JP2018046470A - Wireless communication control device, program, and wireless communication system - Google Patents

Abstract

It is desirable to provide a technology that can efficiently improve the communication environment of a plurality of wireless communication terminals when a plurality of access points are arranged. Each of a terminal information receiving unit that receives connection terminal information related to a plurality of wireless communication terminals that are connected to a plurality of wireless access points with overlapping cover areas, and a plurality of wireless communication terminals included in the connection terminal information Based on the available bandwidth, at least one of the plurality of wireless access points executes communication with the wireless communication terminal using the first bandwidth during the first communication period, and the plurality of wireless access points At least one of the points is provided with a wireless communication control device including a communication control unit that executes communication with the wireless communication terminal using the second bandwidth during the second communication period. [Selection] Figure 6

Description

  The present invention relates to a wireless communication control device, a program, and a wireless communication system.

A system that provides a wireless communication service to a wireless communication terminal by arranging a plurality of wireless access points in a specific area has been known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
[Prior art documents]
[Patent Literature]
[Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-086675

  When arranging a plurality of access points, it is desirable to be able to provide a technology that can efficiently improve the communication environment of a plurality of wireless communication terminals.

  According to a first aspect of the present invention, a wireless communication control device is provided. The wireless communication control device may include a terminal information receiving unit that receives connection terminal information related to a plurality of wireless communication terminals that are connected to a plurality of wireless access points with overlapping cover areas. The wireless communication control device transmits, to the at least one of the plurality of wireless access points, during the first communication period, based on the available bandwidth of each of the plurality of wireless communication terminals included in the connection terminal information. Execute communication with the wireless communication terminal using the bandwidth, and execute communication with the wireless communication terminal using the second bandwidth for at least one of the plurality of wireless access points during the second communication period. A communication control unit may be provided.

  The communication control unit is configured to prohibit transmission by the wireless communication terminal whose usable bandwidth does not correspond to the first bandwidth during the first communication period to the plurality of wireless access points. NAV (Network Allocation Vector) is set to the wireless communication terminal, and during the second communication period, the wireless communication terminal prohibits transmission by a wireless communication terminal whose usable bandwidth does not correspond to the second bandwidth. NAV may be set. The communication control unit sets a usable bandwidth to the first bandwidth for a wireless access point that performs communication with a wireless communication terminal using the first bandwidth during the first communication period. An available bandwidth for a wireless access point that refuses establishment of a communication connection with an incompatible wireless communication terminal and performs communication with the wireless communication terminal using the second bandwidth during the second communication period. The establishment of a communication connection with a wireless communication terminal whose width does not correspond to the second bandwidth may be rejected.

  The communication control unit is configured to allow the plurality of the plurality of wireless access points to use the plurality of the plurality of wireless access points during the first communication period so that at least one of the plurality of wireless access points is used. At least one of the wireless communication terminals performs communication with the wireless communication terminal using the first bandwidth, and during the second communication period, at least one of the plurality of wireless communication terminals receives the second The communication with the wireless communication terminal may be executed using the bandwidth. The wireless communication control device turns off the operation of the wireless access point that does not execute communication with the wireless communication terminal using the first bandwidth among the plurality of wireless access points during the first communication period. An operation control unit may be further provided. The communication control unit may determine the first communication period and the second communication period according to a degree of congestion for each available bandwidth of the plurality of wireless communication terminals. The communication control unit is configured such that a congestion degree of usable bandwidths of the plurality of wireless communication terminals corresponding to the first bandwidth is an available bandwidth of the plurality of wireless communication terminals corresponding to the second bandwidth. If the width is higher than the degree of congestion, the second communication period shorter than the first communication period may be determined.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a program for causing a computer to function as the wireless communication control device.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a wireless communication system including the wireless communication control device and the plurality of wireless access points.

  The above summary of the invention does not enumerate all necessary features of the present invention. In addition, a sub-combination of these feature groups can also be an invention.

1 schematically shows an example of a wireless communication system 10. An example of terminal information list 240 which wireless communication control device 200 stores is shown roughly. An assignment example 410 for a plurality of wireless APs 100 by the wireless communication control apparatus 200 is schematically shown. An assignment example 420 for a plurality of wireless APs 100 according to the prior art is schematically shown. An example of a functional structure of the radio | wireless communication control apparatus 200 is shown roughly. An example of the flow of processing by wireless communication control device 200 is shown roughly. An example of the flow of processing by wireless communication control device 200 is shown roughly. An example of the flow of processing by wireless communication control device 200 is shown roughly. An example of the computer 1000 which functions as the radio | wireless communication control apparatus 200 is shown roughly.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described through embodiments of the invention, but the following embodiments do not limit the invention according to the claims. Moreover, not all the combinations of features described in the embodiments are essential for the solution means of the invention.

  FIG. 1 schematically illustrates an example of a wireless communication system 10. The wireless communication system 10 includes a plurality of wireless access points (APs) 100 and a wireless communication control device 200 that controls the plurality of wireless APs 100. Although FIG. 1 illustrates four wireless APs 102, wireless APs 104, wireless APs 106, and wireless APs 108, the number of wireless APs 100 is not limited to this.

  The wireless AP 100 establishes a communication connection with the wireless communication terminal 300 in response to the connection request received from the wireless communication terminal 300, and relays communication of the wireless communication terminal 300. The wireless AP 100 may be connected to an arbitrary network (not shown), and may relay communication between the wireless communication terminal 300 and the arbitrary network. The optional network may include the Internet and a telephone network. The connection between the wireless AP 100 and an arbitrary network may be a wired connection or a wireless connection. The wireless AP 100 may relay communication between the plurality of wireless communication terminals 300.

  The wireless AP 100 may be a wireless LAN (Local Area Network) router, a Wi-Fi (Wireless Fidelity) (registered trademark) router, a mobile Wi-Fi router, or the like.

