CN-122029887-A - Communication device, control method, and program

Abstract

The communication apparatus performs communication conforming to the IEEE 802.11 standard family with another communication apparatus belonging to a first network by using one of a first channel access method or a second channel access method for constructing the first network and using at least a predetermined master in one link, the second channel access method for not using the master channel when a period in which the other communication apparatus performs transmission of a radio frame without using the master channel due to communication in a second network different from the first network is set, and using one or more non-master channels different from the master channel among a plurality of channels included in the link, notifying the other communication apparatus of information indicating a threshold value related to a length of the period, and allowing the other communication apparatus to use the second channel access method when the length of the period set in the other communication apparatus exceeds the threshold value.

Inventors

• INOHIZA HIROHIKO

Assignees

• 佳能株式会社

Dates

Publication Date

20260512

Application Date

20241011

Priority Date

20231018

Claims (19)

1. 1. A communication apparatus for performing communication conforming to an IEEE 802.11 standard family, the communication apparatus comprising: A communication section for establishing a first network and performing communication with another communication apparatus belonging to the first network using one of a first channel access scheme in which at least a predetermined primary in one link is used and a second channel access scheme in which, in a case where a period in which the other communication apparatus performs transmission of a radio frame without using the primary channel due to communication in a second network different from the first network is set, the primary channel is not used and one or more non-primary channels different from the primary channel among a plurality of channels included in the link are used, and A notifying means for notifying the other communication apparatus of information indicating a threshold value related to a length of the period, the other communication apparatus being permitted to use the second channel access scheme according to the information in a case where the length of the period set in the other communication apparatus exceeds the threshold value.
2. 2. The communication device of claim 1, wherein The notifying means notifies the other communication device of information indicating a first threshold value for determining whether transmission of data requiring low latency is permitted and a second threshold value for determining whether transmission of data not requiring low latency is permitted as information indicating a threshold value.
3. 3. The communication device of claim 1, wherein The notifying means notifies the other communication device of information indicating a threshold value for determining whether or not transmission of data in the access category is permitted for each access category, as information indicating the threshold value.
4. 4. The communication device of claim 1, wherein The notifying means notifies the other communication device of information indicating a threshold value for determining whether or not transmission of data accompanied by the TID is permitted for each traffic identifier TID, as information indicating the threshold value.
5. 5. The communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein The threshold value is set to a value larger than a value obtained by adding the time length of request to send RTS, clear to send CTS, the time length of acknowledgement response, and the time length three times the short inter-frame space SIFS.
6. 6. The communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein The notification with the predetermined value as the threshold indicates that the second channel access scheme is not allowed to be used regardless of the length of the period.
7. 7. The communication device of claim 1, wherein The notification component transmits a beacon frame including information indicating a threshold.
8. 8. The communication apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that The notification component transmits a probe response frame including information indicative of a threshold.
9. 9. A communication apparatus for performing communication conforming to an IEEE 802.11 standard family, the communication apparatus characterized by comprising: A communication means for joining a first network established by another communication apparatus and performing communication with the other communication apparatus using one of a first channel access scheme in which at least a predetermined primary channel in one link is used and a second channel access scheme in which, in a case where a period in which the communication apparatus performs transmission of a radio frame without using the primary channel due to communication in a second network different from the first network is set, the primary channel is not used, and one or more non-primary channels different from the primary channel among a plurality of channels included in the link are used; a receiving means for receiving, from the other communication apparatus, information indicating a threshold value related to a length of the period; A determining section for determining, in a case where a period in which the communication apparatus performs transmission of a radio frame without using the primary channel due to communication in a second network is set, whether or not a length of a remaining time of the period exceeds a threshold value, and A control section for performing control so as to communicate with the other communication apparatus using the second channel access scheme based on a determination that a length of a remaining time of the period exceeds a threshold.
10. 10. A communication device according to claim 9, characterized in that The receiving means receives, from the other communication apparatus, information indicating a first threshold value for determining whether transmission of data requiring low latency is permitted and a second threshold value for determining whether transmission of data not requiring low latency is permitted as the information indicating the threshold value.
11. 11. A communication device according to claim 9, characterized in that The receiving means receives, from the other communication apparatus, information indicating a threshold value for determining whether or not transmission of data in each access category is permitted, as information indicating the threshold value.
12. 12. A communication device according to claim 9, characterized in that The receiving means receives, from the other communication apparatus, information indicating a threshold value for determining whether or not transmission of data accompanied by a TID is permitted for each traffic identifier TID, as the information indicating the threshold value.
13. 13. The communication device according to any one of claims 9 to 12, characterized in that The threshold value is set to a value larger than a value obtained by adding the time length of request to send RTS, clear to send CTS, the time length of acknowledgement response, and the time length three times the short inter-frame space SIFS.
14. 14. The communication device according to any one of claims 9 to 13, characterized in that The notification with the predetermined value as the threshold indicates that the second channel access scheme is not allowed to be used regardless of the length of the remaining time of the period.
15. 15. The communication device according to any one of claims 9 to 14, characterized in that The receiving means receives information indicating a threshold value in a beacon frame received from the other communication apparatus.
16. 16. The communication device according to any one of claims 9 to 14, characterized in that The receiving means receives information indicating a threshold value in a probe response frame received from the other communication device.
17. 17. A control method performed by a communication apparatus that establishes a first network and performs communication conforming to the IEEE 802.11 standard family with another communication apparatus belonging to the first network using one of a first channel access scheme in which at least a predetermined primary in one link is used and a second channel access scheme in which, in a case where a period in which the other communication apparatus performs transmission of a radio frame without using the primary channel due to communication in a second network different from the first network is set, the primary channel is not used and one or more non-primary channels different from the primary channel among a plurality of channels included in the link are used, the control method characterized by comprising: The other communication apparatus is notified of information indicating a threshold value related to the length of the period, and is permitted to use the second channel access scheme according to the information if the length of the period set in the other communication apparatus exceeds the threshold value.
18. 18. A control method performed by a communication apparatus that joins a first network established by another communication apparatus and performs communication conforming to the IEEE 802.11 standard series with the other communication apparatus using one of a first channel access scheme in which at least a predetermined primary channel in one link is used, and a second channel access scheme in which, in a case where a period in which the communication apparatus performs transmission of a radio frame without using the primary channel due to communication in a second network different from the first network is set, the primary channel is not used, and one or more non-primary channels different from the primary channel are used among a plurality of channels included in the link, the control method characterized by comprising: Receiving information from the other communication device indicating a threshold value related to the length of the period; In the case where a period in which the communication apparatus does not perform transmission of a radio frame using the primary channel due to communication in the second network is set, determining whether the length of the remaining time of the period exceeds a threshold value, and Control is performed based on a determination that a length of a remaining time of the period exceeds a threshold value in order to communicate with the other communication apparatus using a second channel access scheme.
19. 19. A program for causing a computer to function as a component included in the communication apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 16.

