WO2020158117A1

WO2020158117A1 - Mobile wireless communication device, and vehicle

Info

Publication number: WO2020158117A1
Application number: PCT/JP2019/045099
Authority: WO
Inventors: 勇男桂; 政彦大西
Original assignee: 住友電気工業株式会社
Priority date: 2019-01-28
Filing date: 2019-11-18
Publication date: 2020-08-06

Abstract

This mobile wireless communication device is mounted to a vehicle and is capable of wirelessly communicating with a plurality of base station devices located outside of the vehicle. The plurality of base station devices includes a first base station device that performs wireless communication by radio waves of a first frequency and a second base station device that performs wireless communication by radio waves of a second frequency higher than the first frequency. The mobile wireless communication device is provided with: a first antenna module capable of transmitting and receiving radio waves of the first frequency to/from the first base station device; a second antenna module capable of transmitting and receiving radio waves of the second frequency to/from the second base station device; and a relay unit that selectively executes one of a first mode in which communication is relayed between the first base station device and a terminal device located within the vehicle using the first antenna module and a second mode in which communication is relayed between the second base station device and the terminal device using the second antenna module.

Description

Mobile wireless communication device and vehicle

The present disclosure relates to a mobile wireless communication device and a vehicle.
This application claims priority based on Japanese application No. 2019-012235 filed on January 28, 2018, and incorporates all the contents described in the Japanese application.

Patent Document 1 discloses a mobile wireless communication device capable of wireless communication by a fifth generation mobile communication system.

International Publication No. 2018/088051

A mobile wireless communication device according to an embodiment is a mobile wireless communication device mounted on a vehicle and capable of wirelessly communicating with a plurality of base station devices located outside the vehicle, wherein the plurality of base station devices are first The mobile radio communication device includes a first base station device that performs radio communication using a radio wave of a frequency, and a second base station device that performs radio communication using a radio wave of a second frequency higher than the first frequency. A first antenna module capable of transmitting and receiving radio waves of the first frequency to and from the first base station device, and a first antenna module capable of transmitting and receiving radio waves of the second frequency to and from the second base station device. A two-antenna module, a first mode in which the first antenna module is used to relay communication between the first base station device and a terminal device located in the vehicle, and the second antenna module is used. And a relay unit that selectively executes one of the second modes for relaying communication between the second base station device and the terminal device.

A vehicle according to another embodiment is a vehicle equipped with the above-described vehicle-mounted communication device.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a vehicle equipped with an in-vehicle communication device. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the in-vehicle communication device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the module body. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of priorities set for each user data. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the switching unit. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of a process (switching process) performed by the control unit to switch the connection destination of the communication processing unit. FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of an in-vehicle communication device according to the second embodiment. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of the switching process performed by the control unit. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an in-vehicle communication device according to the third embodiment and base station devices around the in-vehicle communication device, FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of an in-vehicle communication device according to the third embodiment. FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a connection process performed by the control unit for performing communication connection with the second base station device and the third base station device. FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the switching process of the third embodiment.

[Problems to be solved by the present disclosure]
In the fifth-generation mobile communication system, a millimeter wave or a quasi-millimeter wave (for example, a radio wave having a very high frequency of 6 GHz or more) is used for wireless communication, and thus the propagation loss is large. Therefore, the terminal device located inside the vehicle may not be able to receive the radio wave of the fifth-generation mobile communication system from outside the vehicle.

Therefore, for example, a mobile radio communication device compatible with the 5th generation mobile communication system is provided in a vehicle, and communication between a terminal device located in the vehicle and a base station device of the 5th generation mobile communication system is performed by the mobile radio communication device. It is conceivable to have the device relay.
As a result, the terminal device in the vehicle can receive the service provided by the fifth-generation mobile communication system.

On the other hand, since the communication environment around the mobile wireless communication device changes as the vehicle moves, it may be difficult for the mobile wireless communication device to receive the radio wave of the fifth generation mobile communication system. In such a case, the mobile radio communication device cannot continue the relay between the terminal device in the vehicle and the base station device of the fifth generation mobile communication system.

At this time, the terminal device in the vehicle communicates with the mobile radio communication device in order to maintain the communication connection, for example, by the fourth generation mobile communication system which has a lower frequency band and can be used in the vehicle. Will be switched to.

As described above, the mobile radio communication device that provides the terminal device in the vehicle with the relay service of the communication by the fifth generation mobile communication system forces the terminal device in the vehicle to switch the communication due to the movement of the vehicle. There is a risk of not being able to properly provide services.

In other words, when providing a service to a terminal device in the vehicle by a mobile communication device that performs wireless communication using a radio wave having a very high frequency with large propagation loss, it is appropriate for the terminal device in the vehicle. May not be able to provide services to

The present disclosure has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a mobile radio communication device and the like that can appropriately provide a service to a terminal device in a vehicle.

[Effect of the present disclosure]
According to the present disclosure, it is possible to appropriately provide a service to a terminal device in a vehicle.

