This patent application is based on and claims priority pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §119(a) to Japanese Patent Application No. 2016-098811, filed on May 17, 2016, in the Japan Patent Office, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein.
The present invention relates to a communication system, a communication device, a communication management device, and a non-transitory recording medium.
Institute of electrical and electronics engineers (IEEE) 802.11ad is known as a wireless communication standard in which high-speed data transmission is performed using a millimeter wave (60 GHz) band having high radio wave rectilinearity and a relatively narrow communication range.
Further, communication networks in which data content is broadcast and distributed from a transmitter node to a plurality of receiver nodes via a relay receiver node are known. It is difficult to apply such multihop communication to a communication system in which communication is performed using a millimeter wave band.
Example embodiments of the present invention include a communication system provided with a plurality of first communication devices to form different network cells through first wireless communication, and a second communication device to communicate with the first communication devices through the first wireless communication. The second communication device includes: a first memory to store connection information for establishing a connection with the plurality of first communication devices through the first wireless communication; a communication circuit to connect, when data is received from one first communication device among the plurality of first communication devices, the second communication device with other first communication device different from the one first communication device through the first wireless communication using the connection information; and circuitry to transfer the data received from the one first communication device by the second communication device to the other first communication device.
Example embodiments of the present invention include a communication device to communicate with a second communication device through second wireless communication, the second communication device being capable of communicating with a plurality of first communication devices through first wireless communication, the second wireless communication having a wider communication range than the first wireless communication. The communication device includes: circuitry to collect information of network cells which are formed by the first communication device and different in the first wireless communication from the plurality of first communication devices through the second wireless communication and provide at least some of connection information which is used for the second communication device to establish a connection with the first communication device through the first wireless communication to the second communication device through the second wireless communication based on the collected information.
Example embodiments of the present invention include a method performed by any one of the plurality of communication devices in the communication system, and a non-transitory recording medium storing a plurality of instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform such method.
A more complete appreciation of the disclosure and many of the attendant advantages and features thereof can be readily obtained and understood from the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
The accompanying drawings are intended to depict embodiments of the present invention and should not be interpreted to limit the scope thereof. The accompanying drawings are not to be considered as drawn to scale unless explicitly noted.
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the present invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.
In describing embodiments illustrated in the drawings, specific terminology is employed for the sake of clarity. However, the disclosure of this specification is not intended to be limited to the specific terminology so selected and it is to be understood that each specific element includes all technical equivalents that have a similar function, operate in a similar manner, and achieve a similar result.
Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the appended drawings.
<Overview of Millimeter Wave Wireless Communication System>
Before embodiments of the present invention are described, an overview of millimeter wave wireless communication systems according to embodiments of the present invention will be described.
The millimeter wave wireless communication system is a wireless communication system in which high speed data transmission is performed using a millimeter wave (60 GHz) band having high radio wave rectilinearity and a relatively narrow communication range. Here, the following description will proceed under the assumption that a millimeter wave wireless communication system is a wireless communication system conforming to an institute of electrical and electronics engineers (IEEE) 802.11ad. IEEE802.11ad is an example of a millimeter wave wireless communication system according to the present embodiment.
(Network Configuration)
In the millimeter wave wireless communication system conforming to IEEE 802.11ad, communication is performed using a millimeter wave (60 GHz) band having high radio wave rectilinearity and a relatively narrow communication range, and high speed data communication is realized using a wide band of 2.16 GHz per channel.
In the millimeter wave band, a propagation loss of radio waves is large. Thus, in the millimeter wave wireless communication system, in order to increase an antenna gain, a beamforming technique of narrowing down a beam direction of radio waves and performing transmission and reception of radio waves is used. For this reason, in the millimeter wave wireless communication system, it is difficult for a communication device to simultaneously communicate with a plurality of other communication devices around the communication device.
Therefore, in the millimeter wave wireless communication system, instead of a carrier sense multiple access with collision avoidance (CSMA/CA) scheme used in a wireless local area network (LAN) system of a related art, a communication protocol of a time division multiple access (TDMA) scheme is used as a wireless multiplexing scheme.
In the millimeter wave wireless communication system, a coordinator device called a PBSS central point (PCP) forms a network cell called a personal basic service set (PBSS) and manages time slots in the TDMA protocol.
(Configuration of Time Slot)
The BHI includes a beacon transmission interval (BTI), an association beamforming training (A-BFT), and an announcement transmission interval (ATI).
The BTI is a period in which the PCP 110 transmits a beacon frame. The A-BFT is a beamforming training period. The ATI is a period in which transmission and reception of management information, control information, and the like are performed between the PCP 110 and the STAs 120-1 to 120-3.
The DTI includes a contention based access period (CBAP) and a service period (SP).
The CBAP is a contention period which is allocated so that the PCP 110 and the plurality of STAs 120 perform communication with each other by competition. The SP is a dedicated period which is allocated so that communication is performed between the PCP 110 and one STA 120.
In the BTI, the PCP 110 transmits beacon frames which are equal in number to antenna sectors which are a plurality of beam patterns formed by the PCP 110. On the other hand, each of the STAs 120-1 to 120-3 sets an omnidirectional antenna or a quasi-omnidirectional antenna, receives all the beacon frames transmitted from the PCP, and feeds information indicating an antenna sector having the best reception quality back to the PCP 110. Accordingly, the PCP 110 can detect whether or not communication with each of the STAs 120-1 to 120-3 can be performed using the antenna sector.
(Beam Forming)
Here, an overview of a sector level sweep (SLS) will be described as an example of a beamforming technique.
There are two types of SLS: Tx sector sweep (TXSS); and Rx sector sweep (RXSS). The TXSS is beamforming training for deciding an antenna sector to be used at the time of transmission, and the RXSS is beamforming training for deciding an antenna sector to be used at the time of reception.
In the TXSS, the PCP 110 sequentially transmits a predetermined packet from an antenna 301 while switching sectors (sectors 1 to 4) of a plurality of beam patterns 28. On the other hand, the STA 120 sets an antenna 302 as an omnidirectional antenna or a quasi-omnidirectional antenna, receives the packet transmitted from the PCP 110, and feeds information indicating the antenna sector having the best reception quality back to the PCP 110.
In the RXSS, a beamforming training sequence in a direction opposite to the beamforming of the TXSS is executed, and when the TXSS and the RXSS are completed, transmission and reception of radio waves by the millimeter wave wireless communication can be performed between the PCP 110 and the STA 120.
<System Configuration>
Next, a configuration of the communication system according to the present embodiment will be described.
The PCPs 110-1 and 110-2 are communication devices (first communication devices) having a PCP function of the millimeter wave wireless communication system described in
The STAs 120-1 to 12-3 are communication devices (second communication devices) having an STA function of the millimeter wave wireless communication system described in
In the example of
In
In other words, in
Each of the STAs 120 according to the present embodiment stores connection information including information of the PCP 110 in the “connected” state and information of the PCP 110 in the “connection candidate” state. For example, the connection information stored in each of the STAs 120 may be information which is set in advance at the time of installing the communication system or the like or may be information reported from a communication management device to be described later. Alternatively, the connection information used for the connection when the STA 120 is connected with the PCP 110 through the millimeter wave wireless communication may be stored as the connection information stored in each of the STAs 120.
In
When the predetermined data is received from the PCP 110-1 in the “connected” state, the STA 120-1 establishes the millimeter wave wireless communication with the PCP 110-2 in the “connection candidate” state by using the previously stored connection information and transitions to the “connected” state with the PCP 110-2. The STA 120-1 transfers the predetermined data received from the PCP 110-1 to the PCP 110-2 through the millimeter wave wireless communication.
