Title of the invention: wireless communication device and wireless communication method
Technical field
[0001]
　The present disclosure relates to wireless communication devices and wireless communication methods.
Background technology
[0002]
　A wireless communication system that communicates between an access point (hereinafter referred to as "AP" for convenience) and a station (hereinafter referred to as "STA" for convenience) is known. For example, a wireless LAN (Local Area Network) that employs CSMA / CA (Carrier Sense Multiple Access / Collision Avoidance) is widely known. In a wireless LAN, there is frequency multiplexing communication in which transmissions to a plurality of STAs or receptions from a plurality of STAs are simultaneously performed by using different frequency components for each STA as communication resources.
[0003]
　In this document, the frequency component is mainly defined as a resource unit containing one or more subcarriers (may be referred to as "subchannel", "resource block", "frequency block", etc.), and the resource unit is defined as a resource unit. Consider an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) method in which transmission to a plurality of STAs or reception from a plurality of STAs is simultaneously performed by using it as a communication resource. By performing OFDMA communication, the overhead in the data packet is reduced and the throughput is improved.
Prior art literature
Patent documents
[0004]
Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2017-55399
Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2017-11682
Outline of the invention
Problems to be solved by the invention
[0005]
　Here, there are cases where the communication efficiency is not sufficient even by OFDMA communication. More specifically, in OFDMA communication, padding data is added so that the data lengths of data addressed to a plurality of STAs to be communicated at the same time are equal to each other.
[0006]
　For example, as shown in FIG. 12 of Patent Document 1, padding data is added according to the longest data length of the data addressed to a plurality of STAs. Therefore, depending on the amount of traffic, padding data having a long data length may be added to a small amount of data, which lowers the communication efficiency. The technique disclosed in Patent Document 1 improves communication efficiency by scheduling (what kind of frame is assigned to which STA to which resource unit), and this is an essential solution to the above problem. It is not.
[0007]
　Further, Patent Document 2 also discloses a method of allocating time resources and frequency resources to transmission data addressed to a plurality of STAs, but since the method of transmitting an acknowledgment for a data packet is the same as the conventional method. , It takes time to transmit the acknowledgment, and the frequency utilization efficiency may decrease.
[0008]
　Therefore, the present disclosure has been made in view of the above, and the present disclosure provides new and improved wireless communication devices and wireless communication methods capable of realizing more efficient communication in a wireless LAN system. provide.
Means to solve problems
[0009]
　According to the present disclosure, a radio including a generation unit that generates a radio signal in which allocation information for allocating a plurality of stations to one resource unit is stored, and a transmission unit that transmits the radio signal to the station. A wireless communication device that functions as a LAN access point is provided.
[0010]
　Further, according to the present disclosure, a radio that includes generating a radio signal in which allocation information for allocating a plurality of stations to one resource unit is stored and transmitting the radio signal to the station. A wireless communication method that realizes a LAN access point function is provided.
[0011]
　Further, according to the present disclosure, a receiving unit that receives a radio signal in which allocation information for allocating a plurality of stations to one resource unit is stored, and a reception unit that performs reception processing of the radio signal based on the allocation information. A wireless communication device including a processing unit and functioning as a wireless LAN station is provided.
[0012]
　Further, according to the present disclosure, it is possible to receive a radio signal in which allocation information for allocating a plurality of stations to one resource unit is stored, and to perform reception processing of the radio signal based on the allocation information. A wireless communication method for realizing a wireless LAN station function is provided.
Effect of the invention
[0013]
　As described above, according to the present disclosure, it is possible to realize more efficient communication in a wireless LAN system.
[0014]
　It should be noted that the above effects are not necessarily limited, and together with or in place of the above effects, any of the effects shown herein, or any other effect that can be grasped from this specification. May be played.
A brief description of the drawing
[0015]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a wireless LAN system according to the present disclosure.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of device configuration of AP100 and STA200 according to the present disclosure.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of data packet format according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a format example of a data packet according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a format example of a data packet according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of a processing flow by the AP100 according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of a processing flow by the STA 200 according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a transmission example of an acknowledgment transmitted by the STA 200 to the AP100 in the first embodiment.
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a transmission example of an acknowledgment transmitted by the STA 200 to the AP100 in the first embodiment.
FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a transmission example of an acknowledgment transmitted by the STA 200 to the AP100 in the first embodiment.
FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a transmission example when uplink communication using OFDMA is performed in the second embodiment.
FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a format example of a trigger according to a second embodiment.
FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing an example of a processing flow by the AP100 according to the second embodiment.
FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing an example of a processing flow by the STA 200 according to the second embodiment.
FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a transmission example when uplink communication using OFDMA is performed in the second embodiment.
[Fig. 16] Fig. 16 is a block diagram showing an example of a schematic configuration of a smartphone.
FIG. 17 is a block diagram showing an example of a schematic configuration of a car navigation device.
FIG. 18 is a block diagram showing an example of a schematic configuration of a wireless access point.
Mode for carrying out the invention
[0016]
　Preferred embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the present specification and the drawings, components having substantially the same functional configuration are designated by the same reference numerals to omit duplicate description.
[0017]
　The explanations will be given in the following order.
　1. 1. First Example
　　1.1. System configuration example
　　1.2. Device configuration example
　　1.3. Format example
　　1.4. Process flow
　2. Second Example
　3. Application example
　　3.1. First application example
　　3.2. Second application example
　　3.3. Third application example
　4. Summary
[0018]
　　<1. First Example>
　(1.1. System Configuration Example)
　First, a configuration example of a wireless LAN system according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to FIG.
[0019]
　As shown in FIG. 1, the wireless LAN system according to the present embodiment includes an AP100 and a plurality of STA200s (STA200a to STA200f in the figure).
[0020]
　The wireless LAN system according to this embodiment can be installed at any place. For example, the wireless LAN system according to this embodiment can be installed in an office building, a house, a commercial facility, a public facility, or the like. This wireless LAN system is assumed to conform to the IEEE802.11 standard, but may conform to other communication methods.
[0021]
　The AP100 is a wireless communication device that is connected to an external network and provides the STA 200 with communication with the external network. For example, the AP100 is connected to the Internet and provides communication between a device on the Internet or a device connected via the Internet and the STA200.
[0022]
　It is assumed that the AP100 performs OFDMA communication with STA200a to STA200f or STA200 selected from these. More specifically, the AP100 allocates a resource unit including one or a plurality of subcarriers to each STA200 as a communication resource, and realizes OFDMA communication by simultaneously communicating with the plurality of STA200s on a resource unit basis.
[0023]
　Here, the resource unit is a frequency component that is the minimum unit of resources used for communication. More specifically, a plurality of subcarriers orthogonal to each other are arranged in one channel, and a plurality of resource units including one or a plurality of continuous subcarriers are defined in the channel. The bandwidth of one channel can be, for example, 20 MHz, 40 MHz, 80 MHz, 160 MHz, etc., but is not limited thereto. The number of subcarriers or resource units in the channel may vary depending on the bandwidth of the channel. The bandwidth (or number of subcarriers) of the resource unit may be common or different for each resource unit.
