Information processing device

Abstract

To predict quality of wireless communication.SOLUTION: An information processing device performs: acquiring first data related to quality of wireless communication from a first device; acquiring second data related to a mobile environment of the first device; and generating for each mobile environment, communication quality data being the data obtained by mapping the quality of wireless communication to a geographic area based on the plurality of first and second data.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to communication technology.

Background Art

[0002] There is a technique for determining communication quality based on information transmitted from a mobile body performing wireless communication. In this regard, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses an apparatus that maps the communication quality obtained by a mobile terminal on a map based on probe data transmitted from the mobile terminal.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] An object of the present disclosure is to predict the quality of wireless communication.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] One aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure is obtaining first data regarding the quality of wireless communication from a first device, obtaining second data regarding the moving environment of the first device, and generating communication quality data, which is data obtained by mapping the quality of wireless communication to a geographical area, for each category of moving environment based on a plurality of the first and second data, and an information processing apparatus having a control unit that executes the above.

[0006] Also, as another aspect, there are a method executed by the above apparatus, a program for causing a computer to execute the method, or a computer-readable storage medium that stores the program non-temporarily.

Effects of the Invention

[0007] According to this disclosure, the quality of wireless communication can be predicted. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] A schematic diagram of the vehicle communication system according to the first embodiment. [Figure 2] A diagram showing the configuration of the devices included in the system. [Figure 3] A diagram illustrating a specific example of probe data. [Figure 4] A diagram illustrating a specific example of communication quality data. [Figure 5] A sequence diagram of the process of sending probe data to a server device. [Figure 6] A sequence diagram of the process for providing communication quality data to a vehicle. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] In recent years, the connectivity of automobiles has advanced, and the number of vehicles equipped with wireless communication capabilities has increased. Such vehicles can, for example, communicate with designated server devices via cellular communication networks. Furthermore, with the spread of autonomous driving and other technologies, vehicles that require a constant connection to server devices are emerging.

[0010] In this regard, a technology has been proposed to determine whether the quality of wireless communication is maintained while a vehicle is in motion. For example, multiple probe cars can be used to determine the quality of wireless communication. By collecting this information and mapping it onto a map, it is possible to generate a map (communication quality map) that shows the predicted communication quality for each location. Furthermore, by using this communication quality map, it is possible to predict the quality of wireless communication in vehicles traveling along a predetermined route.

[0011] Incidentally, the quality of wireless communication can vary greatly depending on the vehicle's environment. For example, while millimeter-wave communication allows for high-speed communication, it is susceptible to shielding. Therefore, in situations such as traffic congestion in the shadow of a building, communication quality may deteriorate, potentially preventing the provision of the required service. On the other hand, when the vehicle is moving smoothly, a short-term deterioration in communication quality may not be a problem. Conventional technologies determine communication quality based solely on location information and do not consider the mobile environment of the communication terminal, making it impossible to accurately predict the quality of wireless communication. The information processing device described in this disclosure solves the aforementioned problems.

[0012] An information processing device according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes a control unit that performs the following actions: acquiring first data relating to the quality of wireless communication from a first device; acquiring second data relating to the mobile environment of the first device; and generating communication quality data, which is data mapping the quality of wireless communication to geographical areas, for each category of mobile environment based on a plurality of the first and second data.

[0013] The first device is a mobile device having wireless communication capabilities. The first device may be, for example, a wireless communication device mounted on a vehicle (vehicle-mounted device). The first data is data for reporting the quality of the wireless communication performed by the first device. The first data may include measured values ​​related to the quality of the communication, such as the received power and received quality of the reference signal. The first data may also include information about the wireless communication method used by the first device. Information regarding wireless communication methods includes, for example, communication standards (3G, LTE, 5G, etc.) and information identifying frequency bands. Note that if the communication service providers are different, they may be considered different wireless communication methods.

[0014] Also, the second data is data related to the moving environment of the first device. Examples of data related to the moving environment of the first device include, for example, the moving speed and position information of the first device. The information processing device generates communication quality data for each moving environment of the first device. The communication quality data can be, for example, data obtained by mapping the measured communication quality on a map, or a set of such data. For example, when the moving environment is divided by moving speed bands, the control unit may generate communication quality data for each division corresponding to the moving speed band.

