WO2019116635A1

WO2019116635A1 - Mobile communication apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO2019116635A1
Application number: PCT/JP2018/030346
Authority: WO
Inventors: 勇男桂
Original assignee: 住友電気工業株式会社
Priority date: 2017-12-14
Filing date: 2018-08-15
Publication date: 2019-06-20
Also published as: JP2019106672A

Abstract

Provided is a mobile communication apparatus that communicates with a base station device. The mobile communication apparatus is provided with: a determining unit that determines, on the basis of positional information of the mobile communication apparatus, whether the mobile communication apparatus can communicate with the base station device; and a control unit that controls, on the basis of the determination result obtained from the determining unit, power supply of a wireless communication unit for communicatively connecting the mobile communication apparatus to the base station device.

Description

Mobile communication device

The present invention relates to a mobile communication device.
This application claims priority based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2017-239756 filed on Dec. 14, 2017, and incorporates all the contents described in the aforementioned Japanese application.

In the fifth generation mobile communication system, which is the next generation mobile communication system, communication using a millimeter wave band is being studied. (See Non-Patent Document 1).

A mobile communication device according to one embodiment is a mobile communication device that communicates with a base station apparatus, and is a determination unit that determines whether communication with the base station apparatus is possible based on position information of the mobile communication apparatus; And a control unit that performs power control of a wireless communication unit for performing communication connection with the base station apparatus based on the determination result of the unit.

The present invention can not only be realized as a mobile communication device provided with such a characteristic control unit, but also as a communication method having such characteristic processing as a step, or for causing a computer to execute such a step. Can be realized as a program of In addition, the present invention can be realized as a semiconductor integrated circuit that realizes a part or all of the mobile communication device, or as a communication system including the mobile communication device.

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a part of an area in which a mobile communication system is installed. FIG. 2 is a view showing a vehicle 3 on which the in-vehicle communication device is mounted. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the in-vehicle communication device. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the result database. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of processing (power control processing) related to power control of the second FEM by the processing device. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a positional relationship between an on-vehicle communication device mounted on a vehicle and a communicable section. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of processing (power control processing) related to power control of the second FEM by the processing device.

[Problems to be solved by the present disclosure]
When introducing a new communication system that is different from the past, such as the 5th generation mobile communication system, the infrastructure with the installation of base station equipment will be developed first from the area with the highest priority. It may be relatively narrow and dotted.

Generally, a mobile communication device not in communication connection with a base station device searches surrounding base station devices for communication connection with the base station device.
Therefore, even if it is clear that communication connection with the base station apparatus can not be made because it is out of the service area, the mobile communication device searches for a signal from the base station apparatus or the base station apparatus outside the service area By sending a connection request in response to the signal from the terminal, the power may be consumed wastefully.

For example, if the mobile communication device is in an environment where relatively narrow service areas are interspersed because the mobile communication device is in the initial stage of providing communication services as described above, the mobile communication device is outside the service area. There is a problem that the power consumption by searching for a base station apparatus becomes remarkable because the time to locate is increased.

The present disclosure has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a mobile communication device capable of suppressing wasteful power consumption.

[Effect of the present disclosure]
According to the present disclosure, a decrease in power efficiency can be suppressed.

First, the contents of the embodiment will be listed and described.
[Overview of the embodiment]
(1) A mobile communication device according to one embodiment is a mobile communication device that communicates with a base station apparatus, and a determination unit that determines whether communication with the base station apparatus is possible based on position information of the mobile communication apparatus. And a control unit configured to perform power control of a wireless communication unit for performing communication connection with the base station apparatus based on the determination result of the determination unit.

According to the mobile communication device of the above configuration, the power of the wireless communication unit can be turned off according to the determination result. Therefore, for example, at a position where communication with the base station apparatus could not be performed in the past, the power of the wireless communication unit can be turned off, and wasteful power consumption can be suppressed.

(2) In the mobile communication device, when the determination result of the determination unit is communicable, the control unit determines whether communication connection can be established with the base station device, and communicates with the base station device. It is preferable that the control of the communication power by the wireless communication unit is performed according to the determination of whether or not the connection can be established.
In this case, when it is determined that the position of the own device can communicate with the base station device, whether the wireless communication unit can transmit and receive signals to and from the base station device to establish communication connection. It is possible to suppress wasteful transmission and reception of radio signals for attempting to establish a communication connection.

(3) Further, in the mobile communication device, when the control unit determines that communication connection with the base station device can not be established, it determines again whether communication connection with the base station device can be established. It may be configured.
In this case, for example, even when communication with the base station apparatus can not be performed temporarily due to a change in the environment, the communication power of the wireless communication unit is maintained for a predetermined period while maintaining communication power. Can wait in the hope of recovering.

(4) Further, in the mobile communication device, the control unit performs control to increase the communication power of the wireless communication unit when the determination as to whether or not the communication connection with the base station apparatus can be established is repeated a predetermined number of times. Is preferred.
In this case, when it is not possible to communicate with the base station apparatus temporarily due to a change in the environment, radio communication can not be performed while recovery of the environment can not be expected while repeating the determination of whether or not communication connection with the base station apparatus can be established. By raising the communication power of the unit, establishment of communication connection with the base station apparatus can be promoted.

