Radio waveform providing device, radio waveform providing method, and radio waveform providing program

Abstract

The radio wave map providing device includes: a radio wave map storage unit (101) for storing a radio wave map having reference position information indicating a reference position and reference communication quality information indicating the communication quality at the reference position; a receiving unit (102) for receiving a radio wave map request including movement interval information indicating a predetermined movement interval of a mobile body and requested communication quality information indicating the requested communication quality; a radio wave map response generation unit (106) for comparing the amount of reference communication quality information at the reference position included in the predetermined movement interval that is above the requested communication quality information and the amount of reference communication quality information that is below the requested communication quality information, and generating a radio wave map response based on the reference communication quality information with the smaller amount of information, i.e., providing reference communication quality information, and the reference position information corresponding to the reference communication quality information, i.e., providing reference position information; and a transmitting unit (103) for transmitting the radio wave map response.

Description

[0001] Cross-references to related applications

[0002] This application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2020-201904, filed on December 4, 2020, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0003] This application relates to apparatuses related to radio waveforms, specifically to radio waveform providing apparatuses mainly implemented by servers, methods implemented by radio waveform providing apparatuses, and programs executed by radio waveform providing apparatuses. Background Technology

[0004] With the widespread adoption of wireless communication, opportunities for wireless communication in various locations are increasing. Particularly in mobile vehicles such as automobiles, technologies like V2X (vehicle-to-everything) using high-capacity cellular communication, vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication, and road-to-road (Road-to-Road) communication are gaining attention for driver assistance and autonomous driving control. Consequently, vehicles are acquiring communication capabilities, and the so-called vehicle connectivity is continuously developing.

[0005] Here, it is known that radio waves interfere with each other in wireless communication, resulting in varying transmission and reception levels depending on the location. This phenomenon is generally referred to as fading. In mobile vehicles such as automobiles, movement is a prerequisite, so communication quality changes along with movement. Therefore, if the communication quality at a specific location could be known in advance, countermeasures could be taken.

[0006] For example, Patent Document 1 describes a communication resource map showing the correspondence between a location and the estimated amount of communication resources that can be used for communication at that location.

[0007] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-203823

[0008] Here, the inventors, through detailed research, discovered the following issues.

[0009] Vehicles and other mobile vehicles can schedule communications to account for fading by receiving a communication resource map of their intended destination from a device that displays a correspondence between locations and communication resource availability. However, there are concerns that the communication load becomes excessive when transmitting and receiving a map of the entire planned route for a vehicle or other mobile vehicle. Furthermore, since the routes of vehicles and other mobile vehicles vary depending on road conditions and passenger status, receiving a new map every time the route changes further increases the communication load required for map transmission and reception. Summary of the Invention

[0010] Therefore, the purpose of this disclosure is to provide the information required for scheduling communication of mobile bodies while suppressing the amount of communication required for transmitting and receiving radio waves.

[0011] One aspect of the radio chart providing apparatus disclosed herein is a radio chart providing apparatus that receives a radio chart request from a radio chart acquisition and utilization apparatus mounted on a mobile body and transmits the required information. It comprises: a radio chart storage unit that stores a radio chart having reference position information indicating a reference position and reference communication quality information indicating the communication quality at the reference position; a receiving unit that receives the radio chart request including movement interval information indicating a predetermined movement interval of the mobile body and required communication quality information indicating the required communication quality; a radio chart response generation unit that compares the amount of reference communication quality information at the reference position within the predetermined movement interval that is above the required communication quality information with the amount of reference communication quality information below the required communication quality information, and generates a radio chart response based on the reference communication quality information with the smaller amount of information (i.e., providing reference communication quality information) and reference position information corresponding to the reference communication quality information (i.e., providing reference position information); and a transmitting unit that transmits the radio chart response.

[0012] The other radio chart providing method disclosed herein is a radio chart providing method performed by a radio chart providing device that receives a radio chart request from a radio chart acquisition and utilization device mounted on a mobile body and sends the required information. The radio chart providing device includes a radio chart storage unit that stores a radio chart having reference position information indicating a reference position and reference communication quality information indicating communication quality at the reference position. It receives the radio chart request containing movement interval information indicating a predetermined movement interval of the mobile body and required communication quality information indicating a required communication quality. It compares the amount of reference communication quality information at the reference position within the predetermined movement interval that is above the required communication quality information with the amount of reference communication quality information below the required communication quality information. Based on the reference communication quality information with the smaller amount of information (i.e., providing reference communication quality information) and the reference position information corresponding to the reference communication quality information (i.e., providing reference position information), it generates a radio chart response and sends the radio chart response.

[0013] Another radio chart providing program disclosed herein is a radio chart providing program executed by a radio chart providing device that receives a radio chart request from a radio chart acquisition and utilization device mounted on a mobile body and sends the required information. The radio chart providing device includes a radio chart storage unit that stores a radio chart having reference position information indicating a reference position and reference communication quality information indicating communication quality at the reference position. It receives the radio chart request containing movement interval information indicating a predetermined movement interval of the mobile body and required communication quality information indicating a required communication quality. It compares the amount of reference communication quality information at the reference position within the predetermined movement interval that is above the required communication quality information with the amount of reference communication quality information below the required communication quality information. Based on the reference communication quality information with the smaller amount of information (i.e., providing reference communication quality information) and the reference position information corresponding to the reference communication quality information (i.e., providing reference position information), it generates a radio chart response and sends the radio chart response.

[0014] Furthermore, the numbers in parentheses attached to the constituent elements of the invention described in the claims indicate the correspondence between the invention and the embodiments described later, but do not limit the invention.

[0015] With the configuration described above, it is possible to provide the radio wave image required by the radio wave image acquisition and utilization device while suppressing the communication volume when transmitting the radio wave image. Attached Figure Description

[0016] Figure 1 This is a diagram illustrating the overall configuration of embodiments of this disclosure.

[0017] Figure 2 This is a block diagram illustrating an example configuration of the radio wave spectrum providing device according to Embodiment 1.

