Display device, image generation device, communication device, communication system, antenna adjustment method, image generation method, and non-transitory computer readable medium storing program

Provided is a display device that enables easy adjustment of an antenna in the most appropriate direction. An antenna angle acquisition unit (12) acquires antenna angle information indicating an antenna angle which is a horizontal angle and a vertical angle of an antenna (20) for receiving a signal from a radio wave generation source. A reception quality acquisition unit (14) acquires reception quality information indicating a quality of a received signal received by the antenna (20) at the antenna angle acquired by the antenna angle acquisition unit (12). A display unit (16) displays an antenna adjustment image where the antenna angle information and the reception quality information are associated with each other based on the acquired antenna angle information and the acquired reception quality information.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a National Stage of International Application No. PCT/JP 2016/000033 filed Jan. 6, 2016, claiming priority based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2015-038199 filed Feb. 27, 2015, the contents of all of which are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a display device, an image generation device, a communication device, a communication system, an antenna adjustment method, an image generation method, and a program.

BACKGROUND ART

Regarding an antenna of a wireless communication device or the like that receives radio waves from another wireless communication device, when the communication device receives radio waves from a radio wave generation source such as an opposite station, it is necessary to adjust the direction of the antenna in order to maximize the reception quality. For example, to adjust the direction of the antenna, an operator first visually makes a coarse adjustment by hand so that the front face of the antenna points to the radio wave generation source. Then, a fine adjustment of the antenna direction is made by hand to the angle at which the maximum reception revel output is obtained by using a reception level monitor such as a voltmeter. However, in the case of adjusting the direction of an antenna by hand as described above, an installation error is likely to occur, and it takes a long time to adjust the antenna in the most appropriate direction.

In relation to the above technique, Patent Literature 1 discloses a receiving device that allows a user to more easily adjust the antenna direction or the like. The receiving device disclosed in Patent Literature 1 detects information about the reception condition such as the received signal level of a received digital signal, detects the direction of an antenna that has received the digital signal, and stores information about the direction of the antenna that has received the digital signal and information about the reception condition in each direction in association with each other. Then, the receiving device detects the most appropriate direction of the antenna based on the stored information and generates display information to display information containing the most appropriate direction.

CITATION LIST

Patent Literature

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

Technical Problem

In the above-described Patent Literature 1, a one-dimensional direction in the horizontal direction and the reception quality are merely displayed in association with each other. In the adjustment of the antenna direction, it is required to adjust the antenna not only in the horizontal direction but also in the vertical direction. However, because only a one-dimensional direction in the horizontal direction is shown in the above-described Patent Literature 1, it is difficult to adjust the antenna both in the horizontal direction and in the vertical direction. Therefore, it takes a long time to adjust the antenna in the most appropriate direction.

An exemplary object of the present invention is to solve such a problem and provide a display device, an image generation device, a communication device, a communication system, an antenna adjustment method, an image generation method, and a program that enable easy adjustment of an antenna in the most appropriate direction.

Solution to Problem

A display device according to an exemplary aspect of the present invention includes an antenna angle acquisition means for acquiring antenna angle information indicating an antenna angle which is a horizontal angle and a vertical angle of an antenna for receiving a signal from a radio wave generation source; a reception quality acquisition means for acquiring reception quality information indicating a quality of a received signal received by the antenna at the antenna angle acquired by the antenna angle acquisition means; and a display means for displaying an antenna adjustment image where the antenna angle information and the reception quality information are associated with each other based on the acquired antenna angle information and the acquired reception quality information, wherein the antenna adjustment image is formed so that the reception quality information corresponding to each antenna angle is plotted in a two-dimensional coordinate system composed of the horizontal angle and the vertical angle, and, in the antenna adjustment image, the reception quality information is plotted so that the reception quality information indicating the same quality is in visually the same image representation.

A communication system according to an exemplary aspect of the present invention includes an antenna for receiving a signal from a radio wave generation source; a display device for displaying an image; an antenna angle detection means for detecting an antenna angle which is a horizontal angle and a vertical angle of the antenna and outputting antenna angle information indicating the detected antenna angle to the display device; and a reception quality measurement means for measuring a quality of a received signal received by the antenna at the antenna angle detected by the antenna angle detection means and outputting reception quality information indicating the measured quality to the display device, wherein the display device displays an antenna adjustment image where the antenna angle information and the reception quality information are associated with each other based on the output antenna angle information and the output reception quality information, the antenna adjustment image is formed so that the reception quality information corresponding to each antenna angle is plotted in a two-dimensional coordinate system composed of the horizontal angle and the vertical angle, and, in the antenna adjustment image, the reception quality information is plotted so that the reception quality information indicating the same quality is in visually the same image representation.

An antenna adjustment method according to an exemplary aspect of the present invention includes acquiring antenna angle information indicating an antenna angle which is a horizontal angle and a vertical angle of an antenna for receiving a signal from a radio wave generation source; acquiring reception quality information indicating a quality of a received signal received by the antenna at the acquired antenna angle; displaying an antenna adjustment image based on the acquired antenna angle information and the acquired reception quality information, where the antenna adjustment image is formed so that the reception quality information corresponding to each antenna angle is plotted in a two-dimensional coordinate system composed of the horizontal angle and the vertical angle, and the reception quality information is plotted in the antenna adjustment image so that the reception quality information indicating the same quality is in visually the same image representation; and adjusting the antenna angle of the antenna by using the displayed antenna adjustment image.

