JP2007325111A - Base station test apparatus, base station test system, and base station test method of base station test system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a base station test apparatus that executes performance test associated with communication propriety between an installed base station and a prescribed mobile unit through a virtual space without the need for a test personnel to move over a wide range area. <P>SOLUTION: In a base station test system 10 wherein the base station test apparatus 100 and the base station 200 are connected by a wired cable, when the base station test apparatus 100 receives entry of space shape information, the base station test apparatus 100 expands a virtual space to a first memory 102 on the basis of the space shape information, and when the base station 200 transmits a signal for communication with a mobile unit to the base station test apparatus 100 and the base station test apparatus 100 receives the signal, the base station test apparatus 100 allocates the signal as a transmission signal from a virtual base station 401 in the virtual space, calculates whether or not a virtual mobile unit 402 in the virtual space can receive the transmission signal, and outputs a calculation result. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

The present invention relates to a base station test apparatus for testing a base station used in a wireless communication system. In particular, the present invention performs a performance test regarding whether or not a virtual base station (hereinafter referred to as a virtual base station) and a virtual mobile device (hereinafter referred to as a virtual mobile device) can communicate in a virtual space equivalent to an outdoor environment by computer simulation. It relates to a base station test apparatus.

Conventionally, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-135475 discloses a base station arrangement apparatus that selects an optimum arrangement location of a virtual base station in a virtual space. The placement location of the virtual base station selected by this base station placement device is a place where the virtual base station can cover the virtual space over the widest area. Here, a method for selecting the location of the virtual base station will be described in detail. The base station arrangement apparatus first develops the shape data and building data of the premises that the base station serves on the lattice points scattered on the memory of the base station. Next, line-of-sight information between the lattice points and other lattice points is generated for each lattice point. Finally, a grid point that can see the premises over the widest area, that is, a location of the virtual base station is selected.

  The lattice point selected by the above method becomes an actual location of the base station, and the actual base station is installed at this location.

JP-A-9-135475

However, this type of base station arrangement device is used before the base station is actually installed, and is not used after the base station is installed. That is, this type of base station arrangement device does not perform a performance test on whether or not communication is possible between an installed base station and a predetermined mobile device in a virtual space.

  In addition, after the base station is actually arranged, it is conceivable to perform a performance test related to whether or not the mobile device and the base station can communicate with each other at a predetermined test location in an outdoor environment.

  However, this method has a problem that a tester having a mobile device has to move over a wide area in order to search for an appropriate test location.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a base station test apparatus that performs a performance test on whether or not communication is possible between an installed base station and a predetermined mobile device in a virtual space without moving the tester over a wide area. There is to do.

In order to achieve the above object, a base station test apparatus according to the present invention includes an input means for inputting space shape information, an expansion means for expanding a virtual space based on the space shape information, and reception for receiving a signal from a predetermined base station. And means for calculating whether the virtual mobile station in the virtual space can receive the signal based on the virtual space and the signal, and an output means for outputting the calculation result calculated by the calculation means. It is characterized by.

  In addition, the base station test apparatus of the present invention includes an input means for inputting space shape information, an expansion means for expanding a virtual space based on the space shape information, and a communication from a predetermined base station to a predetermined mobile device. Receiving means for receiving a signal; calculating means for calculating whether or not a virtual mobile device in the virtual space can receive a signal based on the virtual space and the signal; and output means for outputting a calculation result calculated by the calculating means The calculation means calculates whether the virtual mobile device can receive the signal by calculating whether the electric field strength of the signal received by the virtual mobile device is a predetermined value. It is characterized by.

  In addition, the base station test apparatus of the present invention includes an input means for inputting space shape information, an expansion means for expanding a virtual space based on the space shape information, and a communication from a predetermined base station to a predetermined mobile device. Receiving means for receiving a signal; calculating means for calculating whether or not a virtual mobile device in the virtual space can receive a signal based on the virtual space and the signal; and output means for outputting a calculation result calculated by the calculating means The virtual mobile device moves along a predetermined route in the virtual space, and the calculation means calculates whether the electric field strength of the signal received by the moving virtual mobile device is a predetermined value. Thus, it is characterized in that it is calculated whether or not the virtual mobile device can receive a signal.

