COMMUNICATION APPARATUS, CONTROL METHOD, AND NON-TRANSITORY COMPUTER-READABLE STORAGE MEDIUM

A communication apparatus, complying with a standard of an IEEE802.11 series, comprises: communication unit configured to communicate, with another communication apparatus, operation information concerning wireless communication, wherein the operation information includes frequency bandwidth information for wireless communication, the frequency bandwidth information is included in Channel Width field included in EHT Operation field of a frame complying with a standard of an IEEE802.11 series, and the frequency bandwidth is indicated using a value selected from a plurality of values including at least a first value and a second value, wherein the first value indicates 160 MHz, and the second value indicates 320 MHz

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a wireless communication technique.

Background Art

The IEEE802.11 series is known as a wireless LAN (Local Area Network) communication standard defined by IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers). The IEEE802.11 series standards include the IEEE802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax standards.

PTL 1 discloses that wireless communication by OFDMA (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access) is executed in the IEEE802.11ax standard. In the IEEE802.11ax standard, high peak throughput is achieved by executing wireless communication by OFDMA.

To further improve throughput or frequency use efficiency, IEEE has examined the definition of the IEEE802.11be standard as a new standard of the IEEE802.11 series. In the IEEE802.11be standard, it has been examined to extend the frequency bandwidth up to 320 MHz.

CITATION LIST

Patent Literature

An AP (Access Point) and an STA (station/terminal apparatus) manage operation information used for wireless communication, such as a communication bandwidth used for wireless communication. Conventionally, in the case of wireless communication using 240 MHz as a frequency bandwidth, there is no method of representing operation information concerning 80 MHz on the high frequency side (that is, 80 MHz in the latter half) of the frequency bandwidth.

The present disclosure has been made in consideration of the above problem, and provides a technique for appropriately communicating operation information for wireless communication when performing wireless communication in a frequency bandwidth of 240 MHz or more.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In order to achieve the above object, a communication apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention has the following configuration. That is, there is provided a communication apparatus complying with a standard of an IEEE802.11 series, comprising communication unit configured to communicate, with another communication apparatus, operation information concerning wireless communication, wherein the operation information includes frequency bandwidth information for wireless communication, the frequency bandwidth information is included in Channel Width field included in EHT Operation field of a frame complying with a standard of an IEEE802.11 series, and the frequency bandwidth is indicated using a value selected from a plurality of values including at least a first value and a second value, wherein the first value indicates a frequency bandwidth of 160 MHz, and the second value indicates a frequency bandwidth of 320 MHz.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

FIG.1shows a wireless communication system according to this embodiment. The wireless communication system shown inFIG.1is a wireless network including, as communication apparatuses, an access point (AP)102and a plurality of STAs (stations/terminal apparatuses)103,104, and105. The AP102has the same function as that of the terminal apparatus except for a relay function, and is thus a form of the terminal apparatus. The AP102can communicate with each of the STAs103to105in accordance with a wireless communication method complying with the IEEE802.11be standard. The STAs103to105existing inside a circle101representing a range within which a signal (radio frame) transmitted by the AP102reaches can communicate with the AP102.

This embodiment assumes that the AP102and each of the STAs103to105can communicate with each other in accordance with the IEEE802.11be standard. The AP102establishes a wireless link with each of the STAs103to105via a predetermined association process and the like. The AP102and each of the STAs103to105can communicate with each other in the 2.4-, 5-, and 6-GHz frequency bands. The frequency band used by the AP102and each of the STAs103to105is not limited to them and, for example, a different frequency band such as the 60-GHz band may be used. The AP102and each of the STAs103to105can communicate with each other using 20-, 40-, 80-, 160-, 240-, and 320-MHz bandwidths.

The AP102and each of the STAs103to105can execute OFDMA communication. For example, the AP102can implement multi-user (MU) communication of multiplexing signals destined for a plurality of users (STAs). In OFDMA communication, some (RUs (Resource Units)) of divided frequency bands are allocated to the respective STAs not to overlap each other, and carrier waves allocated to the respective STAs are orthogonal to each other. Therefore, the AP102can simultaneously communicate with the plurality of STAs.

