JP2016195332A - Wireless communication device, reception intensity estimation method, and communication propriety determination method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To determine the propriety of communication in a high frequency band with accuracy while suppressing power consumption.SOLUTION: A wireless communication device comprises: a reception unit that receives a signal with a first frequency sent from the other wireless communication device and captured by a plurality of antennas of the self device; and an intensity estimation unit that estimates an average value or a median of reception intensities of respective signals captured by the plurality of antennas respectively, or of reception intensities of the plurality of signals coming from different directions, reproduced by shifting and combining phases of the plurality of the signals, as a reception intensity of a signal with a second frequency higher than the first frequency.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a wireless communication device, a reception strength estimation method, and a communication availability determination method.

  In recent years, in the field of mobile communication such as wireless LAN and mobile phone communication, use of a quasi-millimeter wave band and a millimeter wave band has been studied in order to use a wide frequency band in addition to a microwave band. For example, the microwave band refers to a frequency band from 500 MHz to less than 10 GHz, the quasi-millimeter wave refers to a frequency band from 10 GHz to less than 30 GHz, and the millimeter wave band refers to a frequency band from 30 GHz to less than 300 GHz.

  The higher the frequency of the signal used for communication, the wider the frequency band that can be used, so that the information transmission rate can be increased. On the other hand, the higher the frequency of the signal used for communication, the greater the self-play space loss, so the communicable area becomes narrower. Further, in the quasi-millimeter wave band and the millimeter wave band, a shadowing device loss occurs due to the moving human body, and the communication circuit may be disconnected. In order to solve this problem, a multiband radio that uses a low frequency band radio apparatus and a high frequency band radio apparatus and switches to a low frequency band radio apparatus when a high frequency band radio apparatus cannot be used. A system has been proposed. This is due to the fact that an extremely small and inexpensive wireless circuit can be realized by using a process of CMOS LSI (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor Large Scale Integration).

  Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for determining which of the wireless communication systems having different communication ranges and communication speeds is used for communication. Specifically, in the wireless communication device according to Patent Document 1, the distance to a device capable of communication in a high-speed communication method is estimated by communication using a low-speed communication method, and the distance to the device is close. When it is a distance, communication using the high-speed communication method is performed.

JP 2008-131358 A

  In the multiband radio system described above, generally, the area reached from a radio station becomes smaller as the frequency becomes higher. For this reason, power consumption increases in a method in which a plurality of radio circuits corresponding to a plurality of frequencies are always turned on and a radio apparatus having an available frequency is used. Accordingly, there is a problem that a battery life is shortened in a wireless device such as a mobile phone terminal that operates on a battery.

  According to the technique described in Patent Document 1, it is determined whether or not communication using a high-speed communication method is possible using a low-speed communication method, and thus power consumption can be reduced. On the other hand, a signal having a high frequency such as a millimeter wave has high straightness, and therefore communication using the signal of the frequency may not be possible due to the presence of an obstacle even when the distance to the target device is short.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a wireless communication device, a reception strength estimation method, and a communication availability determination method that solve the above-described problems.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the wireless communication device receives a first frequency signal transmitted from another wireless communication device and captured by a plurality of antennas of the own device, and the receiving unit. Based on the received signal, a reproduction unit that reproduces a plurality of signals received at different positions or a plurality of signals received by beams having different directivities, and reception of the plurality of signals reproduced by the reproduction unit And an intensity estimation unit that estimates an average value or median intensity as a reception intensity of a signal of a second frequency that is higher than the first frequency.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, the wireless communication device has a plurality of first frequency signals or different directivities transmitted from different positions at different times by a plurality of antennas included in another wireless communication device. A receiving unit that receives a plurality of first frequency signals transmitted at different times depending on the beam, and an average value or median value of the received intensity of the plurality of signals received by the receiving unit is higher than the first frequency An intensity estimation unit that estimates the reception intensity of the signal of the second frequency that is the frequency.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, the wireless communication device according to the first or second aspect is configured to perform the second communication with the other wireless communication device based on the reception strength estimated by the strength estimation unit. It further includes a determination unit that determines whether communication using a frequency signal is possible.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, in the wireless communication device according to any one of the first to third aspects, the plurality of antennas are arranged side by side in a direction intersecting the horizontal direction.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a reception strength estimation method comprising: receiving a signal of a first frequency transmitted from a wireless communication device and captured by a plurality of antennas; and receiving the plurality of received signals. A step of reproducing a plurality of signals received at different positions or a plurality of signals received by beams having different directivities, and calculating an average value or a median value of the received intensities of the reproduced signals. And estimating the received intensity of a signal having a second frequency that is higher than the first frequency.

