Virtualization terminal system

Abstract

This reduces interference between virtualized terminal systems. [Solution] A virtualization terminal system is provided comprising a first central device and M first relay devices. The first central device holds first information indicating the real-space positions of the remaining first relay devices relative to one first relay device. The first central device includes receiving means for receiving second information indicating the real-space positions of the remaining second relay devices relative to one second relay device from a second central device of another virtualization terminal system, and control means for acquiring reception results including information indicating the reception timing at each of the M first relay devices of a detection signal transmitted by each of the N second relay devices, and controlling the beam of intra-system communication based on at least three selected reception results from N × M reception results, the first information, and the second information.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a technology for suppressing interference that a virtualized terminal system imposes on other virtualized terminal systems.

Background Art

[0002] Non-Patent Document 1 discloses a configuration in which a central device such as a smartphone uses a plurality of wearable devices as relay devices for its communication. According to Non-Patent Document 1, communication between the central device and the plurality of relay devices is performed using terahertz band radio signals with a frequency of 100 GHz or higher. Further, each of the plurality of relay devices wirelessly communicates with a network node such as a base station apparatus of a mobile communication network or an access point of a wireless local area network (LAN). The frequency of the radio signal used for communication between the relay device and the network node follows the wireless standard used by the network node. The relay device performs frequency conversion between the terahertz band radio signal used for communication with the central device and the frequency used for communication with the network node.

[0003] In the following description, a system including the central device and the plurality of relay devices disclosed in Non-Patent Document 1 is referred to as a "virtualized terminal system". Further, in the following description, wireless communication between the central device and the relay devices is referred to as "in-system communication".

Prior Art Documents

Non-Patent Documents

[0004]

Non-Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] In a virtualized terminal system, intra-system communication takes place as described above. Here, we assume that both the first user and the second user are using a virtualized terminal system, with the virtualized terminal system used by the first user being referred to as the first virtualized terminal system, and the virtualized terminal system used by the second user being referred to as the second virtualized terminal system. When the locations of the first user and the second user become close, intra-system communication in the first virtualized terminal system may interfere with intra-system communication in the second virtualized terminal system.

[0006] This disclosure provides a technology to reduce interference between virtualized terminal systems. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a virtualization terminal system comprising a first central device and M (M is an integer of 3 or more) first relay devices, wherein the first central device holds first information indicating the real-space positions of the remaining first relay devices relative to one of the M first relay devices, the first central device comprises receiving means for receiving second information indicating the real-space positions of the remaining second relay devices relative to one of the N second relay devices from the second central device of another virtualization terminal system comprising a second central device and N (N is an integer of 3 or more) second relay devices, and control means for obtaining reception results from the M first relay devices, including information indicating the reception timing of detection signals transmitted by each of the N second relay devices at each of the M first relay devices, and controlling the beam of in-system communication between the first central device and each of the M first relay devices based on at least three selected reception results from N × M of the reception results, the first information, and the second information. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to this disclosure, it is possible to reduce interference between virtualized terminal systems. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] A diagram showing an example configuration of a virtualized terminal system. [Figure 2] Sequence diagram according to an embodiment. [Figure 3] A diagram showing an example of the reception result. [Figure 4] A diagram showing an example configuration of the central device. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] The embodiments will be described in detail below with reference to the attached drawings. Note that the following embodiments do not limit the invention as defined in the claims, and not all combinations of features described in the embodiments are essential to the invention. Two or more of the features described in the embodiments may be combined arbitrarily. Furthermore, identical or similar configurations will be given the same reference numeral, and redundant descriptions will be omitted.

[0011] Figure 1 shows an example configuration of a virtualized terminal system. The virtualized terminal system has a central device 1 and three or more relay devices 2. In the example in Figure 1, the number of relay devices 2 in the virtualized terminal system is set to three. The central device 1 may be, for example, a portable communication device such as a smartphone or a tablet. The relay devices 2 may be wearable devices such as a smartwatch or smart glasses. Note that the relay devices 2 do not need to have device-specific functions, such as the clock function in a smartwatch. In other words, the relay devices 2 may only be devices that relay communications performed by the central device 1.

[0012] The central device 1 and relay device 2 communicate within the system as described above. Relay device 2 performs frequency conversion of the radio signal from central device 1 and transmits the frequency-converted radio signal to network nodes such as base station equipment and access points. Relay device 2 also performs frequency conversion of the radio signal received from the network nodes and transmits the frequency-converted radio signal to central device 1. The frequency of the radio signal used for communication within the system may be 100 GHz or higher, i.e., in the terahertz band.

