JP4910803B2 - Wireless communication system, host communication device, wireless communication method, program, and wireless communication device - Google Patents

Description

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

  Recently, the WiMedia Alliance has developed the specification for the WiMedia Distributed Access Control (WiMedia MAC) standard for autonomous distributed media access control. In such a standard, a technique is disclosed in which all wireless communication devices constituting a network exchange predetermined beacons to form an ad hoc network by autonomous distributed control.

  On the other hand, in the wireless USB (WUSB) standard (see Non-Patent Document 1), a host communication device such as a host device or a host wire adapter (HWA) connected to the host device is connected to the device device or the device device. A wireless USB system for controlling a device communication device such as a wire adapter (DWA) is disclosed. Such a network composed of a host communication device and a device communication device is also described in Patent Document 1, for example.

  The wireless USB standard also describes an SB device (Self Beaconing Devices) that transmits and receives beacons defined by WiMediaMAC for each frame period. The SB device is specified to send and receive beacons independently without requiring an instruction from the host communication device.

  In addition, in the wireless USB standard, a DB device (Directed Beaconing Devices) in which the host communication apparatus actively instructs transmission and reception of beacons and transmits and receives beacons based on instructions from the host communication apparatus is also described. Has been. More specifically, when a capture packet (Capture Packet) operation for receiving a surrounding signal is instructed for a time corresponding to a beacon period, the DB device receives the surrounding signal based on the instruction and receives the received signal. Is transmitted to the host communication device. Further, the DB device is specified to transmit a beacon based on an instruction of a transmit packet operation for transmitting a beacon in a certain beacon slot.

  One of the purposes of the capture packet instruction is to make the DB device collect hidden terminals viewed from the host communication device. In addition, the instruction of the transmit packet has one purpose of causing the DB device to transmit a beacon and making the hidden terminal as seen from the host communication apparatus aware of the existence and status of the network.

Japanese Patent Application No. 2005-213827 "Universal Serial Bus" (http://www.usb.org/developers/wusb/)

  However, if the capture packet and the transmit packet are constantly performed by the DB device, for example, when there is no hidden terminal viewed from the host communication device, the amount of data transmitted and received by the DB device and the host communication device is increased unnecessarily. There was a problem that.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is a new and improved data that can be transmitted and received by a device communication apparatus such as a DB device. Another object of the present invention is to provide a wireless communication system, a host communication device, a wireless communication method, a program, and a wireless communication device.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, according to an aspect of the present invention, a wireless communication device including a wireless communication device that operates as a device communication device configuring a first network, and a host communication device that can communicate with the device communication device. A communication system is provided. In the wireless communication system, the host communication device performs reception setting for causing the device communication device to receive a signal transmitted from the wireless communication device around the device communication device, and the device communication device performs wireless communication around the device based on the reception setting. The host communication device receives a signal transmitted from the device, determines whether the device communication device has received a signal from a wireless communication device belonging to a second network different from the first network, and sends the signal to the second network. When it is determined that the device communication apparatus has received a signal from the wireless communication apparatus to which it belongs, the host communication apparatus performs transmission setting for causing the device communication apparatus to transmit information related to the first network, and the device communication apparatus performs the transmission setting based on the transmission setting. Information on the first network is transmitted.

  In order to solve the above problem, according to another aspect of the present invention, a host communication apparatus capable of communicating with a wireless communication apparatus that operates as a device communication apparatus constituting a first network, the device communication apparatus A reception setting unit that performs reception setting for receiving signals transmitted from wireless communication devices around the device communication device, and a wireless communication device that belongs to the second network based on the reception setting by the reception setting unit. When the determination unit determines whether or not the signal is received and the determination unit determines that the device communication apparatus has received a signal from the wireless communication apparatus belonging to the second network, the device communication apparatus relates to the first network. A host communication apparatus is provided, comprising: a transmission setting unit configured to perform transmission setting for transmitting information.

  In such a configuration, the reception setting unit performs reception setting for causing the device communication apparatus to receive a signal transmitted from a wireless communication apparatus around the device communication apparatus, and the device communication apparatus performs the surrounding wireless communication apparatus based on the reception setting. For example, the signal is transferred to the host communication device. When the determination unit determines that the device communication apparatus has received a signal transmitted from a wireless communication apparatus belonging to a second network different from the first network based on the reception setting, the transmission setting unit determines that the device communication apparatus Transmission setting for transmitting information on the first network. Here, the purpose of causing the device communication apparatus to transmit information about the first network is to notify the hidden terminal viewed from the host communication apparatus of the presence and state of the first network. Therefore, when the device communication apparatus receives a signal transmitted from a wireless communication apparatus belonging to the second network, the device communication apparatus transmits information about the first network to the hidden terminal as viewed from the host communication apparatus efficiently. Can be notified of the presence and status of the first network.

  When the determination unit determines that the device communication apparatus has received a signal from the wireless communication apparatus belonging to the second network, the reception setting unit is transmitted from the surrounding wireless communication apparatus to the device communication apparatus at the first frequency. When reception setting for receiving a signal is performed and the determination unit determines that the device communication apparatus has not received a signal from a wireless communication apparatus belonging to the second network, the frequency of the device communication apparatus is lower than the first frequency. You may perform the reception setting which receives the signal transmitted from the surrounding radio | wireless communication apparatus with 2nd frequency.

  In such a configuration, while there are wireless communication apparatuses belonging to the second network around the device communication apparatus, the device communication apparatus receives signals transmitted from the surrounding wireless communication apparatuses at a high frequency (first frequency). And allowing the device communication apparatus to receive a signal transmitted from the surrounding wireless communication apparatus at a low frequency (second frequency) while there is no wireless communication apparatus belonging to the second network around the device communication apparatus. it can. Here, all signals received by the device communication apparatus may be transferred to the host communication apparatus. Therefore, while there is no wireless communication device belonging to the second network around the device communication device, device communication can be performed by reducing the frequency of reception and transfer of signals transmitted from surrounding wireless communication devices in the device communication device. The amount of communication data in the device and the host communication device can be suppressed. Further, since the processing load in the device communication apparatus and the host communication apparatus is reduced, it is possible to reduce power consumption.

