Specification
DESCRIPTION
TITLE OF THE INVENTION COMMUNICATION METHOD
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a communication method for multicasting data
such as video and audio, and, in particular, to a technology for improving communication
reliability by use of retransmission processing.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] Recently, as one of broadband mobile communication systems for disaster
countermeasures and rescues, it is desired that video of a disaster/rescue site is wirelessly
distributed to emergency vehicles (ambulance, fire engine) near the site. With respect to such
video distribution systems, it is considered that the number of emergency vehicles (ambulance,
fire engine) is increased depending on the scale of the disaster. 1F video is transmitted by
unicast (individual communication) to such emergency vehicles, a shortage of wireless
bandwidth may occur. Therefore, such systems need to transmit data efficiently by multicast
(broadcast communication).
[0003] A conventional communication method using multicast is, for example, art
described in Patent Literature 1. In the art described in Patent Literature 1, a reception terminal
that returns an arrival confirmation is designated for each multicast transmission cycle. FIG.
38A is a network diagram of the art described in Patent Literature 1. In FIG. 38A, a
transmission terminal 200 is a terminal which transmits a multicast. Reception terminals 201 to
203 communicate via a wireless network and receive the multicast transmitted by the
transmission terminal 200.
[0004] FIG. 38B shows a configuration of a frame of each packet transmitted/received
between the transmission terminal 200 and a plurality of reception terminals 201 to 203
described in Patent Literature 1. In FIG. 38B, a multicast 301 includes arrival confirmation
return permission identifiers which permit the reception terminal 201 and a reception terminal
202 to return arrival confirmations, respectively, and data blocks 1 to 3 provided as a unit of
error correction.
[0005] In a first cycle, the transmission terminal 200 transmits the multicast 301 to the
reception terminals 201 to 203. 1F the reception terminal 201 detects that the received multicast
301 contains an arrival confirmation return permission identifier destined to the reception
terminal 201, the reception terminal 201 transmits an arrival confirmation frame 302 to the
transmission terminal 200. 1F the reception terminal 202 detects that the received multicast 301
contains an arrival confirmation return permission identifier destined to the reception terminal
202, the reception terminal 202 transmits an arrival confirmation 303 to the transmission
terminal 200. Since the received multicast 301 does not contain an arrival confirmation return
permission identifier destined to the reception terminal 203, the reception terminal 203 waits
without transmitting an arrival confirmation frame.
[0006] Here, since the reception terminal 201 has successfully received the blocks 1 to 3,
the reception terminal 201 returns the arrival confirmation 302 indicating that there is no error.
Meanwhile, since an error occurred in block 3, the reception terminal 202 returns an arrival
confirmation frame 303 for requesting retransmission of the block 3.
[0007] In a second cycle, the transmission terminal 200 retransmits the block 3, the
retransmission of which was requested in the preceding cycle and additionally transmits new
blocks 4 to 6, in a multicast 304. In the multicast 304, arrival confirmation return permission
identifiers which permit the reception terminal 203 and the reception terminal 201 to return
arrival confirmation frames, respectively, are set. Although the reception terminal 203 has
successfully received the multicast 304, but did not successfully received the block 2 of the
multicast 301 in the first cycle, the reception terminal 203 requests retransmission of the block 2
by means of an arrival confirmation frame 305. Meanwhile, since the reception terminal 201
successfully received the blocks 4 to 6, the reception terminal 201 returns an arrival confirmation
frame 306 indicating that there is no error.
[0008] In a third cycle, the transmission terminal 200 retransmits the block 2, the
retransmission of which was requested in the preceding cycle and additionally transmits new
block 7 to 9, in a multicast 307 in the same manner as in the second cycle. In the multicast 307,
arrival confirmation return permission identifiers which permit the reception terminal 202 and
the reception terminal 203 to return arrival confirmation frames, respectively, are set. Since the
reception terminal 202 has successfully received both of the multicast 304 and the multicast 307,
the reception terminal 202 returns an arrival confirmation frame 308 indicating that there is no
error. Meanwhile, since the reception terminal 203 did not successfully received the block 8 of
the multicast 307, the reception terminal 203 returns an arrival confirmation frame 309 for
requesting retransmission of the block 8.
[0009] As described above, in Patent Literature 1, the transmission terminal 200 adds to a
multicast the information of identifiers of reception terminals that the transmission terminal 200
permits to return arrival confirmation frames, thereby designating the reception terminals that
return arrival confirmation frames. This has enabled prevention of collision between arrival
confirmation frames, and reduction of time necessary for reception processing of the arrival
confirmation frames at the transmission terminal, and thus realized improvement of the
communication quality.
[0010] Another conventional communication method is, for example, art described in
Patent Literature 2. In the art described in Patent Literature 2, destination information of a
reception terminal (arrival confirmation return request) that has successfully received a multicast
is removed from the multicast to be retransmitted, and the resultant multicast is retransmitted.
FIG. 39 shows an example of a data transmission/reception sequence of the art described in
Patent Literature 2. The communication system of the art described in Patent Literature 2
includes a transmission terminal 400 which transmits a multicast, and reception terminals 401 to
405 which each receive the multicast and transmit an Ack or a NAK as a response.
[0011] In FIG. 39, first, the transmission terminal 400 transmits a multicast 500 which
includes destination information of a reception terminal 401 to a reception terminal 405. Since
the reception terminals 402 and 405 have successfully received the multicast 500, the reception
terminals 402 and 405 return Acks 502 and 505, respectively, each indicating that there is no
error, to the transmission terminal 400. Meanwhile, since the reception terminals 401, 403, and
404 have not successfully received the multicast 500, the reception terminals 401, 403, and 404
return NAKs 501,503, and 504, respectively, for requesting retransmission of the multicast 500.
[0012] Next, since the transmission terminal 400 has received the Acks from the
reception terminals 402 and 405, the transmission terminal 400 transmits a retransmission
multicast 500, which is the multicast 500 from which destinations of the reception terminals 402
and 405 has been removed. Since the reception terminal 403 has successfully received the
retransmission multicast 500, the reception terminal 403 returns an Ack 513 indicating that there
is no error. Meanwhile, the reception terminals 401 and 404 have not successfully received the
retransmission multicast 500, the reception terminals 401 and 404 return NAKs 511 and 514 for
requesting retransmission of the retransmission multicast 500.
[0013] Next, since the transmission terminal 400 has received the Ack from the reception
terminal 403, the transmission terminal 400 transmits a retransmission multicast 500, which is
the retransmission multicast 500 from which the destination of the reception terminal 403 has
been removed. Since the reception terminal 404 has received the retransmission multicast 500
successfully, the reception terminal 404 returns an Ack 524 indicating that there is no error.
Meanwhile, since the reception terminal 401 has not successfully received the retransmission
multicast 500, the reception terminal 401 returns a NAK 521 for requesting retransmission of the
retransmission multicast 500.
[0014] As described above, in the art described in Patent Literature 2, the destination
information of the reception terminal that has successfully received a multicast is removed from
the multicast and the resultant multicast is retransmitted, such that the reception terminal that has
already successfully received the multicast does not return an Ack. Accordingly, the number of
returns of unnecessary Acks has been reduced and the possibility of collision between the Acks
(NAKs) has been reduced. In addition, the time necessary for reception processing of Acks
(NAKs) at the transmission terminal has been shortened, and the communication quality has
been improved. Further, in the art described in Patent Literature 2, a priority order is assigned
to the arrival confirmation frame to be returned, in accordance with the order position set to each
piece of destination information included in a multicast. Then, a reception terminal having the
highest priority returns an Ack immediately, and the other reception terminals randomly
determine the order of return Acks in accordance with the possibility determined by using their
own priority orders. Accordingly, control in accordance with the priority of the reception
terminals has been realized.
CITATION LIST
[PATENT LITERATURE]
[0015] [Patent Literature 1] Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2002-314626
[Patent Literature 2] Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. H1 -147926
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
PROBLEMS TO BE SOLVED BY THE INVENTION
[0016] However, in the art described in Patent Literature 1, the amount of information of
the arrival confirmation return permission identifier is increased in proportion to the number of
reception terminals that are permitted to return an arrival confirmation frame. Accordingly, the
frame length of a multicast is increased and thus the bandwidth cannot be used efficiently.
Moreover, the increased frame length results in high possibility of occurrence of change in the
propagation characteristics due to fading in the wireless network, and occurrence of errors due to
reception synchronization errors. Moreover, 1F the number of reception terminals that are
permitted to return an arrival confirmation frame is reduced, transmission of the arrival
confirmation frames is delayed. For example, in a case where there are 50 reception terminals
and 1F the number of reception terminals that are permitted to return an arrival confirmation
frame per cycle is set to two, an arrival confirmation frame, which is a request for retransmission,
cannot be transmitted until a maximum 25 cycles have elapsed after an error occurred, thus
resulting in high possibility of occurrence of packet losses due to the transmission delay.
[0017] Meanwhile, in the art described in Patent Literature 2, all the reception terminals
that have not received the multicast return an arrival confirmation frame. Therefore, as shown
in FIGS. 40A and B, the processing time period of the arrival confirmation frame reception at the
transmission terminal is increased in proportion to the number of reception terminals.
Accordingly, the chances of transmitting a retransmission multicast are reduced in inverse
proportion to the number of reception terminals, resulting in high possibility of occurrence of
packet losses. FIG. 40A illustrates a case where six reception terminals return Acks,
respectively. FIG. 40B illustrates a case where three reception terminals return Acks,
respectively. Although priority order positions are set to respective returns of the arrival
confirmation frames in accordance with the order positions set to respective pieces of the
destination information in a multicast, 1F the number of reception terminals is large, Acks
(NAKs) collide with each other, and thus retransmission of unnecessary multicasts may be
performed. Further, in a case where Acks from the second reception terminal and thereafter are
returned having a time delay period between each return thereof, the processing time period of
the Ack reception is increased in proportion to the number of reception terminals.
[0018] Therefore, the present invention is made to solve the problems of the conventional
art. An objet of the present invention is to provide a communication method which improves
the communication quality of multicast transmission.
SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEMS
[0019] A communication method which is an aspect of the present invention is a
communication method used when a transmission terminal transmits transmission data to at least
one reception terminal. The transmission terminal comprises a grouping table storage section
for storing a grouping table in which an Ack return order position indicating a priority order of
the at least one reception terminal which returns an Ack, and an address of the at least one
reception terminal are set. The at least one reception terminal comprises an Ack return order
position storage section for storing an Ack return order position indicating apriority order of its
own terminal which returns an Ack. The method comprises the steps of: the transmission
terminal's executing an application and creating the transmission data, the transmission terminal's
referring to the grouping table, determining one or more reception terminals that are each to be
permitted to return an Ack, and creating Ack return permission information in which information
about the determined one or more reception terminals that are each to be permitted to return the
Ack is set; the transmission terminal's transmitting a multicast containing the Ack return
permission information and the transmission data to the at least one reception terminal; the at
least one reception terminal's receiving the multicast from the transmission terminal; the at least
one reception terminal's determining whether the at least one reception terminal is permitted to
return an Ack in response to the multicast, based on the Ack return permission information
contained in the multicast and on the Ack return order position stored in the Ack return order
position storage section; and the at least one reception terminal's returning the Ack to the
transmission terminal in a case where the at least one reception terminal has determined that the
at least one reception terminal has been permitted to return the Ack.
ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION
[0020] According to the above aspect, in the multicast transmission sequence of the
present invention, the transmission terminal determines in advance Ack return order positions
according to the priority of the reception terminals, respectively, and notifies the reception
terminals of the determined Ack return order positions, respectively, before starting transmission
of a multicast. This allows reduction of the Ack return permission information set in the
multicast compared with the case of the conventional art, and allows efficient use of the
bandwidth. Since the frame length of a multicast is shortened, the possibility of occurrence of
multicast reception errors is lowered. Further, the transmission terminal determines the Ack
return order positions in accordance with the priority order of the reception terminal that require
quality assurance of the multicast, and determines the number of reception terminals that the
transmission terminal permits to return an Ack in accordance with the multicast transmission
interval. Accordingly, it is possible to confirm the arrival of the multicast, starting from the
reception terminal having a high priority, irrespective of the number of reception terminals
receiving the multicast. Thus, it is possible to assure a predetermined number, which has been
set in advance, of times of retransmission chances. Therefore, it is possible to confirm that the
reception terminals having high priorities have received the transmission data successfully.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0021] [FIG. 1] FIG. 1 shows an example of a configuration of a wireless system in
embodiments of the present invention.
[FIG. 2] FIG. 2 shows a configuration of a transmission terminal 10 in an
embodiment 1 of the present invention.
[FIG. 3] FIG. 3 shows a configuration of a reception terminal 20 in the
embodiment 1 of the present invention.
[FIG. 4A] FIG. 4A shows an example of a configuration of an Ack return order
position notification frame in the embodiment 1 of the present invention.
[FIG. 4B] FIG. 4B shows an example of a configuration of an Ack return order
position response frame in the embodiment 1 of the present invention.
[FIG. 4C] FIG. 4C shows an example of a configuration of a multicast in the
embodiment 1 of the present invention.
[FIG. 4D] FIG. 4D shows an example of a configuration of an Ack in the
embodiment 1 of the present invention.
[FIG. 5] FIG. 5 shows an example of a grouping table in the embodiment 1 of the
present invention.
[FIG. 6] FIG. 6 shows an example of a method of determining the number of Ack
returns in the embodiment 1 of the present invention.
[FIG. 7] FIG. 7 shows an example of an Ack return order position notification
sequence in the embodiment 1 of the present invention.
[FIG. 8] FIG. 8 shows an example of a grouping table in the embodiment 1 of the
present invention.
[FIG. 9] FIG. 9 shows an example of a multicast retransmission sequence in the
embodiment 1 of the present invention.
[FIG. 10 A] FIG. 10A shows an example of the grouping table in the embodiment
1 of the present invention.
