Contention mechanism for access to random resource units in an 802.11 channel

Abstract

In an 802.11ax network with an access point, a trigger frame offers random resource units to nodes for data uplink communication to the access point. To dynamically adapt the contention mechanism used by the nodes to access the random resource units, the AP updates a correcting TBD parameter at each new TXOP and includes the updated adjusting parameter in the trigger frame for the next TXOP. The nodes use the TBD parameter to generate a local random RU backoff value from a contention window range, for contending for access to the random resource units. The TBD parameter may directly impact the contention window size CWO or boundaries values of a selection range from which CWO is selected.

1 . A communication device comprising:
 a reception unit configured to receive, from an access point, a trigger frame including a predetermined communication parameter and including information related to a random resource unit, a random resource unit being a resource unit that a device accesses using a contention scheme;   a determination unit configured to, in a case where the reception unit has received the trigger frame, determine whether to transmit, based on the predetermined communication parameter and a backoff value randomly decided by the communication device and using the random resource unit, data to the access point; and   a transmission unit configured to transmit the data to the access point using the random resource unit in a case where the determination unit has determined that the transmission of the data to the access point is to be performed.   
     
     
         2 . The communication device according to  claim 1 , wherein the trigger frame includes information related to a plurality of random resource units. 
     
     
         3 . The communication device according to  claim 1 , wherein the random resource unit is a resource unit to which an access right is obtained by a device belonging to a wireless network formed by the access point in accordance with a predetermined contention scheme. 
     
     
         4 . The communication device according to  claim 1 , wherein the backoff value is determined based on the predetermined communication parameter. 
     
     
         5 . The communication device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of queues each storing data, the plurality of queues being different from one another in priority of data stored therein,
 wherein the transmission unit transmits data stored in any one of the plurality of queues to the access point.   
     
     
         6 . The communication device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a first decision unit configured to re-decide the backoff value in a case where the transmission unit has transmitted, using the random resource unit, the data to the access point. 
     
     
         7 . The communication device according to  claim 6 , further comprising a second decision unit configured to re-decide the backoff value in a case where the determination unit has determined that the transmission of the data to the access point is to be performed and the transmission unit has failed in transmitting the data using the random resource unit, wherein the second decision unit re-decides the backoff value using a method different from a method with which the first decision unit re-decides the backoff value. 
     
     
         8 . The communication device according to  claim 1 , wherein the communication device performs communication with the access point in an IEEE802.11ax-compliant wireless network 
     
     
         9 . A communication method performed by a communication device, comprising:
 receiving, from an access point, a trigger frame including a predetermined communication parameter and including information related to a random resource unit, a random resource unit being a resource unit that a device accesses using a contention scheme;   upon receiving the trigger frame, determining whether to transmit, based on the predetermined communication parameter and a backoff value randomly decided by the communication device and using the random resource unit, data to the access point; and   transmitting the data to the access point using the random resource unit in a case where it is determined that the transmission of the data to the access point is to be performed.   
     
     
         10 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a program which, when executed by a microprocessor or computer system in a communication device, causes a communication device to execute a communication method comprising:
 receiving, from an access point, a trigger frame including a predetermined communication parameter and including information related to a random resource unit, a random resource unit being a resource unit that a device accesses using a contention scheme;   upon receiving the trigger frame, determining whether to transmit, based on the predetermined communication parameter and a backoff value randomly decided by the communication device and using the random resource unit, data to the access point; and   transmitting the data to the access point using the random resource unit in a case where it is determined that the transmission of the data to the access point is to be performed.