Correlation processing device, correlation method, and correlation program

Abstract

A correlation processing device according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises: a calculation unit that calculates each incident angle of radio waves from a prescribed base station onto a reflector installation position; a selection unit that selects one of reflectors which are visible from the base station and for which the set incident angle have the closest magnitude to the incident angle calculated by the calculation unit; a determination unit that, when the reflector selected by the selection unit has reflected the radio waves from the base station, determines whether a reception area is visible from the reflector; and a control unit that, when the determination unit has determined that the reception area is visible, determines a correlation between the reflector and the reflector installation position, and, when the determination unit has determined that the reception area is not visible, performs control so that the selection unit selects one of the reflectors which are visible from the base station and for which the set incident angle have the next closest magnitude to the incident angle calculated by the calculation unit.

Description

Correspondence processing device, correlation method, and correlation program

[0001] The present invention relates to a correspondence processing device, a correspondence method, and a correspondence program that enable correspondence between a plurality of reflectors that are set to have different combinations of incident angle and reflection angle and that irregularly reflect radio waves, and a plurality of reflector installation positions that are preset on the surface of a structure.

[0002] In wireless communication systems, a technique for eliminating blind zones using a non-powered repeater (hereinafter referred to as a reflector) is known. By reflecting radio waves, the reflector may enable communication even with a terminal located outside the line of sight of the base station (see, for example, Non-Patent Document 1).

[0003] Tamami Maruyama and two others, "Research on Directional Reflectors to Eliminate Radio Wave Outage Areas," NTT DOCOMO Technical Journal, Vol. 17, No. 3, pp. 70-73, Oct. 2009.

[0004] However, for example, in a wireless communication system using high frequency, if a reflector only reflects regularly, the reflected waves may not reach the receiving device depending on the installation position of the reflector and the position of the receiving device, resulting in a dead zone. Furthermore, in the past, even if the reflector was directionally controllable, there were cases where it was not possible to obtain sufficient shielding properties for the receiving area that was previously set as the area where the wireless communication device should be able to receive radio waves.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide a correspondence processing device, a correspondence method, and a correspondence program that make it possible to appropriately and easily correspond one of a plurality of reflectors that are set to have different combinations of incident angle and reflection angle and that irregularly reflect radio waves to a plurality of reflector installation positions that are preset on the surface of a structure.

[0006] A correspondence processing device according to one embodiment of the present invention is a correspondence processing device that performs processing to associate one of a plurality of reflectors that are set so that the combinations of incident angle and reflection angle are different and that irregularly reflect radio waves with a plurality of reflector installation positions that are preset on the surface of a structure, and is characterized by having the following features: a calculation unit that calculates the incident angle of the radio waves from a predetermined base station to each of the reflector installation positions; a selection unit that selects one of the reflectors that has a set incident angle that is closest to the incident angle calculated by the calculation unit and is line of sight from the base station; a determination unit that determines whether a reception area that is preset as an area where a wireless communication device should be able to receive radio waves is line of sight from the reflector when the reflector selected by the selection unit reflects radio waves from the base station; and a control unit that, if the determination unit determines that line of sight is possible, determines a correspondence between the reflector and the reflector installation position; and, if the determination unit determines that line of sight is not possible, controls the selection unit to select one of the reflectors that has a set incident angle that is next closest to the incident angle calculated by the calculation unit and is line of sight from the base station.

[0007] Furthermore, a correspondence method according to one embodiment of the present invention is a correspondence method for corresponding one of a plurality of reflectors that are set so as to have different combinations of incident angle and reflection angle and that irregularly reflect radio waves to a plurality of reflector installation positions that are preset on the surface of a structure, and is characterized by comprising: a calculation step for calculating the incident angle of radio waves from a predetermined base station to each of the reflector installation positions; a selection step for selecting one of the reflectors whose set incident angle is closest to the incident angle calculated by the calculation step and that is within line of sight of the base station; a determination step for determining whether a reception area that is preset as an area where a wireless communication device should be able to receive radio waves is within line of sight of the reflector when the reflector selected by the selection step reflects radio waves from the base station; and a control step for determining, if it is determined that line of sight is possible by the determination step, to determine a correspondence between the reflector and the reflector installation position; and, if it is determined that line of sight is not possible by the determination step, to control the selection step to select one of the reflectors whose set incident angle is next closest to the incident angle calculated by the calculation step and that is within line of sight of the base station.

