KR20140058336A

KR20140058336A - Method for channel access in wireless local area network system

Info

Publication number: KR20140058336A
Application number: KR1020130126972A
Authority: KR
Inventors: 최성현; 최문환; 손위평; 이정수; 정양석; 주원용; 김현표
Original assignee: 주식회사 케이티; 서울대학교산학협력단
Priority date: 2012-10-26
Filing date: 2013-10-24
Publication date: 2014-05-14

Abstract

A channel access method in a wireless LAN system is disclosed. The channel access method includes generating an access request frame including probe request information, authentication request information, and connection request information, and transmitting the access request frame to at least one access point. Therefore, the terminal can quickly access the access point.

Description

[0001] METHOD FOR CHANNEL ACCESS IN WIRELESS LOCAL AREA NETWORK SYSTEM [0002]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a channel access technology in a wireless LAN system, and more particularly, to a channel access method for a terminal to quickly access an access point.

With the development of information and communication technology, various wireless communication technologies are being developed. Among these, a wireless local area network (WLAN) is a wireless local area network (WLAN) based on radio frequency technology such as a personal digital assistant (PDA), a laptop computer, a portable multimedia player It is a technology that allows a portable terminal to access the Internet wirelessly in a home, a business, or a specific service providing area.

The standard for wireless LAN technology is being developed as the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 standard. IEEE 802.11a uses a unlicensed band at 5 GHz to provide a transmission rate of 54 Mbps. IEEE 802.11b applies a direct sequence spread spectrum (DSSS) at 2.4 GHz to provide a transmission rate of 11 Mbps. IEEE 802.11g employs orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) at 2.4 GHz to provide a transmission rate of 54 Mbps. IEEE 802.11n employs multiple input multiple output (OFDM), or OFDM (MIMO-OFDM), and provides a transmission rate of 300 Mbps for two spatial streams. IEEE 802.11n supports channel bandwidth up to 40 MHz, which in this case provides a transmission rate of 600 Mbps.

As the spread of the WLAN is activated and the applications using the WLAN are activated, a need for a new WLAN technology to support a higher throughput than the data processing speed supported by IEEE 802.11n is increasing. Very high throughput (VHT) Wireless LAN technology is one of the proposed IEEE 802.11 wireless LAN technologies to support data rates of more than 1 Gbps. Among them, IEEE 802.11ac is being developed as a standard for providing ultra high throughput in a band below 5 GHz, and IEEE 802.11ad is being developed as a standard for providing ultra high throughput in the 60 GHz band.

In a system based on such a wireless LAN technology, a terminal can generally perform a three-step access procedure to access (i.e., access) an access point. The first step is a scanning step in which the terminal searches for neighboring access points. In the search phase, the terminal may use a beacon frame or a probe frame to locate neighboring access points. Here, the passive search means a method in which a terminal searches for a corresponding access point using a beacon frame periodically transmitted by an access point, and an active search means that a terminal transmits a probe request frame for each channel It means the way to find the point.

The terminal that has completed the first step can select the most suitable access point among the searched access points and can perform the second step of authentication based on the selected access point. A frame to be exchanged in the second step is referred to as an authentication frame. For convenience, a frame having an authentication transaction sequence number of 1 in the authentication frame indicates an authentication request frame, and a frame having an authentication processing sequence number of 2 indicates an authentication response Frame. The terminal having completed the second step can perform an association step for connection with the access point.

The wireless LAN access procedure described above requires a handshake between the terminal and the access point in each step. For example, a probe request frame and a probe response frame necessary for the active search, an authentication request frame and an authentication response frame necessary for the authentication step, and a connection request frame and a connection response frame necessary for the connection process, A three-stage handshake consisting of six frames must be successfully performed to access the access point. According to such a connection method, a channel connection delay occurs every time a frame is transmitted, and there is a problem that radio resources can not be efficiently used.

An object of the present invention is to provide a channel access method for merging a channel access procedure between a terminal and an access point.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a channel access device for merging a channel access procedure between a terminal and an access point.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a channel access method including: generating an access request frame including probe request information, authentication request information, and connection request information; .

Here, the channel access method may further include receiving an access response frame, which is a response to the access request frame, from the at least one access point.

