JP5610349B2 - Communication device and communication method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a communication device that is a terminal configured to operate in a television white space (TVWS) environment and a communication method thereof, and is particularly suitable for improving the efficiency of processing operations corresponding to the movement of the position of the terminal. The present invention relates to a communication device and a communication method thereof.

  A wireless communication standard that uses the same frequency band as that of licensed television broadcasting and can be operated without a license is being studied. In these standards, a TV user is a primary user, and only when the licensed frequency band of the primary user is not used, the secondary user is allowed to use the frequency band (unused licensed frequency band = white space). Allow to operate wireless communication.

  As a personal portable communication device configured to operate in a VHF band or a UHF band TVWS, there is a terminal called a mode II device that complies with the rules of the FCC (US Federal Communications Commission), and its transmission power is relatively high up to 100 mW. small. The terminal is configured to query the database for the latest information regarding the status of the TV channel in order to confirm that there is no TV signal. First, the current location information of the terminal is transmitted to a database, and a list of channels available (valid) at that location is obtained from the database. The terminal performs the same operation with the database every time it moves about 100 m.

  In September 2010, an effective channel that sends information indicating multiple locations (multiple geolocation information) to the database and responds to the movement of the terminal within the corresponding area from the database as a response. A system to obtain a list of was approved by the FCC. In Mode II devices, there is currently no functional operation based on information indicating multiple positions and a corresponding list of valid channels.

  In the FCC rules before September 2010, only the processing operation of the terminal based on the information indicating one position was permitted. This means that every time the Mode II device moves slightly, it needs to query the database to get a list of valid channels. Here, it is not clarified how often the terminal makes an inquiry to the database in relation to the movement, but it is assumed that the time interval is considerably frequent.

  The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-described circumstances, and can perform a function operation based on information indicating a large number of positions or a wide area and a list of effective channels corresponding to the information. An object of the present invention is to provide a communication device and a communication method thereof that can improve the processing operation corresponding to the above.

In order to solve the above-described problem, a communication device according to one embodiment of the present invention is a communication device having a communication function unit, and the local device has a first position at a first time point and the first time point. A first means for specifying a second position at a later second time point, a position set having a position away from the first position as an element, a radio wave radiation area from the first position, and the position set; A second means for determining that a total area formed by each of the radio wave radiation areas from the positions belonging to each of the positions does not have a hole and is a continuous area; and information on the first position and the position set A third means for transmitting information to a database; a first list indicating valid channels applicable at the first location; and a second list indicating valid channels applicable at each location belonging to the location set; The database Fourth means for obtaining; fifth means for selecting a channel to be used as a use channel from the first list; and controlling the communication function unit to use the use channel; and the use channel The sixth means for specifying the area that can be used with reference to the first list and the second list, the seventh means for storing and holding the area that can use the use channel, and the second An eighth means for determining whether or not the position is within the area; and when the second position is determined to be within the area, the communication function unit is configured to continue using the use channel. controlled, anda ninth means for controlling to update the first position the second position when the second position is determined not in said region, said fifth The interest selected by the means The channel is one channel, and if the channel is selected, the channel is larger than the available region specified by the sixth means when any channel other than the channel is selected. of Ru channel der the available area is specified by said sixth means. Further, the communication device according to another aspect is a communication device having a communication function unit, and the self-device at a first position at a first time point and a second time point after the first time point. A first means for specifying the second position, and a position set having a position away from the first position as an element, a radio wave radiation area from the first position and a radio wave radiation from each of the positions belonging to the position set. A second means for determining that a total area formed by each of the areas is a continuous area having no holes, and transmitting the first position information and the position set information to a database; A third list, a first list indicating effective channels applicable to the first position, and a second list indicating effective channels applicable to each position belonging to the position set are obtained from the database. Before and From the first list, a channel to be used is selected as a usage channel, a fifth means for controlling the communication function unit to use the usage channel, and an area where the usage channel can be used, Sixth means for specifying with reference to one list and the second list, seventh means for storing and holding the area where the use channel can be used, and whether or not the second position is in the area And when the second position is determined to be within the area, the communication function unit is controlled to continue using the use channel, and the second position is A ninth means for controlling to update the first position at the second position when it is determined that the channel is not within the area, and the use channel selected by the fifth means is Multiple cha A panel, the area available for the sixth means is identified, Ru identified all of the plurality of channels as a space available.

