JP2022085210A - Wireless communication device and wireless communication system - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a wireless communication device or the like that can efficiently implement sector level sweep (SLS).SOLUTION: A wireless communication device that can set a plurality of sectors that specify the directivity of the radio wave transmission/reception direction includes a usable/unusable sector storage unit that stores a sector used for SLS and a sector not used for SLS, which are determined by predetermined conditions for the radio wave environment of the wireless communication device, and an SLS control unit that executes SLS using the sector used for SLS, stored in the usable/unusable sector storage unit.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 10

Description

The present invention relates to a wireless communication device and a wireless communication system.

In wireless communication using a directional antenna, SLS (Sector Level Swep) for setting the directivity of the antenna may be executed, and a method for shortening the time required for SLS has been conventionally proposed.

For example, the wireless communication device of Patent Document 1 is an sSSW (short Sector SWeep) frame obtained by shortening a conventionally used SSW frame in order to complete SLS in a short time even when the number of sectors increases. To use. The wireless communication device of Patent Document 1 includes a PHY transmission circuit that generates a PHY frame using an sSSW frame or an SSW frame. Further, the wireless communication device of Patent Document 1 has a configuration including an array antenna for selecting one sector from a plurality of sectors and transmitting the PHY frame by using the PHY frame. The PHY transmission circuit scrambles the address of the source wireless communication device and the address of the destination wireless communication device in the sSSW frame based on any of the fields included in the PHY frame, and further performs an operation using a hash function. Is shortened by.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2018-29317

However, in the prior art, even sectors that are unlikely to be used due to the installation environment or the like are subject to transmission such as SSW frames. Therefore, as the number of sectors increases, the time for executing the SLS also increases in response to the increase in the number of sectors, so that there is a limit as a method for shortening the execution time of the SLS.

The present invention has been made in view of the problems of the prior art. Then, an object of the present invention is a wireless communication system capable of shortening the delay time related to SLS by setting sectors that are unlikely to be used as excluded sectors that do not transmit SSW frames even if the number of sectors increases. Etc. are to be provided.

The wireless communication device according to the aspect of the present invention, which can set a plurality of sectors defining the directivity of the radio wave transmission / reception direction, is an SLS (Sector Level) determined by predetermined conditions for the radio wave environment of the wireless communication device. SLS control that executes SLS using the usable / unusable sector storage unit that stores the sectors used for Sweep) and the sectors that are not used for SLS, and the sectors used for SLS stored in the usable / unusable sector storage unit. It is preferable to include a portion.

According to the present invention, a wireless communication system or the like capable of shortening the delay time related to SLS by setting sectors that are unlikely to be used as excluded sectors that do not transmit SSW frames even if the number of sectors increases. It will be possible to provide.

It is a schematic diagram which shows an example of the implementation of the wireless communication system including the wireless communication device which concerns on this embodiment. It is a schematic diagram which shows an example of the sector division image of the antenna which has a directivity which concerns on this embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows an example of the structure of the wireless communication apparatus which concerns on this embodiment. It is a schematic diagram which shows the setting example of the used sector and the unused sector of the antenna which has the directivity of the wireless communication apparatus which concerns on this Embodiment based on FIG. It is a figure which shows the list of the used sector and the unused sector of the antenna which has the directivity of each wireless communication apparatus of FIG. 4 which concerns on this embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the operation of the wireless communication apparatus which concerns on this embodiment. It is a schematic diagram which shows the setting example of the used sector and the unused sector of the antenna which has a directivity when the radio wave environment fluctuation occurs in the wireless communication apparatus which concerns on this Embodiment, based on FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the occupant riding situation which becomes the fluctuation factor of the radio wave environment of the wireless communication device which concerns on this embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the exclusion sector which occurs with the change of the radio wave environment of the wireless communication apparatus which concerns on this embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the operation assuming the case where the radio wave environment changes in the wireless communication device which concerns on this embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the communication state in the case where the radio wave environment is changed by the passenger getting on the wireless communication device installed in the mobile body which concerns on this embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the method of estimating the boarding position of the occupant when the radio wave environment changes by the occupant's boarding in the wireless communication device installed in the mobile body which concerns on this embodiment. It is a schematic diagram which shows an example of an SLS sequence.

Hereinafter, an example of the wireless communication device and the wireless communication system according to the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The embodiments described below are comprehensive or specific examples. The numerical values, shapes, materials, components, installation positions and connection forms of the components, steps, the order of steps, and the like shown in the following embodiments are examples, and are not intended to be limited to the present disclosure. Further, among the components in the following embodiments, the components not described in the independent claims indicating the highest level concept are described as arbitrary components. Furthermore, the dimensional ratios in the drawings are exaggerated for convenience of explanation and may differ from the actual ratios.

(Overview of wireless communication system)
An operation example of the wireless communication system 1000 including the wireless communication device according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 13. In the following description, the wireless communication device may be referred to as a node.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an image of a place where a node, which is a wireless communication device, is installed in a vehicle as a mobile body 30. The node is installed adjacent to the ECU (Electronic Control Unit) that is the source of the information to be transmitted, the sensor that detects the state of the vehicle, or the ECU that uses the transmitted information. I'm assuming.

In FIG. 1, a wireless communication device 100a and a wireless communication device 100b are installed at the back of the front seat foot in the traveling direction of the vehicle where various ECUs may be mounted, and the wireless communication device 100g and the trunk room left rear are installed at the rear right of the trunk room. A wireless communication device 100h is installed in. Further, the wireless communication device 100c near the right front door switch mounting location, the wireless communication device 100d near the left front door switch mounting location, the wireless communication device 100e near the right rear door switch mounting location, and the wireless communication device near the left rear door switch mounting location. 100f is installed. Further, a wireless communication device 100i is installed near the place where the roof room lamp is mounted. The wireless communication device 100a to the wireless communication device 100i may be collectively referred to as the wireless communication device 100. The wireless communication device 100 may be arranged between the inner surface facing the internal space of the vehicle and the body facing the external space of the vehicle so as not to be visible to the occupants, but is not limited thereto. For example, the wireless communication device 100 may be arranged on the internal space side of the inner surface facing the internal space of the vehicle so that the occupant can see it. Further, the wireless communication device 100i may be arranged inside the roof room lamp.

Further, the installation position of the wireless communication device 100 is not limited to a strict one point, and the wireless communication device 100 can be installed in a three-dimensional area having a certain width. For example, the installation position of the wireless communication device 100a may be indicated in the three-dimensional space in which the wireless communication device 100a can be installed, which is shown in the area 1 of FIG. Further, the shape of the region 1 can be any shape. The area identification information of the area 1 can be set to "1". Similarly, for example, the installation position of the wireless communication device 100 may be indicated by the installable three-dimensional space indicated by the region X (X = 1 to 9 natural numbers) in FIG. Further, the shape of the region X can be any shape. The area identification information of the area X can also be "X".

