JP2003052079A - Radio communication equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide radio communication equipment that can satisfactorily make transmission and reception with other communication equipment. SOLUTION: This radio communication equipment has transmission modules 12-1 to 12-3 and reception modules 11-1 to 11-3 which make transmission and reception with a plurality of radio station equipment through a plurality of antenna beams formed by means of an adaptive array antenna 2, a latest reception ending time detecting section 13 which detects the latest expected transmission ending time which is the latest among the transmission ending time of the radio station equipment based on signals received from the reception modules 11-1 to 11-3, and a transmission waiting state setting section 15 which sets a transmission waiting state when the present time measured by means of a timer 14 reaches the latest expected transmission ending time. This communication equipment also has a transmission waiting time calculating section 16 which calculates random transmission waiting time when the transmission waiting state is set and instructs the transmission modules 12-1 to 12-3 to make transmission when the transmission waiting time has elapsed.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a wireless communication device, and more particularly to an access point and a wireless station device that simultaneously communicate with each other via a plurality of channels.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A wireless LAN system is known in which an access point, which is a wireless communication base station device, and a plurality of wireless station devices, which are wireless communication terminal devices, simultaneously communicate with each other. As this wireless LAN system, CSM
A wireless LAN system (ISO / IEC 8802-11: 1999 (E) ANSI / IE based on the IEEE 802.11 standard that defines the A (Carrier Sense Multiple Access) method.
EE Std 802.11, 1999 edition). This wireless LAN
In a system, an access point usually senses a carrier used for packet transmission before transmitting a packet to a wireless station device (a so-called target station device) to which the packet should be transmitted, and then the other. When the packet including the channel reservation information is being received from the wireless station device, the transmission of the packet to the target station device is postponed. If the transmission is postponed, the access point will notify the target station device after the random transmission waiting period calculated by its control unit has elapsed after the state of receiving packets from other wireless station devices has ended. Transmission of a packet that specifies an address is started. The process in which the transmission to the wireless station device is postponed and the packet is transmitted after the random transmission standby period has elapsed is called a backoff process.

Target station equipment is typically
If the data of the received packet is normal, an acknowledgment (ACK) packet is transmitted to the base station after a predetermined period.
In the access point, when the ACK packet from the target station device cannot be received after the lapse of a predetermined period, the control unit executes the backoff process and retransmits the packet.

On the other hand, as one of multiplexing methods in a wireless communication system, space division multiple access (Space Division Multiple Access)
The ltiple access (SDMA) method is known. SDM
In the A system, the adaptive array antennas provided at the access point generate a plurality of antenna beams that spatially reduce mutual interference. Therefore, the SDMA system can improve its communication quality and can realize simultaneous communication between an access point and a plurality of wireless station devices. C
It is presumed that the advantages of the SDMA method can be enjoyed by applying the SDMA method to the SMA wireless LAN system.

[0005]

However, if the SDMA method is simply applied to the CSMA wireless LAN system, the following problems occur.

In the SDMA system, the access point is provided with a transceiver module, that is, a transceiver corresponding to a plurality of antenna beams generated by the adaptive array antenna, and each transceiver module has an individual control unit. Controlled by. When CSMA is executed for each antenna beam by these individual control units, backoff processing is performed for each antenna beam, and as a result, transmission to one wireless station device at the access point and transmission from another wireless station device are performed. It may happen that the receptions of the two occur simultaneously. That is, access
Even if the point tries to receive a packet from a certain wireless station device (TE1), the access point receives the packet at the same time as the other wireless station device (TE2).
When a transmission to the TE3) occurs, the transmission may interfere with the reception from the wireless station device (TE1).

Further, when the access point simultaneously transmits packets to all of the plurality of wireless station devices (TE1, TE2, TE3), no reception state occurs at the access point, so basically, It is possible to prevent transmission and reception collisions. However, if the size of the packet to be transmitted to one radio station device TE1 is smaller than the size of the packet to be transmitted to the other radio station devices TE2 and TE3, even if the radio station devices TE2 and TE3 are in the receiving state, the The station device TE1 ends the reception of the packet. Therefore, this radio station equipment TE1
Send a CK packet to the access point.
As a result, an ACK packet from the wireless station device TE1 is received at the access point, this ACK packet affects the transmission to the wireless station devices TE2 and TE3, and the wireless station devices TE2 and TE3 receive the packet from the base station. I will not be able to receive it.

Further, at the access point, one of the plurality of wireless station devices TE1, TE2, TE3 is
For example, if no ACK packet is received from one radio station device TE2, access
The back-off process is executed in the access point only for transmission / reception between the point and the wireless station device TE2, and the timing of packet transmission to each of the wireless station devices TE1, TE2, TE3 after this process is deviated. There is a problem that ends up.

In addition, CSMA (Carrier Sense Multiple
Simply add SDMA (Sp
It has been pointed out that there is a similar problem not only when applying the ace Division Multiple Access method, but also in an access point that has multiple functions of a wireless base station that is autonomously controlled using a protocol. There is. That is,
In an access point having a plurality of wireless base station functions adopting the CSMA / CA method, when the channels used are adjacent channels, the signals of the respective channels interfere with each other, resulting in an error in data transmission. There is a problem that causes it.

[0010]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a wireless communication device capable of favorably transmitting and receiving between devices.

According to the present invention, in the radio apparatus for receiving the first and second reception signals from another radio unit, respectively, and transmitting the first transmission signal to the other radio unit,
And a receiver including a first and a second reception module, which is set to a reception mode by sensing the second transmission signal and receives the first and second reception signals from another radio unit in the reception mode, respectively. A response unit that generates a reception end signal in response to the end of reception of the first and second reception signals, and a first transmission signal that is transmitted in the transmission mode and a first transmission signal that is transmitted in the reception mode. The first prohibition of transmission
And a transmitting unit that is in a standby state and waits for the transmission of the first transmission signal in the transmission mode, and a transmission unit that enables the transmission unit to transmit the first transmission signal. And transmitting the first transmission signal in the standby state by switching the transmission mode from the reception mode to the transmission mode in response to the transmission end signal and maintaining the standby state.

There is provided a wireless device comprising:

Further, according to the present invention, CSMA / CA (Carri
er Sense Multiple Access Collision Avoidance protocol to perform contention access control
A wireless device that transmits and receives wireless signals of first and second channels between the wireless station device and the wireless device, a first wireless module unit that transmits and receives a data packet by a wireless signal of the first channel, In the first reception mode in which the second wireless module unit that transmits and receives the data packet by the wireless signal of the second channel and the first wireless module unit is receiving the data packet, this first reception mode is set. A wireless device comprising: a control unit that detects and disables transmission of a data packet from the second wireless module unit.

Further, according to the present invention, CSMA / CA (Carri
er Sense Multiple Access Collision Avoidance protocol to perform contention access control
A wireless device that transmits and receives wireless signals of first and second channels between the wireless station device and the wireless device, a first wireless module unit that transmits and receives a data packet by a wireless signal of the first channel, In the first wireless transmission mode in which the first wireless module unit transmits the data packet and the second wireless module unit which transmits and receives the data packet by the wireless signal of the second channel, A wireless device, comprising: a control unit that detects and transmits a dummy packet from the second wireless module unit to disable reception of a data packet in the second wireless module.

Furthermore, according to the present invention, CSMA / CA (C
arrier Sense Multiple Access Collision Avoidance)
In a wireless device that executes contention access control using a protocol and transmits and receives wireless signals of first and second channels between the first and second wireless station devices and the wireless device, A first wireless module unit for transmitting / receiving a data packet by a signal, a second wireless module unit for transmitting / receiving a data packet by a wireless signal of a first channel, and the same for the first and second wireless module units. A control unit for setting a synchronous mode in which a wireless signal is sensed at the time and data packets are simultaneously transmitted;
There is provided a wireless device comprising:

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION A wireless communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a wireless LAN system to which a space division multiplexing (SDMA) system is applied as a wireless communication system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. This wireless LAN system is based on IEEE802.11 (IEEE802.11a, IE
EE802.11b is also included) built according to the standard. The access point 1 corresponding to a wireless base station is installed at a certain fixed position and connected to the backbone network 5. Access Point 1 is an adaptive array
The adaptive array antenna 2 includes an antenna 2, and the adaptive array antenna 2 has a plurality of relatively narrow directivity patterns (hereinafter, simply referred to as antenna beams) 3-1 toward a plurality of wireless station devices 4-1 to 4-3. ~ 3-3 are formed.

Such antenna beams 3-1 to 3-3
By this, the access point 1 can use the substantially same channel or adjacent channel between the access point 1 and the plurality of wireless station devices 4-1 to 4-3 while reducing interference between the wireless station devices. Can communicate at the same time. That is, communication is performed between the access point 1 and the wireless station devices 4-1 to 4-3 by the space division multiplexing (SDMA) method.

In the wireless LAN system described above, the access point 1 has three antenna beams 3-1 to 3-3.
-3 is generated and communication is simultaneously performed between the access point 1 and the three wireless station devices 3-1 to 3-3. However, in the wireless communication system according to the embodiment of the present invention, the number of antenna beams and the number of wireless station devices that communicate at the same time may be any number greater than or equal to 2, and the wireless station devices 3-1 to 3-1. -3 is generally installed at a fixed position, but it may be mounted on a moving body.

Next, the access point 1 shown in FIG. 1 of the wireless LAN system to which the space division multiplexing (SDMA) system according to the embodiment of the present invention is applied will be described with reference to FIG.

As shown in FIG. 2, the access point 1 includes an adaptive array antenna 2 for receiving antenna beams 3-1 to 3-3 directed from the wireless station devices 4-1 to 4-3, The adaptive array antenna 2 includes receiving modules 11-1 to 11-11.
-3 is connected. Therefore, the antenna beams 3-1 to 3-3 from the wireless station devices 4-1 to 4-3
Signals transmitted via the receiving modules 11-1 to 11-3
In the receiving modules 11-1 to 11-3, the transmission signals are processed and reception signals RS1 to RS3 are generated. This processing of the transmission signal includes demodulation and decoding of the transmission signal. Further, in the access point 1, the transmission modules 12-1 to 12-3 are connected to the adaptive array antenna 2. In the transmission modules 12-1 to 12-3, the transmission signals TS1 to TS to be transmitted to the wireless station devices 3-1 to 3-3, respectively.
3 are generated, and these transmission signals TS1 to TS3 are supplied to the adaptive array antenna 2. A high frequency signal as a carrier is modulated by the transmission signals TS1 to TS3, and antenna beams 3-1 to 3-3 are generated from the adaptive array antenna 2 toward the wireless station devices 3-1 to 3-3.

