KR101281614B1 - Apparatus and method for supporting access in wireless communication system - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for supporting a connection for multiple users to communicate through the multiple nodes by efficiently using the multiple channels in a wireless communication system of a multi-user environment having multiple nodes. Identify a plurality of stations (STA) and a plurality of access nodes of the stations, determine the access priority of the checked stations and the access nodes of the checked stations, and determine the network Partitions the radio resources and channels available within the network into multiple radio resources and multiple channels, and access nodes of each of the stations using the multi-channel media access control (MAC) protocol. Connect to

Multi-channel, MAC, protocol, WLAN, node, AP, STA

Description

Apparatus and method for supporting access in wireless communication system

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a wireless communication system, and more particularly, to an apparatus for supporting a connection for multiple users to communicate through the multiple nodes by using multiple channels efficiently in a wireless communication system having a multiple user environment. And to a method.

The present invention is derived from the research conducted as part of the IT growth engine technology development project of the Ministry of Knowledge Economy [Task Management Number: 2006-S-002-03, Task name: 3Gbps 4G wireless LAN system development].

In the next generation communication system, active research is being conducted to provide users with services having various high-speed QoS (Quality of Service, hereinafter referred to as 'QoS'). In particular, research on a wireless local area network (WLAN) system as an example of a current wireless communication system is being actively conducted through the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 standard. have. In addition, the WLAN system performs communication using only one channel for a single antenna, and recently, a study for applying multiple antennas to an IEEE 802.11 system has been conducted. In order to improve performance of such a wireless communication system, various methods for effectively using resources such as channels, time, and space have been proposed.

Meanwhile, in the current WLAN system, each user has a network environment in which each user has a plurality of access nodes so that a plurality of users can be efficiently provided with a limited channel. However, in the above-described WLAN system, a lot of time that a channel is not used depends on the number of users and the amount or type of traffic assigned to the channel, resulting in a problem that the use efficiency of a limited channel is deteriorated. . In order to solve these problems, in recent years, multi-channel media access control (MAC) (hereinafter referred to as 'MAC') (hereinafter referred to as 'multi-channel MAC') technology Various methods for performing communication using a limited channel more efficiently have been considered, but specific methods have not been proposed yet.

Accordingly, there is a need for a specific access scheme for each user to perform communication through a plurality of access nodes by efficiently using multiple channels in a network environment where a plurality of users each have a plurality of access nodes in the WLAN system.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a connection support apparatus and method in a wireless communication system.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and method for supporting access in a wireless communication system of a multi-user network environment having multiple nodes.

In addition, another object of the present invention is to connect each user to perform communication through a plurality of access nodes by efficiently using a limited channel in a network environment in which a plurality of users of the wireless communication system each have a plurality of access nodes. It is to provide a support apparatus and method.

In addition, another object of the present invention is a connection support apparatus for stably receiving a service through each multi-channel using a multi-channel MAC technology in a WLAN system of a multi-user network environment having a multi-node and In providing a method.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for supporting a connection in a wireless communication system, the method comprising: identifying a plurality of stations (STA) and a plurality of access nodes of the stations to be connected in a network; Determining the access priority of the identified stations and the priority of access nodes of the identified stations; Dividing radio resources and channels available in the network into multiple radio resources and multiple channels; And connecting access nodes of the respective stations to the multiple radio resources and multiple channels using a multi-channel media access control (MAC) protocol.

An apparatus of the present invention for achieving the above objects is a connection support apparatus in a wireless communication system, in the network through a plurality of stations (STA) to be connected in the network and a plurality of access nodes of the stations A confirmation unit for identifying all of the access nodes that exist and for confirming a media access control (MAC) / physical (PHY) layer and a channel available to each station in the network; A determining unit which determines a priority of the checked stations and access nodes of each station, and determines a priority of all access nodes existing in the network from the determined priority; A multiplexer for dividing the identified medium access control / physical layer into at least one multi-media access control / physical layer, and dividing the channel into a plurality of multiple channels with minimal inter-channel interference; And accessing the multimedia access control / physical layer to the multiple channel via a multi-channel media access control (MAC) protocol to connect access nodes of the stations to the multimedia access control / physical layer and the multiplex. It includes a connection for connecting to the channel.