[0015] Note that the communication quality data may be a set of communication quality maps corresponding to each of a plurality of wireless communication methods available to the first device. For example, the control unit may generate combinations for a plurality of communication carriers, communication standards, and frequency bands, and generate a communication quality map for each combination. Also, these sets may be treated as communication quality data.

[0016] Note that the first data may include data for identifying the wireless communication method used by the first device, and the control unit may generate the communication quality map corresponding to the wireless communication method identified by the first data.

[0017] Also, when the control unit receives a request from the second device, it may transmit the communication quality data generated for each division of the moving environment to the second device. <清

[0018] The information processing device can provide the generated communication quality data to the second device in response to a request from the second device. According to such a configuration, information for causing the second device to select an appropriate wireless communication method can be provided.

[0019] Furthermore, when the control unit receives a request from the second device that includes information about the mobile environment of the second device, it may evaluate the quality of the wireless communication performed by the second device based on the communication quality data corresponding to the mobile environment of the second device.

[0020] Thus, instead of providing communication quality data to the second device, the information processing device may obtain information about the mobile environment from the second device and then evaluate the quality of the wireless communication performed by the second device based on that mobile environment. This makes it possible, for example, to teach a second device a more appropriate wireless communication method (for example, one that is expected to yield higher quality).

[0021] The following describes specific embodiments of this disclosure with reference to the drawings. Unless otherwise specified, the hardware configurations, module configurations, functional configurations, etc., described in each embodiment are not intended to limit the technical scope of the disclosure to those configurations alone.

[0022] (First embodiment) [System Overview] An overview of the vehicle communication system according to the first embodiment will be described. The vehicle communication system according to this embodiment consists of a plurality of vehicles 1 and a server device 2. Vehicle 1 is a connected vehicle that can access a wireless communication network. Vehicle 1 can communicate with the server device 2 and other external devices (for example, external devices for providing predetermined services) via a wireless communication network (for example, a mobile communication network).

[0023] Vehicle 1 functions as both a probe car, which measures the quality of wireless communication and provides the results to server device 2, and a vehicle, which receives information from server device 2 and performs wireless communication based on the acquired information. In Figure 1, the former is distinguished as vehicle 1A and the latter as vehicle 1B. In the following explanation, vehicle 1 that provides information to server device 2 (probe car) will be referred to as vehicle 1A, and vehicle 1 that receives information from server device 2 will be referred to as vehicle 1B.

[0024] Vehicle 1 is equipped with a Data Communication Module (DC) for connecting the vehicle's components (e.g., DCM and other ECUs) to a network. The vehicle has M) and an in-vehicle device. In this embodiment, the in-vehicle device can provide various services by communicating with an external device via DCM. Examples of various services include navigation services, remote control (e.g., remote air conditioning) services, in-vehicle Wi-Fi® services, emergency call services, and security services.

[0025] Server device 2 is a device configured to communicate with multiple vehicles 1 via a network. Server device 2 receives reports on communication quality (probe data) from each of the multiple vehicles 1A (probe cars) under its management, and generates communication quality data, which is data that maps the quality of wireless communication on a map, based on the received probe data. At this time, server device 2 generates communication quality data for each category of the driving environment of the probe cars. An example of an element that categorizes the driving environment is the speed range of the vehicle 1. For example, if the speed range of the vehicles is divided into N groups, server device 2 generates N sets of communication quality data.

[0026] Furthermore, when the server device 2 receives a request from vehicle 1B, it provides the generated communication quality data to vehicle 1B. At this time, the server device 2 extracts communication quality data corresponding to the driving environment of vehicle 1B and provides it to vehicle 1B. As a result, vehicle 1B can obtain communication quality data corresponding to its own driving environment and select an appropriate wireless communication method.

[0027] [Device configuration] Next, the configuration of each device constituting the system will be described. Figure 2 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the configuration of each device in the vehicle communication system according to this embodiment. The vehicle communication system according to this embodiment is composed of one or more vehicles 1 and a server device 2.

[0028] First, let's describe the components of Vehicle 1. Vehicle 1 consists of DCM 10 and on-board equipment 20.