The access point 1 receives the reception modules 11-1 to 11-1 from the wireless station devices 4-1 to 4-3.
In a reception mode in which reception to 1-3 is allowed, reception modules 11-1 to 11-3 receive a reception signal, detect a final transfer time included in the reception signal, and generate a reception end signal. 18 and a transmission permission unit that gives a transmission permission to the transmission modules 12-1 to 12-3 that switch from the reception mode to the transmission mode in response to the reception end signal and transmit the transmission data supplied from the transmission data supply unit 10. Equipped with 19. In the reception mode, the transmission permission unit 19 maintains the transmission modules 12-1 to 12-3 in the transmission disabled state, switches from the reception mode to the transmission mode in response to the transmission permission signal, and transmits the transmission module 12- in the transmission disabled state. 1 to 12-3 are switched to the transmittable state. As described above, in the transmission possible state, that is, in the transmission mode, the backoff process is started in response to the transmission permission signal, and the transmission standby state in which the transmission is awaited is waited for. And the transmission signal is transferred. Here, as will be described later, the transmission from the access point 1 to the respective wireless station devices 3-1 to 3-3 ends at the same time, and the access point 1 simultaneously transmits the ACK signal from the wireless station devices 3-1 to 3-3. It is preferable that the data packets included in the transmission signal so as to be received have the same packet length.

An example of the operation of the access point 1 shown in FIG. 2 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. In the operation example shown in FIG. 3, it is assumed that data packets of the same size are transferred between the access point 1 and the wireless station devices 4-1 to 4-3.

At the access point 1, in the transmission mode, the transmission module 12-1 receives the transmission data from the transmission data supply unit 10 and the transmission module 12-1.
The data packet is transmitted from the wireless station device 4-1 to the wireless station device 4-1. When the transmission from the transmission module 12-1 to the wireless station device 4-1 is completed as shown in step S10, the access point 1 is switched from the transmission mode to the reception mode. Therefore, as shown in step S11, the receiving module 11-1 can receive the ACK signal from the wireless station device 4-1. In this reception mode, the transmission module 12
-1, 12-2, 12-3 are maintained in the transmission disabled state. In this state, the transmission data is transmitted from the transmission data supply unit 10 to the transmission module 1 as shown in step S12.
2-2 and 12-3 are prepared for transmission. At the access point 1, it is confirmed whether the ACK signal has been received from the wireless station device 4-1 as shown in step S13. If the ACK signal has not been received, the access point 1 remains in the receiving state. AC as shown in step S13
When the K signal is received, the transmission permission unit 19 sets the transmission modules 12-1, 12-2, 12-3 in the transmission enabled state and transmits the transmission data.
2, 12-3 are maintained in the transmission standby state. When the standby period in the transmission standby state elapses, the transmission data is transmitted to the transmission modules 12-2, 12 as shown in step S14.
-3 is simultaneously transmitted to the wireless station devices 4-2 and 4-3. Here, the transmission data is transmitted as a data packet having the same packet length. When the data packet is transmitted, the access point 1 is again switched from the transmitting state to the receiving state. In this receiving state, the receiving modules 11-2 and 11-3 receive the ACK signal from the wireless station devices 4-2 and 4-3.

In the access point 1 shown in FIG. 2, the access point 1 provided with the reception end detection unit 18 and the transmission permission unit 19 receives from all the wireless station devices 3-1 to 3-3. Modules 11-1 to 11
-3, the transmission from the transmission modules 12-1 to 12-3 to the wireless station devices 3-1 to 3-3 is simultaneously started in the transmission standby state in the transmission mode after the transfer of the signal to -3. Therefore, transmission / reception interference does not occur at the access point 1, and good communication can be established between the access point 1 and the wireless station devices 3-1 to 3-3.

First, the details of the adaptive array antenna shown in FIG. 2 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 shows an example of a specific circuit configuration of the adaptive array antenna 2 shown in FIG.

The adaptive array antenna 2 has an antenna element 30-for receiving an RF signal as shown in FIG.
1 to 30-3, transmission / reception changeover switches 31-1 to 3 to switch to any one of a transmission mode and a reception mode
1-3, amplifiers 32-1 to 32-3 for amplifying the received RF signal with low noise, converting the frequency band from the radio frequency (RF) of the RF signal to the intermediate frequency (IF) or the baseband (BB) Down converters 33-1 to 33-
Includes 3. In addition, the adaptive array antenna 2 is arranged according to the receiving complex weighting factors set by the distributors 34-1 to 34-3 for distributing the output signals from the down converters 33-1 to 33-3 and the beam controller 40. Included are receive beam forming circuits 35-1 to 35-3 which form a received signal corresponding to each received antenna beam by weighting and combining the distributed input signals. Furthermore, the adaptive array antenna 2 forms a transmission beam signal for forming a transmission beam by forming a transmission beam by weighting the transmission signal according to the transmission complex weighting coefficient set by the beam control unit 40.
1 to 36-3, and combiners 37-1 to 37-3 that combine the transmission beams from the transmission beam signals. Furthermore,
The adaptive array antenna 2 has an intermediate frequency (I
F) or baseband (BB) to upconverters 38-1 to 38-3 for converting radio frequency (RF) of RF signal.
8-3, high frequency power amplifier for amplifying RF signal (hereinafter,
It is simply called HPA. ) 39-1 to 39-3 and the beam control unit 40.

Transmission / reception changeover switches 31-1 to 31-
3, LNA 32-1 to 32-3, down converter 33
-1 to 33-3, distributors 34-1 to 34-3, combiner 3
7-1 to 37-3, up converters 38-1 to 38-
3 and amplifiers (PA) 39-1 to 39-3 correspond to the antenna elements 30-1 to 30-3, respectively.
The same number as -1 to 30-3 (three in this example) is provided. On the other hand, reception beam forming circuits 35-1 to 35-3
The transmission beam forming circuits 36-1 to 36-3 are provided in the same number as the number of antenna beams formed by the adaptive array antenna 2 (three in this example). The number of antenna beams may be smaller or larger than the number of antenna elements 30-1 to 30-3.

The operation of the adaptive array antenna 2 shown in FIG. 4 will be briefly described below.

In the adaptive array antenna 2, the RF signals received by the antenna elements 30-1 to 30-3 are transmitted to the LNA 32-- via the changeover switches 31-1 to 31-3 for switching between transmission and reception.
1 to 32-3 and is amplified to a predetermined level. L
The RF signals amplified by the NAs 32-1 to 32-3 are input to the down converters 33-1 to 33-3, respectively, and the frequency band is changed from the radio frequency (RF) to the intermediate frequency (IF) or the base band (BB). After conversion, the distributor 34
-1 to 34-3 are input.

The distributor 34-1 is a down converter 33.
Receive beam forming circuit 3 receives output signals from -1 to 33-3
5-1, the distributor 34-2 distributes the output signals from the down converters 33-1 to 33-3 to the reception beam forming circuit 35-2, and the distributor 34-3 distributes the output signals to the down converter 33-. The output signals from 1-33-3 are distributed to the reception beam forming circuit 35-3.

The beam control unit 40 sets the receiving complex weighting coefficient, and in the receiving beam forming circuits 35-1 to 35-3, the input signals are weighted according to the receiving complex weighting coefficient and are combined. As a result, multiple receive antenna beams are formed. Reception beam forming circuit 35-
The signals corresponding to the respective receiving antenna beams from 1 to 35-3 are respectively supplied to the receiving modules 11-1 to 11-3 in FIG.

On the other hand, transmission beam forming circuits 36-1 to 36-36
-3 includes transmission modules 12-1 to 12-1 shown in FIG.
The transmission signals TS1 to TS3 from 2-3 are input respectively. In the transmission beam forming circuits 36-1 to 36-3, the beam control unit 4 responds to the transmission signals input respectively.
It is multiplied by a plurality of transmission complex weighting factors set by zero.

The plurality of output signals from the transmit beam forming circuit 36-1 are input to the combiners 37-1 to 37-3, and the plurality of output signals from the transmit beam forming circuit 36-2 are similarly combined. -1 to 37-3 and a plurality of output signals from the transmission beam forming circuit 36-3 are also added to the combiner 3 in the same manner.
7-1 to 37-3. Synthesizer 37-1 to 37
At -3, the plurality of signals respectively input are combined into one signal.

The output signals from the combiners 37-1 to 37-3 are input to the up converters 38-1 to 38-3, respectively, and the frequency band is from the intermediate frequency (IF) or the base band (BB) to the radio frequency ( After being converted to RF, the signals are input to the amplifiers (PA) 39-1 to 39-3. The transmission signals amplified by the amplifiers (PAs) 39-1 to 39-3 are supplied to the antenna elements 30-1 to 30-3 via the switches 31-1 to 31-3 and transmitted to the wireless station device. It

In the beam controller 40, as described above, the reception complex weighting coefficients are set for the reception beam forming circuits 35-1 to 35-3, and the transmission beam forming circuit 3 is set.
Complex transmission weighting factors are set for 6-1 to 36-3. Here, weighting factors for communicating with the same wireless station device are set for beam forming circuits corresponding to each other in transmission and reception, for example, the reception beam forming circuit 35-1 and the transmission beam forming circuit 36-3. To be done.

Next, details of the reception end detection unit 18 shown in FIG. 2 will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 5 shows the reception end detecting section 18 shown in FIG.
Shows the block. As shown in FIG. 5, the reception end detection unit 18 receives the header of the data packet included in the reception signals from the reception modules 11-1 to 11-3, and detects the reception end time from the time information of this header. Detection units 20-1, 20-2, 20-3, this detection unit 2
The detection unit 21 that detects the maximum value of the reception end time detected by 0-1, 20-2, and 20-3, is set to the maximum value of the reception end time, and reaches the maximum reception end time by the counter 23. A notification unit 22 for notifying that the reception is completed is included.

The reception signals input to the reception modules 11-1 to 11-3 include data packets, and the data packets have a data structure as shown in FIG. 6 as an example. This data packet is required from the destination designating the receiving modules 11-1 to 11-3, the source designating the wireless station devices 3-1 to 3-3, and from the start of the reception of this data packet to the end of the reception. Packet header describing required time period and contents such as video, audio, text or program
It contains packet data where the data is stored.

