Information processing device, information processing method, and program

Abstract

To provide an information processing device capable of building a wireless system considering interference with the surrounding area, an information processing method, and a program.SOLUTION: The information processing device includes: a first evaluation unit that evaluates the distribution of first radio waves penetrating an area when radio waves are emitted from one or multiple transmission points set outside a certain area; and a determination unit that determines information on the candidate positions of wireless base stations to be placed within the area based on the evaluation result of the distribution of the first radio waves. The first evaluation unit converts the evaluation result of the distribution of the first radio waves when setting the first number of sending points into the distribution of the first radio waves when setting the second number of sending points greater than the first number.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, and a program.

Background Art

[0002] When constructing a wireless system in a specific area by arranging a wireless base station in the area, the arrangement of the wireless base station is determined so that the communication quality in the specific area satisfies a desired quality.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] There is room for consideration in constructing a wireless system in consideration of the influence (for example, co-interference) given to the periphery of a specific area.

[0005] The non-limiting embodiments of the present disclosure contribute to providing an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, and a program capable of constructing a wireless system in consideration of co-interference with respect to the periphery of an area.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] An information processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a first evaluation unit that evaluates a distribution of first radio waves that enter the inside of an area when the first radio waves are radiated from one or more transmission points set outside the area, and a determination unit that determines information regarding candidate positions for arranging a radio base station inside the area based on an evaluation result regarding the distribution of the first radio waves. The first evaluation unit converts an evaluation result of the distribution of the first radio waves evaluated when a first number of transmission points are set into a distribution of the first radio waves when a second number of transmission points larger than the first number are set.

[0007] An information processing method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes an information processing apparatus evaluating a distribution of first radio waves that enter the inside of an area when the first radio waves are radiated from one or more transmission points set outside the area, determining information regarding candidate positions for arranging a radio base station inside the area based on an evaluation result regarding the distribution of the first radio waves, and converting an evaluation result of the distribution of the first radio waves evaluated when a first number of transmission points are set into a distribution of the first radio waves when a second number of transmission points larger than the first number are set.

[0008] A program according to an embodiment of the present disclosure causes an information processing apparatus to execute a process of evaluating a distribution of first radio waves that enter the inside of an area when the first radio waves are radiated from one or more transmission points set outside the area, determining information regarding candidate positions for arranging a radio base station inside the area based on an evaluation result regarding the distribution of the first radio waves, and converting an evaluation result of the distribution of the first radio waves evaluated when a first number of transmission points are set into a distribution of the first radio waves when a second number of transmission points larger than the first number are set.

[0009] Note that these general or specific aspects may be implemented by a system, an apparatus, a method, an integrated circuit, a computer program, or a recording medium, or may be implemented by any combination of a system, an apparatus, a method, an integrated circuit, a computer program, and a recording medium.

Advantages of the Invention

[0010] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a wireless system considering interference with the periphery of a certain area can be constructed.

[0011] Further advantages and effects in an embodiment of the present disclosure will be clarified from the specification and the drawings. Such advantages and / or effects are respectively provided by several embodiments and the features described in the specification and the drawings, but not all of them are necessarily provided in order to obtain one or more identical features.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0012]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0013] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the present specification and drawings, components having substantially the same function are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description is omitted.

[0014] (Embodiment 1) In a specific area such as a factory or a shopping mall (hereinafter sometimes referred to as a "limited area"), a wireless system is constructed by arranging one or more wireless base stations that cover the specific area. In this case, the wireless base stations are arranged so that the wireless communication quality in the limited area is better. The limited area is, for example, an area spatially divided by a wall or the like. Alternatively, the limited area may correspond to a local area where there are individual area owners (for example, entities that provide wireless services). For example, in an area not spatially divided by a wall or the like, when different area owners provide wireless services, a plurality of limited areas associated with the area owners may be defined in the area. For example, when wireless services are provided in each of an underground shopping mall and a passage of a station that are not spatially divided and are connected, the area of the underground shopping mall and the area including the passage of the station may be defined as different limited areas. Also, the limited area may correspond to an area conceptually divided by, for example, latitude and longitude.

[0015] For example, it is being considered to use, in a limited area, a wireless system (sometimes referred to as a "secondary use system") that shares at least a part of the frequency band used by a certain wireless system (sometimes referred to as a "primary use system"). In this case, there is a possibility that radio waves radiated from the wireless base station of the secondary use system may leak outside the limited area. The primary use system may be an already operating wireless system (sometimes referred to as an "existing wireless system") or a wireless system to be constructed in the future. Also, a plurality of secondary use systems may constitute the primary use system and the secondary use system.