First, the contents of the embodiment will be listed and described.
[Outline of Embodiment]
(1) A mobile radio communication device according to an embodiment is a mobile radio communication device mounted on a vehicle and capable of performing radio communication with a plurality of base station devices located outside the vehicle, wherein the plurality of base station devices are A first base station device that performs radio communication using a radio wave of a first frequency, and a second base station device that performs radio communication using a radio wave of a second frequency higher than the first frequency. The communication device transmits/receives the radio wave of the second frequency to/from the first antenna module capable of transmitting/receiving the radio wave of the first frequency to/from the first base station device and the second base station device. A possible second antenna module, a first mode for relaying communication between the first base station device and a terminal device located in the vehicle using the first antenna module, and the second antenna module And a relay unit that selectively executes one of the second modes for relaying communication between the second base station device and the terminal device by using.

According to the mobile radio communication device having the above configuration, either the first mode in which the relay is performed by using the first antenna module or the second mode in which the relay is performed by using the second antenna module is selectively executed. Even when wireless communication using a second frequency radio wave using the second antenna module becomes difficult in the second mode due to a change in the communication environment due to movement, the wireless communication is performed by switching from the second mode to the first mode. It can be performed. Therefore, for example, if the radio wave of the first frequency is a radio wave of a frequency that has a small propagation loss and is easier to maintain the communication than the radio wave of the second frequency, it becomes difficult for the second antenna module to perform radio communication. By sometimes switching to wireless communication by the first antenna module, wireless communication can be continued and relay of communication of the terminal device in the vehicle can be continued. As a result, it is possible to appropriately provide the service without forcing the terminal device in the vehicle to switch the communication.

(2) In the mobile radio communication device, in the second mode, communication between the second base station device and the terminal device is performed while relaying communication between the first base station device and the terminal device. It may be a mode for relaying.
(3) Further, the second mode may be a mode in which communication between the second base station device and the terminal device is relayed using the first antenna module and the second antenna module.

(4) In the mobile radio communication device, the relay unit sets the first mode to be executed based on a reception signal output from the second antenna module in response to reception of a radio wave of the second frequency. It is preferable to include a control unit that switches to either the mode or the second mode.
In this case, the control unit can appropriately select either the first mode or the second mode based on the reception signal received by the second antenna module.

(5) Further, in the mobile radio communication device, at least one of the first antenna module and the second antenna module is obtained by receiving a radio wave of the first frequency or a radio wave of the second frequency. It is preferable to include a frequency conversion unit that performs frequency conversion of the received radio frequency signal and frequency conversion of the transmission signal provided from the relay unit to the first antenna module or the second antenna module.
In this case, the frequency of the signal handled between both antenna modules and the relay section can be a frequency other than the first frequency or the second frequency.

(6) Furthermore, in the mobile radio communication device, the second antenna module outputs a reception signal in response to reception of a radio wave of the second frequency, and the frequency conversion unit included in the second antenna module includes: The received radio frequency signal is frequency-converted to output the received signal of an intermediate frequency lower than the second frequency, and the transmission signal of the intermediate frequency is frequency-converted to generate a radio wave of the second frequency. It is preferable to output the transmitted radio frequency signal.
In this case, the transmission/reception signal handled on the relay unit side of the frequency conversion unit can be converted to an intermediate frequency lower than the second frequency. This makes it possible to reduce the signal attenuation that occurs when transmitting/receiving a transmission/reception signal between the second antenna module and the relay unit, compared to the case where the signal is transmitted at the second frequency.

(7) In the mobile radio communication device, it is preferable that the intermediate frequency is the first frequency or a frequency near the first frequency.

(8) In the mobile radio communication device, when the relay unit is given an output from the terminal device, at least one of an attribute of the given output and a communication method between the relay unit and the terminal device. A relay control unit that controls the order in which the given outputs are relayed may be provided based on the priority set in advance according to the above.
In this case, the output from the terminal device can be appropriately relayed according to the necessity.

(9) In the mobile radio communication device, it is preferable that the second antenna module includes an array antenna capable of beamforming.
In this case, it is possible to increase the gain when transmitting and receiving the radio wave of the second frequency, which is a relatively high frequency.

(10) In the mobile radio communication device, the plurality of base station devices further include a third base station device that performs radio communication using a radio wave of a third frequency lower than the second frequency, and the mobile radio communication device. Further includes a third antenna module capable of transmitting and receiving radio waves of the third frequency to and from the third base station device, wherein the relay unit includes the first mode, the second mode, and the third mode. It may be configured to selectively execute any one of the third modes for relaying communication between the third base station device and the terminal device using a three-antenna module.
In this case, an appropriate mode can be selected from the first mode, the second mode, and the third mode.

(11) In the mobile radio communication device, the relay unit acquires position information of the second base station device and the third base station device, and based on the position information, the second antenna module and the second antenna module. The operation of any of the three antenna modules may be stopped.
In this case, power consumption can be reduced by stopping the antenna module that has no possibility of transmitting and receiving because it is clear that there is no base station device in the vicinity.

(12) In addition, in the mobile radio communication device, the first frequency is a radio frequency complying with a fourth-generation mobile communication system, and the second frequency and the third frequency are in a fifth-generation mobile communication system. It may be a compliant radio frequency.

