Patent ID: 12238644

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

An embodiment of a radio communication system is described below with reference to the drawings.FIG.1illustrates an exemplary configuration of a radio communication system1according to an embodiment. As illustrated inFIG.1, in the radio communication system1, for example, a plurality of base stations2are connected to a control station3through a network10. In addition, each base station2accommodates a plurality of various terminal stations such as n terminal stations4-1to4-n within a service area200, which is a range where radio communication is possible.

Here, the terminal stations4-1to4-n indicate that terminal stations with different communication standards, communication schemes and the like are mixed. There is a plurality of types of communication standards, such as IEEE 802.11a, 11b, 11g, 11n and 11ac. In addition, there is a plurality of types of communication schemes that differ in their compatibility with communication parameters (40 MHz transmission, OBSS_PD scheme and the like described later with reference toFIGS.5and7, etc.) in radio communication.

It is to be noted that the number n of the terminal stations4to be accommodated and the individual types of the terminal stations4may be different for each base station2. In addition, the terminal stations4-1to4-n are a plurality of terminal stations with different communication standards, communication schemes and the like, but when they are not individually specified, they are simply referred to as the terminal station4.

FIG.2illustrates an exemplary configuration of the terminal station4. As illustrated inFIG.2, the terminal station4includes a plurality of antennas40, a radio communication unit41, a communication quality notification unit42, a communication performance notification unit43, and an identifier notification unit44. It is to be noted that other function blocks that are provided in typical terminal stations are not illustrated.

The antenna40, which is connected to the radio communication unit41, transmits a wireless frame input from the radio communication unit41, and outputs a received wireless frame to the radio communication unit41.

The radio communication unit41puts information input from the communication quality notification unit42, the communication performance notification unit43, and the identifier notification unit44into wireless packets, and transmits them through the antenna40, for example. It is to be noted that the terminal station4may be provided with a plurality of the radio communication units41.

The communication quality notification unit42outputs communication quality information of its own station to notify the communication quality information of its own station to the base station2through the radio communication unit41and the antenna40. The communication quality information includes information representing the communication quality of the terminal station such as the received signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and the received power of a desired radio wave.

The communication performance notification unit43outputs communication performance information of its own station to notify the communication performance information of its own station to the base station2through the radio communication unit41and the antenna40. The communication performance information includes information representing the radio communication performance of the terminal station4, such as the number of the radio communication units41, the number of the antennas40, and the compatible radio communication standard.

The identifier notification unit44outputs identifier information of its own station to notify the identifier information of its own station to the base station2through the radio communication unit41and the antenna40. The identifier information includes information that identifies the terminal station4, such as the serial number and the media access control (MAC) address of the terminal station4.

It is to be noted that each of the terminal stations4-1to4-n has a configuration substantially identical to that of the terminal station4illustrated inFIG.2, but the terminal stations4-1to4-n are a plurality of terminal stations with different communication standards, communication schemes and the like as described above.

FIG.3illustrates an exemplary configuration of the base station2according to the embodiment. As illustrated inFIG.3, the base station2includes a plurality of antennas20, m radio communication units21-1to21-m, a communication quality collection unit22, a communication performance collection unit23, an identifier collection unit24, an information processing unit25, an information notification unit26, a communication unit27, and a setting unit28, for example. It is to be noted that when the plurality of configurations such as the radio communication units21-1to21-m is not individually specified, they are simply abbreviated as a radio communication unit21or the like. In addition, other function blocks that are provided in typical base stations are not illustrated.

A plurality of the antennas20, which is connected to each of the radio communication units21-1to21-m, transmits a wireless frame input from the radio communication units21-1to21-m and outputs a received wireless frame to the radio communication units21-1to21-m.

The radio communication units21-1to21-m can each independently perform radio communication with one or more terminal stations (for example, at least any of the terminal stations4-1to4-n) through the plurality of antennas20, for example. For example, each of the radio communication units21-1to21-m is compatible with a plurality of communication standards and communication schemes, and performs radio communication according to any of the communication standards and communication schemes with the terminal station4in accordance with the setting based on a setting policy, a switching policy and a type information, and connection switching determination information described later.

The communication quality collection unit22collects communication quality information from each terminal station4through the plurality of antennas20and the radio communication units21-1to21-m, and outputs it to the information processing unit25.

The communication performance collection unit23collects the communication performance information of each terminal station4through the plurality of antennas20and the radio communication units21-1to21-m, and outputs it to the information processing unit25.