The present invention, by supporting the multi-channel MAC technology in a wireless communication system of a multi-user network environment with multiple nodes, easily connects multiple users to the network, and also allows multiple users to communicate smoothly through each of the multiple nodes. can do. In addition, the present invention, by using a multi-channel MAC technology, multiple users communicate through each of the multiple nodes, thereby maximizing the efficiency of use of resources by efficiently using a limited channel (eg, multiple channels), Multiple channels can reliably provide services to multiple users.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description, only parts necessary for understanding the operation according to the present invention will be described, and the description of other parts will be omitted so as not to disturb the gist of the present invention.

The present invention proposes a connection support apparatus and method in a wireless communication system such as a wireless local area network (WLAN) system and an Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 system. . Here, the connection support apparatus and method proposed in the embodiment of the present invention can be applied to other communication systems.

In addition, in an embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of stations (hereinafter, referred to as STAs), which are terminals of a plurality of users, for example, a plurality of users, are connected to a plurality of access nodes, that is, multiple nodes. In a wireless communication system having a network environment, the WLAN system and the IEEE 802.11 system are supported to allow the plurality of STAs to communicate through each of multiple nodes by efficiently using a limited channel. Here, in an embodiment of the present invention, a multi-channel media access control (MAC) is referred to as a plurality of STAs so as to perform communication by accessing a network through a plurality of access nodes, respectively. (Hereinafter referred to as 'multi-channel MAC'), a plurality of STAs communicate with each other through access nodes using the multi-channel MAC protocol. This provides a stable service to a plurality of users through a limited channel, for example, multiple channels. For example, the channel includes three orthogonal channels in the IEEE 802.11b system and 12 available channels in the IEEE 802.11a system.

In addition, in an embodiment of the present invention, a multi-channel MAC protocol is proposed as a protocol between STAs of a network so that each access node may simultaneously perform communication in a network environment in which a plurality of STAs have a plurality of access nodes. By supporting the multi-channel MAC protocol, communication is performed between STAs of a network through respective access nodes. Here, according to the embodiment of the present invention, N STAs and M access nodes are set for each STA, and N × M access nodes are determined in the network according to the configuration. In-network access is achieved by applying a multi-channel MAC protocol to access nodes.

At this time, in the embodiment of the present invention, in order to apply the multi-channel MAC protocol to the N × M access nodes, first to apply the ad-hoc multi-channel MAC protocol to the connection request and access authorization It applies to N × M access nodes corresponding to a plurality of STAs, and for this purpose, inter-user nodes, that is, intra-nodes, that is, inter-STA access nodes, that is, The internal access node of the STA is determined to have a higher access priority to apply the grouped multi-channel MAC protocol.

In addition, in an embodiment of the present invention, as an example of a wireless communication system, network formation of multiple devices occurring in an ad-hoc wireless network system, and any one of the multiple devices Only the device supports the use of radio resources due to interference, and the sharing of such radio resources over a multi-channel MAC. In this case, the ad-hoc wireless network system is a system that can be configured only by a mobile device without a separate infrastructure, and can adapt adaptively to a communication environment of a network.

In addition, in an embodiment of the present invention, as an example of a wireless communication system, a plurality of access points using a multi-channel MAC in a basic service set (BSS) of a WLAN system (hereinafter, referred to as 'BSS') (AP: Access Point, hereinafter referred to as 'AP') any one AP supports the connection with STAs having a plurality of access nodes, and the connection between the STAs through the plurality of access nodes do. Here, in an embodiment of the present invention, any one STA internal access node and access nodes between different STAs have different access priorities among the access nodes for each of the plurality of STAs. The access priority is preferably such that the STA internal access node has a higher priority than an access node with the other STA, and may be determined in another manner in consideration of various factors such as a network environment of a WLAN system.

