JP2021118535A - Radio communication device, radio communication method and program - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a radio communication device which can suppress radio communication interruption to the possible extent.SOLUTION: A radio communication device 100 at least includes communication modules 10 and 20 each having a function to perform radio communication in a predetermined frequency band and a function to monitor and detect a radar wave. The communication module 10 performs radio communication with a slave unit 200 using a first channel, and monitors a radar wave in the first channel. The communication module 20 monitors a radar wave in a second channel, without performing radio communication with the slave unit 200. On detection of a radar wave in the first channel, the communication module 10 performs predetermined notification to the communication module 20, and further, halts radio communication with the slave unit 200. The communication module 20, on receiving the predetermined notification, performs radio communication with the slave unit 200 using the second channel, if a radar wave has not been detected for a predetermined time or longer after starting monitoring the radar wave in the second channel.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

The present invention relates to a wireless communication device, a wireless communication method, and a program which are master units that perform wireless communication with a slave unit.

Conventionally, in the wireless LAN (Local Area Network) standard standardized by IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) 802.11, DFS (Dynamic Flex) function is required to be implemented in wireless communication in the 5 GHz band. (See, for example, Patent Document 1). The DFS function is a function to avoid adverse effects on the C-band radar, which is mainly used for meteorological observation. Specifically, it monitors radar waves on a specific channel and detects radar waves on that channel. This is a function to stop the transmission of radio waves using the channel and move the channel to be used to another channel. For example, in Japan, it is obligatory to implement the DFS function for W53 band channels (specifically, 52 channels to 64 channels) and W56 band channels (specifically, 100 channels to 140 channels).

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2007-214713

When the DFS function is activated, that is, when a radar wave is detected in the channel used for wireless communication, the channel used for wireless communication is moved to another channel, but the channel after the movement is moved for a predetermined time (specifically, There is a stipulation that wireless communication cannot be started using the moved channel unless it is confirmed that radar waves are not detected for 60 seconds or longer. Therefore, when a radar wave is detected, there is a problem that communication cannot be performed for a certain period of time and wireless communication is interrupted.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a wireless communication device or the like that can suppress interruption of wireless communication as much as possible when a radar wave is detected. do.

In order to solve the above problems, the wireless communication device according to one aspect of the present invention is a wireless communication device that is a master unit that performs wireless communication with a slave unit, and has a function of performing wireless communication in a predetermined frequency band. A first communication module having a function of monitoring and detecting a radar wave in the predetermined frequency band, a function of performing wireless communication in the predetermined frequency band, and monitoring and detecting a radar wave in the predetermined frequency band. The first communication module includes at least a second communication module having a function of performing wireless communication with the slave unit using the first channel in the predetermined frequency band, and in the first channel. The second communication module monitors the radar wave in a second channel different from the first channel in the predetermined frequency band, and does not perform wireless communication with the slave unit, and the first When the communication module detects a radar wave in the first channel, the communication module gives a predetermined notification to the second communication module and stops wireless communication with the slave unit, and the second communication module causes the second communication module to stop wireless communication. When the predetermined notification is received, if the radar wave is not detected in the second channel for a predetermined time or more after the monitoring of the radar wave in the second channel is started, the wireless communication with the slave unit is performed. Taking over from the first communication module, wireless communication is performed with the slave unit using the second channel.

According to this, in parallel with the first communication module performing wireless communication with the slave unit using the first channel, the second communication module monitors the radar wave in the second channel. That is, the second communication module has already started monitoring the radar wave in the second channel when the first communication module detects the radar wave in the first channel, and the first communication module detects the radar wave in the first channel. At the time of detection, it is possible to ensure that the second communication module has not detected the radar wave in the second channel for a predetermined time or longer. That is, when the first communication module detects the radar wave in the first channel, the second communication module has already confirmed that the radar wave is not detected in the second channel for a predetermined time or longer, so that the first communication module Even when the radar wave is detected, the wireless communication using the second channel can be started immediately by the second communication module. Therefore, when the first communication module detects a radar wave in the first channel, the second communication module takes over the wireless communication with the slave unit from the first communication module and immediately takes over the second channel without waiting for a predetermined time. Can be used for wireless communication with the slave unit. Therefore, when a radar wave is detected, interruption of wireless communication can be suppressed as much as possible.

Further, when the first communication module detects a radar wave in the first channel, the first communication module further radars in a third channel different from the first channel and the second channel among the channels in the predetermined frequency band. You may monitor the waves.

According to this, when the first communication module detects a radar wave in the first channel, it stops wireless communication with the slave unit and concentrates on monitoring the radar wave in the third channel. As a result, even if the second communication module detects a radar wave in the second channel used for wireless communication in the future, the first communication module takes over the wireless communication with the slave unit from the second communication module and determines the predetermined value. It is possible to immediately perform wireless communication with the slave unit using the third channel without waiting for a time. In this way, while one communication module is performing wireless communication, the other communication module is devoted to monitoring radar waves on a specific channel, and wireless communication using the monitored channel can be performed immediately. ing. Then, every time a radar wave is detected in the channel used for wireless communication, the communication module that executes the function of performing wireless communication and the communication module dedicated to monitoring the radar wave are replaced to continue wireless communication. , It is possible to suppress the interruption of wireless communication as much as possible every time a radar wave is detected.

When the first communication module detects a radar wave in the first channel, the first communication module deletes the first channel from the list of channels that can be used for wireless communication among the channels in the predetermined frequency band. Radar waves may be monitored in the third channel, which is any channel other than the second channel among the channels included in the list.

According to this, the first communication module can easily select another channel to start monitoring when the radar wave is detected by using the list.

Further, when the first communication module detects a radar wave in the first channel, the first channel is used to further switch the channel used for wireless communication from the first channel to the second channel. The slave unit may be notified.

According to this, the slave unit can smoothly switch from the wireless communication with the first communication module using the first channel to the wireless communication with the second communication module using the second channel.

Further, the notification of switching the channel used for wireless communication from the first channel to the second channel is CSA (Channel Switch Announcement), and the CSC (Channel Switch Count) in the CSA is fixed to the lowest value. May be good.

Normally, the CSA is transmitted by a default value so that the CSC, which is the count value until the channel is moved, is reduced by 1 from the default value. As a result, the wireless communication device and the slave unit can move the channel at the timing when the CSC becomes 0. On the other hand, the wireless communication device of the present invention includes a first communication module and a second communication module, and when the first communication module performs CSA using the first channel, the second communication module has a second communication module. It is possible to transmit radio waves using a channel. That is, in the wireless communication device of the present invention, since there are a plurality of channels that can be used at the same time, the second communication module moves to the second channel before the slave unit moves the channel used for wireless communication from the first channel to the second channel. The transmission of radio waves using the above can be started. Therefore, in the wireless communication device of the present invention, it is not necessary for the wireless communication device and the slave unit to move the channel in time. Therefore, the CSC in the CSA can be fixed to the lowest value, and the slave unit can move the channel from the first channel to the second channel as soon as the CSC receives the lowest value CSA. Therefore, the time required to switch from the wireless communication using the first channel to the wireless communication using the second channel can be shortened, and the interruption of the wireless communication can be suppressed as much as possible.

