JP2011024154A - Radio communication system and operation method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a radio communication system, a radio base station, and their operation methods capable of suppressing man-hours and the cost of site survey and maintaining the quality of a radio communication service by performing area optimization at proper timing. <P>SOLUTION: The radio base station of the radio communication system composed of a plurality of radio base stations and maintenance devices includes a communication mean for performing communication with radio terminals which exist within an area formed of an electric wave emitted from an antenna, and an imaging means for imaging an environment around the radio base station where each maintenance device includes a control unit constituted of a means for monitoring the operation state of the area formed of each radio base station, a means for controlling an imaging means, an analyzing means for analyzing image data imaged by the imaging means, and a means for controlling a communication means of the base station according to an analyzed result, and the operation state of the area is controlled based on the image data imaged by the imaging means according to the operation state of the area. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a configuration of a radio communication system and an operation method thereof, and relates to a configuration of a radio communication system and a radio base station that can easily detect a change in a radio wave condition in the radio communication system and respond to the change. Regarding the operation method.

  In recent years, wireless communication using mobile phones and the like has become widespread, and demand for high-speed data communication is also increasing. In order to meet these demands, the wireless communication system has introduced a system that introduces a large number of various systems (multi-system), such as a system that handles voice, a system that handles data, a system that handles data, or a system that mixes them year after year. Become. As multi-system progresses, the usage situation of users will be diversified, such as indoor / outdoor, high-speed / low-speed movement, etc., and their maintenance operation will become complicated. Under these circumstances, communication carriers that provide (operate) wireless communication services by installing wireless base stations and wireless communication systems can grasp the user's wireless communication environment efficiently and provide appropriate service quality. You are required to do it.

  When considering the quality of the wireless communication service provided to the user, it is important how well the radio reception status of the user terminal is maintained in the radio service area formed by the radio wave transmitted by the radio base station. As a factor that causes a change in the radio wave condition in the wireless service area, a change in the radio wave propagation environment can be cited except for a system failure. Specific examples include construction / demolition of a huge building such as a building that greatly affects radio wave propagation, a state change due to a seasonal change of a tree or the like, or a case where some sort of shielding object appears in the vicinity of a wireless communication antenna.

  In order to confirm changes in the radio wave propagation environment, telecommunications carriers go directly to the site to check the topography and building conditions in the wireless service area, and perform a site survey (field survey) based on the survey results. Radio transmission conditions on the wireless base station side are optimized so that wireless communication can be performed. (This is called area optimization, and installation / expansion of base stations and adjustment of antenna direction (adjustment of radio wave radiation range and intensity, etc.)). Specifically, radio waves are measured while moving evenly in the wireless service area with vehicles, etc., and the measurement results are compared and analyzed with the same measurement results in the past to detect changes in the radio wave propagation environment. Is done. Moreover, the operation | use using a camera etc. is also considered. Specifically, the antenna of the opposite wireless device is photographed and projected on a monitor, and the direction of the antenna is adjusted while viewing the image to improve the communication with the opposite wireless device (Patent Document 1), or a wireless communication system However, a contrivance (Patent Document 2) or the like for detecting a change in environment from camera data is considered.

JP-A-2005-72780 JP-A-7-2806967

  In a wireless communication system, it is important to grasp and adjust the radio wave propagation environment in the wireless service area in order to maintain and operate the service quality. For this reason, the communication carrier regularly performs area optimization to maintain the quality of the wireless communication service. How efficiently this area optimization can be implemented affects the quality and cost of service provision.

  The site survey for grasping the radio wave propagation environment is a basic operation in which a maintenance person goes to the site to perform necessary measurements and equipment adjustments, and the man-hours and costs are increased as the scale of the target wireless service area increases. Will occur. For this reason, if site surveys and area optimization are frequently performed, the operating cost of the wireless communication system increases, which affects the communication charge of the user. Even if a malfunction occurs during the operation of the wireless communication service, it is necessary to identify whether the cause is due to a change in the radio wave propagation environment or due to other events. If it is not possible to identify the situation alone, a site survey will be conducted. In this case as well, field surveys are required, which requires man-hours and costs.

  A system that can maintain the quality of wireless communication services by reducing the man-hours and costs of site surveys and implementing area optimization at appropriate timing, specifically, wireless communication systems and wireless base stations, and their operation methods It is an object of the present invention to provide.

  As an idea to reduce the man-hour and cost of the site survey, there is a configuration in which an imaging means is provided near the antenna of the radio base station, the surrounding environment such as the antenna directivity is imaged, and the imaging data is sent to the management unit of the system. Can be mentioned. Then, it is only necessary that the management unit can instruct operations and controls necessary for area optimization based on the data. However, as the size of the target wireless service area increases, imaging data becomes a huge amount generated at least for the number of stations and antennas, and the results (changes in imaging data, etc.) are confirmed or based on the results. It is virtually impossible for an operator to instruct operations and controls necessary for area optimization. Moreover, although the radio wave propagation environment changes from moment to moment, from the viewpoint of site survey, it is not necessary to detect and report all events. For example, the deterioration of the propagation environment due to temporary high-speed fading due to the presence of a moving body such as a car that moves at high speed is a phenomenon that recovers immediately and is not subject to area optimization. On the other hand, the installation of buildings around the ground station described above changes the radio wave propagation environment over a long period of time, so it must be targeted for area optimization. That is, it is required to perform data processing suitable for area optimization by some statistical processing such as averaging on the events obtained by the site survey. Also, it is required to realize a system optimization operation for generating and executing an adjustment / control signal for base station equipment based on the processing data.

