JP5117352B2 - Wireless communication apparatus and wireless communication method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a wireless communication apparatus and a wireless communication method for performing communication by switching a plurality of wireless communication methods.

  There are various communication systems for wireless communication apparatuses, and in recent years, multi-systems including a plurality of wireless modules that realize different wireless communication systems have appeared. As this multi-system, there are many methods or apparatuses for arranging two or more existing wireless modules in parallel, creating a function for integrating them at the upper level, and selecting a wireless module according to the application status or communication status. Proposed.

  In Patent Document 1, a threshold is set for the amount of data of an application to be transmitted, the Bluetooth (registered trademark) method is used for communication that transmits a data amount equal to or greater than the threshold, and other communication is performed. A wireless communication method using cellular wireless communication is disclosed. In such a wireless communication method or apparatus related to a multi-system, a plurality of wireless modules are optimally used by switching wireless modules to be used for each application characteristic.

  General wireless communication is realized by a plurality of layer structures. This layer structure is a PHY layer that performs actual physical radio wave processing at the lowest layer, a MAC layer that performs access control between nodes above it, It is designed as a structure in which an IP layer for controlling the IP address and route information and a TCP layer for controlling access between the final nodes via a plurality of terminals are superposed on the upper layer. Retransmission control when transmission data results in a transmission error is performed in both the MAC layer and the TCP layer in such a layer structure.

  As disclosed in Non-Patent Document 1, the MAC layer retransmission control is standardized by IEEE802.11, and the transmitting side transmits the frame data and then the receiving side performs SIFS (short interframe space) time. By receiving the ACK frame to be sent back, it is confirmed that the frame data has been successfully transmitted. If the transmission side cannot normally receive the ACK frame, it is determined that the transmission of the frame data has failed, and the frame data is retransmitted.

  In the TCP layer, retransmission control of communication via a plurality of nodes as well as one to one nodes as in the MAC layer is performed. At this time, similarly to the MAC layer, after the transmission side transmits the packet data of the TCP layer, the delivery confirmation is performed by receiving the ACK packet transmitted from the reception side. However, unlike the MAC layer, the TCP layer often passes through a plurality of nodes. Therefore, the transmitting side receives an ACK packet after a certain amount of time has elapsed, rather than the SIFS time fixed as in the MAC layer. This confirms delivery. The ACK packet used for TCP layer delivery confirmation is handled as a MAC layer data frame at the MAC layer level. That is, the packet data and the ACK packet are subjected to retransmission processing at the MAC layer level, and some problem occurs in the MAC layer, and an error occurs somewhere on the route by the TCP layer, and the TCP layer packet data or When the ACK packet is lost, TCP layer retransmission processing is performed. Even if an error occurs in the MAC layer, the continuation of communication is guaranteed by the retransmission processing in the TCP layer. At this time, if many data errors are confirmed in the TCP layer, the TCP layer determines that a lot of errors have occurred due to congestion on the network path or because the network is congested, and the packet The transmission interval is extended to reduce the congestion level by lowering the throughput at the TCP layer level.

  In Patent Document 2, in a wireless communication system in which a plurality of link layers are switched and communicated, an upper-level control unit that performs link layer switching holds the address of each link layer and stores a frame for each link layer to be used. A method of controlling transmission from a single wireless communication apparatus that integrates a plurality of systems by switching a transmission source address to be inserted into a link layer header is disclosed.

  However, when the conventional TCP layer control method and MAC layer control method are applied as they are to the above multi-system configuration example as shown in the conventional method, the following problems occur.

  Transmission data once stored in the transmission queue in the wireless communication module when communication by one wireless communication module (MAC layer) used for transmission to a specific destination becomes impossible during communication Is taken out and re-inserted into the other wireless communication module, and communication cannot be continued. In particular, in the case of a configuration in which existing wireless communication modules are arranged in parallel as a plurality of systems and a new module for controlling the existing wireless communication module is connected to the upper side (TCP layer), the transmission queue of the wireless communication module is originally It is not designed so that the data stored in can be retrieved by the upper module. Therefore, when the conventional wireless communication apparatus becomes unable to communicate during transmission of transmission data, the transmission data already stored in the wireless communication module is discarded.

At this time, when the size of the transmission queue is large and the amount of data to be discarded is large, the communication blocking period in the TCP layer on the upper side of the wireless communication module with a plurality of MAC layers arranged in parallel becomes longer. Therefore, in the TCP layer, it is determined that congestion has occurred, and the throughput of data transmitted from the TCP layer is reduced. As a result, there is a problem that communication quality deteriorates. Further, there is a problem that it is determined that communication is disconnected at the TCP layer, and the connection at the TCP layer is disconnected.
JP 2004-350109 A JP 2005-277853 A IEEE Std 802.11-1999 2003 Edition

  Thus, in the conventional wireless communication device, communication is interrupted during wireless communication by one wireless communication module, and when switching to another wireless communication module, there is a problem that communication quality deteriorates due to loss of transmission data. is there. Accordingly, there is a need for a wireless communication device that can smoothly switch wireless communication modules without losing transmission data.

  According to one embodiment of the present invention, a first wireless module that communicates in a first frequency band, a second wireless module that communicates in a second frequency band, the first wireless module, or the second wireless module A control unit that outputs transmission data to one of the wireless modules and transmits the transmission data by the one wireless module, and the control unit outputs the transmission data to the second wireless module And storing the transmission data stored in the storage unit when the wireless module that transmits the transmission data is switched from the second wireless module to the first wireless module. A wireless communication device is provided that outputs to the first wireless module.

  According to one embodiment of the present invention, the first wireless module that communicates in the first frequency band, the second wireless module that communicates in the second frequency band, the first wireless module, In a control method for a wireless communication device, comprising: a control unit that outputs transmission data to one of the second wireless modules and transmits the transmission data by the one wireless module; A storage unit that continues to hold the transmission data output to the storage unit, and the wireless module that transmits the transmission data is stored in the storage unit when the second wireless module is switched to the first wireless module. The transmission data is output to the first wireless module. A wireless communication method is provided.

  In the wireless communication apparatus of the present invention, communication can be performed by switching a plurality of wireless modules.

  Hereinafter, a wireless communication apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings as necessary.

  In a specific embodiment of the present invention, a wireless communication apparatus includes two wireless modules that communicate in different frequency bands, and these wireless modules communicate with each other in millimeter wave and microwave frequency bands. Is adopted. However, the frequency band of the wireless communication method to which the effects of the present invention can be applied is not limited to the millimeter wave band and the microwave band. The frequency band of the radio communication system may be a frequency band other than the millimeter wave band and the microwave band, or these radio modules are prepared for communication with the first and second radio waves belonging to the same frequency band. In addition, communication may be performed by a wireless communication method according to selection of an unrelated module.

  In the specific embodiments of the present invention described below, a wireless communication device that communicates in cooperation with two wireless modules is described as a wireless communication device including a plurality of wireless modules. The wireless communication device and the wireless communication method can be applied to a wireless communication device that performs communication by coordinating three or more wireless modules.