  In this communication apparatus, a functional operation based on information indicating a large number of positions and a list of valid channels corresponding to the information is possible. Information indicating a large number of positions is transmitted to the database as a position set. Here, in the position set, the total position formed by the position to which the position belongs belongs to the radio emission area from the first position (initial current position) and the radio emission area from each position belonging to the position set has a hole. It is a position that satisfies the condition that becomes a continuous region. This total area is a large area wider than the radio wave radiation area from the first position, and this is a candidate for an area that is set to expand a movable area that does not need to query the database. Because.

  From the database to which information indicating a large number of positions is transmitted, a first list indicating effective channels applicable to the first position and a second list indicating effective channels applicable to each of the positions belonging to the position set are obtained. Can be provided. It is assumed that the database has such a function.

  From the first list, a channel to be used is selected as a use channel, the communication function unit is controlled to use this use channel, and the area where this use channel can be used is referred to the first list and the second list. To identify. This available area is generally larger than the radio wave radiation area from the first position because the second list is taken into account. Then, it is determined whether or not the second position (next current position) is within this large available area, and if it is determined that the second position is within this area, the above-mentioned use channel is used. The communication function unit is controlled to continue, and when it is determined that the second position is not within this region, the first position is updated with the second position.

  Therefore, the request for providing the list to the database is made only when the terminal (own device) moves out of a larger area. Therefore, it becomes a communication apparatus which can improve the efficiency of the processing operation corresponding to the position movement of the terminal.

Further, a communication method according to another aspect of the present invention is a communication method in a communication device having a communication function unit. The communication device has a first position at a first time point and a time point after the first time point. The second position at the second point in time is specified, and a position set having a position away from the first position as an element is defined as a radio wave radiation area from the first position and a position belonging to the position set. The total area formed by each of the radio wave emission areas is determined to be a continuous area having no holes, and the information on the first position and the information on the position set are transmitted to a database, A first list indicating effective channels applicable to the position and a second list indicating effective channels applicable to each of the positions belonging to the position set are obtained from the database, and from the first list, A channel to be used is selected as a use channel, the communication function unit is controlled to use the use channel, and an area where the use channel can be used is specified with reference to the first list and the second list And storing and holding the area where the use channel can be used, and determining whether or not the second position is within the area, and if it is determined that the second position is within the area controls the communication function unit to continue to utilize the available channel is controlled so as to update the first position the second position when the second position is determined not to the area It is a communication method, and the use channel is one channel, and if the channel is selected, the use specified when any channel other than the channel is selected Compared to the performance area of the above size of the region may, Ru channel der the available area is identified. Further, a communication method according to another aspect of the present invention is a communication method in a communication device having a communication function unit. The communication device has a first position at a first time point and a time point after the first time point. The second position at the second point in time is specified, and a position set having a position away from the first position as an element is defined as a radio wave radiation area from the first position and a position belonging to the position set. The total area formed by each of the radio wave emission areas is determined to be a continuous area having no holes, and the information on the first position and the information on the position set are transmitted to a database, A first list indicating effective channels applicable to the position and a second list indicating effective channels applicable to each of the positions belonging to the position set are obtained from the database, and from the first list, A channel to be used is selected as a use channel, the communication function unit is controlled to use the use channel, and an area where the use channel can be used is specified with reference to the first list and the second list And storing and holding the area where the use channel can be used, and determining whether or not the second position is within the area, and if it is determined that the second position is within the area The communication function unit is controlled so as to continue to use the use channel, and when it is determined that the second position is not within the area, the first position is updated at the second position. a communication method, the use channel is a plurality of channels, the space available, Ru identified all of the plurality of channels as a space available.

  These communication methods are communication methods corresponding to the operation of the communication device. Therefore, according to these, it is possible to provide a communication method capable of improving the efficiency of the processing operation corresponding to the position movement of the terminal.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to perform a function operation based on information indicating a large number of positions or a wide area and a list of effective channels corresponding to these, thereby improving the efficiency of the processing operation corresponding to the position movement of the terminal. Can be provided, and a communication method thereof.

The block diagram which shows the example of a connection aspect with the database (WSDB) in the communication apparatus which is one Embodiment of this invention. The block diagram which shows the structure of the communication apparatus which is one Embodiment of this invention. The geographical display figure which shows the example of arrangement | positioning of the periphery position determined by the periphery position set determination part 121 shown in FIG. The figure which shows the example of the format in the inquiry to the database which the database inquiry part 13 shown in FIG. 2 performs. The figure which showed on the geographical display figure shown in FIG. 3 the example of the effective channel in each position returned from a database. The figure which shows the example of a format in the reply from a database. The geographical display figure which shows the example of the usable area which the usable area specific | specification part 123 shown in FIG. 2 specifies. The geographical display figure which shows the example of the usable area which the usable area specific | specification part 123 shown in FIG. 2 specifies different from what was shown in FIG. The block diagram which shows the structure of the communication apparatus which is another embodiment of this invention. The geographical display figure which shows the example of the expansion area | region set by the expansion area | region setting part 121A shown in FIG. The figure which shows the example of the format in the query to the database which the database inquiry part 13A shown in FIG. 9 performs, and the format example in the reply from a database.

