Wireless communication system and wireless communication device
An access point transmits data frames to a plurality of wireless terminals by MC or BC communication. When the data frames are transmitted, data to identify the presence of the return of an ACK frame as affirmative acknowledgment with respect to transmitted contents is applied to an MAC header. In a case where a Block ACK frame is requested as affirmative acknowledgment with respect to the transmission of a plurality of frames in the MC or BC communication, the plurality of wireless terminals return the Block ACK frame to the access point and the wireless terminals other than the wireless terminal itself by the MC or BC communication.
1. A wireless communication system which performs wireless communication between one access point and a plurality of wireless terminals;
wherein the access point is configured to transmit a plurality of data frames to the plurality of wireless terminals by one communication of multicast communication and broadcast communication, and configured to request Block ACK frames as affirmative acknowledgment;
each of the plurality of wireless terminals is configured to generate the Block ACK frame and configured to return the Block ACK frame to the access point and the wireless terminals other than the wireless terminal itself by one communication of the multicast communication and the broadcast communication, in a case where the access point requests the Block ACK frame;
wherein each of the plurality of wireless terminals is configured to compare a Block ACK Bitmap field included in the Block ACK frame transmitted from the wireless terminals other than the wireless terminal itself with a Block ACK Bitmap field included in a Block ACK frame generated by the wireless terminal itself;
configured to reduce the size of the Block ACK Bitmap field of the Block ACK frame generated by the wireless terminal itself in a case where both the fields match with each other; and
configured to store, in the reduced Block ACK Bitmap field, data to identify a transmitter wireless terminal in which the Block ACK Bitmap field matches.
2. A wireless communication system which performs wireless communication between one access point and a plurality of wireless terminals;
wherein the access point is configured to transmit a plurality of data frames to the plurality of wireless terminals by one communication of multicast communication and broadcast communication, and configured to request Block ACK frames as affirmative acknowledgment;
each of the plurality of wireless terminals is configured to generate the Block ACK frame and configured to return the Block ACK frame to the access point and the wireless terminals other than the wireless terminal itself by one communication of the multicast communication and the broadcast communication, in a case where the access point requests the Block ACK frame;
wherein each of the plurality of wireless terminals is configured to compare a Block ACK Bitmap field included in the Block ACK frame transmitted from the wireless terminals other than the wireless terminal itself with a Block ACK Bitmap field included in a Block ACK frame generated by the wireless terminal itself;
configured to reduce the size of the Block ACK Bitmap field of the Block ACK frame generated by the wireless terminal itself in a case where both the fields match with each other; and
configured to store, in the reduced Block ACK Bitmap field, data to identify a transmitter wireless terminal in which the Block ACK Bitmap field matches, and
wherein the data to identify the transmitter wireless terminal is an Medium Access Control (MAC) address.
3. A wireless communication system which performs wireless communication between one access point and a plurality of wireless terminals;
wherein the access point is configured to transmit a plurality of data frames to the plurality of wireless terminals by one communication of multicast communication and broadcast communication, and configured to request Block ACK frames as affirmative acknowledgment;
each of the plurality of wireless terminals is configured to generate the Block ACK frame and configured to return the Block ACK frame to the access point and the wireless terminals other than the wireless terminal itself by one communication of the multicast communication and the broadcast communication, in a case where the access point requests the Block ACK frame;
wherein each of the plurality of wireless terminals is configured to compare a Block ACK Bitmap field included in the Block ACK frame returned from the wireless terminals other than the wireless terminal itself with a Block ACK Bitmap field included in a Block ACK frame generated by the wireless terminal itself and to store, in the Block ACK Bitmap field of the Block ACK frame, the data amount of a portion common to that of the Block ACK Bitmap field returned from the other wireless terminal in a case where the fields partially or entirely match with each other.
4. Wireless terminals for use in a wireless communication system which performs wireless communication between one access point and the plurality of wireless terminals:
each of the wireless terminals being configured to receive a data frame transmitted from the access point;
configured to judge whether or not the received data frame has been transmitted by one communication of multicast communication and broadcast communication;
configured to further judge whether or not the return of a Block ACK frame as affirmative acknowledgment with respect to received contents is necessary, in a case where it is judged that the data frame has been transmitted by one communication of the multicast communication and the broadcast communication;
configured to generate the Block ACK frame in a case where it is judged that the return of the Block ACK frame is necessary;
configured to return the Block ACK frame to the access point and the wireless terminals other than the wireless terminal itself by one communication of the multicast communication and the broadcast communication;
each of the wireless terminals being configured to compare a Block ACK Bitmap field included in the Block ACK frame returned from the wireless terminals other than the wireless terminal itself with a Block ACK Bitmap field included in the Block ACK frame generated by the wireless terminal itself; and
configured to return a Block ACK frame having different contents in accordance with the comparison result to the access point and the wireless terminals other than the wireless terminal itself.
5. Wireless terminals for use in a wireless communication system which performs wireless communication between one access point and the plurality of wireless terminals:
each of the wireless terminals being configured to receive a data frame transmitted from the access point;
configured to judge whether or not the received data frame has been transmitted by one communication of multicast communication and broadcast communication;
configured to further judge whether or not the return of a Block ACK frame as affirmative acknowledgment with respect to received contents is necessary, in a case where it is judged that the data frame has been transmitted by one communication of the multicast communication and the broadcast communication;
configured to generate the Block ACK frame in a case where it is judged that the return of the Block ACK frame is necessary;
configured to return the Block ACK frame to the access point and the wireless terminals other than the wireless terminal itself by one communication of the multicast communication and the broadcast communication;
each of the wireless terminals being configured to compare a Block ACK Bitmap field included in the Block ACK frame returned from the wireless terminals other than the wireless terminal itself with a Block ACK Bitmap field included in a Block ACK frame generated by the wireless terminal itself;
configured to reduce the size of the Block ACK Bitmap field of the Block ACK frame generated by the wireless terminal itself in a case where both the fields match with each other; and
configured to store, in the reduced Block ACK Bitmap field, data to identify a transmitter wireless terminal in which the Block ACK Bitmap field matches.
6. Wireless terminals for use in a wireless communication system which performs wireless communication between one access point and the plurality of wireless terminals:
each of the wireless terminals being configured to receive a data frame transmitted from the access point;
configured to judge whether or not the received data frame has been transmitted by one communication of multicast communication and broadcast communication;
configured to further judge whether or not the return of a Block ACK frame as affirmative acknowledgment with respect to received contents is necessary, in a case where it is judged that the data frame has been transmitted by one communication of the multicast communication and the broadcast communication;
configured to generate the Block ACK frame in a case where it is judged that the return of the Block ACK frame is necessary;
configured to return the Block ACK frame to the access point and the wireless terminals other than the wireless terminal itself by one communication of the multicast communication and the broadcast communication;
each of the wireless terminals being configured to compare a Block ACK Bitmap field included in the Block ACK frame returned from the wireless terminals other than the wireless terminal itself with a Block ACK Bitmap field included in a Block ACK frame generated by the wireless terminal itself; and
configured to store, in the Block ACK Bitmap field of the Block ACK frame, the data amount of a portion common to that of the Block ACK Bitmap field returned from the wireless terminals other than the wireless terminal itself in a case where the fields partially or entirely match with each other.