Beam tracking system

Abstract

The present invention enables a mobile communication device to be beam-tracked with high accuracy by using an O-RAN. A system constructed in an open radio access network (O-RAN) comprises a control device and a radiation device. The control device has: an acquisition unit that acquires, for each first time, movement information including actual measurement position information measured by a mobile communication device over first wide-area-connectable wireless communication; an estimation unit that performs an estimation process for estimating an estimated position of the mobile communication device after the elapsing of a second time shorter than the first time using the actual measurement position information and road information; a determination unit that determines a beam radiation pattern corresponding to the estimated position; and a control unit that performs control so as to radiate a beam in the determined beam radiation pattern after the elapsing of the second time. The radiation device radiates a beam to the mobile communication device in accordance with control of the control device.

Description

Beam Tracking System

[0001] The present invention relates to a beam tracking system.

[0002] In recent years, the introduction of the Open Radio Access Network (O-RAN) has led to the creation of an open communication system that allows various vendors to easily participate. In the O-RAN, a working group is currently discussing the standardization of the RAN Intelligent Controller (RIC), which serves as an interface connecting third-party applications with the RAN.

[0003] However, in the working group discussions, the focus has been on initiatives using RAN information, which is not significantly different from the discussions on SON (Self-organizing Network). As a result, the xAPP (external application) function of RIC has not been fully utilized.

[0004] Technologies related to O-RAN are disclosed, for example, in the following:

[0005] US11569398B1

[0006] O-RAN.WG1.OAD-R003-v10.00O-RAN.WG2.Non-RT-RIC-ARCH-R003-v04.00O-RAN.WG3.E2GAP-R003-v04.01

[0007] One technology related to O-RAN is a beam-tracking system that allows vehicles to follow beams in V2X (Vehicle to Everything) communications. However, beam-tracking systems have low accuracy in estimating the vehicle's future position when the road is curved or the vehicle's speed changes, making it difficult to accurately track the beams.

[0008] Therefore, one disclosure provides a beam tracking system that uses O-RAN and can perform beam tracking with high accuracy for a mobile communication device.

[0009] The system is constructed using an O-RAN (Open Radio Access Network), and includes: an acquisition unit that acquires mobile information including actual location information measured by a mobile communication device every first hour via a first wireless communication that can be connected over a wide area; an estimation unit that performs an estimation process that uses the actual location information and road information to estimate an estimated location of the mobile communication device after a second time period that is shorter than the first time period has elapsed; a control device that has a determination unit that determines a beam radiation pattern according to the estimated location and a control unit that controls the device to radiate a beam in the determined beam radiation pattern after the second time period has elapsed; and a radiation device that radiates a beam to the mobile communication device in accordance with control by the control device.

[0010] One disclosure uses O-RAN to enable highly accurate beam tracking for mobile communication devices.

[0011] Fig. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a beam tracking system 10. Fig. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a control device 300. Fig. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a beam tracking system 10 configured using an O-RAN. Fig. 4 shows an example of the sequence of a beam control process.

[0012] [First Embodiment] A first embodiment will be described.

[0013] <Configuration Example of Beam Tracking System 10> Fig. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration example of the beam tracking system 10. The beam tracking system 10 is a system that emits a beam to a mobile communication device, such as an automobile, equipped with a wireless communication device. The beam tracking system 10 is used, for example, for automatic driving of automobiles, and emits a beam containing driving instructions (e.g., the vehicle's moving direction, speed, cooperative recognition information, etc.) and road information to the automobile. The automobile that receives the beam follows the instructions of the beam or determines driving instructions from the road information, and performs automatic driving. The beam is composed of, for example, millimeter waves.

[0014] The beam tracking system 10 includes a network constructed using, for example, O-RAN, and includes an automobile 100, roadside units 200-1 and 200-2 (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as roadside units 200), a control device 300, a base station device 400, and a network 500.

[0015] The automobile 100 is equipped with wireless communication equipment, receives the beam emitted by the roadside device 200 , and performs wireless communication with the base station device 400 .

[0016] A plurality of roadside units 200 are installed at the edge of the road and are devices that emit beams toward the automobile 100 .

[0017] The control device 300 is a device that controls the beam emitted by the roadside device 200, and is, for example, a computer or a server machine.

[0018] The base station device 400 is a communication device that supports wide-area communication such as LTE (Long Term Evolution), and is, for example, an eNodeB or gNodeB.