(13) Further, the third frequency may be 6 GHz or less.

(14) A vehicle according to another embodiment is a vehicle including the mobile wireless communication device according to any one of (1) to (12) above.

[Details of Embodiment]
Hereinafter, preferred embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings.
It should be noted that at least a part of the embodiments described below may be arbitrarily combined.

[Overall configuration of in-vehicle communication device]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a vehicle equipped with an in-vehicle communication device.
In FIG. 1, the in-vehicle communication device 1 is mounted on a vehicle 2. The in-vehicle communication device 1 is a mobile station (mobile wireless communication device) that performs wireless communication with the base station device 4 of the mobile communication system. The vehicle 2 includes a bus, a railway vehicle, and the like, in addition to an ordinary passenger car.
The base station device 4 is installed at a relatively high place such as a rooftop of a building and wirelessly communicates with the onboard communication device 1 on the ground.

In the mobile communication system of the present embodiment, for example, wireless communication compliant with the fourth generation mobile communication system and wireless communication compliant with the fifth generation mobile communication system are possible.
Therefore, the base station device 4 includes a first base station device 4a that performs wireless communication conforming to the fourth generation mobile communication system and a second base station device 4b that performs wireless communication conforming to the fifth generation mobile communication system. Including.
In FIG. 1, one first base station device 4a and one second base station device 4b are shown, but in reality, a plurality of them are installed in a predetermined area.
The range in which the second base station device 4b can communicate with the mobile station is included in the cell formed by the first base station device 4a.

In the fourth generation mobile communication system, for example, radio communication is performed using radio waves having a frequency of several hundred MHz to approximately 2.4 GHz.
In addition, in the fifth generation mobile communication system, radio communication may be performed using radio waves having a very high frequency of, for example, 6 GHz or more. Therefore, in the fifth-generation mobile communication system, the attenuation when the radio wave propagates may be larger than that in the fourth-generation mobile communication system. Therefore, the second base station device 4b and the mobile station that wirelessly communicates with the second base station device 4b perform beamforming in order to compensate for the attenuation of radio waves. The second base station device 4b and the mobile station can improve the gain by directing the beam in a specific direction by beamforming.

Since the fifth-generation mobile communication system uses a radio wave having an extremely high frequency, the radio wave from the second base station device 4b propagates into the vehicle 2 even if the directivity is controlled by beamforming. hard. Therefore, it is difficult for the terminal device in the vehicle 2 to receive the radio wave from the second base station device 4b. On the other hand, in the fourth-generation mobile communication system, since the radio wave having a lower frequency than that of the fifth-generation mobile communication system is used, the radio wave from the first base station device 4a easily propagates into the vehicle 2. Therefore, the terminal device in the vehicle 2 can receive the radio wave from the first base station device 4a.
In the following description, the frequency band of the radio wave used by the first base station device 4a conforming to the fourth generation mobile communication system for radio communication is the first frequency, and the second base station device 4b conforming to the fifth generation mobile communication system. The frequency band of the radio wave used in the radio communication is also referred to as a second frequency.

The in-vehicle communication device 1 includes an external antenna 6 provided outside the vehicle and an in-vehicle antenna 10 for performing wireless communication with the terminal device 8 in the vehicle 2.
The external antenna 6 includes a plurality of antenna elements 6a forming an array antenna. The external antenna 6 is provided so as to project from the roof 2a of the vehicle 2.
The in-vehicle communication device 1 performs wireless communication with the second base station device 4b by the external antenna 6 in accordance with the fifth generation mobile communication system. The in-vehicle communication device 1 also performs wireless communication with the first base station device 4a based on the fourth generation mobile communication system. The in-vehicle communication device 1 wirelessly communicates with any one of the plurality of base station devices 4.
Further, the in-vehicle communication device 1 performs wireless LAN communication with the terminal device 8 in the vehicle 2 by the in-vehicle antenna 10 and provides the terminal device 8 with an environment capable of network connection such as the Internet.

That is, the in-vehicle communication device 1 constitutes a wireless LAN access point and provides a wireless LAN service to the terminal device 8 in the vehicle. The terminal device 8 in the vehicle 2 is, for example, a mobile phone, a smart phone, a tablet, a laptop computer, or the like that a passenger of the vehicle 2 has.

Each terminal device 8 located in the vehicle 2 can communicate with the base station device 4 by a mobile communication system via wireless LAN communication.
That is, the in-vehicle communication device 1 has a function of relaying communication between the base station device 4 and the terminal device 8.

Note that the terminal device 8 in the vehicle 2 includes an in-vehicle camera 12 installed in the vehicle 2 for photographing the inside of the vehicle 2 and an outside camera 14 for photographing the outer periphery of the vehicle 2. The in-vehicle camera 12 is a camera for photographing the inside of the vehicle 2 and monitoring the inside of the vehicle 2. The vehicle exterior camera 14 is a camera for taking a picture around the outside of the vehicle 2 and causing it to function as a drive recorder.