Here, the access response frame may include response information for the probe request information, response information for the authentication request information, and response information for the connection request information.

The generating of the access request frame may generate an access request frame including access information indicating a connection method between the terminal and the access point.

Here, the connection information may represent a connection method in which a search process, an authentication process, and a connection process are integrated into one procedure.

Herein, the step of generating the access request frame may include the step of, when there is a common information element among at least two of the probe request information, the authentication request information, and the connection request information, And generate an access request frame including the access request frame.

The generating of the access request frame may generate an access request frame including time information indicating a time until an arbitrary frame is transmitted to an access point connected to the access point after the terminal is connected to the access point.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a channel access response method including receiving an access request frame including probe request information, authentication request information, and connection request information from a terminal, Generating an access response frame including information about the authentication request information, response information for the authentication request information, and response information for the connection request information, and transmitting the access response frame to the terminal.

Herein, the step of generating the access response frame may include a step of generating a response response frame for the probe request information, the response information for the probe request information, the response information for the authentication request information, and the response information for the connection request information, , An access response frame including one information element among the common information elements can be generated.

Here, the access request frame may further include time information indicating a time until an arbitrary frame is transmitted to an access point connected to the access point after the terminal is connected to the access point.

Here, the channel access response method may further include a step of canceling the connection with the terminal when the terminal fails to receive an arbitrary frame from the terminal within the time indicated by the time information.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a channel access method including generating an access request frame including probe request information and authentication request information, transmitting the access request frame to at least one access point, And receiving an access response frame that is a response to the access request frame from the at least one access point.

Wherein the channel access method further includes transmitting a connection request frame to the selected one of the at least one access point and receiving a connection response frame in response to the connection request frame from the selected access point can do.

Here, the access information may represent a connection method in which the search process and the authentication process are integrated into one procedure.

The generating of the access request frame may generate an access request frame including one information element among the common information elements when the common information element exists between the probe request information and the authentication request information.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a channel access method including transmitting a probe request frame to at least one access point, transmitting a probe response frame, which is a response to the probe request frame, Receiving from an access point an access request frame including authentication request information and connection request information, transmitting the access request frame to an access point selected from the at least one access point, And receiving an access response frame that is a response to an access request frame.

Here, the access information may represent a connection method in which the authentication process and the connection process are integrated into one procedure.

The generating of the access request frame may generate the access request frame including one information element among the common information elements when the common information element exists between the authentication request information and the connection request information .

According to the present invention, since a channel access procedure between a terminal and an access point can be merged, it is possible to reduce the number of handshakes required for channel access, thereby reducing channel access delay caused by frame transmission . As a result, the terminal can access the access point more quickly.

Also, in the conventional channel access procedure, the same information is transmitted a plurality of times, but according to the present invention, since it is transmitted only once, efficiency of radio resource use can be improved.

1 is a conceptual diagram showing an embodiment of a configuration of an IEEE 802.11 wireless LAN system.
2 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a connection process between a terminal and an access point.
3 is a flowchart illustrating a channel access method according to an embodiment of the present invention.
4 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a configuration of an access request frame according to an embodiment of the present invention.
5 is a conceptual diagram showing a configuration of an access response frame according to an embodiment of the present invention.
6 is a flowchart illustrating a channel access method according to another embodiment of the present invention.
7 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a configuration of an access request frame according to another embodiment of the present invention.
8 is a conceptual diagram showing a configuration of an access response frame according to another embodiment of the present invention.
9 is a flowchart illustrating a channel access method according to another embodiment of the present invention.
10 is a conceptual diagram showing the configuration of an access request frame according to another embodiment of the present invention.
11 is a conceptual diagram showing a configuration of an access response frame according to another embodiment of the present invention.

While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof are shown by way of example in the drawings and will herein be described in detail.

It should be understood, however, that the invention is not intended to be limited to the particular embodiments, but includes all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention.

The terms first, second, etc. may be used to describe various components, but the components should not be limited by the terms. The terms are used only for the purpose of distinguishing one component from another. For example, without departing from the scope of the present invention, the first component may be referred to as a second component, and similarly, the second component may also be referred to as a first component. And / or < / RTI > includes any combination of a plurality of related listed items or any of a plurality of related listed items.

