Communication quality estimation system, communication quality estimation device, communication quality estimation method, and communication quality estimation program

Abstract

A communication quality estimation system according to one embodiment of the present invention estimates the communication quality at a terminal newly connecting to a base station, and is characterized by comprising: a storage unit in which relationship information, including the relationship between a total value of required data rates for the base station and an expected throughput that can be expected by a terminal newly connecting to the base station, is stored in advance; a collection unit for collecting required data rates of respective terminals; and an estimation unit for estimating the expected throughput that can be expected by a terminal newly connecting to the base station on the basis of a total value of the required data rates collected by the collection unit and the relationship information.

Description

Communication quality estimation system, communication quality estimation device, communication quality estimation method, and communication quality estimation program

[0001] The present invention relates to a communication quality estimation system, a communication quality estimation device, a communication quality estimation method, and a communication quality estimation program.

[0002] For example, in a network such as IEEE 802.11 where multiple terminals exist, there is a technique to collect some information and estimate the network throughput, etc. This makes it possible to estimate the throughput that a new terminal can obtain when attempting to join the network.

[0003] For example, an active method is one in which a measuring terminal exchanges some kind of measuring packet with an access point and measures information such as an error rate to estimate throughput (see, for example, Non-Patent Document 1).

[0004] As a passive method, there is also a technique for estimating the communication quality of a network by capturing and analyzing measurement packets exchanged between terminals (see, for example, Non-Patent Document 2).

[0005] "ANSL R&D Times 2. Throughput Estimation Technology," [online], NTT Access Service Systems Laboratories Website, [Retrieved July 12, 2024], Internet <URL: https: / / www.rd.ntt / as / times / 047 / 01 / 02.html> Yuko Ikeda and two others, "A Passive Estimation Method for Wi-Fi Effective Throughput Based on Multiple Regression Analysis," Proceedings of the 21st IEEE Hiroshima Branch Student Symposium, pp. 364-365, 2019.

[0006] However, conventional methods have required dedicated information collection communication devices to estimate throughput, etc., and have required explicit exchange of measurement packets, as well as analysis of the collected packets, resulting in time-consuming and costly quality estimation. For example, conventional techniques have required low-layer measurements to estimate communication quality.

[0007] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide a communication quality estimation system, a communication quality estimation device, a communication quality estimation method, and a communication quality estimation program that enable easy estimation of communication quality.

[0008] A communication quality estimation system according to one embodiment of the present invention is a communication quality estimation system that estimates communication quality for a terminal that is newly connected to a base station, and is characterized by having: a storage unit that pre-stores relationship information including a relationship between a total value of requested data rates for the base station and an expected throughput that can be expected by the terminal that is newly connected to the base station; a collection unit that collects the requested data rates of each terminal that is connected to the base station; and an estimation unit that estimates the expected throughput that can be expected by the terminal that is newly connected to the base station based on the total value of requested data rates collected by the collection unit and the relationship information.

[0009] Furthermore, a communication quality estimation device according to one embodiment of the present invention is a communication quality estimation device that estimates communication quality for a terminal that is to newly connect to a base station, and is characterized by having: a collection unit that collects a requested data rate for each terminal that is connected to the base station; relationship information including a relationship between a total value of requested data rates for the base station and an expected throughput that the terminal that will newly connect to the base station can expect; and an estimation unit that estimates an expected throughput that the terminal that will newly connect to the base station can expect, based on the total value of requested data rates collected by the collection unit.

[0010] Furthermore, a communication quality estimation method according to one embodiment of the present invention is a communication quality estimation method for estimating communication quality in a terminal newly connecting to a base station, and is characterized by including: a collection step of collecting a required data rate of each terminal connected to the base station; and an estimation step of estimating an expected throughput that can be expected by the terminal newly connecting to the base station based on relationship information including a relationship between a total value of the required data rates for the base station and an expected throughput that can be expected by the terminal newly connecting to the base station, and the total value of the required data rates collected in the collection step.

[0011] Furthermore, a communication quality estimation program according to one embodiment of the present invention is a communication quality estimation program executed by a communication quality estimation device that estimates communication quality for a terminal that will newly connect to a base station, and causes a computer to function as each part of the communication quality estimation device, which has: a collection unit that collects requested data rates for each terminal that is connected to the base station; relationship information including a relationship between a total value of requested data rates for the base station and an expected throughput that can be expected by the terminal that will newly connect to the base station; and an estimation unit that estimates an expected throughput that can be expected by the terminal that will newly connect to the base station based on the total value of requested data rates collected by the collection unit.

[0012] According to the present invention, it is possible to easily estimate communication quality.

[0013] 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a communication quality estimation system according to an embodiment; and FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of a communication quality estimation device according to an embodiment.

[0014] A communication quality estimation system 1 according to an embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the communication quality estimation system 1 according to an embodiment. As shown in Fig. 1, the communication quality estimation system 1 includes a base station (access point) 3 to which a plurality of terminals 2 are connected, a storage device (storage unit) 4, and a communication quality estimation device 5.