  The base station test apparatus configured as described above may be configured to use ray tracing in the calculation of the electric field strength.

  Furthermore, it is good also as a structure which has a display means to display a calculation result on a screen.

Further, the base station test system of the present invention has a transmission means for transmitting a signal to the base station test apparatus in the base station test system in which the base station test apparatus and the base station are connected via a network. The base station test apparatus has input means for inputting spatial shape information;
Expansion means for expanding a virtual space based on space shape information, receiving means for receiving a signal from a base station, assignment means for assigning a signal as a transmission signal of a virtual base station in the virtual space, and a virtual mobile device in the virtual space It has a calculation means for calculating whether or not a transmission signal can be received, and an output means for outputting a calculation result calculated by the calculation means.

In a base station test system in which a base station test apparatus and a base station are connected via a network, the base station has a transmission means for transmitting a signal for communication with a predetermined mobile device to the base station test apparatus, A base station test apparatus, an input means for inputting space shape information; a deployment means for deploying a virtual space based on the space shape information;
Receiving means for receiving a signal from the base station, allocating means for allocating the signal as a transmission signal of the virtual base station in the virtual space, and calculating means for calculating whether or not the virtual mobile station in the virtual space can receive the transmission signal And an output means for outputting a calculation result calculated by the calculation means, and the calculation means calculates whether or not the electric field strength of the signal received by the virtual mobile device is a predetermined value, It is characterized by calculating whether a virtual mobile station can receive a signal.

Further, the base station test system of the present invention is a base station test system in which a base station test apparatus and a base station are connected via a network. The base station transmits a signal for communication with a predetermined mobile station to the base station. It has a transmission means for transmitting to the test apparatus, and the base station test apparatus is
Input means for inputting space shape information, expanding means for expanding a virtual space based on the space shape information, receiving means for receiving a signal from the base station, and assignment for assigning the signal as a transmission signal of the virtual base station in the virtual space Means for calculating whether or not the virtual mobile station in the virtual space can receive the transmission signal, and output means for outputting the calculation result calculated by the calculating means. Whether the virtual mobile device can receive the signal by calculating whether the electric field strength of the signal received by the moving virtual mobile device is a predetermined value or not. It is characterized by calculating whether or not.

  The base station test system configured as described above may be configured such that the network is a wired cable.

  Further, the base station test method of the base station test system of the present invention is the base station test system of the base station test system in which the base station test apparatus and the base station are connected via a network. A step of inputting shape information; a step of developing a virtual space based on the space shape information; a step of transmitting a signal by a base station; a step of receiving a signal by a base station test apparatus; And a step of calculating whether or not a virtual mobile station in the virtual space can receive the transmission signal, and an output step of outputting the calculation result.

ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the base station test apparatus which performs the performance test which concerns on the communication possibility between the installed base station and a predetermined | prescribed mobile station in a virtual space can be provided, without a tester moving a wide area.

An embodiment of a base station test system 10 of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a base station test system 10 of the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, the base station test system 10 includes a base station test apparatus 100 and a base station 200 connected via a network 300.

  The base station test apparatus 100 develops a virtual space on a storage device such as its own memory based on virtual space setting information described later. The base station test apparatus 100 that has deployed the virtual space receives a signal from the base station 200 via the network 300, and uses the received signal and the virtual space to determine whether the base station 200 can communicate with a predetermined mobile device. Perform such a performance test. The base station test apparatus 100 is an information processing apparatus such as a supercomputer, mainframe, workstation, or personal computer.

  Here, the performance test is a test of whether or not the base station 200 and a predetermined mobile device can communicate. Specifically, it is a test of whether or not the transmission signal of the base station 200 has an electric field strength at which a mobile device can communicate at a predetermined position.