  The wireless AP 100 may authenticate the wireless communication terminal 300 using an arbitrary authentication method. For example, the wireless AP 100 authenticates the wireless communication terminal 300 using an EAP (Extensible Authentication Protocol) -SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) method. In addition, the wireless AP 100 includes EAP-MD5 (Message Digest algorithm 5), EAP-TLS (Transport Layer Security), EAP-TTLS (Tunneled TLS), PEAP (Protected EAP), LEAP (APwh, EAP (Flexible Authentication via Secure Tunneling) or the like may be used.

  Here, a case where the wireless AP 100 conforms to IEEE 802.11ac will be mainly described as an example. IEEE 802.11ac supports a maximum width of 160 MHz. IEEE 802.11ac is compatible with IEEE 802.11n and IEEE 802.11a. IEEE 802.11n supports a maximum width of 40 MHz. IEEE 802.11a supports a maximum width of 20 MHz. The wireless AP 100 may conform to a standard other than IEEE 802.11ac.

  In the plurality of wireless APs 100 according to the present embodiment, the cover areas 110 overlap as illustrated in FIG. The overlap of the cover area 110 means that the reception intensity of radio waves received by the wireless communication terminal 300 from the plurality of wireless APs 100 is the same regardless of the position of the wireless communication terminal 300 in the cover area 110. The situation may be similar. Here, “similar” may include being the same, almost the same, substantially the same, or substantially the same. The overlapping cover area 110 is formed by, for example, arranging a plurality of wireless APs 100 having the same configuration and function in close proximity.

  The wireless communication terminal 300 may be any terminal that can communicate with the wireless AP 100. For example, the wireless communication terminal 300 is a mobile phone such as a smartphone, a tablet terminal, a PC (Personal Computer), or the like.

  In the cover area 110, a wireless communication terminal 300 with an available bandwidth of 160 MHz, a wireless communication terminal 300 with an available bandwidth of 80 MHz, a wireless communication terminal 300 with an available bandwidth of 40 MHz, and a wireless with an available bandwidth of 20 MHz. Communication terminals 300 may be mixed. The available bandwidth may be the maximum bandwidth that the wireless communication terminal 300 can use.

  For example, if a bandwidth of 160 MHz can be used in the cover area 110 and a non-overlapping 80 MHz bandwidth is assigned to each of the two wireless APs 100, the wireless AP 100 can use a wireless communication terminal with an available bandwidth of 80 MHz. Between 300, all allocated bandwidth can be used. However, only half of the allocated bandwidth can be used with the wireless communication terminal 300 having an available bandwidth of 40 MHz, and allocated with the wireless communication terminal 300 having an available bandwidth of 20 MHz. In other words, only one-fourth of the existing band can be used, and the frequency utilization efficiency may be lowered.

  In contrast, the wireless communication control apparatus 200 according to the present embodiment controls a plurality of wireless APs 100 in order to improve frequency use efficiency. The wireless communication control device 200 receives connection terminal information related to a plurality of wireless communication terminals 300 that are connected to a plurality of wireless APs 100 from the plurality of wireless APs 100, and the wireless communication control apparatus 200 The frequency use efficiency is improved by changing the bandwidth used by each of the plurality of wireless APs 100 based on the available bandwidth.

  For example, in the wireless communication control device 200, the band that can be used by the plurality of wireless APs 100 is 80 MHz, and the wireless communication terminals 300 having available bandwidths of 80 MHz, 40 MHz, and 20 MHz are mixed in the cover area 110. A first communication period in which one of a plurality of wireless APs 100 uses 80 MHz, a second communication period in which two of the plurality of wireless APs 100 use 40 MHz, and a plurality of wireless APs 100 The third communication period in which four units use 20 MHz is sequentially switched. Then, during the first communication period, the wireless communication control device 200 controls so that only the wireless communication terminal 300 having an available bandwidth of 80 MHz executes communication among the plurality of wireless communication terminals 300, and the second During the communication period, control is performed so that only the wireless communication terminal 300 having an available bandwidth of 40 MHz among the plurality of wireless communication terminals 300 executes communication, and during the third communication period, the plurality of wireless communication terminals 300 Among 300, control is performed so that only the wireless communication terminal 300 having an available bandwidth of 20 MHz executes communication.

  Thereby, only the communication using the entire 80 MHz band is executed by one wireless AP 100 during the first communication period, and the communication using the entire 40 MHz band is performed by two wireless APs 100 during the second communication period. Only the communication using the entire 20 MHz band can be executed by the four wireless APs 100 during the third communication period. Therefore, since it is possible to suppress the execution of communication using only a part of the allocated bandwidth, it is possible to improve the frequency utilization efficiency.

  FIG. 2 schematically shows an example of the terminal information list 240 stored in the wireless communication control apparatus 200. The terminal information list 240 includes connection terminal information of the plurality of wireless communication terminals 300 received by the wireless communication control apparatus 200 from the plurality of wireless APs 100. The terminal information list 240 includes a terminal identification information column 241, a connection destination AP column 242, a current bandwidth column 243, a maximum supported bandwidth column 244, and a traffic volume column 245.

  In the terminal identification information column 241, the terminal identification information of the wireless communication terminal 300 is registered. The terminal identification information of the wireless communication terminal 300 may be any information as long as the wireless communication terminal 300 can be identified, and is, for example, the MAC (Media Access Control) address of the wireless communication terminal 300.

  In the connection destination AP column 242, AP identification information of the wireless AP 100 that has established communication connection with the wireless communication terminal 300 is registered. The AP identification information of the wireless AP 100 may be any information as long as the wireless AP 100 can be identified, for example, the MAC address of the wireless AP 100.