The AP102and each of the STAs103to105can transmit/receive a management frame complying with an IEEE802.11 series standard, which is, for example, a MAC (Medium Access Control) frame. More specifically, the management frame indicates each of a Beacon frame, Probe Request/Response frames, and Association Request/Response frames. In addition to these frames, a Disassociation frame, an Authentication frame, a De-Authentication frame, and an Action frame are also called management frames. The Beacon frame is a frame that makes a notification of network information. The Probe Request frame is a frame that requests network information, and the Probe Response frame is a response to the Probe Request frame and is a frame that provides the network information. The Association Request frame is a frame that requests connection, and the Association Response frame is a response to the Association Request frame and is a frame that indicates permission of connection or an error. The Disassociation frame is a frame used to disconnect the connection. The Authentication frame is a frame used to authenticate the partner apparatus. The De-Authentication frame is a frame used to interrupt authentication of the partner apparatus and execute disconnection of the connection. The Action frame is a frame used to execute an additional function other than the above-described ones.

The AP102and the STAs103to105may be configured to execute MIMO (Multiple-Input and Multiple-Output) communication. In this case, each of the AP102and the STAs103to105includes a plurality of antennas, and the transmission side uses the same frequency channel to transmit different signals from the respective antennas. The reception side simultaneously receives, using the plurality of antennas, all signals arriving from a plurality of streams, separates the signals of the streams, and decodes them. As compared with a case in which no MIMO communication is executed, the AP102and each of the STAs103to105can communicate more data at the same time by executing MIMO communication. The AP102and the STAs103to105manage operation parameters (operation information) such as a communication bandwidth (frequency bandwidth) used for wireless communication.

Note that each of the AP102and the STAs103to105supports the IEEE802.11be standard. In addition to this, each of the AP102and the STAs103to105may support at least one of the legacy standards as standards defined before the IEEE802.11be standard. The legacy standards indicate the IEEE802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax standards. Note that in this embodiment, at least one of the IEEE802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax/be standards is called an IEEE802.11 series standard. Furthermore, in addition to the IEEE802.11 series standard, each of the AP102and the STAs103to105may support another communication standard such as Bluetooth®, NFC (Near Field Communication), UWB (Ultra Wideband), Zigbee, or MBOA (Multiple Band OFDM Alliance). UWB includes wireless USB, wireless 1394, and Winet. In addition, each of the AP102and the STAs103to105may support a communication standard of wired communication such as a wired LAN.

[Arrangement of Communication Apparatus]

FIG.2Ashows an example of the hardware arrangement of the communication apparatus (AP102and STAs103to105) according to this embodiment. The communication apparatus includes, as an example of the hardware arrangement, a storage unit201, a control unit202, a function unit203, an input unit204, an output unit205, a communication unit206, and an antenna207.

The storage unit201is formed by one or more memories such as a ROM (Read Only Memory) and a RAM (Random Access Memory), and stores computer programs for performing various operations (to be described later), and various kinds of information such as communication parameters for wireless communication. Note that in addition to the memory such as a ROM or a RAM, a storage medium such as a flexible disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, or a DVD may be used as the storage unit201. The storage unit201may include a plurality of memories.

The control unit202is formed by, for example, one or more processers such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and an MPU (Micro Processing Unit), and controls the communication apparatus by executing the computer programs stored in the storage unit201. Note that the control unit202may be configured to control the communication apparatus by cooperation of an OS (Operating System) and the computer programs stored in the storage unit201. The control unit202generates data or a signal (radio frame) to be transmitted in communication with another communication apparatus. The control unit202may include a plurality of processors such as a multi-core processor, and control the communication apparatus by the plurality of processors.

In addition, the control unit202controls the function unit203to execute wireless communication or predetermined processing such as image capturing, printing, or projection processing. The function unit203is hardware used by the communication apparatus to execute predetermined processing.

The input unit204accepts various kinds of operations from the user. The output unit205performs various kinds of outputs to the user via a monitor screen or a loudspeaker. In this example, the output by the output unit205may include, for example, display on the monitor screen, audio output by the loudspeaker, and vibration output. Note that both the input unit204and the output unit205may be implemented by one module, like a touch panel. Furthermore, each of the input unit204and the output unit205may be integrated with the communication apparatus, or may be separated from the communication apparatus.

The communication unit206controls wireless communication complying with the IEEE802.11be standard. In this embodiment, the communication unit206serves as a means for notifying (transmitting) another communication apparatus of operation information (to be described below). The communication unit206may control wireless communication complying with another IEEE802.11 series standard in addition to the IEEE802.11be standard, or control wired communication by a wired LAN or the like. The communication unit206controls the antenna207to transmit/receive signals (radio frames) for wireless communication generated by the control unit202. Note that if the communication apparatus supports the NFC standard or Bluetooth standard in addition to the IEEE802.11be standard, the communication unit206may control wireless communication complying with these communication standards. If the communication apparatus can execute wireless communication complying with each of a plurality of communication standards, it may have an arrangement that separately includes a communication unit and an antenna supporting each communication standard. The communication apparatus communicates data such as image data, document data, or video data with another communication apparatus via the communication unit206. Note that the antenna207may be arranged separately from the communication unit206or may be configured as a module integrated with the communication unit206.