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an example of an antenna-directional sector division image of a directional antenna unit attached to the wireless communication device 100 or built in the wireless communication device 100. In FIG. 2, the image of the horizontal plane of the vehicle as the moving body 30 divided into 24 equal angles is associated with the antenna-directional sector. The directional antenna portions of all the wireless communication devices 100 shown in FIG. 1 can have directivity in the sector direction shown in FIG. 2, and the sector direction is arbitrarily selected to determine the transmission / reception direction of radio waves. It is possible. For example, sector 1 has a directivity of about 15 degrees in the positive direction from the Y axis to the X axis, and sector 2 has a directivity of about 15 degrees adjacent to the sector 1 in the clockwise direction. Then, the sector 24 is set as a sector adjacent to the sector 1 in the counterclockwise direction and having a directivity of about 15 degrees. The angle of the sector can be indicated by the half-value angle of the antenna, but is not limited to this in the present embodiment. The sector described above may be referred to as a directional sector. In addition, the sectors are not only divided into two dimensions, but are also divided into three-dimensional directions (not shown) so that all the divided sectors are adjacent to each other from a center point (not shown) to cover all directions of 360 degrees. It is possible to have directivity.

In the present embodiment, the directional sector used at the time of beamforming is limited depending on the installation position of the wireless communication device 100 and the occupant's riding condition, and the directional sector that can be used can be dynamically updated as needed. And.

In a wireless communication system installed in a vehicle such as an automobile, the wireless communication device included in the wireless communication system is likely to be installed close to the outer panel or the like constituting the vehicle body, so that the outer panel or the like is likely to be installed. There is a high possibility that radio waves in the directional sector having directivity in the direction of will be blocked. That is, the radio wave in the directional sector having directivity in the direction of the outer plate or the like is extremely likely to be difficult to realize high-quality wireless communication due to the radio wave loss due to the shielding effect of the outer plate or the like.

In addition, the occupant of the vehicle acts as a shield for radio waves, and the movement of the occupant in the vehicle increases the possibility that the radio waves in the directional sector having directivity in the direction of the occupant will be shielded. That is, it is highly possible that it will be difficult to realize high-quality wireless communication for radio waves in a directional sector that has directivity in the direction of the occupant, as in the case of the outer panel, due to radio wave loss due to the shielding effect of the occupant. Become.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, the number of SSW frames transmitted in the SLS (Sector Level Sweep) is reduced by excluding the directional sector having directivity in the direction of the object having the shielding effect such as the occupant and the outer panel in advance. .. And this makes it possible to suppress the communication delay.

(Overview of beamforming)
Subsequently, beamforming performed when performing wireless communication between the wireless communication devices 100 will be outlined with reference to FIG. 13. Although the procedure specified in the IEEE802.11ad standard will be described, beamforming may be performed by any other method.

The beamforming procedure in the IEEE802.11ad standard can be roughly divided into two stages. The first step is sector level sweep (SLS), which is a procedure for discovering the mating device, and the second step is beam refinement, which is a procedure for fine-tuning the beam. The device that initiates this procedure is called an initiator, and the device that executes this procedure in response to the initiator is called a responder. In this embodiment, for example, STA1 in FIG. 13 operates as an initiator and STA2 operates as a responder, but vice versa.

As shown in FIG. 13, in the sector level sweep, the initiator first transmits a sector sweep frame (SSW). At this time, the initiator controls the antenna to transmit a sector sweep frame in each of the plurality of beam patterns using a plurality of beam patterns having different directions of the main lobes. The range in which a frame is transmitted in one beam pattern is called a sector. That is, the initiator transmits a sector sweep frame in each of the plurality of sectors. At this stage, the responder controls the antenna so that the directivity of the antenna becomes pseudo-omnidirectional, and waits for the reception of the sector sweep frame from the initiator. The above-mentioned "antenna control" is a process of multiplying a signal transmitted by each antenna element by a predetermined antenna weight for transmission, or a process of multiplying a signal received by each antenna element by a predetermined antenna weight. It may be a process of adding.

The responder then sends a sector sweep frame. At this time, the responder uses a plurality of beam patterns having different directions of the main lobes, and transmits a sector sweep frame in each of the plurality of beam patterns. Further, the initiator controls the antenna so that the directivity of the antenna becomes pseudo-omnidirectional, and receives this sector sweep frame. That is, the same process is executed by exchanging the transmitting side and the receiving side.

Then, as shown in FIG. 13, sector sweep feedback is performed. The initiator sends a sector sweep feedback frame (SSW-FB), and when the responder receives this sector sweep feedback frame, it returns a sector sweep ACK (SSW-ACK). In this feedback and ACK, for example, for at least some sectors with good radio quality, the identifier of the sector and the radio quality information are notified to the remote device. This allows the initiator and responder to identify sectors where good radio quality can be obtained when the frame is transmitted. In this way, the sector level sweep can identify the sectors from which good radio quality can be obtained.

A sector level sweep may be followed by a beam refinement protocol. In this embodiment, the description of the beam refinement protocol will be omitted.

(Configuration of wireless communication device)
An example of the configuration of the wireless communication device 100 having the functions described in the above outline will be described with reference to FIG.

The wireless communication device 100 includes a PHY unit 110, a MAC unit 120, a control unit 130, a storage unit 140, and an external I / F unit 150 (MAC: Medium Access Control, PHY: PHY: Physical layer, I / F: Interface). The directional antenna unit ANT and the occupant-ride status detection unit 500 constituting the sector antenna including the antenna element ANT1, the antenna element ANT2, and the antenna element ANTX (X is a natural number of 3 or more) are included in the wireless communication device 100. May not be. The installation position information setting device 300 and the control information setting device 400 will be described as an accompanying device for setting information in the wireless communication device 100.

The wireless communication device 100 can be a general computer including the above blocks. When a general computer executes a control program, the functions shown in FIG. 3 can be realized. Hereinafter, only the parts related to the features in the present embodiment will be described. Therefore, it goes without saying that the wireless communication device 100 includes other functional blocks that are not directly related to the features of the present embodiment.

The storage unit 140 may be a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random access memory), a hard disk, or the like. The storage unit 140 can also store various data such as input data, output data, and intermediate data for the wireless communication device 100 to execute processing. Some functions of the wireless communication device 100 can be executed by a CPU (Central Processing Unit).

The directional antenna unit ANT is an antenna capable of forming a plurality of sectors, and may be an array antenna capable of setting a radio wave beam in an arbitrary direction by a plurality of antenna elements as shown in FIG. Further, it may be an aggregate of a plurality of antennas having directivity. With an array antenna, by adjusting the current phase of each antenna element so that radio waves from multiple antenna elements are applied in the same phase, it is possible to direct the directivity of the radio wave beam in any direction while the antenna is fixed. become.

The PHY unit 110 executes processing such as modulation / demodulation for transmitting information on radio waves, and executes processing such as generation and analysis of PHY frames. Parameters for executing processing such as modulation / demodulation can be stored in the control information storage unit 141 of the storage unit 140. The PHY unit 110 can execute a function corresponding to the physical layer of the layer in the model in which the communication protocol (communication protocol) is layered.

The MAC unit 120 executes processing such as multiple access control for sharing radio waves as a transmission medium among a plurality of wireless communication devices 100. Parameters for executing processing such as multiple access control can be stored in the control information storage unit 141 of the storage unit 140. The MAC unit 120 can execute a function corresponding to the MAC layer of the layer in the model in which the communication protocol is layered.