[FIG. 10B] FIG. 10B shows an example of the grouping table in the embodiment
1 of the present invention.
[FIG. 10C] FIG. 10C shows an example of the grouping table in the embodiment
1 of the present invention.
[FIG. 10D] FIG 10D shows an example of the grouping table in the embodiment
1 of the present invention.
[FIG. 11 ] FIG. 11 shows an example of a control flow performed by a
transmission terminal 1A in the embodiment 1 of the present invention.
[FIG. 12] FIG. 12 shows an example of a control flow performed by reception
terminals 1B to 1F in the embodiment 1 of the present invention.
[FIG 13] FIG. 13 shows an example of the multicast retransmission sequence in
the embodiment 1 of the present invention.
[FIG. 14A] FIG 14A shows an example of the grouping table in the embodiment
1 of the present invention.
[FIG. 14B] FIG. 14B shows an example of the grouping table in the embodiment
1 of the present invention.
[FIG. 14C] FIG. 14C shows an example of the grouping table in the embodiment
1 of the present invention.
[FIG. 15] FIG. 15 shows an example of the configuration of the multicast in the
embodiment 1 of the present invention.
[FIG. 16] FIG. 16 shows an example of the configuration of the multicast in the
embodiment 1 of the present invention.
[FIG. 17] FIG. 17 shows an example of the configuration of the multicast in the
embodiment 1 of the present invention.
[FIG. 18] FIG. 18 shows an example of the configuration of the multicast in the
embodiment 1 of the present invention.
[FIG. 19] FIG. 19 shows an example of the configuration of the multicast in the
embodiment 1 of the present invention.
[FIG. 20] FIG. 20 shows a configuration of a transmission terminal 30 in an
embodiment 2 of the present invention.
[FIG. 21 ] FIG. 21 shows an example of a multicast transmission sequence in the
embodiment 2 of the present invention.
[FIG. 22 A] FIG. 22 A illustrates a method of changing the number of Ack returns
in the embodiment 2 of the present invention.
[FIG. 22B] FIG. 22B illustrates a method of changing the number of Ack returns
in the embodiment 2 of the present invention.
[FIG. 23] FIG. 23 shows an example of a method of changing the number of Ack
returns in the embodiment 2 of the present invention.
[FIG. 24] FIG. 24 shows an example of an internal processing flow performed by
the transmission terminal 30 in the embodiment 2 of the present invention.
[FIG. 25] FIG. 25 shows a configuration of a transmission terminal 40 in an
embodiment 3 of the present invention.
[FIG. 26] FIG. 26 shows a configuration of a reception terminal 50 in the
embodiment 3 of the present invention.
[FIG. 27] FIG. 27 shows an example of a format of an Ack return entry frame in
the embodiment 3 of the present invention.
[FIG. 28] FIG. 28 shows an example of the Ack return order position notification
sequence in the embodiment 3 of the present invention.
[FIG. 29] FIG. 29 shows an example of the multicast retransmission sequence in
the embodiment 3 of the present invention.
[FIG. 30] FIG. 30 shows an example of a format of an Ack return order position
change frame in the embodiment 3 of the present invention.
[FIG. 31] FIG. 31 shows a configuration of a transmission terminal 60 in an
embodiment 4 of the present invention.
[FIG. 32] FIG. 32 shows a configuration of a reception terminal 70 in the
embodiment 4 of the present invention.
[FIG. 33A] FIG. 33A shows an example of a format of a grouping request frame
in the embodiment 4 of the present invention.
[FIG. 33B] FIG. 33B shows an example of a format of a grouping response
frame in the embodiment 4 of the present invention.
[FIG. 34] FIG. 34 shows an example of a grouping table creation sequence in the
embodiment 4 of the present invention.
[FIG. 35] FIG. 35 shows an example of an occupational category priority table in
the embodiment 4 of the present invention.
[FIG. 36] FIG. 36 shows an example of the grouping table in the embodiment 4
of the present invention.
[FIG. 37] FIG. 37 shows an example of a wide area network in the embodiment 4
of the present invention.
[FIG. 38A] FIG. 38A is a diagram of a conventional network described in Patent
Literature 1.
[FIG. 38B] FIG. 38B shows an example of a data transmission/reception
according to Patent Literature 1.
[FIG. 39] FIG. 39 is a sequence diagram showing an example of a data
transmission/reception according to Patent Literature 2.
[FIG. 40A] FIG. 40A shows an example of a data transmission/reception (six
reception terminals) according to Patent Literature 2.
[FIG. 40B] FIG. 40B shows an example of a data transmission/reception (three
reception terminals) according to Patent Literature 2.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0022] A first communication method which is an aspect of the present invention is a
communication method used when a transmission terminal transmits transmission data to at least
one reception terminal. The transmission terminal comprises a grouping table storage section
for storing a grouping table in which an Ack return order position indicating a priority order of
the at least one reception terminal which returns an Ack, and an address of the at least one
reception terminal are set. The at least one reception terminal comprises an Ack return order
position storage section for storing an Ack return order position indicating a priority order of its
own terminal which returns an Ack. The method comprises the steps of: the transmission
terminal's executing an application and creating the transmission data, the transmission terminal's
referring to the grouping table, determining one or more reception terminals that are each to be
permitted to return an Ack, and creating Ack return permission information in which information
about the determined one or more reception terminals that are each to be permitted to return the
Ack is set; the transmission terminal's transmitting a multicast containing the Ack return
permission information and the transmission data to the at least one reception terminal; the at
least one reception terminal's receiving the multicast from the transmission terminal; the at least
one reception terminal's determining whether the at least one reception terminal is permitted to
return an Ack in response to the multicast, based on the Ack return permission information
contained in the multicast and on the Ack return order position stored in the Ack return order
position storage section; and the at least one reception terminal's returning the Ack to the
transmission terminal in a case where the at least one reception terminal has determined that the
at least one reception terminal has been permitted to return the Ack.
[0023] According to the present aspect, the transmission terminal transmits to the
reception terminals a multicast containing the Ack return permission information in which
information about the reception terminals that are each to be permitted to return an Ack is set,
and the transmission data. Accordingly, the data size of the Ack return permission information
can be reduced compared with a case where the Ack return permission information is transmitted
to each reception terminal by unicast, and transmission efficiency can be improved.
[0024] A second communication method, which is an aspect of the present invention and
based on the aspect of the first communication method, further comprises the step of: the at least
one reception terminal's calculating, upon determination that the at least one reception terminal
has been permitted to return the Ack, a waiting time period until returning the Ack, based on the
Ack return permission information contained in the multicast and on the Ack return order
position stored in the Ack return order position storage section. In the step of returning the Ack,
the Ack is returned after the calculated waiting time period has elapsed.
[0025] According to the present aspect, the reception terminals that have determined that
they have been permitted to return the Ack return the Ack after the calculated waiting time
period has elapsed. Accordingly, collision between the Acks from the reception terminals can
be prevented. Thus, the transmission terminals can receive the Acks in a more assured manner.
[0026] A third communication method, which is an aspect of the present invention and
based on the aspect of the first communication method, further comprises the step of: the
transmission terminal's receiving the Ack from one or more of the at least one reception terminal,
creating, in a case where the received Ack does not include an Ack from one or more of said one
or more reception terminals that have each been permitted to return the Ack, Ack return
permission information excluding information about the one or more of the at least one reception
terminal that the Ack has been received from, and retransmitting a multicast containing the
created Ack return permission information and the transmission data.
[0027] According to the present aspect, in a case where the transmission terminal
retransmits a multicast, the reception terminals that have successfully received the multicast at
the first transmission do not transmit an Ack again. Therefore, the number of unnecessary Acks
can be reduced, and transmission efficiency can be improved.
[0028] In a fourth communication method which is an aspect of the present invention and
based on the aspect of the first communication method, in the Ack return permission information,
a start return order position and an end return order position indicating a range of the Ack return
order position of the at least one reception terminal are described. In the determining step, the
at least one reception terminal determines, in a case where the Ack return order position stored in
the Ack return order position storage section is included in the range from the start return order
position to the end return order position, that the at least one reception terminal is permitted to
return the Ack in response to the multicast. In the step of returning the Ack, the at least one
reception terminal transmits the Ack to the transmission terminal according to the Ack return
order position.
[0029] In a fifth communication method which is an aspect of the present invention and
based on the aspect of the first communication method, in the Ack return permission information,
a return order position of a specific reception terminal, and a start return order position and an
end return order position indicating a range of the Ack return order position of the at least one
reception terminal are described. In the determining step, the at least one reception terminal
determines, in one of a case where the Ack return order position stored in the Ack return order
position storage section coincides with the return order position of the specific reception terminal
and a case where the Ack return order position stored in the Ack return order position storage
section is included in the range from the start return order position to the end return order
position, that the at least one reception terminal is permitted to return the Ack in response to the
multicast. In the step of returning the Ack, the at least one reception terminal transmits the Ack
to the transmission terminal according to the Ack return order position.
[0030] In a sixth communication method which is an aspect of the present invention and
based on the aspect of the first communication method, in the Ack return permission information,
a start return order position indicating a starting position of an Ack return order position of the at
least one reception terminal, and a return number indicating the number of the one or more
reception terminals that are each to be permitted to return the Ack are described. In the
determining step, in a case where the Ack return order position stored in the Ack return order
position storage section is included in a range from the start return order position to a return
order position represented by a value equivalent to the value of the start return order position
plus the return number minus 1, the at least one reception terminal determines that the at least
one reception terminal is permitted to return the Ack in response to the multicast. In the step of
returning the Ack, the at least one reception terminal transmits the Ack to the transmission
terminal according to the Ack return order position.
[0031] In a seventh communication method which is an aspect of the present invention, in
the Ack return permission information, a return number indicating the number of the one or more
reception terminals that are each to be permitted to return the Ack is described. In the
determining step, in a case where the Ack return order position stored in the Ack return order
position storage section is included in a range represented by the return number, the at least one
reception terminal determines that the at least one reception terminal is permitted to return the
Ack in response to the multicast. In the step of returning the Ack, the at least one reception
terminal transmits the Ack to the transmission terminal according to the Ack return order
position.
[0032] According these aspects, since the information about all of the reception terminals
that are permitted to return an Ack is not described in the Ack return permission information, the
data size of the Ack return permission information can be reduced, and transmission efficiency
can be improved.
[0033] In an eighth communication method which is an aspect of the present invention
and based on the aspect of the first communication method, in the Ack return permission
information, a flag indicating whether to permit returning the Ack is described for each Ack
return order position of the respective at least one reception terminal. In the determining step,
in a case where the flag corresponding to the Ack return order position stored in the Ack return
order position storage section has been set, the at least one reception terminal determines that the
at least one reception terminal is permitted to return the Ack in response to the multicast. In the
step of returning the Ack, the at least one reception terminal transmits the Ack to the
transmission terminal according to the Ack return order position. According to the present
aspect, in the Ack return permission information, the Ack return order positions are represented
by flags. Therefore, the data size of the Ack return permission information can be reduced and
transmission efficiency can be improved.
[0034] In a ninth communication method which is an aspect of the present invention and
based on the aspect of the first communication method, in the step of creating the Ack return
permission information, the transmission terminal determines the number of the one or more
reception terminals that are each to be permitted to return the Ack, based on an interval at which
the transmission data is generated, and creates the Ack return permission information based on
the determined number of the one or more reception terminals and on the Ack return order
position set in the grouping table. According to the present aspect, the number of reception
terminals that are permitted to return an Ack can be set appropriately in accordance with the
interval at which transmission data is generated.
[0035] In a tenth communication method which is an aspect of the present invention and
based on the aspect of the first communication method, in the step of creating the Ack return
permission information, the transmission terminal determines the number of the one or more
reception terminals that are each to be permitted to return the Ack, based on the contents rate of
the transmission data, and creates the Ack return permission information based on the
determined number of the one or more reception terminals and on the Ack return order position
set in the grouping table. According to the present aspect, the number of reception terminals
that are permitted to return an Ack can be set appropriately in accordance with the contents rate
of the transmission data.
[0036] An eleventh communication method which is an aspect of the present invention
and based on the aspect of the first communication method further comprises the steps of: the
transmission terminal's referring to the grouping table before transmitting the multicast to the at
least one reception terminal, and transmitting to the at least one reception terminal an Ack return
order position notification frame in which the Ack return order position of the at least one
reception terminal is set; and the at least one reception terminal's storing, upon reception of die
Ack return order position notification frame, the Ack return order position described in the Ack
return order position notification frame, in the Ack return order position storage section.
According to the present aspect, the transmission terminal can dynamically control the Ack
return order positions of the reception terminals.
[0037] A twelfth communication method, which is an aspect of the present invention and
based on the aspect of the eleventh communication method, further comprises the steps of: the at
least one reception terminal's transmitting, after storing the Ack return order position in the Ack
return order position storage section, an Ack return order position response frame in response to
the Ack return order position notification frame, to the transmission terminal; and the
transmission terminal's not permitting by means of the Ack return permission information, one or
more of the at least one reception terminal that the transmission terminal has not received the
Ack return order position response frame from, to transmit the Ack. According to the present
aspect, the reception terminals from which the Ack return order position response frames are not
received are not permitted to return an Ack. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the bandwidth
from being used in vain, and to improve transmission efficiency.
[0038] A thirteenth communication method, which is an aspect of the present invention
and based on the aspect of the twelfth communication method, further comprises the steps of: the
at least one reception terminal's transmitting, when newly entering the communication area of
the transmission terminal, an entry frame to the transmission terminal; and the transmission
terminal's permitting by means of the Ack return permission information, upon reception of the
entry frame, the at least one reception terminal that has transmitted the entry frame, to transmit
the Ack. According to the present aspect, an Ack return permission can be given to a new
reception terminal that has entered the communication area of the transmission terminal after the
distribution of the contents had been started. Therefore, the new reception terminal can receive
the contents with assured reception quality.