It is to be understood that when an element is referred to as being "connected" or "connected" to another element, it may be directly connected or connected to the other element, . On the other hand, when an element is referred to as being "directly connected" or "directly connected" to another element, it should be understood that there are no other elements in between.

The terminology used in this application is used only to describe a specific embodiment and is not intended to limit the invention. The singular expressions include plural expressions unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. In the present application, the terms "comprises" or "having" and the like are used to specify that there is a feature, a number, a step, an operation, an element, a component or a combination thereof described in the specification, But do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, or combinations thereof.

Unless defined otherwise, all terms used herein, including technical or scientific terms, have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Terms such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries should be interpreted as having a meaning consistent with the meaning in the context of the relevant art and are to be interpreted in an ideal or overly formal sense unless explicitly defined in the present application Do not.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In order to facilitate the understanding of the present invention, the same reference numerals are used for the same constituent elements in the drawings and redundant explanations for the same constituent elements are omitted.

Throughout the specification, a station is a physical layer for medium access control (MAC) and a medium access control (MAC) compliant with the IEEE 802.11 standard. Means any functional medium including an interface. A station (STA) can be divided into a station (STA) which is an access point (AP) and a station (STA) which is a non-AP. A station (STA), which is an access point (AP), may be referred to simply as an access point (AP), and a station (STA) that is a non-AP may be simply referred to as a terminal.

The station STA includes a processor and a transceiver, and may further include a user interface and a display device. A processor is a unit designed to generate a frame to be transmitted over a wireless network or to process a frame received through a wireless network, and performs various functions for controlling the station (STA). A transceiver is a unit that is functionally connected to a processor and is designed to transmit and receive frames over a wireless network for a station (STA).

An access point (AP) may refer to a centralized controller, a base station (BS), a node-B, an eNode-B, a base transceiver system (BTS), a site controller, May include some or all of the functions of the < / RTI >

A terminal may be a wireless transmit / receive unit (WTRU), a user equipment (UE), a user terminal (UT), an access terminal (AT), a mobile station May refer to a mobile terminal, a subscriber unit, a subscriber station (SS), a wireless device, or a mobile subscriber unit, Or all functions.

Here, a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a tablet PC, a wireless phone, a mobile phone, a smart phone, an e- a book reader, a portable multimedia player (PMP), a portable game machine, a navigation device, a digital camera, a digital multimedia broadcasting (DMB) player, a digital audio recorder, a digital audio player A digital picture recorder, a digital picture player, a digital video recorder, a digital video player, or the like can be used.

1 is a conceptual diagram showing an embodiment of a configuration of an IEEE 802.11 wireless LAN system.

Referring to FIG. 1, an IEEE 802.11 WLAN system includes at least one basic service set (BSS). A BSS is a set of stations (STA 1, STA 2 (AP 1), STA 3, STA 4, STA 5 (AP 2)) that are able to successfully communicate and communicate with each other, no.

The BSS can be divided into an infrastructure BSS (infrastructure BSS) and an independent BSS (IBSS), and BSS 1 and BSS 2 mean an infrastructure BSS. The BSS 1 connects the access point STA 2 (AP 1) and the access points STA 2 (AP 1) and STA 5 (AP 2), which provide a terminal STA 1, a distribution service And a distribution system (DS). In BSS 1, the access point (STA 2 (AP 1)) manages the terminal (STA 1).

The BSS 2 is connected to a plurality of access points (STA 3 and STA 4), an access point (STA 5 (AP 2)) and a plurality of access points (STA 2 (AP 1) and STA 5 Distribution system. In BSS 2, the access point (STA 5 (AP 2)) manages the terminals STA 3 and STA 4.

Meanwhile, the independent BSS is a BSS operating in an ad-hoc mode. Since the IBSS does not include an access point, there is no centralized management entity in the center. That is, terminals in the IBSS are managed in a distributed manner. In the IBSS, all terminals can be made as mobile terminals, and self-contained networks can be established because access is not allowed to the distribution system (DS).