  According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the reception strength estimation method includes a plurality of first frequency signals or beams having different directivities transmitted from different positions at different times by a plurality of antennas included in the wireless communication apparatus. Receiving a plurality of signals of the first frequency transmitted at different times according to an average value or median of received intensity of the plurality of received signals is a frequency higher than the first frequency. And estimating the received signal strength of the frequency.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a second method for determining whether or not communication is possible based on the reception strength estimated by the reception strength estimation method according to the fifth or sixth aspect. And determining whether or not communication using a frequency signal is possible.

  According to at least one of the above aspects, the wireless communication apparatus can specify the reception intensity in the line-of-sight path between the partner apparatus and the own apparatus using the signal of the first frequency. As a result, the wireless communication apparatus can accurately determine whether communication in the high frequency band is possible while suppressing power consumption.

It is a schematic block diagram which shows the structure of the radio | wireless communications system which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is an example which shows operation | movement of the access point apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the structure of the radio | wireless communications system which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is an example which shows operation | movement of the access point apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is an example which shows operation | movement of the station apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment.

<< First Embodiment >>
Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a configuration of a wireless communication system according to the first embodiment.
The wireless communication system 1 according to the first embodiment includes an access point device 100 (AP; Access Point) and a station device 200 (STA; Station).
Both the access point device 100 and the station device 200 may perform communication using a 2.4 / 5 GHz band (first frequency) signal and communication using a 60 GHz band (second frequency) signal. it can.

The access point device 100 includes a plurality of antennas 110, a plurality of wireless communication units 120, and a control unit 130. The access point device 100 is an example of a wireless communication device.
Each antenna 110 is an omnidirectional antenna. The antennas 110 are arranged side by side in the vertical direction. Thereby, the plurality of antennas 110 constitute an array antenna.
In addition, although the antenna 110 which concerns on this embodiment is arranged in a perpendicular direction, in other embodiment, it is not restricted to this, What is necessary is just to be located in the direction which cross | intersects a horizontal direction.
The radio communication unit 120 is provided for each antenna 110. The radio communication unit 120 modulates a signal captured by the corresponding antenna 110 from a radio signal to a baseband signal. Further, the wireless communication unit 120 modulates a signal to be transmitted to the corresponding antenna 110 from a baseband signal to a wireless signal. The wireless communication unit 120 is an example of a receiving unit.

The control unit 130 processes the baseband signal modulated by the wireless communication unit 120. In addition, the control unit 130 outputs a transmission signal to the wireless communication unit 120.
The control unit 130 includes an instruction transmission unit 131, a phase shift unit 132, an amplitude control unit 133, a synthesis unit 134, an intensity estimation unit 135, and a communication area determination unit 136.
The instruction transmission unit 131 outputs a probe transmission instruction for causing the station device 200 to transmit a probe signal to the wireless communication unit 120. The probe transmission instruction and the probe signal are transmitted at a frequency of 2.4 / 5 GHz band.
The phase shift unit 132 shifts the phase of the analog baseband signal modulated by the wireless communication unit 120.
The amplitude control unit 133 sets the amplitude other than the signal corresponding to the predetermined antenna 110 among the baseband signals demodulated by the wireless communication unit 120 to zero.
The synthesizer 134 synthesizes the baseband signal whose phase is shifted by the phase shift unit 132 and reproduces a signal received by a beam having a predetermined directivity. Further, the synthesizer 134 synthesizes the baseband signal whose amplitude is changed by the amplitude controller 133 and reproduces the signal received at the position of each antenna. That is, the synthesis unit 134 is an example of a reproduction unit.