[0008] Furthermore, an association program according to one embodiment of the present invention is an association program executed by an association processing device that performs a process of associating one of a plurality of reflectors that are set so as to have different combinations of incident angle and reflection angle and that irregularly reflect radio waves with a plurality of reflector installation positions that are preset on the surface of a structure, and the association program causes a computer to function as each part of the association processing device, the association program having: a calculation unit that calculates the incident angle of the radio waves from a predetermined base station to the reflector installation position; a selection unit that selects one of the reflectors whose set incident angle is closest to the incident angle calculated by the calculation unit and that is line of sight from the base station; a determination unit that determines whether a reception area that is preset as an area where a wireless communication device should be able to receive radio waves is line of sight from the reflector when the reflector selected by the selection unit reflects radio waves from the base station; and a control unit that, if the determination unit determines that line of sight is possible, determines an association between the reflector and the reflector installation position; and, if the determination unit determines that line of sight is not possible, controls the selection unit to select one of the reflectors whose set incident angle is next closest to the incident angle calculated by the calculation unit and that is line of sight from the base station.

[0009] According to the present invention, it is possible to appropriately and easily associate one of a plurality of reflectors that are set to have different combinations of incident angle and reflection angle to a plurality of reflector installation positions that are preset on the surface of a structure, thereby irregularly reflecting radio waves.

[0010] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of an association processing device according to an embodiment; FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a schematic operation example of an association processing device according to an embodiment; FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation example of an association processing device according to an embodiment; FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a hardware configuration of an association processing device according to an embodiment; FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a schematic overview of a radio wave relay system of a comparative example as viewed from above; and FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a schematic example of an overview of a radio wave relay system in which association is performed using an association processing device according to an embodiment as viewed from above.

[0011] Before describing the correlation processing device according to an embodiment, the background to the invention will be described. Fig. 5 is a diagram schematically illustrating an outline of a radio wave relay system as a comparative example, viewed from above.

[0012] 5, for example, base station 1 is placed on the roof of structure 2 such as a building. Also, assume that user A, who has a terminal that performs wireless communication with base station 1, is located between structure 2 and structure (such as a building) 3.

[0013] The high frequency radio waves transmitted from base station 1 may be blocked by a vehicle 4 passing between structure 2 and structure 3, and may not reach the terminal carried by user A. Furthermore, even if reflectors 5 and 6 are provided on structure 3, if reflectors 5 and 6 only provide regular reflection, the radio waves may not reach the terminal carried by user A.

[0014] Therefore, the correspondence processing device in one embodiment is configured to enable appropriate and easy correspondence between a plurality of reflectors that are set to have different combinations of incident angle and reflection angle to irregularly reflect radio waves, and to enable efficient reflection of radio waves to a reception area that is preset as an area where the wireless communication device should be able to receive radio waves, to a plurality of reflector installation positions that are preset on the surface of a structure.

[0015] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating an overview of a radio wave relay system in which correspondence is performed using a correspondence processing device according to one embodiment, viewed from above. Note that in Figure 6, components that are substantially the same as those shown in Figure 5 are assigned the same reference numerals. Reflectors 7 and 8 are provided on the structure 3 and are configured to provide irregular reflection, efficiently reflecting radio waves toward the receiving area. Therefore, even if the radio waves transmitted by base station 1 are blocked by vehicle 4, the radio waves can still reach the terminal carried by user A.

[0016] Next, an example of the configuration of the association processing device 10 according to an embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the association processing device 10 according to an embodiment.

[0017] As shown in FIG. 1 , the correspondence processing device 10 has, for example, a memory unit 20, a calculation unit 30, a selection unit 40, a determination unit 50, and a control unit 60, and performs processing to correspond one of a plurality of reflectors that are set to have different combinations of incident angle and reflection angle and that irregularly reflect radio waves to a plurality of reflector installation positions that are set in advance on the surface of a structure such as a building.

[0018] The storage unit 20 also includes, for example, a reflector characteristics storage unit 200 , a base station position storage unit 202 , a reflector installation position storage unit 204 , a reception area position storage unit 206 , an obstacle area storage unit 208 , and a selection result storage unit 210 .

[0019] The reflector characteristic storage unit 200 stores in advance the reflection characteristics of one or more reflectors exhibiting different reflection characteristics that are attached to structures such as buildings to configure a radio wave relay system. For example, the reflection characteristics include the incident angle and reflection angle of the radio wave, which are set differently for each reflector.