The in-vehicle camera 12 and the out-of-vehicle camera 14 have a wireless LAN communication function. The vehicle interior camera 12 and the vehicle exterior camera 14 transmit the captured image data to a management server (not shown) that manages the image data. The in-vehicle camera 12 and the out-of-vehicle camera 14 transmit the imaged data to the in-vehicle communication device 1 by wireless LAN communication, and provide the data to the management server via the in-vehicle communication device 1 and the base station device 4 (4a, 4b).

[Configuration of In-Vehicle Communication Device According to First Embodiment]
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the vehicle-mounted communication device 1 according to the first embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 2, the vehicle-mounted communication device 1 includes a first antenna module 20, a second antenna module 22, and a repeater 24 (relay section).

The first antenna module 20 includes an antenna 26 and a module body 28 to which the antenna 26 is connected.
The first antenna module 20 performs wireless communication based on the fourth generation mobile communication system. Therefore, the first antenna module 20 transmits and receives the radio wave of the first frequency by the antenna 26.
The antenna 26 may be installed outside the vehicle or inside the vehicle.

The module main body 28 has a function related to wireless communication such as amplification and duplex. The module body 28 is connected to the repeater 24. Therefore, the transmission signal (first transmission signal) to be transmitted to the first antenna module 20 is applied to the module main body 28 from the repeater 24.
When the first transmission signal is given from the repeater 24, the module main body 28 radiates a radio wave based on the first transmission signal to the space from the antenna 26 and transmits the radio wave.
The frequency of the first transmission signal provided from the repeater 24 is the first frequency. Therefore, the module main body 28 does not frequency-convert the first transmission signal, but performs the necessary processing and then transmits the signal.

Further, when the antenna 26 receives the radio wave of the first frequency, the module main body 28 outputs a reception signal (first reception signal) in response to the reception and gives the signal to the repeater 24. The frequency of the first reception signal output by the module body 28 is the first frequency.

As described above, the frequency of the first transmission signal and the first reception signal transmitted and received between the module main body 28 and the repeater 24 is the first frequency.

The second antenna module 22 includes the above-described external antenna 6 and the module body 30 to which the external antenna 6 is connected.
The second antenna module 22 performs wireless communication based on the fifth generation mobile communication system. Therefore, the second antenna module 22 transmits/receives the radio wave of the second frequency by the external antenna 6.
As described above, in the fifth-generation mobile communication system, since the radio wave with a very high frequency is used, the propagation loss is large and there is a possibility that the radio wave cannot be received within the vehicle 2 with sufficient strength. Therefore, the external antenna 6 of the second antenna module 22 is provided outside the vehicle.

The module body 30 has functions related to wireless communication such as amplification and duplex. The module body 30 is connected to the repeater 24. Therefore, the transmission signal (second transmission signal) to be transmitted to the second antenna module 22 is applied to the module body 30 from the repeater 24.
When the second transmission signal is given from the repeater 24, the module body 30 gives the transmission radio frequency signal having the second frequency to the external antenna 6. The external antenna 6 radiates the given transmission radio frequency signal to the space as a radio wave and transmits it.
The frequency of the second transmission signal provided from the repeater 24 is the first frequency. Therefore, as will be described later, the module main body 30 outputs a transmission radio frequency signal by frequency-converting the second transmission signal and transmits a radio wave of the second frequency.

Also, the module body 30 outputs a reception signal (second reception signal) when the external antenna 6 receives a radio wave of the second frequency, and gives it to the repeater 24. The frequency of the second reception signal output by the module body 30 is the first frequency. As will be described later, the module main body 30 frequency-converts the received radio frequency signal obtained by receiving the radio wave of the second frequency, and outputs the second reception signal of the first frequency.

As described above, the frequency of the second transmission signal and the second reception signal exchanged between the module body 30 and the repeater 24 is the first frequency.

The repeater 24 performs wireless communication by selectively using the first antenna module 20 and the second antenna module 22, and one of the first base station device 4a and the second base station device 4b and the inside of the vehicle 2 are connected to each other. It relays communication with the terminal device 8.

[Configuration of Second Antenna Module]
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the module body 30.
As shown in FIG. 3, the module body 30 of the second antenna module 22 includes a plurality of transmission/reception circuits 32, a distributor/combiner 34, and a frequency converter 36.

The frequency conversion unit 36 is provided between the distribution synthesizer 34 and the repeater 24. The frequency conversion unit 36 performs frequency conversion of the reception radio frequency signal given from the distribution synthesizer 34 and frequency conversion of the second transmission signal given from the repeater 24.

The frequency conversion unit 36 includes an oscillator 36a that generates a local signal and a mixer 36b.
The second transmission signal of the first frequency is given to the mixer 36b from the repeater 24. The mixer 36b multiplies the second transmission signal of the first frequency by the local signal from the oscillator 36a to convert the second transmission signal of the first frequency into a transmission radio frequency signal of the second frequency.
As described above, the transmission radio frequency signal is a signal of the second frequency obtained based on the second transmission signal provided from the repeater 24.

