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EP-4024991-B1 - WIRELESS COMMUNICATION DEVICE AND METHOD AND WIRELESS COMMUNICATION TERMINAL AND METHOD

EP4024991B1EP 4024991 B1EP4024991 B1EP 4024991B1EP-4024991-B1

Inventors

  • HIRATA RYUICHI
  • TANAKA YUSUKE
  • AIO KOSUKE

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20201005

Claims (12)

  1. A wireless communication device (11) comprising a communication section (33-1, 33-2) configured to transmit a first parameter and a second parameter, the first parameter being used for setting of communication in which a wireless communication terminal (12) uses a plurality of links (L1, L2), the second parameter being used for setting of communication in which the wireless communication terminal uses a single link (L2); wherein the first parameter includes a parameter related to a period (t3 - t7) in which the wireless communication terminal is configured to perform communication on a basis of setting using the first parameter or the second parameter; wherein the first parameter and the second parameter each include a parameter related to acquisition of a transmission opportunity.
  2. The wireless communication device according to claim 1, wherein the parameter related to the period indicates start time of the period and a length of the period.
  3. The wireless communication device according to claim 1, wherein the parameter related to the period indicates an end of the period.
  4. The wireless communication device according to claim 1, wherein the first parameter and the second parameter each include, as the parameter related to the acquisition of the transmission opportunity, a parameter related to a frame transmission interval or a parameter related to transmission waiting time, and the frame transmission interval and the transmission waiting time are set to be smaller in the first parameter than in the second parameter.
  5. The wireless communication device according to claim 1, wherein the first parameter and the second parameter each include, as the parameter related to the acquisition of the transmission opportunity, a value related to occupation time of a channel, and the value related to the occupation time of the channel is set to be longer in the first parameter than in the second parameter.
  6. The wireless communication device according to claim 1, wherein the communication section is configured to transmit the first parameter and the second parameter for each link information or for each access category information.
  7. The wireless communication device according to claim 1, wherein the communication section is configured to transmit, as the second parameter, an existing EDCA, Enhanced Distributed Channel Access, parameter.
  8. A wireless communication method performed by a wireless communication device (11), the wireless communication method comprising transmitting a first parameter and a second parameter, the first parameter being used for setting of communication in which a wireless communication terminal (12-1) uses a plurality of links (L1, L2), the second parameter being used for setting of communication in which the wireless communication terminal uses a single link (L2); wherein the first parameter includes a parameter related to a period (t3 - t7) in which the wireless communication terminal performs communication on a basis of setting using the first parameter or the second parameter; wherein the first parameter and the second parameter each include a parameter related to acquisition of a transmission opportunity.
  9. A wireless communication terminal (12) comprising a communication section configured to perform communication on a basis of setting using a first parameter or a second parameter, the first parameter being used for setting of communication using a plurality of links (L1, L2), the second parameter being used for setting of communication using a single link (L2); wherein the communication section is configured to perform the communication on the basis of the setting using the first parameter or the second parameter during a period (t3 - t7) included in the first parameter; wherein the first parameter and the second parameter each include a parameter related to acquisition of a transmission opportunity.
  10. The wireless communication terminal according to claim 9, wherein the communication section is configured to perform the communication using the plurality of links on the basis of the setting using the first parameter.
  11. The wireless communication terminal according to claim 9, wherein the communication section is configured to perform the communication using the single link on the basis of the setting using the second parameter.
  12. A wireless communication method performed by a wireless communication terminal, the wireless communication method comprising performing communication on a basis of setting using a first parameter or a second parameter, the first parameter being used for setting of communication using a plurality of links, the second parameter being used for setting of communication using a single link; wherein the method comprises performing the communication on the basis of the setting using the first parameter or the second parameter during a period (t3 - t7) included in the first parameter; wherein the first parameter and the second parameter each include a parameter related to acquisition of a transmission opportunity.

Description

Technical Field The present technology relates to a wireless communication device and method, and a wireless communication terminal and method; and more particularly to a wireless communication device and method, and a wireless communication terminal and method which allow for increased transmission opportunities using multi-link aggregation. Background Art Use of a wireless LAN (Local Area Network) has recently been expected in, for example, VR (Virtual Reality). In order to deal with VR or the like, it is desired to increase maximum throughput of the wireless LAN. In a next generation WLAN standard, multi-link aggregation is attracting attention as one of techniques for increasing the maximum throughput. The multi-link aggregation ensures wider bandwidth by simultaneously using a plurality of links. It is not possible to perform transmission using multi-link aggregation (hereinafter referred to as MLA transmission) unless transmission opportunities (transmission rights) are acquired in a plurality of links. In contrast, if transmission is to be performed using only one link (hereinafter referred to as non-MLA transmission), it is possible to perform the transmission as soon as a transmission opportunity is acquired in a single link. Accordingly, if a terminal that performs the non-MLA transmission and a terminal that performs the MLA transmission coexist, there are many cases where the terminal that performs the non-MLA transmission starts transmission first while the terminal that performs the MLA transmission is in a standby mode, which causes a channel to be busy and disables the MLA transmission. PTL 1 proposes a method of predicting a channel usage status after a predetermined time has elapsed, generating a predicted idle probability indicating an idle probability of a wireless channel for each predetermined time, and transmitting, on the basis of the predicted idle probability, data as a packet for each of a plurality of frequency bands at the same timing. Citation List Patent Literature PTL 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2019-87916 Summary of the Invention Problems to be Solved by the Invention As described above, in a case where a terminal that performs non-MLA transmission and a terminal that performs MLA transmission coexist, it is urgently desired to provide a proposal that gives priority to the MLA transmission over the non-MLA transmission. The present technology has been made in view of the above circumstances, and it is an object of the present technology to increase transmission opportunities using multi-link aggregation. Prior art Includes: PO-KAI HUANG (INTEL): "Multi-link Operation Framework", IEEE DRAFT; 11-19-0773-06-00BE-MULTI-LINK-OPERATION-FRAMEWORK, IEEE-SA MENTOR, PISCATAWAY, NJ USA, vol. 802.11 EHT; 802.11be, no. 6 18 September 2019, pages 1-20;US 2017/202023 A1; andUS 2018/082463 A1.Each of these prior art disclosures describes a prior art device. Means for Solving the Problems Embodiments of the present disclosure are defined by the appended claims. Brief Description of Drawings [FIG. 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a wireless communication system according to the present technology.[FIG. 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a wireless communication device.[FIG. 3] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a sequence of MLA-prioritized transmission according to a first embodiment of the present technology.[FIG. 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of an MLA period setup element.[FIG. 5] FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a non-MLA period setup element.[FIG. 6] FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a format example of data for a case of MLA transmission.[FIG. 7] FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a format example of data for a case of non-MLA transmission.[FIG. 8] FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining an example of an MLA-prioritized transmission process performed by an AP.[FIG. 9] FIG. 9 is a flowchart for explaining an example of an MLA-prioritized transmission process performed by a STA.[FIG. 10] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a sequence of MLA-prioritized transmission according to a second embodiment of the present technology.[FIG. 11] FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of an MLA period request element.[FIG. 12] FIG. 12 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a computer. Modes for Carrying Out the Invention The following describes some embodiments for carrying out the present technology. Description is given in the following order. 0. Configuration Examples of System and Device1. First Embodiment (An example in which notification is sent from an AP)2. Second Embodiment (An example in which a request is sent from a STA)3. Others <0. Configuration Examples of System and Device> <Configuration Example of Wireless Communication System> FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a wireless communica