  However, in the above-mentioned patent document, only the technology for capturing the counterpart wireless device with the camera and directing the antenna in the direction, or comparing the imaging data at normal time with the imaging data at monitoring and operating the alarm device Depending on the usage status of radio communication system and radio wave propagation status, the radio base station radio wave intensity can be instructed by the camera mounted on the radio base station, or the radio base station There is no mention of adjusting the radiation direction of radio waves.

  Identify the factors that may occur in the environment, specify the monitoring items and methods of the radio wave propagation environment based on this, collect the imaging data, detect the change in the data, and adjust and control the base station equipment based on this change It is an object of the present invention to provide a radio base station and a radio communication system that execute area optimization by generating and feeding back a signal, and an operation method thereof. More specifically, according to the status of system operation after starting the operation of the wireless communication system and the situation of the radio wave propagation environment, the imaging means specified in the radio base station is designated for the shooting direction and the shooting operation is performed to take a picture. It is an object of the present invention to provide a radio communication system and a radio base station that can grasp a change in radio wave propagation environment from imaging data and feed back to a radio base station installation and radio wave radiation control, and an operation method thereof. is there.

  In order to achieve the above object, the wireless communication system detects the factors by registering the radio wave propagation environment monitoring items and methods for detecting the fluctuation factors that may occur in the radio wave propagation environment that changes from moment to moment, and based on the detection results Area optimization is performed by collecting image data of the radio wave propagation environment, detecting a change in the data, generating an adjustment / control signal for the base station equipment based on the change, and feeding it back. Specifically, the radio base station is managed by an imaging unit that collects image data of a radio wave propagation environment in a radio base station of the radio communication system and a control unit that changes a radio wave radiation angle and intensity of the imaging unit and the antenna. The device is configured to specify monitoring items and control the control means of the radio base station, and maintain the radio wave propagation environment by controlling the base station based on information collected from the radio base station. In addition, depending on the system operation status and radio wave propagation environment status after the start of radio communication system operation, the imaging means installed in the radio base station is designated to perform the imaging operation, and radio waves are generated from the captured imaging data. The change of propagation environment was grasped and it was made to feed back to the control of radio base station installation and radio wave radiation.

  More specifically, a wireless terminal in an area formed by radiating a radio wave from an antenna to each of the wireless base stations of the wireless communication system including a plurality of wireless base stations and a maintenance device that performs maintenance operation of the wireless base station Communication means for performing communication with the wireless base station, imaging means for photographing the environment around the wireless base station, means for monitoring the operating state of the area formed by the wireless base station in the maintenance device, and means for controlling the imaging means; A control unit including an analysis unit that analyzes image data captured by the imaging unit and a unit that controls the communication unit of the base station based on the analysis result, and the control unit of the maintenance device captures the imaging unit according to the operating state of the area. The wireless communication system controls the operating state of the area by controlling the communication means based on the image data received from the imaging means.

  In addition, a radio base station of a radio communication system including a plurality of radio base stations and a maintenance device that performs maintenance operation of the radio base station includes an imaging unit that captures surrounding images, and an operation of the radio base station from the maintenance device. An imaging activation unit that performs imaging by the imaging unit when receiving an imaging instruction corresponding to the situation, an imaging data transmission unit that transmits imaging data captured by the imaging unit to the maintenance device, and a wireless base that corresponds to the imaging data from the maintenance device It is configured to include radio wave radiation control means for changing the radio wave radiation direction or the radio wave output intensity from the antenna upon receiving an instruction to change the radio wave radiation direction or the radio wave output intensity of the station antenna.

  Furthermore, an operation method of a radio communication system comprising a plurality of radio base stations and a maintenance device that performs maintenance operation of the radio base station is a method for monitoring an operation status of an area formed by radiating radio waves from an antenna of a radio base station. When the first parameter and the second parameter for capturing and confirming the image around the base station are set, the operational status of the wireless communication system including the arbitrary base station is monitored based on the first parameter, and the operational status When a change is detected, an image around the base station is taken based on the second parameter according to the change, and when a change in the situation of the base station or the base station is detected based on the taken image and the second parameter, the change is detected. According to the operation method, the radiation angle or radiation intensity of the radio wave radiated from the antenna of the radio base station is changed.

  According to the present invention, after starting the operation of the wireless communication system, periodically grasp the radio wave propagation environment (system performance state) in the wireless service area, let the wireless base station perform the current shooting according to the system performance state, The captured image data can be confirmed by a remote maintenance device or the like, and the base station equipment can be adjusted based on the data. That is, the system manager of the communication carrier does not need to go to the target wireless service area and can check and correct the current status.

  In addition, depending on the state of the captured image data, radio wave emission control of the target wireless base station can be performed autonomously without asking the system administrator (system optimization), which is a burden on the system administrator. This contributes to the extension of the regular site survey processing interval and suppresses the increase in cost and man-hours.

1 is a system configuration diagram illustrating a configuration example of a wireless communication system. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of a wireless base station (BS). It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of a radio base station control station (MSC). It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of a maintenance apparatus (OMC). It is a flowchart which shows the operation example of a radio | wireless communications system. It is a flowchart which shows the operation example of a radio | wireless communications system. It is a flowchart which shows the detailed operation example (1) of a radio | wireless communications system. It is a flowchart which shows the detailed operation example (2) of a radio | wireless communications system. It is a sequence diagram which shows the detailed operation example of a radio | wireless communications system. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the image data which a radio | wireless communications system image | photographs.