(5) In the mobile communication device, the determination unit determines the base station device based on communication result information indicating whether or not the own device can communicate with the base station device at the position where the own device passed in the past. It is preferable to determine whether or not communication is possible.
In this case, the determination can be made more accurately by making a determination based on the communication result information.

(6) The mobile communication device further includes a database in which the communication record information is registered, the communication record information is generated by the controller, and the database is a new one generated by the controller. It may be configured to be updated by the communication record information.
In this case, the communication record information registered in the database can be maintained to be the latest information.

(7) Further, in the mobile communication device, the mobile communication device is provided in a vehicle, communicates with other communication devices existing in the vehicle, and relays communication between the base station apparatus and the other communication devices. The in-vehicle communication unit may be further provided, and the control unit may provide the other communication device with information indicating the determination result of the determination unit via the in-vehicle communication unit.
In this case, the other communication device can be notified that there is a possibility that direct communication with the base station device is possible because the position of the other communication device can communicate with the base station device.

Details of Embodiment
Hereinafter, preferred embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings.
In addition, at least one part of each embodiment described below may be combined arbitrarily.
[About the whole configuration of the mobile communication system]
FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a part of an area in which a mobile communication system is installed. In this mobile communication system, wireless communication can be performed by two different communication methods, that is, the first communication method and the second communication method capable of faster data communication than the first communication method.
The first communication method is an existing communication method, and almost the entire installation area is set to a service area A1 capable of providing communication service by the first communication method.

On the other hand, the second communication method is a communication method newly introduced to the existing first communication method. In this embodiment, since the introduction of the second communication method is at an early stage, provision of communication services by the second communication method is achieved by proceeding with infrastructure maintenance such as installation of base station devices in an area with high priority first. The service areas A2 that can be set are scattered and set in the service area A1 of the first communication method.

The first communication scheme is, for example, a communication scheme based on a 3.9th generation mobile communication system such as LTE (Long Term Evolution) or LTE-Advanced, or a 4th generation mobile communication system. The second communication method is, for example, a communication method based on the fifth generation mobile communication system.

As shown in FIG. 1, the mobile communication system includes a base station apparatus 1 and a mobile terminal 2. The base station apparatus 1 is set at a plurality of places in the area and performs wireless communication with the mobile terminal 2.
The plurality of base station apparatuses 1 include a first base station apparatus 1a that performs only wireless communication according to the first communication method, and a second base station apparatus 1b that performs wireless communication according to the second communication method.
The first base station apparatus 1a performs wireless communication with the mobile terminal 2 in the service area A1 according to the first communication scheme.
The second base station apparatus 1b performs wireless communication with the mobile terminal 2 in the service area A2 according to the second communication scheme. The second base station apparatus 1b may be able to perform wireless communication by the first communication scheme in addition to wireless communication by the second communication scheme.

Since the service area A2 is set in the service area A1, wireless communication by the first communication method is possible even in the service area A2.
Therefore, the mobile terminal 2 capable of only wireless communication according to the first communication method performs wireless communication according to the first communication method also in the service area A2. Further, the mobile terminal 2 capable of both the wireless communication by the first communication scheme and the wireless communication by the second communication scheme selects which of the first communication scheme and the second communication scheme to perform wireless communication.

The mobile terminal 2 is a pedestrian, a bus, a car, a mobile phone owned by a passenger in a train, a smartphone, a tablet terminal, a laptop computer, or the like. As described above, the mobile terminal 2 includes those capable of only wireless communication by the first communication method and those capable of wireless communication by both communication methods. The mobile terminal 2 is also capable of wireless LAN communication.

The mobile communication system also includes an on-vehicle communication device 10 mounted on a vehicle 3 such as a bus, an automobile, or a train. The in-vehicle communication device 10 has a function of performing wireless communication with the base station device 1. The in-vehicle communication device 10 has a function of communicating with the mobile terminal 2 in the vehicle 3 and relaying communication between the base station device 1 and the mobile terminal 2 in the vehicle 3.
In addition, the vehicle 3 of this embodiment is a route bus which travels a traveling route set in advance.

[Configuration of in-vehicle communication device]
FIG. 2 is a view showing a vehicle 3 on which the in-vehicle communication device 10 is mounted.
In FIG. 2, the on-vehicle communication device (mobile communication device) 10 according to one embodiment includes a plurality of external antennas 11 for performing wireless communication with the base station device 1 outside the vehicle and wireless communication with the mobile terminal 2 in the vehicle 3. And an internal antenna 12 for performing the
The plurality of external antennas 11 are provided to project from the ceiling 3 a of the vehicle 3. Further, the internal antenna 12 is provided in the vehicle 3.
The on-vehicle communication device 10 performs wireless communication with the base station device 1 by the plurality of external antennas 11 by the first communication method and the second communication method. Further, the in-vehicle communication device 10 performs wireless LAN communication with the mobile terminal 2 in the vehicle 3 by the internal antenna 12.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the in-vehicle communication device 10. As shown in FIG.
In FIG. 3, the in-vehicle communication device 10 includes a communication processing unit 15, a wireless LAN unit 16 that communicates with the mobile terminal 2 in the vehicle 3, a GPS receiver 17, a vehicle interface unit 18, and a display 19. The camera 20 and the processing device 21 are provided.

