JP2018042078A - Radio network construction support system and radio network construction support method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To efficiently install a radio device.SOLUTION: A radio network construction system for supporting construction of a multi-hop network by arranging a plurality of radio devices comprises a processor and a memory. The memory includes altitude information containing information related to an altitude of a multi-hop network construction area, and installation position information containing information related to positions at which a plurality of radio devices 102a to 102f are installed in the area. The processor determines whether each radio device system can communicate with any other radio devices by radio on the basis of the installation position information and the altitude information, and outputs an installation order of the plurality of radio devices on the basis of the determination results.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

  The present invention relates to the construction of a wireless network.

  A wireless communication system that forms a multi-hop network using a plurality of wireless devices is known. The wireless device is installed at a desired place constituting the wireless area, or is installed as a repeater for establishing wireless communication between the wireless devices. In a wireless communication system related to a multi-hop network, wireless devices that do not establish wireless communication with other wireless devices need to be relocated. In wireless communication systems that cover a wide area, workers often have to travel long distances to relocate wireless devices. Moreover, when installing a radio | wireless apparatus in a utility pole in order to ensure the power supply of a radio | wireless apparatus, a specialized worker may be needed. In other words, the relocation of the wireless devices generates various costs, so it is desirable to reduce as much as possible.

  As a technique for reducing the rearrangement of wireless devices, Patent Document 1 describes the presence or absence of an obstacle from the topographic information of a transmission path in order to simulate the success or failure of communication between a wireless device and a base station, and map information And a technique for superimposing and displaying. Patent Document 2 discloses a technique in which an installed wireless device measures a communication index for the purpose of grasping a wireless communication state.

Japanese Patent Application No. 8-264516 Japanese Patent Application No. 2007-67009

  However, Patent Document 1 does not target wireless communication related to a multi-hop network, and does not assume a plurality of transmission paths. Patent Document 2 discloses that communication between installed wireless devices is performed to determine the success or failure of communication, but does not disclose a case where communication cannot be performed between installed wireless devices. That is, with the technology disclosed in Patent Document 1 or 2, there is a high possibility that relocation of wireless devices will occur many times when a wireless communication system related to a multi-hop network is constructed.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to efficiently arrange wireless devices when constructing a wireless communication system related to a multi-hop network.

A wireless network construction support system for supporting the construction of a multi-hop network by arranging a plurality of wireless devices according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a processor and a memory.
Memory
Altitude information including information on the altitude of the area where the multi-hop network is constructed,
And installation position information including information on positions where a plurality of wireless devices are respectively installed in the area.
Processor
Based on the installation position information and altitude information, calculate which other wireless device each wireless device can wirelessly communicate with,
Based on the calculation result, the order of installation of the plurality of wireless devices is output.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, a radio | wireless apparatus can be efficiently arrange | positioned in the construction | assembly of the radio | wireless communications system which concerns on a multihop network.

1 is a configuration example of a wireless communication system. The structural example of a server apparatus. 2 shows a configuration example of a wireless device. The example of a display screen of the simulation result of the radio | wireless communication of a radio | wireless apparatus. The example of a display screen of the installation order of a radio | wireless apparatus. The example of a display screen of the measurement result of the radio | wireless communication of a radio | wireless apparatus. The flowchart which shows the calculation processing example of the installation order of a radio | wireless apparatus. The flowchart which shows the operation example of the radio | wireless apparatus of a main | base station. The flowchart which shows the operation example of the radio | wireless apparatus of a subunit | mobile_unit. The flowchart which shows the acquisition process example of communication status information.