  In the current bandwidth column 243, a bandwidth used by the wireless communication terminal 300 with the connection-destination wireless AP 100 is registered. In the maximum supported bandwidth column 244, a maximum supported bandwidth that is the maximum bandwidth supported by the wireless communication terminal 300 is registered. The maximum supported bandwidth may be an example of available bandwidth.

  In the traffic volume column 245, the traffic volume of the wireless communication terminal 300 is registered. In FIG. 2, “many” when the traffic volume is larger than the predetermined first threshold, “medium” when the traffic volume is between the second threshold and the first threshold lower than the first threshold, An example in which “small” is registered when the number is smaller than the second threshold is shown. The format of the traffic volume is not limited to this, and may be expressed in four or more stages, or may be expressed by a numerical value indicating the traffic volume.

  FIG. 3 schematically shows a band allocation example 410 for the plurality of wireless APs 100 by the wireless communication control apparatus 200. The vertical axis represents frequency, and the horizontal axis represents time. An allocation example 410 shows an example of a band allocated to the wireless AP 102, the wireless AP 104, the wireless AP 106, and the wireless AP 108 by the wireless communication control apparatus 200 in the situation shown in FIG. Here, an example in which the bandwidth that can be used by a plurality of wireless APs 100 is 80 MHz is shown.

  The wireless communication control device 200 includes a communication period 432 for assigning an 80 MHz width to one of the wireless APs 108 from the wireless AP 102 according to the degree of congestion for each available bandwidth of the plurality of wireless communication terminals 300, and the wireless AP 102 A communication period 434 for allocating a 40 MHz width to two of the wireless APs 108 to, and a communication period 436 for allocating a 20 MHz width to the wireless AP 108 from the wireless AP 102 may be determined.

  In the example illustrated in FIG. 1, two wireless communication terminals 300 with an available bandwidth of 80 MHz, three wireless communication terminals 300 with an available bandwidth of 40 MHz, and four wireless communication terminals 300 with an available bandwidth of 20 MHz. Connected to a plurality of wireless APs 100. The radio communication control apparatus 200 may determine that the degree of congestion is higher as the number of radio communication terminals 300 for each available bandwidth is larger. In the case of this example, the radio communication control apparatus 200 may determine that the congestion degree is high in the order of 20 MHz width, 40 MHz width, and 80 MHz width. And the radio | wireless communication control apparatus 200 may determine a long communication period, so that congestion degree is high. In this example, the radio communication control apparatus 200 may determine a communication period 434 longer than the communication period 432 and may determine a communication period 436 longer than the communication period 434.

  The length values of the communication period 432, the communication period 434, and the communication period 436 may be determined by any method. For example, the wireless communication control apparatus 200 determines a total time of a plurality of communication periods in advance, and determines the length of each communication period based on a congestion degree ratio. For example, when the total time is set to 3 seconds and the ratio of the congestion degree is equal, the wireless communication control device 200 sets each of the communication period 432, the communication period 434, and the communication period 436 to 1 second. For example, when the congestion ratio is 1: 2: 3, the wireless communication control device 200 sets the communication period 432 to 0.5 seconds, the communication period 434 to 1 second, and the communication period 436 to 1.5 seconds. To do.

  Further, the radio communication control apparatus 200 may determine that the congestion degree is higher as the traffic amount of the radio communication terminal 300 for each available band is larger. For example, the wireless communication control device 200 determines that the congestion degree is higher as the total value of the traffic amount for each available bandwidth is larger. As a specific example, in the situation shown in FIG. 1, the total amount of traffic of two wireless communication terminals 300 with an available bandwidth of 80 MHz and the three wireless communication terminals 300 with an available bandwidth of 40 MHz. With respect to the total value of traffic volume and the total value of traffic volume of four wireless communication terminals 300 having an available bandwidth of 20 MHz, it is determined that the degree of congestion is high in descending order. The wireless communication control device 200 may derive the value of the degree of congestion according to the size of the total value.

  The radio communication control apparatus 200 may determine the degree of congestion based on the number of radio communication terminals 300 and the traffic volume for each available bandwidth. For example, the wireless communication control device 200 includes the number of wireless communication terminals 300 having an available bandwidth of 80 MHz, the number of wireless communication terminals 300 having an available bandwidth of 40 MHz, and the wireless communication terminal 300 having an available bandwidth of 20 MHz. When the total number of traffic is the same, it may be determined that the greater the total traffic volume for each available bandwidth, the higher the degree of congestion.

  The wireless communication control device 200 causes the wireless AP 102 to execute communication with the wireless communication terminal 300 having an available bandwidth of 80 MHz using 80 MHz during the communication period 432. During the communication period 434, the wireless communication control apparatus 200 causes the wireless AP 102 and the wireless AP 104 to perform communication with the wireless communication terminal 300 having an available bandwidth of 40 MHz using 40 MHz. During the communication period 436, the wireless communication control apparatus 200 causes the wireless AP 102, the wireless AP 104, the wireless AP 106, and the wireless AP 108 to execute communication with the wireless communication terminal 300 having an available bandwidth of 20 MHz using 20 MHz.

  The wireless communication control device 200 may control the plurality of wireless APs 100 during the communication period 432 so that the plurality of wireless APs 100 and the wireless communication terminal 300 whose usable bandwidth is not 80 MHz are not established. For example, the wireless communication control apparatus 200 sets NAVs for the wireless communication terminals 300 in the plurality of wireless APs 100 in order to prohibit transmission by the wireless communication terminals 300 whose usable bandwidth is not 80 MHz during the communication period 432. Let Thereby, during the communication period 432, it is possible to prevent the wireless communication terminal 300 whose usable bandwidth is not 80 MHz from transmitting a connection request. Further, for example, the wireless communication control apparatus 200 may cause the wireless AP 102 to reject establishment of a communication connection with the wireless communication terminal 300 whose usable bandwidth is not 80 MHz during the communication period 432. Thereby, when the wireless communication terminal 300 whose usable bandwidth is not 80 MHz transmits a connection request to the wireless AP 102, the connection can be rejected. The wireless communication control apparatus 200 may turn off the operations of the wireless AP 104, the wireless AP 106, and the wireless AP 108 during the communication period 432. Turning off the operation of the wireless AP 100 may be putting the wireless AP 100 in a sleep state, turning off the power of the wireless AP 100, or the like.