[0039] A fourteenth communication method, which is an aspect of the present invention
and based on the aspect of the first communication method, further comprises the steps of: the
transmission terminal's transmitting a grouping request frame for requesting information of at
least one reception terminal that is present in the communication area of the transmission
terminal; the at least one reception terminal's transmitting, upon reception of the grouping
request frame, a grouping response frame containing priority information used for determination
of the Ack return order position, to the transmission terminal; and the transmission terminal's
creating a grouping table in which an Ack return order position of the at least one reception
terminal is set, based on the priority information contained in the grouping response frame.
[0040] According to the present aspect, the transmission terminal creates the grouping
table based on the priority information contained in the grouping response frame. Accordingly,
even 1F the type or the number of reception terminals present in the communication area of the
transmission terminal are not known, the Ack return order positions can be controlled, and thus
permission of response packet communication can be controlled appropriately in accordance
with the conditions.
[0041] A transmission method which is an aspect of the present invention is a
transmission method used by a transmission terminal when transmitting transmission data to at
least one reception terminal, the transmission terminal comprising a grouping table storage
section for storing a grouping table in which an Ack return order position indicating a priority
order of the at least one reception terminal which returns an Ack, and an address of the at least
one reception terminal are set. The transmission method comprises the steps of: executing an
application and creating the transmission data; referring to the grouping table, determining one
or more reception terminals that are each to be permitted to return an Ack, and creating Ack
return permission information in which information about the determined one or more reception
terminals that are each to be permitted to return the Ack is set; and transmitting a multicast
containing the Ack return permission information and the transmission data to the at least one
reception terminal.
[0042] A reception method which is an aspect of the present invention is a reception
method used by at least one reception terminal when receiving transmission data from a
transmission terminal, the at least one reception terminal comprising an Ack return order position
storage section for storing an Ack return order position indicating a priority order of its own
terminal which returns an Ack. The reception method comprises the steps of: receiving from
the transmission terminal a multicast containing the transmission data and Ack return permission
information in which information about one or more reception terminals that are each to be
permitted to return an Ack is set; determining, based on the Ack return permission information
contained in the multicast and on the Ack return order position stored in the Ack return order
position storage section, whether returning an Ack in response to the multicast is permitted; and
returning, in a case where it is determined that returning the Ack is permitted, the Ack to the
transmission terminal.
[0043] A transmission terminal which is an aspect of the present invention is a
transmission terminal for transmitting transmission data to at least one reception terminal, the
transmission terminal comprising: a grouping table storage section for storing a grouping table in
which an Ack return order position indicating a priority order of the at least one reception
terminal which returns an Ack, and an address of the at least one reception terminal are set; a
wireless transmission/reception section for demodulating a frame received from the reception
terminal, and modulating a frame to be transmitted to the reception terminal; a frame
classification section for classifying an Ack and an Ack return order position response frame
from the frame that the wireless transmission/reception section has received; an Ack analyzing
section for analyzing the Ack; an Ack return order position response frame analyzing section for
analyzing the Ack return order position response frame; an application section for executing an
application and creating the transmission data; an Ack return order position notification frame
creation section for notifying the at least one reception terminal of the Ack return order position,
based on the grouping table; an Ack return permission information determination section for
referring to the grouping table, determining one or more reception terminals that are each to be
permitted to return an Ack, and creating Ack return permission information in which information
about the determined one or more reception terminals that are each to be permitted to return the
Ack is set; and a multicast creation section for creating a multicast containing the Ack return
permission information and the transmission data.
[0044] A reception terminal which is an aspect of the present invention is a reception
terminal for receiving transmission data from a transmission terminal, the reception terminal
comprising: a wireless transmission/reception section for demodulating a frame received from
the transmission terminal and modulating a frame to be transmitted to the transmission terminal;
a frame classification section for classifying an Ack return order position notification frame from
the received frame; an Ack return order position notification frame analyzing section for
analyzing the Ack return order position notification frame; an Ack return order position storage
section for storing an Ack return order position indicating a priority order of its own terminal
which returns an Ack, the Ack return order position being contained in the Ack return order
position notification frame; an Ack return order position response frame creation section for
creating, upon reception of the Ack return order position notification frame, an Ack return order
position response frame; an Ack return determination section for determining whether it is
necessary to return an Ack, based on Ack return permission information contained in the
multicast and on the Ack return order position stored in the Ack return order position storage
section; and an Ack creation section for creating, in a case where the Ack return determination
section has determined that it is necessary to return the Ack, the Ack to be returned to the
transmission terminal.
[0045] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with
reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an example of a configuration of a communication
system according to each embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the
communication system according to each embodiment of the present invention is configured to
include a transmission terminal 1A which transmits data by multicast via a wireless network and
a plurality of reception terminals 1B to 1F, each of which receives the data transmitted by the
transmission terminal 1A and returns an Ack (arrival confirmation frame) to the transmission
terminal 1A.
[0046] (Embodiment 1)
Hereinafter, an embodiment 1 which is an example of a form for implementing the
present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 is a function block
diagram of a transmission terminal 10 according to the embodiment 1. The function block
diagram of the transmission terminal 10 corresponds to the configuration of the transmission
terminal 1A mentioned above. In FIG. 2, the transmission terminal 10 includes a wireless
transmission/reception section 11, a frame classification section 12, an Ack analyzing section 13,
an application section 14, a grouping table storage section 15, an Ack return order position
notification frame creation section 16, an Ack return order position response frame analyzing
section 17, a multicast creation section 18, and an Ack return permission information
determination section 19.
[0047] The wireless transmission/reception section 11 demodulates frames received from
the wireless network and modulates frames to be transmitted to the wireless network. The
frame classification section 12 classifies the frames received by the wireless
transmission/reception section 11, outputs Acks to the Ack analyzing section 13, and outputs Ack
return order position response frames to the Ack return order position response frame analyzing
section 17. The Ack analyzing section 13 analyzes the received Acks. The application section
14 executes an application and creates transmission data. The grouping table storage section 15
stores a grouping table in which addresses of reception terminals and Ack return order positions
are described. The Ack return order position notification frame creation section 16 notifies
reception terminals which receive the multicast, of the Ack return order positions, respectively,
based on the grouping table. The Ack return order position response frame analyzing section
17 analyzes the received Ack return order position response frames. The Ack return permission
information determination section 19 refers to the grouping table, determines reception terminals
that are to be permitted to return an Ack, and creates Ack return permission information in which
information about the determined reception terminals that are to be permitted to return an Ack is
set. The multicast creation section 18 creates a multicast containing the Ack return permission
information and the transmission data.
[0048] FIG. 3 is a function block diagram of a reception terminal 20 according to the
embodiment 1. The function block diagram of the reception terminal 20 corresponds to the
configuration of each of the reception terminal 1B to 1F mentioned above. In FIG. 3, the
reception terminal 20 includes a wireless transmission/reception section 21, a frame
classification section 22, an Ack return order position notification frame analyzing section 23, an
Ack return order position storage section 24, an Ack return order position response frame
creation section 25, an Ack return determination section 26, and an Ack creation section 27.
[0049] The wireless transmission/reception section 21 demodulates frames received from
the wireless network, and modulates frames to be transmitted to the wireless network. The
frame classification section 22 classifies an Ack return order position notification frame from
among the received frames. The Ack return order position notification frame analyzing section
23 analyzes the received Ack return order position notification frame. The Ack return order
position storage section 24 stores information of the Ack return order position contained in the
Ack return order position notification frame. Specifically, the Ack return order position storage
section 24 stores the Ack return order position indicating the priority order of the reception
terminal (own terminal) that returns an Ack. The Ack return order position response frame
creation section 25 creates an Ack return order position response frame. The Ack return
determination section 26 determines whether it is necessary to return an Ack, based on the Ack
return permission information contained in the received multicast and on the Ack return order
position stored in the Ack return order position storage section 24. In a case where the Ack
return determination section 26 has determined that it is necessary to return an Ack, the Ack
creation section 27 creates an Ack to be returned to the transmission terminal 10.
[0050] FIGS. 4A to D show examples of configurations of frames, respectively, used in
the present the embodiment 1. FIG. 4A is an example of a configuration of an Ack return order
position notification frame. With reference to FIG. 4A, the Ack return order position
notification frame includes a header 100 which stores parameters necessary for access, such as
address and frame identifier, an Ack return order position 101 which stores information about the
Ack return order position, and an error detection 102 which stores information for detecting an
error in the frame.
[0051 ] FIG. 4B is an example of a configuration of the Ack return order position response
frame. With reference to FIG. 4B, the Ack return order position response frame includes a
header 103 which stores parameters necessary for access, such as address and frame identifier, an
error detection 104 which stores information for detecting an error in the frame.
[0052] FIG. 4C is an example of a configuration of a multicast. With reference to FIG.
4C, a multicast includes a header 110 which stores parameters necessary for access, such as
address and frame identifier, an Ack return permission information 111 which stores information
about permission of returning an Ack, a data body 112 which stores transmission data, and an
error detection 113 which stores information for detecting an error in the frame. Further, the
Ack return permission information 111 includes a start return order position 111A and an end
return order position 111B indicating a range of the Ack return order positions.
[0053] FIG. 4D is an example of a configuration of an Ack. With reference to FIG. 4D,
an Ack includes a header 114 which stores parameters necessary for access, such as address and
frame identifier, and an error detection 115 which stores information for detecting an error in the
frame.
[0054] FIG. 5 shows an example of a grouping table managed by the grouping table
storage section 15 in the transmission terminal 10. With reference to FIG. 5, a terminal address,
an Ack return order position, an Ack return order position response flag, and an Ack flag are set
in the grouping table. In the terminal address, address information of each terminal belonging
to the group is described. Here, the transmission terminal's own address is not registered. The
Ack return order position indicates the priority order of each reception terminal that returns an
Ack, and describes a value to be set in the Ack return order position 101 in an Ack return order
position notification frame. The Ack return order position response flag describes a value
indicating whether an Ack return order position response frame has been received. Here, the
initial value of the Ack return order position response flag is set to "0". When receiving an Ack
return order position response frame, the transmission terminal 10 changes the Ack return order
position response flag of the corresponding reception terminal to "1". The Ack flag describes a
value indicating whether an Ack has been received in response to a multicast. Here, the initial
value of the Ack flag is set to "0". When receiving an Ack, the transmission terminal 10
changes the Ack flag of the corresponding reception terminal to "1".
[0055] FIG. 6 shows an example of a method of determining the number of Ack returns
determined by the Ack return permission information determination section 19. In the example
shown in FIG. 6, a multicast transmission interval is 3000 us, a time period necessary for
transmitting a multicast is 80 us, a time period necessary for transmitting an Ack is 40 us, and a
gap time period between each two frames is 20 us. Here, the number of Ack returns is
determined such that two retransmissions can be performed.
[0056] An example of a specific calculation method of the number of Ack returns is
described below. First, by (formula 1), a time period that can be used as a cycle is determined
by use of the multicast transmission interval and the number of times of retransmissions. It
should be noted that the multicast transmission interval is determined based on an occurrence
interval of transmission data. Next, by (formula 2), an Ack-processable time period is
determined by use of the time period that can be used as a cycle, the multicast transmission time
period, and the gap time period. Lastly, by (formula 3), the number of Ack returns is
determined by use of the Ack-processable time period, the Ack transmission time period, and the
gap time period.
(Time period that can be used as a cycle) = (Multicast transmission interval) / (The
number of times of retransmissions + 1)
... (formula 1)
(Ack-processable time period) = (Time period that can be used as a cycle)-
(Multicast transmission time period)-(Gap time period)
... (formula 2)
(The number of processable Acks)
= (Ack-processable time period) / ((Ack transmission time period) + (Gap time period ))
... (formula 3)
[0057] Therefore, under the condition of FIG. 6, it is determined the number of Ack
returns is 15 by (formula 1) to (formula 3), and thus 15 reception terminals can return Acks,
respectively.
(Time period that can be used as a cycle) = 3000 / (2 + 1) = 1000 [us]
(Ack-processable time period) = 1000 - 80 - 20 = 900 [us]
(The number of Ack returns) = 900 / (40 + 20) = 15
[005 8] FIG. 7 shows an example of an Ack return order position sequence of the present
invention. In the example shown in FIG. 7, the transmission terminal 1A transmits a multicast
and the reception terminals 1B to 1F receive the multicast. Before starting transmission of the
multicast, the transmission terminal 1A transmits Ack return order position notification frames to
the reception terminals 1B to 1F, respectively, based on the grouping table in FIG. 5.
Specifically, the transmission terminal 1A sets a value of a corresponding Ack return order
position in the grouping table, in the Ack return order position 101 of a corresponding Ack return
order position notification frame, and transmits the Ack return order position notification frame.
Upon reception of the Ack return order position notification frames, the reception terminals 1B
to 1F return Ack return order position response frames to the transmission terminal 1 A,
respectively. Upon reception of the Ack return order position response frames, the transmission
terminal 1A sets the respective Ack return order position response flags in the grouping table to
''1''
[0059] FIG. 8 shows a state of the grouping table in a case where the transmission
terminal 1A has received the Ack return order position response frames in the Ack return order
position sequence in FIG. 7 and has set the Ack return order position response flags to " 1". As
shown in FIG. 8, since the transmission terminal 1A has received the Ack return order position
response frames of the reception terminals 1B to 1F, the transmission terminal 1A sets the Ack
return order position response flags of the reception terminals 1B to 1F in the grouping table to
''1''
[0060] FIG. 9 shows an example of a multicast retransmission sequence of the present
invention. In the example shown in FIG. 9, a multicast is transmitted after the Ack return order
position sequence in FIG. 7 has been finished. Each of FIGS. 10A to D shows a state of the
grouping table managed by the transmission terminal 1A in the multicast retransmission
sequence in FIG. 9. In FIG. 9, the transmission terminal 1A determines the number of Ack
returns by using the method of determining the number of Ack returns described with reference
to FIG. 6. Here, it is assumed that it is determined that the number of Ack returns is "3".