  Examples will be described below. In the following description, information may be expressed in any data structure. In the following description, the process may be described using “program” as a subject. However, the program is executed by a processor (for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit)) so that a predetermined process can be appropriately performed. Since the processing is performed using at least one of a storage resource (for example, a memory) and a communication interface device, the subject of the processing may be a processor and an apparatus having the processor. Part or all of the processing performed by the processor may be performed by a hardware circuit. The computer program may be installed from a program source. The program source may be a program distribution server or a storage medium (for example, a portable storage medium). Further, in the following description, when different types of elements are described separately, reference numerals are used and description is performed without distinguishing the same types of elements, such as “wireless device 102a” and “wireless device 102b”. In some cases, only a common number among the reference symbols is used, such as “wireless device 102”.

  FIG. 1 shows a configuration example of a wireless communication system related to a multi-hop network.

  The wireless communication system 1 includes a server device 101, a plurality of wireless devices 102a to 102d, and a communication network 104. At least one wireless device 102a among the plurality of wireless devices 102 is connected to the server device 101 via the communication network 104 as a parent device. The communication network 104 may be configured by a mobile phone network, a wide area public Internet network, a wide area closed network, or the like.

  The base radio apparatus 102a may aggregate data transmitted from the other radio apparatuses 102b, 102c, and 102d via the radio communication 103 and transmit the data to the server apparatus 101. The wireless device 102a transmits and receives data to and from the wireless device 102b capable of direct wireless communication via the wireless communication 103ab. However, the wireless device 102a may transmit / receive data to / from the wireless device 102d that cannot perform direct wireless communication via the wireless device 102b that can directly perform wireless communication.

  The mobile terminal 104 is a terminal used by a worker who installs the wireless device 102 and can access the server device 101 via a predetermined wireless communication network. The mobile terminal 104 may be a mobile PC, a tablet terminal, a smart phone, or the like.

  FIG. 2 shows a configuration example of the server apparatus 101.

  The server apparatus 101 includes a software module 210 and a hardware module 220.

  The software module 210 includes a data collection unit 211, a communication success / failure calculation unit 212, an installation order calculation unit 213, a drawing information generation unit 214, and a measurement result acquisition unit 215.

  The data collection unit 211 collects data via the communication network 104 and stores it in the storage unit 222.

  The communication success / failure calculation unit 212 determines the success or failure of communication between the wireless devices using the position information and / or the terrain information of the wireless device 102.

  The installation order calculation unit 213 calculates the installation order of the wireless devices using the communication success / failure result of the communication success / failure calculation unit 212.

  The drawing information generation unit 214 displays the communication success / failure result of the communication success / failure calculation unit 212 and the installation order of the installation order calculation unit 213 on a display or the like.

  The measurement result acquisition unit 215 acquires the actual measurement result of the communication state between the wireless devices 102.

  The hardware module 220 includes a control unit 221, a storage unit 222, an input / output I / F 223, and a communication I / F 224.

  The control unit 221 controls the server device 101. The controller 221 may include a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and a ROM (Read Only Memory).

  The storage unit 222 stores computer programs and data for realizing various functions of the server apparatus 101. Examples of the storage unit 222 include an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) and an SSD (Solid State Drive).

  The input / output I / F is an I / F that enables connection between a device (for example, a display device) for displaying drawing information generated by the software module 210 and the server device 101.

  The communication I / F 224 is an I / F for the server apparatus 101 (control unit 221) to communicate with the wireless apparatus 102 via the communication network 104.

  The software module 210 is a computer program, and the function of the software module 210 may be realized by the control unit of the hardware module 220 executing the control unit 221 by the computer program.

  FIG. 3 shows a configuration example of the wireless device 102.

  The wireless device 102 includes a software module 310 and a hardware module 320.

  The software module 310 includes a reception processing unit 311, a transmission processing unit 312, a communication status request standby unit 313, a search request standby unit 314, and a communication status response standby unit 314.

  The reception processing unit 311 determines whether or not the processing request received by wireless communication is addressed to itself. Then, when the processing request is for itself, the reception processing unit 311 analyzes the packet data and performs processing based on the processing request.

  The transmission processing unit 312 transmits packet data.

  When receiving a measurement request, the communication state request waiting unit 313 generates response packet data.