The identifier collection unit24collects identifier information that identifies the terminal station4from each terminal station4through the plurality of antennas20and the radio communication units21-1to21-m, and outputs it to the information processing unit25.

The information processing unit25includes a CPU and a memory (not illustrated), and combines together, as connection switching determination information for the terminal station4, the communication quality information, the communication performance information and the identifier information input from the communication quality collection unit22, the communication performance collection unit23, and the identifier collection unit24, respectively. Then, the information processing unit25outputs the connection switching determination information to the information notification unit26and the setting unit28. In addition, the information processing unit25processes information input from the communication unit27(the setting policy, the switching policy and the type information described later), and outputs it to the setting unit28.

The information notification unit26notifies, to control station3, the connection switching determination information (the communication quality information, the communication performance information, and the identifier information) combined by the information processing unit25and base station performance information of its own station through the communication unit27. The base station performance information is information representing the radio communication performance of the base station2, and includes information such as the number (m) of the radio communication units21, the number of the antennas20, and the compatible communication standards and communication schemes.

The communication unit27transmits, to the control station3by, for example, a wired communication through the network10(FIG.1), information (the connection switching determination information and the base station performance information of its own station) input from the information notification unit26, and outputs, to the information processing unit25, information (the setting policy, the switching policy and the type information described later) input from the control station3.

The setting unit28performs a setting based on the setting policy, the switching policy and the type information input from the information processing unit25for each of the radio communication units21-1to21-m. In addition, the setting unit28outputs, to each of the radio communication units21-1to21-m, the connection switching determination information input from the information processing unit25to update the set switching policy. That is, the setting unit28has a function of setting the terminal station4to be connected for the radio communication units21-1to21-m in accordance with the setting policy and the switching policy, and performs permission and switching of the connection of the terminal station4.

FIG.4illustrates an exemplary configuration of the control station3. As illustrated inFIG.4, the control station3includes a communication unit31, a policy calculation unit32, a storage unit33and a control unit34. It is to be noted that other function blocks that are provided in typical control stations are not illustrated.

The communication unit31receives base station performance information from each base station2by, for example, a wired communication through the network10, and outputs it to the policy calculation unit32. In addition, the communication unit31receives connection switching determination information from each base station2, and outputs it to the storage unit33to store it in the storage unit33. In addition, the communication unit31transmits, to each base station2through the network10, each information calculated at the policy calculation unit32and the connection switching determination information stored in the storage unit33.

On the basis of the base station performance information input from the communication unit31, the policy calculation unit32calculates the setting policy, the switching policy, and the type information for specifying types of the terminal stations4-1to4-n for the radio communication units21-1to21-m of each base station2, and outputs the calculated each information to the communication unit31.

For example, the policy calculation unit32calculates a setting policy for a setting in which the stealth SSID is disabled for one or more units of the radio communication units21-1to21-m, and the stealth SSID is enabled for the other units of the radio communication units21-1to21-m. In addition, the policy calculation unit32calculates a switching policy for performing connection switching of the terminal stations4-1to4-n in accordance with a plurality of types based on the compatible communication schemes of the radio communication units21-1to21-m.

The storage unit33is a storage apparatus or the like that stores the connection switching determination information input from the communication unit31.

The control unit34controls each unit of the control station3. For example, the control unit34also controls the writing of information to the storage unit33, the reading of information stored in the storage unit33and the like.

Next, specific examples of the setting policy, the switching policy and the type information are described.

FIG.5illustrates an exemplary setting policy. As illustrated inFIG.5, the setting policy includes the policy number, the application destination radio communication unit, the radio setting and the connection permission setting, for example. In the application destination radio communication unit, the radio communication unit21to which the setting policy specified by the policy number is applied is set.

The radio setting includes a range of a wireless setting value or a candidate for a setting value permitted to be set for the radio communication unit21by the setting policy specified by the policy number. For example, in the radio setting, the stealth status of the service set identifier (SSID), the channel (CH), the band width (BW), the observed BSS power detection (OBSS_PD) and the like are set. In the connection permission setting, a list of terminal stations whose connection is permitted in response to a connection request of the terminal station4is set.

FIG.6illustrates an exemplary switching policy. As illustrated inFIG.6, the switching policy includes the policy number, the setting policy number of the switching source, the setting policy number of the switching destination, and the switching condition, for example.