[0015] Each terminal 2 transmits information on the requested data rate (or the average requested data rate) and the wireless capacity (maximum theoretical value) to the base station 3. The base station 3 stores the received information in the storage device 4.

[0016] Then, the communication quality estimation system 1 estimates the communication quality of the terminal 2 that is newly connected to the base station 3. For example, the communication quality estimation system 1 can estimate the throughput and delay by collecting only the application layer information (data rate) of each terminal 2. Here, the communication quality estimation system 1 utilizes the fact that it is airtime that contributes to determining the quality such as throughput and delay, and that the data rate has a positive correlation with the airtime.

[0017] The sum of the requested data rates of each terminal 2 is positively correlated with the total airtime occupied by each terminal 2. Furthermore, the total airtime is negatively correlated with the expected throughput that a terminal 2 attempting to newly join can obtain.

[0018] Therefore, by preparing the relationship between the total data rate value and the expected throughput in advance, it is possible to calculate the expected throughput with low accuracy, high speed, and low cost. The relationship between the total data rate value and the expected throughput can be prepared by any method.

[0019] For example, there is a method of measuring the total data rate values ​​of several patterns and the actual throughput in the environment in advance, and calculating the relationship by interpolation or recursion, but the method is not limited to these.

[0020] The communication quality estimation system 1 can also quickly estimate network quality (throughput, delay, etc.) by collecting only easily collectable upper layer information. Specifically, the communication quality estimation system 1 can easily estimate communication quality by the following configuration.

[0021] The storage device 4 is connected to, for example, the base station 3 and the communication quality estimation device 5, and stores in advance relationship information including the relationship between the total value of the requested data rate for the base station 3 and the expected throughput that can be expected from a terminal 2 newly connecting to the base station 3.

[0022] The storage device 4 may also store the average requested data rate, the type of application used, the connection standard (e.g., 11ax), the signal reception power, the packet error rate, the MCS index, the average packet length, etc. of each terminal 2. The storage device 4 is not limited to being an independent device, and may be integrated into the base station 3 or the communication quality estimation device 5 as a storage unit.

[0023] The communication quality estimation device 5 includes, for example, a collection unit 50 , an estimation unit 51 , a control unit 52 , and a setting unit 53 .

[0024] The collection unit 50 collects the requested data rates of each terminal 2, for example, via the storage device 4, and outputs the collected data rates to the estimation unit 51 and the control unit 52. The collection unit 50 may also collect the requested data rates embedded in frames (data frames or RTS frames) transmitted by each terminal 2. In this case, packet switching for explicit information collection is not required.

[0025] The estimation unit 51 estimates the expected throughput that can be expected from the terminal 2 that newly connects to the base station 3, based on the total value of the requested data rates collected by the collection unit 50 and the above-mentioned related information, and outputs the estimated throughput to the control unit 52. The estimation unit 51 may perform the estimation at any timing, for example, when the terminal 2 newly joins the network.

[0026] The control unit 52 controls each unit constituting the communication quality estimation device 5. For example, the control unit 52 controls the period in which the estimation unit 51 estimates the expected throughput to differ depending on the application used by each terminal 2.

[0027] The setting unit 53 sets the accuracy of the expected throughput estimated by the estimation unit 51 in the control unit 52 etc. in response to, for example, an external input.

[0028] Then, the collection unit 50 further collects other information indicating the communication quality of each terminal 2, based on the accuracy set by the setting unit 53. In other words, the above-mentioned relationship information may further include information indicating the relationship between the total value of the requested data rate for the base station 3 and other information, and the expected throughput that can be expected from a terminal 2 newly connecting to the base station 3.

[0029] For example, the communication quality estimation system 1 can estimate network quality with any accuracy by collecting higher layer information such as the position of the terminal 2, and MAC layer information such as MCS (information such as modulation rate) and error rate, depending on the required estimation accuracy.

[0030] In addition, since the relationship between data rate and airtime changes when the parameters (MCS, received power, etc.) of each terminal 2 differ, the communication quality estimation system 1 may correct the estimated quality using other information in addition to data rate information.

[0031] Furthermore, if the communication quality estimation device 5 collects, as additional information, information on the applications used by the terminal 2, it is possible to improve the accuracy of estimating delay and jitter. This is because packet generation patterns differ depending on the application, and therefore the cycle in which free airtime occurs varies, resulting in different access delays (for a terminal 2 attempting to newly join).

[0032] Furthermore, the cycle of estimating the total occupied airtime may be adjusted depending on the application type, i.e., packet occurrence pattern.

[0033] For example, video streaming downloads involve communication at a nearly constant rate, so the cycle is shortened, whereas web browsing / file downloads involve burst-like communication, so the cycle is lengthened.

[0034] Furthermore, if the additional information includes the signal reception power, packet error rate, and MCS of each terminal 2, it is possible to estimate the expected throughput with higher accuracy. For example, this is because information calculated from the requested data rate and modulation rate has a stronger correlation than airtime. In this case, too, the relationship between the total data rate value + additional information and the expected throughput is prepared in advance.