  The search request waiting unit 314 searches for a nearby wireless device 102 when receiving a measurement instruction.

  The communication state response standby unit 314 transmits the communication state information to the server device 101 when the wireless device 102 is connected to the server device 101 and acquires the communication state information.

  The hardware module 320 includes a control unit 321, a storage unit 322, an input / output I / F 323, and a communication I / F 324.

  The control unit 321 controls the wireless device 102. The control unit 321 may include a CPU, a RAM, and a ROM.

  The storage unit 322 stores computer programs and data for realizing various functions of the wireless device 102. Examples of the storage unit 222 include an HDD and an SSD.

  The communication I / F 324 is an I / F for the wireless device 102 (the control unit 321) to communicate with the server device 101 via the communication network 104.

  The wireless communication I / F 324 is an I / F for the wireless device 102 (the control unit 321) to communicate with another wireless device via the wireless communication 103.

  4 to 6 show examples of screens that display the installation order of wireless devices.

  The display screen 410 may be generated by the drawing information generation unit 214 of the server apparatus 101. And the display screen 410 produced | generated by the server apparatus 410 may be displayed on the mobile terminal 104 which an operator has.

  FIG. 4 is an example of a display screen of a result (simulation result) in which each wireless device 102 calculates which wireless device 102 can wirelessly communicate with 411 based on the installation position information and altitude information. . FIG. 5 is an example of a display screen of the calculation result of the installation order of the wireless device 102. FIG. 6 is an example of a display screen of a result (actual measurement result) obtained by measuring which wireless device actually installed can actually communicate with which other wireless device.

  Display screen 410 may include a wireless device map display area 420, an input area 430, and a detailed display area 440.

  The wireless device map display area 420 is an area in which information related to the installation position of the wireless device 102 (referred to as “installation position information”) is displayed. In the wireless device map display area 420, information related to an area where the wireless device is installed (referred to as “area information”) and installation position information of the wireless device 102 may be displayed in a superimposed manner. Examples of area information include road information (road map) including information related to the road map of the area, altitude information (terrain map) including information related to the altitude of the landform of the area, and the like. In the wireless device map display area 420, information (referred to as “wireless connection information”) indicating which wireless devices 102 can communicate with each other may be displayed in a superimposed manner. Various information displayed in the wireless device map display area 420 may be collectively referred to as “wireless device information”.

  In the input area 430, a wireless device information input 431, a parent device selection 432, and an algorithm selection 433 may be displayed.

  The installation information input 431 receives input of installation position information of the wireless device. For example, when the worker inputs the installation position information via the installation information input 431, the communication success / failure calculation unit 212 calculates the success / failure of the wireless communication between the wireless devices based on the input position information. The calculation result may be displayed in the wireless device map display area 420.

  The base unit selection 432 receives selection of the wireless device 102a to be the base unit from the wireless devices 102 displayed in the wireless device map display area 420. For example, when a worker selects a parent device via the parent device selection 432, the selected parent device may be displayed in the wireless device map display area 420 in a manner that can be distinguished from other wireless devices.

  The algorithm selection 433 receives selection of an algorithm when calculating the success or failure of wireless communication or the order of installation of wireless devices. For example, when the worker selects an algorithm via the algorithm selection I / F 433, the installation order calculation unit 213 calculates an appropriate installation order of the wireless devices based on the selected algorithm. The calculation result may be displayed as a route 421 in the wireless device map display area 420, for example, as shown in FIG.

  In the detail display area 440, a wireless device selection 441, an information display 442, and an inter-device altitude graph 443 may be displayed.

  Device selection 441 accepts selection of a wireless device for which detailed information is desired.

  The information display 442 displays information (position information, ID, etc.) regarding the wireless device 102 selected by the device selection 441.