The strength estimation unit 135 detects each signal synthesized by the synthesis unit 134 and measures a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) of each signal. Moreover, the strength estimation unit 135 calculates an average value of the measured reception strengths. Thereby, the intensity estimation unit 135 estimates that the reception intensity in the 60 GHz band is the average value.
The communication area determination unit 136 compares the reception intensity estimated by the strength estimation unit 135 with the operation threshold value of the wireless communication system 1, and determines whether or not the station device 200 exists in the communication area based on the 60 GHz band signal of the own device. judge. The threshold is a value determined in advance based on a transmission / reception antenna gain, transmission power, reception system total NF, a margin for reducing false detection, and the like of a 60 GHz band wireless system.

The station apparatus 200 includes an antenna 210, a wireless communication unit 220, and a control unit 230.
The antenna 210 is an omnidirectional antenna.
The wireless communication unit 220 modulates a signal captured by the antenna 210 from a wireless signal to a baseband signal. The wireless communication unit 220 modulates a signal to be transmitted to the antenna 210 from a baseband signal to a wireless signal.
The controller 230 processes the baseband signal modulated by the wireless communication unit 220. In addition, the control unit 230 outputs a transmission signal to the wireless communication unit 220.

Next, the operation of the wireless communication system 1 according to this embodiment will be described.
FIG. 2 is an example showing the operation of the access point device according to the first embodiment.
The instruction transmission unit 131 of the access point device 100 outputs a transmission instruction of a probe signal used for communication area estimation to the wireless communication unit 120 (step S1). As a result, the transmission instruction is transmitted to the station apparatus 200. When receiving the transmission instruction, the control unit 230 of the station apparatus 200 generates a probe signal and outputs the probe signal to the wireless communication unit 220. Thereby, the probe signal is transmitted to the access point device 100. The probe signal is a 2.4 / 5 GHz band signal.

  When the instruction transmission unit 131 outputs a transmission instruction, the wireless communication unit 120 of the access point device 100 waits for reception of a probe signal (step S2). If the wireless communication unit 120 has not received the probe signal (step S2: NO), the wireless communication unit 120 continues to wait for reception in step S2. When the wireless communication unit 120 receives a probe signal (step S2: YES), the wireless communication unit 120 converts the received probe signal into a baseband signal and stores the waveform of the baseband signal in a memory. For each antenna 110, the amplitude control unit 133 outputs a signal group in which the amplitude of the signal received by the wireless communication unit 120 corresponding to the antenna 110 other than the antenna 110 is 0 to the combining unit 134. The synthesizer 134 synthesizes each signal group output from the amplitude controller 133 and reproduces the signal received at the position of each antenna 110 (step S3).

  Further, the phase shift unit 132 outputs a signal group obtained by shifting the phase of the baseband signal modulated by each wireless communication unit 120 to the synthesis unit 134 so as to form beams having different directivities. The synthesizer 134 synthesizes the signal groups output from the amplitude controller 133 and reproduces the signals received by the beams having the directivities (step S4).