Further, when the first communication module detects a radar wave in the first channel, the CSA is performed on the slave unit a plurality of times, and the interval between the CSAs performed a plurality of times may be less than 100 ms.

The CSA interval corresponds to the CSC countdown interval. Therefore, if the CSA interval is less than 100 ms, the CSC countdown interval is also less than 100 ms, and the slave unit has a time lapse of less than 100 ms corresponding to the CSA interval after the CSC receives the lowest CSA. Immediately afterwards, the channel can be moved from the first channel to the second channel. Therefore, the time required to switch from the wireless communication using the first channel to the wireless communication using the second channel can be further shortened, and the interruption of the wireless communication can be suppressed as much as possible.

Further, the first communication module and the second communication module may share information about the slave unit.

When switching from wireless communication using the first channel by the first communication module to wireless communication using the second channel by the second communication module, the information about the slave unit is inherited from the first communication module to the second communication module. There is a need. If the first communication module and the second communication module do not share information about the slave unit, the slave unit must be reconnected whenever the first communication module detects a radar wave in the first channel. When switching from the wireless communication using the first channel by the first communication module to the wireless communication using the second channel by the second communication module, a time in seconds is required. On the other hand, since the first communication module and the second communication module share information about the slave unit, the reconnection process of the slave unit becomes unnecessary, and the wireless communication using the first channel by the first communication module becomes unnecessary. Communication can be quickly switched to wireless communication using the second channel by the second communication module.

In order to solve the above problems, the wireless communication method according to one aspect of the present invention is a wireless communication method using a wireless communication device which is a master unit that performs wireless communication with a slave unit, and the wireless communication device has two. A communication module is provided, and one of the two communication modules has a function of performing wireless communication in a predetermined frequency band and a function of monitoring and detecting a radar wave in the predetermined frequency band. The other communication module of the two communication modules has a function of performing wireless communication in the predetermined frequency band and a function of monitoring and detecting a radar wave in the predetermined frequency band. One communication module wirelessly communicates with the slave unit using the first channel in the predetermined frequency band, and monitors the radar wave in the first channel, and the other communication module monitors the predetermined frequency band. When the radar wave is monitored in a second channel different from the first channel in the frequency band and wireless communication is not performed with the slave unit, and the one communication module detects the radar wave in the first channel. , The other communication module is given a predetermined notification, wireless communication with the slave unit is stopped, and when the other communication module receives the predetermined notification, the radar wave is monitored on the second channel. If the radar wave has not been detected in the second channel for a predetermined time or more since the start of the operation, the wireless communication with the slave unit is taken over from the one communication module, and the slave unit is used by using the second channel. Wireless communication with.

According to this, it is possible to provide a wireless communication method capable of suppressing interruption of wireless communication as much as possible when a radar wave is detected.

In order to solve the above problems, the program according to one aspect of the present invention is a program for causing a computer to execute the above wireless communication method.

According to this, it is possible to provide a program capable of suppressing interruption of wireless communication as much as possible when a radar wave is detected.

The present invention can be realized not only as an apparatus, but also as a method in which the processing means constituting the apparatus is used as a step, as a program for causing a computer to execute those steps, or as a computer reading in which the program is recorded. It can also be realized as a possible recording medium such as a CD-ROM, or as information, data or a signal indicating the program. Then, those programs, information, data and signals may be distributed via a communication network such as the Internet.

According to the present invention, it is possible to suppress interruption of wireless communication as much as possible when a radar wave is detected.

It is a block diagram which shows an example of the wireless communication apparatus which concerns on embodiment. It is a sequence diagram which shows an example of the operation of two communication modules and a slave unit which concerns on embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the operation of the 1st communication module which concerns on embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the operation of the 2nd communication module which concerns on embodiment. It is a figure for demonstrating the effect which is played by the wireless communication apparatus which concerns on embodiment. It is a figure for demonstrating the conventional CSA. It is a figure for demonstrating CSA in embodiment.

Hereinafter, embodiments will be specifically described with reference to the drawings.

Each of the embodiments described below shows a preferred specific example of the present invention. Numerical values, shapes, materials, components, arrangement positions and connection forms of components, steps, order of steps, etc. shown in the following embodiments are examples, and are not intended to limit the present invention. Further, among the components in the following embodiments, the components not described in the independent claims will be described as arbitrary components constituting the more preferable form. The same components may be designated by the same reference numerals and description thereof may be omitted.

(Embodiment)
Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5.

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an example of the wireless communication device 100 according to the embodiment. Note that FIG. 1 shows a plurality of slave units 200 in addition to the wireless communication device 100.

The wireless communication device 100 is a master unit that performs wireless communication with the slave unit 200, and is, for example, an access point for a wireless LAN device or the like. The slave unit 200 is, for example, a device such as a smartphone or a notebook computer, and can perform wireless communication with another device via the wireless communication device 100.

The wireless communication device 100 is capable of wireless communication in the 5 GHz band. Further, the wireless communication device 100 is equipped with a DFS function. For example, the wireless communication device 100 has a function of monitoring and detecting radar waves in the 5 GHz band.

The wireless communication device 100 includes communication modules 10 and 20, a control unit 30, and a storage unit 40. The wireless communication device 100 is a computer including a processor, a memory, a wireless circuit, and the like. The memory is a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), or the like, and can store a program executed by the processor. Although the storage unit 40 is realized by a memory, the memory in which the program is stored and the storage unit 40 may be different memories. The control unit 30 is realized by a processor or the like that executes a program stored in the memory.

The communication modules 10 and 20 are provided as separate bodies (specifically, separate substrates) in the wireless communication device 100, and the communication module 10 is realized by a wireless circuit, an antenna, or the like provided on the substrate. The communication module 20 is realized by a wireless circuit, an antenna, or the like provided on a substrate different from the communication module 10. The communication modules 10 and 20 are controlled by the control unit 30.

The communication module 10 is a first communication module having both a function of performing wireless communication in a predetermined frequency band and a function of monitoring and detecting a radar wave in a predetermined frequency band. Like the communication module 10, the communication module 20 is a second communication module having both a function of performing wireless communication in a predetermined frequency band and a function of monitoring and detecting a radar wave in a predetermined frequency band. The predetermined frequency band is, for example, a 5 GHz band. Hereinafter, the function of performing wireless communication in a predetermined frequency band is also referred to as a wireless communication function, and the function of monitoring and detecting a radar wave in a predetermined frequency band is also referred to as a detection function.

The control unit 30 controls the communication modules 10 and 20. The operations performed by the communication modules 10 and 20 described below can be read as the operations performed by the control unit 30. This is because the communication modules 10 and 20 perform various operations by being controlled by the control unit 30.

The storage unit 40 includes a white list and a black list. Details of the white list and blacklist will be described later.

As described above, the wireless communication device 100 includes two modules, each of which has a wireless communication function and a detection function.

Next, the operations of the communication modules 10 and 20 and the slave unit 200 will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 2 is a sequence diagram showing an example of the operation of the communication modules 10 and 20 and the slave unit 200 according to the embodiment.