  The transmission setting unit may cancel the transmission setting when the determination unit determines that the device communication apparatus has not received a signal from the wireless communication apparatus belonging to the second network. Here, the purpose of causing the device communication apparatus to transmit information about the first network is to notify the hidden terminal viewed from the host communication apparatus of the presence and state of the first network. Therefore, when the device communication apparatus has not received a signal from the wireless communication apparatus belonging to the second network, it is considered that there is no hidden terminal viewed from the host communication apparatus, and the device communication apparatus has information on the first network. Need to send Therefore, when the device communication apparatus has not received a signal from the wireless communication apparatus belonging to the second network, the device communication apparatus and the host communication apparatus can stop transmission of information regarding the first network in the device communication apparatus. The amount of communication data can be suppressed.

  The first network and the second network may have different network IDs. In this configuration, the host communication device refers to the network ID of the transmission source device of the signal received by the device communication device, and the second network in which the transmission source device belongs is different from the first network to which the own device belongs. It can be determined whether or not it is a network.

  In order to solve the above problem, according to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a wireless communication method in a host communication apparatus capable of communicating with a wireless communication apparatus operating as a device communication apparatus constituting a first network. Performing a reception setting for causing the device communication apparatus to receive a signal transmitted from a wireless communication apparatus around the device communication apparatus; and based on the reception setting, the device communication apparatus receives a signal from the wireless communication apparatus belonging to the second network. A step for determining whether or not the device communication apparatus has received, and a transmission setting for causing the device communication apparatus to transmit information related to the first network when it is determined that the device communication apparatus has received a signal from a wireless communication apparatus belonging to the second network. And providing a wireless communication method.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, according to another aspect of the present invention, a computer is a host communication apparatus capable of communicating with a wireless communication apparatus that operates as a device communication apparatus constituting a first network, A reception setting unit that performs reception setting for causing the device communication apparatus to receive a signal transmitted from a wireless communication device around the device communication apparatus, and a wireless device that belongs to the second network based on the reception setting by the reception setting unit When the determination unit determines whether or not a signal is received from the communication device and the determination unit determines that the device communication device has received a signal from the wireless communication device belonging to the second network, the device communication device receives the first A transmission setting unit configured to perform transmission setting for transmitting information related to the network of the network. Gram is provided.

  Such a program can cause the hardware resources of a computer including, for example, a CPU, ROM, or RAM to execute the functions of the reception setting unit, the determination unit, and the transmission setting unit as described above. That is, a computer using the program can function as the above-described host communication device.

  In order to solve the above problem, according to another aspect of the present invention, a wireless communication device belonging to the first network, the reception unit receiving a signal transmitted from a surrounding wireless communication device, A determination unit configured to determine whether or not the reception unit has received a signal from a wireless communication device belonging to the second network; and a transmission unit configured to transmit information relating to the first network. The reception unit includes the second network. When the determination unit determines that a signal is not received from the wireless communication device belonging to the wireless communication device, the transmission unit stops transmitting information related to the first network.

  As described above, when the determination unit determines that the reception unit has not received a signal from the wireless communication device belonging to the second network, the transmission unit stops transmitting information about the first network, The amount of data transmitted by the wireless communication device can be suppressed. That is, the transmission unit transmits, for example, a beacon to notify a wireless communication device belonging to the second network of the presence and state of the first network, but there is no wireless communication device belonging to the second network in the vicinity. Since the effectiveness of transmitting beacons is low, efficient operation of the network can be achieved by stopping transmission of such beacons.

  As described above, according to the wireless communication system, the host communication device, the wireless communication method, the program, and the wireless communication device according to the present invention, the amount of data transmitted and received by the device communication device can be suppressed.

  Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In addition, in this specification and drawing, about the component which has the substantially same function structure, duplication description is abbreviate | omitted by attaching | subjecting the same code | symbol.

(First embodiment)
First, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the description of this embodiment, a wireless USB network including a plurality of wireless communication devices will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3, and then signal transmission / reception timings of the wireless communication devices will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. 6 and 7, the data structure of signals transmitted and received by each wireless communication device will be described, and the configuration and operation of the wireless communication device according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 to 11. explain.

  In the wireless USB standard, an SB device (Self Beaconing Devices) that transmits and receives a beacon for each frame period, a DB device (Directed Beaconing Devices) that transmits and receives a beacon based on instructions from a host communication device, and NB Although a device (Non Beaconing Devices) is described, the device communication apparatus shown in the present embodiment indicates a DB device.

  Such a DB device performs a capture packet and a transmit packet in response to an instruction from the host communication apparatus. The capture packet includes an operation of receiving a surrounding signal in a time period designated from the host communication device and transmitting the received signal to the host communication device. The host communication apparatus can grasp the presence of the hidden terminal based on the capture packet from the DB device.

  In addition, the transmit packet includes an operation of transmitting information related to the network to the surroundings based on the information related to the network to which the own device belongs received from the host communication device. By causing the DB device to perform a transmit packet operation, the host communication apparatus can notify the other communication apparatuses not included in the network of the presence or state of the network. Based on the above, a configuration example of a wireless USB network including such a host communication device and a device communication device (DB device) will be described.

  FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration example of a closed wireless USB network. The wireless USB network illustrated in FIG. 1 includes a host communication device 10 that is a wireless communication device that operates as a host, a device communication device 12A that is a wireless communication device that operates as a device, and a device communication device 12B. Further, the radio wave reachable range 11 of the host communication device 10, the radio wave reachable range 13A of the device communication device 12A, and the radio wave reachable range 13B of the device communication device 12B are indicated by dotted lines, respectively. Hereinafter, when there is no need to distinguish between them, the device communication apparatus 12A and the device communication apparatus 12B constituting the wireless USB network are collectively referred to as the device communication apparatus 12, and the radio wave reachable range 13A of the device communication apparatus 12A and the device communication apparatus 12B The radio wave reachable range 13B is collectively referred to as the radio wave reachable range 13.

  In FIG. 1, the device communication apparatus 12A and the device communication apparatus 12B are included in the radio wave reachable range 11 of the host communication apparatus 10 and are connected to the host communication apparatus 10, whereby the host communication apparatus 10, the device communication apparatus 12A, and the device The communication device 12B constitutes the same wireless USB network. Thus, a set of the host communication device 10 and the device communication device 12 connected to the host communication device 10 may be referred to as a wireless communication system.

  The same wireless USB network is a network including a group of wireless communication devices having the same cluster ID (cluster ID) as an example of a network ID, even if the network includes a group of wireless communication devices that are mutually authenticated. Also good.

  Further, in the example shown in FIG. 1, although it is not included in the radio wave reachable range 11 of the host communication device 10, it is a hidden terminal viewed from the so-called host communication device 10 included in the radio wave reachable range 13 of the device communication device 12. There is no communication device.

