JP2012151895A - Relay station and radio communication method - Google Patents

Relay station and radio communication method Download PDF

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JP2012151895A
JP2012151895A JP2012084978A JP2012084978A JP2012151895A JP 2012151895 A JP2012151895 A JP 2012151895A JP 2012084978 A JP2012084978 A JP 2012084978A JP 2012084978 A JP2012084978 A JP 2012084978A JP 2012151895 A JP2012151895 A JP 2012151895A
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wireless communication
communication terminal
relay station
unit
station
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Atsushi Furukawa
淳 古川
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Kyocera Corp
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Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To surely execute an original purpose of a relay station by determining whether or not a radio communication terminal requesting communication establishment with the relay station is positioned in a prescribed area and preferentially connecting the radio communication terminal positioned in the prescribed area.SOLUTION: A relay station 600 of the present invention is capable of relaying communication between a radio communication terminal 110 and a base station 120, and in the case that communication connection is requested from the radio communication terminal 110 through an antenna having an adaptive array function, determines whether or not the radio communication terminal 110 which has requested the communication connection is positioned in the prescribed area depending on whether or not the direction of the radio communication terminal which has requested the communication connection, that is derived by the adaptive array function, is included in a direction indicating the prescribed area, that is held beforehand, and preferentially establishes the communication with the radio communication terminal 110 determined to be positioned in the prescribed area.

Description

本発明は、無線通信端末と基地局との通信を中継可能な中継局および無線通信方法に関する。   The present invention relates to a relay station and a wireless communication method capable of relaying communication between a wireless communication terminal and a base station.

近年、PHS(Personal Handy phone System)端末や携帯電話等に代表される無線通
信端末が普及し、場所や時間を問わず通話や情報入手が可能となった。特に昨今では、入手可能な情報量も増加の一途を辿り、大容量のデータをダウンロードするため高速かつ高品質な無線通信方式が取り入れられるようになってきた。
In recent years, wireless communication terminals represented by PHS (Personal Handy phone System) terminals and mobile phones have become widespread, making it possible to make calls and obtain information regardless of location or time. Especially in recent years, the amount of available information has been increasing, and high-speed and high-quality wireless communication systems have been introduced to download large amounts of data.

このような高速デジタル無線通信方式の一つとして、IEEE802.11やWiMAX(例えば、非特許文献1)に代表されるOFDMA(Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplex Access:直交周波数分割多元接続)方式が挙げられる。OFDMA方式は、デー
タの多重化方式の一つに分類され、単位時間軸上で多数の搬送波を利用し、変調対象となる信号波の位相が隣り合う搬送波間で直交するように搬送波の帯域を一部重ね合わせて周波数帯域を有効利用する方式である。また、OFDMA方式は、個別のユーザ毎に時分割でサブチャネルを割り当てているOFDM(Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing:直交周波数分割多重)方式に対して、複数のユーザが全サブチャネルを共有し、各ユ
ーザにとって最も伝送効率のよいサブチャネルを割り当てることを特徴としている。
As one of such high-speed digital wireless communication systems, there are OFDMA (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplex Access) systems represented by IEEE 802.11 and WiMAX (for example, Non-Patent Document 1). The OFDMA method is classified as one of data multiplexing methods, uses a large number of carriers on the unit time axis, and sets the carrier band so that the phase of the signal wave to be modulated is orthogonal between adjacent carriers. This is a method of effectively using the frequency band by overlapping a part. In addition, the OFDMA system, in which OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing) system in which subchannels are allocated in time division for each individual user, a plurality of users share all subchannels, Is characterized by allocating a subchannel with the highest transmission efficiency.

上述したWiMAX等次世代の高速無線通信方式において2.5GHz帯またはそれ以上の高周波数帯を使用する場合、障害物が多い等の電波状態が悪い領域では基地局1つに対する通信可能範囲(カバレージ)が小さくなり、周囲を全て賄うには多数の基地局を配設しなければならない。また、電波の回り込みも抑制されるため、屋内においては圏外となる可能性が高くなる。   When the next-generation high-speed wireless communication method such as WiMAX uses a high-frequency band of 2.5 GHz or higher, a communication range (coverage) for one base station in an area where the radio wave condition is bad such as many obstacles. ) Becomes smaller and a large number of base stations must be installed to cover the entire surroundings. In addition, since the wraparound of radio waves is suppressed, there is a high possibility of being out of service indoors.

そこで、基地局装置と無線端末装置とを中継する中継局装置を設置することで、ビル等の障害物による遮蔽から生じるシャドウイングの影響等により、サービスエリア内にも拘わらず基地局装置と通信を行うことができない範囲を減少させる技術が開示されている(例えば、特許文献1)。   Therefore, by installing a relay station device that relays between the base station device and the wireless terminal device, it communicates with the base station device regardless of the service area due to the influence of shadowing caused by shielding by obstacles such as buildings. A technique for reducing the range in which the operation cannot be performed is disclosed (for example, Patent Document 1).

特開2006−74325号公報JP 2006-74325 A

「Mobile WiMAX - Part I:A Technical Overview and Performance Evaluation」Prepared on Behalf of the WiMAXForum, February 21, 2006, http://www.intel.com/netcomms/technologies/wimax/WiMAX_Overview_v2.pdf“Mobile WiMAX-Part I: A Technical Overview and Performance Evaluation” Prepared on Behalf of the WiMAXForum, February 21, 2006, http://www.intel.com/netcomms/technologies/wimax/WiMAX_Overview_v2.pdf

しかし、上述した中継局の近隣に、中継局と通信している無線通信端末Aと、基地局と直接通信を行っている無線通信端末Bとの両方が存在し、両者の距離が非常に近い場合、中継局と無線通信端末Aとの通信もしくは基地局と無線通信端末Bとの通信のいずれかまたは両方(無線通信端末間)で干渉が生じるおそれがある。   However, there are both the wireless communication terminal A communicating with the relay station and the wireless communication terminal B communicating directly with the base station in the vicinity of the above-described relay station, and the distance between them is very close. In such a case, interference may occur in either or both of the communication between the relay station and the wireless communication terminal A or the communication between the base station and the wireless communication terminal B (between the wireless communication terminals).

図13は、無線通信端末間で生じる干渉を説明するための説明図である。例えば、中継局と通信を行っている無線通信端末Aと、基地局と直接通信を行っている無線通信端末Bが中継局の近隣にある場合、無線通信端末Aと中継局との電波状況は良好であることが予想され、無線通信端末Aは小さい送信電力10で中継局と通信を行うことができる。一方、中継局の近隣は一般に基地局から遠いもしくは基地局からの電波が届きにくいと想定されるため、無線通信端末Bが中継局の近隣に位置するということは基地局から遠い場所に位置していることになる。したがって無線通信端末Bは、無線通信端末Aと比較して格段に高い送信電力12で基地局と通信を行うことになる。この場合、無線通信端末Aと中継局とが利用している搬送波(キャリア)と、無線通信端末Bと基地局とが利用している搬送波との周波数が、等しいもしくは隣接している場合、送信電力の高い無線通信端末Bが送信電力の低い無線通信端末Aに対して周波数方向に跨った干渉(図13中ハッチングで
示す)を与えるおそれがある。
FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram for explaining interference that occurs between wireless communication terminals. For example, when the wireless communication terminal A communicating with the relay station and the wireless communication terminal B directly communicating with the base station are in the vicinity of the relay station, the radio wave conditions between the wireless communication terminal A and the relay station are It is expected that the wireless communication terminal A is good, and the wireless communication terminal A can communicate with the relay station with a small transmission power 10. On the other hand, since the vicinity of the relay station is generally assumed to be far from the base station or difficult to receive radio waves from the base station, the fact that the wireless communication terminal B is located near the relay station is located far from the base station. Will be. Accordingly, the wireless communication terminal B communicates with the base station with a transmission power 12 that is significantly higher than that of the wireless communication terminal A. In this case, if the frequency of the carrier used by the wireless communication terminal A and the relay station and the frequency of the carrier used by the wireless communication terminal B and the base station are equal or adjacent to each other, There is a possibility that the radio communication terminal B with high power gives interference (indicated by hatching in FIG. 13) across the frequency direction to the radio communication terminal A with low transmission power.

そこで、本発明の発明者が鋭意検討した結果、中継局と無線通信端末との通信が干渉を受けているか否かを判定し、干渉を受けていると判定した場合に、基地局に干渉対象となる他の無線通信端末に自局へのハンドオーバを促すことで、干渉を受けている無線通信端末と、干渉の原因となっているすなわち干渉対象の他の無線通信端末とが、同じ中継局と通信を行い、同一の周波数の搬送波を割り当てられることがなくなることで干渉を回避することができることを見出した。   Therefore, as a result of intensive studies by the inventor of the present invention, it is determined whether or not the communication between the relay station and the wireless communication terminal is subject to interference. By prompting other wireless communication terminals to be handed over to the local station, the wireless communication terminal that is causing interference and the other wireless communication terminal that is causing interference, that is, the interference target, are the same relay station. It was found that interference can be avoided by not being able to allocate a carrier wave of the same frequency.

しかし、中継局は無線通信端末と基地局との通信を補助的に支援するものであるため、基地局と比較して、同時通信することが可能な無線通信端末の数が制限される。したがって、干渉対象となる他の無線通信端末との通信を中継局が積極的に遂行すると、当該中継局の設置目的である本来接続すべき屋内に位置する無線通信端末と通信が制限されかねない。   However, since the relay station assists communication between the wireless communication terminal and the base station, the number of wireless communication terminals that can perform simultaneous communication is limited compared to the base station. Therefore, if a relay station actively performs communication with another wireless communication terminal that is subject to interference, communication with a wireless communication terminal located indoors that should be connected, which is the purpose of installation of the relay station, may be limited. .

また、中継局は屋内に位置する無線通信端末と基地局との通信を効率よく中継するために、一般的に屋内と屋外の境界(建物等の窓際)に設置することが多い。窓際に中継局を設置する場合、見通しがよいことが多いため、屋外に位置する他の無線通信端末を接続してしまい、やはり屋内の無線通信端末との通信が制限されることとなる。   Also, in order to efficiently relay communication between a wireless communication terminal located indoors and a base station, a relay station is generally installed at the boundary between indoors and outdoors (at the window of a building or the like). When a relay station is installed near a window, the line of sight is often good, so other wireless communication terminals located outdoors are connected, and communication with indoor wireless communication terminals is also restricted.

本発明は、このような問題に鑑み、中継局との通信確立を要求する無線通信端末が所定の領域にあるか否かを判定し、所定の領域に位置する無線通信端末を優先的に接続することで、中継局の本来の目的を確実に遂行することが可能な中継局および無線通信方法を提供することを目的としている。   In view of such problems, the present invention determines whether or not a wireless communication terminal requesting establishment of communication with a relay station is in a predetermined area, and preferentially connects wireless communication terminals located in the predetermined area Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a relay station and a wireless communication method that can reliably perform the original purpose of the relay station.

上記課題を解決するために、本発明の代表的な構成は、無線通信端末と基地局との通信を中継可能な中継局であって、アダプティブアレイ機能を有するアンテナを介して前記無線通信端末と通信を行う端末通信部と、前記基地局と通信を行う基地局通信部と、所定の領域を示す方向と該所定の領域外を示す方向を特定する情報を予め保持する方向保持部と、前記無線通信端末からの通信接続要求があった場合に、該通信接続要求があった無線通信端末が、前記所定の領域にあるか否かを判定する内外判定部と、を備え、前記内外判定部は、前記アダプティブアレイ機能によって導出された前記通信接続要求があった無線通信端末の方向が、前記方向保持部に保持された前記所定の領域を示す方向に含まれる場合に前記所定の領域にあると判定し、前記端末通信部は、前記内外判定部が前記所定の領域にあると判定した無線通信端末との通信確立を優先することを特徴とする。上記所定の領域は、当該中継局が設置されている建物の屋内もしくは当該中継局が設置されている移動体の中であるとよい。   In order to solve the above problems, a typical configuration of the present invention is a relay station capable of relaying communication between a radio communication terminal and a base station, and the radio communication terminal and the radio communication terminal via an antenna having an adaptive array function A terminal communication unit that performs communication, a base station communication unit that performs communication with the base station, a direction holding unit that holds in advance information specifying a direction indicating a predetermined area and a direction indicating the outside of the predetermined area, An inside / outside determination unit that determines whether or not the wireless communication terminal that has made the communication connection request is in the predetermined area when there is a communication connection request from a wireless communication terminal, and the inside / outside determination unit Is in the predetermined area when the direction of the wireless communication terminal that has received the communication connection request derived by the adaptive array function is included in the direction indicating the predetermined area held in the direction holding unit Judgment The terminal communication unit is characterized in that the outside judgment unit gives priority to establish communication with the wireless communication terminal is determined to be in the predetermined region. The predetermined area may be in a building where the relay station is installed or in a mobile body where the relay station is installed.

かかる構成により、当該中継局が設置されている所定の領域(例えば、当該中継局が設置されている建物の屋内もしくは当該中継局が設置されている移動体の中)に位置する無線通信端末と優先的に通信を確立することができる。したがって、所定の領域外(例えば
、当該中継局が設置されている建物の屋外もしくは当該中継局が設置されている移動体の外)に位置する無線通信端末で中継局が占有されてしまい、所定の領域の無線通信端末と
基地局との通信を中継する装置としての中継局の本来の目的を果たせないという事態を回避することが可能となる。
With this configuration, a wireless communication terminal located in a predetermined area where the relay station is installed (for example, in a building where the relay station is installed or in a mobile body where the relay station is installed) Communication can be established with priority. Therefore, the relay station is occupied by a wireless communication terminal located outside the predetermined area (for example, outside the building where the relay station is installed or outside the mobile body where the relay station is installed). It is possible to avoid a situation in which the original purpose of the relay station as a device for relaying communication between the wireless communication terminal and the base station in this area cannot be achieved.

上記中継局は、無線通信端末からの通信接続要求があった場合に、自局と通信中の無線通信端末が第1所定数を超えているか否かを判定する通信数判定部をさらに備え、端末通信部は、自局と通信中の無線通信端末が第1所定数を超えると、所定の領域にないと判定された無線通信端末との通信確立を拒否してもよい。   The relay station further includes a communication number determination unit that determines whether or not the number of wireless communication terminals communicating with the local station exceeds a first predetermined number when there is a communication connection request from the wireless communication terminal; The terminal communication unit may reject establishment of communication with a wireless communication terminal determined not to be in a predetermined area when the number of wireless communication terminals in communication with the local station exceeds the first predetermined number.