The antennas207is an antenna that allows communication in the 2.4-, 5-, and 6-GHz bands. The communication apparatus may include one antenna, or may include antennas different for the respective frequency bands. If the communication apparatus includes a plurality of antennas, it may include the communication unit206corresponding to each antenna.

FIG.2Bshows an example of the functional arrangement by the control unit202of the communication apparatus (AP102and STAs103to105) according to this embodiment. The communication apparatus includes, as an example of the functional arrangement, an operation information decision unit211, a frame generation unit212, and a UI (User Interface) control unit213.

The operation information decision unit211decides operation information of which another communication apparatus is notified. The operation information will be described later. The frame generation unit212generates a frame used for transmission (notification) to another communication apparatus. The UI control unit213executes control to accept an operation on the communication apparatus by the user of the communication apparatus. For example, the UI control unit213sets, in the communication apparatus, contents input by the user and obtained from the input unit204by, for example, sending them to the operation information decision unit211.

In this embodiment, it is possible to notify another communication apparatus of the operation information using a management frame complying with a standard of the IEEE802.11 series. Note that a notification of the operation information may be made using another kind of frame.FIG.3shows an example of the structure of an EHT Operation Element301as one of information elements of the management frame.

With respect to an Element ID field302, a Length field303, and an Element ID Extension field304, a reference is made to a description of Table 1 below. An EHT Operation Information field305includes operation information for wireless communication. The operation information includes information for designating a use frequency bandwidth and the like. The information of the use frequency bandwidth can be designated by a combination of an EHT Channel Center Frequency Segment field307(frequency information for wireless communication) included in the EHT Operation Information field305and an EHT Channel Width field308(frequency bandwidth information for wireless communication) included in a Control field306. For example, if the EHT Channel Width field308has 0, and the EHT Channel Center Frequency Segment field307has 0, this can indicate that the use frequency bandwidth is 160 MHz or less. If the EHT Channel Width field308has 0 and the EHT Channel Center Frequency Segment field307has a value other than 0, this can indicate that the use frequency bandwidth is 240 MHz. If the EHT Channel Width field308has 1, this can indicate that the use frequency bandwidth is 320 MHz.

The EHT Channel Center Frequency Segment field307represents information concerning a channel used for 80 MHz or 160 MHz in the latter half/on the high frequency side (for example, 80 MHz or 160 MHz on the high frequency side including the maximum frequency of the frequency bandwidth, or secondary 80 MHz or 160 MHz) if the use frequency bandwidth is 240 MHz or more. If the use frequency bandwidth is 160 MHz or less, the EHT Channel Center Frequency Segment field307can indicate 0. If the use frequency bandwidth is 240 MHz, the EHT Channel Center Frequency Segment field307is as following. The EHT Channel Center Frequency Segment field307can indicate a channel value corresponding to the center frequency of 160 MHz on the high frequency side if the use frequency bandwidth is 240 MHz, indicate a channel value corresponding to the center frequency of 80 MHz on the high frequency side if the use frequency bandwidth is 160+80 MHz, indicate a channel value corresponding to the center frequency of 160 MHz on the high frequency side if the use frequency bandwidth is 80+160 MHz, and indicate a channel value corresponding to the center frequency of 80 MHz on the high frequency side if the use frequency bandwidth is 80+80+80 MHz. In the case in which the use frequency bandwidth is 320 MHz, the EHT Channel Center Frequency Segment field307can indicate a channel value corresponding to the center frequency of secondary 160 MHz (for example, 160 MHz on the high frequency side) if the use frequency bandwidth is 160+160 MHz, and indicate a channel value corresponding to the lowest frequency of secondary 160 MHz if the frequency bandwidth is 320 MHz.

Tables 1, 2, and 3 show practical examples of the components of the EHT Operation Element301described above. Table 1 shows a description of each field of the EHT Operation Element301, Table 2 shows a description of each subfield of the EHT Operation Information field305, and Table 3 shows a description of each subfield of the Control field306. The name and bit position and size of each field/subfield are not limited to those described in the tables, and pieces of similar information may be stored with different field/subfield names and sizes in a different order.