The control unit 130 includes an SLS control unit 131 and a data communication control unit 132.

The SLS control unit 131 includes a plurality of functional blocks having a function for executing the SLS operation in the beamforming operation. The SLS control unit 131 includes a node determination unit 131a, a sector determination unit 131b, a signal quality measurement unit 131c, and a sector determination unit 131d when the self-wireless communication device becomes a responder. Further, the SLS control unit 131 includes an SSW frame generation unit 131e, a transmission sector selection unit 131f, and a transmission sector determination unit 131g when the self-wireless communication device serves as an initiator.

The SSW frame generation unit 131e executes an operation of generating an SSW frame transmitted from each sector of the initiator.

The transmission sector selection unit 131f performs an operation of selecting a sector to be used for SLS by referring to the control information storage unit 141 and the used sector selection information storage unit 143, which will be described later. Specifically, the transmission sector selection unit 131f acquires the identification information of the own wireless communication device from the control information storage unit 141. Next, the transmission sector selection unit 131f acquires the identification information of the used sector that can be used by the own wireless communication device, which corresponds to the identification information of the own wireless communication device, from the availability sector storage unit 143a. That is, the wireless communication device 100 selects a usable sector that can be used by the own wireless communication device from the usable / unusable sector storage unit 143a. Next, the transmission sector selection unit 131f extracts the occupant occupancy status information with reference to the occupant occupancy status storage unit 143b. Next, it is determined from the identification information of the self-wireless communication device and the occupant boarding status information whether or not there is an excluded sector corresponding to the occupant boarding exclusion sector storage unit 143c. If there is an excluded sector corresponding to the occupant-boarding excluded sector storage unit 143c, the excluded sector is excluded from the sector used for the selected SLS, and the sector used for the SLS is selected.

The transmission sector selection unit 131f sequentially selects the sectors used for the selected SLS as described above, and transmits the SSW frame to the other wireless communication device 100.

The transmission sector determination unit 131g determines the transmission sector, which is determined to have the best communication quality in the responder received from the responder, as the transmission sector for executing wireless communication. The transmission sector determined by the transmission sector determination unit 131g is also used as a reception sector for receiving communication data from the responder.

Next, the node determination unit 131a, the sector determination unit 131b, the signal quality measurement unit 131c, and the sector determination unit 131d when the self-wireless communication device becomes a responder will be described.

The node determination unit 131a extracts the node information for transmitting the SSW frame from the received SSW frame, and determines the node for transmitting the SSW frame.

The sector determination unit 131b determines the sector that transmitted the SSW frame at the node that transmitted the SSW frame from the received SSW frame.

The signal quality measuring unit 131c measures the signal quality of the received SSW frame. Further, the signal quality measuring unit 131c associates the measured signal quality information with the node identification information determined by the node determination unit 131a and the sector identification information determined by the sector determination unit 131b, and associates the measured signal quality information with other nodes. It is stored in the sector quality information storage unit 142. The measured communication quality information may include information such as RSSI (Received Signal Strength Indicator) such as radio wave strength. Further, the communication quality information may include information such as BER (bit error rate) and PER (Packet Error Rate). Further, the communication quality information may include information such as SNR (Signal to Noise Ration) and RCPI (Received Channel Power Indicator). Further, the communication quality information may include communication delay time information and shielding loss information. Further, the communication quality information may be any one of the above-mentioned various communication quality information.

The sector determination unit 131d refers to the other node sector quality information storage unit 142, and determines the sector that has transmitted the SSW frame having the best communication quality information among the nodes that have transmitted the series of SSW frames. The determined sector identification information of the sector with the best communication quality information is transmitted to the node which is the initiator that transmitted the series of SSW frames.

The data communication control unit 132 controls the communication data by using the sector determined by the transmission sector determination unit 131g.

The storage unit 140 includes a control information storage unit 141, another node sector quality information storage unit 142, and a used sector selection information storage unit 143.

The control information storage unit 141 is provided with control parameter values required for wireless communication, identification information of the wireless communication device 100, installation position information such as an arrangement number of the wireless communication device 100, and a positional relationship in which the wireless communication device 100 is installed. Information such as the area positional relationship information to be shown is stored. The installation position information and the area position relationship information will be described later.

In the other node sector quality information storage unit 142, the signal quality information measured by the signal quality measurement unit 131c is the node identification information determined by the node determination unit 131a and the sector determined by the sector determination unit 131b. It is stored in association with the identification information. That is, the signal quality information of the received SSW frame when the own wireless communication device operates as a responder, the sector identification information of the wireless communication device 100 that transmitted the SSW frame, and the identification of the wireless communication device 100 that transmitted the SSW frame. Information is stored in association with each other.

The used sector selection information storage unit 143 includes a usable / unusable sector storage unit 143a, a occupant boarding status storage unit 143b, and a occupant boarding exclusion sector storage unit 143c.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the usable / unusable sector storage unit 143a indicates a usable / unusable sector that is associated with the installation position information of the wireless communication device 100 and indicates a sector used for SLS and a sector not used for SLS. Information is stored. Before starting the execution of the SLS, the wireless communication device 100 refers to the availability sector storage unit 143a and determines the sectors that can be used for the execution of the SLS. The information stored in the usable / unusable sector storage unit 143a can be set from an external electronic device via the external I / F unit 150 at the time of manufacturing or servicing the moving body. An example of the electronic device is the control information setting device 400 shown in FIG. The control information setting device 400 may be a general computer device including a CPU.

The occupant-ride status storage unit 143b stores occupant-ride status information of a moving body such as a vehicle as shown in FIG. In FIG. 8, as an example, information indicating whether or not an occupant is seated in each seat of the vehicle is shown. For example, it is possible to express the case of being seated with "1" and the case of not being seated with "0", but the seating information is not limited to this. Further, the occupant boarding status storage unit 143b can store the boarding position of the occupant of the moving body as the coordinate information of the moving body. In this case, the coordinate information can be expressed as information indicating a certain area depending on the physique and posture of the occupant. When the information regarding the riding status of the occupant of the moving body is the seating information, it is possible to use a seatbelt reminder system (not shown) that urges the occupant to wear a seatbelt when the moving body is traveling. Further, as information on the occupant status of a moving occupant, it is also possible to use occupant detection sensor information of an airbag system (not shown) that protects the occupant when an impact occurs due to a traffic accident or the like. Further, when the information regarding the riding status of the occupant of the moving body is the coordinate information indicating the area, it is possible to use the radio wave of the wireless communication device 100. Details will be described later.

In the occupant boarding exclusion sector storage unit 143c, sectors that are not used for SLS are predetermined and stored according to the boarding position of the occupant's moving body. For example, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 9, when the occupant is seated in the driver's seat, sector 8 in the arrangement number 3 indicating the installation position where the wireless communication device 100 closest to the driver's seat is installed, It is remembered that 9, 10 and 11 are sectors that are not used for SLS. That is, the sector not used for the SLS is stored in the wireless communication device 100 having a predetermined arrangement number closest to the boarding position of the moving body of the occupant. In FIG. 9, the boarding position is associated with the seat, but as described above, the boarding position may be coordinate information indicating an area.