[0018] Figure 3 This is a diagram illustrating the reference location information and reference communication quality information contained in the radio wave response of this disclosure.

[0019] Figure 4 This is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the radio waveform providing device according to Embodiment 1.

[0020] Figure 5 This is a block diagram illustrating an example configuration of the radio wave spectrum providing device according to Embodiment 2.

[0021] Figure 6 This is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the radio waveform providing device in Embodiment 2.

[0022] Figure 7 This is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the radio waveform providing device in Embodiment 2.

[0023] Figure 8 This is a diagram illustrating the reference position information and reference communication quality information contained in the radio wave response of a variation of Embodiments 1 and 2.

[0024] Figure 9 This is a diagram illustrating the reference position information and reference communication quality information contained in the radio wave response of a variation of Embodiment 1 and 2, Example 4. Detailed Implementation

[0025] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0026] Furthermore, the invention described below refers to the invention as set forth in the claims and is not limited to the embodiments described below. Additionally, at least the statements enclosed in quotation marks refer to the statements set forth in the claims and are similarly not limited to the embodiments described below.

[0027] The configurations and methods described in the dependent claims are any configurations and methods in the invention described in the independent claims. The configurations and methods of embodiments corresponding to the configurations and methods described in the dependent claims, and configurations and methods not described in the claims but only described in the embodiments, are arbitrary configurations and methods in this invention. Configurations and methods described in embodiments where the scope of the claims is broader than that of the embodiments are also examples of the configurations and methods of this invention, and in this sense, are arbitrary configurations and methods in this invention. In any case, the configurations and methods that are essential to this invention are described in the independent claims.

[0028] The effects described in the embodiments are effects under the configuration of embodiments that serve as examples of the present invention, and are not necessarily effects of the present invention.

[0029] In the case of multiple implementations, the configurations disclosed in each implementation are not limited to that specific implementation, but can be combined across implementations. For example, the configurations disclosed in one implementation can be combined with those in other implementations. Alternatively, the configurations disclosed in multiple implementations can be combined in a centralized manner.

[0030] The subject matter described in this disclosure is not a known subject matter, but a subject matter discovered independently by the inventor, and together with the structure and method of this disclosure, it affirms the inventiveness of the invention.

[0031] 1. The overall composition of the equipment involved.

[0032] First use Figure 1The overall configuration of the devices involved in this embodiment and the relationships between them will be described.

[0033] Server device A corresponds to the radio wave image providing device in each embodiment, storing radio wave images and transmitting them via a communication network according to radio wave image requests from vehicle-mounted device B. The radio wave images stored in server device A can be generated by any method, the method of generation of which will not be described in this specification. Server device A may also function as a radio wave image generating device in addition to its function as a radio wave image providing device.

[0034] Assume that the communication network between server device A and vehicle device B uses wireless communication. Wireless communication methods could include, for example, IEEE 802.11 (Wi-Fi), IEEE 802.16 (WiMAX), W-CDMA (Wideband Code Division Multiple Access), HSPA (High Speed ​​Packet Access), LTE (Long Term Evolution), LTE-A (Long Term Evolution Advanced), 4G, 5G, etc. Alternatively, DSRC (Dedicated Short Range Communication) could be used.

[0035] Communication networks can also combine wireless and wired communication methods. For example, the vehicle-mounted device B can be connected wirelessly to a base station in a cellular system, and then connected via wired communication methods such as the telecommunications operator's backbone or the Internet.

[0036] The vehicle-mounted device B, "mounted" on the vehicle which is a "mobile body," is equivalent to the radio wave map acquisition and utilization device in each embodiment. The vehicle-mounted device B sends a radio wave map request to the server device A via a communication network, and receives information corresponding to the content of the radio wave map request, i.e., a radio wave map response, from the server device A via the communication network. The vehicle-mounted device B receives positioning signals from GNSS satellites to obtain the vehicle's location information. The vehicle-mounted device B also uses the radio wave map response sent from the server device A to send various data acquired by the vehicle to the server device C. The server device C is a data storage device that stores the data sent from the vehicle-mounted device B.

[0037] A "moving body" refers to an object capable of movement at any speed. It also includes situations where the moving body is stationary. Examples include, but are not limited to, cars, motorcycles, bicycles, pedestrians, ships, airplanes, and the goods carried on them.

[0038] "Mounted" includes not only cases where the object is directly fixed to the moving body, but also cases where it moves with the moving body even though it is not fixed to it. For example, cases where it is carried by a person riding on the moving body, or cases where it is mounted on goods placed on the moving body.

[0039] 2. Implementation Method 1

[0040] (1) Configuration of radio wave image providing device 10

[0041] use Figure 2 The configuration of the radio wave image providing device 10 in Embodiment 1 will be described.

[0042] The radio wave image providing device 10 includes a radio wave image storage unit 101, a receiving unit 102, a transmitting unit 103, and a control unit 104. The control unit 104 implements the radio wave image extraction unit 105 and the radio wave image response generation unit 106, and controls the operation of the radio wave image storage unit 101, the receiving unit 102, and the transmitting unit 103.

[0043] The radio wave diagram providing device 10 can be composed of a general-purpose CPU (Central Processing Unit), volatile memory such as RAM, non-volatile memory such as ROM, flash memory or hard disk, various interfaces, and internal buses connecting them. Furthermore, it can be configured to execute software on this hardware to enable… Figure 2 The functions of each functional block described herein. Of course, the radio wave image providing device 10 can also be implemented using dedicated hardware such as LSI. The same applies to radio wave image providing devices in Embodiment 2 and later.

[0044] In this embodiment, the radio wave diagram providing device 10 is assumed to be in the form of an electronic control unit (ECU, hereinafter referred to as ECU) as a semi-finished product, but it is not limited thereto. For example, as a component, it can be a semiconductor circuit or a semiconductor module, and as a finished product, it can be a personal computer (PC), a smartphone, a mobile phone, or a navigation system.