  As an embodiment of the present invention, the position set determined by the second means is such that the coordinates of the first position are (x0, y0), the radio wave radiation area is circular, and the radius of the circle is r. Assuming that there are (x0−r√2, y0), (x0, y0 + r√2), (x0 + r√2, y0), (x0, y0−r√2), (x0−r√2, y0−) r√2), (x0−r√2, y0 + r√2), (x0 + r√2, y0 + r√2), and (x0 + r√2, y0−r√2). , And can be.

  According to this, at least the total area formed by the radio wave radiation area from the first position and each radio wave radiation area from each position belonging to the position set is a continuous area without a hole. . Each position of the position set is a total of eight positions corresponding to the grid points of, for example, the east, west, south, and north grids with the first position as the center. There are various other ways of determining a large area wider than the radio wave radiation area from the first position (that is, how to determine the position set). For example, the total area of the above condition may be determined by setting each position in the direction of more or less than the eight directions with the first position as the center.

Further, as an aspect of the present invention, the use channel selected by the fifth means is one channel, and if the channel is selected, the sixth means in the case of selecting any channel other than the channel is selected. over the width of the region as compared to the available space to be identified, Ru channel der the available area is specified by said sixth means.

  If the fifth means selects the usage channel in this way, the range in which the terminal can move without switching the usage channel is maximized among the candidates. Therefore, it is possible to further improve the efficiency of the processing operation corresponding to the movement of the terminal position.

Further, as an aspect of the present invention, the use channels selected by the fifth means are a plurality of channels, and the usable area specified by the sixth means uses all of the plurality of channels. Ru is identified as a possible area.

  In this aspect, the use channel is selected as a plurality of channels. If a plurality of channels are selected, the information transmission efficiency can be improved correspondingly, and high-speed communication can be performed.

  Here, the area specified by the sixth means does not have a hole between the radio wave emission area from the first position and the radio wave emission area from at least one of the positions belonging to the position set; As long as it becomes a continuous sum region, the fifth means can select the plurality of channels as large as possible.

  In this aspect, the use channel is selected as the maximum number of channels. However, normally, if the maximum number of a plurality of channels are selected, it is generally attributed to the possibility that the usable area does not expand from the radio wave radiation area from the first position. Can be used as long as it is a sum area that does not have a hole and is a continuous area of the radio wave radiation area from the first position and the radio wave radiation area from at least one of the positions belonging to the position set. Imposes conditions to expand the area. If as many channels as possible are selected, the information transmission efficiency can be improved correspondingly, and higher-speed communication can be achieved.

  Based on the above, embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a connection mode with a database (WSDB) in a communication apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. With reference to this figure, the connection aspect of a communication apparatus and a database is demonstrated first.

  As shown in FIG. 1A, in this connection, the communication device 10 (mode II device) makes an inquiry directly to the database 50 and obtains a response directly from the database 50. Provided services can be made. The database 50 is configured to provide the latest information regarding the state of the TV channel. More specifically, when position information including the current position of the apparatus 10 (more generally, an area in which the apparatus 10 is included) is transmitted to the database 50, channels that can be used (valid) at the position from the database 50. A list of will be sent. Thereby, the database inquiry part 13 acquires the list.

  The connection between the communication device 10 and the database 50 is, for example, a connection through the Internet. The database 50 is a database provided on the Internet, for example.

  The communication apparatus 10 includes a position specifying unit 11, a control unit 12, and a database inquiry unit 13 in addition to a communication function unit 14 that assumes an original communication function. The position specifying unit 11 specifies the current position of the own apparatus using, for example, a GPS (global positioning system) satellite. The control unit 12 is a functional unit that performs instruction control of a channel used in communication by the communication function unit 14 based on the position information output from the position specifying unit 11 and the channel information obtained from the database 50 via the database inquiry unit 13. It is. The database inquiry unit 13 is a functional unit corresponding to an interface for connection between the database 50 and the apparatus 10.