As described above, before the wireless communication device 100 executes the SLS, the availability sector storage unit 143a is referred to, the sector used for the SLS is recognized, and the sector excluded when the occupant is on board according to the occupant's occupancy status. Further, the excluded sector can be determined with reference to the storage unit 143c.

The external I / F unit 150 is an input / output interface for transmission / reception communication data and various data, and may be an interface with a device such as a sensor connected to the wireless communication device 100 or an electronic device. The ECU (Electronic Control Unit) may be configured by a device connected to the external I / F unit 150 or an electronic device. The electronic device may include a vehicle control device as an in-vehicle device, a vehicle sensing device, a vehicle peripheral information acquisition device, and an electronic device such as an entertainment device. The vehicle control device may include a navigation device and an automatic driving control device.

The installation position information setting device 300 stores information such as installation position information in which the wireless communication device 100 is installed on the mobile body in the control information storage unit 141 via the external I / F unit 150 of the wireless communication device 100. It is possible to work like this. The timing at which information such as installation position information is stored in the control information storage unit 141 is preferably, but is not limited to, the timing at which the wireless communication device 100 is attached to the mobile body. Further, a switch such as a DIP switch may be used for the installation position information setting device 300.

The control information setting device 400 stores the control information necessary for wireless communication such as parameters for executing processing such as modulation / demodulation and multiple connection control used in the wireless communication system 1000 in the control information storage unit 141. It is possible to work. The timing at which information such as control information is stored in the control information storage unit 141 is preferably, but is not limited to, the timing at which the wireless communication device 100 is attached to the mobile body.

The occupant-ride situation detection unit 500 may be an image pickup system including an image pickup device such as a seatbelt reminder system, an airbag system, and a CCD camera (not shown). The imaging system can output not only the seating status of the occupant's moving body in the seat but also the riding position of the occupant's moving body as coordinate information. The information output by the occupant occupancy status detection unit 500 is stored in the occupant occupancy status storage unit 143b via the external I / F unit 150 of the wireless communication device 100.

According to the above configuration, it is not necessary to transmit SSW frames from all sectors, so that the delay time related to SLS can be shortened even when the number of sectors is large. Further, since SSW frame transmission is not executed in a sector that is unlikely to be used depending on the installation environment of the wireless communication device 100 and the occupancy status of the occupant of the mobile body on which the wireless communication device 100 is installed, the delay related to SLS is not executed. It will be possible to save a lot of time.

(An example of excluded sectors due to the outer panel, etc. when no occupants are on board)
Next, this embodiment will be further described. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a limited image of a directional sector to be used, in which the effect of shielding radio waves by an outer panel or the like is taken into consideration according to the installation position of the wireless communication device 100.

In the wireless communication device 100a, the wireless communication device 100b, the wireless communication device 100g, and the wireless communication device 100h, eight directional sectors can be used excluding the directional sectors facing the firewall and the outer panel constituting the vehicle body. And. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, in the wireless communication device 100a, only sectors 1 to 12 are directional sectors that can be used. Further, as shown in FIG. 5, in the wireless communication device 100b, only sectors 1 to 12 are directional sectors that can be used. Further, as shown in FIG. 5, in the wireless communication device 100g, only sectors 13 to 18 are directional sectors that can be used. Further, as shown in FIG. 5, in the wireless communication device 100h, only sectors 19 to 24 are directional sectors that can be used.

Further, in the wireless communication device 100c, the wireless communication device 100d, the wireless communication device 100e, and the wireless communication device 100f, 12 directional sectors excluding the directional sector facing the door panel are set as usable directional sectors. As an example, specifically showing the wireless communication device 100c, as shown in FIG. 5, in the wireless communication device 100c, only sectors 7 to 18 are directional sectors that can be used.

The directional sectors that can be used in each node are stored in the availability sector storage unit 143a. Further, the usable / unusable sector storage unit 143a stores usable directional sectors of all the wireless communication devices 100 included in the wireless communication system 1000. Therefore, the wireless communication device in which the transmission request is generated recognizes the self-wireless communication device related to the transmission request, and transmits the SSW frame only for the directional sector in which the self-wireless communication device can be used. That is, the wireless communication device in which the transmission request is generated selects the usable directional sector of the own wireless communication device related to the transmission request stored in the usable / unusable sector storage unit 143a, and transmits the SSW frame. ..

As shown in FIG. 5, the usable / unusable sector storage unit 143a indicates whether the directional sector can be used or not for the installation position of all the wireless communication devices belonging to the wireless communication system 1000. Information is stored. For example, the usable information can be set to "1" and the unusable information can be set to "0", but the method of recognizing the usable / unusable information is not limited to this. The wireless communication device system can associate arbitrary information with available information and any other information with unusable information. For example, it is possible to set a group of directional sectors having the same usable information and a group of directional sectors having the same unusable information for each wireless communication device.

Usable / unusable information indicating the availability and unusability of the directional sector with respect to the installation position of all the wireless communication devices can be stored in the availability sector storage unit 143a by various methods. As an example, in the usable / unusable sector storage unit 143a of the storage unit 140, usable / unusable information evaluated at the time of designing the moving body including the vehicle is transmitted to the storage unit 140 via the external I / F unit 150 at the time of manufacturing the moving body. It can also be set. Further, the identification information of the self-wireless communication device can also be set in the control information storage unit 141 of the storage unit 140 via the external I / F unit 150 at the time of manufacturing the mobile body. In addition, when a change occurs such that the radio wave shield is newly installed or deleted in the moving body, the usable / unusable information of the usable / unusable sector storage unit 143a is updated in the maintenance shop or the like. Is also possible.

(Example of operation of wireless communication device when no occupant is on board)
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the wireless communication device when no occupant is on board.

In step S601, it is determined whether or not the electric switch of the mobile body changes from the OFF state to the ON state, or from the sleep mode or the like to the wake-up mode or the like, and the wireless communication device 100 of the mobile body is activated. When the mobile wireless communication device 100 is activated (step S601: YES), the wireless communication device 100 proceeds to step S602 in order to start operation. When the mobile wireless communication device 100 is not activated (step S601: NO), the wireless communication device 100 repeats step S601 and waits for the start of operation.

In step S602, the wireless communication device 100 acquires the identification information of the own wireless communication device. The identification information is stored in advance in the control information storage unit 141. The identification information may be associated with the arrangement information of the wireless communication device in the moving body. For example, in the moving body, all the areas where the wireless communication device 100 is arranged may exist as area positional relationship information, and the identification information of the wireless communication device 100 may be associated with the area identification information of the area. In this case, the area positional relationship information can also be stored in advance in any area of the storage unit 140 of the wireless communication device 100. For example, the area positional relationship information may also be stored in advance in the control information storage unit 141. Next, the wireless communication device 100 proceeds to step S603.

In step S603, the wireless communication device 100 refers to the identification information of the own wireless communication device from the availability sector storage unit 143a, and acquires the identification information of the used sector in which the own wireless communication device can be used. That is, the wireless communication device 100 selects a usable sector that can be used by the own wireless communication device from the usable / unusable sector storage unit 143a. The operation of step S603 can also be executed between steps S604 and S605. Next, the wireless communication device 100 proceeds to step S604.