[0020] The base station location storage unit 202 stores in advance the locations of base stations that transmit radio waves relayed by the radio wave relay system described above.

[0021] The reflector installation position storage unit 204 stores in advance one or more reflector installation positions that are preset as positions where a reflector should be attached to the above-mentioned structure or positions where a reflector can be attached.

[0022] The receiving area position storage unit 206 stores in advance the position of a receiving area (including the size and shape of the receiving area) that is set in advance as an area where the wireless communication device should be able to receive radio waves.

[0023] The obstacle area storage unit 208 stores in advance the area (including the area size and shape) occupied by an obstacle that blocks radio waves relative to the above-mentioned receiving area, or the location (including the area size and shape) where the obstacle may be located.

[0024] The selection result storage unit 210 stores the results of processing by the selection unit 40, the determination unit 50, the control unit 60, and the like, which will be described later.

[0025] The calculation unit 30 calculates the angles of incidence of radio waves from a predetermined base station (not shown) to the above-mentioned reflector installation positions, and outputs the calculation results to the control unit 60.

[0026] The selection unit 40 selects one of the reflectors that has the closest set angle of incidence to the angle of incidence calculated by the calculation unit 30 and is visible from the base station, and outputs the selection result to the control unit 60.

[0027] When the reflector selected by the selection unit 40 reflects radio waves from a base station, the determination unit 50 determines whether the reception area, which has been pre-set as an area in which the wireless communication device should be able to receive radio waves, is within line of sight of the reflector, and outputs the determination result to the control unit 60.

[0028] The control unit 60 controls each unit constituting the association processing device 10. For example, when the determination unit 50 determines that the reflector is within line of sight, the control unit 60 determines the association between the reflector and the reflector installation position. Furthermore, when the determination unit 50 determines that the reflector is not within line of sight, the control unit 60 controls the selection unit 40 to select one of the reflectors that has the next closest set angle of incidence to the angle of incidence calculated by the calculation unit 30 and that is within line of sight from the base station.

[0029] In addition, if the determination unit 50 determines that no line of sight is possible regardless of which of the multiple reflectors the selection unit 40 selects, the control unit 60 may determine that there is a reflector installation position to which no reflector can be associated.

[0030] Next, an example of the operation of the association processing device 10 will be described with reference to Figures 2 and 3. Figure 2 is a diagram schematically showing an example of the operation of the association processing device 10 according to an embodiment.

[0031] 2, it is assumed that an installation position (reflector installation position) where a reflector should be attached is set for a structure such as a building. The association processing device 10 calculates the incident angle of the radio wave transmitted by the base station 100 at the reflector installation position, and selects a reflector having reflection characteristics (incident angle) closest to the calculated incident angle from the reflection characteristics stored in the reflector characteristic storage unit 200.

[0032] For example, the reflector property storage unit 200 stores the reflection properties of reflectors a, b, and c. The reflection properties of reflector a are assumed to be (incident angle, reflection angle) = (30°, 0°). The reflection properties of reflector b are assumed to be (incident angle, reflection angle) = (60°, 0°). The reflection properties of reflector c are assumed to be (incident angle, reflection angle) = (60°, 30°).

[0033] Then, the correspondence processing device 10 uses the base station positions stored in the base station position memory unit 202, the reflector installation positions stored in the reflector installation position memory unit 204, the receiving area stored in the receiving area position memory unit 206, and the area occupied by the obstacle stored in the obstacle area memory unit 208 to correspond to each of the reflector installation positions with either reflector a, reflector b, or reflector c.

[0034] For example, if the reflection direction of the reflector selected by the selection unit 40 and the receiving area are line-of-sight (there is no obstacle between them), the association processing device 10 associates the reflector with the reflector installation position. Furthermore, if the reflection direction of the reflector selected by the selection unit 40 and the receiving area are not line-of-sight (there is an obstacle between them), the association processing device 10 selects a reflector having the reflection characteristic (incident angle) second closest to the calculated incident angle from the reflection characteristics stored in the reflector characteristic storage unit 200, and similarly determines whether there is line-of-sight.

[0035] In this way, the association processing device 10 sequentially selects and associates reflectors whose reflection direction is line of sight with each reflector installation position. If the determination unit 50 determines that none of the multiple reflectors selected by the selection unit 40 is line of sight, the association processing device 10 determines that there is a reflector installation position to which a reflector cannot be associated.