  In the example shown in FIG. 1, there is no hidden terminal, but the host communication device 10 does not know whether the hidden terminal appears. Therefore, the host communication device 10 can quickly grasp and respond to the presence of the hidden terminal by causing the device communication device 12 to perform the capture packet and the transmit packet in the superframe cycle.

  However, when instructed to capture packets, the device communication apparatus 12 receives surrounding data and transfers all received data to the host communication apparatus 10. Therefore, the device communication apparatus 12 transfers unnecessary and redundant data such as data transmitted from other device communication apparatuses 12 configuring the same wireless USB network to the host communication apparatus 10 when there is no hidden terminal. There was a need.

  Further, when viewed from the host communication apparatus 10 side, there is a problem that the amount of transferred information is unnecessarily increased if the number of device communication apparatuses 12 is large. Further, the host communication device 10 needs to repeatedly transmit, for example, beacon data to the device communication device 12 when instructing a transmit packet.

  As described above, when the host communication apparatus 10 causes the device communication apparatus 12 to perform the capture packet operation and the transmit packet operation in a regular superframe cycle, for example, in order to grasp and deal with the existence of the hidden terminal, the host communication apparatus 10 and the device communication device 12 have a problem that the amount of communication data increases.

  Accordingly, the host communication device 10 according to the present embodiment has been created with the above problem as a focus. According to the host communication device 10 according to the present embodiment, the amount of communication data in the host communication device 10 and the device communication device 12 can be suppressed. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, when there is no hidden terminal viewed from the host communication device 10, the host communication device 10 suppresses the instruction frequency of the capture packet and cancels the instruction of the transmit packet. By doing so, unnecessary traffic can be reduced.

  FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which another communication device exists in the vicinity of the wireless USB network. In the example illustrated in FIG. 2, another wireless communication device (hereinafter referred to as another communication device) 15 </ b> A that does not belong to the wireless USB network in the vicinity of the wireless USB network including the host communication device 10 and the device communication device 12. And 15B.

  Since the other communication device 15A is included in the radio wave reachable range 11 of the host communication device 10, the host communication device 10 can detect a beacon transmitted by the other communication device 15A and grasp the presence of the other communication device 15A. However, in the example shown in FIG. 2, there is a possibility that there is a hidden terminal as seen from the host like the other communication device 15B. Therefore, the host communication device 10 instructs the device communication device 12 on a capture packet, etc. A USB network can be operated stably.

  FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing another state in which another communication device exists in the vicinity of the wireless USB network. In the example illustrated in FIG. 3, the other communication devices 15 </ b> A and 15 </ b> B exist in the vicinity of the wireless USB network including the host communication device 10 and the device communication device 12. Further, since the other communication device 15A is outside the range 11 of the host communication device 10 and within the range 13B of the device communication device 12B, the device communication device 12B is not connected to the other communication device 15A. However, the host communication device 10 cannot receive the beacon transmitted by the other communication device 15A. Further, there is another communication device 15B far from the other communication device 15A.

  In this case, the host communication apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment instructs the device communication apparatus 12B to capture packets, and causes the device communication apparatus 12B to collect and transfer the beacons transmitted by the other communication apparatuses 15A, thereby causing the other communication apparatuses 15A. Can understand the existence and operation of

  Further, the host communication device 10 instructs the device communication device 12B to transmit a packet, and causes the device communication device 12B to transmit a beacon, for example, so that the wireless USB network is operating for the other communication device 15. Can be notified.

  The configuration example of the wireless USB network has been described above. Next, an example of timing at which each wireless communication device transmits a signal or data in the wireless USB network will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. FIG.

  FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration example of a super frame. The superframe period is defined by a predetermined time (for example, about 65.5 ms), and is subdivided into 256 media access slots (MAS). The wireless communication devices (host communication device 10 and device communication device 12) constituting the wireless USB network share the super frame period as a frame of a predetermined period, and transfer a message in units of the above-described subdivided MAS. .

  Furthermore, at the head of the super frame, there is a beacon period (BP) as a management area for transmitting and receiving management information by a beacon (beacon signal), and a beacon slot (BS) is arranged at a predetermined interval. Yes. In addition, a unique beacon slot is set for each wireless communication device, and parameters for network management and access control are exchanged with surrounding wireless communication devices. FIG. 4 shows an example in which nine beacon slots BS0 to BS8 are set as the beacon period. The period that is not set as the beacon period is normally used as a data transmission area.

  FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram showing a beacon slot position at which each device communication apparatus 12 transmits a beacon when the device communication apparatuses 12A to 12E form one wireless USB network. Even if the beacon slot position is designated by the host communication device 10, the device communication devices 12 constituting one wireless USB network notify the beacon slots that are not used so that the beacon slots used by the device can be used. May be selected.

  In this example, the device communication apparatus 12A transmits its beacon at BS2, and the device communication apparatus 12B transmits its beacon at BS3. Similarly, the device communication apparatus 12C transmits its beacon at BS4, and the device communication apparatus 12D transmits its beacon at BS5. The device communication apparatus 12E transmits its own beacon at BS6. As described above, FIG. 5 shows a state in which each device communication apparatus 12 occupies a unique beacon slot and transmits a beacon based on, for example, an instruction of a transmit packet.

  Note that BS1, BS2, BS7, and BS8 are secured as necessary for the device communication apparatus 12H that newly enters the wireless USB network. Usually, a predetermined number of empty beacon slots are provided behind the own beacon slot. These empty beacon slots are prepared for the new entry of the device communication apparatus 12. In addition, the beacon period of each device communication apparatus 12 can be appropriately extended according to the beacons of the device communication apparatuses 12 existing in the vicinity.

  The superframe period and beacon slot have been described above with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. Next, a configuration example of a beacon transmitted in a beacon slot will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration example of a beacon transmitted in a beacon slot. FIG. 6A is an explanatory diagram showing a beacon frame configuration example of a beacon. As shown in FIG. 6A, the beacon frame includes MAC header information 60, header check sequence (HCS) 61, beacon parameter 62, information element (part 1) 63, information element (part 2) 64, information element (part N ) 65 and predetermined check information such as a frame check sequence (FCS) 66.

  Further, the MAC header information 60 includes frame control information 601, a destination address 602 for identifying a destination wireless communication device, a source address 603 for identifying a source wireless communication device, and sequence control such as a sequence number. Information 604 and access control information 605 in which parameters necessary for access control are described.

