Wireless system

Abstract

To identify the optimal radiation direction of a transmission beam to obtain equivalent radio wave conditions for both two radios communicating wirelessly.SOLUTION: Each of wireless devices X and Y sequentially emits multiple transmission beams at different emission angles toward the receiving wireless devices Y and X, and executes test emission to detect the radio wave strength for each transmission beam emitted sequentially from the receiving radio devices Y and X. The maximum values Exmax and Eymax of the radio wave strength detected by each of the radio devices X and Y are calculated, and the difference ΔE between them is compared with the difference threshold value Eth to determine the difference in radio wave strength between the radio devices X and Y.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a wireless communication technology in which two radio devices that perform wireless communication each specify an appropriate radiation direction of a transmission beam. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, wireless systems have been used that perform wireless communication between two wireless devices with high gain by controlling the direction and shape of a transmission beam through beamforming using multiple antenna elements.In a conventional wireless system, for example, Patent Document 1 proposes a technology in which two wireless devices sequentially radiate transmission beams in multiple different angular directions that are discretely set in advance, and based on the radio wave intensities detected for each of these transmission beams by both devices, select the direction with the highest radio wave intensity as the radiation direction of the transmission beam to be used in wireless communication between the wireless devices. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 6873161 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in this conventional technology, the direction with the highest radio wave intensity is simply selected from among a plurality of different angular directions that are discretely set in advance as the radiation direction of the transmission beam used for wireless communication between the wireless devices, which results in a situation where the distance between the beam center and the receiving wireless device is different on both sides. Therefore, this difference in distance causes a difference in radio wave intensity, i.e., a difference in receiving sensitivity, resulting in a problem of reduced communication efficiency and communication quality due to differences in radio wave conditions.

[0005] The present invention is intended to solve these problems, and aims to provide a wireless communication technology that can identify the optimal radiation direction of a transmission beam, so that equivalent radio wave conditions can be obtained for both two radio devices performing wireless communication. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above object, a wireless system according to the present invention comprises first and second wireless devices configured to perform wireless communication by transmitting and receiving wireless signals, wherein the first wireless device sequentially test-radiates transmission beams Bx at different radiation angles Θx toward the second wireless device, and comprises a first control circuit configured to sequentially detect radio wave intensities Ey of the transmission beams By test-radiated from the second wireless device, and the second wireless device sequentially detects radio wave intensities Ex of the transmission beams Bx test-radiated from the first wireless device, and sequentially transmits the transmission beams By test-radiated from the first wireless device to the first wireless device. the first control circuit is configured to compare a difference ΔE between a maximum value Exmax of the radio wave intensity Ex and a maximum value Eymax of the radio wave intensity Ey with a predetermined difference threshold Eth, and when the difference ΔE is equal to or less than the difference threshold Eth, to specify the radiation angle Θxmax at which the maximum value Exmax is obtained as the optimum radiation direction of a transmission beam to be emitted from the first radio device to the second radio device, and to specify the radiation angle Θymax at which the maximum value Eymax is obtained as the optimum radiation direction of a transmission beam to be emitted from the second radio device to the first radio device.

[0007] In one configuration example of the wireless system according to the present invention, the first control circuit is configured to, when the difference ΔE is greater than the difference threshold value Eth, repeatedly compare the difference ΔE between the maximum value Exmax of the new radio wave intensity Ex obtained by test-emitting the transmission beam Bx in sequence at the new radiation angle Θx after fine adjustment and the maximum value Eymax of the new radio wave intensity Ey obtained by test-emitting the transmission beam By in sequence at the new radiation angle Θy after fine adjustment with the difference threshold value Eth until the difference ΔE becomes equal to or less than the difference threshold value Eth. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present invention, it is possible to identify the optimum radiation direction of a transmission beam that will provide equivalent radio wave conditions for both of two radio devices performing wireless communication. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a wireless system according to this embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a sequence diagram showing the operation of the wireless system according to this embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram (continued) showing the operation of the wireless system according to the present embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the operation of the wireless system. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing another example of the operation of the wireless system. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. [Radio System] First, a wireless system 1 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to a block diagram in the drawing. This wireless system 1 includes two wireless devices X and Y, and is configured so that these wireless devices X and Y perform wireless communication with high gain by controlling the direction and shape of a transmission beam through beamforming using multiple antenna elements. The wireless devices X and Y are two devices that perform wireless communication, and for example, the wireless device X may be a general wireless communication device such as a base station or a master station, and the wireless device Y may be a mobile unit or a slave station. The wireless devices X and Y may also be WiFi repeaters or wireless routers.