これにより、第1所定数を超える無線通信端末と通信中の場合、所定の領域(例えば、移動体の中もしくは建物の屋内)にないすなわち所定の領域外(例えば、移動体の外もしくは建物の屋外)に位置する無線通信端末の通信確立を拒否することができる。換言すれば、第1所定数を超える無線通信端末と通信中の場合、所定の領域に位置する無線通信端末とのみ通信を許可することが可能となる。したがって、所定の領域外に位置する無線通信端末によって中継局における通信可能な無線通信端末の数が制限されるのを防止することができる。   As a result, when communicating with the wireless communication terminals exceeding the first predetermined number, it is not in a predetermined area (for example, inside the mobile body or inside the building), that is, outside the predetermined area (for example, outside the mobile body or in the building). It is possible to refuse communication establishment of a wireless communication terminal located outdoors. In other words, when communicating with the wireless communication terminals exceeding the first predetermined number, it is possible to permit communication only with the wireless communication terminals located in the predetermined area. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the number of wireless communication terminals that can communicate in the relay station from being limited by wireless communication terminals located outside the predetermined area.

上記中継局の通信数判定部は、自局と通信中の無線通信端末が、第1所定数より大きい第2所定数を超えているか否かも判定し、内外判定部は、通信確立中の無線通信端末の中で所定の領域にない無線通信端末があるか否かも判定し、端末通信部は、自局と通信中の無線通信端末が第2所定数を超えると、所定の領域にないと判定された通信確立中の無線通信端末に他の基地局とのハンドオーバを促してもよい。   The communication number determination unit of the relay station also determines whether or not the wireless communication terminal that is communicating with the local station exceeds a second predetermined number that is greater than the first predetermined number, and the inside / outside determination unit is a wireless that is establishing communication. It is also determined whether there is a wireless communication terminal that is not in the predetermined area among the communication terminals, and the terminal communication unit is not in the predetermined area when the number of wireless communication terminals in communication with the local station exceeds the second predetermined number. A handover with another base station may be urged to the determined wireless communication terminal with established communication.

これにより、第1所定数より大きい第2所定数を越える無線通信端末と通信確立中の場合、通信確立中の無線通信端末の中で、所定の領域にないすなわち所定の領域外の無線通信端末と中継局との通信を排除することが可能となる。したがって、中継局は、切断した所定の領域外の無線通信端末の数だけ通信可能な無線通信端末の数を確保することが可能となり、これを所定の領域の無線通信端末に割り当てることができる。   Thus, when communication is established with a wireless communication terminal exceeding the second predetermined number that is larger than the first predetermined number, the wireless communication terminal that is not in the predetermined area among the wireless communication terminals that are establishing communication, that is, outside the predetermined area And communication with the relay station can be eliminated. Therefore, the relay station can secure the number of wireless communication terminals capable of communicating by the number of disconnected wireless communication terminals outside the predetermined area, and can allocate this to the wireless communication terminals in the predetermined area.

当該中継局は、さらに、所定の領域を示す方向と所定の領域外を示す方向を特定する情報を予め保持する方向保持部と、アダプティブアレイ機能を有するアンテナと、を一体的または別体に備え、内外判定部は、アダプティブアレイ機能によって導出された、通信接続要求があった無線通信端末の方向が、方向保持部に保持された所定の領域を示す方向に含まれる場合に所定の領域にあると判定してもよい。   The relay station further includes a direction holding unit that holds in advance information for specifying a direction indicating a predetermined area and a direction indicating the outside of the predetermined area, and an antenna having an adaptive array function, either integrally or separately. The inside / outside determination unit is in a predetermined region when the direction of the wireless communication terminal that has been requested for communication connection and is derived from the adaptive array function is included in the direction indicating the predetermined region held in the direction holding unit. May be determined.

アダプティブアレイ機能を利用することにより、正確に無線通信端末の方向を導出することができる。中継局は、アダプティブアレイ機能によって導出される方向と、予め保持している所定の領域を示す方向と所定の領域外を示す方向を比較するだけで、所定の領域にあるか否かを容易かつ確実に判定することが可能となる。   By using the adaptive array function, the direction of the wireless communication terminal can be accurately derived. The relay station can easily determine whether or not it is in the predetermined area by simply comparing the direction derived by the adaptive array function with the direction indicating the predetermined area held in advance and the direction indicating outside the predetermined area. It is possible to make a reliable determination.

また中継局は、移動体の中もしくは建物の屋内等基地局との通信を直接行うことが困難な場所に位置する無線通信端末と基地局との通信を中継するものであるため、建物等の窓際すなわち移動体の中もしくは建物の屋内と、移動体の外もしくは屋外との境界に設置することが多い。したがって、中継局の設置箇所と当該設置箇所に対する移動体の中もしくは建物の屋内を示す方向と、移動体の外もしくは屋外を示す方向と、を予め保持しておけば、中継局から無線通信端末までの距離が不明であったとしても、無線通信端末の方向を
導出できれば移動体の中もしくは建物の屋内であるか否かを容易に判定することができる。
A relay station relays communication between a base station and a wireless communication terminal located in a place where it is difficult to directly communicate with a base station such as a mobile unit or indoors of a building. It is often installed near the window, that is, at the boundary between the inside of a moving body or the inside of a building and the outside of the moving body or the outside. Therefore, if the relay station installation location, the direction indicating the inside of the mobile body or the building indoors with respect to the installation location, and the direction indicating the outside of the mobile body or the outside are held in advance, the relay station can transmit the wireless communication terminal. Even if the distance to is unknown, if the direction of the wireless communication terminal can be derived, it can be easily determined whether the vehicle is inside the building or inside the building.

当該中継局は、さらに、所定の領域の範囲としての所定エリア情報を保持するエリア保持部と、無線通信端末が取得したGPS衛星からの位置情報を受信する位置情報受信部と、を備え、内外判定部は、無線通信端末から受信した位置情報に基づいて通信接続要求があった無線通信端末が所定の領域の範囲にあるか否かを判定してもよい。   The relay station further includes an area holding unit that holds predetermined area information as a range of a predetermined region, and a position information receiving unit that receives position information from a GPS satellite acquired by a wireless communication terminal. The determination unit may determine whether or not the wireless communication terminal for which a communication connection request has been made is within a predetermined area based on position information received from the wireless communication terminal.

これにより、自局が対象とする所定の領域の範囲に無線通信端末が位置するか否かで、移動体の中もしくは建物の屋内であるか否かを判定することができる。この際、自局の位置は、GPS衛星から自局の位置情報を取得してもよいし、建物等に固設する場合には、その際に予め位置情報を登録しておけばよい。   As a result, it can be determined whether the wireless communication terminal is located within the range of a predetermined area targeted by the own station, whether the mobile station is indoors or a building. At this time, as for the position of the own station, the position information of the own station may be acquired from a GPS satellite. When the station is fixedly installed in a building or the like, the position information may be registered in advance at that time.

また、無線通信端末が移動体の中もしくは建物の屋内にある場合にはGPS衛星からの位置情報を取得することはできないため、内外判定部は位置情報受信部が所定時間前までに位置情報を受信したか否かによって移動体の外もしくは建物の屋外にあるか否かを判定することもできる。   In addition, when the wireless communication terminal is in a moving object or indoors in a building, it is impossible to acquire position information from a GPS satellite. Therefore, the inside / outside determination unit obtains position information by a predetermined time before the position information receiving unit. Whether it is outside the moving body or outside the building can also be determined depending on whether it is received.

GPS衛星からの位置情報を受信する中継局GPS受信部をさらに2以上備え、エリア保持部が保持する所定エリア情報は、2以上の中継局GPS受信部との相対位置に基づいて決定されてもよい。   Two or more relay station GPS receiving units that receive position information from GPS satellites are further provided, and the predetermined area information held by the area holding unit may be determined based on a relative position with respect to the two or more relay station GPS receiving units. Good.

自局が対象とする所定の領域の範囲を自局が有する2以上の中継局GPS受信部との相対位置に基づいて決定する構成により、当該中継局が、自動車、バス、電車(列車)、船舶、航空機等、人が乗降可能な乗り物を含む移動体に設置された場合であっても、容易かつ確実に所定の領域(移動体の中)の範囲を規定することができる。   With the configuration in which the range of a predetermined area targeted by the local station is determined based on the relative position with two or more relay station GPS receivers of the local station, the relay station can be an automobile, a bus, a train (train), Even when installed in a moving body including a vehicle on which a person can get on and off, such as a ship or an aircraft, the range of a predetermined region (in the moving body) can be easily and reliably defined.

上記中継局は、無線通信端末が取得したGPS衛星からの位置情報を受信する位置情報受信部をさらに備え、内外判定部は、無線通信端末から受信した位置情報と、自局の位置情報とから求められる無線通信端末の自局との距離が所定値以上である場合に所定の領域外であると判定してもよい。   The relay station further includes a position information receiving unit that receives position information from a GPS satellite acquired by the wireless communication terminal, and the inside / outside determination unit is based on the position information received from the wireless communication terminal and the position information of the local station. If the required distance of the wireless communication terminal to the local station is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, it may be determined that the wireless communication terminal is outside the predetermined area.

これにより、中継局(自局)と無線通信端末との距離によってはその無線通信端末が所定の領域に存在し得ないことを把握することができ、容易かつ迅速に移動体の中もしくは建物の屋内か否かを判定することができる。   As a result, depending on the distance between the relay station (own station) and the wireless communication terminal, it can be understood that the wireless communication terminal cannot exist in a predetermined area, and it can be easily and quickly placed in the moving object or in the building. Whether indoor or not can be determined.

上記課題を解決するために、本発明の代表的な構成は、無線通信端末と基地局との通信を中継可能な中継局を用いた無線通信方法であって、アダプティブアレイ機能を有するアンテナを介して前記無線通信端末からの通信接続要求があった場合に、該通信接続要求があった無線通信端末が所定の領域にあるか否かを、前記アダプティブアレイ機能によって導出された前記通信接続要求があった無線通信端末の方向が、予め保持された前記所定の領域を示す方向に含まれるか否かで判定し、前記所定の領域にあると判定した無線通信端末との通信確立を優先することを特徴とする。   In order to solve the above-described problem, a typical configuration of the present invention is a wireless communication method using a relay station capable of relaying communication between a wireless communication terminal and a base station via an antenna having an adaptive array function. When there is a communication connection request from the wireless communication terminal, the communication connection request derived by the adaptive array function indicates whether or not the wireless communication terminal that has made the communication connection request is in a predetermined area. Priority is given to establishing communication with a wireless communication terminal that is determined to be in the predetermined area by determining whether the direction of the wireless communication terminal that is present is included in the direction indicating the predetermined area that is held in advance. It is characterized by.

上述した中継局の技術的思想に基づく構成要素やその説明は、当該無線通信方法にも適用可能である。   The above-described components based on the technical idea of the relay station and the description thereof can also be applied to the wireless communication method.

以上説明したように本発明の中継局によれば、中継局との通信確立を要求する無線通信端末が所定の領域にあるか否かを判定し、所定の領域に位置する無線通信端末を優先的に
接続することで、中継局の本来の目的を確実に遂行することが可能となる。
As described above, according to the relay station of the present invention, it is determined whether or not a wireless communication terminal requesting establishment of communication with the relay station is in a predetermined area, and priority is given to the wireless communication terminal located in the predetermined area. By connecting to each other, the original purpose of the relay station can be reliably achieved.

第1実施形態にかかる無線通信システムの概略的な構成を示したブロック図である。1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a wireless communication system according to a first embodiment. 第1実施形態にかかる無線通信端末のハードウェア構成を示した機能ブロック図である。It is a functional block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the wireless communication terminal according to the first embodiment. 第1実施形態にかかる無線通信端末の外観を示した斜視図である。It is the perspective view which showed the external appearance of the radio | wireless communication terminal concerning 1st Embodiment. 第1実施形態にかかる基地局の概略的な構成を示したブロック図である。It is the block diagram which showed the schematic structure of the base station concerning 1st Embodiment. 第1実施形態にかかる中継局の概略的な構成を示したブロック図である。It is the block diagram which showed schematic structure of the relay station concerning 1st Embodiment. 第1実施形態にかかる無線通信方法の処理を示したシーケンス図である。It is the sequence diagram which showed the process of the radio | wireless communication method concerning 1st Embodiment. 第2実施形態にかかる中継局の概略的な構成を示したブロック図である。It is the block diagram which showed schematic structure of the relay station concerning 2nd Embodiment. 第2実施形態にかかる無線通信方法の処理を示したフローチャートである。It is the flowchart which showed the process of the radio | wireless communication method concerning 2nd Embodiment. 中継局の他の構成を説明するためのブロック図である。It is a block diagram for demonstrating the other structure of a relay station. 所定の領域の範囲としての屋内の範囲を説明するための説明図である。It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the indoor range as a range of a predetermined area | region. 中継局のさらに他の構成を説明するためのブロック図である。It is a block diagram for demonstrating other structure of a relay station. 中継局GPS受信部との相対位置に基づく所定エリア情報の決定を説明するための説明図である。It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the determination of the predetermined area information based on a relative position with a relay station GPS receiving part. 無線通信端末間で生じる干渉を説明するための説明図である。It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the interference which arises between radio | wireless communication terminals.

以下に添付図面を参照しながら、本発明の好適な実施形態について詳細に説明する。かかる実施形態に示す寸法、材料、その他具体的な数値などは、発明の理解を容易とするための例示にすぎず、特に断る場合を除き、本発明を限定するものではない。なお、本明細書及び図面において、実質的に同一の機能、構成を有する要素については、同一の符号を付することにより重複説明を省略し、また本発明に直接関係のない要素は図示を省略する。   Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The dimensions, materials, and other specific numerical values shown in the embodiment are merely examples for facilitating understanding of the invention, and do not limit the present invention unless otherwise specified. In the present specification and drawings, elements having substantially the same function and configuration are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description is omitted, and elements not directly related to the present invention are not illustrated. To do.

PHS端末や携帯電話等に代表される無線通信端末は、所定間隔をおいて配される複数の基地局との広帯域の無線通信システムを構築し、この無線通信システムを通じて他の無線通信端末や通信網上のサーバと通信を遂行する。   A wireless communication terminal represented by a PHS terminal, a mobile phone, or the like constructs a broadband wireless communication system with a plurality of base stations arranged at a predetermined interval, and communicates with other wireless communication terminals and communication through this wireless communication system. Communicate with servers on the network.