When the wireless communication device 100 is activated, the communication modules 10 and 20 start CAC (Channel Availability Check) (steps S101 and S102). CAC is a process of monitoring whether or not a radar wave exists in a channel used by a communication module for wireless communication, and when a radar wave is detected, it is necessary to abandon wireless communication using the channel performing CAC. be. For example, the communication module 10 monitors the radar wave in the first channel in the predetermined frequency band, and the communication module 20 monitors the radar wave in the second channel different from the first channel in the predetermined frequency band.

When the communication module 10 does not detect the radar wave in the first channel for a predetermined time (specifically, 60 seconds) or more after starting the monitoring of the radar wave in the first channel, the first channel is used thereafter. Since wireless communication can be performed, radio waves are transmitted using the first channel (step S103). As a result, the communication module 10 and the slave unit 200 perform wireless communication using the first channel (step S104a and step 104b). The communication module 10 continues to monitor the radar wave on the first channel even after a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of monitoring the radar wave on the first channel.

In the wireless communication device 100, when one of the communication modules 10 and 20 performs wireless communication with the slave unit 200, the other does not perform wireless communication with the slave unit 200. Therefore, the communication module 20 monitors the radar wave on the second channel while the communication module 10 is performing wireless communication on the first channel, but wirelessly communicates with the slave unit 200 until a predetermined notification described later is received. Do not do. Therefore, even if the communication module 20 does not detect the radar wave in the second channel for a predetermined time (specifically, 60 seconds) or more after starting the monitoring of the radar wave in the second channel, the second channel The channel is not used for wireless communication with the slave unit 200. Further, the communication module 20 continues to monitor the radar wave on the second channel even after a lapse of a predetermined time after starting the monitoring of the radar wave on the second channel.

After that, when a radar wave arrives in the first channel, the communication module 10 detects the radar wave in the first channel (step S105). The communication module 10 needs to stop wireless communication using the first channel with the slave unit 200 in order to avoid interference with the radar wave in the first channel.

At this time, the communication module 10 gives a predetermined notification to the communication module 20 in order to cause the communication module 20 to continuously perform wireless communication with the slave unit 200, and is also used for wireless communication with the slave unit 200. The slave unit information is inherited to the communication module 20 (step S106). The predetermined notification is performed when the communication module detects a radar wave in the channel being monitored, and the communication module 20 receives the predetermined notification from the communication module 10 to perform wireless communication with the slave unit 200. The process for taking over from 10 is started. That is, the predetermined notification serves as a trigger for the communication module 20 to start wireless communication with the slave unit 200. The slave unit information is information about the slave unit 200 used when the communication module 20 takes over the wireless communication with the slave unit 200 from the communication module 10. Specifically, the slave unit information includes, for example, the MAC address of the slave unit 200, the association ID assigned inside the wireless communication device 100 when the slave unit is connected, the communication rate supported by the slave unit, and the communication module. Information such as an authentication method used in wireless communication between the 10 and the slave unit 200, an encryption key, and a sequence number attached to a communication packet. By using such slave unit information, the communication module 20 can smoothly take over the wireless communication with the slave unit 200 from the communication module 10.

For example, the communication module 10 and the communication module 20 share handset information. The slave unit information is stored in, for example, the storage unit 40, and the communication module 10 and the communication module 20 can share the slave unit information stored in the storage unit 40 via the control unit 30. When the communication module 10 and the communication module 20 do not share the slave unit information, when the communication module 10 detects a radar wave in the first channel, the slave unit 200 must be reconnected without fail, and the communication module 10 When switching from the wireless communication using the first channel by the communication module 20 to the wireless communication using the second channel by the communication module 20, a time in seconds is required. On the other hand, since the communication module 10 and the communication module 20 share the slave unit information, the reconnection process of the slave unit 200 becomes unnecessary, and the wireless communication using the first channel by the communication module 10 is performed. , It becomes possible to quickly switch to wireless communication using the second channel by the communication module 20.

Further, the communication module 10 transmits CSA to the slave unit 200 (step S107). The CSA is a signal for notifying that the channel used for wireless communication is switched. For example, when the communication module 10 detects a radar wave in the first channel, the communication module 10 notifies the slave unit 200 using the first channel that the channel used for wireless communication is immediately switched from the first channel to the second channel. By receiving the CSA, the slave unit 200 can smoothly switch from wireless communication with the communication module 10 using the first channel to wireless communication with the communication module 20 using the second channel. After transmitting the CSA to the slave unit 200, the communication module 10 stops the wireless communication with the slave unit 200 using the first channel.

When the communication module 20 does not detect the radar wave in the second channel for a predetermined time (specifically 60 seconds) or more after starting the monitoring of the radar wave, the communication module 20 transmits a radio wave using the second channel and communicates. The module 20 and the slave unit 200 perform wireless communication using the second channel (step S108a and step 108b). The communication module 20 may transmit radio waves using the second channel before the communication module 10 transmits the CSA to the slave unit 200 after receiving a predetermined notification and inheriting the slave unit information. can. Further, the communication module 20 continues to monitor radar waves on the second channel even after starting wireless communication with the slave unit 200 using the second channel.

Then, the communication module 10 starts CAC in another channel (step S109). Specifically, when the communication module 10 detects a radar wave in the first channel, the communication module 10 stops wireless communication with the slave unit 200 using the first channel, and is the first of the channels in the predetermined frequency band. Radar waves are monitored on the third channel selected from the white list, which is different from the channel and the second channel. That is, the communication module 10 concentrates on monitoring radar waves in the third channel. As a result, even if the communication module 20 detects a radar wave in the second channel used for wireless communication in the future, the communication module 10 takes over the wireless communication with the slave unit 200 from the communication module 20 and waits for a predetermined time. It becomes possible to immediately perform wireless communication with the slave unit using the third channel without any need.

As described above, while one communication module is performing wireless communication, the other communication module is devoted to monitoring radar waves on a specific channel and can immediately perform wireless communication using the monitored channel. It has become. Then, every time a radar wave is detected in the channel used for wireless communication, the module that executes the function of performing wireless communication and the module dedicated to monitoring the radar wave are switched and the wireless communication is continued, so that the radar is used. It is possible to suppress the interruption of wireless communication each time a wave is detected.

Next, the details of the operation of the communication module 10 when the communication module 10 is in charge of wireless communication with the slave unit 200 after the wireless communication device 100 is activated will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the first communication module, that is, the communication module 10 according to the embodiment. For example, the operation of the communication module 10 described here is performed by being controlled by the control unit 30.

The communication module 10 starts CAC on a specific channel (step S11). The specific channel is a channel in a predetermined frequency band (for example, 5 GHz band), and here, the specific channel selected from the white list will be described as the first channel.

Next, the communication module 10 determines whether or not a radar wave has been detected in the first channel (step S12).

When the communication module 10 does not detect the radar wave in the first channel (No in step S12), the communication module 10 determines whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of CAC (step S13). For example, when the communication module 10 does not detect the radar wave in the first channel, it determines whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed since the radar wave was monitored in the first channel.