[0024]
　The AP100 according to this embodiment allocates a plurality of STAs 200 to one resource unit. More specifically, the AP100 can generate a data packet in which data addressed to a plurality of STA200s are mixed in one resource unit, and transmit the data packet to the STA200. At that time, the AP100 stores information (also referred to as “allocation information”) for allocating a plurality of STAs 200 to one resource unit in the preamble portion of the data packet. As a result, the STA 200 can recognize the resource unit to which the own device is assigned by analyzing the preamble unit when the data packet is received, so that the data packet reception process can be appropriately performed.
[0025]
　The number of resource units assigned by the AP 100 to the STA 200 is not particularly limited, and one or a plurality of resource units may be assigned to one STA 200. When the AP100 allocates a plurality of resource units to one STA200, a plurality of frequency-continuous resource units may be integrated and used as one resource unit, or a plurality of resource units located at distant locations may be used. You may use it.
[0026]
　The STA 200 is a wireless communication device that communicates with the AP 100. The type of STA200 is not particularly limited. For example, the STA 200 may be a display having a display function, a memory having a storage function, a keyboard and a mouse having an input function, a speaker having a sound output function, and a smartphone having a function of executing advanced calculation processing.
[0027]
　When the STA 200 connects to the AP100, a basic service set (hereinafter referred to as "BSS: Basic Service Set") is formed. The connection means a state in which a wireless link has been established, and the STA 200 establishes the wireless link by completing the exchange of parameters necessary for communication through the association process with the AP100. At the time of exchanging the parameters, the AP100 and the STA 200 may send and receive information regarding whether or not the communication according to the present disclosure (communication performed by assigning one resource unit to the plurality of STA 200s) can be performed. STA200a to STA200f in FIG. 1 belong to the BSS formed by AP100.
[0028]
　As described above, when the STA 200 according to the present embodiment receives a data packet from the AP100, it recognizes the resource unit to which its own device is assigned by analyzing the preamble part of the data packet, and based on the recognition result. Performs data packet reception processing (including decryption processing).
[0029]
　The mode of the wireless LAN system according to this embodiment is not limited to the above-mentioned example described with reference to FIG. For example, the number of AP100 or STA200 is not particularly limited. For example, there may be a plurality of AP100s, or there may be only two STA200s. In addition, a part of the function of AP100 or STA200 may be realized by another external device. For example, another external device may realize the process of generating the data packet transmitted by the AP100. The aspect of the wireless LAN system according to this embodiment can be flexibly modified according to the specifications and operation.
[0030]
　Here, since the AP100 has basically the same functions as the STA200 except that it has a relay function and the like, it can be said that the AP100 is also a form of the STA200. Further, it is assumed that the wireless communication device according to the present disclosure is the AP100 itself or the STA200 itself, but the wireless communication device according to the present disclosure is not limited to this, and the wireless communication device according to the present disclosure is a component provided in the AP100 or STA200 (for example, It may be an IC chip or the like).
[0031]
　Hereinafter, details of data packet communication processing by AP100 and STA200 will be described. More specifically, details such as a method of allocating a plurality of STA200s to one resource unit and a communication method of an acknowledgment will be described. The "packet" described in the present specification may be appropriately replaced with a "frame".
[0032]
　(1.2. Device Configuration Example) In the
　above, the configuration example of the wireless LAN system according to this embodiment has been described. Subsequently, a configuration example of each device according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. Hereinafter, the device configuration example of the AP100 will be mainly described, but as described above, since the AP100 and the STA200 can basically have the same functions, even if each configuration example described below is treated as that of the STA200. Good.
[0033]
　As shown in FIG. 2, the AP 100 includes a data processing unit 110, a control unit 120, a communication unit 130, an antenna 140, and a power supply unit 150. Of these, the data processing unit 110, the control unit 120, and the communication unit 130 function as a generation unit that generates a data packet by performing processing in cooperation with each other, and the communication unit 130 sends the generated data packet to the STA 200. It functions as a transmitter to transmit. The communication unit 230 included in the STA 200 functions as a receiving unit for receiving data packets from the AP 100, and the data processing unit 210, the control unit 220, and the communication unit 230 receive the data packets by performing processing in cooperation with each other. It functions as a reception processing unit that performs processing (including decoding processing).
[0034]
　(Data processing unit 110)
　At the time of signal transmission, the data processing unit 110 generates a packet for transmission using the data to be transmitted input from the upper layer, and performs media access control (MAC). Transmission data is generated by adding a MAC header, an error detection code, and the like for the packet to the packet, and the transmission data is provided to the modulation / demodulation unit 131. At the time of signal reception, the data processing unit 110 performs processing such as analysis of the MAC header of the received data provided by the modulation / demodulation unit 131 and error detection.
[0035]
　(Control unit 120) The
　control unit 120 comprehensively controls each configuration in the AP 100. More specifically, the control unit 120 sets parameters (for example, coding method, modulation method, transmission power, etc.) used for processing of each configuration in AP100, schedules processing, and the like. Further, in this embodiment, the control unit 120 performs a process of allocating a resource unit to each STA 200. For example, the control unit 120 may assign a resource unit having a higher communication success rate to each STA 200 based on the scan result of the communication environment, the past communication history, and the like. The resource unit allocation method is not limited to this.
[0036]
　Further, the control unit 120 performs a predetermined operation based on the confirmation response from the STA 200. For example, when it is found from the confirmation response that the data packet has not been properly received by the STA 200, the control unit 120 controls the retransmission of the data packet. The control unit 220 included in the STA 200 controls the confirmation response generation process based on the reception process result of the data packet from the AP100. The processing of the control unit 120 of the AP100 and the control unit 220 of the STA 200 is not limited to these.
[0037]
　(Communication unit 130) The
　communication unit 130 realizes processing related to communication of the AP100. As shown in FIG. 2, the communication unit 130 includes a modulation / demodulation unit 131, a signal processing unit 132, a channel estimation unit 133, a wireless interface unit 134, and an amplifier unit 135. Here, the wireless interface unit 134, the amplifier unit 135, and the antenna 140 are treated as one set, and one or more sets may be provided (in the figure, the wireless interface unit 134, the amplifier unit 135, and the antenna). An example is shown in which n sets of 140 are provided). In FIG. 2, the antenna 140 is provided outside the communication unit 130, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the antenna 140 may be built in the communication unit 130.
[0038]
　(Modulation / Demodition Unit 131)
　At the time of signal transmission, the modulation / demodulation unit 131 encodes, interleaves, and encodes, interleaves, and transmits the transmission data provided by the data processing unit 110 based on the coding method and the modulation method set by the control unit 120. A data symbol stream is generated by performing modulation, and the stream is provided to the signal processing unit 132. Further, at the time of signal reception, the modulation / demodulation unit 131 acquires received data by demodulating, deinterleaving, and decoding the data symbol stream provided by the signal processing unit 132, and the received data is used as the data processing unit. Provide to 110.
[0039]
　(Signal processing unit 132)
　At the time of signal transmission, the signal processing unit 132 spatially processes the data symbol stream input from the modulation / demodulation unit 131, and transfers the obtained one or more transmission symbol streams to each wireless interface. Provided to unit 134. At the time of signal reception, the signal processing unit 132 acquires an independent data symbol stream for each received symbol stream by performing spatial processing on the received symbol stream provided from the wireless interface unit 134, and sends the modulation / demodulation unit 131 to the modulation / demodulation unit 131. provide.