In step S604, the wireless communication device 100 determines whether or not a transmission request has been generated in the own wireless communication device. When a transmission request is generated in the local wireless communication device (step S604: YES), the wireless communication device 100 proceeds to step S605. When the transmission request has not been generated in the local wireless communication device (step S604: NO), the wireless communication device 100 repeats step S604. If the transmission request is not generated in the own wireless communication device, the wireless communication device 100 may be in the reception mode to receive / intercept communication data from another wireless communication device. ..

In step S605, the wireless communication device 100 executes the SLS operation only for the used sectors that can be used in the usable / unusable sector storage unit 143a, and selects the used sector with the best communication quality for the own wireless communication device. do. In addition, the destination wireless communication device also selects the sector to be used with the best communication quality for the destination wireless communication device. Next, the wireless communication device 100 proceeds to step S606.

In step S606, the wireless communication device 100 transmits communication data via the sector with the best communication quality selected in step S605. Next, the wireless communication device 100 returns to step S604.

(Example of excluded sectors by occupants when occupants are on board)
FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a limited image of a directional sector used in consideration of the effect of shielding radio waves by an occupant or the like according to the installation position of the wireless communication device.

In FIG. 7, it is assumed that the occupant is seated in the driver's seat on the right front side and the rear seat on the left rear side. In FIG. 7, in addition to the excluded sectors in which the shielding effect by the outer panel or the like according to the installation position of the wireless communication device in FIG. 4 is considered, the wireless communication device arranged at the position adjacent to the occupant is also excluded. Sectors are added to reduce the time to run the SLS.

For example, in the wireless communication device 100c adjacent to the driver seated in the driver's seat, sectors 8, 9, 10 and 11 having directivity in the driver's direction are excluded sectors. Similarly, in the wireless communication device 100f adjacent to the occupant seated in the rear left rear seat, sectors 2, 3, 4, and 5 having directivity in the occupant direction are defined as excluded sectors. It should be noted that the excluded sector is set for one occupant in one of the wireless communication devices 100 closest to the occupant. However, the wireless communication device 100a installed in the area 1 having the arrangement number 1, the wireless communication device 100b installed in the area 2 having the arrangement number 2, and the wireless communication device 100i installed in the area 9 having the arrangement number 9 Does not set exclusion sectors for occupants. Further, the exclusion sector for the occupant is not set in the wireless communication device 100g installed in the area 7 having the arrangement number 7 and the wireless communication device 100h installed in the area 8 having the arrangement number 8.

FIG. 9 is a table showing a list of excluded sectors set in the wireless communication device according to the seating position of the occupant. The information of FIG. 9 is stored in the exclusion sector storage unit 143c when the occupant is on board. For example, as described above, in the wireless communication device 100c installed in the area 3 closest to the driver seated in the driver's seat, sectors 8, 9, 10 and 11 having directivity toward the driver are excluded. Let it be a sector. Further, as described above, in the wireless communication device 100f installed in the area 6 closest to the occupant seated in the rear left rear seat, sectors 2, 3, 4, 5 having directivity in the occupant direction Is an excluded sector.

Further, in the wireless communication device 100d installed in the area 4 closest to the occupant seated in the passenger seat, sectors 2, 3, 4, and 5 having directivity toward the occupant in the passenger seat are excluded sectors. .. Further, in the wireless communication device 100e installed in the area 5 closest to the occupant seated in the rear right rear seat, sectors 9, 10, 11 and 12 having directivity in the occupant direction are excluded sectors. .. These exclusion sectors when the occupant is on board are stored in advance in the exclusion sector storage unit 143c when the occupant is on board. For example, it can be set via the external I / F unit 150 at the time of manufacturing the moving body.

For information on the riding status of the occupants of the moving body, it is possible to use a seatbelt reminder system (not shown) that urges the occupants to wear a seatbelt when the moving body is traveling. Further, as information on the occupant status of a moving occupant, it is also possible to use occupant detection sensor information of an airbag system (not shown) that protects the occupant when an impact occurs due to a traffic accident or the like. As the occupant detection sensor, there is a sensor that incorporates an electrode in the seat of the seat and acquires information on the occupant's occupancy status by changing the capacitance when the occupant is on board. It is also possible to acquire information on the occupant's occupancy status from the image captured by the image pickup device installed in the moving body space on which the occupant of the moving body rides. It is also possible to radiate a radio signal such as a radio wave and acquire information on the occupant's occupancy status by the reflected wave of the radio signal. The radio signal such as a radio wave may be radiated from the directional antenna unit ANT of the wireless communication device 100, or may be radiated from an electronic device connected to the external I / F unit 150 of the wireless communication device 100.

Further, the information regarding the occupant's occupancy status of the moving body can be notified to the wireless communication device 100 periodically or when the occupant's occupancy status changes. For example, it is possible to unicast, multicast or broadcast from a wireless communication device 100 connected to an ECU of a seatbelt reminder system or an airbag system to another wireless communication device 100. When each wireless communication device 100 receives the information regarding the occupant's occupancy status of the mobile body, the occupant's occupancy status shown in FIG. 8 is updated. The information regarding the occupant occupancy status shown in FIG. 8 is stored in the occupant occupancy status storage unit 143b of each wireless communication device 100.

The wireless communication device 100 in which the transmission request is generated refers to the availability sector storage unit 143a and extracts the sector used for the SLS of the own wireless communication device. Further, the wireless communication device 100 extracts the occupant occupancy status information with reference to the occupant occupancy status storage unit 143b. Next, it is determined from the identification information of the self-wireless communication device and the occupant boarding status information whether or not there is an excluded sector corresponding to the occupant boarding exclusion sector storage unit 143c. When the excluded sector corresponding to the occupant boarding excluded sector storage unit 143c exists, the excluded sector is excluded from the extracted sector used for the SLS, and the sector used for the SLS is determined. The wireless communication device 100 executes the SLS using the determined sector used for the SLS.

According to the operation of the wireless communication device 100 described above, SLS can be executed except for sectors where good communication quality cannot be expected due to the shielding effect of the structure such as the chassis of the mobile body and the occupants. It becomes possible to shorten the search time that may become.

(Operation example of wireless communication device considering the case where the occupant is on board)
FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the wireless communication device in consideration of the case where the occupant is on board.

In step S1001, it is determined whether or not the electric switch of the mobile body has changed from the OFF state to the ON state, or from the sleep mode or the like to the wake-up mode or the like, and the wireless communication device 100 of the mobile body has been activated. When the mobile wireless communication device 100 is activated (step S1001: YES), the wireless communication device 100 proceeds to step S1002 in order to start operation. When the mobile wireless communication device 100 is not activated (step S1001: NO), the wireless communication device 100 repeats step S1001 and waits for the start of operation.