Next, the intensity estimation unit 135 detects each signal synthesized by the synthesis unit 134 and calculates the reception intensity of each signal. And the intensity estimation part 135 calculates the average value of the said received strength as a received strength of a 60 GHz band (step S5). Next, the communication area determination unit 136 determines whether or not the 60 GHz band reception intensity estimated by the intensity estimation unit 135 is greater than a predetermined operation threshold (step S6). When the 60 GHz band reception intensity estimated by the strength estimation unit 135 is larger than the predetermined operation threshold (step S6: YES), the communication area determination unit 136 determines that the station device 200 exists in the communication area of the 60 GHz band. (Step S7). Thereby, the access point apparatus 100 and the station apparatus 200 can start communication using a 60 GHz band signal.
On the other hand, when the 60 GHz band reception strength estimated by the strength estimation unit 135 is equal to or lower than the predetermined operation threshold (step S6: NO), the communication area determination unit 136 indicates that the station device 200 exists in the communication area of the 60 GHz band. It is determined not to be performed (step S8). As a result, the access point device 100 and the station device 200 start communication using a 2.4 / 5 GHz band signal.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the access point device 100 receives the 2.4 / 5 GHz band signal transmitted from the station device 200 and captured by the plurality of antennas 110 of the own device. Based on the signal received by the wireless communication unit 120, a combination unit 134 that reproduces a plurality of signals received at different positions or a plurality of signals received by beams having different directivities, and a plurality of units reproduced by the combination unit 134 And an intensity estimation unit 135 that estimates the average value of the reception intensity of the signals as the reception intensity of the 60 GHz signal. Thereby, the radio | wireless communications system 1 can determine the propriety of the communication by the signal of 60 GHz band, without utilizing the signal of 60 GHz band with comparatively high power consumption as a probe signal. Thereby, the wireless communication system 1 can achieve low power consumption of the station device 200. This also allows the wireless communication system 1 to avoid sending probe signals in the 60 GHz band, so that the 60 GHz band can be effectively used.

  Here, reception of signals in the 60 GHz band is performed by the average value of the reception strengths of the 2.4 / 5 GHz band signals received at different positions and the 2.4 / 5 GHz band signals received by beams having different directivities. The reason why the intensity can be estimated will be described. It is known that a signal in a low frequency band such as a 2.4 / 5 GHz band signal is affected by multipath. Further, the path through which the signal passes varies depending on the reception position and reception directivity of the signal. Since there are an infinite number of paths through which signals pass, fluctuations in received intensity due to multipath can be approximated by a normal distribution. Therefore, it is possible to estimate that the average value of the reception strengths of the signals received at different positions and the signals received by the beams having different directivities is the reception strength of the signal having a small multipath effect. On the other hand, a high frequency band signal such as a 60 GHz band signal has a large self-playing space loss, so a directional antenna is used. Small enough compared to Therefore, the reception strength of a signal having a small multipath influence calculated by the average value of the reception strengths of a plurality of signals approximates the reception strength of a signal in a high frequency band. Accordingly, the reception intensity of the 60 GHz band signal is determined by the average value of the reception intensity of the 2.4 / 5 GHz band signal received at different positions and the 2.4 / 5 GHz band signal received by beams having different directivities. Can be estimated.

  Further, by arranging the antennas 110 side by side in the vertical direction, it is possible to vary the magnitude of the multipath effect of each signal transmitted by each antenna 110. This is because when the access point device 100 and the station device 200 communicate in close proximity, the main signals received are a direct wave and a ground reflected wave. That is, by changing the distance between the antenna 110 and the ground, it is possible to vary the magnitude of the influence of the ground reflection on signals received at different positions. In addition, since the antennas 110 are arranged side by side in the vertical direction, the directivity of the antennas 110 can be made different in the vertical plane, so that the influence of ground reflection on signals received by beams having different directivities is large. It is because it can be made different.

  In the present embodiment, the access point device 100 reproduces a signal arriving from a predetermined direction by the phase shift of the array antenna by the plurality of antennas 110, but is not limited thereto. For example, in another embodiment, the access point device 100 may further include a directional antenna, and a signal arriving from a predetermined direction may be received using the antenna.