[0040]
　(Channel estimation unit 133) The
　channel estimation unit 133 calculates complex channel gain information of the propagation path from the preamble portion and the training signal portion of the received signals provided from each radio interface unit 134. The calculated complex channel gain information is used for demodulation processing in the modulation / demodulation unit 131 and spatial processing in the signal processing unit 132.
[0041]
　(Wireless Interface Unit 134)
　At the time of signal transmission, the wireless interface unit 134 converts the input from the signal processing unit 132 into an analog signal, performs filtering and up-conversion to the carrier frequency band, and sends the signal to the amplifier unit 135. .. At the time of signal reception, the wireless interface unit 134 acquires a baseband signal by down-converting the received signal which is an analog signal provided by the amplifier unit 135, and filters the baseband signal. A received symbol stream is generated by performing various processes such as conversion to a digital signal, and is output to a signal processing unit 132 described later. Also,
[0042]
　(Amplifier section 135) The
　amplifier section 135 performs signal amplification processing. More specifically, at the time of signal transmission, the amplifier unit 135 amplifies the transmission signal input from the wireless interface unit 134 to a predetermined power and sends it to the antenna 140. At the time of signal reception, the amplifier unit 135 amplifies the received signal input from the antenna 140 to a predetermined power and outputs it to the wireless interface unit 134 described later. Note that these functions may be realized by the wireless interface unit 134.
[0043]
　(Antenna 140) The
　antenna 140 has a configuration in which high-frequency energy is radiated (transmitted) into space as radio waves (electromagnetic waves), and conversely, radio waves in space are converted (received) into high-frequency energy. The antenna 140 may be a chip antenna, an antenna formed by wiring on a printed circuit board, or an antenna formed by using a linear conductor element.
[0044]
　(Power supply unit 150) The
　power supply unit 150 has a configuration for supplying electric power to the AP 100, and may be a battery power source or a fixed power source.
[0045]
　The functional configuration examples of AP100 and STA200 have been described above. The above-mentioned functional configuration described with reference to FIG. 2 is merely an example, and the functional configurations of AP100 and STA200 are not limited to such an example. Further, the functional configurations of AP100 and STA200 can be flexibly modified according to specifications and operations.
[0046]
　(1.3. Format Example) In the
　above, the device configuration example of AP100 and STA200 according to this embodiment has been described. Subsequently, in the downlink communication using OFDMA, an example of the format of the data packet transmitted by the AP100 to each STA200 will be described.
[0047]
　First, an example of a data packet format will be described with reference to FIG. As described above, the AP100 stores information (allocation information) for allocating a plurality of STA200s to one resource unit in the preamble portion of the data packet. In the example of FIG. 3, the AP100 stores information regarding the allocation of resource units to each STA 200 in the portion corresponding to the User specific field in HE-SIG-B of the HE MU PPDU in the IEEE802.11ax standard.
[0048]
　More specifically, the AP100 provides an Indicator field and a User info field in the User specific field. Then, in the AP100,
the number of STAs 200 to which the resource unit corresponding to each Indicator is assigned is described in the Indicator field. For example, in FIG. 3, "2" is described in the Indicator field of the Indicator 2 corresponding to the resource unit 2 (denoted as "RU2" in the figure) to which two STA200s (STA200a and STA200b) are assigned. ..
[0049]
　Then, a User info field related to the STA 200 to which the resource unit corresponding to each Indicator is assigned is connected to the latter stage of each Indicator field. If a plurality of STA200s are assigned to one resource unit, User info fields related to each STA200 are concatenated in the order of allocation. Then, the AP100
describes the ID of the STA 200, the MCS (Modulation and
Coding Scheme, information indicating a combination of the modulation method, the coding rate, etc.), the data length, and the like in the data transmission to the STA 200 in each User info field . As a result, the STA 200 that has received the data packet can recognize the resource unit, MCS, data length, and the like used for transmitting data to its own device by analyzing the preamble unit. Further, when a plurality of STA 200s are assigned to one resource unit, the STA 200 can recognize the position of data addressed to its own device in one resource unit.
[0050]
　The format of the data packet is not limited to the example of FIG. For example, the information stored in the Indicator field or User info field is not limited to the above example. More specifically, the Indicator field or User info field may contain any information as long as it is used for data packet reception processing (including decryption processing) (of course, it is used for reception processing). Information other than the above information may be included). In addition, the Indicator field or User info field is provided in any part of the data conforming to any standard as long as it corresponds to the User specific field in HE-SIG-B of HE MU PPDU in the IEEE802.11ax standard. Can be.
[0051]
　In the example of FIG. 3, when there are STA200s assigned to a plurality of resource units, the User info field in which the information about the STA200 is stored is stored in the preamble section by the number of the allocated resource units. For example, the User info field in which the information about the resource unit 1 and the STA200a assigned to the resource unit 2 is stored is connected to the latter stage of each of the Indicator fields of Indicator 1 and Indicator 2. As a result, data such as the ID and MCS of the STA200a are stored redundantly, so that the data length of the preamble portion becomes long.
[0052]
　Therefore, the AP100 may integrate a User info field in which information about the same STA200 is stored in order to shorten the data length of the preamble portion. FIG. 4 shows an example of data packet format when the AP100 integrates the User info field in which information about the same STA200 is stored.
[0053]
　More specifically, when there are STA200s assigned to a plurality of resource units, the AP100 stores the information indicating the data position of the User info field in which the information about the STA200 is stored in the Indicator field. Info field integration can be achieved. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the AP100 provides one User info field for each STA200 in which information about the STA200 to be transmitted is stored. Then, even if there are STA200s assigned to a plurality of resource units, the AP100 does not newly concatenate the User info field, but instead sets the data position of the User info field in which the information about the STA200 is stored. Store the indicated information in the Indicator field.
[0054]
　In FIG. 4, the STA 200a is assigned to the resource unit 1 and the resource unit 2. Therefore, the AP100 provides the User info field of the STA200a after the Indicator field of the Indicator1 corresponding to the resource unit 1 for the STA200a, and sets the data position of the User info field of the STA200a in the Indicator field of the Indicator2 corresponding to the resource unit 2. Stores the information to be shown. Here, the information indicating the data position of the User info field of the STA200a is, for example, the head of the data packet of the User info field (or the Indicator field to which the User info field is concatenated) in which the information about the STA200a is stored. The order may be from (in the example of FIG. 4, “1”), but the order is not limited to this. This allows the AP100 to make the data length of the preamble section shorter while allowing the STA 200 to properly receive the data packet.
[0055]
　In the example of FIG. 4, since the information such as the ID and MCS of the STA200 assigned to the plurality of resource units is basically common to each resource unit, the AP100 uses one user info field for these information. Can be stored in. On the other hand, since the data length is often different for each resource unit, the AP100 may not be able to store the data length information in one User info field.
[0056]
　Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4, for the resource unit to which a plurality of STA200s are assigned, the AP100 stores the data length information (Duration information) of the data addressed to each STA200 between the preamble unit and the data unit. A field (hereinafter referred to as "Duration field" for convenience) may be provided. In the example of FIG. 4, a Duration field is provided in the resource unit 2 and the resource unit 5.
