JP6327023B2 - Communication channel selection device, communication channel selection method, and communication channel selection program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a communication channel selection device, a communication channel selection method, and a communication channel selection program for selecting a communication channel used by a wireless relay device such as a wireless LAN access point (hereinafter referred to as “access point”).

  Conventionally, a communication channel selection device (for example, an access point or an access point management computer) having a function of automatically selecting a communication channel used by an access point which is a kind of wireless relay device has been known. (For example, see Patent Documents 1 to 3). In a conventional communication channel selection device, when automatically selecting a communication channel to be used by an access point, surroundings of an access point (hereinafter referred to as an “automatic selection access point”) that is a target for automatic communication channel selection A method is often employed in which the degree of congestion of each communication channel is obtained based on the beacon information transmitted from each access point, and the communication channel used by the automatically selected access point is selected based on this degree of congestion.

Japanese Patent No. 4519535 Japanese Patent No. 5229629 Japanese Patent No. 5210404

  However, in the above conventional communication channel selection device, based on the beacon information including the used channel of each access point and the BSSID (Basic Service Set Identifier) transmitted from each access point around the automatic selection access point, The number of access points using each communication channel is detected, and the degree of congestion of each communication channel is obtained based on the number of detected access points. For this reason, when there is an access point that has a plurality of BSSIDs around one automatic selection access point and transmits beacon information of different BSSIDs on the same communication channel, the communication channel selection device performs this communication. It is misrecognized that there are as many access points in the channel as there are BSSIDs of the access points. Accordingly, the communication channel used by the access point having the plurality of BSSIDs is determined to have a high degree of congestion even if the number of access points using the communication channel is actually small, and the automatically selected access point Becomes difficult to select as a communication channel to use.

  As described above, the conventional communication channel selection device has a problem that it is not possible to select a communication channel according to an actual radio wave environment around the automatic selection access point. This problem is not limited to a communication channel selection device that selects a communication channel used by an access point, but is a problem common to communication channel selection devices that select a communication channel used by a wireless relay device.

  The present invention solves the above-mentioned problem, and has a plurality of BSSIDs around a wireless relay device (automatically selected wireless relay device) subject to automatic communication channel selection, and channel information of different BSSIDs. Even when there are wireless relay devices that transmit on the same communication channel, it is possible to determine the degree of congestion of each communication channel according to the actual number of wireless relay devices that are using each communication channel, An object of the present invention is to provide a communication channel selection device capable of selecting a communication channel according to an actual radio wave environment around the automatic selection wireless relay device.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, a communication channel selection device according to a first aspect of the present invention includes an automatic selection wireless relay device including an automatic selection wireless relay device included in a wireless relay device arranged in a predetermined area. A BSSID setting information acquisition unit for acquiring BSSID setting information including identification information and a BSSID (Basic Service Set Identifier) included in the automatic selection wireless relay device; and the automatic selection wireless relay device from the automatic selection wireless relay device. A channel information acquisition unit that acquires channel information including a used channel that is a communication channel used by the wireless relay device and a BSSID, BSSID setting information acquired by the BSSID setting information acquisition unit, and the channel information Based on the channel information acquired from the acquisition unit, A channel information organizing unit that summarizes the channels in use as the channel state in use, and use of a frequency band corresponding to each of the channels that can be used by the wireless relay device based on the used channel state summarized by the channel information organizing unit A determination unit that determines the degree of congestion as a state; and a channel selection unit that selects a communication channel used by the automatic selection wireless relay device based on a determination result by the determination unit.

  In this communication channel selection device, the communication channel selection device may be autonomously selected from the automatic selection radio relay device based on predetermined priority information.

  In this communication channel selection device, the communication channel selection device may be a communication device other than the automatic selection wireless relay device.

  In this communication channel selection device, further comprising a group information acquisition unit that acquires group information indicating a group to which the automatically selected wireless relay device belongs from each of the automatically selected wireless relay devices divided into a plurality of groups, The channel information organizing unit summarizes the used channel state for each group based on the group information acquired by the group information acquiring unit, and the determining unit calculates the congestion degree for each group based on the group information. The channel selection unit may select, for each group, a communication channel used by the automatic selection wireless relay device in the group.

  In this communication channel selection device, the channel information acquired by the channel information acquisition unit preferably includes channel information of a communication channel used by a wireless relay device other than the automatic selection wireless relay device. .

  In this communication channel selection apparatus, it is preferable that the determination unit determines the degree of congestion in consideration of a use state of a neighboring channel whose frequency band overlaps with each communication channel.

  In this communication channel selection device, the automatic selection wireless relay device can be used to acquire information on communication channels that can be used for wireless communication between the automatic selection wireless relay device and other wireless relay devices or wireless terminals. A channel information acquisition unit, and based on information on usable communication channels acquired by the usable channel information acquisition unit, a summary of used channel states by the channel information organizing unit, and a determination of the degree of congestion by the determination unit It is preferable to perform at least one of communication channel selection by the channel selection unit.

  In this communication channel selection device, the communication channel selection device further includes a bandwidth information acquisition unit that acquires frequency bandwidth setting information for each of the automatic selection wireless relay devices, and based on the frequency bandwidth setting information acquired by the bandwidth information acquisition unit It is preferable that at least one of a summary of channel states used by the channel information organizing unit, a determination of a degree of congestion by the determining unit, and a selection of a communication channel by the channel selecting unit.

  In this communication channel selection device, the channel information organizing unit may collect the used channel states in consideration of a predetermined weight for the wireless relay device.

  In this communication channel selection device, the channel information organizing unit may set the weight of the radio relay device having a plurality of BSSIDs to be larger than the weight of the radio relay device having one BSSID.

  In this communication channel selection device, the weight of channel information of a wireless relay device having a plurality of BSSIDs may be set smaller than the weight corresponding to the number of BSSIDs of the wireless relay device.

  In this communication channel selection device, when the channel selection unit determines that there is no communication channel in which the degree of congestion determined by the determination unit is a predetermined value or less among the plurality of usable communication channels. The same communication channel as the communication channel in use whose received signal strength is greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold value may be selected.

  In this communication channel selection device, the channel selection unit selects a communication channel used by the automatic selection wireless relay device from a plurality of communication channels that can be used in common by all of the automatic selection wireless relay devices. May be.

  In this communication channel selection device, it is preferable that the channel information acquired by the channel information acquisition unit includes channel information received by the automatic selection wireless relay device from another wireless relay device.

  In addition, the communication channel selection method according to the second aspect of the present invention includes the automatic selection wireless relay device included in the wireless relay device arranged in a predetermined area, the identification information of the automatic selection wireless relay device, and the automatic Obtaining BSSID setting information including a BSSID included in the selected radio relay device; and being used from the automatically selected radio relay device as a communication channel used by the radio relay device including the automatically selected radio relay device Acquiring channel information including a channel and BSSID, integrating the used channels as used channel states based on the acquired BSSID setting information and the acquired channel information, and the collected usage Based on the channel state, each of the channels that can be used by the wireless relay device And determining the congestion degree is a state of use of the frequency band, based on a result of the determination, in which and a step of selecting a communication channel to the automatic selection radio repeater uses.

  In addition, the communication channel selection program according to the third aspect of the present invention is configured to identify a communication device from an automatically selected wireless relay device included in a wireless relay device arranged in a predetermined area. A BSSID setting information acquisition unit that acquires BSSID setting information including the BSSID included in the automatic selection wireless relay device, and the wireless relay device including the automatic selection wireless relay device is used from the automatic selection wireless relay device. A channel information acquisition unit that acquires channel information including a used channel that is a communication channel and BSSID, BSSID setting information acquired by the BSSID setting information acquisition unit, and channel information acquired from the channel information acquisition unit Channel information for collecting the in-use channels as the used channel state. A determination unit that determines a degree of congestion that is a use state of a frequency band corresponding to each of the channels that can be used by the wireless relay device, based on the use channel state summarized by the channel information reduction unit; and A communication channel selection program for causing a function to function as a channel selection unit that selects a communication channel used by the automatic selection wireless relay device based on a determination result by the determination unit.

  According to the present invention, when channel information such as beacon information acquired from each of the automatic selection wireless relay devices includes channel information of the automatic selection wireless relay device having a plurality of BSSIDs, the automatic selection wireless relay is performed. Based on BSSID setting information and channel information acquired from each of the devices, the channel information is summarized for each wireless relay device, and based on the collected channel information, the channel being used by each wireless relay device is used as a channel state. Can be summarized as: As a result, even if there is an automatic selection wireless relay device that has a plurality of BSSIDs and transmits channel information of different BSSIDs on the same communication channel around the automatic selection wireless relay device, the use channel state described above Based on the above, it is possible to determine the degree of congestion of each communication channel according to the actual number of wireless relay devices that are using each communication channel. Therefore, even in such a case, the communication channel can be selected according to the actual radio wave environment around the automatic selection wireless relay device.

The block diagram of the example of the network around the server access point which is a communication channel selection apparatus of the 1st Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic electrical block configuration diagram of a corresponding access point in FIG. 1. The state transition diagram of the said corresponding access point. The flowchart of the state transition process of the said corresponding | compatible access point. The flowchart of the process which the server access point side performs at the time of communication channel automatic selection. The flowchart of the process which the client access point side performs at the time of communication channel automatic selection. Explanatory drawing which shows the structure of the outline of the communication channel automatic selection process by the said server access point. Explanatory drawing which shows the structure of the outline of the communication channel automatic selection process by the said server access point. Explanatory drawing which shows the structure of the outline of the communication channel automatic selection process by the said server access point. Explanatory drawing which shows the structure of the outline of the communication channel automatic selection process by the said server access point. Explanatory drawing which shows the structure of the outline of the communication channel automatic selection process by the said server access point. The flowchart of the communication channel determination process included in the communication channel automatic selection process. Explanatory drawing of the communication channel determination process. A list of beacon information collected from the corresponding access point (F) in FIG. The flowchart of the channel usage calculation algorithm used for the said communication channel determination process. The figure which shows the use channel state using the calculation result of the same channel usage calculation algorithm. The block diagram of the example of the network containing the wireless LAN controller which is a communication channel selection apparatus of the 2nd Embodiment of this invention, and a corresponding | compatible access point. FIG. 2 is a schematic electrical block configuration diagram of the wireless LAN controller. FIG. 18 is a schematic electrical block diagram of a corresponding access point in FIG. 17. The flowchart of the communication channel automatic selection process of the said wireless LAN controller. The flowchart of the process which the corresponding access point side performs at the time of communication channel automatic selection. The flowchart of the communication channel automatic selection process of the corresponding access point which is a communication channel selection apparatus of the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. Explanatory drawing which shows the outline mechanism of the communication channel automatic selection process by the corresponding access point. Explanatory drawing which shows the outline mechanism of the communication channel automatic selection process by the corresponding access point. Explanatory drawing which shows the outline mechanism of the communication channel automatic selection process by the corresponding access point. Explanatory drawing which shows the outline mechanism of the communication channel automatic selection process by the corresponding access point. Explanatory drawing which shows the outline mechanism of the communication channel automatic selection process by the corresponding access point.

  Hereinafter, a communication channel selection device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the wireless LAN access point is abbreviated as “access point”.

A. First Embodiment A-1. Network Configuration A server / access point that is a communication channel selection apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an example of a network around the server / access point. In the network shown in the figure, there are three access points AP1, AP2, AP3 (wireless relay devices), which are wireless LAN (Local Area Network) parent devices, which are arranged in a predetermined area, and wireless LAN slave devices. Four wireless terminals 5 to 8 are included. The access points AP1 to AP3 are access points subject to automatic selection of communication channels (used by these access points) and automatic adjustment of radio wave transmission output (output from these access points). This corresponds to “automatic selection wireless relay device” in the section. In the following description, since these access points AP1 to AP3 correspond to the communication channel automatic selection function and the transmission output automatic adjustment function, the access points AP1 to AP3 are referred to as corresponding access points. These corresponding access points AP1 to AP3 all have the same network segment (hereinafter abbreviated as “segment”) (belong to the same subnet). In the present embodiment, the server / access point SA that is the communication channel selection device of the present invention is an access point that is autonomously selected from the corresponding access points AP1 to AP3 based on predetermined priority information. It is.