[0011] [Principle of the present invention] When determining the radiation direction of the transmission beam from wireless device X to wireless device Y, as described above, a possible configuration is to select the direction of the transmission beam with the highest radio wave intensity at wireless device Y from among the transmission beams transmitted from wireless device X in multiple different angular directions that are discretely set in advance.

[0012] However, the direction selected by this configuration is a direction selected from among previously set discrete directions with a certain degree of angular difference between adjacent directions, and cannot be said to be the optimal direction for positioning radio device Y near the center of the beam. The same applies to identifying the radiation direction of the transmission beam from radio device Y to radio device X.

[0013] On the other hand, the transmission beam has a certain beam width, and the radio wave strength decreases and the receiving sensitivity decreases as the distance from the beam center (central axis) increases. Therefore, differences in the distance between wireless devices X and Y and the beam center cause differences in radio wave strength, i.e., differences in receiving sensitivity, which results in a decrease in communication efficiency and communication quality due to differences in radio wave conditions.

[0014] Here, the radiation direction of the transmission beam can be fine-tuned by radio devices X and Y using beamforming, and the distance between radio devices X and Y and the beam center can be adjusted according to this fine adjustment, thereby adjusting the magnitude of the radio wave strength, i.e., the radio wave conditions, at radio devices X and Y. Furthermore, by using the difference in radio wave strength, i.e., a relative value, it is possible to very easily equalize the radio wave conditions at both radio devices X and Y without using an absolute value to determine the radio wave strength.

[0015] The present invention focuses on the relationship between such fine adjustment of the emission direction of the transmission beam and changes in radio wave intensity, and on equalizing radio wave conditions due to differences in radio wave intensity. It is configured to perform test emissions in which multiple transmission beams are emitted in sequence from both radio devices X and Y at different emission angles toward the receiving radio devices Y and X, detect the radio wave intensity for each transmission beam emitted in sequence from the receiving radio devices Y and X, calculate the maximum values ​​Exmax and Eymax of the radio wave intensity detected by both radio devices X and Y, and compare the difference ΔE between them with a difference threshold value Eth, thereby determining the difference in radio wave intensity between both radio devices X and Y.

[0016] When the difference ΔE becomes equal to or less than the difference threshold Eth, the radiation angle at which the maximum values ​​Exmax and Eymax are obtained is identified as the optimal radiation direction of the transmission beam emitted from the radio devices X and Y toward the radio devices Y and X. When the difference ΔE is greater than the difference threshold Eth and the difference in radio field intensity is large, test radiation using the new radiation direction after fine adjustment is repeatedly performed until the difference ΔE becomes equal to or less than the difference threshold Eth.

[0017] This corrects the difference in distance between wireless devices X and Y and the beam center, reducing the difference in radio wave strength (i.e., the difference in receiving sensitivity) caused by this difference in distance. Therefore, it is possible to identify the optimal radiation direction of the transmission beam, which will provide equivalent radio wave conditions for both wireless devices X and Y. Furthermore, it is possible to very easily equalize the radio wave conditions for both wireless devices X and Y without requiring an absolute value to determine the radio wave strength.

[0018] [Radio details] Next, with reference to the block diagram of FIG. 1, the configurations of the radio devices X and Y according to this embodiment will be described in detail.

[0019] [Radio X] The radio (first radio) X (10) mainly comprises a radio I / F 11, a memory circuit 12, and a control circuit 13 (first control circuit).

[0020] [Wireless I / F] The wireless I / F 11 performs wireless communication with the wireless device Y by transmitting and receiving wireless signals, and is configured to adjust the radiation direction and shape of the transmitted beam by beamforming using multiple antenna elements based on the control of the control circuit 13 when transmitting the wireless signal.

[0021] [Memory circuit] The memory circuit 12 is made up of a storage device such as a semiconductor memory, and is configured to store various processing data and programs used in the radiation direction identification process executed by the control circuit. These programs are read out in advance from an external device or a recording medium (neither of which are shown) and stored in the memory circuit 12. The main processing data stored in the memory circuit 12 include the difference threshold Eth used to determine the radiation direction and the fine adjustment angle width ΔΘ of the transmission beam.

