Antenna direction calculation device, processing method, and program

Abstract

This antenna direction calculation device acquires a plurality of relationships, each indicating a relationship between: weather data on a radio communication path between a transmitting-side antenna and a receiving-side antenna; and an optimal reception direction for the receiving-side antenna in a case where the radio transmission direction of the transmitting-side antenna is a predetermined transmission direction and is the weather data. The antenna direction calculation device uses the plurality of relationships and a machine learning technique to generate a direction calculation model that outputs a reception direction for the receiving-side antenna upon receiving an input of weather data on the radio communication path.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an antenna direction calculation device, a processing method, program Regarding. [Background technology]

[0002] There is a technology for radio wave communication beyond the line of sight, where direct waves cannot reach the transmitting and receiving points separated by mountainous regions, etc. In such technology, the transmitting antenna at the transmitting point and the receiving antenna at the receiving point are oriented directly opposite each other, and each antenna is pointed in the direction of the other antenna, or toward the top of a mountainous region in the direction of the other antenna. The transmitting and receiving antennas used for this radio wave communication have large diameters and use high-output power amplifiers. Radio wave communication beyond the line of sight is sometimes called OH communication (over-the-horizon communication).

[0003] Related technologies are disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2. Patent Document 1 discloses a technology for estimating radio wave propagation loss at reception heights that are difficult to measure in an OH communication environment. Patent Document 2 discloses searching for radio wave propagation paths from topographical map information in OH communication. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2014-45285 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2011-234140 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In radio wave communications such as those described above, the state of radio wave propagation fluctuates due to changes in the refractive index and other factors in the radio wave scattering space of the troposphere depending on the state of the atmosphere, and it takes a lot of effort to continually change the direction of the antenna to find an appropriate location with minimal propagation loss.

[0006] An example of the object of this disclosure is to provide an antenna direction calculation device, a processing method, and program The purpose is to provide [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, an antenna direction calculation device includes an acquisition means for acquiring a plurality of relationships that respectively indicate the relationship between weather data of a radio wave communication path between a transmitting antenna and a receiving antenna and an optimal receiving direction of the receiving antenna when the transmitting direction of the radio waves of the transmitting antenna is a predetermined transmitting direction and the weather data, and a direction calculation model generation means for using the plurality of relationships and a machine learning technique to generate a direction calculation model that outputs the receiving direction of the receiving antenna when weather data of the radio wave communication path is input.

[0008] According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, a processing method includes obtaining a plurality of relationships that respectively indicate a relationship between weather data of a radio wave communication path between a transmitting antenna and a receiving antenna and an optimal receiving direction of the receiving antenna when the transmitting direction of the radio waves of the transmitting antenna is a predetermined transmitting direction and the weather data, and using the plurality of relationships and a machine learning technique, generating a direction calculation model that outputs the receiving direction of the receiving antenna when weather data of the radio wave communication path is input.

[0009] According to a third aspect of the present disclosure, a recording medium stores a program for causing a computer of an antenna direction calculation device to acquire a plurality of relationships each indicating a relationship between weather data of a radio wave communication path between a transmitting antenna and a receiving antenna and an optimal receiving direction of the receiving antenna when the transmitting direction of radio waves from the transmitting antenna is a predetermined transmitting direction and the weather data, and to generate a direction calculation model that outputs the receiving direction of the receiving antenna when weather data of the radio wave communication path is input, using the plurality of relationships and a machine learning technique. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to the present disclosure, even when the state of radio wave propagation fluctuates due to atmospheric conditions, it is possible to easily calculate an appropriate antenna direction with minimal propagation loss. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a radio wave communication system in which an antenna direction calculation device according to an embodiment of the present invention calculates an antenna direction; [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a hardware configuration diagram of the antenna direction calculation device according to the present embodiment. [Figure 3] 1 is a functional block diagram of an antenna direction calculation device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an outline of processing performed by the antenna direction calculation device according to the present embodiment. [Figure 5] 4 is a diagram showing an example of information recorded by the antenna direction calculation device according to the present embodiment. FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a processing flow of the antenna direction calculation device according to the present embodiment. [Figure 7] 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of an antenna direction calculation device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a processing flow of the antenna direction calculation device shown in FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] Hereinafter, an antenna direction calculation device for a radio wave communication system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a radio wave communication system in which an antenna direction calculation device according to this embodiment calculates an antenna direction. 1, a radio wave communication system 100 has wireless communication equipment, each consisting of an antenna and a wireless control device, at points A and B separated by a mountainous region or the like. A first wireless equipment at point A is equipped with an antenna 10 and a wireless control device 11. A second wireless equipment at point B is equipped with an antenna 20 and a wireless control device 21. An antenna direction calculation device 1 may be communicatively connected to the wireless control device 11 and the wireless control device 21.