[0045] Furthermore, the radio wave diagram providing device 10 can be composed of multiple ECUs in addition to a single ECU. For example, a communication ECU can be responsible for communication with external systems.

[0046] The radio wave image storage unit 101 is a storage unit for storing radio wave images. Besides non-volatile memory such as flash memory or hard disk, it can also be implemented using volatile memory such as RAM. Alternatively, removable storage media such as BD, DVD, or SD cards can be used. The radio wave images stored in the radio wave image storage unit 101 have reference position information indicating a reference position and reference communication quality information indicating the communication quality at the reference position. Here, the communication quality represented by the reference communication quality information refers to, for example, the average bit rate (bps) or RSSI per unit time.

[0047] The receiving unit 102 receives a radio wave map request sent from the radio wave map acquisition and utilization device 200. The radio wave map request may include, for example, current location information indicating the vehicle's current location, "movement interval information" indicating the predetermined movement interval of the vehicle's future planned movement, and required communication quality information indicating the communication quality requested by the radio wave map acquisition and utilization device 200. For example, in this embodiment, the following information is received as the radio wave map request.

[0048] (Radio waveform request)

[0049] Current location information: The vehicle's current location in latitude, longitude, and altitude, or the ID of a grid point on the map.

[0050] Movement section information: Represents multiple coordinates of the vehicle's predetermined movement section.

[0051] Required communication quality information: Required communication speed [Mbps]

[0052] Here, "movement interval information" can simply refer to information indicating a certain range of movement of the moving body. For example, in addition to information indicating multiple consecutive locations, it can also refer to information indicating two locations (the start and end points of the interval), or information combining a location (the start or end point of the interval) and the length.

[0053] Furthermore, the radio wave map request may also include information other than the information mentioned above. For example, when the radio wave map acquisition and utilization device 200 only needs a radio wave map of a portion of a predetermined interval, the radio wave map request may also include requested interval information indicating the interval for which the radio wave map is requested. Additionally, the interval information may be information indicating a portion of the vehicle's predetermined travel path, such as every 10m or every 100m.

[0054] The radio wave image extraction unit 105 obtains reference position information and reference communication quality information from the radio wave image storage unit 101, which represent the reference positions included in the predetermined movement range of the vehicle.

[0055] The radio waveform response generation unit 106 compares the amount of information in the reference communication quality information acquired by the radio waveform extraction unit 105 that requires "higher" communication quality information with lower information quality requirements. Then, it generates a radio waveform response based on the reference communication quality information with the smaller information amount as a result of the comparison, and the reference position information corresponding to the smaller information amount. Hereinafter, the reference communication quality information with the smaller information amount acquired by the radio waveform extraction unit 105 is designated as "provided reference communication quality information." Furthermore, the reference position information corresponding to "provided reference communication quality information" is designated as "provided reference position information."

[0056] Here, "above" and "below" include both cases that contain the same value as the "required communication quality information" that is being compared and cases that do not contain such information.

[0057] "Comparison" can, of course, directly compare the amount of information in the benchmark communication quality information, or it can be done indirectly by comparing it with other information.

[0058] In addition to directly generating a radio waveform response by providing reference location information and reference communication quality information, “based” generation can also generate a radio waveform response by using only a portion of the reference location information and reference communication quality information, or by performing calculations on this information.

[0059] The radio wave map response generation unit 106 can, for example, compare the amount of information in the reference communication quality information by comparing the interval of the reference position shown by the reference position information corresponding to the reference communication quality information above the required communication quality information, and the interval of the reference position shown by the reference position information corresponding to the reference communication quality information below the required communication quality information. When the granularity of the radio wave map stored in the radio wave map storage unit 101 is constant regardless of position, the narrower the interval of the reference position, the smaller the amount of information in the reference communication quality information. Therefore, the amount of information in the reference communication quality information can be indirectly compared by comparing the distance between the intervals of the reference positions. However, when the granularity of the radio wave map stored in the radio wave map storage unit 101 varies depending on the position, the distance between the intervals of the reference positions and the amount of information in the reference communication quality information may not be proportional. In such cases, it is desirable to directly compare the amount of information in the reference communication quality information.

[0060] Figure 3A graph illustrates the relationship between the reference location within the predetermined mobile range and the reference communication quality information (i.e., communication speed [Mbps]) at that reference location. Here, an example requiring a communication quality information of 1 Mbps is explained. Furthermore, in... Figure 3 In this context, it is assumed that the granularity of information in the radio wave diagram remains constant regardless of location.

[0061] Figure 3 Interval a is the range where the communication speed is below 1 Mbps, serving as the baseline communication quality information; interval b is the range where the communication speed is above 1 Mbps. For example... Figure 3 As shown, interval a is narrower than interval b. Therefore, if we compare the amount of information in the reference communication quality information of interval a with the amount of information in the reference communication quality information of interval b, the amount of information in the radio waveform of interval a is smaller. Therefore, the radio waveform response generation unit 106 uses the reference position information representing the reference position contained in interval a as the provided reference position information and the reference communication quality information in interval a as the provided reference communication quality information to generate a radio waveform response containing them.

[0062] Furthermore, the radio waveform response can be generated "based" on the information provided by the reference location information and the reference communication quality information, or it may not directly include the reference location information and the reference communication quality information. For example, the radio waveform response generation unit 106 may calculate the average value of the reference communication quality information and generate a radio waveform response that includes the calculated average value. Alternatively, the radio waveform response generation unit 106 may generate a radio waveform response that only includes a portion of the reference location information and the reference communication quality information. For example, in Figure 3 In the case of examples, a radio waveform response can also be generated that provides reference location information indicating the start point of interval a, reference location information indicating the end point of interval a, and reference communication quality information indicating the lowest communication speed in interval a.