  Hereinafter, configuration examples of the radio system and radio base station of the present invention and operation examples of their operation methods will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram showing a configuration example of a wireless communication system of the present invention.

  The wireless communication system 1 includes a plurality of wireless base stations (hereinafter referred to as BSs) 201a to 201c each equipped with imaging means 206a to 206c such as a camera, and the control of the BS 201 and an upper network (for example, the BS 201). A base station controller (hereinafter referred to as MSC) 202 that controls connection with other networks and devices such as a public network 205), and a maintenance device (hereinafter referred to as OMC) 203) for managing and maintaining the wireless communication system 1. This is a system configured with an OMC server 204 which is a maintenance server used in OMC. Each BS 201 controls the emission range and strength of radio waves for wirelessly communicating with a wireless terminal (hereinafter referred to as AT, not shown) by an operation operation described later from the OMC 203, and communicates with the AT to perform various operations. Wireless service areas 200a to 200c, which are ranges where services can be provided, are formed. An AT in the service area 200 communicates with other ATs in the wireless system 1 via the BS 201 and the MSC 202, or communicates with a terminal (not shown) connected to the public network 205 such as an IP network. It is a configuration.

  The wireless communication system 1 of the present invention includes an imaging unit 206 such as a camera in each BS 201, and (1) the operation status and radio wave propagation in the service area 200 in operation by the configuration and operation of each device described in detail later. When the situation is monitored, (2) when a change in the situation is detected, the imaging means 206 takes a picture of the state in the service area 200, and (3) the OMC 203 analyzes the contents of the situation change based on the data taken by the imaging means 206. (4) By changing the antenna direction and radio wave strength of the target BS 201 based on the analysis result and controlling the state of the service area 200, the service is provided while maintaining the communication quality required by each AT. .

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a radio base station (BS) used in the radio communication system of the present invention, and shows a configuration example of a BS provided with imaging means including a camera.

  The BS 201 includes an imaging unit 206 having a camera 20150 for capturing an environmental state around the BS in accordance with an instruction from the OMC 203 according to the present invention and a shooting direction adjustment function of the camera 20150 in addition to a communication function with the AT, and the imaging unit. A function of collecting and managing an operation status (hereinafter referred to as system performance information) in the vicinity of the BS 201 for operating 206; Although the detailed configuration and operation will be described later, as an example of the system performance information, the number of ATs in the service area 200 formed by the BS 201, the radio wave intensity, and the like are used.

  The wireless transmission / reception unit 20110 has a modulation / demodulation function with a wireless interface that communicates with the AT via the antenna 20100. Information handled by the wireless transmission / reception unit 20110 is processed by the main signal processing unit 20121 and the communication control signal processing unit 20122 of the wireless communication unit 20120 via the buffer 20111, and is transmitted / received to / from the MSC 202 via the IF unit 20130. The system performance information control unit 20144 is system performance information (information on connected ATs, communication traffic information including the number of AT accesses, radio wave radiation angle information, information for maintaining service quality in the wireless communication system 1) Processing (collection / distribution) of radio wave intensity information, etc.) is performed based on an instruction from the OMC 203. (The intermediate MSC 202 only relays this information). The antenna control unit 20112 controls the output of radio waves radiated from the radio communication antenna, radio wave radiation angle control, radio wave radiation angle information and radio waves for the system performance information control unit 20144 based on an instruction from the OMC 203. Provides strength information. Each unit described above is realized by software stored in the processor and the memory 20130 in a portion surrounded by a broken line in FIG. Note that this part may be realized by hardware including a dedicated LSI or the like.

  The imaging unit 206 provided in the BS 201 includes a camera 20130 and an imaging control unit 20130. The imaging control unit 20170 performs imaging and processes imaging data based on an imaging instruction from the OMC 203. Specifically, the imaging instruction transmitted from the OMC 203 to the BS 201 is sent to the imaging control unit 20171 via the IF unit 20130. The imaging control unit 20171 activates the shooting direction control unit 20153 to determine the shooting direction of the camera 20130 and perform shooting. The captured image data is once sent to the image memory 20174 and stored. When the imaging control unit 20171 confirms that the image data has been sent to the memory 20174, the imaging data processing unit 20172 reads the image data held in the memory 20174 and transmits it to the OMC 203 via the IF unit 20130. Furthermore, the imaging data processing unit 20152 may be configured to make necessary corrections by checking whether image data captured as necessary has an image quality sufficient for performing image correlation processing described later. Each unit described above is realized by software stored in the processor and the memory 20130 in a portion surrounded by a broken line in FIG. This processor may be the same as the processor described above. This part may also be realized by hardware including a dedicated LSI.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a base station controller (MSC) used in the radio communication system of the present invention.