  The beacon parameter 62 includes a device identifier 621 in which the MAC address information of the wireless communication device is described, a beacon slot number 622 indicating a beacon slot in which the device itself is transmitting a beacon, and information unique to the wireless communication device. Device control information 623 including

  In addition, an arbitrary information element can be added to the beacon frame as the beacon payload information. In FIG. 6A, as an example of the information element, an information element (part 1) 63, an information element (part 2) 64, and an information element (N) 65 is shown. “N” in the above (N) indicates the number of information elements to be transmitted by being added to the beacon, and the number “N” of information elements may be different for each beacon to be transmitted.

  The frame check sequence (FCS) 66 is information used when detecting an error in the beacon frame. The beacon frame 20 may be configured by adding or deleting the various parameters as necessary.

  FIG. 6B shows a beacon period use information element (BPOIE) used when describing beacon information collected during a beacon period as an example of an information element included in a beacon. The beacon period use information element includes an element identifier 631, an information length 632, a beacon period length 633, a beacon slot information bitmap 634, a device address (part 1) 635, and a device address (part N) 636.

  The element identifier 631 is information attached to each information element, and is identification information indicating what information element the information element is related to. Therefore, the element identifier 631 shown in FIG. 6B indicates a beacon period use information element. The information length 632 indicates the information amount of the beacon period use information element.

  The beacon period length 633 indicates, for example, the length of the beacon period set in the device communication apparatus 12. The beacon slot information bitmap 634 shows all beacon slots that have received beacons. A device address (part 1) 635 and a device address (part N) 636 indicate the addresses of the transmission source devices of the received beacons.

  FIG. 6C shows a wireless USB vendor definition information element as an example of an information element included in a beacon. The wireless USB vendor definition information element includes an element identifier 641, an information length 642, vendor-specific information 643, and wireless USB usage address information.

  The element identifier 641 is information attached to each information element, and is identification information indicating what information element the information element is. Therefore, the element identifier 641 shown in FIG. 6C indicates the wireless USB vendor definition information element. The information length 642 indicates the information amount of the wireless USB vendor definition information element.

  The vendor unique information 643 is information indicating whether the host communication device 10 and the device communication device 12 are compatible with the wireless communication method described in the present embodiment. The wireless USB use address information 644 is information indicating an address currently used by the host communication apparatus 10. Such a wireless USB vendor definition information element may be used to determine whether or not the host communication device 10 or the device communication device 12 is compatible with the wireless communication method described in the present embodiment.

  FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration example of a control packet in the wireless USB standard. The device communication apparatus 12 can transmit and receive a beacon based on the control packet transmitted from the host communication apparatus 10.

  FIG. 7A shows a configuration example of a set feature used when the host communication apparatus 10 validates a specific function of the device communication apparatus 12. The set features include bmRequestType 711, bRequest 712, wValue 713, wIndex 714, wLength 715, and Date 716.

  In such a set feature, the wIndex 714 has a role as a function selector. If “DEV_XMIT_PACKET” is set in the wIndex 714, the function of the transmit packet in the device communication apparatus 12 is enabled, and “COUNT_PACKET” is set. If enabled, the function of the count packet in the device communication apparatus 12 is validated. If “CAPTURE_PACKET” is set, the function of the capture packet in the device communication apparatus 12 is validated.

  FIG. 7B shows a configuration example of set wireless USB data used when the host communication apparatus 10 notifies the device communication apparatus 12 of beacon data to be transmitted by a transmit packet. The set wireless USB data includes bmRequestType 721, bRequest 722, wValue 723, wIndex 724, wLength 725, and Date 726.

  In the set wireless USB data shown in FIG. 7B, the wValue 723 has a function as a data selector, and if “0002H” is set in the wValue 723, a beacon transmitted by the device communication apparatus 12 is established in the Date 726. This indicates that the data used for this is described as WUSB data. The WUSB data may include a MAC header and a payload used as beacon data.

  FIG. 7C shows a set used when the host communication apparatus 10 notifies the device communication apparatus 12 of the channel setting of the signal to be received by the capture packet or the count packet, and the reception start and reception end timings. The structural example of wireless USB data is shown. Such set wireless USB data includes bmRequestType 731, bRequest 732, wValue 733, wIndex 734, wLength 735, and Date 736.

  In the set wireless USB data shown in FIG. 7C, the wValue 733 has a function as a data selector, and when “0004H” is set in the wValue 733, the reception parameter is described as WUSB data in the Date 736. Indicates that The WUSB data may include a reception filter, a reception channel, a reception start time, a reception end time, and the like.

  FIG. 7D shows a configuration example of the get status used when the device communication apparatus 12 transmits received data regarding the number of packets in response to a request from the host communication apparatus 10. Such get status includes bmRequestType 741, bRequest 742, wValue 743, wIndex 744, wLength 745, and Date 746.

  In the get status shown in FIG. 7D, the above wIndex 744 has a function as a state selector. When “0003H” is set in the wIndex 744, the received data is indicated, and the data described in the Date 746 is the status selector data. The value is returned as The state selector data may include the number of packets and a packet information block corresponding to the number of packets, and the packet information block may include reception time, header information, reception quality, and the like.

  FIG. 7E shows a configuration example of a get status used when the device communication apparatus 12 transmits data received from the surroundings in response to a request from the host communication apparatus 10. Such get status includes bmRequestType 751, bRequest 752, wValue 753, wIndex 754, wLength 755, and Date 756.

  In the get status shown in FIG. 7E, the wIndex 754 has a function as a state selector, and when “0003H” is set in the wIndex 754, the received data is indicated, and the data described in the Date 756 is the status selector data. The value is returned as The status selector data may include parameters such as reception normal state, reception time, header information, payload (all received by the device communication apparatus 12), reception quality, and the like.

  The configuration example of the control packet for instructing the capture packet, the transmit packet, and the like in the wireless USB standard has been described above with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7. Subsequently, the configurations and operations of the host communication device 10 and the device communication device 12 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 8 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of the device communication apparatus 12 according to the present embodiment. The device communication apparatus 12 includes an antenna 101, a baseband reception unit 102, a wireless access control unit 103, a baseband transmission unit 104, a beacon reception processing unit 105, a WUSB system beacon determination unit 106, and a beacon transmission processing unit. 107, a count packet processing unit 108, a capture packet processing unit 109, a transmit packet processing unit 110, a USB port 111, a USB transmission unit 112, a USB access control unit 113, and a USB reception unit 114. Prepare. In FIG. 8, a device wire adapter is shown as an example of the device communication apparatus 12.

