MOBILE COMMUNICATION APPARATUS, MAP GENERATING APPARATUS, RESOURCE MANAGEMENT APPARATUS AND WIRELESS STATION MANAGEMENT APPARATUS, FOR USE IN WIRELESS ACCESS SYSTEM

• US 20150072696A1
• Filed: 09/08/2014
• Published: 03/12/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: NAKATA, Tsuneo
• Granted Patent: US 9,998,927 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/450
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/15542 Selecting at relay station its transmit and receive resources selection of wireless resources by user or terminal H04W72/02; arrangements affording multiple use of the transmission path by two-dimensional division of the resources H04L5/0003, or by allocating sub-channels H04L5/003
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/18 Network planning tools
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/32 by location or mobility data, e.g. speed data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/324 by mobility data, e.g. speed data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/023 using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/027 using movement velocity, acceleration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/51 based on terminal or device properties

Abstract

In a wireless communication system, a mobile communication apparatus judges the reception quality available at its current position for direct reception of information transmitted from a fixed wireless station, with the judgement based upon the current position and upon a reception quality map expressing a relationship between reception positions and corresponding reception quality values. If the reception quality at the current position is judged to be sufficient, direct reception is executed, while otherwise, a limitation is placed upon such direct reception, for example by postponing the direct reception until reaching a position at which the reception quality will be sufficient.

Claims

1. A mobile communication apparatus, comprising:

a position detection circuit section configured for detecting a current position of the mobile communication apparatus;

a map acquisition circuit section configured for acquiring a reception quality map expressing a relationship between reception positions at which information can be directly received from a fixed wireless station located at a fixed terrestrial position and direct reception quality index values respectively corresponding to the reception positions, each direct reception quality index value expressing a reception quality obtainable when information is directly received from the fixed wireless station at the corresponding reception position;

a direct quality estimation circuit section configured for estimating the direct reception quality index value corresponding to the current position of the mobile communication apparatus, the estimation based upon the acquired reception quality map and the detected current position of the mobile communication apparatus; and

a reception processing circuit section configured for selecting one of a first reception mode and a second reception mode, the first reception mode being an operating mode in which specific information is received directly from said fixed wireless station and the second reception mode being an operating mode in which a limitation is placed upon receiving the specific information directly from said fixed wireless station.

2. The mobile communication apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising position acquisition circuit section configured for acquiring a current position of a candidate relay apparatus constituted by another mobile communication apparatus, and

a relay quality estimation circuit section configured for estimating a relay reception quality index value expressing a reception quality obtained when information is relayed from the fixed wireless station via the candidate relay apparatus, the estimation being performed based upon the acquired current position of the candidate relay apparatus and the acquired reception quality map;

wherein the reception processing circuit section;

selects the first reception mode as the operation mode, when the direct reception quality exceeds a predetermined threshold value;

when the direct reception quality index does not exceed the predetermined threshold value, selects one of the first reception mode and the second reception mode as the operation mode, the selection based upon comparing the relay reception quality index value with the direct reception quality index value; and

when the second reception mode is selected, effects reception of information from the fixed wireless station via the candidate relay apparatus.

3. The mobile communication apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein the mobile communication apparatus is transported in a corresponding vehicle, further comprising:

an other-apparatus judgement circuit section configured for judging when a number of candidate relay apparatuses respectively positioned within a specific area centered on the current position of the mobile communication apparatus, exceeds a predetermined number, each of the candidate relay apparatuses having a relay reception quality exceeding the predetermined threshold value, and

a vehicle control circuit section configured for controlling motion of the corresponding vehicle;

wherein the vehicle control circuit section operates to move the mobile communication apparatus to a position at which the direct reception quality index estimated by the direct quality estimation circuit section exceeds the predetermined threshold value, when it is judged by the other-apparatus judgement circuit section that the number of candidate relay apparatuses does not exceed the predetermined number.

4. The mobile communication apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising

a direct reception quality estimation circuit section configured for estimating a direct reception quality index value corresponding to direct reception of information from the fixed wireless station at the current position of the mobile communication apparatus, and

a displacement-location quality estimation circuit section configured for estimating a destination position expected to be reached by the mobile communication apparatus after a predetermined time interval has elapsed, and for estimating a displacement-location reception quality index value corresponding to direct reception of information from the fixed wireless station at the destination position, the estimation of the displacement-location reception quality index value being based upon the estimated destination position and the acquired reception quality map;

wherein

when the direct reception quality index value exceeds a predetermined threshold value, the reception processing circuit section selects the first reception mode as the operation mode and thereby initiates or continues direct reception of information from the fixed wireless station, and when the direct reception quality index value does not exceed the threshold value, the reception processing circuit section;

compares the direct reception quality index value with the destination reception quality index value, and

selects the first reception mode as the operation mode, when the displacement-location reception quality index value does not exceed the direct reception quality index value, and selects the second reception mode as the operation mode when the displacement-location reception quality index value exceeds the direct reception quality index value, the second reception mode being a mode in which direct reception of information from the fixed wireless station is postponed.