[0057]
　In the Duration
field, for example, data length information can be stored in the order of data stored in the resource unit. In the resource unit 2 of FIG. 4, data is transmitted in the order of STA200b and STA200a, so that the data length information of the data addressed to the STA200b and the data length information of the data addressed to the STA200a are stored in the Duration field in this order. To. As a result, the STA 200a and STA 200b that have received the data packet can appropriately recognize the data position where the data addressed to the own device is stored and the data length of the data.
[0058]
　Further, the AP100 does not have to include the data length information in the data packet. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, when a plurality of STAs 200 are assigned to one resource unit, the AP100 may insert the midamble 10 at the boundary of data having different destinations in the data unit in the resource unit. Good. Here, the midamble 10 is a predetermined signal pattern, and the STA 200 recognizes the predetermined signal pattern in advance. Then, the STA 200 can detect the midamble 10 by decoding the data portion of the received data packet and then extracting the correlation between the decoded signal and the predetermined signal pattern. Therefore, even if the AP 100 does not include the data length information in the data packet, the STA 200 can appropriately recognize the boundaries of data whose destinations are different from each other, so that the data addressed to the own device can be appropriately acquired.
[0059]
　Note that FIGS. 3 to 5 are merely examples, and the format of the data packet is not limited to these. For example, information regarding the allocation of resource units to each STA 200 may be stored in any part of the preamble portion of the data packet. Further, in FIG. 4, the Duration field may be provided other than between the preamble unit and the data unit.
[0060]
　(1.4. Process Flow) In the
　above, an example of the format of the data packet transmitted by the AP100 to each STA200 has been described. Subsequently, an example of the processing flow by AP100 and STA200 will be described.
[0061]
　(Flow of processing by AP100)
　First, an example of the flow of processing by AP100 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of processing when the AP100 transmits a data packet to the STA 200 and receives an acknowledgment from the STA 200.
[0062]
　In step S1000, the control unit 120 of the AP100 selects one or two or more STA200s to be transmitted of the data packet, and determines the resource unit of each STA200. Further, if necessary, the control unit 120 determines parameters such as MCS or data length. After that, the data processing unit 110 and the communication unit 130 generate a data packet including information about the resource unit of each STA 200 in the preamble unit in step S1004, and transmit the data packet to each STA 200 in step S1008.
[0063]
　After the data packet is received by each STA 200, the communication unit 130 and the data processing unit 110 of the AP100 receive the confirmation response from each STA 200 in step S1012, and receive the confirmation response (including the decoding process) in step S1016. )I do. In step S1020, the control unit 120 executes an operation according to the result of the confirmation response reception process, thereby ending the series of processes. For example, when it is found from the confirmation response that the data packet has not been properly received by the STA 200, the control unit 120 controls the retransmission of the data packet. The operation according to the result of the confirmation response reception processing is not limited to this.
[0064]
　(Flow of processing by STA200)
　Subsequently, an example of the flow of processing by STA200 will be described with reference to FIG. 7. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of processing when the STA 200 receives a data packet from the AP100 and transmits an acknowledgment to the AP100.
[0065]
　The communication unit 230 and the data processing unit 210 of the STA 200 receive the data packet from the AP100 in step S1100, and in step S1104, whether or not the own device is designated as the destination based on the preamble unit or the like of the data packet. Check if. When the own device is specified as the destination of the data packet (step S1104 / Yes), in step S1108, the communication unit 230 and the data processing unit 210 make a data packet based on the resource unit or the like specified in the preamble unit. Receive processing (including decryption processing). Then, the communication unit 230 and the data processing unit 210 generate an acknowledgment including the result of the data packet reception process in step S1112, and transmit the acknowledgment to the AP100 in step S1116 to complete the series of processes. .. If the own device is not specified as the destination of the data packet in step S1104 (step S1104 / No), a series of processes is completed without performing the data packet reception process or the like.
[0066]
　Here, an example of transmission of the confirmation response performed in step S1116 of FIG. 7 is shown. As shown in step S1200 of FIG. 8, it is assumed that the resource unit 2 and the resource unit 5 are assigned to a plurality of STA 200s among the data packets transmitted by the AP 100 to each STA 200. More specifically, it is assumed that the resource unit 2 is assigned to STA200a and STA200b, and the resource unit 5 is assigned to STA200e, STA200f and STA200g. Then, it is assumed that the other resource units are assigned to only one STA200. More specifically, it is assumed that the resource unit 1 is assigned only to the STA 200a, the resource unit 3 is assigned to the STA 200c, and the resource unit 4 is assigned only to the STA 200d.
[0067]
　Then, of each STA200, the STA200, which is independently assigned to only one resource unit, transmits an acknowledgment (“BA: Block Ack” in the example of FIG. 8) to the AP100 using the resource unit. In the example of FIG. 8, in step S1204, the STA200c uses the resource unit 3 and the STA200d uses the resource unit 4 to transmit an acknowledgment to the AP100. It is assumed that each STA 200 transmits an acknowledgment after a predetermined period (in the example of FIG. 8, SIFS (Short Inter Frame Space)) has elapsed from the time when the data packet is received.
[0068]
　Further, the STA 200 having both the resource unit assigned independently and the resource unit assigned to be shared with other STA 200 sends an acknowledgment to the AP100 by using the resource unit assigned alone. In the example of FIG. 8, in step S1204, the STA 200a uses the resource unit 1 to transmit an acknowledgment to the AP100. Further, the STA 200 assigned to share only one resource unit with the other STA 200 sends an acknowledgment to the AP100 using the shared resource unit. In the example of FIG. 8, in step S1204, the STA200b uses the resource unit 2 and the STA200e uses the resource unit 5 to send an acknowledgment to the AP100.
[0069]
　When a plurality of STAs 200 transmit an acknowledgment using one resource unit, each STA 200 receives an acknowledgment in the order in which data is received while leaving a predetermined period (SIFS in the example of FIG. 8). To send. In the example of FIG. 8, after the STA200e transmits the confirmation response using the resource unit 5 in step S1204, the STA200f in step S1208 and the STA200g in step S1212 each confirm one unit while leaving SIFS. To send. As a result, even if one resource unit is assigned to a plurality of STA 200s, each STA 200 can appropriately transmit an acknowledgment.
[0070]
　Further, the transmission mode of the acknowledgment is not limited to the example of FIG. For example, the STA 200 may send an acknowledgment using a resource unit different from the resource unit that received the data. For example, as shown in FIG. 9, in step S1308, the STA 200g may transmit an acknowledgment using the resource unit 4 instead of using the resource unit 5 as shown in FIG. Same as FIG. 8). This shortens the transmission period of all acknowledgments, as can be seen by comparing FIGS. 8 and 9. In this case, when transmitting the data packet in step S1300, the AP100 specifies the resource unit for transmitting the acknowledgment and the transmission timing in the data packet (for example, User info field).
[0071]
　Here, when the STA 200 receives data using both a resource unit assigned independently and a resource unit assigned to be shared with other STA 200s, the data reception process (including the decryption process) is delayed. In some cases, the STA 200 may not be able to transmit an acknowledgment at a predetermined timing (for example, after the SIFS has elapsed from the time when the data packet was received). In this case, the STA 200 may delay the transmission timing of the acknowledgment by a predetermined period. For example, as shown in FIG. 10, when the STA200a cannot transmit the confirmation response after the SIFS has elapsed since the reception of the data packet in step S1404, the STA200a confirms at the timing of step S1408 after the SIFS has elapsed. You may send a response. Of course, the mode of transmitting the acknowledgment is not limited to the examples of FIGS. 9 and 10.