  The antenna 101 has a function as a transmission / reception unit that receives a signal transmitted from the host communication device 10 or another wireless communication device or transmits a signal modulated by the baseband transmission unit 104. The baseband receiving unit 102 performs a decoding process on the signal received by the antenna 101.

  The wireless access control unit 103 controls timing for wireless transmission and reception of signals. The baseband transmission unit 104 performs modulation processing on a signal transmitted via the antenna 101. The beacon reception processing unit 105 extracts a beacon frame from the signal decoded by the baseband reception unit 102 and analyzes the beacon frame.

  The WUSB system beacon determination unit 106 determines whether the beacon frame extracted by the beacon reception processing unit 105 is a beacon in the wireless USB system. The beacon transmission processing unit 107 constructs a beacon parameter to be transmitted.

  The count packet processing unit 108 counts the number of packets received during the beacon period based on an instruction from the host communication device 10. Based on an instruction from the host communication device 10, the capture packet processing unit 109 acquires a signal transmitted from a surrounding wireless communication device in feedback instructed by the host communication device 10, and the acquired signal is the host communication device. 10 (capture packet operation). Based on an instruction from the host communication device 10, the transmit packet processing unit 110 performs processing so that a beacon designated by the host communication device 10 is transmitted (transmit packet operation).

  The USB port 111 has a function as a connection unit through which the device communication apparatus 12 is connected (or connected internally) to various devices as a USB device. The USB transmission unit 112 converts a signal wirelessly received by the device communication apparatus 12 into a USB signal and transmits the signal to various devices connected via the USB port 111.

  The USB access control unit 113 performs communication time management and bus access control in the USB system. In addition, the USB access control unit 113 stores information on the host communication device 10. The USB receiving unit 114 extracts information that needs to be transmitted wirelessly from information received from various devices connected via the USB port 111 and outputs the information to the baseband transmitting unit 104 or the transmit packet processing unit 110. To do.

  FIG. 9 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of the host communication apparatus 10 that controls the device communication apparatus 12 as described above. The host communication apparatus 10 includes an antenna 201, a baseband receiving unit 202, a wireless access control unit 203, a baseband transmitting unit 204, a beacon receiving processing unit 205, another device presence detecting unit 206, and a beacon transmitting process. Unit 207, device beacon management unit 208, device control packet setting unit 209, USB port 211, USB transmission unit 212, USB access control unit 213, and USB reception unit 214. In FIG. 9, a host wire adapter is shown as an example of the host communication device 10.

  The antenna 201 has a function as a transmission / reception unit that receives a signal transmitted from the device communication apparatus 12 or another wireless communication apparatus or transmits a signal modulated by the baseband transmission unit 204. The baseband receiving unit 202 performs a decoding process on the signal received by the antenna 201.

  The wireless access control unit 203 controls timing for wireless transmission / reception of signals. The baseband transmission unit 204 performs modulation processing on a signal transmitted via the antenna 201. The beacon reception processing unit 205 extracts a beacon frame from the signal decoded by the baseband reception unit 202 and analyzes the beacon frame.

  The other device presence detection unit 206 functions as a determination unit that determines the presence or absence of a wireless communication device that is a hidden terminal when viewed from a beacon other than the wireless USB standard or the host communication device 10. The beacon transmission processing unit 207 constructs a beacon parameter to be transmitted.

  The device beacon management unit 208 manages the beacon reception status in the device communication apparatus 12 under the management of the host communication apparatus 10. The device control packet setting unit 209 instructs the device communication apparatus 12 as a reception setting unit that instructs a capture packet as a reception setting in the device communication apparatus 12 and a transmission packet as a transmission setting in the device communication apparatus 12 And a function as a transmission setting unit.

  In addition, the device control packet setting unit 209 increases the frequency of instructing the device communication device 12 with a capture packet when the other device presence detection unit 206 determines that the hidden terminal viewed from the host communication device 10 exists. When the other device presence detection unit 206 determines that there is no hidden terminal as viewed from the communication device 10, the frequency of instructing the device communication device 12 with a capture packet may be decreased.

  According to such a configuration, it is possible to suppress the data amount of the signal transmitted from the device communication apparatus 12 to the host communication apparatus 10 based on the capture packet instruction while there is no hidden terminal viewed from the host communication apparatus 10.

  In addition, the device control packet setting unit 209 is a device communication apparatus only when another device presence detection unit 206 determines that there is a hidden terminal viewed from the host communication apparatus 10 as a result of the capture packet by the device communication apparatus 12. 12 may be instructed to transmit a packet.

  Here, the purpose of causing the device communication apparatus 12 to perform the transmit packet is to notify the hidden terminal viewed from the host communication apparatus 10 of the presence and state of its own wireless USB network. Therefore, when the device communication apparatus 12 receives a signal transmitted from a wireless communication apparatus belonging to another wireless USB network, the device communication apparatus 12 is caused to transmit information related to its own wireless USB network, so that the host communication apparatus 10 can be efficiently used. The presence and status of your network can be notified to the hidden terminal viewed from above.

  The USB port 211 has a function as a connection unit that connects (or internally connects) the host communication apparatus 10 to a driver that functions as a USB host. The USB transmission unit 212 converts a signal wirelessly received by the host communication apparatus 10 into a USB signal and transmits the USB signal to various devices connected via the USB port 211.

  The USB access control unit 213 performs communication time management and bus access control in the USB system. The USB access control unit 213 performs settings for functioning as a wireless USB host. The USB receiving unit 214 extracts information that needs to be transmitted wirelessly from information received from a driver connected via the USB port 211 and outputs the information to the baseband transmitting unit 204 or the like.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the operation of the device communication apparatus 12 according to the present embodiment. First, the device communication apparatus 12 sets a predetermined scan cycle (S301), and performs frame reception processing when the scan cycle arrives (S302, S303). When the device communication apparatus 12 receives a signal from the host communication apparatus 10 (S304), the device communication apparatus 12 extracts information on the host communication apparatus 10 from the received signal (S305).

  Subsequently, the device communication apparatus 12 refers to the registered host information stored in the apparatus itself through a predetermined registration process (association process) (S306), and the host communication apparatus 10 is a registered host. If it is detected and connection processing with the host communication apparatus 10 is not performed (S307, S308), a connection request (connect request) is made to the host communication apparatus 10 (S309).