[0061 ] The transmission terminal 1A detects the value of the Ack return order position of
a reception terminal whose Ack return order position notification response flag is set to " 1" and
whose Ack flag is set to "0" in the grouping table. Since the value "1" of the Ack return order
position is the smallest value here, the transmission terminal 1A sets "1" in the start return order
position 111A and "3" in the end return order position 111B of a first multicast, and then
transmits the first multicast.
[0062] Upon reception of the first multicast, each of the reception terminals 1B to 1F
determines an occurrence of an error in the received first multicast by using the error detection
113 of the first multicast. Here, it is assumed that an error has occurred at each of the reception
terminals 1C to 1F. Each of the reception terminals that has received the first multicast
compares the value of the start return order position 111A and the value of the end return order
position 11 1B of the first multicast, with the value of the Ack return order position stored in its
own Ack return order position storage section 24. Here, it is confirmed whether these values
satisfy (formula 4).
(Value of start return order position 111 A) < (Value of Ack return order position) <
(Value of end return order position 11 1B)...(formula 4)
[0063] Since the reception terminal 1B satisfies (formula 4), the reception terminal 1B
returns an Ack. At this time, the reception terminal 1B compares the value of its own Ack
return order position with the value of the start return order position 111 A, and determines a
waiting time period. Here, the reception terminal 1B waits for a time period equivalent to the
value determined by (formula 5), after receiving the first multicast, and then returns the Ack.
(Waiting time period) = Gap time period + {(Ack transmission time period + gap
time period) * (Value of Ack return order position) - (Value of start return order position
lllA)}...(formula5)
[0064] Since each of the reception terminals 1C and 1D satisfies (formula 4) but has an
occurrence of an error in the multicast, they determine not to return an Ack. Since each of the
reception terminals 1E and 1F does not satisfy (formula 4), they determine not to return an Ack.
Since the transmission terminal 1A has received the Ack from the reception terminal 1B, the
transmission terminal 1A sets the Ack flag of the reception terminal 1B in the grouping table to
"1"(FIG. 10A).
[0065]
Since the transmission terminal 1A has not received an Ack from each of the
reception terminals 1C and 1D, each of which the transmission terminal 1A had permitted to
return an Ack, the transmission terminal 1A retransmits the first multicast. The transmission
terminal 1A detects the value of the Ack return order position of a reception terminal whose Ack
return order position notification response flag is set to " 1" and whose Ack flag is set to "0" in the
grouping table. Since the value "2" of the Ack return order position is the smallest value here,
the transmission terminal 1A sets "2" in the start return order position 111 A and "4" in the end
return order position 11 1B of the first multicast and then retransmits the resultant first multicast.
Thus, the transmission terminal 1A expects to receive three Acks in total from the reception
terminals 1C to 1E.
[0066] Upon reception of the first multicast, each of the reception terminals 1B to 1F
determines an occurrence of an error in the received first multicast by using the error detection
113 of the first multicast. Here, it is assumed that errors have occurred in the reception terminal
1C, 1E,and 1F, respectively. Since each of the reception terminals 1C and 1E satisfies (formula
4) but has an occurrence of an error in the multicast, they do not return an Ack. Since the
reception terminal 1D has received the multicast successfully and satisfies (formula 4), it returns
an Ack. At this time, the reception terminal 1D waits for a time period equivalent to the value
determined by (formula 5), after receiving the multicast, and then returns the Ack. Since the
transmission terminal 1A has received the Ack from the reception terminal 1D, the transmission
terminal lA sets the Ack flag of the reception terminal 1D in the grouping table to "1" (FIG. 10B).
[0067]
Since the transmission terminal 1A has not received an Ack from each of the
reception terminals 1C and 1E, each of which the transmission terminal 1A had permitted to
return an Ack, the transmission terminal 1A retransmits the first multicast. The transmission
terminal 1A detects the value of the Ack return order position of a reception terminal whose Ack
return order position notification response flag is set to " 1" and whose Ack flag is set to "0" in
the grouping table. Since the value "2" of the Ack return order position is the smallest value
here, the transmission terminal 1A sets "2" in the start return order position 111A and "4" in the
end return order position 11 1B of the first multicast and then retransmits the resultant first
multicast. Thus, the transmission terminal 1A expects to receive three Acks in total from the
reception terminals 1C to 1E.
[0068] Upon reception of the first multicast, each of the reception terminals 1B to 1F
determines an occurrence of an error in the received first multicast by using the error detection
113 of the first multicast. Here, it is assumed that errors have occurred in the reception
terminals 1C and 1F, respectively. Each of the reception terminals 1B to 1F compares the value
of the start return order position 111A and the value of the end return order position 11 1B of the
first multicast, with the value of the Ack return order position stored in its own Ack return order
position storage section 24. Here, it is confirmed whether these values satisfy (formula 4).
[0069] Since each of the reception terminals 1D and 1E satisfies (formula 4), they return
an Ack. At this time, each of the reception terminals 1D and 1E compares the value of its own
Ack return order position with the value of the start return order position 111 A, and determines a
waiting time period. Here, each of the reception terminals 1D and 1E waits for a time period
determined by (formula 5), after receiving the first multicast, and then returns the Ack. Since
the reception terminal 1C satisfies (formula 4) but has an occurrence of an error in the multicast,
the reception terminals 1C does not return an Ack. Since each of the reception terminals 1B and 1F does not satisfy (formula 4), they determine not to return an Ack. Since the
transmission terminal 1A has received the Ack from each of the reception terminals 1D and 1E,
the transmission terminal 1A sets the Ack flag of each of the reception terminals 1D and 1E in
the grouping table to "1" (FIG. 10C).
[0070]
Since the transmission terminal 1A has not received an Ack from the reception
terminal 1C, which the transmission terminal lA had permitted to return an Ack, the
transmission terminal 1A retransmits the first multicast. The transmission terminal 1A detects
the value of the Ack return order position of a reception terminal whose Ack return order
position notification response flag is set to " 1" and whose Ack flag is set to "0" in the grouping
table. Since the value "2" of the Ack return order position is the smallest value here, the
transmission terminal 1A sets "2" in the start return order position 111A and "4" in the end return
order position 11 1B of the first multicast and then retransmits the resultant first multicast. Thus,
the transmission terminal 1A expects to receive three Acks in total from the reception terminals
1C to lE.
[0071] Upon reception of the first multicast, each of the reception terminals 1B to IF
determines an occurrence of an error in the received first multicast by using the error detection
113 of the first multicast. Here, it is assumed that no error has occurred in any of the reception
terminals 1B to 1F. Each of the reception terminals 1B to 1F compares the value of the start
return order position 111A and the value of the end return order position 111B of the first
multicast, with the value of the Ack return order position stored in its own Ack return order
position storage section 24. Here, it is confirmed whether these values satisfy (formula 4).
[0072] Since each of the reception terminals 1C to 1E satisfies (formula 4), they return an
Ack. At this time, each of the reception terminals 1C to 1E compares the value of its own Ack
return order position with the value of the start return order position 111A, and determines a
waiting time period. Here, each of the reception terminals 1C to 1E waits for a time period
equivalent to the value determined by (formula 5), after receiving the first multicast, and then
returns the Ack. Since each of the reception terminals 1B and 1F does not satisfy (formula 4),
they determine not to return an Ack. Since the transmission terminal 1A has received the Ack
from each of the reception terminals 1C to 1E , the transmission terminal 1A sets the Ack flag of
each of the reception terminals 1C to 1E in the grouping table to "1" (FIG. 10D).
[0073]
Since the transmission terminal 1A has received the Acks from all of the reception
terminals, respectively, each of which the transmission terminal 1A had permitted to return an
Ack, the transmission terminal 1A confirms the number of reception terminals whose Ack return
order position notification response flag is set to " 1" and whose Ack flag is set to "0" in the
grouping table. Here, since the reception terminal 1F falls under this category, the transmission
terminal 1A determines that retransmission of the multicast is necessary. However, since the
transmission time of a second multicast, which is the next data, has arrived, the transmission
terminal 1A ends the retransmission processing of the first multicast. At this time, the
transmission terminal 1A sets the Ack flag of each of the reception terminals 1B to 1F to "0".
Next, the transmission terminal 1A performs the similar processing to that performed in the
transmission of the first multicast, sets " 1" in the start return order position 111A and "3" in the
end return order position 11 1B and then transmits the second multicast.
[0074] FIG. 11 shows an example of a control flow performed by the transmission
terminal 1 A. With reference to FIG. 11, the transmission terminal 1A waits until the application
section 14 starts communication (step S1: NO). Upon executing an application and starting
communication, the application section 14 notifies the Ack return order position notification
frame creation section 16 of the start of the communication (step S1: YES). In step S2, the Ack
return order position notification frame creation section 16 acquires the address of a reception
terminal that has " 1" as the value of Ack return order position in the grouping table, and creates
an Ack return order position notification frame. Specifically, the Ack return order position
notification frame creation section 16 sets " 1" in the Ack return order position 101 of the Ack
return order position notification frame and then transmits the Ack return order position
notification frame via the wireless transmission/reception section 11.
[0075] In step S3, the Ack return order position response frame analyzing section 17
waits until an Ack return order position response frame is inputted from the frame classification
section 12. When the Ack return order position response frame is inputted, the Ack return order
position response frame analyzing section 17 notifies the Ack return order position notification
frame creation section 16 of such (step S3: YES). On the other hand, in step S3, 1F the Ack
return order position response frame is not inputted within a predetermined time period which
has been set in advance, the Ack return order position response frame analyzing section 17
notifies the Ack return order position notification frame creation section 16 of such (step S3:
NO).
[0076] In step S4, since the Ack return order position response frame has been inputted
from the Ack return order position response frame analyzing section 17, the Ack return order
position notification frame creation section 16 sets the Ack return order position response flag of
the corresponding reception terminal in the grouping table to "1". In step S5, the Ack return
order position notification frame creation section 16 searches for a reception terminal that has a
value of the Ack return order position equivalent to the value of the Ack return order position
used in step S2 plus " 1". 1F a corresponding reception terminal is present, the Ack return order
position notification frame creation section 16 transmits an Ack return order position notification
frame to the corresponding reception terminal (step S5: NO). In step S5, 1F a corresponding
reception terminal is absent, the Ack return order position notification frame creation section 16
notifies the application section 14 of such (step S5: YES). It should be noted that in a case
where each of the reception terminals 1B to 1F has already stored an Ack return order position,
the processes of steps S2 to 5 may be omitted.
[0077] In step S6, upon reception of the notification from the Ack return order position
notification frame creation section 16, the application section 14 inputs data to be transmitted, to
the multicast creation section 18. In step S7, upon the data being inputted, the multicast
creation section 18 acquires Ack return permission information necessary for creating a multicast,
from the Ack return permission information determination section 19. In step S8, the Ack
return permission information determination section 19 determines the number of Ack return
permissions based on the multicast transmission interval, the number of times of multicast
retransmission chances, and the like.
[0078] In step S9, the Ack return permission information determination section 19 detects
Ack return order positions of reception terminals whose Ack return order position notification
response flag is set to " 1" and whose Ack flag is set to "0" in the grouping table, and creates Ack
return permission information that gives Ack return permissions to reception terminals among
the detected reception terminals, by the number determined in step S8, counted from the smallest
value of the Ack return order position among those of the detected reception terminals. In step
S10, the multicast creation section 18 creates a multicast containing the Ack return permission
information created in step S9 and transmits it.
[0079] In step S11, the Ack analyzing section 13 waits for an Ack from the frame
classification section 12. 1F an Ack is inputted, the Ack analyzing section 13 notifies the Ack
return permission information determination section 19 of the input (step S11: YES). On the
other hand, in step S11, 1F the Ack analyzing section 13 does not receive an Ack within a
predetermined time period which has been set in advance, the Ack analyzing section 13 notifies
the Ack return permission information determination section 19 of such (step S11: NO).
[0080] In step S12, since an Ack reception notification is inputted from the Ack analyzing
section 13, the Ack return permission information determination section 19 sets the Ack flag of
the corresponding reception terminal in the grouping table to " 1". In step S13, the Ack return
permission information determination section 19 determines whether to end the Ack waiting
process. In step S13, 1F a time period set in advance has elapsed after the transmission of the
multicast, the Ack return permission information determination section 19 ends the Ack waiting
process (step S13: YES). On the other hand, in step S13, 1F the predetermined time period set in
advance has not elapsed, the Ack return permission information determination section 19 waits
foranAck(StepS 13:NO).
[0081] In step S14, the Ack return permission information determination section 19
detects Ack return order positions of reception terminals whose Ack return order position
notification response flag is set to " 1" and whose Ack flag is set to "0" in the grouping table. In
step S14, 1F there is no reception terminal whose Ack return order position notification response
flag is set to " 1" and whose Ack flag is set to "0", the Ack return permission information
determination section 19 determines that retransmission is not necessary (step S14: NO). On
the other hand, in step S14, 1F there is a reception terminal whose Ack return order position
notification response flag is set to " 1" and whose Ack flag is set to "0", the Ack return permission
information determination section 19 determines that retransmission is necessary (step SI4:
YES).
[0082] In step S15, the multicast creation section 18 determines whether retransmission is
possible based on the multicast transmission interval. In step S15, the multicast creation
section 18 determines, based on the information of the multicast transmission interval, that
retransmission is possible 1F the transmission time of a multicast of the next data has not arrived
yet (step S15: YES). On the other hand, in step S15, 1F the transmission time of a multicast of
the next data has arrived, the multicast creation section 18 determines that retransmission is not
possible (step SI5: NO).
[0083] In step S16, the multicast creation section 18 retransmits the multicast. It should
be noted that, in step S16, 1F the number of terminals which have been given an Ack return
permission by mean of the Ack return permission information received from the Ack return
permission information determination section 19 is one, the data may be retransmitted by unicast.