[0016] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a limited area where a radio base station of a secondary utilization system is provided. FIG. 1 shows a limited area Ar and radio base stations B1 and B2 of the secondary utilization system provided in the limited area Ar. Note that a primary utilization system is constructed outside the limited area Ar in FIG. 1.

[0017] The limited area Ar in FIG. 1 is a room provided with two doors D and four windows W.

[0018] The radio base stations B1 and B2 in FIG. 1 communicate with terminals (not shown) existing in coverage areas C1 and C2, respectively.

[0019] Here, the radio waves radiated from the radio base stations B1 and B2 may leak to the outside of the limited area Ar, for example, as shown by the arrow Ro in FIG. 1.

[0020] The radio waves radiated from the radio base stations B1 and B2 of the secondary utilization system that share the frequency band with the primary utilization system and leak outside the limited area Ar (for example, the arrow Ro in FIG. 1) may interfere with the primary utilization system. Therefore, it is desirable to suppress the radio waves leaking outside the limited area Ar.

[0021] However, in the conventional method of constructing a radio system, the main focus is on ensuring the radio communication quality within the limited area, and interference to the outside of the limited area has not been considered.

[0022] The non-limiting embodiments of the present disclosure will describe the construction of a radio system considering interference to the outside of the limited area.

[0023] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the system configuration according to Embodiment 1.

[0024] The system configuration shown in FIG. 2 includes a radio system 1, a frequency sharing system 2, a radio wave sensor 3, and a frequency sharing management system 4.

[0025] The wireless system 1 is, for example, a wireless system used inside and outside a limited area. The wireless system 1 may include a radio base station and a terminal that perform wireless communication using a certain frequency band. Further, the wireless system 1 may include a control device (e.g., a server) that controls the radio base station. For example, the radio base station of the wireless system 1 outputs operation information including information on the frequency band being used and information on the number of terminals connected to the radio base station to the frequency sharing management system 4. The wireless system 1 may be referred to as the "primary use system 1".

[0026] The frequency sharing system 2 is a wireless system that shares at least a part of the frequency band used by the wireless system 1. The frequency sharing system 2 may include a radio base station and a terminal that perform wireless communication using a frequency band including at least a part of the frequency band used by the wireless system 1. Further, the frequency sharing system 2 may include a control device (e.g., a server) that controls the radio base station. Information on the frequency band used by the frequency sharing system 2 may be notified, for example, from the frequency sharing management system 4. The frequency sharing system 2 may be referred to as the "secondary use system 2".

[0027] The radio wave sensor 3 is provided inside and / or outside the limited area. The radio wave sensor 3 detects, for example, radio waves radiated from the radio base station of the wireless system 1. Then, the radio wave sensor 3 outputs information on the usage status of radio waves in the frequency band used by the wireless system 1 to the frequency sharing management system 4.

[0028] The frequency sharing management system 4 has, for example, one or more control devices and provides information to the frequency sharing system 2 based on the information acquired from the wireless system 1 and the radio wave sensor 3.

[0029] For example, based on the operation information obtained from the wireless system 1 and the information regarding the radio wave utilization status obtained from the radio wave sensor 3, etc., the frequency sharing management system 4 assigns the frequency band, radio specifications, etc. to be used in the frequency sharing system 2. Then, the frequency sharing management system 4 outputs information indicating the assigned frequency band, radio specifications, etc. to the frequency sharing system 2. It may also output the interference level and interference management boundary with respect to the wireless system 1. Details will be described later.

[0030] In the first embodiment, an information processing apparatus for determining the arrangement of radio base stations of the frequency sharing system 2 when the frequency sharing system 2 is constructed in a certain limited area will be described.

[0031] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the information processing apparatus 10 according to the first embodiment. The information processing apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 3 includes an interference estimation unit 11, a service quality estimation unit 12, and an arrangement determination unit 13. Note that the information processing apparatus 10 may be configured by a computer such as a personal computer (PC).

[0032] The interference estimation unit 11 determines a first evaluation result regarding radio waves that enter (or enter) the limited area Ar from outside the limited area Ar into the limited area Ar in the limited area Ar. For example, the first evaluation result may be a heat map representing the power distribution of radio waves that enter the limited area Ar at each position within the limited area Ar. The first evaluation may be regarded as an example of an evaluation regarding interference.

[0033] The interference estimation unit 11 includes an interference evaluation instruction unit 111, a first area propagation evaluation unit 112, and a first ranking creation unit 113. Note that the processing of each functional block will be described later.

