JP2015002493A - Shadowing determination device and operation support device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To be flexibly adaptive to a present sailing route or a change of the route and to identify or predict propagation disturbance of a radio signal caused by shadowing with high certainty regarding a shadowing determination device for identifying an area in which propagation of a radio signal is disturbed by a shield interposed between a mobile and radio equipment opposing an antenna mounted on the mobile, in the route of the mobile and an operation support device for proposing such an attitude as to avoid the disturbance of the propagation.SOLUTION: A shadowing determination device comprises: shield discrimination means for discriminating the presence/absence of a shield which disturbs propagation of a radio signal via a main lobe of an antenna mounted on a mobile in accordance with a direction of the main lobe; and shielded area identification means for identifying an area in which the propagation of the radio signal is disturbed, in a route of the mobile on the basis of the presence/absence of the shield discriminated by the shield discrimination means regarding a direction of radio equipment that becomes a transmission terminal or a reception terminal of the radio signal, with respect to the antenna.

Description

  The present invention relates to a shadowing determination device for identifying a region where propagation of a radio signal is blocked by a shield interposed between a mobile device and a radio device facing an antenna mounted on the mobile body, The present invention relates to an operation support apparatus that proposes a posture that can prevent the above-described propagation inhibition.

  In a satellite communication device mounted on a ship, shadowing (blocking) does not occur regardless of the azimuth and elevation angle of the communication satellite when there is no shield between the antenna and the communication satellite.

  However, in practice, some shadowing occurs on the deck of the ship as shown in FIG. 8 because there are shielding objects such as chimneys and masts.

  In addition, the structure of a ship like a chimney, a mast, a cabin, etc. installed on the deck corresponds to the said shield.

  Moreover, since such a structure is made of a conductor such as metal, it has been a major factor that makes it difficult to secure a communication path by preventing radio signal propagation between the antenna and the communication satellite. .

  In addition, if it is not predicted or identified in advance that such a communication path cannot be secured, it is mistakenly recognized that the communication device is malfunctioning and requests unnecessary maintenance. As a result, costs may increase and availability (reliability) may decrease.

Conventionally, such a possibility has been avoided by performing a manual operation as follows, for example.
(1) A blocking chart is created by drawing a straight line radially from the position where the antenna is installed on the plan view, side view and front view of the hull showing the structure of the ship.

(2) Sales representatives and service personnel perform the following processes according to user requests.
(2-1) Appropriately sample the position of the ship on the route that is applied according to the ship's destination.

(2-2) The azimuth angle and elevation angle of the communication satellite at each ship position are calculated, and the blocking area is calculated by referring to the blocking chart based on these azimuth angle and elevation angle. Such calculation is realized by executing an application such as Excel developed in advance.
(2-3) Plot the result of the above calculation on the route information to map the blocking area and provide it to the user.

In addition, there existed patent document 1-patent document 4 listed below as prior art relevant to this invention.
(1) “A plurality of antennas that are mounted on a moving body and are always driven so as to point at a satellite; and a plurality of angle detectors that are provided corresponding to each of the antennas and detect the directivity angles of the antennas. , A receiver for detecting a carrier-to-noise level of a signal received by the antenna, an antenna switching determination based on a comparison between the detected directivity angle and a preset and stored blocking area, and reception by an antenna switched based on the determination result A switching controller that outputs an antenna switching control signal using a combination of antenna switching determination based on a comparison between a carrier-to-noise level of a signal and a carrier-to-noise level that is preset and stored, and an antenna based on the antenna switching control signal. By providing a switching device for switching, "the posture and position of the moving body change even around the edge of the blocking area. An antenna selection device characterized in that a stable switching operation is performed with respect to ... Patent Document 1