[0072]
　　<2. Second Example>
　The first embodiment of the present disclosure has been described above. Subsequently, a second embodiment of the present disclosure will be described.
[0073]
　In the first embodiment, an example in which downlink communication using OFDMA is performed has been described. In the second embodiment, an example in which uplink communication using OFDMA is performed will be described.
[0074]
　More specifically, in step S1500 of FIG. 11, the AP100 sets a trigger (denoted as “Trigger” in the figure) that specifies the timing of transmission of the data packet by each STA200 and the resource unit for transmission. Send to STA200. In step S1504, each STA 200 that has received the trigger transmits a data packet to the AP100 using the transmission timing and resource unit specified by the trigger. In the example of FIG. 11, it is assumed that the resource unit 1 is assigned to the STA200a, the resource unit 2 is assigned to the STA200b and STA200c, the resource unit 3 is assigned to the STA200d and STA200e, and the resource unit 4 is assigned to the STA200f.
[0075]
　In step S1508 and step S1512, the AP100 that has received the data packet transmits an acknowledgment to each STA200. Here, when one resource unit is assigned to a plurality of STA200s, the AP100 transmits an acknowledgment to each STA200 at SIFS intervals in the order in which data is received in the resource unit, as shown in FIG.
[0076]
　Since the configuration example of the wireless LAN system according to the second embodiment is the same as the configuration example of the first embodiment (see FIG. 1), the description thereof will be omitted. Further, to explain the device configuration example according to the second embodiment, the data processing unit 110 of the AP100 generates not only the data packet but also the trigger. Further, as described above, the communication unit 130 of the AP 100 functions as a receiving unit that receives a data packet in which data from a plurality of STA 200s are mixed in one resource unit. Further, the data processing unit 110, the control unit 120, and the communication unit 130 of the AP 100 cooperate with each other to perform processing, and receive and process data packets (including decoding processing) based on the allocation information, thereby performing a plurality of STA200s. It functions as a reception processing unit that extracts data from at least one of the STA 200s from a data packet. Further, the control unit 220 of the STA 200 controls the processing of transmitting a data packet to the AP 100 based on the trigger from the AP 100.
[0077]
　Here, a format example of the trigger generated by the AP100 will be described with reference to FIG. The AP100 stores information (allocation information) for allocating a plurality of STA200s to one resource unit in a trigger. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 12, the AP100 stores the User info field for each STA 200 in the trigger, and in each User info
field, RU allocation, Transmission
timing, and RU allocation for ACK transmission. And Transmission timing for ACK transmission are stored as allocation information.
[0078]
　The RU
allocation is information about a resource unit used by the STA 200 when transmitting a data packet. For example, the AP100 stores identification information or the like indicating a resource unit for transmitting a data packet in the RU allocation. Further, the Transmission timing is information regarding the transmission timing of the data packet when the STA 200 transmits the data packet. For example, the AP100 specifies the transmission timing of the data packet according to the elapsed time from the reception timing of the trigger. With this information, each STA 200 can appropriately transmit a data packet.
[0079]
　Further, the RU allocation for ACK transmission is information about a resource unit used by the AP100 when transmitting an acknowledgment to the STA200. For example, the AP100 stores identification information or the like indicating a resource unit for transmitting an acknowledgment in the RU allocation for ACK transmission. Further, the Transmission
timing for ACK transmission is information regarding the transmission timing of the acknowledgment when the AP100 transmits the acknowledgment. For example, the AP100 specifies the transmission timing of the acknowledgment according to the elapsed time from the reception timing of the data packet. With this information, each STA 200 can appropriately receive the acknowledgment. Further, the format of the trigger is not limited to the example shown in FIG. For example,
the above-mentioned RU allocation, Transmission timing, RU allocation for ACK
transmission and Transmission timing for ACK transmission can be sent to the variable length Trigger Dependent User Info located at the end of the User info field in the trigger specified by the IEEE802.11ax standard. Etc. may be stored.
[0080]
　Subsequently, an example of the processing flow by the AP100 and the STA200 according to the second embodiment will be described.
[0081]
　First, with reference to FIG. 13, an example of the processing flow by the AP100 according to the second embodiment will be described. FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing an example of a series of processes when the AP100 transmits a trigger to the STA 200, receives a data packet from the STA 200, and transmits an acknowledgment to the STA 200.
[0082]
　In step S1600, the control unit 120 of the AP100 selects one or two or more STA200s to be transmitted as triggers, and determines the resource unit of each STA200. After that, the data processing unit 110 and the communication unit 130 generate a trigger (see FIG. 12) including information (for example, RU allocation, etc.) regarding the resource unit of each STA 200 in step S1604, and in step S1608, each of them generates a trigger (see FIG. 12). A trigger is sent to the STA200.
[0083]
　After each STA 200 receives the trigger and transmits the data packet based on the trigger, the communication unit 130 and the data processing unit 110 of the AP100 receive the data packet from each STA 200 in step S1612, and the data in step S1616. Performs packet reception processing (including decryption processing). Then, the communication unit 130 and the data processing unit 110 generate an acknowledgment including the result of the data packet reception process in step S1620, and transmit the acknowledgment to each STA 200 in step S1624 to complete the series of processes. To do.
[0084]
　Subsequently, an example of the processing flow by the STA 200 according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing an example of a series of processes when the STA 200 receives a trigger from the AP 100 and transmits a data packet to the AP 100 based on the trigger.
[0085]
　The communication unit 230 and the data processing unit 210 of the STA 200 receive the trigger from the AP100 in step S1700, and confirm in step S1704 whether or not the own device is designated as the destination of the trigger. When the own device is specified as the destination of the trigger (step S1704 / Yes), the data processing unit 210 and the communication unit 230 generate a data packet for transmission in step S1708, and trigger in step S1712. A data packet is transmitted to the AP100 based on the resource unit or the like specified in.
[0086]
　After the data packet is received by the AP100 and the acknowledgment is transmitted, the communication unit 230 and the data processing unit 210 of the STA 200 receive the acknowledgment from the AP100 in step S1716 and are designated by the trigger in step S1720. Performs acknowledgment reception processing (including decoding processing) based on the resource unit or the like. In step S1724, a series of processes is completed when the control unit 220 executes an operation according to the result of the confirmation response reception process. For example, when it is found from the confirmation response that the data packet has not been properly received by the AP 100, the control unit 220 controls the retransmission of the data packet. The operation according to the result of the confirmation response reception processing is not limited to this. If the own device is not specified as the trigger destination in step S1704 (step S1704 / No), a series of processes is completed without performing data packet transmission processing or the like.