[0034] The service quality estimation unit 12 sets candidates for the positions of radio base stations in the limited area Ar. Then, the service quality estimation unit 12 determines a second evaluation result regarding the radio waves radiated from the radio base stations in the limited area Ar when the radio base stations are arranged at the set candidates. For example, the second evaluation result may be a heat map representing the power distribution of the radio waves radiated from the radio base stations in the limited area Ar.

[0035] The service quality estimation unit 12 includes a service quality evaluation instruction unit 121, a second area propagation evaluation unit 122, and a second ranking creation unit 123. The processing of each functional block will be described later.

[0036] Based on the first evaluation result and the second evaluation result, the placement determination unit 13 determines information regarding the placement position of the radio base station (for example, the coordinates of the placement position of the radio base station). The placement determination unit 13 outputs the determined information regarding the placement position of the radio base station (for example, the coordinates of the placement position of the radio base station). For example, an administrator (user) who constructs the frequency sharing system 2 in the limited area arranges the radio base station based on the output information.

[0037] The placement determination unit 13 includes a superimposition evaluation unit 131 and a coverage area evaluation unit 132. The processing of each functional block will be described later.

[0038] The information processing apparatus 10 evaluates the interference (out-interference) given to the outside of the limited area and the quality of the communication service provided within the limited area. Then, an integrated evaluation of these two evaluation results is performed to determine the placement of the radio base stations of the frequency sharing system 2.

[0039] Note that the configuration shown in FIG. 3 may be included in different devices. For example, the first information processing device may have the interference estimation unit 11, and the second information processing device may have the service quality estimation unit 12 and the placement determination unit 13. In this case, the first information processing device may output an evaluation regarding interference (outgoing interference) given to outside the limited area to the second information processing device, and the second information processing device may determine the placement of the radio base stations of the frequency sharing system 2.

[0040] Also, the configuration of two or more functional blocks shown in FIG. 3 may be replaced with the configuration of one functional block. For example, the first area propagation evaluation unit 112 and the second area propagation evaluation unit 122 may be replaced with one evaluation unit. Also, the first ranking creation unit 113 and the second ranking creation unit 123 may be replaced with one processing unit (for example, one ranking creation unit).

[0041] <Evaluation regarding outgoing interference> First, an example of the evaluation regarding outgoing interference executed in the interference estimation unit 11 will be described. In the interference estimation unit 11, radio waves that enter the limited area from outside the limited area are evaluated. For example, the intensity (for example, power) of the radio waves that reach the inside of the limited area is estimated from the direction in which the radio waves that are the cause of the outgoing interference are emitted outside the limited area. For example, the interference estimation unit 11 estimates the radio waves emitted from a virtual transmission point (hereinafter, may be described as a "virtual transmission point") virtually provided outside the limited area and entering the inside of the limited area using radio wave propagation simulation or the like. Note that the radio waves emitted from the virtual transmission point may be the same as the radio waves emitted from the radio base stations of the secondary use system. The positions where the estimated radio wave intensity is below a predetermined level are set as candidates for the positions where the radio base stations are to be placed.

[0042] The co-interference evaluation instruction unit 111 instructs the first area propagation evaluation unit 112 to perform an evaluation related to co-interference. In addition, the co-interference evaluation instruction unit 111 outputs parameters regarding the evaluation related to co-interference to the first area propagation evaluation unit 112. The parameters regarding the evaluation related to co-interference include, for example, parameters related to the co-interference management boundary provided outside the limited area, and information related to the arrangement of virtual transmission points arranged on the co-interference management boundary. The co-interference management boundary is a boundary where virtual transmission points of radio waves that penetrate into the limited area are arranged in the evaluation related to co-interference. The co-interference management boundary may be referred to as the limited area boundary or the site boundary.

[0043] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the co-interference management boundary in the first embodiment. FIG. 4 shows an example of the co-interference management boundary Vr for the same limited area as in FIG. 1.

[0044] The co-interference management boundary and the co-interference level are specified from, for example, the frequency sharing system 2.

[0045] Note that the co-interference management boundary may be the same as the outer periphery of the limited area. Alternatively, when the limited area is indoors, the co-interference management boundary may be the outer periphery of the site.

[0046] As shown in FIG. 4, virtual transmission points Tr (for example, radio base stations) of radio waves are arranged on the co-interference management boundary. Here, X in FIG. 4 represents the distance from the limited area Ar, and Y represents the interval between the virtual transmission points Tr. Also, the arrow Ri in FIG. 4 indicates radio waves radiated from the virtual transmission point Tr provided on the co-interference management boundary Vr and penetrating into the limited area Ar.

[0047] X and Y may be adjusted according to at least one of the shape of the limited area, the frequency band used by the frequency sharing system 2, and the amount of calculation in the information processing apparatus 10. Also, X and / or Y are not limited to one value. For example, Y representing the arrangement interval of the virtual transmission points Tr does not have to be constant.