[0013] When one of the antennas 10 and 20 transmits radio waves, the other of the antennas 10 and 20 receives diffracted waves that have bent around obstacles such as mountainous regions or reflected waves that have been reflected by the obstacles. This allows OH communication, which is radio wave communication with no line of sight, to be performed between the antennas 10 and 20. The antennas 10 and 20 constituting the radio wave communication system 100 may perform OH communication when there are no obstacles, such as mountainous regions, between them. The radio control device 11 controls the signal amplification, output power, and transmission / reception direction of the transmitted and received radio waves of the antenna 10. The radio control device 21 controls the signal amplification, output power, and transmission / reception direction of the transmitted and received radio waves of the antenna 20. The antenna direction calculation device 1 is a computer device provided to calculate the directions of the antennas 10 and 20. Specifically, the antenna direction calculation device 1 acquires multiple relationships between meteorological data for the radio wave communication path between the installation position of the transmitting antenna and the installation position of the receiving antenna and the optimal reception direction of the receiving antenna when the transmission direction of the radio waves of the transmitting antenna is a predetermined transmission direction and the meteorological data. The antenna direction calculation device 1 uses multiple relationships between weather data for a radio wave communication path and the optimal receiving direction of a receiving antenna when the transmitting direction of radio waves from a transmitting antenna is a predetermined transmitting direction and the weather data, as well as a machine learning technique, to generate a direction calculation model that takes the weather data for a radio wave communication path and the transmitting direction of radio waves from a transmitting antenna as input and outputs the receiving direction of a receiving antenna. The antenna direction calculation device 1 calculates the receiving direction of a receiving antenna based on the weather data for a radio wave communication path, the transmitting direction of radio waves from a transmitting antenna, and the direction calculation model.

[0014] FIG. 2 is a hardware configuration diagram of the antenna direction calculation device according to this embodiment. 2, the antenna direction calculation device 1 is a computer including various hardware components such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 101, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 102, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 103, a HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 104, a communication module 105, and a database 106. The radio control device 11 and the radio control device 21 may also have a similar hardware configuration.

[0015] FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of the antenna direction calculation device according to this embodiment. The antenna direction calculation device 1 executes a processing program, which causes the antenna direction calculation device 1 to perform the functions of a control unit 111, an acquisition unit 112, a direction calculation model generation unit 113, a recording unit 114, a direction calculation unit 115, and an output unit 116. The control unit 111 controls each functional unit of the antenna direction calculation device 1 . The acquisition unit 112 acquires various data used for processing by the antenna direction calculation device 1. For example, the acquisition unit 112 acquires weather data for the radio wave communication path between the installation position of the transmitting antenna and the installation position of the receiving antenna, and information on the relationship between the weather data and the optimal receiving direction of the receiving antenna when the transmission direction of the radio waves from the transmitting antenna is a predetermined transmission direction and the weather data. The direction calculation model generating unit 113 uses the data acquired by the acquiring unit 112 and a machine learning technique to generate a direction calculation model that outputs the receiving direction of the receiving antenna. The recording unit 114 records the information acquired by the acquisition unit 112 and the information of the direction calculation model generated by the direction calculation model generation unit 113. The direction calculation unit 115 calculates the receiving direction of the receiving antenna based on meteorological data on the radio wave communication path, the transmitting direction of the radio wave from the transmitting antenna, and the direction calculation model. The output unit 116 outputs the optimum antenna direction when radio wave communication is performed between a predetermined transmitting antenna and a receiving antenna, based on an instruction from a terminal used by a user or the like.