ここでは、以下の実施形態の理解を容易にするため、まず無線通信システムの概略的な構成を説明し、その後で無線通信端末、基地局、および中継局の具体的な動作を説明する。また、ここでは、無線通信端末として携帯電話、PHS端末、ノート型パーソナルコンピュータ、PDA(Personal Digital Assistant)、デジタルカメラ、音楽プレイヤー、カーナビゲーション、ポータブルテレビ、ゲーム機器、DVDプレイヤー、リモートコントローラ等無線通信可能な様々な電子機器を用いることができる。
(第1実施形態:無線通信システム100)
Here, in order to facilitate understanding of the following embodiments, a schematic configuration of a wireless communication system will be described first, and then specific operations of a wireless communication terminal, a base station, and a relay station will be described. Here, wireless communication such as a mobile phone, a PHS terminal, a notebook personal computer, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), a digital camera, a music player, a car navigation system, a portable TV, a game device, a DVD player, a remote controller, etc. Various possible electronic devices can be used.
(First embodiment: wireless communication system 100)

図1は、本実施形態にかかる無線通信システムの概略的な構成を示したブロック図である。当該無線通信システム100は、無線通信端末110(110A、110B、110C)と、基地局120(120A、120B)と、中継局130と、ISDN(Integrated Services Digital Network)回線、インターネット、専用回線等で構成される通信網1
40と、中継サーバ150とを含んで構成される。
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a wireless communication system according to the present embodiment. The wireless communication system 100 includes a wireless communication terminal 110 (110A, 110B, 110C), a base station 120 (120A, 120B), a relay station 130, an ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network) line, the Internet, a dedicated line, and the like. Configured communication network 1
40 and the relay server 150.

かかる無線通信システム100において、ユーザが自身の無線通信端末110Aから他の無線通信端末110Bへの通信回線の接続を行う場合、無線通信端末110Aは、通信可能範囲内にある基地局120Aに無線接続要求を行う。無線接続要求を受信した基地局120Aは、通信網140を介して中継サーバ150に通信相手(無線通信端末110B
)との通信接続を要求し、中継サーバ150は、他の無線通信端末110Bの位置登録情報を参照し、他の無線通信端末110Bの無線通信範囲内にある基地局120Bを選択して基地局120Aと基地局120Bとの通信経路を確保し、無線通信端末110Aと無線通信端末110Bの通信を確立する。
In such a wireless communication system 100, when a user connects a communication line from his / her own wireless communication terminal 110A to another wireless communication terminal 110B, the wireless communication terminal 110A wirelessly connects to a base station 120A within a communicable range. Make a request. The base station 120A that has received the wireless connection request communicates with the relay server 150 via the communication network 140 (the wireless communication terminal 110B).
The relay server 150 refers to the location registration information of the other wireless communication terminal 110B, selects the base station 120B within the wireless communication range of the other wireless communication terminal 110B, and selects the base station A communication path between 120A and base station 120B is secured, and communication between wireless communication terminal 110A and wireless communication terminal 110B is established.

この際、無線通信方式としてWiMAX等次世代の高速無線通信方式における2.5GHz帯またはそれ以上の高周波数帯を使用する場合、電波の回り込みが抑制されるため、無線通信端末110が所定の領域としての建物160の中すなわち屋内に位置する場合圏外となる可能性が高くなる。そこで、本実施形態では、建物160の窓際等屋内と屋外の境界に、基地局120と無線通信端末110とを中継する中継局130を固設することで、無線通信端末110が屋内に位置する場合でも安定して基地局120と通信を遂行可能としている。すなわち本実施形態にかかる無線通信端末110は、中継局130とも、基地局120とも通信を行うことができる。   At this time, when a high-frequency band of 2.5 GHz or higher in a next-generation high-speed wireless communication system such as WiMAX is used as the wireless communication system, the wraparound of radio waves is suppressed. The possibility of being out of service is increased when it is located in the building 160, that is, indoors. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the wireless communication terminal 110 is located indoors by fixing the relay station 130 that relays the base station 120 and the wireless communication terminal 110 to the boundary between the indoor and the outdoor such as the window of the building 160. Even in this case, communication with the base station 120 can be performed stably. That is, the wireless communication terminal 110 according to the present embodiment can communicate with both the relay station 130 and the base station 120.

しかし、中継局130の近隣に、中継局130と通信している無線通信端末110Aと、基地局120と直接通信を行っている無線通信端末110Cとの両方が存在し、両者(110Aと110C)の距離が非常に近い場合、中継局130と無線通信端末110Aとの通信もしくは基地局120と無線通信端末110Cとの通信のいずれかまたは両方で干渉が生じるおそれがある。   However, there are both a wireless communication terminal 110A communicating with the relay station 130 and a wireless communication terminal 110C directly communicating with the base station 120 in the vicinity of the relay station 130, both (110A and 110C). May be interfered with either or both of communication between the relay station 130 and the wireless communication terminal 110A and / or communication between the base station 120 and the wireless communication terminal 110C.

ここでは、中継局130と通信を行っている無線通信端末110Aと、基地局120と直接通信を行っている無線通信端末110Cが中継局130の近隣にある場合を想定する。かかる状況下では、無線通信端末110Aと中継局130との電波状況は良好であることが予想されるので、無線通信端末110Aは小さい送信電力で中継局130と通信を行うことができる。一方、中継局130が設置される場所は一般に基地局120からの距離が離れている等基地局120からの電波が届きにくい場合が多く、無線通信端末110Cが中継局130の近隣に位置するということは基地局120から遠い場所等電波環境が悪い場所に位置していることになる。   Here, it is assumed that the wireless communication terminal 110 </ b> A communicating with the relay station 130 and the wireless communication terminal 110 </ b> C directly communicating with the base station 120 are in the vicinity of the relay station 130. Under such circumstances, radio wave conditions between the wireless communication terminal 110A and the relay station 130 are expected to be good, and thus the wireless communication terminal 110A can communicate with the relay station 130 with a small transmission power. On the other hand, the location where the relay station 130 is installed is often difficult to receive radio waves from the base station 120, such as being far away from the base station 120, and the wireless communication terminal 110C is located in the vicinity of the relay station 130. That is, it is located in a place where the radio wave environment is bad such as a place far from the base station 120.

したがって無線通信端末110Cは、無線通信端末110Aと比較して格段に高い送信電力で基地局120と通信を行うことになる。この場合、無線通信端末110Aと中継局130とが利用している搬送波と、無線通信端末110Cと基地局120とが利用している搬送波との周波数が、等しいもしくは隣接している場合、送信電力の高い無線通信端末110Cが送信電力の低い無線通信端末110Aに対して周波数方向に跨った干渉を与えるおそれがある。   Therefore, the wireless communication terminal 110C communicates with the base station 120 with significantly higher transmission power than the wireless communication terminal 110A. In this case, when the frequencies of the carrier wave used by the wireless communication terminal 110A and the relay station 130 and the carrier wave used by the wireless communication terminal 110C and the base station 120 are equal or adjacent to each other, the transmission power There is a possibility that the wireless communication terminal 110C having a high frequency may cause interference across the frequency direction to the wireless communication terminal 110A having a low transmission power.

そこで本実施形態では、干渉の原因となっている無線通信端末110Cをハンドオーバさせ適切な通信接続を遂行することで、中継局130と通信を行う無線通信端末110Aへの干渉を抑えることができる。以下、無線通信システム100の構成要素である無線通信端末110、基地局120、中継局130について個々に説明する。
(無線通信端末110)
Therefore, in the present embodiment, by interfering with the radio communication terminal 110C that causes interference and performing an appropriate communication connection, it is possible to suppress interference with the radio communication terminal 110A that communicates with the relay station 130. Hereinafter, the wireless communication terminal 110, the base station 120, and the relay station 130 that are components of the wireless communication system 100 will be described individually.
(Wireless communication terminal 110)

図2は、本実施形態にかかる無線通信端末のハードウェア構成を示した機能ブロック図であり、図3は、無線通信端末の外観を示した斜視図である。無線通信端末110は、端末制御部210と、端末メモリ212と、表示部214と、操作部216と、音声入力部218と、音声出力部220と、端末無線通信部222とを含んで構成される。   FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the wireless communication terminal according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating an appearance of the wireless communication terminal. The wireless communication terminal 110 includes a terminal control unit 210, a terminal memory 212, a display unit 214, an operation unit 216, a voice input unit 218, a voice output unit 220, and a terminal wireless communication unit 222. The

端末制御部210は、中央処理装置(CPU)を含む半導体集積回路により無線通信端末110全体を管理および制御する。端末制御部210は、端末メモリ212のプログラムを用いて、通話機能、メール送受信機能、撮像機能、音楽再生機能、TV視聴機能も遂
行する。また、端末制御部210は、基地局120からのハンドオーバ指示にしたがって、ハンドオーバを要求するハンドオーバ要求部230としても機能する。端末メモリ212は、ROM、RAM、EEPROM、不揮発性RAM、フラッシュメモリ、HDD等で構成され、端末制御部210で処理されるプログラムや音声データ等を記憶する。
The terminal control unit 210 manages and controls the entire wireless communication terminal 110 using a semiconductor integrated circuit including a central processing unit (CPU). The terminal control unit 210 also performs a call function, a mail transmission / reception function, an imaging function, a music playback function, and a TV viewing function using the program in the terminal memory 212. The terminal control unit 210 also functions as a handover request unit 230 that requests a handover in accordance with a handover instruction from the base station 120. The terminal memory 212 includes a ROM, a RAM, an EEPROM, a nonvolatile RAM, a flash memory, an HDD, and the like, and stores a program processed by the terminal control unit 210, audio data, and the like.

表示部214は、液晶ディスプレイ、EL(Electro Luminescence)ディスプレイ等で構成され、端末メモリ212に記憶された、または通信網140を介してアプリケーション中継サーバ(図示せず)から提供される、WebコンテンツやアプリケーションのGUI(Graphical User Interface)を表示することができる。操作部216は、キーボード、十字キー、ジョイスティック等のスイッチから構成され、ユーザの操作入力を受け付ける。   The display unit 214 includes a liquid crystal display, an EL (Electro Luminescence) display, etc., and is stored in the terminal memory 212 or provided from an application relay server (not shown) via the communication network 140, An application GUI (Graphical User Interface) can be displayed. The operation unit 216 includes switches such as a keyboard, a cross key, and a joystick, and receives a user operation input.

音声入力部218は、マイク等の音声認識手段で構成され、通話時等に入力されたユーザの音声を無線通信端末110内で処理可能な電気信号に変換する。音声出力部220は、スピーカで構成され、無線通信端末110で受信した通話相手の音声信号を音声に変えて出力する。また、音声出力部220は、着信音や、操作部216の操作音、アラーム音等も出力できる。   The voice input unit 218 includes voice recognition means such as a microphone, and converts a user voice input during a call or the like into an electrical signal that can be processed in the wireless communication terminal 110. The audio output unit 220 includes a speaker, and converts the audio signal of the other party received by the wireless communication terminal 110 into audio and outputs it. The voice output unit 220 can also output a ringtone, an operation sound of the operation unit 216, an alarm sound, and the like.

端末無線通信部222は、通信網140における基地局120または中継局130との無線通信を行う。端末無線通信部222には、OFDM方式、OFDMA方式等様々な無線通信方式を適用することができる。
(基地局120)
The terminal wireless communication unit 222 performs wireless communication with the base station 120 or the relay station 130 in the communication network 140. Various wireless communication methods such as OFDM and OFDMA can be applied to the terminal wireless communication unit 222.
(Base station 120)

図4は、本実施形態にかかる基地局の概略的な構成を示したブロック図である。基地局120は、基地局制御部310と、基地局メモリ312と、基地局無線通信部314と、基地局有線通信部316と、アダプティブアレイ機能を遂行するための複数のアンテナ318を含んで構成される。   FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the base station according to the present embodiment. The base station 120 includes a base station control unit 310, a base station memory 312, a base station wireless communication unit 314, a base station wired communication unit 316, and a plurality of antennas 318 for performing an adaptive array function. Is done.

基地局制御部310は、中央処理装置(CPU)を含む半導体集積回路により基地局120全体を管理および制御する。基地局メモリ312は、ROM、RAM、EEPROM、不揮発性RAM、フラッシュメモリ、HDD等で構成され、基地局制御部310で処理されるプログラム等を記憶する。   The base station control unit 310 manages and controls the entire base station 120 using a semiconductor integrated circuit including a central processing unit (CPU). The base station memory 312 includes a ROM, a RAM, an EEPROM, a nonvolatile RAM, a flash memory, an HDD, and the like, and stores a program processed by the base station control unit 310.

基地局無線通信部314は、無線通信端末110または中継局130と、例えばOFDMA方式等による無線通信を確立し、無線通信端末110または中継局130との通信状態に応じて、変調方式を適応的に変更することもできる(適応変調)。また、基地局無線通信部314は、無線通信端末110からのハンドオーバ要求に応じて、自局(基地局1
20)と中継局130とのハンドオーバを実行する。基地局有線通信部316は、通信網
140を介して中継サーバ150を含む様々なサーバと接続することができる。
The base station wireless communication unit 314 establishes wireless communication with the wireless communication terminal 110 or the relay station 130 using, for example, the OFDMA method, and adapts the modulation method according to the communication state with the wireless communication terminal 110 or the relay station 130. (Adaptive modulation). In addition, the base station wireless communication unit 314 responds to the handover request from the wireless communication terminal 110 and transmits its own station (base station 1
20) and the relay station 130 are handed over. The base station wired communication unit 316 can be connected to various servers including the relay server 150 via the communication network 140.

また本実施形態において、基地局制御部310は、干渉受信部320、キャリア端末抽出部322、ハンドオーバ情報送信部324、基地局電力取得部326、中継方向取得部328、端末方向取得部330、ハンドオーバ実行部332としても機能する。   In this embodiment, the base station control unit 310 includes an interference reception unit 320, a carrier terminal extraction unit 322, a handover information transmission unit 324, a base station power acquisition unit 326, a relay direction acquisition unit 328, a terminal direction acquisition unit 330, a handover It also functions as the execution unit 332.

干渉受信部320は、中継局130が送信する、中継局130と無線通信端末110との通信が干渉を受けている旨の干渉情報を基地局無線通信部314を介して受信する。   The interference receiving unit 320 receives, via the base station wireless communication unit 314, interference information transmitted from the relay station 130 to the effect that the communication between the relay station 130 and the wireless communication terminal 110 has received interference.