The access points STA 2 (AP 1) and STA 5 (AP 2) provide a connection to the distribution system (DS) over the wireless medium for the terminal (STA 1, STA 3, STA 4) . The communication between the terminals STA 1, STA 3 and STA 4 in the BSS 1 or BSS 2 is generally performed through the access points STA 2 (AP 1) and STA 5 (AP 2) link is established, direct communication between the terminals STA 1, STA 3 and STA 4 is possible.

A plurality of infrastructure BSSs may be interconnected via a distribution system (DS). A plurality of BSSs connected through a distribution system (DS) is referred to as an extended service set (ESS). The stations included in the ESS can communicate with each other, and within the same ESS, the UE can move from one BSS to another while seamlessly communicating.

The distribution system DS is a mechanism by which one access point communicates with another access point. According to this, the access point transmits a frame for terminals connected to the BSS that it manages, or moves to another BSS A frame can be transmitted for an arbitrary terminal. The access point can also transmit and receive frames to and from an external network, such as a wired network. Such a distribution system (DS) does not necessarily have to be a network, and there is no restriction on the form if it can provide a predetermined distribution service defined in the IEEE 802.11 standard. For example, the distribution system may be a wireless network, such as a mesh network, or may be a physical structure that connects the access points to each other.

The channel access method according to an embodiment of the present invention to be described later can be applied to the IEEE 802.11 wireless LAN system described above. In addition, IEEE 802.11 wireless LAN system, wireless personal area network (WPAN), wireless body area network (WBAN) And the like.

2 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a connection process between a terminal and an access point.

Referring to FIG. 2, the STA may perform a scanning process, an authentication process, and an association process to access an access point (AP). In the first stage of the search process, the STA may transmit a probe request frame on a channel-by-channel basis. The access point (AP) receiving the probe request frame may transmit a probe response frame to the terminal (STA) in response to the probe request frame. Through this, the access point (AP) can inform the terminal (STA) of its existence and the attributes of the BSS to which it belongs.

In the second step of the authentication process, the STA may transmit an authentication request frame to an access point (AP) to be accessed from among the access points (APs) discovered through the first step. The access point (AP) receiving the authentication request frame can perform the authentication procedure based on the information provided from the terminal (STA). When the authentication of the STA is successfully performed, the access point (AP) can transmit an authentication response frame to the terminal.

The terminal (STA) that has completed the authentication can perform the connection process of the third step. That is, the STA can transmit an association request frame to an access point (AP). Upon receiving the connection request frame, the access point (AP) transmits a connection request frame response frame to the STA. Thus, the terminal STA can be connected to the access point (AP) and can receive the desired service from the connected access point (AP).

Here, the hatched portion indicates a channel access delay required for the STA or the AP to acquire radio resources for transmitting a frame in the connection process. The channel access delay may vary depending on the traffic characteristics of the STA attempting to access the channel and may be determined by selecting a fixed length inter-frame space (IFS) And may include a backoff delay.

The STA may perform a countdown on a time slot basis by a backoff time selected randomly when the channel status is idle. If the channel is busy due to another terminal present in the vicinity, the terminal STA may wait until the channel becomes idle and then perform a countdown on the backoff time. Therefore, when there are a large number of STAs or APs sharing the same radio resources in the vicinity, the channel competition increases and the channel access delay increases.

If the number of handshakes required for the connection process between the STA and the AP is smaller than that of the conventional scheme, the number of channel access delays required to acquire radio resources necessary for frame transmission can be reduced . As a result, it is possible to reduce the time required for the terminal STA to access the access point (AP).

Tables 1 to 3 below show information elements included in the probe request frame, the authentication request frame, and the connection request frame.

In Tables 1 to 3, the column of the probe request frame contains

Indicates an information element included in the probe request frame, and the information element indicated by "

Indicates an information element included in the connection request frame, and the information element indicated by "

Indicates an information element included in the authentication request frame. The information elements shown in Table 1 indicate information elements common to at least two frames of the probe request frame, the authentication request frame and the connection request frame.

Tables 4 to 7 below show information elements included in the probe response frame, the authentication response frame, and the connection response frame.

In Table 4 to Table 7, in the column of the probe response frame

Indicates an information element included in the probe response frame, and the information element indicated by < RTI ID = 0.0 >

Indicates an information element included in the connection response frame, and the information element indicated by < RTI ID = 0.0 >

Indicates an information element included in the authentication response frame. The information elements shown in Table 4 indicate common information elements between at least two frames of the probe response frame, the authentication response frame, and the connection response frame.

