# US 2019/0174488 A1 · Wireless communication device and wireless communication method

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- Number: US 2019/0174488 A1
- Document ID: US20190174488A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 16/250,462
- Filed: 2019-01-17
- Published: 2019-06-06
- Earliest claimed: 2014-04-23
- Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
- Applicants: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
- Inventors: Ryoko Matsuo; Toshiyuki Nakanishi; Toshihisa Nabetani; Hirokazu Tanaka
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190174488A1

## CPC

- H04W 72/0446: Resources in time domain, e.g. slots or frames
- H04W 72/12: Wireless traffic scheduling
- H04W 74/004: {in the uplink, i.e. towards network}
- H04W 74/08: Non-scheduled access, e.g. ALOHA (hybrid access H04W74/02)
- H04W 84/12: WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
- Y02D 30/70: in wireless communication networks
- H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72)
- Y02D: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES [ICT], I.E. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES AIMING AT THE REDUCTION OF THEIR OWN ENERGY USE

## Abstract

According to one embodiment, a wireless communication device includes a transmitter configured to transmit a beacon signal including first information to specify a first wireless communication device to be reassigned a slot and a start timing to allow use of a reassigned slot, and transmit, after transmission of the first information, a first signal including second information to specify the reassigned slot the first signal being a signal different from the beacon signal and a receiver configured to receive a signal.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An electronic apparatus comprising:
transmission circuitry configured to;
transmit a first beacon frame including first information indicative of at least one terminal to be reassigned a slot and a slot reassignment timing,
wherein a beacon interval includes a scheduled access period, a control and management period arranged after the scheduled access period, and an inactive period arranged after the control and management period,
wherein the scheduled access period is used for communication according to an allocated slot,
wherein the control and management period is used for communication of a signal of control or management and
wherein the inactive period is not used for communication,
transmit a management frame including second information indicative of the reassigned slot within a first control and management period included in a first beacon interval between the first beacon frame and a second beacon frame and transmit the second beacon frame, and
reception circuitry configured to receive a first data frame including a bit for acknowledgement of reception in a header within a second beacon interval between the second beacon frame and a third beacon frame, if the management frame is successfully received.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
the management frame includes;
an identifier of a first terminal to be reassigned a slot,
a field for specifying a slot number of start of one or more slots to be reassigned to the first terminal, and
a field for specifying a slot number of end of the one or more slots to be reassigned to the first terminal.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
the reception circuitry is configured to receive the first data frame in which the bit for acknowledgment of reception in the header is set to 1 if the management frame is successfully received, and
the reception circuitry is configured to receive the fist data frame in which the bit for acknowledgment of reception in the header is set to 0 if the management frame is unsuccessfully received.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
the first beacon frame includes
a field for specifying an address of the electronic apparatus,
a field for specifying a length of a beacon interval,
a field for specifying a slot number of start of a control and management period,
a field for specifying a slot number of start of an inactive period,
a field for specifying information of an identifier of at least one terminal, and
a field for specifying a sequence number of a beacon frame associated with a slot reassignment timing.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
the reception circuitry is configured to receive a second data frame via the reassigned slot after the reception circuitry receives the first data frame in which a bit for acknowledgment of reception in a header is set to 1 and after the slot reassignment timing passes.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
the electronic apparatuses attached to a biological body, and forms a body area network with the at least one terminal, and
the reception circuitry receives a data frame including sensing information acquired by a biosensor from the biological body.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
the electronic apparatus is arranged on an object, and forms a network with the at least one terminal, and
the object is different from a living body, the living body including a human body, an animal or plant.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The apparatus according to claim 1, comprising
a processor configured to execute firmware; and
at least one antenna,
wherein the transmission circuitry transmits the first beacon frame via the at least one antenna and
the reception circuitry receives the first data frame via the at least one antenna.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The apparatus according to claim 1, comprising
a host processor configured to perform at least a process of an upper layer than a MAC layer; and
a clock generator,
wherein at least the reception circuitry and the transmission circuitry are included in a wireless communication apparatus,
a clock signal generated by the clock generator is supplied to both the host processor and the wireless communication apparatus, and
the wireless communication apparatus and the host processor operate according to the clock signal.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The apparatus according to claim 1, comprising at least one of an LED, a vibrator and a display,
wherein the apparatus notifies a user of an operation state of the transmission circuitry or the reception circuitry by at least one of the LED, the vibrator and the display.

