JP6172299B2 - Communication apparatus and communication method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a communication device having a plurality of wireless communication interfaces.

  In wireless communication, for reasons such as changes in the surrounding wireless environment, it is desirable to change the wireless channel and perform communication in a better environment. A good environment is an environment with little noise. Patent Documents 1 and 2 disclose a method for switching radio channels.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a method for switching the communication line between the own station and the opposite station from the working line to the protection line. The local station issues a line switching command to the opposite station at the same time it receives the failure signal on the working line. The own station can shorten the time of signal disconnection at the time of line switching by completing the operation of its own line switching device immediately before the arrival time of the line switching completion signal from the opposite station. .

  Further, Patent Document 2 discloses a technique for determining whether or not switching to a change-destination radio channel is possible when switching between wireless LAN radio channels. The access point device transmits a channel switching command to the client device when receiving a signal indicating that switching is possible from all other stations. The access point device does not transmit a channel switching command when it receives a signal indicating that switching is not possible from any one of the other stations.

  By the way, in a communication apparatus provided with a plurality of communication interfaces, it is desirable that communication RF (Radio Frequency) of each communication interface use radio channels of different frequencies in order to avoid interference problems. When the wireless channel is changed in one communication interface based on the judgment of the communication device itself or a request from the host device, it is desirable that the wireless channel is different from the wireless channel of the other communication interface of the own device.

  In IEEE 802.15.4, a Coordinator Alignment command is prepared for changing a radio channel in communication between a Coordinator (network administrator) and a Host (host). By using this command, the Coordinator can lead the host to specify switching of the radio channel, and can change to the channel designated by both the Coordinator and the Host. (See Non-Patent Document 1 below)

JP 61-131622 A JP 2011-217035 A

IEEE Std 802.15.4-2011

  However, in a system using IEEE802.5.4, functions may be reduced in order to realize a simpler system. If the function is reduced, a function group (profile) including a Coordinator Realignment command for switching a radio channel may not be implemented. In such a system, it is not possible to determine whether or not the radio channel has been switched by a message as in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2. Since the radio channel is switched after the state in which the communication error occurs, there is a problem that the communication disconnection time becomes long.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems. In a communication apparatus having a plurality of wireless communication interfaces, the communication disconnection time is reduced when the communication partner does not notify that the wireless channel is switched. The purpose is to obtain a communication device that is shortened.

  A communication apparatus having a plurality of wireless communication interfaces, wherein a first wireless channel used in a first network communicating with a first wireless communication interface communicates with a second wireless communication interface. If the second wireless channel is the same as the second wireless channel used in the other network, the second wireless channel is determined to be changed, and the validity period of authentication with another authenticated communication device connected to the second network And a communication processing unit that instructs to switch the second wireless channel to a wireless channel different from the first wireless channel, and the second wireless channel is switched according to an instruction from the communication processing unit. And a MAC unit.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, in the communication apparatus holding several radio | wireless communication interfaces, when it is not notified from the communication other party that a radio channel is switched, the time of communication disconnection can be shortened.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a communication apparatus according to Embodiment 1. 1 is a diagram showing a network configuration according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a network configuration according to Embodiment 1. FIG. FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram showing a flow of processing for changing a radio channel in the communication apparatus according to the first embodiment. FIG. 5 shows a format of an authentication packet of RFC (Request For Comments) 5191 according to the first embodiment. The figure which shows the format of Enhanced Beacon Request of IEEE802.15.4 which concerns on Embodiment 1. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a format of an enhanced beacon of IEEE 802.15.4 according to Embodiment 1. FIG. The figure which shows the format of IEEE802.15.4 Beacon Request which concerns on Embodiment 1. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a format of IEEE 802.15.4 Beacon according to Embodiment 1. FIG. FIG. 11 is a sequence diagram showing a flow of processing for changing a radio channel in the communication apparatus according to the second embodiment. The figure which shows the format of the option code | cord | chord of RFC5191 which concerns on Embodiment 2. FIG. FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram showing a flow of processing for changing a radio channel in the communication apparatus according to the third embodiment.