[0048] For example, when the frequency band used by the frequency sharing system 2 is the 28 GHz band, virtual transmission points may be arranged at intervals of 50 cm, 2 m outside a limited area of 10 m square. That is, in this case, X = 2 [m] and Y = 50 [cm] may be set.

[0049] Then, based on the limited area information, the first area propagation evaluation unit 112 determines the power distribution of radio waves radiated from a virtual transmission point provided at the co-interference management boundary with a predetermined power and entering the limited area. The limited area information is, for example, information regarding a two-dimensional (or three-dimensional) model useful for evaluating radio wave propagation in the limited area. The limited area information may include information on the shape and material of the wall surrounding the limited area. Further, the limited area information may include information on the position, number, shape, and material of windows and doors provided in the limited area. Further, the limited area information may include information on the position, size, shape, and material of shielding objects (for example, walls partitioning the inside of the limited area, partitions, etc.) within the limited area.

[0050] Then, the first ranking creation unit 113 determines the rank of the determined power.

[0051] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of an evaluation result regarding co-interference in the first embodiment. In FIG. 5, a heat map of the power distribution of radio waves radiated from the virtual transmission point Tr shown in FIG. 4 and entering the limited area Ar is shown for each grid divided in a mesh form. For example, the size of the grid is 50 [cm] × 50 [cm].

[0052] In FIG. 5, as an example, the magnitude of the power ranked in the range from -120 [dBm] to 0 [dBm] is shown by the shading of the grid. Note that in FIG. 5, the higher the rank, the smaller the power.

[0053] The position where the power of the radio wave invading from outside the limited area towards the inside of the limited area is small may correspond to the fact that the power of the radio wave in the direction of emitting from that position to the outside of the limited area is small. In other words, the location of the radio base station where radio waves are easily emitted from inside the limited area to outside the limited area may correspond to the location where radio waves easily reach from outside the limited area to inside the limited area.

[0054] For example, the power of the radio wave invading towards the inside of the limited area at points P1 and P2 in FIG. 5 is small compared to other points. In other words, the power of the radio wave radiated from the radio base stations arranged at points P1 and P2 to the outside of the limited area is small compared to other points.

[0055] Note that the way of dividing the grid and the way of ranking shown in FIG. 5 are examples, and the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The finer the grid granularity and / or the finer the ranking granularity, the more appropriate the arrangement of the radio base station is determined.

[0056] Thereby, it is not necessary to evaluate the interference given by the radio wave radiated by the radio base station from any position inside the limited area to the outside of the limited area. Therefore, the processing load related to the determination of the arrangement of the radio base station can be suppressed.

[0057] <Evaluation regarding service quality> Next, an example of the evaluation regarding the service quality inside the limited area executed in the service quality estimation unit 12 will be described.

[0058] For example, an index representing the service quality inside the limited area when a radio base station is arranged at any one or more of the candidate positions set in the evaluation regarding co-interference is estimated using radio wave propagation simulation or the like. And when the estimated service quality satisfies a predetermined quality, the arrangement of the radio base station corresponding to the estimated service quality is determined to be a base station arrangement that satisfies the service quality.

[0059] For example, based on the ranking information of each grid within the limited area created by the first ranking creation unit 113, the service quality evaluation instruction unit 121 of the service quality estimation unit 12 selects an arrangement to be evaluated from the candidate positions of the radio base station. For example, the service quality evaluation instruction unit 121 sets the position of the grid with the highest rank (the largest point) as a candidate position for the radio base station, and selects one or more positions from the set candidates as the arrangement to be evaluated.

[0060] Then, the second area propagation evaluation unit 122 of the service quality estimation unit 12 determines an evaluation result regarding the service quality when a radio base station is arranged at the selected position to be evaluated. As an example, the second area propagation evaluation unit 122 determines the power within the limited area of the radio waves radiated by the radio base station arranged at the selected position to be evaluated.

[0061] Then, the second ranking creation unit 123 of the service quality estimation unit 12 determines the rank of the power within the limited area.

[0062] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of an evaluation result regarding service quality in the first embodiment. In FIG. 6, in the same limited area as FIGS. 4 and 5, a heat map of the received power of the radio waves radiated by the radio base stations arranged at the points P1 and P2 shown in FIG. 5 is shown for each grid.

[0063] In FIG. 6, as an example, the magnitude of the power divided into ranks in the range from 10 [dBm] to -120 [dBm] is shown by the shading of the grid. Note that in FIG. 6, it shows that the higher the rank, the greater the power.

[0064] The index representing the service quality is not particularly limited. For example, the index representing the service quality may be the received power within the limited area or the throughput within the limited area.