  The MSC 202 has a connection control with the BS 201, a BS switching control (handoff control), and a broadcast function for traffic data and base station control information for the connected BS, and an IF unit that interfaces with the OMC 203 and the public network 205 20220, a buffer 20240 for temporarily storing data to be transmitted and received, a selector 20230 for routing between the MSC 202 and a plurality of BSs 201, an IF unit 20210 for interfacing with each BS 201, a control unit 20250 for controlling the MSC 202 itself, control It comprises a memory 20260 for storing data and operation software. The MSC 202 receives a shooting instruction or the like from the OMC 203 via the IF unit 20220. This shooting instruction is sent to the buffer 20240 and the memory 20260. When the selector control unit 20251 provided in the control unit 20250 reads the information related to the imaging instruction target BS 201 included in the imaging instruction information with reference to the memory 20260, the selector control unit 20251 transmits the imaging condition information to the imaging instruction target BS 201 to the selector 20230. Issue routing instructions. On the other hand, when the imaging instruction target BS 201 is all BSs that satisfy the imaging condition, the broadcast control unit 20252 performs a necessary routing instruction to the selector 20230 so as to send the imaging instruction to the plurality of BSs 201. Upon receiving a routing instruction from either the selector control unit 20251 or the broadcast control unit 20252, the selector 20230 transmits the shooting instruction information held in the buffer 20240 to each BS 201 via the IF unit 20210. Further, the image data photographed by each BS 201 is transferred to the OMC 203 by the reverse procedure.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a maintenance device (OMC) used in the wireless communication system of the present invention.

  The OMC 203 includes an input device 20318 and a display device 20317 for enabling an operation by a system administrator (communication carrier operator), and responds to a shooting instruction function to the BS 201, a check function of the shot image data, and a check result. A radio wave radiation control instruction function to the BS 201, a system performance information collection and monitoring function from each BS 201, and an image data and system performance information storage function, and an IF unit 20310 that interfaces with the public network 205 and the MSC 202 , A buffer 20330 for temporarily storing data to be transmitted / received to / from the OMC server 204 via the IF unit 20340, image data transmitted from the BS 201 and system performance information are received, and photographing for each of the plurality of BSs 201 is performed. Transceiver unit 20320 to transmit the shown and base station control information (information for adjusting the base station, such as radio emission control instruction), a memory 20380 for temporarily storing the image data received. Further, an imaging instruction to the BS 201, an imaging control unit 20364 that compares a captured image with a previously stored image or a previously captured image, and an alarm generation unit 20363 that generates an alarm according to the comparison result of the image data. The base station control information generation unit 20361 that generates a control instruction to the BS 201 to change the radio wave emission condition on the base station side according to the comparison result of the image data, and displays the alarm on the display device 20317 in conjunction with the alarm generation. A display control unit 20362 for performing control to check whether or not the system performance information received from the BS 201 matches a condition set in advance by a system administrator, and instructs the shooting control unit 20364 to perform shooting under a predetermined condition. A control unit 20360 comprising a system performance monitoring unit 20365 for sending Provided. Image data, system performance information, and the like received from the BS 201 are output from the IF unit 20340 to the OMC server 204 for the purpose of storage. The input device 20318 is used by an operator to set shooting conditions, initial image data, and system performance information (including threshold information) in the system. In addition to the alarm described above, shooting conditions set and registered by a system administrator are used. Initial image data and system performance information (including threshold information) are displayed on the display device 20317 for confirmation of setting contents. The DB 20390 stores the map data used to display the combined image data on the map on the display device 20317 for the purpose of grasping the combination of the image data and the geographical imaging position by the system administrator. It is provided when necessary in the DB that manages the data for assisting. Note that the OMC 203 is not necessarily opposed to one MSC 202, and may be configured to connect to a plurality of MSCs 202 via the public network 205.

  Hereinafter, the configuration / operation and operation method of the wireless communication system of the present invention will be further described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of operation operation of the wireless communication system, and is an operation flow diagram for explaining an example of operation of maintenance operation at the time of BS installation and during system operation after installation.

  First, a pre-site survey is conducted in which a worker of a communication carrier visits a site where he / she intends to newly install BS 201 and confirms the environmental conditions such as topography and buildings (S1). Next, desktop design (S2) for determining the BS installation position, radio wave intensity, radio wave radiation direction, etc. is performed, and radio wave distribution simulation is performed based on the design result (S3). Steps S1 and S2 are repeated until the expected result is obtained by the simulation. When the expected result is obtained, the BS 201 is visited again and the BS 201 is actually installed / adjusted (S4). This is the operation when the BS 201 is installed.

  Next, an actual radio wave distribution survey (site survey) is carried out to confirm whether or not the radio wave distribution as simulated is obtained (S5). As a result, if a good result is not obtained, the process returns to S2 and the design from the desktop is started again, the BS installation position is changed, the radio wave output is adjusted, etc., and S2 to S5 are repeated until a good result is obtained. . On the other hand, when a favorable result is obtained as a result of the site survey (S5), the operation of the system is started (S6). After the system operation is started, a site survey (S7) is periodically performed to check whether there is an abnormality in the radio wave distribution of the system. As a result, if a good result is not obtained, the process goes to S2. Return to the desktop design and change the BS installation position, adjust the radio wave output, etc., and repeat S2 to S5 until good results are obtained. If a good result is obtained, the process proceeds to S6 and the operation is continued.

  Even if the BS 201 is arranged by the method of S1 to S7 and the wireless communication system 1 is constructed, the communication quality generally changes due to a change in the operating environment or the like. Along with this change, the conventional site survey (S7) dispatched a person to the place where the BS 201 was installed to perform radio wave measurement, and therefore spent a lot of work time and a large amount of money. The communication carrier wants to avoid frequent site surveys (S7) where this cost occurs. The wireless communication system 1 of the present invention implements the steps after S5 without going to the site, and a wireless communication system and a wireless communication base station capable of obtaining a good radio wave propagation environment, and their operation. A method is provided.

  FIG. 6 is an operation flow diagram showing an example of a maintenance operation operation during system operation after the BS is installed. In FIG. 5, steps S1 to S6 in FIG. 5 are the same and are omitted, and the operation in operation after S6 will be described.