Further, the frequency conversion unit 36 includes an oscillator 36c that generates a local signal and a mixer 36d.
The receiving radio frequency signal of the second frequency is given to the mixer 36d from the distributor/combiner 34. The mixer 36d multiplies the received radio frequency signal of the second frequency supplied from the distributor/combiner 34 by the local signal from the oscillator 36c, and converts the received radio frequency signal of the second frequency into the second received signal of the first frequency.

In this way, the frequency conversion unit 36 frequency-converts the reception radio frequency signal to output the second reception signal of the first frequency lower than the second frequency, and also frequency-converts the second transmission signal of the first frequency. By doing so, a transmission radio frequency signal transmitted as a radio wave of the second frequency is output.
Since the module main body 30 has the frequency conversion unit 36, it can exchange the second transmission signal and the second reception signal of the first frequency with the repeater 24.

The transmitting/receiving circuit 32 is provided corresponding to each of the plurality of antenna elements 6a.
Each transmission/reception circuit 32 is connected to the distribution/combiner 34.
The distributor/combiner 34 supplies the transmitter/receiver circuit 32 with a distributor signal to which the transmitter radio frequency signal supplied from the frequency converter 36 is distributed, combines the signals supplied from the transmitter/receiver circuits 32, and receives the combined signal as a reception radio frequency signal. The signal is given to the frequency converter 36.
As described above, the received radio frequency signal is the signal of the second frequency obtained based on the radio wave of the second frequency received by the external antenna 6.

The transmission/reception circuit 32 includes a variable phase shifter 32a and a power amplifier 32b. The variable phase shifter 32a has a function of adjusting the phase of the distribution signal supplied from the distribution/combiner 34. The power amplifier 32b amplifies the distribution signal whose phase is adjusted by the variable phase shifter 32a.

The transmission/reception circuit 32 further includes a low noise amplifier 32c and a variable phase shifter 32d. The low noise amplifier 32c amplifies the signal received by the external antenna 6. The variable phase shifter 32d has a function of adjusting the phase of the signal amplified by the low noise amplifier 32c.

The transmission/reception circuit 32 further includes

changeover switches

32e and 32f. The changeover switch 32e switches the connection destination of the distributor/combiner 34 to either the variable phase shifter 32a or the variable phase shifter 32d. The changeover switch 32f switches the connection destination of the antenna element 6a to one of the power amplifier 32b and the low noise amplifier 32c.

When the distribution signal from the distribution/combiner 34 is given to the transmission/reception circuit 32, the changeover switch 32e switches the connection destination of the distribution/combiner 34 to the variable phase shifter 32a. Further, the changeover switch 32f switches the connection destination of the antenna element 6a to the power amplifier 32b. As a result, the transmission/reception circuit 32 performs wireless transmission when the second transmission signal is given from the repeater 24.

Further, when the signal from the antenna element 6a that receives the radio wave is given to the transmission/reception circuit 32, the changeover switch 32f switches the connection destination of the antenna element 6a to the low noise amplifier 32c. Further, the changeover switch 32e switches the connection destination of the distribution combiner 34 to the variable phase shifter 32d. Accordingly, the transmission/reception circuit 32 can give the signal received by the antenna element 6a to the distribution/combiner 34, cause the distribution/combiner 34 to output the reception radio frequency signal, and output the second reception signal to the frequency converter 36. Can be made.

The variable phase shifter 32a and the variable phase shifter 32d form a beam by the external antenna 6 by adjusting the phases of the distributed signal and the signal received by the antenna element 6a. That is, the second antenna module 22 is capable of beamforming. The beamforming can increase the gain when transmitting and receiving the radio wave of the second frequency.

The variable phase shifter 32a and the variable phase shifter 32d are controlled by the communication processing unit 42 (described later) of the repeater 24. The communication processing unit 42 controls the directional direction of the beam by controlling the

variable phase shifters

32a and 32d.

[Structure of repeater]
Returning to FIG. 2, the repeater 24 includes a switching unit 40, a communication processing unit 42, and an in-vehicle communication device 44.
The switching unit 40 is connected between the first antenna module 20 and the second antenna module 22 and the communication processing unit 42.
The switching unit 40 has a function of switching the antenna module used for wireless communication in the repeater 24 to either the first antenna module 20 or the second antenna module 22.

The communication processing unit 42 is connected between the switching unit 40 and the in-vehicle communication device 44.
The communication processing unit 42 has a function of performing signal processing for performing wireless communication with the base station device 4. User data transmitted from the terminal device 8 in the vehicle 2 is given to the communication processing unit 42 from the in-vehicle communication device 44. The reception baseband signal is given to the communication processing unit 42 from the switching unit 40. The reception baseband signal is obtained from the first reception signal from the first antenna module 20 or the second reception signal from the second antenna module 22.

The communication processing unit 42 includes a baseband processing unit 42a and a control unit 42b.
The baseband processing unit 42a includes a modulator/demodulator, a digital/analog converter, an analog/digital converter, and the like, and performs processing relating to the baseband signal.