[0019] The beam tracking system 10 emits a beam toward the destination of the automobile 100. The control device 300 acquires position information of the automobile 100 at regular intervals and estimates the position of the automobile at shorter intervals (shorter than the regular intervals). The automobile 100 is assumed to be wirelessly connected to the base station device 400 (C1) and to be in a state where communication is possible. The control device 300 acquires position information from the automobile 100 via the base station device 400.

[0020] 1, for example, assume that at a certain time, automobile 100 moves from the position of automobile 100-a to the position of automobile 100-b. When automobile 100 is at the position of automobile 100-a, control device 300 controls roadside unit 200-1 to radiate beam B1 toward the position of automobile 100-a.

[0021] The control device 300 estimates that the position of the automobile 100 at the next timing is the position of the automobile 100-b. The control device 300 switches the roadside unit 200 that emits the beam from the roadside unit 200-1 to the roadside unit 200-2, and controls the roadside unit 200-2 to emit the beam B2 to the position of the automobile 100-b.

[0022] This allows the automobile 100 to receive accurate beams at its destination.

[0023] <Configuration example of control device 300> A description will be given of a configuration example of the control device 300. Fig. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration example of the control device 300. The control device 300 has a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 310, a storage 320, a memory 330, a first communication circuit 340, and a second communication circuit 341.

[0024] The storage 320 is an auxiliary storage device that stores programs and data, such as a flash memory, a hard disk drive (HDD), or a solid state drive (SSD). The storage 320 stores a beam control program 321 and road information 322.

[0025] The memory 330 is an area into which the programs stored in the storage 320 are loaded. The memory 330 may also be used as an area in which the programs store data.

[0026] The first communication circuit 340 is a device that wirelessly connects to and performs wireless communication with the base station device 400. The control device 300 acquires vehicle information (movement information) including position information from the automobile 100 via the first communication circuit 340.

[0027] The second communication circuit 341 is a wireless communication device that receives a beam emitted from the roadside device 200. The control device 300 acquires the beam via the second communication circuit 341 and obtains information contained in the beam.

[0028] The CPU 310 is a processor that loads programs stored in the storage 320 into the memory 330, executes the loaded programs, configures each unit, and realizes each process.

[0029] The CPU 310 executes the beam control program 321 to configure a control unit, a determination unit, an acquisition unit, and an estimation unit, and to perform beam control processing. The beam control processing is processing to receive vehicle information, repeatedly estimate the position of the automobile 100 a predetermined time after the current position information, and control the roadside unit 200 to emit a beam toward (in the direction of) the estimated position.

[0030] The CPU 310 constructs an acquisition unit and performs vehicle information acquisition processing by executing the vehicle information acquisition module 3211 included in the beam control program 321. The vehicle information acquisition processing is processing for acquiring (receiving) vehicle information from the automobile 100 via the base station device 400.

[0031] The CPU 310 constructs an estimation unit and performs vehicle position estimation processing by executing a vehicle position estimation module 3212 included in the beam control program 321. The vehicle position estimation processing is processing for estimating the position of the automobile 100 after a predetermined time from current position information (or the previously estimated position).

[0032] The CPU 310 executes a beam tracking control module 3213 included in the beam control program 321 to configure a control unit and a determination unit and perform beam tracking control processing. The beam tracking control processing is processing for controlling the roadside unit 200 so that the roadside unit 200 emits a beam at an appropriate timing relative to the estimated position (or the actual measured position of the position information).

[0033] The road information 322 is information about the road on which the automobile 100 is currently traveling. The road information includes, for example, information about the curvature and elevation of the road, and may also include information about the road surface condition and construction work. The road information 322 may be updated regularly or irregularly.

[0034] <Example of O-RAN Application of Beam Tracking System 10> A description will be given of an O-RAN application of the beam tracking system 10. Fig. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the beam tracking system 10 configured with an O-RAN.

[0035] The beam tracking system 10 employing O-RAN includes a vehicle 100, an O-RU 200, an O-DU 201, an O-CU 202, a Near-Real Time RIC 300 (hereinafter sometimes referred to as RIC 300), a V2X Apps 401, and an O-eNB 400.

[0036] The vehicle 100 is a mobile communication device equipped with a wireless communication device, and corresponds to an automobile 100 .

[0037] The O-RU 200 is a wireless communication device that constitutes the O-RAN, is a device that emits a millimeter wave beam, and corresponds to the roadside unit 200. In Fig. 3, there is one O-RU 200, but multiple O-RUs 200 may be connected to one O-DU 201.

[0038] The O-DU 201 is a radio control device that constitutes the O-RAN, and controls the subordinate O-RUs 200 to emit beams. In Fig. 3, there is one O-DU 201, but multiple O-DUs 201 may be connected to one RIC 300.

