Prediction system

Abstract

The invention relates to a prediction system. This system is provided with: a database in which communication performance data relating to the communication quality of a vehicle is stored; a path specifying unit that specifies one path from which the communication performance data within a predetermined period is not acquired; a vehicle determination unit that determines one vehicle including one path in the predetermined travel route; and an acquisition unit that acquires one piece of communication performance data from one vehicle traveling on one route.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the technical field of communication-related systems. Background Technology

[0002] As an example of such a system, a system has been proposed that provides path information representing the path to a destination for autonomously moving mobile bodies. A system for searching paths based on costs related to wireless communication quality has also been proposed (see Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2022-072934). Summary of the Invention

[0003] When a mobile entity moves from one cell of a wireless base station to another, there is a possibility of degraded communication quality. In the technology described in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2022-072934, in the event of a communication interruption between a mobile robot and a navigation device, the mobile robot can autonomously return to a location where communication with the navigation device has been restored. However, such a solution is unsuitable for mobile entities carrying passengers, such as autonomous vehicles.

[0004] The present invention provides a system capable of collecting data for predicting communication quality.

[0005] One aspect of the present invention relates to a system comprising:

[0006] The database stores communication performance data related to the communication quality of vehicles;

[0007] The path determination unit determines a path for which communication performance data for a predetermined period has not been obtained.

[0008] The vehicle determination unit determines a vehicle that includes one of the paths in the predetermined travel route; and

[0009] The acquisition unit acquires a communication performance data from the vehicle traveling on the path. Attached Figure Description

[0010] The features, advantages, and technical and industrial significance of exemplary embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which the same reference numerals denote the same elements, and are attached as follows:

[0011] Figure 1 This is a block diagram illustrating an example of the structure of the system involved in the implementation.

[0012] Figure 2 This is a block diagram illustrating an example of the structure of a system involved in a variation of the implementation. Detailed Implementation

[0013] Reference Figure 1The following describes the implementation methods related to the system. Using a prediction server 10 as an example, the implementation methods related to the system will be explained.

[0014] exist Figure 1 In this embodiment, the prediction server 10 includes a communication quality database 11, a path determination unit 12, a vehicle determination unit 13, a communication quality performance collection unit 14, a communication quality prediction unit 15, and a transmission unit 16. The prediction server 10 is configured to communicate with vehicles 20 and 30. In this embodiment, vehicle 30 is an autonomous vehicle that drives autonomously using an automatic driving function. In this embodiment, the prediction server 10 predicts the communication quality of vehicle 30 along a predetermined driving path. Vehicle 20 can be a human-operated vehicle. Furthermore, vehicle 20 can have an automatic driving function. Vehicles 20 and 30 can be networked vehicles.

[0015] The communication quality performance collection unit 14 collects communication quality data from one or more vehicles (e.g., vehicle 20). The communication quality data can be data representing the communication quality between a vehicle and network nodes different from that vehicle. For example, network nodes different from the vehicle may include at least one of a communication base station and an application server 51. The communication quality data may include communication logs related to communication between the vehicle and the aforementioned network nodes.

[0016] Here, vehicle 20 is described. Vehicle 20 includes a communication quality measurement unit 21 and a communication control unit 22. The communication control unit 22 controls the transmission and reception of communication data between vehicle 20 and network nodes other than vehicle 20 (e.g., at least one of a communication base station and application server 51). The communication quality measurement unit 21 measures the communication quality of vehicle 20. For example, the communication quality may include first information passively obtained by monitoring signals from a wireless channel or a wireless communication base station, and second information obtained by data communication with a server such as application server 51. The first information may include at least one of received power, signal-to-noise ratio, channel utilization, and the number of communication base stations within the communication range. The second information may include at least one of communication latency, throughput, and application-level quality of service. Furthermore, throughput may mean the amount of data transmitted and received per unit time. The communication quality measurement unit 21 generates communication quality data that includes the measured communication quality and vehicle information related to vehicle 20. The communication quality measurement unit 21 sends the generated communication quality data to the prediction server 10. This communication quality data is an example of communication quality data collected by the Communication Quality Performance Collection Department 14.

[0017] After performing predetermined aggregation processing on the collected communication quality data, the communication quality performance collection unit 14 of the prediction server 10 saves it to the communication quality database 11. Furthermore, as a predetermined aggregation process, one example is grouping the collected communication quality data according to predetermined conditions.