  During system operation (S6) and after, system performance information confirmation processing (S13) such as the number of AT accesses and antenna end received electric field strength (hereinafter referred to as RSSI) in the communication system 1 set by the operator from the OMC 203 is performed. Details of the setting and confirmation processing of the system performance information will be described later in detail with reference to the drawings.

  In the confirmation process (S13), it is confirmed whether or not an abnormality has occurred in the system parameter information. If there is no abnormality, the process proceeds to the regular site survey process (S7). This regular site survey (S7) may be carried out on-site as in the past, but if it is a wireless communication system of the present invention, information setting similar to the confirmation process (S13) described above is performed. The configuration is such that the operator can set the confirmation processing method from the OMC 203 and check the information based on the operator's instruction at an appropriate interval to avoid going to the site. If an abnormality has occurred in the parameter information as a result of the confirmation process (S13), the BS 201 indicating the abnormal value is specified, and an instruction to shoot the environmental state around the BS 201 according to the parameter indicating the abnormal value is specified. The BS 201 sends the instruction to the BS 201 via the MSC 202 and receives the instruction, and performs a photographing process (S8) using the mounted imaging means 206. Details of the confirmation process (S13) and the photographing process (S8) will be described later in detail with reference to the drawings. If an abnormality is found in the periodic site survey (S7), this corresponds to the fact that a clear environmental change of the communication system is recognized, as in the process of the site survey (S7) in FIG. Return to the table and start over from the desk design, and change the BS installation position and adjust the radio wave output. Of course, parameter information and a processing method are set from the OMC 203 so that the process can return to S2 when an abnormality occurs in S7. Even when there is no abnormality in the regular site survey (S7), the photographing process (S8) is performed in order to obtain the latest information at this point.

  The captured image data is sent to the OMC 203, and a comparison process (S9) is performed with previously stored image data at the time of BS installation or previously. If there is no predetermined change in the image, a first alarm including information on the target BS (ID, name, etc.) and parameter information in which an abnormality has occurred is generated (S10), and the system operation is continued. This is to prepare for an unexpected situation by transmitting the parameter change to the system administrator even when the change cannot be confirmed in the image. Although not shown, if there is no abnormality in the regular site survey (S7) and there is no change in the image comparison, the first alarm is not generated. On the other hand, when a predetermined change occurs in the image, a radio wave radiation control instruction corresponding to the change content is sent from the OMC 203 to the associated BS 201 via the MSC 202. The BS 201 that has received this radio wave emission control instruction performs base station adjustment (S11) such as changing the radio wave emission angle and changing the radio wave output intensity according to the content of the instruction. Then, a second alarm is generated including target BS information (ID, name, etc.), parameter information in which an abnormality has occurred, shooting instruction content to the BS, comparison result information of the shot image, radio wave radiation control instruction content to the BS, etc. (S12) to continue the operation of the system. Note that both the first and second alarms are output to the display device 20317 (FIG. 4) of the OMC 203 by sound, light, text, or the like, and can be notified to the operator.

  Hereinafter, details of an operation example of maintenance and operation of the BS and the wireless communication system described in FIG. 6 will be further described. FIG. 7 is an operation flow diagram showing an example of the operation of the system performance information confirmation process (S13) and the imaging process (S8) performed by the imaging unit 206 of the BS 201 corresponding to the result. FIG. 8 is an operation flowchart showing an operation example of image comparison processing (S9) and base station adjustment (S11) corresponding to the result. FIG. 9 is a sequence diagram illustrating a detailed operation example of the wireless communication system, which is an operation example at the time of BS installation or before the start of operation, and an operation example after the shooting process (S8) during operation, and in particular image data comparison processing ( It is a figure explaining the operation example of S9). FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of image data taken by the BS 201 of the wireless communication system in the shooting process (S8).

  When the operation of the wireless communication system 1 is started (or when the BS 201 is newly installed), the system operator checks the operation state and the radio wave propagation environment in the service area 200 of the BS 201 from the OMC 203 (system performance information confirmation process (S13)). Conditions necessary for operation, such as setting of necessary monitoring parameters and setting of photographing conditions of the imaging means 206 necessary for photographing processing (S8) performed after the confirmation processing (S13) are set (FIG. 9: P300). ). Specifically, the operator inputs necessary parameters from the input device 20318 of the OMC 203. Various conditions set from the OMC 203 are transferred to the BS 201 via the MSC 202 (FIG. 9: S300), and the BS 201 holds these conditions (FIG. 9: P301) and prepares for subsequent operations.

  In the present embodiment, the system access information is configured to use the number of accesses of the AT connected to the BS 201 and the RSSI value. Specifically, the thresholds for the number of accesses for determining the operational state / radio wave propagation state from the number of accesses are the first (a: the lower limit of the number of accesses), the second (b: the upper limit of the number of accesses), and the first. 3 (a value that is smaller than the lower limit of c: a and is significantly lower than the assumed number of use (a very small value that can only be considered a failure related to radio wave radiation; a value close to 0)) and The fourth threshold value (d), which is the RSSI threshold value, is set, and the system performance information confirmation process (S13) is performed by specifying these monitoring intervals and the like. The state where the number of accesses of the BS 201 is good, that is, the state where the radio wave propagation state is good and the service quality can be maintained is the number of uses assumed by the telecommunications carrier and is between the threshold value a (lower limit) and the threshold value b (upper limit). It can be set for each BS 201 according to the environment of the BS 201 installation. These threshold values and monitoring interval values are determined appropriately by the operator while viewing image data (FIG. 10A) acquired in advance or immediately after the BS 201 is set. In addition, you may set the value determined from the data obtained by the procedure of S1-S5 which was demonstrated in FIG. Of course, these pieces of information grasp the system status, and the types and values of information to be monitored are not limited to these. Note that initial settings relating to the shooting process will be described later.