A program according to an exemplary aspect of the present invention causes a computer to execute a step of acquiring antenna angle information indicating an antenna angle which is a horizontal angle and a vertical angle of an antenna for receiving a signal from a radio wave generation source; a step of acquiring reception quality information indicating a quality of a received signal received by the antenna at the acquired antenna angle; and a step of displaying an antenna adjustment image based on the acquired antenna angle information and the acquired reception quality information, where the antenna adjustment image is formed so that the reception quality information corresponding to each antenna angle is plotted in a two-dimensional coordinate system composed of the horizontal angle and the vertical angle, and the reception quality information is plotted in the antenna adjustment image so that the reception quality information indicating the same quality is in visually the same image representation.

An image generation device according to an exemplary aspect of the present invention includes a first image generation means for generating a first image showing, in a two-dimensional coordinate system whose coordinate axes respectively correspond to angles of an antenna in a biaxial method, reception quality information indicating a quality of a received signal received by the antenna at each antenna angle being the angles of the antenna in the biaxial method; and a second image generation means for generating a second image showing the current antenna angle.

A communication device according to an exemplary aspect of the present invention includes an image generation device; a transmitting and receiving unit configured to transmit or receive a signal through the antenna; and an antenna angle acquisition means for detecting the antenna angle and acquiring antenna angle information indicating the detected antenna angle.

An image generation method according to an exemplary aspect of the present invention includes generating a first image showing, in a two-dimensional coordinate system whose coordinate axes respectively correspond to angles of an antenna in a biaxial method, reception quality information indicating a quality of a received signal received by the antenna at each antenna angle being the angles of the antenna in the biaxial method; and generating a second image showing the current antenna angle.

A communication device according to an exemplary aspect of the present invention outputs reception quality information to an image generation device including a first image generation means for generating a first image showing, in a two-dimensional coordinate system whose coordinate axes respectively correspond to angles of an antenna in a biaxial method, reception quality information indicating a quality of a received signal received by the antenna at each antenna angle being the angles of the antenna in the biaxial method, and a second image generation means for generating a second image showing the current antenna angle.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

According to the exemplary aspects of the present invention described above, it is possible to provide a display device, an image generation device, a communication device, a communication system, an antenna adjustment method, an image generation method, and a program that enable easy adjustment of an antenna in the most appropriate direction.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Overview of Exemplary Embodiment

Prior to describing exemplary embodiments, an overview of an exemplary embodiment is given hereinafter with reference toFIG. 1.FIG. 1is a view showing the overview of a display device1according to this exemplary embodiment.

A display device1includes an antenna angle acquisition unit12(antenna angle acquisition means), a reception quality acquisition unit14(reception quality acquisition means), and a display unit16(display manes). The antenna angle acquisition unit12acquires antenna angle information indicating an antenna angle, which is a horizontal angle and a vertical angle of an antenna20that receives a signal from a radio wave generation source. The reception quality acquisition unit14acquires reception quality information indicating the quality of a received signal received by the antenna20at the antenna angle acquired by the antenna angle acquisition unit12.

The display unit16displays an antenna adjustment image in which the antenna angle information and the reception quality information are associated with each other based on the acquired antenna angle information and reception quality information. The antenna adjustment image is formed so that the reception quality information corresponding to each antenna angle is plotted in a two-dimensional coordinate system composed of a horizontal angle and a vertical angle. Specifically, coordinate axes of the two-dimensional coordinate system in the antenna adjustment image respectively correspond to the angles of the antenna110in the biaxial method. Note that, although the angles in the biaxial method are a horizontal angle and a vertical angle of the antenna110, for example, they are not limited thereto. Specifically, the “angles in the biaxial method” are not limited to angles in the directions orthogonal to each other. Further, the reception quality information is plotted in the antenna adjustment image so that the reception quality information indicating the same quality is in visually the same image representation.

Since the display device1according to this exemplary embodiment displays the above-described antenna adjustment image, it enables easy adjustment of an antenna in the most appropriate direction. Note that, a communication system that includes the display device1and the antenna20, an antenna adjustment method using the display device1, and a program incorporated into the display device1also enable easy adjustment of an antenna in the most appropriate direction.

First Exemplary Embodiment

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described hereinafter with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 2is a view showing adjustment of an antenna angle between a wireless communication device100and the opposite station102according to the first exemplary embodiment.

An antenna pattern90of an antenna110of the wireless communication device100consists of a main lobe92where the quality of a received signal (or a transmission signal) is highest and a side lobe94where the quality thereof is lower than that of the main lobe92. In the adjustment of an antenna angle, the direction of the antenna110of the wireless communication device100is adjusted so that the main lobe92in the antenna110of the wireless communication device100is aligned with another main lobe92in an antenna112of the opposite station102. At this time, when the wireless communication device100is the receiving end and the opposite station102is the transmitting end, the antenna angle at which the reception quality in the wireless communication device100is highest is the most appropriate direction of the antenna110. The “antenna direction” corresponds to a horizontal angle (azimuth) and a vertical angle (elevation) of the antenna110.