[0035] Furthermore, the communication quality estimation system 1 can estimate the maximum estimated airtime utilization rate based on the worst-case value (= longest value: minimum MCS, minimum number of streams (= 1)) of the airtime used by each terminal 2 from the current required data rate value of each terminal 2, with the maximum theoretical throughput value obtained from the current system (= standard, modulation rate, number of streams, etc.) as the upper limit.

[0036] In this way, the communication quality estimation system 1 estimates the expected throughput that can be expected from a terminal 2 newly connecting to the base station 3 based on the total value of the requested data rates collected by the collection unit 50 and related information, thereby making it possible to easily estimate communication quality.

[0037] Note that each function of the communication quality estimation device 5 may be partially or entirely configured by hardware such as a programmable logic device (PLD) or a field programmable gate array (FPGA), or may be configured as a program executed by a processor such as a CPU.

[0038] For example, the communication quality estimation device 5 can be realized using a computer and a program, and the program can be recorded on a storage medium or provided via a network.

[0039] 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of a communication quality estimation device 5 according to an embodiment. As illustrated in Fig. 2, the communication quality estimation device 5 has, for example, an input unit 500, an output unit 510, a communication unit 520, a CPU 530, a memory 540, and an HDD 550 connected via a bus 560, and has the functions of a computer. The communication quality estimation device 5 is also configured to be able to input and output data to and from a computer-readable storage medium 570.

[0040] The input unit 500 is, for example, a keyboard and a mouse. The output unit 510 is, for example, a display device such as a display that outputs images. The communication unit 520 is, for example, a wired or wireless network interface, and may have a function as an output unit that outputs data to the outside.

[0041] As described above, the CPU 530 controls each unit constituting the communication quality estimation device 5 and performs predetermined processing, etc. The memory 540 and the HDD 550 are storage units that store data, etc.

[0042] The storage medium 570 is capable of storing programs and the like that cause the communication quality estimation apparatus 5 to execute the functions of the communication quality estimation apparatus 5. Note that the architecture that configures the communication quality estimation apparatus 5 is not limited to the example shown in FIG.

[0043] The functions performed by the components described herein may be implemented in circuitry or processing circuitry, including general purpose processors, application specific processors, integrated circuits, ASICs (Application Specific Integrated Circuits), a CPU (a Central Processing Unit), conventional circuits, and / or combinations thereof, programmed to perform the described functions.

[0044] A processor includes transistors and other circuits and is considered to be circuitry or processing circuitry. A processor may be a programmed processor that executes programs stored in memory.

[0045] In this specification, a circuitry, unit, or means is hardware that is programmed to realize or performs the described functions, which may be any hardware disclosed herein or any hardware known to be programmed to realize or perform the described functions.

[0046] If the hardware is a processor considered to be a type of circuitry, the circuitry, means, or unit is a combination of the hardware and software used to configure the hardware and / or processor.

[0047] 1...Communication quality estimation system, 2...Terminal, 3...Base station, 4...Storage device, 5...Communication quality estimation device, 50...Collection unit, 51...Estimation unit, 52...Control unit, 53...Setting unit, 500...Input unit, 510...Output unit, 520...Communication unit, 530...CPU, 540...Memory, 550...HDD, 560...Bus, 570...Storage medium

Claims

1. A communication quality estimation system for estimating communication quality for a terminal newly connecting to a base station, comprising: a storage unit that pre-stores relationship information including the relationship between the total value of requested data rates for the base station and the expected throughput that the terminal newly connecting to the base station can expect; a collection unit that collects the requested data rates of each terminal connected to the base station; and an estimation unit that estimates the expected throughput that the terminal newly connecting to the base station can expect based on the total value of requested data rates collected by the collection unit and the relationship information.

2. The communication quality estimation system of claim 1, further comprising a setting unit that sets the accuracy of the expected throughput estimated by the estimation unit, wherein the collection unit further collects other information indicating the communication quality of each of the plurality of terminals based on the accuracy set by the setting unit, and wherein the relationship information further includes information indicating the relationship between the total value of the requested data rate for the base station and the other information, and the expected throughput that can be expected by a terminal newly connecting to the base station.

3. A communication quality estimation system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the collection unit collects the requested data rates embedded in frames transmitted by each of the plurality of terminals.

4. A communication quality estimation system as described in claim 1 or 2, further comprising a control unit that controls the period at which the estimation unit estimates the expected throughput to differ depending on the application used by each of the multiple terminals.

5. A communication quality estimation method for estimating communication quality for a terminal newly connecting to a base station, comprising: a collection step of collecting a required data rate for each terminal connected to the base station; and an estimation step of estimating the expected throughput that can be expected by the terminal newly connecting to the base station based on relationship information including the relationship between the total value of the required data rates for the base station and the expected throughput that can be expected by the terminal newly connecting to the base station, and the total value of the required data rates collected in the collection step.

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