  As shown in FIG. 1B, the communication device 10 makes an inquiry to the database 50 via the mediation device 60 and operates in an environment in which a response is obtained from the database 50 via the mediation device 60. It is possible to do. The connection mode shown in FIG. 1 (a) and the connection mode shown in FIG. 1 (b) are only the presence / absence of the mediation device 60 that mediates information as described above, and other configurations (and internal configurations) are as follows. The same. The intermediary device 60 is, for example, a fixed device provided for direct connection with the database 50. By providing the mediation device 60, a more stable connection between the database 50 and the device 10 can be expected.

  Next, a communication apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a communication apparatus according to an embodiment. In FIG. 2, the same reference numerals as those used in FIG. 1 are used to indicate the same configuration. In addition to FIG. 2, the configuration and operation of this communication apparatus will be described below with reference to FIGS.

  As illustrated in FIG. 2, the communication device 10 includes, as the control unit 12, a peripheral position determination unit 121, a use channel selection unit 122, an available area specifying unit 123, an available area storage holding unit 124, and in / out of areas. A determination unit 125 is included. The use channel selection unit 122 also functions as a communication control unit that instructs the communication function unit 14 to use the selected channel. The in-area / out-of-area determination unit 125 also functions as a communication control unit that instructs the communication function unit 14 to maintain the channel being used based on the determination result. Further, the in-area / out-of-area determination unit 125 also functions as an update control unit that instructs the communication function unit 14 to update the channel to be instructed as the control unit 12 based on the determination result.

  FIG. 3 is a geographic display diagram showing an example of the arrangement of the peripheral positions determined by the peripheral position set determining unit 121 shown in FIG. The position of the own device specified by the position specifying unit 11 is provided to the peripheral position set determining unit 121 as coordinates (x0, y0). The coordinates (x0, y0) are shown in the center of FIG.

  As shown in the figure, the peripheral position set determining unit 121 uses (x0−r√2, y0), (x0, y0 + r√2), ( x0 + r√2, y0), (x0, y0−r√2), (x0−r√2, y0−r√2), (x0−r√2, y0 + r√2), (x0 + r√2, y0 + r√) 2) A set of eight positions having coordinates of (x0 + r√2, y0−r√2) is specified. Here, r is a radio wave radiation distance assumed from the transmission power of the communication device 10 (for example, 100 m). A circular area centered at each point and having a radius of r is defined as radio wave radiation areas A to I from each point.

  Each position of the position set is a total of eight positions (9 including the current position) corresponding to each grid point of the grid of the east, west, south, and north with the current position as the center. If the peripheral position is determined in this way, as shown in the figure, at least a total area formed by the radio wave radiation area A from the current position and the radio wave radiation areas B to I from the positions belonging to the position set is obtained. , It becomes a continuous area without holes. This total area is a candidate for an area that is set to expand the movable area that does not need to be inquired of the database 50.

  In general, there are various other ways of determining a large total area wider than the radio wave radiation area A from the current position (that is, how to determine the position set). For example, the total area of the above condition may be determined by setting each position in the direction of more or less than the eight directions as shown in FIG. Furthermore, the number of peripheral positions may be increased so that the total area extends further to the outer side of the area B as viewed from the area A.

  As described above, the total area is a candidate area to be set to expand the movable area of the apparatus 10 that does not need to make an inquiry to the database 50 that is normally limited to the area A. Normally, when the device 10 moves outside the area A, the information on the available channels provided from the database 50 at that position cannot be said to be valid. Therefore, normally, an inquiry to the database 50 is made at that time. is necessary. In this apparatus 10, instead of the area A, the above-described total area (in many cases, a part thereof) is intended to be a movable area of the apparatus 10 that does not need to inquire the database 50. For this reason, this total area is a continuous area having no holes.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a format in the query to the database 50 performed by the database query unit 13 shown in FIG. The peripheral position information determined by the peripheral position set determining unit 121 as described above is subsequently sent to the database inquiry unit 13 together with the current position information. Thereby, the database inquiry unit 13 sends these pieces of information to the database 50 in a format as shown in FIG.