Embodiment 1 FIG.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of communication apparatus 11 according to the first embodiment. The communication device 11 includes antennas 12 a to 12 b, PHYs (Physical) 13 a to 13 b, MACs (Media Access Control) 14 a to 14 b, a CPU 15, and a communication information storage unit 16. The CPU 15 includes a communication processing unit 16 and a wireless channel management unit 17. Since the communication device 11 includes two communication interfaces, two antennas 12a to 12b, PHYs 13a to 13b, and two MACs 14a to 14b are provided. The communication device 11 may include three or more communication interfaces. Antennas, PHYs, and MACs are provided according to the number of communication interfaces.

  The PHY 13a receives a radio signal from another device via the antenna 12a and outputs it to the MAC 14a. The PHY 13a can use different radio channels. The MAC 14a refers to the MAC layer information of the radio signal input from the PHY 13a, and determines whether the communication is addressed to the own device. If it is communication addressed to its own device, it is output to the communication processing unit 17 of the CPU 15. Note that the communication addressed to the own device includes cases addressed to all devices and addresses addressed to a plurality of devices. The communication processing unit 17 processes information input from the MAC 14a.

  The radio channel management unit 18 manages a plurality of radio channels in a range defined by the radio system, and assigns them to the PHY 13a and the PHY 13b through the MAC 14a and the MAC 14b, respectively. When the PHY 13a performs communication using the wireless channel A, the PHY 13b can perform communication using the wireless channel B. The radio channel management unit 18 normally assigns different radio channels to the PHYs 13a and 13b, but may assign the same radio channel depending on the system.

When transmitting from the communication device 11, the communication processing unit 17 inquires of the wireless channel management unit 18 about available radio channels, and outputs them to the MAC 13 a together with transmission data. The MAC 14a searches for available radio channels in the current environment among the available radio channels via the PHY 13a and the antenna 12a. The PHY 13a is a radio channel instructed by the MAC 14a and transmits a radio signal to another apparatus via the antenna 12a.
Although the antenna 12a, PHY 13a, and MAC 14a have been mainly described, the same applies to the antenna 12b, PHY 13b, and MAC 14b.

  The communication information storage unit 16 includes information on the wireless channel used by the PHYs 13a and 13b, an ID and password used for authentication of a device as a communication partner, information on the validity period of authentication, MAC layer information such as a MAC ID, and the like. save. Further, the communication information storage unit 16 may store temporary information such as a calculation result necessary for processing by the communication processing unit 17. The MACs 14a and 14b store information in the communication information storage unit 16 and refer to the information. The communication information storage unit 16 is a ROM (Read Only Memory) or a RAM (Random Access Memory) which is a nonvolatile memory area. The communication information storage unit 16 may be realized by both ROM and RAM, or may be realized by either one.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a network configuration according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 includes a higher-level device 21, communication devices 11a to 11d, and lower-level devices 22a to 22c. The host device 21 forms a network 23a with the communication device 11a and the communication device 11c. The communication device 11a forms a network 23b with the communication device 11b. The communication device 11b forms a network 23c with the lower devices 22a-b. The communication device 11c forms a network 23d with the communication device 11d. The communication device 11d forms a network 23e with the lower device 22c.

  The networks 23a to 23e are assumed to have the same wireless standard. The wireless standards are, for example, IEEE 802.15.4, IEEE 802.11, ZigBee, IEEE 802.15.1. Wireless standards other than those listed here may be used. For example, when there are a plurality of frequency bands that are greatly different depending on one wireless standard, such as the 2.4 GHz band and the 5.0 GHz band of the wireless LAN, the networks 23a to 23e are set not only to the wireless standard but also to the same frequency band. This is because the frequency band to which one PHY can be applied is limited to some extent.