The communication processing unit 15 has a function of performing processing related to communication with the base station device 1. A first front end module 25 and a second front end module 26 are connected to the communication processing unit 15.

The first front end module 25 (hereinafter also referred to as the first FEM 25) has a function of performing processing relating to a wireless signal according to the first communication method, such as amplification and frequency conversion, and transmits and receives wireless signals according to the first communication method. Do. The first external antenna 11 a used for the communication of the first communication method among the plurality of external antennas 11 is connected to the first FEM 25.

The second front end module 26 (hereinafter also referred to as the second FEM 26) has a function of processing radio signals according to the second communication scheme, and transmits and receives radio signals according to the second communication scheme. The second external antenna 11 b used for communication of the second communication method among the plurality of external antennas 11 is connected to the second FEM 26.

The reception signals received by the first FEM 25 and the second FEM 26 are amplified and frequency-converted by the first FEM 25 and the second FEM 26, and are given to the communication processing unit 15 as baseband signals.
The communication processing unit 15 performs digital signal processing such as demodulation on the received baseband signal to generate reception data. The generated received data is provided to the processing device 21.

When the transmission data is given from the processing device 21, the communication processing unit 15 performs digital signal processing such as modulation on the transmission data to generate a baseband signal. The generated baseband signal is provided to the first FEM 25 or the second FEM 26.
The baseband signal given to the first FEM 25 or the second FEM 26 is amplified and frequency-converted by the first FEM 25 or the second FEM 26, given as a transmission signal to the first external antenna 11a or the second external antenna 11b, and radiated as a radio wave .

The communication processing unit 15 also has a function of controlling the first FEM 25 or the second FEM 26 based on a control command given from the processing device 21.

The wireless LAN unit 16 has a function of performing wireless LAN communication with the mobile terminal 2 in the vehicle 3 via the internal antenna 12 provided in the wireless LAN unit 16.
The wireless LAN unit 16 supplies received data from the mobile terminal 2 in the vehicle 3 to the processing device 21, and wirelessly transmits transmission data given from the processing device 21 to the mobile terminal 2 in the vehicle 3.

The GPS receiver 17 has a function of receiving information transmitted from a satellite and detecting the position of the device 10. The GPS receiver 17 provides the detected position information of the own device 10 to the processing device 21.

The vehicle interface unit 18 is an interface for connecting to a vehicle communication network such as CAN (Controller Area Network) of the vehicle 3. The vehicle interface unit 18 acquires information on the vehicle 3 such as the vehicle speed from the vehicle 3 and gives the information to the processing device 21.
The display 19 is provided in the vehicle 3 and outputs information on the wireless communication given from the processing device 21 and information on the in-vehicle communication device 10 to the passenger in the vehicle 3.

The processing device 21 is configured by a computer including a central processing unit (CPU), and a storage device such as a memory and a hard disk. A computer program or the like to be executed by the CPU is stored in a storage device of the processing device 21. The CPU reads and executes the computer program to realize various functions of the processing device 21 described later. Ru.

The processing device 21 functionally includes a control unit 21 a and a determination unit 21 b. Further, the processing device 21 stores the result database 21c in the storage device.

The control unit 21 a controls wireless communication with the base station device 1 and wireless communication with the mobile terminal 2 in the vehicle 3, and between the base station device 1 and the mobile terminal 2 in the vehicle 3. Has a function of performing processing of relaying the communication of

Further, the control unit 21a performs power control of the second FEM 26 as a wireless communication unit for communication connection with the second base station apparatus 1b based on the determination result of the determination unit 21b, and a power control unit 21a1 according to the second FEM 26. And a power control unit 21a2 for performing power control in wireless communication.

Further, the control unit 21a has a function of generating communication result information. The communication result information is information indicating whether or not the communication connection by the second communication method has been established between the own apparatus 10 and the second base station apparatus 1b at the position where the own apparatus 10 has passed in the past, and control It is registered in the results database 21c by the unit 21a.

The record database 21c is a database in which communication record information is registered as described above.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the result database 21c.
Position information indicating a position at which the own device 10 has passed in the past, and communication result information corresponding to the position information are registered in the result database 21c.
In addition, the vehicle 3 of this embodiment drive | works the driving | running | working route set beforehand. Therefore, in the column of the position information of the results database 21c of FIG. 4, position information for each predetermined distance on the traveling route is registered as the position information which has passed in the past.
If communication connection based on the second communication method is established between the own apparatus 10 and the second base station apparatus 1b at the corresponding position, "OK" is registered in the column of communication record information, and If communication connection can not be established with the second base station device 1b according to the second communication scheme, "impossible" is registered.