For example, when the terminal station4of the type corresponding to the switching condition is connected to the radio communication unit21set to the setting policy specified by the setting policy number of the switching source, connection destination switching of the terminal station4to the radio communication unit21set to the setting policy specified by the setting policy number of the switching destination is performed.

FIG.7illustrates exemplary type information of the terminal station4. As illustrated inFIG.7, the type information of the terminal station4includes the type number and the communication scheme with which the terminal station4is compatible. For example, as the communication scheme for the terminal station4, the compatibility with 40 MHz transmission, the compatibility with OBSS_PD transmission and the like are set.

It is to be noted that in the example illustrated inFIG.7, the types of the terminal stations are set based on the compatibility with 40 MHz transmission and the compatibility with OBSS_PD transmission, but this is not limitative. The types of the terminal stations4may be defined in combination with information of the communication scheme compatible with another terminal station4.

Next, an exemplary operation of the radio communication system1is described.

FIG.8is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary operation of a case where an initial setting for each base station2is performed by the radio communication system1. First, the control station3collects the base station performance information from each base station2(S100).

Next, on the basis of the base station performance information collected from the base station2, the control station3calculates the setting policy, the switching policy and the type information, and notifies them to each base station2(S102).

For example, for the base station2in which the number of the radio communication units21is 3 (m=3), the control station3calculates the setting policy, the switching policy and the type information on the basis of the base station performance information (the number of the radio communication units21) of the base station2.

At this time, the policy calculation unit32calculates different setting policies for the radio communication units21-1to21-3of the base station2.

For example, the radio communication unit21-1is caused to accommodate the terminal station4that connects to the base station2for the first time, and the terminal station4that is not compatible with either 40 MHz transmission or OBSS_PD transmission.

The radio communication unit21-2is set as a connection switching destination from a connected state to the radio communication unit21-1, and is caused to accommodate the terminal station4that is compatible with 40 MHz transmission.

The radio communication unit21-3is set as a connection switching destination from a connected state to the radio communication unit21-1, and is caused to accommodate the terminal station4that is compatible with OBSS_PD in 802.11ax.

In this case, the policy calculation unit32calculates a setting policy in which the policy numbers are01,02and03(FIG.5). Further, the policy calculation unit32calculates a switching policy in which the policy numbers are I and II (FIG.6) and type information in which the type numbers are i to iii (FIG.7).

As a specific example, the base station2may connect all the terminal stations4that connect to the base station2for the first time only to a specific radio communication unit21by publicizing only the SSID of the specific radio communication unit21to control the connection destination of each terminal station4on the basis of the setting policy and the switching policy. At this time, a stealth SSID may be set for the radio communication unit21other than the specific radio communication unit21such that the terminal station4may be connected to the other radio communication unit21set to the stealth SSID on the basis of the setting policy and the switching policy.

Next, each base station2sets, to each radio communication unit21of its own station, the setting policy, the switching policy and the type information notified from the control station3(S104).

It is to be noted that each radio communication unit21controls an operation of a case where a probe request and/or a connection request is received from the terminal station4on the basis of the setting policy, the switching policy and the type information set for itself (details will be described later with reference toFIG.9).

Then, each radio communication unit21of each base station2implements a radio communication setting in accordance with the set setting policy (S106).

FIG.9is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary operation of a case where the base station2receives a probe request frame or a connection request frame from the terminal station4.

First, the radio communication unit21of the base station2receives a probe request frame or a connection request frame from the terminal station4(S200).

On the basis of a connection permission setting in the setting policy set to the radio communication unit21, the base station2determines whether the connection of the terminal station4is permitted (S202).

When the connection of the terminal station4is permitted (S202: Yes), the base station2responds to the probe request frame or the connection request frame from the terminal station4(S204).

In addition, when the connection of the terminal station4is not permitted (S202: No), the base station2does not respond to the probe request frame or the connection request frame from the terminal station4(S206).

FIG.10is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary operation after the terminal station4makes a wireless connection to the base station2. First, the terminal station4makes a wireless connection to the base station2(S300).

The base station2determines whether connection switching determination information for the connected terminal station4has been acquired (S302). When the connection switching determination information of the terminal station4has been acquired (S302: Yes), the base station2proceeds to the process of S310, and when the information has not been acquired (S302: No), the base station2proceeds to the process of S304.

The base station2acquires communication quality information, communication performance information, and identifier information from the terminal station4(S304). It is to be noted that the information acquisition at the process of S304is performed such that the base station2transmits a control signal to the terminal station4and that the terminal station4that has received the control signal notifies each information to the base station2, for example. In addition, the terminal station4may periodically notify each information to the base station2such that the base station2collects each information.