In an embodiment of the present invention, when each STA has a plurality of access nodes in a wireless communication system, such as a WLAN system, in a network environment in which one AP and a plurality of STAs exist, multi-rendezvous In addition to applying the multi-channel MAC protocol to support the multi-rendezvous, and determines the access priority of the access nodes in the STA. In this case, as described above, the access priority determined as higher than the access node with the other STA is used as it is, except for nodes that are already connected and used among the access nodes in the STA.

In addition, according to an embodiment of the present invention, in a WLAN system and an IEEE 802.11 system as a wireless communication system in a network environment in which one AP and a plurality of STAs each having a plurality of access nodes exist, the STAs are connected through respective access nodes. Access is made by supporting multi-channel MAC to enable access and multi-rendezvous, and provide service to multiple users by sending and receiving service data through multiple channels. In this case, by transmitting and receiving service data using at least two or more channels, that is, multiple channels having minimized interference between channels, interference in transmitting and receiving service data may be minimized and the overall data throughput may be improved. . Next, a wireless communication system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 1.

1 is a view schematically showing the structure of a wireless communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating a structure of a WLAN system as an example of a wireless communication system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, the WLAN system includes any one AP 110 and a plurality of user terminals, for example, N STAs 120, 130, and 140 in a BSS. Here, the N STAs 120, 130, 140 have at least one access node, eg, M access nodes, so that the WLAN system includes N × M access nodes and the N × M access nodes. A multi-channel MAC protocol is used to support the connection of the N STAs 120, 130, and 140 through the AP.

In addition, although not specifically illustrated in FIG. 1, N × M access nodes in which a control unit (not shown) existing in each of the STAs 120, 130, and 140 or above the STAs 120, 130, and 140 exist in the WLAN system. Support connections. Here, with reference to Figures 2 to 5 will be described in more detail the multi-channel MAC protocol in a wireless communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2 to 5 are diagrams for explaining multi-channel MAC protocols for supporting access of STAs in a wireless communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 2 to 5 schematically illustrate examples of schemes using the multi-channel MAC protocol, and FIG. 2 schematically illustrates a dedicated control channel approach. 3 schematically illustrates a split phase approach scheme, FIG. 4 schematically illustrates a common hopping scheme, and FIG. 5 schematically illustrates a multi-channel MAC scheme.

First, referring to FIG. 2, in the dedicated control channel approach, one of three channels, such as Ch1 202, Ch2 204, and Ch3 206, such as Ch1 202, is divided into multiple channels. It is used as a dedicated channel for transmission and reception of control signals, and the remaining channels Ch2 204 and Ch3 206 are used as channels for data transmission and reception. Accordingly, the Request To Send (RTS) packet, the Clear To Send (CTS) packet, and the RSV packet are transmitted through the Ch1 202, and the data packet and the data packet are transmitted through the other channels 204 and 206. An acknowledgment (ACK) signal is transmitted according to reception. The RTS and CTS packets are transmitted through the dedicated channel Ch1 202 to perform channel negotiation with Ch2 204 and Ch3 206, which are channels for data packet transmission. Acquire, and a data packet is transmitted through the acquired data channel.

In this dedicated control channel approach, the control channel and the data channel are separated and the data packets are transmitted in the data channel according to whether or not the RTS and CTS packets transmitted to the dedicated channel, which is the control channel, respectively. This eliminates the need for synchronization for the transmission of data packets. In addition, in the dedicated channel approach, transmission of RTS and CTS packets is rendezvous and competitive for the transmission of data packets in a dedicated channel which is a control channel. In addition, in the dedicated channel access control method, two transceiver modules in which both a transmission module and a reception module are implemented must be provided in one device that performs data transmission and reception for data transmission and reception, thereby increasing the complexity and power consumption of the device. The control channel is concentrated because there is a limit to the allocation of a dedicated channel, which is a control channel for transmitting data packets, and when the multiple channels are narrowband, the control channel occupies in all available channels because the channel is inefficiently used. .