5. A map generating apparatus comprising:

a quality information acquisition circuit section configured for receiving respective sets of position quality information and status information from a plurality of mobile communication apparatuses, each mobile communication apparatus being transported by a corresponding vehicle and receiving information directly from a fixed wireless station located at a fixed terrestrial position, each set of position quality information received from a mobile communication apparatus expressing a relationship between positions at which information has been received directly from the fixed wireless station by the mobile communication apparatus and corresponding values of a reception quality index, and each set of status information expressing an installation condition of the mobile communication apparatus in the corresponding vehicle; and

a map generating circuit section configured for generating reception quality maps based on the received sets of position quality information and status information.

6. The map generating apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the map generating circuit section categorizes the generated reception quality maps in accordance with the status information utilized in generating the respective reception quality maps.

7. The map generating apparatus as claimed in claim 6, further comprising a map data provider circuit section configured to respond to request for a reception quality map from one of the mobile communication apparatuses by providing to the mobile communication apparatus a reception quality map corresponding to the installation condition of the mobile communication apparatus.

8. The map generating apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein each request for a reception quality map is received via a fixed wireless station of a wireless access system, and wherein each reception quality map is provided via the fixed wireless station.

9. A resource management apparatus comprising:

a relay information acquisition circuit section configured for acquiring information identifying respective primary mobile communication apparatuses which each are currently receiving information directly from a fixed wireless station located at a fixed terrestrial position and which each are relaying information from the fixed wireless station to at least one secondary mobile communication apparatus; and

an allocation determining circuit section configured for allocating an amount of communication resources to each primary mobile communication apparatus based upon a total number of secondary mobile communication apparatuses which are currently receiving information via the primary mobile communication apparatus.

10. A wireless station management apparatus comprising:

a receiving apparatus judgement circuit section configured for judging, with respect to each of a plurality of mobile communication apparatuses, when a mobile communication apparatus is located within an interference area and is receiving information directly from a fixed wireless station, the interference area being an area in which respective communication areas of a plurality of fixed wireless stations mutually overlap, the fixed wireless stations being located at respective fixed terrestrial positions, and

an allocation command circuit section configured for supplying commands to the fixed wireless stations designating selective allocation of communication resources to respective ones of the mobile communication apparatuses by the fixed wireless stations, the allocation being executed such that interference between communication resources in the interference area is permitted only when the receiving apparatus judgement circuit section judges that there is no mobile communication apparatus located within the interference area and receiving information directly from one of the fixed wireless station;

wherein;

when each of one or more mobile communication apparatuses located within the interference area is receiving information from one of the fixed wireless station relayed via a mobile communication apparatus positioned outside the interference area, the receiving apparatus judgement circuit section judges that that there is no mobile communication apparatus which is located within the interference area and receiving information directly from one of the fixed wireless stations.

11. A wireless access system comprising a fixed wireless station located at a fixed terrestrial position and a plurality of mobile communication apparatuses, the mobile communication apparatuses being each operable in a condition of being transported and capable of receiving information transmitted from the fixed wireless station, each of the mobile communication apparatuses comprising:

a position detection circuit section configured for detecting a current position of the mobile communication apparatus;

a map acquisition circuit section configured for acquiring a reception quality map expressing a relationship between reception positions at which information can be directly received from the fixed wireless station and values of a reception quality index respectively corresponding to the reception positions;

a direct quality estimation circuit section configured for estimating the reception quality index value corresponding to direct reception of information from the fixed wireless station at the current position of the mobile communication apparatus, the estimation based upon the acquired reception quality map and the current position detected by the position detection circuit section; and

a reception processing circuit section configured for selecting one of a first reception mode and a second reception mode as an operating mode, the selection executed based upon the reception quality index value estimated by the direct quality estimation circuit section, the first reception mode being an operating mode in which information is received directly from said fixed wireless station, the second reception mode being an operating mode in which a limitation is placed upon receiving information directly from said fixed wireless station.

12. The wireless access system as claimed in claim 11, wherein each of the mobile communication apparatuses further comprises:

a second position acquisition circuit section configured for acquiring a current position of a second mobile communication apparatus, and

a relay quality estimation circuit section configured for estimating the reception quality index value attained when information is received by the first mobile communication apparatus from the fixed wireless station relayed via the second mobile communication apparatus, the estimation being performed based upon the current position of the second mobile communication apparatus as acquired by the first position acquisition circuit section and upon the acquired reception quality map;

wherein the reception processing circuit section;

when the reception quality index estimated by the direct quality estimation circuit section exceeds a predetermined threshold value, selects the first reception mode as the operation mode of the first mobile communication apparatus;

when the reception quality index estimated by the direct quality estimation circuit section does not exceed the predetermined threshold value, selects one of the first reception mode and the second reception mode as the operation mode, the selection being executed based upon comparing the reception quality index value estimated by the relay quality estimation circuit section with the reception quality index value that is estimated by the direct quality estimation circuit section; and

when the second reception mode is selected, effects reception of information from the fixed wireless station by the first mobile communication apparatus by relay via the second mobile communication apparatus.