When the wireless communication connection by the second communication method is established via the second FEM 26, the control unit 21a sets “in communication performance information corresponding to position information indicating the current position of the own device 10” in the performance database 21c. "Yes" is registered. In addition, when the wireless communication connection by the second communication method is not established, the control unit 21a "impossible" in the column of the communication result information corresponding to the position information indicating the current position of the own device 10 in the result database 21c. Register As described above, the control unit 21a generates communication result information according to the movement of the own device 10.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 4, the past record database 21c has a plurality of past records for each position information, such as the past communication result information when it passed last time, and the past communication result information when it passed twice. When passing through, each communication record information is registered.
The control unit 21a updates the record database 21c by discarding the oldest piece of communication record information each time communication record information is newly generated and registered.
By this, the control unit 21a maintains the communication result information registered in the result database 21c so as to be the latest information.

The determination unit 21 b has a function of determining whether wireless communication with the second base station apparatus 1 b is possible with the second base station apparatus 1 b based on the position information of the own apparatus 10. The determination unit 21b refers to the result database 21c, and based on the communication result information registered in the result database 21c, enables wireless communication by the second communication method between the own device 10 and the second base station device 1b. It is determined whether or not.
Thereby, the determination unit 21b can make the determination based on the past results, and can make the determination more accurately.

Since the vehicle 3 of the present embodiment is a route bus, it travels a preset travel route. Further, as described above, the service areas A2 according to the second communication scheme are scatteredly set in the service area A1 according to the first communication scheme.
For example, in FIG. 1, when the traveling route of the vehicle 3 on which the in-vehicle communication device 10 is mounted is set in the straight direction along the road R, the vehicle 3 is in the service area A2 from the left side of the service area A2. To the outside of the service area A2 from the right side of the drawing of the service area A2 and pass through the service area A2.
As described above, in the traveling route of the vehicle 3, there are dotted sections passing through the service area A2.

The determination unit 21b specifies, as a communicable section, a section through which the vehicle 3 (the on-vehicle communication device 10 mounted on the vehicle 3) passes through the service area A2 set as the travel route.
The determination unit 21b specifies the communicable section based on the communication result information.
In the vicinity of the boundary when entering the area A2 from the outside of the service area A2, the vehicle 3 is able to “almost all the past communication record information from the position where all the past communication record information is“ impossible ”. Move to the position where
Therefore, the determination unit 21b identifies, for example, a section configured with a position where the ratio of “OK” in the plurality of registered communication result information is 50% or more, as a communicable section. Thereby, the determination unit 21b can specify the boundary of the service area A2, and can specify the section passing through the service area A2 as the communicable section.

The determination unit 21b determines whether wireless communication by the second communication scheme is possible with the second base station device 1b, based on the position information of the own device 10 and the communicable section.

When the wireless communication connection by the second communication method is established by the second FEM 26, the control unit 21a of the present embodiment gives priority to the wireless communication by the second communication method. When the wireless communication connection by the second communication scheme is not established, the control unit 21a performs wireless communication with the first base station apparatus 1a by wireless communication by the first communication scheme.
In addition, when wireless communication by the second communication method is not performed, the control unit 21a does not supply power to the second FEM 26, and maintains the second FEM 26 in an off state in which power is not supplied.

[About power supply control processing by on-vehicle communication device]
As described above, (the power supply control unit 21a1 of) the control unit 21a of the processing apparatus 21 has a function of performing the process related to the power supply control of the second FEM 26. The control unit 21 a gives the communication processing unit 15 a control command related to the second FEM 26. Thereby, the control unit 21a controls the second FEM 26 via the communication processing unit 15.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of processing (power control processing) related to power control of the second FEM 26 by the processing device 21. This flowchart shows the process of the on-vehicle communication device 10 trying to enter the service area A2.

First, the determination unit 21b of the processing device 21 refers to the position information of the own device 10 and determines whether the own device 10 has passed a predetermined position on the upstream side (front side) of the communicable section (step S1). ).
If it is determined that the own device 10 has not passed the predetermined position, the determination unit 21b repeats the determination of step S1 again. Therefore, the determination unit 21b repeats step S1 until determining that the own device 10 has passed the predetermined position.

When the determining unit 21b determines that the own device 10 has passed the predetermined position, the control unit 21a starts power supply to the second FEM 26 to shift the second FEM 26 from the off state to the on state (step S2). Thereby, the own device 10 can perform wireless communication by the second communication method by the second FEM 26.

Next, the determination unit 21b determines whether the device 10 has left the communicable section (step S3).
If the determining unit 21b determines that the own apparatus 10 has not left the communicable section, the determining unit 21b repeats the determination of step S3 again. Therefore, the determination unit 21b repeats step S3 until determining that the own apparatus 10 has left the communicable section.

If the determination unit 21b determines that the own device 10 has left the communicable section, the control unit 21a stops the power supply to the second FEM 26 and shifts the second FEM 26 from the on state to the off state (step S4).
Thus, the control unit 21a performs power control of the second FEM 26 for establishing communication connection with the second base station apparatus based on the determination result of the determination unit 21b.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the positional relationship between the in-vehicle communication device 10 mounted on the vehicle 3 and the communicable section.
In FIG. 6, when the in-vehicle communication device 10 passes a predetermined position B0 on the upstream side of the communicable section, the control unit 21a changes the second FEM 26 from the off state to the on state (step S2 in FIG. 5). Thus, while the on-vehicle communication device 10 having passed the predetermined position B0 passes the upstream boundary B1 of the communicable zone and travels to the downstream boundary B2 of the communicable zone, the wireless communication by the second communication scheme is performed. It becomes possible.