[0036] 3 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the association processing device 10 according to one embodiment. For example, in step 100 (S100), the association processing device 10 selects one reflector installation position, the control unit 60 reads all reflector characteristics into memory (see FIG. 4), and the calculation unit 30 calculates the angle of incidence from the base station to the reflector installation position.

[0037] In step 102 (S102), the correspondence processing device 10 selects from memory one of the reflectors whose set incident angle is closest to the incident angle calculated by the calculation unit 30 and which is visible from the base station.

[0038] In step 104 (S104), the association processing device 10 determines whether the reflection direction of the selected reflector is line-of-sight with respect to the receiving area (whether it does not interfere with the area occupied by an obstacle). If the association processing device 10 determines that the reflection direction of the selected reflector is line-of-sight with respect to the receiving area (S104: Yes), the association processing device 10 proceeds to processing of S106. If the association processing device 10 determines that the reflection direction of the selected reflector is not line-of-sight with respect to the receiving area (S104: No), the association processing device 10 proceeds to processing of S108.

[0039] In step 106 (S106), the association processing device 10 associates (selects) the reflector with the selected reflector installation position, stores the reflector, and proceeds to the processing of S114.

[0040] In step 108 (S108), the association processing device 10 deletes the reflector from the memory.

[0041] In step 110 (S110), the correspondence processing device 10 determines whether the memory is empty or not, and if it determines that the memory is empty (S110: Yes), it proceeds to processing S112, and if it determines that the memory is not empty (S110: No), it returns to processing S102.

[0042] In step 112 (S112), the association processing device 10 stores that there is no suitable reflector (cannot be selected), and proceeds to the processing of S114.

[0043] In step 114 (S114), the correspondence processing device 10 determines whether processing for all reflector positions has been completed, and if not (S114: No), returns to processing of S100, and if completed (S114: Yes), ends processing.

[0044] In this way, the correspondence processing device 10 selects one of the reflectors that has a set incident angle closest to the calculated incident angle and that is within line of sight from the base station, and determines whether or not the receiving area is within line of sight from the selected reflector when the selected reflector reflects radio waves from the base station.This makes it possible to appropriately and easily correspond one of multiple reflectors that are set to have different combinations of incident angle and reflection angle and that irregularly reflect radio waves to multiple reflector installation positions that have been pre-set on the surface of a structure.

[0045] In addition, each function of the correspondence processing device 10 may be configured in part or in whole by hardware such as a PLD (Programmable Logic Device) or an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), or may be configured as a program executed by a processor such as a CPU.

[0046] For example, the association processing device 10 can be realized using a computer and a program, and the program can be recorded on a storage medium or provided via a network.

[0047] 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of the hardware configuration of the association processing device 10 according to an embodiment. As shown in FIG. 4, the association processing device 10 has, for example, an input unit 70, an output unit 71, a communication unit 72, a CPU 73, a memory 74, and an HDD 75 connected via a bus 76, and functions as a computer. The association processing device 10 is also configured to be able to input and output data to and from a computer-readable storage medium 77.

[0048] The input unit 70 is, for example, a keyboard and a mouse. The output unit 71 is, for example, a display device such as a display that outputs images. The communication unit 72 is, for example, a wired or wireless network interface, and may have a function as an output unit that outputs data to the outside.

[0049] The CPU 73 controls each component of the association processing device 10 and performs predetermined processing, etc. The memory 74 and HDD 75 are storage units that store data, etc.

[0050] The storage medium 77 is capable of storing programs and the like that cause the association processing device 10 to execute the functions of the association processing device 10. Note that the architecture that configures the association processing device 10 is not limited to the example shown in FIG.

[0051] The functions performed by the components described herein may be implemented in circuitry or processing circuitry, including general purpose processors, application specific processors, integrated circuits, ASICs (Application Specific Integrated Circuits), a CPU (a Central Processing Unit), conventional circuits, and / or combinations thereof, programmed to perform the described functions.

[0052] A processor includes transistors and other circuits and is considered to be circuitry or processing circuitry. A processor may be a programmed processor that executes programs stored in memory.

[0053] In this specification, a circuitry, unit, or means is hardware that is programmed to realize or performs the described functions, which may be any hardware disclosed herein or any hardware known to be programmed to realize or perform the described functions.