  For example, if the corresponding access point AP1 among the corresponding access points AP1 to AP3 is a server access point SA selected based on predetermined priority information, the other corresponding access points AP2 to AP3 are: Client access point CA. Here, the server access point SA collects information necessary for automatic communication channel selection and automatic transmission output adjustment of all supported access points including its own from other supported access points (client access points CA). The access point determines (calculates) these communication channels and transmission outputs. The client access point CA transmits information necessary for automatic communication channel selection and automatic transmission output adjustment to the server access point SA, and then determines the communication channel and transmission output from the server access point SA. (Calculation) This is an access point that receives the result and changes its own communication channel and transmission output to the content of the received communication channel and transmission output.

  The corresponding access point AP1 and the wireless terminal 5 constitute a BSS (Basic Service Set) represented by BSSID (Basic Service Set Identifier) = BSS1.1. Here, the BSS is composed of one access point and a wireless LAN client (wireless LAN slave device) under the access point that is within the radio wave reachable range of the access point in the infrastructure mode of the wireless LAN. Means a wireless LAN. Also, the corresponding access point AP2 and the wireless terminal 6 constitute a BSS represented by BSSID = BSS2.1. Further, the corresponding access point AP3 and the wireless terminal 7 constitute a BSS represented by BSSID = BSS3.1, and the corresponding access point AP3 and the wireless terminal 8 constitute a BSS represented by BSSID = BSS3.2. To do. Therefore, the corresponding access point AP3 is an access point having a plurality (two) of BSSIDs (BSS 3.1 and BSS 3.2).

  In the network shown in FIG. 1, in addition to the four wireless LANs (BSSID = BSS1.1, BSS2.1, BSS3.1, and BSS3.2), the corresponding access points AP1 to AP3 are connected by the hub 9. A connected wired LAN is included. The corresponding access points AP1 to AP3 are connected to the Internet INT via the wired LAN and the router 10 described above. As described above, communication between the corresponding access points AP1 to AP3 may be performed wirelessly by a WDS (Wireless Distribution System) instead of being connected by a wired LAN using the hub 9.

  In the present embodiment, the corresponding access points AP1 to AP3 and the wireless terminals 5 to 8 mainly comply with IEEE802.11g (hereinafter referred to as 11g system) and use a frequency band of 2.4 GHz band. A case where wireless communication is performed will be described as an example. However, the corresponding access points AP1 to AP3 and the wireless terminals 5 to 8 comply with IEEE802.11a and IEEE802.11n (hereinafter referred to as 11n system) and use a frequency band of 2.4 GHz band or 5 GHz band. Wireless communication can be performed. In general, in the 11n system, a maximum transmission rate of 600 Mbps can be realized by using techniques such as channel bonding and MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output). Furthermore, the corresponding access points AP1 to AP3 and the wireless terminals 5 to 8 comply with IEEE802.11ac (hereinafter referred to as 11ac system) and can perform wireless communication using a frequency band of 5 GHz band. is there. The 11ac system is a wireless LAN standard that is the successor of the 11n system. Like the 11n system, a maximum transmission speed of 6.93 Gbps can be realized by using techniques such as channel bonding and MIMO. In the 2.4 GHz band, 1 to 13 communication channels separated by 5 MHz can be used. On the other hand, in the 5 GHz band, communication channels separated by 20 MHz can be used. In the 11g system and IEEE802.11b (hereinafter referred to as the 11b system), only 20 MHz was available as a frequency bandwidth. However, in the 11n system, a plurality of communication channels can be connected using the above-described channel bonding technique. Together, a frequency bandwidth of 40 MHz can be used. Further, in the 11ac system, it is possible to use a frequency bandwidth of 80 MHz or 160 MHz by bundling four or eight communication channels using a channel bonding technique.

A-2. FIG. 2 shows a schematic electrical block configuration of the corresponding access points AP1 to AP3. Each of the corresponding access points AP1 to AP3 has a function that can be a server access point SA. For this reason, since the corresponding access points AP1 to AP3 all have the same electrical block configuration, only the electrical block configuration of the corresponding access point AP1 will be described here. The corresponding access point AP1 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 11, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 12, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 13, a wireless LAN interface (wireless LAN I / F) 14, a wired LAN interface ( A wired LAN I / F) 15, a bus 16, and an antenna 17 connected to the wireless LAN interface 14. The CPU 11, ROM 12, RAM 13, wireless LAN interface 14, and wired LAN interface 15 are connected to each other via a bus 16.

  The ROM 12 stores various programs such as a communication channel selection program 18 which is a program for performing automatic communication channel selection processing (and automatic transmission output adjustment processing), which will be described later, and initial setting data.

  The CPU 11 includes a BSSID setting information acquisition unit 21, a beacon information acquisition unit 22 (channel information acquisition unit in claims), a bandwidth information acquisition unit 23, and a beacon information arrangement unit 24 (channel information arrangement unit in claims). ), A determination unit 25, a channel selection unit 26, and an available channel information acquisition unit 27. The CPU 11 controls the overall operation of the corresponding access point AP1 by developing and executing various programs stored in the ROM 12 in the RAM 13. Further, the CPU 11 develops the communication channel selection program 18 stored in the ROM 12 in the RAM 13 and executes it, thereby executing the BSSID setting information acquisition unit 21, the beacon information acquisition unit 22, the bandwidth information acquisition unit 23, and the beacon information. It functions as an organizing unit 24, a determining unit 25, a channel selecting unit 26, and an available channel information acquiring unit 27. When the corresponding access point AP1 is selected as the server / access point SA, that is, when the corresponding access point AP1 operates as a communication channel selection device, these functional units Used to select the communication channel to be used. Details of these functional units will be described later.

  The wireless LAN interface 14 is a communication control circuit for performing wireless communication conforming to the wireless LAN standard (IEEE802.11), and is a wireless master interface (operating as an access point in the infrastructure mode of IEEE802.11). Wireless master device I / F) 14a and a wireless slave device interface (wireless slave device I / F) 14b operating as a station in the infrastructure mode of IEEE 802.11. The wireless master device interface 14a functions as a wireless master device, and the corresponding access point AP1 performs wireless communication with other wireless slave devices (such as the wireless terminal 5) in the wireless LAN to which the own device belongs. used. The wireless slave unit interface 14b functions as a wireless slave unit. The wireless slave unit interface 14b is used for processing such as acquisition of beacon information from access points around the corresponding access point AP1. Note that the wireless master device interface 14a and the wireless slave device interface 14b may be configured by one module or may be configured by another module. The wired LAN interface 15 is a communication control circuit for performing communication in accordance with the standard of the wired LAN, and the corresponding access point AP1 is connected to the other corresponding access points AP2 to AP3 via the LAN cable and the hub 9. And used when exchanging information with the router 10.

A-3. Server / Access Point Selection Processing Next, server / access point SA selection (selection) processing performed between the corresponding access points AP1 to AP3 will be described. FIG. 3 is a state transition diagram of the corresponding access points AP1 to AP3. The server mode in FIG. 3 is a mode corresponding to the server access point SA. The client mode is a mode corresponding to the client access point CA.

  In the following corresponding access point state transition process (server / access point SA selection process), a priority detection packet that is a packet for detecting the priority of the transmission source access point is used. This priority detection packet includes priority information and an IP address for the transmission source access point of this packet.

  Here, a case where the corresponding access point whose state is changed is the corresponding access point AP1 will be described as an example. Corresponding access point AP1 operates in client mode immediately after activation. If the corresponding access point AP1 does not receive a priority detection packet from a corresponding access point having a higher priority than the own device continuously for a predetermined time x seconds while operating in the client mode, ( As shown in 2), transition to the server mode. On the other hand, when operating in the client mode and receiving a priority detection packet from a corresponding access point having a higher priority than the own device within the past x seconds, the corresponding access point AP1 (1) The client mode state is maintained as shown in FIG.

  Further, as shown in (4), when the corresponding access point AP1 receives the priority detection packet from the corresponding access point having a higher priority than the own device in the server mode, the server mode Maintain the state. On the other hand, when the corresponding access point AP1 receives a priority detection packet from a corresponding access point having a higher priority than its own in the server mode, as shown in (3), Transition to mode.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 4, the state transition process performed by corresponding access point AP1-3 according to said state transition diagram is demonstrated. Here, the case where the corresponding access point whose state transition is performed is the corresponding access point AP1 will be described as an example. The CPU 11 of the corresponding access point AP1 receives the reception of the last priority detection packet and the last transmission time, which is a work area (on the program) for storing the transmission time of the previous priority detection packet immediately after activation. The last reception time, which is a work area for storing the time, is initialized, and a transition is made to the client mode (S1). Note that the initialization of the last transmission time and the last reception time specifically means that the current time is stored in the last transmission time and the last reception time. And CPU11 of corresponding | compatible access point AP1 determines whether the priority detection packet from other corresponding | compatible access points AP2-3 was received (S2).

  As a result of the above determination, when a priority detection packet is received (YES in S2), the CPU 11 of the corresponding access point AP1 determines that the priority of the transmission source access point (partner) of the received priority detection packet is higher than that of its own device. Is determined based on the priority information about the transmission source access point included in the received priority detection packet and the priority information of the own device held by the own device (S3). . As a result, when the priority of the transmission source access point of the received priority detection packet is higher than that of the own device (YES in S3), the CPU 11 of the corresponding access point AP1 Update to the current time (S4). On the other hand, when the above priority detection packet is not received (NO in S2), or when the priority of the transmission source access point of the received priority detection packet is lower than the own device (S3) NO), the CPU 11 of the corresponding access point AP1 does not update the content of the last reception time.

  Next, the CPU 11 of the corresponding access point AP1 determines whether or not a predetermined time x seconds has elapsed from the last reception time (the time stored therein). When x seconds have elapsed since the last reception time (YES in S5), the CPU 11 of the corresponding access point AP1 does not have a corresponding access point with a higher priority than the own device. It is determined that the access point SA is to be selected (selected) (S6), and transitions to the server mode (if the own device is in the client mode). On the other hand, if x seconds have not elapsed since the last reception time (NO in S5), there is a corresponding access point having a higher priority than the own device, so that the own device is the client access point CA. It is determined that it should be (S7), and transitions to the client mode (if the own device is in the server mode).

  When it is determined that the own device is the server / access point SA in S6, the CPU 11 of the corresponding access point AP1 transmits the last priority detection packet, that is, the last priority detection packet transmission time. It is determined whether or not a predetermined time of y seconds or more has elapsed from the time (S8). If more than y seconds have elapsed from the final transmission time (YES in S8), the CPU 11 of the corresponding access point AP1 transmits a priority detection packet (S9), and the contents of the above-mentioned final transmission time Is updated to the current time (S10). When the last transmission time update process or the process of S7 is completed, the CPU 11 of the corresponding access point AP1 returns to the process of S2. Further, even when y seconds or more have not elapsed in S8 (NO in S8), the CPU 11 of the corresponding access point AP1 returns to the process of S2. Then, the CPU 11 of the corresponding access point AP1 repeats the processes of S2 to S10 during operation. When all the corresponding access points AP1 to AP3 execute the processing shown in FIG. 4, the corresponding access point having the highest priority is selected as the server / access point SA from among the corresponding access points AP1 to AP3. Is done.

A-4. Communication Channel Automatic Selection Processing Next, communication channel automatic selection processing performed by the server / access point SA will be described. In the following description, among the corresponding access points AP1 to AP3, the corresponding access point AP1 is the server access point SA selected by the server access point SA selection process, and the other corresponding access points AP2 An example in which -3 are client access points CA will be described.