In step S1002, the wireless communication device 100 acquires the identification information of the own wireless communication device. The identification information is stored in advance in the control information storage unit 141. The identification information may be associated with the arrangement information of the wireless communication device in the moving body. For example, in the moving body, all the areas where the wireless communication device 100 is arranged may exist as area positional relationship information, and the identification information of the wireless communication device 100 may be associated with the area identification information of the area. In this case, the area positional relationship information can also be stored in advance in any area of the storage unit 140 of the wireless communication device 100. For example, the area positional relationship information may also be stored in advance in the control information storage unit 141. Next, the wireless communication device 100 proceeds to step S1003.

In step S1003, the wireless communication device 100 refers to the identification information of the own wireless communication device from the availability sector storage unit 143a, and acquires the identification information of the used sector in which the own wireless communication device can be used. That is, the wireless communication device 100 selects a usable sector that can be used by the own wireless communication device from the usable / unusable sector storage unit 143a. The operation of step S1003 can also be executed between step S1006 and step S1007. Next, the wireless communication device 100 proceeds to step S1004.

In step S1004, the wireless communication device 100 extracts the occupant occupancy status information with reference to the occupant occupancy status storage unit 143b. Next, it is determined from the identification information of the self-wireless communication device and the occupant boarding status information whether or not there is an excluded sector corresponding to the occupant boarding exclusion sector storage unit 143c. When the excluded sector corresponding to the occupant boarding excluded sector storage unit 143c exists, the excluded sector is excluded from the extracted sector used for the SLS, and the sector used for the SLS is determined. When the operation of step S1003 is executed between step S1006 and step S1007, the operation of step S1004 is executed after the operation of the moved step S1003. Next, the wireless communication device 100 proceeds to step S1005.

In step S1005, the wireless communication device 100 determines whether or not the passenger's riding condition has changed. When the occupant's boarding condition changes (step S1005: YES), the wireless communication device 100 returns to step S1003 in order to confirm the excluded sector again. If the occupant's riding condition has not changed (step S1005: NO), the wireless communication device 100 proceeds to step S1006.

In step S1006, the wireless communication device 100 determines whether or not a transmission request has been generated in the own wireless communication device. When a transmission request is generated in the local wireless communication device (step S1006: YES), the wireless communication device 100 proceeds to step S1007. If the transmission request has not been generated in the local wireless communication device (step S1006: NO), the wireless communication device 100 returns to step S1005. If the transmission request is not generated in the own wireless communication device, the wireless communication device 100 may be in the reception mode to receive / intercept communication data from another wireless communication device. ..

In step S1007, the wireless communication device 100 executes the SLS operation only for the sector used for the SLS determined in step S1004, and selects the sector used with the best communication quality for the own wireless communication device. In addition, the destination wireless communication device also selects the sector to be used with the best communication quality for the destination wireless communication device. Next, the wireless communication device 100 proceeds to step S1008.

In step S1008, the wireless communication device 100 transmits communication data via the sector with the best communication quality selected in step S1007. Next, the wireless communication device 100 returns to step S1005.

According to the operation of the wireless communication device 100 described above, SLS can be executed except for sectors where good communication quality cannot be expected due to the shielding effect of the structure such as the chassis of the mobile body and the occupants. It becomes possible to shorten the search time that may become.

(Modification 1)
In the above embodiment, the number of sector divisions has been mainly described as 24, but the number of sector divisions is not limited to 24, and the number of divisions is larger than 24 and less than 24. It may be. Further, the sectors do not need to be divided into equal angles, and the angles covered by the divided sectors may be different from each other. In addition, the sectors are not only divided into two dimensions, but are also divided into three-dimensional directions (not shown) so that all the divided sectors are adjacent to each other from a center point (not shown) to cover all directions of 360 degrees. It is possible to have directivity. In this case as well, the sectors do not need to be divided into equal solid angles, and the solid angles covered by the divided sectors may be different from each other.

(Modification 2)
In the above embodiment, the information regarding the riding status of the occupant of the moving body has been described mainly by using the occupant detection sensor information of the seatbelt reminder system and the airbag system (not shown), but the occupant detection function is a wireless communication device. It is also possible to have 100.

For example, wireless communication is executed between the wireless communication devices 100 periodically or at a predetermined timing, and the communication status between the wireless communication devices 100 indicating the communication quality between the wireless communication devices 100 is checked for all the radios in the moving body. It is shared by the communication device 100. Then, it is also possible to estimate the presence / absence of the occupant with respect to a specific position or the position of the occupant in the moving body from the communication status between the wireless communication devices 100.

FIG. 11 shows an example of the communication status between the wireless communication devices 100. The horizontal direction of FIG. 11 is an arrangement number indicating the area where the wireless communication device 100 is arranged in FIG. 1 and the like, and the vertical direction of FIG. 11 is also an arrangement indicating the area where the wireless communication device 100 is arranged in FIG. 1 and the like. It is a number. A symbol “◯” is described at the intersection of the arrangement number 1 and the arrangement number 2 in FIG. This indicates that the quality of wireless communication between the wireless communication device 100a attached to the arrangement number 1 and the wireless communication device 100b attached to the arrangement number 2 is good. The quality of wireless communication is determined regardless of the transmission / reception direction. That is, the quality of wireless communication when the wireless communication device 100a becomes the transmitting device and the wireless communication device 100b becomes the receiving device, and the wireless communication when the wireless communication device 100a becomes the receiving device and the wireless communication device 100b becomes the transmitting device. The quality of is the same.

The information indicating the communication quality may include information such as RSSI such as radio wave strength. Further, the information indicating the communication quality may include information such as BER and PER. Further, the information indicating the communication quality may include information such as SNR and RCPI. Further, the information indicating the communication quality may include information such as communication delay time information and interruption loss.

In FIG. 11, the symbol “◯” indicates that the communication between the wireless communication devices 100 is good, and the information indicating the communication quality exceeds a predetermined first threshold value in the direction of good communication quality. It is shown that. Further, the symbol "x" indicates that communication between the wireless communication devices 100 is impossible, and the information indicating the communication quality exceeds a predetermined second threshold value in a direction in which the communication quality deteriorates. Is shown. Further, the symbol “Δ” indicates a state in which information indicating communication quality is between a predetermined first threshold value and a second threshold value, and communication between the wireless communication devices 100 is possible. The first threshold value and the second threshold value can be set to arbitrary values in the wireless communication system 1000.

FIG. 12 is an example of a determination table for determining the occupant position from the communication status between the wireless communication devices 100 shown in FIG. 11, and is stored in the storage unit 140 of all the wireless communication devices 100 in the wireless communication system.

For example, when the quality of the wireless communication between the wireless communication device 100a attached to the arrangement number 1 and the wireless communication device 100e attached to the arrangement number 5 is "x", the occupant sits in the driver's seat from FIG. If so, the wireless communication device 100 can be estimated. Similarly, when it is estimated that the occupant is seated in the driver's seat in the wireless communication device 100, the wireless communication between the wireless communication device 100c attached to the arrangement number 3 and the wireless communication device 100f attached to the arrangement number 6 The quality of is "x". As described above, it may be possible to presume that the occupant is present at the corresponding boarding position due to the inability to communicate with the single communication path. In addition, in order to improve the estimation accuracy of the boarding position, when the wireless communication of the arrangement number 1 and the arrangement number 5 and the wireless communication of the arrangement number 3 and the arrangement number 6 cannot be communicated at the same time, the wireless communication device 100 It is also possible to presume that the occupant is seated in the driver's seat.

