Virtualization terminal system

Abstract

The signal power for communication between the central device and relay devices is appropriately controlled. [Solution] The virtualization terminal system includes an acquisition means for acquiring first point cloud data acquired in a first direction from the location of the central device to the location of the first relay device among a plurality of relay devices, second point cloud data acquired in the direction opposite to the first direction from the location of the first relay device, and information regarding the characteristics of the user using the virtualization terminal system; an estimation means for estimating the thickness of the user in the first direction based on the first point cloud data, the second point cloud data, and the information regarding the user's characteristics; and a control means for controlling the signal power in wireless communication between the central device and the first relay device using at least the thickness of the user estimated by the estimation means, wherein the information regarding the user's characteristics includes at least one of the user's height and weight, and image information of the user.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a technique for appropriately controlling signal power of communication between a central device and a relay device in a virtualized terminal system.

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 by 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 radio 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 a central device and a 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 device is referred to as "intra-system communication".

Prior Art Documents

Non-Patent Documents

[0004]

Non-Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problem to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] Intrasystem communication suffers significant losses due to human factors; therefore, in virtualized terminal systems, the central device needs to appropriately control the signal power during intrasystem communication.

[0006] This disclosure provides a technology for appropriately controlling the signal power of communications between a central device and a relay device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a virtualization terminal system comprising a central device and a plurality of relay devices includes: acquisition means for acquiring first point cloud data acquired in a first direction from the location of the central device to the location of a first relay device among the plurality of relay devices; second point cloud data acquired in a direction opposite to the first direction from the location of the first relay device; and information relating to the characteristics of a user using the virtualization terminal system; estimation means for estimating the thickness of the user in the first direction based on the first point cloud data, the second point cloud data, and the information relating to the user's characteristics; and control means for controlling the signal power in wireless communication between the central device and the first relay device using at least the thickness of the user estimated by the estimation means, wherein the information relating to the user's characteristics includes at least one of the user's height and weight and image information of the user. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to this disclosure, the signal power of communication between the central device and the relay device can be appropriately controlled. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] A diagram showing an example configuration of a virtualized terminal system. [Figure 2] An explanatory diagram of the values ​​required when determining diffraction loss based on the double-screen model. [Figure 3]A diagram showing an example of a signal power control configuration in a 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 multiple relay devices 2. In the example in Figure 1, the number of relay devices 2 in the virtualized terminal system is 3, but the number of relay devices 2 can be any number of 2 or more. 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.

[0013] In intrasystem communication using terahertz band wireless signals, it is effective to determine diffraction loss based on the double-screen model. Figure 2 is an explanatory diagram of the values ​​necessary to calculate diffraction loss based on the double-screen model. In Figure 2, reference numeral 50 indicates the surface of the human body. Line 51 is the line connecting the central device 1 and the relay device 2. Line 52 is the tangent line drawn from the central device 1 to the surface of the human body. Line 53 is the tangent line drawn from the relay device 2 to the surface of the human body.

[0014] In Figure 2, distance A is the distance from the central device 1 to the surface of the human body in the direction of line 51. Distance B is the distance corresponding to the thickness of the human body in the direction of line 51. Distance C is the distance from the relay device 2 to the surface of the human body in the direction of line 51. The sum of distances A, B, and C corresponds to the distance between the central device 1 and the relay device 2.

[0015] Distance H1 is the distance from the point of contact between line 52 and the human body surface to line 51. In other words, distance H1 is the screen length of one of the two screens in the dual-screen model. Note that there are multiple tangent lines drawn from the central device 1 to the human body surface, and distance H1 can be the minimum or maximum distance determined for each of these multiple tangent lines.

[0016] Distance H2 is the distance from the point of contact between line 53 and the human body surface to line 51. In other words, distance H2 is the screen length of the other of the two screens in the dual-screen model. Note that there are multiple tangent lines drawn from the relay device 2 to the human body surface, and distance H2 can be the minimum or maximum distance determined for each of the multiple tangent lines.

[0017] Here, distances A and H1 can be obtained by acquiring point cloud data with a point cloud scanner from the location of the central device 1 towards the location of the relay device 2. Similarly, distances C and H2 can be obtained by acquiring point cloud data with a point cloud scanner from the location of the relay device 2 towards the central device 1. The central device 1, such as a smartphone, can implement the functionality of a point cloud scanner. Therefore, distances A, C, H1, and H2 can be obtained using the central device 1.