  Each wireless standard can use a plurality of wireless channels. The wireless channel refers to a frequency that is actually used among frequencies that can be used in the wireless standard, such as the 921.2 MHz band of the 920 MHz band. The networks 23a to 23e use different radio channels in adjacent networks. For example, the network 23a uses 921.2 MHz as the wireless channel A, and the network 23b uses 922.4 MHz as the wireless channel B. By using different radio frequency bands in adjacent networks, the network 23a and the network 23b do not interfere with each other.

  The networks 23a to 23e use radio channels A, B, C, D, and E, respectively. In FIG. 2, the networks 23a to 23e all use different radio channels, but different radio channels may be used at least in adjacent networks. The wireless channel A may be used in the networks 23b-13c and 23e, and the wireless channel B may be used in the networks 23b and 23d.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a network configuration according to the first embodiment. The difference from FIG. 2 is that the network 23a is changed from the wireless channel A to the wireless channel B, and the network 23b is changed from the wireless channel B to the wireless channel F.

  Assume that the network 23a is changed from the wireless channel A to the wireless channel B in response to a request from the host device 21 in the state of FIG. Since the network 23a and the network 23b use the same radio channel B, interference occurs. The wireless channel management unit 108 of the communication device 11a recognizes that the same wireless channel is used by the PHY 13a and the PHY 13b, and changes the wireless channel of the network 23b to the wireless channel F. As a result, the state shown in FIG. 3 is obtained.

  For example, in IEEE 802.11.5.4, a Coordinator Realignment command is prepared for switching radio channels. The communication device 11a may notify the communication device 11b that the wireless channel A is to be changed to the wireless channel B by a Coordinator Realignment command.

  On the other hand, in a system using IEEE802.15.4, functions may be reduced in order to realize a simpler system. When functions are reduced, a function group (profile) including a Coordinator Realignment command for switching radio channels may not be implemented. In such a system, it is not possible to determine whether or not the radio channel has been switched based on a message. The communication apparatus that becomes the host determines the possibility that the radio channel has been changed after a communication error to the apparatus that becomes the coordinator continues for a certain period of time. Therefore, the communication disconnection time becomes long.

  In the present embodiment, a method for switching a radio channel earlier when no instruction is given by a radio channel change command such as a Coordinator Alignment command will be described.

Next, the operation will be described.
FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram illustrating a flow of processing for changing a radio channel in the communication apparatuses 11a and 11b according to the first embodiment. The communication device 11a is Coordinator, and the communication device 11b is Host.

  The network 23a includes the host device 21 and the communication device 11a, and is operating on the wireless channel A. The network 23b includes the communication device 11a and the communication device 11b. Since the wireless channel A is used in the adjacent network 23a, the network 23b is operated by a wireless channel B other than the wireless channel A. The network 23c includes the communication device 11b and the lower device 22a. Since the wireless channel B is used in the adjacent network 23b, the network 23c is operated by a wireless channel C other than the wireless channel B.

  In the communication device 11a, the communication interface on the network 23a side is the antenna 12a-1, PHY 13a-1, and MAC 14a-1, and the communication interface on the network 23b side is the antenna 12b-1, PHY 13b-1, and MAC 14b-1. In the communication device 11a, the CPU 15a, the communication information storage unit 16a, the communication processing unit 17a, and the wireless channel management unit 18a are used. In the communication device 11b, the communication interface on the network 23b side is the antenna 12b-1, PHY 13a-2, and MAC 14a-2, and the communication interface on the network 23c side is the antenna 12b-2, PHY 13b-2, and MAC 14b-2. In the communication device 11b, the CPU 15b, the communication information storage unit 16b, the communication processing unit 17b, and the radio channel management unit 18b are used.

  The communication device 11a and the communication device 11b authenticate each other before starting communication in order to check whether the communication partner is the correct device. Authentication is valid only for a certain period. The validity period of authentication is referred to as Session Lifetime. For the authentication, a method defined by a standard or a protocol may be used. The communication device 11a and the communication device 11b may be authenticated using only an ID or only a password. The communication device 11a and the communication device 11b allow communication with a communication partner within the Session Lifetime. However, when the Session Lifetime expires, the communication device 11a and the communication device 11b cannot communicate with the communication partner.

