COMMUNICATION DEVICE AND COMMUNICATION METHOD

• US 20140307604A1
• Filed: 04/07/2014
• Published: 10/16/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: KIKUZUKI, Tatsuya
• Granted Patent: US 9,414,312 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/311
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0216 using a pre-established activity schedule, e.g. traffic indication frame
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0261 managing power supply demand, e.g. depending on battery level
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/002 Transmission of channel access control information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/04 Scheduled access hybrid access H04W74/02
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A communication device includes a memory, and a processor coupled to the memory and configured to transmit a first packet including a first information within a contention-free period assigned to the communication device, the first packet storing last data to be transmitted in the contention-free period, the first information indicating presence of remaining data to be transmitted in the contention-free period, and, after transmit the first packet, to transmit a second packet including a second information within the contention-free period, the second information indicating absence of remaining data to be transmitted in the contention-free period.

Claims

1. A communication device comprising:

a memory; and

a processor coupled to the memory and configured to

transmit a first packet including a first information within a contention-free period assigned to the communication device, the first packet storing last data to be transmitted in the contention-free period, the first information indicating presence of remaining data to be transmitted in the contention-free period, and

after transmitting the first packet, transmit a second packet including a second information within the contention-free period, the second information indicating absence of remaining data to be transmitted in the contention-free period.

2. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to transmit the second packet after receiving a notification from a device, wherein the notification indicates that the first packet has reached the device.

3. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the second packet includes an empty payload that does not have data.

4. A communication device comprising:

a memory; and

a processor coupled to the memory and configured to

create a first packet, the first packet storing last data to be transmitted in a content-free period assigned to the communication device,

create a second packet,

determine to which one of the first packet and the second packet a first information is to be attached, the first information indicating presence of remaining data to be transmitted in the contention-free period,

determine to which one of the first packet and the second packet a second information is to be attached, the second information indicating absence of remaining data to be transmitted in the contention-free period,

transmit the first packet attached with at least one of the first information and the second information within the contention-free period, and

transmit the second packet within the contention-free period and after transmission of the first packet.

5. The communication device according to claim 4, wherein the processor is configured to attach the second information to the second packet in a case where the first information is to be attached to the first packet, and attach the first information to the second packet in a case where the second information is to be attached to the first packet.

6. The communication device according to claim 4, wherein the second packet includes an empty payload that does not have data.

7. The communication device according to claim 4, wherein the processor is configured to determine to which one of the first packet and the second packet the second information is to be attached, in accordance with a link quality of a link through which data is transmitted in the contention-free period.

8. The communication device according to claim 7, wherein the link quality is one of received signal strength indication, signal-to-interference plus noise power ratio, bit error ratio, and packet error ratio.

9. The communication device according to claim 7, wherein the link quality is a combination of at least two of received signal strength indication, signal-to-interference plus noise power ratio, bit error ratio, and packet error ratio.

10. The communication device according to claim 7, wherein the processor is configured to determine to which one of the first packet and the second packet the second information is to be attached to, in accordance with whether or not the link quality satisfies a predetermined condition, and receive one of the link quality and the predetermined condition from another communication device.

11. The communication device according to claim 4, wherein the processor is configured to determine to which one of the first packet and the second packet the second information is to be attached, in accordance with an electric power consumption state of the communication device.

12. The communication device according to claim 11, wherein the electric power consumption state is one of a remaining capacity of a battery that supplies operating electric power to the communication device, electric power consumption, and electric current consumption.

13. The communication device according to claim 4, wherein the processor is configured to receive an instruction signal from another communication device, and determine, in accordance with the instruction signal, to which one of the first packet and the second packet the second information is to be attached, the instruction signal instructing which one of the first packet and the second packet the second information is to be attached to.

14. A communication method comprising:

transmitting a first packet including a first information within a contention-free period assigned to the communication device, the first packet storing last data to be transmitted in the contention-free period, the first information indicating presence of remaining data to be transmitted in the contention-free period, and

after transmitting the first packet, transmitting a second packet including a second information within the contention-free period, the second information indicating absence of remaining data to be transmitted in the contention-free period.

15. The communication method according to claim 14, wherein the second packet is transmitted after receiving a notification from a device, wherein the notification indicates that the first packet has reached the device.

16. The communication method according to claim 14, wherein the second packet includes an empty payload that does not have data.