Hereinafter, similarly, when wireless communication between the wireless communication device 100d attached to the arrangement number 4 and the wireless communication device 100e attached to the arrangement number 5 is impossible, the occupant sits in the passenger seat from FIG. Then, the wireless communication device 100 can be estimated. Further, when wireless communication between the wireless communication device 100b attached to the arrangement number 2 and the wireless communication device 100f attached to the arrangement number 6 is impossible, it is determined from FIG. 12 that the occupant is seated in the passenger seat. , The wireless communication device 100 can be estimated.

Further, when wireless communication between the wireless communication device 100e attached to the arrangement number 5 and the wireless communication device 100h attached to the arrangement number 8 is impossible, an occupant is seated on the right side of the rear seat from FIG. The wireless communication device 100 can be estimated. Further, when wireless communication between the wireless communication device 100f attached to the arrangement number 6 and the wireless communication device 100g attached to the arrangement number 7 is impossible, an occupant is seated on the left side of the rear seat from FIG. The wireless communication device 100 can be estimated.

Further, as described below, although it cannot be estimated by a single communication path, it may be possible to estimate that an occupant exists at the corresponding boarding position when a plurality of communication paths cannot communicate at the same time.

For example, when it is estimated that the occupant is seated in the center of the rear seat of the wireless communication device 100, the wireless communication between the arrangement number 3 and the arrangement number 8 and the wireless communication between the arrangement number 4 and the arrangement number 7 are performed at the same time. This is the case when communication is not possible. That is, the wireless communication between the wireless communication device 100c of the arrangement number 3 and the wireless communication device 100h of the arrangement number 8 and the wireless communication between the wireless communication device 100d of the arrangement number 4 and the wireless communication device 100g of the arrangement number 7 communicate at the same time. This is the case when it becomes impossible.

According to the above configuration, the wireless communication device 100 does not require additional members, and the occupant's occupancy status can be detected without coordinating with other occupant detection systems, so that the system configuration can be realized easily and inexpensively. It will be possible to do.
(Modification 3)
In the description of the above embodiment, the network constructed by the wireless communication system 1000 installed in the automobile is described as an example. However, the embodiment is not limited to the inside of an automobile, and is a mesh network constructed inside a moving body such as a train, an airplane, or a ship, or inside a structure such as a house or a factory in combination with the second modification. It can be applied to all.

(Modification example 4)
In the above description of the embodiment, specific data is not described as communication data, but the application is not limited. For example, the communication data may be information such as information on a sensor that detects the state of the moving body, information on controlling the moving body, information on an electronic device mounted on the moving body, and the like. Examples of the sensor include various sensors such as a door open / close detection sensor, a seatbelt sensor, an engine rotation sensor, a vehicle speed sensor, and a brake and accelerator sensor. Further, examples of electronic devices include navigation devices and entertainment devices such as radios and televisions.

The features of the wireless communication device 100 and the wireless communication system 1000 of the present embodiment will be described below.

The wireless communication device 100 capable of setting a plurality of sectors defining the directivity of the radio wave transmission / reception direction according to the first aspect of the present disclosure preferably includes a usable / unusable sector storage unit 143a. It is preferable that the usable / unusable sector storage unit 143a stores sectors used for SLS and sectors not used for SLS, which are determined by predetermined conditions for the radio wave environment of the wireless communication device. Further, it is preferable that the wireless communication device 100 includes an SLS control unit 131 that executes SLS using the sector used for SLS, which is stored in the availability sector storage unit 143a.

According to the above configuration, even if the number of sectors increases, the sector that is unlikely to be used is set as an excluded sector that does not transmit the SSW frame, so that the delay time related to SLS is shortened even if the number of sectors is large. It becomes possible.

The wireless communication device 100 according to the second aspect of the present disclosure may further include a control information storage unit 141 that stores installation position information indicating an installation position of the wireless communication device in a mobile body in which the wireless communication device is installed. preferable. Further, the predetermined condition is associated with the installation position in the moving body where the wireless communication device is installed, and the sector used for SLS and the sector not used for SLS are predeterminedly determined. Is preferable. Further, the SLS control unit 131 is used for the SLS stored in the availability sector storage unit in association with the installation position information indicating the installation position of the self-wireless communication device stored in the control information storage unit 141. It is preferable to execute SLS using sectors.

According to the above configuration, since SLS is executed using the sector to be used for SLS, which is determined for each installation position of the wireless communication device, it is possible to efficiently reduce the delay time related to SLS. Become.

The sector used in the SLS of the wireless communication device 100 according to the third aspect of the present disclosure is at least a part of the line of sight of the radio wave radiated from the installation position of the wireless communication device in the mobile body in which the wireless communication device is installed. , It is preferable that the sector passes through the internal space of the moving body.

According to the above configuration, wireless communication between the wireless communication devices 100 may be possible as long as the sector has a line of sight of radio waves. By using only such sectors with potential for wireless communication, it is possible to reduce the delay time associated with SLS.

The installation position information of the wireless communication device 100 according to the fourth aspect of the present disclosure is preferably area identification information for identifying a predetermined area in the moving body in which the wireless communication device is installed. Further, in the wireless communication device 100, the area identification information of all the areas in the moving body and the area positional relationship information indicating the positional relationship of all the areas in the moving body are stored in the control information storage unit 141. preferable.

According to the above configuration, it is possible to give a width to the installation position of the wireless communication device 100. Further, since the wireless communication device 100 can determine the positional relationship between the own wireless communication device and another wireless communication device, it is possible to transmit and receive communication data by an appropriate communication path.

The wireless communication device 100 according to the fifth aspect of the present disclosure preferably includes a occupant-ride status storage unit 143b that stores position information in the moving body of a occupant who is boarding the moving body, which is detected by a sensor in the moving body. .. Further, the wireless communication device 100 further includes a occupant boarding exclusion sector storage unit 143c in which sectors not used in the SLS are stored corresponding to the position information in the moving body of the occupant stored in the occupant boarding status storage unit 143b. Is preferable. The SLS control unit 131 selects sectors that are not used for the SLS of the occupant boarding exclusion sector storage unit 143c from the sectors used for the SLS of the usable / unusable sector storage unit 143a associated with the installation position information of the own wireless communication device. Except, it is preferable to carry out SLS.

According to the above configuration, when an occupant gets on board, there is a possibility that a sector may be generated in which communication between the wireless communication devices 100 is defective or communication is impossible due to the radio wave shielding of the occupant. In this case, it is possible to shorten the delay time related to the SLS by excluding the sectors that are greatly affected by the radio wave shielding of the occupants before the transmission of the communication data or the execution of the SLS.

It is preferable that the sectors not used for SLS stored in the occupant-boarding exclusion sector storage unit 143c of the wireless communication device 100 according to the present disclosure include the following sectors. That is, the sector not used for the SLS is at least the sector facing the occupant seated in the seated position from the sectors set by the wireless communication device arranged at the position closest to the seated position in which the occupant sits inside the moving body. It is preferable to include some sectors.