Referring to FIG. 3, in the split phase approach, the time periods of three channels, for example, Ch0 302, Ch1 304, and Ch2 306, are divided into multiple channels and used as different periods, for example, control. The control phase 310 is divided into a control phase 310 and a data transfer phase 320. In the control interval 310, the HELLO signal, the ACK signal, and the RSV packet are transmitted through the Ch0 302 of the multi-channel. In this data transmission section 320, an RTS packet, a CTS packet, an ACK signal, and a data packet are transmitted through Ch0 302 and Ch1 304 of the multi-channel.

In this split phase approach, a time period is divided into a control section 310 and a data transmission section 320 to transmit control-related signals in the control section 310, and a data packet in the data transmission section 320. The transmission of related signals, for example, channel negotiation related packets and data packets for transmission of data packets, is performed through a single transceiver. In the split phase approach, unlike the aforementioned dedicated control channel approach, a common channel through which data packets are transmitted is not negotiated for the transmission of data packets, that is, RTS packets and CTS packets are not dedicated channels. Is done through.

In addition, in the split phase approach, as the transmission of the RTS packet and the CTS packet in the channel negotiation for data packet transmission in the data transmission interval 320 is performed through the common channel, for example, Ch0 302 and Ch1 304. As transmitted over a network, synchronization is required for the transmission of data packets over multiple channels. In the split phase approach, when the packet size of a control related signal transmitted through multiple channels, for example, Ch0 302, is small in the control section 310, all the multi-channels of the control section 310 have a small size. Since it is allocated for the transmission of a packet having a, use efficiency of a limited channel may be reduced.

Referring to FIG. 4, in the common hopping scheme, the time intervals 1, 2, and 4 of the four channels, for example, Ch0 402, Ch1 404, Ch2 406, and Ch3 408, are multiple channels. All STAs that wish to access and communicate for each of the… 11 operate according to a common hopping sequence, and channel negotiation is performed through the common hopping sequence, that is, an RTS packet and a CTS packet are transmitted through multiple channels. Is sent. In the common hopping scheme, an RTS packet is transmitted from Ch0 402 to Ch4 408 in a predetermined time period among multiple channels, and when a CTS packet is transmitted and channel negotiation is performed, that is, transmission of a data packet is performed. When the channel is obtained, a channel negotiated channel is left, and a data packet and an ACK signal for receiving the data packet are transmitted through the remaining channel 410.

In this common hopping scheme, if a channel negotiation is performed through a common hopping sequence for each time period in multiple channels, the channel negotiation is left, and the data packet is transmitted through the remaining channel. This is possible. In the common hopping scheme, channel negotiation is performed for each time interval of the multi-channel, that is, the RTS packet and the CTS packet are transmitted through the common channel, and the data packet is transmitted through the channel-negotiated channel. Synchronization is required for transmission, and switching penalties exist because switching is required corresponding to common hopping sequences.

In the three ways described above, namely the dedicated control channel approach, the split phase approach, and the common hopping approach, only one rendezvous channel is included in a given time period. Here, in the dedicated control channel approach and the split phase approach, Ch1 202 and Ch0 302 become the rendezvous channel, and in the common hopping scheme, one rendezvous channel is varied in a given time period according to a common hopping sequence. can be changed. At this time, the parallel rendezvous protocol allows at least one rendezvous channel.