[0013] In the following, it is assumed that user #A has virtualized terminal system #A, and user #B has virtualized terminal system #B. Furthermore, the central device 1 of virtualized terminal system #A will be referred to as central device #A. Also, it is assumed that virtualized terminal system #A has three relay devices 2, which will be referred to as relay devices #A1, #A2, and #A3. Furthermore, relay devices #A1, #A2, and #A3 will be collectively referred to as relay device #A. Similarly, the central device 1 of virtualized terminal system #B will be referred to as central device #B. Also, it is assumed that virtualized terminal system #B has three relay devices 2, which will be referred to as relay devices #B1, #B2, and #B3. Furthermore, relay devices #B1, #B2, and #B3 will be collectively referred to as relay device #B.

[0014] Central device #A stores information indicating the relative positions of relay devices #A2 and #A3 with respect to a reference relay device #A1. Relay device #A1 is configured to acquire information indicating its orientation via a magnetic sensor or the like. The orientation of relay device #A1 can be defined by the angle of a predefined direction in relay device #A1 with respect to a reference direction in real space. In this example, the reference direction in real space is set to the north. Central device #A is configured to acquire information indicating the orientation of relay device #A1 from relay device #A1. Based on the information indicating the relative positions of relay devices #A2 and #A3 with respect to relay device #A1 that is stored in advance, and the information indicating the orientation of relay device #A1 acquired from relay device #A1, central device #A can determine the real-space positions of relay devices #A2 and #A3 with respect to relay device #A1 (hereinafter referred to as real-space positions).

[0015] In the following description, location information #A will be used to refer to the information indicating the physical spatial positions of relay devices #A2 and #A3 relative to relay device #A1. The central device #B of the virtualization terminal system #B also has information indicating the physical spatial positions of relay devices #B2 and #B3 relative to relay device #B1, and in the following description, this information will be used to refer to location information #B.

[0016] Figure 2 is a sequence diagram according to this embodiment. The central device 1 is configured to communicate with other central devices 1 by establishing a wireless link, such as Bluetooth® communication or sidelink communication. For example, when central device 1 detects interference in intra-system communication, it may be configured to establish a wireless link with the central device 1 of another nearby virtualization terminal system. Furthermore, even if central device 1 does not detect interference in intra-system communication, when it detects another nearby virtualization terminal system, it may be configured to establish a wireless link with the central device 1 of that other virtualization terminal system. In S1 of Figure 2, central device #B establishes a wireless link with central device #A triggered by the detection of interference in intra-system communication.

[0017] When central device #B establishes a wireless link with central device #A in S1, it notifies central device #A in S2 of location information #B and information indicating the timing for transmitting the detection signal in S4. Subsequently, in S3, central device #B notifies relay devices #B1, #B2, and #B3 of the timing for transmitting the detection signal. Each of relay devices #B1, #B2, and #B3 transmits the detection signal in S4, which is the transmission timing notified in S3. The frequency of the detection signal may be, for example, a frequency within the unlicensed band, such as 2.4GHz or 5GHz.

[0018] Relay devices #A1, #A2, and #A3 each receive detection signals transmitted by relay devices #B1, #B2, and #B3, respectively, and in S5, they notify the central device #A of the results of receiving the detection signals. The reception results are obtained for each combination of relay device #B that transmitted the detection signal and relay device #A that received the detection signal. In other words, if we denote the reception result at relay device #Am (where m is an integer from 1 to 3) of a detection signal transmitted by relay device #Bn (where n is an integer from 1 to 3) as reception result #nm, then in this example, a total of 9 reception results are obtained, from reception result #11 to reception result #33, as shown in Figure 3.

[0019] Note that the reception result includes the reception power of the detection signal and the reception timing of the detection signal.

[0020] Central device #A can determine the real-space positions of each of relay devices #B1 to #B3 relative to virtualized terminal system #A, as described later, based on position information #A, position information #B notified from central device #B and the transmission timing of the detection signal, and the reception result of the detection signal received from relay device #B. Based on the real-space positions of each of relay devices #B1 to #B3 relative to virtualized terminal system #A, in S6, central device #A controls the beams used for intra-system communication in virtualized terminal system #A so as to reduce the interference that the beams used for intra-system communication in virtualized terminal system #A impose on the intra-system communication in virtualized terminal system #B. For example, central device #A controls the beams used for intra-system communication such that the power of the radio signals for intra-system communication directed toward relay devices #B1 to #B3 is equal to or less than a predetermined value. This makes it possible to suppress the interference that virtualized terminal system #A imposes on virtualized terminal system #B.

[0021] Next, a description is given of that central device #A can determine the real-space positions of each of relay devices #B1 to #B3 relative to virtualized terminal system #A based on a total of nine reception results from reception result #11 to reception result #33. In one example, central device #A selects the top three reception results in descending order of reception power from the nine reception results, and uses the selected reception results (hereinafter referred to as selected reception results) to determine the real-space positions of each of relay devices #B1 to #B3 relative to virtualized terminal system #A. This real-space position determination method basically follows the TOA (Time of Arrival) method or the TDOA (Time Difference of Arrival) method.