[0029] The DCM10 is a device that performs wireless communication with a predetermined network in order to connect components of the vehicle 1 (e.g., an in-vehicle device 20) to an external device (e.g., a server device 2). In this embodiment, the DCM10 is configured to be connectable to a predetermined cellular communication network. The DCM10 may be selectively connectable to multiple cellular communication networks provided by multiple operators. Furthermore, the DCM10 is configured to allow selection of multiple communication methods (e.g., communication standards and frequency bands).

[0030] The DCM10 can be configured as a computer having a processor (CPU, GPU, etc.), main memory (RAM, ROM, etc.), and auxiliary storage (EPROM, hard disk drive, removable media, etc.). The auxiliary storage contains an operating system (OS), various programs, various tables, etc., and by executing the programs stored therein, various functions (software modules) that match a predetermined purpose, as described later, can be realized. However, some or all of the functions may be realized as hardware modules by hardware circuits such as ASICs and FPGAs.

[0031] The DCM10 is comprised of a control unit 11, a storage unit 12, a communication unit 13, a wireless communication unit 14, and a location information acquisition unit 15.

[0032] The control unit 11 is a processing unit that realizes various functions of the DCM 10 by executing a predetermined program. The control unit 11 can be implemented by a hardware processor such as a CPU. The control unit 11 may also be configured to include RAM, ROM (Read Only Memory), cache memory, etc.

[0033] The control unit 11 is comprised of two software modules: a communication control unit 111 and a measurement unit 112. Each software module may be implemented by the control unit 11 (CPU, etc.) executing a program stored in the storage unit 12, which will be described later.

[0034] The communication control unit 111 controls the wireless connection to the cellular communication network. The communication control unit 111 attaches to the cellular communication network using a predetermined communication method and establishes a communication path to external devices. When a communication originates from a component of vehicle 1 and is directed to an external device, the communication control unit 111 relays the communication to the cellular network. Furthermore, when the communication control unit 111 receives a communication from the cellular network directed to a specific component, it relays the communication to that component. The communication control unit 111 is configured to allow selection of the communication method to be used from multiple combinations. The wireless communication unit 14, which will be described later, performs cellular communication using the communication method selected by the communication control unit 111.

[0035] Furthermore, the communication control unit 111 periodically requests communication quality data from the server device 2 and adaptively changes the communication method used based on the communication quality data provided by the server device 2. The detailed processing will be described later.

[0036] The measurement unit 112 measures values ​​related to communication quality for the communication (cellular communication) conducted by the communication control unit 111 and transmits the measurement results to the server device 2. In this embodiment, the measurement unit 112 is configured to measure the following values. ·RSRP(Reference Signal Received Power) Reference signal received power. This is a numerical representation in [dBm] of the strength (received level) of the radio waves received from the base station. ·RSRQ(Reference Signal Received Quality) Reference signal reception quality. This is an index that quantifies the quality of the received reference signal in [dB]. ·SINR(Signal to Interference plus Noise Ratio) Signal-to-interference noise ratio. This is an index that quantifies the ratio in dB [dB] of the power of the desired signal to the power of other signals (interference waves and thermal noise) in the received signal.

[0037] The measurement unit 112 periodically measures these values ​​and transmits them to the server device 2 as measurement data. The measurement data is an example of "first data". Figure 3(A) shows an example of measurement data. In this embodiment, the measurement data consists of four sections: basic information, communication status, communication method, and measured value.

[0038] The basic information section includes the date and time the data was acquired, and the location information of vehicle 1. The location information of vehicle 1 can be acquired from the location information acquisition unit 15, which will be described later. The communication status section contains various status information for cellular communication. Examples of status information include network information (IP address, gateway address, APN information, etc.), terminal identification number (IMEI), subscriber identification number (IMSI), connected base station ID, and service status.

[0039] The communication method section includes various information related to the communication method. Examples of information related to the communication method include the cellular carrier identification number (PLMN), communication standard (3G, LTE, 5G, etc.), and band (frequency band). The communication standard and band may be set based on instructions from the base station or specified by the communication control unit 111.

[0040] The measurement section includes several measurement values ​​related to the quality of communication. In this embodiment, as mentioned above, the three values ​​to be measured are RSRP (referencing signal power), RSRQ (referencing signal quality), and SINR (signal-to-interference noise ratio).