[0087]
　Here, the series of transmission modes in the second embodiment is not limited to the above-mentioned example described with reference to FIG. For example, if there is a resource unit that is not used for transmission, the AP100 may transmit an acknowledgment using the resource unit. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 15, when the resource unit 5 is not used for transmission, the AP100 sends an acknowledgment to the STA 200c that transmitted the data packet using the resource unit 2 in step S1808. It may be transmitted using the resource unit 5. As a result, the AP100 can utilize the communication resource more efficiently. In this case, the AP100 notifies the STA200c of the resource unit for transmitting the confirmation response to the STA200c and the transmission timing by the trigger (for example, User info field) transmitted in step S1800. Of course, the series of transmission modes is not limited to the example of FIG.
[0088]
　　<3. Application example>
　The technology according to the present disclosure can be applied to various products. For example, the STA200 is a smartphone, a tablet PC (Personal Computer), a notebook PC, a mobile terminal such as a portable game terminal or a digital camera, a television receiver, a printer, a fixed terminal such as a digital scanner or a network storage, or a car navigation device. It may be realized as an in-vehicle terminal such as. Further, the STA200 is realized as a terminal (also referred to as an MTC (Machine Type Communication) terminal) that performs M2M (Machine To Machine) communication, such as a smart meter, a vending machine, a remote monitoring device, or a POS (Point Of Sale) terminal. You may. Further, the STA 200 may be a wireless communication module (for example, an integrated circuit module composed of one die) mounted on these terminals.
[0089]
　On the other hand, for example, the AP100 may be realized as a wireless LAN access point (also referred to as a wireless base station) having a router function or not having a router function. Further, the AP100 may be realized as a mobile wireless LAN router. Further, the AP100 may be a wireless communication module (for example, an integrated circuit module composed of one die) mounted on these devices.
[0090]
　(3.1. First Application Example)
　FIG. 16 is a block diagram showing an example of a schematic configuration of a smartphone 900 to which the technology according to the present disclosure can be applied. The smartphone 900 includes a processor 901, a memory 902, a storage 903, an external connection interface 904, a camera 906, a sensor 907, a microphone 908, an input device 909, a display device 910, a speaker 911, a wireless communication interface 913, an antenna switch 914, and an antenna 915. It includes a bus 917, a battery 918 and an auxiliary controller 919.
[0091]
　The processor 901 may be, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or a SoC (System on Chip), and controls the functions of the application layer and other layers of the smartphone 900. The memory 902 includes a RAM (Random Access Memory) and a ROM (Read Only Memory), and stores programs and data executed by the processor 901. The storage 903 may include a storage medium such as a semiconductor memory or a hard disk. The external connection interface 904 is an interface for connecting an external device such as a memory card or a USB (Universal Serial Bus) device to the smartphone 900.
[0092]
　The camera 906 has an image pickup device such as a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) or a CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor), and generates an captured image. The sensor 907 may include, for example, a group of sensors such as a positioning sensor, a gyro sensor, a geomagnetic sensor and an acceleration sensor. The microphone 908 converts the voice input to the smartphone 900 into a voice signal. The input device 909 includes, for example, a touch sensor, a keypad, a keyboard, a button, or a switch for detecting a touch on the screen of the display device 910, and receives an operation or information input from the user. The display device 910 has a screen such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) or an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display, and displays an output image of the smartphone 900. The speaker 911 converts the voice signal output from the smartphone 900 into voice.
[0093]
　The wireless communication interface 913 supports one or more of the wireless LAN standards such as IEEE802.11a, 11b, 11g, 11n, 11ac, 11ad and 11ax and performs wireless communication. The wireless communication interface 913 may communicate with other devices via the wireless LAN access point in the infrastructure mode. In addition, the wireless communication interface 913 can directly communicate with other devices in an ad hoc mode or a direct communication mode such as Wi-Fi Direct (registered trademark). In Wi-Fi Direct, unlike the ad hoc mode, one of the two terminals operates as an access point, but communication is directly performed between the terminals. The wireless communication interface 913 may typically include a baseband processor, an RF (Radio Frequency) circuit, a power amplifier, and the like. The wireless communication interface 913 may be a one-chip module in which a memory for storing a communication control program, a processor for executing the program, and related circuits are integrated. In addition to the wireless LAN system, the wireless communication interface 913 may support other types of wireless communication systems such as a short-range wireless communication system, a proximity wireless communication system, or a cellular communication system. The antenna switch 914 switches the connection destination of the antenna 915 between a plurality of circuits (for example, circuits for different wireless communication methods) included in the wireless communication interface 913. The antenna 915 has a single antenna element or a plurality of antenna elements (for example, a plurality of antenna elements constituting a MIMO antenna), and is used for transmitting and receiving a radio signal by the radio communication interface 913.
[0094]
　Not limited to the example of FIG. 16, the smartphone 900 may be provided with a plurality of antennas (for example, an antenna for a wireless LAN and an antenna for a proximity wireless communication method). In that case, the antenna switch 914 may be omitted from the configuration of the smartphone 900.
[0095]
　The bus 917 connects the processor 901, the memory 902, the storage 903, the external connection interface 904, the camera 906, the sensor 907, the microphone 908, the input device 909, the display device 910, the speaker 911, the wireless communication interface 913, and the auxiliary controller 919 to each other. .. The battery 918 supplies electric power to each block of the smartphone 900 shown in FIG. 16 via a power supply line partially shown by a broken line in the figure. The auxiliary controller 919 operates the minimum necessary functions of the smartphone 900, for example, in the sleep mode.
[0096]
　In the smartphone 900 shown in FIG. 16, the processor 901 may function as the control unit 220 of the STA 200 described with reference to FIG. For example, the processor 901 generates an acknowledgment based on the reception processing result of the data packet from the AP 100, and controls the transmission processing of the acknowledgment to the AP 100. At that time, the processor 901 can control the acknowledgment transmission process so as to share the resource unit with the other STA 200 based on the information stored in the data packet from the AP 100. In addition, the processor 901 can control the data packet transmission process so as to share the resource unit with another STA 200 based on the trigger from the AP 100. As a result, the processor 901 can realize more efficient communication in the wireless LAN system.
[0097]
　The smartphone 900 may operate as a wireless access point (software AP) by the processor 901 executing the access point function at the application level. Further, the wireless communication interface 913 may have a wireless access point function.
[0098]
　(3.2. Second Application Example)
　FIG. 17 is a block diagram showing an example of a schematic configuration of a car navigation device 920 to which the technique according to the present disclosure can be applied. The car navigation device 920 includes a processor 921, a memory 922, a GPS (Global Positioning System) module 924, a sensor 925, a data interface 926, a content player 927, a storage medium interface 928, an input device 929, a display device 930, a speaker 931, and wireless communication. It includes an interface 933, an antenna switch 934, an antenna 935 and a battery 938.
[0099]
　The processor 921 may be, for example, a CPU or SoC, and controls the navigation function and other functions of the car navigation device 920. Memory 922 includes RAM and ROM and stores programs and data executed by processor 921.
[0100]
　The GPS module 924 uses GPS signals received from GPS satellites to measure the position (eg, latitude, longitude and altitude) of the car navigation device 920. The sensor 925 may include, for example, a group of sensors such as a gyro sensor, a geomagnetic sensor and a barometric pressure sensor. The data interface 926 is connected to the vehicle-mounted network 941 via a terminal (not shown), and acquires data generated on the vehicle side such as vehicle speed data.