Upon receiving the predetermined data from the STA 120-1 among the STAs 120-1 to 120-3 in the “connected” state with the PCP 110-2, the PCP 110-2 transmits the received predetermined data to the other STAs 120-2 and 120-3.
For example, as described above, the PCP 110-1 can simultaneously transmit the predetermined data to the STAs 120-1 to 120-3.
The communication management device (third communication device) 510 has a function of an access point (AP) that forms a basic service set (BSS) 520 through wireless LAN communication (for example, IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac or the like) having a wider communication range than the millimeter wave wireless communication. The BSS 520 is a network of an infrastructure mode by wireless LAN communication.
In the present embodiment, each of the PCPs 110-1 to 110-3 and the STAs 120-1 to 120-6 has a station function of wireless LAN communication. Accordingly, the communication management device 510 can communicate with the PCPs 110-1 to 110-3 and the STAs 120-1 to 120-6 in the BSS 520 through the wireless LAN communication (second wireless communication). The communication management device 510 manages the connection information of each of the STAs 120 in the communication system 500 and controls the communication based on the millimeter wave wireless communication.
In
In an example of
As described above, the PCP 110 and the STA 120 can be added to the communication system 500 according to the present embodiment to expand the communication area based on the millimeter wave wireless communication.
Preferably, the communication system 500 can communicate with each of the PCP 110 and the STA 120 included in the communication system 500 and includes the communication management device 510 that performs management of the connection information, control of communication, and the like. A specific functions and process of the communication management device 510 will be described later.
<Hardware Configuration>
(Hardware Configuration of Each of PCP and STA)
Each of the PCP 110 and the STA 120 have, for example, a hardware configuration of a communication device 600 illustrated in
As illustrated in
The CPU 601 is an operation device that implements the functions of the communication device 600 by reading out a program and data stored in the ROM 603, the storage device 604, or the like onto the RAM 602 and performing a process. The RAM 602 is a volatile memory used as a work area or the like of the CPU 601. The ROM 603 is a non-volatile memory capable of holding a program and data even when the power is turned off.
The storage device 604 is a storage device such as a hard disk drive (HDD), a solid state drive (SSD), a flash ROM, or the like, and stores an operation system (OS), an application program, various data, and the like.
The wireless LAN communication device 605 is a wireless communication device that performs the wireless LAN communication such as IEEE802.11a/b/g/n/ac, and includes, for example, an antenna, a radio unit, a media access control (MAC) unit, and the like.
The millimeter wave communication device 606 is, for example, a wireless communication device that performs the millimeter wave wireless communication such as IEEE802.11ad and includes, for example, an antenna, a radio unit, a MAC unit, and the like.
The display input device 607 includes a display device that performs display, an input device that receives an input, and the like. The bus 608 is connected to each of the above-mentioned components and transmits an address signal, a data signal, various kinds of control signals, and the like.
(Hardware Configuration of Communication Management Device)
As an example, the communication management device 510 has a hardware configuration in which the millimeter wave communication device 606 is excluded from the hardware configuration of the communication device 600 illustrated in
As another example, the communication management device 510 has the functional configuration of the communication device 600 illustrated in
The hardware configuration of the communication device 600 illustrated in
<Functional Configuration>
(Functional Configuration of PCP)
In
The first communication device (PCP) 110 has a millimeter wave PCP unit 711, a data transmitting unit 712, an STA information storage unit 713, a PBSS information notifying unit 714, and an STA unit 715.
The millimeter wave PCP unit 711 enables the PCP 110 to function as the PBSS central point (PCP) of the millimeter wave wireless communication system described in
The millimeter wave PCP unit 711 forms the PBSS (network cell) through the millimeter wave wireless communication (first wireless communication) 130 and transmits a predetermined beacon. The millimeter wave PCP unit 711 performs a connection process for performing the millimeter wave wireless communication 130 with the STA 120 and performs transmission and reception of data. Examples of the connection process for the millimeter wave wireless communication 130 may include a process of generating an encryption key used for communication, a process of setting an IP address, and the like.
When the millimeter wave PCP unit 711 receives data from one STA 120 included in the PBSS, the data transmitting unit 712 transmits (transfers) the received data to another STA included in the PBSS. The data transmitting unit 712 is implemented, for example, by a program performed by the CPU 601 in
The STA information storage unit (first storage unit) 713 is a unit that stores information of the STA included in the PBSS formed by the PCP 110. The STA information storage unit 713 is implemented by, for example, the RAM 602 in
For example, the STA information storage unit 713 stores information such as an encryption key, a MAC address, and an IP address used when the millimeter wave PCP unit 711 performs communication with the STA 120. Alternatively, the STA information storage unit 713 may store the information of the STA 120 reported from the communication management device 510.
The PBSS information notifying unit 714 is a unit that notifying the communication management device 510 or the like of information of the PBSS formed by the PCP 110 through the wireless LAN communication and is implemented by, for example, a program executed by the CPU 601 in
The STA unit 715 enables the PCP 110 to function as an STA of the wireless LAN communication. The STA unit 715 is implemented by, for example, the wireless LAN communication device 605 in
For example, the STA unit 715 receives the beacon transmitted from the communication management device 510, establishes the wireless LAN communication with the communication management device 510, and connects the PCP 110 to the wireless LAN network 740.
Through the above configuration, the PCP 110 forms the PBSS (network cell) through the millimeter wave wireless communication (first wireless communication) and is configured to be able to communicate with the communication management device 510 and the like through the wireless LAN communication (second wireless communication).
(Functional Configuration of STA)
The STA 120 includes a millimeter wave STA unit 721, a connection information storage unit 722, a connection control unit 723, a data transfer unit 724, a connection information acquiring unit 725, an STA information notifying unit 726, and an STA unit 727.
The millimeter wave STA unit 721 enables the station (STA) 120 to function as the STA of the millimeter wave wireless communication system described in
For example, the millimeter wave STA unit 721 performs the connection process with the PCP 110-1 or the PCP 110-2 through the millimeter wave wireless communication 130 and performs transmission and reception of data with the connected PCP 110. Examples of the connection process for the millimeter wave wireless communication 130 may include a process of scanning the PCP 110, a process of generating an encryption key, a process of setting an IP address, and the like.
The connection information storage unit (second storage unit) 722 stores connection information for a connection with a plurality of PCPs (first communication devices) 110-1 and 110-2 through the millimeter wave wireless communication (first wireless communication). The connection information storage unit 722 is implemented by, for example, the RAM 602 in
For example, the connection information includes information indicating that the PCP 110-1 is in the “connected” state, information indicating that the PCP 110-2 is in the “connection candidate” state, and the like as described in
When data is received from one PCP 110 among the plurality of PCPs 110-1 and 110-2, the connection control unit 723 establishes the millimeter wave wireless communication 130 with another PCP 110 different from one PCP 110 using the connection information stored in the connection information storage unit 722. The connection control unit 723 is implemented, for example, by a program executed by the CPU 601 in
For example, when data is received from the PCP 110-1 in the “connected” state, the connection control unit 723 disconnects the millimeter wave wireless communication 130 with the PCP 110-1 and establishes the millimeter wave wireless communication 130 with the PCP 110-2 in the “connection candidate” state.
The data transfer unit 724 transfers the data received from one PCP 110 to another PCP 110 with which the connection control unit 723 has established the millimeter wave wireless communication 130. The data transfer unit 724 is implemented, for example, by a program executed by the CPU 601 in
The connection information acquiring unit 725 acquires the connection information reported from the communication management device 510 through the wireless LAN communication and stores the acquired connection information in the connection information storage unit 722. The connection information acquiring unit 725 is implemented, for example, by a program executed by the CPU 601 in
The STA information notifying unit 726 is a unit that notifies the communication management device 510 or the like of the information of the STA 120 via the wireless LAN network 740 and is implemented by, for example, a program executed by the CPU 601 in
The STA unit 727 enables the STA 120 to function as the STA of the wireless LAN communication. The STA unit 727 is implemented by, for example, the wireless LAN communication device 605 in
For example, the STA unit 727 receives the beacon transmitted from the communication management device 510, establishes the wireless LAN communication with the communication management device 510, and connects the STA 120 to the wireless LAN network 740.