(2) A directional antenna mounted on a moving body such as a vehicle to receive a radio signal transmitted from a target such as an artificial satellite, the beam direction of which can be controlled around an azimuth axis and an elevation axis, and an azimuth axis An azimuth axis elevation axis control means for controlling the beam direction of the directional antenna around the azimuth axis and the elevation axis according to the control angle and the elevation axis control angle, target position data indicating the target position, and the position of the moving body Azimuth axis control based on the moving body position data, the moving body inclination angle data indicating the inclination angle of the moving body, and the moving body direction data obtained based on the output of the inertial measurement device and indicating the moving direction of the moving body. Control angle determining means for determining an angle and an elevation axis control angle, and the control angle while gradually changing the moving body azimuth data from its initial value when the directional antenna can be regarded as not capturing the target. Decision A virtual moving body azimuth method target searching means for searching for a beam direction in which the wireless signal reception state is good by simultaneously operating a determination means and monitoring a wireless signal reception state from the target, and the mobile body direction data The control angle determination means is operated while changing the minute angle by trial and error, and based on the result of comparing the wireless signal reception state before and after the trial and error change, the wireless signal reception state is improved. A moving body direction step track means for starting the repetition of the process of changing the moving body direction data after succeeding the search by the virtual moving body direction method target search means and using the moving body direction data at that time as an initial value; By executing the target search and step track based on the moving body direction data, it is possible to achieve "high accuracy and reliability compared to the conventional method. High, and the inclination as mobile during running is characterized in excellent with a tracking performance "point even when varying momentarily tracking type antenna apparatus ... Patent Document 2

(3) “Attenuation level acquisition unit that acquires the attenuation level of the communication signal transmitted between the marine communication device and the communication partner device, and the position of the communication partner device and the ship position in a predetermined coordinate system. And an antenna directivity direction determining unit that controls the directivity direction of the marine communication device so that the antenna of the marine communication device faces the communication counterpart device, and directing the antenna directivity direction to the communication counterpart device. Acquisition of a shadowing occurrence direction in which the ship is moved to various positions and postures, and the antenna directivity direction in which the attenuation acquired by the attenuation acquisition unit is greater than a predetermined level is acquired as the shadowing generation direction generated by the ship structure. ”Can be used to detect the direction of occurrence of shadowing easily and with high accuracy, and promptly output an alarm when shadowing occurs. Or a shadowing generation direction detecting device characterized in that the ship can be guided in a direction in which no shadowing occurs.

(4) “A non-stationary satellite having a communication function with the ground, an earth station having a transmission / reception device capable of communicating with the non-stationary satellite, and a communication with the earth station connected to the ground communication network. In a satellite communication system composed of a land earth station capable of performing via the non-stationary satellite, a visible space region in which a transmission signal transmitted from the non-stationary satellite can be received by the earth station, that is, the earth station A non-stationary satellite that can be observed from the earth station derived by using the information on the visible space region, the position information of the earth station, and the orbit information of the non-geostationary satellite by detecting the skyline at Using the satellite information such as the elevation angle and the azimuth angle of the earth station, the time of passage of the non-stationary satellite capable of receiving a transmission signal from the non-stationary satellite at the earth station is ascertained before the start of the communication. Stillness Detects information about the time zone in which communication with the stop satellite is possible, and the time, time zone, and usable time rate at which satellite communication using the earth station is possible for the user of the earth station Communication is possible for satellite communication, which is characterized in that “it is possible to know information about the time during which communication is possible before and during communication”. Time notification method ... Patent Literature 4

JP-A-10-163940 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-14729 Japanese Patent No. 3730589 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-181643

  By the way, the above-described manual work has room for improvement in the following points.

(1) It is not complicated, but the amount of work is large.
(2) Transportation means and communication means intervene in providing a blocking area according to the user's request, and real time performance is not easily ensured.
(3) It is difficult to flexibly adapt to various events and situations that occur during the navigation process, such as changing the route.

  However, in reality, none of the matters listed below has been addressed.

(1) Prior identification of the impediment to securing communication channels
(2) Misunderstanding that the obstacle to wireless communication is due to equipment failure
(3) Increase in cost due to request for unnecessary maintenance in response to the misperception, and unfavorable availability (reliability)

  The present invention provides a shadowing determination device and an operation support device that can flexibly adapt to a route and a change in the route, and can accurately identify and predict radio signal propagation inhibition caused by shadowing. With the goal.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the shielding determining means determines the presence or absence of a shielding body that prevents radio signal propagation through the main lobe according to the direction of the main lobe of the antenna mounted on the moving body. The shielded area specifying means is based on the presence / absence of a shield that is determined by the shield determining means with respect to the direction of the radio device that is a transmitting end or a receiving end of the wireless signal, Identify areas where radio signal propagation is hindered.