  FIG. 5 shows a flowchart of processing performed by the server / access point SA when the communication channel is automatically selected. FIG. 6 shows a flowchart of processing performed by the client / access point CA at the time of automatic communication channel selection. 7 to 11 show a schematic mechanism of the communication channel automatic selection process.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the corresponding access points AP <b> 1 to AP <b> 3 are connected via a LAN cable and a hub 9 via a wired LAN. Further, the access point that does not support automatic adjustment (AP that does not support automatic adjustment in the figure) AP4 is an access point that is not subject to automatic communication channel selection and automatic transmission output adjustment by the server access point SA (compatible access point AP1). . In the following description, the automatic adjustment non-compatible access point is abbreviated as “non-compatible access point”. This non-corresponding access point AP4 uses one BSSID (BSS 4.1). As described with reference to FIG. 1, the corresponding access point AP1 uses one BSSID (BSS1.1), and the corresponding access point AP2 also uses one BSSID (BSS2.1). The corresponding access point AP3 uses two BSSIDs (BSS 3.1 and BSS 3.2) as described above.

  In the above usage environment, when all the corresponding access points AP1 to AP3 are turned on and the corresponding access points AP1 to AP3 are activated, priority is given to the corresponding access points AP1 to AP3 via the wired LAN. By transmitting / receiving the degree detection packet, the corresponding access point AP1 is selected as the server / access point SA based on the predetermined priority information. At this time, as shown in FIG. 7, the corresponding access point AP1, like the other corresponding access points AP2 to AP3, stores only its own BSSID list (“BSSID setting information” in the claims). Is held on the RAM 13. Here, the BSSID list is a list (data) indicating which corresponding access point is using which BSSID. Specifically, the BSSID list is a list having a plurality of entries, each of which has (MAC (Media Access Control) address + BSSID held by each corresponding access point) as one entry (record). For example, the BSSID list of the corresponding access point AP3 includes two entries of (MAC address of the corresponding access point AP3 + BSS3.1) and (MAC address of the corresponding access point AP3 + BSS3.2). By referring to the BSSID list, it is possible to determine how many BSSIDs each corresponding access point AP1 to AP3 uses.The MAC address included in the BSSID list is “automatic”. Selection Corresponds to the “identification information of the selective wireless relay device”.

  When the selection of the server access point SA is completed, the CPU 11 (the BSSID setting information acquisition unit 21) of the corresponding access point AP1 selected as the server access point SA uses the wired LAN interface 15 to perform client access. The BSSID list for each of these access points is acquired from the other corresponding access points AP2 to AP3 that are the point CA (S11 in FIG. 5). Specifically, as shown in FIG. 8, the CPU 11 of the corresponding access point AP1 causes the other corresponding access points AP2 to 3 to transmit the BSSID list of these access points (S21 in FIG. 6), A BSSID list is acquired (collected) from other corresponding access points AP2 to AP3. The CPU 11 (the BSSID setting information acquisition unit 21) of the corresponding access point AP1 stores the acquired BSSID list in the RAM 13. The BSSID list includes the MAC addresses (identification information) of the other corresponding access points AP2 to AP3 and the BSSIDs of the other corresponding access points AP2 to AP3.

  At this time, the CPU 11 (usable channel information acquisition unit 27) of the corresponding access point AP1 uses the wired LAN interface 15 from each of all the other corresponding access points AP2 to AP3 for each of these access points. Information of communication channels that can be used (values of (communication) channels that can be set at each of the corresponding access points AP2 to AP3). Specifically, for example, each of the other corresponding access points AP2 to AP3 acquires information that the communication channels 1 to 13 in the 2.4 GHz band can be used. Further, the CPU 11 (usable channel information acquisition unit 27) of the corresponding access point AP1 acquires information on the communication channel that can be used by the own device stored in the ROM 12 of the own device. Information on these usable communication channels is stored in the RAM 13 by the CPU 11 (the usable channel information acquisition unit 27) of the corresponding access point AP1. Although details will be described later, based on the information of the usable communication channels, the beacon information organizing unit 24 summarizes the used channel state, the determining unit 25 determines the congestion degree, and the channel selecting unit 26 selects the communication channel. Is done.

  At this time, the CPU 11 (the bandwidth information acquisition unit 23) of the corresponding access point AP1 uses the wired LAN interface 15 to transmit the above usable communication channels from each of the other corresponding access points AP2 to AP3. In addition to the information, frequency bandwidth setting information, which is information on the frequency bandwidth used by each of the other corresponding access points AP2 to AP3, assuming the above channel bonding, is acquired. Specifically, the frequency bandwidth setting information is information indicating which frequency bandwidth of 20 MHz, 40 MHz, 80 MHz, or 160 MHz is used by each of the other corresponding access points AP2 to AP3. At this time, the CPU 11 (the bandwidth information acquisition unit 23) of the corresponding access point AP1 also acquires the frequency bandwidth setting information of the own device stored in the ROM 12 of the own device. The frequency bandwidth setting information is stored in the RAM 13 by the CPU 11 (the bandwidth information acquisition unit 23) of the corresponding access point AP1. Although details will be described later, based on the frequency bandwidth setting information, the beacon information organizing unit 24 summarizes the used channel state, the determining unit 25 determines the congestion degree, and the channel selecting unit 26 selects the communication channel. It is possible.

  The CPU 11 of the corresponding access point AP1 (server access point SA) includes the BSSID list, usable communication channel information, and frequency bandwidth setting information in the other corresponding access points AP2 to AP3 (client access point CA). Each time any of the information is changed, the changed information is acquired from the corresponding access points AP2 to AP3.

  When the acquisition (collection) processing of the BSSID list and the like from the other corresponding access points AP2 to AP3 is completed, the CPU 11 (the beacon information acquisition unit 22) of the corresponding access point AP1 uses the wireless slave unit interface 14b, For example, as shown in FIG. 9, information included in the beacon of the access point existing around the own device is obtained by performing channel scanning such as passive scanning while sequentially increasing the communication channel from channel 1 to channel 13. (Beacon information) is acquired (S12 in FIG. 5). The CPU 11 (the beacon information acquisition unit 22) of the corresponding access point AP1 stores the beacon information acquired in S12 in the RAM 13. This beacon information corresponds to the channel information in the claims, and the RSSI (Received Signal Strength Indicator) which is the reception strength of the BSSID, the used channel and the beacon (signal) for each access point existing around the corresponding access point AP1. ) Value. More specifically, each beacon information includes an in-use channel number (hereinafter referred to as “channel number”) and an RSSI value corresponding to each BSSID existing (detected) around the corresponding access point AP1. Information. Of the information included in the above-described beacon information, the RSSI value information is not information directly included in the beacon but information on reception intensity obtained when a beacon (signal) is received.

  In addition, the beacon information acquired by the beacon information acquisition unit 22 in the above S12 includes access points (communication channel automatic selection and transmission output automatic adjustment targets) other than the corresponding access points AP2 to AP3 as shown in FIG. The beacon information of the communication channel used by the non-compliant access point AP4) that does not become a message is included.

  The CPU 11 (the beacon information acquisition unit 22) of the corresponding access point AP1 receives these beacons from the other corresponding access points AP2 to AP3 in addition to the acquisition of the beacon information of each access point existing around the above-mentioned own device. The beacon information of each access point existing around the access points AP2 to AP3 is acquired. Specifically, the CPU 11 of the corresponding access point AP1 issues (transmits) a channel calculation start notification to each of all client access points CA (corresponding access points AP2 to 3) using the wired LAN interface 15. (S13 in FIG. 5). The transmission process of the channel calculation start notification from the corresponding access point AP1 to the corresponding access points AP2 to AP3 is performed before the beacon information acquisition process of the access points existing around the own device by the corresponding access point AP1 in S12. You may go to

  When the CPU 11 of each of the corresponding access points AP2 to AP3 receives the above channel calculation start notification (YES in S22 in FIG. 6), similarly to the corresponding access point AP1, using its own wireless slave unit interface 14b, A channel scan is performed to acquire beacon information of access points existing around the own device (S23 in FIG. 6). In the acquisition process of beacon information by each of the corresponding access points AP2 to AP3, not only the beacon information of other corresponding access points but also the non-corresponding access point as in the acquisition process of beacon information by the corresponding access point AP1 in S12 above. AP4 beacon information is also acquired.

  Then, each of the CPUs 11 of the corresponding access points AP2 to AP3 responds to the channel calculation start notification as shown in FIG. 10, and each of the corresponding access points AP2 to AP3 is a result of the channel scan as shown in FIG. The beacon information of the access points existing in the vicinity is transmitted to the server access point SA (corresponding access point AP1) using the wired LAN interface 15 of the own device (S24 in FIG. 6). The CPU 11 (the beacon information acquisition unit 22) of the corresponding access point AP1 waits until responses (beacon information) are returned from all the client access points CA (corresponding access points AP2 to 3), and other corresponding access The beacon information of the access points existing around each of these corresponding access points acquired by the points AP2 to AP3 is collected (and stored in the RAM 13) (S14 in FIG. 5). The beacon information collected from the other corresponding access points AP2 to AP3 and the beacon information acquired by the corresponding access point AP1 in S12 correspond to “channel information” acquired by the “channel information acquisition unit” in the claims. That is, the beacon information (“channel information”) acquired by the CPU 11 (the beacon information acquiring unit 22) of the corresponding access point AP1 includes the beacon information received by the corresponding access point AP1 from the other corresponding access points AP2 to AP3. It is out. Note that the “acquisition of beacon information” (process) shown in FIG. 9 is not limited to the acquisition process of beacon information by the corresponding access point AP1 shown in S12 of FIG. 5, but also the response shown in S23 of FIG. The beacon information acquisition process by the access points AP2 to AP3 is included. That is, the CPU 11 (the beacon information acquisition unit 22) of the corresponding access point AP1 has access points (corresponding access points AP1) including the corresponding access points AP1 to AP3 arranged in a predetermined area from the corresponding access points AP1 to AP3. To 3 and non-corresponding access point AP4) beacon information (beacon information including in-use channel and BSSID which are communication channels used by these AP1 to AP4).

  When the collection process of the beacon information in S14 of FIG. 5 is completed, the CPU 11 (the beacon information organizing unit 24) of the corresponding access point AP1 performs all the beacon information acquired or collected in S12 and S14 of FIG. Based on the collected BSSID list, beacon information relating to the same access point (on the RAM 13) is collected (S15 in FIG. 5). Specifically, the beacon information organizing unit 24 includes the beacon information of the corresponding access points having a plurality of BSSIDs among all the beacon information acquired / collected in S12 and S14 based on the BSSID list acquired in S11. It is determined whether or not it is included. As a result of the determination, when the beacon information of the corresponding access point having a plurality of BSSIDs is included, the beacon information organizing unit 24 acquires and collects the beacons acquired in S12 and S14 based on the BSSID list acquired in S11. Collect information for each access point.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 10, when the beacon information of the corresponding access point AP3 having two BSSIDs (BSS3.1 and BSS3.2) is included in the beacon information acquired / collected in S12 and S14, The beacon information organizing unit 24 collates the BSSID included in the beacon information of the corresponding access point AP3 with the BSSID included in the BSSID list of the corresponding access point AP3 acquired in S11, and corresponds to the corresponding access point AP3. Summarize beacon information. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 11, by deleting the beacon information of the BSS 3.2 acquired by the corresponding access point AP1, the beacon information of the BSS 3.1 acquired by the corresponding access point AP1 and the corresponding access point The beacon information of BSS3.2 acquired by AP1 is combined into one. Also, by deleting the beacon information of BSS3.2 acquired by the corresponding access point AP2, the beacon information of BSS3.1 acquired by the corresponding access point AP2, the beacon information of BSS3.2 acquired by the corresponding access point AP2, and Are combined into one.

  When the process of collecting the above beacon information (beacon information organizing process) is completed, the CPU 11 (the beacon information organizing unit 24, the determining unit 25, and the channel selecting unit 26) of the corresponding access point AP1 uses the beacon information summarized in S15. Then, according to the communication channel determination method described later in the description of FIG. 12, the communication channels used by the corresponding access points AP1 to AP3 are selected (determined), and the beacon information acquired / collected in S12 and S14 (or summarized in S15). Based on the beacon information), the transmission output of each of the corresponding access points AP1 to AP3 is determined according to a predetermined transmission output calculation algorithm (S16 in FIG. 5). Note that the channel selection unit 26 of the corresponding access point AP1 basically uses each of the corresponding access points AP1 to AP3 from a plurality of communication channels that can be used in common by all of the corresponding access points AP1 to AP3. Select the communication channel. Then, the CPU 11 of the corresponding access point AP1 uses the wired LAN interface 15 to each of the other corresponding access points (client access points) AP2 to AP3, and the corresponding access points AP2 to AP3 determined (calculated) in S16. The communication channel and the transmission output are transmitted (S17 in FIG. 5), and the communication channel and the transmission output of the own device are changed to the communication channel and the transmission output determined in S16. Each of the corresponding access points AP2 to AP3 receives its own communication channel and transmission output from the corresponding access point AP1 which is the server / access point SA (S25 in FIG. 6). Is changed to the received communication channel and transmission output (S26 in FIG. 6).