  In the system performance information confirmation processing (S13) and imaging processing (S8) performed during operation of the wireless communication system 1, first, the number of AT accesses specified by the parameter input (FIG. 9: P300) and detected by the BS 201 and the RSSI. The value is confirmed (S41). These pieces of information are information sent from the BS 201 to the OMC 203 via the MSC 202, but the information transfer state in FIG. 9 and the like is omitted.

  The number of accesses is compared with a threshold value a (S42), and if it is less than the threshold value a, it is compared with another threshold value c (S45). Here, when the number of accesses is equal to or greater than the threshold value c, radio wave environment deterioration (a shield appears in the radio wave radiation direction and the service area is reduced, etc.) is considered. In S8), an imaging instruction in the radio wave radiation direction of the local station antenna is output (S47).

  If the threshold value is less than the threshold value c, the RSSI value is compared with the threshold value d (S46). If the threshold value is equal to or greater than the threshold value d, the radio wave environment may be deteriorated as in the previous event. In S8), an imaging instruction in the radio wave radiation direction of the local station antenna is output (S47). On the other hand, if it is less than the threshold value d, radio wave environment deterioration due to failure of the local station antenna is considered, so a shooting instruction in the direction of the local station BS antenna is output to the target BS 201 (S48).

  If the number of accesses is greater than or equal to the threshold a, the number of accesses is compared with the threshold b (S43). If the number is greater than or equal to the threshold b, the number of AT accesses in the service area 200 exceeds the predetermined upper limit. In order to use this for the subsequent base station adjustment (S11) after confirming this, an imaging instruction in the radio wave radiation direction of the local station antenna is output to the target BS 201 (S49). If it is less than the threshold value b, it is determined that the system operation is normal and the operation is continued. Note that the shooting instruction in the radio wave radiation direction of the local antenna in S49 and the radio wave radiation direction in the radio wave emission direction of the local station in S47 described above are the same as seen from the imaging means 206, but the subsequent base Since the process of the station adjustment (S11) is different, it is described separately in the specification.

  As described above, in the communication system 1 of the present invention, when the number of accesses that normally shift between the threshold value a and the threshold value b exceeds the threshold value b, the process according to the increase in the number of users as in S49 is performed. If the number of accesses is less than the threshold value a and greater than or equal to the threshold value c, the risk of failure associated with radio wave radiation is low, and therefore, a shield handling process such as S47 is performed. If the number of accesses is less than the threshold value a and less than the threshold value c, there is a high risk of failure related to radio wave emission, so the process proceeds to the RSSI value confirmation processing in S46, and processing or shielding associated with the local antenna failure. A fine response such as a response process is performed. Although the above-described processing has been described as being performed by the OMC 203, the system may be constructed and operated in a configuration in which these processing (S13, S8) is performed by the target BS 201.

  The setting of conditions necessary for operation such as the setting of shooting conditions of the imaging means 206 required for the shooting process (S8) (FIG. 9: P300) is also acquired in advance, as in the previous setting of the system performance information described above. The operator decided appropriately while looking at the stored image data (FIG. 10A). Specifically, the configuration is such that, while viewing the image data, the direction and shooting time (interval) of the camera 20150 capable of shooting the specified direction and range including the radio wave radiation range are specified. In addition, as described above, it is also specified what kind of statistical processing or image processing is performed so as not to capture unnecessary data for area optimization due to an event that occurs temporarily. Specifically, as in the areas A to E surrounded by broken lines in the image data in FIG. 10, the number of image data existing positions (coordinates) that are predicted in advance and determined by the operator to be necessary for area optimization are determined. And specifying information such as what kind of statistical processing is performed and what kind of situation is considered to be changed. In this way, as shown in (a) and after (b) after the change in FIG. 10, the state of the regions B and C is prolonged for a long time due to the instantaneous event change accompanying the high-speed movement of the car or the like and the building addition. Thus, the data image data necessary for area optimization can be obtained with certainty. As will be described later, the change in the image is determined by obtaining the correlation values before and after the change of each area data (S9, FIG. 9: P330, 340), so the area is set according to the base station 201 (FIG. 10: FIG. 10). A to E) and a threshold value of correlation value (FIG. 9: KPI of P340) are also set. With these settings (FIG. 9: P300), data necessary for the imaging means 206 of the BS 201 is transferred to the BS 201 (FIG. 9: S300), and the BS 201 maintains these conditions (FIG. 9: P301) and subsequent operations. Prepare for.

An operation example of image data comparison processing (S9) performed during operation of the wireless communication system 1 and BS 201 adjustment (S11) corresponding to the result will be described with reference to FIGS.
The image data photographed by the BS 201 in the photographing process (S8) is transferred to the OMC 203 via the MSC 202 (FIG. 9: 320), and temporarily held in the buffer 20340 (FIG. 4) or the memory 20380 (FIG. 4) of the OMC 203 (FIG. 4). FIG. 9: P321). The image data may be transferred to the OMC server 204 (FIG. 9: S320) and stored (FIG. 9: P322).