  In FIG. 4, “Information ID” indicates the ID (identifier) of this inquiry, and is, for example, 1-byte information. “Length” is information indicating the number of pairs of “LCI ID” and “LCI”, and is, for example, 1-byte information. “LCI ID” is an identifier of “LCI” and is, for example, 1-byte information. By using “LCI ID”, the response overhead from the database 50 can be greatly reduced. “LCI” is a field on which information on location and configuration is placed, and is 16-byte information, for example. The configuration information is information such as information indicating the transmission power of the device 10, for example.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing examples of effective channels returned from the database 50 on the geographical display diagram shown in FIG. When the database inquiry unit 13 makes an inquiry to the database 50 as described above, the database 50 returns a list of valid channels that can be used in each of the areas A to I to the database inquiry unit 13 according to each position. Come on. As shown in FIG. 5, for example, in region A, the effective channels are CH1, CH3, and CH4, in region B, the effective channels are CH1, CH2, CH3, CH8, and so on. is there. For convenience of explanation, a list for the area A including the current position is referred to as a first list, and a list for each of the areas including the surrounding positions is referred to as a second list.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a format example in the reply from the database 50. In the figure, “Information ID” indicates the ID of this reply, and is, for example, 1-byte information. “Length” is information indicating the number of pairs of “LCI ID” and “WSM”, for example, 1-byte information. “LCI ID” is an identifier of “LCI” that follows what is sent in the inquiry, and is, for example, 1-byte information. “WSM” is information indicating a list of valid channels corresponding to each “LCI ID”, for example, 6-byte information. As described above, since “LCI” is not sent in the reply, overhead can be reduced accordingly.

  The list of valid channels (first list and second list) returned to the database inquiry unit 13 is sent from the database inquiry unit 13 to the use channel selection unit 122. The use channel selection unit 122 selects a channel to be used as a use channel from the first list. Then, the communication function unit 14 is instructed and controlled to use the selected usage channel. The communication control unit 14 performs communication using the instructed usage channel.

  Specific examples of the method for selecting the use channel performed by the use channel selection unit 122 include the following methods. In order to make this selection, first, the use channel selection unit 122 sends the use channel temporarily selected from the first list to the available area specifying unit 123 together with the first and second lists.

  The available area specifying unit 123 can specify an area where the channel can be used by using the provisional use channel and the first and second lists that have been sent. For example, if the selected channel is CH1, as shown in FIG. 7, all the areas A to I become usable areas. The same applies to the case where CH3 is selected. If another channel, that is, CH4 is selected, this is not the case (regions A, D, E, and I). FIG. 7 is a geographic display diagram showing an example of the available area specified by the available area specifying unit 123 shown in FIG.

  The area specified by the available area specifying unit 123 using the temporary use channel is sent to the use channel selecting part 122 as a response. Then, the use channel selection unit 122 performs the final selection of the use channel under certain imposed conditions. As a condition that can be adopted, one channel is selected, and if this channel is selected, it can be used more than the width of this region compared to the available region when any other channel is selected. The condition that the area is a channel specified by the available area specifying unit 123 can be assumed.

  If the usage channel selection unit 122 finally selects the usage channel, the range in which the apparatus 10 can move without switching the usage channel is the maximum of the candidates. In the case of the example that has been described, CH1 corresponds to the final selection result or CH3 corresponds to the final selection result. In this case, as shown in FIG. 7, all the areas A to I are usable areas.

  As another example of selection, it is conceivable to select a use channel as a plurality of channels from the first list. If the communication control unit 14 is instructed to select a plurality of channels and use them together, the information transmission efficiency can be improved correspondingly, and high-speed communication can be performed.

  More specifically, it can be determined in advance as two, three,... Therefore, for example, when two are selected, if two specific combinations are selected, the available area is larger than the area available when any other two combinations are selected. A condition that the area is a combination of the two specified by the available area specifying unit 123 can be assumed. The case of three or more can be considered similarly.

  As a plurality, the number may not be determined in advance. In this case, for each number of cases, the combination of channels to be used is determined under the above-mentioned conditions, and the combination of channels that can obtain a wider usable area with the same number of channels is left, and the maximum number of channels is maximum. Each usable area is specified. Then, a combination of the number of channels and the usable area in that case may be compared and the number of channels considered to be efficient may be determined later.

  In any case, when multiple channels are selected, the subordinate condition is that the specified usable area is a radio wave emission from at least one of the radio wave emission area from the current position and the positions belonging to the peripheral position set. As long as the region is a continuous region that does not have a hole and is continuous, a condition can be added. This is generally due to the possibility that if the maximum number (ie, all) of the first list is selected from the first list in order to prioritize transmission efficiency, the usable area will not expand beyond the radio wave emission area from the current position. It is because it returns.

  In the example that has been described, the selection method in which the number of used channels is three results in selecting CH1, CH3, and CH4. As a result, the available area specifying result by the available area specifying unit 123 is the sum area of the areas A, D, E, and I as shown in FIG. FIG. 8 is a geographical display diagram showing an example of an available area specified by the available area specifying unit 123 shown in FIG. 2, which is different from that shown in FIG. Note that in the selection method in which the number of used channels is two, CH1 and CH3 are selected. As a result of specifying the available area by the available area specifying unit 123, the total area of the areas A to I is obtained as shown in FIG.