  The network 300 includes a line that transmits a communication signal for communication with a mobile station, which is transmitted from the base station 200 to the base station test apparatus 100, and a base station that is transmitted from the base station test apparatus 100 to the base station 200. A line for transmitting a control signal for controlling 200 is included. Further, the network 300 transmits a communication signal transmitted from the base station 200 to the base station test apparatus 100. A preferred example of the network 300 is a wired cable.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating details of the base station test apparatus 100 and the base station 200 shown in FIG.

  2, the base station test apparatus 100 includes an input unit 101, a first memory 102, a display unit 103, an operation unit 104, a second memory 105, a transmission / reception unit 106, a third memory 107, a printer 108, and a control circuit unit 109. Have. In addition, the base station 200 has a transmission / reception unit 201 that transmits and receives signals to and from the base station test apparatus 100, and a configuration (not shown) for realizing a function as a base station. Next, the function of each unit described above will be described below.

  The input unit 101 inputs space shape information stored in advance in a storage medium, and outputs it to a control circuit unit 109 described later. The spatial shape information is information related to a two-dimensional or three-dimensional spatial shape, for example, map information used in car navigation. As a suitable example of the input unit 101, there is a CD-ROM drive, a DVD-ROM drive, or an MO drive. Here, the space shape information stored in the storage medium is input. However, for example, information stored in advance in a hard disk or memory in the base station test apparatus 100 may be input.

  The first memory 102 stores spatial shape information input by the input unit 101 and spatial physical property information input by the operation unit 104 described later. The first memory 102 develops a virtual space having a two-dimensional or three-dimensional coordinate system based on the stored space shape information in response to a request from the control circuit unit 109 described later. The virtual space setting information described above includes space shape information and space property information.

  The display unit 103 displays information output from the control circuit unit 109. A suitable example of the display unit 103 is a CRT display or an LCD.

  The operation unit 104 is operated when inputting spatial physical property information or starting a performance test. Spatial property information is information necessary for setting a virtual space, such as reflection / transmission coefficients of buildings and trees in the virtual space, noise level in the virtual space, and frequency of communication signals transmitted from the base station. A suitable example of the operation unit 104 is a keyboard, a mouse, or an operation panel.

  The second memory 105 stores a program input from an auxiliary storage unit (not shown) when the base station test apparatus 100 is powered on or before the performance test is started. Further, the program is transferred to the control circuit unit 109 in response to a request from the control circuit unit 109. This program relates to ray tracing, but is not limited to this as long as it can calculate the electric field strength of a communication signal propagating in a virtual space and specify a propagation path.

  The transmission / reception unit 106 receives a communication signal from the base station 200 and outputs it to the control circuit unit 109. In addition, the transmission / reception unit 106 receives a control signal from the control circuit unit 109 and transmits it to the base station 200.

  The third memory 107 inputs information related to the test result of the performance test from the control circuit unit 109 and stores it.

  The printer 108 inputs information related to the test result of the performance test stored in the third memory 107 from the control circuit unit 109 and prints the information on a prepared sheet.

  The control circuit unit 109 is equipped with a control circuit having a processor configuration, and controls each unit connected to an electrical point.

  Power is supplied to each component described above by a power supply unit (not shown). In addition, information stored in the first memory 102, the second memory 105, and the third memory 107 may be stored in each area by dividing one memory into a plurality of areas. The first memory 102, the second memory 105, and the third memory 107 are generally configured by a RAM.

  Subsequently, an outline of operation of the performance test in the base station test system 10 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an outline of operation of the performance test of the base station test system 10 of the present invention.

  In FIG. 3, when the preparation necessary for performing the performance test and the input of the virtual space setting information are completed (step A1), the base station test apparatus 100 executes the performance test (step A2). When the performance test is completed, the performance test result is output to the printer 108 or the display unit 103 (step A3), and all the processes are completed. Details of each of steps A1 to A3 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

  Next, step A1 of FIG. 3 described above will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart relating to the preparation necessary for performing the performance test of the present invention and the input of virtual space setting information.

  In FIG. 4, first, the base station test apparatus 100 and the base station 200 are connected via the network 300, and the base station test apparatus 100 and the base station 200 are powered on.