  The wireless communication control device 200 may control the plurality of wireless APs 100 during the communication period 434 so that the plurality of wireless APs 100 and the wireless communication terminal 300 whose usable bandwidth is not 40 MHz are not established. For example, the wireless communication control device 200 sets NAVs for the wireless communication terminals 300 in the plurality of wireless APs 100 to prohibit transmission by the wireless communication terminal 300 whose usable bandwidth is not 40 MHz during the communication period 434. Let Further, for example, the wireless communication control device 200 may cause the wireless AP 102 and the wireless AP 104 to reject establishment of a communication connection with the wireless communication terminal 300 whose usable bandwidth is not 40 MHz during the communication period 434. The wireless communication control device 200 may turn off the operations of the wireless AP 106 and the wireless AP 108 during the communication period 434.

  The wireless communication control device 200 may control the plurality of wireless APs 100 during the communication period 436 so that the plurality of wireless APs 100 and the wireless communication terminal 300 whose usable bandwidth is not 20 MHz are not established. For example, the wireless communication control apparatus 200 sets NAVs for the wireless communication terminals 300 in the plurality of wireless APs 100 in order to prohibit transmission by the wireless communication terminal 300 whose usable bandwidth is not 20 MHz during the communication period 436. Let Further, for example, the wireless communication control device 200 may cause the wireless AP 102 to the wireless AP 108 to reject establishment of a communication connection with the wireless communication terminal 300 whose usable bandwidth is not 20 MHz during the communication period 436.

  The wireless communication control apparatus 200 may perform control so that the allocation pattern 430 including the communication period 432, the communication period 434, and the communication period 436 is repeated a predetermined number of times. The radio communication control apparatus 200 may change the allocation pattern 430 after repeating the allocation pattern 430 a predetermined number of times. For example, the wireless communication control device 200 determines the communication period for each available bandwidth based on the connection terminal information while the allocation pattern 430 is repeated a predetermined number of times or when the allocation pattern 430 is repeated. The allocation pattern 430 is changed according to the communication period. Note that the radio communication control apparatus 200 may change the allocation pattern 430 once the allocation pattern 430 is executed.

  FIG. 4 schematically illustrates an example assignment 420 according to the prior art. Here, an example in which the bandwidth that can be used by a plurality of wireless APs 100 is 80 MHz is shown. In the allocation example 410, an 80 MHz width is allocated to the wireless AP 102.

  According to the allocation example 410, if the available bandwidth of the wireless communication terminal 300 is 80 MHz, communication using 80 MHz is performed, but if the available bandwidth of the wireless communication terminal 300 is 40 MHz or 20 MHz, wireless communication is performed. Even if 80 MHz is assigned to the AP 100, communication is performed at 40 MHz or 20 MHz. As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, according to the allocation example 410, a communication amount equivalent to the total communication amount in the allocation example 420 can be realized in a shorter time.

  FIG. 5 schematically illustrates an example of a functional configuration of the wireless communication control device 200. The wireless communication control apparatus 200 includes a terminal information receiving unit 202, a terminal information storage unit 204, a communication control unit 206, an operation control unit 208, and a BL storage unit 216. Note that it is not essential that the wireless communication control device 200 has all these configurations.

  The terminal information receiving unit 202 receives connection terminal information related to a plurality of wireless communication terminals 300 connected to a plurality of wireless APs 100 from the plurality of wireless APs 100. The terminal information storage unit 204 stores connection terminal information received by the terminal information reception unit 202.

  The communication control unit 206 controls the plurality of wireless APs 100 based on the available bandwidths of the plurality of wireless communication terminals 300 included in the connection terminal information stored in the terminal information storage unit 204. For each type of available bandwidth of a plurality of wireless communication terminals 300 with which a plurality of wireless APs 100 have established a communication connection, the communication control unit 206 uses only each bandwidth to connect the wireless AP 100 and the wireless communication terminal 300 to each other. A plurality of communication periods for executing communication may be determined.

  Then, the communication control unit 206 uses at least one of the plurality of wireless APs 100 using the first bandwidth corresponding to the first communication period during the first communication period among the determined plurality of communication periods. In addition, communication with the wireless communication terminal 300 whose available bandwidth corresponds to the first bandwidth may be executed. Further, the communication control unit 206 uses at least one of the plurality of wireless APs 100 using the second bandwidth corresponding to the second communication period during the second communication period among the determined plurality of communication periods. In addition, communication with the wireless communication terminal 300 whose available bandwidth corresponds to the second bandwidth may be executed.

  The communication control unit 206 determines the communication period by the number of types of available bandwidths of the plurality of wireless communication terminals 300 connected to the plurality of wireless APs 100. For example, when a wireless communication terminal 300 with an available bandwidth of 80 MHz and a wireless communication terminal 300 with an available bandwidth of 40 MHz are connected to a plurality of wireless APs 100, the communication control unit 206 sets 80 MHz. And a communication period for executing communication using 40 MHz and a communication period for executing communication using 40 MHz are determined. Further, for example, for a plurality of wireless APs 100, a wireless communication terminal 300 with an available bandwidth of 80 MHz, a wireless communication terminal 300 with an available bandwidth of 40 MHz, and a wireless communication terminal 300 with an available bandwidth of 20 MHz, Are connected, the communication control unit 206 determines a communication period for executing communication using 80 MHz, a communication period for executing communication using 40 MHz, and a communication period for executing communication using 20 MHz. To do.