[0041] Furthermore, the measurement unit 112 generates vehicle data and transmits it to the server device 2 in addition to the measurement data. Vehicle data is a collection of data related to the driving of vehicle 1. Figure 3(B) shows an example of vehicle data. In this embodiment, vehicle data includes information on the position, speed, and direction of travel of vehicle 1. This information may be obtained from the position information acquisition unit 15 or from sensors or ECUs of vehicle 1. Vehicle data is an example of "second data". In the following explanation, the set of vehicle data and measurement data will be referred to as probe data. The measurement unit 112 periodically generates probe data and transmits it to the server device 2.

[0042] The memory unit 12 is a means for storing information and is composed of storage media such as RAM, magnetic disks, and flash memory. The memory unit 12 stores programs executed by the control unit 11, data used by those programs, and so on. For example, the aforementioned vehicle data and measurement data are temporarily stored in the memory unit 12. Furthermore, the memory unit 12 stores the communication quality data 12A received from the server device 2. The communication quality data 12A will be described later.

[0043] The communication unit 13 is a communication interface with the in-vehicle network provided in the vehicle 1. The communication unit 13 is, for example, a CAN (Controller Area Network) network or an in-vehicle network. -Communication is performed via the NASANET network. The DCM10 can communicate with the in-vehicle device 20 (and other ECUs, etc.) via the in-vehicle network.

[0044] The wireless communication unit 14 is a wireless communication interface for connecting the vehicle 1 to an external network. The wireless communication unit 14 is configured to communicate with the server device 2 via a mobile communication network such as a wireless LAN, 3G, 4G, or 5G.

[0045] The location information acquisition unit 15 acquires the location information of the vehicle 1. The location information acquisition unit 15 includes a GPS antenna and a positioning module for determining the location information. The GPS antenna is an antenna that receives positioning signals transmitted from positioning satellites (also called GNSS satellites). The positioning module is a module that calculates location information based on the signals received by the GPS antenna.

[0046] Next, we will describe server device 2. Server device 2 can be configured as a computer having a processor (CPU, GPU, etc.), main memory (RAM, ROM, etc.), and auxiliary storage (EPROM, hard disk drive, removable media, etc.), similar to DCM10.

[0047] The server device 2 is comprised of a control unit 21, a storage unit 22, and a communication unit 23.

[0048] The control unit 21 is a computing unit that realizes various functions of the server device 2 by executing a predetermined program. The control unit 21 can be implemented by a hardware processor such as a CPU. The control unit 21 may also be configured to include RAM, ROM (Read Only Memory), cache memory, etc.

[0049] The control unit 21 is configured with two software modules: a data update unit 211 and an information provision unit 212. Each software module may be implemented by the control unit 21 (CPU, etc.) executing a program stored in the storage unit 22, which will be described later.

[0050] The data update unit 211 receives probe data from multiple vehicles 1 (DCM 10) and generates or updates communication quality data based on the received probe data. In this embodiment, communication quality data is data that maps values ​​indicating communication quality obtained when cellular communication is performed using a predetermined communication method onto a map. The communication quality data is stored in the storage unit 22.

[0051] When the information provision unit 212 receives a request from vehicle 1B to provide communication quality data, it generates communication quality data based on the stored communication quality data 22A and transmits it to vehicle 1B. Details of the processing performed by the data update unit 211 and the information provision unit 212 will be described later.

[0052] The memory unit 22 is a means for storing information, and can be a RAM, magnetic disk, or flash memory. It is composed of storage media such as the above. The storage unit 22 stores programs executed by the control unit 21, data used by those programs, and so on. Furthermore, communication quality data 22A is stored in the memory unit 22.

[0053] The communication unit 23 is a communication interface for connecting the server device 2 to a network. The communication unit 23 is configured to communicate with the network via, for example, Ethernet (registered trademark), wireless LAN, or a mobile communication network.

[0054] Note that the configuration shown in Figure 2 is just one example, and all or part of the illustrated functions may be performed using specially designed circuits. Furthermore, program storage and execution may be performed using combinations of main memory and auxiliary memory other than those shown.