  Next, the storage medium storing the space shape information is inserted into the input unit 101, and the input unit 101 inputs the space shape information from the inserted storage medium (step B1). Next, spatial physical property information is input to the base station test apparatus 100 from the operation unit 104 (step B2), and the input spatial physical property information is output to the control circuit unit 109. Based on the input space shape information, the control circuit unit 109 displays the space shape on the display unit 103 as shown in FIG. 5A, for example (step B3). In addition, after a predetermined time has elapsed, an instruction to prompt the user to place the virtual base station 401 is displayed on the display unit 103 (step B4).

  Subsequently, the location of the virtual base station 401 is input from the operation unit 104 (step B5). Specifically, for example, when the pointer 400 on the screen as shown in FIG. 5B is moved by the operation of the operation unit 104, and then predetermined information is input from the operation unit 104, the pointer 400 at that time is displayed. Is input as the location of the virtual base station. The virtual base station 401 for which the location is specified is displayed on the display unit 103 as shown in FIG. 5C, for example (step B6). In addition, after a predetermined time has elapsed, an instruction to prompt the user to designate the location of the virtual mobile device 402 is displayed on the display unit 103 (step B7).

  Subsequently, the placement location of the virtual mobile device 402 is input from the operation unit 104 (step B8). Specifically, this is performed using the same method as the method for specifying the location of the virtual base station 401 described above. The designated virtual mobile device 402 is displayed on the display unit 103 as shown in FIG. 5D, for example (step B9). Further, after a predetermined time has elapsed, an instruction to prompt the user to select whether or not to move the virtual mobile device 402 is displayed on the display unit 103 (step B10).

  Subsequently, whether or not the virtual mobile device 402 can be moved is input from the operation unit 104 (step B11). When the virtual mobile device 402 moves (YES in Step B12), an instruction to prompt the user to input the end point of the movement of the virtual mobile device 402 is displayed on the display unit 103 (Step B13).

  Subsequently, the operation unit 104 is operated by a method similar to the placement method of the virtual base station 401 described above, and an end point of movement of the virtual mobile device 402 (hereinafter referred to as an end point virtual mobile device 403) is input (step B14). The input end point virtual mobile device 403 is displayed on the display unit 103 as shown in FIG. 5 (e), for example (step B15). Further, after a predetermined time has elapsed, for example, as shown in FIG. 5F, route candidates indicated by dotted lines are displayed on the screen (step B16).

  Subsequently, the movement route of the virtual mobile device 402 is selected (step B17). Specifically, when the above-described pointer 400 is operated by the operation unit 104 and the pointer 400 is positioned on a predetermined route, when predetermined information is input from the operation unit 104, the movement indicated by the pointer 400 at that time point The route is selected as the movement route of the virtual mobile device 402.

  Subsequently, the selected route is displayed on the display unit 103 as shown in FIG. 5G, for example (step B18). In addition, after a predetermined time has elapsed, an instruction to prompt the user to input the moving speed of the virtual mobile device 402 is displayed on the display unit 103 (step B19).

  Subsequently, when the moving speed is input from the operation unit 104 (step B20), the spatial shape information, the spatial physical property information stored in the first memory 102, the arrangement position of the designated virtual base station 401, the virtual mobile device 402 A screen for confirming the setting information of the moving route and the moving speed of the virtual mobile device 402 is displayed on the display unit 103 (step B21). After the display, when the operation unit 104 is not operated at all until a predetermined time elapses, the setting information is stored in the first memory 102 as the setting information is not changed, and the process is terminated. Here, when there is an operation to change the setting information on the operation unit 104, a screen asking which one of the input information to correct may be displayed, or the process may be repeated from step B1. Also good.

  If the determination result in step B12 is NO, that is, if the virtual mobile device 402 does not move, the processes in steps B13 to B20 are omitted, and the input spatial shape information, spatial physical property information, virtual base station 401 A screen for confirming the arrangement position and the arrangement position of the virtual mobile device 402 is displayed on the display unit 103 (step B22).