[0063] The radio waveform response generation unit 106 can further adjust the granularity of the information contained in the radio waveform response based on the vehicle's speed within the predetermined movement range. For example, when the vehicle's speed is slow, the vehicle spends a longer time within the predetermined movement range, and there are more opportunities for communication within that range. Therefore, it is preferable to use a radio waveform with smaller granularity, i.e., more detailed information, for communication control. Conversely, when the vehicle's speed is fast, the vehicle spends a shorter time within the predetermined movement range, so a smaller granularity radio waveform is less likely to be needed. Therefore, the faster the vehicle moves within the predetermined movement range, the larger the granularity of the radio waveform response, providing reference position information and reference communication quality information, is generated. For example, when the vehicle's speed is 10 km / h, a radio waveform response containing reference position information and reference communication quality information every 1 m is generated; when the vehicle's speed is 60 km / h, a radio waveform response containing reference position information and reference communication quality information every 10 m is generated. Furthermore, the vehicle's speed and the granularity of the information contained in the radio waveform response may not be proportional. For example, a reference value for the moving speed can be preset, and a radio waveform response of the first granularity can be generated when the moving speed is above the reference value, and a radio waveform response of the second granularity smaller than the first granularity can be generated when the moving speed is below the reference value.

[0064] When the radio wave response generation unit 106 adjusts the granularity of the information contained in the radio wave response, the radio wave response generation unit 106 can also obtain the vehicle's movement speed contained in the radio wave request. Alternatively, the radio wave response generation unit 106 can estimate the vehicle's movement speed based on the legal speed of the predetermined movement interval and the road congestion in that interval, and use the estimated movement speed to adjust the granularity.

[0065] The transmitting unit 103 sends the radio waveform response generated by the radio waveform response generation unit 106 to the radio waveform acquisition and utilization device 200. For example, in this embodiment, the following information is sent as the radio waveform response.

[0066] (Radio waveform response)

[0067] Timestamp: The time at which the radio waveform contained in the generated radio waveform response was generated.

[0068] Provide reference location information: the latitude, longitude, and altitude of the reference location, or the ID representing a grid point on the map.

[0069] Provides baseline communication quality information: communication speed [Mbps] at the baseline location.

[0070] The radio wave image acquisition and utilization device 200 uses the received radio wave image response to perform transmission control when transmitting various data acquired by the vehicle. For example, when receiving data containing... Figure 3 When the radio waveform response corresponding to interval a provides reference location information and reference communication quality information, the radio waveform acquisition and utilization device 200 can determine that the required communication quality cannot be obtained in interval a, and further determine that the required communication quality can be obtained in intervals outside interval a. Therefore, communication can be scheduled, for example, by transmitting smaller amounts of data in interval a and transmitting larger amounts of data such as image data in intervals outside interval a.

[0071] (2) Operation of radio wave image providing device 10

[0072] use Figure 4 The operation of the radio waveform providing apparatus 10 according to this embodiment will be described. Furthermore, the following operations describe not only the radio waveform providing method performed by the radio waveform providing apparatus 10, but also the processing sequence of the radio waveform providing procedure that can be performed by the radio waveform providing apparatus 10. Moreover, these processes are not limited to… Figure 4 The order shown is as follows. That is, the order can be changed as long as there is no constraint such as the relationship between a step and the result of a previous step. The operation of the radio wave diagram providing device in Embodiment 2 and later is also the same.

[0073] The receiving unit 102 receives a radio wave map request from the radio wave map acquisition and utilization device 200, which includes current location information, movement range information, and communication quality information (S101).

[0074] The radio wave image extraction unit 105 obtains the reference position information contained in the predetermined movement interval and the corresponding reference communication quality information from the radio wave image storage unit 101 (S102).

[0075] The radio wave response generation unit 106 compares the amount of information of the reference communication quality information that is above the required communication quality information and the amount of information of the reference communication quality information that is below the required communication quality information in the reference communication quality information acquired in S102 (S103).

[0076] The radio wave pattern response generation unit 106 generates a radio wave pattern response (S104) based on the reference communication quality information with a small amount of information, which is the result of the comparison in S103, and the reference position information corresponding to the reference communication quality information.

[0077] The transmitting unit 103 will send the radio wave map response generated in S104 to the radio wave map acquisition and utilization device 200 (S105).

[0078] According to the radio wave map providing apparatus of this embodiment, a radio wave map response is generated based on communication quality information that is at or above the communication quality required by the radio wave map acquisition and utilization apparatus, and its location information, and then sent to the radio wave map acquisition and utilization apparatus. Therefore, it is possible to provide the information required by the radio wave map acquisition and utilization apparatus when performing data transmission control, while suppressing the amount of communication between the radio wave map providing apparatus and the radio wave map acquisition and utilization apparatus.

[0079] 3. Implementation Method 2

[0080] In this embodiment, a configuration that can further suppress the amount of data transmitted and received between the radio wave image providing device and the radio wave image acquisition and utilization device will be described.

[0081] (1) Composition of radio wave image providing device

[0082] Figure 5 The radio waveform providing device 20 of this embodiment is shown. The radio waveform providing device 20, in addition to... Figure 2 In addition to the components of the radio wave image providing device 10 shown, it also includes a radio wave image response storage unit 107 and a position determination unit 108.

[0083] In this embodiment, the radio waveform response generation unit 106 generates two radio waveform responses (hereinafter referred to as the first radio waveform response and the second radio waveform response). The first radio waveform response includes reference location information from the information obtained by the radio waveform extraction unit 105, but does not include reference communication quality information. In contrast, the second radio waveform response includes both reference location information and reference communication quality information.

[0084] Furthermore, the radio wave map response generation unit 106 may not necessarily generate the first radio wave map response. If the position determination unit 108, described later, determines that the interval from the current position shown by the vehicle's current position information included in the radio wave map request to the reference position shown by the provided reference position information is below a predetermined threshold, the radio wave map response generation unit 106 may not generate the first radio wave map response, but only generate the second radio wave map response.

[0085] The radio waveform response storage unit 107 temporarily stores the radio waveform response from the time the radio waveform response generated by the radio waveform response generation unit 106 is sent from the transmission unit 103 to the radio waveform acquisition and utilization device 200. The radio waveform response storage unit 107 can be implemented using volatile memory such as RAM, in addition to non-volatile memory such as flash memory or hard disk.