The channel access method according to the present invention can improve the use efficiency of radio resources by transmitting information common to the frames (i.e., the information elements shown in Table 1 and the information elements shown in Table 4) only once, The time required to connect to the point can also be reduced. However, the same type of information element may have different values contained in each frame. In this case, a plurality of information elements of the same type can be transmitted as needed.

3 is a flowchart illustrating a channel access method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 3, the STA can perform a connection process with an access point (AP) based on a connection method in which a search process, an authentication process, and a connection process are integrated into one procedure.

The terminal STA may generate an access request frame including probe request information, authentication request information, and connection request information (S100). When a common information element exists between at least two pieces of information of the probe request information, the authentication request information, and the connection request information, the terminal STA can generate an access request frame including one information element among the common information elements.

In addition, the terminal STA can generate an access request frame including access information indicating a connection method with an access point (AP). Here, the connection information may represent a connection method in which a search process, an authentication process, and a connection process are integrated into one procedure.

In addition, the terminal STA may generate an access request frame including time information indicating a time until an arbitrary frame is transmitted to an access point (AP) connected after being connected to the access point (AP). The time information is used as a reference for canceling the connection between the terminal STA and the access point AP and the procedure for canceling the connection between the terminal STA and the access point AP based on the time information will be described later do.

4 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a configuration of an access request frame according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 4, the access request frame 10 may include probe request information 11, access information 12, authentication request information 13, and connection request information 14. The probe request information (11) is shown in Tables 1 to 3

Lt; / RTI > The authentication request information (13) is shown in Tables 1 to 3

And may include information elements other than the probe request information 11 and common information elements. The connection request information 14 is the same as in Table 1 to Table 3

And information elements other than the authentication request information 13 and the common information elements.

The access information 12 indicates an indicator indicating a connection mode between the terminal STA and the access point AP and may have a size of 2 bits. For example, when the connection information 12 is '11', it may mean a connection method in which a search process, an authentication process, and a connection process are integrated into one procedure. That is, the access information 12 '11' means that the probe request information 11, the authentication request information 13, and the connection request information 14 are included in the access request frame 10.

In addition, the access request frame may further include time information (not shown). The time information indicates a time from when the terminal STA is connected to the access point AP to when it transmits an arbitrary frame to the connected access point AP.

Referring back to FIG. 3, the STA may transmit an access request frame to at least one access point (AP) (S110). That is, the terminal STA may transmit an access request frame in a broadcast manner or may transmit an access request frame to an access point (AP) in a unicast manner.

When receiving an access request frame from the STA, the access point (AP) can generate an access response frame in response to the access request frame (S120). That is, the access point (AP) can generate an access response frame including response information for the probe request information, response information for the authentication request information, and response information for the connection request information. In this case, if there is a common information element among at least two pieces of information, that is, the response information to the probe request information, the response information to the authentication request information, and the response information to the connection request information, An access response frame including one information element can be generated.

Here, the response information for the probe request information means information elements included in the probe response information shown in Tables 4 to 7, and the response information for the authentication request information is included in the authentication response information shown in Tables 4 to 7 Information element, and the response information for the connection request information means an information element included in the connection response information shown in Tables 4 to 7.

5 is a conceptual diagram showing a configuration of an access response frame according to an embodiment of the present invention.

5, the access response frame 20 may include probe response information 21, access information 22, authentication response information 23, and connection response information 24. The probe response information 21 is the same as the probe response information 21 shown in Tables 4 to 7

Lt; / RTI > The authentication response information 23 is the same as that shown in Tables 4 to 7

And may include information elements other than the probe response information 21 and common information elements. The connection response information 24 is the same as the connection response information 24 shown in Tables 4 to 7

And information elements other than the authentication response information 23 and a common information element.

The access information 22 indicates an indicator indicating a connection mode between the terminal STA and the access point AP and may have a size of 2 bits. For example, when the connection information 22 is '11', it may mean a connection method in which a search process, an authentication process, and a connection process are integrated into one procedure. That is, the access information 22 '11' means that the access response frame 20 includes the probe response information 21, the authentication response information 23, and the connection response information 24.