[0018] The communication quality prediction unit 15 predicts the communication quality (e.g., communication quality a few seconds to a few minutes later) of the vehicle 30 along a predetermined driving path based on communication quality data stored in the communication quality database 11. Furthermore, if the vehicle 30 has multiple communication units, the communication quality prediction unit 15 can predict the communication quality for each communication unit. For example, the multiple communication units may include at least two of cellular communication, Wi-Fi (registered trademark) communication, and satellite communication. The transmission unit 16 transmits the communication quality predicted by the communication quality prediction unit 15 to the vehicle 30.

[0019] Here, vehicle 30 is described. Vehicle 30 includes a communication control unit 31 and a path calculation unit 32. The communication control unit 31 controls the communication of vehicle 30. For example, the communication control unit 31 can control the compression rate of communication-related data, the communication interface used, etc. The communication control unit 31 can query the prediction server 10 for predicted values ​​of the communication quality of communication units in the predetermined driving route of vehicle 30. In addition, the communication quality prediction unit 15 of the prediction server 10 can predict the communication quality based on the query from the communication control unit 31 of vehicle 30. The communication control unit 31 can control the communication of vehicle 30 based on the predicted value of communication quality. For example, in road sections where the predicted communication quality is reduced, the communication control unit 31 can increase the data compression rate in advance or prioritize the use of communication units with higher performance. The path calculation unit 32 performs path calculation for vehicle 30. For example, the path calculation unit 32 can calculate the path of vehicle 30 to avoid road sections where the predicted communication quality is reduced. If configured in this way, the reduction of communication quality during the driving of vehicle 30 can be suppressed.

[0020] For example, the communication quality prediction unit 15 of the prediction server 10 can predict communication quality through regression analysis based on communication quality data stored in the communication quality database 11. However, even in the same location and time period, communication quality can vary depending on the date. Therefore, the accuracy of the predicted communication quality is insufficient if it is based solely on regression analysis of past performance over a certain period (e.g., a few days to a dozen days). Therefore, the communication quality prediction unit 15 can correct the communication quality predicted by regression analysis based on communication quality data from a predetermined period from the present (e.g., a few minutes to a dozen minutes ago). If configured in this way, the accuracy of the predicted communication quality can be improved.

[0021] As described above, communication quality may include both first information and second information. To obtain the second information, data communication with the server is required. During the predetermined period described above, communication quality data usable for the aforementioned correction is not available from road sections (in other words, road segments) where no vehicles are communicating with the server.

[0022] Therefore, the path determination unit 12 of the prediction server 10 refers to the communication quality data stored in the communication quality database 11 to determine the path (in other words, the road section) for which communication quality data for the predetermined period has not been obtained. For example, there is a case where the path determination unit 12 determines a path for which communication quality data for the predetermined period has not been obtained. In this case, the vehicle determination unit 13 determines one of the multiple vehicles (e.g., vehicle 20) for which the prediction server 10 can obtain communication quality data, and which includes a path in the predetermined travel route.

[0023] For example, the communication quality performance collection unit 14 can send information about unacquired road segments indicating a path for which communication quality data for the predetermined period was not obtained, to a specific vehicle. Here, we will continue the explanation assuming the specific vehicle is vehicle 20. When vehicle 20 enters a path indicated by the unacquired road segment information, the communication control unit 22 of vehicle 20 can control the communication device (not shown) in a manner that allows data communication with a server (e.g., application server 51). The communication quality measurement unit 21 can measure the communication quality during the aforementioned data communication. As a result, the communication quality performance collection unit 14 of the prediction server 10 can obtain communication quality data related to the aforementioned path for the predetermined period.

[0024] When vehicle 20 communicates data based on unobtained road segment information, dummy data can be used for this communication. However, in this case, communication overhead can sometimes become a problem. Therefore, there are instances where vehicle 20 receives unobtained road segment information. In this case, communication control unit 22 can temporarily (e.g., for tens of seconds to a few minutes) delay the execution of at least one of the following: downloading non-real-time data from the application server (e.g., application server 51) and uploading non-real-time data to the application server. When vehicle 20 enters a path indicated by unobtained road segment information, communication control unit 22 can control the communication device to perform at least one of the delayed data download and upload. If configured in this way, communication overhead caused by communication quality measurement can be suppressed.