[0086] The position determination unit 108 determines whether the "interval" from the current position of the vehicle shown in the current position information to the reference position shown in the reference position information is above a predetermined threshold. Here, the reference position shown in the reference position information can be, for example, a position representing... Figure 3 The reference positions of the start and end points of interval a shown can also be the reference positions representing the center of interval a.

[0087] Based on the determination result of the position determination unit 108, the transmitting unit 103 transmits a first radio waveform response or a second radio waveform response. The transmitting unit 103 transmits a first radio waveform response when the result determined by the position determination unit 108 indicates that the "interval" from the vehicle's current position to the reference position shown in the reference position information is above a predetermined threshold. Conversely, the transmitting unit 103 transmits a second radio waveform response when the "interval" from the vehicle's current position to the reference position shown in the reference position information is below the predetermined threshold.

[0088] Here, "interval" includes not only the distance between the current location information and the location provided by the reference location information, but also the time required to travel from the current location information to the location provided by the reference location information.

[0089] For example, if the distance from the vehicle's current position to the reference position shown in the reference position information is longer than a preset distance threshold, a first radio waveform response is sent. Alternatively, instead of distance, the time required for the vehicle to travel from its current position to the reference position shown in the reference position information can be estimated, and if the estimated time is longer than a preset time threshold, a first radio waveform response is sent.

[0090] Furthermore, it is expected that after the receiving unit 102 of this embodiment sends the first radio wave map response through the transmitting unit 103, it periodically obtains location information (equivalent to "second current location information") representing the current location of the vehicle received by the utilizing device 200 from the radio wave map. This location represents the new current location (equivalent to "second current location") of the vehicle that has moved from the current location (equivalent to "first current location") shown in the current location information included in the radio wave map request.

[0091] In this case, if the receiving unit 102 receives the current position information of the moved vehicle, the position determination unit 108 determines whether the "interval" from the position shown in the moved current position information to the reference position shown in the provided reference position information is above a predetermined threshold. Furthermore, if the interval from the moved current position to the reference position becomes below the predetermined threshold, the transmitting unit 103 transmits a second radio waveform response.

[0092] In this embodiment, the receiving unit 102 may receive, in addition to the radio wave map request and the current location information after the vehicle moves, change information indicating that the predetermined range of the vehicle's movement has changed.

[0093] The vehicle's travel route sometimes changes depending on passengers and road conditions. In this case, the predetermined travel interval also changes with the change of the vehicle's travel route, so there is a high probability that the information contained in the radio wave map response generated based on the predetermined travel interval before the change of travel route will not be used. Therefore, when the predetermined travel interval of the vehicle changes, the radio wave map acquisition and utilization device 200 sends change information to the radio wave map providing device 20.

[0094] If the receiving unit 102 receives change information from the radio wave map acquisition and utilization device 200, it is not necessary to send a second radio wave map response. Therefore, the second radio wave map response stored in the radio wave map response storage unit 107 is deleted.

[0095] Therefore, it is possible to prevent the transmission and reception of radio wave map responses that contain radio wave maps that are no longer needed due to changes in the driving path, and to prevent unnecessary communication between the radio wave map providing device 20 and the radio wave map utilization acquisition device 200.

[0096] (2) Operation of the radio wave diagram providing device

[0097] use Figure 6 , 7 The operation of the radio waveform providing device 20 in this embodiment will be explained. Figure 4 The same processing is omitted.

[0098] The position determination unit 108 determines whether the interval from the current position of the vehicle shown in the current position information to the reference position shown in the reference position information is above a predetermined threshold (S201).

[0099] If the determination result of S201 is below the specified threshold (S201: "No"), the radio waveform response generation unit 106 generates a second radio waveform response (S202).

[0100] The transmitting unit 103 transmits the second radio wave pattern response generated in S202 (S203).

[0101] On the other hand, if the determination result of S201 is above the specified threshold (S201: "Yes"), the radio waveform response generation unit 106 generates a first radio waveform response and a second radio waveform response (S204).

[0102] The transmitting unit 103 will send the first radio wave map response generated in S204 to the radio wave map acquisition and utilization device 200 (S205).

[0103] The radio wave pattern response storage unit 107 stores the second radio wave pattern response generated in S204 (S206).

[0104] Figure 7 This shows the process that is performed periodically after the process in S206.

[0105] Determine whether the receiving unit 102 has received the change information (S210).

[0106] Upon receiving the change information (S210: "Yes"), the second radio wave response stored in the radio wave response storage unit 107 is deleted (S211).

[0107] On the other hand, if no change information is received (S210: "No"), it is determined whether the current location information of the moved vehicle has been received from the radio wave map acquisition device 200 (S212).

[0108] Upon receiving the current position information of the moved vehicle (S212: "Yes"), the position determination unit 108 determines whether the interval from the current position shown in the current position information of the moved vehicle to the reference position shown in the reference position information is above a predetermined threshold (S213).

[0109] If the determination result in S213 is below the specified threshold (S213: "No"), the second radio wave response stored in the radio wave response storage unit 107 is sent (S214).

[0110] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, if the vehicle approaches the reference position indicated by the reference position information, the radio wave map acquisition and utilization device 200 can receive the second radio wave map response sent from the radio wave map providing device 20 and acquire the reference communication quality information. However, if the vehicle approaches the reference position indicated by the reference position information but the second radio wave map response is not received, the radio wave map acquisition and utilization device 200 may also be configured to resend the radio wave map request.

[0111] If the distance from the vehicle's current position to the reference position indicated by the reference position information provided in the radio waveform response is far, there is a possibility that the travel path has changed during the period until the vehicle reaches the reference position. In the case of a changed travel path, the information in the radio waveform response corresponding to the initial travel path is not used. Therefore, if the distance from the vehicle's current position to the reference position is far, there is a possibility that the information for the received radio waveform response does not need to be transmitted, thus resulting in unnecessary communication of the radio waveform response.