[0055] [Overview of the generation and provision process of communication quality data] Next, we will explain the process by which the server device 2 generates communication quality data based on the probe data received from vehicle 1A and provides information to vehicle 1B based on this data.

[0056] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram showing the data structure of the communication quality data 22A generated by the server device 2. In this embodiment, the server device 2 generates a communication quality map based on probe data received from the vehicle 1A. The communication quality map is data that maps the quality obtained when cellular communication is performed using a specific communication method onto a map. For example, the communication quality map may be created by dividing the geographic area included in the map into unit areas and assigning an evaluation value representing the quality of wireless communication to each unit area. Reference numeral 401 is an example of a communication quality map. The evaluation value may be a discrete value or a continuous value.

[0057] For example, the communication quality map shown by reference numeral 401 in Figure 4 maps evaluation values ​​representing the quality obtained when cellular communication is performed using a communication method with "carrier = B, communication standard = 5G, frequency band = Band 1" to unit areas on the map. As mentioned above, the probe car measures RSRP, RSRQ, and SINR as communication quality. The evaluation value assigned to a unit area on the communication quality map may be any one of these, or it may be a value representing overall quality obtained by integrating these values. By referring to the communication quality map, it is possible to predict the communication quality at a certain location.

[0058] Server device 2 stores such communication quality maps for each communication method. In server device 2, for example, a communication quality map is defined for each combination of carrier, communication standard, and frequency band, and when server device 2 receives probe data from vehicle 1A, it updates the corresponding communication quality map based on the probe data. For example, when probe data is received from vehicle 1A which is performing cellular communication using the communication method "carrier=B, communication standard=5G, frequency band=Band 1", the communication quality map indicated by reference numeral 401 is subject to update. The evaluation value given to the communication quality map may be, for example, a weighted average of evaluation values ​​obtained from multiple vehicles.

[0059] In this embodiment, the server device 2 stores communication quality data for each speed range. In the illustrated example, the server device 2 divides the speed ranges into five groups and stores multiple communication quality maps for each speed range. The vehicle data that constitutes the probe data includes information indicating the speed of the probe car (vehicle 1A). Upon receiving the probe data, the server device 2 identifies the speed range to which vehicle 1A belongs (for example, "20 km / h or more and less than 40 km / h") based on this information and updates the communication quality map corresponding to that speed range and communication method.

[0060] Furthermore, when the server device 2 receives a request for communication quality data from vehicle 1B, it extracts the communication quality data from the stored data that is suitable for vehicle 1B and provides it to vehicle 1B. For example, if the speed of vehicle 1B that sent the request falls within the range of "20 km / h or more and less than 40 km / h", the server device 2 provides vehicle 1B with communication quality data (code 402) corresponding to that speed range. Vehicle 1B stores this communication quality data in the storage unit 12 as communication quality data 12A. By providing this data to vehicle 1B, vehicle 1B will be able to determine which communication method will provide the best communication quality when traveling at speeds between 20 km / h and 40 km / h.

[0061] [Process where Server Device 2 updates communication quality data] Next, we will describe in detail the process by which the server device 2 collects probe data from multiple vehicles 1A and updates the communication quality data. Figure 5 is a sequence diagram of this process. The process shown in Figure 5 is periodically started by the DCM 10 installed in vehicle 1A. Furthermore, the illustrated process is executed for each of the multiple vehicles 1A under the management of the server device 2.

[0062] It should be assumed that the communication method to be used for cellular communication is pre-configured in DCM10 before the process shown in the diagram begins. This communication method may be the default communication method, or it may be a communication method adaptively selected based on the communication quality data received from the server device 2.

[0063] First, in step S11, the DCM10 (measurement unit 112) generates vehicle data. In this embodiment, the vehicle data includes the position information, speed information, and direction of travel of the vehicle 1A. Such information may be obtained from the vehicle's ECU, etc., via the in-vehicle network, or from on-vehicle sensors (including the position information acquisition unit 15).

[0064] Next, in step S12, the DCM 10 (measurement unit 112) generates measurement data. The measured values ​​included in the measurement data may be measured by, for example, the wireless communication unit 14. The measurement unit 112 transmits probe data consisting of vehicle data and measurement data to the server device 2 (data update unit 211).