  The corresponding access point AP1, which is the server / access point SA, repeats the processes of S12 to S17 each time a predetermined time elapses (YES in S18 of FIG. 5). Each of the corresponding access points AP2 to AP3, which is the client access point CA, repeats the processes of S23 to S26 each time a channel calculation start notification is received from the corresponding access point AP1 (YES in S22 of FIG. 6).

A-4-1. Communication Channel Determination Processing Next, communication channel determination processing in communication channel and transmission output determination processing in S16 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 13 and 14 in addition to the flowchart of FIG. . A solid line in FIG. 13 represents a wired LAN, and (C) to (F) connected by this wired LAN are the same as the corresponding access points AP1 to AP3 (communication channel automatic selection function and transmission). Indicates the corresponding access point (corresponding to the automatic output adjustment function). Further, (A) and (B) in FIG. 13 represent non-corresponding access points (not subject to communication channel automatic selection and transmission output automatic adjustment) similar to the above-mentioned non-corresponding access point AP4.

  Assume that the access points (A) to (F) are arranged at the positions shown in FIG. In this state, the server access point SA is autonomously selected from the corresponding access points (C) to (F) as described above. The selected server / access point SA is first shown in FIG. 13 as all the corresponding access points (targeted for communication channel automatic selection) as indicated by a cross (attached to each channel such as 13ch and 9ch). The communication channels C) to F) are changed to the “channel not determined” state (S31 in FIG. 12). Specifically, the server access point SA changes the channel numbers of all the corresponding access points (C) to (F) in the channel management table on the RAM 13 to the “channel not determined” state, and The channel number in the beacon information collected for each access point in S15 in FIG. 5 is changed to the “channel not determined” state.

  Processing for changing the channel number in the above-described beacon information to the “channel not yet determined” state will be supplementarily described with reference to FIG. 14. FIG. 12 shows the beacon information collected from the corresponding access point (F) in the beacon information compiled in S15 in FIG. A to C in FIG. 14 indicate BSSIDs of the access points (A) to (C), respectively. As shown in FIG. 14, the server access point SA does not change the channel number of the beacon information of the non-corresponding access points (A) and (B), and the channel number of the beacon information of the corresponding access point (C). Is changed to a “channel not yet determined” state represented by a symbol x.

  When the process of changing to the “channel undecided” state in S31 is completed, the server / access point SA determines that the corresponding access point in the “channel undecided” state is based on the latest beacon information held by itself. Thus, the access point with the most acquired beacon information (the BSSID congestion degree is the highest) is selected as the corresponding access point to be the current channel determination target (channel congestion degree calculation target) (S32). Specifically, based on the latest beacon information held by the server / access point SA, the server / access point SA obtains the number of acquired beacon information of the non-compatible access point (BSSID) and the corresponding access in the “channel determined” state. The corresponding access point in the “channel undecided” state with the largest number of beacon information acquisition points (of the BSSID) is designated as the corresponding access point subject to the current channel determination (hereinafter referred to as “current determination target access point”). ”).

  For example, in FIG. 13, the radio wave receivable range of the non-compliant access point (A) is ZA, and the radio wave receivable range of the non-compliant access point (B) is ZB, and the compatible access points (C) to (F) ) Can receive radio waves from each other. In this case, unlike the other corresponding access points (D) to (F), the corresponding access point (C) can acquire the beacon information of both of the two non-corresponding access points (A) and (B). Therefore, it becomes a corresponding access point in the “channel undecided” state with the largest total number of acquisitions of the beacon information. Therefore, in this case, the corresponding access point (C) is selected as the access point to be determined this time.

  Next, the beacon information organizing unit 24 of the server / access point SA obtains the channel usage for each access point existing around the current access point to be determined using a channel usage calculation algorithm described later. Then, the beacon information organizing unit 24 of the server / access point SA summarizes the channel usage for each access point existing around the access point to be determined this time. The communication channels used by the access point) are collected as used channel states as shown in FIG. The determination unit 25 of the server access point SA determines the degree of congestion that is the usage state of the frequency band corresponding to each of the communication channels that can be used by the access point to be determined this time, based on the above-described usage channel state. The channel selection unit 26 of the server / access point SA selects (determines) the communication channel having the smallest congestion level as the communication channel used by the access point to be determined this time based on the determination result of the congestion level ( S33). Specifically, the server / access point SA exists around the access point to be determined this time among the latest beacon information (after being collected for each access point in the process of S15) held by the own device. Based on the beacon information of the access point to be used, the communication channel with the smallest congestion is determined as the communication channel used by the access point to be determined this time. Here, the determination of the degree of congestion by the determination unit 25 is performed in consideration of the use state of neighboring channels whose frequency bands overlap each communication channel.

  At this time, if the corresponding access point around the current access point to be determined is in the “channel not determined” state, the beacon information of this corresponding access point is the channel usage of the current access point to be determined. Not used for calculation. For example, in the state shown in FIG. 13, the corresponding access points (D) to (F) existing around the corresponding access point (C), which are the access points to be determined this time, Therefore, the beacon information of the corresponding access points (D) to (F) is not used for calculating the channel usage of the corresponding access point (C). At this time, the channel usage and congestion of each communication channel around the corresponding access point (C) are the channel numbers used by the corresponding access points (A) and (B) as shown in FIG. High in the 1 "and 9" communication channels. Details of FIG. 16 will be described later.

  In addition, if the corresponding access point existing around the access point to be determined this time is in the “channel determined” state, the corresponding access point is not set in the actually set (used) communication channel. Instead, the channel usage is calculated on the assumption that the device is operating on the calculated channel (determined by the communication channel determination process).

  Specifically, for example, as described above, when the first determination target access point is the corresponding access point (C), as shown in FIG. 14, the beacon information of the corresponding access point (C) is Corresponding access point (hereinafter referred to as “second determination target access point”) that is the target of the second channel determination after being changed to the “channel determined” state (to the state of the new channel number “5”) Consider the case of performing the channel determination process. In this case, for the corresponding access point (C) in the “channel determined” state, it is determined in this communication channel determination process, not the channel number “13” of the communication channel actually used at this time. The channel usage is calculated on the assumption that the communication channel of the channel number “5” (reflected in the beacon information) is operating. In this case, the RSSI value of the beacon information of the corresponding access point (C) used for the calculation of the channel usage is observed at the channel number “13” of the communication channel actually used at this time. The RSSI value (−60 dBm) of the corresponding access point (C) is used as it is.

  When the process for determining the communication channel used by the current determination target access point is completed as described above, the server access point SA changes the state of the current determination target access point to the “channel determined” state ( S34). Specifically, the channel number of the access point to be determined this time in the channel management table on the RAM 13 is changed to the channel number of the communication channel selected (determined) in the process of S33, and the server access The channel number of the beacon information of the current access point to be determined, which is included in the latest beacon information held by the point SA, is changed to the channel number of the communication channel selected in the process of S33.

  When the processing of S34 is completed, the server access point SA refers to the channel numbers of all the corresponding access points (C) to (F) in the channel management table on the RAM 13 and is in the “channel not determined” state. Check if there is a corresponding access point. Then, the server / access point SA repeats the processing of S32 to S35 until there is no corresponding access point in the “channel undecided” state (until NO in S35), whereby the communication used by all the corresponding access points. Determine the channel.

A-4-1-1. Channel usage calculation algorithm
Next, a channel usage calculation algorithm used for obtaining a communication channel having the minimum channel usage in the processing of S33 will be described. The number of BSSIDs of access points around the current access point to be determined (of which access points are not yet determined) is X, and the index number corresponding to the BSSID of each access point around the current access point to be determined X, and BSSID of each access point around the current access point to be determined is Bssid (x) (where x = 1, 2, 3,..., X). The index number x is a subscript of the array Bssid that has Bssid (1), Bssid (2), Bssid (3),..., Bssid (X) as elements. In addition, among the latest beacon information held by the server access point SA, the beacon information of the beacon information having the BSSID of Bssid (x) observed (acquired) by the access point to be determined this time (the beacon of Bssid (x) Ch (x) is the communication channel number used by the access point that transmits. Then, among the latest beacon information held by the server access point SA, the beacon information of the beacon information having the BSSID of Bssid (x) observed (acquired) by the access point to be determined this time (Bsid (x) beacon) Assume that the RSSI value at the time of reception is Rssi (x). In the following calculation of channel usage, Rssi (x) is not directly used as a numerical value expressed in dBm, but is normalized to a positive numerical value and used for calculating the channel usage.

When the channel usage of a certain communication channel y is weight (y), the congestion level of each communication channel is calculated by the following equation (1) (channel usage calculation algorithm).

  In the above equation (1), the number X of BSSIDs of access points around the current access point to be determined represents the number of beacon information observed (acquired) by the current access point to be determined, as shown in FIG. Considering that the beacon information of the same access point is collected in S15, this represents the number of access points around the determination target access point that the current determination target access point can observe beacon information. . Further, this “number of BSSIDs” X does not include the BSSID of the access point in the channel undetermined state.

  The server / access point SA is based on beacon information (of access points around the current access point for determination) observed (obtained) by the current access point of the current determination among the latest beacon information held by itself. The channel usage of each communication channel is calculated using the above equation (1).

  The above formula (1) means the following calculation. That is, (i) if the beacon information of the access point using the communication channel y is included in the beacon information acquired by the access point to be determined this time, the normalized RSSI value of the beacon information Is added to the channel usage weight (y) of the communication channel y as it is. (Ii) When there is beacon information of an access point using the communication channel (y ± 1) in the beacon information acquired by the access point to be determined this time, the RSSI value of the beacon information is set to 0. The value multiplied by .66 is added to the channel usage weight (y) of the communication channel y. (Iii) If the beacon information of the access point using the communication channel (y ± 2) is included in the beacon information acquired by the determination target access point, the RSSI value of the beacon information is set to 0. The value multiplied by 5 is added to the channel usage weight (y) of the communication channel y. Note that the coefficients of 0.66 and 0.5 in the above formula (1) are merely examples, and a communication channel near the communication channel y is used when calculating the channel usage weight (y). The value of the weight (coefficient) by which the RSSI value of the beacon information of the access point is multiplied is not limited to these.

  The channel usage weight (y) of a certain communication channel y can be obtained by performing the processes (i) to (iii) using all the beacon information acquired by the access point to be determined this time. it can. The server access point SA collects immediately after the processing of S11, information on the usable communication channels for each corresponding access point, and information on the communication channels that the server access point SA has that can be used by itself. Based on the above, by determining all communication channels that can be used by the current access point to be determined, and calculating the above equation (1) for all communication channels, , Channel usage of all communication channels (which can use the access point to be determined this time) can be obtained.

  FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure when the channel usage calculation algorithm of the above formula (1) is executed by a program (a subroutine included in the communication channel selection program 18 in FIG. 2). In this process, first, the CPU 11 (the beacon information organizing unit 24) of the server / access point SA initializes all weight (y), which is a kind of array for calculating the channel usage of each communication channel (cleared to 0). (S41 to S44).