  In the present embodiment, the station apparatus 200 transmits the probe signal once, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, in another embodiment, the station apparatus 200 may transmit the probe signal twice or more. In this case, the strength estimation unit 135 estimates the average value of the reception strengths of the plurality of signals reproduced based on the signal received a plurality of times as the reception strength of the 60 GHz band signal. Thereby, the intensity estimation unit 135 can further reduce the influence of multipath due to the effect of time diversity.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the intensity estimation unit 135 calculates the average value of the reception intensities of a plurality of signals received at different positions and a plurality of signals received by beams having different directivities, as a signal of the second frequency. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, in another embodiment, the strength estimation unit 135 may estimate the average value of the reception strengths of a plurality of signals received at different positions as the reception strength of the signal of the second frequency. Further, for example, in another embodiment, the intensity estimation unit 135 may estimate the average value of the reception intensity of a plurality of signals received by beams having different directivities as the reception intensity of the signal of the second frequency. . Further, for example, in another embodiment, the strength estimation unit 135 may estimate the median of the reception strengths of the plurality of signals as the reception strength of the signal of the second frequency. In particular, in an environment where the effect of multipath does not approximate a normal distribution, there is a possibility that the reception strength can be estimated with higher accuracy by using the median value instead of the average value.

  Further, the wireless communication system 1 according to the present embodiment reproduces a plurality of signals received at different positions and a plurality of signals received by beams having different directivities using all the plurality of antennas 110. It is not limited to this. For example, in other embodiments, at least two of the plurality of antennas 110 may be used to reproduce signals received at different locations or signals received by beams of different directivities.

<< Second Embodiment >>
A second embodiment will be described.
In the first embodiment, the access point device 100 determines whether communication in the 60 GHz band is possible. On the other hand, in the second embodiment, the station device 200 determines whether communication in the 60 GHz band is possible.
FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a configuration of a wireless communication system according to the second embodiment. The wireless communication system 1 according to the second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in the operations of the control unit 130 of the access point device 100 and the control unit 230 of the station device 200.

The control unit 130 of the access point apparatus 100 according to the second embodiment includes a notification transmission unit 137 instead of the instruction transmission unit 131, the synthesis unit 134, the strength estimation unit 135, and the communication area determination unit 136.
The notification transmission unit 137 notifies the station device 200 of the number of probe signals sent to the station device 200. The notification is performed using a 2.4 / 5 GHz band signal.

The control unit 230 of the station apparatus 200 according to the second embodiment includes a notification receiving unit 231, an intensity estimation unit 232, and a communication area determination unit 233.
The notification receiving unit 231 receives a notification indicating the number of probe signal transmissions from the access point device 100.
The strength estimation unit 232 detects the baseband signal demodulated by the wireless communication unit 220 and calculates the reception strength of the signal captured by the antenna 210. The strength estimation unit 232 estimates the calculated average value of received strength as the received strength of the 60 GHz band.
The communication area determination unit 233 compares the reception intensity estimated by the strength estimation unit 232 with the operation threshold value of the wireless communication system 1, and determines whether or not the own device exists in the communication area of the station device 200 based on the 60 GHz band signal. judge.

Next, the operation of the wireless communication system 1 according to this embodiment will be described.
FIG. 4 is an example showing the operation of the access point device according to the second embodiment.
The notification transmission unit 137 of the access point device 100 outputs a notification of the number of times the probe signal is transmitted in the 2.4 / 5 GHz band via the wireless communication unit 220 (step S250). Thereby, the notification is transmitted to the access point apparatus 100. The number of probe signal transmissions is calculated by adding the number of antennas 110 and the number of beam patterns having directivity.

Next, the control unit 130 generates a probe signal (step S251). Next, the amplitude control unit 133 selects the plurality of antennas 110 one by one (step S252), and controls the amplitude of the signal transmitted from the wireless communication unit 120 other than the wireless communication unit 120 corresponding to each antenna 110 to 0. Then, the probe signal generated in step S251 is output (step S253). As a result, the probe signal is transmitted from the position of each antenna 110 at different times. Thereby, the access point apparatus 100 can reduce the influence of multipath fading by the effect of space diversity.
When the control unit 130 causes the probe signals to be transmitted from the antennas 110 at different times, the phase shift unit 132 selects a plurality of directions to transmit signals having directivity one by one (step S254), and for each direction. The following steps S255 and S256 are performed. The phase shift unit 132 shifts the phase of each probe signal transmitted to the plurality of antennas 110 so that the combined wave of the signals transmitted from the plurality of antennas 110 has directivity in the direction selected in Step S254 (Step S254). S255). Next, the phase shift unit 132 outputs the probe signal whose phase has been shifted to each wireless communication unit 120 corresponding to the plurality of antennas 110 (step S256). As a result, the probe signals are transmitted at different times by beams having a predetermined directivity. Thereby, the access point apparatus 100 can reduce the influence of multipath fading by the effect of directivity diversity.
In addition, since the access point device 100 transmits a plurality of probe signals at different times, the influence of multipath fading can be reduced due to the effect of time diversity.