Thereafter, when the in-vehicle communication device 10 passes the boundary B2 and leaves the communicable zone, the control unit 21a causes the second FEM 26 to transition from the on state to the off state (step S4 in FIG. 5).

As described above, (the determination unit 21b of) the on-vehicle communication device 10 turns on the second FEM 26 from when the own device 10 passes the predetermined position to when the communicable section is left, and in the other sections, The second FEM 26 is turned off.

Here, since the vehicle 3 travels on a predetermined traveling route, when the in-vehicle communication device 10 passes a predetermined position, the in-vehicle communication device 10 necessarily enters and leaves the communicable section. Conversely, if the own device 10 does not pass through a predetermined position, it does not pass through the communicable section. Accordingly, in the section other than the section from the predetermined position B0 to the boundary B2 in FIG. 6 among the travel routes of the vehicle 3, the in-vehicle communication device 10 is always outside the communicable section (outside the service area A2).
For this reason, when the position of the own apparatus 10 is in a section other than the section from the predetermined position B0 to the boundary B2, the determination unit 21b can determine that wireless communication by the second communication scheme can not be performed.

That is, according to the in-vehicle communication device 10 of the present embodiment, the control unit 21a turns off the second FEM 26 according to the determination result of the determination unit 21b, so the position outside the service area A2 or the second base in the past The second FEM 26 can be turned off at a position where wireless communication with the station device 1 b can not be performed by the second communication method, and the second surrounding FEM 26 can be connected despite the difficulty in communication connection. It is possible to suppress wasteful power consumption such as searching for the base station apparatus 1b or transmitting a connection request.

[About power control processing by on-vehicle communication device]
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of processing (power control processing) related to power control of the second FEM 26 by the processing device 21.

First, (the power control unit 21a2 of) the control unit 21a of the processing device 21 repeats the determination as to whether or not the second FEM 26 is in the on state until it is determined as the on state (step S10). That is, the control unit 21a starts the power control process by causing the second FEM 26 to transition from the off state to the on state (step S2 in FIG. 5).

When the second FEM 26 is shifted from the off state to the on state (step S10), the control unit 21a first resets the value n of the counter functionally included in the processing device 21 to "0" (step S11).
Next, the determination unit 21b of the processing device 21 refers to the position information of the own device 10, and determines whether the own device 10 has entered the communicable zone by passing through the upstream boundary B1 of the communicable zone. (Step S12).
If it determines with the own apparatus 10 not having entered into the communicable area, the determination part 21b will repeat determination of step S12 again. Therefore, the determination unit 21b repeats step S12 until determining that the own device 10 has entered the communicable section. When the second FEM 26 is switched to the on state, since the vehicle has passed the predetermined position B0 on the upstream side of the communicable zone, the in-vehicle communication device 10 eventually enters the communicable zone.

When it is determined by the determination unit 21b that the own device 10 has entered the communicable zone in step S12, the control unit 21a notifies the mobile terminal 2 in the vehicle 3 that the own device 10 has entered the communicable zone. (Step S13).

The mobile terminal 2 in the vehicle 3 directly communicates with the base station 1 by wireless communication with the wireless LAN unit 16 of the in-vehicle communication device 10, and communicates with the base station 1 by the relay function of the in-vehicle communication device 10. There is a case.
For example, if the mobile terminal 2 in the vehicle 3 communicably connected to the wireless LAN unit 16 of the in-vehicle communication device 10 or the first base station device 1a enters the communicable zone, The wireless communication according to the second communication scheme can be directly performed between the two base station apparatuses 1b.

Therefore, the in-vehicle communication device 10 directly performs the wireless communication by the second communication method by notifying the mobile terminal 2 (another communication device) in the vehicle 3 that the own device 10 has entered the communicable zone. Can be notified to the mobile terminal 2.
Further, the in-vehicle communication device 10 can output that the own device 10 has entered the communicable zone to the display 19 in the vehicle 3 and can display it toward the operator who operates the mobile terminal 2 in the vehicle 3 .

Furthermore, the mobile terminal 2 that has been notified that the in-vehicle communication device 10 has entered the communicable zone can output the reception of the notification to the operator who operates the mobile terminal 2.
In addition, the mobile terminal 2 can be configured to switch to wireless communication by the second communication scheme instead of the communication connection up to that point in response to the reception of the notification.

After notifying the mobile terminal 2 in the vehicle 3 that the vehicle has entered the communicable zone in step S13 (step S13), the determination unit 21b passes the downstream boundary B2 of the communicable zone of the own device 10 and performs communication It is determined whether it has left the possible section (step S14).
The determination unit 21b determines whether or not the own device 10 is located within the communicable section by steps S12 and S14, and based on the result database 21c, whether or not wireless communication by the second communication scheme is possible. Determine if The determination unit 21b determines that wireless communication by the second communication scheme is possible when the own device 10 is located within the communicable zone, and when the own device 10 is out of the communicable zone, the determination unit 21b determines by the second communication scheme. It is determined that wireless communication can not be performed.