  When the OMC 203 receives the image data, the OMC 203 compares the image data with the previous image data stored in the memory 20380 and checks whether the image has changed (S9). Specifically, the correlation value C of the old and new data for each area is obtained for the image data of the preset portion as areas A to E in FIG. 10 (FIG. 9: P330), and this correlation value C Is compared with a predetermined threshold KPI (FIG. 9: P340). If it is less than the threshold, it is determined that the image has changed, that is, the radio wave propagation environment in the service area 200 of the BS 201 has changed, and base station adjustment such as antenna radio wave radiation angle control of the BS 201 is performed (S11). In the correlation value calculation and comparison with the threshold value (FIG. 9: P330 and 340), the image data is acquired a plurality of times and the correlation value is calculated a plurality of times so as to surely obtain information necessary for area optimization. If a change detection protection operation (not shown), such as obtaining the change amount at, is added, the change detection capability is further increased, so that highly accurate area optimization is possible. In the example of FIG. 10, the change in the image data due to the movement of the vehicle is not detected as the change in the radio wave propagation environment, and the change in the correlation value between the area B and the area C due to the new building construction is the service of the BS 201. It is detected that there is a change in the radio wave propagation environment in the area 200, and area optimization by base station adjustment (S11) is performed. After the image comparison detection (S9) and the base station adjustment (S11), the alarm generation and display (S10, S11) described with reference to FIG. 6 is performed, and the operation actually performed by the OMC 203 and the obtained data are displayed. Is recorded in the memory 20380 (FIG. 9: P360). Alternatively, the data may be transferred to the OMC server 204 (FIG. 9: S330) and stored (FIG. 9: P390). When there is a change in the radio wave propagation environment as shown in FIG. 10B, the operator changes the data area or the threshold value for detecting a change in the image data in preparation for the next possible change. The necessary data is selected and set (FIG. 9: P370).

  When the radiographing process (S8) at the BS201 is radiographing in the antenna radio wave radiation direction of the own BS201 (FIG. 7: S47), the image comparison process (S9) uses the correlation value C and the threshold value KPI obtained in each area. Then, it is confirmed whether or not an obstruction (tree, building, viaduct, etc.) that does not exist in the previous image is present on the right or left side of the image taken this time (FIG. 8: S51). Or when a new shield exists on the left side, the radio wave radiation angle is changed for the target BS 201 (FIG. 8: S56). On the other hand, if there is no new shield on the right or left side of the photographed image, it is confirmed whether or not there is a shield near the center of the photographed image (FIG. 8: S52). If there is a new shield near the center of the target, the target BS 201 is instructed to increase the radio wave output intensity or change the radio wave radiation angle (FIG. 8: S57). If a shield cannot be found by the above procedure, target BS information (ID, name, etc.), parameter information in which an abnormality has occurred, shooting instruction content to BS, comparison result information of captured image, radio wave radiation control instruction content to BS A second alarm (sound, light, message display) including is generated (S12), and the system operation is continued.

  When the shooting process at the BS 201 (S8) is shooting in the antenna direction of the own BS 201 (FIG. 7: S48), the image comparison process (S9) uses the correlation value C and the threshold value KPI obtained in each region as the previous values. It is confirmed whether or not an obstacle that is not present in the image (a state in which an obstacle such as vinyl is in contact with or entangled with the antenna) is present in the captured image (FIG. 8: S53), and a new obstacle is present. In this case, the adjacent BS 201 is caused to increase the radio wave output intensity or change the radio wave radiation angle. Of course, a maintenance person is dispatched to give instructions to remove obstacles. On the other hand, if there is no new obstacle, it is confirmed whether or not there is any damage / breakage in the antenna portion of the photographed image (FIG. 8: S54), and there is a new damage / breakage portion. Similarly, the adjacent BS 201 is caused to increase the radio wave output intensity or change the radio wave radiation angle. In this case, whether the antenna 20100 or the BS 201 itself is to be repaired / replaced is appropriately determined by the operator according to the degree of damage and the situation of the radio wave propagation environment. If no obstacles or damage / breakage can be found by the above procedure, the target BS information (ID, name, etc.), parameter information in which an abnormality has occurred, contents of shooting instructions to the BS, comparison result information of the shot images, radio waves to the BS A second alarm (sound, light, message display) including the radiation control instruction content is generated (S12), and the system operation is continued.

  When the radiographing process (S8) at the BS201 is radiographing in the antenna radio wave radiation direction of the own BS201 (FIG. 7: S49), the image comparison process (S9) uses the correlation value C and the threshold value KPI obtained in each area. Then, it is confirmed whether or not an object that does not exist in the previous image (for example, a large number of people accompanying a concert or the like) exists in the image taken this time (FIG. 8: S55), and if a new object exists, The adjacent BS 201 is caused to increase the radio wave output intensity or change the radio wave radiation angle. This is performed in order to extend the radio area cover range of another BS (adjacent BS), reduce the load on the target BS 201, and improve the performance of the entire system. If a new object cannot be found by the above procedure, target BS information (ID, name, etc.), parameter information in which an abnormality has occurred, shooting instruction content to the BS, comparison result information of the shot image, radio wave emission control instruction to the BS A second alarm (sound, light, message display) including the contents is generated (S12), and the system operation is continued.

  Further, according to the present invention, the OMC 203 may issue a shooting instruction and a BS adjustment instruction to the BS 201 according to a system administrator instruction. In this case, regardless of the system performance status, the BS 201 can appropriately issue a shooting instruction specifying the shooting direction and a BS adjustment instruction based on the experience of the system administrator. It is possible to monitor a fine-tuned wireless communication system that can complement the optimization.