When the in-vehicle communication device 44 receives user data of the terminal device 8 which is a digital signal, the baseband processing unit 42a modulates the user data and generates a transmission baseband signal of the digital signal. Further, the baseband processing unit 42a converts the transmission baseband signal of the digital signal into an analog signal and generates the transmission baseband signal of the analog signal.

Also, the baseband processing unit 42a, when receiving the reception baseband signal of the analog signal from the switching unit 40, converts this reception baseband signal into a digital signal and generates a reception baseband signal of the digital signal. Further, the baseband processing unit 42a demodulates the received baseband signal of the digital signal and generates user data for the terminal device 8 which is a digital signal.

The transmission baseband signal generated by the baseband processing unit 42a is given to the switching unit 40. Further, the user data generated by the baseband processing unit 42a is given to the in-vehicle communication device 44.

The control unit 42b is composed of, for example, a computer including a processor and a storage unit, and has a function of controlling switching of the antenna module used for wireless communication by the switching unit 40. The control unit 42b supplies the control signal to the switching unit 40 to control the switching unit 40 and switch the antenna module used for wireless communication.

The control unit 42b switches based on the second received signal from the second antenna module 22 so that either one of the first antenna module 20 and the second antenna module 22 is used for wireless communication.
The control unit 42b refers to the reception power of the reception baseband signal based on the second reception signal processed by the baseband processing unit 42a, and switches based on the reception power.

The in-vehicle communication device 44 is connected to the communication processing unit 42.
An in-vehicle antenna 10 is connected to the in-vehicle communication device 44. The in-vehicle communication device 44 performs wireless LAN communication with the terminal device 8 in the vehicle 2 by the in-vehicle antenna 10, and provides the communication processing unit 42 with user data transmitted from the terminal device 8 by wireless LAN communication. .. The in-vehicle communication device 44 also transmits the user data provided from the communication processing unit 42 to the terminal device 8 by wireless LAN communication.

With the above configuration, the repeater 24 performs wireless communication by selectively using the first antenna module 20 and the second antenna module 22, and communicates with either the first base station device 4a or the second base station device 4b. , Relays communication with the terminal device 8 in the vehicle 2.

As shown in FIG. 2, the in-vehicle communication device 44 includes a relay control unit 44a. The relay control unit 44a is composed of, for example, a computer including a processor and a storage unit. The relay control unit 44a has a function of controlling the relay order when relaying the user data received by the in-vehicle communication device 44 by wireless communication.

The user data (output) received by the in-vehicle communication device 44 by wireless LAN communication includes, in addition to the terminal data transmitted by the terminal device 8, the in-vehicle image data transmitted by the in-vehicle camera 12 and the out-vehicle image data transmitted by the out-of-vehicle camera 14. Is included.

Priorities are preset in these user data according to the attributes of each user data.
In this embodiment, the priority is set for each type of the terminal device 8. That is, the attribute of the user data is the type of the terminal device 8 that has output the user data.
In the present embodiment, “1” having the highest priority is set to the in-vehicle camera 12, “2” is sequentially set to the out-of-vehicle camera 14, and other terminal devices 8 (cell phones, smartphones, tablets, laptop computers, etc.) are set. ) Is set to "3".

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of priorities set for each user data. When the priority is set for each user data as described above, it becomes as shown in FIG.
It is highly necessary to monitor the image data inside the vehicle and the image data outside the vehicle in real time. Therefore, the priority is set higher than the terminal data.

The relay control unit 44a determines the order of transmitting the user data to the base station device 4 based on the priority set as described above.
For example, when each data is given from the terminal device 8, the relay control unit 44a gives the highest priority to the transmission of the in-vehicle image pickup data, and sequentially transmits the outside-vehicle image pickup data and the terminal data.
As described above, in the present embodiment, by including the relay control unit 44a, it is possible to properly relay according to the necessity of each user data.

In addition, although the case where the attribute of the user data is the type of the terminal device 8 is illustrated here, the attribute is not limited to this. For example, the content of user data such as moving image data, still image data, and character information may be used as an attribute, or the generation timing (time) of user data may be used as an attribute.
Further, in the present embodiment, the case where the in-vehicle camera 12 and the out-of-vehicle camera 14 communicate with the in-vehicle communication device 1 (in-vehicle communication device 44) by wireless LAN communication has been described. The communication between the in-vehicle communication device 14 and the in-vehicle communication device 1 may be wired communication such as a wired LAN.

Further, in this case, the priority may be different between the wireless LAN communication and the wired LAN communication, which are different communication methods. For example, the priority is set in advance according to the communication method between the terminal device 8 and the in-vehicle communication device 1, and the order of transmitting the user data to the base station device 4 is determined based on this priority. You may comprise.
For example, the priority is set so that the user data of the terminal device 8 (the in-vehicle camera 12 and the out-of-vehicle camera 14) by wired communication is transmitted with priority over the user data of the other terminal device 8 by wireless LAN communication. You can
Further, the priority may be set according to both the attribute of the user data and the communication method, and the order of transmitting the user data to the base station device 4 may be determined based on this priority.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the switching unit 40.
As shown in FIG. 5, the switching unit 40 includes a switching device 40a and a signal processing unit 40b.
The switch 40a has a function of switching the connection destination of the communication processing unit 42 to either the first antenna module 20 or the second antenna module 22.
When the switch 40a switches the connection destination of the communication processing unit 42 to the first antenna module 20, the first antenna module 20 is used for wireless communication. Conversely, when the switch 40a switches the connection destination of the communication processing unit 42 to the second antenna module 22, the second antenna module 22 is used for wireless communication.