In the reception mode, the reception module 11
When the packet is input to -1 to 11-3, the reception start time of the packet is determined by a clock (not shown), and the required time period in the packet header is cut out from the packet. The required time and the packet reception start time TS are sent to the detection units 20-1, 20-2, 20-3, respectively. In the detection units 20-1, 20-2, 20-3, the required time periods Tr1, Tr2, Tr3 (for example, Tr1 <Tr2
<Tr3) is added to the packet reception start time TS until the reception of this packet is completed (TrS + T
r1, TrS + Tr2, TrS + Tr3) is calculated,
This reception completion time (TrS + Tr1, TrS + Tr2,
TrS + Tr3) is given to the detection unit 21. Detector 2
1, the reception completion time (TrS + Tr1, TrS
+ Tr2, TrS + Tr3) are compared, and the reception completion time (TrS + Tr1, TrS + Tr2, TrS + Tr)
3) The maximum time in, for example, the maximum time (TrS + Tr
3) is required. This time (TrS + Tr3) is set in the reception end notification unit 22, and the time is set by the timer 23.
Monitored by. Here, the timer 14 is composed of, for example, a digital counter, and the current time
Measure TC. When the monitored time reaches the maximum time (TrS + Tr3) in the reception end notification unit 22, a reception end signal is sent from the notification unit 22 to the transmission permission unit 19.
Given to. The transmission permission unit 19 responds to the reception end signal by transmitting each of the transmission modules 12-1, 12-2, 12-.
A signal for permitting transmission is given to 3 and the transmission is permitted after changing from the transmission disabled state to the transmission enabled state. That is, in response to the reception end signal, the access point 1 is switched from the reception mode to the transmission mode.

The packet structure shown in FIG. 6 is an example, and other structures may be used. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, the required time period Tx is not described in the packet header, and the transmission rate and the data size of the packet may be described instead of the description of the required time period. This Figure 7
In the case of the packet shown in (1), the time period Tx required to transfer the packet is obtained from the description of the transmission rate and the data size. That is, the detection units 20-1, 20-2, 20-3
In, the time period Tx required to transmit the packet can be obtained by dividing the described data size by the transmission rate.

The transmission permission unit 19 shown in FIG. 2 will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 8 shows a circuit block of the transmission permission unit 19 shown in FIG. The transmission permission unit 19 includes a setting unit 15 that sets the transmission to a standby state. When the current time Tc measured by the timer 14 reaches the maximum time Tt3 when the transmission is scheduled to end, the setting unit 15 sets the transmission permission unit 19 in the transmission standby state in the transmission mode in which the transmission is in standby. To do. For example, the setting unit 15 calculates the calculation unit 1 that calculates a time period during which transmission is waited for.
6, a flag, that is, a start flag for calculating a time period for waiting for transmission is set. Transmission module 12-1 to 12-
3 and the calculation unit 16 that calculates the waiting time for transmission are controlled by the first transmission control unit 17.

When there is packet data to be transmitted from the access point 1 to at least one of the wireless station devices 4-1 to 4-3, the first transmission controller 17
Specifies at least one transmission module that transmits the packet data among the transmission modules 12-1 to 12-3, and the destination wireless station device that should transmit the data to the designated transmission module, that is, the target The address of the station device (hereinafter, destination or destination address) is designated, and the data to be transmitted is designated. At the same time as this designation, the first transmission control unit 1
7 sets a flag, that is, a permission flag that allows the calculation of the transmission standby time, in the calculation unit 16 that calculates the time period during which the transmission waits. Here, the transmission data designated by the first transmission control unit 17 to the transmission modules 12-1 to 12-3 is
It does not correspond to the original data, but corresponds to the data to be transmitted in the wireless section, that is, the data that has been modulated and error correction coded.
Further, this transmission data has a data packet structure in which a packet header is added to the packet data as shown in FIG. 6 or 7, and the packet header includes a transmission source corresponding to the destination address of the base station, Address information such as the destination specified by the destination address and time information required to transfer the transmission data are given.

If the permission flag is set by the first transmission control unit 17 and the start flag for starting the transmission standby is set by the transmission standby state setting unit 15, the transmission standby state is maintained from the time when the transmission standby state is set. The calculated time period, that is, the transmission standby time period is randomly calculated by the calculation unit 16. When the time period for waiting for transmission has elapsed, the calculation module 16 sends the transmission modules 12-1 to 12-3.
A transmission instruction is issued to a transmission module that should transmit data, and the set data is transmitted via the adaptive array antenna 2 to the wireless station device having the set destination address.

When the waiting time period elapses, one or a plurality of transmission modules 12-1, 12-2, 12-3 simultaneously start transmission, and if the packet length to be transmitted is constant, the transmission is ended at the same time.

A more detailed circuit block of the reception end detection unit 18 which realizes the reception end detection unit 18 shown in FIG. 5 and is compatible with the circuit shown in FIG. 8 will be described with reference to FIG.

The reception end detecting section 18 shown in FIG.
Is a reception start detector 41 for detecting the time to start reception.
-1 to 41-3 and reception reservation detectors 42-1 to 42-3 for detecting a time period reserved for reception. Further, the detection unit 18 adds the reception reservation period to the reception start time to obtain a scheduled time when the reception will be ended, and adders 43-1 to 43-3, and selects a maximum value from a plurality of reception end times. It includes a unit 44, a storage unit 45 that stores the maximum value of the selected reception end time, and an updating unit 46 that updates the maximum reception end time.

The operation of the detection unit 13 for detecting the maximum reception end time shown in FIG. 9 will be described below.

Detector 41-1 for detecting the reception start time
41-3, the transmission start time of the wireless station device of the transmission source is detected from the reception signals RS1 to RS3. The detection of the transmission start time is detected as the time when the first packet of the reception signals RS1 to RS3 is detected, that is, the time when the wireless station device 4-1 to 4-3 as the transmission source transmits the packet.

In the detectors 42-1 to 42-3 for detecting the reserved time period for reception, the wireless station device 4-1 which is the transmission source from the packet headers of the reception signals RS1 to RS3.
~ 4-3 detects a reserved transmission time period corresponding to the time period in which the communication channel is reserved for transmission.

In the adders 43-1 to 43-3, the reception start time and the expected reception time period detected from the reception signals RS1 to RS3 are added to each other, whereby the reception signal RS
Reception end times of 1 to RS3 are calculated.

The selecting section 44 includes adders 43-1 to 43-3.
Among the reception end times of the reception signals RS1 to RS3 obtained by, the maximum reception end time which is the latest reception end time in time is selected. Information on the selected maximum reception end time is given to the storage unit 45 and the updating unit 46. The maximum reception end time storage unit 45 stores the maximum reception end time.

The maximum reception end time updating unit 46 is the selection unit 4
When the maximum reception end time selected in 4 is larger than the maximum reception end time stored in the storage unit 45, the selection unit 4
The content of the storage unit 45 is updated with the maximum reception end time selected in 4.

That is, when the maximum reception end time selected by the selection unit 44 is larger than the maximum reception end time stored in the maximum reception end time storage unit 45, the updating unit 46 selects the maximum reception end time selection unit 44. Set a write flag for. As a result, the maximum scheduled end time newly selected by the maximum scheduled end time selecting unit 44 is written in the maximum reception end time storage unit 45.

Information on the maximum reception end time stored in the storage unit 45 in this way is output from the maximum reception end time detection unit 14 and input to the transmission standby state setting unit 15 shown in FIG.

The operation thereafter is as described above, and when the maximum reception end time detected by the detection unit 14 and stored in the storage unit 45 and the current time engraved by the timer 14 match, the setting unit 15 The reception standby state is set by. When the reception standby state is set, the calculation unit 16 calculates a random transmission standby time, and after the transmission standby time has elapsed, the transmission modules 12-1 to 12-3 are instructed to perform transmission all at once. That is, the backoff process is performed on all the transmission modules 12-1 to 12-3.

As a result, the transmission modules 12-1 to 12-3 are sent to the wireless station devices 4-1 to 4-3 having the destination addresses set in the transmission modules 12-1 to 12-3 by the first transmission controller 17. Packets of data set to 12-3 are simultaneously transmitted via the adaptive array antenna 2.

FIG. 10 shows an example of the above-mentioned operation.
ts1 to ts3 are reception start times of the reception signals RS1 to RS3, and Trs1 to Trs3 are reception signals RS1 to RS3.
Of the reception signals RS1 to te3
It is the reception end time of RS3, and te1 = ts1 + Trs
1, te2 = ts2 + Trs2, te3 = ts3 + Tr
s3. In this example, the reception end time te2 is the maximum scheduled end time temax, and the reception waiting time Twa is calculated from temax.
After the elapse of it, transmission from the transmission modules 12-1 to 12-3 is started all at once.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, since the back-off process is shared by the transmission modules 12-1 to 12-3 and the packet transmission to the wireless station devices 4-1 to 4-3 is performed at the same time, the access is performed. -It is possible to prevent transmission / reception collision at point 1. Therefore, the communication for which the reception confirmation by the ACK (acknowledgement) packet is not performed,
For example, it is effective in increasing the success rate of broadcasting.

On the other hand, the wireless station devices 4-1 to 4-
In the method in which 3 transmits the ACK packet when receiving the transmission packet from the access point 1 and executes the reception confirmation, the first transmission control unit 17 transmitting 1 to the access point includes the transmission modules 14-1 to 12-12. It is desirable to make the data sizes (time lengths) set for -2 equal.

In this way, since the ACK packets from the wireless station devices 4-1 to 4-3 occur at the same time, the ACK sent by a certain wireless station device is transmitted.
It is possible to prevent the packet from interfering with other wireless station devices. Therefore, since the reception completion of the data packet is confirmed by the ACK packet,
This method is also effective for transmission other than broadcast. Of course, even when the same data is transmitted to a plurality of wireless station devices such as broadcast, the ACK
Reception by a packet is confirmed, and as a result, reliability can be increased.

Further, the transmission modules 12-1, 12-2
Starts simultaneous transmission from the antennas to the wireless station devices 4-1 and 4-3 via the antenna beams 3-1 and 3-2, respectively, and then transmits to a certain wireless station device, for example, the wireless station device 4-1. If there is a wireless station device whose transmission has not ended yet, for example, the wireless station device 4-2, the wireless station device whose transmission has not ended, for example, the wireless station device 4-2, Transmission module 12-1 used for transmission to the wireless station device 4-1 that has completed transmission.
Thus, a data packet may be transmitted via the antenna beam 3-1 used for transmission to the wireless station device 4-1. In this way, the wireless station device 4-1 performs carrier sense and enters the backoff period, so that it is possible to prevent the wireless station device 4-1 from transmitting a signal that causes interference with other wireless station devices. You can Such control is performed by the first transmission control unit 1
Carried out by 7.