In addition, the base station2notifies, to the control station3through the network10, the acquired information as connection switching determination information for the terminal station4(S306).

The control station3notifies, to another base station2, the connection switching determination information for the terminal station4notified from the base station2(S308).

Next, the base station2compares the connection switching determination information for the terminal station4with the switching policy set to the radio communication unit21(S310). Then, the base station2determines whether to perform the connection destination switching of the terminal station4(S312). When the connection destination switching is not to be performed (S312: No), the base station2terminates the process, and when the connection destination switching is to be performed (S312: Yes), the base station2proceeds to the process of S314.

The base station2updates the connection permission setting in the setting policy set to the radio communication unit21of the switching destination, to a setting that permits the connection of the terminal station4. That is, the base station2implements another connection permission setting for the radio communication unit21of the switching destination (S314).

Next, the base station2disconnects the wireless connection with the terminal station4(S316), and prompts the switching of the wireless connection destination of the terminal station4.

Further, the base station2updates the connection permission setting in the setting policy set to the radio communication unit21of the switching source to a setting of denying the wireless connection with the terminal station4. That is, the base station2implements a connection denial setting for the radio communication unit21of the switching source (S318).

The base station2determines whether the terminal station4has wirelessly connected to the radio communication unit21of the switching destination after a certain period has passed (S320). When the base station2determines that a wireless connection has been made (S320: Yes), the base station2terminates the process, and when the base station2determines that no wireless connection has been made, (S320: No) the base station2proceeds the process to S322.

Then, the base station2updates the connection permission setting in the setting policy set to the radio communication unit21of the switching source to a setting of re-permitting the wireless connection with the terminal station4. That is, the base station2implements a connection permission setting of the terminal station4for the radio communication unit21of the switching source (S322).

As described above, in the radio communication system1, the base station2controls the connection destination of the terminal station4on the basis of the setting policy and the switching policy, and it is thus possible to suppress a reduction in transmission efficiency when the terminal station4has a plurality of connection destinations. Further, in the radio communication system1, the base station2controls the connection destination of the terminal station4on the basis of the setting policy and the switching policy, and it is thus possible to suppress autonomous switching of wireless connection of the terminal station4.

In addition, in the radio communication system1, the communication quality information, the communication performance information and the identifier information collected by each base station2are transmitted by the control station3to other the base station2, and it is thus possible to reduce the cost of the control and the collection of information when switching the wireless connection of the terminal station4.

It is to be noted that the base station2, the control station3and the terminal station4in the above-described embodiment may be implemented by a general-purpose computer as well as by a dedicated apparatus. In this case, the base station2, the control station3and the terminal station4may be implemented by recording programs for implementing the functions of the stations in a computer-readable recording medium and causing a computer system to read the program recorded in the recording medium for execution.

Note that the “computer system” as used herein includes an OS and hardware such as a peripheral device. The “computer-readable recording medium” refers to a portable medium such as a flexible disk, a magneto-optical disk, a ROM, and a CD-ROM, and a storage apparatus such as a hard disk installed in a computer system.

Further, “computer-readable recording media” may include those that hold the program dynamically for a short period of time, such as communication lines when the program is transmitted over a network such as the Internet or communication lines such as telephone lines, or those that hold the program for a certain period of time, such as a volatile memory inside a computer system that serves as the server or client in that case.

The above-mentioned program may be used to implement some of the above-mentioned functions, and further, the above-mentioned functions may be implemented in combination with a program that is already recorded in a computer system. In addition, the above-mentioned program may be implemented using hardware such as a programmable logic device (PLD) or a field programmable gate array (FPGA).

Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above with reference to the drawings, it is clear that the above-mentioned embodiment is merely an example of the present invention and that the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment. Therefore, additions, omissions, substitutions, and other modifications of elements may be made insofar as they are within the technical concept and scope of the invention.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

1Radio communication system2Base station3Control station4-1to4-n Terminal station10Network20Antenna21-1to21-m Radio communication unit22Communication quality collection unit23Communication performance collection unit24Identifier collection unit25Information processing unit26Information notification unit27Communication unit28Setting unit31Communication unit32Policy calculation unit33Storage unit40Antenna41Radio communication unit42Communication quality notification unit43Communication performance notification unit44Identifier notification unit