[0016] FIG. 4 shows an outline of the processing performed by the antenna direction calculation device. The antenna direction calculation device 1 acquires information on the combination of the transmitting antenna and the receiving antenna in advance (step S41). The antenna direction calculation device 1 also acquires meteorological data for the radio wave communication path between the installation positions of the transmitting antenna and the installation positions of the receiving antenna, and the optimal receiving direction of the receiving antenna that has the least propagation loss and the highest received power value during radio wave communication according to the meteorological data (step S42). The antenna direction calculation device 1 also acquires terrestrial topography data corresponding to the radio wave communication path between the installation positions of the transmitting antenna and the receiving antenna (step S43). This topography data may be information acquired from a terminal device used by an administrator or the like. The topography data may include the coordinates (latitude, longitude, altitude) of the transmitting antenna and the receiving antenna, the coordinates (latitude, longitude, altitude) of the peaks of mountainous areas between the antennas, and the coordinates (latitude, longitude, altitude) of points at a predetermined interval on the straight line between the antennas. The antenna direction calculation device 1 acquires multiple optimal receiving directions of the receiving antenna for each combination of a transmitting antenna, a receiving antenna, and weather data for the radio wave communication path between those antennas. These optimal receiving directions may be information on receiving directions determined by the radio control device 11 or 21 when previously controlling the antenna direction. The antenna direction calculation device 1 generates a direction calculation model that outputs the receiving direction of the receiving antenna using a machine learning technique and the relationship between the multiple optimal receiving directions of the receiving antenna for each combination of a transmitting antenna, a receiving antenna, and weather data and topographical data for the radio wave communication path between those antennas (step S44).

[0017] The direction of the transmitting antenna at this time may be a predetermined direction. The predetermined direction of the transmitting antenna may be the direction when the transmitting antenna and the receiving antenna are aligned and facing the receiving antenna. Alternatively, if there is a mountainous region between the transmitting antenna and the receiving antenna, the predetermined direction of the transmitting antenna may be the direction of the mountain peak when the transmitting antenna and the receiving antenna are aligned and facing the receiving antenna. Alternatively, the direction of the transmitting antenna may be a predetermined direction in which the received power level at the receiving antenna is high or in which propagation loss is low when radio wave communication is performed with the receiving antenna. The antenna direction calculation device 1 calculates the receiving direction of the receiving antenna based on at least weather data for the radio wave communication path between the transmitting antenna and the receiving antenna and the direction calculation model (step S45).

[0018] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of information recorded by the antenna direction calculation device. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a processing flow of the antenna direction calculation device. The processing flow of the antenna direction calculation device according to this embodiment will be described below. The antenna direction calculation device 1 acquires information on the transmitting antenna and receiving antenna to be processed from a terminal device used by a user (step S101). Assume that the transmitting antenna is antenna 10 and the receiving antenna is antenna 20. In this case, the acquisition unit 112 of the antenna direction calculation device 1 acquires information on the optimal receiving direction, which provides the highest radio wave reception level or the lowest propagation loss, when antenna 10 or antenna 20 is the receiving antenna, from the radio control device 11 that controls antenna 10, which is the transmitting antenna, and the radio control device 21 that controls antenna 20, which is the receiving antenna (step S102). The information on the receiving direction may be, for example, an angle or direction from a reference direction when the receiving antenna is pointed horizontally toward the transmitting antenna. The information on the optimal receiving direction may be information on the receiving direction when the radio wave reception level is above a predetermined threshold or the propagation loss is below a predetermined threshold when the radio control device 11 or the radio control device 21 that controls the receiving antenna controls the receiving direction of the receiving antenna.