  Next, steps A2 and A3 of FIG. 3 described above will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the performance test operation in the base station test system 10 of the present invention.

  In FIG. 6, after step B21 or B22 described above, a screen prompting selection of whether or not to start the performance test is displayed on the display unit 103 (step C1). When a test start operation is performed by operating the operation unit 104 (step C2), the second memory 105 inputs and stores the aforementioned ray tracing program necessary for the performance test from an auxiliary storage unit (not shown) ( Step C3).

  Further, based on the setting information input to the first memory 102, a two-dimensional or three-dimensional virtual space having a two-dimensional or three-dimensional coordinate system is developed on the first memory 102 (step C4). Also, the communication signal received by the transmission / reception unit 106 from the transmission / reception unit 201 of the base station 200 is assigned as the communication signal transmitted by the virtual base station 401 (step C5). Subsequently, when the control circuit unit 109 outputs a control signal for controlling the transmission / reception unit 201 to the transmission / reception unit 106, the transmission / reception unit 106 transmits a control signal to the transmission / reception unit 201. When the transmission / reception unit 201 of the base station 200 receives the control signal, transmission of a communication signal to the transmission / reception unit 106 is started (step C6). The communication signal transmitted from the transmission / reception unit 201 propagates through the network 300 (step C7) and is received by the transmission / reception unit 106 of the base station test apparatus 100 (step C8). The received transmission / reception unit 106 outputs a communication signal to the control circuit unit 109.

  Subsequently, the control circuit unit 109 can communicate between the virtual base station 401 and the virtual mobile device 402 using the input communication signal, the virtual space developed in the first memory 102, and the program stored in the second memory 105. Is calculated (step C9). Specifically, the electric field strength of a communication signal received by the virtual mobile device 402 and transmitted from the virtual base station 401 is calculated, and whether communication is possible or not depends on whether the electric field strength is a predetermined value or more. To be judged. Further, when the virtual mobile device 402 moves, the calculation is performed until the virtual mobile device 402 reaches the end point of the movement route. If the virtual mobile device 402 does not move, the calculation is terminated after a predetermined time has elapsed from the start of the calculation.

  When the calculation is completed, the calculation result data is output to the third memory 107 and stored (step C10). In the above calculation, the ray tracing method is preferably used for the calculation of the electric field strength at the reception point of the signal transmitted from the virtual base station 401. The program stored in the second memory 105 is preferably related to the ray tracing method.

  Thereafter, steps C6 to C10 are repeated until the end of the test, and the test ends when the virtual mobile device 402 moves from the start point to the end point or when a predetermined time has elapsed (step C11). When the test is completed (YES in step C11), the test result stored in the third memory 107 is output to the printer 108 or the display unit 103 (step C12).

  As described above, in a virtual space equivalent to an outdoor environment by computer simulation, it is assumed that the virtual space actually exists by performing a performance test related to whether or not the virtual base station and the virtual mobile device can communicate with each other. The base station performance test below can be performed even in a narrow space such as indoors.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a base station test system 10 of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating details of the base station test apparatus 100 and the base station 200 shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an outline of operation of the performance test of the base station test system 10 of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation of inputting preparation and setting information necessary for performing the performance test of the present invention to the base station test apparatus 100. FIG. 5 is a display example of the display unit 103 when information necessary for the performance test is input to the base station test apparatus 100 of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation when the base station test system 10 performs a performance test according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Base station test system 100 Base station test apparatus 101 Input part 102 First memory 103 Display part 104 Operation part 105 Second memory 106 Transmission / reception part 107 Third memory 108 Printer 109 Control circuit unit 200 Base station 201 Transmission / reception part 300 Network 400 Pointer 401 Virtual base station 402 Virtual mobile station 403 End-point virtual mobile station

Claims (10)