[0022] The differential threshold value Eth depends on various conditions, such as the transmission power, transmitting antenna gain, and beam width of the transmission beam radiated from radio device X during test radiation, the receiving antenna gain of radio device Y, and the accuracy of identifying the radiation direction. Therefore, it may be empirically determined in advance through calculation processing or test operations.

[0023] Furthermore, the fine adjustment angle width ΔΘ depends on various conditions, similar to the difference threshold value Eth, and also depends on the time required to identify the appropriate radiation direction, so it may be empirically determined in advance by calculation processing or test operation.

[0024] [Control circuit] The control circuit 13 has a CPU and its peripheral circuits, and is configured to read a program stored in the memory circuit 12 and operate in cooperation with the CPU to execute radiation direction identification processing for the wireless device 20 based on the processing data of the memory circuit 12.

[0025] The main processing units realized by the control circuit 13 are a test radiation unit 13A and a radiation angle identification unit 13B.

[0026] [Test radiation unit] The test radiation unit 13A is configured to test-radiate N transmission beams Bxi (i is an integer greater than or equal to 1 and less than or equal to N) toward the radio device Y at different radiation angles Θxi in sequence, and to detect the radio wave intensities Eyj of the N transmission beams Byj (j is an integer greater than or equal to 1 and less than or equal to N) in sequence radiated from the radio device Y.

[0027] In addition, when test radiating the transmission beam Bxi, the test radiation unit 13A is configured to wirelessly transmit radiation data Dxi related to the transmission beam Bxi, such as attribute information such as the ID (identification information) of the transmission beam Bxi, transmission power P, transmission antenna gain G, and radiation angle Θxi, to the radio device Y, and when detecting the radio wave intensity Eyj, to receive radiation data Dyj related to the transmission beam Byj wirelessly transmitted from the radio device Y, such as attribute information such as the ID (identification information) of the transmission beam Byj, transmission power P, transmission antenna gain G, and radiation angle Θyj, and the radio wave intensity Exi related to the transmission beam Bxi.

[0028] [Radiation direction identification part] The radiation angle determination unit 13B is configured to calculate a difference ΔE between the maximum value Exmax of the N radio wave intensities Exi detected by the radio device Y and the maximum value Eymax of the N radio wave intensities Eyj detected by the radio device X, compare the obtained difference ΔE with a difference threshold value Eth stored in the memory circuit 12, and, if the difference ΔE is equal to or smaller than the difference threshold value Eth, determine the radiation angle Θxmax at which the maximum value Exmax was obtained as the optimal radiation direction of the transmission beam Bx to be emitted from the radio device X to the radio device Y, and determine the radiation angle Θymax at which the maximum value Eymax was obtained as the optimal radiation direction of the transmission beam By to be emitted from the radio device Y to the radio device X.

[0029] Furthermore, when the difference ΔE is greater than the difference threshold value Eth, the emission angle identification unit 13B is configured to repeatedly compare the difference ΔE between the maximum value Exmax of the new radio wave intensity Ex obtained by sequentially test-emitting the transmission beam Bx at a new emission angle Θx fine-adjusted by the fine-adjustment angle width ΔΘ stored in the memory circuit 12, and the maximum value Eymax of the new radio wave intensity Ey obtained by sequentially test-emitting the transmission beam By at a new emission angle Θy fine-adjusted by the fine-adjustment angle width ΔΘ, with the difference threshold value Eth until the difference ΔE becomes equal to or less than the difference threshold value Eth.

[0030] [Radio Y] The radio (second radio) Y (20) mainly comprises a radio I / F 21, a memory circuit 22, and a control circuit 23 (second control circuit).

[0031] [Wireless I / F] The wireless I / F 21 performs wireless communication with the wireless device Y by transmitting and receiving wireless signals, and is configured to adjust the radiation direction and shape of the transmitted beam by beamforming using multiple antenna elements based on the control of the control circuit 23 when transmitting the wireless signal.

[0032] [Memory circuit] The memory circuit 22 is made up of a storage device such as a semiconductor memory, and is configured to store various processing data and programs used in the radiation direction identification process executed by the control circuit. These programs are read out in advance from an external device or a recording medium (neither of which are shown) and stored in the memory circuit 22. The main processing data stored in the memory circuit 22 is the fine adjustment angle width ΔΘ for finely adjusting the transmission beam.