[0112] Therefore, in this embodiment, when the distance from the vehicle's current position to the reference position is far, a radio waveform response containing only location information is sent, and when the vehicle's current position approaches the reference position, communication quality information is sent. In this way, by sending radio waveform responses in stages according to the interval between the vehicle's current position and the reference position, unnecessary data communication can be minimized.

[0113] 4. Variations

[0114] In this section, a modified example of a radio waveform response generated by the radio waveform response generation unit 106 and provided to the radio waveform acquisition and utilization device 200 will be described. Furthermore, the following modifications can be applied to either Embodiment 1 or 2, but an example applicable to Embodiment 1 will be described.

[0115] (1) Variation Example 1

[0116] In this variation, the structure of transmitting a range of intervals and communication quality information within those intervals as representative values, which is then described as a radio waveform response, will be explained.

[0117] Figure 8 This is a graph showing the relationship between the reference location information and the communication speed [Mbps], which serves as the reference communication quality information, in this variation. Figure 3 The same applies, requiring a communication quality information of 1 Mbps. Figure 8 The radio wave diagram shown is Figure 3 Unlike other methods, each reference position is pre-divided into multiple intervals, with reference position information representing each interval. Furthermore, reference communication quality information represents a representative value of the communication quality within each interval. This interval extends from a specific reference position (equivalent to a "first reference position") to other reference positions (equivalent to a "second reference position").

[0118] exist Figure 3 In the previous example, the intervals above or below the required communication quality information were designated as intervals a and b, respectively. However, in this variant, regardless of the required communication quality information, the reference position is pre-divided into multiple intervals. Figure 3 Different. For example, the interval may be divided at locations where the rate of change of communication quality at a reference location is greater than the rate of change at an adjacent reference location than a predetermined predetermined rate of change. Alternatively, the interval may be divided at locations where changes occur at base stations connected wirelessly between the radio wave map providing device 10 and the radio wave map acquisition and utilization device 200.

[0119] exist Figure 8In the example shown, the intervals A, C, D, and E are considered the baseline communication quality information above the required communication quality information, while the interval B is the only baseline communication quality information below the required communication quality information. Therefore, the amount of information in the baseline communication quality information in interval B is smaller than that in intervals A, C, D, and E.

[0120] Therefore, the radio wave response generation unit 106 of this embodiment generates a radio wave response that includes reference communication quality information with a small amount of information, namely, reference communication quality information representing the representative value of the communication quality of interval B, and reference position information representing interval B.

[0121] Furthermore, although the radio wave map storage unit 101 may store a radio wave map containing reference location information representing the interval and representative values ​​of communication quality in each interval, i.e., reference communication quality information, it is also possible, similar to embodiments 1 and 2, to store reference location information representing each reference location and communication quality information representing the communication quality at the reference location in the radio wave map storage unit 101, and to divide the predetermined movement interval into multiple intervals when receiving the movement interval information included in the radio wave map request. In this case, the reference location is divided into multiple intervals based on the intervals into which the predetermined movement interval is divided, and a representative value of communication quality for each interval is calculated. When dividing the movement interval information into multiple intervals, for example, as described above, the movement interval information is divided into multiple intervals based on the rate of change of communication quality or the connection base station.

[0122] As described above, in this modified example, instead of multiple reference location information and reference communication quality information, a representative value, i.e., reference communication quality information, containing the reference location information representing the interval and the communication quality information of the interval, is sent to the radio chart acquisition and utilization device 200. This significantly reduces the amount of communication between the radio chart providing device 10 and the radio chart acquisition and utilization device 200.

[0123] (2) Variation Example 2

[0124] In this variation, the configuration of sending the predetermined time when the vehicle is traveling at the reference position as the radio wave response instead of the reference position information will be explained.

[0125] In this modified example, the radio wave map response generation unit 106 calculates the predetermined time at which the vehicle moves to the reference position shown by the reference position information obtained by the radio wave map extraction unit 105. For example, the radio wave map response generation unit 106 can calculate the predetermined time at which the vehicle moves to the reference position based on the vehicle's moving speed and the legal speed within the predetermined moving range included in the radio wave map request.

[0126] Then, the radio waveform response generation unit 106 generates a radio waveform response that includes predetermined time information representing the calculated predetermined time and reference communication quality information representing the communication quality at the predetermined time.

[0127] In the radio wave map acquisition and utilization device 200, upon receiving a radio wave map response containing reference location information and reference communication quality information, the time when the vehicle travels at the reference location is calculated, and communication scheduling is performed based on the calculated time. Therefore, by replacing the radio wave map acquisition and utilization device 200, and instead having the radio wave map providing device 10 calculate the predetermined time when the vehicle travels at the reference location and send a radio wave map response containing predetermined time information and reference communication quality information, the conversion processing from location information to time information on the radio wave map acquisition and utilization device 200 side is eliminated, thus reducing the processing load in the radio wave map acquisition and utilization device 200.

[0128] (3) Variation Example 3

[0129] In this variation, the configuration of the radio waveform response is described as sending an instruction to obtain this information from other vehicles instead of the reference position information and the reference communication quality information.

[0130] The radio waveform response generation unit 106 in this modified example is the same as in Embodiment 1, comparing the amount of information in the reference communication quality information obtained by the radio waveform extraction unit 105 that is above the required communication quality information with the amount of information in the reference communication quality information that is below the required communication quality information. Here, in Embodiment 1, a radio waveform response is generated based on the reference communication quality information with a small amount of information, that is, the provision reference communication quality information and the provision reference location information corresponding to the reference communication quality information. However, the radio waveform response generation unit 106 in this modified example further determines whether a radio waveform response was previously generated based on the same information as the provision reference communication quality information and provision reference location information extracted this time, and sends the radio waveform response from the transmission unit 103 to other vehicles (equivalent to "second mobile bodies").

[0131] If it is determined that the transmitting unit 103 has not transmitted the same radio waveform response in the past, the radio waveform response generation unit 106 generates a radio waveform response (equivalent to "first radio waveform response") based on providing reference communication quality information and providing reference location information.