[0084] In step S17, the multicast creation section 18 confirms a notification of the end of
the data transmission. In step S17, upon reception of a notification of the end of the data
communication from the application section 14, the multicast creation section 18 ends the data
transmission (step S17: YES). On the other hand, in step S17, 1F the multicast creation section
18 has received the next data from the application section 14, the multicast creation section 18
creates a multicast of the next data and transmits it (step SI 7: NO).
[0085] FIG. 12 shows an example of a control flow performed by each of the reception
terminals 1B to 1F. With reference to FIG. 12, in step S21, the wireless transmission/reception
section 21 waits until it receives a frame (step S21: NO). In step S21, upon reception of a
frame, the wireless transmission/reception section 21 passes the frame to the frame classification
section 22 (step S21: YES). In step S22, the frame classification section 22 classifies the frame
inputted from the wireless transmission/reception section 21. 1F the frame inputted form the
wireless transmission/reception section 21 is an Ack return order position notification frame, the
frame classification section 22 passes the frame to the Ack return order position notification
frame analyzing section 23 (step S22: YES). On the other hand, 1F the frame inputted from the
wireless transmission/reception section 21 is not an Ack return order position notification frame,
the frame classification section 22 passes the frame to the Ack return determination section 26
(step S22: NO).
[0086] In step S23, the Ack return order position notification frame analyzing section 23
analyzes the Ack return order position notification frame, and stores the value of the Ack return
order position of the frame, in the Ack return order position storage section 24. Meanwhile, the
Ack return order position notification frame analyzing section 23 passes address information of
the transmission terminal which has transmitted the Ack return order position notification frame,
to the Ack return order position response frame creation section 25. In step S24, the Ack return
order position response frame creation section 25 creates an Ack return order position response
frame based on the address information received from the Ack return order position notification
frame analyzing section 23, and transmits the Ack return order position response frame.
[0087] In step S25, 1F the frame inputted form the wireless transmission/reception section
21 is a multicast, the Ack return determination section 26 advances the process to step S26 (step
S25: YES). On the other hand, in step S25, 1F the frame is a frame other than a multicast, the
Ack return determination section 26 ends the process and waits until receiving the next frame
(step S25: NO). It should be noted that, in step S22, 1F the frame inputted form the wireless
transmission/reception section 21 is an Ack return order position notification frame, the frame
classification section 22 may pass the frame to the Ack return order position notification frame
analyzing section 23 (step S22: YES), and 1F the frame inputted from the wireless
transmission/reception section 21 is a multicast, the frame classification section 22 may pass the
frame to the Ack return determination section 26 (step S22: NO). In this case, since the
received frame which has been passed to the Ack return determination section 26 is a multicast,
the process of step S25 can be omitted.
[0088] In step S26, the Ack return determination section 26 determines whether it is
necessary to return an Ack, by using the Ack return permission information set in the multicast
and the value of the Ack return order position stored in the Ack return order position storage
section 24. It should be noted that the method of determining whether it is necessary to return
an Ack differs depending on the embodiment. In step S26, 1F it is not necessary to return an
Ack, the Ack return determination section 26 ends the process and waits until receiving the next
frame (step S26: NO). On the other hand, in step S26, 1F it is necessary to return an Ack, the
Ack return determination section 26 performs preparation for returning an Ack (step S26: YES).
[0089] In step S27, the Ack return determination section 26 confirms the presence or
absence of an error in the received multicast. 1F there is no error in the multicast, the Ack return
determination section 26 requests the Ack creation section 27 to create an Ack (step S27: YES).
On the other hand, 1F there is an error in the multicast, the Ack return determination section 26
does not request the Ack creation section 27 to create an Ack, ends the process, and waits until
receiving the next frame (step S27: NO). In step S28, upon reception of an instruction to create
an Ack from the Ack return determination section 26, the Ack creation section 27 creates an Ack,
transmits the Ack at a timing designated by the Ack return determination section 26, and then
ends the process.
[0090] Next, an example will be shown where the retransmissions of the first multicast to
all of the reception terminals have been completed before the transmission time of the second
multicast arrives. FIG. 13 shows an example of a multicast retransmission sequence of the
present invention. It is assumed that, in the example shown in FIG. 13, the transmission of a
multicast is performed after the Ack return order position sequence shown in FIG. 7 has been
performed. In addition, each of FIG 14A to C shows a state of the grouping table managed by
the transmission terminal 1A in a multicast retransmission sequence shown in FIG. 13.
[0091] In FIG. 13, the transmission terminal 1A determines the number of Ack returns by
using the method of determining the number of Ack returns described with reference to FIG. 6.
Here, it is assumed that it is determined that the number of Ack returns is "3". The transmission
terminal 1A detects the value of the Ack return order position of a reception terminal whose Ack
return order position notification response flag is set to "1" and whose Ack flag is set to "0" in the
grouping table. Since the value " 1" of the Ack return order position is the smallest value here,
the transmission terminal lAsets "1" in the start return order position lllA and "3" in the end
return order position 11 1B of a first multicast, and then transmits the first multicast.
[0092] Upon reception of the first multicast, each of the reception terminals 1B to 1F
determines an occurrence of an error in the received first multicast by using the error detection
113 of the first multicast. Here, it is assumed that an error has occurred at the reception
terminal 1C. Each of the reception terminals that has received the first multicast compares the
value of the start return order position 111A and the value of the end return order position 11 1B of the first multicast, with the value of the Ack return order position stored in its own Ack return
order position storage section 24. Here, it is confirmed whether these values satisfy (formula 4).
[0093] Since each of the reception terminals 1B and 1D satisfies (formula 4), they return
an Ack. At this time, each of the reception terminals 1B and 1D compares the value of its own
Ack return order position with the value of the start return order position 111 A, and determines a
waiting time period. Here, each of the reception terminals 1B and 1D waits for a time period
equivalent to the value determined by (formula 5), after receiving the first multicast, and then
returns the Ack. Since the reception terminal 1C satisfies (formula 4) but has an occurrence of
an error in the first multicast, the reception terminal 1C does not return an Ack. Since the
reception terminals 1E and 1F do not satisfy (formula 4), they determine not to return an Ack.
Since the transmission terminal 1A has received the Ack from each of the reception terminals 1B and 1D, the transmission terminal 1A sets the Ack flag of each of the reception terminals 1B and 1D in the grouping table to "1" (FIG. 14A).
[0094]
Since the transmission terminal 1A has not received an Ack from the reception
terminal 1C, which the transmission terminal 1A had permitted to return an Ack, the
transmission terminal 1A retransmits the first multicast. The transmission terminal 1A detects
the value of the Ack return order position of a reception terminal whose Ack return order
position notification response flag is set to " 1" and whose Ack flag is set to "0" in the grouping
table. Since the value "2" of the Ack return order position is the smallest value here, the
transmission terminal 1A sets "2" in the start return order position 111A and "4" in the end return
order position 111B of the first multicast and then retransmits the resultant first multicast. Thus,
the transmission terminal 1A expects to receive three Acks in total from the reception terminals
1C to lE.
[0095] Upon reception of the first multicast, each of the reception terminals 1B to IF
determines an occurrence of an error in the received first multicast by using the error detection
113 of the first multicast. Here, it is assumed that no error has occurred in any of the reception
terminal 1B to 1F. Since each of the reception terminals 1C to 1E has received the multicast
successfully and satisfies (formula 4), they return an Ack. At this time, each of the reception
terminals 1C to 1E compares the value of its own Ack return order position with the value of the
start return order position 111 A, and determines a waiting time period. Here, each of the
reception terminals 1C to 1E waits for a time period equivalent to the value determined by
(formula 5), after receiving the first multicast, and then returns the Ack. Since the transmission
terminal 1A has received the Ack from each of the reception terminals 1C to 1E , the
transmission terminal 1A sets the Ack flag of each of the reception terminals 1C to 1E in the
grouping table to "1" (FIG. 14B).
[0096]
Since the transmission terminal lA has received the Acks from all of the reception
terminals, respectively, each of which the transmission terminal 1A had permitted to return an
Ack, the transmission terminal 1A confirms the number of reception terminals whose Ack return
order position notification response flag is set to "1" and whose Ack flag is set to "0" in the
grouping table. Here, since the reception terminal 1F falls under this category, the transmission
terminal 1A determines that retransmission of the multicast is necessary. 1F the number of the
reception terminals from which the transmission terminal 1A expects to receive an Ack is less
than or equal to a number which has been set in advance, the transmission terminal 1A
retransmits data by unicast, not by multicast. Here, the set number is one, and thus the
transmission terminal 1A retransmits the data of the first multicast, as a first unicast. It should
be noted that the configuration of the frame of the unicast is equivalent to that of a frame of the
multicast not having the Ack return permission information 111 and having the value of the
header 110.
[0097] Upon reception of the first unicast, the reception terminal 1F determines an
occurrence of an error in the received first unicast by using the error detection 113 of the first
unicast. Here, it is assumed that no error has occurred at the reception terminal IF. The
reception terminal 1F waits for a time period equivalent to a preset value, after receiving the first
unicast, and then returns an Ack. The reception terminal 1F waits, for example, for a Sifs time
period used in IEEE802.11, and then transmits the Ack.
[0098] Since the transmission terminal 1A has received the Ack from the reception
terminal 1F, the transmission terminal 1A sets the Ack flag of the reception terminal 1F in the
grouping table to "1" (FIG. 14C). Since the transmission terminal 1A has received the Acks
from all of the reception terminals, respectively, each of which the transmission terminal 1A had
permitted to return an Ack, the transmission terminal 1A confirms the number of reception
terminals whose Ack return order position notification response flag is set to "1" and whose Ack
flag is set to "0" in the grouping table. Here, since there is no corresponding reception terminal,
the transmission terminal 1A ends the retransmission processing. At this time, the transmission
terminal 1A sets the Ack flag of each of the reception terminals 1B to 1F to "0". Next, the
transmission terminal 1A performs the similar processing to that performed in the transmission
of the first multicast, sets " 1" in the start return order position 111A and "3" in the end return
order position 111B and then transmits the second multicast.
[0099] As described above, in the multicast transmission sequence of the present
invention, the transmission terminal determines the Ack return order positions in accordance
with the priority order of the reception terminals in advance, and then notifies the reception
terminals of the determined Ack return order positions before transmitting a multicast,
respectively. This allows reduction of the amount of the Ack return permission information set
in the multicast and allows efficient use of the bandwidth, compared with a case of the
conventional arts. Moreover, since the frame length of a multicast is shortened, the possibility
of occurrence of a reception error of the multicast is also lowered. Further, the transmission
terminal determines the Ack return order positions in accordance with the priority order of the
reception terminals that require quality assurance of the multicast, and determines the number of
reception terminals that the transmission terminal permits to return an Ack in accordance with
the multicast transmission interval. Accordingly, the arrival of the multicast can be confirmed
starting from the reception terminal having a higher priority, irrespective of the number of
reception terminals receiving the multicast. Thus, a predetermined number, which has been set
in advance, of times of retransmission chances can be assured. Therefore, it is possible to
confirm that the reception terminals having higher priorities have received the transmission data
successfully.
[0100] In the present embodiment, the Ack return permission information 111 which the
Ack return permission information determination section 19 sets in the multicast includes the
start return order position 111A and the end return order position 111B. However, the
configuration of the Ack return permission information 111 is not limited thereto. For example,
the Ack return permission information 111 may set, in a multicast, Ack return permission
information 120 as shown in FIG. 15. With reference to FIG. 15, the Ack return permission
information 120 includes a first start return order position 120A, a first end return order position
120B, a second start return order position 120C, and a second end return order position 120D.
In this case, the Ack return determination section 26 in each reception terminal 20 may
determine whether (formula 6) is satisfied, and 1F (formula 6) is satisfied, an Ack may be
returned.
(Value of first start return order position 120A) < (Value of Ack return order
position) < (Value of first end return order position 120B)
or
(Value of second start return order position 120C) < (Value of Ack return order
position) < (Value of second end return order position 120D)
...(formula 6)
[0101] For example, in a case where the first start return order position 120A is "1", the
first end return order position 120B is "3", the second start return order position 120C is "5", and
the second end return order position 120D is "7", the reception terminals 20 having the values of
the Ack return order positions of" 1, 2,3, 5, 6, and 7", respectively, return an Ack in order.
Moreover, a third start return order position to an N-th end return order position may be set in the
Ack return permission information 120, in accordance with the value of the return order position
of the reception terminals which each are to be permitted to return an Ack (N is an integer
greater than or equal to 4).
[0102] Further, for example, an Ack return permission information 130 as shown in FIG.
16 may be set in the multicast, instead of the Ack return permission information 111. With
reference to FIG. 16, the Ack return permission information 130 includes a return order position
130A indicating an Ack return order position of a specific reception terminal, a start return order
position 130B and an end return order position 130C indicating a range of the Ack return order
positions. In this case, the Ack return determination section 26 in each reception terminal 20
may confirm whether (formula 7) is satisfied, and 1F (formula 7) is satisfied, an Ack may be
returned.
(Value of return order position 130A) = (Value of Ack return order position)
or
(Value of start return order position 130B) < (Value of Ack return order position) <
(Value of end return order position 130C)
(formula 7)
[0103] For example, in a case where the return order position BOA is "1", the start return
order position BOB is "3", the end return order position BOC is "5", the reception terminals 20
having the values of the Ack return order positions of "1,3,4, and 5", respectively, return an Ack
in order. Moreover, the second return order position to the N-th return order position may be
set in the Ack return permission information 130, in accordance with the value of the return order
position of the reception terminals which each are to be permitted to return an Ack (N is an
integer greater than or equal to 3).
[0104] Further, for example, an Ack return permission information 140 as shown in FIG.
17 may be set in the multicast, instead of the Ack return permission information 111. The Ack
return permission information 140 includes a start return order position 140A indicating the start
of the Ack return order positions of the reception terminals, and a return number 140B indicating
the number of reception terminals which each are to be permitted to return an Ack. In this case,
the Ack return determination section 26 in each reception terminal 20 may confirm whether
(formula 8) is satisfied, and 1F (formula 8) is satisfied, an Ack may be returned.