Through the above configuration, the STA 120 is able to communicate with the PCP 110 through the millimeter wave wireless communication (first wireless communication) and configured to be able to communicate with the communication management device 510 and the like through the wireless LAN communication (second wireless communication).
(Functional Configuration of Communication Management Device)
The communication management device 510 has an AP unit 731, an information collecting unit 732, an information generating unit 733, an information providing unit 734, a communication path management unit 735, and a communication control unit 736.
Preferably, the communication management device 510 further includes a millimeter wave communication unit 737.
The AP unit 731 enables the communication management device 510 to function as the access point (AP) of the wireless LAN communication. The AP unit 731 is implemented by, for example, the wireless LAN communication device 605 in
For example, the AP unit 731 provides the BSS 520 which is the wireless LAN network 740 of the infrastructure mode through the wireless LAN communication (for example, IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac or the like).
The information collecting unit 732 collects PBSS information (for example, identification information, channel information, encryption key information, destination information, and the like of PBSS 100) formed by each PCP 110 from the plurality of PCPs 110 using the wireless LAN network 740 provided by the AP unit 731.
Further, the information collecting unit 732 collects the connection information of the STA 120 (for example, some or all of the connection information stored in the connection information storage unit 722 and the like) from one or more STAs 120 using the wireless LAN network 740 provided by the AP unit 731. The information collecting unit 732 is implemented by, for example, a program executed by the CPU 601 in
The information generating unit 733 is a unit that generates information to be provided to each of the PCPs 110, each of the STAs 120, and the like on the basis of the information collected by the information collecting unit 732 and is implemented, for example, by a program executed by the CPU 601 in
For example, the information generating unit 733 may generate information to be provided to one or more STAs 120 (for example, some or all of the connection information stored in the connection information storage unit 722) on the basis of the PBSS information collected from the plurality of PCPs 110 by the information collecting unit 732.
Further, the information generating unit 733 generates information to be provided to the plurality of PCPs 110 (for example, some of all of the STA information stored in the STA information storage unit 713) on the basis of the connection information of the STAs 120 or the like collected from one or more STAs 120 by the information collecting unit 732.
The information providing unit 734 is a unit that provides the information generated by the information generating unit 733 to the PCP 110, the STA 120, and the like using the wireless LAN network 740 and is implemented by a program executed by the CPU 601 in
For example, as illustrated in
For example, the communication path management unit 735 stores the communication path information set by the administrator or the like in the storage device 604 or the like in advance. Alternatively, the communication path management unit 735 may analyze the communication path information of the communication system 500 using the PBSS information collected by the information collecting unit 732, the connection information of the STA 120, and the like and store an analysis result in the storage device 604 or the like.
The communication control unit 736 is a unit that controls the millimeter wave wireless communication in the communication system 500 and is implemented by, for example, a program executed by the CPU 601 in
For example, in the communication system 500 illustrated in
On the other hand, the PCP 110-2 is unable to simultaneously transmit data to other communication devices unless the connection destination of the STA 120-1 is switched to the PCP 110-2.
In this regard, for example, when a transmission initiation request indicating that data is simultaneously transmitted is received from the PCP 110-2, the communication control unit 736 gives an instruction to switch the connection destination to the STA 120-1 on the basis of the communication path information managed by the communication path management unit 735.
As described above, when a communication initiation request is received from the PCP 110 or the STA 120, the communication control unit 736 gives an instruction to switch the connection destination required for initiation of communication to the STA 120 on the basis of the communication path information managed by the communication path management unit 735. The communication control unit 736 notifies each of the PCPs 110 of a data transmission destination as appropriate.
The millimeter wave communication unit 737 is implemented by, for example, the millimeter wave communication device 606 in
For example, when an administrator or the like performs a setting in the PCP 110, the millimeter wave communication unit 737 functions as the millimeter wave PCP unit 711, the data transmitting unit 712, and the like in
Thus, for example, in the communication system 500 illustrated in
Through the above configuration, the communication management device 510 collects information of the communication system 500 from the PCP 110, the STA 120, and the like using the wireless LAN network 740 and provides requisite information to the PCP 110, the STA 120, and the like. The communication management device 510 is another example of the connection information management unit that manages the connection information used for the STA 120 to be connected to the PCP 110 through the millimeter wave wireless communication.
The communication management device 510 manages the communication path information of the communication system 500 and performs requisite communication control in response to the communication initiation request from the PCP 110, the STA 120, or the like.
<Flow of Process>
Next, the flow of a process of a communication control method in the communication system 500 will be described.
First, the flow of a basic communication process in the communication system 400 will be described with reference to the communication system 400 illustrated in
(Connection Information)
Each of the STAs 120 according to the present embodiment is assumed to be in “connected” state with one PCP 110 through the millimeter wave wireless communication. The STA 120 can perform transmission and reception of data with the PCP 110 in the “connected” state through the millimeter wave wireless communication.
There are cases in which the STA 120 is in the “connection candidate” state with another PCP 110 different from the PCP 110 connected through the millimeter wave wireless communication. In this case, the STA 120 disconnects (stops or suspends) communication with the PCP 110 in the “connected” state and establishes (initiates) communication with another PCP 110 in the “connection candidate” state, so that transmission and reception of data with the other PCP 110 can be performed.
The STA 120 according to the present embodiment stores in the connection information storage unit 722 connection information including information on the PCP 110 in the “connected” state, information on the PCP 110 in the “connection candidate” state, and the like.
The “PCP” is information specifying the PCP 110 such as an identification name, an identification number, identification information, or the like of the PCP 110. The “state” is information indicating whether or not the STA 120 is in the “connected” state or the “connection candidate” state with each of the PCPs 110.
In the example of
For example, the connection information illustrated in
(Communication Process)
In step S901, the millimeter wave PCP unit 711 of the PCP 110-1 simultaneously transmits the predetermined data to the STA 120 connected to the PBSS 100-1 formed by the PCP 110-1 through the millimeter wave wireless communication. In the example of
In step S902, the connection control unit 723 of the STA 120-1 that has received the predetermined data from the PCP 110-1 performs a disconnection process for the millimeter wave wireless communication with the PCP 110-1 that has transmitted the predetermined data. Accordingly, the STA 120-1 can establish the millimeter wave wireless communication with the PCP 110-2 in the “connection candidate” state.
In step S903, the millimeter wave STA unit 721 of the STA 120-1 scans the PCP 110 and extracts the PCP 110 that is transmitting the beacon of the millimeter wave wireless communication around the STA 120-1. For example, in the communication system 500, for example, when three channels are permitted to be used, the millimeter wave STA unit 721 of the STA 120-1 sequentially scans the three channels.
In step S904, when the PCP 110-2 in the “connection candidate” state is discovered by the scanning of the PCP 110 in step S903, the connection control unit 723 of the PCP 110-1 performs a connection process for the millimeter wave wireless communication with the PCP 110-2.
In step S905, the connection control unit 723 of the PCP 110-1 performs a process of generating an encryption key for encrypting communication data with the PCP 110-2.
In step S906, the connection control unit 723 of the PCP 110-1 performs a process of setting an IP address with the PCP 110-2. For example, the connection control unit 723 of the PCP 110-1 acquires an IP address allocated from the PCP 110-2.