[0101]
　The content player 927 reproduces the content stored in the storage medium (for example, a CD or DVD) inserted into the storage medium interface 928. The input device 929 includes, for example, a touch sensor, a button, or a switch for detecting a touch on the screen of the display device 930, and receives an operation or information input from the user. The display device 930 has a screen such as an LCD or an OLED display, and displays an image of a navigation function or a content to be reproduced. The speaker 931 outputs the sound of the navigation function or the content to be played.
[0102]
　The wireless communication interface 933 supports one or more of the wireless LAN standards such as IEEE802.11a, 11b, 11g, 11n, 11ac, 11ad and 11ax to perform wireless communication. The wireless communication interface 933 may communicate with other devices via the wireless LAN access point in the infrastructure mode. Further, the wireless communication interface 933 can directly communicate with other devices in an ad hoc mode or a direct communication mode such as Wi-Fi Direct. The wireless communication interface 933 may typically include a baseband processor, an RF circuit, a power amplifier, and the like. The wireless communication interface 933 may be a one-chip module in which a memory for storing a communication control program, a processor for executing the program, and related circuits are integrated. In addition to the wireless LAN system, the wireless communication interface 933 may support other types of wireless communication systems such as a short-range wireless communication system, a proximity wireless communication system, or a cellular communication system. The antenna switch 934 switches the connection destination of the antenna 935 between a plurality of circuits included in the wireless communication interface 933. The antenna 935 has a single or multiple antenna elements and is used for transmitting and receiving radio signals by the wireless communication interface 933.
[0103]
　The car navigation device 920 may be provided with a plurality of antennas, not limited to the example of FIG. In that case, the antenna switch 934 may be omitted from the configuration of the car navigation device 920.
[0104]
　The battery 938 supplies electric power to each block of the car navigation device 920 shown in FIG. 17 via a power supply line partially shown by a broken line in the figure. In addition, the battery 938 stores electric power supplied from the vehicle side.
[0105]
　In the car navigation device 920 shown in FIG. 17, the processor 921 may function as the control unit 220 of the STA 200 described with reference to FIG. The operation of the processor 921 functioning as the control unit 220 is the same as the operation of the processor 901 of the smartphone 900 described with reference to FIG.
[0106]
　Further, the wireless communication interface 933 may operate as the AP100 described above and provide a wireless connection to a terminal owned by a user in a vehicle. At that time, for example, the wireless communication interface 933 may allocate one resource unit to a plurality of terminals.
[0107]
　Further, the technique according to the present disclosure may be realized as an in-vehicle system (or vehicle) 940 including one or more blocks of the car navigation device 920 described above, an in-vehicle network 941, and a vehicle-side module 942. The vehicle-side module 942 generates vehicle-side data such as vehicle speed, engine speed, or failure information, and outputs the generated data to the vehicle-mounted network 941.
[0108]
　(3.3. Third Application Example)
　FIG. 18 is a block diagram showing an example of a schematic configuration of a wireless access point 950 to which the technique according to the present disclosure can be applied. The wireless access point 950 includes a controller 951, a memory 952, an input device 954, a display device 955, a network interface 957, a wireless communication interface 963, an antenna switch 964, and an antenna 965.
[0109]
　The controller 951 may be, for example, a CPU or DSP (Digital Signal Processor), and may have various functions (eg, access restriction, routing, encryption, firewall) of the IP (Internet Protocol) layer and higher layers of the wireless access point 950. And log management, etc.) are operated. The memory 952 includes a RAM and a ROM, and stores a program executed by the controller 951 and various control data (for example, a terminal list, a routing table, an encryption key, a security setting, and a log).
[0110]
　The input device 954 includes, for example, a button or a switch, and receives an operation from the user. The display device 955 includes an LED lamp and the like, and displays the operation status of the wireless access point 950.
[0111]
　The network interface 957 is a wired communication interface for the wireless access point 950 to connect to the wired communication network 958. The network interface 957 may have a plurality of connection terminals. The wired communication network 958 may be a LAN such as Ethernet (registered trademark) or a WAN (Wide Area Network).
[0112]
　The wireless communication interface 963 supports one or more of the wireless LAN standards such as IEEE802.11a, 11b, 11g, 11n, 11ac, 11ad and 11ax, and provides a wireless connection as an access point to nearby terminals. The wireless communication interface 963 may typically include a baseband processor, an RF circuit, a power amplifier, and the like. The wireless communication interface 963 may be a one-chip module in which a memory for storing a communication control program, a processor for executing the program, and related circuits are integrated. The antenna switch 964 switches the connection destination of the antenna 965 among a plurality of circuits included in the wireless communication interface 963. Antenna 965 has a single or multiple antenna elements and is used for transmission and reception of radio signals by the radio communication interface 963.
[0113]
　In the wireless access point 950 shown in FIG. 18, the controller 951 may function as the control unit 120 of the AP 100 described with reference to FIG. For example, the controller 951 may control the data packet generation process and the transmission process in which data addressed to a plurality of STA 200s are mixed in one resource unit. Further, the controller 951 may allocate a plurality of STAs 200 to one resource unit and control a trigger generation process and a transmission process including information on the allocation. As a result, the controller 951 can realize more efficient communication in the wireless LAN system.
[0114]
　　<4. Summary> As
　described above, since the AP100 according to the present disclosure can allocate a plurality of STA200s to one resource unit, more efficient communication can be realized in a wireless LAN system.
[0115]
　More specifically, the AP100 according to the first embodiment can generate a data packet in which data addressed to a plurality of STA200s are mixed in one resource unit, and can transmit the data packet to the STA200. .. At that time, the AP 100 stores information (allocation information) for allocating a plurality of STA 200s to one resource unit in the preamble portion of the data packet. As a result, the STA 200 can recognize the resource unit to which the own device is assigned by analyzing the preamble unit when the data packet is received, so that the data packet reception process can be appropriately performed.
[0116]
　Further, the AP100 according to the second embodiment can generate a trigger in which information (allocation information) for allocating a plurality of STAs 200 to one resource unit is stored, and can transmit the trigger to each STA200. As a result, the plurality of STAs 200 can transmit data packets to the AP100 while sharing the resource unit with other STA200s based on the trigger.
[0117]
　Although the preferred embodiments of the present disclosure have been described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, the technical scope of the present disclosure is not limited to such examples. It is clear that anyone with ordinary knowledge in the technical field of the present disclosure may come up with various modifications or modifications within the scope of the technical ideas set forth in the claims. Of course, it is understood that it belongs to the technical scope of the present disclosure.
[0118]
　For example, each step in the flowchart described above does not necessarily have to be processed in chronological order in the order described. That is, each step in the flowchart may be processed in an order different from the order described, or may be processed in parallel.
[0119]
　In addition, the effects described herein are merely explanatory or exemplary and are not limited. That is, the techniques according to the present disclosure may exhibit other effects apparent to those skilled in the art from the description herein, in addition to or in place of the above effects.
[0120]
　The following configurations also belong to the technical scope of the present disclosure.
(1) 　Access to 　a wireless LAN including
　a generation unit that generates a wireless signal in which allocation information for allocating a plurality of stations to one resource unit is stored, and a
transmission unit that transmits the wireless signal to the station.
A wireless communication device that functions as a point.