[0022] For example, it is assumed that reception results #11, #12 and #13 are selected as the selected reception results. Based on the reception timing of the detection signal indicated by reception result #11, the central device #A can determine the distance between the relay device #A1 and the relay device #B1. Similarly, based on the reception timings of the detection signals indicated by reception result #12 and reception result #13, the central device #A can determine the respective distances between relay devices #A2 and #A3 and the relay device #B1. Since the central device #A recognizes the actual spatial positions of relay devices #A2 and #A3 with the relay device #A1 as a reference, based on the respective distances between relay devices #A1 to #A3 and the relay device #B1, the central device #A can determine the actual spatial position of the relay device #B1 with the relay device #A1 as a reference. Therefore, the central device #A can determine the actual spatial positions of relay devices #B2 and #B3 with the relay device #A1 as a reference, based on the position information #B, that is, the actual spatial positions of relay devices #B2 and #B3 with the relay device #B1 as a reference. Accordingly, the central device #A can determine the actual spatial positions of relay devices #B1 to #B3 with relay devices #A2 and #A3 as references respectively, based on the position information #A.

[0023] For example, suppose reception results #11, #21, and #31 are selected as the selected reception results. Based on the reception timing of the detection signals indicated by reception results #11, #21, and #31, the central device #A can determine the distance between relay device #A1 and relay devices #B1 to #B3. The central device #A is notified by central device #B of location information #B, that is, the real spatial positions of relay devices #B2 and #B3 relative to relay device #B1. Therefore, based on the conditions that the distance between relay device #A1 and relay devices #B1 to #B3 is the distance determined from the reception results, and that the real spatial positions of relay devices #B2 and #B3 relative to relay device #B1 follow location information #B, the central device #A can determine the real spatial positions of relay devices #B1 to #B3 relative to relay device #A1. Therefore, based on location information #A, the central device #A can determine the real-space position of each of the relay devices #B1 to #B3, relative to relay devices #A2 and #A3, respectively.

[0024] For example, suppose reception results #11, #22, and #33 are selected as the selected reception results. Based on the reception timing of the detection signal indicated by reception result #11, central device #A can determine the first distance between relay device #A1 and relay device #B1. Based on the reception timing of the detection signal indicated by reception result #22, central device #A can determine the second distance between relay device #A2 and relay device #B2. Based on the reception timing of the detection signal indicated by reception result #33, central device #A can determine the third distance between relay device #A3 and relay device #B3. The central device #A can determine the real-space positions of relay devices #B1 to #B3 relative to relay devices #A1 to #A3, based on the conditions that the distance between relay devices #Ak and #Bk (where k is an integer from 1 to 3) is the k-th distance, the real-space positions of relay devices #B2 and #B3 relative to relay device #B1 follow position information #B, and the real-space positions of relay devices #A2 and #A3 relative to relay device #A1 follow position information #A.

[0025] While other examples are omitted, the central device #A can determine the real-space position of each relay device #B1 to #B3 relative to the virtualized terminal system #A, based on the three received results. Therefore, the central device #A can control the intra-system communication in virtualized terminal system #A in order to mitigate interference with the intra-system communication of virtualized terminal system #B.

[0026] In the above example, it was explained that virtualized terminal system #A and virtualized terminal system #B each have three relay devices 2. More generally, virtualized terminal system #A may have M relay devices 2, and virtualized terminal system #B may have N relay devices 2, where M and N are integers greater than or equal to 3. In this case, central device #A obtains N × M received results, and by using three of these received results, it can determine the real-space location of each of the N relay devices 2 of virtualized terminal system #B relative to virtualized terminal system #A. The three selected received results used to determine the real-space location of each of the N relay devices 2 of virtualized terminal system #B could be, for example, the top three received results in descending order of received power.

[0027] Furthermore, instead of using three of the N × M received results, the system can also be configured to use three or more received results with received power greater than a predetermined threshold to determine the physical spatial position of each of the N relay devices 2 of virtual terminal system #B relative to virtual terminal system #A. For example, if there are L received results (L is an integer of 3 or more) with received power greater than a predetermined threshold, the central device #A determines the physical spatial position of each of the N relay devices 2 of virtual terminal system #B relative to virtual terminal system #A for each combination of three selected from L. The final physical spatial position of each of the N relay devices 2 of virtual terminal system #B can then be determined by averaging the physical spatial positions determined for each combination of three selected from L.

[0028] Furthermore, without requiring the received power to be greater than a predetermined threshold, it is also possible to determine the real-space location of each of the N relay devices 2 in the virtualized terminal system #B using all N × M received results.