TABLE 2Number ofSubfieldBytesDescriptionEHT OperationControl1This indicates whetherInformationfrequency bandwidth is 160MHz or less or 240 MHz ormore. Table 3 showsdetails.EHT1This indicates informationChannelconcerning channel used forCentersecondary 80 MHz or 160FrequencyMHz if frequency bandwidthSegmentis 240 MHz or more.This indicates 0 if frequencybandwidth is 160 MHz orless, channel valuecorresponding to centerfrequency of 160 MHz onhigh frequency side iffrequency bandwidth is 240MHz, a channel valuecorresponding to centerfrequency of 80 MHz on highfrequency side if frequencybandwidth is 160 + 80 MHz,a channel valuecorresponding to centerfrequency of 160 MHz onhigh frequency side iffrequency bandwidth is 80 +160 MHz, a channel valuecorresponding to centerfrequency of 80 MHz on highfrequency side if frequencybandwidth is 80 + 80 + 80MHz, a channel valuecorresponding to lowestfrequency of 160 MHz onhigh frequency side iffrequency bandwidth is 320MHz, and a channel valuecorresponding to centerfrequency of 160 MHz onhigh frequency side iffrequency bandwidth is 160 +160 MHz.

[Description of Notification Procedure of Operation Information]

The notification procedure of the operation information having the above structure will be described with reference toFIGS.4to7. In this embodiment, it is possible to notify another communication apparatus of the operation information using the management frame complying with the standard of the IEEE802.11 series. The operation information decision unit211decides/sets the operation information, the frame generation unit212generates a management frame including the operation information, and the generated frame is transmitted via the communication unit206. Information of a use frequency bandwidth and a frequency in the frequency bandwidth (for example, information (a channel value or the like) of the center frequency of the frequency band in the frequency bandwidth) may be preset in the communication apparatus (AP102and STAs103to105). Alternatively, these pieces of information may be set in the communication apparatus by inputting by the user of the communication apparatus via the input unit204, and can be acquired by the communication apparatus by an arbitrary method.

Matters common toFIGS.4to7will now be described. A notification of information of 160 MHz on the low frequency side (in the former half) is made using a management frame defined by a legacy standard as a standard defined before the IEEE802.11be standard. That is, CCFS0, CCFS1, and Channel Width are values of which the communication apparatus is notified by the management frame defined by the legacy standard. CCFSO represents a channel value corresponding to the center frequency of primary 80 MHz. CCFS1 represents a channel value corresponding to the center frequency of secondary 80 MHz (160 MHz obtained by combining with primary 80 MHz if it is adjacent to primary 80 MHz,). Channel Width has a value representing that primary 80 MHz and secondary 80 MHz are adjacent to each other. A notification of CCFS0, CCFS1, and Channel Width may be made by a VHT Operation element, an HT Operation element, and 6 GHz Operation information as elements of the management frame defined by the legacy standard. Note that inFIGS.4to7, the respective channels are arranged to overlap each other in every 5 MHz. Furthermore, referring toFIGS.4to7, expression (1) indicates the absolute value of the difference between CCFS0 and CCFS1, expression (2) indicates the absolute value of the difference between CCFS1 and EHT Channel Center Frequency Segment (field307), and equation (3) indicates the value of EHT Channel Width (field308).

FIG.4is a view for explaining an example of the operation information of which the communication apparatus is notified if a frequency bandwidth of 160+80 MHz is used. As described above, a notification of CCFS0, CCFS1, and Channel Width as information of 160 MHz on the low frequency side (in the former half) of 160+80 MHz is made using the management frame defined by the legacy standard. In addition to the information of 160 MHz on the low frequency side, EHT Channel Center Frequency Segment (field307) and EHT Channel Width (field308) described above are used. At this time, EHT Channel Center Frequency Segment represents a channel value corresponding to the center frequency of 80 MHz on the high frequency side, and EHT Channel Width has a value of 0 indicating 240 MHz. Expression (2) inFIG.4indicates that 160 MHz on the low frequency side (in the former half) of 240 MHz is not adjacent to 80 MHz on the high frequency side (in the latter half). Furthermore, it is possible to make a notification of a frequency channel used for 160 MHz +80 MHz based on the values of CCFS0, CCFS1, and EHT Channel Center Frequency Segment.

