Setting of network allocation vectors in a wireless communication system

A wireless communication system comprising communication stations in which transmission of data packets begins after a predetermined transmission/reception preparation process is performed between communication stations serving as a data transmission source and a data transmission destination, wherein:

• the communication station serving as the data transmission source stores, in a header of a preparation packet to be sent for the transmission/reception preparation process, first duration information corresponding to an end of a first response packet sent from the communication station serving as the data transmission destination in response to the preparation packet and second duration information corresponding to an end of a second response packet sent from the communication station serving as the data transmission destination in response to a data packet sent from the communication station serving as the data transmission source after the transmission/reception preparation process, and
• a neighboring station having received the preparation packet sent from the communication station serving as the data transmission source sets a first network allocation vector relating to a scheduled reception completion time of the first response packet on the basis of the first duration information and, thereafter, in response to detection of packet transmission within a predetermined time after the scheduled reception completion time of the first response packet, sets a second network allocation vector relating to a scheduled reception completion time of the second response packet on the basis of the second duration information.

A wireless communication apparatus operating in a wireless network in which transmission of data packets begins after a transmission/reception preparation process is performed between communication stations serving as a data transmission source and a data transmission destination and at least two types of duration information are stored in a header of a preparation packet sent from the communication station serving as the data transmission source for the transmission/reception preparation process, the apparatus comprising:

• means for sending packets;
• means for receiving packets;
• and
• communication control means for controlling transmission/reception of packets,
• wherein, in a case where the communication station serving as the data transmission source stores, in the header of the preparation packet to be sent for the transmission/reception preparation process, first duration information corresponding to an end of a first response packet sent from the communication station serving as the data transmission destination in response to the preparation packet and second duration information corresponding to an end of a second response packet sent from the communication station serving as the data transmission destination in response to a data packet sent from the communication station serving as the data transmission source after the transmission/reception preparation process,
• upon receipt of the preparation packet sent from the communication station serving as the data transmission source to another communication station serving as the data transmission destination, the communication control means sets a first network allocation vector relating to a scheduled reception completion time of the first response packet on the basis of the first duration information and a second network allocation vector relating to a scheduled reception completion time of the second response packet on the basis of the second duration information and ignores the second network allocation vector in a case where no packet transmission is detected within a period for which the first network allocation vector has been set or within a predetermined time after the scheduled reception completion time of the first response packet.

A wireless communication apparatus operating in a wireless network in which transmission of data packets begins after a transmission/reception preparation process is performed between communication stations serving as a data transmission source and a data transmission destination and at least two types of duration information are stored in a header of a preparation packet sent from the communication station serving as the data transmission source for the transmission/reception preparation process, the apparatus comprising:

• means for sending packets;
• means for receiving packets;
• and
• communication control means for controlling transmission/reception of packets,
• wherein, in a case where the communication station serving as the data transmission source stores, in the header of the preparation packet to be sent for the transmission/reception preparation process, first duration information corresponding to an end of a first response packet sent from the communication station serving as the data transmission destination in response to the preparation packet and second duration information corresponding to an end of a second response packet sent from the communication station serving as the data transmission destination in response to a data packet sent from the communication station serving as the data transmission source after the transmission/reception preparation process,
• upon receipt of the preparation packet sent from the communication station serving as the data transmission source to another communication station serving as the data transmission destination, the communication control means sets a first network allocation vector relating to a scheduled reception completion time of the first response packet on the basis of the first duration information and, thereafter, in response to detection of packet transmission within a predetermined time after the scheduled reception completion time of the first response packet, sets a second network allocation vector relating to a scheduled reception completion time of the second response packet on the basis of the second duration information.

A wireless communication method in a wireless network in which transmission of data packets begins after a transmission/reception preparation process is performed between communication stations serving as a data transmission source and a data transmission destination and at least two types of duration information are stored in a header of a preparation packet sent from the communication station serving as the data transmission source for the transmission/reception preparation process, the method comprising the steps of:

• in a case where the communication station serving as the data transmission source stores, in the header of the preparation packet to be sent for the transmission/reception preparation process, first duration information corresponding to an end of a first response packet sent from the communication station serving as the data transmission destination in response to the preparation packet and second duration information corresponding to an end of a second response packet sent from the communication station serving as the data transmission destination in response to a data packet sent from the communication station serving as the data transmission source after the transmission/reception preparation process, upon receipt of the preparation packet sent from the communication station serving as the data transmission source to another communication station serving as the data transmission destination,
• setting a first network allocation vector relating to a scheduled reception completion time of the first response packet on the basis of the first duration information;
• setting a second network allocation vector relating to a scheduled reception completion time of the second response packet on the basis of the second duration information;
• and
• ignoring the second network allocation vector in a case where no packet transmission is detected within a period for which the first network allocation vector has been set or within a predetermined time after the scheduled reception completion time of the first response packet.

A wireless communication method in a wireless network in which transmission of data packets begins after a transmission/reception preparation process is performed between communication stations serving as a data transmission source and a data transmission destination and at least two types of duration information are stored in a header of a preparation packet sent from the communication station serving as the data transmission source for the transmission/reception preparation process, the method comprising the steps of:

• in a case where the communication station serving as the data transmission source stores, in a header of a preparation packet to be sent for the transmission/reception preparation process, first duration information corresponding to an end of a first response packet sent from the communication station serving as the data transmission destination in response to the preparation packet and second duration information corresponding to an end of a second response packet sent from the communication station serving as the data transmission destination in response to a data packet sent from the communication station serving as the data transmission source after the transmission/reception preparation process, upon receipt of the preparation packet sent from the communication station serving as the data transmission source to another communication station serving as the data transmission destination,
• setting a first network allocation vector relating to a scheduled reception completion time of the first response packet on the basis of the first duration information;
• detecting, after the first network allocation vector has been set, packet transmission within a predetermined time after the scheduled reception completion time of the first response packet;
• and
• in response to detection of packet transmission, setting a second network allocation vector relating to a scheduled reception completion time of the second response packet on the basis of the second duration information.

