Radio communication system, radio communication control method, radio communication apparatus, radio communication method, and computer program

• US 20040114521A1
• Filed: 02/02/2004
• Published: 06/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Sugaya, Shigeru
• Granted Patent: US 7,561,539 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/238
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0092 Indication of how the channel is divided
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0216 using a pre-established activity schedule, e.g. traffic indication frame
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 68/00 User notification, e.g. alerting and paging, for incoming communication, change of service or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0446 Resources in time domain, e.g. slots or frames
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/30 Resource management for broadcast services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/0816 with collision avoidance
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A wireless communication device in a wireless network sets management information notification cycles at specified time intervals and transmits management information containing receive timing information showing its own position to start receiving information, receive window information and receive cycle information. Another wireless communication device receiving that management information links it to a communication device number for the corresponding wireless communication device and stores the receive timing, receive window and receive cycle information. When sending information, the receive start position of the corresponding communication device is found from the receive timing, receive window and receive cycle information of the other communication party and information is then transmitted at that timing. An asynchronous ad-hoc communication wireless network can therefore be configured without a particular control station.

Claims

1. A wireless communication system for transmitting information between a plurality of wireless communication devices, wherein management information describing the receive processing timing of one'"'"'s own communication device is exchanged between the wireless communication devices;

and

the wireless communication device at the transmitting source sends information to the wireless communication device at the receiving destination by utilizing the receive processing timing described in the management information.

2. A wireless communication system according to claim 1, wherein the transmitting source wireless communication device sends a communication request or an RTS (Request to Send) by utilizing a receive window described in management information of the receiving destination wireless communication device, and sends information by establishing a connection in response to receiving a communication confirmation or a CTS (Clear to Send) returned from the receiving destination wireless communication device.

3. A wireless communication control method for transmitting information from a plurality of wireless communication devices, wherein

management information describing the receive processing timing of one'"'"'s own communication device is exchanged between the wireless communication devices;

and

the transmitting source wireless communication device sends information to the receiving destination wireless communication device by utilizing the receive processing timing described in the management information.

4. A wireless communication control method according to claim 3, wherein

management information contains device ID information unique to each corresponding wireless communication device;

and

the wireless communication device links the device ID information to another corresponding wireless communication device when the management information from the another wireless communication device is received, and the corresponding wireless communication device controls the receive processing timing.

5. A wireless communication control method according to claim 3, wherein

the management information contains timing information for setting a receive window for the wireless communication device to perform receive processing and contains cycle information for setting the receive window.

6. A wireless communication control method according to claim 3, wherein

the communication device arranges the receive window by shifting the timing so that receive processing periods do not overlap each other.

7. A wireless communication control method according to claim 3, wherein

the communication device sends its own management information at each specified cycle.

8. A wireless communication control method according to claim 3, wherein

the communication device sends its own management information at each specified cycle, and the management information contains notification cycle information for sending the management information to other communication devices.

9. A wireless communication control method according to claim 3, wherein

the communication device checks for the presence of the corresponding wireless communication device in the wireless network in response to receiving the management information, and decides that the communication device is no longer present in the wireless network when a specified time has elapsed after last receiving the management information.

10. A wireless communication control method according to claim 3, wherein

a management information exchange area is installed to exchange the management information between a plurality of the wireless communication devices.

11. A wireless communication control method according to claim 3, wherein

whether or not to require transmission with a guaranteed communication quality can be described in the management information;

and

the transmitting source wireless communication device sends information with a guaranteed communication quality when a requirement for transmission with a guaranteed communication quality is described in the management information of the receiving destination wireless communication device.

12. A wireless communication control method according to claim 3, wherein

the management information contains information on wireless communication devices capable of communicating with the wireless communication device.

13. A wireless communication control method according to claim 3, wherein

the transmitting source wireless communication device sends an RTS (Request to Send) signal by utilizing a receive window described in the management information of the receiving destination wireless communication device, and sends information by establishing a connection in response to receiving a CTS (Clear to Send) sent from the receiving destination wireless communication device.

14. A wireless communication control method according to claim 13, wherein

the transmitting source wireless communication device establishes a confirmation receive window, in response to sending an RTS (Request to Send) to the receiving destination wireless communication device, for receiving a CTS (Clear to Send) from the receiving destination wireless communication device;

and

the transmitting source wireless communication device receives the CTS (Clear to Send) by utilizing the confirmation receive window.

15. A wireless communication control method according to claim 13, wherein

the wireless communication device that received an RTS (Request to Send) signal returns a CTS (Clear to Send) by utilizing the receive window described in the management information of the transmitting source wireless communication device.

16. A wireless communication control method according to claim 13, wherein

the receiving destination wireless communication device establishes an information receive window, in response to returning a CTS (Clear to Send) to the transmitting source wireless communication device, for receiving information sent from the transmitting source wireless communication device;

and

the transmitting source wireless communication device sends information by utilizing the information receive window.

17. A wireless communication control method according to claim 13, wherein

the transmitting source wireless communication device sends information by utilizing the receive window described in the management information of the receiving destination wireless communication device, in response to receiving a CTS (Clear to Send) signal from the receiving destination wireless communication device.