Further, the wireless station devices 4-1 and 4
To -3, simultaneous transmission from the transmission modules 12-1 and 12-2 via the antenna beams 3-1 and 3-2 is started, and then transmission to a certain wireless station device, for example, the wireless station device 4-1 is completed first. However, the wireless station device whose transmission has not ended, for example, the wireless station device 4
-2, there is a transmission antenna beam corresponding to a wireless station device whose transmission has not ended, for example, the wireless station device 4-2, for example, antenna beam 3-.
The directivity pattern of the antenna beam 3-2 may be changed so that 2 also has a directivity gain in the direction of the wireless station device 4-1. Even in this case, since the wireless station device 4-1 performs the carrier sense and enters the backoff period, the wireless station device 4--1.
It is possible to prevent 1 from transmitting an interfering signal to another wireless station device.

Referring to FIG. 11, access point 1 in the wireless communication system according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

In the access point 1 shown in FIG. 11, detectors 21-1 to 21-for detecting an acknowledgment (ACK) are added to the access point 1 shown in FIG.
3, address comparators 22-1 to 22-3 and retransmission data storage units 25-1 to 25-3 are added, and further, a second transmission control unit instead of the first transmission control unit 17 shown in FIG. Two
4 are provided.

The second transmission control unit 24 has the functions of the first transmission control unit 17 and the transmission modules 12-1 to 12-12.
It also has a function of outputting the destination address set to -3 and the data to be retransmitted to the retransmission data storage units 25-1 to 25-3. The destination address and the retransmission data stored in the retransmission data storage units 25-1 to 25-3 are used when the data is retransmitted. Furthermore, the transmission modules 12-1 to 12-
The destination address set to 3 is the address comparator 22-
It is also output to 1 to 22-3. The transmission data is transmitted from the transmission data supply unit 10 in accordance with the transmission module 1
2-1 to 12-3 and is also supplied to the retransmission data storage units 25-1 to 25-3 via the second transmission control unit 24. In the retransmission data storage units 25-1 to 25-3, Retained.

Acknowledgment signals (ACK packets) transmitted to the detectors 21-1 to 21-3 from the wireless station devices 4-1 to 4-3 and received by the receiving modules 11-1 to 11-3, respectively. Is input to detect this acknowledge signal. In the positive response detectors 21-1 to 21-3, the address (source address) of the wireless station device which is the source of the ACK packet is input from the input ACK packet.
Are detected, and these source addresses are output to the address comparators 22-1 to 22-3, respectively.

In the address comparators 22-1 to 22-3,
The destination address output from the second transmission control unit 24 and the source address input from each of the acknowledgment detectors 21-1 to 21-3 are compared to detect a match / mismatch between the two.
If they match, the address match flag is raised to the second transmission control unit 24.

The second transmission control unit 24, after the predetermined time measured by the timer 14 from the time when the data packet is transmitted from the transmission modules 12-1 to 12-3,
It is checked in the address comparators 22-1 to 22-2 whether the address match flag is set. As a result, when the address match flag is not raised in at least one of the address comparators 22-1 to 22-2, that is, the address comparator 22
If the destination address and the source address do not match in at least one of -1 to 22-2, the second transmission control unit 24
Transmits the destination addresses and data stored in the retransmission data storage units 25-1 to 25-3 to the transmission modules 12-1 to 12-12.
The reset flag is set to -3, and a permission flag is set to permit calculation of the transmission waiting time to the calculation unit 16 that calculates the transmission waiting time.

As a result, the transmission waiting time calculation unit 16 calculates a random transmission waiting time, and when this transmission waiting time elapses, the second transmission control unit 24 simultaneously transmits to the transmission modules 12-1 to 12-3. Is instructed, and the wireless station devices 4-1 to 4-1 are transmitted from the transmission modules 12-1 to 12-3 via the adaptive array antenna 2.
The data packet to 4-3 is retransmitted at the same time.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the ACK packets from the plurality of wireless station devices 4-1 to 4-3 are simultaneously determined to be received, and the back-off process is further performed by the transmission modules 12-1 to 12-3. Commonly implemented,
The packets to the wireless station devices 4-1 to 4-3 are retransmitted at the same time. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a collision of transmission and reception at the access point 1 even in packet retransmission.

In the above description, the address comparators 22-1 to 22-1.
If the destination address and the source address do not match in at least one of the radio station devices 22-2, in other words, even if there is only one radio station device that does not transmit the ACK packet, all the radio station devices 4-1 to 4-4. -3, the packet is retransmitted. However, the packet is retransmitted only to the wireless station device that has not transmitted the ACK packet, and the next new data packet is transmitted to the wireless station device that has transmitted the ACK packet. Well, it can improve overall system performance.

Further, when the number of retransmissions is counted and when the number of retransmissions exceeds the predetermined number, the packet retransmission to the wireless station device which does not transmit the ACK packet is interrupted, so that a specific wireless communication in a poor reception state is performed. The station device can prevent the performance of the entire system from being deteriorated.

Further, by allocating a transmission module vacant due to interruption of packet retransmission or a transmission module vacant due to the end of normal transmission to transmission to another wireless station device, the performance of the entire system can be improved. It can also be combined with a physical carrier sense.

These controls are executed by the second transmission controller 24.

A radio communication system according to the third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

Access Point 1 shown in FIG.
Is an array antenna 2 that can divide a space by a plurality of antenna beams, beam forming circuits 51-1 to 51-M that form M antenna beams, and a beam forming circuit 51-.
It has a beam selection unit 52 for selecting one of the antenna beams formed by 1 to 51-M. Further, the access point 1 makes the packet length determination unit 53 that determines the packet length of the received signal, and the other wireless station devices recognize the maximum scheduled end time of the wireless station device that has transmitted from the access point 1. It has a control packet generator 54 that generates a control packet, and a control circuit 55. The control packet generated by the control packet generator 54 is a frame controller (Frame Control) indicating that it is a control packet as shown in FIG.
l), the time period required for transmitting the data packet, the receiver address, that is, the receiver address (RA) describing the address of the wireless station device to which this control packet should be transferred, the error check of the data packet It contains a frame check sequence for checking.

On the other hand, the wireless station devices 4-1 to 4-
N is configured to communicate only with access point 1 without receiving signals transmitted from other wireless station devices, and has been transmitted from access point 1, control circuit 60 controlling transmission and reception. A control packet determination unit 61 that determines the content of the control packet, a transmission timing determination unit 62 that determines the transmission timing of the signal (packet) to be transmitted by the wireless station device, and the packet length of the received signal from the access point 1 are determined. It has a packet length determination unit 63, a transmission / reception unit 64, and an antenna 65.

The radio communication system shown in FIG. 12 operates as shown in FIG.

In the wireless station device 4-1, if the control packet or the data packet as shown in FIG. 12 is not received from the access point 1 when the transmission request is issued, the control circuit 60 transmits it. The data to be transmitted is set in the transmitting / receiving unit 64. When the preparation for transmission is completed, as shown in step S30 of FIG.
A transmission request (RTS) packet is transmitted to the access point 1 from the transmission unit 64 of. This request to send (RTS)
Against access point 1 for a period of time td1
14 and then sends a transmission clear (CTS) packet to the wireless station device 4-1 as shown in step S31 in FIG.
Send to. In the wireless station device 4-1, when the transmission clear (CTS) packet is received, the data packet set in the transmission / reception unit 64 is transmitted as a radio wave from the antenna 65 as shown in step S32 in FIG.

In the access point 1, the radio wave transmitted from the wireless station device 4-1 is received by the adaptive array antenna 2 and is transmitted to the beam selecting section 52 via the beam forming circuits 51-1 to 51-M. Received signals are input. The beam selection unit 52 selects one of the reception signals of the beam forming circuits 51-1 to 51-M. The selected reception signal is input to the control circuit 55.

The packet length determination unit 53 determines the packet length of the received signal input to the control circuit 55, and based on this, the information of the packet length of the data packet to be transmitted next by the wireless station device 4-1. Control packet generator 5
Send to 4. The control packet generation unit 54 generates a control packet having the packet length given by the packet length determination unit 53 and sends it to the control circuit 55.

The control circuit 55 of access point 1
When the signal transmitted from the wireless station device 4-1 is successfully received, the received signal packet requests the transmission (RTS: R
14 is a transmission clear (CTS: Clear To Send) packet as shown in step S31 in FIG. 14 and an ACK packet is an RTS or ACK if the received signal packet is a data packet as shown in step S33 in FIG. The packet is sent to the transmitting / receiving unit 64 of the wireless station device 4-1 via the beam forming circuit that has received the packet and the antenna pattern formed by the array antenna 2. The control circuit 55 receives the CTS via the antenna pattern used for reception.
Send a packet or an ACK packet. Further, the control circuit 55, when forming an antenna beam other than the antenna beam used for reception, controls the packet generator 54.
Send the control packet generated in.

Of the packets transmitted from the access point 1 in this way, the CTS packet or the AC
The K packet is received by the wireless station device 4-1, and the control packet shown in FIG. 13 is received by the other wireless station devices 4-2 to 4-N.

In another wireless station device 4-2, a transmission clear (CTS: Clear To Send) packet is transmitted from the access point 1 to the wireless station device 4-1 as shown in step S31 of FIG. On the occasion of Figure 1
4, the control packet is received from the access point 1 as shown in step S34. In the wireless station device 4-2, if there is a data packet to be transmitted to the access point 1, a certain time period td2 based on this control packet and the data packet to be transmitted.
Then, the transmission timing to be waited for is determined, and step S3 in FIG.
As shown by 5, the data packet is transmitted from the wireless station devices 4-2 to 4-N to the access point 1 at this transmission timing.

When the access point 1 successfully receives the signals transmitted from the wireless station devices 4-1 and 4-2, the access point 1 waits for a certain time period td1 and waits for an ACK packet as shown in steps S33 and S36 in FIG. Is transmitted to the wireless station devices 4-1 and 4-2 to end the series of procedures.

Regarding the packet transmission / reception procedure between the access point 1 and the wireless station devices 4-1 to 4-N shown in FIG. 12, FIG. 15A, FIG. 15B and FIG.
This will be described in more detail with reference to A, FIG. 16B, FIG. 16C and FIG.