FIG.5is a view for explaining the operation information of which the communication apparatus is notified if a frequency bandwidth of 240 MHz is used. As described above, a notification of CCFS0, CCFS1, and Channel Width as information of 160 MHz on the low frequency side (in the former half) of 160+80 MHz is made using the management frame defined by the legacy standard. In addition to the information of 160 MHz on the low frequency side, EHT Channel Center Frequency Segment (field307) and EHT Channel Width (field308) described above are used. At this time, EHT Channel Center Frequency Segment represents a channel value corresponding to the center frequency of 160 MHz on the high frequency side, and EHT Channel Width has a value of 0 indicating 240 MHz. Expression (2) inFIG.5indicates that 160 MHz on the low frequency side (in the former half) of 240 MHz is adjacent to 80 MHz on the high frequency side (in the latter half). Furthermore, it is possible to make a notification of a frequency channel used for the frequency bandwidth of 240 MHz based on the values of CCFS0, CCFS1, and EHT Channel Center Frequency Segment.

FIG.6is a view for explaining the operation information of which the communication apparatus is notified if a frequency bandwidth of 80+160 MHz is used. As described above, a notification of CCFS0, CCFS1, and Channel Width as information of 80 MHz on the low frequency side (in the former half) of 80+160 MHz is made using the management frame defined by the legacy standard. In addition to the information of 80 MHz on the low frequency side, EHT Channel Center Frequency Segment (field307) and EHT Channel Width (field308) described above are used. At this time, EHT Channel Center Frequency Segment represents a channel value corresponding to the center frequency of 160 MHz on the high frequency side, and EHT Channel Width has a value of 0 indicating 240 MHz. Expressions (1) and (2) inFIG.6indicate that 80 MHz on the low frequency side (in the former half) of 240 MHz is not adjacent to 160 MHz on the high frequency side (in the latter half). Furthermore, it is possible to make a notification of a frequency channel used for the frequency bandwidth of 80+160 MHz based on the values of CCFS0, CCFS1, and EHT Channel Center Frequency Segment.

FIG.7is a view for explaining the operation information of which the communication apparatus is notified if a frequency bandwidth of 80+80+80 MHz is used. As described above, a notification of CCFS0, CCFS1, and Channel Width as information of 160 MHz on the low frequency side (in the former half) of 80+80+80 MHz is made using the management frame defined by the legacy standard. In addition to the information of 160 MHz on the low frequency side, EHT Channel Center Frequency Segment (field307) and EHT Channel Width (field308) described above are used. At this time, EHT Channel Center Frequency Segment represents a channel value corresponding to the center frequency of 80 MHz on the high frequency side, and EHT Channel Width has a value of 0 indicating 240 MHz. Expressions (1) and (2) inFIG.7indicate that all the frequency bandwidths of 80 MHz of 240 MHz are not adjacent to each other. Furthermore, it is possible to make a notification of a frequency channel used for the frequency bandwidth of 80+80+80 MHz based on the values of CCFS0, CCFS1, and EHT Channel Center Frequency Segment.

Table 4 shows a modification of the components of the EHT Operation Element301according to the above embodiment. If a use frequency bandwidth is designated using the EHT Operation Element301, it is possible to readily designate a frequency bandwidth by extending the contents of the Control field306, as shown in Table 4. For example, if the EHT Channel Width field308(frequency bandwidth information for wireless communication) has 0, this may indicate that the use frequency bandwidth is 160 MHz or less, if the EHT Channel Width field308has 1, this may indicate that the use frequency bandwidth is 240 MHz, and if the EHT Channel Width field308has 2, this may indicate that the use frequency bandwidth is 320 MHz. The name and bit position and size of each field/subfield are not limited to those described in the table, and pieces of similar information may be stored with different field/subfield names and sizes in a different order. If the EHT Channel Width field308is defined, as shown in Table 4, it is possible to make a notification of the frequency bandwidth and a notification of the frequency channel by changing the setting to the EHT Channel Width field308=1 inFIGS.4to7.

According to the above-described embodiment, when performing wireless communication with a partner apparatus in a frequency bandwidth of 240 MHz or more, it is possible to appropriately make a notification of operation information to be used for wireless communication. Note that this embodiment has mainly explained the notification procedure of the operation information. However, the communication apparatus can be configured to receive the operation information, as matter of course. In this case, the communication unit206shown inFIG.2Aserves as a means for receiving the above-described operation information from another communication apparatus.

According to the present invention, operation information for wireless communication when performing wireless communication in a frequency bandwidth of 240 MHz or more is appropriately communicated.

Other Embodiments