FIG. 3is a view showing a hardware configuration of a communication system50according to the first exemplary embodiment. The communication system50includes the wireless communication device100and a display device200. The display device200is connected with the wireless communication device100in such a manner that they can communicate through a communication channel60. The communication channel60may be a wired connection such as a cable or a wireless connection such as WiFi or Bluetooth (registered trademark). Further, there may be a plurality of communication channels60, and a combination of wired and wireless connections may be used.

The wireless communication device100includes an antenna110that receives radio signals from a radio wave generation source such as the opposite station102(another wireless communication device), a communication instrument120, and an antenna angle detection unit140(antenna angle detection means) that detects the angle of the antenna110. The communication instrument120is described later. The direction of the antenna110can be adjusted in the horizontal direction and in the vertical direction by, for example, hand. Note that the direction (antenna angle) of the antenna110may be adjusted by a mechanical structure such as a motor or the like, instead of it being adjusted by hand.

The antenna angle detection unit140detects the horizontal angle and the vertical angle of the antenna110. The antenna angle detection unit140includes, for example, a gyro sensor or the like, though it is not limited thereto. Further, the antenna angle detection unit140is preferably installed externally near the antenna110. Note, however, that the antenna angle detection unit140may be installed inside the wireless communication device100.

The display device200displays some image in a way visible to a user. The display device200is, for example, a computer. The display device200is, for example, an information processing device such as a tablet terminal or a smartphone, though it is not limited thereto. The display device200includes a control unit202such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a storage unit204such as a memory or a hard disk, a communication unit206, an operation unit208, and a display unit210. The control unit202controls the storage unit204, the communication unit206, the operation unit208, and the display unit210.

The communication unit206performs processing that is necessary for communications with the wireless communication device100connected through the communication channel60. The operation unit208is, for example, a touch panel, an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), a keyboard or the like. The display unit210is, for example, a touch panel, an LCD or the like. The operation unit208and the display unit210may be integrated as a touch panel. The operation unit208receives a user operation by control of the control unit202. The display unit210displays information that is required for a user, such as an image, by control of the control unit202.

FIG. 4is a functional block diagram of the communication system50according to the first exemplary embodiment. The communication instrument120includes a transmitting and receiving unit122and a reception quality measurement unit124. The transmitting and receiving unit122receives a signal through the antenna110, performs necessary processing such as demodulation, and thereby obtains user data. Further, the transmitting and receiving unit122performs necessary processing such as modulation on user data and transmits a signal through the antenna110.

The reception quality measurement unit124(reception quality measurement means) measures the quality of a received signal received by the antenna110. The reception quality measurement unit124then outputs reception quality information indicating the measured quality (quality value) of the received signal to the display device200through the communication channel60. The function of the reception quality measurement unit124is not necessarily provided inside the communication instrument120, and it may be provided outside the communication instrument120.

Note that the “quality of a received signal” may be, for example, a Received Signal Level (RSL) or a Received Signal Strength Indication (RSSI). Further, the “quality of a received signal” may be, for example, a Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR), a Signal to Interference Noise Ratio (SINR) or a Carrier to Interference Noise Ratio (CINR). Furthermore, the “quality of a received signal” may be a combination of two or more of these ratios.

The antenna angle detection unit140detects the horizontal angle and the vertical angle of the antenna110as described above. Then, the antenna angle detection unit140outputs antenna angle information indicating the detected antenna angle (the horizontal angle and the vertical angle) to the display device200through the communication channel60.

The display device200includes a reception quality acquisition unit222, an antenna angle acquisition unit224, an antenna adjustment image generation unit226, a color allocation table storage unit228, and a display unit210. Note that the reception quality acquisition unit222, the antenna angle acquisition unit224, the antenna adjustment image generation unit226, and the color allocation table storage unit228can be implemented using a program. To be specific, those elements can be implemented by executing a program stored in the storage unit204by control of the control unit202. Further, those elements are not necessarily implemented by software as a program; instead, it can be implemented by a combination of any hardware, firmware and software or the like. The same applies to the other exemplary embodiments.

The reception quality acquisition unit222acquires the reception quality information output from the reception quality measurement unit124through the communication channel60. The reception quality acquisition unit222then outputs the acquired reception quality information to the antenna adjustment image generation unit226. The antenna angle acquisition unit224acquires the antenna angle information output from the antenna angle detection unit140through the communication channel60. The antenna angle acquisition unit224then outputs the acquired antenna angle information to the antenna adjustment image generation unit226.

The antenna adjustment image generation unit226generates an antenna adjustment image in which the antenna angle information and the reception quality information are associated with each other by using the reception quality information and the antenna angle information. The color allocation table storage unit228stores a color allocation table (which is described later with reference toFIG. 6) that is used when the antenna adjustment image generation unit226generates the antenna adjustment image. Then, the display unit210displays the generated antenna adjustment image.