[0033] The fine adjustment angle width ΔΘ and the difference threshold value Eth depend on various conditions, such as the transmission power, transmitting antenna gain, and beam width of the transmission beam emitted from radio device Y when identifying the radiation direction, the receiving antenna gain of radio device X, and the accuracy of identifying the radiation direction, as well as the time required to identify an appropriate radiation direction. Therefore, they may be determined in advance by calculation processing or empirically through test operations.

[0034] [Control circuit] The control circuit 23 has a CPU and its peripheral circuits, and is configured to read a program stored in the memory circuit 22 and operate in cooperation with the CPU to execute radiation direction identification processing for the radio device 20 based on the processing data of the memory circuit 22.

[0035] The main processing unit realized by the control circuit 23 is a test radiation unit 23A.

[0036] [Test radiation unit] The test radiation unit 23A is configured to detect the radio wave intensity Exi of N transmission beams Bxi (i is an integer greater than or equal to 1 and less than or equal to N) sequentially radiated from the wireless device X, and to test radiate N transmission beams Byj (j is an integer greater than or equal to 1 and less than or equal to N) sequentially toward the wireless device X at different radiation angles Θyj.

[0037] In addition, when detecting the radio wave intensity Exi, the test radiation unit 23A is configured to receive radiation data Dxi related to the transmission beam Bxi wirelessly transmitted from the radio device X, such as attribute information such as the ID (identification information) of the transmission beam Bxi, transmission power P, transmission antenna gain G, and radiation angle Θxi, and when test radiating the transmission beam Byj, to wirelessly transmit to the radio device X radiation data Dyj related to the transmission beam Byj, such as attribute information such as the ID (identification information) of the transmission beam Byj, transmission power P, transmission antenna gain G, and radiation angle Θyj, and the radio wave intensity Exi related to the transmission beam Bxi.

[0038] [Operation of this embodiment] Next, the operation of the wireless system 1 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to the sequence diagrams of Figures 2 and 3. For ease of understanding, it is assumed below that the number of radiation beams N=3, the transmission power P, the transmission antenna gain G, the radiation angle interval Θw, and the fine-tuning angle width ΔΘ are common to the transmission beams Bx and By test radiated by the wireless devices X and Y. Furthermore, it is assumed that the radiation angles of the transmission beams Bx and By are initially set to radiation angles Θx1 and Θy1, respectively, and are shifted by radiation angle intervals Θw to radiation angles Θx2 (=Θx1 + Θw), Θy2 (=Θy1 + Θw), Θx3 (=Θx2 + Θw), and Θy3 (=Θy2 + Θw). It is also assumed that the receiving antennas of the wireless devices X and Y are both omnidirectional and have the same receiving antenna gain.

[0039] [Test Radiation Processing Tx] First, as shown in FIG. 2, the test radiation unit 13A of the radio device X executes a test radiation process Tx for radiating transmission beams Bx1, Bx2, and Bx3 toward the radio device Y. In the test radiation process Tx, the test radiation unit 13A first sets a transmission power P and a transmission antenna gain G common to the transmission beams Bx1, Bx2, and Bx3 in the wireless I / F 11 (step 100).

[0040] Next, the test radiation unit 13A of the wireless device X sets the radiation angle Θx1 in the wireless I / F 11 (step 101), radiates a transmission beam Bx1 from the wireless I / F 11 toward the wireless device Y, and wirelessly transmits radiation data Dx1 to the wireless device Y, including attribute information regarding the transmission beam Bx1, such as the transmission power P, the transmission antenna gain G, and the radiation angle Θx1 (step 102).

[0041] The test radiator 23A of the wireless device Y detects the radio field intensity Ex1 of the transmission beam Bx1 in response to the transmission beam Bx1 from the wireless device X detected by the wireless I / F 21, and receives the radiation data Dx1 from the wireless device X (step 103).

[0042] Next, the test radiation unit 13A of the radio device X sets the radiation angle Θx2 in the radio I / F 11 (step 104), and then radiates a transmission beam Bx2 from the radio I / F 11 toward the radio device Y, and wirelessly transmits radiation data Dx2 to the radio device Y, including attribute information regarding the transmission beam Bx2, such as the transmission power P, the transmission antenna gain G, and the radiation angle Θx2 (step 105).

[0043] The test radiator 23A of the wireless device Y detects the radio field intensity Ex2 of the transmission beam Bx2 in response to the transmission beam Bx2 from the wireless device X detected by the wireless I / F 21, and receives the radiation data Dx2 from the wireless device X (step 106).