[0029] <Configuration of Central Device 1> Figure 4 shows the configuration of the central device 1 of the virtualized terminal system. The first transmitter 12 transmits wireless signals for intra-system communication, and the first receiver 13 receives wireless signals for intra-system communication. The second transmitter 14 transmits wireless signals to other central devices 1, and the second receiver 15 receives wireless signals from other central devices 1. The storage unit 11 stores information indicating the relative positions of the remaining relay devices 2 with respect to one reference relay device 2 (reference relay device) among the multiple relay devices 2.

[0030] When the control unit 10 obtains information indicating the orientation of the reference relay device from the reference relay device, it determines position information indicating the real-space position of the remaining relay devices 2 relative to the reference relay device and stores it in the storage unit 11.

[0031] When the control unit 10 wants to suppress interference with other virtualization terminal systems, it obtains location information of those other virtualization terminal systems from the central device 1 of those other virtualization terminal systems. The control unit 10 then obtains the reception result of the detection signal transmitted by the relay device 2 of those other virtualization terminal systems from the same relay device 2 of the same virtualization terminal system as the central device 1, and controls the beam of the system's internal communication.

[0032] Furthermore, if interference from another virtualization terminal system is suppressed, the control unit 10 transmits location information to the central device 1 of that other virtualization terminal system. The central device 1 then causes the relay device 2 of the same virtualization terminal system as the central device 1 to transmit a detection signal.

[0033] Furthermore, the present disclosure provides a program executable on one or more processors. The program, when executed on one or more processors of the device, includes instructions that cause the device to function, for example, as a central device 1. Furthermore, the present disclosure provides a non-temporary computer-readable storage medium storing the above program. Furthermore, the present disclosure provides a method according to what is described with reference to Figure 2. Furthermore, the present disclosure provides a program for causing a device having one or more processors to execute the method, and a non-temporary computer-readable storage medium storing the program.

[0034] The invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications and changes are possible within the scope of the gist of the invention.

[0035] This configuration minimizes interference between virtualized terminal systems. Therefore, it is possible to contribute to Goal 9 of the United Nations-led Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): "Build resilient infrastructure, promote sustainable industrialization and foster innovation." [Explanation of Symbols]

[0036] 10: Control unit, 11: Storage unit, 14: Second transmission unit, 15: Second reception unit

Claims

1. A virtualization terminal system comprising a first central device and M (where M is an integer of 3 or more) first relay devices, The first central device holds first information indicating the real-space positions of the remaining first relay devices relative to one of the M first relay devices. The first central device is Receiving means for receiving second information from the second central device of another virtualization terminal system equipped with a second central device and N (where N is an integer of 3 or more) second relay devices, which indicates the real-space position of the remaining second relay devices relative to one of the N second relay devices, A control means for controlling the beam of intrasystem communication between the first central device and each of the M first relay devices, based on at least three selected reception results from the N × M reception results, the first information, and the second information, the control means for obtaining reception results from the M first relay devices, which include information indicating the reception timing of the detection signals transmitted by each of the N second relay devices, and for controlling the beam of the intrasystem communication between the first central device and each of the M first relay devices, A virtualization terminal system equipped with [specific features / features].

2. The reception result includes information indicating the received power of the detection signal, The virtual terminal system according to claim 1, wherein the at least three selected reception results are selected from N × M reception results based on the received power.

3. The virtualization terminal system according to claim 2, wherein the at least three selected reception results are reception results in which the received power is greater than a threshold, or the top three reception results in descending order of the received power.

4. The virtualized terminal system according to claim 1, wherein the receiving means acquires information indicating the transmission timing of the detection signal from the second central device.

5. The virtualized terminal system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the control means controls the beam of the in-system communication by determining the real-space position of each of the N second relay devices with respect to each of the M first relay devices, based on the at least three selected reception results, the first information, and the second information.

6. The virtualization terminal system according to claim 5, wherein the control means controls the beam of the intra-system communication directed toward the N second relay devices such that the power of the beam of the intra-system communication toward the N second relay devices is less than or equal to a predetermined value, based on the real-space position of each of the N second relay devices with respect to each of the M first relay devices.

7. A virtualization terminal system comprising a second central device and N (where N is an integer greater than or equal to 3) second relay devices, The second central device holds second information indicating the real-space positions of the remaining second relay devices relative to one of the N second relay devices. The aforementioned second central device is A virtualization terminal system comprising a first central device and M (where M is an integer of 3 or more) first relay devices, wherein the second information is transmitted to the first central device of the other virtualization terminal system which holds first information indicating the real-space position of the remaining first relay devices relative to one of the M first relay devices, Control means for causing each of the N second relay devices to transmit a detection signal, A virtualization terminal system equipped with [specific features / features].

8. The virtualized terminal system according to claim 7, wherein the transmitting means notifies the first central device of information indicating the timing of transmitting the detection signal.

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