Referring back to FIG. 3, the access point (AP) may transmit an access response frame to the terminal (STA) (S130). The terminal (STA) receiving the access response frame can access the access point (AP) based on the information included in the access response frame. Thereafter, the terminal STA may transmit the data frame to the access point AP (S140).

On the other hand, when a plurality of access points (APs) exist around the STA, all access points (APs) receiving the access request frame can transmit an access response frame as a response to the access request frame. In the course of transmitting / receiving an 'access request frame-access response frame', the terminal (AP) can be assigned an association ID (ID) from a plurality of access points (APs) existing in the vicinity. That is, a situation may occur in which the terminal STA simultaneously accesses a plurality of BSSs. In order to prevent such network disruption, the terminal STA and the access point AP can use the time information included in the access request frame.

The access point (AP) can cancel the connection with the terminal (STA) when the access point (AP) fails to receive an arbitrary frame from the terminal (STA) within the time indicated by the time information included in the access request frame. On the other hand, when the access point AP receives an arbitrary frame from the terminal STA within the time indicated by the time information, the access point AP can maintain the connection with the terminal STA.

Here, an arbitrary frame may mean a control frame, a data frame, a management frame, a null data packet (NDP) frame, or the like. The time information may mean a predefined time between the STA and the AP or may denote a time specified by the STA.

When the connection to the STA is terminated, the access point AP may withdraw the AID assigned to the STA and remove the STA from the list of its access terminals. Alternatively, the access point (AP) can explicitly inform the terminal (STA) that it is disconnected by transmitting a disassociation frame to the corresponding STA.

In order to prevent the problem that the terminal (STA) is connected to a plurality of BSSs as described above, only the searching process and the authentication process may be integrally performed and the connection process may be separately performed.

6 is a flowchart illustrating a channel access method according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 6, a terminal (STA) can perform a connection process with an access point (AP) based on a connection scheme in which a search process and an authentication process are integrated into one procedure.

The terminal STA may generate an access request frame including the probe request information and the authentication request information (S200). When a common information element exists between the probe request information and the authentication request information, the terminal STA can generate an access request frame including one information element among the common information elements.

In addition, the terminal STA can generate an access request frame including access information indicating a connection method with an access point (AP). Here, the connection information may indicate a connection method in which the search process and the authentication process are integrated into one procedure.

7 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a configuration of an access request frame according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 7, the access request frame 30 may include probe request information 31, access information 32, and authentication request information 33. The probe request information 31 is the same as in the above Tables 1 to 3

Lt; / RTI > The authentication request information (33) is shown in Tables 1 to 3

And information elements other than the probe request information 31 and common information elements.

The access information 32 indicates an indicator indicating a connection mode between the terminal STA and the access point (AP), and may have a size of 2 bits. For example, when the connection information 32 is '10', it may mean a connection method in which the search process and the authentication process are integrated into one procedure. That is, the access information 32 '10' means that the probe request information 31 and the authentication request information 33 are included in the access request frame 30.

Referring back to FIG. 6, the STA may transmit an access request frame to at least one access point (AP) (S210). That is, the STA can transmit an access request frame in a broadcast manner, or can transmit an access request frame to an access point (AP) in a unicast manner.

When receiving the access request frame from the STA, the access point (AP) can generate an access response frame in response to the access request frame (S220). That is, the access point (AP) can generate the access response frame including the response information for the probe request information and the response information for the authentication request information. At this time, if there is a common information element between the response information for the probe request information and the response information for the authentication request information, the access point (AP) can generate an access response frame including one information element from each common information element have.

Here, the response information for the probe request information means information elements included in the probe response information shown in Tables 4 to 7, and the response information for the authentication request information is included in the authentication response information shown in Tables 4 to 7 Information element.

8 is a conceptual diagram showing a configuration of an access response frame according to another embodiment of the present invention.

8, the access response frame 40 may include probe response information 41, access information 42, and authentication response information 43. [ The probe response information 41 is the same as that shown in Tables 4 to 7

Lt; / RTI > The authentication response information 43 is the same as that shown in Tables 4 to 7

And may include information elements other than the probe response information 41 and common information elements.