A computer program written in a computer-readable format for causing a computer to execute a process for performing wireless communication in a wireless network in which transmission of data packets begins after a transmission/reception preparation process is performed between communication stations serving as a data transmission source and a data transmission destination and at least two types of duration information are stored in a header of a preparation packet sent from the communication station serving as the data transmission source for the transmission/reception preparation process, the process comprising the steps of:

• in a case where the communication station serving as the data transmission source stores, in the header of the preparation packet to be sent for the transmission/reception preparation process, first duration information corresponding to an end of a first response packet sent from the communication station serving as the data transmission destination in response to the preparation packet and second duration information corresponding to an end of a second response packet sent from the communication station serving as the data transmission destination in response to a data packet sent from the communication station serving as the data transmission source after the transmission/reception preparation process, upon receipt of the preparation packet sent from the communication station serving as the data transmission source to another communication station serving as the data transmission destination,
• setting a first network allocation vector relating to a scheduled reception completion time of the first response packet on the basis of the first duration information;
• setting a second network allocation vector relating to a scheduled reception completion time of the second response packet on the basis of the second duration information;
• and
• ignoring the second network allocation vector in a case where no packet transmission is detected within a period for which the first network allocation vector has been set or within a predetermined time after the scheduled reception completion time of the first response packet.

A computer program written in a computer-readable format for causing a computer to execute a process for performing wireless communication in a wireless network in which transmission of data packets begins after a transmission/reception preparation process is performed between communication stations serving as a data transmission source and a data transmission destination and at least two types of duration information are stored in a header of a preparation packet sent from the communication station serving as the data transmission source for the transmission/reception preparation process, the process comprising the steps of:

• in a case where the communication station serving as the data transmission source stores, in the header of the preparation packet to be sent for the transmission/reception preparation process, first duration information corresponding to an end of a first response packet sent from the communication station serving as the data transmission destination in response to the preparation packet and second duration information corresponding to an end of a second response packet sent from the communication station serving as the data transmission destination in response to a data packet sent from the communication station serving as the data transmission source after the transmission/reception preparation process, upon receipt of the preparation packet sent from the communication station serving as the data transmission source to another communication station serving as the data transmission destination,
• setting a first network allocation vector relating to a scheduled reception completion time of the first response packet on the basis of the first duration information;
• detecting, after the first network allocation vector has been set, packet transmission within a predetermined time after the scheduled reception completion time of the first response packet;
• and
• in response to detection of packet transmission, setting a second network allocation vector relating to a scheduled reception completion time of the second response packet on the basis of the second duration information.

A wireless communication apparatus operating in a wireless network in which transmission of data packets begins after a transmission/reception preparation process is performed between communication stations serving as a data transmission source and a data transmission destination and at least two types of duration information are stored in a header of a preparation packet sent from the communication station serving as the data transmission source for the transmission/reception preparation process, the apparatus comprising:

• a unit configured to send packets;
• a unit configured to receive packets;
• and
• a communication control unit configured to control transmission/reception of packets,
• wherein, in a case where the communication station serving as the data transmission source stores, in the header of the preparation packet to be sent for the transmission/reception preparation process, first duration information corresponding to an end of a first response packet sent from the communication station serving as the data transmission destination in response to the preparation packet and second duration information corresponding to an end of a second response packet sent from the communication station serving as the data transmission destination in response to a data packet sent from the communication station serving as the data transmission source after the transmission/reception preparation process,
• upon receipt of the preparation packet sent from the communication station serving as the data transmission source to another communication station serving as the data transmission destination, the communication control unit sets a first network allocation vector relating to a scheduled reception completion time of the first response packet on the basis of the first duration information and a second network allocation vector relating to a scheduled reception completion time of the second response packet on the basis of the second duration information and ignores the second network allocation vector in a case where no packet transmission is detected within a period for which the first network allocation vector has been set or within a predetermined time after the scheduled reception completion time of the first response packet.

A wireless communication apparatus operating in a wireless network in which transmission of data packets begins after a transmission/reception preparation process is performed between communication stations serving as a data transmission source and a data transmission destination and at least two types of duration information are stored in a header of a preparation packet sent from the communication station serving as the data transmission source for the transmission/reception preparation process, the apparatus comprising:

• a unit configured to send packets;
• a unit configured to receive packets;
• and
• a communication control unit configured to control transmission/reception of packets,
• wherein, in a case where the communication station serving as the data transmission source stores, in the header of the preparation packet to be sent for the transmission/reception preparation process, first duration information corresponding to an end of a first response packet sent from the communication station serving as the data transmission destination in response to the preparation packet and second duration information corresponding to an end of a second response packet sent from the communication station serving as the data transmission destination in response to a data packet sent from the communication station serving as the data transmission source after the transmission/reception preparation process,
• upon receipt of the preparation packet sent from the communication station serving as the data transmission source to another communication station serving as the data transmission destination, the communication control unit sets a first network allocation vector relating to a scheduled reception completion time of the first response packet on the basis of the first duration information and, thereafter, in response to detection of packet transmission within a predetermined time after the scheduled reception completion time of the first response packet, sets a second network allocation vector relating to a scheduled reception completion time of the second response packet on the basis of the second duration information.