The antenna adjustment image is formed with a two-dimensional coordinate system where the horizontal axis indicates a horizontal angle and the vertical axis indicates a vertical angle, as described later with reference toFIG. 7. The antenna adjustment image is formed so that the reception quality information corresponding to each antenna angle is plotted in the two-dimensional coordinate system. Further, the reception quality information is plotted in the antenna adjustment image so that the reception quality information indicating the same quality is in the same color representation. This is described in detail later.

FIG. 5is a flowchart showing an antenna adjustment method according to the first exemplary embodiment. First, the display device200is made to be able to acquire the antenna angle information and the reception quality information (Step S100). To be specific, a user (operator) connects the display device200and the wireless communication device100so that they can communicate through the communication channel60. The display device200thereby becomes able to acquire the antenna angle information and the reception quality information.

Next, the display device200acquires the antenna angle information and the reception quality information (Step S102). To be specific, the reception quality acquisition unit222of the display device200acquires the reception quality information through the communication channel60. Further, the antenna angle acquisition unit224acquires the antenna angle information through the communication channel60.

Then, the display device200plots the reception quality information corresponding to the antenna angle information (Step S104). To be specific, in the first exemplary embodiment, the color allocation table storage unit228stores the color allocation table in advance as shown inFIG. 6. Then, the antenna adjustment image generation unit226plots the reception quality information at the positions corresponding to the antenna angle information in the two-dimensional coordinate system by using the color allocation table. The antenna adjustment image generation unit226thereby generates an antenna adjustment image. The display unit210then displays the antenna adjustment image generated by the antenna adjustment image generation unit226.

FIG. 6is a view showing an example of the color allocation table according to the first exemplary embodiment. In the example ofFIG. 6, when a reception quality value Q indicated by the reception quality information is equal to or more than Qa, the antenna adjustment image generation unit226plots the position corresponding to the antenna angle information related to that reception quality information by red color. Further, when the reception quality value Q is equal to or more than Qb and less than Qa, the antenna adjustment image generation unit226plots the position corresponding to the antenna angle information related to that reception quality information by orange color. Further, when the reception quality value Q is equal to or more than Qc and less than Qb, the antenna adjustment image generation unit226plots the position corresponding to the antenna angle information related to that reception quality information by yellow color. Further, when the reception quality value Q is less than Qc, the antenna adjustment image generation unit226plots the position corresponding to the antenna angle information related to that reception quality information by blue color.

For example, when the antenna angle information indicates [horizontal angle, vertical angle]=[θh1, θv1] and the reception quality information indicates Q1(Qa≤Q1), the antenna adjustment image generation unit226plots the position of [θh1, θv1] by red color. Further, for example, when the antenna angle information indicates [horizontal angle, vertical angle]=[θh2, θv2] and the reception quality information indicates Q2(Qb≤Q2<Qa), the antenna adjustment image generation unit226plots the position of [θh2, θv2] by orange color. Likewise, for example, when the antenna angle information indicates [horizontal angle, vertical angle]=[θh3, θv3] and the reception quality information indicates Q3(Qc≤Q3<Qb), the antenna adjustment image generation unit226plots the position of [θh3, θv3] by yellow color.

Note that, although the reception quality information is represented by four colors in the first exemplary embodiment, it is not limited thereto. The reception quality information may be represented by five or more colors. Further, in the first exemplary embodiment, the color allocation table can be set arbitrarily by a user or the like by some experimental rules and the like.

After that, the display device200determines whether the measurement of the quality of a received signal is done for all angles (Step S106). To be specific, the antenna adjustment image generation unit226determines whether the reception quality information has been obtained for all antenna angles in a predetermined range. The “predetermined range” may be, for example, a range where the horizontal angle is between −90° to +90° and the vertical angle is between −90° to +90°. Further, in the case where a relatively accurate adjustment is possible in a coarse adjustment, the “predetermined range” may be, for example, a range where the horizontal angle is between −20° to +20° and the vertical angle is between −20° to +20°.

When the measurement of the quality of a received signal is not done for all angles (No in Step S106), the antenna angle is changed (Step S108). To be specific, a user moves the antenna110and changes at least one of the horizontal angle and the vertical angle of the antenna110. On the other hand, when the measurement of the quality of a received signal is done for all angles (Yes in Step S106), the display device200displays a current angle mark indicating the current antenna angle of the antenna110(Step S110). To be specific, when the measurement of the quality of a received signal is done for all angles, the generation of the antenna adjustment image is completed. Then, the antenna angle acquisition unit224acquires the antenna angle information indicating the current antenna angle from the antenna angle detection unit140and outputs it to the antenna adjustment image generation unit226. The antenna adjustment image generation unit226displays the current angle mark at the position corresponding to the current antenna angle of the antenna110on the completed antenna adjustment image by using the current antenna angle information.