  The example of the effective channels at each position illustrated in FIG. 5 has a small number of channels, but in practice, the number of effective channels at each position may be about 20, for example. Even in such a case, the concept is the same.

  Corresponding to the final selection result of the use channel performed by the use channel selection unit 122, the available area specifying unit 123 sends the use area specifying result to the available area storage holding unit 124. The available area storage holding unit 124 stores and holds the sent available area.

  This completes the processing performed by the device 10 in relation to the current position obtained by the position specifying unit 11. Thereafter, in order to identify and determine whether or not the current position has moved, the apparatus 10 reacquires the current position using the position specifying unit 11 every 60 seconds (according to FCC rules), for example. The newly acquired current position (second position) is sent from the position specifying unit 11 to the in-area / out-of-area determination unit 125.

  The in-area / out-of-area determination unit 125 extracts information on the available area from the available area storage unit 124, and determines whether or not the second position sent from the position specifying unit 11 exists in this area. To do. If it is determined that the second position is within this area, the communication function unit 14 is controlled so as to maintain the currently used channel. If it is determined that the second position is not within this area, control is performed so that the first position (original current position) is updated with the second position. Specifically, this update results in redoing from the operation of the peripheral position set determination unit 121. That is, with the second position as the current position, the processing for control is repeated from the determination of the peripheral position as described above.

  As described above, according to the communication device 10 of this embodiment, a request for providing a list to the database 50 is made only when the device 10 moves out of a larger area. Therefore, it becomes a communication apparatus which can improve the efficiency of the processing operation corresponding to the position movement of the apparatus 10. According to the method of taking the peripheral position as shown in FIG. 3 shown as an example, it is assumed that r = 100 m and the apparatus 10 is operated without querying the database 50 in a region surrounded by a radius approximately three times as large as the maximum. May be operated.

  As a property in this embodiment, as the number of peripheral positions set by the apparatus 10 increases, processing overhead including a query to the database 50 increases. However, there is an advantage that the use channel can be selected with high flexibility according to the change in the number of channels to be used.

  Note that according to the FCC rules, the terminal makes an inquiry to the database 50 at least once every 24 hours (that is, the device 10 re-executes the operation of the peripheral position set determination unit 121). Is required. Corresponding to this can be easily realized by, for example, providing the apparatus 10 with a timer, and if the instruction is given, the configuration is such that the operation from the peripheral position set determination unit 121 is performed again.

  Specifically, the apparatus 10 described above can be assumed to be a mode II apparatus. The mode II device is a terminal configured for use in a huge complex facility such as an airport, an entertainment facility, a business center, or the like. Therefore, the described apparatus 10 can be used as a terminal conforming to the IEEE 802.11af standard under consideration when it is finally determined.

  Next, another embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a communication apparatus according to another embodiment. In the figure, the same reference numerals are given to the same components as those shown in the already described drawings. The explanation of that part is omitted unless there is a matter to be added. As a premise, the communication device 10A of this embodiment is the same in the connection mode with the database shown in FIG.

  As illustrated in FIG. 9, the communication device 10A includes an enlarged area setting unit 121A, a used channel selection unit 122A, an enlarged area storage holding unit 124A, and an in-area / out-of-area determination unit 125 as the control unit 12A. The use channel selection unit 122A also functions as a communication control unit that instructs the communication function unit 14 to use the selected channel. In addition to FIG. 9, the operation of the communication device 10A will be described below with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 10 is a geographic display diagram showing an example of an enlarged area set by the enlarged area setting unit 121A shown in FIG. The position of the own device specified by the position specifying unit 11 is provided to the enlarged region setting unit 121A as coordinates (x0, y0). The coordinates (x0, y0) are shown in the center of FIG.

  The enlargement area setting unit 121A sets an area having a radius σ centered on the coordinates (x0, y0) (this is defined as an “enlargement area”). This matter will be described more specifically. The coordinates (x0, y0) of the position of the own device specified by the position specifying unit 11 actually indicates that the position is within, for example, an area where the radius is about 50 m (in the area of radius σ0 in FIG. 10). Information on accuracy (depends on GPS system). The “LCI” (refer to the description in FIG. 4) is configured to reflect this accuracy, and the database 50 interprets and considers this “LCI” to create a list of available channels.