In step S907, when the connection process with the PCP 110-2 is completed, the data transfer unit 724 of the STA 120-1 transmits (transfers) the predetermined data received from the PCP 110-1 in step S901 to the PCP 110-2.
In steps S908 and S909, when the predetermined data is received from the STA 120-1, the data transmitting unit 712 of the PCP 110-2 transmits the predetermined data to the STAs 120-2 and 120-3 connected to the PBSS 100-2 formed by the PCP 110-2.
Through the above processing, the communication system 500 according to the present embodiment can combine the communication devices (the PCP 110 and the STA 120) that perform communication with the one-to-one or star-type network configuration and perform hopping communication to different network cells.
In the communication process according to the first embodiment illustrated in
A second embodiment will be described in connection with an example of a communication process of reducing the time required for the process of scanning the PCP 110 in the communication process according to the first embodiment.
(Connection Information)
The “MAC address” is the MAC address of the PCP 110 and is an example of the identification information identifying the PBSS which is formed by the PCP 110 or the PCP 110 through the millimeter wave wireless communication. The “channel number” is information indicating the channel number which is used by the PCP 110 in the millimeter wave wireless communication.
For example, the information of the “MAC address” and the “channel number” is an example of information acquired through the process of scanning the PCP 110. For example, the STA 120 according to the present embodiment stores the information of the “MAC address” and the “channel number” acquired through the PCP scanning process in the connection information storage unit 722.
(Communication Process)
In step S1101, the millimeter wave STA unit 721 of the STA 120-1 performs the process of scanning the PCP 110, for example, at predetermined time intervals. Through this process, the information such as the MAC address and the channel number of the PCP 110 around the STA 120-1 is acquired.
In step S1102, the STA 120-1 stores the information such as the MAC address and the channel number of the PCP 110 acquired in step S1101 in the connection information storage unit 722.
Preferably, the STA 120-1 stores the information of the PCP 110-1 in the “connected” state and the information of the PCP 110-2 in the “connection candidate” state among the acquired information such as the MAC address and the channel number of the PCP 110 in the connection information storage unit 722. Through this process, for example, the connection information as illustrated in
The STA 120-1 according to the present embodiment performs the communication process from step S901, for example, using the connection information illustrated in
The millimeter wave STA unit 721 of the STA 120-1 according to the present embodiment omits the PCP scanning process of step S903 in the communication process illustrated in
For example, the millimeter wave STA unit 721 of the STA 120-1 performs the disconnection process for the PCP 110-1 in step S902 of
Accordingly, in the communication system 400 according to the present embodiment, since it is possible to omit the process of step S903 in the communication process according to the first embodiment illustrated in
In the second embodiment, the STA 120-1 scans the PCP 110 in advance and acquires the connection information of the PCP 110-2 in the “connection candidate” state. A third embodiment will be described in connection with an example in which the connection information of the PCP 110-2 is stored in the connection information storage unit 722 when the STA 120-1 is connected to the PCP 110-2 in the “connection candidate” state.
(Connection Information)
In the present embodiment, the STA 120-1 stores (caches) the connection information used in the millimeter wave wireless communication (for example, the encryption key, the MAC address, the IP address, the channel number, or the like) when performing the millimeter wave wireless communication with the PCP 110 in the connection information storage unit 722.
In an example of
In an example of
Preferably, as illustrated in
The “STA” is information specifying the STA 120-2 or 120-3 connected to the PBSS 100-2 formed by the PCP 110-2, the STA 120-1 connected to the PBSS 100-2, or the like (an identification name, identification information, or the like).
The “state” is information indicating whether or not each of the STAs 120 is connected to the PBSS 100-2 formed by the PCP 110-2. The “encryption key” is information of an encryption key used for the millimeter wave wireless communication with each of the STAs 120. The “MAC address” is a MAC address of each of the STAs 120. The “IP address” is information of an IP address used for the millimeter wave wireless communication with each of the STAs 120.
(Communication Process)
In steps S901 to S906, the STA 120-1 that has received data from the PCP 110-1 performs the disconnection process for the millimeter wave wireless communication with the PCP 110-1, and performs the connection process for the millimeter wave wireless communication with the PCP 110-2.
In step S1301, the STA 120-1 stores the information such as the MAC address and the channel number of the PCP 110-2 and the connection information such as the encryption key, the IP address, and the like used for performing the millimeter wave wireless communication with the PCP 110-2 in the connection information storage unit 722. Accordingly, for example, the connection information as illustrated in
In the communication process illustrated in
Since the encryption key, the IP address, and the like used for the millimeter wave wireless communication with the STA 120-1 are stored even in the PCP 110-2 side as indicated in the STA information in
In the present embodiment, for example, it is possible to reduce the time required for a connection to the PCP 110 by about 250 ms to 750 ms when the process of scanning the PCP 110 is omitted, about 20 ms when the process of generating the encryption key is omitted, and about 2 to 4 seconds when the process of setting the IP address is omitted.
In the first embodiment to the third embodiment, the flow of the basic communication process in the communication system 400 has been described with reference to the communication system 400 illustrated in
(Information Provision Process)
In step S1501, the PBSS information notifying unit 714 of the PCP 110-1 acquires the PBSS information of the PBSS 100-1 formed by the PCP 110-1, for example, at predetermined time intervals or the like. At this time, the PBSS information acquired by the PBSS information notifying unit 714 includes, for example, the MAC address of the PCP 110-1, the channel number of the millimeter wave wireless communication used by the PCP 110-1, the IP address of the STA 120 belonging to the PBSS 100-1, and the like.
In step S1502, the PBSS information notifying unit 714 of the PCP 110-1 gives a notification of the PBSS information of the PBSS 100-1 acquired in step S1501 to the communication management device 510 via the wireless LAN network 740.
In step S1503, similarly to the PCP 110-1, the PCP 110-2 acquires the PBSS information of the PBSS 100-2 formed by the PCP 110-2.
In step S1504, the PBSS information notifying unit 714 of the PCP 110-2 gives a notification of the PBSS information of the PBSS 100-2 acquired in step S1503 to the communication management device 510 via the wireless LAN network 740.
In step S1505, similarly to the PCP 110-1, the PCP 110-3 acquires the PBSS information of the PBSS 100-3 formed by the PCP 110-3.
In step S1506, the PBSS information notifying unit 714 of the PCP 110-3 gives a notification of the PBSS information of the PBSS 100-3 acquired in step S1505 to the communication management device 510 via the wireless LAN network 740.
As described above, for example, each of the PCPs 110 according to the present embodiment periodically acquires the PBSS information of the PBSS formed by the PCP 110 and gives a notification of the PBSS information to the communication management device 510 via the wireless LAN network 740. For example, the PCP 110 may perform the acquisition and the notification of the PCSS information in response to a request from the communication management device 510.
In step S1507, the communication management device 510 collects the PBSS information reported from each of the PCPs 110 through the information collecting unit 732, and generates the connection information to be transmitted to each of the STAs 120 through the information generating unit 733.
As an example, the information generating unit 733 of the communication management device 510 generates the connection information illustrated in
The information of the “PCP” and the “state” among the connection information illustrated in
In step S1508, the communication management device 510 gives a notification of the connection information of the STA 120-1 generated by the information generating unit 733 to the STA 120-1 via the wireless LAN network 740.
In step S1509, the connection information acquiring unit 725 of the STA 120-1 acquires the connection information reported from the communication management device 510 and stores the acquired connection information in the connection information storage unit 722.
In step S1510, the communication management device 510 gives a notification of the connection information of the STA 120-2 generated by the information generating unit 733 to the STA 120-2 via the wireless LAN network 740.
In step S1511, the connection information acquiring unit 725 of the STA 120-2 acquires the connection information reported from the communication management device 510 and stores the acquired connection information in the connection information storage unit 722.