[0018] In this embodiment, distance B, which is the remaining value necessary to calculate diffraction loss based on the dual-screen model, is estimated by a learning model. The parameters used to estimate distance B, i.e., the inputs to the learning model, may be distances A, C, H1 and H2, and the height and weight of the person using the virtualized terminal system (hereinafter referred to as the user). The user's height and weight are information that indicates the user's characteristics. In addition, the user's age and / or gender may also be used as information that indicates the user's characteristics. Furthermore, in addition to the user's height and weight, image information showing a full-body image of the user may be used as information that indicates the user's characteristics. Furthermore, in addition to distances A, C, H1 and H2, point cloud data acquired at the placement location of the central device 1 and point cloud data acquired at the location of the relay device 2 may be used as inputs to the learning model.

[0019] The learning model is generated based on pre-collected training data and stored in the central device 2 beforehand.

[0020] Figure 3 is a block diagram of the function for controlling signal power in the central device 1. The acquisition unit 10 has a point cloud scanner function and is capable of acquiring point cloud data. As described above, the user can acquire point cloud data using the point cloud scanner function from each of the installation position of the central device 1 and the installation position of the relay device 2. When the user's height and weight are used as inputs of the learning model, the acquisition unit 10 acquires information on the height and weight by causing the user to input the height and weight. When the user's age and / or gender are used as inputs of the learning model, the acquisition unit 10 acquires information on the age and / or gender by causing the user to input the age and / or gender. Further, the acquisition unit 10 has a camera function and is capable of taking photographs. When image information indicating a user's image is used as an input of the learning model, the relevant image data can be acquired by the camera function of the acquisition unit 10.

[0021] The acquisition unit 10 determines distances A, C, H1 and H2 based on the point cloud data acquired at the installation position of the central device 1 and the point cloud data acquired at the installation position of the relay device 2, and outputs the determined distances A, C, H1 and H2 to the control unit 12. The determination of the distances A, C, H1 and H2 may be performed by the control unit 12 instead of the acquisition unit 10. Further, the acquisition unit 10 outputs parameters used for estimating the distance B to the estimation unit 11. The parameters used for estimating the distance B are as described above.

[0022] The estimation unit 11 has a trained learning model, estimates the distance B based on the parameters from the acquisition unit 10, and outputs the estimated distance B to the control unit 12. The control unit 12 determines the diffraction loss between the central device 1 and the relay device 2 based on the distance between the central device 1 and the relay device 2 determined from the distances A, B and C, and the two screen lengths, which are the distance H1 and the distance H2, and controls the signal power of intra-system communication based on the determined diffraction loss.

[0023] Furthermore, according to the present disclosure, a program executable by one or more processors is provided. The program, when executed by one or more processors of an apparatus, includes instructions that cause the apparatus to function as, for example, the central device 1. Furthermore, according to the present disclosure, a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing the above program is provided. Furthermore, according to the present disclosure, a signal power control method in wireless communication between the central device 1 and the relay device 2, which is executed by the central device 1, is provided. Furthermore, according to the present disclosure, a program for causing an apparatus having one or more processors to execute the method, and a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing the program are provided.

[0024] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications and alterations are possible within the scope of the gist of the invention.

[0025] With the above configuration, the signal power of communication between the central device 1 and the relay device 2 can be appropriately controlled. Accordingly, it is possible to contribute to Goal 9 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) led by the United Nations, which states "Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation". Description of Reference Signs

[0026] 10: Acquisition unit, 11: Estimation unit, 12: Control unit

Claims

1. A virtualized terminal system comprising a central device and multiple relay devices, An acquisition means for acquiring first point cloud data acquired in a first direction from the location of the central device to the location of the first relay device among the plurality of relay devices, second point cloud data acquired in a direction opposite to the first direction from the location of the first relay device, and information regarding the characteristics of users using the virtualization terminal system. Estimation means for estimating the thickness of the user in a first direction based on the first point cloud data, the second point cloud data, and information regarding the user's characteristics, Control means for controlling signal power in wireless communication between the central device and the first relay device, using at least the thickness of the user estimated by the estimation means, Equipped with, A virtualized terminal system in which the information relating to the user's characteristics includes at least one of the user's height and weight, and image information of the user.

2. The control means controls the signal power in wireless communication between the central device and the first relay device by determining the diffraction loss between the central device and the first relay device based on a dual-screen model. The virtualization terminal system according to claim 1, wherein the control means determines the distance between the central device and the first relay device used in the dual-screen model based on the first point cloud data and the second point cloud data and the user's thickness estimated by the estimation means, determines the length of one screen used in the dual-screen model based on the first point cloud data, and determines the length of the other screen used in the dual-screen model based on the second point cloud data.

3. The virtualization terminal system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the information relating to the user's characteristics further includes at least one of the user's age and gender.

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