  The communication control unit 206 may allocate a bandwidth to the plurality of wireless APs 100 so that all of the bands usable by the plurality of wireless APs 100 are used by at least one of the plurality of wireless APs 100. For example, when the bandwidth of the band that can be used by the plurality of wireless APs 100 is 80 MHz, the wireless communication control device 200 is one of the plurality of wireless APs 100 for a communication period in which communication is performed using 80 MHz. 80 MHz may be allocated to the wireless AP 100. Further, the wireless communication control apparatus 200 may allocate 40 MHz to each of the two wireless APs 100 of the plurality of wireless APs 100 for a communication period in which communication is performed using 40 MHz. Further, the wireless communication control device 200 may assign 20 MHz to each of the four wireless APs 100 of the plurality of wireless APs 100 for a communication period in which communication is performed using 20 MHz.

  The communication control unit 206, based on the available bandwidth of each of the plurality of wireless communication terminals 300 included in the connection terminal information stored in the terminal information storage unit 204, when a predetermined condition is satisfied. A plurality of wireless APs 100 may be controlled. The predetermined condition may be that, for at least one of the plurality of wireless APs 100, the number of wireless communication terminals 300 that have established a communication connection is greater than a predetermined threshold value. Further, the predetermined condition may be that the total number of wireless communication terminals 300 that have established a communication connection with any of the plurality of wireless APs 100 is greater than a predetermined threshold value. Further, the predetermined condition may be that at least one of the traffic amounts of the plurality of wireless communication terminals 300 is larger than a predetermined threshold. Further, the predetermined condition may be that at least any one of the plurality of wireless APs 100 has a traffic amount greater than a predetermined threshold.

  The communication control unit 206 includes a NAV setting unit 210, a BL control unit 212, and a connection disconnection unit 214. The communication control unit 206 may cause the plurality of wireless APs 100 to control the plurality of wireless communication terminals 300 using the NAV setting unit 210. Further, the communication control unit 206 may cause the plurality of wireless APs 100 to control the plurality of wireless communication terminals 300 using the BL control unit 212 and the connection disconnection unit 214.

  The NAV setting unit 210 causes the wireless AP 100 to set the NAV for the wireless communication terminal 300. When a plurality of communication periods are determined, the NAV setting unit 210 prohibits transmission by the wireless communication terminal 300 whose available bandwidth does not correspond to the bandwidth used by the wireless AP 100 during each communication period. The wireless AP 100 that has established communication connection with the wireless communication terminal 300 is caused to set the NAV for the wireless communication terminal 300. The fact that the available bandwidth does not correspond to the bandwidth used by the wireless AP 100 may be, for example, that the bandwidth allocated to the wireless AP 100 and the available bandwidth of the wireless communication terminal 300 do not match.

  For example, when the communication period 432, the communication period 434, and the communication period 436 illustrated in FIG. 3 are determined, the NAV setting unit 210 transmits the communication period 434 and the communication to the wireless communication terminal 300 having an available bandwidth of 80 MHz. The NAV corresponding to the period 436 is set in the wireless AP 100 that has established communication connection with the wireless communication terminal 300. Further, the NAV setting unit 210 establishes a communication connection with the wireless communication terminal 300 for the NAV corresponding to the periods of the communication period 432 and the communication period 436 for the wireless communication terminal 300 having an available bandwidth of 40 MHz. The wireless AP 100 is set. Further, the NAV setting unit 210 establishes a communication connection with the wireless communication terminal 300 for the NAV corresponding to the communication period 432 and the communication period 434 for the wireless communication terminal 300 having an available bandwidth of 20 MHz. Set to AP100.

  The BL control unit 212 controls the black list (BL) of the plurality of wireless APs 100. BL is a list for registering terminal identification information of the wireless communication terminal 300 that refuses to establish a communication connection.

  When a plurality of communication periods are determined, the BL control unit 212 displays the terminal identification information of the wireless communication terminal 300 whose available bandwidth does not correspond to the bandwidth used by the wireless AP 100 during each communication period. The wireless AP 100 is controlled so as not to establish a communication connection with the wireless communication terminal 300.

  If each of the plurality of wireless APs 100 stores a BL, the BL control unit 212 may register the BL by transmitting terminal identification information to the wireless AP 100. When the wireless communication control device 200 stores BLs of a plurality of wireless APs 100, the BL control unit 212 may register terminal identification information in the stored BLs. Further, the BL control unit 212 may register the terminal identification information in the BL stored in the BL storage unit 216.

  When each of the plurality of wireless APs 100 stores a BL, when each wireless AP 100 receives a connection request from the wireless communication terminal 300, the wireless AP 100 refers to the stored BL and determines whether or not communication connection is possible. . In addition, when the wireless communication control device 200 stores BLs of a plurality of wireless APs 100, each wireless AP 100 receives the connection request from the wireless communication terminal 300 and the BL stored in the wireless communication control device 200. To determine whether or not communication connection is possible.

  When the terminal identification information is registered in the BL of the wireless AP 100, the BL control unit 212 sets an additional time indicating the time for maintaining the registration of the terminal identification information. For example, when the BL control unit 212 causes the wireless AP 100 to refuse establishment of a communication connection with one wireless communication terminal 300 during the first communication period, the BL control unit 212 causes the one wireless communication terminal to have the BL of the wireless AP 100 300 terminal identification information and additional time corresponding to the first communication period may be registered.

  The BL control unit 212 may register the additional time in the BL of the wireless AP 100 in association with the terminal identification information. Further, the BL control unit 212 may store the association between the terminal identification information and the additional time separately from the BLs of the plurality of wireless APs 100. In addition, the BL control unit 212 may register the additional time in association with the terminal identification information in the BL stored in the BL storage unit 216.