  The graph display 443 displays a graph regarding the topographical prospect between the two wireless devices 102 based on the altitude information when the two wireless devices 102 are selected by the device selection 441. Thereby, the worker can recognize the presence or absence of an obstacle that can hinder wireless communication between the two wireless devices 102.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a calculation processing example of the installation order of wireless devices. The processing may be executed by the server device 101.

  The communication success / failure calculation unit 212 acquires the installation position information (latitude, longitude, altitude (elevation), etc.) of the wireless device 102 via the installation information input 431 (S501). For example, when the worker selects (clicks) one wireless device 102 from among the plurality of wireless devices 102 displayed in the wireless device map display area 420, the communication success / failure calculation unit 212 displays the selected wireless device 102. The longitude and latitude of 102 may be calculated, and the calculation result may be acquired as installation position information.

  The communication success / failure calculation unit 212 calculates the direction of each wireless device 102, acquires the altitude information of the transmission path connecting the wireless devices 102 with a straight line using the calculation result, and can perform wireless communication between the wireless devices 102. It is determined whether or not (S502). The communication success / failure calculation unit 212 may perform the calculation using a known algorithm. For example, the communication success / failure calculation unit 212 may use an algorithm that takes into account the roundness of the earth, an algorithm that takes into account radio wave propagation characteristics, and the like.

  When it is determined in S502 that wireless communication is possible between the wireless devices 102, the drawing information generation unit 214 displays the map information, the wireless device 102, and the successful communication success / failure result 411 in the wireless device map display area 420. Good. If it is determined in S502 that the wireless device 102 has poor visibility and communication is impossible, the drawing information generation unit 214 may display only the map information and the wireless device 102 in the wireless device map display area 420 (S503). ).

  Then, the installation order calculation unit 213 acquires information of the wireless device 102a serving as a parent device via the parent device selection 432 (S504).

  In addition, the installation order calculation unit 213 acquires an algorithm for calculating the installation order of the wireless device 102 via the algorithm selection 433. Then, the installation order calculation unit 213 calculates the installation order of the wireless devices based on the acquired algorithm (S505).

  For example, the installation order calculation unit 213 may set the wireless device 102a selected as the parent device as the first wireless device to be installed. In addition, the installation order calculation unit 213 sets the Nth wireless device calculated by simulation that wireless communication is possible with at least one of the wireless devices installed before the Nth (N is an integer of 2 or more). It may be a wireless device to be installed. Further, the installation order calculation unit 213 may set the wireless device having the shortest moving distance from the (N−1) th wireless device to be installed as the Nth wireless device. This travel distance may be a travel distance on the road based on the road information.

  The drawing information generation unit 214 displays the wireless device installation order (forward route) 421 as shown in FIG. 5 in the wireless device map display area 420 based on the wireless device installation order calculated in S505 (S506).

  When the communication state information of each wireless device actually installed is acquired through the wireless device 102a of the parent device, the drawing information generation unit 214, as illustrated in the example of FIG. 450 is displayed in the wireless device map display area 420 (S507). For example, when the worker actually installs the Nth wireless device, the drawing information generation unit 214 determines that the actually installed Nth wireless device is a wireless device that is actually installed before the Nth wireless device. Whether or not the wireless communication with at least one of the wireless communication has succeeded may be displayed in the wireless device map display area 420.

  According to the above processing, the wireless device installed in the Nth is highly likely to succeed in wireless communication with the wireless device installed before the Nth, so that the rework of the wireless device installed by the worker is reduced. can do. Moreover, since the moving distance from the (N-1) th to the Nth installation position is shortened, the worker can efficiently install the wireless device. Furthermore, if the wireless device installed at the Nth is not successfully communicated with any of the wireless devices actually installed before the Nth, the reversing distance is shortened. The return work cost can be reduced. Note that if the Nth wireless device has not succeeded in wireless communication with any of the wireless devices actually installed before the Nth, the (N + 1) th wireless device is installed, so that N If there is a high possibility that the wireless device before the th can communicate with the Nth wireless device via the (N + 1) th wireless device, the (N + 1) th wireless device can be installed to The work cost can be reduced.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an operation example of the base station wireless device 102a.