[0025] Furthermore, the route determination unit 12, the vehicle determination unit 13, and the communication quality performance collection unit 14 can also be integrated into one unit. For example, the communication quality performance collection unit 14 can also have the functions of both the route determination unit 12 and the vehicle determination unit 13. Additionally, a portion of the processing performed by at least one of the communication control unit 31 and the route calculation unit 32 of the vehicle 30 can be performed by the prediction server 10. For example, the route calculation of the vehicle 30 considering communication quality can be performed by the prediction server 10. Furthermore, the vehicle 30 can have a communication quality measurement unit equivalent to the communication quality measurement unit 21 of the vehicle 20. In this case, the vehicle 30 can send communication quality data to the prediction server 10.

[0026] Technical effect

[0027] The communication quality prediction unit 15 of the prediction server 10 can correct the communication quality predicted by regression analysis based on communication quality data within a predetermined period from the present (e.g., a few minutes to a dozen minutes ago, in other words, the most recent period). This configuration improves the accuracy of communication quality prediction. For example, by having the route calculation unit 32 of the vehicle 30 calculate the route of the vehicle 30 based on the communication quality predicted by the communication quality prediction unit 15, it is possible to suppress unexpected degradation of communication quality in the vehicle 30.

[0028] The communication quality performance collection unit 14 of the prediction server 10 can obtain (in other words collect) communication quality data for road sections without recent communication quality data by sending unacquired road segment information to a vehicle (e.g., vehicle 20). That is, the prediction server 10 can collect data for predicting communication quality. For example, when vehicle 20 enters a path indicated by unacquired road segment information, communication overhead caused by communication quality measurement can be suppressed by having vehicle 20 perform data communication for measuring communication quality.

[0029] Variations

[0030] Reference Figure 2 The following describes a modified example. In this modified example, application server 51 can be a content server that distributes data content to vehicles, a data server that collects and stores data from vehicle sensors, etc. For example, the communication quality performance collection unit 14 of prediction server 10 can include information indicating communication with application server 51 via application server 52 (any application server in this case) in the road segment information that has not been obtained. Then, the vehicle (e.g., vehicle 20) that receives the aforementioned road segment information that has not been obtained communicates with application server 51 via application server 52, thereby allowing the communication quality between the vehicle and application server 52 to be measured.

[0031] The invention described below is an example of the embodiments and variations described above.

[0032] One aspect of the invention relates to a system comprising: a database storing communication performance data related to the communication quality of a vehicle; and a route determination unit determining a route for which communication performance data for a predetermined period has not been obtained. Furthermore, the system comprises: a vehicle determination unit determining a vehicle that includes the predetermined route; and an acquisition unit acquiring communication performance data from the vehicle traveling on the route. In the above embodiment, "communication quality database 11" is equivalent to an example of "database," and "route determination unit 12" is equivalent to an example of "route determination unit." Furthermore, in the above embodiment, "vehicle determination unit 13" is equivalent to an example of "vehicle determination unit," and "communication quality performance data collection unit 14" is equivalent to an example of "acquisition unit."

[0033] The system may include a prediction unit that predicts the communication quality of a path based on the aforementioned communication performance data. In the above embodiment, the "communication quality prediction unit 15" is an example of a "prediction unit".

[0034] In this case, the system may have a transmitting unit that sends the predicted communication quality of the one path to other vehicles traveling on the one path in the future. In the above embodiment, "transmitting unit 16" is an example of a "transmitting unit".

[0035] This invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. It may be appropriately modified without departing from the spirit or spirit of the invention as read in its entirety from the claims and the specification. Systems with such modifications are also included within the technical scope of this invention.

Claims

1. A prediction system, comprising: The database stores communication performance data related to the communication quality of vehicles; The path determination unit determines a path for which communication performance data for a predetermined period has not been obtained. The vehicle determination unit determines a vehicle that includes one of the paths in the predetermined driving route; as well as The acquisition unit acquires a communication performance data from the vehicle traveling on the path.

2. The prediction system according to claim 1, wherein, A prediction unit is provided that can predict the communication quality of a path based on the aforementioned communication performance data.

3. The prediction system according to claim 2, wherein, The system has a transmitting unit that can transmit the predicted communication quality of the one path to other vehicles traveling on the one path in the future.

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