Similarly, the communication management device 510 gives a notification of the connection information to the STAs 120-3 to 120-6, and the connection information acquiring unit 725 of the STAs 120-3 to 120-6 acquires the connection information reported from the communication management device 510 and stores the acquired connection information in the connection information storage unit 722.
Through the above process, for example, the connection information as illustrated in
(Data Transfer Process of STA)
In step S1701, when the millimeter wave STA unit 721 receives data from the PCP 110 of the data transmission source, the STA 120 performs a process from step S1702.
In step S1702, the connection control unit 723 of the STA 120 performs the disconnection process for the millimeter wave wireless communication with the PCP 110 of the data transmission source.
In step S1703, the connection control unit 723 of the STA 120 determines whether or not the process of scanning the PCP 110 of the transfer destination can be omitted.
For example, when the MAC address and the channel number of the PCP 110 in the “connection candidate” state are stored in the connection information illustrated in
On the other hand, when the MAC address and the channel number of the PCP 110 in the “connection candidate” state are not stored in the connection information illustrated in
When the process proceeds to step S1704, the connection control unit 723 of the STA 120 determines whether or not the channel information (for example, the channel number) of the PCP 110 of the transfer destination is stored in the connection information stored in the connection information storage unit 722.
When the channel information of the PCP 110 of the transfer destination is stored in the connection information stored in the connection information storage unit 722, the connection control unit 723 of the STA 120 causes the process to proceed to step S1705.
On the other hand, when the channel information of the PCP 110 of the transfer destination is not stored in the connection information stored in the connection information storage unit 722, the connection control unit 723 of the STA 120 causes the process to proceed to step S1706.
When the process proceeds to step S1705, the STA 120 performs the process of scanning the PCP 110 on the basis of the channel number stored in the connection information storage unit 722 through the millimeter wave STA unit 721. On the other hand, when the process proceeds to step S1706, the STA 120 performs the PCP scanning process on the basis of each channel number (for example, channel numbers 1 to 3) through the millimeter wave STA unit 721.
As described above, when the channel information of the PCP 110 of the transfer destination is stored in the connection information stored in the connection information storage unit 722, since the number of channels for performing the process of scanning the PCP 110 can be reduced, it is possible to reduce the time required for the scanning process.
In step S1707, when the PCP 110 of the transfer destination is discovered, the STA 120 causes the process to proceed to step S1708. On the other hand, when the PCP 110 of the transfer destination is not discovered, the STA 120 causes the process to proceed to step S1706.
When the process proceeds to step S1708, the connection control unit 723 of the STA 120 performs the connection process for the millimeter wave wireless communication with the PCP 110 of transfer destination.
In step S1709, the connection control unit 723 of the STA 120 determines whether or not the generation of the encryption key can be omitted.
For example, when the encryption key of the PCP 110 of the transfer destination is stored in the connection information illustrated in
On the other hand, when the encryption key of the PCP 110 of the transfer destination is not stored in the connection information illustrated in
When the process proceeds to step S1710, the millimeter wave STA unit 721 of the STA 120 performs the process of generating the encryption key for performing communication with the PCP 110 of the transfer destination through the millimeter wave wireless communication.
When the process proceeds to step S1711, the connection control unit 723 of the STA 120 determines whether or not the process of setting the IP address can be omitted.
For example, when the IP address of the PCP 110 of the transfer destination is stored in the connection information illustrated in
On the other hand, when the IP address of the PCP 110 of the transfer destination is not stored in the connection information illustrated in
When the process proceeds to step S1712, the millimeter wave STA unit 721 of the STA 120 performs the process of setting the IP address with the PCP 110 of the transfer destination.
When the process proceeds to step S1713, the data transfer unit 724 of the STA 120 transmits (transfers) the data received from the PCP 110 of the transmission source to the PCP 110 of the transfer destination.
Through the above processing, the STA 120 can omit some of the processes for establishing communication with the PCP 110 of the transfer destination in accordance with the information stored in the connection information storage unit 722.
In the connection process of the STA 120-1 illustrated in
The data transfer process of the STA 120 illustrated in
In this case, the connection control unit 723 of the STA 120-1 can omit a designated process among the PCP scanning process, the encryption key generation process, and the process of setting the IP address and the like in accordance with the connection information reported from the communication management device 510 and perform the connection process.
(Data Transmission Process)
In steps S1901 to S1903, the PCP 110-1 transmits the predetermined data to the STAs 120-1, 120-4, and 120-5 connected to the PBSS 100-1 formed by the PCP 110-1 through the millimeter wave wireless communication.
In step S1904, the STA 120-1 performs the disconnection process for the millimeter wave communication with the PCP 110-1 on the basis of the connection information stored in the connection information storage unit 722.
For example, when the PCP 110 in the “connection candidate” state is stored as in the connection information illustrated in
In step S1905, the STA 120-5 performs the disconnection process for the millimeter wave communication with the PCP 110-1 on the basis of the connection information stored in the connection information storage unit 722.
In step S1906, the STA 120-1 performs the connection process illustrated in
In step S1907, the data transfer unit 724 of the STA 120-1 transmits the predetermined data received from the PCP 110-1 in step S1901 to the PCP 110-2.
In steps S1908 and S1909, when the predetermined data is received from the STA 120-1, the PCP 110-2 transmits the received predetermined data to the STAs 120-2 and 120-3 connected to the PBSS 100-2 through the data transmitting unit 712.
In step S1910, the STA 120-5 performs the connection process as illustrated in
In step S1911, the data transfer unit 724 of the STA 120-5 transmits the predetermined data received from the PCP 110-1 in step S1903 to the PCP 110-3.
In step S1912, when the predetermined data is received from the STA 120-5, the data transmitting unit 712 of the PCP 110-3 transmits the received predetermined data to the STA 120-6 connected to the PBSS 100-3 through the data transmitting unit 712.
Through the above processing, the communication system 500 according to the present embodiment can combine the communication devices (the PCP 110 and the STA 120) that perform communication with the one-to-one network configuration or the star-type network configuration centered on one communication device and perform hopping communication to a different network cell. The multihop communication is performed, and thus the high-speed data communication can be performed in a wider range.
In the communication system 500 according to the present embodiment, the communication management device 510 acquires the PBSS information from each of the PCPs 110 and gives a notification of the connection information to each of the STAs. Furthermore, each of the STAs can omit some processes in the connection process of establishing the millimeter wave wireless communication with PCP 110 on the basis of the notified connection information, whereby the time required for the data transfer can be reduced, and the data communication rate can be increased.
The fourth embodiment has been described in connection with the example in which data is simultaneously transmitted from the PCP 110-1 to the STAs 120-1 to 120-6, the PCPs 110-2 and 110-3 or the like in the communication system 500 illustrated in
A fifth embodiment will be described in connection with an example of a process when simultaneous data transmission or transmission in which a destination is designated is performed from an arbitrary STA 120 or the PCP 110 will be described.
(Information Provision Process)
The communication management device 510 according to the present embodiment performs, for example, an information provision process as illustrated in
In step S2001, the STA information notifying unit 726 of the STA 120-1 acquires the connection information of the STA 120-1.
In step S2002, the STA information notifying unit 726 of the STA 120-1 gives a notification of the acquired communication information of the STA 120-1 to the communication management device 510 via the wireless LAN network 740.
Similarly, in steps S2003 to S2206, the STA information notifying unit 726 of the STAs 120-2 to 6 acquires the connection information of its own device and gives a notification of the acquired communication information to the communication management device 510 via the wireless LAN network 740.
