Access point terminal, wireless communication terminal, wireless communication system, wireless communication method, program and integrated circuit

Abstract

An access point terminal includes: a wireless communication interface which transmits and receives a wireless signal; a device information obtaining unit which obtains supported frequency information through the wireless communication interface, the supported frequency information being for specifying one or more frequency bands in which the wireless communication terminal is capable of performing wireless communication; and a connection information distribution unit which (i) selects a frequency band out of the one or more frequency bands indicated in the supported frequency information obtained by the device information obtaining unit and (ii) distributes connection information to the wireless communication terminal through the wireless communication interface, the connection information being for causing the wireless communication terminal to perform the wireless communication in the selected frequency band.

1 . An access point terminal which performs wireless communication with a wireless communication terminal, said access point terminal comprising:
 a wireless communication interface which transmits and receives a wireless signal;   a device information obtaining unit configured to obtain supported frequency information through said wireless communication interface, the supported frequency information being for specifying one or more frequency bands in which the wireless communication terminal is capable of performing wireless communication; and   a connection information distribution unit configured to (i) select a frequency band out of the one or more frequency bands indicated in the supported frequency information obtained by said device information obtaining unit, and (ii) distribute connection information to the wireless communication terminal through said wireless communication interface, the connection information being for causing the wireless communication terminal to perform the wireless communication in the selected frequency band.   
     
     
         2 . The access point terminal according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the wireless communication terminal transmits, to said access point terminal, a wireless communication start request signal for requesting a start of the wireless communication with said access point terminal, using each of the one or more frequency bands in which the wireless communication terminal is capable of performing wireless communication, and   said device information obtaining unit is configured to obtain, as the supported frequency information, each of the one or more frequency bands used for transmitting a corresponding one of the one or more wireless communication start request signals received through said wireless communication interface.   
     
     
         3 . The access point terminal according to  claim 2 ,
 wherein said wireless communication interface is further configured to measure magnitude of received power of each of the one or more wireless communication start request signals received from the wireless communication terminal, and   said connection information distribution unit is configured to select a frequency band in which the received power measured by said wireless communication interface is the highest, out of the one or more frequency bands.   
     
     
         4 . The access point terminal according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein said wireless communication interface is further configured to measure an interference state of each of the one or more frequency bands, and   said connection information distribution unit is configured to select a frequency band in which the interference state measured by said wireless communication interface is less than a predetermined threshold, out of the one or more frequency bands indicated in the supported frequency information.   
     
     
         5 . The access point terminal according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the wireless communication terminal transmits, to said access point terminal, a device information transmission signal including a desired frequency band which is desired for use in the wireless communication with said access point terminal, and   said device information obtaining unit is configured to obtain, as the supported frequency information, the desired frequency band included in the device information transmission signal received through said wireless communication interface.   
     
     
         6 . The access point terminal according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the wireless communication terminal transmits, to said access point terminal, the device information transmission signal including information indicating a type of the wireless communication terminal, and   said access point terminal includes a conversion table which holds (i) pieces of information each indicating a different type of the wireless communication terminal and (ii) frequency bands each of which is to be allocated to the wireless communication terminal of the corresponding type, such that corresponding ones of the pieces of information and the frequency bands are associated with each other, and   said device information obtaining unit is configured to select a frequency band associated with the information indicating the type that is included in the device information transmission signal received through the wireless communication terminal, the frequency band being included in frequency bands held in the conversion table.   
     
     
         7 . A wireless communication terminal
 which performs wireless communication with an access point terminal, using one of a plurality of frequency bands, said wireless communication terminal comprising:   a wireless communication interface which (i) transmits and receives a wireless signal using each of the frequency bands and (ii) measures a reception state of each of the frequency bands; and   a device-information-exchange control unit configured to (i) transmit a device information transmission signal including a desired frequency band to said access point terminal through said wireless communication interface and (ii) obtain connection information from said access point terminal through said wireless communication interface, the desired frequency band being desired for use in the wireless communication with said access point terminal, and the connection information being for performing wireless communication in the desired frequency band,   wherein said device-information-exchange control unit is configured to determine, as the desired frequency band, a frequency band in which the reception state measured by said wireless communication interface is the best, out of the frequency bands.   
     
     
         8 . A wireless communication system comprising
 an access point terminal and a wireless communication terminal,
 wherein said access point terminal includes: 
 a first wireless communication interface which transmits and receives a wireless signal; 
 a device information obtaining unit configured to obtain supported frequency information through said first wireless communication interface, the supported frequency information being for specifying one or more frequency bands in which the wireless communication terminal is capable of performing wireless communication; and 
 a connection information distribution unit configured to (i) select a frequency band out of the one or more frequency bands indicated in the supported frequency information obtained by said device information obtaining unit and (ii) distribute connection information to the wireless communication terminal through said first wireless communication interface, the connection information being for causing the wireless communication terminal to perform the wireless communication in the selected frequency band, 
 wherein said wireless communication terminal includes: 
 a second wireless communication interface which transmits and receives the wireless signal; and 
 a device-information-exchange control unit configured to (i) transmit the supported frequency information to said access point terminal through said second wireless communication interface and (ii) receive the connection information from said access point terminal through said second wireless communication interface. 
   