The access point 1 is, for example, as shown in FIG.
It is assumed that it is located between the wireless station devices 4-1 and 4-2 as shown in A and receives a signal transmitted from the wireless station device 4-1 in the uplink. In the downlink as shown in FIG. 15B,
Antenna beam 8 in the direction of wireless station device 4-1
1 is formed, and an antenna beam 82 is formed in a direction including the direction of the other wireless station device 4-2. These antenna beams 81 and 82 are formed by the beam forming circuits 51-1 to 51-M.

16A to 16C are time charts showing transmission / reception operations of the wireless station device 4-1, the access point 1 and the wireless station device 4-2.
FIG. 17 shows an operation procedure among the wireless station device 4-1, the access point 1 and the wireless station device 4-2. 16A to 16C, before the wireless station device 4-1 transmits the data packet,
From the wireless station device 4-1 to the access point 1
RTS packet 91 is transmitted to
The access point 1 that received the CTS packet 9
2 is transmitted to the wireless station device 4-1, and the wireless station device 4-1 which has received the CTS packet 92 transmits the data packet 93. In addition,
The RTS packet 91 includes the wireless station device 4-1.
The RTS packet 91 contains information on the transmission reservation time of the data packet in the access point 1
Can know the maximum end time when the transfer of the data packet from the wireless station device 4-1 ends.

Further, the access point 1 uses the antenna beam 81 of FIG. 12B directed toward the wireless station device 4-1 to generate the C generated by the control circuit 55.
While transmitting the TS packet 92 and the ACK packet 96 to the wireless station device 4-1, the access point 1 uses the antenna beam 82 that covers the direction of the wireless station device 4-2 to control the packet generator 5.
The control packet 94 shown in FIG. 13 generated in 4 is transmitted to the wireless station device 4-2. The control packet 94 includes information on the transmission end time te1 obtained by the transmission reservation time included in the RTS packet 91 transmitted from the wireless station device 4-1; that is, period information (duration). There is.

Here, another wireless station device 4-2 is used.
Has a data packet to be transmitted to the access point 1, the wireless station device 4-2 determines the transmission timing of the data packet based on the analysis of the control packet 94 transmitted from the access point 1. is doing. That is, the control packet 94 is input to the control packet determination unit 61, and the scheduled transmission end time te1 is output from the control packet determination unit 61 to the transmission timing determination unit 62 as the determination result. The transmission timing determining unit 62 sets the transmission timing of the next data packet 95 to be transmitted to the same transmission end scheduled time te2 as the scheduled transmission end time te1 of the data packet 93 transmitted from the wireless station device 4-1. Or when the access point 1 is receiving the data packet 95 from the wireless station device 4-2, the access point 1 does not overlap the transmission time of the ACK packet 96 for the data packet 93 from the wireless station device 4-1. The data packet 95 is transmitted at the timing.

In the other wireless station device 4-2, when the transmitting / receiving unit 64 receives a packet as shown in step S40 of FIG.
It is sent to the control unit 60 as shown in step S20 of No. 7, and the control packet determination unit 61 determines whether or not this packet is a control packet. If the received packet is not a control packet, no data packet is transmitted from the wireless station device 4-2 to the access point 1 (steps S41 and S42 in FIG. 18). If the received packet is a control packet, step S in FIG.
21, the packet information is sent to the control packet determination unit 61, and the control packet determination unit 61 determines the transmission end time from the control packet period as shown in step S43 of FIG. It This transmission end time is given to the transmission timing determination unit 62 as shown in step S20 of FIG. In addition, the information of the data packet to be transmitted is sent from the control circuit 60 to the packet length determination unit 63 as shown in step S23 of FIG. The time period required to transmit this data packet is calculated as shown in step S43 of 18. This time period corresponds to step S24 in FIG.
It is given to the transmission timing determination unit 64 as shown in.
The transmission timing determination unit 64 determines whether or not the packet length cannot be sent by the transmission end time (step S44 in FIG. 18). If the data packet cannot be transmitted, the period until the transmission end time is reached. The transmission of the data packet in is stopped (step S42 in FIG. 18). When the data packet can be transmitted within the period up to the transmission end time, the transmission timing determination unit 64
In, the transmission timing for starting the transmission of the data packet is determined so that the transmission of the data packet is matched at the end of the transmission (step S45 in FIG. 18). Figure 1
This transmission timing is given to the control circuit 60 as shown in step S25 of FIG. 7, and the data packet is sent to the control circuit 6 at this transmission timing as shown in step S26 of FIG.
0 from the wireless station device 4-2 to the access point 1 (FIG. 18).
Step S46).

As described above, the access point 1 uses the AC
During the transmission of the K packet 96, the wireless station device 4-2
Since it never receives the data packet 95 from
SDMA is possible. Access point is CSMA
When using the method, it is difficult for the access point to perform transmission and reception at the same time because the transmission signal and the reception signal interfere with each other, but in the present embodiment, the access point 1 performs transmission and reception at the same time. There is an advantage that the SDMA can be performed without any need.

The wireless station device receiving the control packet does not transmit the data packet unless there is a transmission request. At this time, the access point 1 can transmit the control packet 97 at the timing of transmitting the ACK packet 96 as shown in FIG. 16B.

Referring to FIG. 19, a wireless station device 4-i (i = 1, 1) according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.
2, ..., N) will be described.

The wireless station device 4-i shown in FIG. 19 is the wireless station device 4-i shown in FIG.
A random probability generator 66 is added to the. As shown in FIG. 19, in the wireless station device 4-i, the control packet determination unit 61 determines that the control packet transmitted from the access point 1 is for all wireless station devices 4-i.
It also has a function of determining whether or not it has a broadcast address with i as the transmission destination. The random probability generation unit 66 generates a certain random probability, for example, a random probability of 0 or more and 1 or less, and gives it to the transmission timing determination unit 62.

Next, the operation of the wireless communication system including the wireless station device shown in FIG. 19 will be described while focusing on the difference from the wireless communication system shown in FIG.

In the wireless station device 4-i, the reception signal from the antenna 65 is input to the transmission / reception section 64, and the packet of this reception signal is transmitted via the control circuit 60.
Alternatively, it is directly input to the control packet determination unit 61.
On the other hand, when the control circuit 60 sends the RTS packet to the transmission / reception unit 64, the packet length determination unit 63 determines the packet length of the RTS packet.

When the control packet determination unit 61 determines that the control packet has the broadcast address, the transmission timing determination unit 62 causes the random probability generation unit 6 to operate.
The transmission timing of the packet is randomly determined according to the random probability generated in 6. From the control circuit 60 to the transmission / reception unit 6 at this randomly determined transmission timing.
The data packet is input to 4 and transmitted by the antenna 65.

When there are a plurality of wireless station devices 4-i communicating with the access point 1 in the infrastructure mode, the plurality of wireless station devices 4-i will receive the control packet transmitted from the access point 1. . Therefore, if the access point 1 selects the destination address of one wireless station device to which the control packet is to be transmitted from among the addresses of the plurality of wireless station devices 4-i, the wireless station device that has received the control packet will receive another The data packet can be transmitted without colliding with the data packet transmitted from the wireless station device.

Since the wireless station device which has received the control packet transmitted from the access point 1 does not transmit the data packet when there is no transmission request, the access point 1 sends the other wireless station device to the destination address. As a control packet. However, when the number of wireless station devices 4-i is large and the number of transmission requests from individual wireless station devices is small, the method of transmitting the control packet by changing the destination address of the wireless station device does not perform the processing. It becomes complicated.

On the other hand, in this embodiment, access
When transmitting the control packet from the point 1, the destination address is broadcast and the control packet is transmitted to all the wireless station devices 4-i, so that the access point 1 does not have to change the destination address of the control packet. The wireless station device having the transmission request can immediately transmit the data packet.

In this case, the plurality of wireless station devices 4
-I has the right to transmit, and the packets are transmitted at the timings according to the random probabilities generated by the random probability generator 66, respectively, so that the plurality of wireless station devices 4-i are in the transmission request state. Also, it is possible to reduce the probability that packets transmitted by each will collide.

According to the wireless communication systems according to the first to fourth embodiments described above, the access point performs good transmission / reception with a plurality of wireless station devices while applying the SDMA method to the CSMA method. be able to.

With reference to FIGS. 20 to 27, radio communication systems according to the fifth to ninth embodiments of the present invention will be described.

In the wireless communication system according to the fifth embodiment shown in FIG. 20, CSMA / CA (Carrier Sense) is used.
Multiple Access Collision Avoidance) protocol is applied.

As shown in FIG. 20, the access point 101 connected to a wired network or the like has wireless module units 102-1 and 102 for transmitting and receiving wireless signals.
-2 is provided. A wireless station device 10 based on the CSMA / CA method that avoids collision of wireless packets by autonomously determining whether or not to transmit one or more wireless devices that use the same channel as the wireless module unit 102-1.
3-1 to 103-n and one or more of the wireless module unit 102-2, which independently use the same channel, independently determine whether or not transmission is possible, and CSMA / CA (which avoids collision of wireless packets). Carrier Sense Multiple Access
It is composed of wireless station devices 104-1 to 104-m based on the collision avoidance method.

In the system shown in FIG. 20, the signal transmitted by the wireless module section 102-1 is received by the wireless module section 102-2 even if it is on a different channel, and the signal transmitted by 102-2. Is also received by the wireless module 102-1.

A radio communication system according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described which is intended to avoid packet transfer errors due to interference of transmission signals between radio modules in such a radio communication system. .

FIG. 21 is a block diagram of the access point 101 according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 21, the wireless module 102-1 includes a transmission / reception antenna 201, a transmission / reception unit 202, a reception information notification unit 203, and a wireless module control unit 204. The wireless module 102-2 similarly has the transmitting / receiving antenna 20.
5, a transmission / reception unit 206, a reception information acquisition unit 207, and a wireless module control unit 208.

In the access point 101 shown in FIG. 21, the radio signal received by the transmission / reception antenna 201 is demodulated by the transmission / reception unit 202 and input to the radio module control unit 204 as data. The wireless module control unit 204 transmits information on the reception period of the data being received or the reception end time of the data to the reception information notification unit 203,
The reception information notification unit 203 transmits information on the reception period or the reception end time of data to the reception signal acquisition unit 207 of the wireless module 102-2. The reception signal acquisition unit 207 notifies the wireless module control unit 208 that the wireless module 102-1 is receiving, and the wireless module control unit 2
08 controls the transmission / reception unit 206 to control the wireless module 1
The transmission / reception antenna 205 of 02-2 is controlled so as not to output a radio signal.