Then, the antenna angle is adjusted to the point with the highest reception quality by using the antenna adjustment image (Step S112). The antenna angle is thereby adjusted to the center of an antenna beam. To be specific, a user changes the antenna angle of the antenna110, looking at the antenna adjustment image, and sets the current angle mark at the point at which the quality of a received signal is highest on the antenna adjustment image. At this time, each time the current antenna angle is changed, the antenna angle acquisition unit224acquires the antenna angle information. Then, each time the current antenna angle is changed, the antenna adjustment image generation unit226moves the position of the current angle mark on the antenna adjustment image.

At this time, a user may adjust the direction of the antenna110by hand, or the direction of the antenna110may be adjusted by using an electrical or mechanical structure. Further, the antenna110may be controlled automatically so that the antenna angle is set at the point with the highest reception quality.

FIG. 7is a view showing an example of the antenna adjustment image displayed on the display device200according to the first exemplary embodiment. InFIG. 7, the display unit210displays an antenna adjustment image70. In the antenna adjustment image70, the horizontal direction (the horizontal axis in the two-dimensional coordinate system) indicates an angle in the horizontal direction (horizontal angle), and the vertical direction (the vertical axis in the two-dimensional coordinate system) indicates an angle in the vertical direction (vertical angle). Further, the display unit210displays a current angle mark80at the position corresponding to the current antenna angle [θhc, θvc]. Because the reception quality information indicating the same quality is shown using the same color representation in the antenna adjustment image70, the antenna adjustment image70is formed like an isopleth diagram.

In the example ofFIG. 7, in the antenna adjustment image70, a region72rlocated near the center is represented by red color. In the above example, the region72rindicates the antenna angle corresponding to the reception quality information where the reception quality value is equal to or more than Qa. Further, in the antenna adjustment image70, a region72olocated around the region72ris represented by orange color. In the above example, the region72oindicates the antenna angle corresponding to the reception quality information where the reception quality value is equal to or more than Qb and less than Qa. Further, in the antenna adjustment image70, a region72ylocated around the region72ois represented by yellow color. In the above example, the region72yindicates the antenna angle corresponding to the reception quality information where the reception quality value is equal to or more than Qc and less than Qb. Further, in the antenna adjustment image70, a region72bis represented by blue color. The region72bis located between the region72rand the region72o, between the region72oand the region72y, and around the region72y. In the above example, the region72bindicates the antenna angle corresponding to the reception quality information where the reception quality value is less than Qc.

Further, in the above example, a point (the reception quality information: Q1) corresponding to the antenna angle [θh1, θv1] is included in the region72r. Further, a point (the reception quality information: Q2) corresponding to the antenna angle [θh2, θv2] is included in the region72o. Likewise, a point (the reception quality information: Q3) corresponding to the antenna angle [θh3, θv3] is included in the region72y.

InFIG. 7, the quality of a received signal is highest at the position corresponding to the region72r. Thus, the antenna angle corresponding to the region72rcan correspond to the main lobe92. On the other hand, in the region72oand the region72y, the quality of a received signal is lower than that in the region72r. Thus, the antenna angle corresponding to the region72oand the region72ycan correspond to the side lobe94. Accordingly, the point [θht, θvt] at the center of the region72rin the antenna adjustment image70is estimated as the point at which the reception quality value is highest. Therefore, a user adjusts the antenna angle so as to set the current angle mark at the point [θht, θvt] as shown by the arrow A. A user can thereby easily adjust the antenna110in the most appropriate direction.

Comparative Example

Hereinafter, a contrast with a comparative example is described with reference toFIGS. 8 and 9.

FIGS. 8 and 9are views to describe a contrast between this exemplary embodiment and a comparative example. In the comparative example, a display screen on which a reception quality value and only one of a horizontal angle and a vertical angle are associated is displayed. InFIGS. 8 and 9, a display screen on which a reception quality value and a horizontal angle are associated is displayed.

InFIG. 8, in the case where the vertical angle of the antenna110is at the vertical angle corresponding to the main lobe92, if the reception quality value is measured changing the horizontal angle of the antenna110as shown by the arrow B, a display screen902is displayed. On the display screen902, the reception quality value is highest at the angle corresponding to the main lobe92. Thus, at this time, a user can set the horizontal angle of the antenna110at the horizontal angle [θhm] corresponding to the main lobe92by referring to the display screen902.

On the other hand, inFIG. 9, in the case where the vertical angle of the antenna110is not at the vertical angle corresponding to the main lobe92, if the reception quality value is measured changing the horizontal angle of the antenna110as shown by the arrow C, a display screen904is displayed. On the display screen904, the reception quality value is highest at the angle corresponding to the side lobe94. A user cannot recognize that the angle [θhs] corresponding to the side lobe94is not the most appropriate direction. Thus, by referring to the display screen904, there is a possibility that a user determines that an adjustment in the most appropriate direction can be made by setting the horizontal angle of the antenna110at the horizontal angle [θhm] corresponding to the side lobe94. Because it is difficult in the comparative example to adjust the horizontal direction and the vertical direction at the same time, it takes a long time to adjust the antenna in the most appropriate direction.