[0019] The acquisition unit 112 also acquires weather data for the radio wave communication path between the transmitting antenna and the receiving antenna when radio wave communication is performed in the specified receiving direction (step S103). This weather data may be weather data for a predetermined interval, such as 10 km or 100 km on the earth's surface along the radio wave communication path. The weather data may include at least one or more pieces of information, such as absolute temperature T (°K), atmospheric pressure P (mb), saturated water vapor pressure es (mb), and relative humidity H (%). The recording unit 114 associates the topographical data, weather data, and optimal receiving direction information between the antennas acquired by the acquisition unit 112 with the combination of transmitting antenna and receiving antenna specified by the user and records them in the data table (FIG. 5) of the database 106 (step S104). Thereafter, the recording unit 114 repeatedly acquires weather data and optimal receiving direction information between the antennas according to the combination of transmitting antenna and receiving antenna specified by the user and records them in the data table. The recording unit 114 may record them in association with date data indicating a period indicating a season acquired from the acquisition unit 112 based on an instruction from a manager or the like.

[0020] When a certain amount of information is accumulated in the data table, the control unit 111 of the antenna direction calculation device 1 instructs the direction calculation model generation unit 113 to generate a direction calculation model. At this time, the control unit 111 acquires the combination of transmitting antennas and receiving antennas specified by the user from the user's terminal device or the like, and outputs information on this combination of transmitting antennas and receiving antennas to the direction calculation model generation unit 113. Based on the instruction, the direction calculation model generation unit 113 detects the start of generation of the direction calculation model (step S105). The direction calculation model generation unit 113 acquires multiple combinations of topographical data, meteorological data, and the optimal receiving direction of the receiving antenna for the meteorological data, which are recorded in the data table in association with the identification information of the transmitting antenna and the receiving antenna. The direction calculation model generation unit 113 receives the topographical data and meteorological data as input, and outputs the optimal receiving direction of the receiving antenna for the meteorological data, and performs machine learning using multiple input-output relationships to generate a direction calculation model (step S106).

[0021] The direction calculation model generation unit 113 may use meteorological data to estimate the refractive index No of radio waves in the radio wave scattering space 5 where tropospheric scattering occurs 10 km to 15 km above the ground, and perform the above machine learning using the meteorological data including the refractive index No to generate a direction calculation model. The refractive index No of radio waves in the radio wave scattering space can be calculated as shown in Equation (1) using, for example, absolute temperature T (°K), atmospheric pressure P (mb), saturated water vapor pressure es (mb), and relative humidity H (%).

[0022]

number

[0023] The receiving direction may be represented by, for example, an angle from a reference position of the receiving antenna or a three-dimensional vector. This machine learning technique may use an estimation model such as a hidden Markov model. Alternatively, the direction calculation model generation unit 113 may generate the direction calculation model using other machine learning techniques. The direction calculation model is a machine learning model for calculating (outputting) the optimal receiving direction of the receiving antenna for the weather data when topographical data and weather data are input. This direction calculation model may be data including, for example, weighting coefficients forming a neural network.

[0024] The acquisition unit 112 may instruct the direction calculation model generation unit 113 to regenerate a direction calculation model after repeatedly acquiring weather data between the transmitting antenna and the receiving antenna and information on the optimal receiving direction according to the combination of the antennas and when a predetermined period of time has passed since the previous generation of the direction calculation model. Based on the regeneration instruction, the direction calculation model generation unit 113 may repeatedly generate the direction calculation model using the same method as described above. The recording unit 114 records the direction calculation model in the data table, linking it to information on the combination of the transmitting antenna and the receiving antenna (step S107). This allows the antenna direction calculation device 1 to record in the database 106 a direction calculation model for calculating information on the receiving direction of the receiving antenna that is optimal according to the combination of the transmitting antenna and the receiving antenna and the weather data.