[0132] In contrast, if it is determined that the transmitting unit 103 has transmitted the same radio waveform response in the past, the radio waveform response generation unit 106 generates a radio waveform response (equivalent to a "second radio waveform response") that indicates the vehicle from which the radio waveform response was transmitted. This radio waveform response may also include identification information indicating the device or vehicle from which the transmitting unit 103 previously transmitted the radio waveform response.

[0133] As described above, in this modified example, the radio waveform providing device 10 generates and sends a radio waveform response instructing the radio waveform acquisition and utilization device 200 to acquire a radio waveform response from the other device after sending the information required by the radio waveform acquisition and utilization device 200 to the other device. When the other device has the information required by the radio waveform acquisition and utilization device 200, the radio waveform acquisition and utilization device 200 can acquire the radio waveform response from the other device, for example, via inter-vehicle communication or Wi-Fi, thereby reducing communication costs.

[0134] (4) Variation Example 4

[0135] In this modified example, the configuration is described when a delay period is set for the predetermined data transmitted by the radio wave pattern acquisition and utilization device 200.

[0136] When a delay period is set for data to be transmitted from the radio wave map acquisition and utilization device 200, the data transmission needs to be completed within the delay period. However, if the reference communication quality of the radio wave map is short within the predetermined movement range of the vehicle's planned movement during the delay period, and the range requiring communication quality is short, there is a concern that the data transmission may not be completed within the delay period.

[0137] Therefore, in this modified example, the radio wave map providing device 10 determines, based on the predetermined amount of data to be transmitted from the radio wave map acquisition and utilization device 200 and the delay period set for the predetermined data transmission, whether the data transmission can be completed within a predetermined movement interval in which the reference communication quality of the radio wave map is above the required communication quality. Furthermore, if it is determined that data transmission cannot be completed within the interval where the reference communication quality is above the required communication quality, the predetermined movement interval is divided into an interval where the radio wave map acquisition and utilization device 200 performs data transmission and an interval where data transmission is not performed, so that data transmission is completed within the delay period.

[0138] Figure 9 This is a graph showing the relationship between the reference location information and the communication speed [Mbps], which serves as the reference communication quality information, in this variation. Figure 3Similarly, the required communication quality information is 1 Mbps. Furthermore, interval x represents the range the vehicle travels up to the delay period. Within interval x, the interval where the reference communication quality information is below the required communication quality information is shorter than the interval where the reference communication quality information is above the required communication quality information. Therefore, according to the configuration of Embodiment 1 described above, a radio waveform response is generated using the reference communication quality information below the required communication quality information as the provided reference communication quality information.

[0139] However, in intervals where the reference communication quality information is above the required communication quality, there are cases where the transmission of the predetermined data is incomplete. Therefore, the radio wave map providing device 10 of this modified example divides the predetermined movement interval (interval x) of the vehicle during the delay period into an interval y where the radio wave map acquisition utilization device 200 performs data transmission, and an interval z where data transmission is not performed. Here, the interval y is divided into an interval where the entire predetermined amount of data can be transmitted. Figure 9 As shown, the interval y also includes the interval where the baseline communication quality information is below the required communication quality information.

[0140] Then, the radio wave pattern response generation unit 106 of this modified example compares the information content of the reference communication quality information in interval y with the information content of the reference communication quality information in interval z, and generates a radio wave pattern response based on the reference communication quality information with smaller information content and the reference position information corresponding to the reference communication quality information with smaller information content.

[0141] According to this variation, the radio wave map providing device 10 can suppress the amount of communication between the radio wave map providing device and the radio wave map acquisition and utilization device while providing the radio wave map information required for the radio wave map acquisition and utilization device 200 to transmit data within the delay period.

[0142] 5. Summary

[0143] The features of the radio wave pattern providing apparatus in the various embodiments of this disclosure have been described above.

[0144] The statements used in each implementation are shown as examples, so they can also be replaced with synonymous statements or statements containing synonymous functions.

[0145] The block diagrams used in the description of the implementation methods categorize and organize the device configuration according to its functions. Each function is represented by a block implemented by any combination of hardware or software. Furthermore, since these block diagrams represent functions, they can also be understood as a disclosure of the invention of the method and the invention of the program for implementing the method.

[0146] The functional blocks described in each embodiment that can be used as processes, flows, and methods can be rearranged in order as long as they are not constrained by the relationship between the results of other steps preceding them in a step.

[0147] The first, second, to Nth (N is an integer) statements used in the various embodiments and claims are used to distinguish between two or more configurations or methods of the same kind, and do not limit the order or superiority.

[0148] The radio wave map providing apparatus of each embodiment is based on providing radio wave maps to a radio wave map acquisition and utilization apparatus mounted on a vehicle. However, except for the cases specifically defined in the claims, this disclosure may also provide radio wave maps to any apparatus utilizing radio wave maps.

[0149] Furthermore, the following examples can be cited as examples of the form of the device disclosed herein.

[0150] As components, examples include semiconductor elements, electronic circuits, modules, and microcomputers.

[0151] As semi-finished products, they can include electronic control units (ECUs) and system boards.

[0152] As finished products, they can be categorized as mobile phones, smartphones, tablets, personal computers (PCs), workstations, and servers.

[0153] In addition, this includes devices with communication functions, such as cameras, still cameras, and car navigation systems.

[0154] Additionally, antennas, communication interfaces, and other necessary functions can be added to each device.

[0155] Assume that the radio waveform providing apparatus of this disclosure is used to provide various services. With the provision of such services, the apparatus of this disclosure is used, the methods of this disclosure are used, and / or the procedures of this disclosure are performed.

[0156] In addition, this disclosure can be implemented not only by dedicated hardware having the configuration and functions described in the various embodiments, but also by a combination of a program for implementing this disclosure recorded on a recording medium such as a memory or hard disk, and general-purpose hardware having a dedicated or general-purpose CPU and memory capable of executing the program.