If it is determined by the determination unit 21b that the own device 10 has left the communicable zone in step S14, the control unit 21a proceeds to step S20, and indicates that the own device 10 has left the communicable zone in the vehicle 3. The mobile terminal 2 is notified (step S20), communication record information is generated and registered in the record database 21c (step S25), and the process is finished.
In this case, since the own device 10 has left the communicable section, the control unit 21a can determine that wireless communication can not be performed by the second communication method.
Further, the control unit 21a registers "impossible" in the column of communication performance information corresponding to the position information indicating the current position of the own device 10 in the performance database 21c.

Further, the control unit 21a notifies the mobile terminal 2 in the vehicle 3 that the apparatus 10 has left the communicable section, so that the wireless communication by the second communication method can not be directly performed. The mobile terminal 2 can be notified.

On the other hand, when it is determined by the determination unit 21b that the own apparatus 10 has not left the communicable section in step S14, the control unit 21a proceeds to step S15 and performs the second connection request for the wireless communication by the second communication method. It transmits toward the base station apparatus 1b, and performs processing regarding establishment of communication connection to the second base station apparatus 1b (step S15).

When the second FEM 26 is switched to the on state, the control unit 21 a performs cell search via the second FEM 26. The control unit 21a receives the synchronization signal of the second base station apparatus 1b forming the neighboring service area A2 by cell search, and transmits a connection request to the second FEM 26 based on the received synchronization signal. The transmission power at the time of transmitting the connection request is set to a preset minimum transmission power.

When the connection request is transmitted in step S15, the control unit 21a determines whether a response transmitted from the second base station device 1b that has received the connection request has been received (step S16). If the controller 21a receives a response during a predetermined time after transmitting a connection request, the controller 21a determines that a response is received, and does not receive a response when no response is received during the predetermined time. It is determined that

If it is determined that the response to the connection request has been received (step S16), the control unit 21a establishes a wireless communication connection with the second base station device 1b according to the second communication scheme (step S17). Thus, the in-vehicle communication device 10 and the second base station device 1b can communicate by wireless communication according to the second communication method.

That is, by determining whether or not the control unit 21a receives the response to the connection request in step S16, whether the wireless communication connection can be established with the second base station apparatus 1b according to the second communication scheme Is determined (step S16).
If it is determined that the response to the connection request has been received, the control unit 21a determines that wireless communication connection can be established with the second base station apparatus 1b according to the second communication scheme, and establishes wireless communication connection.
On the other hand, when it is determined that the response to the connection request is not received, the control unit 21a determines that the wireless communication connection by the second communication method can not be established with the second base station device 1b, and as described later The process proceeds to step S21 without establishing a communication connection.

When the communication connection is established in step S17, the control unit 21a generates communication record information and registers it in the record database 21c (step S18). In this case, the control unit 21a registers "OK" in the column of communication result information corresponding to the position information indicating the current position of the own device 10 in the result database 21c.

Next, the control unit 21a determines whether the wireless communication according to the second communication scheme is disconnected (step S19).
If it is determined in step S19 that the wireless communication by the second communication scheme is not disconnected, the communication connection of the wireless communication by the second communication scheme is maintained, so the control unit 21a returns to step S18 again, and the results database The communication record information is registered in 21c (step S18).

On the other hand, when it is determined in step S19 that the wireless communication by the second communication scheme is disconnected, the control unit 21a proceeds to step S20, and the mobile terminal in the vehicle 3 indicates that the own device 10 has left the communicable section. Then, the communication record information is generated and registered in the record database 21c (step S25), and the process is completed.
When the own device 10 leaves the communicable section, the control unit 21a causes the second FEM 26 to transition from the on state to the off state. Therefore, when the communication connection established once is disconnected, it is conceivable that the control unit 21a causes the second FEM 26 to transition from the on state to the off state by leaving the communicable section. In addition, it is conceivable that the user has moved to a section where communication can not be substantially performed by leaving the communicable section. Therefore, when determining that the wireless communication connection by the second communication method established once has been disconnected, the control unit 21a determines that the own device 10 has left the communicable section, and the mobile terminal 2 in the vehicle 3 determines that. To (step S20).

If it is determined in step S16 that a response to the connection request is not received (step S16), the control unit 21a proceeds to step S21, and determines whether the value n of the counter is larger than 3 (step S21).
When it is determined in step S21 that the value n of the counter is not larger than 3 (3 or less), the control unit 21a adds "1" to the value n of the counter (step S22), and returns to step S14.

Therefore, the control unit 21a proceeds to step S14 again, and proceeds to step S15 and step S16 when the own device 10 is positioned within the communicable section.
As described above, when the control unit 21a can not receive a response to the connection request when the own device 10 is located within the communicable section, the control unit 21a performs step S14, step S15, step S16, step S21, and step S22. repeat. In step S22, the control unit 21a adds “1” to the value n of the counter. Therefore, each time these steps are repeated, the value n of the counter is added by “1”.