The switch 40a switches the connection destination of the communication processing unit 42 based on the control signal given from the control unit 42b of the communication processing unit 42. That is, the control unit 42b switches the connection destination of the communication processing unit 42.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of a process (switching process) performed by the control unit 42b for switching the connection destination of the communication processing unit 42.
The control unit 42b first resets its own timer for measuring time (step S1), and connects the first antenna module 20 to the communication processing unit 42 (step S2). That is, the control unit 42b switches the connection destination of the communication processing unit 42 to the first antenna module 20.
Next, the control unit 42b determines whether or not a predetermined period has elapsed by the timer (step S3). When determining that the predetermined period has not elapsed, the control unit 42b repeats step S3 again. Therefore, the control unit 42b repeats step S3 until the predetermined period elapses.

When it is determined that the predetermined period has elapsed, the control unit 42b connects the second antenna module 22 to the communication processing unit 42 (step S4). That is, the control unit 42b switches the connection destination of the communication processing unit 42 to the second antenna module 22.
After that, the control unit 42b determines whether or not the reception power of the second reception signal obtained by the wireless communication by the second antenna module 22 is equal to or more than a preset threshold value (step S5).

When determining that the received power of the second received signal is equal to or higher than the threshold value, the control unit 42b repeats step S5 again. Therefore, the control unit 42b repeats step S5 while the reception power of the second reception signal is maintained at the threshold value or more.
When the reception power of the second reception signal becomes smaller than the threshold value, the control unit 42b returns to step S1, proceeds to step S2 via step S1, and switches the connection destination of the communication processing unit 42 to the first antenna module 20.

In this way, the control unit 42b (switching control unit) acquires the second reception signal (the reception baseband signal based on the second reception signal) every predetermined period, and performs switching based on the reception power of the second reception signal.
The control unit 42b can determine whether or not the wireless communication by the second antenna module 22 is possible based on the reception power of the reception baseband signal for each predetermined period, and can appropriately select the antenna module.

In the present embodiment, since the first antenna module 20 and the second antenna module 22 are selectively used to perform wireless communication, the second antenna module 22 is used when the second antenna module 22 is used due to a change in the communication environment accompanying the movement of the vehicle 2. Even when it becomes difficult to perform wireless communication using a radio wave having a frequency, wireless communication can be performed using the first antenna module 20. That is, even if the wireless communication by the second antenna module 22 becomes difficult, the wireless communication can be continued by switching to the wireless communication by the first antenna module 20, and the communication of the terminal device 8 in the vehicle 2 can be performed. The relay can be continued. As a result, it is possible to appropriately provide the service to the terminal device 8 in the vehicle 2.

As shown in FIG. 5, the signal processing unit 40b is connected between the switch 40a and the communication processing unit 42.
The signal processing unit 40b is supplied with the first reception signal from the first antenna module 20 and the second reception signal from the second antenna module 22 via the switch 40a. Further, the signal processing unit 40b is provided with the transmission baseband signal obtained from the user data from the communication processing unit 42.

The signal processing unit 40b includes a filter circuit, a frequency conversion circuit, and the like, and performs necessary signal processing such as frequency conversion on a given signal.
The signal processing unit 40b performs signal processing on the reception signals (first reception signal and second reception signal) given from the first antenna module 20 and the second antenna module 22, and generates a reception baseband signal.
The frequency of the first reception signal from the first antenna module 20 and the frequency of the second reception signal from the second antenna module 22 are both the first frequency. The signal processing unit 40b converts the frequencies of the first reception signal and the second reception signal from the first frequency to the baseband frequency, and generates the reception baseband signal.
The signal processing unit 40b gives the generated reception baseband signal to the communication processing unit 42.

Further, the signal processing unit 40b performs signal processing on the transmission baseband signal supplied from the communication processing unit 42 to generate a transmission signal. The signal processing unit 40b converts the transmission baseband signal of the baseband frequency into the first frequency and generates the transmission signal of the first frequency.
The signal processing unit 40b gives the generated transmission signal to the first antenna module 20 or the second antenna module 22 via the switch 40a.

The transmission signal generated by the signal processing unit 40b is given as the first transmission signal when given to the first antenna module 20 by the switch 40a. The transmission signal generated by the signal processing unit 40b is given as the second transmission signal when given to the second antenna module 22 by the switch 40a.

The frequency of the first transmission/reception signal and the second transmission/reception signal exchanged between the

antenna modules

20 and 22 and the repeater 24 is the first frequency. Therefore, the signal processing unit 40b can perform signal processing on both reception signals (first reception signal and second reception signal) of the

antenna modules

20 and 22 using a common filter circuit and frequency conversion circuit. .. As a result, the size and cost of the device can be reduced.