As described above, the wireless module section 102-1
While receiving a wireless signal from a wireless station device using the same channel, the wireless module 102-2 of the same channel that uses a different channel from the wireless module 102-1 or has a different directional antenna does not transmit a wireless signal. Controlled as. Therefore, the wireless signal being received by the wireless module 102-1 does not output a transmission signal of the wireless module 102-2 which becomes an interference signal, and thus errors in the wireless signal being received can be reduced.

Even when the wireless module 102-1 and the wireless module 102-2 use the adjacent frequency band, the signals transmitted from each other have different frequencies, but the wireless signal output from the wireless module 102-1. Is received without being suppressed by the filter. Since the wireless modules transmit signals with a large amount of power, when the wireless modules are installed in the same housing or in a nearby place, the wireless modules interfere with each other even if they are adjacent to different frequencies.

For this reason, it is required that the wireless module units operate in cooperation with each other in transmission / reception timing.

Referring to FIG. 22, radio communication system radio module section 102 according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention.
-1, 102-2 will be described.

In FIG. 22, the wireless module section 10
2-1 are ACK packets 301-0 ... 301-, respectively.
2 to transmit the data packets 302-0 to 302-3
Are being received. Also, the wireless module unit 102-2 causes the synchronization packet 303-0 and the ACK packet 304, respectively.
-0 to 304-1 are transmitted, and data packet 305-0
~ 305-1 have been received.

Upon receiving the data packet 302-0, the wireless module 102-1 receives the data packet 302-0.
1 notifies the wireless module 102-2 that it is receiving data packets. The wireless module 102-2 is also notified of the packet time length of the data packet 302-0 received at the same time and the packet reception end time. That is, in response to the reception of the data packet 302-0, the control unit 204 receives the data packet 302-0.
The packet time length of 0 and the packet reception end time are given to the reception information acquisition unit 207 of the wireless module 102-2 via the reception information notification unit 203. Wireless module 10
When the 2-1 finishes receiving the data packet, the 2-1 sends the ACK packet 304-0 to the wireless station devices 103-1 to 103-1.
103-n. In synchronization with the transmission of the ACK packet 304-0, the wireless module 102-2 transmits the ACK packet 301-0 transmitted by the wireless module 102-1.
Send a synchronization packet with the same time length as. That is, the wireless module 102-2 predicts the transmission timing of the ACK packet 301-0 from the packet time length of the data packet 302-0 and the packet reception end time acquired by the reception information acquisition unit 207, and the control unit 208 Transmitter / receiver 20
6 causes the wireless station devices 104-1 to 104-m to transmit the synchronization packet at this transmission timing. This synchronization packet includes information on the transmission end time, and the wireless station devices 104-1 to 104-m that use the same channel as the wireless module 102-2.
Can know when the transmission should end. The wireless station devices 104-1 to 104-m use the synchronization packet 3
When there is a data packet to be transmitted after receiving 03-0, the time length and transmission time of the data packet are determined so that the transmission ends at the transmission end time notified by the synchronization packet 303-0. Send a packet.

The wireless module 102-1 receives the fragmented data packets consecutively,
The wireless station devices 104-1 to 104-m that use the same channel as the wireless module 102-2 also divide the data packet into the packet time length notified by the synchronization packet 303-0 and transmit the data packet to the wireless module. 102-2. Therefore, the wireless module 1
02-1 and the wireless module 102-2 can simultaneously perform transmission and reception. Here, the data packet 30 to be transmitted
1-0 to 301-2 and 302-0 to 302-2 have the same packet length and are transmitted in the same time period.
Also, this transmitted data packet 301-0 to 30-30
1-2 and 302-0 to 302-2 include information regarding the transmission time period in the packet as shown in FIG. 5 or FIG. 6, and the packet of the data packet 302-0 is included from the information of this time period. The time length or the packet reception end time may be obtained.

From the above, the distributed control CSMA / C
In the A-system wireless LAN, wireless modules that interfere with each other can be used, and the wireless frequency can be effectively used. Therefore, the channel used by the wireless module can be an adjacent channel.

Further, when the frequency channels used by the wireless modules are the same and the respective wireless modules use antennas having different directivities, or adaptive arrays or smart antennas whose directivities can be freely changed are used. However, the synchronization packet is effective, and it becomes possible to avoid packet transmission / reception errors due to looping around at the antenna.

Referring to FIG. 23, the operations of radio module units 102-1 and 102-2 in the radio communication system according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention will be described.

The wireless module 102-1 transmits the synchronization packet 401-0, and the wireless station devices 103-1 to 103-m which are using the same channel as the wireless module 102-1 are connected to the wireless station devices 103-1 to 103-m. The data packet 402-0 to be transmitted is received. Also,
The data packet 402-0 is the wireless module 102-1.
When the wireless module 102-1 receives the ACK packet 401 from the wireless module 102-1 to the wireless station device 103-1.
-1 is transmitted. In addition, the wireless module 102-2 transmits the synchronization packet 403-0, and the wireless module 1
The wireless station devices 103-1 to 103-m using the same channel as 02-2 transmit data packets 404.
-Send 0. Upon receiving the data packet 404-0, the wireless module 102-2 receives the ACK packet 403-
1 is transmitted to the wireless station devices 103-1 to 103-m.

The wireless module 102-1 and the wireless module 102-2 respectively transmit a synchronization packet when no data packet is received. The wireless station devices 103-1 to 103-1, which have received the synchronization packet
03-m transmits the packet by the synchronization packet so that the transmission is completed at the determined data packet transmission end time. Therefore, in this wireless communication system,
The wireless modules 102-1 and 102-2 are simultaneously AC
K packets 401-1 and 403-1 can be transmitted.

The synchronization packets 401-0 and 403-0 are
It is also possible to periodically determine the data packet transmission end time of the wireless station device by one synchronization packet without always transmitting.

Here, the synchronization packet has the same structure as that of the control packet as shown in FIG. 13, and the information regarding the time period or the time when the wireless modules 102-1 and 102-2 complete the reception of the data packet. Contains information. That is, the synchronization packet determines the reception end time of the data packet transmitted by the wireless station device, and may be any information as long as it includes information that brings about the effect. For example, the time length of the data packet may be determined in advance using only the transmission start time instead of the transmission end time.

Wireless station devices 103-1 to 103 using the same channel as the wireless module 102-2
-M means that if the wireless module 102-1 finishes the transmission during the packet reception period, the wireless module 1022 sets A
It is possible to send packets that do not send CK packets.

The radio communication system according to the eighth embodiment of the present invention will be described again with reference to FIGS. 24 and 25.

As shown in FIG. 21, the radio module unit 102-1 in the access point is connected to the transmitting / receiving antenna 20.
1, a transmission / reception unit 202, and a wireless module control unit 203
And a transmission information notification unit 204. The wireless module unit 102-2 includes a transmitting / receiving antenna 205 and a transmitting / receiving unit 20.
6, a transmission information acquisition unit 207, and a wireless module control unit 208.

The signal flow will be described with reference to FIGS. 24 and 25. When the wireless module 102-1 receives a data transmission request, the wireless module controller 203 causes the transceiver 2
Data is modulated into a wireless signal via 02, and the wireless signal is transmitted using the transmitting / receiving antenna 201. Further, the wireless module control unit 203 notifies the transmission information notification unit 204 that the transmission / reception unit 202 is transmitting a wireless signal to the transmission information acquisition unit 207 of the wireless module 102-2. The wireless module control unit 208 uses the transmission information acquisition unit 2
From 07, it is determined that the wireless module 102-1 is transmitting a packet. The wireless module control unit 208
Based on the signal from the transmission information acquisition unit 207, the transmission / reception unit 206
Output the data to. The transmission / reception unit 206 transmits a wireless signal using the transmission / reception antenna 205.

As shown in FIG. 24, the wireless module 102
-1 transmits the data packets 601-0 ... 601-2, and the ACK packet 60 corresponding to the data packet
2-0 ... 602-2 is received. On the other hand, the wireless module 102-2 does not receive the packet of the wireless station device, so that the dummy packet 603-0,
603-1 is transmitted.

When a dummy packet is transmitted from the wireless module 102-2 during the transmission of the wireless module 102-1 in this way, the wireless station device using the same channel as the wireless module 102-2 detects the carrier sense. Do not send packets. When the wireless module 102-1 is transmitting, the wireless module 10
2-2 cannot be received, so the wireless module 10
The wireless station device using the same channel as 2-2 can reduce unnecessary packet transmission.

Packets 603-0, 603-at this time
1 may be a dummy packet which has the same time length as the packet transmitted by the wireless module 102-1 and which is physically sensed by the wireless station device, or an RTS packet, It may be a packet for setting virtual carrier sense information (NAV information) of the wireless station device.

Further, the wireless station device that uses the same channel as the wireless module 102-2 is
When it is possible to determine by receiving the signal transmitted by 1, the wireless station device using the same channel as 102-2 can know that the packet is not received.

The radio communication system according to the ninth embodiment of the present invention will be described again with reference to FIG.

As shown in FIG. 25, the wireless module 102
-1 transmits the data packet 701-0, the wireless module 102-2 is controlled by the wireless module control unit 208 to determine that the wireless module 102-1 is transmitting, and the wireless module 102-2 transmits the data packet 701-0. The data packet 703-0 is transmitted so that the transmission ends at the same time as the transmission end time. Therefore, the wireless module 102
-1, the wireless module 102-2 can receive the ACK packets 702-0 and 704-0 at the same timing.

At this time, the transmission end time of the data packet 703-0 transmitted by the wireless module 102-2 is the same as the ACK packet 7 when the wireless module 102-2 is transmitting the data packet 701-0.
04-0 is not received, and the wireless module 102-2
During transmission of the data packet 703-0, a time lag is allowed such that the wireless module 102-1 does not receive the ACK packet 702-0. The wireless module 102-2 can also realize the above operation by determining the transmission start time and the packet time length of the data packet in addition to determining the transmission end time of the data packet.

A modification of the wireless communication system according to the ninth embodiment of the present invention will be described.

The radio module 102-1 and the radio module 102-2 are controlled by the radio control module units 204 and 208 to sense the carrier sense at the same time before determining the transmission start time of the data packet. Accordingly, the transmission start times of the wireless module 102-1 and the wireless module 102-2 can be set at the same time. At this time, by making the time lengths of the packets to be transmitted the same in the wireless module 102-1 and the wireless module 102-2, the transmission end times can be aligned and transmitted.