  When activated, the search request waiting unit 314 broadcasts a search packet and searches for surrounding wireless devices (S601).

  The search request waiting unit 314 waits for a predetermined time to receive a response packet transmitted by another wireless device that has received the search packet in S601 (S602).

  The search request waiting unit 314 returns to the process of S601 when the response packet cannot be received within a predetermined time (S602: NO).

  When the search request waiting unit 314 receives a response packet within a predetermined time (S602: YES), the search request waiting unit 314 proceeds to the next process of S603.

  The search request waiting unit 314 transmits communication state information indicating that communication with the wireless device that has returned the response packet is possible to the server device (S603).

  The search request waiting unit 314 determines whether or not the processes of S605 and S606 below have been completed for all the wireless devices that have returned response packets in S602 (S604). If the determination result is negative (S604: NO), the process proceeds to the next S605. If the determination result is affirmative (S605: YES), the process returns to S601.

  The search request waiting unit 314 sequentially transmits a search request packet to each wireless device that has returned a response packet. Then, the search request waiting unit 314 waits to receive a response packet for the search request packet (S605).

  When the search request waiting unit 314 receives a response packet to the search request packet in S605 (S606), the search request waiting unit 314 returns to S603, and communication state information (for example, the wireless device 102b is connected to the wireless device 102c and the wireless device 102d) included in the response packet. Information indicating that communication is possible) is transmitted to the server apparatus 101 (S603).

  According to the above processing, the base station radio apparatus 102a can transmit the communication state information of each radio apparatus capable of radio communication via the multi-hop network to the server apparatus.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an operation example of the wireless device 102b of the slave unit. The same processing may be performed for the wireless devices 102c and 102d of the other slave units.

  When activated, the wireless device 102b waits to receive a packet transmitted from another wireless device (S701).

  When the wireless device 102b receives a packet addressed to its own wireless device, the wireless device 102b analyzes the content of the packet (S702).

  When the analysis result in S702 is a search packet (S702: search packet), the wireless device 102b transmits a response packet to the search packet to the transmission source wireless device (S703).

  If the analysis result in S702 is a search request packet (S702: search request packet), the wireless device 102b broadcasts the search packet (S704), and proceeds to S705.

  The wireless device 102b determines whether or not a response packet to the search request packet has been received from another wireless device within a predetermined time (S705).

  When the determination result in S705 is negative (S705: NO), the wireless device 102b transmits a response packet indicating that there is no wireless device capable of communication to the wireless device that has transmitted the search request packet (S706). .

  When the determination result in S705 is positive (S705: YES), the wireless device 102b stores information on the wireless device that has returned the response packet. Then, based on the stored wireless device information, the wireless device 102b transmits a search request packet to the wireless device that has returned the response packet (S707).

  The wireless device 102b determines whether or not the reception of the response packet with respect to the search request packet in S707 has been completed from all the wireless devices capable of communication (S708). If the determination result is negative (S708: NO), the process returns to S707. If the determination result is affirmative (S708: YES), the process proceeds to S709.

  In S709, the wireless device 102b transmits the contents of all received response packets as communication state information to the transmission-source wireless device (S709). Then, the process returns to S701.

  FIG. 10 is a sequence chart illustrating an example of communication state information acquisition processing.

  The base station wireless device 102a broadcasts a search packet to search for wireless devices that can communicate with each other (S801).

  When receiving the search packet from the wireless device 102a (S811), the slave wireless devices 102b and 102c transmit a search response packet to the wireless device 102a that is the transmission source of the search packet (S812).

  When receiving the search response packet, the wireless device 102a transmits to the server device 101 that the wireless device 102a can communicate with the wireless devices 102b and 102c (S803). Subsequently, the wireless device 102a unicasts a search request packet to the wireless device 102b, and transitions to a response wait state from the wireless device 102b (S804).