  Next, the CPU 11 (the beacon information organizing unit 24) of the server / access point SA sets Rssi (x) of each beacon information acquired by the access point to be determined this time as the channel number Ch (x ) Corresponding to the channel usage (array data) weight (Ch (x)) is added as it is (S46). Further, the beacon information organizing unit 24 of the server / access point SA obtains the channel number Ch included in the beacon information by multiplying the Rssi (x) of each beacon information acquired by the current access point to be determined by 0.66. Add to the channel usage weight (Ch (x) ± 1) of the channel numbers before and after (x) (S47 and S48). Furthermore, the beacon information organizing unit 24 of the server / access point SA obtains a channel number included in the beacon information by multiplying Rssi (x) of each beacon information acquired by the access point to be determined this time by 0.5. It is added to the channel usage weight (Ch (x) ± 2) of the channel number two apart from Ch (x) (S49 and S50). However, the beacon information organizing unit 24 of the server / access point SA is limited to the above S48 and S50 only when the value of (Ch (x) -1) or (Ch (x) -2) is 1 or more. Perform the process. In addition, the beacon information organizing unit 24 of the server / access point SA can only use the channel number where the value of (Ch (x) +1) or (Ch (x) +2) exists (the access point to be determined this time can be used). The processing of S47 and S49 is performed within a range that does not exceed the maximum channel number in the communication channel number).

  The beacon information organizing unit 24 of the server / access point SA observes (acquires) the current access point to be determined (included in the beacon information) and BSSIDs around the access point to be determined this time (among the channels not yet determined) Only the number of access points around the current access point to be determined (of which access points excluding access points that have not yet been determined). By repeating the processes of S46 to S50 (S52), the channel usage of all communication channels (which can use the current determination target access point) around the current determination target access point is obtained. The channel usage of all communication channels is a summary of the channels in use of each access point around the access point to be determined in consideration of overlapping frequency bands of each communication channel. This corresponds to “channel state” (see FIG. 16).

  Note that the CPU 11 (the beacon information organizing unit 24) of the server / access point SA has the above-described bandwidth information acquiring unit 23 even when the corresponding access points around the access point to be determined this time use the channel bonding function. By using the frequency bandwidth setting information acquired by the above, the frequency bandwidth used by the corresponding access point is taken into consideration, so that the channel usage of all communication channels around the current access point to be determined (the above “ It is possible to accurately determine the channel state used)).

A-4-1-2. Selection of communication channel with minimum congestion
Next, the determination unit 25 of the server / access point SA determines the congestion degree that is the use state of the frequency band corresponding to each of the communication channels that can be used by the access point to be determined this time based on the use channel state. judge. The channel selection unit 26 of the server / access point SA uses the current determination target access point from a plurality of communication channels that can be used by the current determination target access point, based on the determination result of the congestion degree. Select the communication channel. Specifically, the determination unit 25 of the server / access point SA extracts a communication channel y having a channel usage weight (y) of 0 as a result of the calculation using the above-described channel usage calculation algorithm. When there is only one communication channel y with a channel usage weight (y) of 0, the determination unit 25 of the server / access point SA determines that this communication channel is the communication channel with the least congestion. It is determined that Then, the channel selection unit 26 of the server / access point SA sets the communication channel having the channel usage of 0 as the communication channel used by the access point to be determined this time based on the determination result of the congestion level. Select (decide). Note that the determination of the degree of congestion by the determination unit 25 is performed in consideration of the usage state of neighboring channels whose frequency bands overlap each communication channel. Therefore, as described above, even when there is only one communication channel y whose channel usage weight (y) is 0, the communication channel y and the channel usage weight (y) of this communication channel y are The channel usage of neighboring channels with overlapping frequency bands may also be added, and the above-described congestion degree may be determined based on the sum of these values. In general, however, communication in which the channel usage weight (y) is zero. As for the channel y, the channel usage of its neighboring channels is often low. Therefore, in the above example, when there is only one communication channel y whose channel usage weight (y) is 0, this communication channel is used. However, it was determined (considered) that the communication channel had the least congestion.

  FIG. 16 shows the “used channel state” (which summarizes the channel usage for each access point existing around the access point to be determined this time). As shown in FIG. 16, when there are a plurality of communication channels y with a channel usage weight (y) of 0, the determination unit 25 of the server access point SA sets weight (y) to 0 (communication) It is determined that the communication channel at the center of the longest section (the number of sections where the weight (y) is continuously 0 (the number of communication channels) is the largest) is the communication channel with the least congestion. . Then, the channel selection unit 26 of the server / access point SA determines the communication channel at the center of the section with the longest section of 0 based on the determination result of the degree of congestion (channel number “5” in FIG. 16). Is selected (determined) as the communication channel used by the access point to be determined this time. That is, the determination unit 25 of the CPU 11 of the server / access point SA determines the degree of congestion in consideration of the use state of neighboring channels whose frequency bands overlap with each communication channel in addition to the degree of congestion of each communication channel. .

  Furthermore, when there is no communication channel y with a channel usage weight (y) of 0, the determination unit 25 of the server access point SA determines that the communication channel y with the smallest channel usage weight (y) is present. It is determined that the communication channel has the least congestion. Then, the channel selection unit 26 of the server / access point SA sets the communication channel y having the minimum channel usage as the communication channel used by the access point to be determined this time based on the determination result of the congestion level. Select (decide). Similar to the case where there is only one communication channel whose channel usage is 0, the channel usage weight (y) is minimum even when there is no communication channel whose channel usage is 0. The channel usage of the communication channel y may be added to the channel usage of a neighboring channel whose frequency band overlaps with the communication channel y, and the above-described congestion degree may be determined based on the sum of these values. However, in general, in the same way as the communication channel y in which the channel usage weight (y) is 0, the channel usage of the neighboring channel is often low for the communication channel y having the smallest channel usage weight (y). Therefore, in the above example, the communication channel y having the smallest channel usage weight (y) is determined (considered) as the communication channel having the smallest congestion.

  In addition, the beacon information organizing unit 24, the determining unit 25, and the channel selecting unit 26 of the CPU 11 of the server / access point SA can perform the above-described bandwidth information acquiring unit even when the access point to be determined this time uses the channel bonding function. It is possible to select (determine) the communication channel y having the smallest channel usage weight (y) as the communication channel used by the access point to be determined this time using the frequency bandwidth setting information acquired in Step 23. . For example, when the access point to be determined this time uses a frequency bandwidth of 40 MHz, for all combinations of two communication channels (for example, 1 channel and 5 channels) separated by 20 MHz, the channels of these communication channels are used. The total value of the usage weight (y) is calculated, and the communication channel having the smaller channel number (for example, the above-mentioned two communication channels of the first channel and the fifth channel) out of the two communication channels having the minimum total value. In the case of the combination of 1), a communication channel considering the frequency bandwidth used by the determination target access point by a method such as selecting (determining) one channel) as a communication channel used by the determination target access point Can be selected.

  In the description of FIG. 16 above, when the access point to be determined this time uses a frequency bandwidth of 20 MHz, if there is no communication channel y with a channel usage weight (y) of 0, the channel The point of selecting (determining) the communication channel y having the minimum usage weight (y) as the communication channel used by the access point to be determined this time has been described. This point is applicable even when the channel bonding function is used. The same. That is, for example, when the access point to be determined this time uses a frequency bandwidth of 40 MHz, for all combinations of two communication channels separated by 20 MHz, the total channel usage weight (y) of these communication channels. Even if there is no two communication channels (combinations) in which the total value is 0, the communication channel with the smaller channel number is selected from the two communication channels with the minimum total value. Select (determine) the communication channel used by the access point to be determined this time.

  The channel selection unit 26 of the CPU 11 of the server / access point SA repeats the selection (determination) process of the communication channel used by the current determination target access point as described above, thereby performing communication used by all determination target access points. Select a channel.

  As described above, according to the server access point SA (corresponding access point AP1 or the like) which is the communication channel selection device of the present embodiment, the beacon information acquired by the own device and each client access point CA (other correspondences) When the beacon information of the corresponding access points having a plurality of BSSIDs is included in the beacon information acquired from the access points AP2-3, etc., the BSSID list and beacon information acquired from the corresponding access points including the own device, On the basis of the beacon information, the beacon information can be collected for each access point, and based on the collected beacon information, the channels in use of the access points can be collected as the used channel state. That is, the beacon information organizing unit 24 of the server / access point SA uses the channel being used by each access point (used by each access point based on the BSSID list and beacon information acquired from each corresponding access point including its own device. Communication channels) can be summarized as a use channel state as shown in FIG. Accordingly, even when there is a corresponding access point that has a plurality of BSSIDs and transmits beacon information of different BSSIDs on the same communication channel around the corresponding access point, The degree of congestion of each communication channel can be determined according to the actual number of access points that are using the communication channel. Therefore, even in such a case, the communication channel can be selected according to the actual radio wave environment around each corresponding access point.

  In addition, in the conventional communication channel selection device, beacon information transmitted by an access point (corresponding to the above-mentioned non-compatible access point AP4) that is not a target for automatic communication channel selection is used to calculate the congestion degree of each communication channel. There wasn't. For this reason, if there are access points that are not subject to automatic communication channel selection around the automatic selection access points (corresponding to the corresponding access points AP1 to AP3), select a congested communication channel. There was a possibility. On the other hand, according to the server access point SA (corresponding access point AP1 or the like) of the present embodiment, as described in the description of FIGS. 9 and 10, the beacon information acquired by the beacon information acquiring unit 22 Includes beacon information of communication channels used by non-compatible access points AP4 other than the corresponding access points (not subject to automatic communication channel selection). As a result, unlike conventional communication channel selection devices, beacon information transmitted by an incompatible access point AP4 that is not subject to automatic communication channel selection can also be used to calculate the channel usage and congestion level of each communication channel. Therefore, the communication channel can be selected according to the actual radio wave environment around the corresponding access point.

  Furthermore, according to the server access point SA (corresponding access point AP1 and the like) of the present embodiment, the usable channel information acquisition unit 27 that acquires information on usable communication channels for each corresponding access point is provided. Thus, it is possible to accurately determine the communication channel with the minimum channel usage.

  In addition, according to the server access point SA (corresponding access point AP1 or the like) of the present embodiment, the server further includes a bandwidth information acquisition unit 23 that acquires frequency bandwidth setting information for each of the corresponding access points, and the bandwidth information Based on the frequency bandwidth setting information acquired by the acquiring unit 23, the beacon information organizing unit 24 summarizes the used channel state, the determining unit 25 determines the congestion level, and the channel selecting unit 26 selects the communication channel. did. Thereby, using the acquired frequency bandwidth setting information, considering the frequency bandwidth used by the corresponding access point, the beacon information organizing unit 24 summarizes the used channel state, and the determining unit 25 is busy. And the selection of the communication channel by the channel selector 26 can be performed accurately.

B. Second Embodiment B-1. Network Configuration Next, a wireless LAN controller that is a communication channel selection device according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. The difference between this embodiment and the first embodiment is that the communication channel selection device of the present invention is not a server access point autonomously selected from the above-mentioned corresponding access points, but is different from the corresponding access points. The wireless LAN controller is a communication device (other than the corresponding access point). This wireless LAN controller is a device for centralized management and centralized control of supported access points, collects information necessary for automatic selection of communication channels and automatic transmission output adjustment of all supported access points. It has a function of determining (calculating) a communication channel and a transmission output.

  FIG. 17 is a configuration diagram showing an example of a network including the wireless LAN controller 30 and the corresponding access points AP1 to AP3 managed and controlled by the wireless LAN controller 30. The network configuration of this embodiment shown in FIG. 17 is the same as that shown in FIG. 1 except that the wireless LAN controller 30 is connected to the wired LAN connecting the corresponding access points AP1 to AP3 via the hub 9. The network is the same as that of the first embodiment. Therefore, in FIG. 17, the same components as those in FIG. Also, in the present embodiment, unlike the first embodiment, none of the corresponding access points AP1 to AP3 is selected as the server / access point SA. In the present embodiment, the corresponding access points AP1 to AP3 are all access points in the same segment (belonging to the same subnet).

B-2-1. Schematic Configuration of Wireless LAN Controller FIG. 18 shows a schematic electrical block configuration of the wireless LAN controller 30 described above. The wireless LAN controller 30 includes a CPU 31, a ROM 32, a RAM 33, a wired LAN interface (wired LAN I / F) 35, and a bus 36. The CPU 31, the ROM 32, the RAM 33, and the wired LAN interface 35 are connected to each other via a bus 36.