If it is determined in step S21 that the value n of the counter is larger than 3, the control unit 21a raises the transmission power for causing the second FEM 26 to transmit the connection request by a preset increment value (step S23).

When the transmission power of the connection request is increased in step S23, the value n of the counter is reset to "0" (step S24), and the process returns to step S14.
In this case, the control unit 21a repeats step S14, step S15, step S16, step S21, and step S22 again. In step S15, the transmission of the connection request is performed with the transmission power set to a value higher than the transmission power at the time of the previous transmission of the connection request.

As described above, when the control unit 21a is positioned within the communicable section (steps S12 and S14), the control unit 21a repeats the determination to the effect that the response to the connection request is not received (step S16) four times. The transmission power is gradually increased by the above-mentioned increment value.
That is, when the determination unit 21b determines that the wireless communication by the second communication method is possible because the control unit 21a is located within the communicable section of the control unit 21a, the wireless communication by the second communication method is performed. It is configured to determine whether or not the connection can be established, and to control the transmission power of the connection request transmitted by the second FEM 26 according to the determination of the communication connection establishment.

In the present embodiment, if it is determined that the position of the own apparatus 10 is a communicable section, the second FEM 26 transmits a connection request to determine whether communication connection can be established, so establishment of communication connection is established. It is possible to suppress wasteful transmission and reception of a wireless signal to try.

Further, when it is determined that communication connection with the base station apparatus can not be established by repeating step S14, step S15, step S16, step S21, and step S22, the control unit 21a performs communication connection with the base station apparatus again. Are configured to determine whether it can be established.

In this case, for example, even when wireless communication by the second communication method can not be temporarily performed with the second base station device 1b due to a change in the environment, the transmission power at the time of transmitting the connection request is maintained. It can be held for a while, and can stand by in anticipation of restoration of the environment to such an extent that wireless communication connection can be established with the second base station apparatus 1b by the second communication scheme.

The control unit 21a performs control to increase the transmission power when the second FEM 26 transmits a connection request, when the determination as to whether or not the communication connection can be established (step S16) is repeated a predetermined number of times.

In this case, when wireless communication by the second communication method can not be temporarily performed with the second base station device 1b due to a change in environment, it is determined whether communication connection with the second base station device 1b can be established. If recovery of the environment can not be expected while repeating the predetermined number of times, the transmission power at the time of transmitting the connection request is increased to increase the probability that the connection request will reach the second base station device 1b, and the second base station device 1b To establish a wireless communication connection by the second communication method.

For example, when the on-vehicle communication device 10 passes the upstream boundary B1 of the communicable section in FIG. 6, the control unit 21a transmits a connection request for wireless communication by the second communication scheme. Assuming that the response from the second base station apparatus 1b to the connection request is immediately received after passing the boundary B1, the control unit 21a establishes a wireless communication connection by the second communication scheme. Thereafter, when the communication connection is maintained up to the downstream boundary B2 of the communicable zone, if the own device 10 passes the boundary B2 and leaves the communicable zone, the on-vehicle communication device 10 and the second base station apparatus 1b Wireless communication is disconnected.
In this case, "OK" is registered in the performance database 21c for the position of almost the entire area of the communicable section.

Also, for example, when the communication connection can not be established with the second base station device 1b immediately after the on-vehicle communication device 10 has entered the communicable zone, the control unit 21a causes the second FEM 26 to request a connection request. The transmission power is controlled to be maintained at the current value without increasing the transmission power at the time of transmission immediately, and the determination of whether or not the communication connection can be established is repeated a predetermined number of times (four times) to increase the transmission power by the increment value. Only raise and send a connection request.

By performing control of the above-mentioned transmission power, the control unit 21a establishes communication connection at the first point B11 in FIG. 6, for example, and then communication is disconnected at the second point B12, and communication is actually possible. It is assumed that the existing section is the section from the first point B11 to the second point B12.
In this case, if the wireless communication connection by the second communication method is established from the first point B11 and the own device 10 passes the second point B12, the wireless communication between the in-vehicle communication device 10 and the second base station device 1b is It is cut off.
In this case, “permitted” is registered in the track record database 21c for the position in the section between the first point B11 and the second point B12 among the communicable sections, even within the communicable section. For the position outside the section between the first point B11 and the second point B12, "impossible" is registered.

Therefore, when the state in which the communicable section is the section from the first point B11 to the second point B12 continues among the communicable sections, the actually communicable section is from the first point B11 to the second point B12. It is reflected in the results database 21c that the section is up to.
As a result, the control unit 21a of the in-vehicle communication device 10 sets the communicable section in correspondence with the section from the first point B11 to the second point B12.
As described above, in the present embodiment, the communication record information registered in the record database 21 c can be maintained to be the latest information, so control can be performed according to the section in which communication can actually be performed.