     
     
         9 . A method of performing wireless communication with a wireless communication terminal, performed by an access point terminal including a wireless communication interface which transmits and receives a wireless signal, said method comprising:
 obtaining supported frequency information through said wireless communication interface, the supported frequency information being for specifying one or more frequency bands in which the wireless communication terminal is capable of performing wireless communication; and   selecting a frequency band out of the one or more frequency bands indicated in the supported frequency information obtained in said obtaining, and distributing the connection information to the wireless communication terminal through the wireless communication interface, the connection information being for causing the wireless communication terminal to perform the wireless communication in the selected frequency band.   
     
     
         10 . A method of performing wireless communication with an access point terminal, performed by a wireless communication terminal having a wireless communication interface which (i) transmits and receives a wireless signal using one of a plurality of frequency bands and (ii) measures a reception state of each of the frequency bands, said method comprising:
 transmitting a device information transmission signal to the access point terminal through the wireless communication interface, the device information transmission signal including a desired frequency band which is desired for use in the wireless communication with the access point terminal; and   obtaining the connection information from the access point terminal through the wireless communication interface, the connection information being for performing the wireless communication in the desired frequency band,   wherein, in said transmitting, a frequency band in which the reception state measured by the wireless communication interface is the best, out of the frequency bands; is determined as the desired frequency band.   
     
     
         11 . A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium for use in a computer and on which a program is recorded, the program being for causing the computer having a wireless communication interface which transmits and receives a wireless signal to perform wireless communication with a wireless communication terminal, and the program causing the computer to execute:
 obtaining supported frequency information through the wireless communication interface, the supported frequency information being for specifying one or more frequency bands in which the wireless communication terminal is capable of performing wireless communication; and   selecting a frequency band out of the one or more frequency bands indicated in the supported frequency information obtained in said obtaining, and distributing connection information to the wireless communication terminal through the wireless communication interface, the connection information being for causing the wireless communication terminal to perform the wireless communication in the selected frequency band.   
     
     
         12 . A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium for use is in a computer and on which a program is recorded, the program being for causing the computer including a wireless communication interface which (i) transmits or receives a wireless signal using one of a plurality of frequency bands and (ii) measures a reception state of each of the frequency bands, to perform wireless communication with an access point terminal using one of a plurality of frequency bands, and the program causing the computer to execute:
 transmitting a device information transmission signal to the access point terminal through the wireless communication interface, the device information transmission signal including a desired frequency band which is desired for use in the wireless communication with the access point terminal; and   obtaining the connection information from the access point terminal through the wireless communication interface, the connection information being for performing the wireless communication in the desired frequency band,   wherein, in said transmitting, a frequency band in which the reception state measured by the wireless communication interface is the best, out of the frequency bands, is determined as the desired frequency band.   
     
     
         13 . An integrated circuit which performs wireless communication with a wireless communication terminal, said integrated circuit comprising:
 a wireless communication interface which transmits and receives a wireless signal;   a device information obtaining unit configured to obtain supported frequency information through the wireless communication interface, the supported frequency information being for specifying one or more frequency bands in which the wireless communication terminal is capable of performing wireless communication; and   a connection information distribution unit configured to (i) select a frequency band out of the one or more frequency bands indicated in the supported frequency information obtained by said device information obtaining unit and (ii) distribute connection information to the wireless communication terminal through the wireless communication interface, the connection information being for causing the wireless communication terminal to perform the wireless communication in the selected frequency band.   
     
     
         14 . An integrated circuit which performs wireless communication with an access point terminal, using one of a plurality of frequency bands, said integrated circuit comprising:
 a wireless communication interface which (i) transmits and receives a wireless signal using each of the frequency bands and (ii) measures a reception state of each of the frequency bands; and   a device-information-exchange control unit configured to (i) transmit a device information transmission signal including a desired frequency band to said access point terminal through said wireless communication interface and (ii) obtain connection information from the access point terminal through said wireless communication interface, the desired frequency band being desired for use in the wireless communication with said access point terminal, and the connection information being for performing wireless communication in the desired frequency band,   wherein said device-information-exchange control unit is configured to determine, as the desired frequency band, a frequency band in which the reception state measured by said wireless communication interface is the best, out of the frequency bands.