キャリア端末抽出部322は、中継局130が送信した干渉情報を干渉受信部320が受信した場合に、当該干渉情報に含まれる搬送波の周波数と同一もしくは近隣の周波数の搬送波を利用して自局(基地局120)と通信中である他の無線通信端末110を抽出する
When the interference reception unit 320 receives the interference information transmitted by the relay station 130, the carrier terminal extraction unit 322 uses the carrier of the same frequency as or near to the frequency of the carrier included in the interference information. The other wireless communication terminal 110 in communication with the base station 120) is extracted.

ハンドオーバ情報送信部324は、干渉受信部320が中継局130からの干渉情報を受信した場合に自局(基地局120)と通信中である他の無線通信端末110に中継局130へのハンドオーバを指示する旨のハンドオーバ情報を送信する。このとき、ハンドオーバ情報送信部324は、キャリア端末抽出部322が抽出した他の無線通信端末110に対してのみハンドオーバ情報を送信することもできる。   When the interference receiving unit 320 receives interference information from the relay station 130, the handover information transmitting unit 324 performs handover to the relay station 130 to another wireless communication terminal 110 that is communicating with the own station (base station 120). Handover information for instructing is transmitted. At this time, the handover information transmitting unit 324 can also transmit the handover information only to the other wireless communication terminal 110 extracted by the carrier terminal extracting unit 322.

ハンドオーバ情報送信部324が、キャリア端末抽出部322が抽出した他の無線通信端末110にハンドオーバ情報を送信する構成により、ハンドオーバを促す対象の無線通信端末110を周波数で限定することができ、ハンドオーバ情報送信部324の負荷を低減するとともに、不要なハンドオーバを抑制することが可能となる。   The configuration in which the handover information transmission unit 324 transmits the handover information to the other radio communication terminals 110 extracted by the carrier terminal extraction unit 322 can limit the radio communication terminals 110 that are to be handed over by frequency. It is possible to reduce the load on the transmission unit 324 and suppress unnecessary handover.

基地局電力取得部326は、自局(基地局120)と通信中の他の無線通信端末110の送信電力を含む送信電力情報を中継局130から間欠的に、すなわち所定時間毎に取得する。   The base station power acquisition unit 326 acquires transmission power information including the transmission power of the other wireless communication terminal 110 communicating with the own station (base station 120) from the relay station 130 intermittently, that is, every predetermined time.

さらに本実施形態において、ハンドオーバ情報送信部324は、キャリア端末抽出部322が抽出した他の無線通信端末110のうち、基地局電力取得部326が取得した送信電力が所定値を超えた他の無線通信端末110にハンドオーバ情報を送信することも可能である。   Further, in the present embodiment, the handover information transmission unit 324 includes other wireless communication terminals 110 whose transmission power acquired by the base station power acquisition unit 326 exceeds a predetermined value among the other wireless communication terminals 110 extracted by the carrier terminal extraction unit 322. It is also possible to send handover information to the communication terminal 110.

中継局130の近隣は基地局120からの距離が長いと見なすことができる。したがって、基地局120からの距離が遠い、すなわち送信電力が大きい無線通信端末110が干渉の原因になっている可能性が高い。本実施形態では、ハンドオーバを促す対象の無線通信端末110を送信電力で限定することができ、ハンドオーバ情報送信部324の負荷を低減するとともに、不要なハンドオーバを抑制することが可能となる。   The vicinity of the relay station 130 can be regarded as having a long distance from the base station 120. Therefore, there is a high possibility that the radio communication terminal 110 that is far from the base station 120, that is, has a large transmission power, causes interference. In the present embodiment, it is possible to limit the radio communication terminal 110 that is a target of handover by transmission power, and it is possible to reduce the load on the handover information transmission unit 324 and suppress unnecessary handover.

中継方向取得部328は、複数のアンテナ318を用いて遂行されるアダプティブアレイ機能を用いて中継局130の方向を示す中継局方向情報を取得する。   The relay direction acquisition unit 328 acquires relay station direction information indicating the direction of the relay station 130 using an adaptive array function performed using a plurality of antennas 318.

端末方向取得部330は、複数のアンテナ318を用いて遂行されるアダプティブアレイ機能を用いて自局(基地局120)と通信中の他の無線通信端末110の方向を示す端末方向情報を取得する。   The terminal direction acquisition unit 330 acquires terminal direction information indicating the direction of another wireless communication terminal 110 in communication with the local station (base station 120) using an adaptive array function performed using a plurality of antennas 318. .

本実施形態においてハンドオーバ情報送信部324は、キャリア端末抽出部322が抽出した他の無線通信端末110のうち、基地局電力取得部326が取得した送信電力が所定値を超えた他の無線通信端末110であって、さらに、中継方向取得部328が取得した中継局方向情報と端末方向取得部330が取得した端末方向情報に基づいて中継局130の方向と略等しい方向にある他の無線通信端末110にハンドオーバ情報を送信してもよい。   In this embodiment, the handover information transmission unit 324 is another wireless communication terminal whose transmission power acquired by the base station power acquisition unit 326 exceeds a predetermined value among the other wireless communication terminals 110 extracted by the carrier terminal extraction unit 322. 110, and another wireless communication terminal in a direction substantially equal to the direction of the relay station 130 based on the relay station direction information acquired by the relay direction acquisition unit 328 and the terminal direction information acquired by the terminal direction acquisition unit 330 The handover information may be transmitted to 110.

かかる構成により、ハンドオーバを促す対象の無線通信端末110を基地局120からの方向で限定することができ、ハンドオーバ情報送信部324の負荷を低減するとともに、不要なハンドオーバを抑制することが可能となる。   With this configuration, it is possible to limit the wireless communication terminals 110 that are to be handed over in the direction from the base station 120, thereby reducing the load on the handover information transmitting unit 324 and suppressing unnecessary handovers. .

本実施形態において、ハンドオーバ情報送信部324は、キャリア端末抽出部322、基地局電力取得部326、中継方向取得部328、端末方向取得部330が取得した情報に基づいてハンドオーバ情報を送信する他の無線通信端末110を決定しているが、これに限定されず、キャリア端末抽出部322、基地局電力取得部326、中継方向取得部3
28および端末方向取得部330のいずれかもしくは複数の組み合わせを利用することもできる。
In this embodiment, the handover information transmission unit 324 transmits other handover information based on the information acquired by the carrier terminal extraction unit 322, the base station power acquisition unit 326, the relay direction acquisition unit 328, and the terminal direction acquisition unit 330. Although the wireless communication terminal 110 is determined, the present invention is not limited to this, and the carrier terminal extraction unit 322, the base station power acquisition unit 326, the relay direction acquisition unit 3
28 or the terminal direction acquisition unit 330 or a combination of a plurality of them can be used.

例えば、キャリア端末抽出部322と基地局電力取得部326が取得した情報に基づいて他の無線通信端末110を決定する場合、ハンドオーバ情報送信部324は、基地局電力取得部326が取得した送信電力が最大の無線通信端末110に、または送信電力が最大から所定数までの無線通信端末110にハンドオーバ情報を送信するとよい。   For example, when determining another radio communication terminal 110 based on information acquired by the carrier terminal extraction unit 322 and the base station power acquisition unit 326, the handover information transmission unit 324 transmits the transmission power acquired by the base station power acquisition unit 326. The handover information may be transmitted to the wireless communication terminal 110 having the maximum transmission power or to the wireless communication terminals 110 having the maximum transmission power up to a predetermined number.

ハンドオーバ実行部332は、他の無線通信端末110からのハンドオーバ要求に応じて、自局(基地局120)から中継局130へのハンドオーバを実行する。   In response to a handover request from another radio communication terminal 110, the handover execution unit 332 executes a handover from the own station (base station 120) to the relay station 130.

以上説明したように本実施形態にかかる基地局120によれば、干渉の原因となっている他の無線通信端末110(干渉対象)を、干渉を受けている無線通信端末110が通信している中継局130にハンドオーバさせることができる。したがって、同一の周波数の搬送波を割り当てられることがなくなり、干渉を回避することができる。また、ハンドオーバ後は、中継局130との少ない送信電力による通信となるので、無線通信端末110と他の無線通信端末110の送信電力は、略等しくなる。したがって、たとえ、他の無線通信端末110と中継局130と通信している無線通信端末110とが利用する搬送波の周波数が隣接していたとしても、相互に干渉を与える可能性を低減させることが可能となる。
(中継局130)
As described above, according to the base station 120 according to the present embodiment, the radio communication terminal 110 receiving the interference is communicating with another radio communication terminal 110 (interference target) that is causing the interference. The relay station 130 can be handed over. Therefore, no carrier wave having the same frequency is assigned, and interference can be avoided. Further, after the handover, communication with the relay station 130 is performed with a small transmission power, so that the transmission powers of the radio communication terminal 110 and the other radio communication terminals 110 are substantially equal. Therefore, even if the frequencies of the carrier waves used by the other wireless communication terminals 110 and the wireless communication terminals 110 communicating with the relay station 130 are adjacent to each other, the possibility of mutual interference can be reduced. It becomes possible.
(Relay station 130)

図5は、本実施形態にかかる中継局の概略的な構成を示したブロック図である。中継局130は、中継局制御部410と、中継局メモリ412と、中継局無線通信部414とを含んで構成される。   FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the relay station according to the present embodiment. The relay station 130 includes a relay station control unit 410, a relay station memory 412, and a relay station wireless communication unit 414.

中継局制御部410は、中央処理装置(CPU)を含む半導体集積回路により中継局130全体を管理および制御する。中継局メモリ412は、ROM、RAM、EEPROM、不揮発性RAM、フラッシュメモリ、HDD等で構成され、中継局制御部410で処理されるプログラム等を記憶する。中継局無線通信部414は、無線通信端末110と通信を行う端末通信部416と、基地局120と通信を行う基地局通信部418とを含んで構成され、無線通信端末110と基地局120とを中継する。これにより、中継局130は、基地局120と通信する場合に無線通信端末として機能し、基地局120は中継局130を無線通信端末同様に取り扱うことができる。端末通信部416は、無線通信端末110との通信状態に応じて、変調方式を適応的に変更することもできる(適応変調)。   The relay station control unit 410 manages and controls the entire relay station 130 by a semiconductor integrated circuit including a central processing unit (CPU). The relay station memory 412 includes a ROM, a RAM, an EEPROM, a nonvolatile RAM, a flash memory, an HDD, and the like, and stores a program processed by the relay station control unit 410. The relay station radio communication unit 414 includes a terminal communication unit 416 that communicates with the radio communication terminal 110, and a base station communication unit 418 that communicates with the base station 120, and the radio communication terminal 110, the base station 120, and the like. Relay. Accordingly, the relay station 130 functions as a wireless communication terminal when communicating with the base station 120, and the base station 120 can handle the relay station 130 in the same manner as the wireless communication terminal. The terminal communication unit 416 can also adaptively change the modulation scheme according to the communication state with the wireless communication terminal 110 (adaptive modulation).

また本実施形態において、中継局制御部410は、通信品質取得部420、干渉判定部422、干渉通知部424、中継電力取得部426、呼数判定部428、端末抽出部430、指示通知部432としても機能する。   In this embodiment, the relay station control unit 410 includes a communication quality acquisition unit 420, an interference determination unit 422, an interference notification unit 424, a relay power acquisition unit 426, a call number determination unit 428, a terminal extraction unit 430, and an instruction notification unit 432. Also works.

通信品質取得部420は、無線通信端末110と基地局120との通信を中継している場合に、自局(中継局130)と無線通信端末110との通信における通信品質を取得する。例えば、本実施形態では、無線通信端末110Aとの通信における通信品質を取得している。   When the communication between the wireless communication terminal 110 and the base station 120 is relayed, the communication quality acquisition unit 420 acquires the communication quality in the communication between the own station (relay station 130) and the wireless communication terminal 110. For example, in this embodiment, the communication quality in communication with the wireless communication terminal 110A is acquired.

本実施形態において、通信品質取得部420は、通信品質として、RSSIと、CINRを取得する。RSSIとCINRを利用することにより、通信品質を好適に把握することが可能となる。なお、ここでは、通信品質取得部420は、通信品質としてRSSIとCINRを取得しているが、RSSIとSINRを取得しても通信品質を好適に把握することができる。   In this embodiment, the communication quality acquisition unit 420 acquires RSSI and CINR as communication quality. By using RSSI and CINR, it is possible to appropriately grasp the communication quality. Here, although the communication quality acquisition unit 420 acquires RSSI and CINR as communication quality, the communication quality can be properly grasped even if RSSI and SINR are acquired.

干渉判定部422は、通信品質取得部420が取得した通信品質としてのRSSIとCINRに基づいて、自局(中継局130)と無線通信端末110との通信が干渉を受けているか否かを判定する。本実施形態において干渉判定部422は、SINRとRSSIとの関係としてのSINR/RSSI、もしくはCINRとRSSIとの関係としてのCINR/RSSIが所定の条件を満たす、例えば所定値以下である場合に、自局(中継局130)と無線通信端末110との通信が干渉を受けていると判定する。具体的に本実施形態にかかる干渉判定部422は、CINR/RSSIが所定値以下である場合に、自局(中継局130)と無線通信端末110との通信が干渉を受けていると判定する。例えば、本実施形態では無線通信端末110Aとの通信が干渉を受けているか否かを判定している。   The interference determination unit 422 determines whether communication between the local station (the relay station 130) and the wireless communication terminal 110 is interfered based on the RSSI and CINR as the communication quality acquired by the communication quality acquisition unit 420. To do. In the present embodiment, the interference determination unit 422, when SINR / RSSI as a relationship between SINR and RSSI, or CINR / RSSI as a relationship between CINR and RSSI satisfies a predetermined condition, for example, below a predetermined value, It is determined that the communication between the own station (relay station 130) and the wireless communication terminal 110 is subject to interference. Specifically, the interference determination unit 422 according to the present embodiment determines that communication between the own station (relay station 130) and the wireless communication terminal 110 is receiving interference when CINR / RSSI is equal to or less than a predetermined value. . For example, in the present embodiment, it is determined whether or not communication with the wireless communication terminal 110A is subject to interference.

RSSIは、受信した電波全ての電波強度であり、CINRは所望する搬送波と干渉を含む雑音との比である。したがって、CINR/RSSIが所定値以下であれば干渉を受けているか否かを確実に判定することができる。   RSSI is the radio field intensity of all received radio waves, and CINR is the ratio between the desired carrier and noise including interference. Therefore, if CINR / RSSI is equal to or less than a predetermined value, it can be reliably determined whether or not interference has occurred.