Note that, in the present embodiment, the case where the section configured with the position where the ratio of “OK” in the plurality of registered communication result information is 50% or more is set as the communicable section, for example, A section in which the ratio of “OK” is configured to be smaller at, for example, 10% or more may be set as the communicable section. Also, even if a section configured with a position where “OK” in the plurality of registered communication result information is equal to or higher than a predetermined ratio is specified, and a section slightly larger than that section is set as the communicable section Good.
In this case, the communicable section is set to be slightly larger than the communicable section. As a result, even if the communicable section surely changes to be wide, the control unit 21a can set the communicable section to follow the change.

[Others]
It should be understood that the embodiments disclosed herein are illustrative and non-restrictive in every respect.
In the present embodiment, the second communication method newly introduced to the existing first communication method is exemplified in the initial stage of introduction, but the present invention is not limited to this. Even if the service area has been changed to a scattered state due to a change in the propagation environment, this embodiment is applicable.

Further, although the on-vehicle communication device 10 of the present embodiment has been illustrated as being mounted on a route bus that travels a preset travel route, the on-vehicle communication device 10 is used for vehicles other than route buses, such as automobiles and trains. It may be mounted.

Further, in the above embodiment, it is determined whether the in-vehicle communication device 10 can communicate with the second base station device 1b based on the position information of the own device 10, and the communication with the second base station device is performed based on the determination result. Although the case where the power control of the second FEM 26 for connection is performed is exemplified, the mobile terminal 2 capable of communicating with the second base station apparatus 1 b can adopt the same configuration as the on-vehicle communication apparatus 10 of the present embodiment. it can.
In this case, when the owner carrying the mobile terminal 2 capable of communicating with the second base station apparatus 1b gets on the vehicle, the mobile terminal 2 can exhibit the function as the on-vehicle communication apparatus 10 of the above embodiment. it can.

Further, although the case where the communication record information is updated as needed is exemplified in the record database 21c of the above embodiment, the wireless communication connection by the second communication method is established on the traveling route for the communication record information registered first as initial setting. It is possible to specify in advance the positions where it can be established and the positions that can not be established, and to register the specified information in the results database 21c as communication result information.
Thereafter, since the results database 21c is updated as needed, it is appropriately updated according to the propagation environment changing during system operation, and the communicable section is also set to an appropriate area according to the change of the propagation environment.

The record database 21 c may be configured to maintain communication record information that is initially registered as an initial setting.

Further, in the results database 21c of the above embodiment, although the case where the position information for each fixed distance on the traveling route of the route bus is registered and the communication results information corresponding to the position information is registered is illustrated In the case of the on-vehicle communication device 10 mounted on the vehicle 3 for which the route is not set, the position passed by the movement of the own device 10 and the communication result information at that time are registered as needed in the results database 21c. . As a result, communication result information at the position where the own device 10 has passed in the past is registered in the result database 21c.

Further, information indicating transmission power at that time may be registered in the performance database 21c at a position where communication connection is established by raising the transmission power by the control unit 21a. Thus, the control unit 21a can recognize the required transmission power for each position by referring to the result database 21c.

The scope of the present invention is shown by the scope of the claims, not the meaning described above, and is intended to include the meanings equivalent to the scope of the claims and all modifications within the scope.

Reference Signs List 1 base station apparatus 1a first base station apparatus 1b second base station apparatus 2 mobile terminal 3 vehicle 3a ceiling 10 vehicle communication apparatus 11 external antenna 11a first external antenna 11b second external antenna 12 internal antenna 15 communication processing unit 16 wireless LAN Section 17 Receiver 18 Vehicle interface section 19 Display 20 Camera 21 Processor 21a Control section 21a1 Power control section 21a2 Power control section

21b Determination section

21c Achievement database 25 1st front end module 26 2nd front end module A1 Service area A2 Service area

Claims

A mobile communication device that communicates with a base station device,
A determination unit that determines whether communication with the base station apparatus is possible based on position information of the own apparatus;
A control unit that performs power control of a wireless communication unit for performing communication connection with the base station apparatus based on the determination result of the determination unit.
The control unit determines whether communication connection can be established with the base station apparatus when the determination result of the determination unit is communicable, and determines whether communication connection can be established with the base station apparatus. The mobile communication device according to claim 1, wherein control of communication power is performed by the wireless communication unit according to.
The mobile station according to claim 2, wherein the control unit is configured to determine again whether it is possible to establish communication connection with the base station apparatus when determining that communication connection can not be established with the base station apparatus. Communicator.
The mobile communication device according to claim 3, wherein the control unit controls to increase the communication power of the wireless communication unit when the determination as to whether or not the communication connection can be established with the base station apparatus is repeated a predetermined number of times.
The determination unit determines whether communication with the base station device is possible based on communication result information indicating whether the own device can communicate with the base station device at a position where the own device has passed in the past. The mobile communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 4.
It further comprises a database in which the communication record information is registered,
The communication record information is generated by the controller.
The mobile communication device according to claim 5, wherein the database is updated by the new communication result information generated by the control unit.
The mobile communication device is provided in a vehicle,
The in-vehicle communication unit is further provided, which communicates with another communication device existing inside the vehicle and relays communication between the base station apparatus and the other communication device.
The mobile communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the control unit gives information indicating the determination result of the determination unit to the other communication device via the in-vehicle communication unit.