[0065] For example, when the total value of the received power or the total value of the throughput is equal to or greater than a predetermined level, the second ranking creation unit 123 may determine that the estimated service quality meets the predetermined quality. For example, the second ranking creation unit 123 adds the ranks assigned to the received power of each grid in the limited area and determines the addition result as the evaluation result regarding the service quality for the arrangement of the evaluation target.

[0066] Also, when the index representing the service quality is throughput, the second ranking creation unit 123 may determine that a grid showing a throughput equal to or greater than a predetermined value has a higher rank (for example, 10 points). In this case, the second ranking creation unit 123 may determine that a grid showing a throughput less than the predetermined value has a lower rank (for example, 0 points). Then, the second ranking creation unit 123 adds the ranks of each grid in the limited area and may determine the addition result as the evaluation result regarding the service quality for the arrangement of the evaluation target.

[0067] The evaluation regarding the service quality is not limited to the above-described example. For example, it may be determined that the arrangement of the radio base station showing the maximum total value of the received power within the limited area is the base station arrangement that meets the service quality. Alternatively, it may be determined that the arrangement of the radio base station showing that the minimum value of the received power within the limited area is equal to or greater than the threshold is the base station arrangement that meets the service quality. Alternatively, it may be determined that the arrangement of the radio base station having the largest range showing a throughput equal to or greater than a predetermined level within the limited area is the base station arrangement that meets the service quality.

[0068] <Integrated Evaluation> Next, an example of the determination of the arrangement of the radio base station executed in the arrangement determination unit 13 will be described. For example, the arrangement determination unit 13 determines the arrangement of the radio base station based on the evaluation result regarding co-interference and the evaluation result regarding the service quality. For example, the arrangement determination unit 13 performs an integrated evaluation by superimposing the evaluation result regarding co-interference and the evaluation result regarding the service quality, and determines the arrangement of the radio base station.

[0069] For example, the overlapping evaluation unit 131 of the placement determination unit 13 adds the rank assigned to the evaluation result regarding co-interference shown in FIG. 5 and the rank assigned to the evaluation result regarding service quality shown in FIG. 6 for each grid, and performs an integrated evaluation.

[0070] Here, in the integrated evaluation, an overlapping condition may be set. The overlapping condition includes, for example, which of the evaluation result regarding co-interference and the evaluation result regarding service quality is prioritized, and / or the weighting condition for each evaluation result.

[0071] For example, the overlapping evaluation unit 131 performs weighted addition for each grid based on the overlapping condition on the rank assigned to the evaluation result regarding co-interference and the rank assigned to the evaluation result regarding service quality shown in FIG. 6. Then, the overlapping evaluation unit 131 outputs the addition result to the coverage area evaluation unit 132.

[0072] The coverage area evaluation unit 132 determines whether the coverage area of the limited area is sufficient based on the addition result of the ranks for each grid in the limited area. For example, the coverage area evaluation unit 132 may determine that the coverage area of the limited area is sufficient when the addition result of the ranks is below a threshold value.

[0073] Note that a part of each of the above-described configurations may be included in a device different from the information processing device 10.

[0074] <Flow of processing related to determination of placement of radio base stations> FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of the processing for determining the placement of a radio base station in the first embodiment. The processing of the flowchart shown in FIG. 7 is started, for example, based on an instruction from an administrator (user) who constructs the frequency sharing system 2 in the limited area. For example, the administrator may give an instruction to start the processing for determining the placement of the radio base station via the operation unit included in the information processing device 10. The instruction input to the information processing device 10 via the operation unit is given to, for example, the co-interference estimation unit 11. In this case, the administrator may input information such as limited area information.

[0075] The interference estimation unit 11 evaluates an intrusion radio wave that intrudes from outside to inside the limited area (S101).

[0076] The interference estimation unit 11 ranks the received power of the intrusion radio wave evaluated within the limited area (S102). Here, a map of the rank of the received power of the intrusion radio wave (hereinafter, may be described as the interference rank) is generated.

[0077] The service quality estimation unit 12 sets the position of the higher rank as a candidate for the position of the radio base station in the ranking of S102 (S103).

[0078] The service quality estimation unit 12 selects the arrangement of the radio base station to be evaluated from among the set candidates (S104).

[0079] The service quality estimation unit 12 evaluates the service quality within the limited area when a radio base station is arranged at the arrangement to be evaluated (S105).

[0080] The service quality estimation unit 12 ranks the service quality evaluated within the limited area (S106). Here, a map of the service quality rank is generated.