  Here, it is assumed that the wireless channel of the network 23a is changed to the wireless channel B in accordance with an instruction from the host device 21. The MAC 14a-1 of the communication device 11a notifies the communication processing unit 17a of the CPU 15a of the wireless channel information of the network 23a. The communication processing unit 17a notifies the radio channel management unit 18a that the radio channel of the network 23a has been changed to the radio channel B. The wireless channel management unit 18a detects that both the wireless channels of the network 23a and the network 23b are the wireless channel B, and notifies the communication processing unit 17a. Therefore, the communication processing unit 17a changes the wireless channel of the network 23b (S11) and notifies the MAC 14b-1.

  The communication device 11b transmits a re-authentication request to the communication device 11a before the Session Lifetime expires (S12). When the communication device 11a determines to change the wireless channel, the communication device 11a does not respond even if it receives a re-authentication request until the Session Lifetime expires. Since there is no response even after a fixed time has elapsed, the communication device 11b resends the re-authentication request to the communication device 11a (S13). However, there is no response and the Session Lifetime expires.

  When the Session Lifetime expires, the communication device 11a performs channel switching (S14). The change destination of the radio channel may be searched at this time or may be searched in advance. Further, the change destination of the wireless channel may be determined by the determination of the MAC 14b-1 of the communication device 11a. Here, it is assumed that the radio channel F has been switched. Although not shown, when the Session Lifetime expires, the communication device 11b newly transmits an authentication request to the communication device 11a using the wireless channel B that has been used so far. However, since the communication device 11a has already switched to the wireless channel F, the communication device 11b does not receive a response.

  When the authentication response is not received, the communication processing unit 17a of the communication device 11b determines that the communication with the communication device 11a is disconnected, and determines to search for a wireless channel (S15). The communication processing unit 17a notifies the MAC 14a-2 to search for a wireless channel. The MAC 14a-2 of the communication device 11b searches for an available radio channel through the PHY 14a-2 (S16). When the communication device 11b detects the wireless channel F and recognizes that the communication device 11a is using it, the communication device 11b performs authentication. If the authentication is successful, the operation state is entered (S17).

  When the communication device 11a does not respond to the re-authentication request from the communication device 11b, the Session Lifetime expires and the valid period of authentication ends. Furthermore, when the communication device 11a changes the wireless channel of the network 23b, the communication device 11b does not receive a response to the new authentication request. The communication device 11b determines that communication with the communication device 11a has been disconnected, and searches for a wireless channel. Therefore, by controlling the communication device 11a so that the valid period of authentication ends, the communication device 11b can be made to search for the wireless channel to be changed. Therefore, the communication disconnection time can be shortened.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a format of an RFC 5191 authentication packet according to the first embodiment. When performing authentication or re-authentication, the communication apparatuses 11a and 11b may use, for example, an RFC 5191 protocol of UDP / IP (User Datagram Protocol / Internet Protocol). Further, the communication devices 11a and 11b may use IEEE802.11 or IEEE802.15.1 authentication methods.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a format of an IEEE 802.15.4 Enhanced Beacon Request according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a format of an IEEE 802.15.4 Enhanced Beacon according to the first embodiment. Enhanced Beacon is a response to the Enhanced Beacon Request command.

When the communication device 11b determines that communication with the communication device 11a has been disconnected and the MAC 14a-2 searches for a wireless channel, for example, an Enhanced Beacon Request command is used. The MAC 14a-2 searches for wireless channels that can be used in the communication device 11b in order. For example, as a wireless standard for the 920 MHz band, when a radio channel is divided in units of 0.2 MHz from 920.0 MHz to a frequency of 928.0 MHz, an Enhanced Beacon Request command is transmitted at 920.0 MHz and an enhanced response is sent. Wait for Beacon. Next, at 920.2 MHz, the same enhanced beacon request command is also transmitted, and a response enhanced beacon is waited for.