[0039] The RIC 300 is a device that controls the beam emitted by the O-RU 200 and corresponds to the control device 300. The RIC 300 connects to the O-DU 201 via the E2 interface and performs beam control. The RIC 300 also connects to the V2X Apps 401 via the Y1 interface or A1 interface and acquires vehicle information or mapping information that maps vehicle information to road information.

[0040] The V2X Apps 401 is a group of applications or a second control device that controls V2X communication, and is, for example, a computer or server machine that stores applications. The V2X Apps 401 controls V2X communication. The V2X Apps 401 may be included in the RIC 300, for example. When the functions are divided between the RIC 300 and the V2X Apps 401, information such as road information and some of the functions of the control device 300 may be included in the V2X Apps 401. The V2X Apps 401 is connected to the O-eNB 400 and acquires vehicle information.

[0041] The O-eNB 400 is a base station device that constitutes the O-RAN, and corresponds to the base station device 400. The O-eNB 400 performs wireless communication with the vehicle 100 and receives vehicle information.

[0042] The RIC 300 has an xApp 31. The xApp 31 is an application or group of applications that perform beam control. In beam control, the xApp 31 instructs the beam unit 21 of the O-DU 201 on the shape, direction, emission timing, etc. of the beam (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as the emission pattern). The O-DU 201 selects an appropriate O-RU 200 (according to the emission direction and position) to emit a beam according to the instruction, and instructs the O-RU 200 to emit the beam.

[0043] <Beam Control Processing Sequence> Fig. 4 shows an example of the sequence of the beam control processing. The vehicle 100 transmits a CAM (Cooperative Awareness Message) every 100 msec (milliseconds), for example (S100, S200). The CAM is a message periodically sent by the vehicle 100 and includes vehicle information. The vehicle information includes position information actually measured by the vehicle. The vehicle information may also include information regarding the vehicle's moving speed and moving direction.

[0044] When the V2X Apps 401 receives the CAM (S100), it performs a mapping process (S101). The mapping process is a process of mapping the vehicle's position information to road information. By performing this process, the V2X Apps 401 (or the RIC 300) can recognize the position of the vehicle 100 on the road.

[0045] The V2X Apps 401 transmits a beam control instruction including mapping information and vehicle information to the RIC 300 (S102). Upon receiving the beam control instruction (S102), the RIC 300 performs beam tracking processing (S103).

[0046] The beam tracking process S103 is a process that is performed, for example, at predetermined time intervals, and is a process that radiates (causes radiation of) a beam that tracks the vehicle 100 at the predetermined time intervals. For example, when the RIC 300 receives vehicle information every 100 msec, the RIC 300 executes the beam tracking process S103 at intervals of 10 msec, which is shorter than 100 msec.

[0047] In the beam tracking process S103, the RIC 300 performs a position prediction process (S104). The position prediction process S104 is a process for estimating the position of the vehicle 100 after a predetermined time using the position information, movement speed, movement direction, road information, mapping information, etc. included in the vehicle information. Note that the position prediction process S104 also estimates the movement direction and movement speed after the predetermined time in order to execute the next position prediction process S104. In the next position prediction process S104, the RIC 300 estimates the position after a predetermined time from the time of the previous estimation using the previously predicted estimated position, estimated movement direction, and estimated movement speed. Furthermore, if the vehicle information does not include the movement speed or movement direction, the RIC 300 may estimate the movement speed and movement direction from the difference between the previously acquired actual position information and the currently acquired actual position information.

[0048] In addition, in the first beam tracking process S103 upon receiving the beam control instruction, the RIC 300 may use the position information or mapping information included in the vehicle information as is without executing the position prediction process S104. That is, the RIC 300 may be able to estimate the position every 10 msec from 10 msec to 90 msec during which the actual position cannot be acquired during the 100 msec interval at which the CAM is transmitted.

[0049] Next, in the beam tracking process S103, the RIC 300 performs a beam radiation pattern determination process (S105). The RIC 300 determines the beam pattern according to the estimated position after a predetermined time (or the current measured position).

[0050] Next, the RIC 300 transmits a beam control instruction including the determined beam pattern, radiation timing, etc. to the O-DU 201 (S106).

[0051] When O-DU201 receives a beam control instruction (S106), it selects an O-RU200 according to the radiation direction, position, etc., and transmits a beam radiation instruction including a beam radiation pattern, etc. to the selected O-RU200 at an appropriate timing (for example, the timing at which the beam is desired to be emitted) (S107).