  That is, in a mobile body equipped with the shadowing determination device according to the present invention, a region where the formation or maintenance of a wireless transmission path is hindered in a desired route regardless of the location, presence or absence of movement, and direction. Identification becomes possible.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the shadowing determination apparatus according to the first aspect, the shielded period identifying means is based on a schedule of the movement of the moving object, or a progress record and prediction of the movement. The time or period during which the mobile is located in the area is identified.

  That is, in a mobile object equipped with the shadowing determination apparatus according to the present invention, an area where the formation or maintenance of a wireless transmission path is hindered on a desired route is identified not as geographically but as a time according to the navigation schedule. It becomes possible.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the shadowing determination apparatus according to the first or second aspect, a part or all of the shielding body does not correspond to any part of the moving body, and the It is interposed between the antenna and the wireless device.

  That is, the shield that can inhibit the propagation of the radio signal between the wireless device and the antenna is expanded not only to the part of the moving body to which the present invention is applied, but also to an object other than the moving body.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the shielding determining means gives the presence / absence of a shielding body that prevents the propagation of a radio signal through the main lobe according to the direction of the main lobe of the antenna mounted on the moving body. The non-shielding direction judging means gives a judgment result that the shielding body is absent by the shielding judging means at all or a part of the position where the moving body exists or can move and the position where the moving body exists. The range of the direction of the main lobe to be obtained is obtained. The posture suggesting means designates the posture of the moving body as a posture in which the direction of the main lobe is maintained within the range.

  That is, in a mobile body equipped with the operation support device according to the present invention, wireless transmission is performed by changing the posture even if the position, shape, and dimensions of the part of the mobile body are not changed. The possibility of hindering the formation and maintenance of the path is reduced.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the confusion and the disorder | damage | failure of navigation resulting from a sudden hindrance without being predicted and formation of a wireless transmission path are mitigated with high accuracy.

  In addition, according to the present invention, the trouble associated with reference to geographical information is alleviated in addition to confusion and navigation problems caused by suddenly hindering the formation and maintenance of wireless transmission paths.

  Furthermore, according to the present invention, confusion and navigation troubles caused by abruptly hindering the formation and maintenance of the wireless transmission path without being predicted by an object located around the moving body can be mitigated with high accuracy.

  Further, according to the present invention, formation and maintenance of a wireless transmission path can be realized easily and inexpensively under restrictions on the shape and size of the moving body.

  Therefore, the mobile body to which the present invention is applied flexibly adapts to the external shape, dimensions, position, route and speed of the mobile body, and forms a radio transmission path with a desired radio apparatus stably and with high accuracy. And can be maintained.

It is a figure which shows 1st and 2nd embodiment of this invention. It is an operation | movement flowchart (1/3) of 1st and 2nd embodiment of this invention. It is an operation | movement flowchart (2/3) of 1st and 2nd embodiment of this invention. It is an operation | movement flowchart (3/3) of 1st and 2nd embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of a blocking chart. It is a specific example of the nautical chart displayed by 1st embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which narrows the operation | movement of 2nd embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the mechanism in which shadowing generate | occur | produces.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing first and second embodiments of the present invention.
The electronic chart display information device according to the present embodiment includes the following elements.
(1) Processor 11 to which the following information is input from each part provided in own ship

(1-1) Position of own ship given by GPS receiver (hereinafter referred to as “position information”)
(1-2) The direction of the ship (bow) given by the gyro (hereinafter referred to as “heading”)
(1-3) SDME (Speed and
Ship speed given by (Distance Measuring Equipment)
(1-4) Individual identification code, ship name, position, course, speed, destination, etc. of other ships by AIS (Automatic Identification System)

(1-5) Depth given by an acoustic sounder
(1-6) Observed values such as “engine operating status”, “seawater temperature given by water thermometer”, “tidal current direction and flow velocity given by tidal meter” given by various sensors

(2) Keyboard 12, display 13, external storage 14, printer 15 connected to processor 11 as peripheral devices
FIG. 2 is an operation flowchart (1/3) of the first and second embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is an operation flowchart (2/3) of the first and second embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is an operation flowchart (3/3) of the first and second embodiments of the present invention.