FIG. 5 is an example showing the operation of the station apparatus according to the second embodiment.
The notification receiving unit 231 of the station device 200 receives a notification of the number of probe signal transmissions from the access point device 100 via the wireless communication unit 220 (step S201). Next, the wireless communication unit 220 waits for reception of a probe signal (step S202). If the wireless communication unit 220 has not received the probe signal (step S202: NO), the wireless communication unit 220 continues to wait for reception in step S202. When the wireless communication unit 220 receives the probe signal (step S202: YES), the strength estimation unit 135 calculates the reception strength of the signal captured by the antenna 110 and specifies the maximum value of the reception strength (step S203).

  Next, the notification receiving unit 231 determines whether reception of all the probe signals from the access point device 100 is completed based on the notification received in step S201 (step S204). When reception of all the probe signals from the access point device 100 is not completed (step S204: NO), the process returns to step S202 and waits for reception of the probe signal. On the other hand, when reception of all the probe signals from the access point device 100 is completed (step S204: YES), the intensity estimation unit 232 calculates the average value of the calculated reception intensity as the reception intensity of the 60 GHz band signal. (Step S205).

Next, the communication area determination unit 233 determines whether or not the 60 GHz band reception intensity estimated by the intensity estimation unit 232 is greater than a predetermined operation threshold (step S206). When the 60 GHz band reception intensity estimated by the strength estimation unit 232 is greater than the predetermined operation threshold (step S206: YES), the communication area determination unit 233 determines that the own device is within the 60 GHz band communication area of the access point device 100. It is determined that it exists (step S207). Thereby, the access point apparatus 100 and the station apparatus 200 can start communication using a 60 GHz band signal.
On the other hand, when the 60 GHz band reception strength estimated by the strength estimation unit 232 is equal to or less than a predetermined operation threshold (step S206: NO), the communication area determination unit 233 uses the 60 GHz band communication of the access point device 100 as its own device. It determines with not existing in an area (step S208). As a result, the access point device 100 and the station device 200 start communication using a 2.4 / 5 GHz band signal.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the station apparatus 200 uses a plurality of antennas 110 provided in the access point apparatus 100 to perform different signals according to a plurality of signals transmitted from different positions at different times and beams having different directivities. A wireless communication unit 120 that receives a plurality of transmitted signals, and an intensity estimation unit 232 that estimates an average reception intensity of the plurality of signals received by the wireless communication unit 120 as a reception intensity of a 60 GHz band signal. . Thereby, the radio | wireless communications system 1 can determine the propriety of the communication by the signal of 60 GHz band, without utilizing the signal of 60 GHz band with comparatively high power consumption as a probe signal. As a result, the wireless communication system 1 can avoid the transmission of the probe signal in the 60 GHz band, as in the first embodiment, and thus the 60 GHz band can be effectively used. Further, according to the present embodiment, the station device 200 can effectively use the 60 GHz band without emitting a radio signal. Thereby, the power consumption of the station apparatus 200 can be minimized.

  In the present embodiment, the intensity estimation unit 232 uses the average value of the reception intensities of a plurality of signals transmitted from different positions and a plurality of signals transmitted by beams having different directivities as signals of the second frequency. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, in another embodiment, the strength estimation unit 232 may estimate an average value of the reception strengths of a plurality of signals transmitted from different positions as the reception strength of the signal of the second frequency. Further, for example, in another embodiment, the intensity estimation unit 232 may estimate the average value of the reception intensity of a plurality of signals transmitted by beams having different directivities as the reception intensity of the signal of the second frequency. . Further, for example, in another embodiment, the strength estimation unit 232 may estimate the median value of the reception strengths of the plurality of signals as the reception strength of the signal of the second frequency. In particular, in an environment where the effect of multipath does not approximate a normal distribution, there is a possibility that the reception strength can be estimated with higher accuracy by using the median value instead of the average value.