Also, during the transmission period of the wireless module 102-1, the wireless module 102-2 can transmit a data packet which does not need an ACK packet, or a broadcast packet or a multicast packet.

Here, the wireless module performs a cooperative operation such as transmitting the synchronous packet as described above as a synchronous mode, and each wireless module unit operates as an independent distributed operation as an asynchronous mode. In the asynchronous mode, a synchronous packet is not transmitted, and a packet error due to a wraparound of a transmission signal between wireless modules via a transmission / reception antenna is tolerated.

When the wireless module 102-1 and the wireless module 102-2 have a large amount of data to be transmitted / received when the amount of data is corrected to the time length of the wireless packet, it is decided to enter the above-mentioned synchronization mode, and In other cases, the mode is asynchronous. At this time, since the access point does not perform control between the modules, the processing is simple and the packet can be efficiently transmitted and received in the synchronous mode. Alternatively, it is also possible to decide to perform the above operation when the packet time length is small.

Further, as shown in FIG. 26, the traffic statistics of the wireless modules 102-1 and 102-2 are held in the traffic statistics processing unit 802, and the synchronization mode determination unit 803 synchronizes the synchronous mode and the asynchronous mode depending on the traffic state. It is also possible to determine In the access point 101, the wireless module 102
-1, 102-2 are controlled by the control unit 801, and the traffic generated between the access point 101 and the wireless station device is monitored by the control unit 801. The monitored traffic is provided to the traffic statistical processing unit 802 as traffic statistical information, statistically processed, and held in the traffic statistical processing unit 802. This statistically processed traffic data is given to the synchronous mode determination unit 803 as a traffic state, and the synchronous mode determination unit 803 determines one of the synchronous mode and the asynchronous mode according to this state. For example, when a small amount of traffic with a relatively small amount of data transferred between the access point 101 and the wireless station device is complicated, the synchronization mode is determined and the wireless modules 102-1 and 102-2 are selected.
Is set to the synchronous mode by the control unit, and the efficiency of packet transmission can be improved by cooperating the transmission and reception of wireless packets as described above. In addition, even when a large amount of large traffic with a relatively large amount of data transferred between the access point 101 and the wireless station device, the synchronization mode is similarly determined, and the wireless modules 102-1 and 102 are connected. -2 may be set to the synchronous mode by the control unit.

Further, as shown in FIG. 27, the wireless module 101 has a plurality of buffers 805-1 to 805-k, and the buffers 805-805 differ depending on the packet time length.
By using 1 to 805-k, it is possible to determine the synchronous mode and the asynchronous mode according to the time length of the packet.

The data packet transmitted by the wireless module 101 is stored in the buffers 805-1 to 805-k for temporarily storing the packet by the control unit 801. The wireless module 101 has one buffer 805-1
It is difficult to extract an arbitrary packet from the buffer 805-1 when the wireless module 101 has a plurality of buffers 805-1 to 805-k and stores the data packet. The buffer is selected.

In this wireless system, when a data packet to be transmitted is input to the control unit 401, the packet time length determination unit 806 determines the packet time length, and the buffer size corresponding to the packet time length of the packet. Are input to the data buffers 805-1 to 805-k. Therefore, the data buffers 801-1 to 805-
Packet data having different packet time lengths are stored in k. When the wireless module 101-1 transmits a data packet, the data buffer 801 in which the data packet to be transmitted by the control unit 801 is stored.
One of -1 to 805-k is selected. By this selection, the control unit 801 determines whether the time length of the packet data is larger than the reference packet data length, and according to this determination, the synchronous mode and the asynchronous mode are determined. When the time length of the packet data is longer than the reference packet data length, the control unit 801 determines that the wireless module 1
02-1 and 102-2 are set to the synchronous mode, and when the time length of the packet data is smaller than the reference packet data length, the control unit 801 causes the wireless module 102 to
-1, 102-2 are set to asynchronous mode.

In the above-described embodiment, access /
A wireless station device having a subordinate relationship with a point randomly determines whether to transmit a packet even if it receives a synchronization packet. As a result, it is possible to prevent a plurality of wireless station devices that have received the synchronization packet from transmitting at the same time and causing a packet collision.

In addition, the wireless station device determines traffic, carrier sense, and packet priority (QoS).
It is also possible to determine the random probability of packet transmission, etc.

When there are a plurality of wireless station devices that have received the synchronization packet and each of the plurality of wireless station devices has a transmission request, packet collision will occur. It is possible to avoid packet collision by determining whether or not the wireless station device transmits the synchronization packet even if it receives the synchronization packet, at random establishment. The wireless station device can acquire the traffic information of the wireless station device or access point using the same channel, determine the probability of packet transmission, and perform efficient packet transmission.

The probability of transmitting this packet is determined by the priority of packets (Qo
It can also be determined from S).

If a wireless station device having a unique destination address of the synchronization packet is designated to perform packet transmission of the designated wireless station device, packet collision does not occur and the efficiency is improved. For this reason, the destination address of the synchronization packet may indicate all wireless station devices, or may specify a plurality of or unique wireless station devices.

The channels used by the wireless module may be channels adjacent in frequency. Further, the transmitting and receiving antennas possessed by the wireless module may be antennas having directivity, and the same channel may be used in terms of frequency. It is possible that the transmitting and receiving antennas are antennas with variable directivity such as an adaptive array, and the wireless module shares one array antenna and the antenna beam pattern is set to multi-beam to transmit wireless signals to each wireless It is also possible to send and receive to the module.
For this reason, the channel in the claims does not have to be a channel that differs in frequency, but may be a channel that accommodates a unique wireless station device that is determined by the frequency and the antenna beam pattern.

Further, by having a control unit in the access point separately from each wireless module, it is possible to realize the operation in the synchronous mode. At this time, there is no distinction between the wireless modules M1 and M2, and the operation of M1 and M2 is determined by the control unit in the access point.

It is to be noted that the adaptive antenna arrays 2-1 and 2-2 are not limited to the wireless system composed of the access point and the wireless station device as shown in FIGS. 1 and 20, but are respectively as shown in FIG. It is obvious that the present invention may be applied to the wireless communication devices 1-1 and 1-2 having the. The wireless communication device 1 shown in FIG.
1 and 1-2 are reception modules 11-1 to 11-3 and 11 respectively, like the wireless communication terminals shown in FIGS. 1 and 20.
-4 to 11-6, transmission modules 12-1 to 12-3 and 12-4 to 12-6, reception end detection units 18-1 and 18
-2 and transmission permission units 19-1 and 19-2.

Also, as shown in FIG. 29, instead of the adaptive antenna arrays 2-1 and 2-2, antennas 91 and 92 for transmitting and receiving channels 1 and 2 adjacent to each other as carriers, and transmission modules 11-1 and 11-2. , 1
1-3, 11-4 and receiving modules 12-1, 12-
Switch 9 for switching between 2, 12-3 and 12-4, respectively
The present invention may be applied to the wireless communication devices 1-1 and 1-2 provided with 3, 94.

In the radio system shown in FIG. 29, the antennas 91 and 92 are arranged in the transmitting modules 11-1, 11-2, 11-3, 11-4 and the receiving modules 12-1, 12- during transmission and reception. Any of the above-described embodiments can be applied, except that they are switched to 2, 12-3, and 12-4, respectively.

[0157]

As described above, according to the present invention, there is provided a wireless communication device and a system thereof capable of favorably transmitting and receiving between wireless devices.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing a wireless LAN system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a block diagram schematically showing the access point shown in FIG. 1. FIG.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart for explaining transmission / reception operation in the access point shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram schematically showing the adaptive array antenna shown in FIG.

5 is a block diagram schematically showing details of a maximum reception end time detection unit shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of a data packet transferred between the access point shown in FIG. 1 and a wireless station device.

7 is a schematic diagram showing, as another example, the structure of a data packet transferred between the access point and the wireless station device shown in FIG.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram schematically showing details of a transmission permission unit shown in FIG.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram schematically showing a more detailed circuit example of the maximum reception end time detection unit shown in FIG.

10 is a timing chart for explaining the operation of the maximum reception end time detection unit shown in FIG.

FIG. 11 shows an access according to another embodiment of the present invention.
It is a block diagram which shows the point schematically.

FIG. 12 is a wireless LAN according to another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram schematically showing an access point and a wireless station device in the system.

13 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of a control packet transferred between wireless communication devices in the wireless LAN system shown in FIG.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a transmission / reception operation in the wireless LAN system shown in FIG.

15A is a block diagram showing an arrangement of an access point and a wireless station device according to another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 15B is a downlink diagram in the system shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the pattern of the antenna beam which an access point forms toward each wireless station apparatus.

16A to 16C are time charts for explaining the operation in the system shown in FIG.

17 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a transmission / reception operation in the system shown in FIG.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart for explaining a transmission / reception operation in the system shown in FIG.

FIG. 19 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of a wireless station device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 20 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of a wireless communication system according to still another embodiment of the present invention.

21 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of the access point shown in FIG.

22 is a diagram for explaining the concept of packets transmitted and received by the wireless module shown in FIG.

FIG. 23 is a diagram for explaining the concept of packets transmitted and received by the wireless module shown in FIG. 21.

FIG. 24 is a diagram for explaining a transfer operation of still another packet transmitted / received by the wireless module shown in FIG. 21.

FIG. 25 is a diagram for explaining a transfer operation of still another packet transmitted / received by the wireless module shown in FIG. 21.

FIG. 26 is a block diagram showing a modification of the circuit configuration of the access point shown in FIG.

27 is a block diagram showing another modification of the circuit configuration of the access point shown in FIG. 21. FIG.