[First embodiment]
The operation of this embodiment will be described below with reference to FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 5, the external storage 14 is a radio formed between a desired communication satellite on the deck of the ship according to the combination of the azimuth angle and elevation angle of the main lobe of the satellite communication apparatus antenna. A blocking chart 14BC in which binary information indicating whether or not a portion that blocks a signal propagation path is located is arranged in advance.

  In the following description, it is assumed that the logical value of such binary information is “1” when the part is present and “0” when the part is not present.

Further, the blocking chart 14BC may be configured as a set of records reflecting all or part of the following, for example.
(1) Shape, dimensions, and posture of the ship's part located on the deck
(2) Radio signal frequency, modulation method, waveform (pulse width, period), power
(3) Antenna directivity and gain

In the external storage 14, for each communication satellite, a position (for example, given by latitude and longitude) serving as a reference for calculating an azimuth angle and an elevation angle at the position of the ship is registered in advance.
[Standard linkage of each part]
The processor 11 realizes a normal function as an electronic chart display information device by performing the following processing in cooperation with each unit.

(1) The ship's position is taken in as appropriate, and a chart image (including the operating status of the electronic chart display information device) is generated based on the chart data pre-registered in the external storage 14 corresponding to the position (Figure). 2 step S1).

(2) A chart image with a route is generated by superimposing an image showing the route on the chart image (step S2 in FIG. 2).

(3) The position P of the ship is appropriately specified based on the position information and the heading (step S3 in FIG. 2).

(4) Acquire the observation values (operation status, seawater temperature, flow direction, flow velocity) as described above in addition to the information related to other ships (obtained via AIS, etc.), the depth and speed of own ship ( FIG. 2 step S4).

(5) Along with the position P of the ship, information related to the other ship, depth, speed, operating status, seawater temperature, flow direction, and flow velocity are added in a predetermined format on the above-mentioned chart image with route (see figure). 2 step S5).

(6) The nautical chart image with a route subjected to such editing (referred to as “nautical chart image A”) is subjected to the following processing and displayed on the display screen of the display 13 (step S6 in FIG. 2).
(6-1) For each other ship described above, an object is generated by associating the position on the chart image A as a target (step S7 in FIG. 2).

Note that the route may be given in any of the following forms.
(1) Provided via communication port.
(2) Stored in the main memory or the external memory 14 in advance.
(3) GUI (Graphic User) via the keyboard 12 or pointing device
Interface).

  Moreover, the processor 11 updates the information displayed on the display screen according to operation performed based on GUI on the display screen of the display 13 for every said object.

  A feature of the present invention is that, in the present embodiment, the processing shown below is performed by the processor 11, and the “nautical chart image B” generated under the processing is displayed instead of the “nautical chart image A”. is there.

(1) A specific record suitable for the combination of the above-described items is selected from the records of the blocking chart 14BC (step S8 in FIG. 3).
(2) A communication satellite used for satellite communication is identified on a predetermined route (step S9 in FIG. 3).

(3) A pair (θa1, θe1) of the azimuth angle θa and the elevation angle θe of the main lobe of the antenna to be applied for capturing a communication satellite for each of a plurality of p partial routes obtained by dividing the route at a desired interval. ) To (θap, θep) are obtained (step S10 in FIG. 3). Note that these pairs (θa1, θe1) to (θap, θep) are obtained as the relative direction of the communication satellite with respect to the bow direction in the partial channel.

(4) Refer to the logical values B1 to Bp of the binary information stored in the specific records corresponding to the pairs (θa1, θe1) to (θap, θep) among the records of the blocking chart 14BC (see FIG. 3 step S11).

(5) Of these partial routes, for the partial routes for which the logical value of the obtained binary information is “1”, the propagation path of the radio signal between the communication satellite and the antenna is blocked. As shown by a thick broken line in FIG. 6, a chart image B is generated by changing the color and other display attributes of the corresponding partial route among the routes indicated by the “nautical chart image with route” to default display attributes ( FIG. 3 step S12).