  In addition, the wireless communication system 1 according to the present embodiment uses all of the plurality of antennas 210 to transmit the first frequency signal from different positions and transmits the beams with different directivities, but is not limited thereto. Absent. For example, in other embodiments, at least two of the plurality of antennas 210 may be used to transmit a first frequency signal from different locations and with different directional beams.

As described above, the embodiment has been described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the specific configuration is not limited to that described above, and various design changes and the like can be made.
For example, in the above-described embodiment, the wireless communication system 1 determines whether or not communication using a 60 GHz band signal is possible using a 2.4 / 5 GHz band signal, but is not limited thereto. For example, the wireless communication system 1 according to another embodiment may determine whether communication using a millimeter-wave band signal is possible using another microwave-band or quasi-millimeter-wave signal. In other words, the wireless communication system 1 according to another embodiment can use any frequency as long as it can determine whether communication using a signal in a certain frequency band is possible using a signal in a frequency band higher than the frequency band. It does not matter whether the signal is used.

  In the above-described embodiment, the wireless communication system 1 compares the reception intensity of the second frequency with the operation threshold value and determines whether or not the station apparatus 200 belongs to the communication area of the signal of the second frequency. However, it is not limited to this. For example, in another embodiment, the wireless communication system 1 does not determine whether or not the wireless communication system 1 belongs to the communication area of the second frequency signal, and presents the estimated reception strength of the second frequency signal to the user. It may be what you do.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Wireless communication system 100 Access point apparatus 200 Station apparatus 110, 210 Antenna 120, 220 Wireless communication part 130, 230 Control part 131 Instruction transmission part 135, 234 Strength estimation part 136, 235 Communication area determination part

Claims (7)

A receiver that receives signals of a first frequency transmitted from another wireless communication device and captured by a plurality of antennas of the device;
A reproduction unit that reproduces a plurality of signals received at different positions or a plurality of signals received by beams having different directivities based on the signal received by the reception unit;
A wireless communication unit comprising: an intensity estimation unit configured to estimate an average value or median of reception strengths of the plurality of signals reproduced by the reproduction unit as reception strengths of signals of a second frequency that is higher than the first frequency. apparatus. A plurality of first frequency signals transmitted at different times from different positions or a plurality of first frequency signals transmitted at different times by beams having different directivities by a plurality of antennas provided in other wireless communication devices A receiving unit for receiving
A wireless communication unit comprising: an intensity estimation unit configured to estimate an average value or median of reception strengths of the plurality of signals received by the reception unit as reception strengths of signals of a second frequency that is higher than the first frequency. apparatus. 3. The determination unit according to claim 1, further comprising: a determination unit that determines whether communication with the second frequency communication signal with the other wireless communication device is possible based on the reception strength estimated by the strength estimation unit. Wireless communication device. The wireless communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the plurality of antennas are arranged side by side in a direction intersecting a horizontal direction. Receiving a first frequency signal transmitted from a wireless communication device and captured by a plurality of antennas;
Recreating a plurality of signals received at different locations or a plurality of signals received by beams of different directivity based on the plurality of received signals;
Estimating the average value or median of the received intensity of the plurality of reproduced signals as the received intensity of the signal of the second frequency that is higher than the first frequency. Receiving a plurality of first frequency signals transmitted from different positions at different times or a plurality of signals transmitted at different times by beams having different directivities from a plurality of antennas included in the wireless communication device;
Estimating the average value or median of the received strengths of the plurality of received signals as the received strength of the signal of the second frequency that is higher than the first frequency. A communication availability determination step comprising: determining whether communication with the radio communication device is performed using a signal of a second frequency based on the reception strength estimated by the reception strength estimation method according to claim 5 or 6. Method.

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