Description

Communication device, control method, and program Technical Field The present disclosure relates to a data communication technique for use in a communication device capable of communicating using a communication link formed of a plurality of channels. Background With the increase in the amount of data transmitted in recent years, communication technologies such as wireless Local Area Networks (LANs) are under development. As a main wireless LAN communication standard, the IEEE (institute of electrical and electronics engineers) 802.11 standard series is known. The IEEE802.11 family of standards includes the IEEE802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax/be standards, and the like. In order to further improve the reliability of communication, development of the IEEE802.11 bn standard is currently underway as a subsequent standard to the IEEE802.11 be standard. In the IEEE802.11 Working Group (WG) for formulating the IEEE802.11 bn standard, targets, study ranges, and the like are defined in the UHR SG, and details of the contents of the technology to be included in this standard are expected to be defined in TGbn. Note that UHR SG is an abbreviation for Ultra High Reliability Study Group (ultra high reliability research group). Also TGbn is an abbreviation of Task Group bn. As one of candidate technologies included in the IEEE 802.11bn standard, a technology of efficiently using frequency resources in a communication method using a communication link formed by a plurality of channels has been studied. For example, PTL 1 describes a technique by which, in a case where a transmission right cannot be acquired using a primary channel, communication is performed using another channel. CITATION LIST Patent literature PTL 1 U.S. Pat. No. 11696353 Disclosure of Invention Technical problem The present disclosure provides a technique for enabling more efficient use of frequency resources in a communication system using a communication link formed of a plurality of channels. Solution to the problem A communication apparatus according to an aspect of the present embodiment is a communication apparatus for performing communication conforming to the IEEE 802.11 standard series, the communication apparatus including communication means for establishing a first network and performing communication with another communication apparatus belonging to the first network using one of a first channel access scheme in which at least a predetermined master in one link is used and a second channel access scheme in which, in a case where a period in which the other communication apparatus performs transmission of a radio frame without using the master channel due to communication in a second network different from the first network is set, the master channel is not used and one or more non-master channels different from the master channel among a plurality of channels included in the link are used, and notification means for notifying the other communication apparatus of information indicating a threshold value related to a length of the period, the other communication apparatus being permitted to use the second channel according to the access scheme by the other communication apparatus in a case where the length of the period set in the other communication apparatus exceeds the threshold value. Advantageous effects of the invention According to the present disclosure, frequency resources can be more efficiently used in a communication system using a communication link formed of a plurality of channels. Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Note that the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like components. Drawings The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. Fig. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a configuration of a wireless communication system. Fig. 2A is a schematic diagram showing an example of a time chart when a communication apparatus transmits data. Fig. 2B is a schematic diagram showing an example of a time chart when the communication apparatus transmits data. Fig. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a hardware configuration of the communication apparatus. Fig. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the AP. Fig. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the STA. Fig. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a flow of processing performed by the communication apparatus. Fig. 7A is a diagram showing an example of an information element notified from an AP to a STA. Fig. 7B is a diagram showing an example of an information element notified from an AP to a STA. Fig. 7C is a diagram showing an example of an information element notified from an AP to a STA. F