(Value of start return order position 140 A) < (Value of Ack return order position) <
(Value of start return order position 140A) + (Value of return number HOB) -1 ...(formula 8)
[0105] For example, in a case where the start return order position 140A is "1" and the
return number 140B is "3", the reception terminals 20 having the values of the Ack return order
positions of "1,2, and "3", respectively, return an Ack in order. Moreover, in the Ack return
permission information 140, the second start return order position to the N-th return order
position may be set in accordance with the value of the return order position of the reception
terminals which each are to be permitted to return an Ack (N is an integer greater than or equal to
[0106] Further, for example, an Ack return permission information 150 as shown in FIG.
18 may be set in the multicast, instead of the Ack return permission information 111. With
reference to FIG. 18, the Ack return permission information 150 includes a return number 150A
indicating the number of reception terminals which each are to be permitted to return an Ack.
In this case, the Ack return determination section 26 in each reception terminal 20 may
determine whether (formula 9) is satisfied, and 1F (formula 9) is satisfied, an Ack may be
returned. For example, in a case where the return number 150A is "3", the reception terminals
20 having the values of the Ack return order positions of "1, 2, and 3", respectively, return an Ack
in order.
(Value of Ack return order position) < (Value of return number 150A)...(formula 9)
[0107] Further, in the present embodiment, for example, an Ack return permission
information 160 as shown in FIG. 19 may be set in the multicast, instead of the Ack return
permission information 111. With reference to FIG. 19, the Ack return permission information
160 includes an Ack return necessary/unnecessary flag 160A of a reception terminal whose Ack
return order position value is " 1" to an Ack return necessary/unnecessary flag 160B of a
reception terminal whose Ack return order position value is "N". Each flag is 1 bit (N is the
largest value among the values of the Ack return order positions described in the grouping table.
In the case of the grouping table in FIG. 5, N is 5). In this case, the Ack return determination
section 26 in each reception terminal 20 may return an Ack 1F the flag corresponding to the value
of its own Ack return order position is set to " 1". For example, in a case where each of the 2nd,
5th, and 7th bit in the Ack return permission information 160 is "1", the reception terminals 20
whose Ack return order position value are "2, 5, and 7", respectively, return an Ack in order.
[0108] Although the transmission terminal 10 has a grouping table in advance in the
present embodiment, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, by using the
method to be described in an embodiment 4, a grouping table may be created by collecting
information from the reception terminals 20 that are present in the area of the transmission
terminal 10, before an Ack return order position notification frame is transmitted.
[0109] Although the reception terminal 20 returns an Ack return response frame upon
reception of an Ack return order position notification frame in the present embodiment, the
present invention is not limited thereto. For example, 1F an arrival confirmation by means of an
Ack is not necessary, the reception terminal 20 may not return to the transmission terminal 10 an
Ack return order position response frame. Alternatively, the reception terminal 20 may return
an Ack return order position response frame containing information indicating that arrival
confirmation is not necessary. In this case, the transmission terminal 10 does not change the
Ack return order position response flag to " 1".
[0110] In the present embodiment, in the case where an Ack is not returned from a
reception terminal that is expected to return an Ack, the transmission terminal 10 repeatedly
allots permission of returning an Ack and expects an Ack to be returned. However, the present
invention is not limited thereto. For example, in the case of FIG 9, an Ack from the reception
terminal 1C is not returned three times. However, the transmission terminal 10 may not give
permission of returning an Ack to the reception terminal 1C in a case where an Ack is not
returned in two consecutive times. Alternatively, after the reception processing of an Ack from
another reception terminal has been performed, and 1F there is time before the transmission time
of the second multicast arrives, an Ack return permission may be given to the reception terminal
1C.
[0111] In the present embodiment, with respect to the transmission terminal 10, in the
case where the Ack return permission information determination section 19 has determined that
the number of Ack return permissions is to be "3", the Ack return permission information
determination section 19 determines the values of return order positions in the Ack return
permission information 111 such that Acks from three reception terminals arc expected to be
received in accordance with the return priority order. However, the present invention is not
limited thereto. For example, in the case of FIG. 9, the second retransmission of the first
multicast is performed with the value of the start return order position set to "2" and the value of
the end return order position set to "4". However, the data may be retransmitted as a first
unicast to the reception terminal 1C. After the transmission terminal 10 receives an Ack from
the reception terminal 1C, and 1F there is time before the transmission time of the second
multicast arrives, the transmission terminal 10 may retransmit the first multicast with the start
return order position set to "4" and the end return order position set to "5" or the first unicast to
the reception terminal 1E, in order to confirm arrival of the data at the reception terminals 1E and thereafter.
[0112] (Embodiment 2)
FIG. 20 is a function block diagram of a transmission terminal 30 in the present
embodiment 2. The function block diagram of the transmission terminal 30 corresponds to the
configuration of the transmission terminal 1A described above. In FIG 20, the same
components as those in the embodiment 1 (FIG. 2) are denoted by the same reference numerals,
and description thereof will be omitted. In the transmission terminal 30 in FIG. 20, the wireless
transmission/reception section 11, the frame classification section 12, the Ack analyzing section
13, the application section 14, the grouping table storage section 15, the Ack return order
position notification frame creation section 16, the Ack return order position response frame
analyzing section 17, and the multicast creation section 18 have configurations equivalent to
those in the embodiment 1.
[0113] A second application section 31 and a second Ack return permission information
determination section 32 have configurations different from those in the embodiment 1. The
second application section 31 has a function of notifying, when a data occurrence interval is
changed during multicast transmission, the change of the data occurrence interval, in addition to
the function of the application section 14. The second Ack return permission information
determination section 32 has a function of changing the number of Ack returns in accordance
with the change of the transmission interval during multicast transmission, in addition to the
function of the Ack return permission information determination section 19. The present
embodiment is different from the embodiment 1 in that, in the present embodiment, when the
transmission terminal 30 changes the multicast transmission interval during multicast
transmission, the number of Ack return permissions is changed.
[0114] Next, operation of the transmission terminal 30 of the embodiment 2 will be
described with reference to FIG. 21. It should be noted that, in the present the embodiment 2,
the reception terminal 20 of the embodiment 1 is used as the reception terminal. FIG. 21 shows
an example of a multicast retransmission sequence of the present invention. It is assumed that,
in FIG. 21, the transmission terminal 1A in the wireless network in FIG. 1 transmits multicasts
and the reception terminals 1B to 1F receive the multicasts. Further, in FIG. 21, after the Ack
return order position sequence in FIG 7 is performed, transmission of multicasts is performed.
[0115] In FIG. 21, the transmission terminal 1A determines the number of Ack returns by
using the method of determining the number of Ack returns described with reference to FIG. 6.
Here, it is assumed that it is determined that the number of Ack returns is "5". The transmission
terminal 1A detects the value of the Ack return order position of a reception terminal whose Ack
return order position notification response flag is set to " 1" and whose Ack flag is set to "0" in the
grouping table. Since the value "1" of the Ack return order position is the smallest value here,
the transmission terminal 1A sets "1" in the start return order position lllA and "5" in the end
return order position 111B of the first multicast and then transmits the first multicast.
[0116] Upon reception of the first multicast, each of the reception terminals 1B to 1F
determines an occurrence of an error in the received first multicast by using the error detection
113 of the first multicast. Here, it is assumed that errors have occurred in the reception
terminals 1C, 1E, and 1F, respectively. Each of the reception terminals that has received the
first multicast compares the value of the start return order position 111A and the value of the end
return order position 11 1B of the first multicast, with the value of the Ack return order position
stored in its own Ack return order position storage section 24. Here, it is confirmed whether
these values satisfy (formula 4).
[0117] Since each of the reception terminals 1B and 1D satisfies (formula 4), they return
an Ack. At this time, each of the reception terminals 1B and 1D compares the value of its own
Ack return order position with the value of the start return order position 111A, and determines a
waiting time period. Here, each of the reception terminals 1B and 1D waits for a time period
equivalent to the value determined by (formula 5), after receiving the first multicast, and then
returns the Ack. Since each of the reception terminals 1C, 1E, and 1E satisfies (formula 4) but
has an occurrence of an error in the multicast, they do not return an Ack. Since the
transmission terminal 1A has received the Ack from each of the reception terminals 1B and 1D,
the transmission terminal 1A sets the Ack flag of each of the reception terminals 1B and 1D in
the grouping table to " 1".
[0118]
Since the transmission terminal 1A has not received an Ack from each of the
reception terminals 1C, 1E and 1F, each of which the transmission terminal 1A had permitted to
return an Ack, the transmission terminal 1A retransmits the first multicast. The transmission
terminal 1A detects the value of the Ack return order position of a reception terminal whose Ack
return order position notification response flag is set to "1" and whose Ack flag is set to "0" in the
grouping table. Since the value "2" of the Ack return order position is the smallest value here,
the transmission terminal 1A sets "2" in the start return order position 111A and "5" in the end
return order position 11 1B of the first multicast and then retransmits the resultant first multicast.
Thus, the transmission terminal 1A expects to receive four Acks in total from the reception
terminals 1C to 1F (however, in a case where there is a reception terminal whose Ack return
order position is "6", the end return order position is set to "6").
[0119] Upon reception of the first multicast, each of the reception terminals 1B to 1F
determines an occurrence of an error in the received first multicast by using the error detection
113 of the first multicast. Here, it is assumed that errors have occurred in the reception terminal
1C and 1E, respectively. Since each of the reception terminals 1C and 1E satisfies (formula 4)
but has an occurrence of an error in the multicast, they do not return an Ack. Since each of the
reception terminals 1D and 1F has received the multicast successfully and satisfies (formula 4),
they return an Ack. At this time, each of the reception terminals 1D and 1F waits for a time
period equivalent to the value determined by (formula 5), after receiving the multicast, and then
returns the Ack. Since the transmission terminal 1A has received the Ack from each of the
reception terminals 1D and 1F, the transmission terminal 1A sets the Ack flag of each of the
reception terminals 1Ds and 1F in the grouping table to "1".
[0120]
Since the transmission terminal lA has not received an Ack from each of the
reception terminals 1C and 1E, each of which the transmission terminal 1A had permitted to
return an Ack, the transmission terminal 1A retransmits the first multicast. The transmission
terminal 1A detects the value of the Ack return order position of a reception terminal whose Ack
return order position notification response flag is set to "1" and whose Ack flag is set to "0" in
the grouping table. Since the value "2" of the Ack return order position is the smallest value
' here, the transmission terminal 1A sets "2" in the start return order position 111A and "5" in the
end return order position 11 1B of the first multicast and then retransmits the resultant first
multicast. Thus, the transmission terminal 1A expects to receive four Acks in total from the
reception terminals 1C to 1F (however, in a case where there is a reception terminal whose Ack
return order position is "6", the end return order position is set to "6").
[0121] Upon reception of the first multicast, each of the reception terminals 1B to 1F
determines an occurrence of an error in the received first multicast by using the error detection
113 of the first multicast. Here, it is assumed that no error has occurred in any of the reception
terminals 1B to 1F. Each of the reception terminals 1B to 1F compares the value of the start
return order position 111A and the value of the end return order position 111B of the first
multicast, with the value of the Ack return order position stored in its own Ack return order
position storage section 24. Here, it is confirmed whether these values satisfy (formula 4).
[0122] Since each of the reception terminals 1C to 1F satisfies (formula 4), they return an
Ack. At this time, each of the reception terminals 1C to 1F compares the value of its own Ack
return order position with the value of the start return order position 111 A, and determines a
waiting time period. Here, each of the reception terminals 1C to 1F waits for a time period
equivalent to the value determined by (formula 5), after receiving the first multicast, and then
returns the Ack. Since the reception terminal 1B does not satisfy (formula 4), the reception
terminal 1B determines not to return an Ack. Since the transmission terminal 1A has received
the Ack from each of the reception terminals 1C to 1F, the transmission terminal 1A sets the Ack
flag of each of the reception terminals 1C to 1F in the grouping table to "1".
[0123] Since the transmission terminal 1A has received the Acks from all of the reception
terminals, respectively, each of which the transmission terminal 1A had permitted to return an
Ack, the transmission terminal 1A confirms the number of reception terminals whose Ack return
order position notification response flag is set to "1" and whose Ack flag is set to "0" in the
grouping table. Here, since there is no corresponding reception terminal, the transmission
terminal 1A ends the retransmission processing. At this time, the transmission terminal 1A sets
the Ack flag of each of the reception terminals 1B to 1F to "0". Next, the transmission terminal
1A performs the similar processing to that performed in the transmission of the first multicast,
sets "1" in the start return order position 111A and "5" in the end return order position 111B and
then transmits the second multicast.
[0124]
In FIG. 21, the second application section 31 in the transmission terminal 1A
changes the data occurrence interval. For example, in the case of transmission of video, the
data occurrence interval is changed due to a change of the contents rate. Here, as shown in FIG.
21, it is assumed that the data occurrence interval is shortened and the multicast transmission
interval is shortened accordingly. Upon changing the data occurrence interval, the second
application section 31 in the transmission terminal 1A notifies the second Ack return permission
information determination section 32, of the change. The second Ack return permission
information determination section 32 determines the number of Ack returns by using the method
of determining the number of Ack returns described with reference to FIG. 6, based on the
information of the changed data transmission interval. Here, it is assumed that the number of
Ack returns is changed from "5" to "3".
[0125]
Since the transmission terminal 1A has not received an Ack from the reception
terminal 1C, which the transmission terminal 1A had permitted to return an Ack, the
transmission terminal 1A retransmits the third multicast. The transmission terminal 1A detects
the value of the Ack return order position of a reception terminal whose Ack return order
position notification response flag is set to "1" and whose Ack flag is set to "0" in the grouping
table. Since the value "2" of the Ack return order position is the smallest value here, the
transmission terminal 1A sets "2" in the start return order position 111A and "4" in the end return
order position 11 1B of the third multicast and then retransmits the resultant third multicast.