[0044] Next, the test radiation unit 13A of the wireless device X sets the radiation angle Θx3 in the wireless I / F 11 (step 107), and then radiates a transmission beam Bx3 from the wireless I / F 11 toward the wireless device Y, and wirelessly transmits radiation data Dx3 to the wireless device Y, which includes attribute information regarding the transmission beam Bx3, such as the transmission power P, the transmission antenna gain G, and the radiation angle Θx3 (step 108).

[0045] The test radiator 23A of the wireless device Y detects the radio field intensity Ex3 of the transmission beam Bx3 in response to the transmission beam Bx3 from the wireless device X detected by the wireless I / F 21, and receives the radiation data Dx3 from the wireless device X (step 109).

[0046] [Test Radiation Treatment Type] After that, as shown in FIG. 2, the test radiation unit 23A of the radio device Y executes a test radiation process Ty to radiate the transmission beams By1, By2, and By3 toward the radio device X. In the test radiation process Ty, the test radiation unit 23A first sets a transmission power P and a transmission antenna gain G common to the transmission beams By1, By2, and By3 in the wireless I / F 21 (step 110).

[0047] Next, the test radiation unit 23A of the radio device Y sets the radiation angle Θy1 in the radio I / F 21 (step 111), radiates the transmission beam By1 from the radio I / F 21 toward the radio device X, and wirelessly transmits radiation data Dy1 including attribute information regarding the transmission beam By1, such as the transmission power P, the transmission antenna gain G, and the radiation angle Θy1, to the radio device X (step 112).

[0048] The test radiator 13A of the wireless device X detects the radio field intensity Ey1 of the transmission beam By1 from the wireless device Y detected by the wireless I / F 11, and receives the radiation data Dy1 from the wireless device Y (step 113).

[0049] Next, the test radiation unit 23A of the radio device Y sets the radiation angle Θy2 in the radio I / F 21 (step 114), and then radiates the transmission beam By2 from the radio I / F 21 toward the radio device X, and wirelessly transmits radiation data Dy2 to the radio device X, which includes attribute information regarding the transmission beam By2, such as the transmission power P, the transmission antenna gain G, and the radiation angle Θy2 (step 115).

[0050] The test radiator 13A of the wireless device X detects the radio field intensity Ey2 of the transmission beam By2 from the wireless device Y detected by the wireless I / F 11, and receives the radiation data Dy2 from the wireless device Y (step 116).

[0051] Next, the test radiation unit 23A of the radio device Y sets the radiation angle Θy3 in the radio I / F 21 (step 117), and then radiates the transmission beam By3 from the radio I / F 21 toward the radio device X, and wirelessly transmits radiation data Dy3 to the radio device X, which includes attribute information such as the transmission power P, the transmission antenna gain G, and the radiation angle Θy3 related to the transmission beam By3 (step 118).

[0052] The test radiator 13A of the wireless device X detects the radio field intensity Ey3 of the transmission beam By3 in response to the transmission beam By3 from the wireless device Y detected by the wireless I / F 11, and receives the radiation data Dy3 from the wireless device X (step 119).

[0053] [Radiation angle identification processing] Next, the radiation angle specifying unit 13B of the wireless device X executes the radiation angle specifying process shown in FIG.

[0054] First, the radiation angle determination unit 13B selects the maximum value Exmax from among the radio wave intensities Ex1, Ex2, and Ex3 for the transmission beams Bx1, Bx2, and Bx3 notified by the radio device Y (step 120), and also selects the maximum value Eymax from among the radio wave intensities Ey1, Ey2, and Ey3 for the transmission beams By1, By2, and By3 detected by the test radiation unit 13A (step 121).

[0055] Next, the emission angle specifying unit 13B calculates the difference ΔE (absolute value) between the maximum value Exmax and the maximum value Eymax (step 122), and compares it with the difference threshold value Eth stored in the memory circuit 12 (step 123).

[0056] Here, if the difference ΔE is larger than the difference threshold value Eth (step 123: NO), the process returns to the above-mentioned step 100, and the test radiation processes Tx and Ty are executed again. As a result, the test radiation unit 13A of the radio device X executes the test radiation process Tx again using the radiation angles Θx1, Θx2, and Θx3 fine-adjusted with the fine-adjustment angle width ΔΘ stored in the memory circuit 12, and the test radiation unit 23A of the radio device Y executes the test radiation process Ty again using the radiation angles Θy1, Θy2, and Θy3 fine-adjusted with the fine-adjustment angle width ΔΘ stored in the memory circuit 22.