[0081] The arrangement determination unit 13 overlays the map of the interference rank and the map of the service quality rank, and evaluates the arrangement to be evaluated based on a predetermined criterion (S107).

[0082] The arrangement determination unit 13 evaluates whether the coverage area is sufficient (S108).

[0083] If the coverage area is not sufficient (NO in S108), the placement determination unit 13 changes the placement of the evaluation target (S109). Here, changing the placement of the evaluation target includes, for example, increasing or decreasing the number of radio base stations to be placed. Also, changing the placement of the evaluation target may include placing radio base stations with different output and other performances. Alternatively, changing the placement of the evaluation target includes changing the candidate positions. Also, changing the placement of the evaluation target includes changing parameters related to the communication of the radio base station (for example, transmission power, directivity, etc.). Then, the flow proceeds to S105.

[0084] If the coverage area is sufficient (YES in S108), the placement determination unit 13 evaluates the radio waves leaking outside the limited area when a radio base station is placed at the placement of the evaluation target, and adjusts the parameters related to the communication of the radio base station (S110). Then, the flow ends.

[0085] Through the above processing, the information processing apparatus 10 can determine the placement of the radio base station considering the evaluation related to interference.

[0086] Note that the information obtained during the above-described processing (for example, the evaluation result related to interference) may be output from the information processing apparatus 10. In this case, the information processing apparatus 10 may have an output unit that outputs the information obtained during the above-described processing. By the information obtained during the above-described processing being output from the information processing apparatus 10, the information may be secondarily used.

[0087] Also, some of the above-described processes may be executed by different devices. For example, the first information processing device may have the co-interference estimation unit 11, and the second information processing device may have the service quality estimation unit 12 and the placement determination unit 13. In this case, the first information processing device may evaluate the distribution (e.g., power distribution) of radio waves that enter the limited area when radio waves are radiated from one or more virtual transmission points set outside the limited area. Further, the first information processing device may determine information regarding candidate positions of the radio base stations to be arranged inside the limited area based on the evaluation result regarding the distribution of radio waves. Then, the first information processing device may output the information regarding the candidate positions of the radio base stations to be arranged inside the limited area to, for example, the second information processing device.

[0088] According to the first embodiment described above, by considering radio waves that enter the limited area from outside the limited area, radio waves radiated from inside the limited area can be considered, so that a radio system that takes into account co-interference with respect to the periphery of a certain area can be constructed.

[0089] In the first embodiment, an example assuming that the limited area is a two-dimensional plane is shown, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, the limited area may be a three-dimensional space including the height direction. When the limited area is a three-dimensional space, the evaluation regarding co-interference and / or the evaluation regarding service quality may be determined in the three-dimensional space.

[0090] (Embodiment 2) In the second embodiment, an example of reducing the processing load related to the determination of the placement of the radio base stations in the first embodiment will be described.

[0091] FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a first example of virtual transmission point placement in the second embodiment. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a second example of virtual transmission point placement in the second embodiment. In FIGS. 8 and 9, similar to FIG. 4, the co-interference management boundary Vr provided for the limited area Ar is shown. And in FIGS. 8 and 9, compared with FIG. 4, the number of virtual transmission points Tr arranged on the co-interference management boundary Vr is small.

[0092] In FIG. 8, the virtual transmission point Tr is arranged at the four corners of the co-interference management boundary Vr. In FIG. 9, the virtual transmission point Tr is arranged at the centers of the four sides of the co-interference management boundary Vr.

[0093] In the second embodiment, by reducing the number of virtual transmission points Tr, the processing load related to the determination of the co-interference evaluation is reduced. In this case, the co-interference evaluation when the virtual transmission point Tr is reduced may be converted into the co-interference evaluation when the number of virtual transmission points Tr is sufficient (for example, in the case of FIG. 4).

[0094] FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the information processing apparatus 20 according to the second embodiment. In FIG. 10, the same components as those in FIG. 3 may be denoted by the same reference numerals and the description thereof may be omitted.

[0095] In the information processing apparatus 20 shown in FIG. 10, the co-interference estimation unit 11 shown in FIG. 3 is replaced by a co-interference estimation unit 21.

[0096] The co-interference estimation unit 21 includes a co-interference evaluation instruction unit 211, a first area propagation evaluation unit 112, an evaluation result conversion unit 213, and a first ranking creation unit 113.

[0097] The co-interference evaluation instruction unit 211 instructs the first area propagation evaluation unit 112 to perform an evaluation related to co-interference. Further, the co-interference evaluation instruction unit 211 outputs parameters related to the evaluation of co-interference to the first area propagation evaluation unit 112. The parameters related to the evaluation of co-interference include, for example, parameters related to the co-interference management boundary provided outside the limited area and information related to the arrangement of the virtual transmission points arranged on the co-interference management boundary. In the second embodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9, the arrangement of the virtual transmission points is sparser than that in the first embodiment.