  The ROM 32 stores various programs such as a server-side communication channel selection program 38 which is a program for performing automatic communication channel selection processing (and automatic transmission output adjustment processing), which will be described later, and initial setting data. . Details of the processing of the server-side communication channel selection program 38 will be described later in “B-3. Communication Channel Automatic Selection Processing”. The server-side communication channel selection program 38 is a communication channel according to the first embodiment. Of the processes performed by the selection program 18, it is similar to a program describing only the processes performed on the server / access point SA side.

  The CPU 31 includes a BSSID setting information acquisition unit 41, a beacon information acquisition unit 42 (channel information acquisition unit in claims), a bandwidth information acquisition unit 43, and a beacon information arrangement unit 44 (channel information arrangement unit in claims). ), A determination unit 45, a channel selection unit 46, and an available channel information acquisition unit 47. The CPU 31 controls the overall operation of the wireless LAN controller 30 by developing and executing various programs stored in the ROM 32 in the RAM 33. The functions of the BSSID setting information acquisition unit 41, the beacon information acquisition unit 42, the bandwidth information acquisition unit 43, the beacon information organization unit 44, the determination unit 45, the channel selection unit 46, and the usable channel information acquisition unit 47 are basically the same. Therefore, the function is the same as that of the server access point SA (corresponding access point AP1) of the first embodiment. However, the functional units (41 to 47) of the wireless LAN controller 30 in the present embodiment are different from the functional units (21 to 27) of the server / access point SA in the first embodiment in the transmission / reception destination of information. Corresponding access points AP1 to AP3. This will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

B-2-2. FIG. 19 shows a schematic electrical block configuration of the corresponding access points AP1 to AP3. Since the corresponding access points AP1 to AP3 all have the same electrical block configuration, only the electrical block configuration of the corresponding access point AP1 will be described here. The hardware of the corresponding access point AP1 in this embodiment is basically the same as the hardware of the corresponding access point AP1 in the first embodiment shown in FIG. Therefore, in FIG. 19, the same components as those in FIG. 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted. 19 differs from FIG. 2 in that the corresponding access point AP1 stores the client-side communication channel selection program 51 in the ROM 12 instead of the communication channel selection program 18 in FIG. Due to the difference in the programs that are being executed, the CPU 11 has the function units (BSSID setting information acquiring unit 21, beacon information acquiring unit 22, bandwidth information acquiring unit 23, beacon information organizing unit 24, determining unit in FIG. 25, the channel selection unit 26, and the usable channel information acquisition unit 27).

  The client-side communication channel selection program 51 is similar to a program that describes only the processing performed by the client / access point CA among the processing performed by the communication channel selection program 18 in the first embodiment.

B-3. Communication Channel Automatic Selection Processing Next, communication channel automatic selection processing performed by the wireless LAN controller 30 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. FIG. 20 is a flowchart of processing performed by the wireless LAN controller 30 when the communication channel is automatically selected. FIG. 21 shows a flowchart of processing performed by the corresponding access points AP1 to AP3 when the communication channel is automatically selected.

  As shown in FIG. 20, when the CPU 31 (the BSSID setting information acquisition unit 41) of the wireless LAN controller 30 enters the communication channel automatic selection process, all the corresponding access points AP1 to AP3 are used using the wired LAN interface 35. Then, the BSSID list for each of these access points is acquired (collected) (S61 in FIG. 20). Specifically, the CPU 31 of the wireless LAN controller 30 causes all the corresponding access points AP1 to AP3 to transmit the BSSID list of these access points (S71 in FIG. 21), so that the corresponding access points AP1 to AP3 Obtain (collect) a BSSID list. The CPU 31 of the wireless LAN controller 30 (its BSSID setting information acquisition unit 41) stores the acquired BSSID list in the RAM 33.

  Also, the CPU 31 (usable channel information acquisition unit 47) of the wireless LAN controller 30 can use each of these access points from each of the corresponding access points AP1 to AP3 using the wired LAN interface 35. Gather information on various communication channels. In addition, the CPU 31 (bandwidth information acquisition unit 43) of the wireless LAN controller 30 acquires frequency bandwidth setting information from each of all the corresponding access points AP1 to AP3 using the wired LAN interface 35. Information on these usable communication channels and frequency bandwidth setting information are stored in the RAM 13 by the CPU 31 (the usable channel information acquisition unit 47 and the bandwidth information acquisition unit 43) of the wireless LAN controller 30.

  When the acquisition (collection) processing of the BSSID list and the like from each of the corresponding access points AP1 to AP3 is completed, the CPU 31 (the beacon information acquisition unit 42) of the wireless LAN controller 30 performs processing corresponding to S12 in FIG. The channel calculation start notification is issued (transmitted) to each of all the corresponding access points AP1 to AP3 using the wired LAN interface 35 (S62 in FIG. 20). When the CPU 11 of each of the corresponding access points AP1 to AP3 receives this channel calculation start notification (YES in S72 in FIG. 21), it performs a channel scan using the wireless slave unit interface 14b and exists around its own unit. The beacon information of the access point is acquired (S73 in FIG. 21). In the acquisition process of beacon information by the corresponding access points AP1 to AP3, not only the beacon information of the corresponding access points AP1 to AP3 but also the beacon information of the non-corresponding access point (similar to AP4 in FIGS. 7 to 9). Also get.

  Then, the CPU 11 of each corresponding access point AP1 to AP3 receives the beacon information of the access points existing around each corresponding access point AP1 to AP3 as a result of the above channel scan as a response to the above channel calculation start notification. The data is transmitted to the wireless LAN controller 30 using the wired LAN interface 15 (S74 in FIG. 21). CPU 31 (beacon information acquisition unit 42) of wireless LAN controller 30 waits for responses (beacon information) from all corresponding access points AP1 to AP3, and all corresponding access points AP1 to AP3 acquired. The beacon information of the access points existing around each of these corresponding access points is collected (S63 in FIG. 20) and stored in the RAM 33.

  When the above beacon information collection process is completed, the CPU 31 of the wireless LAN controller 30 (the beacon information organizing unit 44), based on all the beacon information collected in S63 of FIG. 20 and the BSSID list collected in S61, The beacon information related to the same access point is collected by the same method as in the first embodiment (S64 in FIG. 20).

  When the process of collecting the above beacon information (beacon information organizing process) is completed, the CPU 31 (the beacon information organizing unit 44, the determining unit 45, and the channel selecting unit 46) of the wireless LAN controller 30 performs the communication described in the explanation of FIG. In accordance with the channel determination method, the communication channel used by each corresponding access point AP1 to AP3 is selected (determined), and a predetermined transmission output calculation algorithm based on the beacon information collected in S63 (or the beacon information collected in S64) Accordingly, the transmission output of each of the corresponding access points AP1 to AP3 is determined (S65 in FIG. 20). Then, using the wired LAN interface 35, the CPU 31 of the wireless LAN controller 30 sends the communication channels and transmission outputs of the corresponding access points AP1 to AP3 determined (calculated) to each of all the corresponding access points AP1 to AP3. Is transmitted (S66 in FIG. 20).

  Each of the corresponding access points AP1 to AP3 receives its own communication channel and transmission output from the wireless LAN controller 30 when receiving its own communication channel (to be used) and transmission output (S75 in FIG. 21). The communication channel and transmission output are changed (S76 in FIG. 21).

  The wireless LAN controller 30 repeats the processes of S62 to S66 each time a predetermined time elapses (YES in S67 of FIG. 20). Each of the corresponding access points AP1 to AP3 repeats the processes of S73 to S76 each time a channel calculation start notification is received from the wireless LAN controller 30 (YES in S72 of FIG. 21).

  According to the wireless LAN controller 30 which is the communication channel selection device of the present embodiment, the beacon information acquired from each of all the corresponding access points AP1 to AP3 includes the beacon information of the corresponding access points having a plurality of BSSIDs. When the beacon information is compiled for each access point based on the BSSID lists acquired from the corresponding access points AP1 to AP3, the channel being used by each access point is used based on the collected beacon information. Can be summarized as a state. Thereby, the same effect as the server access point SA which is the communication channel selection device of the first embodiment can be obtained.

B-4-1. Modification 1 of the second embodiment
In the above description, an example in which the communication channel selection device of the present embodiment is the wireless LAN controller 30 has been described. However, the communication channel selection device of the present embodiment may be a computer that executes access point management software, A communication device other than the corresponding access points AP1 to AP3 such as a so-called wireless LAN switch may be used.

B-4-2. Modification 2 of the second embodiment
In the above description, the communication channel and transmission used by all the corresponding access points AP1 to 3 based on the beacon information and the BSSID list collected by the wireless LAN controller 30 from all the corresponding access points AP1 to AP3 in the same segment. The calculations for determining the output were performed together. However, a plurality of corresponding access points in the same segment are grouped into, for example, a group of corresponding access points on the first floor and a group of corresponding access points on the second floor. In addition to the beacon information and the BSSID list, information (group information) indicating the group to which the own device (each corresponding access point) belongs is acquired from the corresponding access point, and the communication channel and transmission output for each group of the corresponding access point Calculations for determining may be performed. Specifically, the wireless LAN controller 30 further includes a group information acquisition unit for acquiring the group information from each of the corresponding access points, and the beacon information organizing unit 44 of the wireless LAN controller 30 acquires the group information. Based on the group information acquired by the unit, the beacon information after being collected in S64 is classified into beacon information for each group, and based on the beacon information for each group, the channel usage calculation algorithm shown in FIG. Is used to obtain the channel usage of each communication channel for each group, and the used channel status is grouped for each group. And the determination part 45 of the wireless LAN controller 30 determines the congestion degree of each communication channel for every group based on said group information. Then, the channel selection unit 46 of the wireless LAN controller 30 selects a communication channel to be used by each corresponding access point in the group for each group by the same method as the communication channel determination method described in the explanation of FIG. And the transmission output of each corresponding access point in the group is determined according to a predetermined transmission output calculation algorithm based on the beacon information summarized in S64.

C. Third Embodiment C-1. Network Configuration Next, the corresponding access points AP1 to AP3, which are communication channel selection apparatuses according to the third embodiment of the present invention, will be described. The network configuration around the corresponding access points AP1 to AP3 of the present embodiment is basically the same as the network configuration around the corresponding access points AP1 to AP3 of the first embodiment shown in FIG. The following description will be made using the same reference numerals as those assigned to 1. However, in the present embodiment, unlike the first embodiment, the corresponding access points AP1 to AP3 are not classified into the server access point SA and the client access point CA, and all the corresponding access points AP1 to AP3 are not classified. Are functionally equivalent, and the processing performed by the corresponding access points AP1 to AP3 is the same.

  In the first embodiment, the server access point SA (corresponding access point AP1) autonomously selected from the corresponding access points AP1 to AP3 is replaced with other corresponding access points AP2 to AP3 (client access point CA). Thus, information necessary for automatic selection of communication channels and automatic transmission output adjustment of the corresponding access points AP1 to AP3 was collected, and communication channels and transmission outputs of all the corresponding access points AP1 to AP3 were determined (calculated). On the other hand, in this embodiment, each corresponding access point AP1 to AP3 receives information (BSSID list and beacon information) necessary for automatic communication channel automatic selection and transmission output automatic adjustment of the other corresponding access point and its own device. Based on these pieces of information, the communication channel and transmission output of the own device are determined (calculated).

C-2. Schematic configuration of corresponding access points AP1 to AP3 The circuit configuration (electrical block configuration) of the corresponding access points AP1 to AP3 of this embodiment is basically the same as the corresponding access point AP1 of the first embodiment shown in FIG. Therefore, the following description will be made using the same reference numerals as those shown in FIG.

C-3. Communication Channel Automatic Selection Processing Next, communication channel automatic selection processing performed by the corresponding access points AP1 to AP3 will be described with reference to the explanatory diagrams of FIGS. 23 to 27 in addition to the flowchart of FIG. FIG. 22 shows a flowchart of processing performed by the corresponding access points AP1 to AP3 when the communication channel is automatically selected. 23 to 27 show a schematic mechanism of the communication channel automatic selection process.