If the predetermined time has not elapsed since the start of CAC (No in step S13), the communication module 10 repeats the process from step S12 again, and the predetermined time elapses after the start of CAC without detecting the radar wave in the first channel. Wait for.

When a predetermined time elapses after the start of CAC without detecting the radar wave in the first channel (Yes in step S13), the communication module 10 starts wireless communication with the slave unit 200 using the first channel (step S14). ..

The communication module 10 determines whether or not a radar wave is continuously detected in the first channel while wirelessly communicating with the slave unit 200 using the first channel (step S15).

When the communication module 10 does not detect the radar wave in the first channel (No in step S15), the communication module 10 repeats the process of step S15, and while wirelessly communicating with the slave unit 200 using the first channel, the radar in the first channel. Continue to monitor the waves.

When the communication module 10 detects a radar wave in the first channel (Yes in step S15), the communication module 10 gives a predetermined notification to the second communication module, that is, the communication module 20 (step S16). As a result, the communication module 20 can take over the wireless communication with the slave unit 200 from the communication module 10.

Further, the communication module 10 inherits the slave unit information to the communication module 20 and transmits CSA to the slave unit 200 (step S17). Since the communication module 10 and the communication module 20 can recognize each other the channels they are monitoring, for example, via the control unit 30, the communication module 20 monitors the radar wave. The current channel, that is, the channel to be switched to can be notified to the slave unit 200. For example, when the communication module 20 monitors the radar wave in the second channel, the communication module 10 notifies the slave unit 200 that the channel used for wireless communication is switched from the first channel to the second channel.

Then, the communication module 10 starts CAC in another channel (step S18). Specifically, the communication module 10 monitors radar waves in a third channel different from the first channel and the second channel among the channels in a predetermined frequency band, and immediately performs wireless communication using the third channel. Wait so that you can do it. For example, the communication module 10 uses a white list stored in the storage unit 40 to select another channel. The white list is a list of channels in a predetermined frequency band that can be used for wireless communication that is not used by the communication modules 10 and 20. At this time, since the first channel cannot be used for wireless communication, the communication module 10 adds the first channel to the blacklist and deletes the first channel from the white list. Further, in the white list, in the channel in which the communication module 10 and the communication module 20 are monitoring the radar wave, after the radar wave is detected, the channel in which a predetermined time (30 minutes) or more has passed from the detection becomes usable again. This may be included as. More specifically, after detecting the radar wave, the control unit 30 may include the channel included in the blacklist 30 minutes or more after the detection in the white list. The blacklist is a list of channels in a predetermined frequency band that cannot be used for wireless communication due to detection of radar waves. In addition, the blacklist may not include channels that cannot be used for wireless communication due to detection of radar waves, and channels after a predetermined time (30 minutes) or more has elapsed from the detection of radar waves. .. More specifically, after detecting the radar wave, the control unit 30 may delete the channel included in the blacklist 30 minutes or more after the detection from the blacklist and include it in the white list. Then, the communication module 10 monitors the radar wave on the third channel, which is any channel other than the second channel already monitored by the communication module 20, among the channels included in the white list. In this way, the channels that can be used for wireless communication are managed by the list, and the communication module 10 can easily select another channel that starts monitoring when the radar wave is detected by using the list.

In steps S12 and S13, when the communication module 10 detects a radar wave in the first channel before a predetermined time elapses after the start of CAC (Yes in step S12), the first channel with the slave unit 200 is used. The processing after step S16 is performed without performing wireless communication.

Next, the details of the operation of the communication module 20 when the communication module 10 is in charge of wireless communication with the slave unit 200 after the wireless communication device 100 is activated will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the second communication module, that is, the communication module 20 according to the embodiment.

The communication module 20 starts CAC on a specific channel (step S21). The specific channel is a channel in a predetermined frequency band (for example, 5 GHz band), and here, the specific channel selected from the white list will be described as the second channel. Further, in step S21, the communication module 20 notifies the communication module 10 of a specific channel (second channel).

Next, the communication module 20 determines whether or not a radar wave has been detected in the second channel (step S22).

When the communication module 20 does not detect the radar wave in the second channel (No in step S22), the communication module 20 determines whether or not a predetermined notification has been received from the communication module 10 (step S23).

When the communication module 20 has not received a predetermined notification from the communication module 10 (No in step S23), that is, when the communication module 10 has not detected a radar wave in the first channel being monitored, the communication module 20 starts from step S22 again. Is repeated, and while monitoring the radar wave on the second channel, it waits for receiving a predetermined notification from the communication module 10.

When the communication module 20 receives a predetermined notification (Yes in step S23), that is, when the communication module 10 detects a radar wave in the first channel being monitored, whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of CAC. Is determined (step S24). More specifically, when the communication module 20 detects a radar wave in the first channel being monitored by the communication module 10, whether or not the time when the predetermined notification is received has passed a predetermined time or more after the start of CAC. To judge. The communication module 20 inherits the slave unit information from the communication module 10, for example, when receiving a predetermined notification.

When a predetermined time has elapsed after the start of CAC (Yes in step S24), the communication module 20 starts wireless communication with the slave unit 200 using the second channel (step S25). The communication module 20 has confirmed that no radar wave has been detected in the second channel for a predetermined time or longer, and has inherited the information necessary for connecting to the slave unit 200 from the communication module 10, so that the second communication module 20 has a second. Wireless communication with the slave unit 200 can be started immediately using the channel.

When the predetermined time has not elapsed since the start of CAC (No in step S24), the communication module 20 has not confirmed that the radar wave has not been detected for the predetermined time or more, and therefore uses the second channel after the predetermined time has elapsed. Wireless communication with the slave unit 200 is started (step S26). In other words, if the predetermined time has not elapsed since the start of CAC, the communication module 20 does not perform wireless communication with the slave unit 200 until the predetermined time elapses.

When the communication module 20 detects a radar wave in the second channel in step S22 and step S23 before receiving a predetermined notification (Yes in step S22), the communication module 20 starts CAC in another channel as a specific channel (step S21). ). For example, the communication module 20 monitors radar waves on channels different from the first channel and the second channel (for example, the fourth channel) in a predetermined frequency band so that wireless communication using the fourth channel can be performed immediately. stand by. For example, the communication module 20 uses a white list stored in the storage unit 40 to select another channel. At this time, since the second channel cannot be used for wireless communication, the communication module 20 adds the second channel to the blacklist and removes the second channel from the white list. Then, the communication module 20 monitors the radar wave on the fourth channel, which is any channel other than the first channel already monitored by the communication module 10, among the channels included in the white list. In this way, the channels that can be used for wireless communication are managed by the list, and the communication module 20 can easily select another channel that starts monitoring when the radar wave is detected by using the list.

Hereinafter, as a specific channel, the processes of steps S22 to S26 are performed for the fourth channel. Specifically, when the communication module 20 receives a predetermined notification, if the radar wave is not detected in the fourth channel for a predetermined time or more after monitoring the radar wave in the fourth channel, the slave unit 200 The wireless communication with and is taken over from the communication module 10 and wireless communication is performed with the slave unit using the fourth channel.