  Further, when a predetermined problem occurs in the system performance confirmation process (S13), a third alarm (sound, light, message display) (not shown) may be generated and notified to the OMC 203. In this way, when the third alarm is received, the OMC 203 can issue a shooting instruction and a BS adjustment instruction from the OMC 203 to the BS 201 in response to the instruction from the system administrator. This is because the system administrator can check the image data with his own eyes and adjust the BS based on the contents when the shooting instruction and wireless BS adjustment instruction determined in advance by the autonomous system optimization function cannot be supported. It is what.

  Further, the shooting instruction in the OMC 203 may be performed in accordance with a system performance state change, date / time designation, regular (daily, monthly, etc.), or a combination with system performance state change. The date and time designation and regular (every day, every month, etc.) are because the image data used for comparison has the advantage of improving the accuracy of grasping the image difference by combining the same season, day of the week, time zone, and weather. is there.

201 ... Wireless base station (BS)
202 ... Base station controller (MSC)
203 ... Maintenance equipment (OMC)
204: Maintenance server (OMC server)

Claims (9)

A wireless communication system comprising a plurality of wireless base stations and a maintenance device for performing maintenance operation of the wireless base station,
Each of the wireless base stations includes a communication unit that performs communication with a wireless terminal in an area formed by radiating radio waves from an antenna, and an imaging unit that captures an environment around the wireless base station,
The maintenance device includes: means for monitoring an operation state of an area formed by the radio base station; means for controlling the imaging means; analysis means for analyzing image data captured by the imaging means; and Comprising a control unit comprising means for controlling the communication means of the base station,
Radio communication characterized in that the control unit controls the imaging means according to the operating state of the area, and controls the operating state of the area by controlling the communication means based on image data received from the imaging means. system.   The operation state of the area of the radio base station monitored by the maintenance device is the number of the radio terminals communicating with the radio base station and the intensity of radio waves at the antenna. Wireless communication system.   The maintenance device controls the direction in which the imaging means captures an image to either the radio wave radiation direction of the antenna or the antenna direction according to the operational state of the area of the radio base station, and the received image data Controlling the communication intensity of the radio base station or the radio base station adjacent to the area of the radio base station based on the analysis result to control the radiation intensity or radiation angle of the radio wave radiated from the antenna The radio | wireless communications system in any one of Claim 1 or Claim 2.   The maintenance device defines a plurality of analysis regions in the image data, obtains a correlation between the image data received previously in each of the regions and the image data received this time, and corresponds the correlation with a predetermined correlation threshold value. 4. The wireless communication system according to claim 3, wherein communication means of the wireless base station is controlled. A wireless communication system comprising a plurality of wireless base stations and a maintenance device that performs maintenance operation of the wireless base station,
The radio base station maintenance device is:
Monitoring means for monitoring the operating status of the radio communication system; and when the monitoring means detects a change in a plurality of parameters indicating the operating status, the plurality of radio base stations Photographing instruction means for transmitting a photographing instruction corresponding to the parameter in which the change has occurred,
The radio base station is
Imaging means, imaging activation means for performing imaging by the imaging means when receiving the imaging instruction, and imaging data transmission means for transmitting imaging data photographed by the imaging means to the radio base station maintenance device A wireless communication system. The radio base station maintenance device is
Further, a comparison means for receiving the shooting data transmitted from the radio base station and comparing the received shooting data with previously received shooting data, and for the radio base station according to a comparison result by the comparison means Radio wave radiation change instruction means for transmitting a radio wave radiation direction or radio wave output intensity change instruction,
The radio base station is
6. The radio communication system according to claim 5, further comprising radio wave radiation control means for changing the radio wave radiation direction or the radio wave output intensity when receiving an instruction to change the radio wave radiation direction or the radio wave output intensity. A radio base station used in a radio communication system including a plurality of radio base stations and a maintenance device that performs maintenance operation of the radio base station,
Imaging means for capturing an image around the wireless base station;
Imaging start-up means for performing imaging by the imaging means when receiving a shooting instruction corresponding to the operation status of the radio base station from the maintenance device;
Imaging data transmitting means for transmitting imaging data captured by the imaging means to the maintenance device;
Radio wave radiation control means for changing the radio wave radiation direction or radio wave output intensity from the antenna when receiving an instruction to change the radio wave radiation direction or radio wave output intensity of the antenna of the radio base station corresponding to the imaging data from the maintenance device; A radio base station comprising: An operation method of a radio communication system comprising a plurality of radio base stations and a maintenance device that performs maintenance operation of the radio base station,
When a first parameter for monitoring the operation status of an area formed by radiating radio waves from the antenna of the radio base station and a second parameter for capturing and confirming an image around the base station are set,
Monitoring the operation status of a wireless communication system including an arbitrary base station based on the first parameter;
Upon detecting a change in the operation status, an image around the base station is taken based on the second parameter according to the change,
When a change in the situation of the base station or the surroundings of the base station is detected based on the captured image and the second parameter, a radiation angle or a radiation intensity of a radio wave radiated from the antenna of the wireless base station is changed according to the change. A method for operating a wireless communication system.   9. The wireless communication system according to claim 8, wherein the first parameter is the number of wireless terminals communicating with the arbitrary wireless base station and the strength of radio waves at the antenna of the wireless base station. Operation method.

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