[0025] When actually calculating the antenna direction of the receiving antenna, the administrator inputs an antenna direction calculation start command, including information indicating the combination of the transmitting antenna and the receiving antenna and weather data, to the antenna direction calculation device 1, and the antenna direction calculation device 1 acquires the command (step S108). The weather data may be current weather data or expected weather data. The direction calculation unit 115 acquires a direction calculation model recorded in the database 106 in association with the information indicating the combination of the transmitting antenna and the receiving antenna (step S109). The direction calculation unit 115 inputs the weather data into the direction calculation model and calculates information on the optimal antenna direction of the receiving antenna based on the weather data (step S110). The output unit 116 outputs the information on the optimal antenna direction of the receiving antenna to the terminal device used by the administrator (step S111). This allows the administrator to obtain information on the antenna direction of the receiving antenna appropriate for the specified combination of the transmitting antenna and the receiving antenna and the current weather data.

[0026] The direction calculation unit 115 of the antenna direction calculation device 1 may calculate information on the optimal antenna direction of the receiving antenna based on current weather data using the above process at predetermined time intervals while radio wave communication is being performed between the transmitting antenna and the receiving antenna. Then, the output unit 116 may output the information on the optimal antenna direction of the receiving antenna calculated by the direction calculation unit 115 to the radio control device 11 or the radio control device 21 that controls the receiving direction. This allows the radio control device 11 or the radio control device 21 to control the antenna receiving direction to an appropriate direction based on the current weather data between the antennas.

[0027] In the above-described generation of the direction calculation model by the direction calculation model generation unit 113, the direction of the transmitting antenna is assumed to be a predetermined direction. However, the direction calculation model generation unit 113 may also generate a direction calculation model for calculating the receiving direction of the receiving antenna according to different transmitting directions of the transmitting antenna and meteorological data. In this case, in the process of generating the direction calculation model, the direction calculation model generation unit 113 acquires multiple combinations of topographical data, meteorological data, the direction of the transmitting antenna, and the previously measured receiving direction of the receiving antenna that is optimal for the meteorological data and the direction of the transmitting antenna, all of which are recorded in a data table in association with the identification information of the transmitting antenna and the receiving antenna. The direction calculation model generation unit 113 performs machine learning using multiple input-output relationships, where the topographical data, meteorological data, and direction of the transmitting antenna are input, and the receiving direction of the receiving antenna that is optimal for the meteorological data and direction of the transmitting antenna is output, to generate a direction calculation model. In this case, the recording unit 114 records the direction calculation model in a data table in association with information on the combination of the transmitting antenna, the receiving antenna, and the direction of the transmitting antenna. In this case, the direction calculation unit 115 may acquire the direction calculation model recorded in the database 106 in association with information on the combination of the transmitting antenna, the receiving antenna, and the direction in which the transmitting antenna faces, input weather data to the direction calculation model, and calculate information on the optimal antenna direction of the receiving antenna based on the weather data.

[0028] The direction calculation model generation unit 113 may further generate a direction calculation model according to a period indicating a season. In this case, a direction calculation model is generated for each period indicating a season (predetermined period) in the same manner as the above-described process. The recording unit 114 further links the generated direction calculation model to information about the period indicating a season and records the generated direction calculation model corresponding to that period in the database 106. In this case, the direction calculation unit 115 may acquire a direction calculation model recorded in the database 106 linked to information indicating a combination of the transmitting antenna, the receiving antenna, the direction in which the transmitting antenna is facing, and the season, input weather data into the direction calculation model, and calculate information about the optimal antenna direction of the receiving antenna for that season and weather data.

[0029] Through the above processing, the antenna direction calculation device 1 can easily calculate an appropriate antenna direction with little propagation loss or good reception sensitivity even when the state of radio wave propagation fluctuates due to atmospheric conditions.

[0030] FIG. 7 shows an example of the configuration of an antenna direction calculation device according to this embodiment. FIG. 8 shows a processing flow of the antenna direction calculation device shown in FIG. The antenna direction calculation device 1 includes at least an acquisition unit 112 and a direction calculation model generation unit 113. The acquisition unit 112 acquires multiple relationships between weather data of the radio wave communication path between the installation position of the transmitting antenna and the installation position of the receiving antenna and the optimal receiving direction of the receiving antenna when the transmission direction of the radio waves from the transmitting antenna is a predetermined transmission direction and the weather data is that (step S801). The direction calculation model generation unit 113 uses multiple relationships between the weather data of the radio wave communication path and the optimal receiving direction of the receiving antenna when the transmitting direction of the radio waves from the transmitting antenna is a predetermined transmitting direction and the weather data, and a machine learning technique, to generate a direction calculation model that takes the weather data of the radio wave communication path as input and the receiving direction of the receiving antenna as output (step S802).