[0057] In the explanatory diagrams of Figure 4, Figure 4(a) shows a case where wireless device Y is located at a position shifted from the center of transmission beam Bx2, and Figure 4(b) shows a case where wireless device X is located at a position shifted from the center of transmission beam By2. In these cases, the maximum values ​​of radio field intensity Ex2 and Ey2 obtained when transmission beams Bx2 and By2 are used are selected as Exmax and Eymax, respectively. However, as shown in Figure 4(c), the difference ΔE between Ex2 and Ey2 is greater than the difference threshold value Eth. Therefore, in such cases, it is determined that test emission processes Tx and Ty using fine-tuned emission angles are required.

[0058] On the other hand, if the difference ΔE is equal to or smaller than the difference threshold value Eth (step 123: YES), the radiation angle identification unit 13B identifies the radiation angle Θxmax at which the maximum value Exmax is obtained as the optimal radiation angle of the transmission beam Bx emitted from the wireless device X (step 124), and also identifies the radiation angle Θxmax at which the maximum value Exmax is obtained as the optimal radiation angle of the transmission beam Bx emitted from the wireless device X (step 125).

[0059] Among the explanatory diagrams in Fig. 5, Fig. 5(a) shows a case where wireless device Y is located approximately at the center of transmission beam Bx2, and Fig. 5(b) shows a case where wireless device X is located approximately at the center of transmission beam By2. In these cases, the maximum values ​​of radio field intensity Ex2' and Ey2' obtained when transmission beams Bx2 and By2 are used are selected as Exmax and Eymax, and as shown in Fig. 5(c), the difference ΔE between Ex2' and Ey2' is equal to or less than the difference threshold value Eth. Therefore, in such cases, it is determined that the optimal emission angle has been obtained.

[0060] Thereafter, the control circuit 13 sets the optimum radiation angle Θxmax in the wireless I / F 11 (step 130), and notifies the optimum radiation angle Θymax from the wireless I / F 11 to the wireless device Y by wireless transmission (step 131). In response to this, the control circuit 23 of the wireless device Y sets the optimum radiation angle Θymax notified from the wireless device X in the wireless I / F 21 (step 132).

[0061] As a result, radio device X starts emitting a transmission beam Bx in the direction of the optimal radiation angle Θxmax, and radio device Y starts emitting a transmission beam By in the direction of the optimal radiation angle Θymax, and wireless communication between radio devices X and Y begins using these transmission beams Bx and By (step 133).

[0062] [Advantages of this embodiment] As described above, in this embodiment, each of the radio devices X and Y sequentially emits a plurality of transmission beams at different emission angles toward the receiving radio devices Y and X, and executes test emission to detect the radio field strength for each transmission beam emitted sequentially from the receiving radio devices Y and X. The maximum values ​​Exmax and Eymax of the radio field strength detected by each of the radio devices X and Y are calculated, and the difference ΔE between them is compared with the difference threshold value Eth, thereby determining the difference in radio field strength between the radio devices X and Y.

[0063] This corrects the difference in distance between wireless devices X and Y and the beam center, reducing the difference in radio wave strength (i.e., the difference in receiving sensitivity) caused by this difference in distance. Therefore, it is possible to identify the optimal radiation direction of the transmission beam, which will provide equivalent radio wave conditions for both wireless devices X and Y. Furthermore, it is possible to very easily equalize the radio wave conditions for both wireless devices X and Y without requiring an absolute value to determine the radio wave strength.

[0064] [Extended embodiment] Although the present invention has been described above with reference to the embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. Various modifications that can be understood by those skilled in the art can be made to the configuration and details of the present invention within the scope of the present invention.

[0065] In the above, we have described an example in which parameters such as the number of radiations N, transmission power P, transmitting antenna gain G, radiation angle interval Θw, and fine-tuning angle width ΔΘ are common to the transmission beams Bx and By, but this is not limiting. As a result, different values ​​may be used for the transmission beams Bx and By as long as the difference between the radio wave intensities Ex and Ey of the transmission beams Bx and By is reduced. Furthermore, these parameters may be specified in advance depending on the wireless communication application in which the wireless system 1 is used.