On the other hand, during the navigation of the ship, the processor 11 performs the following processing.
(1) Based on the position information and heading, the position of the ship on the route is identified with a predetermined frequency (step S13 in FIG. 4).
(2) Determine whether the ship's position corresponds to a non-shielded partial route or a shielded partial route, and perform the following processing based on the result of the determination.

(2-1) In a state where the position of the ship corresponds to the unshielded partial route, a “nautical chart image A” reflecting the position of the ship is generated and displayed on the display screen of the display 13 (FIG. 4). Step S14).
(2-2) In a state where the position of the ship corresponds to the shielded partial route, a “nautical chart image B” reflecting the position of the ship is generated and displayed on the display screen of the display 13 (step in FIG. 4). S15).

  In other words, according to the present embodiment, before the own ship moves to a section where the radio signal propagation between the antenna and the desired communication satellite is blocked in the predetermined route, the user can stabilize the section with high accuracy and stability. Can be identified.

[Second Embodiment]
The operation of the second embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.
The feature of this embodiment is the following processing procedure performed by the processor 11.
Similarly to the first embodiment, the processor 11 sets a pair (θa1, θe1) of the azimuth angle θa and the elevation angle θe of the main lobe of the antenna to be applied to acquire the communication satellite for each of the plurality of p partial routes. ) To (θap, θep) are obtained (step S10 in FIG. 3) and stored in a specific record corresponding to each of these pairs (θa1, θe1) to (θap, θep) among the records of the blocking chart 14BC. Reference is made to the logical values B1 to Bp of the binary information (step S11 in FIG. 3).

  Further, the processor 11 performs a special process on a partial route in which the logical value of the obtained binary information is “0” (hereinafter referred to as “non-shielded partial route”). Not performed.

  However, the processor 11 performs the following processing on the partial routes that do not correspond to the “non-shielded partial route” (hereinafter referred to as “shielded partial route”).

(1) Find the minimum deviation azimuth angle θb ′ (FIG. 7 (a)) that satisfies the following requirements among the deviations in the bow direction (hereinafter referred to as “deviation azimuth angle”) θb in the relevant shielded partial channel (see FIG. 7 (a)). 3 step S21).
(1-1) Of the records included in the blocking chart 14BC, the following formula and FIG.
The logical value of the binary information stored in the specific record corresponding to the pair (Θa, θe) including the azimuth angle Θa shown in FIG.

Θa = θa + θb (when Θa> θa)
(1-2) The absolute value is minimum.
(1-3) Can be set or changed with the desired accuracy in the process of maneuvering when entering the shielded partial route from the "preceding partial route" and escaping to the "subsequent partial route" .

(2) Of the shielded partial routes, the following processing is performed for the partial routes for which the azimuth angle Θa cannot be obtained (hereinafter referred to as “normally shielded partial routes”).
(2-1) Similar to the first embodiment, the azimuth angle θa and the elevation angle θe are associated with each other and stored in the database (step S22 in FIG. 3).

(2-2) Similar to the first embodiment described above, the color of the corresponding partial route among the routes superimposed on the “nautical chart image with route” (hereinafter referred to as “display attribute b”). .) Is changed to a default display attribute to generate a chart image C (step S23 in FIG. 3).

(3) However, on the contrary, the following processing is performed for the partial route for which the azimuth angle Θa can be obtained (hereinafter referred to as “specific shielding partial route”).
(3-1) The azimuth angle θa is replaced with the azimuth angle Θa shown in the above equation, and the minimum deviation azimuth angle θb ′ is stored in the database in accordance with the azimuth angle Θa and the above-described elevation angle θe (FIG. 3). Step S24).

(3-2) By changing the color and other display attributes of the relevant partial route of the route superimposed on the “nautical chart image with route” to “display attribute c” different from the display attribute b, the chart image D Is generated (step S25 in FIG. 3).

On the other hand, during the navigation of the ship, the processor 11 performs the following processing.
(1) Based on the position information and the heading described above, the position and direction of the ship on the route are identified with a predetermined frequency (step S13 in FIG. 4).
(2) It is determined whether the position of the ship corresponds to the above-described unshielded partial route, normal shielded partial route, or specific shielded partial route (step S26 in FIG. 4).
(2-1) In a state where the position of the ship corresponds to the unshielded partial route, a “nautical chart image A” reflecting the position of the ship is generated and displayed on the display screen of the display 13 (FIG. 4). Step S14).

