CONTROL DEVICE, TERMINAL DEVICE, AND COMMUNICATION SYSTEM AND COMMUNICATION METHOD, USING THE SAME

• US 20100232415A1
• Filed: 07/06/2009
• Published: 09/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sovereign Peak Ventures, LLC (Dominion Harbor Enterprises, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Ohta, Yoshitaka, Nakae, Hironori, Hayashino, Hiroshi
• Granted Patent: US 8,335,179 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/348
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/02 Selection of wireless resources by user or terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0453 Resources in frequency domain, e.g. a carrier in FDMA

Abstract

A terminal device (102), used in communication system conducting communication by periodically switching frequency channels in a predefined sequence, communicating with a control device using a predefined channel, including: an antenna; a reception section receiving, from the control device (101), via the antenna, data and a beacon containing control information indicating the sequence and its timing; a transmission section transmitting data to the control device via the antenna; a data volume determining section determining whether a transmission is completable within a predefined period; and a control section controlling, within the period, the reception section to receive the data and the beacon, and the transmission section to transmit the data, and when the data volume determining section determines that the transmission is not completable, further controlling the transmission section to, determine a next-to-be-used channel based on the control information, switch to the channel after the period, and continue the transmission.

Claims

1. A terminal device, which is used in a communication system that conducts a communication by periodically switching a plurality of frequency channels in a predefined sequence, and which communicates with a control device that uses a predefined frequency channel among the plurality of frequency channels, the terminal device comprising:

an antenna that conducts transmission and reception of a wireless signal;

a reception section that receives, from the control device, via the antenna, reception data and a beacon that contains control information indicating at least a switching sequence and a switching timing of the frequency channel;

a transmission section that transmits transmission data to the control device via the antenna;

a data volume determining section that determines whether or not it is possible to complete a transmission of the transmission data within a period while the predefined frequency channel is in use; and

a control section that controls, during the period while the predefined frequency channel is in use, the reception section so as to receive the reception data and the beacon, and the transmission section so as to transmit the transmission data, wherein

the control section further controls, when the data volume determining section determines that it is not possible to complete the transmission, the transmission section so as to, determine a next-to-be-used channel that follows the predefined frequency channel based on the control information, switch to the next-to-be-used channel after the period during which the predefined frequency channel is in use has elapsed, and continue the transmission of the transmission data.

2. The terminal device according to claim 1, wherein the control section further controls, when the control information included in the beacon further includes an identifier of the terminal device indicating that a transmission of the reception data from the control device to the terminal device will not be completed within the period while the predefined frequency channel is in use, the reception section so as to, determine the next-to-be-used channel that follows the predefined frequency channel based on the control information, switch to the next-to-be-used channel after the period during which the predefined frequency channel is in use has elapsed, and continue a reception of the reception data.

3. The terminal device according to claim 1, wherein the control section determines, when switching to the next-to-be-used channel is not conducted, based on the control information, the switching timing in which the predefined frequency channel is used again, and controls the terminal device so as to wait in a power-saving mode until the switching timing.

12. The terminal device according to claim 2, wherein the control section determines, when switching to the next-to-be-used channel is not conducted, based on the control information, the switching timing in which the predefined frequency channel is used again, and controls the terminal device so as to wait in a power-saving mode until the switching timing.

4. A control device, which is used in a communication system that conducts a communication using a plurality of frequency channels, and which periodically switches the plurality of frequency channels in a predefined sequence, and which conducts a communication with one or more terminal devices that are respectively assigned with a predefined frequency channel, the control device comprising:

an antenna that conducts transmission and reception of a wireless signal;

a reception section that receives reception data from the terminal devices via the antenna;

a beacon generating section that generates a beacon containing control information indicating at least a switching sequence and a switching timing of the frequency channel;

a transmission section that transmits the beacon and transmission data to the terminal devices via the antenna;

a data volume determining section that determines whether or not it is possible to complete a transmission of the transmission data to each of the terminal devices within a period while a frequency channel assigned to each of the terminal devices is in use; and