18. A wireless communication control method according to claim 13, wherein

the transmitting source wireless communication device, after sending information, sets a receipt confirmation receive window for receiving a receipt confirmation from the receiving destination wireless communication device;

and

the receiving destination wireless communication device sends a receipt confirmation by utilizing the receipt confirmation receive window.

19. A wireless communication control method according to claim 13, wherein

after receiving the information sent from the transmitting source wireless communication device, the receiving destination wireless communication device sends a receipt confirmation by utilizing the receive window described in the management information of the transmitting source wireless communication device.

20. A wireless communication device for sending information over a wireless network, comprising:

a receiving means for receiving information,

a management information storage means for storing the management information received from other wireless communication devices while linking the received management information to the corresponding wireless communication device,

a transmitting means for transmitting information; and

an access control means for controlling the transmit and receive timing of the receiving means and the transmitting means by utilizing the receive processing timing described in the management information of the receiving destination wireless communication.

21. A wireless communication device according to claim 20, wherein

the management information contains timing information for setting the receive window for the wireless communication device to perform receive processing and cycle information for setting the receive window.

22. A wireless communication device according to claim 20, further comprising:

a network control means for checking for the presence of the corresponding wireless communication device in the wireless network in response to receiving the management information, and also deciding that the communication device is no longer present in the wireless network when a specified time has elapsed after last receiving its management information.

23. A wireless communication device according to claim 20, wherein

whether or not to require transmission with a guaranteed communication quality can be described in the management information;

and

the access control means performs access control with a guaranteed communication quality when the requirement for transmission with a guaranteed communication quality is described in the management information of the receiving destination wireless communication device.

24. A wireless communication device according to claim 20, wherein

the access control means controls the timing for sending an RTS (Request to Send) by utilizing the receive window described in the management information of the receiving destination wireless communication device, and also controls the timing for sending information in response to receiving a CTS (Clear to Send) from the receiving destination wireless communication device.

25. A wireless communication device according to claim 24, wherein

in response to sending an RTS (Request to Send) to the receiving destination wireless communication device, the access control means establishes a confirmation receive window for receiving a CTS (Clear to Send) from the receiving destination wireless communication device, and controls the timing for receiving the CTS (Clear to Send) sent from the receiving destination wireless communication device using the receiving means.

26. A wireless communication device according to claim 24, wherein

in response to receiving a CTS (Clear to Send), the access control means controls the timing for sending information by utilizing the information receive window established by the receiving destination wireless communication device to receive the transmitted information.

27. A wireless communication device according to claim 24, wherein

in response to receiving a CTS (Clear to Send), the access control means controls the timing for sending information by utilizing the receive window described in the management information of the receiving destination wireless communication device.

28. A wireless communication device according to claim 24, wherein

the access control means sets a receipt confirmation receive window to receive the receipt confirmation from the receiving destination wireless communication device after sending information, and controls the timing for receiving the receipt confirmation from the receiving destination wireless communication device.

29. A wireless communication method for sending information over a wireless network for information transmission and comprising the steps of:

receiving the management information describing the receive processing timing of the corresponding wireless communication device, from other wireless communication devices;

storing the received management information while linking the received management information to the corresponding wireless communication device; and

sending information by utilizing the receive processing timing described in the management information of the receiving destination wireless communication device.

30. A wireless communication method according to claim 29, wherein

the management information contains the timing information for setting the receive window for the wireless communication device to perform receive processing and contains cycle information for setting the receive window.

31. A wireless communication method according to claim 29, further comprising the step of:

checking for the presence of the corresponding wireless communication device within the wireless network in response to receiving the management information, and also deciding that the communication device is no longer present inside the wireless network when a specified time has elapsed after last receiving its management information.

32. A wireless communication method according to claim 29, wherein

whether or not to require transmission with a guaranteed communication quality can be described in the management information;

and

the transmission step sends information with a guaranteed communication quality when the requirement for transmission with a guaranteed communication quality is described in the management information of the receiving destination wireless communication device.

33. A wireless communication method according to claim 29, wherein

the transmission step sends an RTS (Request to Send) by utilizing the receive window described in the management information of the receiving destination wireless communication device, and further comprising the step of:

starting information transmission in response to receiving a CTS (Clear to Send) from the corresponding receiving destination wireless communication device.

34. A wireless communication method according to claim 33, further comprising the step of:

receiving the CTS (Clear to Send) from the receiving destination wireless communication device, by setting a confirmation receive window for receiving the CTS (Clear to Send) from the receiving destination wireless communication device in response to sending an RTS (Request to Send) to the receiving destination wireless communication device.

35. A wireless communication method according to claim 33, wherein

the step for starting information transmission sends information in response to receiving a CTS (Clear to Send), by utilizing an information receive window established by the receiving destination wireless communication device to receive the transmitted information.

36. A wireless communication method according to claim 33, wherein

the step for starting information transmission sends information in response to receiving a CTS (Clear to Send), by utilizing a receive window described in the management information of the receiving destination wireless communication device for receiving the transmitted information.