  The MAC 14a-2 sequentially transmits an Enhanced Beacon Request command up to 928.0 MHz, and repeats waiting for a response Enhanced Beacon. If the communication device 11b receives the enhanced beacon from the communication device 11a and the ID is the communication device 11a, it can be seen that the wireless channel is the wireless channel to which the communication device 11a is changed. Note that the radio channel search order may be performed in any manner. In addition, when the range of the wireless channel to be used is limited between the communication device 11a and the communication device 11b, the search may be performed only within the range.

  Whether the MAC 14a-2 of the communication device 11b is an Enhanced Beacon from the communication device 11a may be determined based on the MAC address of the communication device 11a. Further, an ID or other information shared between the communication device 11a and the communication device 11b may be used. The ID is a value that identifies the communication device. In the case of ID, a value may be set in the Information Elements field or the Beacon Payload field of the Enhanced Beacon command.

  The method for identifying the ID may be in accordance with a wireless standard method and is not particularly limited. Note that the value set in the Beacon response is not limited to the ID, but may be any information that can identify the communication device. Information identifying the communication device such as an ID may be held by the communication information storage unit 16.

  The communication device 11b receives the Beacon response, and if the ID is the communication device 11a, selects and authenticates the wireless channel. When the ID set in the Beacon response is not the communication device 11a or when the Beacon response is not received, the communication device 11b transmits a Beacon Request command on another empty channel and searches.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a format of IEEE 802.15.4 Beacon Request according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an IEEE 802.15.4 Beacon format according to the first embodiment. Beacon is a response to the Beacon Request command.

  The communication device 11b may use the Beacon Request command of FIG. 8 instead of the Enhanced Beacon Request command. The search method is the same as in the case of the Enhanced Beacon Request command. In the case of the Beacon Request command, the response is Beacon in FIG.

  Therefore, the first wireless channel used in the first network, which is a communication device having a plurality of wireless communication interfaces and communicates with the first wireless communication interface, communicates with the second wireless communication interface. If it is the same as the second radio channel used in the second network, it decides to change the second radio channel and authenticates with another authenticated communication device connected to the second network. A communication processing unit that controls to end the effective period and instructs the second wireless channel to switch to a wireless channel different from the first wireless channel, and the second wireless channel according to an instruction from the communication processing unit And a MAC unit for switching the communication channel. It can be can be switched more quickly the radio channel, to shorten the communication disconnection time.

Embodiment 2. FIG.
In the first embodiment described above, in the communication apparatus having a plurality of communication interfaces, when the radio channels of the first and second networks are the same, after the change of the radio channel of the second network is determined, In this embodiment, in response to the re-authentication request, the effective period of re-authentication is set to be short. The form is shown.

  In the present embodiment, the configuration of the communication device 11 is the same as that in FIG.

  FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram illustrating a flow of processing for changing a radio channel in the communication apparatuses 11a and 11b according to the second embodiment. The network configuration is the same as that shown in FIG. The network 23a is operating on the wireless channel A. The network 23b is operating on the radio channel B. The network 23c is operating on the wireless channel C. It is assumed that the wireless channel of the network 23a has been changed according to an instruction from the host device 21. The communication device 11a changes the wireless channel of the network 23b (S21), and notifies the MAC 14b-1.

  The communication device 11b transmits a re-authentication request to the communication device 11a before the Session Lifetime expires (S22). When the communication device 11a receives the re-authentication request from the communication device 11b after determining the change of the wireless channel, the communication device 11a transmits a re-authentication response (S23). At this time, the communication device 11a sets the Session Lifetime to be shorter than the remaining valid period of the previous Session Lifetime. When the re-authentication is successful between the communication device 11a and the communication device 11b, the communication device 11a transmits an authentication completion notification to the communication device 11b (S24).