Next, referring to FIG. 5, in the multi-channel MAC scheme, STA-specific access nodes, for example, access at each time interval through two channels, for example, Ch0 504 and Ch1 502, in multiple channels. Node1 and access node3 node3 are waiting for sending (510), RTS packet, CTS packet, and data packet transmission (RTS / CTS / DATA) 520, stop hopping during data transmission (hopping stopped during data transfer) 530, and hopping resumes 540. Here, Ch0 504 and Ch1 502 are channels that minimize interference between channels, and can be independent channels. Accordingly, data packets are transmitted through multiple channels including Ch0 504 and Ch1 502. When transmitting, interference during transmission is minimized to improve the overall data throughput of the system. In FIG. 5, for convenience of explanation, a transmission standby 510 is first present at Ch1 502, and a packet transmission 520 is generated at Ch0 504, and is transmitted to Ch1 502 according to the packet transmission 520. After hopping is stopped, there is a hopping between Ch1 502 and Ch0 504 by hopping restart 540.

In this multi-channel MAC scheme, when the STAs perform hopping in the multi-channel and the probability for transmitting a packet in the visited channel that visited any one channel in the multi-channel is p, A seed is used to recognize a home channel of the visited channel and returns the home channel after completing packet transmission.

Here, in a WLAN system according to an embodiment of the present invention, not only a multi-channel MAC protocol but also a MAC protocol such as a multi-channel carrier sense multiple access (CSMA) protocol may be used. As the multi-channel CSMA protocol is applied, the performance is improved, for example, the performance of the multi-CSMA channel is better than the single-channel CSMA in the case of a fixed collective bandwidth. And, the multi-channel CSMA protocol is better than a single channel with data throughput in the MAC layer that does not have a linear scale, such as data throughput in the physical (hereinafter referred to as 'PHY') layer. Excellent performance is obtained. In particular, as the multi-channel CSMA protocol is applied, it increases the MAC data throughput by eliminating numerous collisions that may occur simultaneously in correspondence with simultaneous transmission of data packets. 6 to 8, multi-channel allocation in the PHY layer and the MAC layer for access support in the wireless communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in more detail.

6 to 8 are diagrams for describing channel allocation for connection support in a wireless communication system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Here, FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a case where each STA has one radio resource to access a plurality of channels, for example, channels 1 to N, and FIG. 7 illustrates that each STA is one of the channels. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a case where a plurality of radio resources, for example, N radio resources are connected to access a channel, and FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a case where each STA has one PHY layer and multiple MAC layers.

First, referring to FIG. 6, since there are N channels in one radio resource in the WLAN system, there is one MAC 602 / PHY 604 layer as a radio resource for each STA in a plurality of STAs. One MAC 602 / PHY 604 layer for each STA is connected to N channels 612, 614, 616 via hopping. At this time, in the WLAN system, channel hopping, synchronization and access, as well as control channel usage, for the one MAC 602 / PHY 604 layer to be connected to the N channels 612, 614, 616, are multi-channel. Supported via MAC protocol.

Referring to FIG. 7, since a plurality of radio resources are provided for one channel of a plurality of channels in the WLAN system, a plurality of MACs 702, 712, 722 and PHYs 704, 714, 724 are used as radio resources for each STA in the plurality of STAs. There is a layer, and each MAC (702, 712, 722) / PHY (704, 714, 724) layer for each STA is correspondingly connected to one channel among the plurality of channels (752, 754, 756). For example, the first MAC 702 / PHY 704 is the first channel 756, the second MAC 712 / PHY 714 is the second channel 754, and the third MAC 722 / PHY 724 is It is connected to the third channel 752.

In the WLAN system, N channels of multiple MAC / PHY layers, for example, a plurality of channels 752, 754, 756, are connected by N multiple wireless network cards. The connection is controlled by the MAC control unit 700 included in the. The MAC controller 700 exists as a single layer in an upper layer of the MAC layer, monitors channel quality according to interference of each channel, and determines packet transmission in consideration of interference corresponding to the monitored channel quality.

Referring to FIG. 8, a plurality of MACs and one PHY for a plurality of channels in the WLAN system include a plurality of MAC (802, 804, 806) layers and one PHY as radio resources for each STA in the plurality of STAs. 810 layer is present, and a plurality of MAC 802, 804, 806 and one PHY 810 layer for each STA are connected to any one of the plurality of channels 852, 854, 856 via hopping.