The connection information reported from each of the STAs 120 to the communication management device 510 includes, for example, the connection information as illustrated in
Preferably, the connection information to be reported from each of the STAs 120 to the communication management device 510 includes, for example, the information of the PCP 110 or the PBSS detected when each of the STAs 120 scans the PCP 110. Accordingly, the communication management device 510 can acquire the information of the PCP 110 that is able to communicate with each of the STAs 120 or the PBSS.
In step S2007, the communication management device 510 collects the STA information reported from each of the STAs 120 through the information collecting unit 732, and generates the STA information to be reported to each of the PCPs 110 through the information generating unit 733.
As an example, the information generating unit 733 of the communication management device 510 generates STA information illustrated in
The information of the “number of communication devices ahead of the STA” is information indicating the number of communication devices (the PCP 110 and the STA 120) that perform the millimeter wave wireless communication with the PCP 110 via each STA 120 in the “connected” state or the “connection candidate” state to the PCP 110. The communication path management unit 735 of the communication management device 510 calculates the information of the “number of communication devices ahead of the STA,” for example, using information indicating the communication path illustrated in
For example, in the PCP 110-1 of
Similarly, in the PCP 110-1 of
In step S2008, the information providing unit 734 of the communication management device 510 transmits the STA information for the PCP 110-1 generated by the information generating unit 733 to the PCP 110-1.
In step S2009, the PCP 110-1 stores the STA information transmitted from the communication management device 510 in the STA information storage unit 713.
In step S2010, the information providing unit 734 of the communication management device 510 transmits the STA information for the PCP 110-2 generated by the information generating unit 733 to the PCP 110-2.
In step S2011, the PCP 110-2 stores the STA information transmitted from the communication management device 510 in the STA information storage unit 713.
In step S2012, the information providing unit 734 of the communication management device 510 transmits the STA information for the PCP 110-3 generated by the information generating unit 733 to the PCP 110-3.
In step S2013, the PCP 110-3 stores the STA information transmitted from the communication management device 510 in the STA information storage unit 713.
Through the above process, for example, the STA information illustrated in
(Data Transfer Process of PCP)
At this time, as illustrated in
In step S2201, when data is received from the STA 120, in step S2202, the PCP 110 transmits the data in order from the STA 120 having the largest number of communication devices ahead of the STAs on the basis of the STA information as illustrated in
In step S2203, the PCP 110 repeats the process of step S2202 until the data is transmitted to all the STAs connected to the PBSS 100 formed by the PCP 110.
Since the data is transmitted in order from the STA 120 having the largest number of communication devices ahead of the STA 120 which is considered to require time until the data transmission is completed through the above process, it is possible to reduce the time until the transmission of all the data is completed.
(Data Transmission Process of PCP)
In step S2301, the PCP 110 transmits a transmission initiation request of requesting initiation of data transmission to the communication management device 510 via the wireless LAN network 740. The transmission initiation request includes destination information indicating the destination of data (for example, simultaneous transmission, destination information of a transmission destination, or the like).
In step S2302, the PCP 110 acquires the information of the STA 120 of the data transmission destination from the communication management device 510 via the wireless LAN network 740.
In step S2303, the PCP 110 transmits data to a designated STA 120.
Thus, in the present embodiment, the communication management device 510 manages the communication path of the millimeter wave wireless communication, and a notification of the information of the STA 120 to which data is to be transmitted is given from the communication management device 510 in response to the transmission initiation request from the PCP 110.
(Data Transmission Process of STA)
In step S2401, the STA 120 transmits the transmission initiation request of requesting initiation of data transmission to the communication management device 510 via the wireless LAN network 740. The transmission initiation request includes the destination information indicating the destination of data (for example, simultaneous transmission, destination information of a transmission destination, or the like).
In step S2402, the STA 120 acquires the information of the PCP 110 of the data transmission destination from the communication management device 510 via the wireless LAN network 740.
In step S2403, the STA 120 determines whether or not it is connected to the PCP 110 notified from the communication management device 510 (it is in the “connected” state or the “connection candidate” state).
When it is connected to the PCP 110 notified from the communication management device 510, the STA 120 causes the process to proceed to step S2405 On the other hand, when it is not connected to the PCP 110 notified from the communication management device 510, the STA 120 causes the process to proceed to step S2404.
When the process proceeds to step S2404, the STA 120 switches the connection destination to the PCP 110 notified from the communication management device 510.
When the process proceeds to step S2405, the STA 120 transmits data to the PCP 110 notified from the communication management device 510.
As described above, in the present embodiment, the communication management device 510 manages the communication path of the millimeter wave wireless communication, and a notification of the information of the PCP 110 to which data is to be transmitted is given from the communication management device 510 in response to the transmission initiation request from the STA 120. When the PCP 110 notified from the communication management device 510 is in the “connection candidate” state, the STA 120 transitions to the “connected” state and then transmits data to the PCP 110 notified from the communication management device 510.
(Communication Control Process of Communication Management Device)
In step S2501, when the transmission initiation request is received from the communication device (the PCP 110 or the STA 120) via the wireless LAN network 740, the communication management device 510 performs a process from step S2502.
In step S2502, the communication management device 510 determines whether or not the destination included in the transmission initiation request is the simultaneous transmission to all the communication devices (the PCP 110 and the STA 120).
In the case of the simultaneous transmission to all the communication devices, the communication management device 510 causes the process to proceed to step S2503. On the other hand, when the determination is not the simultaneous transmission to all the communication devices, that is, when a destination is designated, the communication management device 510 causes the process to proceed to step S2506.
When the process proceeds to step S2503, the communication control unit 736 of the communication management device 510 specifies the PCP 110 serving as the data transmission source of each of the STAs 120 on the basis of the communication path information managed by the communication path management unit 735.
The communication management information managed by the communication path management unit 735 includes, for example, information indicating the connected state of each communication device illustrated in
For example, in
In step S2504, the communication control unit 736 of the communication management device 510 gives an instruction to switch a connection to the STA which is not connected to the PCP 110 serving as the data transmission source via the wireless LAN network 740.
For example, in the example of
In step S2505, the communication control unit 736 of the communication management device 510 gives an instruction to transmit the data to the communication device of the data transmission source via the wireless LAN network 740.
When the process proceeds to step S2506, the communication control unit 736 of the communication management device 510 determines whether or not a communication path reduction process is performed. For example, the communication control unit 736 of the communication management device 510 determines whether or not the communication system 500 is set to perform the communication path reduction process. The communication path reduction process is, for example, a process of directly transmitting data to the PBSS 100 including the communication device of the transmission destination without using the communication path illustrated in
When the communication path reduction is performed, the communication management device 510 causes the process to proceed to step S2510. On the other hand, when the communication path reduction is not performed, the communication management device 510 causes the process to proceed to step S2507.
When the process proceeds to step S2507, the communication control unit 736 of the communication management device 510 specifies the PCP 110 serving as the data transmission source of each of the STAs 120 on the basis of the communication management information managed by the communication path management unit 735. This process may be similar to the process of step S2503 described above.
In step S2508, the communication control unit 736 of the communication management device 510 gives an instruction to switch a connection to the STA 120 which is not connected to the PCP serving as the data transmission source among the STAs 120 in the data communication path.
For example, in the communication system 500 illustrated in
In step S2509, the communication control unit 736 of the communication management device 510 gives a notification of the transfer destination of the data to the PCP 110 in the data communication path via the wireless LAN network 740.
When the process proceeds to step S2510, the communication control unit 736 of the communication management device 510 determines whether or not it is possible to reduce the communication path.
For example, in the information provision process illustrated in
For example, when the communication device of the transmission source is the STA 120, and the STA 120 of the transmission source can detect the PBSS including the communication device of the transmission destination, the communication control unit 736 of the communication management device 510 determines that it is possible to reduce the communication path.