Thus, the transmission terminal 1A expects to receive three Acks in total from the reception
terminals 1C to IE.
[0129] Upon reception of the third multicast, each of the reception terminals 1B to IF
determines an occurrence of an error in the received third multicast by using the error detection
113 of the third multicast. Here, it is assumed that errors have occurred in the reception
terminal 1C and 1E, respectively. Since each of the reception terminals 1C and 1E satisfies
(formula 4) but has an occurrence of an error in the multicast, they do not return an Ack. Since
the reception terminal 1D has received the multicast successfully and satisfies (formula 4), it
returns an Ack. At this time, the reception terminal 1D waits for a time period equivalent to the
value determined by (formula 5), after receiving the multicast, and then returns the Ack. Since
the transmission terminal 1A has received the Ack from the reception terminal 1D, the
transmission terminal 1A sets the Ack flag of the reception terminal 1D in the grouping table to
"1".
[0130]
Since the transmission terminal 1A has not received an Ack from each of the
reception terminals 1C and 1E, each of which the transmission terminal lAhad permitted to
return an Ack, the transmission terminal 1A retransmits the third multicast. The transmission
terminal 1A detects the value of the Ack return order position of a reception terminal whose Ack
return order position notification response flag is set to "1" and whose Ack flag is set to "0" in
the grouping table. Since the value "2" of the Ack return order position is the smallest value
here, the transmission terminal 1A sets "2" in the start return order position 111A and "4" in the
end return order position 11 1B of the third multicast and then retransmits the resultant third
multicast. Thus, the transmission terminal 1A expects to receive three Acks in total from the
reception terminals 1C to 1E.
[0131] Upon reception of the third multicast, each of the reception terminals 1B to 1F
determines an occurrence of an error in the received third multicast by using the error detection
113 of the third multicast. Here, it is assumed that no error has occurred in any of the reception
terminals 1B to 1F. Each of the reception terminals 1B to 1F compares the value of the start
return order position 111A and the value of the end return order position 11 1B of the third
multicast, with the value of the Ack return order position stored in its own Ack return order
position storage section 24. Here, it is confirmed whether these values satisfy (formula 4).
[0132] Since each of the reception terminals 1C to 1E satisfies (formula 4), they return an
Ack. At this time, each of the reception terminals 1C to 1E compares the value of its own Ack
return order position with the value of the start return order position 111A and, determines a
waiting time period. Here, each of the reception terminals 1C to 1E waits for a time period
equivalent to the value determined by (formula 5), after receiving the first multicast, and then
returns the Ack. Since each of the reception terminals 1B and 1F does not satisfy (formula 4),
they determine not to return an Ack. Since the transmission terminal 1A has received the Ack
from each of the reception terminals 1C to 1E, the transmission terminal 1A sets the Ack flag of
each of the reception terminals 1C to 1E in the grouping table to "1".
[0133]
Since the transmission terminal 1A has received the Acks from all of the reception
terminals, respectively, each of which the transmission terminal 1A had permitted to return an
Ack, the transmission terminal 1A confirms the number of reception terminals whose Ack return
order position notification response flag is set to " 1" and whose Ack flag is set to "0" in the
grouping table. Here, since the reception terminal 1F falls under this category, the transmission
terminal 1A determines that retransmission of the multicast is necessary. However, since the
transmission time of a fourth multicast, which is the next data, has arrived, the transmission
terminal 1A ends the retransmission processing of the third multicast. At this time, the
transmission terminal 1A sets the Ack flag of each of the reception terminals 1B to 1F to "0".
Next, the transmission terminal 1A performs the similar processing to that performed in the
transmission of the third multicast, sets "1" in the start return order position 111A and "3" in the
end return order position 11 1B and then transmits the fourth multicast.
[0134] As described above, in the multicast transmission sequence of the present
invention, in the case where the multicast transmission interval is changed during the multicast
transmission, the transmission terminal 30 changes the number of Ack return permissions in
accordance with the changed transmission interval. Accordingly, even when the data
occurrence interval is changed in real time by the application, the number of Ack return
permissions can be set in accordance with the changed transmission interval, and thus a certain
number of chances of retransmissions can be ensured.
[0135] In the present embodiment, the number of Ack return permissions are changed in
real time in accordance with the change of the data occurrence interval in the second application
section 31. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, in the
transmission terminal 30, the multicast creation section 18 may couple pieces of data inputted
from the second application section 31 in accordance with the propagation state in the wireless
communication section and transmit the coupled data to the wireless communication section.
For example, as shown in FIG. 22A, in a case where the frame length of a multicast in the
wireless communication section is 200 bytes at first, 1F the wireless propagation state has become
favorable, the frame length may be extended to be 400 bytes, and the resultant frame may be
transmitted. In this case, the multicast creation section 18 notifies the second Ack return
permission information determination section 32 of information about the coupled multicast
transmission interval. Accordingly, the second Ack return permission information
determination section 32 can determine the number of Ack return permissions in accordance with
the change of the multicast transmission interval in accordance with the wireless propagation
state.
[0136] In the embodiment, the number of Ack return permissions is changed in real time
in accordance with the change of the data occurrence interval in the second application section
31. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, in the transmission
terminal 30, the multicast creation section 18 may divide the data inputted from the second
application section 31 into pieces, in accordance with the propagation state in the wireless
communication section, and may transmit the pieces of data to the wireless communication
section. For example, as shown in FIG. 22B, in a case where the frame length of a multicast in
the wireless communication section is 200 bytes at first, 1F the wireless propagation state has
deteriorated, the frame length may be shortened to be 100 bytes, and the resultant frames may be
transmitted. The multicast creation section 18 notifies the second Ack return permission
information determination section 32, of information about the multicast transmission interval
after the division. Accordingly, the second Ack return permission information determination
section 32 can determine the number of Ack return permissions in accordance with the change of
the multicast transmission interval in accordance with the wireless propagation state.
[0137] Further, the wireless propagation state may be determined by use of the packet
error rate of a multicast transmitted to the wireless communication section, and the reception
field intensity at a reception terminal. Further, for the determination of the wireless propagation
state, the reception field intensities at all of the reception terminals may be used, or the reception
field intensities at reception terminals whose Ack return order position has a predetermined value
or lower may be used. Still further, the reception field intensity and the packet error rate of an
Ack returned from a reception terminal may be used.
[0138] In a case where the PHY rate is changed in accordance with the propagation state
in the wireless communication section, the transmission terminal 30 may change the number of
Ack return permissions. For example, in a case where the PHY rate of the multicast
transmission is lowered, the time period necessary for the transmission becomes longer.
Therefore, 1F the number of Ack return permissions is reduced, a certain number of chances of
retransmissions can be ensured. For example, as shown in FIG 23, in a case where the PHY
rate of a multicast in the wireless communication section is 20 Mbps at first, since the wireless
propagation state has deteriorated, the PHY rate is lowered, and transmission is performed at 15
Mbps. This causes a longer time period for transmission of the same amount of data, and a
shorter transmission interval. The multicast creation section 18 notifies the second Ack return
permission information determination section 32, of information about the multicast transmission
interval after the change of the PHY rate. Accordingly, The second Ack return permission
information determination section 32 can determine the number of Ack return permissions in
accordance with the change of the multicast transmission interval in accordance with the wireless
propagation state.
[0139] FIG. 24 shows an example of an internal processing flow performed by the
transmission terminal 30 in a PHY rate changing process. In FIG. 24, the transmission terminal
30 determines whether the multicast retransmission processing has ended (step S31). 1F the
multicast retransmission processing has ended (step S31: YES), the transmission terminal 30
performs preparations for transmission of the next multicast (step S32).
[0140] Next, the transmission terminal 30 determines whether it has received an Ack
from a reception terminal that has a higher return order position than the value of the Ack return
order position which has been set in advance at the previous multicast transmission (step S33).
Here, the value of the Ack return order position which has been set in advance may be set to the
number of reception terminals for which assurance of multicast reception is desired. For
example, in a case where there are three reception terminals, for which the assurance is desired,
and 1F the values of the return order positions of the reception terminals are "1,2, and 3",
respectively, the value of the return order position which is set in advance in step S33 is "3".
[0141] If an Ack has not yet been received from the reception terminal that has a higher
return order position than the value of the Ack return order position which has been set in
advance (step S33: NO), the transmission terminal 30 lowers the PHY rate of a multicast to be
transmitted by one rank (step S34). 1F such an Ack has been received (step S33: YES), the PHY
rate is not changed (step S38). Next, the transmission terminal 30 determines the number of
Ack returns based on the multicast transmission time period at the determined PHY rate, by
using (formula 1) to (formula 3) (step S35), and then adds Ack return permission information
based on the determined number of Ack returns, to the multicast (step S36). Then, the
transmission terminal 30 transmits the multicast at the designated PHY rate (step S37).
[0142] Through the above described procedure, in a case where an Ack has not been
received from a reception terminal that has a higher Ack return order position than the value of
the Ack return order position set in accordance with the number of reception terminals for which
assurance of multicast reception is desired, the transmission terminal 30 transmits the multicast
at a lowered PHY rate. Accordingly, it is possible to perform, in an assured manner,
transmission of data to a reception terminal having a higher return order position for which
assurance of multicast reception is desired, and arrival confirmation of the data.
[0143] It should be noted that, also in processes other than the changing of the PHY rate,
such as in determination of whether division or coupling of frames is necessary, for example, the
transmission terminal 30 may divide or couple the frames in accordance with the state of the Ack
return from a reception terminal having an Ack return order position which have been set in
advance, and may perform, in an assured manner, transmission of data to a reception terminal
having a high return order position, and the arrival confirmation of the data.
[0144] Moreover, in a case where the transmission terminal 30 does not receive an Ack
even after transmitting a multicast at the lowest PHY rate, the transmission terminal 30 may set a
corresponding Ack return order position response flag to "0" and may transmit multicasts
thereafter at a higher PHY rate. Alternatively, the transmission terminal 30 may reduce the
number of Ack return permissions in accordance with the propagation state in the wireless
communication section. This increases the number of chances of multicast retransmissions, and
thus loss of multicasts can be reduced.
[0145] Further, in the present embodiment, the number of Ack return permissions are
changed in real time in accordance with the change of the data occurrence interval caused by the
application. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the second
application section 31 notifies the second Ack return permission information determination
section 32 of information about the video contents rate. Accordingly, the second Ack return
permission information determination section 32 can determine the number of reception
terminals which are to be permitted to return an Ack, based on the contents rate.
[0146] (Embodiment 3)
FIG. 25 is a function block diagram of a transmission terminal 40 in an
embodiment 3. The function block diagram of the transmission terminal 40 corresponds to the
configuration of the transmission terminal 1A described above. In FIG. 25, the same
components as those in the embodiments 1 and 2 (FIG. 2 and FIG 20) are denoted by the same
reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted. In the transmission terminal 40 in
FIG 25, the wireless transmission/reception section 11, the frame classification section 12, the
Ack analyzing section 13, the application section 14, the grouping table storage section 15, the
Ack return order position notification frame creation section 16, the Ack return order position
response frame analyzing section 17, and the multicast creation section 18 have configurations
equivalent to those in the embodiments 1 and 2.
[0147] A third application section 41 has a function of changing, during multicast
transmission, the value of the Ack return order position response flag in the grouping table
managed by the grouping table storage section 15, in addition to the function of the second
application section 31. An Ack return entry frame analyzing section 42 includes a function of
analyzing received Ack return entry frames.
[0148] FIG. 26 is a function block diagram of a reception terminal 50 in the present
embodiment 3. The function block diagram of the reception terminal 50 corresponds to the
configuration of the reception terminals 1B to 1F described above. In FIG. 26, the same
component in the embodiment 1 (FIG. 3) are denoted by the same reference numerals, and
description thereof will be omitted. In the reception terminal 50 in FIG 26, the wireless
transmission/reception section 21, the frame classification section 22, the Ack return order
position notification frame analyzing section 23, the Ack return order position storage section 24,
the Ack return order position response frame creation section 25, and the Ack creation section 27
have configurations equivalent to those in the embodiment 1.
[0149] A second Ack return determination section 51 has, in addition to the function of
the Ack return determination section 26, a function of issuing an instruction of creating an Ack
return entry frame to an Ack return entry frame creation section 52 in a case where a value of the
Ack return order position is not stored in the Ack return order position storage section 24. The
Ack return entry frame creation section 52 creates an Ack return entry frame in accordance with
the instruction from the second Ack return determination section 51.
[0150] The present embodiment is different from the embodiments 1 and 2 in that, in the
present embodiment, an Ack return permission is given to the reception terminal 50 which has
entered the area of the transmission terminal 40 (within the communication area) during
multicast transmission. FIG. 27 shows an example of a frame used in the present embodiment 3.
FIG. 27 shows an Ack return order position entry frame. The Ack return order position entry
frame includes a header 170 which stores parameters necessary for access, such as address and
frame identifier, and an error detection 171 which stores information for detecting an error in the
frame.
[0151] Next, operations of the transmission terminal 40 and the reception terminal 50 in
the embodiment 3 will be described with reference to FIG. 28 and FIG. 29. FIG. 28 shows an
example of an Ack return order position notification sequence according to the present
embodiment. It is assumed that, in FIG 28, the transmission terminal 1A in FIG. 1 transmits
multicasts and the reception terminals 1B to 1F in FIG. 1 receive the multicasts. However, the
reception terminal 1B is outside the area of the transmission terminal 1A at the time of
transmission of an Ack return order position notification frame, the transmission being
performed before transmission of multicasts is started, and enters the area of the transmission
terminal 1A after the transmission of the multicasts is started.