The access information 42 indicates an indicator indicating a connection mode between the terminal STA and the access point AP and may have a size of 2 bits. For example, when the connection information 42 is '10', it may mean a connection method in which the search process and the authentication process are integrated into one procedure. That is, the access information 42 '10' means that the access response frame 40 includes the probe response information 41 and the authentication response information 43.

Referring again to FIG. 6, the access point (AP) may transmit an access response frame to the terminal (STA) (S230). Through the 'access request frame transmission-access response frame reception' process, the STA can complete the searching process and the authentication process. Thereafter, the terminal STA may transmit a connection request frame to an access point (AP) best suited to the access point (AP) that transmitted the access response frame (S240). The access point (AP) receiving the connection request frame may transmit the connection response frame to the terminal (STA) in response to the connection request frame (S250).

Meanwhile, an access point (AP) that has not received the connection request frame from the access point (AP) that transmitted the access response frame can retrieve authentication related information allocated to the access point (STA).

The terminal STA can access the access point (AP) based on the received connection response frame. Thereafter, the terminal STA may transmit a data frame to the connected access point AP (S260).

In the above-described channel access method, the terminal STA connects to an access point (AP) best suited to itself among a plurality of access points (APs) located in the vicinity. Accordingly, an access response frame transmitted by an access point (AP) not selected from the STA may correspond to an overhead. In addition, this overhead can be further increased if the length of the access response frame is long. In addition, since the access request frame is transmitted on a channel-by-channel basis and has a larger number of times of transmission than other frames, when the frame length becomes longer, more radio resources are consumed.

To prevent such problems, the search process may be performed independently and the authentication process and the connection process may be integrally performed.

9 is a flowchart illustrating a channel access method according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 9, a terminal STA may perform a connection process with an access point (AP) based on a connection method in which an authentication process and a connection process are integrated into one procedure.

The terminal STA may transmit a probe request frame to at least one access point (AP) (S300). That is, the STA can transmit the probe request frame in a broadcast manner or transmit the probe request frame in an unicast manner to an access point (AP). The access point (AP) receiving the probe request frame may transmit the probe response frame to the terminal (STA) in response to the probe request frame (S310).

The terminal STA may generate an access request frame including authentication request information and connection request information (S320). When a common information element exists between the authentication request information and the connection request information, the terminal STA can generate an access request frame including one information element among the common information elements.

In addition, the terminal STA can generate an access request frame including access information indicating a connection method with an access point (AP). Here, the connection information may indicate a connection method in which the authentication process and the connection process are integrated into one procedure.

10 is a conceptual diagram showing the configuration of an access request frame according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 10, the access request frame 50 may include authentication request information 51, access information 52, and connection request information 53. The authentication request information 51 is the same as in the above Tables 1 to 3

Lt; / RTI > The connection request information 53 is the same as in Table 1 to Table 3

And information elements other than the authentication request information 51 and common information elements.

The access information 52 indicates an indicator indicating a connection mode between the terminal STA and the access point AP, and may have a size of 2 bits. For example, when the connection information 52 is '01', this may mean a connection method in which the authentication process and the connection process are integrated into one procedure. That is, the access information 52 '01' means that the authentication request information 51 and the connection request information 53 are included in the access request frame 50.

Referring again to FIG. 9, the terminal STA may transmit an access request frame to at least one access point (AP) (S330). When receiving an access request frame from the STA, the access point (AP) can generate an access response frame in response to the access request frame (S340).

That is, the access point (AP) can generate an access response frame including response information for authentication request information and response information for connection request information. At this time, if there is a common information element between the response information for the authentication request information and the response information for the connection request information, the access point (AP) can generate an access response frame including one information element among the common information elements have.

Here, the response information for the authentication request information means information elements included in the authentication response information shown in Tables 4 to 7, and the response information for the connection request information is included in the connection response information shown in Tables 4 to 7 Information element.

11 is a conceptual diagram showing a configuration of an access response frame according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 11, the access response frame 60 may include authentication response information 61, connection information 62, and connection response information 63. The authentication response information 61 is the same as that shown in Tables 4 to 7

Lt; / RTI > The connection response information 63 is the same as in the above Tables 4 to 7

And information elements other than the authentication response information 61 and common information elements.