13. The wireless access system as claimed in claim 11, comprising a plurality of mobile communication apparatuses transported by respective vehicles and receiving information directly from the fixed wireless station, and further comprising:

a quality information acquisition circuit section configured for receiving respective sets of position quality information and status information from the mobile communication apparatuses, each set of position quality information expressing a relationship between positions at which information has been received directly from the fixed wireless station by a mobile communication apparatus and corresponding values of a reception quality index, the status information expressing a condition in which the mobile communication apparatus is installed in the corresponding vehicle; and

a map generating circuit section configured for generating reception quality maps based on the received sets of position quality information and status information.

14. The wireless access system as claimed in claim 13, wherein the map generating circuit section categorizes the generated reception quality maps in accordance with the status information utilized in generating the reception quality maps.

15. The wireless access system as claimed in claim 12, comprising:

a relay information acquisition circuit section configured for acquiring information identifying respective primary mobile communication apparatuses which each are currently receiving information directly from a fixed wireless station located at a fixed terrestrial position and which each are relaying information from the fixed wireless station to at least one secondary mobile communication apparatus; and

,

an allocation determining circuit section configured for allocating an amount of communication resources to each primary mobile communication apparatus based upon a total number of secondary mobile communication apparatuses which are currently receiving information via the primary mobile communication apparatus.

16. The wireless access system as claimed in claim 15, further comprising:

a receiving apparatus judgement circuit section configured for judging when a mobile communication apparatus is located within an interference area and receives information directly from a fixed wireless station, the interference area being within a region in which respective communication areas of a plurality of fixed wireless stations mutually overlap, and

an allocation command circuit section configured for supplying commands to the fixed wireless stations designating allocation of communication resources by the fixed wireless stations whereby interference between communication resources in the interference area is permitted when it is judged by the receiving apparatus judgement circuit section that there is no mobile communication apparatus located within the interference area and receiving information directly from a fixed wireless station;

wherein;

when each of one or more mobile communication apparatuses located within the interference area is receiving information from a fixed wireless station relayed via a mobile communication apparatus located outside the interference area, the receiving apparatus judgement circuit section judges that that there is no mobile communication apparatus located which is within the interference area while receiving information directly from a fixed wireless station.

17. The wireless access system as claimed in claim 12 wherein the mobile communication apparatuses are transported in respective vehicles, each of the mobile communication apparatuses further comprising:

an other-apparatus judgement circuit section configured for judging when a number of candidate relay apparatuses exceeding a predetermined number, each having a reception quality exceeding the predetermined threshold value as estimated by the reception quality estimation circuit section, are respectively positioned within a specific area centered on the current position of the mobile communication apparatus, and

a vehicle control circuit section configured for controlling the vehicle transporting the mobile communication apparatus;

wherein when it is judged by the other-apparatus judgement circuit section that the number of candidate relay apparatuses does not exceed the predetermined number, the vehicle control circuit section operates to move the mobile communication apparatus to a position at which the reception quality index estimated by the direct quality estimation circuit section exceeds the predetermined threshold value.

18. The wireless access system as claimed in claim 13, further comprising

a direct reception quality estimation circuit section configured for estimating a direct reception quality index value corresponding to direct reception of information from the fixed wireless station at the current position of the mobile communication apparatus, and

a displacement-location quality estimation circuit section configured for periodically estimating a destination position expected to be reached by the mobile communication apparatus after a predetermined time interval has elapsed, and for estimating a displacement-location reception quality index value as a reception quality index value corresponding to direct reception of information from the fixed wireless station at the destination position, the estimation of the displacement-location reception quality index value being based upon the estimated destination position and the acquired reception quality map;

wherein

when the direct reception quality index value exceeds a predetermined threshold value, the reception processing circuit section selects the first reception mode as the operation mode and thereby initiates or continues direct reception of information from the fixed wireless station, and when the direct reception quality index value does not exceed the threshold value, the reception processing circuit section; and

compares the direct reception quality index value with the displacement-location reception quality index value, selects the first reception mode as the operation mode when the displacement-location reception quality index value does not exceed the direct reception quality index value, and selects the second reception mode as the operation mode when the displacement-location reception quality index value exceeds the direct reception quality index value, the second reception mode being a mode in which direct reception of information from the fixed wireless station is postponed.