  The communication device 11a performs channel switching to the wireless channel F (S25). When the Session Lifetime expires, the communication device 11b transmits a new authentication request to the communication device 11a using the wireless channel B that has been used so far (S26). However, since the communication device 11a has already switched to the wireless channel F, the communication device 11b does not receive a response. The processing after S27 in FIG. 10 is the same as the processing after S15 in FIG. The communication device 11b successfully authenticates with the communication device 11a through the wireless channel F and enters an operating state.

  When the communication device 11a sets the next valid authentication period short in response to the re-authentication request from the communication device 11b, the Session Lifetime expires early, and the valid authentication period ends. Furthermore, when the communication device 11a changes the wireless channel of the network 23b, the communication device 11b does not receive a response to the new authentication request. The communication device 11b determines that communication with the communication device 11a has been disconnected, and searches for a wireless channel. Therefore, by controlling the communication device 11a to end after shortening the authentication validity period, the communication device 11b can be made to search for the wireless channel to be changed. Therefore, the communication disconnection time can be shortened.

  By setting the Session Lifetime to be shorter than the remaining validity period of the previous Session Lifetime, the Session Lifetime expires earlier than the previous Session Lifetime expires, and communication can be resumed on the radio channel F that is the switching destination. .

  The communication device 11a may switch the wireless channel after transmitting the authentication completion notification or when the new Session Lifetime has expired. The length of the re-authentication Session Lifetime may be determined in consideration of the time required for the communication device 11a to switch the radio channel. For example, when it takes 30 seconds for the communication device 11a to switch the wireless channel, the new Session Lifetime may be 30 seconds or longer.

  FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a format of an option code of RFC5191 according to the second embodiment. The option code in FIG. 11 is an option for determining the validity period of authentication in RFC 5191. The option code of FIG. 11 is included in the AVPs of FIG. In FIG. 11, the value of AVP Code is set to 8, and the valid time of authentication is set to value.

  Therefore, if the first radio channel is the same as the second radio channel, the communication processing unit decides to change the second radio channel, and the communication processing unit determines that the validity is shorter than the remaining period of the current authentication valid period. Since it is instructed to re-authenticate with the current wireless channel with the authenticated device as the period, and to switch the second wireless channel after re-authentication, the time for which communication is interrupted rather than waiting for the expiration date of the current authentication Can be shortened.

  In addition, the communication processing unit determines the valid period of re-authentication based on the time required for switching the second radio channel, so the time for which communication is interrupted in consideration of the time required for switching the second radio channel. Can be shortened. Therefore, since the authentication request is made from the communication device of the other party after the communication device has surely switched the second wireless channel, the authentication is surely failed and the determination of the wireless channel search can be made.

Embodiment 3 FIG.
In the second embodiment described above, in a communication apparatus having a plurality of communication interfaces, if the wireless channels of the first and second networks are the same, after the change of the wireless channel of the second network is determined, Although the validity period of authentication is set short, this embodiment shows an embodiment in which the current authentication is disconnected.

  In the present embodiment, the configuration of the communication device 11 is the same as that in FIG.

  FIG. 12 is a sequence diagram illustrating a flow of processing for changing a radio channel in communication apparatuses 11a and 11b according to Embodiment 3. The network configuration is the same as that shown in FIG. The network 23a is operating on the wireless channel A. The network 23b is operating on the radio channel B. The network 23c is operating on the wireless channel C. It is assumed that the wireless channel of the network 23a has been changed according to an instruction from the host device 21. The communication device 11a changes the wireless channel of the network 23b (S30), and notifies the MAC 14b-1.

  The MAC 14b-1 of the communication device 11a searches for a free wireless channel in the network 23b. The MAC 14b-1 searches by the active scan function of IEEE802.15.4 (S31). When a changeable radio channel is detected, the communication device 11a determines a change destination radio channel and a PAN-ID (Personal Area Network IDentifier) that identifies the network (S32). If the Session Lifetime remains, the communication device 11a transmits an authentication disconnection to the communication device 11b (S33). The communication device 11b receives the authentication disconnection and transmits an authentication disconnection response to the communication device 11a (S34).