  As shown in FIG. 23, the usage environment of the corresponding access points AP1 to AP3 is the same as the usage environment of the corresponding access points AP1 to AP3 in the first embodiment shown in FIG. That is, the corresponding access points AP1 to AP3 are connected to each other via a wired LAN via a LAN cable and the hub 9. In addition, an unsupported access point AP4 is arranged around the corresponding access points AP1 to AP3.

  In the above usage environment, all the corresponding access points AP1 to AP3 are turned on, and these corresponding access points AP1 to AP3 are activated. At this time, as shown in FIG. 23, each of the corresponding access points AP1 to AP3 holds only the BSSID list of the own device (“BSSID setting information” in the claims) on the RAM 13. In this state, when communication is possible between the corresponding access points AP1 to AP3 (via the wired LAN), as shown in FIG. 24, each of the corresponding access points AP1 to AP3 is connected to each of the other corresponding access points. Then, a BSSID list for each of these access points is acquired and stored in its own RAM 13 (S81). In other words, the corresponding access points AP1 to AP3 share the BSSID list with each of the other corresponding access points.

  Next, the CPU 11 (the beacon information acquisition unit 22) of each of the corresponding access points AP1 to AP3 performs channel scanning using the wireless slave unit interface 14b in the same manner as in the first embodiment, and FIG. As shown in FIG. 5, information (beacon information) included in the beacon of access points existing around the own device is acquired and stored in the RAM 13 of the own device (S82). As shown in FIG. 25, the beacon information includes beacon information of access points other than the corresponding access points AP2 to AP3 (non-corresponding access point AP4 not subject to communication channel automatic selection and transmission output automatic adjustment). .

  When each of the corresponding access points AP1 to AP3 completes the acquisition of the beacon information by the own device in S82, as shown in FIG. 26, each of the corresponding access points AP has acquired around each of these corresponding access points. The beacon information of the existing access point is acquired and stored in the own RAM 13 (S83). The acquired and stored beacon information includes beacon information of the own device (each corresponding access point AP1 to AP3) acquired by another corresponding access point. Accordingly, the corresponding access points AP1 to AP3 share beacon information with each of the other corresponding access points.

  When the collection process of the beacon information in S83 in FIG. 22 is completed, the CPUs 11 (beacon information organizing unit 24) of the corresponding access points AP1 to AP3 respectively acquire all the beacon information acquired in S82 and S83 in FIG. Based on the BSSID list collected in S81, beacon information relating to the same access point (on the RAM 13) is collected (S84) by the same method as in the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. That is, the beacon information organizing unit 24 determines whether or not the beacon information of the corresponding access points having a plurality of BSSIDs is included in all the beacon information acquired in S82 and S83 based on the BSSID list acquired in S81. Determine whether. As a result of this determination, when the beacon information of the corresponding access point having a plurality of BSSIDs is included, the beacon information organizing unit 24 uses the BSSID list acquired in S81 to obtain the beacon information acquired in S82 and S83. Collect by access point.

  When the process of grouping the beacon information is completed, the beacon information organizing unit 24 of the CPU 11 of each corresponding access point AP1 to AP3 described with reference to the above formula (1) and FIG. 15 using the beacon information summarized in S84. In accordance with the channel usage calculation algorithm, the channel usage ((the above “used channel state”)) of all communication channels around the own device (that the own device can use) is obtained. Then, the determination unit 25 and the channel selection unit 26 of the CPU 11 of each corresponding access point AP1 to AP3 are congested in the same manner as the above-mentioned “A-4-1-2. Selection process of communication channel with minimum congestion”. The communication channel with the smallest degree is selected (determined) as the communication channel used by the own device (S85). Specifically, the CPU 11 of each of the corresponding access points AP1 to AP3 has access to the surroundings of the own device among the beacon information held by the own device (after being collected for each access point in the processing of S84). Based on the beacon information of the point, the communication channel with the smallest congestion is determined as the communication channel used by the own device. Further, the CPUs 11 of the corresponding access points AP1 to AP3 determine their own transmission output according to a predetermined transmission output calculation algorithm based on the beacon information acquired in S82 and S83 (or the beacon information summarized in S84). . In the present embodiment, unlike the server access point SA of the first embodiment, the CPU 11 of each corresponding access point AP1 to AP3 does not determine the communication channel and transmission output of other corresponding access points and Only the machine's communication channel and transmission output are determined. Accordingly, as shown in S31 and S32 in FIG. 12, the communication channels of all the corresponding access points are changed to the “channel not determined” state, and the corresponding access points in the “channel not determined” state are changed. Thus, the processing for calculating the communication channels used by all the corresponding access points is not performed in order from the corresponding access point having the largest acquired beacon information.

  When the determination process of S85 is completed, the CPU 11 of each corresponding access point AP1 to AP3 changes its own communication channel and transmission output to the communication channel and transmission output determined in S85 (S86). The CPU 11 of each corresponding access point AP1 to AP3 repeats the processes of S82 to S86 each time a predetermined time has elapsed (YES in S87).

  The CPU 11 of each corresponding access point AP1 to AP3 performs the processing shown in FIG. 22, whereby each corresponding access point AP1 to AP3 can determine the communication channel and transmission output used by the own device.

  According to the corresponding access points AP1 to AP3, which are communication channel selection apparatuses of the present embodiment, the corresponding access points having a plurality of BSSIDs in the beacon information acquired by the own device and the beacon information acquired from other corresponding access points. When the beacon information is included, the beacon information is compiled for each access point based on the BSSID list acquired from the corresponding access points AP1 to AP3. In-use channels can be grouped as used channel states. Thereby, the same effect as the server access point SA which is the communication channel selection device of the first embodiment can be obtained.

D. Variations:
The present invention is not limited to the configuration of each of the embodiments described above, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. Next, a modification of the present invention will be described.

D-1-1. Modification 1-1
In each of the above embodiments, the beacon information organizing units 24 and 44 of the communication channel selection device (the server / access point SA, the wireless LAN controller 30, and the corresponding access points AP1 to AP3) of each embodiment are the channel information acquisition unit 22. , 42, the beacon information of the corresponding access point AP3 having a plurality of BSSIDs has the same weight as the beacon information of the corresponding access points AP1-2 having one BSSID. Set to. That is, the beacon information organizing units 24 and 44 collect the beacon information without considering the number of BSSIDs of the corresponding access points AP1 to AP3, and use each access point based on the collected beacon information. The middle channel is summarized as the used channel state. However, the beacon information organizing unit may collect the above-described use channel states in consideration of a predetermined weight for each access point. For example, since a corresponding access point having a plurality of BSSIDs has a large number of beacons to be transmitted, the beacon information organizing unit assigns the weight of the beacon information of the corresponding access point having a plurality of BSSIDs to the corresponding access point having one BSSID. It may be set larger than the weight of the beacon information.

  Specifically, the beacon information organizing unit may increase the weight of the beacon information according to the number of BSSIDs that the corresponding access point has. For example, the beacon information of the corresponding access point having two BSSIDs is set to beacon information for 1.3 (of the beacon information of the corresponding access point having only one BSSID). Then, using the beacon information for each access point after weighting according to the number of BSSIDs, according to the channel usage calculation algorithm shown in the above equation (1) and FIG. By determining the channel usage, it is possible to select a communication channel according to the actual radio wave environment.

D-1-2. Modification 1-2:
As described in Modification 1-1, in each of the above embodiments, the beacon information organizing units 24 and 44 of the communication channel selection device do not consider the number of BSSIDs that the corresponding access points AP1 to AP3 have. After collecting the beacon information, based on the collected beacon information, the in-use channels of each access point are collected as the used channel state. However, when the beacon information organizing unit summarizes the beacon information for each access point, the weight of the beacon information of the corresponding access point having a plurality of BSSIDs is more than the weight corresponding to the number of BSSIDs of the corresponding access point. You may set small.

  Specifically, if the number of BSSIDs of a corresponding access point is n, the beacon information of this corresponding access point is set to beacon information for z (where 1 <z <n) smaller than n. And More specifically, a numerical value (z = n × c) obtained by multiplying the number n of BSSIDs of a corresponding access point by a constant c less than 1 is used as the weight of the beacon information of the corresponding access point. For example, in the case of a corresponding access point having four BSSIDs, if the above constant c is 0.5, the weight z of the beacon information of this corresponding access point is 4 × 0.5 = 2. That is, the beacon information of the corresponding access point is beacon information for two corresponding access points having one BSSID. Then, using the beacon information for each access point after performing such weighting, the channel usage of each communication channel is obtained according to the channel usage calculation algorithm shown in the above equation (1) and FIG. Thus, the communication channel can be selected according to the actual radio wave environment in the same manner as in Modification 1-1. In applying the equation (1), the channel usage weight (y) is calculated by multiplying each of the three Rssi (x) terms in the equation (1) by the weight z of the beacon information. I do.

D-2. Modification 2:
In each of the above embodiments, the channel selection units 26 and 46 of the communication channel selection device of each embodiment have selected the communication channel with the least congestion as the communication channel used by each corresponding access point AP1 to AP3. However, when the channel selection unit determines that there is no communication channel having a congestion level equal to or lower than a predetermined value among the plurality of communication channels that can be used by each corresponding access point, the received signal strength (RSSI value) is One of the communication channels in use (by other access points) equal to or higher than a predetermined threshold may be selected as a communication channel used by each corresponding access point.

  As described above, when a communication channel in use (by another access point) having an RSSI value (received signal strength) equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold is selected as a communication channel used by a certain corresponding access point, Compared with the case where the communication channel is occupied, the throughput of the corresponding access point is lowered. However, for example, if the corresponding access point AP1 and the wireless terminal 5 in FIG. 1 use a communication channel in use by another access point AP2 whose RSSI value (received signal strength) is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold, A frame collision between the terminal 5 and the wireless terminal 6 that performs wireless communication with another access point AP2 is used to obtain a transmission right by using a signal such as RTS (Request to Send) or CTS (Clear to Send). This can be avoided by collision avoidance control that mediates between a plurality of corresponding access points. Therefore, when a received signal strength from another access point in the vicinity of the own device is at a predetermined level, a corresponding access point uses a communication channel in use by this access point, thereby causing a collision by RTS / CTS. Avoidance control works effectively. Therefore, by using the same channel as the communication channel in use by other access points, it is possible to secure a certain degree of throughput for the communication of the corresponding access point and the wireless terminal that performs wireless communication with the corresponding access point. it can.

D-3. Modification 3:
In each of the above embodiments, the communication channel used by the determination target access point is determined based on the beacon information of each access point existing around the determination target access point. However, in addition to the beacon information of each of the surrounding access points, (a) the wireless LAN client (wireless LAN slave device) associated with each corresponding access point around the access point to be determined this time is connected. Number, (b) traffic volume (number of packets or data to be transmitted / received) of each corresponding access point around the current access point to be determined, (c) maximum link of each corresponding access point around the current access point to be determined Rate (maximum communication speed of wireless LAN communication between each corresponding access point and wireless LAN slave unit), (d) maximum packet length set in each corresponding access point around the access point to be determined this time, etc. Considering the communication channel used by the access point to be determined this time It may be so that.

  As for (a) above, the more the number of wireless LAN slaves connected to each corresponding access point, the more traffic and the time required for switching between the connected state and non-connected state of the wireless LAN slave unit Since it becomes long, it is better to make it difficult to select the communication channel used by the corresponding access point. As for (b), it is better that the communication channel used by the corresponding access point is less likely to be selected as the number of packets or the amount of data transmitted / received by each corresponding access point is larger. For (c), the slower the link rate of each corresponding access point, the longer the time it takes for the corresponding access point to occupy the communication channel, so the communication channel used by this corresponding access point is less likely to be selected Is good. For (d), for example, in the case of a corresponding access point that employs a frame aggregation technique such as an A-MPDU (Aggregation MAC Protocol Data Unit) method, the time for which the corresponding access point occupies a communication channel is relatively short. For this reason, it is preferable that the communication channel used by the corresponding access point is easily selected.