ここで通信品質取得部420が通信品質としてRSSIおよびSINRを取得した場合には、干渉判定部422は、SINR/RSSIが所定値以下である場合に、自局(中継局130)と無線通信端末110との通信が干渉を受けていると判定する。SINRは所望信号と干渉を含む雑音との比であるため、CINR/RSSIを用いて干渉の有無を判定する場合と同様に無線通信端末110との通信が干渉を受けているか否かを判定することが可能となる。   When the communication quality acquisition unit 420 acquires RSSI and SINR as communication quality, the interference determination unit 422 determines that the local station (relay station 130) and the wireless communication terminal when the SINR / RSSI is equal to or less than a predetermined value. It is determined that the communication with 110 is receiving interference. Since SINR is a ratio between a desired signal and noise including interference, it is determined whether or not communication with the wireless communication terminal 110 is receiving interference in the same manner as in the case where the presence / absence of interference is determined using CINR / RSSI. It becomes possible.

干渉通知部424は、無線通信端末110との通信が干渉を受けていると干渉判定部422が判定した場合に、基地局120と通信している無線通信端末110に自局(中継局130)へのハンドオーバを促ために、干渉を受けている旨を含む干渉情報を、基地局通信部418を介して基地局120に通知する。例えば、本実施形態では、無線通信端末110Aとの通信が干渉を受けていると干渉判定部422が判定した場合に、基地局120と通信している無線通信端末110Cに自局(中継局130)へのハンドオーバを促ために、干渉を受けている旨を含む干渉情報を、基地局通信部418を介して基地局120に通知している。   When the interference determination unit 422 determines that the communication with the wireless communication terminal 110 has received interference, the interference notification unit 424 notifies the wireless communication terminal 110 that is communicating with the base station 120 of the own station (relay station 130). In order to facilitate handover to the base station 120, the base station 120 is notified of interference information including the fact that interference has been received via the base station communication unit 418. For example, in the present embodiment, when the interference determination unit 422 determines that the communication with the wireless communication terminal 110A has received interference, the wireless communication terminal 110C communicating with the base station 120 communicates with its own station (relay station 130). The base station 120 is notified of interference information including the fact that it is receiving interference via the base station communication unit 418.

本実施形態において干渉通知部424は、無線通信端末110と自局(中継局130)との通信で用いる搬送波の周波数およびタイムスロットも干渉情報に含ませて基地局120に通知する。   In the present embodiment, the interference notification unit 424 notifies the base station 120 of the interference information including the frequency and time slot of the carrier wave used for communication between the wireless communication terminal 110 and the own station (relay station 130).

これにより、中継局130と通信を行っている無線通信端末110の搬送波の周波数と略同一もしくは隣接する(もしくは近隣の)周波数を搬送波として利用している他の無線通信端末110を自局(中継局130)にハンドオーバさせるように基地局120に通知することができる。したがって、無線通信端末110に干渉を与えている可能性の高い他の無線通信端末110にのみ自局(中継局130)へのハンドオーバを促すことができ、効率よく干渉を回避することが可能となる。   As a result, another wireless communication terminal 110 that uses a frequency that is substantially the same as or adjacent to (or in the vicinity of) the carrier wave of the wireless communication terminal 110 that is communicating with the relay station 130 is used as the local station (relay). The base station 120 can be notified to be handed over to the station 130). Therefore, it is possible to prompt only another wireless communication terminal 110 that is highly likely to cause interference to the wireless communication terminal 110 to be handed over to the own station (relay station 130), and to efficiently avoid interference. Become.

また、中継局130と通信を行っている無線通信端末110が利用するタイムスロットと同一もしくは隣接するタイムスロットを利用している他の無線通信端末110を自局(中継局130)にハンドオーバさせるように基地局120に通知することができる。したがって、TDMA方式を利用した無線通信方式である場合に、好適に無線通信端末110に干渉を与えている可能性の高い他の無線通信端末110にのみ自局(中継局130)へのハンドオーバを促すことが可能となる。   Further, another wireless communication terminal 110 using a time slot that is the same as or adjacent to the time slot used by the wireless communication terminal 110 communicating with the relay station 130 is handed over to the own station (relay station 130). To the base station 120. Therefore, in the case of a wireless communication method using the TDMA method, a handover to the own station (relay station 130) is preferably performed only to another wireless communication terminal 110 that is likely to be interfering with the wireless communication terminal 110. It is possible to prompt.

中継電力取得部426は、自局(中継局130)と通信中の無線通信端末110の送信電力を含む送信電力情報を取得する。例えば、本実施形態では無線通信端末110A、110Cの送信電力を含む送信電力情報を取得している。   The relay power acquisition unit 426 acquires transmission power information including the transmission power of the wireless communication terminal 110 in communication with the own station (relay station 130). For example, in this embodiment, transmission power information including the transmission power of the wireless communication terminals 110A and 110C is acquired.

呼数判定部428は、自局(中継局130)と通信していない無線通信端末110からの通信接続要求があった場合に自局(中継局130)と通信中の呼が所定数を超えているか否かを判定する。ここで、呼とは、例えば、チャネルや、WiMAX等におけるPRU(Physical Resource Unit)などである。   The call number determination unit 428 exceeds a predetermined number of calls in communication with the local station (relay station 130) when there is a communication connection request from the wireless communication terminal 110 that is not communicating with the local station (relay station 130). It is determined whether or not. Here, the call is, for example, a channel, a PRU (Physical Resource Unit) in WiMAX, or the like.

端末抽出部430は、呼数判定部428が通信中の呼が所定数を超えていると判定した場合に中継電力取得部426が取得した送信電力情報に基づいて、所定の無線通信端末110を抽出する。例えば、本実施形態では無線通信端末110Cを抽出している。   The terminal extraction unit 430 selects a predetermined wireless communication terminal 110 based on the transmission power information acquired by the relay power acquisition unit 426 when the call number determination unit 428 determines that the number of calls in communication exceeds the predetermined number. Extract. For example, in this embodiment, the wireless communication terminal 110C is extracted.

指示通知部432は、端末抽出部430が抽出した無線通信端末110にハンドオーバを促す指示情報を、基地局通信部418を介して基地局120に通知する。ここで指示通知部432は、端末抽出部430が抽出した無線通信端末110にハンドオーバを促すコマンドを基地局120に送信する。   The instruction notification unit 432 notifies the base station 120 via the base station communication unit 418 of the instruction information that prompts the wireless communication terminal 110 extracted by the terminal extraction unit 430 to perform a handover. Here, the instruction notifying unit 432 transmits to the base station 120 a command that prompts the wireless communication terminal 110 extracted by the terminal extracting unit 430 to perform a handover.

上述した、中継電力取得部426、呼数判定部428、端末抽出部430、指示通知部432を含む構成により、中継局130が所定数を超えた呼と通信を行っている場合、中継局130との距離が長い、すなわち他の基地局との距離が短く、ハンドオーバの効果を得やすいと推定できる無線通信端末110を優先的にハンドオーバさせることで、それぞれ適切な無線通信を確立することが可能となり、中継局130と通信を行う無線通信端末110への干渉を抑えることができる。   When the relay station 130 is communicating with a call exceeding a predetermined number by the configuration including the relay power acquisition unit 426, the call number determination unit 428, the terminal extraction unit 430, and the instruction notification unit 432 described above, the relay station 130 It is possible to establish appropriate wireless communication by preferentially handing over the wireless communication terminal 110 that can be estimated that the distance to the other base station is long, that is, the distance to other base stations is short and the effect of handover is easy to obtain. Thus, interference with the wireless communication terminal 110 that communicates with the relay station 130 can be suppressed.

以上説明したように本実施形態にかかる中継局130によれば、自局(中継局130)と通信を行っている無線通信端末110が干渉を受けていると判定された場合、干渉対象となる他の無線通信端末110にハンドオーバさせ自局(中継局130)と通信を確立するように促すことができる。これにより、干渉を受けている無線通信端末110と、干渉の原因となっている他の無線通信端末110(干渉対象)とが、同じ中継局130と通信を行うことが可能となる。したがって、同一の周波数の搬送波を割り当てられることがなくなり、干渉を回避することができる。   As described above, according to the relay station 130 according to the present embodiment, when it is determined that the wireless communication terminal 110 communicating with the local station (relay station 130) is receiving interference, the relay station 130 is subject to interference. It is possible to prompt the other wireless communication terminal 110 to perform handover and establish communication with the own station (relay station 130). As a result, the radio communication terminal 110 that is receiving interference and the other radio communication terminal 110 (interference target) that is causing the interference can communicate with the same relay station 130. Therefore, no carrier wave having the same frequency is assigned, and interference can be avoided.

さらに、干渉を与えている他の無線通信端末110(干渉対象)は通信中である基地局120と比較して近隣にある中継局130にハンドオーバすることができるため、良好な通信環境を得る可能性が高く、消費電力を抑えることが可能となる。したがって、他の無線通信端末110と無線通信端末110とが利用する搬送波の周波数が隣接していたとしても、他の無線通信端末110と無線通信端末110は略等しい送信電力で通信を行うことになるため、相互に干渉を与える可能性を低減させることが可能となる。
(無線通信方法)
Furthermore, since the other wireless communication terminal 110 (interference target) that is causing interference can be handed over to a nearby relay station 130 as compared with the base station 120 that is performing communication, a favorable communication environment can be obtained. Therefore, power consumption can be suppressed. Therefore, even if the carrier frequencies used by the other wireless communication terminals 110 and 110 are adjacent to each other, the other wireless communication terminals 110 and the wireless communication terminals 110 communicate with each other with substantially the same transmission power. Therefore, the possibility of mutual interference can be reduced.
(Wireless communication method)

次に、無線通信端末110と、基地局120と、中継局130とを用いて無線通信を実行する無線通信方法を詳細に説明する。   Next, a wireless communication method for performing wireless communication using the wireless communication terminal 110, the base station 120, and the relay station 130 will be described in detail.

図6は、本実施形態にかかる無線通信方法の処理を示したシーケンス図である。例えば、本実施形態では、中継局130と通信を行っている無線通信端末110Aと、基地局120と通信を行っている他の無線通信端末110Cを挙げて説明する。   FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram showing processing of the wireless communication method according to the present embodiment. For example, in the present embodiment, description will be given by taking the wireless communication terminal 110A communicating with the relay station 130 and another wireless communication terminal 110C communicating with the base station 120.

中継局130の近隣に位置する他の無線通信端末110Cが基地局120と通信中であり(S500:通信ステップ)、中継局130が無線通信端末110Aと基地局120と
の通信を中継している(S502:通信中継ステップ)場合に、中継局130の通信品質取得部420が、自局(中継局130)と無線通信端末110Aとの通信における通信品質を取得する(S504:通信品質取得ステップ)。
Another wireless communication terminal 110C located in the vicinity of relay station 130 is communicating with base station 120 (S500: communication step), and relay station 130 relays communication between wireless communication terminal 110A and base station 120. In the case of (S502: communication relay step), the communication quality acquisition unit 420 of the relay station 130 acquires the communication quality in communication between the local station (relay station 130) and the wireless communication terminal 110A (S504: communication quality acquisition step). .

中継局130の干渉判定部422は、通信品質取得ステップS504で取得した通信品質に基づいて、自局(中継局130)と無線通信端末110Aとの通信が干渉を受けているか否かを判定し(S506:干渉判定ステップ)、干渉を受けていると判定した場合に、基地局120と通信している他の無線通信端末110Cにハンドオーバを促すために、干渉を受けている旨を含む干渉情報を、基地局120に通知する(S508:干渉情報通知ステップ)。   Based on the communication quality acquired in the communication quality acquisition step S504, the interference determination unit 422 of the relay station 130 determines whether the communication between the local station (relay station 130) and the wireless communication terminal 110A is subject to interference. (S506: Interference determination step) When it is determined that interference is received, interference information including interference is received in order to prompt other wireless communication terminals 110C communicating with the base station 120 to perform handover. To the base station 120 (S508: interference information notification step).

基地局120の干渉受信部320が、干渉情報を受信すると(S510:干渉情報受信ステップ)、ハンドオーバ情報送信部324が自局(基地局120)と通信中である他の無線通信端末110のうち、キャリア端末抽出部322、基地局電力取得部326、中継方向取得部328、端末方向取得部330が取得した情報に基づいてハンドオーバ情報を送信する他の無線通信端末110Cを選択する(S512:送信先選択ステップ)。   When the interference receiving unit 320 of the base station 120 receives the interference information (S510: interference information receiving step), the handover information transmitting unit 324 among other wireless communication terminals 110 that are communicating with the own station (base station 120) Based on the information acquired by the carrier terminal extraction unit 322, the base station power acquisition unit 326, the relay direction acquisition unit 328, and the terminal direction acquisition unit 330, the other wireless communication terminal 110C that transmits the handover information is selected (S512: transmission). First selection step).

送信先選択ステップS512において選択された他の無線通信端末110Cに中継局130へのハンドオーバを指示する旨のハンドオーバ情報を送信し(S514:ハンドオーバ情報送信ステップ)する。   Handover information for instructing handover to the relay station 130 is transmitted to the other radio communication terminal 110C selected in the transmission destination selection step S512 (S514: handover information transmission step).

基地局120と通信中の他の無線通信端末110Cがハンドオーバ情報を受信すると(S516:ハンドオーバ情報受信ステップ)、他の無線通信端末110Cのハンドオーバ要求部230がハンドオーバ要求を基地局120に送信する(S518:ハンドオーバ要求ステップ)。   When the other wireless communication terminal 110C communicating with the base station 120 receives the handover information (S516: handover information receiving step), the handover request unit 230 of the other wireless communication terminal 110C transmits a handover request to the base station 120 ( S518: Handover request step).

基地局120のハンドオーバ実行部332は、他の無線通信端末110Cからのハンドオーバ要求に応じて、自局(基地局120)から中継局130へのハンドオーバを実行し(S520:ハンドオーバ処理実行ステップ)、中継局130と他の無線通信端末110Cとの通信確立が遂行される(S522:通信確立ステップ)。   The handover execution unit 332 of the base station 120 executes a handover from the own station (base station 120) to the relay station 130 in response to a handover request from another radio communication terminal 110C (S520: handover process execution step). Communication establishment between the relay station 130 and the other wireless communication terminal 110C is performed (S522: communication establishment step).