[0066] In addition, in the above, an example has been described in which the radio wave intensities Ex detected by the radio device Y are notified to the radio device X one by one for each piece of radiation data Dy, but this is not limited to this, and several or all of the radio wave intensities Ex may be notified together in one piece of radiation data Dy, or may be notified via wireless communication other than the radiation data Dy.

[0067] In the above description, the radiation angle specifying unit 13B is implemented in the wireless device X, but it may be implemented in the wireless device Y. In this case, the radio wave intensity Ey detected by the wireless device X may be notified to the wireless device Y via wireless communication. The radiation angle specifying unit 13B may be implemented in a processing device such as a server different from the wireless devices X and Y. In this case, the radio wave intensities Ey and Ex detected by the wireless devices X and Y may be notified to the processing device via wireless communication or wired communication.

[0068] Furthermore, in the above, when performing a test radiation process again, the radiation angle interval Θw of the transmission beams Bx and By may be narrowed. In this case, the radiation angle at which the radio wave intensity was at its maximum in the previous test radiation process may be fine-tuned, and the radiation angles used may be shifted to the left or right by a radiation angle interval Θw that is narrower than the previous one, with the obtained fine-tuned radiation angle as the center. This makes it possible to test a narrower angle range with the same number of emissions, and efficiently shorten the distance between the centers of the transmission beams Bx and By and the radio units Y and X.

[0069] Furthermore, in the above, when re-executing the test radiation process, the number of radiations N of the transmission beams Bx and By may be reduced. For example, if the previous test radiation process had N=3 and the radiation angle at which the radio wave intensity was at its maximum was the middle radiation angle of the three, the radiation angle at which the radio wave intensity was at its maximum may be fine-tuned, and only the radiation angle after the fine adjustment may be used. In this way, the reduction in the number of radiations can shorten the time required for the test radiation, and the distance between the center of the transmission beams Bx and By and the radio devices Y and X can be efficiently shortened. [Explanation of symbols]

[0070] 1...wireless system, X, 10...radio device, 11...wireless I / F, 12...memory circuit, 13...control circuit, 13A...test radiation unit, 13B...radiation angle determination unit, Y, 20...radio device, 21...wireless I / F, 22...memory circuit, 23...control circuit, 23A...test radiation unit, Bx, By...transmitting beam, Θx, Θy...radiation angle, Ex, Ey...radio field strength, Exmax, Eymax...maximum value, ΔE...difference, Eth...difference threshold, ΔΘ...fine-tuning angle width, Dx, Dy...radiation data, P...transmitting power, G...transmitting antenna gain, Θw...radiation angle interval.

Claims

1. a first radio and a second radio configured to perform wireless communication by transmitting and receiving radio signals; The first radio device a first control circuit configured to sequentially test-radiate transmission beams Bx at different radiation angles Θx toward the second radio device, and sequentially detect radio wave intensities Ey of the transmission beams By test-radiated in order from the second radio device; The second radio a second control circuit configured to sequentially detect radio wave intensities Ex of the transmission beams Bx test-radiated in sequence from the first radio device, and test-radiate the transmission beams By in sequence toward the first radio device at different radiation angles Θy; The first control circuit includes: a difference ΔE between a maximum value Exmax of the radio wave intensity Ex and a maximum value Eymax of the radio wave intensity Ey is compared with a predetermined difference threshold Eth, and if the difference ΔE is equal to or less than the difference threshold Eth, a radiation angle Θxmax at which the maximum value Exmax is obtained is identified as an optimal radiation direction of a transmission beam radiated from the first radio device to the second radio device; The radiation angle Θymax at which the maximum value Eymax is obtained is specified as the optimum radiation direction of a transmission beam radiated from the second radio device toward the first radio device. A wireless system characterized by:

2. 2. The wireless system according to claim 1, The first control circuit includes: When the difference ΔE is greater than the difference threshold value Eth, the difference ΔE between a maximum value Exmax of new radio wave intensity Ex obtained by test-emitting the transmission beam Bx in sequence at the new adjusted emission angle Θx and a maximum value Eymax of new radio wave intensity Ey obtained by test-emitting the transmission beam By in sequence at the new adjusted emission angle Θy is repeatedly compared with the difference threshold value Eth until the difference ΔE becomes equal to or less than the difference threshold value Eth. A wireless system characterized by:

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