The communication module 10 can recognize that the channel monitored by the communication module 20 has been changed from the second channel to the fourth channel, for example, via the control unit 30. Therefore, when the communication module 10 detects the radar wave in the first channel, the communication module 10 can notify the slave unit 200 that the channel used for wireless communication is switched from the first channel to the fourth channel.

As described above, in parallel with the communication module 10 performing wireless communication with the slave unit using the first channel, the communication module 20 monitors the radar wave in the second channel. That is, the communication module 20 has already started monitoring the radar wave in the second channel when the communication module 10 detects the radar wave in the first channel, and when the communication module 10 detects the radar wave in the first channel, the communication module 20 has already started monitoring the radar wave. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the communication module 20 from detecting the radar wave in the second channel for a predetermined time or longer. That is, when the communication module 10 detects the radar wave in the first channel and gives a predetermined notification (when the second module receives the predetermined notification), the communication module 20 does not detect the radar wave in the second channel. The elapsed time is confirmed, and if the elapsed time is a predetermined time (specifically, 60 seconds) or more, the communication module 20 can immediately start wireless communication using the second channel. At this time, the communication module 20 detects the radar wave on the second channel, but does not need to perform CAC. When the communication module 20 detects the radar wave on the first channel after CAC on the first channel, the communication module 20 detects the radar wave on the second channel. It may be confirmed at that time that the channel does not detect radar waves for a predetermined period (specifically, 60 seconds). With such a configuration, when the communication module 10 detects a radar wave in the first channel, the communication module 20 takes over the wireless communication with the slave unit 200 from the communication module 10, and the slave unit 200 also takes over. Since the communication module 10 receives the shift to the second channel by the CSA, it is possible to immediately perform wireless communication with the slave unit 200 using the second channel without waiting for a predetermined time. Therefore, when a radar wave is detected, the interruption of wireless communication can be suppressed as much as possible, and CAC is performed only on the communication module 10 communicating on the first channel, so that the second channel can be used. Since the communication module 20 confirms without CAC, the configuration of the entire system is simple.

Here, the effect produced by the wireless communication device 100 will be described in more detail with reference to FIG.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the effect produced by the wireless communication device 100 according to the embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 5, after the wireless communication device 100 is activated, for example, the communication module 10 monitors the radar wave on channel 100, and the communication module 20 monitors the radar wave on channel 108.

When the communication module 10 does not detect the radar wave in 100 channels for a predetermined time (specifically, 60 seconds) or more, the communication module 10 wirelessly communicates with the slave unit 200 using 100 channels. The communication module 10 monitors radar waves on 100 channels while performing wireless communication with the slave unit 200 using 100 channels.

When the communication module 10 detects a radar wave in 100 channels, the communication module 10 performs predetermined communication with the communication module 20 and takes over the wireless communication with the slave unit 200 to the communication module 20. When the communication module 20 receives a predetermined communication from the communication module 10, it confirms whether or not a predetermined period (60 seconds) has elapsed from the start of monitoring the radar wave (start of CAC) on the 108 channel. Specifically, when the wireless communication device 100 detects a radar wave in 100 channels of the communication module 10 during communication (when the horizontal axis is 110 seconds in FIG. 5), the communication module 20 is predetermined from the communication module 10. Is received, and it is determined that the time when the notification is received has passed a predetermined period or more after the start of CAC (when the horizontal axis is 110 seconds in FIG. 5). When a predetermined period has passed, radio waves can be transmitted using the 108 channels immediately after inheriting the slave unit information, and wireless communication using the slave units 200 and 108 channels can be started.

For example, in a wireless communication device equipped with only one communication module, when a radar wave is detected, the channel used by one communication module is switched, and it is once confirmed that the radar wave is not detected in the channel for a predetermined time or longer. Because it is necessary to do so, the wireless communication is interrupted for a predetermined time. On the other hand, according to the wireless communication device 100, since two communication modules having both a wireless communication function and a detection function are provided, when a radar wave is detected in a specific channel by one communication module. Therefore, the other communication module monitors the radar wave in the other channel in advance so that the channel being monitored can be used for wireless communication at any time. Moreover, when one communication module takes over the wireless communication to the other communication module, the one communication module notifies the slave unit 200 of the channel used by the other communication module (CSA). Therefore, since the slave unit 200 has already received the notification (CSA) about the channel used by the other communication module from one communication module, it can immediately perform wireless communication with the other communication module.

The communication module 20 takes over the wireless communication with the slave unit 200 from the communication module 10 and continuously monitors the radar wave on the 108 channel while performing wireless communication with the slave unit 200 using the 108 channel.

The communication module 10 monitors the radar wave on the 104 channel in case the radar wave is detected on the 108 channel used by the communication module 20 for wireless communication in the future.

When the communication module 20 detects a radar wave in channel 108, the communication module 20 performs predetermined communication to the communication module 10 and notifies the slave unit 200 of the channel used by the communication module 10 (CSA) to perform wireless communication with the slave unit 200. Take over to the communication module 10. When the communication module 10 receives a predetermined communication from the communication module 20, it confirms whether or not a predetermined period (specifically, 60 seconds) has elapsed from the start of monitoring the radar wave on the 104 channel. When a predetermined period has passed (250 seconds-110 seconds = 140 seconds in FIG. 5), radio waves can be transmitted using 104 channels immediately after inheriting the slave unit information, and the slave units 200 and 104 channels can be transmitted. The used wireless communication can be started.

Then, the communication module 20 monitors the radar wave on the 112 channel in case the radar wave is detected on the 104 channel used by the communication module 10 for wireless communication in the future.

In this way, every time a radar wave is detected in the channel used for wireless communication, the wireless communication is taken over from one communication module to the other communication module while the functions of the communication module 10 and the communication module 20 are exchanged. , It is possible to suppress the interruption of wireless communication as much as possible.

It is conceivable to use a wireless communication device including a communication module having both a wireless communication function and a detection function and a module having only a detection function independently of the communication module. For example, while a communication module having both a wireless communication function and a detection function performs wireless communication with the slave unit 200 using 100 channels and monitors radar waves on 100 channels, a module having only a detection function It is assumed that the radar wave is monitored on channel 104. When a communication module having both a wireless communication function and a detection function detects a radar wave in 100 channels, a module having only another detection function monitors the radar wave in 104 channels and then 104 channels for a predetermined time or more. When the radar wave is not detected in the above, the communication module having the wireless communication function and the detection function can switch from 100 channels to 104 channels and continue wireless communication with the slave unit 200.

However, when one communication module switches the channel used for wireless communication from the channel used so far to a new channel, the processing takes a certain amount of time (for example, 500 ms to 1 s). Therefore, in this case, the wireless communication is interrupted for about 500 ms to 1 s. More specifically, when switching to a new channel used for wireless communication, the communication module notifies the slave unit of the new channel used for wireless communication (CSA), and then itself (the one communication concerned). This is because the wireless communication with the slave unit can be resumed only after the channel used for the wireless communication of the module) is changed to a new channel (the channel notified to the slave unit).