以上説明したように、本実施形態にかかる無線通信方法においても、中継局130と無線通信端末110との通信が干渉を受けていると判定された場合、干渉対象となる他の無線通信端末110にハンドオーバさせ中継局130と通信を確立するように促すことができる。これにより、干渉を受けている無線通信端末110と、干渉の原因となっている他の無線通信端末110(干渉対象)とが、同じ中継局130と通信を行うことが可能となる。したがって、ハンドオーバ後は中継局130との少ない送信電力による通信となるので、無線通信端末110と他の無線通信端末110の送信電力は、略等しくなる。これにより、たとえ、他の無線通信端末110と無線通信端末110とが利用する搬送波の周波数が隣接していたとしても、相互に干渉を与える可能性を低減させることが可能となる。(第2実施形態)   As described above, also in the wireless communication method according to the present embodiment, when it is determined that the communication between the relay station 130 and the wireless communication terminal 110 has received interference, the other wireless communication terminal 110 to be interfered with is determined. To establish a communication with the relay station 130. As a result, the radio communication terminal 110 that is receiving interference and the other radio communication terminal 110 (interference target) that is causing the interference can communicate with the same relay station 130. Therefore, after the handover, communication with the relay station 130 is performed with a small transmission power, so that the transmission powers of the radio communication terminal 110 and the other radio communication terminals 110 are substantially equal. As a result, even if the frequencies of the carrier waves used by the other wireless communication terminal 110 and the wireless communication terminal 110 are adjacent to each other, it is possible to reduce the possibility of mutual interference. (Second Embodiment)

上述した第1実施形態では、干渉の原因となっている他の無線通信端末110をハンドオーバさせ適切な通信接続を遂行することで、中継局130と通信を行う無線通信端末110への干渉を抑えることができる無線通信システム100、基地局120、中継局130、無線通信方法について説明した。   In the first embodiment described above, interference with the wireless communication terminal 110 that communicates with the relay station 130 is suppressed by handing over another wireless communication terminal 110 that causes interference and performing an appropriate communication connection. The wireless communication system 100, the base station 120, the relay station 130, and the wireless communication method that can be used have been described.

しかし、中継局130は無線通信端末110と基地局120との通信を補助的に支援するものであるため、基地局120と比較して、同時通信することが可能な無線通信端末110や呼の数が制限される。したがって、干渉対象となる他の無線通信端末110との通
信を中継局130が積極的に遂行すると、中継局130が本来接続すべき所定の領域に位置する無線通信端末110との通信が制限されかねない。例えば、本実施形態では中継局130が設置されている屋内に位置する無線通信端末110との通信が制限されかねない。
However, since the relay station 130 assists the communication between the radio communication terminal 110 and the base station 120, compared to the base station 120, the relay station 130 or the call The number is limited. Therefore, when the relay station 130 actively performs communication with another wireless communication terminal 110 that is an interference target, communication with the wireless communication terminal 110 located in a predetermined area to which the relay station 130 should originally be connected is limited. It might be. For example, in the present embodiment, communication with the wireless communication terminal 110 located indoors where the relay station 130 is installed may be restricted.

また、中継局130は移動体の中もしくは建物の屋内に位置する無線通信端末110と基地局120との通信を効率よく中継するために、一般的に移動体の中もしくは建物の屋内と、移動体の外もしくは建物の屋外と、の境界(建物160等の窓際等)に設置することが多い。窓際に中継局130を設置する場合、見通しがよいことが多いため、移動体の外もしくは建物の屋外に位置する他の無線通信端末110を接続してしまい、やはり移動体の中もしくは建物の屋内の無線通信端末110との通信が制限されることとなる。   In addition, the relay station 130 generally moves in the mobile body or in the building in order to efficiently relay communication between the wireless communication terminal 110 located in the mobile body or in the building and the base station 120. It is often installed at the boundary between the outside of the body or the outside of the building (such as near the window of the building 160). When the relay station 130 is installed near the window, the line of sight is often good, so another wireless communication terminal 110 located outside the moving body or outside the building is connected, and again in the moving body or inside the building. Communication with the other wireless communication terminal 110 is restricted.

そこで本実施形態では、中継局との通信確立を要求する無線通信端末が所定の領域にあるか否かを判定し、所定の領域に位置する無線通信端末を優先的に接続することで、中継局の本来の目的を確実に遂行することが可能な中継局および無線通信方法について説明する。
(中継局600)
Therefore, in this embodiment, it is determined whether or not a wireless communication terminal requesting establishment of communication with a relay station is in a predetermined area, and a wireless communication terminal located in the predetermined area is preferentially connected to perform relaying. A relay station and a wireless communication method capable of reliably accomplishing the original purpose of the station will be described.
(Relay station 600)

図7は、本実施形態にかかる中継局の概略的な構成を示したブロック図である。上述した中継局130と実質的に等しい構成要素については、同一の符号を付して説明を省略する。   FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the relay station according to the present embodiment. Components that are substantially the same as those of the relay station 130 described above are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

図7に示すように中継局600は、中継局制御部610と、中継局メモリ612と、中継局無線通信部614と、アダプティブアレイ機能を遂行するための複数のアンテナ616を含んで構成され、中継局無線通信部614は、上述した第1実施形態と同様に無線通信端末110と通信を行う端末通信部620と、基地局120と通信を行う基地局通信部622とを含んで構成され、無線通信端末110と基地局120とを中継する。   As shown in FIG. 7, the relay station 600 includes a relay station control unit 610, a relay station memory 612, a relay station wireless communication unit 614, and a plurality of antennas 616 for performing an adaptive array function. The relay station wireless communication unit 614 includes a terminal communication unit 620 that communicates with the wireless communication terminal 110 and a base station communication unit 622 that communicates with the base station 120, as in the first embodiment described above. The wireless communication terminal 110 and the base station 120 are relayed.

本実施形態において、複数のアンテナ616および後述する方向保持部630として機能する中継局メモリ612は、一体的に備えられているがこれに限定されず、別体に備えることもできる。   In this embodiment, the relay station memory 612 that functions as a plurality of antennas 616 and a direction holding unit 630 to be described later is provided integrally, but is not limited thereto, and may be provided separately.

中継局制御部610は、中央処理装置(CPU)を含む半導体集積回路により中継局600全体を管理および制御する。中継局メモリ612は、ROM、RAM、EEPROM、不揮発性RAM、フラッシュメモリ、HDD等で構成され、中継局制御部610で処理されるプログラム等を記憶する。本実施形態において、中継局メモリ612は、方向保持部630としても機能する。方向保持部630は、所定の領域の方向を示す方向と、所定の領域外を示す方向を特定する情報を予め保持する。例えば、本実施形態において、方向保持部630は、所定の領域として当該中継局600が設置されている建物の屋内もしくは当該中継局600が設置されている移動体の中の方向を示す方向と、所定の領域外として当該中継局600が設置されている建物の屋外もしくは当該中継局600が設置されている移動体の外を示す方向を特定する情報を予め保持している。   The relay station control unit 610 manages and controls the entire relay station 600 using a semiconductor integrated circuit including a central processing unit (CPU). The relay station memory 612 includes a ROM, a RAM, an EEPROM, a nonvolatile RAM, a flash memory, an HDD, and the like, and stores a program processed by the relay station control unit 610. In the present embodiment, the relay station memory 612 also functions as the direction holding unit 630. The direction holding unit 630 holds in advance information for specifying the direction indicating the direction of the predetermined area and the direction indicating the outside of the predetermined area. For example, in the present embodiment, the direction holding unit 630 includes a direction indicating a direction in a building where the relay station 600 is installed or a mobile body where the relay station 600 is installed as a predetermined area. Information for specifying a direction indicating the outside of the building where the relay station 600 is installed outside the predetermined area or the outside of the moving body where the relay station 600 is installed is stored in advance.

本実施形態において、中継局制御部610は、通信品質取得部420、干渉判定部422、干渉通知部424、中継電力取得部426、端末抽出部430、指示通知部432、内外判定部632、呼数判定部634、としても機能する。   In the present embodiment, the relay station control unit 610 includes a communication quality acquisition unit 420, an interference determination unit 422, an interference notification unit 424, a relay power acquisition unit 426, a terminal extraction unit 430, an instruction notification unit 432, an inside / outside determination unit 632, a call It also functions as the number determination unit 634.

内外判定部632は、無線通信端末110からの通信接続要求があった場合に、通信接続要求があった無線通信端末110が、所定の領域すなわち当該中継局600が設置されている建物の屋内にあるか否かを判定する。また内外判定部632は、通信確立中の無線
通信端末110の中で屋外(所定の領域外)に位置する無線通信端末110があるか否かも判定する。
When there is a communication connection request from the wireless communication terminal 110, the inside / outside determination unit 632 causes the wireless communication terminal 110 that has made the communication connection request to be located in a predetermined area, that is, in the building where the relay station 600 is installed. It is determined whether or not there is. The inside / outside determination unit 632 also determines whether or not there is a wireless communication terminal 110 located outdoors (outside a predetermined area) among the wireless communication terminals 110 in which communication is established.

本実施形態において、内外判定部632は、複数のアンテナ616を用いて遂行されるアダプティブアレイ機能によって導出された通信接続要求があった無線通信端末110の方向が、方向保持部630に保持された所定の領域(屋内)を示す方向と所定の領域外(屋外)を示す方向を特定する情報に基づく所定の領域(屋内)を示す方向に含まれるか否かによって通信接続要求があった無線通信端末110が所定の領域(屋内)に位置するか否かを判定する。   In the present embodiment, the inside / outside determination unit 632 holds the direction of the wireless communication terminal 110 having a communication connection request derived by the adaptive array function performed using the plurality of antennas 616 held in the direction holding unit 630. Wireless communication for which there was a communication connection request depending on whether or not it is included in a direction indicating a predetermined area (indoor) based on information specifying a direction indicating a predetermined area (indoor) and a direction indicating a predetermined area (outdoor) It is determined whether or not the terminal 110 is located in a predetermined area (indoor).

内外判定部632が、複数のアンテナ616を用いたアダプティブアレイ機能を利用することにより、正確に無線通信端末110の方向を導出することができる。中継局600は、アダプティブアレイ機能によって導出される方向と、予め保持している所定の領域(屋内)を示す方向と、所定の領域外(屋外)を示す方向と、を比較するだけで、所定の領域(屋内)であるか否かを容易かつ確実に判定することが可能となる。   By using the adaptive array function using the plurality of antennas 616, the inside / outside determination unit 632 can accurately derive the direction of the wireless communication terminal 110. The relay station 600 simply compares the direction derived by the adaptive array function with the direction indicating the predetermined area (indoor) held in advance and the direction indicating the predetermined area (outdoor). It is possible to easily and reliably determine whether the area is indoor (indoor).

また中継局600は、移動体の中や建物の屋内等基地局120との通信を直接行うことが困難な場所に位置する無線通信端末110と基地局120との通信を中継するものであるため、建物160等の窓際すなわち屋内と屋外の境界に設置することが多い。したがって、中継局600の設置箇所と当該設置箇所に対する屋内を示す方向と屋外を示す方向を予め保持しておけば、中継局600から無線通信端末110までの距離が不明であったとしても、無線通信端末110の方向を導出できれば屋内であるか否かを容易に判定することができる。   Further, the relay station 600 relays communication between the radio communication terminal 110 and the base station 120 located in a place where it is difficult to directly communicate with the base station 120 such as in a mobile body or indoors of a building. It is often installed near the window of a building 160 or the like, that is, at the boundary between indoor and outdoor. Accordingly, if the installation location of the relay station 600, the direction indicating the indoor and the direction indicating the outdoor with respect to the installation location are held in advance, even if the distance from the relay station 600 to the wireless communication terminal 110 is unknown, If the direction of the communication terminal 110 can be derived, it can be easily determined whether it is indoor.

例えば、本実施形態において上述した端末通信部620は、内外判定部632が所定の領域(屋内)にあると判定した無線通信端末110Dとの通信確立を優先している。   For example, the terminal communication unit 620 described above in the present embodiment gives priority to establishment of communication with the wireless communication terminal 110D that the inside / outside determination unit 632 determines to be in a predetermined area (indoor).

呼数判定部634は、無線通信端末110からの通信接続要求があった場合に、自局(
中継局600)と通信中の呼が第1所定数を超えているか否かを判定する。
When there is a communication connection request from the wireless communication terminal 110, the call number determination unit 634
It is determined whether the number of calls in communication with the relay station 600) exceeds the first predetermined number.

そして、本実施形態において端末通信部620は、呼数判定部634が自局(中継局600)と通信中の呼が第1所定数、例えば、無線通信端末110の許容呼数の70%を超えていると判定した場合に、内外判定部632が所定の領域(屋内)にないと判定した無線通信端末110との通信確立を拒否する。例えば、本実施形態では、無線通信端末110Eとの通信確立を拒否する。   In this embodiment, the terminal communication unit 620 determines that the number of calls that the call number determination unit 634 is communicating with the local station (relay station 600) is the first predetermined number, for example, 70% of the allowable number of calls of the wireless communication terminal 110. When it is determined that the number of the wireless communication terminal 110 exceeds the wireless communication terminal 110, the internal / external determination unit 632 rejects establishment of communication with the wireless communication terminal 110 determined not to be in the predetermined area (indoor). For example, in the present embodiment, establishment of communication with the wireless communication terminal 110E is rejected.

これにより、第1所定数を超える数の呼と通信中の場合、所定の領域(屋内)にないすなわち所定の領域外(屋外)に位置する無線通信端末110Dの通信確立を拒否することができる。換言すれば、第1所定数を超える数の呼と通信中の場合、所定の領域(屋内)に位置する無線通信端末110Cとのみ通信を許可することが可能となる。したがって、所定の領域外(屋外)に位置する無線通信端末110によって中継局600における通信可能な無線通信端末110の数が制限されるのを防止することができる。   Thereby, when communicating with the number of calls exceeding the first predetermined number, it is possible to reject establishment of communication of the wireless communication terminal 110D that is not in the predetermined area (indoor), that is, outside the predetermined area (outdoor). . In other words, when communicating with a number of calls exceeding the first predetermined number, it is possible to permit communication only with the wireless communication terminal 110C located in a predetermined area (indoor). Therefore, it is possible to prevent the number of wireless communication terminals 110 that can communicate in relay station 600 from being limited by wireless communication terminals 110 located outside a predetermined area (outdoors).

本実施形態において呼数判定部634はさらに、自局(中継局600)と通信中の呼が、第1所定数より大きい第2所定数、例えば、無線通信端末110の許容呼数の95%を超えているか否かも判定する。   In the present embodiment, the call number determination unit 634 further includes a second predetermined number of calls in communication with the own station (relay station 600) that is larger than the first predetermined number, for example, 95% of the allowable number of calls of the wireless communication terminal 110. It is also determined whether or not it exceeds.

呼数判定部634が自局(中継局600)と通信中の呼の数が第2所定数を超えていると判定した場合に、端末通信部620は、内外判定部632によって所定の領域(屋内)にないと判定された通信確立中の無線通信端末110に他の基地局とのハンドオーバを促す
When the number-of-calls determination unit 634 determines that the number of calls in communication with the local station (relay station 600) exceeds the second predetermined number, the terminal communication unit 620 uses the internal / external determination unit 632 to determine a predetermined area ( The wireless communication terminal 110 that is determined not to be indoors is urged to perform handover with another base station.

これにより、第1所定数より大きい第2所定数を越える数の呼と通信確立中(通信中)の場合、通信確立中の無線通信端末110の中で、所定の領域外(屋外)の無線通信端末110と中継局600との通信を排除することが可能となる。したがって、中継局600は、切断した所定の領域外(屋外)の呼の数だけ通信可能な呼の数を確保することが可能となり、これを所定の領域(屋内)の無線通信端末110に割り当てることができる。   As a result, in the case where communication with the number of calls exceeding the second predetermined number that is larger than the first predetermined number is being established (during communication), the wireless communication terminal 110 that is in the middle of communication is out of a predetermined area (outdoor). Communication between the communication terminal 110 and the relay station 600 can be excluded. Therefore, the relay station 600 can secure the number of calls that can be communicated by the number of calls outside the predetermined area (outdoor) that has been disconnected, and assign this to the wireless communication terminals 110 in the predetermined area (indoor). be able to.

以上説明したように、本実施形態にかかる中継局600によれば、自局(中継局600)との通信確立を要求する無線通信端末110が所定の領域(屋内)にあるか否かを判定し、所定の領域(屋内)に位置する無線通信端末110を優先的に接続することで、中継局の本来の目的を確実に遂行することが可能となる。
(無線通信方法)
As described above, according to the relay station 600 according to the present embodiment, it is determined whether or not the wireless communication terminal 110 requesting establishment of communication with the own station (relay station 600) is in a predetermined area (indoor). In addition, the wireless communication terminal 110 located in a predetermined area (indoor) is preferentially connected, so that the original purpose of the relay station can be reliably achieved.
(Wireless communication method)

次に、無線通信端末110と、基地局120と、中継局600とを用いて無線通信を実行する無線通信方法を詳細に説明する。   Next, a wireless communication method for performing wireless communication using the wireless communication terminal 110, the base station 120, and the relay station 600 will be described in detail.

図8は、本実施形態にかかる無線通信方法の処理を示したフローチャートである。   FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing processing of the wireless communication method according to the present embodiment.

無線通信端末110からの通信接続要求があると(S700のYES:通信接続受信ステップ)、呼数判定部634が自局(中継局600)と通信中の呼の数が中継局600の許容呼数以下であるか否かを判定する(S702:許容呼数判定ステップ)。許容呼数以下であれば(S702のYES)、呼数判定部634は、さらに、自局(中継局600)と通信中の呼の数が第1所定数以上であり、内外判定部632が当該通信の確立を試みる無線通信端末110が所定の領域外(当該中継局が設置されている建物の屋外)にあるか否かを判定する(S704:内外判定ステップ)。   When there is a communication connection request from the wireless communication terminal 110 (YES in S700: communication connection reception step), the number of calls in communication with the local station (relay station 600) by the call number determination unit 634 is the allowable call of the relay station 600. It is determined whether the number is equal to or less than the number (S702: allowable call number determination step). If the number is equal to or less than the allowable number of calls (YES in S702), the number-of-calls determination unit 634 further determines that the number of calls in communication with the own station (relay station 600) is equal to or greater than the first predetermined number. It is determined whether or not the wireless communication terminal 110 attempting to establish the communication is outside a predetermined area (outside the building where the relay station is installed) (S704: inside / outside determination step).

一方、許容呼数判定ステップS702において、自局(中継局600)と通信中の呼の数が中継局600の許容呼数であれば、当該通信の確立を試みる無線通信端末110の通信確立を拒否する(S706:通信拒否ステップ)。   On the other hand, if the number of calls in communication with the own station (relay station 600) is the allowable number of calls of the relay station 600 in the allowable call number determination step S702, the communication establishment of the wireless communication terminal 110 attempting to establish the communication is established. Reject (S706: communication rejection step).

内外判定ステップS704において、自局(中継局600)と通信中の呼の数が第1所定数以上でありかつ、内外判定部632が当該通信の確立を試みる無線通信端末110が所定の領域(屋内)に位置すると判定された場合でなければ(S704のNO)、通信を確立する(S708:通信確立ステップ)。   In the inside / outside determination step S704, the number of calls in communication with the own station (relay station 600) is equal to or greater than the first predetermined number, and the wireless communication terminal 110 that the inside / outside determination unit 632 tries to establish the communication is in a predetermined area ( If it is not determined to be located indoors (NO in S704), communication is established (S708: communication establishment step).

さらに、呼数判定部634が自局(中継局600)と通信中の呼の数が第2所定数を超えているか否かを判定し(S710:第2所定数判定ステップ)、第2所定数以上であれば(S710のYES)、端末通信部620が自局(中継局600)と通信中であり所定の領域外(屋外)にある無線通信端末110に他の基地局とのハンドオーバを促すハンドオーバ情報を指示する(S712:ハンドオーバ指示ステップ)。   Furthermore, the call number determination unit 634 determines whether or not the number of calls in communication with the own station (relay station 600) exceeds the second predetermined number (S710: second predetermined number determination step), and the second predetermined number If the number is greater than or equal to the number (YES in S710), the terminal communication unit 620 is communicating with the own station (relay station 600) and performs a handover with another base station to the wireless communication terminal 110 outside the predetermined area (outdoors). The handover information to be urged is instructed (S712: handover instruction step).

また、内外判定ステップS704において、自局(中継局600)と通信中の呼の数が第1所定数以上であり、内外判定部632が当該通信の確立を試みる無線通信端末110が所定の領域外(屋外)に位置すると判定された場合(S704のYES)、通信を拒否する(S714:通信拒否ステップ)。   In the inside / outside determination step S704, the number of calls in communication with the own station (relay station 600) is equal to or more than the first predetermined number, and the wireless communication terminal 110 that the inside / outside determination unit 632 tries to establish the communication is in a predetermined area. If it is determined that it is located outside (outdoor) (YES in S704), communication is rejected (S714: communication rejection step).

上述したように本実施形態にかかる無線通信方法によれば、所定の領域(屋内)に位置する無線通信端末110と優先的に通信を確立することができる。したがって、所定の領域外(屋外)に位置する無線通信端末110で中継局600が占有されてしまい、所定の
領域(屋内)の無線通信端末110と基地局120との通信を中継する装置としての中継局の本来の目的を果たせないという事態を回避することが可能となる。
(他の実施形態)
As described above, according to the wireless communication method according to the present embodiment, communication can be preferentially established with the wireless communication terminal 110 located in a predetermined area (indoor). Therefore, the relay station 600 is occupied by the wireless communication terminal 110 located outside the predetermined area (outdoors), and serves as a device that relays communication between the wireless communication terminal 110 and the base station 120 in the predetermined area (indoors). It is possible to avoid a situation where the original purpose of the relay station cannot be achieved.
(Other embodiments)

上述した第2実施形態では、複数のアンテナ616を用いて遂行されるアダプティブアレイ機能によって導出された通信接続要求があった無線通信端末110の方向が、方向保持部630に保持された所定の領域を示す方向と所定の領域外を示す方向とを特定する情報に基づく所定の領域を示す方向に含まれるか否かによって通信接続要求があった無線通信端末110が所定の領域に位置するか否かを判定する構成について説明した。   In the second embodiment described above, the direction of the wireless communication terminal 110 for which there was a communication connection request derived by the adaptive array function performed using the plurality of antennas 616 is a predetermined area held in the direction holding unit 630. Whether or not the wireless communication terminal 110 for which a communication connection request has been made is located in the predetermined area depending on whether it is included in the direction indicating the predetermined area based on the information specifying the direction indicating the direction and the direction indicating the outside of the predetermined area The configuration for determining whether or not is described.

ここでは、アダプティブアレイ機能を遂行可能な複数のアンテナ616がなくとも通信接続要求があった無線通信端末110が所定の領域(屋内)に位置するか否かをhanteisurukotoga可能な構成について説明する。
(中継局800)
Here, a description will be given of a configuration capable of hanteiurukotoga whether or not the wireless communication terminal 110 that has requested communication connection is located in a predetermined area (indoor) without a plurality of antennas 616 capable of performing the adaptive array function.
(Relay station 800)

図9は、中継局の他の構成を説明するためのブロック図である。上述した中継局130、600と実質的に等しい構成要素については、同一の符号を付して説明を省略する。   FIG. 9 is a block diagram for explaining another configuration of the relay station. Constituent elements that are substantially the same as those of the relay stations 130 and 600 described above are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

図9に示すように、中継局800は、中継局制御部610と、エリア保持部822として機能する中継局メモリ812と、中継局無線通信部814とを含んで構成され、中継局無線通信部814は、上述した第1実施形態および第2実施形態と同様に無線通信端末110と通信を行う端末通信部820と、基地局120と通信を行う基地局通信部622とを含んで構成され、無線通信端末110と基地局120とを中継する。   As shown in FIG. 9, the relay station 800 includes a relay station control unit 610, a relay station memory 812 functioning as an area holding unit 822, and a relay station radio communication unit 814. 814 includes a terminal communication unit 820 that communicates with the wireless communication terminal 110 and a base station communication unit 622 that communicates with the base station 120, as in the first and second embodiments described above. The wireless communication terminal 110 and the base station 120 are relayed.

エリア保持部822は、所定の領域(当該中継局800が設置されている建物の屋内)の範囲としての所定エリア情報を保持する。例えば、本実施形態において中継局800は建物160の窓際等屋内と屋外の境界に壁付けで固設されているため、エリア保持部822は予め屋内の範囲としての所定エリア情報を保持している。   The area holding unit 822 holds predetermined area information as a range of a predetermined area (inside the building where the relay station 800 is installed). For example, in the present embodiment, the relay station 800 is fixedly attached to the boundary between the indoor and outdoor areas such as the window of the building 160, so that the area holding unit 822 holds predetermined area information as an indoor range in advance. .

図10は、所定の領域の範囲としての屋内の範囲を説明するための説明図である。図10(a)に示すように、中継局800が窓際に設置される場合、屋内の範囲とは図10(a)においてハッチングで示す略半円の範囲とするとよい。一方、中継局800が建物160の略角に設置される場合、図10(b)においてハッチングで示す範囲が屋内の範囲とすることもできる。   FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an indoor range as a range of a predetermined region. As shown in FIG. 10A, when the relay station 800 is installed near a window, the indoor range may be a substantially semicircular range indicated by hatching in FIG. On the other hand, when the relay station 800 is installed at a substantially corner of the building 160, a hatched range in FIG. 10B can be an indoor range.

この際、自局(中継局800)の絶対位置は、GPS衛星から自局(中継局800)の位置情報を取得してもよいし、建物等に固設する場合には、その際に予め位置情報を登録しておけばよい。   At this time, the absolute position of the own station (relay station 800) may be obtained from GPS satellites by acquiring the position information of the own station (relay station 800). Register location information.

本実施形態において端末通信部820は、位置情報受信部824としても機能する。位置情報受信部824は、無線通信端末110が取得したGPS衛星830からの位置情報を受信する。   In the present embodiment, the terminal communication unit 820 also functions as the position information receiving unit 824. The position information receiving unit 824 receives position information from the GPS satellite 830 acquired by the wireless communication terminal 110.

本実施形態において内外判定部632は、位置情報受信部824が受信した通信接続要求があった無線通信端末110の位置情報に基づいた無線通信端末110の位置が、エリア保持部822に予め保持されている所定エリア情報が示す屋内の範囲にあるか否かを判定する。   In this embodiment, the inside / outside determination unit 632 stores the position of the wireless communication terminal 110 based on the position information of the wireless communication terminal 110 that has received the communication connection request received by the position information reception unit 824 in the area holding unit 822 in advance. It is determined whether the predetermined area information is within the indoor range.

これにより、自局(中継局800)が対象とする所定の領域(屋内)の範囲に無線通信端末110が位置するか否かで、所定の領域(屋内)であるか否かを判定することができる
Thereby, it is determined whether or not the wireless communication terminal 110 is in a predetermined area (indoor) depending on whether or not the wireless communication terminal 110 is located in the range of the predetermined area (indoor) targeted by the own station (relay station 800). Can do.

なお、無線通信端末110が屋内にある場合にはGPS衛星830からの位置情報を取得することはできないため、内外判定部632は位置情報受信部824が所定時間前までに位置情報を受信したか否かによって屋外にあるか否かを判定することもできる。   In addition, when the wireless communication terminal 110 is indoors, the position information from the GPS satellite 830 cannot be obtained, so the inside / outside determination unit 632 has received the position information by the position information receiving unit 824 before a predetermined time. It can also be determined whether or not the user is outdoors depending on whether or not.

なお、中継局850において、内外判定部632は、通信接続要求があった無線通信端末110の位置情報に基づいた無線通信端末110の位置が、エリア保持部822に予め保持されている所定エリア情報が示す屋内の範囲にあるか否かを判定しているが、無線通信端末110から受信した位置情報と自局(中継局800)の位置情報とから求められる無線通信端末110と自局(中継局800)との距離が所定値以上である場合に屋外であると判定することもできる。この際、予め中継局850の位置から自局(中継局800)が設置されている建物の屋外までの距離を所定値としてもよい。   In relay station 850, inside / outside determination unit 632 is a predetermined area information in which the position of wireless communication terminal 110 based on the position information of wireless communication terminal 110 for which a communication connection request has been made is held in area holding unit 822 in advance. The wireless communication terminal 110 and the local station (relay) are obtained from the positional information received from the wireless communication terminal 110 and the positional information of the local station (relay station 800). When the distance to the station 800) is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, it can be determined that the vehicle is outdoors. At this time, the distance from the position of the relay station 850 to the outside of the building where the own station (relay station 800) is installed may be set as a predetermined value.