On the other hand, the antenna adjustment image70according to this exemplary embodiment is formed so that the reception quality information corresponding to each antenna angle is plotted in a two-dimensional coordinate system composed of a horizontal angle and a vertical angle. Further, the antenna adjustment image70is, for example, plotted so that the reception quality information indicating the same quality is represented by the same color, such as the regions72r,72o,72yand72b. A user can thereby easily grasp the antenna angle corresponding to the main lobe92. Accordingly, a user can easily adjust the antenna in the most appropriate direction.

Further, the display unit210displays the current angle mark80so that it is superimposed on the antenna adjustment image70. A user can thereby easily grasp a difference between the current antenna angle and the most appropriate direction. It is thereby possible to more easily adjust the antenna in the most appropriate direction. Further, by representing the quality value of the reception quality information by color, it is possible to allocate a color which a user feels the most intense (for example, red color) to the highest quality value. A user can thereby intuitively grasp at which antenna angle the reception quality value is highest (which direction is the most appropriate direction) in the antenna adjustment image70.

Second Exemplary Embodiment

A second exemplary embodiment is described hereinbelow. In the second exemplary embodiment, the hardware configuration of the communication system50is the one shown inFIG. 3, which is the same as that in the first exemplary embodiment. On the other hand, in the second exemplary embodiment, the function of the display device200is different from that in the first exemplary embodiment. To be specific, the second exemplary embodiment is different from the first exemplary embodiment in that the color allocation table is not stored in advance. To be more specific, in the second exemplary embodiment, a step of determining the color allocation table is added before the processing of S102in the flowchart ofFIG. 5. Details will be described below.

FIG. 10is a functional block diagram of the communication system50according to the second exemplary embodiment. The function of the wireless communication device100is the same as that in the first exemplary embodiment. The display device200includes a reception quality acquisition unit222, an antenna angle acquisition unit224, an antenna adjustment image generation unit226, a theoretical reception quality acquisition unit242, a color allocation determination unit244, and a display unit210. The reception quality acquisition unit222and the antenna angle acquisition unit224are substantially the same as those in the first exemplary embodiment, and the description thereof is omitted.

The theoretical reception quality acquisition unit242acquires a theoretical value of the quality of a received signal (theoretical reception quality value) from a known value or the like. Note that, although a method that calculates the theoretical reception quality value when the quality of a received signal is received power (received signal level) is described by way of illustration in the following description, the theoretical reception quality value can be calculated in the same way when the quality of a received signal is another parameter (for example, SNR). Note that the theoretical reception quality acquisition unit242may acquire the theoretical reception quality value as a result that the theoretical reception quality value calculated by a user is input to the operation unit208. On the other hand, the theoretical reception quality acquisition unit242may calculate it by arithmetic processing performed by the control unit202of the display device200.

The theoretical reception quality value in the case where the quality of a received signal is received power, which is a theoretical value of received power, is Prx [dBm], the following equation 1 is satisfied.
Prx=Ptx−Lt+Gt−L+Gr−Lr[dBm]  (Equation 1)

Ptx [dBm] is the transmission power of a transmitter, which is the opposite station102. Lt [dB] is a transmission supplying loss of the opposite station102. Gt [dB] is a transmission antenna gain of the opposite station102. L [dB] is a propagation loss from the opposite station102to the wireless communication device100. Gr [dB] is a reception antenna gain of the wireless communication device100. Lr [dB] is a reception supplying loss of the wireless communication device100.

The propagation loss L is represented by the following equation 2.
L=10*log(4πD/λ)^2 [dB]  (Equation 2)

λ is the wavelength of a frequency used. D is a distance (link distance) between the transmission antenna of the opposite station102and the antenna110of the wireless communication device100.

The color allocation determination unit244determines color allocation by using the theoretical reception quality value acquired by the theoretical reception quality acquisition unit242. The theoretical reception quality value can be regarded as the maximum value which the reception quality value can take. Then, the color allocation determination unit244allocates the color indicating the highest quality to the range including the theoretical reception quality value. Stated differently, the color allocation determination unit244allocates the color indicating the highest quality to the range of the quality corresponding to the theoretical reception quality value. Further, the color allocation determination unit244allocates the color so that the color representation is more precise for the reception quality information indicating the quality close to the theoretical reception quality value than for the reception quality information indicating the quality far from the theoretical reception quality value.

FIG. 11is a view showing an example of the color allocation table according to the second exemplary embodiment. Although the color indicating the highest quality is red in the color allocation table shown inFIG. 6, the color indicating the highest quality is bright red in the color allocation table shown inFIG. 11. The color allocation determination unit244determines the color allocation table, for example, illustrated inFIG. 11by using the theoretical reception quality value. Further, inFIG. 11, Qmax indicates the maximum reception quality value, which is the theoretical reception quality value.