  When the wireless device 102b receives the search request packet from the wireless device 102a (S813), the wireless device 102b broadcasts the search packet and searches for surrounding wireless devices (S801).

  When receiving the search packet from the wireless device 102b, the wireless devices 102c and 102d transmit a search response packet to the wireless device 102b that is the transmission source of the search packet (S811 and S812).

  When the wireless device 102b receives the search response packet from the wireless devices 102c and 102d, the wireless device 102b recognizes that the wireless devices 102c and 102d can communicate with each other, and transmits wireless search request packets in the order of the wireless devices 102c and 102d, for example. (S804).

  When the wireless device 102c receives the wireless device request packet, the wireless device 102c starts the operation from S813, similarly to the wireless device 102b.

  When the processing for the wireless device request packet is completed, the wireless device 102c transmits the communication result as communication state information to the wireless device 102b (S814).

  When the wireless device 102b transmits a search request packet to the wireless devices 102c and 102d and receives a search response packet for each search request packet, the wireless device 102b transmits the result as communication state information to the wireless device 102a (S814).

  The wireless device repeats the above steps.

  When the wireless device 102a acquires communication state information from all communicable wireless devices, the wireless device 102a transmits the acquired communication state information to the server device 101 (S806).

  According to the present embodiment, the worker installs the wireless device 102 in accordance with the order 421 displayed in the wireless device map display area 420, so that the wireless device can be properly installed while performing the installation work. Can be confirmed.

  The above-described embodiments are examples for explaining the present invention, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention only to the embodiments. Those skilled in the art can implement the present invention in various other modes without departing from the gist of the present invention.

  1: Wireless network construction support system 101: Server device 102: Wireless device

Claims (8)

A wireless network construction support system for supporting a construction of a multi-hop network by arranging a plurality of wireless devices, comprising a processor and a memory,
The memory is
Altitude information including information on the altitude of the area where the multi-hop network is constructed,
And installation position information including information on positions where the plurality of wireless devices are respectively installed in the area,
The processor is
Based on the installation position information and the altitude information, calculate which other wireless device each wireless device can wirelessly communicate with,
A wireless network construction support system that outputs an installation order of the plurality of wireless devices based on the calculation result. The processor is
One wireless device capable of wireless communication with a predetermined server device is a wireless device installed first,
2. The wireless network according to claim 1, wherein a wireless device capable of performing wireless communication with at least one of the wireless devices installed before the Nth (N is an integer equal to or greater than 2) th is a wireless device installed in the Nth. Construction support system. 3. The wireless network construction support system according to claim 2, wherein the processor sets the wireless device having the shortest moving distance from the (N−1) th wireless device to be installed as the Nth wireless device. 4. 3. The processor according to claim 2, wherein the processor outputs whether or not the Nth wireless device actually installed has succeeded in wireless communication with at least one of the wireless devices actually installed before the Nth. The wireless network construction support system described. The wireless network construction support system according to claim 2, wherein the processor displays positions where the plurality of wireless devices are installed in the area based on the installation position information. 6. The wireless network construction support system according to claim 5, wherein the processor receives selection of the first wireless device to be installed and uses the selected wireless device as a parent device. 6. The wireless network construction support system according to claim 5, wherein the processor receives selection of two wireless devices, and displays information related to an altitude between the selected two wireless devices based on the altitude information. A method for supporting a computer to construct a multi-hop network by installing a plurality of wireless devices,
Memory
Altitude information including information on the altitude of the area where the multi-hop network is constructed,
And installation position information including information on positions where the plurality of wireless devices are respectively installed in the area,
Processor
Based on the installation position information and the terrain information, calculate which other wireless device each wireless device can wirelessly communicate with,
A wireless network construction support method for outputting an installation order of the plurality of wireless devices based on the calculation result.

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