これにより、中継局800(自局)と無線通信端末110との距離によってはその無線通信端末110が所定の領域(屋内)に存在し得ないことを把握することができ、容易かつ迅速に所定の領域(屋内)か否かを判定することが可能となる。
(中継局850)
As a result, depending on the distance between the relay station 800 (the local station) and the wireless communication terminal 110, it can be understood that the wireless communication terminal 110 cannot exist in a predetermined area (indoor), and can be determined easily and quickly. It is possible to determine whether the area is indoor (indoor).
(Relay station 850)

図11は、中継局のさらに他の構成を説明するためのブロック図である。上述した中継局130、600、800と実質的に等しい構成要素については、同一の符号を付して説明を省略する。   FIG. 11 is a block diagram for explaining still another configuration of the relay station. Constituent elements that are substantially the same as those of the relay stations 130, 600, and 800 described above are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

中継局850は中継局800の構成要素に加えて、中継局GPS受信部852を2つ備えて構成される。ここでは、中継局850は、自動車、バス、電車(列車)、船舶、航空機等、人が乗降可能な乗り物を含む移動体に設置される。   The relay station 850 is configured to include two relay station GPS receivers 852 in addition to the components of the relay station 800. Here, the relay station 850 is installed in a mobile body including a vehicle on which a person can get on and off, such as an automobile, a bus, a train (train), a ship, and an aircraft.

中継局GPS受信部852は、GPS衛星830からの位置情報を受信する。そして、中継局850におけるエリア保持部822が保持する所定エリア情報は、2の中継局GPS受信部852との相対位置に基づいて決定される。   The relay station GPS receiving unit 852 receives position information from the GPS satellite 830. The predetermined area information held by the area holding unit 822 in the relay station 850 is determined based on the relative position with respect to the two relay station GPS receiving units 852.

図12は、中継局GPS受信部との相対位置に基づく所定エリア情報の決定を説明するための説明図である。   FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram for explaining determination of predetermined area information based on a relative position with the relay station GPS receiver.

図12に示すように、中継局850の中継局GPS受信部852(図12中852a、
852bで示す)は、所定の領域(移動体の中)と、所定の領域外(移動体の外)との略
境界線(図12中実線で示す)上に設置されている。例えば、図12中左側が所定の領域(移動体の中)であり、右側が所定の領域外(移動体の外)である場合、エリア保持部822は、所定エリア情報として2の中継局GPS受信部852との相対位置すなわち中継局GPS受信部852bの位置からみて中継局GPS受信部852aよりも左側の位置が所定の領域(移動体の中)であり、右側の位置が所定の領域外(移動体の外)であるいう情報を保持する。
As shown in FIG. 12, the relay station GPS receiver 852 of the relay station 850 (852a in FIG.
852b) is installed on a substantially boundary line (indicated by a solid line in FIG. 12) between the predetermined area (in the moving body) and outside the predetermined area (outside the moving body). For example, when the left side in FIG. 12 is a predetermined area (in the moving body) and the right side is outside the predetermined area (outside the moving body), the area holding unit 822 uses the two relay stations GPS as the predetermined area information. The position on the left side of the relay station GPS receiver 852a as viewed from the position relative to the receiver 852, that is, the position of the relay station GPS receiver 852b, is a predetermined area (in the moving body), and the right position is outside the predetermined area. The information that is (outside the moving body) is held.

この場合、内外判定部632は、位置情報受信部824が受信した無線通信端末110の位置情報が地点860の場合には、地点860は中継局GPS受信部852bの位置からみて中継局GPS受信部852aよりも左側の位置にあることから所定の領域(移動体の中)であると判定する。一方、位置情報受信部824が受信した無線通信端末110の位置情報が地点862の場合には、地点860は中継局GPS受信部852bの位置からみて中継局GPS受信部852aよりも右側の位置にあることから所定の領域外(移動体の外)であると判定する。   In this case, when the position information of the wireless communication terminal 110 received by the position information receiving unit 824 is the point 860, the inside / outside determination unit 632 indicates that the point 860 is the relay station GPS receiving unit as viewed from the position of the relay station GPS receiving unit 852b. Since it is located on the left side of 852a, it is determined to be a predetermined area (in the moving body). On the other hand, when the position information of the wireless communication terminal 110 received by the position information receiving unit 824 is the point 862, the point 860 is positioned on the right side of the relay station GPS receiving unit 852a as viewed from the position of the relay station GPS receiving unit 852b. Therefore, it is determined that it is outside the predetermined area (outside the moving body).

上述した自局(中継局850)が対象とする所定の領域(移動体の中)の範囲を、自局(
中継局850)が有する2以上の中継局GPS受信部852との相対位置に基づいて決定
する構成により、中継局850が、自動車、バス、電車(列車)、船舶、航空機等、人が乗降可能な乗り物を含む移動体に設置され、移動体の中の絶対位置が時々刻々と変化する場合においても、容易かつ確実に所定の領域(移動体の中)の範囲を規定することができる。
The range of the predetermined area (in the mobile body) targeted by the above-mentioned own station (relay station 850) is set to the own station (
The relay station 850 is configured to be determined based on the relative position with respect to two or more relay station GPS receivers 852, so that the relay station 850 can get on and off a person such as an automobile, a bus, a train (train), a ship, an airplane, etc. Even when the absolute position in the moving body is changed every moment, the range of the predetermined area (in the moving body) can be easily and reliably defined.

以上、添付図面を参照しながら本発明の好適な実施形態について説明したが、本発明は係る例に限定されないことは言うまでもない。当業者であれば、特許請求の範囲に記載された範疇内において、各種の変更例または修正例に想到し得ることは明らかであり、それらについても当然に本発明の技術的範囲に属するものと了解される。   As mentioned above, although preferred embodiment of this invention was described referring an accompanying drawing, it cannot be overemphasized that this invention is not limited to the example which concerns. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made within the scope of the claims, and these are naturally within the technical scope of the present invention. Understood.

例えば、OFDM方式やOFDMA方式を用いた高速デジタル無線通信(例えば、WiMAX、次世代PHS等)により本無線通信システムを構築することは可能であり、その場合に無線通信端末や中継局はOFDM方式やOFDMA方式に対応した通信機能を持たせることとなる。   For example, it is possible to construct this wireless communication system by high-speed digital wireless communication (for example, WiMAX, next-generation PHS, etc.) using the OFDM method or OFDMA method. In this case, the wireless communication terminal or relay station uses the OFDM method. And a communication function corresponding to the OFDMA system.

また、上述した実施形態において、中継局は建物に固設しているがこれに限定されず、移動体に設置してもよい。ここで移動体とは、また、移動体は、自動車、バス、電車(列車)、船舶、航空機等、人が乗降可能な乗り物を示しており、所定の領域とは移動体の中である。   In the above-described embodiment, the relay station is fixed in the building, but is not limited thereto, and may be installed in a moving body. Here, the moving body refers to a vehicle on which a person can get on and off, such as an automobile, a bus, a train (train), a ship, an aircraft, and the like, and the predetermined area is the moving body.

さらに、上述した実施形態では、無線通信端末が干渉を受けているか否かを判定するのは中継局としたが、基地局が中継局から通信品質を取得して無線通信端末が干渉を受けているか否かの判定を行ってもよい。   Further, in the above-described embodiment, it is a relay station that determines whether or not the wireless communication terminal is subject to interference, but the base station acquires communication quality from the relay station and the wireless communication terminal is subject to interference. It may be determined whether or not there is.

また、上述した実施形態では、自局(中継局)と無線通信端末との通信が干渉を受けていると判定された場合に、干渉の原因となっている他の無線通信端末(干渉対象)と通信を行っている基地局にのみ干渉情報を通知しているが、他の無線通信端末(干渉対象)と通信を行っている基地局に干渉情報を通知し、そしてさらに当該基地局に隣接する他の基地局に、当該基地局を介して干渉情報を通知することとしてもよい。   In the above-described embodiment, when it is determined that the communication between the local station (relay station) and the wireless communication terminal is subject to interference, the other wireless communication terminal (interference target) that causes the interference is determined. Interference information is notified only to the base station that is communicating with the base station, but the interference information is notified to the base station that is communicating with other wireless communication terminals (interference targets), and further adjacent to the base station. The interference information may be notified to the other base station via the base station.

なお、本明細書の無線通信方法における各工程は、必ずしもシーケンス図もしくはフローチャートのいずれかまたは両方として記載された順序に沿って時系列に処理する必要はなく、並列的あるいはサブルーチンによる処理を含んでもよい。   Note that each step in the wireless communication method of the present specification does not necessarily have to be processed in time series in the order described in either or both of the sequence diagram and the flowchart, and may include processing in parallel or by a subroutine. Good.

本発明は、無線通信端末と基地局との通信を中継可能な中継局および無線通信方法に利用することができる。   The present invention can be used for a relay station and a wireless communication method capable of relaying communication between a wireless communication terminal and a base station.

100 …無線通信システム、110…無線通信端末、120 …基地局、130、600、800、850 …中継局、140 …通信網、150 …中継サーバ、160…建物、
210 …端末制御部、212 …端末メモリ、214 …表示部、216 …操作部、218…音声入力部、220 …音声出力部、222 …端末無線通信部、230 …ハンドオ
ーバ要求部、310 …基地局制御部、312 …基地局メモリ、314 …基地局無線通
信部、316 …基地局有線通信部、318 …アンテナ、320 …干渉受信部、322 …キャリア端末抽出部、324 …ハンドオーバ情報送信部、326 …基地局電力取得部、328 …中継方向取得部、330 …端末方向取得部、332 …ハンドオーバ実行部
、410、610 …中継局制御部、412、612、812 …中継局メモリ、414、614、814…中継局無線通信部、416、620、820 …端末通信部、418、
622…基地局通信部、420 …通信品質取得部、422 …干渉判定部、424 …干
渉通知部、426 …中継電力取得部、428、634 …通信数判定部、430 …端末
抽出部、432 …指示通知部、616 …アンテナ、630 …方向保持部、632 …内外判定部、822 …エリア保持部、824…位置情報受信部、830 …GPS衛星、852 …中継局GPS受信部

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Wireless communication system, 110 ... Wireless communication terminal, 120 ... Base station, 130, 600, 800, 850 ... Relay station, 140 ... Communication network, 150 ... Relay server, 160 ... Building,
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 210 ... Terminal control part, 212 ... Terminal memory, 214 ... Display part, 216 ... Operation part, 218 ... Voice input part, 220 ... Voice output part, 222 ... Terminal wireless communication part, 230 ... Handover request part, 310 ... Base station Control unit, 312 ... Base station memory, 314 ... Base station wireless communication unit, 316 ... Base station wired communication unit, 318 ... Antenna, 320 ... Interference reception unit, 322 ... Carrier terminal extraction unit, 324 ... Handover information transmission unit, 326 ... base station power acquisition unit, 328 ... relay direction acquisition unit, 330 ... terminal direction acquisition unit, 332 ... handover execution unit, 410, 610 ... relay station control unit, 412, 612, 812 ... relay station memory, 414, 614, 814 ... Relay station radio communication unit, 416, 620, 820 ... Terminal communication unit, 418,
622 ... base station communication unit, 420 ... communication quality acquisition unit, 422 ... interference determination unit, 424 ... interference notification unit, 426 ... relay power acquisition unit, 428, 634 ... communication number determination unit, 430 ... terminal extraction unit, 432 ... Instruction notification unit, 616 ... antenna, 630 ... direction holding unit, 632 ... inside / outside determination unit, 822 ... area holding unit, 824 ... position information receiving unit, 830 ... GPS satellite, 852 ... relay station GPS receiving unit

Claims (2)

無線通信端末と基地局との通信を中継可能な中継局であって、
アダプティブアレイ機能を有するアンテナを介して前記無線通信端末と通信を行う端末通信部と、
前記基地局と通信を行う基地局通信部と、
所定の領域を示す方向と該所定の領域外を示す方向を特定する情報を予め保持する方向保持部と、
前記無線通信端末からの通信接続要求があった場合に、該通信接続要求があった無線通信端末が、前記所定の領域にあるか否かを判定する内外判定部と、
を備え、
前記内外判定部は、前記アダプティブアレイ機能によって導出された前記通信接続要求があった無線通信端末の方向が、前記方向保持部に保持された前記所定の領域を示す方向に含まれる場合に前記所定の領域にあると判定し、
前記端末通信部は、前記内外判定部が前記所定の領域にあると判定した無線通信端末との通信確立を優先することを特徴とする中継局。
A relay station capable of relaying communication between a wireless communication terminal and a base station,
A terminal communication unit that communicates with the wireless communication terminal via an antenna having an adaptive array function;
A base station communication unit for communicating with the base station;
A direction holding unit that holds in advance information specifying a direction indicating a predetermined area and a direction indicating the outside of the predetermined area;
When there is a communication connection request from the wireless communication terminal, an inside / outside determination unit that determines whether the wireless communication terminal having the communication connection request is in the predetermined area;
With
The inside / outside determination unit is configured to perform the predetermined when the direction of the wireless communication terminal that has the communication connection request derived by the adaptive array function is included in the direction indicating the predetermined region held in the direction holding unit. Is determined to be in the area of
The relay station characterized in that the terminal communication unit prioritizes communication establishment with a wireless communication terminal determined by the inside / outside determination unit to be in the predetermined area.
無線通信端末と基地局との通信を中継可能な中継局を用いた無線通信方法であって、
アダプティブアレイ機能を有するアンテナを介して前記無線通信端末からの通信接続要求があった場合に、該通信接続要求があった無線通信端末が所定の領域にあるか否かを、前記アダプティブアレイ機能によって導出された前記通信接続要求があった無線通信端末の方向が、予め保持された前記所定の領域を示す方向に含まれるか否かで判定し、
前記所定の領域にあると判定した無線通信端末との通信確立を優先することを特徴とする無線通信方法。

A wireless communication method using a relay station capable of relaying communication between a wireless communication terminal and a base station,
When there is a communication connection request from the wireless communication terminal via an antenna having an adaptive array function, whether or not the wireless communication terminal having the communication connection request is in a predetermined area is determined by the adaptive array function. It is determined whether or not the direction of the wireless communication terminal for which the communication connection request has been derived is included in the direction indicating the predetermined area held in advance,
A wireless communication method characterized by prioritizing communication establishment with a wireless communication terminal determined to be in the predetermined area.

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