WIRELESS COMMUNICATION DEVICE, WIRELESS COMMUNICATION SYSTEM, AND WIRELESS COMMUNICATION METHOD

• US 20100302966A1
• Filed: 05/26/2010
• Published: 12/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Buffalo Incorporated (Melco Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Buffalo Incorporated (Melco Holdings Incorporated)
• Inventors: MATSUURA, Nagahiro
• Granted Patent: US 8,400,938 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/252
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/021 Auxiliary means for detecting or identifying radar signals or the like, e.g. radar jamming signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/14 Spectrum sharing arrangements between different networks

Abstract

An access point establishing a wireless LAN is constructed to have a monitor system ‘b’ for monitoring an available channel for communication, in addition to a communication system ‘a’. In the event of detection of radar/radio signals, the access point changes a communication channel used for wireless communication from a current active channel to the monitored channel. Each terminal belonging to the wireless LAN recognizes and follows this channel change by detection of a beacon broadcasted by the access point. In the case of non-detection of radar/radio signals for one minute at the monitored channel, the wireless communication is reestablished immediately at the monitored channel recognized as a CAC (channel availability check)-finished channel. This series of processing is also applicable to inter-access point communication, for example, communication in a WDS (wireless distribution system) mode. This arrangement desirably prevents the potential interruption of wireless communication in a 5 GHz frequency band for a significant period, in the event of detection of radar/radio signals, for example, a weather radar.

Claims

1. A wireless communication device for establishing wireless communication as a base station in a wireless LAN, the wireless communication device comprising:

a radio signal detection module configured to detect a radio signal other than the wireless communication at a current active channel currently used for the wireless communication;

a monitor module configured to monitor a status of another channel that is different from the current active channel; and

a channel change module configured to, when the radio signal is detected at the current active channel, change a communication channel used for the wireless communication from the current active channel, based on the status of the monitored channel.

2. The wireless communication device in accordance with claim 1, wherein in the case of non-detection of the radio signal at the monitored channel for a specified period, the monitor module sets the monitored channel as a subject of in-service monitoring, and

when the status of the monitored channel represents the subject of in-service monitoring, the channel change module changes the communication channel used for the wireless communication from the current active channel to the monitored channel.

3. The wireless communication device in accordance with claim 1, the wireless communication device further comprising:

a channel storage module configured to store a default channel of the wireless communication,

wherein when a predetermined time period has elapsed since a change of the communication channel used for the wireless communication from the default channel to another channel by the channel change module, the monitor module monitors a status of the default channel as a subject of monitoring, and

at a certain timing after elapse of the predetermined time period, when the status of the monitored default channel represents a subject of in-service monitoring with non-detection of the radio signal for a specified period, the channel change module changes back the communication channel used for the wireless communication to the default channel.

4. The wireless communication device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the channel change module has a notification module configured to, on each occasion of a channel change of the communication channel used for the wireless communication to a newly allocated channel, give notice of the newly allocated channel, prior to or accompanied by the channel change.

5. The wireless communication device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the communication channel is one channel selected among multiple available channels of W53 and W56 specified in a 5 GHz band of a carrier wave frequency, and

the radio signal other than the wireless communication is a radio signal from a radar.

6. The wireless communication device in accordance with claim 1, the wireless communication device further having at least one function among a repeater function, a broadband router function, and a LAN access point function.

7. A wireless communication system for establishing wireless communication between at least two LANs with wireless communication devices,

at least one of the wireless communication devices comprising:

a radio signal detection module configured to detect a radio signal other than the wireless communication at a current active channel currently used for the wireless communication;

a monitor module configured to monitor a status of another channel that is different from the current active channel; and

a channel change module configured to, when the radio signal is detected at the current active channel, change a communication channel used for the wireless communication from the current active channel, based on the status of the monitored channel.

8. A wireless communication method of controlling wireless communication performed by a base station in a wireless LAN, the control method comprising:

detecting a radio signal other than the wireless communication at a current active channel currently used for the wireless communication;

monitoring a status of another channel that is different from the current active channel; and

when the radio signal is detected at the current active channel, changing a communication channel used for the wireless communication from the current active channel, based on the status of the monitored channel.