[0054] If the hardware is a processor considered to be a type of circuitry, the circuitry, means, or unit is a combination of the hardware and software used to configure the hardware and / or processor.

[0055] 1... base station, 2, 3... structure, 4... vehicle, 7, 8... reflector, 10... association processing device, 20... storage unit, 30... calculation unit, 40... selection unit, 50... determination unit, 60... control unit, 70... input unit, 71... output unit, 72... communication unit, 73... CPU, 74... memory, 75... HDD, 76... bus, 77... storage medium, 100... base station, 200... reflector characteristic storage unit, 202... base station position storage unit, 204... reflector installation position storage unit, 206... reception area position storage unit, 208... obstacle area storage unit, 210... selection result storage unit

Claims

1. A correspondence processing device that performs processing to associate one of a plurality of reflectors that are set to have different combinations of incident angle and reflection angle and that irregularly reflect radio waves with a plurality of reflector installation positions that are set in advance on the surface of a structure, the correspondence processing device comprising: a calculation unit that calculates the incident angle of radio waves from a predetermined base station to each of the reflector installation positions; a selection unit that selects one of the reflectors that has a set incident angle that is closest to the incident angle calculated by the calculation unit and that is within line of sight of the base station; a determination unit that determines whether a reception area that is pre-set as an area where a wireless communication device should be able to receive radio waves is within line of sight of the reflector when the reflector selected by the selection unit reflects radio waves from the base station; and a control unit that, if the determination unit determines that line of sight is possible, determines the correspondence between the reflector and the reflector installation position, and, if the determination unit determines that line of sight is not possible, controls the selection unit to select one of the reflectors that has a set incident angle that is next closest to the incident angle calculated by the calculation unit and that is within line of sight of the base station.

2. The control unit of the correspondence processing device described in claim 1 is characterized in that, when the determination unit determines that no line of sight is possible regardless of which of the multiple reflectors is selected by the selection unit, it determines that there is a reflector installation position to which the reflector cannot be associated.

3. A method for associating one of a plurality of reflectors, each of which has a different combination of incident angle and reflection angle and which irregularly reflects radio waves, with a plurality of reflector installation positions previously set on the surface of a structure, the method comprising: a calculation step of calculating the incident angle of radio waves from a predetermined base station to each of the reflector installation positions; a selection step of selecting one of the reflectors whose set incident angle is closest to the incident angle calculated in the calculation step and which is within line of sight of the base station; a determination step of determining whether a reception area previously set as an area where a wireless communication device should be able to receive radio waves is within line of sight of the reflector when the reflector selected in the selection step reflects radio waves from the base station; and a control step of determining, if line of sight is determined in the determination step, to associate the reflector with the reflector installation position; and, if line of sight is not determined in the determination step, controlling the selection step to select one of the reflectors whose set incident angle is next closest to the incident angle calculated in the calculation step and which is within line of sight of the base station.

4. The matching method described in claim 3, characterized in that in the control process, if the judgment process determines that no line of sight is achieved regardless of which of the multiple reflectors is selected in the selection process, it is determined that there is a reflector installation position to which the reflector cannot be matched.

5. A correspondence program executed by a correspondence processing device that performs processing to associate one of a plurality of reflectors that are set to have different combinations of incident angle and reflection angle and that irregularly reflect radio waves with a plurality of reflector installation positions that are preset on the surface of a structure, the correspondence program causing a computer to function as each part of the correspondence processing device, the correspondence program having: a calculation unit that calculates the incident angle of radio waves from a predetermined base station to the reflector installation position; a selection unit that selects one of the reflectors that has a set incident angle that is closest to the incident angle calculated by the calculation unit and that is within line of sight from the base station; a determination unit that determines whether a reception area that is preset as an area where a wireless communication device should be able to receive radio waves is within line of sight from the reflector when the reflector selected by the selection unit reflects radio waves from the base station; and a control unit that determines if line of sight is possible by the determination unit, determines if line of sight is possible, and associates the reflector with the reflector installation position, and if line of sight is not possible by the determination unit, controls the selection unit to select one of the reflectors that has a set incident angle that is next closest to the incident angle calculated by the calculation unit and that is within line of sight from the base station.

6. The control unit of the matching program described in claim 5 is characterized in that, when the determination unit determines that no line of sight is achieved regardless of which of the multiple reflectors is selected by the selection unit, it determines that there is a reflector installation position to which the reflector cannot be matched.

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