[0065] In step S13, the server device 2 (data update unit 211) determines the driving environment of vehicle 1A (speed range in this embodiment) based on the vehicle data included in the received probe data. In this embodiment, the speed range is classified into five categories as illustrated in Figure 4, but the number of classifications may be other than those shown.

[0066] In step S14, the server device 2 (data update unit 211) generates or updates a communication quality map corresponding to the determined driving environment based on the measurement data included in the received probe data. For example, the data update unit 211 identifies the unit area where vehicle 1A is located within the communication quality map and updates the evaluation value corresponding to that unit area based on the measurement values ​​included in the measurement data. If the target communication quality map has already been generated, the data update unit 211 may calculate the updated evaluation value by weighting it with other vehicles or the like.

[0067] [Process where Server Device 2 provides communication quality data] Next, we will describe the details of the process in which the server device 2 receives a request for communication quality data from vehicle 1B and provides the communication quality data to vehicle 1B. Figure 6 is a sequence diagram of this process. The process shown in Figure 6 is performed on the DCM 10 installed in vehicle 1B. Therefore, the process is initiated. This process may also be initiated when the DCM 10 installed in vehicle 1B determines that the latest communication quality data is required. This process may be initiated, for example, at predetermined intervals, or when vehicle 1B meets predetermined conditions (for example, when it enters a new unit area or when the driving speed range changes).

[0068] It should be assumed that, before the illustrated process is started, the server device 2 has already stored the communication quality data 22A corresponding to each speed band in the storage unit 22.

[0069] First, in step S21, the DCM 10 installed in vehicle 1B generates vehicle data in the same manner as in step S11. This vehicle data is included in the request for provision of communication quality data and transmitted to the server device 2.

[0070] Next, in step S22, the server device 2 (information provision unit 212) determines the driving environment of vehicle 1B (speed range in this embodiment) based on the vehicle data included in the provision request. Next, in step S23, the server device 2 (information provision unit 212) extracts communication quality data corresponding to the speed range determined in step S22 from the communication quality data 22A. For example, in the example in Figure 4, if the speed range of vehicle 1B is determined to be "20 km / h or more and less than 40 km / h", the server device 2 extracts the communication quality data indicated by reference numeral 402. The extracted communication quality data is transmitted to vehicle 1B (DCM 10).

[0071] In step S24, the vehicle 1B (the communication control unit 111 of the DCM 10) stores the communication quality data received from the server device 2 in the storage unit 12. Based on this communication quality data, it also determines a suitable communication method. In this step, for example, the communication control unit 111 refers to a plurality of communication quality maps defined for each communication method included in the received communication quality data and identifies the communication method with the highest evaluation value in the unit area where the vehicle is located. It also notifies the wireless communication unit 14 that it will use this communication method and switches the communication method.

[0072] Furthermore, switching communication methods does not necessarily need to be done for each unit area, nor is it necessary to always select the communication method that yields the highest evaluation value. For example, the communication method may be switched if the evaluation value of the currently used communication method falls below a predetermined value (or is expected to fall below a predetermined value in the future), or if the evaluation value improves by more than a predetermined value before and after the switch. In addition, the communication method may be switched if a problem occurs that disrupts normal communication, such as a timeout, or if such a problem is expected to occur in the future. In particular, switching carriers takes a certain amount of time to attach to the cellular network. Therefore, switching carriers may be limited to cases where the required communication quality cannot be ensured by the previous carrier. Alternatively, switching communication methods may be done only when the benefits outweigh the time spent switching.

[0073] As described above, in the vehicle communication system according to this embodiment, the server device 2 generates data (communication quality data) that maps the communication quality on a map for each vehicle's driving environment (speed range) based on probe data transmitted from vehicle 1A, which is a probe car. Furthermore, when a request is made from vehicle 1B, the server device 2 extracts and provides communication quality data corresponding to the driving environment (speed range) of vehicle 1B. With this configuration, even if the quality of wireless communication changes depending on the vehicle's driving environment, appropriate information for selecting a communication method can be provided to the vehicle.

[0074] In the first embodiment, the vehicle's speed range was used as an example of the vehicle's driving environment, but other elements may also be treated as the driving environment. For example, the vehicle's driving environment may be determined based on information such as the attributes of the road on which the vehicle is traveling (e.g., general road, expressway, motorway, bridge, tunnel, number of lanes, etc.), the vehicle's direction of travel, or the vehicle's surrounding environment (e.g., presence or absence of traffic congestion, etc.). Even in this case, as shown in Figure 4, communication quality data is generated and stored in the server device 2 for each vehicle's driving environment.

[0075] (Second Embodiment) In the first embodiment, the server device 2 transmitted communication quality data corresponding to the driving environment of vehicle 1 (DCM10) to vehicle 1 (DCM10) that had requested the provision of communication quality data. The DCM10 then determined a suitable communication method based on the received communication quality data.

[0076] On the other hand, the determination of the preferred communication method may be performed on the server device 2. That is, the processing in step S24 may be performed on the server device side, and only the result may be notified to the DCM 10. In this case, after the processing in step S23 is completed, the server device 2 (information providing unit 212) may perform a process to determine a suitable communication method for vehicle 1 based on the location information of vehicle 1. The content of the process to determine the communication method is the same as in step S24. The server device 2 (information providing unit 212) may notify vehicle 1 (DCM 10) of the determined communication method, and the DCM 10 (communication control unit 111) may perform a switch to that communication method.

[0077] (Third embodiment) In the first and second embodiments, the DCM10 used speed information included in the probe data to determine the driving environment (speed range) of each vehicle. On the other hand, the speed of each vehicle does not necessarily have to be obtained directly from that vehicle.

[0078] For example, consider a case where vehicle 1 periodically (for example, at 5-second intervals) transmits location information to server device 2. In such a case, server device 2 can obtain the change in vehicle 1's position over time based on the periodically acquired location information. Therefore, in this case, the server device can estimate the speed of the target vehicle even without including speed information in the probe data. The location information transmitted from vehicle 1 is also an example of "second data". If the measurement data includes location information, similar processing may be performed based on the location information included in the measurement data.

[0079] (modified version) The embodiments described above are merely examples, and this disclosure may be modified as appropriate without departing from its essence. For example, the processes and means described in this disclosure can be freely combined and implemented, as long as no technical inconsistencies arise.

[0080] Furthermore, a process described as being performed by a single device may be divided and executed by multiple devices. Conversely, a process described as being performed by different devices may be executed by a single device. In a computer system, the hardware configuration (server configuration) by which each function is implemented can be flexibly changed.

[0081] This disclosure can also be realized by supplying a computer program implementing the functions described in the above embodiments to a computer, and having one or more processors in the computer read and execute the program. Such a computer program is stored on a non-temporary computer-readable storage medium that can be connected to the computer's system bus. It may be provided to a computer or provided to a computer via a network. Non-temporary computer-readable storage media include, for example, any type of disk such as magnetic disks (floppy disks, hard disk drives (HDDs), etc.), optical disks (CD-ROMs, DVDs, Blu-ray discs, etc.), read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), EPROM, EEPROM, magnetic cards, flash memory, optical cards, and any type of medium suitable for storing electronic instructions. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0082] 1. Vehicle 10···DCM 20...In-vehicle equipment 11. Control Unit 12...Storage section 13. Communications Department 14. Wireless Communication Department 15...Location information acquisition unit 2. Server device 21... Control Unit 22...Storage section 23. Communications Department

Claims

1. To obtain first data regarding the quality of wireless communication from the first device, To acquire second data regarding the mobile environment of the first device, Based on a plurality of the first and second data, communication quality data, which is data mapping the quality of wireless communication to a geographical area, is generated for each division of the mobile environment based on the mobile speed band of the first device, An information processing device having a control unit that performs the following.

2. The aforementioned communication quality data is a set of communication quality maps corresponding to each of the multiple wireless communication methods available to the first device. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1.

3. The first data includes data that identifies the wireless communication method used by the first device. The control unit generates the communication quality map corresponding to the wireless communication method identified by the first data. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2.

4. When the control unit receives a request from the second device, it transmits the communication quality data generated for each category of mobile environment to the second device. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1.

5. When the control unit receives a request from the second device that includes information about the mobile environment of the second device, it evaluates the quality of the wireless communication performed by the second device based on communication quality data corresponding to the mobile environment of the second device. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1.

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