(First embodiment)
A wireless communication apparatus according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of a wireless communication apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the wireless communication device 100 includes a millimeter-wave wireless communication unit 130 that communicates in a millimeter-wave frequency band, a microwave wireless communication unit 140 that communicates in a microwave frequency band, and a millimeter-wave radio. A radio module integrated control unit 120 that selects the communication unit 130 and the microwave radio communication unit 140 and controls transfer of transmission data to the selected radio module. In addition, the wireless communication device 100 includes an upper layer control unit 110 that controls transmission data based on TCP / IP, which is an upper protocol. In the wireless communication device 100, the millimeter wave wireless communication unit 130 and the microwave wireless communication unit 140 are selectively switched according to the communication status with the destination wireless communication device that transmits the transmission data, and wireless communication is performed. The

  Each of the millimeter wave wireless communication unit 130 and the microwave wireless communication unit 140 includes transmission queues 132 and 142 that temporarily store transmission data transferred from the wireless module integrated control unit 120.

  The wireless module integrated control unit 120 includes a transfer destination determination unit 122 that determines which frequency band of the millimeter wave band and the microwave band is used for each destination wireless communication device. The two radio communication units of the radio wave communication unit 130 and the microwave radio communication unit 140 are integrated and controlled. The wireless module integration control unit 120 also includes a transfer processing unit 126 that performs a process of transferring transmission data to either the millimeter wave wireless communication unit 130 or the microwave wireless communication unit 140 specified by the transfer destination determination unit 122. A transmission queue 124 that holds a copy of transmission data transmitted to the millimeter wave wireless communication unit 130 is provided. The transfer destination determination unit 122 includes a generally known calculation unit such as a CPU and a storage unit such as a ROM and a RAM, and the storage unit is used for each destination terminal for determining a transfer destination of transmission data. It is possible to hold a list in which the wireless communication units to be described are described. In addition, the transfer destination determination unit 122 includes a counter (not shown), can receive a retry notification signal from the millimeter wave radio communication unit 130, and can count the number of retry outs for each destination radio communication device. it can.

  When data to be transmitted is generated by the upper layer control unit 110, the upper layer control unit 110 adds a TCP header and an IP header including a destination address of the data and a packet number of the upper layer. Data is packetized into a packet format of the upper layer, and this transmission data (packet) is passed to the wireless module integrated control unit 120. The transmission data passed to the wireless module integrated control unit 120 is transferred to the millimeter wave wireless communication unit 130 or the microwave wireless communication unit 140, and the sequence number in the MAC layer according to the MAC protocol defined in IEEE 802.11. And a MAC header including a MAC address, etc., are framed and transmitted wirelessly.

  When communication is interrupted during communication using a wireless communication method using one frequency band (for example, a millimeter wave band), the wireless communication device 100 is wireless using the other frequency band (for example, a microwave band). The communication can be continued by switching to the communication method. Since the millimeter wave has a frequency of 30 GHz to 300 GHz, which is one digit or more higher than that of the microwave, the millimeter wave wireless communication can perform communication at a higher data rate than the microwave wireless communication. However, since millimeter waves have strong straightness when propagating in space and high directivity, when there are obstacles between wireless communication devices, reachability is low compared to microwaves. Low resistance to environmental changes. That is, the communication environment in the millimeter wave band is unstable compared to the communication in the microwave band. Therefore, the wireless communication device 100 in which two or more wireless communication units operating in different frequency bands such as millimeter waves and microwaves are arranged in parallel communicates with each other in the millimeter wave wireless communication unit 130, and the millimeter wave When a communication failure occurs in the wireless communication unit 130, the wireless communication unit can be switched to the microwave wireless communication unit 140 to continue communication.

  In a specific embodiment of the present invention, when the millimeter wave wireless communication unit 130 is selected, the wireless communication device 100 uses a wireless module integration to transmit a copy of transmission data transmitted from the millimeter wave wireless communication unit 130. The data is continuously stored in the transmission queue 124 of the control unit 120 at least until the transmission is completed. As described later, when the microwave communication unit 140 is selected and the wireless communication unit is switched, the stored transmission data is transferred to the microwave wireless communication unit 140. Can be switched.

  However, the access control method of the MAC layer used in the millimeter wave wireless communication unit 130 and the microwave wireless communication unit 140 used here conforms to IEEE 802.11 which adopts a typical CSMA / CA method as a distributed control method. The wireless LAN communication method will be described below. However, this wireless LAN communication method is an example of a wireless communication method to which the effects of the present invention can be applied. The present invention is not limited to the wireless LAN communication method according to IEEE 802.11, and any wireless communication method can be used. It is clear that can also be applied.

  In the wireless communication apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention, with the above configuration, a wireless communication unit that performs wireless communication can be manufactured using an existing LSI.

(1-1) Processing Procedure for Transmitting Transmission Data by Millimeter-Wave Wireless Communicator 130 Referring to FIG. 2, when wireless communication apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment communicates by millimeter-wave wireless communicator 130 The operation will be described. FIG. 2 schematically shows a processing procedure for transmitting transmission data when the wireless communication apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 1 communicates with the millimeter-wave wireless communication unit 130.

  In wireless communication apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, when transfer destination determination unit 122 performs initial setup settings such as association with a destination wireless communication apparatus (not shown). Investigate which frequency band of millimeter wave and microwave can be used for each destination, and determine which radio communication unit to use for each destination is the millimeter wave radio communication unit 130 or the microwave radio communication unit 140 Is used (step S201). Next, in both the wireless module integrated control units 120, a list describing the wireless communication unit to be used for each destination determined in step S201 is created and stored in the transfer destination determining unit 122 in the wireless module integrated control unit 120. (Step S202). In step S202, the setting of the wireless communication apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment is completed.

  When data is generated in the upper layer control unit 110 (step S203), the upper layer control unit 110 packetizes the generated data in the packet format of the upper layer, and the packet is stored in the wireless module integration control unit 120. To the transfer destination determination unit 122. The transfer destination determination unit 122 displays a list in which the wireless communication unit to be used for each stored destination is described as to whether the transmission data is transferred to the millimeter wave wireless communication unit 130 or the microwave wireless communication unit 140. Judgment is made with reference to determining that the transmission data is to be transferred to the millimeter wave radio communication unit 130 (step S204). The transfer destination determination unit 122 that has decided to transfer the transmission data to the millimeter-wave wireless communication unit 130 creates a copy of the transmission data to be transferred to the millimeter-wave wireless communication unit 130, and the copy of the transmission data is wireless module integrated control. The data is transmitted to the transmission queue 124 in the unit 120, and the transmission data is further transmitted to the transfer processing unit 126 (step S205). The copy of the transmission data created by the transfer destination determination unit 122 is held until the copy source transmission data is transmitted to the transmission queue 124 in the wireless module integration control unit 120 (step S206). In addition, the transfer processing unit 126 that has received the transmission data from the transfer destination determination unit 122 transfers the transmission data to the millimeter wave wireless communication unit 130 (step S207). The millimeter wave wireless communication unit 130 that has received the transmission data stores the transmission data in the transmission queue 132 in the millimeter wave wireless communication unit 130 according to the transmission data, that is, the packet number inserted in the header of the packet. The transmission data stored in is sequentially transmitted according to the MAC layer access control method according to the IEEE 802.11 method (step S208). The millimeter-wave wireless communication unit 130 that has transmitted the frame determines whether or not to perform retransmission processing depending on whether or not an ACK frame as a delivery confirmation frame sent back from the destination is received (step S209). If the millimeter wave wireless communication unit 130 receives an ACK frame from the destination in step S209, the process proceeds to step S210. The millimeter wave wireless communication unit 130 determines that the transmission of the frame in the MAC layer is successful, and notifies the transfer destination determination unit 122 in the wireless module integrated control unit 120 that the transmission is successful according to Ma defined by IEEE 802.11. -Unitdata-status. Notification is made using indication (step S210). Ma-Unitdata-status. The wireless module integrated control unit 120 that has been notified of the success of transmission by the indication from the internal transmission queue 124 includes a destination address (destination address) included in the header of the transmission data and a priority identifier (TID: Traffic) for transmitting the transmission data. The oldest data among the data having the same identifier is deleted (step S211). If the millimeter wave radio communication unit 130 cannot receive the ACK frame in step S209, the process proceeds to step S212.