  Thereafter, the device communication apparatus 12 determines whether a predetermined set time has elapsed and timed out (S310). If a response to the connection request (connect receipt) is received from the host communication apparatus 10 before the time-out, the host communication The apparatus 10 is set as a connected host (S311 and S312). On the other hand, if the device communication apparatus 12 does not receive a response to the connection request from the host communication apparatus 10 before the time-out, it is determined that the connection with the host communication apparatus 10 has not been accepted, and the process returns to S302.

  The device communication apparatus 12 registers the transmission parameters received from the host communication apparatus 10 when there is a transmission packet setting and instruction from the host communication apparatus 10 during the scan period (S313, S314). The transmission packet data received from the host communication device 10 is stored (S315, S316). When the transmission timing of the transmit packet arrives, the device communication apparatus 12 transmits a signal based on the data received from the host communication apparatus 10 and registered or stored (S317, S318).

  Further, when the host communication device 10 has set and instructed the capture packet or count packet (S319), the device communication device 12 registers the reception parameter received from the host communication device 10 (S320). When the reception period of the capture packet or the count packet comes (S321), the device communication apparatus 12 stores all the data received in the reception period (S322), and stores the number of received data packets and the reception status. (S323).

  Thereafter, if there is a capture packet acquisition request from the host communication device 10 (S324), the device communication device 12 transmits all the data received during the reception period to the host communication device 10 (S325). If there is a count packet acquisition request (S326), the number of data packets received during the reception period and the reception status are transmitted to the host communication device 10 (S327).

  Further, if the device communication apparatus 12 does not receive a signal from the host communication apparatus 10 for the connection guarantee time (trust timeout) (S328), the setting that the host communication apparatus 10 is a connected host is canceled (S329). A predetermined scan cycle is set (S330), and the process returns to S302. On the other hand, if any signal is received from the host communication device 10 during the guaranteed connection time, the device communication device 12 returns to the processing of S313.

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the flow of the wireless communication method executed in the host communication apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment. First, the host communication device 10 sets parameters such as a cluster ID as an identifier of the wireless USB network (S401), continuously performs beacon reception over a plurality of superframe periods in advance, and sets beacon transmission of the own device. (S402) and thereafter, beacon transmission / reception is regularly repeated.

  When the host communication device 10 receives a connection request from the new device communication device 12, if the connection of the device communication device 12 is permitted, the host communication device 10 transmits a connection request response to the device communication device 12 (S403, S404). Here, if the device communication apparatus 12 is a DB device, reception setting is performed to cause the device communication apparatus 12 to perform a capture packet at a predetermined beacon scan cycle (S405, S406). When there is no connection request from the device communication apparatus 12 or when the device communication apparatus 12 is not a DB device, the process of S406 is not performed.

  Thereafter, when the beacon scan cycle arrives, the host communication device 10 acquires data received by the device communication device 12 as a capture packet (S407, S408). Based on the acquired data, the host communication device 10 has a beacon transmitted from a wireless communication device belonging to a network or system different from the wireless USB network to which the host communication device belongs (S409), and from the host communication device 10 When it is determined that there is a beacon transmitted from the wireless communication device that is the hidden terminal that has been viewed (S410), the cycle in which the device communication device 12 performs the capture packet is set to every superframe cycle (first frequency) ( S411).

  Further, the host communication apparatus 10 constructs beacon information to be transmitted to the device communication apparatus 12 (S412), and instructs and sets a transmit packet to the device communication apparatus 12 (S413). When there is no beacon transmitted from a wireless communication device belonging to a network or system different from the wireless USB network to which the host communication device 10 belongs, or a beacon transmitted from a wireless communication device that is a hidden terminal viewed from the host communication device 10 If it is determined that it does not exist, the processing of S411 to S413 is not performed.

  Further, during a period other than the beacon scan period, the host communication device 10 performs a beacon reception process when the beacon period arrives (S414, S415). When the host communication device 10 receives a beacon (S416), a beacon transmitted from a wireless communication device serving as a hidden terminal exists, and the wireless communication device belongs to a network or system different from the wireless USB network to which the host communication device 10 belongs. When it is determined that there is a beacon transmitted from (S417, S418), a setting is made to start beacon exchange with respect to a wireless communication device configuring the same wireless USB network as the host communication device 10 (S419).

  Furthermore, when the DB device (device communication apparatus 12) is included in the wireless communication apparatus that configures the same wireless USB network as the host communication apparatus 10 (S420), the host communication apparatus 10 proceeds to the process of S411. The frequency at which the device communication apparatus 12 performs the capture packet is changed, and the transmission packet is set. If there is no DB device in the wireless communication device that forms the same wireless USB network as the host communication device 10, the processing of S411 to S413 is not performed, and the processing returns to S403.

  In S416 to S418, when the host communication device 10 does not receive a beacon, when it is determined that there is no beacon transmitted from a wireless communication device serving as a hidden terminal, or the wireless USB network to which the host communication device 10 belongs If it is determined that there is no beacon transmitted from a wireless communication device belonging to a different network or system, the host communication device 10 loses the beacon transmitted from the wireless communication device serving as a hidden terminal (S421). If it is determined that there is no beacon transmitted from a wireless communication device belonging to a network or system different from the wireless USB network to which the communication device 10 belongs (S422), a beacon is transmitted to the wireless communication devices constituting the same wireless USB network. It is set up to pause the conversion (S423).

  Furthermore, when the DB device (device communication apparatus 12) is included in the wireless communication apparatus that configures the same wireless USB network as the host communication apparatus 10 (S424), the host communication apparatus 10 captures during the beacon period of each superframe. The setting to cause the device communication apparatus 12 to perform the packet is canceled (S425), the device communication apparatus 12 is set to perform the capture packet at a predetermined beacon scan cycle (second frequency) that is low in frequency (S426), The setting of the mitt packet is canceled (S427).

  If there is no DB device (device communication apparatus 12) in the wireless communication apparatus that configures the same wireless USB network as the host communication apparatus 10, the process of S425 to S427 is not performed, and the process returns to S403.

  As described above, according to the host communication apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment, the device communication apparatus only when there is a hidden terminal viewed from the host communication apparatus 10 with respect to the device communication apparatus 12 operating as a DB device. 12 can indicate a transmit packet. Further, the host communication device 10 increases the frequency of instructing the capture packet to the device communication device 12 when there is a hidden terminal viewed from the host communication device 10, and when there is no hidden terminal viewed from the host communication device 10. The frequency with which the device communication apparatus 12 is instructed to capture packets can be reduced.

  With this configuration, while there is no hidden terminal viewed from the host communication device 10, the data amount of the signal transmitted from the device communication device 12 to the host communication device 10 based on the capture packet instruction, and the device communication device 12 transmits the transmit packet. The amount of data of signals transmitted and received based on the instruction can be suppressed. In addition, since it is not necessary to cause the device communication apparatus 12 to perform beacon exchange processing more than necessary, it is possible to operate with low power consumption and to operate for a long time even with battery drive.

  In addition, since the beacon exchange process can be individually activated for the device communication apparatus 12 that has received the beacon transmitted from the wireless communication apparatus serving as the hidden terminal, the beacon exchange process of the device communication apparatus 12 that originally did not require beacon exchange. It is also possible not to start up.

  Further, the device communication device 12 performs capture packets of beacons transmitted from other wireless communication devices, so that the host communication device 10 can easily grasp the existence of wireless communication devices that are hidden terminals, and wireless that are hidden terminals. The beacon information of the communication device can be obtained efficiently. Further, the host communication device 10 can instruct the device communication device 12 to transmit a packet according to the result of the capture packet by the device communication device 12.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In this embodiment, the device communication apparatus 18 that operates as an SB device can control beacon transmission / reception actively. Hereinafter, the configuration and operation of the device communication apparatus 18 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 12 and 13.

  FIG. 12 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of the device communication apparatus 18 that operates as an SB device according to the present embodiment. The device communication apparatus 18 includes an antenna 101, a baseband receiving unit 102, a baseband transmitting unit 104, a beacon reception processing unit 105, a WUSB system beacon determining unit 106, a beacon transmission processing unit 107, a USB port 111, A USB transmission unit 112, a USB access control unit 113, a USB reception unit 114, and a wireless access control unit 120. In FIG. 12, a device wire adapter that operates as an SB device is shown as an example of the device communication apparatus 18.

  In addition, since the device communication apparatus 18 according to the present embodiment has many parts that are substantially the same in configuration as the device communication apparatus 12 described in the first embodiment, the device communication apparatus 12 according to the first embodiment. The explanation will focus on the different configurations.

  The WUSB system beacon determination unit 106 is a wireless communication device in which the beacon frame extracted by the beacon reception processing unit 105 belongs to another network (second network) different from the wireless USB network (first network) to which the own device belongs. It has a function as a judgment part which judges whether it includes what was transmitted from.

  If the wireless access control unit 120 determines that the beacon frame extracted by the beacon reception processing unit 105 includes one transmitted from a wireless communication device belonging to another network, the wireless access control unit 120 wirelessly belongs to the beacon transmission unit 107. A beacon including information related to the USB network is constructed, and the beacon is transmitted via the baseband transmission unit 104 and the antenna 101.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the beacon frame extracted by the beacon reception processing unit 105 does not include a beacon frame transmitted from a wireless communication device belonging to another network, the radio access control unit 120 The transmission unit 107 stops beacon transmission processing.

  With this configuration, the amount of data transmitted by the device communication apparatus 18 can be suppressed. That is, the device communication device 18 transmits, for example, a beacon to notify the wireless communication device belonging to another network of the existence and state of the wireless USB network to which the device communication device 18 belongs, but the wireless communication device belonging to the other network is in the vicinity. Since the effectiveness of the beacon is low when it does not exist, efficient operation of the network can be achieved by stopping the transmission of the beacon.

  In addition, when it is determined that the beacon frame extracted by the beacon reception processing unit 105 does not include a beacon frame transmitted from a wireless communication device belonging to another network, the wireless access control unit 120 The period or frequency at which 102 receives beacons may be reduced.

  In the present embodiment, the antenna 101 and / or the baseband receiving unit 102 functions as a receiving unit, and the antenna 101 and / or the baseband transmitting unit 104 functions as a transmitting unit.

  FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing a flow of a wireless communication method executed in the device communication apparatus 18 according to the present embodiment. First, the device communication apparatus 18 sets a beacon scan cycle for a redundant time (for example, at intervals of several seconds) (S501), and performs a beacon reception process (S502). The beacon reception process may be configured to detect an existing wireless communication device by, for example, continuing beacon reception over several superframe periods.

  If there is a beacon reception (S503), the device communication apparatus 18 acquires information of a connectable wireless USB host exchanged in advance using a predetermined association procedure (S504), and the beacon transmission source apparatus Is determined to be a connectable wireless USB host from information such as a beacon received (S505), and if it is not currently connected to the wireless USB host (S506), a predetermined connection connection is established to the beacon transmission source device. A request is sent and a series of authentication processes is started (S507). If the connection with the wireless USB host has been established, the series of authentication processes may not be activated.

  On the other hand, when receiving a beacon other than the wireless USB system (S508), the device communication apparatus 18 acquires (captures) beacon reception information received over the beacon period (S509), and further, its own beacon. Transmission is set (S510). Further, the device communication device 18 is set to activate the next beacon scan (S511), and then transmits a beacon when the beacon period arrives (S512, S513), and returns to S502 to restart the beacon scan. . Note that the beacon scan at this time may be a scan during only the beacon period.

  In addition, when there is no beacon reception, when there is no beacon of the wireless USB host, or when a beacon other than the wireless USB system is not received, the device communication device 18 temporarily stops beacon transmission, so the next beacon When the scan cycle arrives, the process returns to S502 and the beacon scan is restarted (S514).

  As described above, the device communication apparatus 18 according to the present embodiment stops the beacon transmission process while not receiving a beacon transmitted from a wireless communication apparatus belonging to another network. Here, since the effectiveness of transmitting a beacon is low when there are no wireless communication devices belonging to another network in the vicinity, the device communication device 18 stops the transmission of the beacon so as to efficiently operate the network. Can do.

  As mentioned above, although preferred embodiment of this invention was described referring an accompanying drawing, it cannot be overemphasized that this invention is not limited to the example which concerns. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made within the scope of the claims, and these are naturally within the technical scope of the present invention. Understood.

  For example, each step in the processing of the host communication device 10, the device communication device 12, and the device communication device 18 in this specification does not necessarily have to be processed in time series in the order described as the flowchart, and may be performed in parallel or individually. (For example, parallel processing or object processing) may be included.

  The host communication device 10, the device communication device 12, and the hardware such as the CPU, ROM, and RAM incorporated in the device communication device 18 are configured as the host communication device 10, the device communication device 12, and the device communication device 18 described above. It is also possible to create a computer program for demonstrating the same function as. A storage medium storing the computer program is also provided. Also, a series of processing can be realized by hardware by configuring each functional block shown in the functional block diagrams of FIGS.

  In the above embodiment, a host wire adapter is shown as an example of the host communication device 10 and a device wire adapter is shown as an example of the device communication device 12 and the device communication device 18, but the host communication device 10 has a host function and a wireless function. A wireless communication apparatus in which a communication function is implemented may be used, and the device communication apparatus 12 and the device communication apparatus 18 may be wireless communication apparatuses in which a device function and a wireless communication function are implemented.

  In the above-described embodiment, the first frequency for causing the device communication apparatus 12 to perform a capture packet when there is a hidden terminal has been described by taking the superframe period as an example, but when there is no hidden terminal. Any frequency may be used as long as it is less than the second frequency at which the device communication apparatus 12 performs the capture packet. For example, when the second frequency is once every 6 seconds or a period of 6 seconds, the first frequency may be once every 4 seconds, 24 times per second, 512 μs period, or the like.

  Further, the host communication apparatus 10 instructs the device communication apparatus 12 to transmit a packet, and the host communication apparatus 10 to be transmitted to the device communication apparatus 12 and information about the network to which the device communication apparatus 12 belongs include, for example, the beacon period of the network The reservation status, the address of the host communication device 10, the address of the device communication device 12, and the like may be used.

It is explanatory drawing which showed the structural example of the closed wireless USB network. It is explanatory drawing which showed a mode that another communication apparatus exists in the vicinity of a wireless USB network. It is explanatory drawing which showed the other mode that the other communication apparatus exists in the vicinity of a wireless USB network. It is explanatory drawing which showed the structural example of the super frame. It is the conceptual diagram which showed the beacon slot position where each device communication apparatus 12 transmits a beacon. It is explanatory drawing which showed the beacon frame structural example of the beacon. The beacon period use information element used when describing the information of the beacon collected in the beacon period is shown. Fig. 4 illustrates a wireless USB vendor definition information element. It is explanatory drawing which showed the structural example of the control packet in wireless USB specification. It is the functional block diagram which showed the structure of the device communication apparatus concerning the 1st Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing a configuration of a host communication device according to the same embodiment. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the device communication apparatus according to the embodiment. 5 is a flowchart showing a flow of a wireless communication method executed in the host communication apparatus according to the embodiment. It is the functional block diagram which showed the structure of the device communication apparatus which operate | moves as an SB device concerning the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which showed the flow of the radio | wireless communication method performed in the device communication apparatus concerning the embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

10 Host communication device 12, 18 Device communication device 101, 201 Antenna 102, 202 Baseband reception unit 106 WUSB system beacon determination unit 108 Count packet processing unit 109 Capture packet processing unit 110 Transmit packet processing unit 103, 120, 203 Wireless access Control unit 206 Other device presence detection unit 209 Device control packet setting unit

Claims (8)

A wireless communication system including a wireless communication device that operates as a device communication device that constitutes a first network, and a host communication device that can communicate with the device communication device:
The host communication device performs a reception setting for causing the device communication device to receive a signal transmitted from a wireless communication device around the device communication device;
The device communication apparatus receives a signal transmitted from a surrounding wireless communication apparatus based on the reception setting;
The host communication device determines whether the device communication device has received a signal from a wireless communication device belonging to a second network different from the first network;
When it is determined that the device communication apparatus has received a signal from a wireless communication apparatus belonging to the second network, the host communication apparatus performs a transmission setting for causing the device communication apparatus to transmit information regarding the first network. ;
The device communication apparatus transmits information on the first network based on the transmission setting;
A wireless communication system. A host communication device capable of communicating with a wireless communication device operating as a device communication device constituting a first network:
A reception setting unit configured to perform reception setting for causing the device communication apparatus to receive a signal transmitted from a wireless communication apparatus around the device communication apparatus;
A determination unit that determines whether the device communication apparatus receives a signal from a wireless communication apparatus belonging to a second network based on the reception setting by the reception setting unit;
Transmission for performing transmission setting for causing the device communication apparatus to transmit information related to the first network when the determination unit determines that the device communication apparatus has received a signal from a wireless communication apparatus belonging to the second network. A setting section;
A host communication device comprising: The reception setting unit
When the determination unit determines that the device communication apparatus has received a signal from a wireless communication apparatus belonging to the second network, the device communication apparatus is transmitted to the device communication apparatus from the surrounding wireless communication apparatus at a first frequency. Set up reception to receive signals,
When the determination unit determines that the device communication apparatus has not received a signal from a wireless communication apparatus belonging to the second network, the device communication apparatus has a second frequency lower than the first frequency. The host communication device according to claim 2, wherein reception setting is performed to receive a signal transmitted from the surrounding wireless communication device.   The transmission setting unit cancels the transmission setting when the determination unit determines that the device communication apparatus has not received a signal from a wireless communication apparatus belonging to the second network. The host communication device according to claim 2.   The host communication apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the first network and the second network have different network IDs. A wireless communication method in a host communication apparatus capable of communicating with a wireless communication apparatus that operates as a device communication apparatus constituting a first network:
Performing a reception setting for causing the device communication apparatus to receive a signal transmitted from a wireless communication apparatus around the device communication apparatus;
Determining whether the device communication apparatus has received a signal from a wireless communication apparatus belonging to a second network based on the reception setting;
When it is determined that the device communication apparatus has received a signal from a wireless communication apparatus belonging to the second network, transmission setting for causing the device communication apparatus to transmit information about the first network;
A wireless communication method comprising: Computer
A host communication apparatus capable of communicating with a wireless communication apparatus that operates as a device communication apparatus constituting a first network,
A reception setting unit configured to perform reception setting for causing the device communication apparatus to receive a signal transmitted from a wireless communication apparatus around the device communication apparatus;
A determination unit that determines whether the device communication apparatus receives a signal from a wireless communication apparatus belonging to a second network based on the reception setting by the reception setting unit;
Transmission for performing transmission setting for causing the device communication apparatus to transmit information related to the first network when the determination unit determines that the device communication apparatus has received a signal from a wireless communication apparatus belonging to the second network. A setting section;
A program for causing a host communication apparatus to function. A wireless communication device belonging to a first network:
A receiving unit for receiving a signal transmitted from a surrounding wireless communication device;
A determination unit that determines whether or not the reception unit has received a signal from a wireless communication device belonging to a second network;
A transmitter for transmitting information relating to the first network;
With
When the determination unit determines that the reception unit has not received a signal from a wireless communication device belonging to the second network, the transmission unit stops transmitting information related to the first network. A wireless communication device.

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