### Claim 11

An electronic apparatus comprising:
reception circuitry configured to;
receive a first beacon frame including first information indicative at least one node to be reassigned a slot and a slot reassignment,
wherein a beacon interval of the base station includes a scheduled access period, a control and management period arranged after the scheduled access period and an inactive period arranged after the control and management period,
wherein the scheduled access period is used for communication according to an allocated slot,
wherein the control and management period is used for communication of a signal for control or management and
wherein the inactive period is not used for communication,
receive a management frame including second information indicative the reassigned slot within a first control and management period included in a first beacon interval between the first beacon frame and a second beacon frame, and
receive the second beacon frame, and
transmission circuitry configured to transmit a first data frame including a bit for acknowledgement of reception of the management frame in a header within a second beacon interval between the second beacon frame and a third beacon frame if the reception circuitry successfully receives the management frame.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein
the management frame includes;
an identifier of a first node to be reassigned a slot,
a field for specifying a slot number of start of one or more slots to be reassigned to the first node, and
a field for specifying a slot number of end of the one or more slots to be reassigned to the first node.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein
the transmission circuitry is configured to transmit the first data frame in which the bit for acknowledgment of reception of the management frame in the header is set to 1 if the reception circuitry successfully receives the management frame, and
the transmission circuitry is configured to transmit the first data frame in which the bit for acknowledgment of reception of the management frame in the header is set to 0 if the reception circuitry unsuccessfully receives the management frame.

### Claim 14 (depends on 11)

The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein
the first beacon frame includes
a field for specifying an address of a hub,
a field for specifying a length of a beacon interval,
a field for specifying a slot number of start of a control and management period,
a field for specifying a slot number of start of an inactive period,
a field for specifying information of an identifier Of at least one node, and
a field for specifying a sequence number of a beacon frame associated with a slot reassignment timing.

### Claim 15 (depends on 11)

The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein
the transmission circuitry is configured to transmit a second data frame via the reassigned slot after the transmission circuitry transmits the first data frame in which a bit for acknowledgment of reception of the management frame in a header is set to 1 and after the slot reassignment timing passes.

### Claim 16 (depends on 11)

The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein
the electronic apparatus is attached to a biological body, and forms a body area network with the base station corresponding to the hub, and
the transmission circuitry transmits a data frame including sensing information acquired by a biosensor from the biological body.

### Claim 17 (depends on 11)

The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein
the electronic apparatuses arranged on an object, and forms a network with the base station corresponding to the hub, and
the object is different from a living body, the living body including a human body, an animal or plant.

### Claim 18 (depends on 11)

The apparatus according to claim 11, comprising
a processor configured to execute firmware; and
at least one antenna,
wherein the reception circuitry receives the first beacon frame via the at least one antenna and
the transmission circuitry transmits the first data frame via the at least one antenna.

### Claim 19 (depends on 11)

The apparatus according to claim 11, comprising
a host processor configured to perform at least a process of an upper layer than a MAC layer; and
a clock generator,
wherein at least the transmission circuitry and the reception circuitry are included in a wireless communication apparatus,
a clock signal generated by the clock generator is supplied to both the host processor and the wireless communication apparatus, and
the wireless communication apparatus and the host processor operate according to the clock signal.

### Claim 20 (depends on 11)

The apparatus according to claim 11, comprising at least one of an LED, a vibrator and a display,
wherein the apparatus notifies a user of an operation slate of the transmission circuitry or the reception circuitry by at least one of the LED, the vibrator and the display.

### Claim 21

A wireless communication method at least partially performed by an electronic apparatus, comprising:
transmitting a first beacon frame including first information indicative at least one terminal to be reassigned a slot and a slot reassignment timing,
wherein a beacon interval includes a scheduled access period, a control and management period arranged after the scheduled access period and an inactive period arranged after the control and management period,
wherein the scheduled access period is used for communication according to an allocated slot,
wherein the control and management period is used for communication of a signal for control or management and
wherein the inactive period is not used for communication;
transmitting a management frame including second information indicative the reassigned slot within a first control and management period included in a first beacon interval between the first beacon frame and a second beacon frame;
transmitting the second beacon frame; and
receiving a first data frame including a bit for acknowledgement of reception of the management frame in a header within a second beacon interval between the second beacon frame and a third beacon frame if the management frame is successfully received.

### Claim 22 (depends on 21)

The method according to claim 21, wherein
the management frame includes;
an identifier Of a first terminal to be reassigned a slot,
a field for specifying a slot number Of start of one or more slots to be reassigned to the first terminal, and
a field for specifying a slot number of end of the one or more slots to be reassigned to the first terminal.

### Claim 23 (depends on 21)

The method according to claim 21, comprising:
receiving the first data frame in which the bit for acknowledgment of reception in the header is set to 1 if the management frame is successfully received; and
receiving the first data frame in which the bit for acknowledgment of reception in the header is set to 0 if the management frame is unsuccessfully received.

### Claim 24 (depends on 21)

The method according to claim 21, wherein
the first beacon frame includes
a field for specifying an address of the electronic apparatus,
a field for specifying a length of a beacon interval,
a field for specifying a slot number of start of a control and management period,
a field for specifying a slot number of start of an inactive period, a field for specifying information of an identifier of at least one terminal, and
a field for specifying a sequence number of a beacon frame associated with a slot reassignment timing.

### Claim 25 (depends on 21)

The method according to claim 21, comprising
receiving a second data frame via the reassigned slot after the first data frame in which a bit for acknowledgment of reception in a header is set to 1 is received and after the slot reassignment timing passes.