a control section which controls the beacon generating section so as to periodically switch the frequency channel in the predefined sequence and generate the beacon, and which controls the transmission section so as to transmit, during a period while the frequency channel obtained as a result of switching is in use, the beacon and the transmission data to each of the terminal devices assigned with the frequency channel obtained as a result of the switching, wherein

the control section, when the data volume determining section determines that it is not possible to complete the transmission, further controls, the beacon generating section so as to generate the beacon by further incorporating, in the beacon, an identifier for each of the terminal devices indicating that it is not possible to complete the transmission, and the transmission section so as to continue the transmission of the transmission data after switching to a next-to-be-used channel.

5. A communication system that conducts a communication between a control device and one or more terminal devices by periodically switching a plurality of frequency channels in a predefined sequence,

wherein each of the terminal devices includes:

a first antenna that conducts transmission and reception of a wireless signal;

a first reception section that receives, from the control device, via the first antenna, reception data and a beacon that contains control information indicating at least a switching sequence and a switching timing of the frequency channel;

a first transmission section that transmits transmission data to the control device via the first antenna;

a first data volume determining section that determines whether or not it is possible to complete a transmission of the transmission data within a period while the predefined frequency channel is in use; and

a first control section which controls, during the period while the predefined frequency channel is in use, the first reception section so as to receive the reception data and the beacon, and the transmission section so as to transmit the transmission data, wherein

the first control section further controls;

the first transmission section, when the first data volume determining section determines that it is not possible to complete the transmission, so as to, determine a next-to-be-used channel that follows the predefined frequency channel based on the control information, switch to the next-to-be-used channel after the period during which the predefined frequency channel is in use has elapsed, and continue the transmission of the transmission data; and

the first reception section, when the control information included in the beacon further includes an identifier of the terminal device indicating that a transmission of the reception data from the control device to the terminal device will not be completed within the period while the predefined frequency channel is in use, so as to determine the next-to-be-used channel that follows the predefined frequency channel based on the control information, switch to the next-to-be-used channel after the period during which the predefined frequency channel is in use has elapsed, and continue a reception of the reception data,

wherein the control device includes;

a second antenna that conducts transmission and reception of a wireless signal;

a second reception section that receives reception data from the terminal devices via the second antenna;

a beacon generating section that generates a beacon containing control information indicating at least a switching sequence and a switching timing of the frequency channel;

a second transmission section that transmits the beacon and the transmission data to the terminal devices via the second antenna;

a second data volume determining section that determines whether or not it is possible to complete a transmission of the transmission data to each of the terminal devices within a period while a frequency channel assigned to each of the terminal devices is in use; and

a second control section which controls the beacon generating section so as to periodically switch the frequency channel in the predefined sequence and generate the beacon; and

which controls the second transmission section so as to transmit, during a period while the frequency channel obtained as a result of switching is in use, the beacon and the transmission data to each of the terminal devices assigned with the frequency channel obtained as a result of the switching, wherein

the second control section further includes a control device that controls, when the second data volume determining section determines that it is not possible to complete the transmission, the beacon generating section so as to generate the beacon by further incorporating, in the beacon, an identifier for each of the terminal device indicating that it is not possible to complete the transmission, and the second transmission section so as to continue the transmission of the transmission data after switching to a next-to-be-used channel.

