Communication apparatus, communication method, computer program, and communication system

A communication method in a communication apparatus including a wireless communication unit configured to perform directional wireless communication in accordance with a communication scheme that uses a predetermined high-frequency band, the communication method comprising:

• a step of storing, when a transmission stop request frame that requests that a predetermined transmission stop period be set is received, a direction of a transmission source from which the transmission stop request frame is transmitted;
• a step of setting a transmission stop period in response to the reception of the transmission stop request frame that requests that a predetermined transmission stop period be set;
• and
• a step of controlling, when a frame transmission request is generated within the transmission stop period, transmission of the relevant transmission request frame in accordance with the direction of the transmission source,
• wherein within the transmission stop period, a transmission start request frame (RTS:
• Request To Send) is transmitted by directing a transmission beam of the wireless communication unit in a separation direction that is separate from the direction of the transmission source,
• wherein, an acknowledgement frame (CTS:
• Clear To Send) received in response to the transmitted transmission start request frame (RTS:
• Request To Send) from a device located in the separation direction indicates that the device is located in a direction that is sufficiently separate from the direction of the transmission source so as to avoid obstruction of transmission, and data frames are transmitted in response to the received acknowledgement frame (CTS:
• Clear To Send) by directing a transmission beam of the wireless communication unit toward the device located in the separation direction, and
• wherein when a direction of a frame transmission destination corresponding to the separation direction is separate from the direction of the transmission source, within the transmission stop period, transmission of frames is performed by directing a transmission beam of the wireless communication unit toward the device located in the direction of the frame transmission destination.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium having embodied thereon a program, which when executed by a computer, causes the computer to perform a communication process in a communication apparatus, the communication apparatus including a wireless communication unit configured to perform directional wireless communication in accordance with a communication scheme that uses a predetermined high-frequency band, the communication process comprising:

• storing, when a transmission stop request frame that requests that a predetermined transmission stop period be set is received, a direction of a transmission source from which the transmission stop request frame is transmitted;
• setting the transmission stop period in response to the reception of the transmission stop request frame that requests that a predetermined transmission stop period be set;
• and
• controlling, when a frame transmission request is generated within the transmission stop period, transmission of the relevant transmission request frame in accordance with the direction of the transmission source,
• wherein within the transmission stop period, a transmission start request frame (RTS:
• Request To Send) is transmitted by directing a transmission beam of the wireless communication unit in a separation direction that is separate from the direction of the transmission source,
• wherein, an acknowledgement frame (CTS:
• Clear To Send) received in response to the transmitted transmission start request frame (RTS:
• Request To Send) from a device located in the separation direction indicates that the device is located in a direction that is sufficiently separate from the direction of the transmission source so as to avoid obstruction of transmission, and data frames are transmitted in response to the received acknowledgement frame (CTS:
• Clear To Send) by directing a transmission beam of the wireless communication unit toward the device located in the separation direction, and
• wherein when a direction of a frame transmission destination corresponding to the separation direction is separate from the direction of the transmission source, within the transmission stop period, transmission of frames is performed by directing a transmission beam of the wireless communication unit toward the device located in the direction of the frame transmission destination.

A communication system comprising:

• a peripheral communication apparatus that transmits a transmission stop request frame that requests that a predetermined transmission stop period be set;
• a data-transmission-side communication apparatus that includes a wireless communication unit configured to perform directional wireless communication in accordance with a communication scheme that uses a predetermined high-frequency band, that sets the transmission stop period in response to the transmission stop request frame being received from the peripheral communication apparatus, and that controls the transmission of frames in accordance with a direction in which the peripheral communication apparatus is positioned within the transmission stop period;
• and
• a data-receiving-side communication apparatus serving as a transmission destination of the frame from the data-transmission-side communication apparatus,
• wherein within the transmission stop period, a transmission start request frame (RTS:
• Request To Send) is transmitted by directing a transmission beam of the wireless communication unit in a separation direction that is separate from the direction of the transmission source,
• wherein, an acknowledgement frame (CTS:
• Clear To Send) received in response to the transmitted transmission start request frame (RTS:
• Request To Send) from a device located in the separation direction indicates that the device is located in a direction that is sufficiently separate from the direction of the transmission source so as to avoid obstruction of transmission, and data frames are transmitted in response to the received acknowledgement frame (CTS:
• Clear To Send) by directing a transmission beam of the wireless communication unit toward the device located in the separation direction, and
• wherein when a direction of a frame transmission destination corresponding to the separation direction is separate from the direction of the transmission source, within the transmission stop period, transmission of frames is performed by directing a transmission beam of the wireless communication unit toward the device located in the direction of the frame transmission destination.