[0098] In addition, the co-interference evaluation instruction unit 211 outputs information related to the arrangement of the virtual transmission points arranged on the co-interference management boundary to the evaluation result conversion unit 213.

[0099] Based on the limited area information and the information regarding the virtual transmission point arrangement, the evaluation result conversion unit 213 converts the power of the radio wave that has entered the limited area, which was determined by the first area propagation evaluation unit 112, into the power of the radio wave that has entered the limited area when the number of virtual transmission points is sufficient (for example, in the case of FIG. 4). In other words, the evaluation result conversion unit 213 converts the evaluation result regarding co-interference evaluated when setting a certain number (for example, 4 in the cases of FIGS. 8 and 9) of virtual transmission points into the evaluation result regarding co-interference when setting a number larger than the certain number (for example, the total number of virtual transmission points Tr illustrated in FIG. 4) of virtual transmission points. The conversion of the evaluation result in the evaluation result conversion unit 213 may be regarded as interpolation for the part not evaluated with a sufficient number of virtual transmission points.

[0100] Note that the conversion method in the evaluation result conversion unit 213 is not particularly limited. For example, the evaluation result conversion unit 213 determines a power distribution obtained by shifting the power distribution of the radio wave that has entered the limited area, which was determined by the first area propagation evaluation unit 112, according to a predetermined condition. Then, the evaluation result conversion unit 213 may determine the power distribution of the radio wave that has entered the limited area when the number of virtual transmission points is sufficient (for example, in the case of FIG. 4) by overlapping the shifted power distributions. For example, the predetermined condition includes, for example, a condition of shifting parallel in a certain direction and a condition of rotationally shifting at a certain angle. The predetermined condition may be determined based on, for example, the limited area information and the information regarding the virtual transmission point arrangement.

[0101] Then, the evaluation result conversion unit 213 outputs the converted result to the first ranking creation unit 113.

[0102] According to the second embodiment, for example, with the configuration shown in FIG. 10, by reducing the number of virtual transmission points, the processing load related to the determination of the evaluation regarding co-interference can be saved, and the saving of the processing load related to the determination of the arrangement of the radio base stations can be realized.

[0103] In addition, in each of the above embodiments, an example has been described in which a secondary use system that shares a frequency band with a primary use system takes into account the interference imposed on the primary use system. However, the present disclosure is not limited to this. For example, the present disclosure may also be applied to the case of considering interference between a plurality of secondary use systems that share a frequency band. In this case, in each of the plurality of secondary use systems, the arrangement of the radio base stations may be determined in the same manner as in the above embodiments.

[0104] Note that the information processing apparatus in each of the above embodiments may be configured as a computer apparatus including a processor, a memory, a storage, a communication device, an input device, an output device, a bus, and the like.

[0105] Note that the expression "radio wave that 'enters' the area" in each of the above embodiments may be replaced with other expressions such as "radio wave that 'incides' on the area" or "radio wave that 'propagates' in the area".

[0106] Note that the expression "··· unit" in each of the above embodiments may be replaced with other expressions such as "··· circuitry", "··· device", "··· unit", or "··· module".

[0107] Also, the expression "frequency band" in the above embodiments may be replaced with other expressions such as "frequency", "frequency channel", "bandwidth", "band", "carrier", "sub-carrier", or "(frequency) resource".

[0108] The present disclosure can be implemented by software, hardware, or software in cooperation with hardware.

[0109] Each functional block used in the description of the above embodiment may be realized, partially or wholly, as an LSI which is an integrated circuit, and each process described in the above embodiment may be controlled, partially or wholly, by one LSI or a combination of LSIs. The LSI may be composed of individual chips, or may be composed of one chip so as to include some or all of the functional blocks. The LSI may be provided with data input and output. Depending on the degree of integration, the LSI may also be referred to as an IC, a system LSI, a super LSI, or an ultra LSI.

[0110] The method of integrating into an integrated circuit is not limited to LSI, and it may be realized by an application specific circuit, a general-purpose processor, or a dedicated processor. Further, after manufacturing the LSI, an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) which can be programmed, or a reconfigurable processor which can reconfigure the connection and setting of circuit cells inside the LSI may be used. The present disclosure may be realized as digital processing or analog processing.

[0111] Furthermore, if an integrated circuit technology that replaces the LSI appears due to the progress of semiconductor technology or another derived technology, naturally, the technology may be used to integrate the functional blocks. The application of biotechnology and the like are possible.