An input means for inputting spatial shape information;
Expanding means for expanding a virtual space based on the space shape information;
Receiving means for receiving a signal from a predetermined base station;
Based on the virtual space and the signal, calculation means for calculating whether a virtual mobile device in the virtual space can receive the signal;
Output means for outputting a calculation result calculated in the calculation means;
A base station test apparatus comprising: An input means for inputting spatial shape information;
Expanding means for expanding a virtual space based on the space shape information;
Receiving means for receiving a signal for communication with a predetermined mobile device from a predetermined base station;
Based on the virtual space and the signal, calculation means for calculating whether a virtual mobile device in the virtual space can receive the signal;
Output means for outputting the calculation result calculated in the calculation means,
The calculation means calculates whether or not the virtual mobile device can receive the signal by calculating whether or not the electric field strength of the signal received by the virtual mobile device is a predetermined value. A base station test apparatus characterized by the above. An input means for inputting spatial shape information;
Expanding means for expanding a virtual space based on the space shape information;
Receiving means for receiving a signal for communication with a predetermined mobile device from a predetermined base station;
Based on the virtual space and the signal, calculation means for calculating whether a virtual mobile device in the virtual space can receive the signal;
Output means for outputting the calculation result calculated in the calculation means,
The virtual mobile device moves a predetermined route in the virtual space,
The calculation means calculates whether the virtual mobile device can receive the signal by calculating whether the electric field strength of the signal received by the moving virtual mobile device is a predetermined value. A base station test apparatus. 4. The base station test apparatus according to claim 2, wherein ray tracing is used in the calculation of the electric field strength. 4. The base station test apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising display means for displaying the calculation result on a screen. In a base station test system in which a base station test apparatus and a base station are connected via a network,
The base station has transmission means for transmitting a signal to the base station test apparatus,
The base station test apparatus is
An input means for inputting spatial shape information;
Expanding means for expanding a virtual space based on the space shape information;
Receiving means for receiving a signal from the base station;
Allocating means for allocating the signal as a transmission signal of a virtual base station in the virtual space;
Calculating means for calculating whether or not a virtual mobile device in the virtual space can receive the transmission signal;
A base station test system comprising output means for outputting a calculation result calculated by the calculation means. In a base station test system in which a base station test apparatus and a base station are connected via a network,
The base station has a transmission means for transmitting a signal for communication with a predetermined mobile device to the base station test apparatus,
The base station test apparatus is
An input means for inputting spatial shape information;
Expanding means for expanding a virtual space based on the space shape information;
Receiving means for receiving a signal from the base station;
Allocating means for allocating the signal as a transmission signal of a virtual base station in the virtual space;
Calculating means for calculating whether or not a virtual mobile device in the virtual space can receive the transmission signal;
Output means for outputting the calculation result calculated in the calculation means,
The calculation means calculates whether or not the virtual mobile device can receive the signal by calculating whether or not the electric field strength of the signal received by the virtual mobile device is a predetermined value. Base station test system characterized by. In a base station test system in which a base station test apparatus and a base station are connected via a network,
The base station has a transmission means for transmitting a signal for communication with a predetermined mobile device to the base station test apparatus,
The base station test apparatus is
An input means for inputting spatial shape information;
Expanding means for expanding a virtual space based on the space shape information;
Receiving means for receiving a signal from the base station;
Allocating means for allocating the signal as a transmission signal of a virtual base station in the virtual space;
Calculating means for calculating whether or not a virtual mobile device in the virtual space can receive the transmission signal;
Output means for outputting a calculation result calculated in the calculation means;
The virtual mobile device moves a predetermined route in the virtual space,
The calculation means calculates whether the virtual mobile device can receive the signal by calculating whether the electric field strength of the signal received by the moving virtual mobile device is a predetermined value. A base station test system. 9. The base station test system according to claim 6, wherein the network is a wired cable. In a base station test method of a base station test system in which a base station test apparatus and a base station are connected via a network,
The base station test apparatus is
Inputting spatial shape information;
Expanding a virtual space based on the space shape information;
The base station is
Transmitting a signal; and
The base station test apparatus is
Receiving the signal;
Assigning the signal as a transmission signal of a virtual base station in the virtual space;
Calculating whether a virtual mobile station in the virtual space can receive the transmission signal; and
A base station test method for a base station test system, comprising an output step of outputting the calculation result.

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