[0052] When the O-RU 200 receives the beam radiation instruction (S107), it radiates a beam of the instructed beam pattern toward the vehicle 100 (S108).

[0053] When the RIC 300 completes the first beam tracking process S103, it executes the second beam tracking process S103. In the position prediction process S104 in the second and subsequent beam tracking processes S103, the previous estimated position is used instead of the position information included in the vehicle information to perform position estimation. The RIC 300 repeatedly executes the beam tracking process S103 (10 times) until the timing at which the next CAM is received (100 msec later), thereby repeating beam tracking of the Vehicle 100.

[0054] Then, when the next CAM is transmitted from the vehicle 100 (S200), the RIC 300 repeats the beam tracking process S103 again.

[0055] In this way, combining O-RAN with wide-area communications such as LTE enables beam tracking at intervals shorter than the CAM transmission interval. Furthermore, since CAM can periodically obtain location information, estimation is periodically repeated from the correct position, improving the accuracy of location estimation compared to repeated estimation.

[0056] In the beam tracking system 10, for example, in addition to the control performed by a device that controls conventional V2X communication or a group of APPs, the RIC 300 has a beam control function that targets even shorter periods of time. This allows beam tracking to be performed at intervals shorter than the intervals at which beams can be emitted according to actual positions in conventional V2X communication (e.g., between CAM transmissions). Note that, although position estimation and beam tracking are performed in 10 msec increments in the above embodiment, the unit time may be changed depending on the communication speed, processing capacity, etc. of the constructed system.

[0057] [Other Embodiments] The beam control process is not limited to the example sequence of Fig. 4. For example, when the RIC 300 acquires vehicle information, it may estimate a position up to 100 msec ahead every 10 msec, determine a beam radiation pattern according to each estimated position, and transfer the beam radiation pattern and / or estimated position information to the O-DU 201. In this case, the O-DU 201 controls the radiation of a beam toward the estimated position at each timing (every 10 msec) according to the beam radiation pattern according to the timing.

[0058] Furthermore, for example, the V2X Apps 401 may perform mapping processing by acquiring an estimated position every 10 msec from the RIC 300. In this case, the V2X Apps 401 transmits the result of the mapping processing to the RIC 300. Upon receiving the result of the mapping processing, the RIC 300 performs position estimation at the next timing.

[0059] Furthermore, for example, beam control at the timing of CAM transmission may be performed by the V2X Apps 401 using measured position information. In this case, the RIC 300 performs position estimation and beam control during the period from one CAM transmission to the next. As a result, even if a system that controls beams based on measured position information exists, for example, by installing a beam control application in the RIC 300, beam control based on estimated positions can be performed at times when measured position information is not available.

[0060] 10: Beam tracking system 21: Beam unit 100: Automobile 200: Roadside unit 300: Control device 310: CPU 320: Storage 321: Beam control program 3211: Vehicle information acquisition module 3212: Vehicle position estimation module 3213: Beam tracking control module 322: Road information 330: Memory 340: First communication circuit 341: Second communication circuit 400: Base station device 500: Network

Claims

1. A beam tracking system constructed using an O-RAN (Open Radio Access Network), comprising: an acquisition unit that acquires movement information including measured position information measured by a mobile communication device every first time via a first wireless communication that can be connected over a wide area; an estimation unit that performs estimation processing to estimate an estimated position of the mobile communication device after a second time period shorter than the first time period has elapsed using the measured position information and road information; a control device that has: a determination unit that determines a beam radiation pattern according to the estimated position; and a control unit that controls the device to radiate a beam in the determined beam radiation pattern after the second time period has elapsed; and a radiation device that radiates a beam to the mobile communication device in accordance with control by the control unit.

2. A beam tracking system as described in claim 1, wherein the estimation unit, in the estimation process, uses the estimated position and the road information to estimate the position of the mobile communication device when the second time has elapsed, and repeats the estimation process until the first time has elapsed and the next actual position information is obtained.

3. A beam tracking system as described in claim 2, wherein the movement information includes information regarding the movement speed and movement direction of the mobile communication device, and the estimation unit uses the movement speed and movement direction in the estimation process, and further estimates an estimated movement speed and estimated movement direction of the mobile communication device after the second time has elapsed, and uses the estimated movement speed and estimated movement direction in the repeated estimation process.

4. The beam tracking system according to claim 1, wherein the control device is a Near-Real Time RIC having a beam control application, and the radiation device is an O-DU that radiates a beam by controlling a subordinate O-RU.

5. A beam tracking system according to claim 1, further comprising a second control device, said second control device having said road information and capable of controlling said beam at said first time interval.

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