The access information 62 indicates an indicator indicating a connection mode between the terminal STA and the access point AP and may have a size of 2 bits. For example, when the connection information 62 is '01', this may mean a connection method in which the authentication process and the connection process are integrated into one procedure. That is, the access information 62 '01' means that the authentication response information 61 and the connection response information 63 are included in the access response frame 40.

Referring again to FIG. 9, the access point (AP) may transmit an access response frame to the terminal (STA) (S350). Through the 'access request frame transmission-access response frame reception' process, the STA can complete the authentication process and the connection process. Thereafter, the terminal STA may transmit the data frame to the access point AP (S360).

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. It will be possible.

Claims

A channel access method performed in a terminal,
Generating an access request frame including probe request information, authentication request information, and association request information; And
And transmitting the access request frame to at least one access point.

The method according to claim 1,
The channel access method includes:
Further comprising receiving an access response frame from the at least one access point that is a response to the access request frame.

The method of claim 2,
The access response frame includes:
Response information for the probe request information, response information for the authentication request information, and response information for the connection request information.

The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the generating of the access request frame comprises:
And generates an access request frame further including access information indicating a connection method between the terminal and the access point.

The method of claim 4,
Wherein the access information indicates a connection method in which a scanning process, an authentication process, and a connection process are integrated into one procedure.

The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the generating of the access request frame comprises:
Wherein the access request frame generation unit generates an access request frame including one information element among the common information elements when there is a common information element among at least two of the probe request information, the authentication request information, and the connection request information. Access method.

The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the generating of the access request frame comprises:
Wherein the access request frame generating unit generates an access request frame including time information indicating a time from when the terminal is connected to the access point to when the arbitrary frame is transmitted to the connected access point.

A channel access response method performed at an access point,
Receiving an access request frame including probe request information, authentication request information, and association request information from a terminal;
Generating an access response frame including response information for the probe request information, response information for the authentication request information, and response information for the connection request information; And
And transmitting the access response frame to the terminal.

The method of claim 8,
Wherein the generating the access response frame comprises:
If there is a common information element among at least two pieces of information of the response information of the probe request information, the response information of the authentication request information, and the response information of the connection request information, one information element among the common information elements And generates an access response frame including the access response frame.

The method of claim 8,
Wherein the access request frame further includes time information indicating a time until a terminal transmits an arbitrary frame to an access point connected after the terminal is connected to the access point.

The method of claim 10,
The channel access response method comprises:
And terminating the connection with the terminal if the terminal fails to receive an arbitrary frame from the terminal within the time indicated by the time information.

A channel access method performed in a terminal,
Generating an access request frame including probe request information and authentication request information;
Transmitting the access request frame to at least one access point; And
Receiving an access response frame that is a response to the access request frame from the at least one access point.

The method of claim 12,
The channel access method includes:
Transmitting an association request frame to the selected one of the at least one access point; And
Further comprising receiving a connection response frame from the selected access point in response to the connection request frame.

The method of claim 12,
Wherein the generating of the access request frame comprises:
And generates an access request frame further including access information indicating a connection method between the terminal and the access point.

15. The method of claim 14,
Wherein the access information indicates a connection method in which a scanning process and an authentication process are integrated into one procedure.

The method of claim 12,
Wherein the generating of the access request frame comprises:
Wherein an access request frame including one information element among the common information elements is generated when a common information element exists between the probe request information and the authentication request information.

A channel access method performed in a terminal,
Transmitting a probe request frame to at least one access point;
Receiving a probe response frame from the at least one access point, the probe response frame being a response to the probe request frame;
Generating an access request frame including authentication request information and association request information;
Transmitting the access request frame to a selected one of the at least one access point; And
And receiving from the selected access point an access response frame that is a response to the access request frame.

18. The method of claim 17,
Wherein the generating of the access request frame comprises:
And generates an access request frame further including access information indicating a connection method between the terminal and the access point.

19. The method of claim 18,
Wherein the access information indicates a connection mode in which an authentication process and a connection process are integrated into one procedure.

18. The method of claim 17,
Wherein the generating of the access request frame comprises:
Wherein the access request frame generating unit generates the access request frame including one information element among common information elements when the common information element exists between the authentication request information and the connection request information.