On the other hand, according to the wireless communication device 100, when a radar wave is detected, one communication module does not switch channels and the communication module continues to perform wireless communication, and wireless communication is performed by 2. The communication module, which has been handed over immediately between the two communication modules and has only monitored radar waves so far, can immediately transmit radio waves using the channel without switching the channel being monitored. For example, when a radar wave is detected in 100 channels, the communication module 10 transmits CSA to the slave unit 200 using 100 channels, and in parallel, the communication module 20 starts transmitting radio waves using 108 channels. can. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the interruption of wireless communication for a time of about 500 ms to 1 s required for channel switching in one communication module as much as possible.

Next, the CSA transmitted from the wireless communication device 100 to the slave unit 200 in the present embodiment will be described in comparison with the conventional CSA. First, the conventional CSA will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a conventional CSA. FIG. 6 shows the operation of the wireless communication device 100a and the slave unit 200 when the conventional CSA is transmitted. Here, as the slave unit 200, the slave units 200a, 200b and 200c are shown. Further, the wireless communication device 100a is a conventional wireless communication having only one communication module having a function of performing wireless communication in a predetermined frequency band and a function of monitoring and detecting a radar wave in a predetermined frequency band. It is a device.

For example, it is assumed that the wireless communication device 100a monitors radar waves on 100 channels by one communication module and wirelessly communicates with the slave unit 200 using 100 channels. When the wireless communication device 100a detects a radar wave in 100 channels, the wireless communication device 100a performs CSA to the slave unit 200 a plurality of times with a predetermined transmission interval using the 100 channels. For example, since the CSA is carried on the beacon and transmitted, performing the CSA a plurality of times means transmitting the beacon carrying the CSA a plurality of times. The CSA is composed of the channel information of the destination and the CSC which is a count value until the channel is moved. The CSA is transmitted by a default value so that the CSC is reduced by 1 from the default value. For example, when the default value is 3, CSA with CSC of 3, CSA with CSC of 2, and CSA with CSC of 1 are transmitted in this order.

When the slave unit 200 receives the CSA, it waits for a time obtained by multiplying the CSC in the received CSA by the interval of the CSA (that is, the transmission interval of the beacon), and then moves to the destination channel indicated by the CSA. That is, when the slave unit 200 receives the CSA, it counts down from the CSC value in the received CSA at an interval corresponding to the beacon transmission interval, and when the count reaches 0, the destination channel indicated by the CSA. Move to.

The same beacon transmission interval is set for the wireless communication device 100a and the slave unit 200, the wireless communication device 100a transmits the beacon carrying the CSA a plurality of times at the set transmission interval, and the slave unit 200 transmits the beacon carrying the CSA a plurality of times. After waiting for a time obtained by multiplying the received CSC in the CSA by the set transmission interval, the user moves to the destination channel in the CSA. For example, the transmission interval of the beacon carrying the CSA is generally 100 ms, in other words, the countdown interval is also 100 ms.

For example, as shown in FIG. 6, when the wireless communication device 100a detects a radar wave in 100 channels, it is assumed that the CSA is transmitted (for example, broadcast) to the slave unit 200 four times using the 100 channels. In this case, the wireless communication device 100a first transmits a CSA having a CSC of 4, then transmits a CSA having a CSC of 3, and then transmits a CSA having a CSC of 2. Finally, the CSA having a CSC of 1 is transmitted, and the CSA is transmitted four times in total. The CSA interval at this time is a preset beacon transmission interval (for example, 100 ms). Further, the wireless communication device 100a transmits the CSA in which the CSC is 1, and then the count becomes 0 after the elapse of the preset transmission interval (for example, 100 ms) of the beacon, and the wireless radio wave is transmitted using the 116 channel. I do.

The slave unit 200 (here, the slave units 200a, 200b and 200c) operates so as to perform wireless communication with the wireless communication device 100a using 100 channels until the CSA is received. However, since the wireless communication device 100a performs CSA using 100 channels from the timing when the wireless communication device 100a detects the radar wave in 100 channels, the slave unit 200 uses the 100 channels for wireless communication from that timing. Wireless communication with the device 100a becomes impossible.

For example, the slave units 200a and 200b can receive the CSA with the CSC of 4, the slave unit 200c cannot receive the CSA with the CSC of 4, and can receive the CSA with the next CSC of 3. Suppose. After receiving the CSA having a CSC of 4, the slave units 200a and 200b wait for a time (400 ms) obtained by multiplying the CSC (4) in the CSA by the set transmission interval (100 ms) (that is,). When the count reaches 0), the user moves to the destination channel (116 channels). After receiving the CSA whose CSC is 3, the slave unit 200c waits for a time (300 ms) obtained by multiplying the CSC (3) in the CSA by the set transmission interval (100 ms) (that is, counts). (When becomes 0), it moves to the destination channel (116 channels).

As a result, even if only one channel can be used at the same time, the wireless communication device 100a and the slave units 200a, 200b, and 200c can move the channels in time. However, it takes a certain amount of time from the timing when the wireless communication device 100a detects the radar wave in the 100 channels until the wireless communication device 100a and the slave unit 200 start the wireless communication using the 116 channels. For example, when the transmission interval of the beacon is 100 ms and the transmission is started from the CSA where the CSC is 4, the radar wave is detected in the channel before the movement, and then the wireless communication using the destination channel is started. It takes 400 ms to move the channel in time, and it is stipulated that the radar wave be monitored for 1 minute on the destination channel in order to start wireless communication, so at least 1 minute or more. It takes time. As described above, in the conventional CSA, the time required for the wireless communication device 100a and the slave units 200a, 200b and 200c to match the timing (process for CSA) becomes long, and the communication non-communication time becomes long. If the number of times the CSA is transmitted is reduced, the time required for the processing for the CSA is shortened, but the risk that some of the slave units 200 cannot receive the CSA also increases. If the slave unit 200 cannot receive the CSA, the slave unit 200 cannot perform wireless communication again until the reconnection process is executed with the wireless communication device 100a. That is, the handset 200 that could receive the CSA has started wireless communication with the wireless communication device 100a using the destination channel, while the handset 200 that could not receive the CSA is the wireless communication device. Wireless communication is not possible unless the channel (destination channel) with which 100a is communicating is scanned (searched) and reconnection processing is performed. As a result, the slave unit 200 that could not receive the CSA has a long non-communication time with the wireless communication device 100a. Therefore, it is necessary to perform CSA a certain number of times again.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, the CSC in the CSA is fixed to the minimum value. That is, the CSC in the CSA transmitted from the wireless communication device 100 is always the lowest value. Here, the CSA in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining CSA in the embodiment. FIG. 7 shows the operation of the wireless communication device 100 and the slave unit 200 when the CSA in the present embodiment is transmitted. Here, as the slave unit 200, the slave units 200a, 200b and 200c are shown. The wireless communication device 100 includes communication modules 10 and 20 having a function of performing wireless communication in a predetermined frequency band and a function of monitoring and detecting radar waves in a predetermined frequency band.