In the WLAN system, the MAC control unit 800 included in each STA regulates access to N channels of the plurality of MAC layers 802, 804, 806, for example, the plurality of channels 852, 854, 856. When a single PHY layer uses the entire bandwidth, a single Fast Fourier Transformer (FFT) included in the WLAN system is determined by a plurality of channels 852, 854 and 856. Has bandwidth. In addition, in the WLAN system, by using the same number of antennas with a single channel bandwidth, it is possible to use different channels.

As illustrated in FIGS. 6 to 8, when each STA of the WLAN system has radio resources and channels, N × M connections are connected to the WLAN system because there are N access nodes for each of N STAs and STAs. The node exists. Then, the WLAN system determines the priority of the M access nodes for each STA. That is, the access nodes of each STA are 1, 2, 3,... , Priority is determined up to M, and the determined priority may be re-determined by coordination between the AP and each STA according to the network environment. In addition, the priority of the access nodes is not specifically illustrated according to a network environment of each access node or a type of a packet transmitted through each access node, for example, a service type of a data packet. It is determined by a control unit (not shown) existing at the upper end of each STA.

In the WLAN system, access priority of N STAs is determined. That is, the N STAs are 1, 2, 3,... The access priority is determined by N, and the determined priority may be adjusted and re-determined by the AP according to the network environment. In addition, the access priority of the N STAs is not specifically illustrated according to a network environment of each STA or a type of a packet to be transmitted by each STA, for example, a service type of a data packet. It is determined by a control unit (not shown) existing on the upper stages of the STAs.

As described above, since the access priority of the STAs and the priority of the access nodes of the STAs are determined, different priorities are determined between the access nodes of the plurality of STAs. That is, the priority of N × M access nodes present in the WLAN system is determined. And, using a multi-channel MAC protocol, access nodes of the STA having the highest access priority are supported to the multi-channel network according to the priority. In addition, it supports network access to multiple channels of access nodes of other STAs according to the access priorities of the STAs. In this case, if the probability for transmitting a packet for each STA is p by applying multi-rendezvous, The home channel is equally allocated to the N access nodes of the STAs. Here, when the access node having the highest priority among the N access nodes uses the home channel, the access node having the next lower priority is allowed to continuously use the home channel. Next, an operation process of the connection support in the wireless communication system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 9.

9 is a diagram schematically illustrating an operation process of a connection support apparatus in a wireless communication system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 9, in operation 910, the apparatus for supporting access identifies a plurality of STAs that want to perform communication by accessing a network in a WLAN system and identify a plurality of access nodes that each of the checked STAs has. Here, the number of STAs present in the WLAN system and the number of access nodes of each STA, the communication environment of each STA and each access node, the service type of a packet that each STA wants to transmit, and the access nodes Check the service type of the packet transmitted through the network. In this case, when the number of the identified STAs is N and the number of access nodes that each STA has is M, it is confirmed that there are N × M access nodes in the WLAN system.

Then, in step 920, the access priority of the plurality of STAs and the priority of access nodes of the respective STSs are determined using the information checked. Here, when the number of the identified STAs is N, N STAs are 1, 2, 3,... Access priority is determined by N, and when the number of access nodes of each STA is M, M access nodes of each STA are 1, 2, 3,... , Priority is determined by M. That is, the priority of N × M access nodes present in the WLAN system is determined. The access priority of STAs determined in this way and the priority of access nodes of each STA are re-determined according to the network environment and transmitted data packets, that is, when the checked information is updated.

Next, in step 930, the WLAN system identifies the radio resources and channels available for network access, and divides the identified radio resources into multiple radio channels and the identified channels into multiple channels so that a multi-channel MAC protocol can be applied. . Here, the MAC / PHY layer that each STA of the WLAN system can use is identified, and the identified MAC / PHY layer is divided so that each STA of the WLAN system has at least one multiple MAC / PHY layer. In addition, each STA of the WLAN system identifies a channel that can be accessed, and divides the identified channel into multiple channels with minimal interference so that a plurality of STAs can access.