In the example ofFIG. 11, the color allocation determination unit244determines the reception quality values Qi to Qn, which serve as the boundaries of color representation. Qmax>Qi>Qj>Qk>Ql>Qm>Qn is satisfied in this example. Then, the color allocation determination unit244allocates the color representation indicating the corresponding quality to the range between the boundary values. To be specific, the color allocation determination unit244allocates bright red color to the range where the reception quality value is equal to or more than Qi and equal to or less than Qmax. Further, the color allocation determination unit244allocates red color to the range where the reception quality value is equal to or more than Qj and less than Qi. The color allocation determination unit244allocates orange color to the range where the reception quality value is equal to or more than Qk and less than Qj. The color allocation determination unit244allocates yellow color to the range where the reception quality value is equal to or more than Ql and less than Qk. The color allocation determination unit244allocates yellow-green color to the range where the reception quality value is equal to or more than Qm and less than Ql. The color allocation determination unit244allocates green color to the range where the reception quality value is equal to or more than Qn and less than Qm. The color allocation determination unit244allocates blue color to the range where the reception quality value is less than Qn.

In the example ofFIG. 11, the range of the reception quality value to which each color is allocated is not necessarily fixed. To be specific, the width “Qmax−Qi” of the range to which “bright red color” is allocated may be the narrowest, and the width “Qi−Qj” of the range to which “red color” indicating the next highest quality is allocated may be the second narrowest. On the other hand, the width “Qn≤Qm” of the range to which “green color” indicating the relatively low quality may be wider than “Qmax−Qi” and “Qi−Qj”. In this manner, in the antenna adjustment image, the reception quality information indicating the quality close to the theoretical reception quality value is plotted with more precise color representation compared with the reception quality information indicating the quality far from the theoretical reception quality value.

The antenna adjustment image generation unit226generates the antenna adjustment image by using the color allocation table determined by the color allocation determination unit244. Note that the processing of generating the antenna adjustment image by the antenna adjustment image generation unit226is substantially the same as that in the first exemplary embodiment, and the description thereof is omitted.

FIG. 12is a view showing a first example of the antenna adjustment image that is displayed on the display device200according to the second exemplary embodiment. The first example shows the case where some abnormality is occurring in the reception from the opposite station102. For example, it is the case where the opposite station102faces downward and therefore the wireless communication device100receives a reflected wave from the earth, not a direct wave, from the opposite station102. Note that the reception quality value of a received signal due to abnormality is smaller than the reception quality value of a normal received signal.

In the example ofFIG. 12, in the antenna adjustment image70, the region72yindicated by yellow color is located near the center. Further, in the antenna adjustment image70, the region72ygindicated by yellow-green color is located around the region72y. In the antenna adjustment image70, the region72gindicated by green color is located around the region72yg. In the antenna adjustment image70, the region72bindicated by blue color is located between the region72yand the region72yg, between the region72ygand the region72g, and around the region72g.

In the antenna adjustment image70shown inFIG. 12, the region indicating the highest quality is the region72y. The region72yindicates the antenna angle corresponding to the reception quality information in the range where the reception quality value is equal to or more than Q1and less than Qk. The range of the reception quality information is significantly smaller than the theoretical reception quality value. Specifically, if communications with the opposite station102are normal, the region indicating the highest quality is supposed to indicate bright red color (or red color, or orange color) in the antenna adjustment image70.

Therefore, a user can estimate that this antenna adjustment image70corresponds to an abnormal received signal such as a reflected wave from the earth. The user can thereby take measures such as checking the antenna direction of the opposite station102or checking whether there is no abnormality in the communication channel between the wireless communication device100and the opposite station102.

FIG. 13is a view showing a second example of the antenna adjustment image that is displayed on the display device200according to the second exemplary embodiment. The second example shows the case where a radio wave is normally received from the opposite station102. The antenna adjustment image70shown inFIG. 13corresponds to the antenna adjustment image70shown inFIG. 7. Specifically, the antenna adjustment image70shown inFIG. 13shows the correspondence between the antenna angle and the reception quality information in the antenna adjustment image70shown inFIG. 7by the method according to the second exemplary embodiment.

In the example ofFIG. 13, in the antenna adjustment image70, the region72brindicated by bright red color is located near the center. Further, in the antenna adjustment image70, the region72rindicated by red color is located around the region72br. In the antenna adjustment image70, the region72oindicated by orange color is located around the region72r. In the antenna adjustment image70, the region72yindicated by yellow color is located around the region72o. In the antenna adjustment image70, the region72ygindicated by yellow-green color is located around the region72y. In the antenna adjustment image70, the region72bindicated by blue color is located between the region72oand the region72y, between the region72yand the region72yg, and around the region72yg.

InFIG. 13, the quality of a received signal is highest at the position corresponding to the region72br, the quality of a received signal is second highest at the position corresponding to the region72r, and the quality of a received signal is third highest at the position corresponding to the region72o. The region72br, the region72rand the region72oare continuous. Specifically, inFIG. 13, the antenna angles corresponding to the region72br, the region72rand the region72ocan correspond to the main lobe92. The point at which the reception quality value is highest, which is the most appropriate direction, is estimated as the point near the center of the region72br.

Then, inFIG. 13, the reception quality information related to the angle corresponding to the main lobe92is represented by precise color representation. To be specific, inFIG. 7, the reception quality information related to the angle corresponding to the main lobe92is represented only by one color, which is red. On the other hand, inFIG. 13, the reception quality information related to the angle corresponding to the main lobe92is represented precisely by three colors, which are bright red, red and orange. Stated differently, in the second exemplary embodiment, the accuracy of display in close proximity to the theoretical reception quality value (the maximum value of the reception quality value) is high. Further, the size of the region72brinFIG. 13is smaller than the size of the region72rinFIG. 7. Therefore, compared with the case of using the antenna adjustment image70shown inFIG. 7, a user can easily set the current angle mark80in the most appropriate direction (which is the point near the center of the region72br) as shown by the arrow A.