For example, the communication module 10 monitors the radar wave on 100 channels and wirelessly communicates with the slave unit 200 using 100 channels, and the communication module 20 monitors the radar wave on 116 channels and 116 channels. It is assumed that a predetermined period (specifically, 60 seconds) has passed from the start of monitoring the radar wave in. That is, the communication module 20 is in a state where it can immediately start transmitting radio waves using 116 channels. When the communication module 10 detects a radar wave in 100 channels, the communication module 10 performs CSA to the slave unit 200 a plurality of times using the 100 channels, and the communication module 20 starts transmitting radio waves using the 116 channels. The CSA is composed of the channel information of the destination and the CSC which is a count value until the channel is moved. However, unlike the conventional CSA, in the CSA in the present embodiment, the CSC is fixed to the minimum value. Therefore, the CSA with the CSC fixed at the lowest value is transmitted a plurality of times. The minimum value is, for example, 1, but when the minimum value becomes a value other than 1 due to a change in the standard or the like, a value other than 1 can be applied as the minimum value.

When the slave unit 200 receives the CSA, it waits for a time obtained by multiplying the CSC which is the lowest value and the interval of the CSA (that is, the transmission interval of the beacon), and then moves to the destination channel indicated by the CSA. In the present embodiment, since the CSC in the CSA is fixed to the lowest value (for example, 1), the count becomes 0 when the time corresponding to the beacon transmission interval (for example, 100 ms) elapses, and the slave unit 200 has the slave unit 200. , As soon as the CSA is received, it is possible to move to the destination channel indicated by the CSA.

For example, as shown in FIG. 7, when the communication module 10 detects a radar wave in 100 channels, it is assumed that the communication module 10 transmits (for example, broadcasts) CSA to the slave unit 200 four times using the 100 channels. The CSCs in CSA at this time are all fixed at 1. The CSA interval at this time is a preset beacon transmission interval (for example, 100 ms). Further, when the communication module 10 detects a radar wave in 100 channels, the communication module 20 transmits radio waves using 116 channels. As described above, since there are a plurality of channels that can be used at the same time in the present embodiment, the communication module 10 transmits CSA using 100 channels and the communication module 20 transmits radio waves using 116 channels in parallel. It can be carried out.

The slave unit 200 (here, the slave units 200a, 200b, and 200c) operates so as to perform wireless communication with the communication module 10 using 100 channels until the CSA is received. However, since the communication module 10 performs CSA using 100 channels from the timing when the communication module 10 detects the radar wave in 100 channels, the slave unit 200 and the communication module 10 using 100 channels from that timing. Wireless communication is disabled.

For example, suppose that the slave units 200a and 200b can receive the CSA transmitted the first time, the slave unit 200c cannot receive the CSA transmitted the first time, and can receive the CSA transmitted the second time. After receiving the first CSA in which the CSC is 1, the slave units 200a and 200b wait for a time (100 ms) obtained by multiplying the CSC (1) in the CSA by the set transmission interval (100 ms). (That is, when the count reaches 0), it moves to the destination channel (116 channels). After receiving the second CSA in which the CSC is 1, the slave unit 200c waits for a time (100 ms) obtained by multiplying the CSC (1) in the CSA by the set transmission interval (100 ms). When the count reaches 0 (that is, when the count reaches 0), the user moves to the destination channel (116 channels).

In the present embodiment, even if the communication module 10 is transmitting CSA, since the communication module 20 has already transmitted radio waves on another channel, the wireless communication device 100 and the slave unit 200 move the channel. The slave unit 200 can move the channel immediately after receiving the CSA without having to adjust the timing of the operation. For example, when the slave unit 200 can receive the first CSA, if the transmission interval of the beacon is, for example, 100 ms, the wireless communication non-performing time can be set to about 200 ms or less. Further, a sufficient number of times the CSA is transmitted can be set, and the risk that some of the slave units 200 cannot receive the CSA can be reduced. Even if a sufficient number of times the CSA is transmitted is set, the slave unit 200 does not have to wait for a time corresponding to the set number of times as in the conventional CSA, and moves the channel as soon as the CSA is received. This is because wireless communication can be started using the destination channel.

Here, the reason for setting the number of times the CSA is transmitted as a sufficient number of times (for example, four times) is to give the slave unit 200 a sufficient opportunity to receive the CSA and between the slave unit 200 and the wireless communication device 100. This is because the non-communication time of the above can be shortened as much as possible.

Although the example in which the transmission interval of the beacon carrying the CSA (interval of the CSA) is 100 ms has been described, the transmission interval of the beacon may be less than 100 ms. For example, the beacon transmission interval may be 20 ms, in other words, the countdown interval may be 20 ms. In this case, after receiving the CSA in which the CSC is 1, the slave unit 200 waits for a time (20 ms) obtained by multiplying the CSC (1) in the CSA by the set transmission interval (20 ms), and then waits for a time (20 ms). Since the device moves to the destination channel, the wireless communication disabled time can be further shortened.

Here, the beacon transmission interval and the CSC setting value may be set in advance at the time of shipment of the wireless communication device 100, or may be appropriately changed by a setting tool or the like.

As described above, the wireless communication device 100 of the present invention includes the communication module 10 and the communication module 20, and when the communication module 10 performs CSA on the first channel, the communication module 20 uses the second channel for radio waves. Can be sent. That is, in the wireless communication device 100 of the present invention, since there are a plurality of channels that can be used at the same time, the communication module 20 is second before the slave unit 200 moves the channel used for wireless communication from the first channel to the second channel. The transmission of radio waves using the channel can be started. Therefore, in the wireless communication device 100 of the present invention, it is not necessary for the wireless communication device 100 and the slave unit 200 to move the channel in time. Therefore, the CSC in the CSA can be fixed to the lowest value, and the slave unit 200 can move the channel from the first channel to the second channel as soon as the CSC receives the lowest value CSA. Therefore, the time required to switch from the wireless communication using the first channel to the wireless communication using the second channel can be shortened, and the interruption of the wireless communication can be suppressed as much as possible.

Also, the CSA interval corresponds to the CSC countdown interval. Therefore, if the CSA interval is less than 100 ms, the CSC countdown interval is also less than 100 ms, and the slave unit 200 has a time of less than 100 ms corresponding to the CSA interval after the CSC receives the lowest CSA. Immediately after the lapse, the channel can be moved from the first channel to the second channel. Therefore, the time required to switch from the wireless communication using the first channel to the wireless communication using the second channel can be further shortened, and the interruption of the wireless communication can be suppressed as much as possible.

(Other embodiments)
Although the wireless communication device 100 of the present invention has been described above based on the embodiment, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. As long as the gist of the present invention is not deviated, various modifications that can be conceived by those skilled in the art are applied to the present embodiment, and a form constructed by combining components in different embodiments is also included in the scope of the present invention. Is done.

For example, in the above embodiment, it has been described that the wireless communication device 100 includes two communication modules 10 and 20, but it is sufficient that the wireless communication device 100 includes at least two communication modules 10 and 20. That is, the wireless communication device 100 may include three or more communication modules. For example, while one communication module performs wireless communication with the slave unit 200 using the first channel and monitors radar waves in the first channel, each of the other communication modules is different from the first channel. Moreover, it may be in a state where wireless communication can be immediately performed using the monitored channel while monitoring the radar wave on different channels (for example, the second channel, the third channel, etc.).