  If this operation is used and information indicating rougher accuracy is entered in the “LCI” and sent to the database 50, the database 50 creates a list of available channels correspondingly. The information indicating rougher accuracy is information indicating that the position is within a region having a radius of about 200 m (in a region having a radius σ in FIG. 10), for example. As a result, the list of channels provided from the database 50 is a list of channels that can be used in the area (enlarged area) of radius σ centered on the coordinates (x0, y0) shown in FIG.

  FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a format in the query to the database 50 performed by the database query unit 13A shown in FIG. The enlarged area information set by the enlarged area setting unit 121A as described above is subsequently sent to the database inquiry unit 13A together with the current position information. As a result, the database inquiry unit 13A sends these pieces of information to the database 50 in the format shown in FIG.

  In FIG. 11, “element ID” indicates the ID (identifier) of this inquiry, and is, for example, 1-byte information. “Length” is information indicating the number of remaining bytes that follows, for example, information on the number of variable bytes. “Current position” is position information corresponding to the coordinates (x0, y0) configured as LCI (however, the position accuracy is a radius of 50 m, for example), and is information of 16 bytes, for example. “WSM1” will be described later. The “enlarged area” is position information corresponding to coordinates (x0, y0) when the position accuracy is, for example, a radius of 200 m, configured as LCI, and is 16-byte information, for example. “WSM1” and “WSM2” are information indicating a list of valid channels corresponding to “current position” and “enlarged area”, for example, information on the number of variable bytes, but at the time of inquiry from the database inquiry unit 13A Does not exist as a payload.

  When the database inquiry unit 13A makes an inquiry to the database 50 in the above format, the database 50 returns a list of valid channels that can be used in each of the “current position” and “enlarged area” to the database inquiry unit 13A. The format follows the format at the time of inquiry and is as shown in FIG. In this reply, “WSM1” and “WSM2” are payloads as information indicating lists of valid channels corresponding to “current position” and “enlarged area”, respectively. FIG. 11 is also a diagram showing a format example in the reply from the database.

  The list of valid channels returned to the database inquiry unit 13A is sent from the database inquiry unit 13A to the use channel selection unit 122A. The use channel selection unit 122A selects a channel to be used as a use channel from the list of valid channels corresponding to the “enlarged area”. Then, the communication function unit 14 is instructed and controlled to use the selected usage channel. The communication control unit 14 performs communication using the instructed usage channel.

  The enlarged area information set by the enlarged area setting unit 121A is sent to the database inquiry unit 13A and also sent to the enlarged region storage holding unit 124A. The enlarged area memory holding unit 124A stores and holds the sent enlarged area.

  Thus, the process performed by the apparatus 10A in relation to the current position obtained by the position specifying unit 11 is completed. Thereafter, the apparatus 10A reacquires the current position using the position specifying unit 11 every 60 seconds (according to the FCC rule), for example, in order to identify and determine whether the current position is moving. The newly acquired current position (second position) is sent from the position specifying unit 11 to the in-area / out-of-area determination unit 125. The subsequent operations are the same as those already described with reference to FIG. 2 (however, “available area storage holding unit 124” is replaced with “enlarged area storage holding unit 124A”).

  As described above, also by the communication device 10A of this embodiment, a request for providing a list to the database 50 is made for the first time when the device 10A moves out of a larger enlarged area. Therefore, it becomes a communication apparatus capable of improving the efficiency of the processing operation corresponding to the position movement of the apparatus 10A. In this embodiment, the processing including the query to the database 50 for expanding the usable area is not complicated as in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, and an increase in overhead is suppressed.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10, 10A ... Communication apparatus, 11 ... Position specification part (GPS), 12, 12A ... Control part, 13, 13A ... Database inquiry part, 14 ... Communication function part, 50 ... Database (WSDB), 60 ... Mediation apparatus, 121 ... peripheral position set determination unit, 121A ... enlarged region setting unit, 122, 122A ... used channel selection unit (+ communication control unit), 123 ... usable region specifying unit, 124 ... usable region storage holding unit, 124A ... enlarged region Storage holding unit, 125... In-area / out-of-area determination unit (+ communication control unit + update control unit).