37. A wireless communication method according to claim 33, further comprising the step of:

receiving a receipt confirmation from the receiving destination wireless communication device, by setting a receipt confirmation receive window for receiving the receipt confirmation from the receiving destination wireless communication device after sending information.

38. A wireless communication device for sending information over a wireless network, comprising:

a management information creation means for creating management information describing the receive processing timing of one'"'"'s own device;

a receiving means for receiving information;

a transmitting means for transmitting the management information; and

an access control means for controlling the receive timing of the receiving means based on the management information, and also controlling the transmit timing of the transmitting means to transmit the management information.

39. A wireless communication device according to claim 38, wherein

the management information contains timing information for setting the receive window for the corresponding wireless communication device to perform receive processing and contains cycle information for setting the receive window.

40. A wireless communication device according to claim 38, wherein

the management information creation means arranges the receive window by shifting the timing so that the receive processing periods do not overlap with periods of other wireless communication devices in same the wireless network.

41. A wireless communication device according to claim 38, wherein

the transmitting means transmits its own management information at each specified cycle.

42. A wireless communication device according to claim 38, wherein

the management information creation means describes notification cycle information for sending the management information to other wireless communication devices;

and

the access control means controls the timing for periodically transmitting the management information based on the notification cycle information.

43. A wireless communication device according to claim 38, wherein

the access control means controls the timing for sending the management information by utilizing the management information exchange area installed in the wireless network.

44. A wireless communication device according to claim 38, wherein

the management information creation means describes information on whether or not to require transmission with a guaranteed communication quality in the management information.

45. A wireless communication device according to claim 38, wherein

the management information creation means describes information on wireless communication devices capable of communicating with the corresponding wireless communication device.

46. A wireless communication device according to claim 38, wherein

the access control means controls the timing for receiving an RTS (Request to Send) from other wireless communication devices based on the receive window described in the management information.

47. A wireless communication device according to claim 46, wherein

the transmitting means returns a CTS (Clear to Send) in response to receiving an RTS (Request to Send).

48. A wireless communication device according to claim 46, wherein

the access control means establishes an information receive window for receiving information sent from other corresponding wireless communication devices, in response to returning the CTS (Clear to Send).

49. A wireless communication device according to claim 46, wherein

the transmitting means returns a receipt confirmation after receiving information from other corresponding wireless communication devices.

50. A wireless communication method for receiving information over a wireless network for information transmission and comprising the steps of:

creating management information describing the receive processing timing of one'"'"'s own device;

transmitting the management information to other wireless communication devices; and

receiving information by utilizing the receive processing timing described in the management information.

51. A wireless communication method according to claim 50, wherein

the management information contains timing information for setting the receive window for corresponding wireless communication devices to perform receive processing and contains cycle information for setting the receive window.

52. A wireless communication method according to claim 50, wherein

the step for creating management information arranges the receive window by shifting the timing so that receive processing periods do not overlap with periods of other wireless communication devices in same the wireless network.

53. A wireless communication method according to claim 50, wherein

the step for sending management information sends its own management information at a specific cycle.

54. A wireless communication method according to claim 50, wherein

the step for creating management information describes notification cycle information for sending the management information to other wireless communication devices;

and

the step for sending management information periodically sends the management information based on the notification cycle information.

55. A wireless communication method according to claim 50, wherein

the step for sending the management information sends the management information by utilizing the management information exchange area installed in the wireless network.

56. A wireless communication method according to claim 50, wherein

the step for creating management information describes information on whether or not to require transmission with a guaranteed communication quality in the management information.

57. A wireless communication method according to claim 50, wherein

the step for creating management information describes information on wireless communication devices capable of communicating with the corresponding wireless communication device.

58. A wireless communication method according to claim 50, wherein

the step for receiving information performs the receive processing for an RTS (Request to Send) sent from other wireless communication devices, based on the receive window described in the management information.

59. A wireless communication method according to claim 58, further comprising the step of:

returning a CTS (Clear to Send) in response to receiving an RTS (Request to Send).

60. A wireless communication method according to claim 58, further comprising the step of:

establishing an information receive window for receiving information sent from another wireless communication device, in response to returning a CTS (Clear to Send).

61. A wireless communication method according to claim 58, further comprising the step of:

returning a receipt confirmation after receiving information sent from another wireless communication device.

62. A computer program written in a computer-readable format for running wireless communication processing on a computer system to send information over a wireless network for information transmission and comprising the steps of:

receiving management information describing the receive processing timing of the corresponding wireless communication device, from other wireless communication devices;

storing the received management information while linking the received management information to the corresponding wireless communication device; and

sending information by utilizing the receive processing timing described in the management information of the receiving destination wireless communication device.

63. A computer program written in a computer-readable format for running wireless communication processing on a computer system to receive information over a wireless network for information transmission and comprising the steps of:

creating management information describing the receive processing timing of one'"'"'s own device;

sending the management information to other wireless communication devices; and

receiving information by utilizing the receive processing timing described in the management information.