In operation 940, the access node of each STA is connected to the network of the WLAN system by accessing the multiple resources and the multiple channels of each STA through the multi-channel MAC protocol. 6 to 8, the multiple MAC / PHY layers of the STAs of the WLAN system are connected to the multiple channels using the multi-channel MAC protocol, and hopping according to the multi-channel MAC protocol is also performed. Access nodes of each STA access through the multi-channel. That is, using the multi-channel MAC protocol, access nodes of the respective stations, that is, N × M access nodes existing in the WLAN system, are assigned to the WLAN system through the multiple radio resources and the multiple channels according to priority. You will be connected to the network. In this case, when the plurality of STAs and access nodes of each STA are connected, the access nodes of the plurality of STAs and each STA are determined according to the access priority of each STA determined as described above and the priority of the access nodes of each STA. The multiple channels are allocated to the nodes. Here, the multi-channel MAC protocol as well as the multi-channel CSMA protocol is further used to support access.

In addition, a plurality of STAs and access nodes of respective STAs are simultaneously connected through a multi-rendezvous. Accordingly, the plurality of STAs of the WLAN system simultaneously access the network of the WLAN system through the respective access nodes to multi-channel. Communication is performed through. Here, since the multi-channel includes at least two or more channels in which interference between channels is minimized during data transmission, interference in data transmission through the multi-channel can be minimized to improve the overall data throughput of the system. In this case, the priority is determined by the multi-rendezvous as the access priority determined as higher than the access node with the other STA as described above except for a node that is already connected and used among the access nodes in the STA. Used. The home channel is equally allocated to the internal access nodes of the STAs.

In addition, although not specifically shown in the drawings, in the wireless communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention, the access support apparatus may be included in the STA or inside the AP, or may be separately included in the upper stages of the STAs or the AP. The access support apparatus may be a control unit or a MAC control unit as described above, and the control unit or MAC control unit includes a confirmation unit for identifying a plurality of STAs and access nodes of respective STAs in a WLAN system network. (Not shown), and a determination unit (not shown) for determining the access priority of the identified plurality of STAs and the priority of the plurality of access nodes of the STAs. In addition, the control unit or the MAC control unit, a multiplexer (not shown) for identifying a radio resource and channel available to a plurality of STAs in the network of the WLAN system and divides into multiple radio resources and multiple channels, and multi-channel It includes a connection (not shown) for supporting the MAC protocol to allow each STA to connect to the network of the WLAN system through corresponding access nodes. Here, the access unit supports access of access nodes of respective STAs through a CSMA protocol, and coordinates access of access nodes of each STA like a MAC controller.

While the invention has been shown and described with reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, the scope of the present invention should not be limited by the described embodiments, but should be determined by the scope of the appended claims, as well as the appended claims.

1 is a view schematically showing the structure of a wireless communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2 to 5 are diagrams for explaining multi-channel MAC protocols for supporting access of STAs in a wireless communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

6 to 8 are diagrams for explaining channel allocation for connection support in a wireless communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

9 is a view schematically illustrating an operation process of a connection support apparatus in a wireless communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Claims (20)