Claims (6)

A communication device having a communication function unit,
A first means for identifying a first position at a first time point and a second position at a second time point after the first time point for the device;
A position set whose elements are positions away from the first position is a total area formed by a radio wave emission area from the first position and a radio wave emission area from each position belonging to the position set. A second means for determining a continuous area;
A third means for transmitting the first position information and the position set information to a database;
A fourth means for obtaining from the database a first list indicating valid channels applicable at the first position and a second list indicating valid channels applicable at each position belonging to the position set;
A fifth means for selecting a channel to be used as a usage channel from the first list and controlling the communication function unit to use the usage channel;
Sixth means for specifying an area where the use channel can be used with reference to the first list and the second list;
A seventh means for storing and holding the area where the use channel can be used;
An eighth means for determining whether the second position is within the region;
When it is determined that the second position is within the area, the communication function unit is controlled to continue using the use channel, and when it is determined that the second position is not within the area. comprising the ninth means for controlling to update the first position the second position, the,
The usable channel selected by the fifth means is one channel, and if the selected channel is selected, the usable channel is specified in the usable area specified by the sixth means when any channel other than the channel is selected. over the width of the region as compared, Ru channel der space available is identified by the sixth means communication device. A communication device having a communication function unit,
A first means for identifying a first position at a first time point and a second position at a second time point after the first time point for the device;
A position set whose elements are positions away from the first position is a total area formed by a radio wave emission area from the first position and a radio wave emission area from each position belonging to the position set. A second means for determining a continuous area;
A third means for transmitting the first position information and the position set information to a database;
A fourth means for obtaining from the database a first list indicating valid channels applicable at the first position and a second list indicating valid channels applicable at each position belonging to the position set;
A fifth means for selecting a channel to be used as a usage channel from the first list and controlling the communication function unit to use the usage channel;
Sixth means for specifying an area where the use channel can be used with reference to the first list and the second list;
A seventh means for storing and holding the area where the use channel can be used;
An eighth means for determining whether the second position is within the region;
When it is determined that the second position is within the area, the communication function unit is controlled to continue using the use channel, and when it is determined that the second position is not within the area. And ninth means for controlling to update the first position at the second position,
The use channels selected by the fifth means are a plurality of channels,
The sixth the space available for means for specifying of a communication device that will be identified as available space all of the plurality of channels. When the coordinates of the first position are (x0, y0), the radio wave radiation area is circular, and the radius of the circle is r, the position set determined by the second means is (x0 -R√2, y0), (x0, y0 + r√2), (x0 + r√2, y0), (x0, y0-r√2), (x0-r√2, y0-r√2), (x0 -r√2, y0 + r√2), ( x0 + r√2, y0 + r√2), (x0 + r√2, y0-r√2 set der eight positions having respective coordinates) Ru請 Motomeko 1 or 2 The communication device described. The area specified by the sixth means is a continuous sum of a radio wave radiation area from the first position and a radio wave radiation area from at least one of the positions belonging to the position set without a hole. as long as the area, the communication apparatus 請 Motomeko 2 wherein you select the plurality of channels of large numbers as possible the fifth means. A communication method in a communication device having a communication function unit,
For the own device, the first position at the first time point and the second position at the second time point after the first time point are specified,
A position set whose elements are positions away from the first position is a total area formed by a radio wave emission area from the first position and a radio wave emission area from each position belonging to the position set. Decide to be a continuous area,
Sending the first location information and the location set information to a database;
Obtaining from the database a first list indicating valid channels applicable at the first position and a second list indicating valid channels applicable at each position belonging to the position set;
From the first list, select a channel to be used as a use channel, control the communication function unit to use the use channel,
An area where the use channel can be used is identified with reference to the first list and the second list;
Storing and holding the area where the use channel can be used;
Determining whether the second position is within the region;
When it is determined that the second position is within the area, the communication function unit is controlled to continue using the use channel, and when it is determined that the second position is not within the area. Controls to update the first position with the second position
Communication method,
The use channel is a single channel, and if this channel is selected, it can be used more than the available area specified by the available area specified when any other channel is selected. channel der Ru communication method regions are identified. A communication method in a communication device having a communication function unit,
For the own device, the first position at the first time point and the second position at the second time point after the first time point are specified,
A position set whose elements are positions away from the first position is a total area formed by a radio wave emission area from the first position and a radio wave emission area from each position belonging to the position set. Decide to be a continuous area,
Sending the first location information and the location set information to a database;
Obtaining from the database a first list indicating valid channels applicable at the first position and a second list indicating valid channels applicable at each position belonging to the position set;
From the first list, select a channel to be used as a use channel, control the communication function unit to use the use channel,
An area where the use channel can be used is identified with reference to the first list and the second list;
Storing and holding the area where the use channel can be used;
Determining whether the second position is within the region;
When it is determined that the second position is within the area, the communication function unit is controlled to continue using the use channel, and when it is determined that the second position is not within the area. Controls to update the first position with the second position
Communication method,
The use channel is a plurality of channels,
The area available, a communication method that will be identified as a space available for all of the plurality of channels.

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