(2)
　the allocation information, communication of data packets, or is information for assigning a plurality of stations at least one resource unit out of the resource units used to communicate acknowledgment for the data packet,
　the The wireless communication device according to (1).
(3)
　The communication of the data packet is downlink communication, and the
　generation unit generates a data packet in which data addressed to a plurality of stations are mixed in the one resource unit as the radio signal.
　(2) The wireless communication device described in.
(4) 　The wireless communication device according to (3),
　wherein the generation unit stores the allocation information in a preamble unit of the data packet
.
(5)
　The communication of the data packet is uplink communication, and is

　The wireless communication device according to (2) 　, wherein the generation unit generates a trigger for controlling transmission of the data packet by the station as the wireless signal .
(6)
　A receiving unit that receives a data packet in which data from the plurality of stations are mixed in the one resource unit, and
　a receiving process of the data packet based on the allocation information of the plurality of stations.
　The wireless communication device according to (5) above , further comprising a reception processing unit that extracts data from at least one of the stations from the data packet .
(7) In 　any one of (2) to (6 )
　above, in the allocation information, the resource unit used for the communication of the data packet and the resource unit used for the communication of the acknowledgment are different from each other.
The wireless communication device described.
(8) 　The wireless communication device according to any one of (2) to (7) above
　,
wherein the communication is an OFDMA communication conforming to the IEEE802.11 standard .
(9) A 　wireless LAN access point function 　having a function
　of generating a wireless signal in which allocation information for allocating a plurality of stations to one resource unit is stored and a function
of transmitting the wireless signal to the station.
Wireless communication method to realize.
(10)
　A receiving unit that receives a radio signal in which allocation information for allocating a plurality of stations to one resource unit is stored,
　and a reception processing unit that performs reception processing of the radio signal based on the allocation information.
　A wireless communication device that functions as a wireless LAN station.
(11)
　The allocation information, communication of data packets, or is information for assigning a plurality of stations at least one resource unit out of the resource units used to communicate acknowledgment for the data packet,
　the The wireless communication device according to (10).
(12)
　The communication of the data packet is downlink communication, and the
　reception processing unit is based on the allocation information from the data packet which is the radio signal in which data addressed to a plurality of stations is mixed in the one resource unit.
　The wireless communication device according to (11) above , which extracts data addressed to the own device .
(13) 　The wireless communication device according to (12),
　wherein the reception processing unit extracts data addressed to its own device based on the allocation information stored in the preamble unit of the data packet
.
(14)
　The communication of the data packet is uplink communication, and the
　receiving unit receives the trigger as the radio signal.

　The wireless communication device according to (11) 　, further comprising a control unit that controls transmission of the data packet based on the trigger .
(15) In 　any one of (11) to (14 )
　above, in the allocation information, the resource unit used for the communication of the data packet and the resource unit used for the communication of the acknowledgment are different from each other.
The wireless communication device described.
(16) 　The wireless communication device according to any one of (11) to (15) above
　,
wherein the communication is an OFDMA communication conforming to the IEEE802.11 standard .
(17)
　and that the allocation information for assigning a plurality of stations in a single resource unit receives a radio signal stored,
　having a carrying out the reception processing of the radio signal based on the allocation information,
　the radio A wireless communication method that realizes the LAN station function.
Description of the sign
[0121]
　100 AP
　200 STA
　110, 210 Data processing unit
　120, 220 Control unit
　130, 230 Communication unit
　131, 231
　Modulation / demodulation unit 132, 232 Signal processing unit
　133, 233 Channel estimation unit
　134, 234 Wireless interface unit
　135, 235 Amplifier unit
　140, 240 Antenna
　150, 250 Power supply
The scope of the claims
[Claim 1]
　Functions as
　a
wireless LAN access point , including 　a generator that generates a wireless signal in which allocation information for allocating a plurality of stations to one resource unit is stored, and a transmitter that transmits the wireless signal to the station. Wireless communication device.
[Claim 2]
　The allocation information is information for allocating a plurality of stations to at least one resource unit of the resource units used for communication of a data packet or communication of an acknowledgment for the data packet, according to
　claim 1. The wireless communication device described.
[Claim 3]
　The
　radio according to
　claim 2 , wherein the communication of the data packet is downlink communication, and the generation unit generates a data packet in which data addressed to a plurality of stations are mixed in the one resource unit as the radio signal. Communication device.
[Claim 4]

　The wireless communication device according to claim 3, 　wherein the generation unit stores the allocation information in a preamble unit of the data packet .
[Claim 5]
　The wireless communication device according to claim 2 　,
　wherein the communication of the data packet is uplink communication, and the generation unit generates a trigger for controlling transmission of the data packet by the station as the wireless signal
.
[Claim 6]
　At least one of the plurality of stations
　by performing the reception process of the data packet based on the allocation information and the receiving unit that receives the data packet in which the data from the plurality of stations are mixed in the one resource unit.
　The wireless communication device according to claim 5, further comprising a reception processing unit that extracts data from one station from the data packet .
[Claim 7]

　The wireless communication device according to claim 2, 　wherein in the allocation information, the resource unit used for the communication of the data packet and the resource unit used for the communication of the acknowledgment are different from each other .
[Claim 8]

　The wireless communication device according to claim 2, 　wherein the communication is OFDMA communication conforming to the IEEE802.11 standard .
[Claim 9]
　A 　wireless LAN access point function is realized , which
　comprises generating a wireless signal in which allocation information for allocating a plurality of stations to one resource unit is stored, and transmitting the wireless signal to the station.
Wireless communication method.
[Claim 10]
　A receiving unit that receives a radio signal allocation information is stored for assigning a plurality of stations in one resource unit,
　and a reception processing unit that performs reception processing of the radio signal based on the allocation information,
　the radio A wireless communication device that functions as a LAN station.
[Claim 11]
　The allocation information is the information for allocating a plurality of stations to at least one resource unit of the resource units used for the communication of the data packet or the communication of the acknowledgment for the data packet, according to
　claim 10. The wireless communication device described.
[Claim 12]
　The communication of the data packet is downlink communication, and the
　reception processing unit addresses the data packet, which is a radio signal in which data addressed to a plurality of stations are mixed in the one resource unit, to its own device based on the allocation information. The
　wireless communication device according to claim 11 , wherein the data of the above is extracted .
[Claim 13]

　The wireless communication device according to claim 12, 　wherein the reception processing unit extracts data addressed to its own device based on the allocation information stored in the preamble unit of the data packet .
[Claim 14]
　The
　radio
　according to
　claim 11 , wherein the communication of the data packet is uplink communication, and the receiving unit further includes a control unit that receives a trigger as the radio signal and controls transmission of the data packet based on the trigger. Communication device.
[Claim 15]

　The wireless communication device according to claim 11, 　wherein in the allocation information, the resource unit used for the communication of the data packet and the resource unit used for the communication of the acknowledgment are different from each other .
[Claim 16]

　The wireless communication device according to claim 11, 　wherein the communication is OFDMA communication conforming to the IEEE802.11 standard .
[Claim 17]
　A 　wireless LAN station that receives a wireless signal that stores allocation information for allocating a plurality of stations to one resource unit,
　and performs reception processing of the wireless signal based on the allocation information.
A wireless communication method that realizes the function.