6. An integrated circuit, which is used in a communication system that conducts a communication by periodically switching a plurality of frequency channels in a predefined sequence, and which includes a communication function that conducts a communication with a control device that uses a predefined frequency channel among the plurality of frequency channels, the integrated circuit integrates circuits which act as:

a reception section that receives, from the control device, via an antenna, reception data and a beacon that contains control information indicating at least a switching sequence and a switching timing of the frequency channel;

a transmission section that transmits transmission data to the control device via the antenna;

a data volume determining section that determines whether or not it is possible to complete a transmission of the transmission data within a period while the predefined frequency channel is in use; and

a control section that controls, during the period while the predefined frequency channel is in use, the reception section so as to receive the reception data and the beacon, and the transmission section so as to transmit the transmission data, wherein

the control section further controls;

the transmission section, when the data volume determining section determines that it is not possible to complete the transmission, so as to, determine a next-to-be-used channel that follows the predefined frequency channel based on the control information, switch to the next-to-be-used channel after the period during which the predefined frequency channel is in use has elapsed, and continue the transmission of the transmission data; and

the reception section, when the control information included in the beacon further includes an identifier of the terminal device indicating that a transmission of the reception data from the control device to the terminal device will not be completed within the period while the predefined frequency channel is in use, so as to, determine the next-to-be-used channel that follows the predefined frequency channel based on the control information, switch to the next-to-be-used channel after the period during which the predefined frequency channel is in use has elapsed, and continue a reception of the reception data.

7. An integrated circuit, which is used in a communication system that conducts a communication using a plurality of frequency channels, and which periodically switches the plurality of frequency channels in a predefined sequence, and which includes a communication function that conducts a communication with one or more terminal devices that are respectively assigned with a predefined frequency channel, the integrated circuit integrates circuits which act as:

a reception section that receives reception data from the terminal devices via an antenna;

a beacon generating section that generates a beacon containing control information indicating at least a switching sequence and a switching timing of the frequency channel;

a transmission section that transmits the beacon and transmission data to the terminal devices via the antenna;

a data volume determining section that determines whether or not it is possible to complete a transmission of the transmission data to each of the terminal devices within a period while a frequency channel assigned to each of the terminal devices is in use; and

a control section which controls the beacon generating section so as to periodically switch the frequency channel in the predefined sequence and generate the beacon, and which controls the transmission section so as to transmit, during a period while the frequency channel obtained as a result of switching is in use, the beacon and the transmission data to each of the terminal devices assigned with the frequency channel obtained as a result of the switching, wherein

the control section, when the data volume determining section determines that it is not possible to complete the transmission, further controls, the beacon generating section so as to generate the beacon by further incorporating, in the beacon, an identifier for each of the terminal devices indicating that it is not possible to complete the transmission, and the transmission section so as to continue the transmission of the transmission data after switching to a next-to-be-used channel.

8. A communication method, which is used in a communication system that conducts a communication by periodically switching a plurality of frequency channels in a predefined sequence, and which conducts a communication with a control device that uses a predefined frequency channel among the plurality of frequency channels, the communication method comprising the steps of:

receiving, from the control device, via an antenna, reception data and a beacon that contains control information indicating at least a switching sequence and a switching timing of the frequency channel;

transmitting transmission data to the control device via the antenna;

determining whether or not it is possible to complete a transmission of the transmission data within a period while the predefined frequency channel is in use; and

controlling, during the period while the predefined frequency channel is in use, an execution of the step of receiving so as to receive the reception data and the beacon, and an execution of the step of transmitting so as to transmit the transmission data, wherein

the step of controlling further includes execution of steps including;

determining, when determined that it is not possible to complete the transmission, a next-to-be-used channel that follows the predefined frequency channel based on the control information, switching to the next-to-be-used channel after the period during which the predefined frequency channel is in use has elapsed, and continuing the transmission of the transmission data; and

determining, when the control information included in the beacon further includes an identifier of the terminal device indicating that a transmission of the reception data from the control device to the terminal device will not be completed within the period while the predefined frequency channel is in use, the next-to-be-used channel that follows the predefined frequency channel based on the control information, switching to the next-to-be-used channel after the period during which the predefined frequency channel is in use has elapsed, and continuing a reception of the reception data.