For example, when the communication device of the transmission source is the PCP 110, and the STA 120 of the PBSS 100 of the transmission destination can detect the PBSS 100 formed by the PCP 110 of the transmission source, the communication control unit 736 of the communication management device 510 determines that it is possible to reduce the communication path.
When it is determined that the communication path is unable to be reduced, the communication management device 510 causes the process to proceed to step S2507. On the other hand, when it is determined that it is possible to reduce the communication path, in step S2511, the communication control unit 736 of the communication management device 510 performs the communication path reduction process illustrated in
In step S2512, the communication control unit 736 of the communication management device 510 gives a notification of the transfer destination of data to the PCP 110 in the data communication path via the wireless LAN network 740.
(Communication Path Reduction Process)
In step S2601, the communication control unit 736 of the communication management device 510 determines whether or not the communication device of the transmission source is the STA 120.
When the communication device of the transmission source is the STA 120, the communication control unit 736 causes the process to proceed to step S2602. On the other hand, when the communication device of the transmission source is not the STA 120, that is, when the communication device of the transmission source is the PCP 110, the communication control unit 736 causes the process to proceed to step S2605.
When the process proceeds to step S2602, the communication control unit 736 of the communication management device 510 determines whether or not the communication device of the transmission destination is the STA 120.
When the communication device of the transmission destination is the STA 120, the communication control unit 736 causes the process to proceed to step S2603. On the other hand, when the communication device of the transmission destination is not the STA 120, that is, when the communication device of the transmission destination is the PCP 110, the communication control unit 736 causes the process to proceed to step S2604.
When the process proceeds to step S2603, the communication control unit 736 of the communication management device 510 gives an instruction to establish a connection with the same PCP 110 as the STA 120 of the transmission destination to the STA 120 of the transmission source.
When the process proceeds to step S2604, the communication control unit 736 of the communication management device 510 gives an instruction to establish a connection with the PCP 110 of the transmission destination to the STA 120 of the transmission source.
When the process proceeds to step S2605, the communication control unit 736 of the communication management device 510 determines whether or not the communication device of the transmission destination is the STA 120.
When the communication device of the transmission destination is the STA 120, the communication control unit 736 causes the process to proceed to step S2606. On the other hand, when the communication device of the transmission destination is not the STA 120, that is, when the communication device of the transmission destination is the PCP 110, the communication control unit 736 causes the process to proceed to step S2607.
When the process proceeds to step S2606, the communication control unit 736 of the communication management device 510 gives an instruction to establish a connection with the PCP 110 of the transmission source to the STA 120 of the transmission destination.
When the process proceeds to step S2607, the communication control unit 736 of the communication management device 510 gives an instruction to establish a connection with the PCP 110 of the transmission source as the STA 120 to the PCP 110 of the transmission destination. In this case, as the STA 120, the PCP 110 of the transmission destination connected to the PCP 110 of the transmission source is assumed to operate as the PCP 110 after the data transmission is completed or after a predetermined time elapses.
The communication path reduction process is optional and not essential.
Next, an example of the data transmission process in the communication system 500 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to
(Data Transmission Process 1)
In step S2701, the STA 120-2 of the transmission source that simultaneously transmits the predetermined data transmits a transmission initiation request for requesting simultaneous transmission of data to the communication management device 510 via the wireless LAN network 740.
In step S2702, the communication control unit 736 of the communication management device 510 specifies the PCP 110 serving as the data transmission source of each of the STAs 120 on the basis of the communication path information managed by the communication path management unit 735.
In step S2703, the communication control unit 736 of the communication management device 510 gives an instruction to switch a connection to the STA 120 which is not connected to the PCP 110 of the data transmission source specified in step S2702. In the communication system 500 illustrated in
In step S2704, the STA 120-1 that has received the instruction to switch the connection from the communication management device 510 disconnects the millimeter wave wireless communication with the PCP 110-1 in the “connected” state, and in step S2705, the STA 120-1 is connected to the PCP 110-2 through the millimeter wave wireless communication. Accordingly, the STA 120-2 of the transmission source is ready to transmit data.
In step S2706, the communication control unit 736 of the communication management device 510 gives an instruction to transmit the predetermined data to the STA 120-2 of the transmission source via the wireless LAN network 740.
In step S2707, the STA 120-2 of the transmission source transmits the predetermined data to the PCP 110-2 through the millimeter wave wireless communication.
In steps S2708 and S2709, the PCP 110-2 that has received the predetermined data from the STA 120-2 transmits the predetermined data to the STAs 120-1 and 120-3 which are other STAs 120 connected to the PCP 110-2 through the millimeter wave wireless communication.
In step S2710, the STA 120-1 that has received the predetermined data from the PCP 110-2 disconnects the millimeter wave wireless communication with the PCP 110-2, and in step S2711, the STA 120-1 establishes the millimeter wave wireless communication with the PCP 110-1.
In step S2712, the STA 120-1 transmits the predetermined data received from the PCP 110-2 to the PCP 110-1 through the millimeter wave wireless communication.
In steps S2713 and S2714, the PCP 110-1 that has received the predetermined data from the STA 120-1 transmits the predetermined data to the STAs 120-4 and 120-5 which are other STAs 120 connected to the PCP 110-1 through the millimeter wave wireless communication.
In step S2715, the STA 120-5 that has received the predetermined data from the PCP 110-1 disconnects the millimeter wave wireless communication with the PCP 110-1, and in step S2716, the STA 120-5 establishes the millimeter wave wireless communication with the PCP 110-3.
In step S2717, the STA 120-5 transmits the predetermined data received from the PCP 110-1 to the PCP 110-3 through the millimeter wave wireless communication.
In step S2718, the PCP 110-3 that has received the predetermined data from the STA 120-5 transmits the predetermined data to the STA 120-6 which is another STA 120 connected to the PCP 110-3 through the millimeter wave wireless communication.
According to the communication system 500 of the present embodiment, it is possible to simultaneously the predetermined data from an arbitrary communication device (the PCP 110 or the STA 120) to other communication terminals through the above process.
(Data Transmission Process 2)
In step S2801, the STA 120-3 of the transmission source that transmits the predetermined data to the STA 120-5 transmits the transmission initiation request of requesting transmission of data to the STA 120-5 to the communication management device 510 via the wireless LAN network 740.
In step S2802, the communication control unit 736 of the communication management device 510 specifies the PCP 110 serving as the data transmission source of each of the STAs 120 on the basis of the communication path information managed by the communication path management unit 735.
In step S2803, the communication control unit 736 of the communication management device 510 gives an instruct to switch a connection to the STA 120 which is not connected to the transmission source PCP 110 among the STAs 120 in the communication path from the STA 120-3 to the STA 120-5. In the communication system 500 illustrated in
In step S2804, the STA 120-1 that has received the instruction to switch the connection from the communication management device 510 disconnects the millimeter wave wireless communication with the PCP 110-1, and in step S2805, the STA 120-1 establishes a connection with the PCP 110-2 through the millimeter wave wireless communication.
In steps S2806 and S2807, the communication management device 510 gives a notification of the transfer destinations of data to the PCPs 110-2 and 110-1 in the communication path via the wireless LAN network 740.
In step S2808, the communication control unit 736 of the communication management device 510 gives an instruction to transmit the predetermined data to the PCP 110-2 to the STA 120-3 of the transmission source via the wireless LAN network 740.
In step S2809, the STA 120-3 of the transmission source transmits the predetermined data to the PCP 110-2 through the millimeter wave wireless communication.
In step S2810, the PCP 110-2 which has received the predetermined data from the STA 120-3 transmits the predetermined data to the STA 120-1 serving as the transfer destination notified from the communication management device 510 through the millimeter wave wireless communication.