[0152] The transmission terminal 1A transmits Ack return order position notification
frames to the reception terminals 1B to 1F, respectively, based on the grouping table in FIG. 5,
before starting transmission of multicasts. The transmission terminal 1A sets a value of a
corresponding Ack return order position in the grouping table, in the Ack return order position
101 of a corresponding Ack return order position notification frame, and transmits the Ack return
order position notification frame. First, the transmission terminal 1A transmits an Ack return
order position notification frame to the reception terminal IB. However, since the reception
terminal 1B is outside the area at the time when the transmission terminal 1A transmitted the Ack
return order position notification frame, the reception terminal 1B cannot receive the Ack return
order position notification frame.
[0153] When a certain period of time which has been set in advance has elapsed after
transmitting the Ack return order position notification frame, the transmission terminal 1A stops
waiting for reception of an Ack return order position response frame, and then transmits an Ack
return order position notification frame to the next reception terminal 1C. Upon reception of
corresponding Ack return order position notification frames, the respective reception terminals
1C to 1F return an Ack return order position response frame to the transmission terminal 1A.
Upon reception of the Ack return order position response frames, the transmission terminal 1A
sets the Ack return order position response flag of each of the reception terminals 1C to 1F in the
grouping table to "1".
[0154] FIG. 29 shows an example of a multicast retransmission sequence of the present
invention. It is assumed that, the multicast transmission in FIG. 29 is performed after the Ack
return order position sequence in FIG. 28 has been performed.
[0155]
In FIG. 29, the transmission terminal 1A determines the number of Ack returns by
using the method of determining the number of Ack returns described with reference to FIG. 6.
Here, it is assumed that it is determined that the number of Ack returns is "3". The transmission
terminal 1A detects the value of the Ack return order position of a reception terminal whose Ack
return order position notification response flag is set to " 1" and whose Ack flag is set to "0" in the
grouping table. Since the value "2" of the Ack return order position is the smallest value here,
the transmission terminal 1A sets "2" in the start return order position 111A and "4" in the end
return order position 11 1B of the first multicast and then transmits the first multicast.
[0156] Upon reception of the first multicast, each of the reception terminals 1C to 1F
determines an occurrence of an error in the received first multicast by using the error detection
113 of the first multicast. Here, it is assumed that an error has occurred in the reception
terminal 1C. Each of the reception terminals 1C to 1F which have received the first multicast
compares the value of the start return order position 111A and the value of the end return order
position 11 1B of the first multicast, with the value of the Ack return order position stored in its
own Ack return order position storage section 24. Here, it is confirmed whether these values
satisfy (formula 4).
[0157] Since each of the reception terminals 1D and 1E satisfies (formula 4), they return
an Ack. At this time, each of the reception terminals 1D and 1E compares the value of its own
Ack return order position with the value of the start return order position 111 A, and determines a
waiting time period. Here, each of the reception terminals 1D and 1E waits for a time period
equivalent to the value determined by (formula 5), after receiving the first multicast, and then
returns the Ack. Since the reception terminal 1C satisfies (formula 4) but has an occurrence of
an error in the multicast, it does not return an Ack. Since the reception terminal 1F does not
satisfy (formula 4), it determines not to return an Ack. Since the transmission terminal 1A has
received the Ack from each of the reception terminals 1D and 1E, the transmission terminal 1A
sets the Ack flag of each of the reception terminals 1D and 1E in the grouping table to "1".
[0158]
Since the transmission terminal 1A has not received an Ack from the reception
terminal 1C, which the transmission terminal 1A had permitted to return an Ack, the
transmission terminal 1A retransmits the first multicast. Now, it is assumed that the reception
terminal 1B has entered the area of the transmission terminal 1A at this time point. The
transmission terminal 1A detects the value of the Ack return order position of a reception
terminal whose Ack return order position notification response flag is set to " 1" and whose Ack
flag is set to "0" in the grouping table. Since the value "2" of the Ack return order position is
the smallest value here, the transmission terminal 1A sets "2" in the start return order position
111A and "4" in the end return order position 11 1B of the first multicast, and then retransmits the
resultant first multicast. Thus, the transmission terminal 1A expects to receive three Acks in
total from the reception terminals 1C to IE.
[0159] Upon reception of the first multicast, each of the reception terminals 1B to IF
determines an occurrence of an error in the received first multicast by using the error detection
113 of the first multicast. Here, it is assumed that no error has occurred in any of the reception
terminals 1B to 1F. Each of the reception terminals 1B to 1F compares the value of the start
return order position 111A and the value of the end return order position 11 1B of the first
multicast, with the value of the Ack return order position stored in its own Ack return order
position storage section 24. Here, it is confirmed whether these values satisfy (formula 4).
[0160] Since each of the reception terminals 1C to 1E satisfies (formula 4), they return an
Ack. At this time, each of the reception terminals 1C to 1E compares the value of its own Ack
return order position with the value of the start return order position 111 A, and determines a
waiting time period. Here, each of the reception terminals 1C to 1E waits for a time period
equivalent to the value determined by (formula 5), after receiving the first multicast, and then
returns the Ack. Since the reception terminal 1F does not satisfy (formula 4), it determines not
to return an Ack. With respect to the reception terminal 1B, the value of its own Ack return
order position is not stored. Therefore, in the reception terminal 1B, the second Ack return
determination section 51 issues an instruction of creating an Ack return entry frame, to the Ack
return entry frame creation section 52. Upon reception of the instruction of creating an Ack
return entry frame from the second Ack return determination section 51, the Ack return entry
frame creation section 52 creates an Ack return entry frame shown in FIG. 27. Since the
transmission terminal 1A has received the Ack from each of the reception terminals 1C to 1E, the
transmission terminal 1A sets the Ack flag of each of the reception terminals 1C to 1E in the
grouping table to " 1".
[0161]
Since the transmission terminal 1A has received the Acks from all of the reception
terminals, respectively, each of which the transmission terminal 1A had permitted to return an
Ack, the transmission terminal 1A confirms the number of reception terminals whose Ack return
order position notification response flag is set to " 1" and whose Ack flag is set to "0" in the
grouping table. Here, since the reception terminal 1F falls under this category, the transmission
terminal 1A determines that retransmission of the multicast is necessary. 1F the number of
reception terminals from which reception of Acks are expected is less than or equal to a preset
number, the transmission terminal 1A retransmits the data not by multicast but by unicast. Here,
the preset number is one, and the transmission terminal 1A retransmits the data of the first
multicast by means of a first unicast.
[0162] Upon reception of the first unicast, the reception terminal 1F determines an
occurrence of an error in the first unicast by using the error detection 113 of the first unicast.
Here, it is assumed that no error has occurred at the reception terminal IF. The reception
terminal 1F waits for a time period equivalent to a preset value after receiving the first unicast,
and then returns an Ack. The reception terminal 1F waits, for example, for a Sifs time period
used in IEEE802.11, and then transmits the Ack.
[0163] Since the transmission terminal 1A has received the Ack form the reception
terminal 1F, the transmission terminal 1A sets the Ack flag of the reception terminal 1F in the
grouping table to "1". Since the transmission terminal 1A has received the Acks from all of the
reception terminals, respectively, each of which the transmission terminal 1A had permitted to
return an Ack, the transmission terminal 1A confirms the number of reception terminals whose
Ack return order position notification response flag is set to " 1" and whose Ack flag is set to "0"
in the grouping table. Here, since there is no corresponding reception terminal, the
transmission terminal 1A ends the retransmission processing. At this time, the transmission
terminal 1A sets the Ack flag of each of the reception terminals 1B to 1F to "0". Next, the
transmission terminal 1A waits until the transmission timing of a second multicast arrives.
[0164]
In the reception terminal 1B, 1F a frame is not outputted from the transmission
terminal 1A during a certain time period which has been set in advance in the wireless
communication section, the Ack return entry frame creation section 52 transmits an Ack return
entry frame to the transmission terminal 1 A. 1F the transmission terminal 1A receives the Ack
return entry frame while waiting for the transmission timing of the second multicast to arrive, the
Ack return entry frame analyzing section 42 analyzes the Ack return entry frame and issues a
notification to the third application section 41. Upon reception of the notification from the Ack
return entry frame analyzing section 42, the third application section 41 sets "1" in the Ack return
notification response flag of the reception terminal 1B which has transmitted the Ack return
entry frame, the Ack return notification response flag being in the grouping table stored in the
grouping table storage section 15.
[0165]
Documents
Application Documents
| # |
Name |
Date |
| 1 |
1384-KOLNP-2011-(13-09-2011)-FORM 3.pdf |
2011-09-13 |
| 1 |
1384-KOLNP-2011-AbandonedLetter.pdf |
2019-06-13 |
| 2 |
1384-KOLNP-2011-(13-09-2011)-CORRESPONDENCE.pdf |
2011-09-13 |
| 2 |
1384-KOLNP-2011-FORM 4(ii) [11-03-2019(online)].pdf |
2019-03-11 |
| 3 |
abstract-1384-kolnp-2011.jpg |
2011-10-07 |
| 3 |
1384-KOLNP-2011-FER.pdf |
2018-09-11 |
| 4 |
1384-kolnp-2011-specification.pdf |
2011-10-07 |
| 4 |
1384-KOLNP-2011-(14-03-2016)-CORRESPONDENCE.pdf |
2016-03-14 |
| 5 |
1384-kolnp-2011-pct request form.pdf |
2011-10-07 |
| 5 |
1384-KOLNP-2011-(14-03-2016)-FORM-1.pdf |
2016-03-14 |
| 6 |
1384-kolnp-2011-pct priority document notification.pdf |
2011-10-07 |
| 6 |
1384-KOLNP-2011-(14-03-2016)-FORM-3.pdf |
2016-03-14 |
| 7 |
1384-kolnp-2011-others.pdf |
2011-10-07 |
| 7 |
1384-KOLNP-2011-(14-03-2016)-FORM-6.pdf |
2016-03-14 |
| 8 |
1384-KOLNP-2011-OTHER.pdf |
2011-10-07 |
| 8 |
1384-KOLNP-2011-FORM-18.pdf |
2013-03-14 |
| 9 |
1384-kolnp-2011-abstract.pdf |
2011-10-07 |
| 9 |
1384-kolnp-2011-international search report.pdf |
2011-10-07 |
| 10 |
1384-kolnp-2011-claims.pdf |
2011-10-07 |
| 10 |
1384-kolnp-2011-international publication.pdf |
2011-10-07 |
| 11 |
1384-KOLNP-2011-CORRESPONDENCE 1.1.pdf |
2011-10-07 |
| 11 |
1384-kolnp-2011-gpa.pdf |
2011-10-07 |
| 12 |
1384-kolnp-2011-correspondence.pdf |
2011-10-07 |
| 12 |
1384-kolnp-2011-form-5.pdf |
2011-10-07 |
| 13 |
1384-kolnp-2011-description (complete).pdf |
2011-10-07 |
| 13 |
1384-kolnp-2011-form-3.pdf |
2011-10-07 |
| 14 |
1384-kolnp-2011-drawings.pdf |
2011-10-07 |
| 14 |
1384-kolnp-2011-form-2.pdf |
2011-10-07 |
| 15 |
1384-kolnp-2011-form-1.pdf |
2011-10-07 |
| 16 |
1384-kolnp-2011-drawings.pdf |
2011-10-07 |
| 16 |
1384-kolnp-2011-form-2.pdf |
2011-10-07 |
| 17 |
1384-kolnp-2011-form-3.pdf |
2011-10-07 |
| 17 |
1384-kolnp-2011-description (complete).pdf |
2011-10-07 |
| 18 |
1384-kolnp-2011-form-5.pdf |
2011-10-07 |
| 18 |
1384-kolnp-2011-correspondence.pdf |
2011-10-07 |
| 19 |
1384-KOLNP-2011-CORRESPONDENCE 1.1.pdf |
2011-10-07 |
| 19 |
1384-kolnp-2011-gpa.pdf |
2011-10-07 |
| 20 |
1384-kolnp-2011-claims.pdf |
2011-10-07 |
| 20 |
1384-kolnp-2011-international publication.pdf |
2011-10-07 |
| 21 |
1384-kolnp-2011-abstract.pdf |
2011-10-07 |
| 21 |
1384-kolnp-2011-international search report.pdf |
2011-10-07 |
| 22 |
1384-KOLNP-2011-FORM-18.pdf |
2013-03-14 |
| 22 |
1384-KOLNP-2011-OTHER.pdf |
2011-10-07 |
| 23 |
1384-KOLNP-2011-(14-03-2016)-FORM-6.pdf |
2016-03-14 |
| 23 |
1384-kolnp-2011-others.pdf |
2011-10-07 |
| 24 |
1384-KOLNP-2011-(14-03-2016)-FORM-3.pdf |
2016-03-14 |
| 24 |
1384-kolnp-2011-pct priority document notification.pdf |
2011-10-07 |
| 25 |
1384-kolnp-2011-pct request form.pdf |
2011-10-07 |
| 25 |
1384-KOLNP-2011-(14-03-2016)-FORM-1.pdf |
2016-03-14 |
| 26 |
1384-kolnp-2011-specification.pdf |
2011-10-07 |
| 26 |
1384-KOLNP-2011-(14-03-2016)-CORRESPONDENCE.pdf |
2016-03-14 |
| 27 |
abstract-1384-kolnp-2011.jpg |
2011-10-07 |
| 27 |
1384-KOLNP-2011-FER.pdf |
2018-09-11 |
| 28 |
1384-KOLNP-2011-FORM 4(ii) [11-03-2019(online)].pdf |
2019-03-11 |
| 28 |
1384-KOLNP-2011-(13-09-2011)-CORRESPONDENCE.pdf |
2011-09-13 |
| 29 |
1384-KOLNP-2011-AbandonedLetter.pdf |
2019-06-13 |
| 29 |
1384-KOLNP-2011-(13-09-2011)-FORM 3.pdf |
2011-09-13 |
Search Strategy
| 1 |
Untitleddocument_09-04-2018.pdf |