  The BL control unit 212 may perform control so as to exclude the terminal identification information from the BL when the set additional time has elapsed after registering the terminal identification information in the BL of the wireless AP 100. When each of the plurality of wireless APs 100 stores a BL, the BL control unit 212 may refer to the BL and determine whether or not the additional time of each terminal identification information has elapsed. In addition, when each of the plurality of wireless APs 100 stores a BL, each of the plurality of wireless APs 100 refers to the BL stored by itself and determines whether or not the additional time has elapsed. If determined, the corresponding terminal identification information may be excluded from the BL.

  When the wireless communication control apparatus 200 stores BLs of a plurality of wireless APs 100, the BL control unit 212 may determine whether or not the additional time of each terminal identification information has elapsed with reference to the BLs. . In addition, the BL control unit 212 may determine whether or not the additional time of each terminal identification information has elapsed with reference to the BL stored in the BL storage unit 216.

  The connection disconnection unit 214 causes the wireless AP 100 to disconnect the communication connection with the wireless communication terminal 300 that has established a communication connection with the wireless AP 100 during the elapsed communication period when each communication period has elapsed. For example, the connection disconnecting unit 214 controls the wireless AP 100 so that the wireless AP 100 transmits a disconnection signal to the wireless communication terminal 300.

  The operation control unit 208 turns off the operation of the wireless AP 100 other than the wireless AP 100 that executes communication with the wireless communication terminal 300 among the plurality of wireless APs 100 during each of the plurality of communication periods. For example, when causing one wireless AP 100 of the plurality of wireless APs 100 to perform communication with the wireless communication terminal 300 using one bandwidth during one communication period, the operation control unit 208 performs one communication. During the period, the operation of the wireless AP 100 whose available bandwidth does not correspond to one bandwidth is turned off.

  FIG. 6 schematically shows an example of the flow of processing by the wireless communication control apparatus 200. Here, a state in which the wireless communication control apparatus 200 is connected to a plurality of wireless APs 100 and each of the plurality of wireless APs 100 establishes communication connection with the wireless communication terminal 300 and communicates will be described as a start state. A case where the bandwidth that can be used by the plurality of wireless APs 100 is 80 MHz will be described. Each process illustrated in FIG. 6 is executed mainly by a control unit included in the wireless communication control device 200.

  In step 602 (step may be abbreviated as S), the terminal information receiving unit 202 receives connected terminal information from a plurality of wireless APs 100. The connected terminal information is stored in the terminal information storage unit 204.

  In S604, it is determined whether the number of connected terminals or the traffic amount of at least one of the plurality of wireless APs 100 is greater than a predetermined threshold. When it is determined that there are many, the process proceeds to S606, and when it is not determined that there are many, the process proceeds to S616.

  In S606, the communication control unit 206 determines a plurality of communication periods based on the connection terminal information stored in the terminal information storage unit 204. The communication control unit 206, for example, for a plurality of wireless APs 100, a wireless communication terminal 300 with an available bandwidth of 80 MHz, a wireless communication terminal 300 with an available bandwidth of 40 MHz, and a wireless with an available bandwidth of 20 MHz. When the communication terminal 300 is connected, the first communication period for executing communication using 80 MHz, the second communication period for executing communication using 40 MHz, and the first communication period for executing communication using 20 MHz. 3 communication periods are determined. When the communication control unit 206 repeats the allocation pattern including the first communication period, the second communication period, and the third communication period a plurality of times, the communication control unit 206 includes a plurality of first communication periods and second communication periods. And the third communication period may be determined.

  In S608, the NAV setting unit 210 causes the plurality of wireless APs 100 to set the NAV for the plurality of wireless communication terminals 300. For example, the NAV setting unit 210 transmits a wireless communication terminal 300 having an available bandwidth of 80 MHz to the wireless communication terminal 300 in order to prohibit transmission during the second communication period and the third communication period. To set the NAV. In addition, the NAV setting unit 210 transmits to the wireless communication terminal 300 having an available bandwidth of 40 MHz so as to prohibit transmission during the first communication period and the third communication period. To set the NAV. In addition, the NAV setting unit 210 transmits to the wireless communication terminal 300 having an available bandwidth of 20 MHz so as to prohibit transmission during the first communication period and the second communication period. To set the NAV.

  In S610, the communication control unit 206 allocates a bandwidth to each of the plurality of wireless APs 100. The communication control unit 206 determines one of the communication periods determined in S606 so that all of the 80 MHz bandwidth that can be used by the plurality of wireless APs 100 is used by at least one of the plurality of wireless APs 100. A bandwidth corresponding to the first communication period is allocated to at least one of the plurality of wireless APs 100. For example, the communication control unit 206 allocates an 80 MHz width corresponding to the first communication period to one wireless AP 100 among the plurality of wireless APs 100.

  In S612, it is determined whether or not the first communication period has elapsed. When it is determined that the first communication period has elapsed, the process proceeds to S614. In S614, it is determined whether all the communication periods determined in S606 have elapsed. When it is determined that all the determined communication periods have elapsed, the process proceeds to S616, and when it is determined that all the communication periods have not elapsed, the process returns to S610. In S610, a bandwidth of 40 MHz corresponding to the second communication period, which is the next communication period, is allocated to two wireless APs 100 out of the plurality of wireless APs 100.

  In S616, it is determined whether the end flag is ON. The ON / OFF of the end flag is switched at an arbitrary timing by an operator of the wireless communication control device 200, for example. If it is determined that the end flag is not ON, the process returns to S602, and if it is determined that the end flag is ON, the process ends.

  FIG. 7 schematically shows an example of the flow of processing by the wireless communication control apparatus 200. Here, a state in which the wireless communication control apparatus 200 is connected to a plurality of wireless APs 100 and each of the plurality of wireless APs 100 establishes communication connection with the wireless communication terminal 300 and communicates will be described as a start state. A case where the bandwidth that can be used by the plurality of wireless APs 100 is 80 MHz will be described. Each process illustrated in FIG. 7 is executed mainly by a control unit included in the wireless communication control device 200.

