Patent ID: 12206473

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, an embodiment will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the present disclosure, redundant description will be simplified or omitted as appropriate. Note that the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described below. The present disclosure may include various modifications and combinations of configurations disclosed by the following embodiment without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure.

Embodiment 1

FIG.1is a diagram schematically illustrating a configuration example of a wireless communication system according to Embodiment 1.FIG.2is a functional block diagram illustrating main functions of the wireless communication system according to Embodiment 1.

The wireless communication system according to the present embodiment is a system that achieves a good radio wave propagation environment by reflecting radio waves transmitted by a transmitting station2toward a receiving station1by a reflector3. The wireless communication system can be implemented as a single device or can be implemented by cooperation of a plurality of devices.

The reflector3has a function of reflecting and relaying radio waves transmitted by the transmitting station2. As an example, the wireless communication system includes a plurality of reflectors3.

The reflector3is capable of controlling parameters such as an installation position and a reflection angle. By controlling each parameter of the reflector3, for example, a good radio wave propagation environment can be secured following environmental changes such as movement of an obstacle.

The wireless communication system according to the present embodiment includes a sensing unit4and a reflector control unit5. The sensing unit4is a sensing device for recognizing the environment of the real world. The reflector control unit5controls the reflector3on the basis of information detected by the sensing unit4.

The sensing unit4detects an obstacle currently present between the transmitting station2and the receiving station1. Note that “obstacle” in the present disclosure refers to an object that shields radio waves transmitted by the transmitting station2.

The sensing unit4corresponds to, for example, a 3D laser scanner that acquires point cloud data, a camera that captures a real image, or the like. Note that the types of devices forming the sensing unit4and the types of data acquired by the sensing unit4are not limited. The sensing unit4can be formed in any manner as long as it can acquire data for detecting the position of an obstacle.

As an example, the sensing unit4senses only the environment around the receiving station1, the transmitting station2, and the reflector3. As a result, it is possible to achieve simplification and acceleration of recognition of the environment of the real world.

The wireless communication system according to the present embodiment includes an environment information storage unit6as a database that stores information on the detection result of the sensing unit4. The environment information storage unit6stores information on past detection results by the sensing unit4. Information stored in the environment information storage unit6is updated each time the sensing unit4performs sensing.

In addition, the wireless communication system according to the present embodiment includes an environment prediction unit7and a simulation calculation unit8.

The environment prediction unit7predicts a variation in the radio wave propagation environment between the transmitting station2and the receiving station1from information stored in the environment information storage unit6.

The simulation calculation unit8simulates an environment in which a communication path between the receiving station1and the reflector3and a communication path between the transmitting station2and the reflector3are a line-of-sight environment on the basis of the prediction result of the environment prediction unit7. Then, the simulation calculation unit8calculates control parameters of the reflector3for achieving the environment obtained by the simulation.

As described above, the reflector control unit5controls the parameters of the reflector3. Specifically, the reflector control unit5controls the reflector3with the control parameters calculated by the simulation calculation unit8.

Information on each parameter of the reflector3controlled by the reflector control unit5is stored in a reflector information storage unit9as a database. The reflector information storage unit9stores current and past information on the reflector3. The information accumulated in the reflector information storage unit9is used for simulation and calculation of control parameters by the simulation calculation unit8.

FIG.3is a flowchart illustrating an operation example of the wireless communication system according to Embodiment 1. The wireless communication system according to the present embodiment repeatedly loops the flow illustrated inFIG.3to grasp the environment of the real world, predict the future environment, and control the reflector3according to the future environment.

First, the sensing unit4acquires data to detect an obstacle (S101). Then, information about the detected obstacle is stored in the environment information storage unit6(S102).

Next, the environment prediction unit7predicts a variation in the radio wave propagation environment. Specifically, past obstacle information one loop earlier is compared with the current obstacle information, and the moving speed, the moving direction, and the like of the obstacle are calculated (S103). The environment prediction unit7predicts an environmental change such as movement of an obstacle from the current time to the next loop on the basis of the calculation result.

Next, simulation and calculation of control parameters are performed by the simulation calculation unit8. The simulation calculation unit8simulates an environment in which a communication path between the receiving station1and the reflector3and a communication path between the transmitting station2and the reflector3are a line-of-sight environment at the time of the next loop on the basis of the prediction result of the environment prediction unit7. Then, the simulation calculation unit8calculates control parameters of the reflector3for achieving the environment obtained by the simulation (S104). The reflector control unit5controls the reflector3in accordance with the control parameters (S105).

According to the wireless communication system configured as described above, it is possible to secure a communication path in a line-of-sight environment. According to the present embodiment, it is possible to control the radio wave propagation path to improve signal strength and reduce interference at a desired specific position. Note that each function of the wireless communication system can also be implemented as a wireless communication method.

In addition, some or all of the functions of the wireless communication system according to the above embodiment and modification may be implemented using hardware such as an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a programmable logic device (PLD), or a field programmable gate array (FPGA). Each function of the wireless communication system may be implemented by a combination of dedicated hardware and software. In addition, some or all of the functions of the wireless communication system may be formed as a program executed by a processor such as a CPU. The program may be recorded in a computer-readable storage medium.

For example, the wireless communication system can be implemented by using a computer and a program, and the program can be recorded in a storage medium or provided through a network.

FIG.4is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration example for implementing each function of the wireless communication system. As illustrated inFIG.4, each function of the wireless communication system is implemented by, for example, an input unit100, an output unit110, a communication unit120, a CPU130, a memory140, an HDD150, and the like. The input unit100, the output unit110, the communication unit120, the CPU130, the memory140, and the HDD150are connected via a bus160and have a function as a computer. In addition, a computer including the input unit100, the output unit110, the communication unit120, the CPU130, the memory140, the HDD150, and the like can input and output data to and from a computer-readable storage medium170.

The input unit100is, for example, a keyboard, a mouse, or the like. The output unit110is, for example, a display device such as a display. The communication unit120is, for example, a wireless network interface.

The CPU130controls each unit forming the wireless communication system, and performs predetermined processing and the like. The memory140and the HDD150function as a storage unit that stores various data and the like.

The storage medium170stores a program for executing each function of the wireless communication system. Note that the architecture forming the wireless communication system is not limited to the example illustrated inFIG.3.

The “computer” mentioned herein includes an OS and hardware such as peripheral devices. “Computer-readable storage medium” is, for example, a portable medium such as a flexible disk, a magneto-optical disk, a ROM, or a CD-ROM.

Furthermore, “computer-readable storage medium” may be a medium that dynamically holds a program for a short period of time like a communication line in a case where the program is transmitted via a network such as the Internet or a communication line such as a telephone line. In addition, “computer-readable storage medium” may be a medium that holds a program for a certain period of time, such as a volatile memory inside a computer serving as a server or a client.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The wireless communication system, the wireless communication method, and the wireless communication program according to the present invention can be applied to, for example, a mobile base station that provides wireless communication.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

1Receiving station2Transmitting station3Reflector4Sensing unit5Reflector control unit6Environment information storage unit7Environment prediction unit8Simulation calculation unit9Reflector information storage unit100Input unit110Output unit120Communication unit130CPU140Memory150HDD160Bus170Storage medium