  If the retransmission process of the frame is executed in the millimeter-wave wireless communication unit 130 and the ACK frame cannot be received even if the retransmission is performed a plurality of times, a retry-out (corresponding to a transmission error) occurs and the retransmission process ends (step S212). Also in the case of retry-out, as in the case of successful transmission, the fact that the millimeter-wave wireless communication unit 130 has made a retry-out is defined by the IEEE 802.11 in the transfer destination determination unit 122 in the wireless module integrated control unit 120. Ma-Unitdata-status. Notification is made using indication (step S213). The operation when the retry-out is notified will be described later with reference to FIG. In addition, when the retry-out is notified, the transmission and retransmission processing of the frame in the millimeter-wave wireless communication unit 130 is performed by a communication method defined by IEEE 802.11.

  Subsequently, a processing procedure for transmitting a frame by the microwave radio communication unit 140 of the radio communication apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment will be described, and then a retry out may be performed when the millimeter wave radio communication unit 130 transmits the frame. A control method for switching the wireless communication unit when it occurs will be described.

(1-2) Processing Procedure for Transmitting Frame by Microwave Radio Communication Unit 140 With reference to FIG. 3, an operation when radio communication apparatus 100 shown in FIG. . FIG. 3 schematically shows a processing procedure for transmitting a frame when the radio communication apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 1 communicates with the microwave radio communication unit 140.

  As illustrated in FIG. 3, the wireless communication device 100 according to the first embodiment performs millisecond setting for each destination when performing initial setup such as association with a destination wireless communication device (not shown). Investigate whether it is possible to communicate in the wave or microwave frequency band, and determine whether to use the millimeter-wave wireless communication unit 130 or the microwave wireless communication unit 140 as the wireless communication unit to be used for each destination (Step S301). Next, a list describing the wireless communication unit to be used for each destination determined in step S301 is created and stored in the transfer destination determination unit 122 in the wireless module integration control unit 120 (step S302). In step S302, the setting of radio communication apparatus 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention is completed.

  When the upper layer control unit 110 generates data (step S303), the upper layer control unit 110 packetizes the generated data in the upper layer packet format, and the packet is stored in the wireless module integration control unit 120. To the transfer destination determination unit 122. The transfer destination determination unit 122 displays a list in which the wireless communication unit to be used for each stored destination is described as to whether the transmission data is transferred to the millimeter wave wireless communication unit 130 or the microwave wireless communication unit 140. Judgment is made with reference to determining that the transmission data is to be transferred to the microwave radio communication unit 140 (step S304). The transfer destination determination unit 122 that has decided to transfer the transmission data to the microwave radio communication unit 140 transmits the transmission data to the transfer processing unit 126 in the radio module integration control unit 120 (step S305). The transfer processing unit 126 that has received the transmission data from the transfer destination determination unit 122 transfers the transmission data to the microwave radio communication unit 140 (step S306). The microwave radio communication unit 140 that has received the transmission data stores the transmission data in the transmission queue 142 in the microwave radio communication unit 140 according to the transmission data, that is, the packet number inserted in the header of the packet. Are sequentially transmitted by the MAC layer access control method according to the IEEE 802.11 method (step S307). The microwave radio communication unit 140 that has performed the data transmission processing by the access control method of the IEEE 802.11 MAC layer, as described in the processing procedure of transmitting data by the millimeter wave radio communication unit 130, is based on IEEE 802.11. Ma-Unitdata-status. A normal process such as updating the statistical information by notifying the wireless module integration control unit 120 of the success or failure of data transmission using the indication is performed (step S308).

  When the transmission data is transmitted by the microwave wireless communication unit 140, the process of holding the copy of the transmission data in the transmission queue 124 in the wireless module integration control unit 120 as shown in step S206 is not executed. As described above, in the wireless communication apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment, the operation is different between the communication when the millimeter wave wireless communication unit 130 is selected and the communication when the microwave wireless communication unit 140 is selected. .

  Next, when a retry-out is detected during frame transmission by the millimeter wave wireless communication unit 130, that is, when a failure occurs in communication at the millimeter wave wireless communication unit 130, the wireless communication device 100 performs millimeter wave wireless communication. A control method for switching from communication by the unit 130 to communication by the microwave radio communication unit 140 will be described.

(1-3) Control method for switching from millimeter wave radio communication unit 130 to microwave radio communication unit 140 Referring to FIGS. 2 and 4, radio communication apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment performs communication using millimeter waves. A control method will be described in which it is determined that communication using millimeter waves has been interrupted, and the wireless communication unit to be used is switched from the millimeter wave wireless communication unit 130 to the microwave wireless communication unit 140.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the wireless communication device 100 according to the first embodiment includes different wireless communication schemes of a millimeter wave wireless communication unit 130 and a microwave wireless communication unit 140, and includes one frequency band (for example, millimeter wave). If the communication is interrupted during communication using a radio communication system using waves, the radio communication system used for the radio communication system using the other frequency band (for example, microwave) is switched to continue the radio communication. Since millimeter waves are less resistant to changes in the radio propagation environment than microwaves, there is a risk that a communication failure is more likely to occur in a wireless communication system using millimeter waves than in a wireless communication system using microwaves. When the communication by the millimeter wave wireless communication unit 130 is interrupted, in the wireless communication device 100 as shown in FIG. 1 having a configuration in which two or more frequency bands having different characteristics such as millimeter wave and microwave are arranged in parallel, Communication can be continued by switching the radio communication unit to the microwave radio communication unit 140. In a specific embodiment of the present invention, the wireless module integrated control unit 120 keeps a copy of transmission data transmitted by the millimeter-wave wireless communication unit 130 until transmission is completed, thereby smoothly switching between wireless communication units. Can be implemented.

  Before starting communication by the millimeter wave wireless communication unit 130, the wireless module integrated control unit 120 performs the communication by the millimeter wave wireless communication unit 130 when notifying a certain number of retry-outs notified from the millimeter wave wireless communication unit 130. A threshold is set for the number of retry-outs so as to switch from communication to communication by the microwave radio communication unit 140 (step S401). This threshold is held in the transfer destination determination unit 122 in the wireless module integration control unit 120. Next, the wireless communication device 100 uses the millimeter-wave wireless communication unit 130 to maintain a copy of transmission data in the transmission queue 124 in the wireless module integrated control unit 120 according to the processing procedure shown in FIG. Wireless communication using waves. When the transmission process is retried for reasons such as being unable to receive an ACK frame during communication using millimeter waves, the transfer destination determination unit 122 in the wireless module integrated control unit 120 determines that the retry has occurred. From the wireless communication unit 130 to Ma-Unitdata-status. Notification is made using indication (step S402). When the transfer destination determination unit 122 is notified of the retry-out, the transfer destination determination unit 122 instructs the transmission queue 124 in the wireless module integration control unit 120 to continue to hold a copy of the transmission data that has been retried out. The number of times is counted with a counter. Here, when the number of retry-outs exceeds the set threshold (step S403), the transfer destination determination unit 122 uses the radio communication unit used for the destination whose retry-out number exceeds the set threshold as a millimeter-wave radio. It is determined to switch from the communication unit 130 to the microwave radio communication unit 140 (step S404).

  When the transfer destination determination unit 122 determines to switch the wireless communication unit from the millimeter wave wireless communication unit 130 to the microwave wireless communication unit 140, the transfer destination determination unit 122 includes a list of wireless communication units to be used for each destination stored therein. Thus, the wireless communication method used when transmitting to the destination is changed from the millimeter wave wireless communication unit 130 to the microwave wireless communication unit 140 (step S405). When the transfer destination determination unit 122 updates the list of wireless communication units to be used for each destination as shown in step S405, the transfer destination determination unit 122 transmits to the destination held in the transmission queue 124 in the wireless module integrated control unit 120. A copy of the transmission data to be transmitted is transferred to the microwave radio communication unit 140 via the transfer processing unit 126 (step S406). At the same time, it instructs the millimeter wave radio communication unit 130 to delete the transmission data to the destination from the transmission queue 132. When data is continuously generated in the upper layer control unit 110, the transfer destination determination unit 122 transfers the transmission data to the microwave radio communication unit 140 according to a list describing the radio communication units used for each destination ( Step S407).

  The method of counting the number of retry-outs managed by the transfer destination determining unit 122 in the wireless module integrated control unit 120 is a counter when the transfer destination determining unit 122 detects no retry out within a predetermined time. It is possible to set so that the number of retry-outs counted in step 1 is reset to the initial value “0”. In an environment where communication continues for a certain amount and a retry-out is detected occasionally, it is not always necessary to switch from the millimeter wave radio communication unit 130 to the microwave radio communication unit 140. For this reason, when a retry-out is not detected within a certain time, the wireless communication unit is not switched by resetting the count of the counter to the initial value “0”.

  In another method of detecting the deterioration of the propagation environment, the transfer destination determination unit 122 always sets a timer during communication in the millimeter wave wireless communication unit 130 and counts the number of retry-outs within the timer period. When the number of times of transmission exceeds the threshold, it may be determined that the propagation environment is bad, and the wireless communication unit used for the microwave wireless communication unit 140 may be switched from the millimeter wave wireless communication unit 130. In this method, when the timer expires before the threshold is exceeded, the transfer destination determination unit 122 resets the number of retry-outs counted by the counter to the initial value “0” and sets the retry time to retry-out. Set to start counting times.

  As described above, in the wireless communication apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment, a copy of transmission data transmitted by the millimeter wave wireless communication unit 130 is held in the wireless module integrated control unit 120, and the wireless communication unit is connected to the millimeter wave. When switching from the radio communication unit 130 to the microwave radio communication unit 140, a copy of this transmission data is transferred to the microwave radio communication unit 140. Thereby, the radio communication apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment can transmit the transmission data that can no longer be transmitted by the millimeter wave radio communication unit 130 from the microwave radio communication unit 140 without loss. Therefore, it is possible to avoid delays and problems caused by loss of transmission data.

  In addition, the method of the present invention uses two or more existing wireless LAN baseband LSIs or wireless LAN cards that do not consider a multi-system usage pattern as the millimeter-wave wireless communication unit 130 and the microwave wireless communication unit 140. And can be applied to a multi-system that performs wireless communication by controlling them. In particular, the method of the present invention is very effective when the transmission data inserted into the millimeter-wave wireless communication unit 130 of the existing wireless LAN baseband LSI cannot be extracted in such a multi-system. Furthermore, by instructing the millimeter wave wireless communication unit 130 to discard unnecessary data, it is possible to avoid delays in data transmission to other destinations in the millimeter wave wireless communication unit 130.

(Second Embodiment)
The second embodiment is a modification of the first embodiment, and the second embodiment will be described with a focus on portions different from the first embodiment. In the second embodiment, similarly to the first embodiment, when communication by the millimeter wave radio communication unit 130 is interrupted during communication by the millimeter wave radio communication unit 130, the radio communication unit is set to microwave radio. The communication is continued by switching to communication by the communication unit 140. However, in the second embodiment, the wireless module integrated control unit 120 does not continue to hold the transmission data that caused the transmission error in the communication by the millimeter wave wireless communication unit 130, but the transmission data that caused the transmission error. Is immediately transferred to the microwave radio communication unit 140, and the microwave radio communication unit 140 transmits the frame. Therefore, in the second embodiment, a transmission error occurs even when the number of retry-outs in the communication of the millimeter wave wireless communication unit 130 exceeds the threshold and the transfer destination determination unit 122 decides to switch the wireless communication unit. This is different from the first embodiment in that the frame is protected by transmitting the received frame by the microwave radio communication unit 140.

  The wireless communication apparatus 100 according to the second embodiment has the same configuration as the wireless communication apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment shown in FIG. FIG. 5 illustrates a process of transferring transmission data to the microwave radio communication unit 140 when the frame transmission process is retried out in the millimeter wave radio communication unit 130 of the radio communication apparatus 100 according to the second embodiment. The procedure is schematically shown.

  In the wireless communication apparatus 100 according to the second embodiment, the processing procedure in the case where communication by the millimeter wave wireless communication unit 130 and communication without transmission error can be performed is shown in steps S501 to S511 in FIG. Since this processing procedure is the same as the processing procedure of steps S201 to S211 shown in FIG. 2 described in the first embodiment, a description thereof will be omitted. In addition, in the wireless communication device 100 according to the second embodiment, the operation in the case of performing communication by the microwave wireless communication unit 140 is performed in steps S301 to S308 illustrated in FIG. 3 described in the first embodiment. Since it is the same as the processing procedure, its description is omitted. Therefore, in the second embodiment, the description will focus on the operation when the retransmission processing is performed in the MAC layer when the millimeter-wave wireless communication unit 130 performs communication, but the transmission processing is a retry-out. .

  When wireless communication apparatus 100 according to the second embodiment transmits transmission data to a destination by millimeter wave wireless communication unit 130, as shown in steps S501 to S508 of FIG. 5, the wireless module integrated control unit A copy of the transmission data is held in the transmission queue 124 in 120, and the millimeter wave wireless communication unit 130 transmits the frame according to the MAC layer access control method. After the data transmission, if the MAC layer fails to confirm delivery by the ACK frame, the retransmission process is performed several times. If delivery confirmation cannot be obtained after the retransmission processing, the transmission processing is retried out as defined in IEEE 802.11 (step S512). In the case of retry-out, Ma defined in IEEE 802.11 that the wireless module integrated control unit 120 has retried from the millimeter-wave wireless communication unit 130 to the transfer destination determination unit 122 in the wireless module integrated control unit 120. -Unitdata-status. Notification is made using indication (step S513). When the transfer destination determination unit 122 is notified of the retry-out, the transfer destination determination unit 122 counts the number of retry-outs, and this number is held in the transfer destination determination unit 122 in the wireless module integrated control unit 120. . Next, the transfer destination determination unit 122 transfers a copy of the transmission data to the destination terminal that has been retried to the microwave radio communication unit 140 (step S514). The transfer destination determining unit 122 performs the operation shown in step S514 every time a retry-out is notified from the millimeter wave wireless communication unit 130, and temporarily switches the wireless communication unit to be used to the microwave wireless communication unit 140. A copy of the transmission data that could not be transmitted by the radio wave communication unit 130 is transmitted again from the microwave radio communication unit 140 side. Accordingly, transmission data that has been retried out due to deterioration of the radio environment in the millimeter wave band and that has been conventionally discarded can be transmitted from the microwave radio communication unit 140.

  Thereafter, the transfer destination determination unit 122 transfers the transmission data to the millimeter wave wireless communication unit 130 again according to the procedure shown in steps S501 to S507 in FIG. 5, and the millimeter wave wireless communication unit 130 continues communication. When a transmission error occurs in the millimeter wave wireless communication unit 130, the wireless communication unit temporarily used by the transfer destination determination unit 122 is switched to the microwave wireless communication unit 140, and a transmission error occurs in the microwave wireless communication unit 140. A copy of the transmitted data is sent.

  The method of switching the radio communication system to be used from the millimeter wave radio communication unit 130 to the microwave radio communication unit 140 when retry out is detected many times by the millimeter wave radio communication unit 130 is the first embodiment. Similar to the described method. In other words, the transfer destination determination unit 122 sets a threshold for the number of retry-outs, and if the number of retry-outs notified from the millimeter-wave wireless communication unit 130 exceeds the threshold, the millimeter-wave wireless communication unit 130 transmits the microwave wireless communication. It is determined to switch to the unit 140. When the transfer destination determination unit 122 determines to switch from the millimeter wave radio communication unit 130 to the microwave radio communication unit 140, the transfer destination determination unit 122 holds the radio communication unit used for communication with the destination for which the number of retry-outs exceeds the threshold. Update the list of wireless communication units used for each destination. Further, the transfer destination determination unit 122 transmits transmission data to the destination held in the transmission queue 124 in the wireless module integration control unit 120 (held in the transmission queue 132 in the millimeter wave wireless communication unit 130 and transmitted) (Transmission data that has not received success / failure indication) is transferred to the microwave radio communication unit 140. Furthermore, the transfer destination determination unit 122 instructs the millimeter wave radio communication unit 130 to delete the transmission data that matches the transmission data transferred to the microwave radio communication unit 140. The wireless communication apparatus 100 according to the second embodiment can smoothly switch the wireless communication unit to be used by such a processing procedure.

  In the second embodiment, the method of counting the number of retry-outs managed by the transfer destination determination unit 122 in the wireless module integrated control unit 120 is the same method as described in the first embodiment. Can be implemented.

  As described above, in the wireless communication device 100 according to the second embodiment, a copy of transmission data is held in the wireless module integrated control unit 120, and transmission is performed each time a transmission error occurs in the millimeter wave wireless communication unit 130. A copy of the transmission data in error is transferred to the microwave radio communication unit 140. Then, in the wireless communication device 100 according to the second embodiment, a frame in which a wireless communication unit temporarily used is switched to the microwave wireless communication unit 140 and a transmission error occurs in the microwave wireless communication unit 140. The transmission data can be protected even before being transmitted to the destination and switching the wireless communication unit. In addition, as in the first embodiment, communication is performed without losing transmission data, and delays and problems caused by loss of transmission data can be avoided. Furthermore, by instructing the millimeter wave wireless communication unit 130 to discard unnecessary data, it is possible to avoid delays in data transmission to other destinations in the millimeter wave wireless communication unit 130.

(Third embodiment)
The third embodiment is a modification of the first embodiment, and the third embodiment will be described with a focus on the parts different from the first embodiment. In the third embodiment, similarly to the first embodiment, when communication by the millimeter wave radio communication unit 130 is interrupted during communication by the millimeter wave radio communication unit 130, the radio communication unit is set to microwave radio. The communication is continued by switching to communication by the communication unit 140. However, in the third embodiment, a method of holding and managing transmission data by determining as an overall situation instead of dealing with each transmission data in which a transmission error has occurred in communication by the millimeter wave radio communication unit 130 This is different from the first embodiment in that

  FIG. 6 illustrates a process of transferring transmission data to the microwave radio communication unit 140 when the frame transmission process is a retry-out in the millimeter wave radio communication unit 130 of the radio communication apparatus 100 according to the third embodiment. The procedure is schematically shown.

  The wireless communication apparatus 100 according to the third embodiment has the same configuration as that of the wireless communication apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1, but the transmission queue 124 in the wireless module integrated control unit 120 is provided. The management method is different from that of the first embodiment. That is, in the transmission queue 124 in the wireless module integrated control unit 120, as described in the first and second embodiments, in the transmission queue 124 according to the indication information notified from the millimeter wave wireless communication unit 130. The transmission queue 124 is managed by the following method, instead of managing by deleting and transferring the transmission data held in.

  In the wireless communication device 100 according to the third embodiment, the transmission queue 124 in the wireless module integrated control unit 120 has a fixed capacity for each destination wireless communication device that transmits via the millimeter wave wireless communication unit 130. Assigned. For example, the transmission queue 124 is configured to hold up to 32 packets of transmission data for each destination. A processing procedure in the case of performing communication by the millimeter wave wireless communication unit 130 is shown in steps S601 to S608 in FIG. Since this processing procedure is the same as the processing procedure of steps S201 to S208 shown in FIG. 2 described in the first embodiment, a description thereof will be omitted. However, in the third embodiment, in the wireless module integrated control unit 120, a copy of transmission data is managed for each destination, and transmission is performed when the transmission data held exceeds a fixed number, for example, 32 packets. According to the data, that is, the packet number inserted in the header of the packet, the old data is sequentially discarded and the new transmission data is held. As a result, transmission data of new 32 packets is always held in the transmission queue 124 in the wireless module integrated control unit 120 without receiving an indication including information on the success or failure of frame transmission from the millimeter wave wireless communication unit 130.

  If the millimeter wave wireless communication unit 130 receives an ACK frame from the destination in step S609, the process proceeds to step S610. The millimeter-wave wireless communication unit 130 determines that the frame transmission in the MAC layer has been successful, and that the successful transmission via the wireless module integrated control unit 120 is specified by the IEEE 802.11 to the upper layer control unit. Ma-Unitdata-status. Notification is made using indication (step S610).

  In the wireless communication apparatus 100 according to the third embodiment, the operation when performing communication by the microwave wireless communication unit 140 is the processing procedure of steps S301 to S308 illustrated in FIG. 3 described in the first embodiment. It is omitted because it is the same. Therefore, in the second embodiment, the operation when the retransmission process is performed in the MAC layer but a retry-out is performed during communication by the millimeter wave radio communication unit 130 will be mainly described.

  In the wireless communication apparatus 100 according to the third embodiment, the processing procedure for transmitting transmission data by the microwave communication unit 140 is the same as the processing procedure shown in FIG. 3 as described in the first embodiment. Therefore, the description thereof is omitted.

  If the millimeter wave radio communication unit 130 cannot receive the ACK frame from the destination in step S609, the process proceeds to step S611. In the wireless communication apparatus 100, when data is transmitted to a destination using the millimeter wave wireless communication unit 130, retransmission processing is performed in the MAC layer in the millimeter wave wireless communication unit 130, and after several retransmission processes. If the delivery confirmation is not obtained, the transmission process is retried out (step S611). When retry-out occurs, the fact that the millimeter-wave wireless communication unit 130 is retry-out is sent to the transfer destination determination unit 122 in the wireless module integrated control unit 120 by Ma-Unit data-status. Notification is made using indication (step S612). When the transfer destination determination unit 122 is notified of the retry-out, the transfer destination determination unit 122 counts the number of retry-outs (step S613) and holds the number of retry-outs. When the number of retry-outs exceeds the set threshold in the transmission processing in the millimeter-wave wireless communication unit 130, the transfer destination determination unit 122 switches the wireless communication unit to be used from the millimeter-wave wireless communication unit 130 to the microwave wireless communication unit 140. Decide that. The transfer destination determination unit 122 retains the transfer destination determination unit 122 when it is determined to switch the radio communication unit to be used for a destination whose number of retry-outs exceeds the threshold from the millimeter wave radio communication unit 130 to the microwave radio communication unit 140. Rewrite the list of wireless communication units used for each destination. Also, all the latest 32 transmission data to the destination held in the transmission queue 124 in the wireless module integrated control unit 120 are transferred to the microwave wireless communication unit 140 (step S614). The transfer destination determination unit 122 instructs the millimeter wave wireless communication unit 130 to delete the transmission data to the destination held by the millimeter wave wireless communication unit 130, and the wireless communication device 100 performs the microwave wireless communication based on the updated list. The unit 140 performs communication.

  In the third embodiment, the method of counting the number of retry-outs managed by the transfer destination determination unit 122 in the wireless module integrated control unit 120 is the same method as described in the first embodiment. Can be implemented.

  As described above, in the wireless communication device 100 according to the third embodiment, as in the first embodiment, a copy of transmission data transmitted by the millimeter wave wireless communication unit 130 is a wireless module integration control unit 120. Retained. When the radio communication unit is switched from the millimeter wave radio communication unit 130 to the microwave radio communication unit 140, a copy of the transmission data is transferred to the microwave radio communication unit 140 and transmitted by the millimeter wave radio communication unit 130. Transmission data in error can be transmitted from the microwave radio communication unit without loss. As a result, it is possible to avoid delays and problems caused by transmission data loss. In addition, by instructing the millimeter wave wireless communication unit 130 to discard unnecessary transmission data, it is possible to avoid delays in data transmission to other destinations in the millimeter wave wireless communication unit 130. Furthermore, in the third embodiment, since a fixed number of capacities are allocated to the transmission queue 124 in the wireless module integrated control unit 120, transmission data can be easily held and managed.

(Fourth embodiment)
The fourth embodiment is a modification of the first embodiment, and the fourth embodiment will be described with a focus on portions that are different from the first embodiment. In the fourth embodiment, similarly to the first embodiment, when communication by the millimeter wave radio communication unit 130 is interrupted during communication by the millimeter wave radio communication unit 130, the radio communication unit is set to microwave radio. The communication is continued by switching to communication by the communication unit 140. However, in the fourth embodiment, a copy of transmission data communicated by the millimeter wave wireless communication unit 130 is not held in the transmission queue 124 in the wireless module integrated control unit 120, but the millimeter wave wireless communication unit 130. The transmission queue 132 in the wireless module integrated control unit 120 is set to a small size, the transmission queue 124 in the wireless module integrated control unit 120 holds transmission data as much as possible, and is discarded when a transmission error occurs in the millimeter wave wireless communication unit 130. The difference from the first embodiment is that the number of transmission data held in the transmission queue 132 is reduced and the transmission data discarded is reduced.

  FIG. 7 schematically illustrates a processing procedure for transmitting transmission data when the wireless communication apparatus 100 according to the fourth embodiment communicates with the millimeter wave wireless communication unit 130. FIG. 8 schematically shows an operation procedure in which the radio communication device 100 according to the fourth embodiment switches the radio communication unit used for communication by the microwave radio communication unit 140 from the communication by the millimeter wave radio communication unit 130. Yes.

  The wireless communication device 100 according to the fourth embodiment has the same configuration as the wireless communication device 100 according to the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1, but the transmission queue 124 in the millimeter wave wireless communication unit 130 is provided. The method of setting and using is different from that of the first embodiment. That is, in the fourth embodiment, the size of the transmission queue 132 in the millimeter wave wireless communication unit 130 is set small, and the size of the transmission queue 124 in the wireless module integrated control unit 120 is set large. For example, when the size of the transmission queue is “100” as a whole, the size of the transmission queue 132 in the millimeter wave wireless communication unit 130 is set to “20”, and the size of the transmission queue 124 in the wireless module integrated control unit 120 is set to “20”. Set to “80”.

  Thereafter, in the wireless communication device 100 according to the fourth embodiment, the processing procedure for transmitting the transmission data by the millimeter wave wireless communication unit 130 and the wireless module integrated control unit 120 block the communication at the millimeter wave wireless communication unit 130. An operation procedure for switching to the microwave radio communication unit 140 from the radio communication unit used for communication with the destination determined to have been determined to have been interrupted will be described. The processing procedure for transmitting transmission data by the microwave radio communication unit 140 is the same as that in the first embodiment as shown in FIG.

(4-1) Processing Procedure for Transmitting Transmission Data by Millimeter-Wave Wireless Communicator 130 Referring to FIG. 7, when wireless communication apparatus 100 according to the fourth embodiment communicates by millimeter-wave wireless communicator 130 The operation will be described. FIG. 7 schematically shows a processing procedure for transmitting transmission data when the wireless communication apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 1 communicates with the millimeter-wave wireless communication unit 130.

  As illustrated in FIG. 2, the wireless communication device 100 according to the fourth embodiment performs millimeter wave setting for each destination when performing initial setup settings such as association with a destination wireless communication device (not illustrated). And in which frequency band of microwaves communication is possible. When it is determined that the destination wireless communication apparatus is capable of communication using millimeter waves, the transmission data is used for transmission to this destination included in both the millimeter wave wireless communication unit 130 and the wireless module integrated control unit 120. The size of the transmission queues 132 and 124 is a method described above (for example, the size of the transmission queue 132 in the millimeter wave wireless communication unit 130 is 20 and the size of the transmission queue 124 in the wireless module integrated control unit 120 is 80). ) (Step S701).

  Next, the transfer destination determination unit 122 determines whether to use the millimeter-wave wireless communication unit 130 or the microwave wireless communication unit 140 as the wireless communication unit used for each destination (step S702). In the wireless module integration control unit 120, a list describing the wireless communication unit used for each destination determined in step S702 is created and stored in the transfer destination determination unit 122 (step S703).

  When data is generated in the upper layer control unit 110 (step S704), the upper layer control unit 110 packetizes the generated data in the packet format of the upper layer, and the packet is stored in the radio module integration control unit 120. To the transfer destination determination unit 122. The transfer destination determination unit 122 displays a list of wireless communication units to be used for each stored destination, to which of the millimeter wave wireless communication unit 130 or the microwave wireless communication unit 140 the transmission data is transferred. Judgment is made with reference to this, and it is determined to transfer this transmission data to the millimeter wave radio communication unit 130 (step S204). When the transfer destination determination unit 122 determines to transfer the transmission data to the millimeter wave wireless communication unit 130, the transfer destination determination unit 122 transmits the transmission data to be transferred to the millimeter wave wireless communication unit 130 to the transmission queue 124 in the wireless module integrated control unit 120. (Step S706). The transmission queue 124 in the wireless module integrated control unit 120 transfers transmission data to the transmission queue 132 in the millimeter wave wireless communication unit 130 because transmission data is not accumulated in the transmission queue 132 in the millimeter wave wireless communication unit 130. (Step S707). The millimeter wave wireless communication unit 130 determines whether the transmission queue 132 is not full and transmission data can be stored in the transmission queue 132 (step S708). If the transmission queue 132 can be accumulated, the transmission data is stored in the transmission queue 132 in the millimeter wave wireless communication unit 130, and the frame is transmitted according to the MAC layer access control method defined in IEEE 802.11 (step S709). ).

  After that, when a lot of transmission data is transferred to the millimeter wave wireless communication unit 130, the transmission queue 132 in the millimeter wave wireless communication unit 130 becomes full, and it becomes impossible to store the transmission data in the transmission queue 132. . In this case, if it is determined in step S708 that the millimeter wave wireless communication unit 130 cannot store the transmission data in the transmission queue 132, the process proceeds to step S710. When it is determined that the transmission queue 132 in the millimeter wave wireless communication unit 130 is full, the millimeter wave wireless communication unit 130 returns this transmission data to the transmission queue 124 in the wireless module integrated control unit 120 (step S710). . The returned transmission data is held in the transmission queue 124 in the wireless module integration control unit 120 (step S711). When data to be transmitted to this destination is further generated as shown in step S704, the transfer destination determination unit 122 stores the transmission data stored in the transmission queue 124 in the transmission queue 124 in the wireless module integrated control unit 120. Finally, the newly generated transmission data is placed and held (step S712). In the millimeter wave wireless communication unit 130, when transmission data is transmitted from the transmission queue 132 in the millimeter wave wireless communication unit 130 and a vacancy occurs, the millimeter wave wireless communication unit 130 sends the transmission data to the wireless module integrated control unit 120. A signal requesting transfer is passed, and the transmission data is transferred from the transmission queue 124 in the wireless module integrated control unit 120 to the millimeter wave wireless communication unit 130 (step S713).

(4-2) Control Method for Switching from Millimeter-Wave Radio Communication Unit 130 to Microwave Radio Communication Unit 140 Referring to FIG. 8, radio communication apparatus 100 according to the fourth embodiment performed communication using millimeter waves. In this case, a control method is described in which it is determined that communication using millimeter waves has been cut off, and the wireless communication unit to be used is switched from the millimeter wave wireless communication unit 130 to the microwave wireless communication unit 140.

  First, as in the first embodiment, when the communication in the millimeter wave wireless communication unit 130 is started, the wireless module integrated control unit 120 is used from the millimeter wave wireless communication unit 130 to the microwave wireless communication unit 140. In order to determine whether to switch the wireless communication unit to be performed, a threshold is set for the number of retry-outs, and this threshold is held in the transfer destination determination unit 122 in the wireless module integrated control unit 120 (step S801). Next, the transfer destination determination unit 122 sets a timer for measuring the number of retry-outs (step S802). If the transmission process is retried during communication at the millimeter wave wireless communication unit 130 due to failure to receive an ACK frame or the like, the transfer destination determination unit in the wireless module integrated control unit 120 from the millimeter wave wireless communication unit 130 122 indicates that a retry-out has occurred, according to Ma-Unitdata-status. Notification is made using indication (step S803). When the retry-out is notified, the transfer destination determination unit 122 counts the number of retry-outs in the counter, and determines whether or not the number of retry-outs exceeds the set threshold (step S804). If the number of retry-outs does not exceed the threshold, the process proceeds to step S805. If the timer has expired, if the timer has expired, the counted number of retry-outs is reset to the initial value “0”, and the process returns to step S803 to continue the retry-out count in the counter. In step S804, if the number of retry-outs exceeds the threshold, the process proceeds to step S806. When the number of retry-outs exceeds the threshold, the transfer destination determination unit 122 changes the wireless communication unit used for communication with the destination whose retry-outs exceed the threshold from the millimeter-wave wireless communication unit 130 to the microwave wireless communication unit 140. To switch to (step S806).

  When the transfer destination determining unit 122 decides to switch the wireless communication unit from the millimeter wave wireless communication unit 130 to the microwave wireless communication unit 140, the list describing the wireless communication units to be used for each destination held therein. In the table, the wireless communication unit used when transmitting to the destination wireless communication device 100 in which the number of retry-outs exceeds the threshold is changed from the millimeter wave wireless communication unit 130 to the microwave wireless communication unit 140 (step) S807). When the transfer destination determination unit 122 updates the list in which the wireless communication unit used for each destination is described, the transfer destination determination unit 122 holds the transmission queue 124 in the transmission queue 124 with respect to the transmission queue 124 in the wireless module integration control unit 120. A copy of the transmission data to the destination is transferred to the microwave radio communication unit 140 through the transfer processing unit 126 (step S808). At the same time, the millimeter wave radio communication unit 130 is instructed to delete the transmission data to be transmitted to the destination from the transmission queue 124 (step S809).

  As described above, in the wireless communication device 100 according to the fourth embodiment, a copy of the transmission data transmitted by the millimeter wave wireless communication unit 130 is transmitted to the wireless module integration control unit 120 as in the first embodiment. Retained. When the radio communication device 100 according to the fourth embodiment switches the radio communication unit from the millimeter wave radio communication unit 130 to the microwave radio communication unit 140, the copy of the transmission data is a microwave radio communication unit. 140 is transmitted from the microwave radio communication unit without losing the transmission data resulting in a transmission error in the millimeter wave radio communication unit 130, and delays and problems caused by loss of the transmission data can be reduced. It can be avoided. In addition, by instructing the millimeter wave wireless communication unit 130 to discard unnecessary transmission data, it is possible to avoid delays in data transmission to other destinations in the millimeter wave wireless communication unit 130. Furthermore, in the fourth embodiment, by setting the size of the transmission queue 132 in the millimeter wave wireless communication unit 130 to be small, it is possible to reduce transmission data discarded when the wireless communication unit is switched.

  In the first to fourth embodiments, two frequency bands, the millimeter wave band and the microwave band, have been described as the frequency band of the wireless communication unit to be used. However, the wireless communication method of the present invention uses both frequency bands. Can be applied even when the channels are different in the same frequency band. In that case, the wireless module integrated control unit copies the transmission data of the wireless communication unit having a poor communication state such as a large number of terminals to communicate, a large communication traffic amount, or a poor base station installation state. By holding at 120, the same effect can be exhibited.

  Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment as it is, and can be embodied by modifying the components without departing from the scope of the invention in the implementation stage. Various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining a plurality of constituent elements disclosed in the embodiments. For example, some components may be deleted from all the components shown in the embodiment. Furthermore, constituent elements over different embodiments may be appropriately combined.

It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of the radio | wireless communication apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the transmission process in the millimeter wave radio | wireless communication part of the radio | wireless communication apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the transmission process in the microwave radio | wireless communication part of the radio | wireless communication apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the switching control from the millimeter wave radio | wireless communication part to the microwave radio | wireless communication part in the radio | wireless communication apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the switching control from the millimeter wave radio | wireless communication part to the microwave radio | wireless communication part in the radio | wireless communication apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the switching control from the millimeter wave radio | wireless communication part to the microwave radio | wireless communication part in the radio | wireless communication apparatus which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of the transmission process in the wave radio | wireless communication part of the radio | wireless communication apparatus which concerns on 4th Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the switching control from the millimeter wave radio | wireless communication part to the microwave radio | wireless communication part in the radio | wireless communication apparatus which concerns on 4th Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 110 ... Upper layer layer control part, 120 ... Wireless module integrated control part, 122 ... Transfer destination judgment part, 124, 132, 142 ... Transmission queue, 126 ... Transfer processing part, 130 ... Millimeter wave wireless communication part, 140 ... Microwave Wireless communication unit

Claims (12)

A first wireless module communicating in a first frequency band;
A second wireless module communicating in a second frequency band;
A control unit that outputs transmission data to one of the first wireless module or the second wireless module, and transmits the transmission data by the one wireless module;
The control unit includes a storage unit that holds a copy of the transmission data to be output to the second wireless module, and transmits the wireless module that transmits the transmission data from the second wireless module to the first wireless module. When switching to a module, the transmission data held in the storage unit is output to the first wireless module ,
The second wireless module converts transmission data transferred from the control unit into a frame defined by an access control layer, performs transmission and retransmission processing, and recognizes completion of transmission of the transmission data to the control unit. Is to perform notification of the retransmission processing and transmission data transmission completion based on a delivery confirmation frame,
The said control part deletes the transmission data which grasped | ascertained transmission completion by the said notification from the said memory | storage part, The radio | wireless communication apparatus characterized by the above-mentioned . The first wireless module communicates in the first frequency band having a first directivity,
2. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second wireless module performs communication in the second frequency band having a second directivity having higher directivity than the first directivity. . If the second wireless module, after transmitting the frame, when receiving the acknowledgment frame of the frame that informs the success of the transmission processing of the frame to the control unit can not receive the acknowledgment frame The frame is retransmitted, and when the delivery confirmation frame cannot be received even after the retransmission process, the control unit is notified of the failure of the frame transmission process,
A reference value is preset for the number of times the frame transmission process has failed,
When the number of times the frame transmission processing has failed during communication with the second wireless module exceeds the reference value, the control unit changes the wireless module that transmits the frame to the second wireless module. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the wireless communication apparatus is switched from the first wireless module to the first wireless module. If the second wireless module, after transmitting the frame, when receiving the acknowledgment frame of the frame that informs the success of the transmission processing of the frame to the control unit can not receive the acknowledgment frame The frame is retransmitted, and if the delivery confirmation frame cannot be received even after the retransmission process, the controller is notified of the failure of the frame transmission process,
The control unit stores the memory corresponding to the frame in which the transmission process has failed every time the second wireless module is notified of the failure in the transmission process of the frame during communication in the second wireless module. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transmission data held in a unit is transferred to the first wireless module. A reference value is preset for the number of times the frame transmission process has failed,
The control unit switches the wireless module that transmits the frame from the second wireless module to the first wireless module when the number of times the frame transmission processing has failed exceeds the reference value. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that:     When the first time interval for counting the number of times the transmission process has failed is preset and the control unit is not notified that the frame transmission process has failed within the first time interval. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the number of times that the failure of the transmission process is counted is reset. A second time interval for counting the number of times the transmission process has failed is preset,
The controller is configured to reset the counted number of transmission processing failures when the counted number of transmission processing failures does not exceed the reference value within the second set time. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 3 or 5.     When the upper limit value of the transmission data held in the storage unit is preset and the control unit holds the transmission data in the storage unit exceeding the upper limit value, the control unit holds the transmission data in the storage unit. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transmission data is sequentially deleted in the order in which the transmission data is stored. A first wireless module having a first transmission queue for holding transmission data and communicating in a first frequency band;
A second wireless module having a second transmission queue for holding transmission data of a certain data capacity and communicating in a second frequency band;
A control unit that outputs transmission data to one of the first wireless module or the second wireless module, and transmits the transmission data by the one wireless module;
The control unit has a third transmission queue that holds a copy of the transmission data to be output to the second wireless module, and communicates with the second wireless module from the second wireless module. Each time the transmission data is transmitted, the transmission data is transferred from the third transmission queue to the second transmission queue, the transmission data is supplemented to the second transmission queue, and the second transmission queue is filled. Continue to hold the transmission data at the data capacity,
Transferring the transmission data held in the third transmission queue to the first transmission queue of the first wireless module when switching from the second wireless module to the first wireless module ;
The second wireless module converts transmission data transferred from the control unit into a frame defined by an access control layer, performs transmission and retransmission processing, and recognizes completion of transmission of the transmission data to the control unit. Is to perform notification of the retransmission processing and transmission data transmission completion based on a delivery confirmation frame,
The said control part deletes the transmission data which grasped | ascertained transmission completion by the said notification from a said 3rd transmission queue, The radio | wireless communication apparatus characterized by the above-mentioned .     The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the second transmission queue is set to be smaller than a capacity of the third transmission queue. A first wireless module communicating in a first frequency band;
A second wireless module communicating in a second frequency band;
A control unit that outputs transmission data to one of the first wireless module and the second wireless module, and transmits the transmission data by the one wireless module, and the second wireless module. The transmission data transferred from the control unit is converted into a frame defined by the access control layer, and transmission and retransmission processes are performed. When the transmission data transmission completion is grasped, the control unit is notified. In the control method of the wireless communication device for performing the retransmission processing and the transmission completion of the transmission data based on a delivery confirmation frame ,
A copy of the transmission data to be output to the second wireless module is held in a storage unit, and the wireless module that transmits the transmission data is switched from the second wireless module to the first wireless module. Outputting the transmission data held in the storage unit to the first wireless module ;
A wireless communication method , comprising: deleting transmission data for which transmission completion is grasped by the notification from the storage unit . A first wireless module having a first transmission queue for holding transmission data and communicating in a first frequency band;
A second wireless module having a second transmission queue for holding transmission data of a certain data capacity and communicating in a second frequency band;
A control unit that outputs transmission data to one of the first wireless module and the second wireless module, and transmits the transmission data by the one wireless module, and the second wireless module. The transmission data transferred from the control unit is converted into a frame defined by the access control layer, and transmission and retransmission processes are performed. When the transmission data transmission completion is grasped, the control unit is notified. In the control method of the wireless communication device for performing the retransmission processing and the transmission completion of the transmission data based on a delivery confirmation frame ,
A copy of the transmission data to be output to the second wireless module is held in a third transmission queue, and the transmission data is transmitted from the second wireless module during communication with the second wireless module. Each time the transmission data is transferred from the third transmission queue to the second transmission queue, the transmission data is replenished to the second transmission queue, and the transmission data is stored in the second transmission queue with the data capacity. Keep holding,
Transferring the transmission data held in the third transmission queue to the first transmission queue of the first wireless module when switching from the second wireless module to the first wireless module ;
A wireless communication method , comprising: deleting transmission data for which transmission completion is grasped by the notification from the storage unit .

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