(2-2) In a state where the position of the ship corresponds to the normally shielded partial route, a “nautical chart image B” reflecting the position of the ship is generated and displayed on the display screen of the display 13 (FIG. 4). Step S15).
(2-3) The following processing is performed when the position of the ship corresponds to the specific shielded partial route or the process of entering the specific shielded partial route.

(2-3-1) The aforementioned “nautical chart image C” reflecting the position of the ship is generated and displayed on the display screen of the display 13 (step S30 in FIG. 4).
(2-3-2) The azimuth angle Θa, elevation angle θe, and minimum deviation azimuth angle θb ′ accumulated in the database corresponding to the relevant partial route are acquired (step S31 in FIG. 4).

(2-3-3) If necessary, notify the satellite communication device of the target value in the direction of the main lobe of the antenna as a pair of the above azimuth angle Θa and elevation angle θe, and to the ship's steering system (person) On the other hand, it is proposed to shift the bow direction with the minimum deviation azimuth angle θb ′ with respect to the direction of the corresponding partial channel (step S32 in FIG. 4).

  Note that the values of the azimuth angle Θa, elevation angle θe, and minimum deviation azimuth angle θb ′ follow the slight changes in the bow direction as the ship enters the specific shielded partial route and reversely escapes. It is desirable to change.

  Therefore, according to the present embodiment, if the bow direction is appropriately adjusted without changing the preset route, the radio signal propagation path between the antenna and the communication satellite is ensured with high accuracy, and communication is performed. Quality and reliability are improved and stable.

  In the present embodiment, the processing for realizing the formation and maintenance of the wireless transmission path in cooperation with the ship steering device and the antenna of the satellite communication device mounted on the ship may be performed in any form. Function distribution may be achieved.

  In the first and second embodiments described above, only the record corresponding to one specific communication satellite among the records of the blocking chart 14BC is applied.

  However, the present invention is not limited to such a configuration, and for any shielded partial route, if there is another communication satellite capable of forming or maintaining a wireless transmission path in the shielded partial route, the blocking chart 14BC Records corresponding to the communication satellite are included in advance and referred to as appropriate so that the direction of the main lobe of the antenna of the satellite communication device and / or the deviation of the bow direction of the ship with respect to the route are appropriately determined. It may be switched.

  Further, in the first and second embodiments described above, where the blocking occurs in the route is calculated at the time of planning the route, and where the blocking occurs in the route on the electronic chart is visually displayed. Information can be obtained by the user himself.

  In the first and second embodiments described above, by inputting the operation plan (departure date and planned ship speed), it is possible to notify the user in advance not only of the place but when the blocking occurs.

  Furthermore, in the first and second embodiments described above, the blocking situation at the current latitude and longitude is monitored even during navigation, and the timing of entering the blocking area or notification of entering is notified as visual information or sound. Allows users to recognize that shadowing has occurred and that the device is not faulty

  Further, the present invention is not limited to the electronic chart display information device, and can be applied for identifying a section in which the securing or formation of a wireless transmission path is hindered in the route of an aircraft or other moving body.

  Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to wireless transmission via a communication satellite located in a geostationary orbit, for example, wireless transmission via a communication satellite or broadcasting satellite orbiting a low orbit, or a wireless facility installed at a predetermined site. The same applies to the above.

  Further, according to the present invention, the notification to the user in the section where the radio transmission path is not secured or formed in the predetermined route is not limited to visual information, but is provided as any medium or signal such as voice, data transmission or the like. Also good.

Further, such visual information may be characters, symbols, figures, or a combination of all or some of these.
Further, the present invention is not limited to a device linked to a satellite communication device, but may be incorporated into a radar device or other various navigation devices, or may be realized as a device linked to such a navigation device.

Furthermore, such a linkage may appropriately involve the linkage of personnel who operate the ship or the personnel who operate the radar device or the satellite communication device or manual work.
In the present embodiment, the blocking chart 14BC includes binary information that is on the deck of the ship and can obstruct the formation and maintenance of the wireless transmission path between the antenna and the desired communication satellite. It is.

