Communication apparatus, control method, and computer-readable storage medium

1 . A communication apparatus that performs communication complying with IEEE802.11 standard series with a partner apparatus using a plurality of radio links, the communication apparatus comprising:

at least one memory that stores a set of instructions; and

at least one processor that executes the instructions, the instructions, when executed, causing the communication apparatus to perform operations comprising:

controlling, in a case where a predetermined frame that is a group addressed frame is to be transmitted in a first radio link of the plurality of radio links, the communication apparatus to execute control processing that includes transmission of a frame in the second radio link to ensure a transmission opportunity during a period in which the predetermined frame is transmitted in the first radio link,

wherein a value of a Duration field in the frame transmitted in the second radio link is set to a period corresponding to the period in which the predetermined frame is transmitted in the first radio link.

2 . The communication apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the frame transmitted in the second radio link to ensure the transmission opportunity is an empty frame.

3 . The communication apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the frame transmitted in the second radio link to ensure the transmission opportunity is a group addressed frame.

4 . The communication apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the frame transmitted in the second radio link to ensure the transmission opportunity includes a padding bit based on a length of the period in which the predetermined frame is transmitted in the first radio link.

5 . The communication apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the frame transmitted in the second radio link to ensure the transmission opportunity is one of CTS (Clear-To-Send) frame and an RTS (Request-To-Send) frame, wherein the frame is transmitted in the second radio link to ensure the transmission right opportunity before a start of the period.

6 . The communication apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the control processing is performed based on occurrence of deviation of a timing of transmitting the predetermined frame in the first radio link from a transmission timing determined in advance.

7 . The communication apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the occurrence of the deviation of the timing of transmitting the predetermined frame in the first radio link from a transmission timing determined in advance includes occurrence of first deviation caused by a frame addressed to the communication apparatus is received in the second radio link, in spite of arrival of the timing of transmitting the predetermined frame,

wherein, upon the occurrence of the first deviation, the control processing and the transmission of the predetermined frame on the first link are executed after the reception of the frame addressed to the communication apparatus is completed.

8 . The communication apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the operation further comprises, in a case where at the transmission timing of the predetermined frame determined in advance, the transmission opportunity cannot be obtained in the second radio link, and the frame addressed to the communication apparatus is not received, transmitting the predetermined frame in the first radio link at the transmission timing determined in advance.

9 . The communication apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the operation further comprises, in a case where obtaining of the transmission opportunity is enabled in the second radio link during a period in which the predetermined frame is currently transmitted in the first radio link, transmitting a frame in the second radio link to ensure a transmission opportunity during a period after obtaining of the transmission opportunity is enabled until the transmission of the predetermined frame is completed.

10 . The communication apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the predetermined frame includes a beacon.

11 . The communication apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the communication apparatus is an access point.

12 . A control method executed by a communication apparatus that performs communication complying with the IEEE802.11 standard series with a partner apparatus using a plurality of radio links, comprising:

controlling, in a case where a predetermined frame that is a group addressed frame is to be transmitted in a first radio link of the plurality of radio links, the communication apparatus to execute a control processing for preventing a frame addressed to the communication apparatus does not arrive in a second radio link different from the first radio link of the plurality of radio links,

wherein the control processing includes transmits a frame in the second radio link to ensure a transmission opportunity during a period in which the predetermined frame is transmitted in the first radio link, and

wherein a value of a Duration field in the frame transmitted in the second radio link is set to a period corresponding to the period in which the predetermined frame is transmitted in the first radio link.

13 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium that stores a program configured to cause a computer included in a communication apparatus to perform operations comprising:

controlling, in a case where a predetermined frame that is a group addressed frame is to be transmitted in a first radio link of the plurality of radio links, the communication apparatus to execute a control processing for preventing a frame addressed to the communication apparatus does not arrive in a second radio link different from the first radio link of the plurality of radio links,

wherein the control processing includes transmits a frame in the second radio link to ensure a transmission opportunity during a period in which the predetermined frame is transmitted in the first radio link, and

wherein a value of a Duration field in the frame transmitted in the second radio link is set to a period corresponding to the period in which the predetermined frame is transmitted in the first radio link.