  Upon receiving the authentication disconnection response, the communication device 11a disconnects the authentication session and switches the channel (S35). When the next communication occurs, the communication device 11b starts authentication for reconnection (S36). Although the communication device 11b transmits an authentication request (S37), since the wireless channel of the communication device 11a has been changed, no response is received and authentication fails. The processes after S38 in FIG. 12 are the same as the processes after S27 in FIG. The communication device 11b successfully authenticates with the communication device 11a through the wireless channel F and enters an operating state.

  When the communication device 11a transmits an authentication disconnection to the communication device 11b, the Session Lifetime is ended, and the valid period of authentication is ended. Furthermore, when the communication device 11a changes the wireless channel of the network 23b, the communication device 11b does not receive a response to the new authentication request. The communication device 11b determines that communication with the communication device 11a has been disconnected, and searches for a wireless channel. Therefore, by controlling the communication device 11a to forcibly end the validity period of authentication, the communication device 11b can be made to search for a wireless channel to be changed. Therefore, the communication disconnection time can be shortened.

  Accordingly, when the MAC unit is instructed to change the second radio channel by the communication processing unit, the MAC unit searches for a free radio channel and notifies the change destination radio channel. When the wireless channel is notified, the authentication disconnection is transmitted to the authenticated device, so that the communication disconnection time can be shortened compared to the re-authentication.

11, 11a-b Communication devices 12a-b, 12a-1-2, 12b-1-2 Antennas 13a-b, 13a-1-2, 13b-1-2 PHY
14a-b, 14a-1-2, 14b-1-2 MAC
15, 15a-b CPU
16, 16a-b Communication information storage unit 17, 17a-b Communication processing unit 18, 18a-b Radio channel management unit 21 Upper device 22a-b Lower device 23a-c Network

Claims (7)

A communication device having a plurality of wireless communication interfaces,
The first wireless channel used in the first network communicating with the first wireless communication interface is the same as the second wireless channel used in the second network communicating with the second wireless communication interface. In this case, it is determined to change the second wireless channel, and the valid period of authentication is terminated without notifying other authenticated communication devices connected to the second network of the switching of the wireless channel. A communication processing unit for instructing to switch the second wireless channel to a wireless channel different from the first wireless channel after the current authentication valid period ends ,
A MAC unit that switches the second wireless channel according to an instruction from the communication processing unit;
A communication apparatus comprising:   2. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein when a re-authentication request is received from the other communication device through the second wireless channel, the communication device does not respond until the current authentication validity period expires.   The communication processing unit performs re-authentication with the other communication device using a current wireless channel, and shortens the effective period of authentication shorter than the remaining period of the current effective period of authentication. The communication device described.   The communication apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the communication processing unit determines the valid period of re-authentication based on a time taken to switch the second radio channel. Among the available wireless channels, a plurality of wireless channels being used by the wireless communication interfaces and free wireless channels are managed, and free wireless channels are notified to the communication processing unit in response to an inquiry from the communication processing unit. With a wireless channel manager,
The MAC unit, a communication device according to claim 1, any one of 4, characterized in that for switching the radio channel instructed from said communication processing unit. The MAC unit searches for available radio channels, detected communication apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that to switch to any of the radio channels among the radio channels. A communication method for holding a plurality of wireless communication interfaces,
The first wireless channel used in the first network communicating with the first wireless communication interface is the same as the second wireless channel used in the second network communicating with the second wireless communication interface. In this case, it is determined to change the second wireless channel, and the valid period of authentication is terminated without notifying other authenticated communication devices connected to the second network of the switching of the wireless channel. A communication processing step of instructing to switch the second radio channel to a radio channel different from the first radio channel after the current authentication validity period ends ,
A MAC step of switching the second radio channel according to an instruction from the communication processing step;
A communication method.

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