In the connection support method in a wireless communication system, Identifying a plurality of stations (STAs) and a plurality of access nodes of the stations to be connected in the network; Determining the access priority of the identified stations and the priority of access nodes of the identified stations; Dividing radio resources and channels available in the network into multiple radio resources and multiple channels; And Accessing the access nodes of each of the stations to the multiple radio resources and multiple channels using a multi-channel media access control (MAC) protocol based on the access priority of the stations and the priority of the access nodes Comprising; The connection priority of the stations is determined according to a communication environment for the stations and a service type of a packet. The method of claim 1, The checking may include checking the number of the stations and the number of access nodes for each station, and confirming the total number of access nodes existing in the network corresponding to the checked number. 3. The method of claim 2, The checking may include identifying a communication environment and a service type of a packet for the stations and access nodes for each station. The method of claim 3, The service type is a service type of a packet to be transmitted by each station and a service type of a packet transmitted through access nodes for each station. The method of claim 3,  The determining may include determining the priorities of the access nodes existing in the network by determining the access priorities of the stations and the priorities of the access nodes according to the checked communication environment and the service type of the packet. Connection support method. The method of claim 1, The dividing may include identifying a media access control (MAC) / physical layer available to each station in the network, and determining at least one multiplex of the identified media access control / physical layer. Connection support method characterized by dividing into a media access control / physical layer. The method of claim 1, The dividing may include identifying a channel available to each station in the network and dividing the identified channel into a plurality of multiple channels with minimal interference between channels during packet transmission of each station. Way. The method of claim 1, The access may include accessing a multiple media access control / physical layer to the multiple channels using the multi-channel media access control (MAC) protocol. . 9. The method of claim 8, The accessing may include allocating a home channel to the internal access nodes of the stations through a multi-rendezvous using the multi-channel media access control (MAC) protocol. Connection support method. 9. The method of claim 8, The accessing may be performed by excluding a previously accessed access node from priorities of access nodes of the stations through multi-rendezvous using the multi-channel media access control (MAC) protocol. Connection support method characterized in that the connection in the priority. 9. The method of claim 8, The access may include accessing any one channel in the multi-channel through hopping using the multi-channel media access control (MAC) protocol. The method of claim 1,  The determining may include determining an intra-node, which is an internal access node of the stations, as a higher priority than an inter-user node, which is an access node between stations. Connection support method. The method of claim 1, The connecting may include accessing using a multi-channel carrier sense multiple access (CSMA) protocol. The method of claim 1, And coordinating the access of the access nodes of each of the connected stations through media access control (MAC). In the connection support apparatus in a wireless communication system, Through the plurality of stations (STA) to be connected in the network and the plurality of access nodes of the stations, all access nodes existing in the network are identified, and the media access control available to each station in the network ( A confirmation unit for identifying a MAC (Media Access Control) / PHY (physical) layer and a channel; A determining unit which determines a priority of the checked stations and access nodes of each station, and determines a priority of all access nodes existing in the network from the determined priority; A multiplexer for dividing the identified medium access control / physical layer into at least one multi-media access control / physical layer, and dividing the channel into a plurality of multiple channels with minimal inter-channel interference; And Accessing the multimedia access control / physical layer to the multiple channels through a multi-channel media access control (MAC) protocol based on the access priority of the stations and the priority of the access nodes. A connection for connecting access nodes of stations to the multimedia access control / physical layer and the multiple channel; Connection priority of the stations is determined according to a communication environment for the stations and a service type of a packet. 16. The method of claim 15, The identification unit identifies a communication environment for the stations and access nodes for each station, a service type of a packet to be transmitted by each station, and a service type of a packet transmitted through the access nodes for each station; And the determining unit determines the access priority of the stations and the priority of the access nodes according to the checked communication environment and a service type of a packet. 16. The method of claim 15, The access unit equally allocates a home channel to an internal access node of each of the stations through a multi-rendezvous using the multi-channel media access control (MAC) protocol. And an access node having a priority other than a previously connected access node from the priorities of the access nodes. 16. The method of claim 15, And the access unit accesses any one channel in the multi-channel through hopping using the multi-channel media access control (MAC) protocol. 16. The method of claim 15,  The determining unit may determine an intra-node, which is an internal access node of the stations, as a higher priority than an inter-user node, which is an access node between stations. Support device. 16. The method of claim 15, The access unit further connects access nodes of the respective stations by using multi-channel carrier sense multiple access (CSMA), and controls access of access nodes of the connected stations by medium access control (MAC). Media Access Control), characterized in that the connection support device.

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