[0031] Each of the above-mentioned devices has a computer system built in. The steps of each of the above-mentioned processes are stored in the form of a program on a computer-readable recording medium, and the computer reads and executes this program to perform the above-mentioned processes. Here, computer-readable recording medium refers to a magnetic disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, semiconductor memory, etc. Alternatively, the computer program may be distributed to a computer via a communication line, and the computer that receives the program may execute the program.

[0032] The program may also be a program for realizing some of the functions described above, or may be a so-called differential file (differential program) that can realize the functions described above in combination with a program already recorded in the computer system.

[0033] This application claims priority based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2021-140184, filed on August 30, 2021, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety. [Industrial Applicability]

[0034] The present disclosure may be applied to an antenna direction calculation device, a processing method, and a recording medium. [Explanation of symbols]

[0035] 1. Antenna direction calculation device 10,20...antenna 100 Radio communication system 111 Control unit 112...Acquisition part 113 Direction calculation model generation unit 114 Recording section 115 Direction calculation unit 116 Output section

Claims

1. an acquisition means for acquiring a plurality of relationships indicating the relationship between meteorological data including the refractive index of radio waves in the radio wave scattering space of the troposphere of the radio wave communication path between a transmitting antenna and a receiving antenna and the optimal receiving direction of the receiving antenna when the transmitting direction of the radio waves from the transmitting antenna is a predetermined transmitting direction and the weather is weather corresponding to the meteorological data; a direction calculation model generation means for generating a direction calculation model that outputs the receiving direction of the receiving antenna when weather data of the radio wave communication path is input, using the plurality of relationships and a machine learning technique; An antenna direction calculation device comprising:

2. The antenna direction calculation device according to claim 1 , wherein the meteorological data for the radio wave communication path further includes meteorological data for a plurality of points on the radio wave communication path.

3. 3. The antenna direction calculation device according to claim 1, wherein the meteorological data includes at least one of absolute temperature, atmospheric pressure, saturated water vapor pressure, and relative humidity.

4. a direction calculation means for calculating a receiving direction of the receiving antenna based on meteorological data of the radio wave communication path and the direction calculation model; The antenna direction calculation device according to claim 1 , further comprising:

5. The direction calculation means calculates the receiving direction of the receiving antenna based on meteorological data of the radio wave communication path and the direction calculation model according to a period indicating the current season.

5. The antenna direction calculation device according to claim 4.

6. The direction calculation model generating means generates the direction calculation model for each period indicating a predetermined season. The antenna direction calculation device according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

7. obtain a plurality of relationships that respectively indicate the relationship between meteorological data including the refractive index of radio waves in a radio wave scattering space in the troposphere of a radio wave communication path between a transmitting antenna and a receiving antenna and the optimal receiving direction of the receiving antenna when the transmitting direction of the radio waves from the transmitting antenna is a predetermined transmitting direction and the weather is weather corresponding to the meteorological data; Using the plurality of relationships and a machine learning technique, when weather data for the radio wave communication path is received, a direction calculation model is generated that outputs the receiving direction of the receiving antenna. A processing method comprising:

8. The computer of the antenna direction calculation device Obtaining a plurality of relationships that respectively indicate the relationship between meteorological data including the refractive index of radio waves in the radio wave scattering space of the troposphere of the radio wave communication path between the transmitting antenna and the receiving antenna, and the optimal receiving direction of the receiving antenna when the transmitting direction of the radio waves from the transmitting antenna is a predetermined transmitting direction and the weather is weather corresponding to the meteorological data; generating a direction calculation model that outputs a receiving direction of the receiving antenna when weather data of the radio wave communication path is input using the plurality of relationships and a machine learning technique; A program to execute.

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