9. A communication method, which is used in a communication system that conducts a communication using a plurality of frequency channels, and which periodically switches the plurality of frequency channels in a predefined sequence, and which conducts a communication with one or more terminal devices that are respectively assigned with a predefined frequency channel, the communication method comprising steps of:

receiving reception data from the terminal devices via an antenna;

generating a beacon containing control information indicating at least a switching sequence and a switching timing of the frequency channel;

transmitting the beacon and transmission data to the terminal devices via the antenna;

determining whether or not it is possible to complete a transmission of the transmission data to each of the terminal devices within a period while a frequency channel assigned to each of the terminal devices is in use; and

controlling, an execution of the step of generating so as to periodically switch the frequency channel in the predefined sequence and generate the beacon, and an execution of the step of transmitting so as to transmit, during a period while the frequency channel obtained as a result of switching is in use, the beacon and the transmission data to each of the terminal devices assigned with the frequency channel obtained as a result of the switching, wherein

the step of controlling further includes, when it is determine that it is not possible to complete the transmission at the step of determining, execution of steps including;

generating the beacon by further incorporating, in the beacon, an identifier for each of the terminal devices indicating that it is not possible to complete the transmission; and

continuing the transmission of the transmission data after switching to a next-to-be-used channel.

10. A communication program used by a terminal device which is used in a communication system that conducts a communication by periodically switching a plurality of frequency channels in a predefined sequence and which communicates with a control device that uses a predefined frequency channel among the plurality of frequency channels, the communication program causing the terminal device to execute the steps of:

receiving, from the control device, via an antenna, reception data and a beacon that contains control information indicating at least a switching sequence and a switching timing of the frequency channel;

transmitting transmission data to the control device via the antenna;

determining whether or not it is possible to complete a transmission of the transmission data within a period while the predefined frequency channel is in use; and

controlling, during the period while the predefined frequency channel is in use, an execution of the step of receiving so as to receive the reception data and the beacon, and an execution of the step of transmitting so as to transmit the transmission data, wherein

the controlling further includes execution of steps including;

determining, when determined that it is not possible to complete the transmission, a next-to-be-used channel that follows the predefined frequency channel based on the control information, switching to the next-to-be-used channel after the period during which the predefined frequency channel is in use has elapsed, and continuing the transmission of the transmission data; and

determining, when the control information included in the beacon further includes an identifier of the terminal device indicating that a transmission of the reception data from the control device to the terminal device will not be completed within the period while the predefined frequency channel is in use, the next-to-be-used channel that follows the predefined frequency channel based on the control information, switching to the next-to-be-used channel after the period during which the predefined frequency channel is in use has elapsed, and continuing a reception of the reception data.

11. A communication program used by a control device which is used in a communication system that conducts a communication using a plurality of frequency channels, and which periodically switches the plurality of frequency channels in a predefined sequence, and which conducts a communication with one or more terminal devices that are respectively assigned with a predefined frequency channel, the communication program causing the control device to execute the steps of:

receiving reception data from the terminal devices via an antenna;

generating, a beacon containing control information indicating at least a switching sequence and a switching timing of the frequency channel;

transmitting the beacon and transmission data to the terminal devices via the antenna;

determining whether or not it is possible to complete a transmission of the transmission data to each of the terminal devices within a period while a frequency channel assigned to each of the terminal devices is in use; and

transmitting the beacon and transmission data to the terminal devices via the antenna;

determining whether or not it is possible to complete a transmission of the transmission data to each of the terminal devices within a period while a frequency channel assigned to each of the terminal devices is in use; and

controlling, an execution of the step of generating so as to periodically switch the frequency channel in the predefined sequence and generate the beacon, and an execution of the step of transmitting so as to transmit, during a period while the frequency channel obtained as a result of switching is in use, the beacon and the transmission data to each of the terminal devices assigned with the frequency channel obtained as a result of the switching, wherein

the step of controlling further includes, when it is determined that it is not possible to complete the transmission at the step of determining, execution of steps including;

generating the beacon by further incorporating, in the beacon, an identifier for each of the terminal devices indicating that it is not possible to complete the transmission; and

continuing the transmission of the transmission data after switching to a next-to-be-used channel.