### Claim 26 (depends on 21)

The method according to claim 21, wherein
the electronic apparatus is attached to a biological body, and forms a body area network with the at least one terminal, and
the method comprises receiving a data frame including sensing information acquired by a biosensor from the biological body.

### Claim 27 (depends on 21)

The method according to claim 21, wherein
the electronic apparatus is arranged on an object, and forms a network with the at least one terminal, and
the object is different from a living body, the living body including a human body, an animal or plant.

### Claim 28 (depends on 21)

The method according to claim 21, comprising
executing firmware in a processor,
the method comprises;
transmitting the first beacon frame via at least one antenna, and
receiving the first data frame via the at least one antenna.

### Claim 29 (depends on 21)

The method according to claim 21 comprising
performing at least a process of an upper layer than a MAC layer in a host processor;
performing transmission of the first beacon frame, the management frame and the second beacon frame and reception of the first data frame in a wireless communication apparatus;
supplying a clock signal generated by a clock generator to both the host processor and the wireless communication apparatus; and
operating the Wireless communication apparatus and the host processor according to the clock signal.

### Claim 30 (depends on 21)

The method according to claim 21, comprising:
performing transmission of the first beacon frame, the management frame and the second beacon frame in transmission circuitry and performing reception of the first data frame in reception circuitry; and
notifying a user of an operation state of the transmission circuitry or the reception circuitry by at least one of an LED, a vibrator and a display.

### Claim 31

A wireless communication method at least partially performed by an electronic apparatus, comprising:
receiving a first beacon frame including first information indicative at least one node to be reassigned and a slot reassignment timing,
wherein a beacon interval of the base station includes a scheduled access period, a control and management period arranged after the scheduled access period and an inactive period arranged after the control and management period,
wherein the scheduled access period is used for communication according to ah allocated slot,
wherein the control and management period is used for communication of a signal for control or management and
wherein the inactive period is not used for communication;
receiving a management frame including second information indicative the reassigned slot within a first control and management period included in a first beacon interval between the first beacon frame and a second beacon frame;
receiving the second beacon frame;
transmitting a first data frame including a bit for acknowledgement of reception of the management frame in a header within a second beacon interval between the second beacon frame and a third beacon frame if the management frame is successfully received.

### Claim 32 (depends on 31)

The method according to claim 31, wherein
the management frame includes;
an identifier of a first node to be reassigned a slot,
a field for specifying a slot number of start of one or more slots to be reassigned to the first node, and
a field for specifying a slot number of end of the one or more slots to be reassigned to the first node.

### Claim 33 (depends on 31)

The method according to claim 31, comprising:
transmitting the first data frame in which the bit for acknowledgment of reception of the management frame in the header is set to 1 if the management frame is successfully received, and
transmitting the first data frame in which the bit for acknowledgment of reception of the management frame in the header is set to 0 if the management frame is unsuccessfully received.

### Claim 34 (depends on 31)

The method according to claim 31, wherein
the first beacon frame includes
a field for specifying an address of a hub,
a field for specifying a length of a beacon interval,
a field for specifying a slot number of start of a control and management period,
a field for specifying a slot number of start of an inactive period,
a field for specifying information of an identifier of at least one node, and
a field for specifying a sequence number of a beacon frame associated with a slot reassignment timing.

### Claim 35 (depends on 31)

The method according to claim 31, comprising
transmitting a second data frame via the reassigned slot after the first data frame in which a bit for acknowledgment of reception of the management frame in a header is set to 1 is transmitted and after the slot reassignment timing passes.

### Claim 36 (depends on 31)

The method according to claim 31, wherein
the electronic apparatus is attached to a biological body, and forms a body area network with the base station corresponding to the hub, and
the method comprises transmitting a data frame including sensing information acquired by a biosensor from the biological body.

### Claim 37 (depends on 31)

The method according to claim 31, wherein
the electronic apparatus is arranged on an object, and forms a network with the base station corresponding to the hub, and
the object is different from a living body, the living body including a human body, an animal or plant.

### Claim 38 (depends on 31)

The method according to claim 31, comprising
executing firmware in a processor,
the method comprises receiving the first beacon frame via at least one antenna and
the method comprises transmitting the first data frame via the at least one antenna.

### Claim 39 (depends on 31)

The method according to claim 31, comprising
performing at least a process of an upper layer than a MAC layer in a host processor;
performing reception Of the first beacon frame, the management frame and the second beacon frame and transmission of the first data frame in a wireless communication apparatus;
supplying a clock signal generated by a clock generator to both the host processor and the wireless communication apparatus; and
operating the wireless communication apparatus and the host processor according to the clock signal.

### Claim 40 (depends on 31)

The method according to claim 31, comprising:
performing reception of the first beacon frame, the management frame and the second beacon frame in reception circuitry and performing transmission of the first data frame in transmission circuitry; and
notifying a user of an operation state of the reception circuitry or the transmission circuitry by at least one of an LED, a vibrator and a display.