According to the above configuration, in the sector of the wireless communication device 100 facing the occupant seated in the seated position, the communication between the wireless communication devices 100 may be defective or impossible due to the radio wave shielding of the occupant. In this case, it is possible to shorten the delay time related to the SLS by excluding the sectors that are greatly affected by the radio wave shielding of the occupants before the transmission of the communication data or the execution of the SLS.

The wireless communication device 100 according to the aspect of the present disclosure is a occupant who stores the position information in the moving body of the occupant who is on the moving body based on the signal quality of the radio wave received from another wireless communication device installed in the moving body. It is preferable to include the boarding status storage unit 143b. Further, the wireless communication device 100 further includes a occupant boarding exclusion sector storage unit 143c in which sectors not used in the SLS are stored corresponding to the position information in the moving body of the occupant stored in the occupant boarding status storage unit 143b. Is preferable. The SLS control unit 131 selects sectors that are not used for the SLS of the occupant boarding exclusion sector storage unit 143c from the sectors used for the SLS of the usable / unusable sector storage unit 143a associated with the installation position information of the own wireless communication device. Except, it is preferable to carry out SLS.

According to the above configuration, when an occupant gets on board, there is a possibility that a sector may be generated in which communication between the wireless communication devices 100 is defective or communication is impossible due to the radio wave shielding of the occupant. In this case, it is possible to shorten the delay time related to the SLS by excluding the sectors that are greatly affected by the radio wave shielding of the occupants before the transmission of the communication data or the execution of the SLS.

It is preferable that the sectors not used for SLS stored in the occupant-boarding exclusion sector storage unit 143c of the wireless communication device 100 according to the present disclosure are the following sectors. That is, in the sector not used for the SLS, the value of the shielding loss of the radio wave radiated from the installation position of the wireless communication device 100 is predetermined in the space between the wireless communication device and another wireless communication device that communicates with the wireless communication device. It is preferable that the sector exceeds the value of the shielding loss.

According to the above configuration, when an occupant gets on board, there is a possibility that a sector may be generated in which communication between the wireless communication devices 100 is defective or communication is impossible due to the shielding loss of the occupant. In this case, it is possible to reduce the delay time associated with the SLS by excluding the sectors that are greatly affected by the occlusion loss of the occupants before the transmission of the communication data or the execution of the SLS.

The wireless communication system 1000 according to the sixth aspect of the present disclosure includes a wireless communication device 100 capable of transmitting communication data according to any one of the first to eighth aspects, and the first to eighth aspects. It is preferable to include a wireless communication device 100 capable of receiving any communication data.

According to the above configuration, even if the number of sectors increases, the sector that is unlikely to be used is set as an excluded sector that does not transmit the SSW frame, so that the delay time related to SLS is shortened even if the number of sectors is large. It becomes possible.

In the wireless communication system 1000 according to the seventh aspect of the present disclosure, the wireless communication device 100 capable of receiving and / or receiving the communication data according to any one of the first to eighth aspects is mounted on the mobile body 30. Is preferable.

According to the above configuration, even if the number of sectors increases, the sector that is unlikely to be used is set as an excluded sector that does not transmit the SSW frame, so that the delay time related to SLS is shortened even if the number of sectors is large. It becomes possible.

The block configuration diagram of FIG. 3 used in the description of the above-described embodiment shows a block of functional units. These functional blocks are realized by any combination of at least one of hardware and software. Further, the method for realizing each functional block is not particularly limited. For example, each functional block may be realized using one physically or logically coupled device, or two or more physically or logically separated devices may be directly or indirectly connected. , These may be realized by using a plurality of devices. The functional block may be realized by combining software with one device or a plurality of devices.

When the wireless communication device 100 is composed of a plurality of hardware elements, each functional block is realized by any hardware element or a combination of the hardware elements. Hardware elements include processors, memory, storage, communication devices, input devices, output devices, buses, and the like.

Further, in this case, each function of the wireless communication device 100 is realized by loading predetermined software or a program on hardware such as a processor and a memory. Specifically, each function is realized by loading a predetermined software on the hardware so that the processor performs an operation and controls reading and writing of data in the memory and the storage.

Although the embodiments have been described in detail with reference to the drawings, the present invention is not limited to the contents described in the above embodiments. In addition, the components described above include those that can be easily assumed by those skilled in the art and those that are substantially the same. Further, the configurations described above can be combined as appropriate. In addition, various omissions, substitutions or changes of the configuration can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.

100 Wireless communication device 110 PHY unit 120 MAC unit 130 Control unit 131 SLS control unit 132 Data communication control unit 140 Storage unit 141 Control information storage unit 142 Other node Sector quality information storage unit 143 Used sector selection information storage unit 143a Usability sector storage Part 143b Passenger boarding status storage section 143c Passenger boarding exclusion sector storage section 150 External I / F section 1000 Wireless communication system

Claims (7)

In a wireless communication device that can set multiple sectors that specify the directivity of the radio wave transmission / reception direction
A usable / unusable sector storage unit for storing sectors used for SLS (Sector Level Swep) and sectors not used for SLS, which are determined by predetermined conditions for the radio wave environment of the wireless communication device.
A wireless communication device including an SLS control unit that executes SLS using a sector used for SLS, which is stored in a usable / unusable sector storage unit. Further including a control information storage unit for storing installation position information indicating the installation position of the wireless communication device in the mobile body on which the wireless communication device is installed.
The predetermined condition is associated with the installation position in the mobile body where the wireless communication device is installed, and the sector used for SLS and the sector not used for SLS are predeterminedly determined. And
The SLS control unit assigns a sector used for the SLS stored in the usable / unusable sector storage unit to the installation position information indicating the installation position of the self-wireless communication device stored in the control information storage unit. The wireless communication device according to claim 1, wherein the SLS is executed by using the device. The sector used for the SLS is a sector in which at least a part of the line of sight of the radio wave radiated from the installation position of the wireless communication device in the mobile body in which the wireless communication device is installed passes through the internal space of the mobile body. The wireless communication device according to claim 1 or 2. The installation position information is area identification information for identifying a predetermined area in the mobile body in which the wireless communication device is installed, and is the area identification information of all the areas in the mobile body and the area identification information. The wireless communication device according to claim 2, wherein the area positional relationship information indicating the positional relationship of all the regions in the moving body is stored in the control information storage unit. A occupant boarding status storage unit that stores the position information of the occupant boarding the moving body in the moving body detected by the sensor in the moving body, and
Further including a occupant boarding exclusion sector storage unit in which sectors not used in the SLS are stored corresponding to the position information in the moving body of the occupant stored in the occupant boarding status storage unit.
The SLS control unit stores the sectors used for SLS stored in the usable / unusable sector storage unit associated with the installation position information of the self-wireless communication device in the passenger boarding exclusion sector storage unit. The wireless communication device according to claim 2, wherein the SLS is executed except for sectors that are not used for the SLS. The wireless communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, which transmits communication data, and the wireless communication device.
A wireless communication system including the wireless communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, which receives the communication data. The wireless communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the wireless communication device capable of receiving and / or receiving communication data is a wireless communication system mounted on a mobile body.

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