FIG. 28 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of a wireless communication device according to still another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 29 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of a wireless communication device according to still another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1. ． ． Access point 1 2. ． ． Adaptive array antenna 3-1 to 3-3. ． ． Antenna beams 4-1 to 4-3. ． ． Wireless station device 5. ． ． Backbone network 5 10. ． ． Transmission data supply units 11-1 to 11-3. ． ． Reception modules 12-1 to 12-3. ． ． Transmission module 15. ． ． Setting unit 16. ． ． Calculation unit 17. ． ． Transmission control unit 18. ． ． Reception end detection unit 19. ． ． Transmission permission units 20-1, 20-2, 20-3. ． ． Detection unit 22. ． ． Notification units 21-1 to 21-3. ． ． Detectors 22-1 to 22-3. ． ． Address comparators 25-1 to 25-3. ． ． Retransmission data storage units 30-1 to 30-3. ． ． Antenna elements 31-1 to 31-3. ． ． Transmission / reception changeover switches 32-1 to 32-3. ． ． Amplifiers 33-1 to 33-3. ． ． Down converters 34-1 to 34-3. ． ． Distributors 35-1 to 35-3. ． ． Reception beam forming circuits 36-1 to 36-3. ． ． Transmit beam forming circuits 37-1 to 37-3. ． ． Synthesizer 40. ． ． Beam control units 38-1 to 38-3. ． ． Up converters 41-1 to 41-3. ． ． Reception start detectors 42-1 to 42-3. ． ． Reception reservation detectors 43-1 to 43-3. ． ． Adder 45. ． ． Storage unit 46. ． ． Update units 51-1 to 51-M. ． ． Beam forming circuit 52. ． ． Beam selection unit 53. ． ． Packet length determination unit 54. ． ． Control packet generator 55. ． ． Control circuit 60. ． ． Control circuit 61. ． ． Control packet determination unit 62. ． ． Transmission timing determination unit 64. ． ． Transmitter / receiver 65. ． ． Antenna 101. ． ． Access points 102-1, 102-2. ． ． Wireless module units 103-1 to 103-n. ． ． Wireless station devices 104-1 to 104-m. ． ． Wireless station device 201. ． ． Transmission / reception antenna 202. ． ． Transceiver 203. ． ． Reception information notification unit 204. ． ． Wireless module control unit 205. ． ． Transmission / reception antenna 206. ． ． Transmitter / receiver 207. ． ． Reception information acquisition unit 208. ． ． Wireless module control unit 208 402-0 to 402-m. ． ． Data packets 401-1, 403-1, 702-0, 704-
0. ． ． ACK packets 401-0, 403-0. ． ． Sync packet 802. ． ． Traffic statistics processing unit 803. ． ． Synchronization mode determination units 805-1 to 805-k. ． ． buffer

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Tomoko Adachi             1st Komukai Toshiba-cho, Sachi-ku, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa             Inside the Toshiba Research and Development Center (72) Inventor Kiyoshi Tomitsu             1st Komukai Toshiba-cho, Sachi-ku, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa             Inside the Toshiba Research and Development Center (72) Inventor Kazumi Sato             1st Komukai Toshiba-cho, Sachi-ku, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa             Inside the Toshiba Research and Development Center F-term (reference) 5K033 CA07 CB01 CB06 CC02 DA01                       DA17                 5K067 AA03 BB02 BB21 CC08 DD11                       EE02 EE10 EE59 GG01

Claims (31)

[Claims] 1. A radio apparatus for receiving first and second reception signals from another radio unit and transmitting a first transmission signal to the other radio unit, wherein the first and second transmission signals are sensed. Is set to the reception mode, and in this reception mode, the first and second reception units receive the first and second reception signals from other wireless units, respectively.
A receiving unit including a receiving module, a response unit that generates a reception end signal in response to completion of reception of the first and second reception signals, and a transmission mode that transmits a first transmission signal. In the transmission mode, the first transmission module includes a first transmission module for inhibiting the transmission of the first transmission signal, and in the transmission mode, the transmission unit waits for the transmission of the first transmission signal; And transmitting the first transmission signal to the standby state by switching the transmission section from the reception mode to the transmission mode in response to the transmission end signal, and transmitting the first transmission signal. With the possible part started in the state. A wireless device comprising: 2. The transmission unit includes a second transmission module that transmits a second transmission signal in the transmission mode and prohibits transmission of the second transmission signal in the reception mode, and the transmission unit includes the transmission mode. 2. The wireless device according to claim 1, wherein the wireless device is kept in a standby state to wait for the transmission of the second transmission signal. 3. The first data having the same data size, each of the first data
And a transmission controller for controlling the supply of the first and second transmission signals supplied to the second and second transmission modules to terminate the transmission to the first and second transmission modules at the same timing. The wireless device according to claim 2, wherein the wireless device is a wireless device. 4. The first and second reception data includes reception period information required to receive the reception data, and the reception end response unit includes a time included in the reception data received by a plurality of the reception modules. Based on the information, a time detection unit that detects the reception end time of the reception end time of each reception module, which is the latest in time, and all the reception modules of the reception modules when the current time reaches the maximum reception end time. The wireless device according to claim 1, further comprising: a reception end notification unit that notifies the transmission permission unit of reception end. 5. The first and second antenna elements are connected between the antenna element and the first and second receiving modules, and the signals received by the respective antenna elements are respectively weighted and combined. The radio apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a beam forming circuit that forms an antenna beam having directivity. 6. A directivity is provided by connecting between a first and a second antenna element and the antenna element and the first and second transmitting modules, and weighting signals transmitted from the respective antenna elements, respectively. The radio apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a beam forming circuit that forms an antenna beam included therein. 7. CSMA / CA (Carrier Sense Multiple Access)
Collision Avoidance) protocol is used to perform contention access control and to transmit and receive wireless signals of the first and second channels between the first and second wireless station devices and the wireless device. A first wireless module unit for transmitting and receiving data packets with a wireless signal of a channel, a second wireless module unit for transmitting and receiving data packets with a wireless signal of a second channel, and the first wireless module unit for transmitting data packets. A first reception mode being received, a control unit that detects the first reception mode and disables transmission of a data packet from the second wireless module unit; apparatus. 8. The first wireless module unit is the first wireless module unit.
8. The wireless device according to claim 7, further comprising a reception mode notification unit that notifies that the wireless module unit of is in a reception mode during data packet reception. 9. The first wireless module unit transmits a response packet at a certain timing after completion of reception of a data packet, and the second wireless module unit transmits to the second wireless module unit at this timing. The wireless device according to claim 7, which transmits a synchronization packet which permits transmission of packet data. 10. The synchronization packet is a reception start time of a data packet received by the first wireless module unit,
The wireless device according to claim 9, further comprising information on a reception time length and a reception end time. 11. The first and second wireless module units include a first wireless station device that communicates with the first wireless module unit and a second wireless station device that communicates with the second wireless module unit. To send to
8. The wireless device according to claim 7, wherein the wireless device transmits a synchronization packet that determines a time at which the response packet transmitted by the first and second wireless module units is transmitted. 12. The wireless device according to claim 7, wherein a time at which the response packet determined by the synchronization packet is transmitted has a periodicity. 13. The first and second wireless module units transmit a synchronization packet to the first and second wireless station devices, and the first and second wireless station devices receive the synchronization packet. 8. The wireless communication system according to claim 7, wherein the data packet is transmitted to the first and second wireless module units based on the above, and the reception end of the data packet is simultaneously ended in the first and second wireless station devices. apparatus. 14. The first and second wireless module units transmit a synchronization packet to the first and second wireless station devices, and the first and second wireless station devices receive the synchronization packet. On the basis of the data packet transmitted to the first and second wireless module units and the data packet of the second wireless station device is received before the end of reception of the data packet by the first wireless station device. The wireless device according to claim 7, wherein reception is terminated. 15. The first and second wireless module units transmit a synchronization packet to the first and second wireless station devices, and the first and second wireless station devices receiving the synchronization packet synchronize with each other. The wireless device according to claim 7, wherein the transmission end time, or the transmission time and the packet time length are determined by the packet. 16. The wireless device according to claim 7, wherein the second wireless station device transmits a packet that does not require a response packet during the packet reception period of the first wireless module unit. 17. The wireless station device determines that the wireless device transmits a synchronization packet to the wireless station device, and the wireless station device that receives the synchronization packet transmits a packet in response to the synchronization packet. The wireless device according to claim 7, wherein the wireless device is defined by random establishment. 18. The wireless device of claim 7, wherein the first and second channels are adjacent frequency channels. 19. The wireless device of claim 7, wherein the first and second channels are co-frequency channels having different antenna beam patterns. 20. CSMA / CA (Carrier Sense Multiple Acce)
In the wireless device that performs the competitive access control using the ss Collision Avoidance protocol and transmits and receives the wireless signals of the first and second channels between the first and second wireless station devices and the wireless device, A first wireless module unit that transmits and receives a data packet with a wireless signal of a channel, a second wireless module unit that transmits and receives a data packet with a wireless signal of a second channel, and the first wireless module unit includes a data packet In the first transmission mode in which the second wireless module is received, the dummy packet is transmitted from the second wireless module unit to disable reception of the data packet in the second wireless module. A wireless device comprising: a control unit. 21. The control unit includes a notifying unit for notifying the second wireless module unit that the first wireless module unit is in a first transmission mode in which a data packet is being transmitted. 21. The wireless device of claim 20. 22. The dummy packet is provided while the first wireless module unit is transmitting a data packet,
21. The wireless device according to claim 20, wherein transmission of the data packet is disabled to the second wireless station device corresponding to the second wireless module. 23. The second wireless module is the first wireless module.
21. The wireless device according to claim 20, wherein a transmission end time of a data packet in the wireless module of 1 is acquired, and a transmission end time of a packet transmitted by the second wireless module is determined. 24. CSMA / CA (Carrier Sense Multiple Acce
In the wireless device that performs the competitive access control using the ss Collision Avoidance protocol and transmits and receives the wireless signals of the first and second channels between the first and second wireless station devices and the wireless device, A first wireless module unit that transmits and receives a data packet by a wireless signal of the channel, a second wireless module unit that transmits and receives a data packet by the wireless signal of a first channel, and the first and second wireless module units And a control unit that sets a synchronization mode in which a wireless signal is sensed at the same time and a data packet is transmitted at the same time. 25. The wireless device of claim 24, wherein the wireless station transmits a broadcast packet to a second wireless module while receiving the first wireless module. 26. A packet to be transmitted has a certain time length, and depending on the time length of this packet, the control unit simultaneously sends a data packet to the first and second wireless module units at the same time. 25. The wireless device according to claim 24, wherein a synchronization mode for transmission is set. 27. The synchronization mode is set by the control unit by statistically processing traffic between the first and second wireless station devices and the wireless device. Wireless device. 28. The wireless module unit comprises a plurality of buffers capable of storing data packets having different time lengths, and the synchronous mode is a control unit when transmitting data packets output from a predetermined buffer. 25. The wireless device of claim 24, wherein the wireless device is set by: 29. The wireless station device that has received the synchronization packet determines that the wireless station device transmits a packet in a synchronization mode in response to the synchronization packet by random establishment determined by the wireless station device. Wireless device. 30. The wireless device of claim 24, wherein the first and second channels are adjacent frequency channels. 31. The wireless device of claim 24, wherein the first and second channels are co-frequency channels having different antenna beam patterns.