[0157] Programs stored on non-transferable physical recording media of dedicated or general-purpose hardware (e.g., external storage devices (hard drives, USB drives, CD / BD, etc.) or internal storage devices (RAM, ROM, etc.)) can also be provided to the dedicated or general-purpose hardware via the recording media, or from a server via a communication line without using the recording media. This allows for continuous provision of the latest functionality through program upgrades.

[0158] The radio wave image providing device disclosed herein has been described as a server device for providing radio wave images to a radio wave image acquisition and utilization device that is a vehicle-mounted device. However, it can of course be applied to any device that communicates with two-wheeled motorcycles, electric bicycles, railways, or any device that communicates with moving bodies such as pedestrians, ships, and airplanes.

Claims

1. A radio wave image providing device, which receives a radio wave image request from a radio wave image acquisition and utilization device mounted on a mobile body and sends the required information, comprising: The radio wave image storage unit stores radio wave images having reference position information indicating a reference position for the movement of a mobile body, and reference communication quality information indicating the communication quality at the aforementioned reference position. The receiving unit receives the radio wave pattern request, which includes mobile interval information indicating the predetermined mobile interval of the mobile body and required communication quality information indicating the required communication quality. The radio wave pattern response generation unit compares the amount of information of the reference communication quality information at the reference position included in the predetermined movement interval that is above the required communication quality information and the amount of information of the reference communication quality information that is below the required communication quality information, and generates a radio wave pattern response based on the reference communication quality information with the smaller amount of information, i.e., the provided reference communication quality information, and the reference position information corresponding to the provided reference communication quality information, i.e., the provided reference position information. as well as The transmitting unit sends the aforementioned radio waveform response.

2. The radio waveform providing device according to claim 1, wherein, The aforementioned radio waveform request also includes current position information indicating the current position of the aforementioned moving body. The radio waveform response generation unit generates either a first radio waveform response including the aforementioned reference location information, or a second radio waveform response including both the aforementioned reference location information and the aforementioned reference communication quality information. The transmitting unit transmits the first radio wave pattern response when the interval from the current position to the reference position shown in the reference position information provided is above a predetermined threshold, and transmits the second radio wave pattern response when the interval from the current position to the reference position shown in the reference position information provided is below the predetermined threshold.

3. The radio waveform providing device according to claim 2, wherein, The receiving unit also obtains second current position information from the radio wave diagram, which indicates the second current position of the moving body after moving from the first current position. If the interval from the second current position to the reference position shown in the reference position information provided is less than the specified threshold, the transmitting unit transmits the second radio wave response.

4. The radio waveform providing device according to claim 2, wherein, The radio waveform providing device also includes a radio waveform response storage unit for storing the aforementioned second radio waveform response. When the receiving unit receives change information indicating a change in the predetermined movement range from the radio wave map acquisition and utilization device, the second radio wave map response stored in the radio wave map response storage unit is deleted.

5. The radio waveform providing device according to claim 1, wherein, The aforementioned reference position information represents the interval from the first reference position to the second reference position. The aforementioned baseline communication quality information represents the representative value of the aforementioned communication quality within the aforementioned interval.

6. The radio waveform providing device according to claim 1, wherein, The radio wave response generation unit calculates the predetermined time at which the moving body moves at the reference position shown by the provided reference position information, and generates the radio wave response including predetermined time information representing the predetermined time and the provided reference communication quality information.

7. The radio waveform providing device according to claim 1, wherein, The radio waveform response generation unit determines whether the transmitting unit has transmitted the radio waveform response, i.e., the first radio waveform response, generated based on the provided reference location information and the provided reference communication quality information to a second mobile body that is different from the first mobile body. If it determines that the transmitting unit has not transmitted the first radio waveform response, it generates the first radio waveform response based on the provided reference location information and the provided reference communication quality information. If it determines that the transmitting unit has transmitted the first radio waveform response, it generates a second radio waveform response indicating that the first radio waveform response should be obtained from the second mobile body.

8. The radio waveform providing device according to claim 1, wherein, For the radio wave pattern response generation unit, the faster the moving body moves within the predetermined movement range, the larger the granularity of the generated radio wave pattern response that provides reference position information and reference communication quality information.

9. A radio waveform providing method, which is a radio waveform providing method performed by a radio waveform providing device that receives a radio waveform request from a radio waveform acquisition and utilization device mounted on a mobile body and sends the required information, wherein... The aforementioned radio wave image providing device includes a radio wave image storage unit that stores radio wave images having reference position information indicating a reference position for the movement of a mobile body and reference communication quality information indicating the communication quality at the reference position. The radio waveform request is received, which includes movement interval information representing the predetermined movement interval of the aforementioned mobile body and required communication quality information representing the required communication quality. The amount of reference communication quality information that is above the required communication quality information and the amount of reference communication quality information that is below the required communication quality information are compared among the reference communication quality information at the reference positions included in the aforementioned predetermined movement interval. Based on the aforementioned relatively small amount of reference communication quality information (i.e., providing reference communication quality information) and the corresponding reference location information (i.e., providing reference location information), a radio wave response is generated. And send the above radio waveform response.

10. A storage medium storing a radio waveform provider, which is a radio waveform provider executed by a radio waveform provider capable of receiving a radio waveform request from a radio waveform acquisition and utilization device mounted on a mobile body and sending the required information, wherein... The aforementioned radio wave image providing device includes a radio wave image storage unit that stores radio wave images having reference position information indicating a reference position for the movement of a mobile body and reference communication quality information indicating the communication quality at the reference position. The radio waveform request is received, which includes movement interval information representing the predetermined movement interval of the aforementioned mobile body and required communication quality information representing the required communication quality. The amount of reference communication quality information that is above the required communication quality information and the amount of reference communication quality information that is below the required communication quality information are compared among the reference communication quality information at the reference positions included in the aforementioned predetermined movement interval. Based on the aforementioned relatively small amount of reference communication quality information (i.e., providing reference communication quality information) and the corresponding reference location information (i.e., providing reference location information), a radio wave response is generated. And send the above radio waveform response.

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