Further, in the first exemplary embodiment, when the setting of color allocation in the preset color allocation table is not appropriate, the level of the reception quality value is not appropriately represented in some cases in the antenna adjustment image. For example, when Qc inFIG. 6is greater than the theoretical reception quality value, the antenna adjustment image is blue all over the image, and a user cannot find the angle corresponding to the main lobe92. On the other hand, in the second exemplary embodiment, because the color indicating the highest reception quality value is allocated in accordance with the theoretical reception quality value, it is possible to determine the angle corresponding to the main lobe92.

Alternative Example

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described exemplary embodiments and may be varied in many ways within the scope of the present invention. For example, although the display device200acquires the reception quality information and the antenna angle information through the communication channel60in the above-described exemplary embodiments, the reception quality information and the antenna angle information may be acquired through physically different communication channels. Specifically, the reception quality information and the antenna angle information may be acquired through different ports in the display device200.

Further, although the image representation indicating the reception quality information is the color representation such as red or orange color in the above-described exemplary embodiments, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the image representation may be a grayscale (black shading), a plurality of types of patterns or the like. Specifically, the image representation may be any representation where the reception quality information indicating the same quality is visually the same. Stated differently, the image representation is not limited as long as it represents the level of the quality of a received signal in a visually distinguishable manner.

Further, when the image representation is the color representation, each color representation may be represented by color in shades. It is thereby possible to represent the reception quality information more precisely in the antenna adjustment image. Further, in the color allocation table, the color value of R (Red), G (Green) and B (Blue) and the reception quality value may be made to correspond to each other without distributing the color discretely by dividing the range of the reception quality value. It is thereby possible to represent the reception quality information yet more precisely (finely) in the antenna adjustment image.

Further, when generating the antenna adjustment image, the color representation indicating the corresponding reception quality information is plotted at the position corresponding to the antenna angle each time the antenna angle is changed as shown inFIG. 5in the above-described exemplary embodiments; however, the present invention is not limited thereto. The quality of a received signal may be measured for each antenna angle, and the antenna angle and the reception quality information may be stored in association with each other. Then, after the measurement is done for all angles, the color representation indicating the reception quality information may be plotted for all angles at substantially the same time, and thereby the antenna adjustment image may be generated.

Further, although the wireless communication device100and the display device200are shown as separate devices inFIG. 3, the wireless communication device100and the display device200may be physically integrated. In other words, the wireless communication device100and the display device200may be one device. In this case, the communication channel60may be eliminated. The “communication system50” according to this exemplary embodiment includes such a device as well.

Further, the processing in the color allocation determination unit244is not necessarily implemented in the display device200. The processing of determining the color allocation may be performed in a different device from the display device200by using the calculated theoretical reception quality value. Then, the display device200may acquire data of the determined color allocation table from the different device.

Further, although the antenna adjustment image generation unit226generates the antenna adjustment image (first image) and the current angle mark (second image) in the above-described exemplary embodiments, the present invention is not limited thereto. A first image generation means may generate the first image, and a second image generation means may generate the second image. Further, an image generation device that at least includes a first image generation means and a second image generation means may generate the first image and the second image. In this case, the flowchart ofFIG. 5also shows an image generation method for generating the first image and the second image. Further, the wireless communication device100(communication device) may include this image generation device, and the wireless communication device100(communication device) may output the reception quality information to this image generation device.

In the above example, the program can be stored and provided to the computer using any type of non-transitory computer readable medium. The non-transitory computer readable medium includes any type of tangible storage medium. Examples of the non-transitory computer readable medium include magnetic storage media (such as floppy disks, magnetic tapes, hard disk drives, etc.), optical magnetic storage media (e.g. magneto-optical disks), CD-ROM (Read Only Memory), CD-R, CD-R/W, DVD-ROM (Digital Versatile Disc Read Only Memory), DVD-R (DVD Recordable)), DVD-R DL (DVD-R Dual Layer)), DVD-RW (DVD ReWritable)), DVD-RAM), DVD+R), DVR+R DL), DVD+RW), BD-R (Blu-ray (registered trademark) Disc Recordable)), BD-RE (Blu-ray (registered trademark) Disc Rewritable)), BD-ROM), and semiconductor memories (such as mask ROM, PROM (Programmable ROM), EPROM (Erasable PROM), flash ROM, RAM (Random Access Memory), etc.). The program may be provided to a computer using any type of transitory computer readable medium. Examples of the transitory computer readable medium include electric signals, optical signals, and electromagnetic waves. The transitory computer readable medium can provide the program to a computer via a wired communication line such as an electric wire or optical fiber or a wireless communication line.

This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from Japanese patent application No. 2015-038199 filed on Feb. 27, 2015, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST