (2) The communication control apparatus of (1), wherein the circuitry is further configured to receive control signals from a plurality of wireless communication devices, and wherein the first signal is transmitted to the plurality of wireless communication devices. (3) The communication control apparatus of (2), wherein the circuitry is further configured to allocate the communication resource to a single wireless communication device from among the plurality of wireless communication devices. (4) The communication control apparatus of (2), wherein the circuitry is further configured to allocate communication resources to the plurality of wireless communication devices. (5) The communication control apparatus of (1), wherein the first signal further includes a request for the second signal to be transmitted using one of the plurality of frequency resources. (6) The communication control apparatus of (1), wherein the circuitry is further configured to allocate the communication resource to transmit a third signal to the wireless communication device, the third signal including communication resource information indicating the communication resource to be allocated. (7) The communication control apparatus of (1), wherein the plurality of frequency resources is at least one of a resource unit (RU) or a subcarrier set including a plurality of orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) subcarriers. (8) The communication control apparatus of (1), wherein the circuitry is further configured to, in response to receiving second signals from a plurality of wireless communication devices that use a same frequency resource, transmit the first signal again to cause the plurality of wireless communication devices to transmit new second signals. (9) The communication control apparatus of (1), wherein the circuitry is configured to transmit the first signal via a broadcast transmission. (10) The communication control apparatus of (1), wherein the first signal further includes information indicating a transmission suppression period. (11) A communication apparatus that includes circuitry configured to transmit a control signal to a communication control device to request an access right, receive a first signal from the communication control device, the first signal including information indicating a frequency resource range that includes a plurality of frequency resources, select one of the plurality of frequency resources from the frequency resource range, transmit a second signal to the communication control device using the selected frequency resource, and receive a third signal from the communication control device, the third signal allocating a communication resource to the communication control apparatus. (12) The communication apparatus of (11), wherein the circuitry is configured to randomly select the one of the plurality of frequency resources. (13) The communication apparatus of (11), wherein the circuitry is configured to transmit the control signal after a random backoff counter becomes zero. (14) The communication apparatus of (11), wherein the second signal includes an identifier of the communication apparatus. (15) The communication apparatus of (11), wherein the circuitry is further configured to transmit a data signal to the communication control device using the allocated communication resource. (16) The communication apparatus of (11), wherein the circuitry is further configured to receive a signal including a transmission suppression period from another wireless communication device, and suppress transmission for the transmission suppression period. (17) The communication apparatus of (11), wherein the circuitry is further configured to after transmitting the second signal, receive the first signal again from the communication control device, select a new frequency resource from the frequency resource range indicated in the first signal received again, and transmit a new second signal to the communication control device using the new selected frequency resource. (18) A communication control method that includes receiving, at a first communication device, a control signal from at least one wireless communication device; transmitting, from the first communication device, a first signal in response to the received control signal, the first signal including information indicating a frequency resource range that includes a plurality of frequency resources; receiving, at the first communication device, a second signal from the at least one wireless communication device, the second signal using one of the plurality of frequency resources indicated by the first signal; and allocating, by the first communication device, a communication resource to the at least one wireless communication device based on the received second signal. (19) The communication control method of (18), further comprising: receiving control signals from a plurality of wireless communication devices, and wherein the first signal is transmitted to the plurality of wireless communication devices. (20) The communication control method of claim (18), wherein the first signal further includes a request for the second signal to be transmitted using one of the plurality of frequency resources.

[0218] It should be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications, combinations, sub-combinations and alterations may occur depending on design requirements and other factors insofar as they are within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.

[0219] 1, 2, 3, 4 Non-AP 100 AP 110 Communication unit 111 Communication control unit 112 Communication storage unit 113 Common data processing unit 121 Individual data processing unit 122 Signal processing unit 123 Wireless interface unit 124 Amplification unit 130 Control unit 140 Storage unit 150 Antenna 160 Backhaul communication unit 801 CPU 802 ROM 803 RAM 804 Bus 805 Input / output interface 806 Input unit 807 Output unit 808 Storage unit 809 Communication unit 810 Drive 811 Removable medium 900 Smartphone 901 Processor 902 Memory 903 Storage 904 External connection interface 906 Camera 907 Sensor 908 Microphone 909 Input device 910 Display device 911 Speaker 913 Wireless communication interface 914 Antenna switch 915 Antenna 917 Bus 918 Battery 919 Auxiliary controller 920 In-vehicle device 921 Processor 922 Memory 924 GNSS module 925 Sensor 926 Data interface 927 Content player 928 Storage medium interface 929 Input device 930 Display device 931 Speaker 933 Wireless communication interface 934 Antenna switch 935 Antenna 938 Battery 940 In-vehicle system (or vehicle) 941 In-vehicle network 942 Vehicle-side module 951 Controller 952 Memory 954 Input device 955 Display device 957 Network interface 958 Wired communication network 963 Wireless communication interface 964 Antenna switch 965 Antenna

Claims

1. A communication control apparatus comprising: circuitry configured to: receive a control signal from a wireless communication device, transmit a first signal in response to the received control signal, the first signal including information indicating a frequency resource range that includes a plurality of frequency resources within the frequency resource range, receive a second signal from the wireless communication device, the second signal using one of the plurality of frequency resources indicated by the first signal, and allocate a communication resource to the wireless communication device based on the received second signal.

2. The communication control apparatus of claim 1, wherein the circuitry is further configured to receive control signals from a plurality of wireless communication devices, and wherein the first signal is transmitted to the plurality of wireless communication devices.

3. The communication control apparatus of claim 2, wherein the circuitry is further configured to allocate the communication resource to a single wireless communication device from among the plurality of wireless communication devices.

4. The communication control apparatus of claim 2, wherein the circuitry is further configured to allocate communication resources to the plurality of wireless communication devices.

5. The communication control apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first signal further includes a request for the second signal to be transmitted using one of the plurality of frequency resources.

6. The communication control apparatus of claim 1, wherein the circuitry is further configured to allocate the communication resource to transmit a third signal to the wireless communication device, the third signal including communication resource information indicating the communication resource to be allocated.

7. The communication control apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of frequency resources is at least one of a resource unit (RU) or a subcarrier set including a plurality of orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) subcarriers.

8. The communication control apparatus of claim 1, wherein the circuitry is further configured to, in response to receiving second signals from a plurality of wireless communication devices that use a same frequency resource, transmit the first signal again to cause the plurality of wireless communication devices to transmit new second signals.

9. The communication control apparatus of claim 1, wherein the circuitry is configured to transmit the first signal via a broadcast transmission.

10. The communication control apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first signal further includes information indicating a transmission suppression period.

11. A communication apparatus comprising: circuitry configured to transmit a control signal to a communication control device to request an access right, receive a first signal from the communication control device, the first signal including information indicating a frequency resource range that includes a plurality of frequency resources, select one of the plurality of frequency resources from the frequency resource range, transmit a second signal to the communication control device using the selected frequency resource, and receive a third signal from the communication control device, the third signal allocating a communication resource to the communication control apparatus.

12. The communication apparatus of claim 11, wherein the circuitry is configured to randomly select the one of the plurality of frequency resources.

13. The communication apparatus of claim 11, wherein the circuitry is configured to transmit the control signal after a random backoff counter becomes zero.

14. The communication apparatus of claim 11, wherein the second signal includes an identifier of the communication apparatus.

15. The communication apparatus of claim 11, wherein the circuitry is further configured to transmit a data signal to the communication control device using the allocated communication resource.

16. The communication apparatus of claim 11, wherein the circuitry is further configured to receive a signal including a transmission suppression period from another wireless communication device, and suppress transmission for the transmission suppression period.

17. The communication apparatus of claim 11, wherein the circuitry is further configured to after transmitting the second signal, receive the first signal again from the communication control device, select a new frequency resource from the frequency resource range indicated in the first signal received again, and transmit a new second signal to the communication control device using the new selected frequency resource.

18. A communication control method comprising: receiving, at a first communication device, a control signal from at least one wireless communication device; transmitting, from the first communication device, a first signal in response to the received control signal, the first signal including information indicating a frequency resource range that includes a plurality of frequency resources; receiving, at the first communication device, a second signal from the at least one wireless communication device, the second signal using one of the plurality of frequency resources indicated by the first signal; and allocating, by the first communication device, a communication resource to the at least one wireless communication device based on the received second signal.

19. The communication control method of claim 18, further comprising: receiving control signals from a plurality of wireless communication devices, and wherein the first signal is transmitted to the plurality of wireless communication devices.

20. The communication control method of claim 18, wherein the first signal further includes a request for the second signal to be transmitted using one of the plurality of frequency resources.

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