Note that the number of wireless LAN slaves in (a) above is a constant part of 1, 0.66, 0.5 in the above formula (1) when reflecting the channel usage of each communication channel. And a certain BSSID is x, for example, an equation for obtaining the channel usage weight (Ch (x)) for the channel Ch (x) in S46 of FIG.
weight (Ch (x)) = weight (Ch (x)) + Rssi (x) + STA (x) * a
(Where STA (x) is the number of STAs connected to x)

D-4. Modification 4:
In the channel usage calculation algorithm of the formula (1) employed in each of the above embodiments, the beacon information of the access point using a channel separated from the communication channel y by 1 channel (5 MHz) and 2 channels (10 MHz). If there is, the value obtained by multiplying the RSSI value of the beacon information by 0.66 times and 0.5 times is added to the channel usage weight (y) of the communication channel y. In addition to this, when there is beacon information of an access point using a channel 3 channels (15 MHz) away from the communication channel y, a value obtained by multiplying the RSSI value of the beacon information by 0.25, for example, You may add to the channel usage weight (y) of the channel y.

D-5. Modification 5:
In each of the above embodiments, each of the corresponding access points AP1 to AP3 performs channel scan by passive scan and generates beacon information of access points existing around the own device, but performs channel scan by active scan. Thus, information corresponding to the beacon information (channel information in the claims) may be generated. That is, each of the corresponding access points AP1 to AP3 transmits a probe request using each channel in the usable range using the wireless slave unit interface 14b, and is transmitted from the surrounding access points that have received the probe request. Based on the probe response, the same information as the beacon information (including the BSSID for the access point of the probe response transmission source, the channel number being used, and the RSSI value that is the reception intensity of the probe response (signal)) Information) may be generated.

D-6. Modification 6:
In each of the above-described embodiments, an example in which the storage medium for storing the corresponding BSSID list and beacon information in each of the corresponding access points AP1 to AP3 is a RAM. However, a nonvolatile memory such as a flash ROM is used instead of the RAM. May be used. Thereby, it is possible to quickly perform a retry when a power interruption occurs during processing by the corresponding access points AP1 to AP3 (for example, during calculation processing for obtaining a communication channel and a transmission output).

D-7. Modification 7:
In the above formula (1) and FIG. 15 in the first embodiment, the corresponding access point and the wireless terminal comply with the 11g system and use a communication channel separated by 5 MHz in a frequency band of 2.4 GHz band. Since wireless communication is used as an example, calculation of channel usage for each channel number Ch (x) is performed in order from channel number 1 (starting channel number is 1), and channel numbers are added one by one. I went there. However, the corresponding access point and the wireless terminal are compliant with the 11a, 11n, or 11ac system, and perform wireless communication in a frequency band of 5 GHz band using a communication channel separated by 20 MHz of a type such as W52, W53, or W56. When performing, the calculation of the channel usage for each channel number Ch (x) is performed for the type of the channel with the smallest channel number (such as the target (W52, W53, W56, etc.)) belonging to the target frequency band. Starting from the youngest channel number to use), when sending to the next communication channel for which channel usage is calculated, in the 5 GHz band, the next available channel number is 20 MHz (for 4 channels) apart Therefore, the above equation (1) can be obtained by changing the channel number to 4 channels at a time. It is possible to perform and 15 calculate the channel utilization with the same idea as.

D-8. Modification 8:
In the first embodiment described above, since the case where the corresponding access point and the wireless terminal perform wireless communication in the 2.4 GHz frequency band in accordance with the 11g system is taken as an example, the CPU 11 of the server access point SA When the access point to be determined this time uses the frequency bandwidth of 40 MHz by using the channel bonding function, the channel usage of these communication channels for all combinations of two communication channels separated by 20 MHz. The total value of weight (y) is calculated, and the communication channel having the smaller channel number is selected (determined) as the communication channel used by the access point to be determined this time out of the two communication channels having the minimum total value. ) Only the points to be described. However, when the corresponding access point and the wireless terminal perform wireless communication in the frequency band of 5 GHz in accordance with the 11a, 11n, or 11ac system, not only the case of using the 40 MHz frequency bandwidth but also 80 MHz. It is also possible to use a frequency bandwidth of. Thus, when the access point to be determined this time uses a frequency bandwidth of 80 MHz, the channel usage weight (y) of these communication channels is set for all combinations of four communication channels separated by 20 MHz. The total value is calculated, and the communication channel having the smallest channel number among the four communication channels having the smallest total value (for example, when using a channel of the W56 type, 100 channels, 104 channels, 108 channels, In the case of a combination of four communication channels of 112 channels, 100 channels) may be selected (determined) as the communication channel used by the current access point to be determined.

D-9. Modification 9:
In the first embodiment, based on the information on usable communication channels acquired by the usable channel information acquisition unit 27, the beacon information organizing unit 24 summarizes the used channel states, and the determination unit 25 determines the congestion level. The channel selection unit 26 selects a communication channel. However, based on the information on the usable communication channels acquired by the usable channel information acquiring unit 27, the beacon information organizing unit 24 summarizes the used channel state, the determining unit 25 determines the congestion level, and the channel selecting unit 26. At least one of the selection of communication channels may be performed.

D-10. Modification 10:
In the first embodiment, based on the frequency bandwidth setting information acquired by the bandwidth information acquisition unit 23, the beacon information organizing unit 24 summarizes the used channel state, the determination unit 25 determines the congestion level, and the channel selection. The communication channel was selected by the unit 26. However, based on the frequency bandwidth setting information acquired by the bandwidth information acquisition unit 23, the beacon information organizing unit 24 summarizes the used channel state, the determination unit 25 determines the congestion level, and the channel selection unit 26 determines the communication channel. At least one of the selections may be made.

D-11. Modification 11:
The present invention can be realized in various forms, for example, in the form of a communication channel selection method, a communication channel selection program, a recording medium on which the communication channel selection program is recorded, and the like.

18 Communication channel selection program 38 Server side communication channel selection program 21, 41 BSSID setting information acquisition unit 22, 42 Beacon information acquisition unit (channel information acquisition unit)
23, 43 Bandwidth information acquisition unit 24, 44 Beacon information organizing unit (channel information organizing unit)
25, 45 Determination unit 26, 46 Channel selection unit 27, 47 Available channel information acquisition unit 30 Wireless LAN controller (communication channel selection device)
31 CPU (group information acquisition unit)
AP 1-3 compatible access point (communication channel selection device, automatic selection wireless relay device)
AP4 non-compatible access point (wireless repeater other than automatic selection wireless repeater)
SA server access point (communication channel selection device)
(A), (B) Wireless relay device other than automatic selection wireless relay device (C) to (F) Corresponding access point (communication channel selection device, automatic selection wireless relay device)

Claims (16)

From the automatic selection wireless relay device included in the wireless relay device arranged in a predetermined area, the identification information of the automatic selection wireless relay device and the BSSID (Basic Service Set Identifier) possessed by the automatic selection wireless relay device are included. A BSSID setting information acquisition unit for acquiring BSSID setting information;
A channel information acquisition unit that acquires channel information including a busy channel and BSSID, which are communication channels used by the wireless relay device including the automatic selection wireless relay device, from the automatic selection wireless relay device;
A channel information organizing unit that summarizes the used channels as a used channel state based on the BSSID setting information acquired by the BSSID setting information acquiring unit and the channel information acquired by the channel information acquiring unit;
A determination unit that determines a degree of congestion that is a use state of a frequency band corresponding to each of the channels that can be used by the wireless relay device, based on the use channel state collected by the channel information organizing unit;
A communication channel selection device comprising: a channel selection unit that selects a communication channel used by the automatic selection wireless relay device based on a determination result by the determination unit.   The communication channel selection device according to claim 1, wherein the communication channel selection device is autonomously selected from the automatic selection radio relay device based on predetermined priority information.   The communication channel selection device according to claim 1, wherein the communication channel selection device is a communication device other than the automatic selection wireless relay device. A group information acquisition unit for acquiring group information indicating a group to which the automatically selected wireless relay device belongs from each of the automatically selected wireless relay devices divided into a plurality of groups;
The channel information organizing unit summarizes the used channel state for each group based on the group information acquired by the group information acquiring unit,
The determination unit determines the degree of congestion for each group based on the group information,
The communication channel selection device according to claim 3, wherein the channel selection unit selects a communication channel used by the automatic selection wireless relay device in the group for each group.   5. The channel information acquired by the channel information acquisition unit includes channel information of a communication channel used by a wireless relay device other than the automatic selection wireless relay device. The communication channel selection device according to any one of the above.   The communication according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the determination unit determines the degree of congestion in consideration of a use state of a neighboring channel whose frequency band overlaps with each communication channel. Channel selection device. The automatic selection wireless relay device further includes an available channel information acquisition unit that acquires information on communication channels that can be used for wireless communication by the automatic selection wireless relay device with other wireless relay devices or wireless terminals. ,
Based on information on usable communication channels acquired by the usable channel information acquisition unit, a summary of channel states used by the channel information organizing unit, determination of congestion by the determination unit, and communication by the channel selection unit The communication channel selection device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein at least one of channel selection is performed.   The channel information organizing unit further includes a bandwidth information acquiring unit that acquires frequency bandwidth setting information for each of the automatic selection wireless relay devices, and based on the frequency bandwidth setting information acquired by the bandwidth information acquiring unit 8. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one of a summary of channel states used by the determination unit, a determination of a degree of congestion by the determination unit, and a selection of a communication channel by the channel selection unit is performed. The communication channel selection device described.   9. The communication channel selection device according to claim 1, wherein the channel information organizing unit collects the used channel states in consideration of a predetermined weight for the wireless relay device. .   The communication channel selection device according to claim 9, wherein the channel information organizing unit sets a weight of a wireless relay device having a plurality of BSSIDs to be larger than a weight of a wireless relay device having one BSSID. .   The communication according to claim 9, wherein the channel information organizing unit sets a weight of a wireless relay device having a plurality of BSSIDs to be smaller than a weight according to the number of BSSIDs of the wireless relay device. Channel selection device.   When the channel selection unit determines that there is no communication channel in which the congestion degree determined by the determination unit is equal to or less than a predetermined value among the plurality of usable communication channels, the received signal strength is predetermined. The communication channel selection device according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein a communication channel that is equal to or greater than a threshold and is in use is selected.   The channel selection unit selects a communication channel used by the automatic selection wireless relay device from a plurality of communication channels that can be used in common by all of the automatic selection wireless relay devices. The communication channel selection device according to any one of claims 1 to 12.   The channel information acquired by the channel information acquisition unit includes channel information received by the automatic selection wireless relay device from another wireless relay device. The communication channel selection device described. BSSID setting information including identification information of the automatically selected wireless relay device and BSSID of the automatically selected wireless relay device is acquired from the automatically selected wireless relay device included in the wireless relay device arranged in a predetermined area. Steps,
Obtaining channel information including a busy channel and BSSID, which are communication channels used by the wireless relay device including the automatic selection wireless relay device, from the automatic selection wireless relay device;
Based on the acquired BSSID setting information and the acquired channel information, collecting the used channels as used channel states;
Determining a congestion degree that is a use state of a frequency band corresponding to each of the channels that can be used by the wireless relay device based on the collected use channel state;
A communication channel selection method comprising: selecting a communication channel used by the automatic selection wireless relay device based on a result of the determination. Communication device
BSSID setting information including identification information of the automatically selected wireless relay device and BSSID of the automatically selected wireless relay device is acquired from the automatically selected wireless relay device included in the wireless relay device arranged in a predetermined area. BSSID setting information acquisition unit,
A channel information acquisition unit that acquires channel information including a busy channel and a BSSID, which are communication channels used by the wireless relay device including the automatic selection wireless relay device, from the automatic selection wireless relay device;
A channel information organizing unit that summarizes the in-use channels as used channel states based on the BSSID setting information acquired by the BSSID setting information acquiring unit and the channel information acquired by the channel information acquiring unit;
A determination unit that determines a congestion degree that is a use state of a frequency band corresponding to each of the channels that can be used by the wireless relay device, based on the use channel state collected by the channel information organizing unit; and the determination unit A communication channel selection program for functioning as a channel selection unit that selects a communication channel to be used by the automatic selection wireless relay device based on the determination result by the above.

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