In step S2811, the STA 120-1 that has received the predetermined data from the PCP 110-2 disconnects the millimeter wave wireless communication with the PCP 110-2, and in step S2812, the STA 120-1 establishes the millimeter wave wireless communication with the PCP 110-1.
In step S2813, the STA 120-1 transmits the predetermined data received from the PCP 110-2 to the PCP 110-1 through the millimeter wave wireless communication.
In step S2814, the PCP 110-1 which has received the predetermined data from the STA 120-1 transmits the predetermined data to the STA 120-5 serving as the transfer destination notified from the communication management device 510 through the millimeter wave wireless communication.
According to the communication system 500 of the present embodiment, it is possible to individually transmit the predetermined data from any communication device to other arbitrary communication terminals.
(Data Transmission Process 3)
In step S2901, the STA 120-3 of the transmission source that transmits the predetermined data to the STA 120-6 transmits the transmission initiation request of requesting transmission of data to the STA 120-6 to the communication management device 510 via the wireless LAN network 740.
In step S2902, the communication control unit 736 of the communication management device 510 determines whether or not it is possible to reduce the communication path. Here, in the STA 120-3 of the transmission source, since the PBSS 100-3 formed by the PCP 110-3 to which the STA 120-6 of the transmission destination is connected is detected, the communication management device 510 determines that it is possible to reduce the communication path.
In step S2903, since the transmission source is the STA 120-3, and the transmission destination is the STA 120-6, the communication control unit 736 of the communication management device 510 gives an instruction to establish a connection with the PCP 110-3 to the STA 120-3 of transmission source in accordance with the communication path reduction process illustrated in
In step S2904, the STA 120-3 of the transmission source that has received the instruction to establish the connection with the PCP 110-3 disconnects the millimeter wave wireless communication with the PCP 110-2, and in step S2905, the STA 120-3 of the transmission source establishes the millimeter wave wireless communication with the PCP 110-3.
In step S2905, the communication control unit 736 of the communication management device 510 gives a notification of the data transfer destination to the PCP 110-3 in the communication path via the wireless LAN network 740.
In step S2907, the communication control unit 736 of the communication management device 510 gives an instruction to transmit the predetermined data to the PCP 110-3 to the STA 120-3 of the transmission source via the wireless LAN network 740.
In step S2908, the STA 120-3 of the transmission source transmits the predetermined data to the PCP 110-3 through the millimeter wave wireless communication.
In step S2909, the PCP 110-3 which has received the predetermined data from the STA 120-3 transmits the predetermined data to the STA 120-6 serving as the transfer destination notified from the communication management device 510 through the millimeter wave wireless communication.
According to the communication system 500 of the present embodiment, it is possible to reduce the communication path when the predetermined data is individually transmitted from an arbitrary communication device to other arbitrary communication terminals through the above process.
A sixth embodiment will be described in connection with an example in which an encryption key generated by the wireless LAN communication is used as an encryption key of the millimeter wave wireless communication.
In step S3001, the PCP 110-1 performs the connection process with the communication management device 510 through the wireless LAN communication.
In step 3002, encryption keys are generated between the communication management device 510 and the PCP 110-1, for example, through a 4-way handshake.
In step S3003, the PCP 110-1 stores a group key (a group transient key (GTK)) used in multicast communication or broadcast communication among the encryption keys of the wireless LAN communication generated in step S3002 in the connection information storage unit 722 as an encryption key used in the millimeter wave wireless communication.
In step S3004, the STA 120-1 performs the connection process with the communication management device 510 through the wireless LAN communication.
In step 3005, the 4-way handshake is performed between the communication management device 510 and the STA 120-1 to generate encryption keys.
In step S3006, the STA 120-1 stores the group key used in multicast communication or broadcast communication among the encryption keys of the wireless LAN communication generated in step S3005 in the connection information storage unit 722 as the encryption key used in the millimeter wave wireless communication.
In step S3007, the PCP 110-2 performs the connection process with the communication management device 510 through the wireless LAN communication.
In step 3008, the 4-way handshake is performed between the communication management device 510 and the PCP 110-2 to generate encryption keys.
In step S3009, the PCP 110-2 stores the group key used in the multicast communication or the broadcast communication among the encryption keys of the wireless LAN communication generated in step S3008 in the connection information storage unit 722 as the encryption key used in the millimeter wave wireless communication.
Through the above process, the group key generated by the wireless LAN communication is stored in the communication devices (the PCP 110 and the STA 120) according to the present embodiment as the encryption key used in the millimeter wave wireless communication. Accordingly, the communication devices according to the present embodiment perform the millimeter wave wireless communication using the common group key generated through the wireless LAN communication.
Typically, the encryption key of the millimeter wave wireless communication is shared through the 4-way handshake, similarly to the wireless LAN. Therefore, the encryption key is typically generated through each of the wireless LAN and the millimeter wave wireless communication. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the group key generated through wireless LAN is used in the millimeter wave wireless communication, and thus it is possible to simplify the procedure of generating the encryption key through the millimeter wave wireless communication and increase the data communication rate.
In the wireless LAN communication, IEEE 802.11z (tunneled direct link setup (TDLS)) is known as a standard in which communication is performed between wireless LAN terminals without going through an access point.
In the wireless LAN communication of the normal infrastructure mode, communication is performed through the access point, and thus the communication throughput depends on capabilities of the access point, a congestion state, and the like. On the other hand, in TDLS, communication is performed between wireless LAN terminals without going through the access point, and thus it is possible to increase the communication rate.
In the present embodiment, an encryption key generated at the time of TDLS connection is used as the encryption key for the millimeter wave wireless communication. Accordingly, the security can be enhanced to be higher than in the example of
In steps S3101 and S3102, for example, the STA 120-3 transmits a TDLS Setup Request of requesting a TDLS setup, for example, to the PCP 110-3 via the communication management device 510.
Preferably, this process is performed via the wireless LAN network 740, for example, when the STA 120-3 receives an instruction to establish a connection with the PCP 110-3 from the communication management device 510.
In steps S3103 and S3104, the PCP 110-3 transmits a TDLS Setup Response to the STA 120-3 as a response message to the TDLS Setup Request via the communication management device 510.
In steps S3105 and S3106, the STA 120-3 transmits a TDLS Setup Confirm to the PCP 110-3 as a confirmation message with respect to the TDLS Setup Request via the communication management device 510.
Through the above process, the TDLS encryption key is shared between the STA 120-3 and the PCP 110-3, and thus direct communication can be performed in accordance with TDLS.
Further, in the present embodiment, in step S3107, the STA 120-3 stores the generated TDLS encryption key in the connection information storage unit 722 as an encryption key for performing communication with the PCP 110-3 through the millimeter wave wireless communication.
In step S3108, the PCP 110-3 stores the generated TDLS encryption key in the STA information storage unit 713 as an encryption key for performing communication with the STA 120-3 through the millimeter wave wireless communication.
According to the present embodiment, since the encryption key generated by the wireless LAN communication is used as the encryption key used in the millimeter wave wireless communication, it is possible to omit the procedure of generating the encryption key for the millimeter wave wireless communication, and thus it is possible to increase the communication rate.
The above-described embodiments are illustrative and do not limit the present invention. Thus, numerous additional modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. For example, elements and/or features of different illustrative embodiments may be combined with each other and/or substituted for each other within the scope of the present invention.
Each of the functions of the described embodiments may be implemented by one or more processing circuits or circuitry. Processing circuitry includes a programmed processor, as a processor includes circuitry. A processing circuit also includes devices such as an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), digital signal processor (DSP), field programmable gate array (FPGA), and conventional circuit components arranged to perform the recited functions.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2016-098811 | May 2016 | JP | national |