  In step S <b> 702, the terminal information reception unit 202 receives connection terminal information from a plurality of wireless APs 100. The connected terminal information is stored in the terminal information storage unit 204.

  In S704, it is determined whether the number of connected terminals or the traffic amount of at least one of the plurality of wireless APs 100 is greater than a predetermined threshold. When it is determined that there are many, the process proceeds to S706, and when it is not determined that there are many, the process proceeds to S718.

  In step S <b> 706, the communication control unit 206 determines a plurality of communication periods based on the connection terminal information stored in the terminal information storage unit 204. The communication control unit 206, for example, for a plurality of wireless APs 100, a wireless communication terminal 300 with an available bandwidth of 80 MHz, a wireless communication terminal 300 with an available bandwidth of 40 MHz, and a wireless with an available bandwidth of 20 MHz. When the communication terminal 300 is connected, the first communication period for executing communication using 80 MHz, the second communication period for executing communication using 40 MHz, and the first communication period for executing communication using 20 MHz. 3 communication periods are determined.

  In S708, the communication control unit 206 performs the first communication determined in S706 such that all of the 80 MHz bandwidth that can be used by the plurality of wireless APs 100 is used by at least one of the plurality of wireless APs 100. A bandwidth corresponding to the period is allocated to at least one of the plurality of wireless APs 100. For example, the communication control unit 206 allocates an 80 MHz width corresponding to the first communication period to one wireless AP 100 among the plurality of wireless APs 100.

  When the operation of the wireless AP 100 to which the bandwidth is allocated is turned off, the communication control unit 206 assigns the bandwidth after switching the operation on. The operation control unit 208 may turn off the operation of the wireless AP 100 that is not a target to which the bandwidth is allocated among the plurality of wireless APs 100.

  In S710, the BL control unit 212 determines the terminal identification information of the wireless communication terminal 300 in which the bandwidth corresponding to the first communication period and the available bandwidth do not correspond, and the additional time corresponding to the first communication period, Are registered in the BL of the wireless AP 100 to which the bandwidth corresponding to the first communication period is allocated.

  In S <b> 712, the available bandwidth of the wireless communication terminal 300 that establishes a communication connection with the wireless AP 100 is assigned to the wireless AP 100 to which the connection disconnecting unit 214 has assigned a bandwidth corresponding to the first communication period. The communication connection with the wireless communication terminal 300 that does not support the bandwidth corresponding to the first communication period is disconnected.

  In S714, it is determined whether or not the first communication period has elapsed. When it is determined that the first communication period has elapsed, the process proceeds to S716. In S716, it is determined whether all the determined communication periods have elapsed. When it is determined that all the determined communication periods have elapsed, the process proceeds to S718, and when it is determined that all the communication periods have not elapsed, the process returns to S708.

  In S708, the bandwidth corresponding to the second communication period is allocated to two wireless APs 100 of the plurality of wireless APs 100. In addition, the operation of the wireless AP 100 that is not a target to which the bandwidth is allocated is turned off. In S710, the terminal identification information of the wireless communication terminal 300 that does not correspond to the bandwidth corresponding to the second communication period and the available bandwidth and the additional time corresponding to the second communication period are the second It is registered in the BL of two wireless APs 100 that allocate bandwidth corresponding to the communication period. In S712, among the wireless communication terminals 300 that have established communication connection with the wireless AP 100 to which the bandwidth corresponding to the second communication period is allocated, the available bandwidth corresponds to the second communication period. The communication connection of the wireless communication terminal 300 that does not support the width is disconnected. In this way, S708 to S716 are repeated until all the communication periods determined in S706 have elapsed. Note that the order of S708, S710, and S712 is not limited to this order, and may be another order.

  In S718, it is determined whether the end flag is ON. The ON / OFF of the end flag is switched at an arbitrary timing by an operator of the wireless communication control device 200, for example. If it is determined that the end flag is not ON, the process returns to S702, and if it is determined that the end flag is ON, the process ends.

  FIG. 8 schematically shows an example of the flow of processing by the wireless AP 100. Here, a flow of receiving a connection request from the wireless communication terminal 300 and processing the connection request will be described. Each process illustrated in FIG. 8 is executed mainly by a control unit included in the wireless AP 100.

  In S802, a connection request is received from the wireless communication terminal 300. In S804, it is determined whether or not the terminal identification information of the wireless communication terminal 300 that has transmitted the connection request is registered in the BL of the wireless AP 100. If it is determined that it is not registered, the process proceeds to S806, and if it is determined that it is registered, the process proceeds to S808.

  In S806, the connection of the wireless communication terminal 300 is accepted. In S808, the connection of the wireless communication terminal 300 is rejected. Then, the process ends.

  FIG. 9 schematically illustrates an example of a computer 1000 that functions as the wireless communication control apparatus 200. The computer 1000 according to this embodiment includes a CPU peripheral unit including a CPU 1010, a RAM 1030, and a graphic controller 1085 that are connected to each other by a host controller 1092; a ROM 1020 that is connected to the host controller 1092 by an input / output controller 1094; An input / output unit having F1040, a hard disk drive 1050, a DVD drive 1070, and an input / output chip 1080 is provided.

  The CPU 1010 operates based on programs stored in the ROM 1020 and the RAM 1030 and controls each unit. The graphic controller 1085 acquires image data generated by the CPU 1010 or the like on a frame buffer provided in the RAM 1030 and displays the image data on the display 1090. Alternatively, the graphic controller 1085 may include a frame buffer that stores image data generated by the CPU 1010 or the like.

  The communication I / F 1040 communicates with other devices via a network by wire or wireless. The communication I / F 1040 functions as hardware that performs communication. The hard disk drive 1050 stores programs and data used by the CPU 1010. The DVD drive 1070 reads a program or data from the DVD-ROM 1072 and provides it to the hard disk drive 1050 via the RAM 1030.