  However, such a blocking chart 14BC may reflect, for example, terrain and features that can be identified by referring to a geographic database based on the position of the ship and that can similarly inhibit the formation and maintenance of a wireless transmission path. .

  Further, according to the present invention, all or a part of the record of the blocking chart 14BC (specifications regarding the corresponding communication satellite may be included) may be sent via other devices provided in the ship or some network. It may be given as appropriate.

  Further, the present invention is not limited to the premise that the directions of the main lobe (azimuth angle Θa and elevation angle θe) of the antenna are set and maintained in the desired communication satellite direction autonomously by the satellite communication device. For example, the functions and loads necessary to maintain the main lobe direction (including the case where the bow direction is changed as described above) are not linked to the satellite communication device. It may be realized in any form.

Furthermore, in the present invention, binary information registered in advance in the blocking chart 14BC is not updated.
However, such binary information is used in order to ensure the formation and maintenance of a wireless transmission path with a communication satellite even when the navigation route is geographically wide or complex. For example, the following processes (1) and (2) may be appropriately performed for each section (leg) where the ship is located on the route.

(1)
Mapping corresponding to rotation in the direction in which the deviation (deviation azimuth angle) θb in the bow direction is corrected (compressed) on the blocking chart 14BC
(2) Mapping in which the inclination of the ship's attitude in the vertical direction is corrected (compressed) on the axis of the elevation angle θe. In such binary information update, the heading and speed are observed at a predetermined frequency. Thus, it may be realized accurately and without delay for each section of a desired size on the route.

The configuration of the blocking chart 14BC is not limited to the configuration described above, and may be any of the following, for example.
(1) In all sections (legs) of the route information, for each mode that can be taken by the inclination of the ship's attitude in the vertical direction and / or the bow direction (hereinafter referred to as “own ship attitude”). A plurality of records obtained in advance are included, and among these records, a record corresponding to the ship's attitude at each time point can be appropriately referred to.
(2) The effective number of digits and word length that allow misjudgment of the binary information value due to the deviation of the ship's attitude, and represents either or both of the azimuth angle and the elevation angle.

  Further, the blocking chart 14BC updated as described above may be used to display a desired communication on the display screen of the display 13 under the processing performed by the processor 11 independently or in response to a request given by the operator. By being displayed together with marks corresponding to the azimuth angle and elevation angle of the satellite, it may be used for assistance in maneuvering and navigation.

  In the present invention, on the display screen of the display 13, for example, an instruction image (radar image) given by the radar apparatus is displayed instead of a chart as shown by a dotted line in FIG. 1, or is superimposed with the chart. May be displayed.

  Further, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various configurations can be made within the scope of the present invention, and any improvement may be applied to all or some of the components.

11 Processor 12 Keyboard 13 Display 14 External Storage 14BC Blocking Chart 15 Printer

Claims (4)

Shielding determining means for determining the presence or absence of a shield that hinders the propagation of radio signals to be performed via the main lobe according to the direction of the main lobe of the antenna mounted on the moving body;
Propagation of the radio signal in the route of the moving body is hindered based on the presence / absence of a shielding body determined by the shielding determination means with respect to the direction of the antenna of the wireless device serving as a transmission end or reception end of the wireless signal A shadowing determination apparatus comprising: a shielded area specifying means for specifying an area. The shadowing determination device according to claim 1,
A shadowing period identifying means for identifying a time or a period when the moving body is located in the region based on a schedule of movement of the moving body or a result and prediction of the progress of the movement. Ing determination device. In the shadowing determination apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,
Part or all of the shield is
The shadowing determination apparatus, which does not correspond to any part of the moving body and is interposed between the antenna and the radio apparatus. Shield discrimination means for giving presence / absence of a shield that prevents propagation of a radio signal through the main lobe according to the direction of the main lobe of the antenna mounted on the moving body;
In the direction of the main lobe in which the discrimination result that the shielding discriminating means is absent is given by the shielding discriminating means in all or part of the position where the moving body exists or can move and the position where the moving body exists. Non-shielding direction discriminating means for obtaining a range;
An operation support apparatus comprising: an attitude proposal unit that proposes an attitude of the moving body in an attitude in which the direction of the main lobe is maintained within the range.