Further, the present invention can be realized not only as a wireless communication device 100, but also as a wireless communication method including a step (process) performed by a component (for example, a control unit 30) constituting the wireless communication device 100.

The wireless communication method is a wireless communication method by a wireless communication device 100 which is a master unit that performs wireless communication with the slave unit 200, and the wireless communication device 100 includes at least two communication modules.
One of the two communication modules has a function of performing wireless communication in a predetermined frequency band and a function of monitoring and detecting a radar wave in a predetermined frequency band. The other communication module has a function of performing wireless communication in a predetermined frequency band and a function of monitoring and detecting a radar wave in a predetermined frequency band. Specifically, in the wireless communication method, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, one communication module wirelessly communicates with the slave unit 200 using the first channel in a predetermined frequency band (step S14). The radar wave is monitored in the first channel (step S11), and the other communication module monitors the radar wave in the second channel different from the first channel in the predetermined frequency band (step S21). When wireless communication is not performed with the slave unit 200 and one communication module detects a radar wave in the first channel (Yes in step S15), a predetermined notification is given to the other communication module (step S16), and the slave unit When the wireless communication with the 200 is stopped and the other communication module receives the predetermined notification (Yes in step S23), the radar wave monitoring on the second channel is started, and then the radar wave is monitored on the second channel for a predetermined time or longer. When the radar wave is not detected (Yes in step S24), the wireless communication with the slave unit 200 is taken over from one communication module, and wireless communication with the slave unit is performed using the second channel (step S25).

Also, for example, those steps may be performed by a computer (computer system). Then, the present invention can be realized as a program for causing a computer to execute the steps included in those methods. Further, the present invention can be realized as a non-temporary computer-readable recording medium such as a CD-ROM on which the program is recorded.

For example, when the present invention is realized by a program (software), each step is executed by executing the program using hardware resources such as a computer CPU, memory, and input / output circuit. .. That is, each step is executed when the CPU acquires data from the memory or the input / output circuit or the like and performs an operation, or outputs the operation result to the memory or the input / output circuit or the like.

Further, the plurality of components included in the wireless communication device 100 of the above embodiment may be realized as dedicated or general-purpose circuits, respectively. These components may be realized as one circuit or as a plurality of circuits.

Further, the plurality of components included in the wireless communication device 100 of the above embodiment are LSIs (Large Scales) which are integrated circuits (ICs).
It may be realized as Integration). These components may be individually integrated into one chip, or may be integrated into one chip so as to include a part or all of them. LSIs may be referred to as system LSIs, super LSIs, or ultra LSIs depending on the degree of integration.

Further, the integrated circuit is not limited to the LSI, and may be realized by a dedicated circuit or a general-purpose processor. As described above, a programmable FPGA or a reconfigurable processor in which the connections and settings of circuit cells inside the LSI can be reconfigured may be utilized.

Furthermore, if an integrated circuit technology that replaces an LSI appears due to advances in semiconductor technology or another technology derived from it, it is natural that the technology will be used to create an integrated circuit for each component included in the wireless communication device 100. You may.

In addition, a form obtained by applying various modifications to the embodiment that a person skilled in the art can think of, or a form realized by arbitrarily combining the components and functions in each embodiment without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Is also included in the present invention.

The present invention can be used for an access point or the like that performs wireless communication with a slave unit.

10, 20 Communication module 30 Control unit 40 Storage unit 100 Wireless communication device 200 Slave unit

Claims (9)

A wireless communication device that is a master unit that performs wireless communication with a slave unit.
A first communication module having a function of performing wireless communication in a predetermined frequency band and a function of monitoring and detecting a radar wave in the predetermined frequency band.
It is provided with at least a second communication module having a function of performing wireless communication in the predetermined frequency band and a function of monitoring and detecting radar waves in the predetermined frequency band.
The first communication module performs wireless communication with the slave unit using the first channel in the predetermined frequency band, and monitors radar waves in the first channel.
The second communication module monitors radar waves in a second channel different from the first channel in the predetermined frequency band, and does not perform wireless communication with the slave unit.
When the first communication module detects a radar wave in the first channel, the first communication module gives a predetermined notification to the second communication module and stops wireless communication with the slave unit.
When the second communication module receives the predetermined notification and has not detected the radar wave in the second channel for a predetermined time or more after starting the monitoring of the radar wave in the second channel, the second communication module said. The wireless communication with the slave unit is taken over from the first communication module, and wireless communication with the slave unit is performed using the second channel.
Wireless communication device. When the first communication module detects a radar wave in the first channel, the first communication module further transmits the radar wave in a third channel different from the first channel and the second channel among the channels in the predetermined frequency band. Monitor,
The wireless communication device according to claim 1. When the first communication module detects a radar wave in the first channel, the first communication module deletes the first channel from the list of channels that can be used for wireless communication among the channels in the predetermined frequency band, and adds the first channel to the list. Of the included channels, the radar wave is monitored in the third channel, which is any channel other than the second channel.
The wireless communication device according to claim 2. When the first communication module detects a radar wave in the first channel, the first channel is used to further switch the channel used for wireless communication from the first channel to the second channel. Notify the machine,
The wireless communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 3. The notification of switching the channel used for wireless communication from the first channel to the second channel is CSA (Channel Switch Announcement).
The CSC (Channel Switch Count) in the CSA is fixed at the lowest value.
The wireless communication device according to claim 4. When the first communication module detects a radar wave in the first channel, the first communication module performs the CSA on the slave unit a plurality of times.
The interval of the CSA performed a plurality of times is less than 100 ms.
The wireless communication device according to claim 5. The first communication module and the second communication module share information about the slave unit.
The wireless communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 6. It is a wireless communication method using a wireless communication device that is a master unit that performs wireless communication with a slave unit.
The wireless communication device includes at least two communication modules.
One of the two communication modules has a function of performing wireless communication in a predetermined frequency band and a function of monitoring and detecting a radar wave in the predetermined frequency band.
The other communication module of the two communication modules has a function of performing wireless communication in the predetermined frequency band and a function of monitoring and detecting radar waves in the predetermined frequency band.
The one communication module performs wireless communication with the slave unit using the first channel in the predetermined frequency band, and monitors the radar wave in the first channel.
The other communication module monitors radar waves in a second channel different from the first channel in the predetermined frequency band, and does not perform wireless communication with the slave unit.
When the one communication module detects a radar wave in the first channel, the one communication module gives a predetermined notification to the other communication module, stops wireless communication with the slave unit, and stops wireless communication with the slave unit.
When the other communication module receives the predetermined notification and has not detected the radar wave in the second channel for a predetermined time or more after starting the monitoring of the radar wave in the second channel, the said The wireless communication with the slave unit is taken over from the one communication module, and wireless communication with the slave unit is performed using the second channel.
Wireless communication method. A program for causing a computer to execute the wireless communication method according to claim 8.

Images