  The ROM 1020 stores a boot program executed when the computer 1000 is started up, a program depending on the hardware of the computer 1000, and the like. The input / output chip 1080 connects various input / output devices to the input / output controller 1094 via, for example, a parallel port, a serial port, a keyboard port, a mouse port, and the like.

  A program provided to the hard disk drive 1050 via the RAM 1030 is stored in a recording medium such as a DVD-ROM 1072 or an IC card and provided by a user. The program is read from the recording medium, installed in the hard disk drive 1050 via the RAM 1030, and executed by the CPU 1010.

  A program that is installed in the computer 1000 and causes the computer 1000 to function as the wireless communication control apparatus 200 may work on the CPU 1010 or the like to cause the computer 1000 to function as each unit of the wireless communication control apparatus 200. The information processing described in these programs is read by the computer 1000, whereby the terminal information receiving unit 202, the terminal information storing unit, which are specific means in which the software and the various hardware resources described above cooperate. 204, the communication control unit 206, the operation control unit 208, and the BL storage unit 216. And the specific radio | wireless communication control apparatus 200 according to a use purpose is constructed | assembled by implement | achieving the calculation or processing of the information according to the use purpose of the computer 1000 in this embodiment by these specific means.

  As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated using embodiment, the technical scope of this invention is not limited to the range as described in the said embodiment. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications or improvements can be added to the above-described embodiment. It is apparent from the scope of the claims that the embodiments added with such changes or improvements can be included in the technical scope of the present invention.

  The order of execution of each process such as operations, procedures, steps, and stages in the apparatus, system, program, and method shown in the claims, the description, and the drawings is particularly “before” or “prior to”. It should be noted that it can be realized in any order unless the output of the previous process is used in the subsequent process. Regarding the operation flow in the claims, the description, and the drawings, even if it is described using “first,” “next,” etc. for convenience, it means that it is essential to carry out in this order. It is not a thing.

10 wireless communication system, 100 wireless AP, 102 wireless AP, 104 wireless AP, 106 wireless AP, 108 wireless AP, 110 cover area, 200 wireless communication control device, 202 terminal information receiving unit, 204 terminal information storing unit, 206 communication control , 208 operation control unit, 210 NAV setting unit, 212 BL control unit, 214 connection disconnection unit, 216 BL storage unit, 240 terminal information list, 241 terminal identification information column, 242 connection destination AP column, 243 current bandwidth column, 244 Maximum supported bandwidth field, 245 traffic volume field, 300 wireless communication terminal, 410 allocation example, 420 allocation example, 430 allocation pattern, 432 communication period, 434 communication period, 436 communication period, 1000 computers, 1010 CPU, 1020 ROM, 1030 RAM, 104 Communication I / F, 1050 hard drive, 1070 DVD drive, 1072 DVD-ROM, 1080 output chip 1085 graphics controller, 1090 a display, 1092 host controller, 1094 output controller

Claims (9)

A terminal information receiving unit that receives connection terminal information related to a plurality of wireless communication terminals that are connected to a plurality of wireless access points with overlapping cover areas;
Based on the available bandwidth of each of the plurality of wireless communication terminals included in the connection terminal information, at least one of the plurality of wireless access points is provided with a first bandwidth during a first communication period. Communication that uses the second bandwidth to execute communication with at least one of the plurality of wireless access points using the second bandwidth during the second communication period. A wireless communication control device comprising: a control unit.   The communication control unit is configured to prohibit transmission by the wireless communication terminal whose usable bandwidth does not correspond to the first bandwidth during the first communication period to the plurality of wireless access points. NAV (Network Allocation Vector) is set to the wireless communication terminal and the wireless communication terminal prohibits transmission by a wireless communication terminal whose usable bandwidth does not correspond to the second bandwidth during the second communication period. The wireless communication control device according to claim 1, wherein a NAV is set.   The communication control unit provides a wireless access point that performs communication with a wireless communication terminal using the first bandwidth during the first communication period, and sets an available bandwidth to the first bandwidth. A wireless access point that refuses establishment of a communication connection with an incompatible wireless communication terminal and performs communication with the wireless communication terminal using the second bandwidth during the second communication period. The wireless communication control device according to claim 1, wherein establishment of a communication connection with a wireless communication terminal whose width does not correspond to the second bandwidth is rejected.   The communication control unit may be configured to use the plurality of the plurality of wireless access points during the first communication period so that all of the bands usable by the plurality of wireless access points are used by at least one of the plurality of wireless access points. Causing at least one of the wireless communication terminals to communicate with the wireless communication terminal using the first bandwidth, and during the second communication period, at least one of the plurality of wireless communication terminals includes the second The wireless communication control device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein communication with a wireless communication terminal is executed using the bandwidth of the wireless communication terminal. An operation control unit for turning off the operation of the wireless access point that does not execute communication with the wireless communication terminal using the first bandwidth among the plurality of wireless access points during the first communication period; The wireless communication control device according to claim 4, comprising:   The communication control unit determines the first communication period and the second communication period according to a degree of congestion for each available bandwidth of each of the plurality of wireless communication terminals. The wireless communication control device according to any one of the above.   The communication control unit is configured such that a congestion degree of usable bandwidths of the plurality of wireless communication terminals corresponding to the first bandwidth is an available bandwidth of the plurality of wireless communication terminals corresponding to the second bandwidth. The wireless communication control device according to claim 6, wherein the second communication period that is shorter than the first communication period is determined when the width is higher than the congestion degree.   The program for functioning a computer as a radio | wireless communication control apparatus as described in any one of Claim 1 to 7. A wireless communication control device according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
A wireless communication system comprising: the plurality of wireless access points.

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