[0112] The present disclosure can be implemented in any type of device, apparatus, system having a communication function (collectively referred to as a communication device). Non-limiting examples of communication devices include telephones (mobile phones, smartphones, etc.), tablets, personal computers (PCs) (laptops, desktops, notebooks, etc.), cameras (digital still / video cameras, etc.), digital players (digital audio / video players, etc.), wearable devices (wearable cameras, smartwatches, tracking devices, etc.), game consoles, digital book readers, telehealth / telemedicine (remote healthcare / medical prescription) devices, vehicles or mobile transportation means having a communication function (automobiles, airplanes, ships, etc.), and combinations of the above various devices.

[0113] The communication device is not limited to being portable or movable, and includes all kinds of devices, apparatuses, and systems that are not portable or are fixed, such as smart home devices (home appliances, lighting devices, smart meters or measuring devices, control panels, etc.), vending machines, and any other "Things" that can exist on the IoT (Internet of Things) network.

[0114] Communication includes data communication by cellular systems, wireless LAN systems, communication satellite systems, etc., as well as data communication by combinations of these.

[0115] In addition, the communication device also includes devices such as controllers and sensors that are connected or coupled to a communication device that executes the communication functions described in the present disclosure. For example, controllers and sensors that generate control signals and data signals used by a communication device that executes the communication functions of the communication device are included.

[0116] In addition, the communication device includes infrastructure facilities, such as base stations, access points, and any other devices, apparatuses, and systems that communicate with or control the above-mentioned various types of devices.

[0117] As described above, various embodiments have been described with reference to the drawings. Needless to say, the present disclosure is not limited to such examples. It is obvious that those skilled in the art can conceive of various modification examples or correction examples within the scope described in the claims, and it is naturally understood that those also belong to the technical scope of the present disclosure. Also, within the scope not departing from the gist of the disclosure, the components in the above embodiments may be arbitrarily combined.

[0118] As described above, specific examples of the present disclosure have been described in detail, but these are merely examples and do not limit the scope of the claims. The technology described in the claims includes various modifications and changes of the specific examples illustrated above.

Industrial Applicability

[0119] The present disclosure is suitable for a wireless communication system.

Explanation of Signs

[0120] 10, 20 Information processing device 11, 21 Interference estimation unit 12 Service quality estimation unit 13 Placement decision unit 111, 211 Interference evaluation instruction unit 112 First area propagation evaluation unit 122 Second area propagation evaluation unit 113 First ranking creation unit 123 Second ranking creation unit 121 Service quality evaluation instruction unit 131 Superposition evaluation unit 132 Coverage area evaluation unit 213 Evaluation result conversion unit

Claims

1. a first evaluation unit that evaluates a distribution of a first radio wave that enters an area when a radio wave is emitted from one or more transmission points that are set outside the area; a determination unit that determines information regarding a candidate location of a wireless base station to be placed within the area based on an evaluation result regarding a distribution of the first wireless radio wave; Equipped with The first evaluation unit converts an evaluation result of the distribution of the first radio wave evaluated when a first number of transmission points is set into a distribution of the first radio wave when a second number of transmission points larger than the first number is set. Information processing device.

2. a second evaluation unit that evaluates a distribution of wireless quality within the area when a second wireless radio wave is emitted from a candidate point set at the placement candidate position within the area, the determination unit determines information about a location of the wireless base station within the area based on the evaluation result about the distribution of the wireless quality and the evaluation result about the distribution of the first wireless radio wave. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

3. An output unit that outputs at least one of a result of the evaluation by the first evaluation unit, a result of the evaluation by the second evaluation unit, and a result of the decision by the decision unit, The information processing device according to claim 2 .

4. the determination unit sets a position where the power of the first radio wave is equal to or lower than a predetermined level as the placement candidate position. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

5. An information processing device, evaluating a distribution of a first radio wave that enters an area when a radio wave is emitted from one or more transmission points set outside the area; determining information regarding candidate locations of a wireless base station to be placed within the area based on an evaluation result regarding the distribution of the first wireless radio wave; converting an evaluation result of the distribution of the first radio wave evaluated when a first number of transmission points is set into a distribution of the first radio wave when a second number of transmission points, the second number being greater than the first number, is set; Information processing methods.

6. In the information processing device, evaluating a distribution of a first radio wave that enters an area when a radio wave is emitted from one or more transmission points set outside the area; determining information regarding candidate locations of a wireless base station to be placed within the area based on an evaluation result regarding the distribution of the first wireless radio wave; converting an evaluation result of the distribution of the first radio wave evaluated when a first number of transmission points is set into a distribution of the first radio wave when a second number of transmission points, the second number being greater than the first number, is set; A program that executes a process.

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