As described above, in the present embodiment, since the module main body 30 has the frequency conversion unit 36, the second transmission signal and the second reception signal of the first frequency can be exchanged with the repeater 24.
That is, the frequency of the signal handled between the second antenna module 22 and the repeater 24 can be the first frequency lower than the second frequency.
The frequencies (intermediate frequencies) of the second transmission signal and the second reception signal handled between the second antenna module 22 and the repeater 24 may be frequencies other than the first frequency.

However, as in the present embodiment, by converting the second transmission signal and the second reception signal handled between the second antenna module 22 and the repeater 24 into the first frequency lower than the second frequency, Attenuation of a signal that occurs when the second transmission signal and the second reception signal are transmitted between the second antenna module 22 and the repeater 24 can be reduced as compared with the case where the signal is transmitted at the second frequency. ..

The frequencies (intermediate frequencies) of the second transmission signal and the second reception signal may be frequencies near the first frequency. Here, the frequency in the vicinity of the first frequency refers to the frequency of a signal that can be subjected to signal processing with a signal of the first frequency by using a common filter circuit or frequency conversion circuit.
Therefore, the signal of the frequency near the first frequency can be signal-processed by using the filter circuit and the frequency conversion circuit common to the signal of the first frequency. As a result, the size and cost of the device can be reduced.

[Second Embodiment]
FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the in-vehicle communication device 1 according to the second embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 7, the vehicle-mounted communication device 1 of the present embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the repeater 24 does not include the switching unit 40.

The repeater 24 of this embodiment includes a communication processing unit 42, an in-vehicle communication device 44, a first signal processing unit 50, and a second signal processing unit 52.
Note that the configurations of the in-vehicle communication device 44 in the first antenna module 20, the second antenna module 22, and the repeater 24 are the same as in the first embodiment, so description thereof will be omitted here.

The first signal processing unit 50 is connected between the first antenna module 20 and the communication processing unit 42. The first signal processing unit 50 includes a filter circuit, a frequency conversion circuit, and the like, and performs necessary processing such as frequency conversion on a given signal.
The first signal processing unit 50 converts the frequency of the first reception signal provided from the first antenna module 20 from the first frequency to the baseband frequency, and generates the first reception baseband signal. The generated first reception baseband signal is provided to the communication processing unit 42.

Further, the first signal processing unit 50 converts the frequency of the first transmission baseband signal (described later) given from the communication processing unit 42 from the baseband frequency to the first frequency, and the first transmission signal of the first frequency. To generate. The generated first transmission signal is provided to the first antenna module 20.

The second signal processing unit 52 is connected between the second antenna module 22 and the communication processing unit 42. The second signal processing unit 52 includes a filter circuit and a frequency conversion circuit, and performs necessary processing such as frequency conversion on a given signal.
The second signal processing unit 52 converts the frequency of the second reception signal provided from the second antenna module 22 from the first frequency to the baseband frequency, and generates the second reception baseband signal. The generated second reception baseband signal is provided to the communication processing unit 42.

Further, the second signal processing unit 52 converts the frequency of the second transmission baseband signal (described later) given from the communication processing unit 42 from the baseband frequency to the first frequency, and the second transmission signal of the first frequency. To generate. The generated second transmission signal is provided to the second antenna module 22.

The baseband processing unit 42a included in the communication processing unit 42 of the present embodiment is provided with the first reception baseband signal and the second reception baseband signal that are analog signals from the first signal processing unit 50 and the second signal processing unit 52. Then, these signals are converted into digital signals to generate digital reception baseband signals. Further, the baseband processing unit 42a demodulates the received baseband signal of the digital signal and generates user data directed to the terminal device 8 and control information necessary for wireless communication as a digital signal.

The baseband processing unit 42a also converts the user data of the terminal device 8 into either a first transmission baseband signal of an analog signal or a second transmission baseband signal of an analog signal. The first transmission baseband signal is a signal given to the first antenna module 20. The second transmission baseband signal is a signal provided to the second antenna module 22.

When the user data of the terminal device 8, control information necessary for wireless communication, and the like are given, the baseband processing unit 42a modulates these data, and transmits the digital signal as a first transmission baseband signal or a digital signal as a second transmission. Generate a baseband signal. Further, the baseband processing unit 42a converts these signals into analog signals and generates a first transmission baseband signal and a second transmission baseband signal of analog signals. The first transmission baseband signal of the analog signal is provided to the first signal processing unit 50. Also, the second transmission baseband signal of the analog signal is given to the second signal processing unit 52.

The control unit 42b included in the communication processing unit 42 relates to a process regarding communication connection between the first base station device 4a and the in-vehicle communication device 1, and a communication connection between the second base station device 4b and the in-vehicle communication device 1. It has the function of executing processing.
In addition, the control unit 42b has a function of executing a switching process regarding mode switching when the relay device 24 relays the user data of the terminal device 8. The control unit 42b selectively executes either the first mode or the second mode in the switching process.

The first mode is a mode in which the communication between the first base station device 4a and the terminal device 8 is relayed using the first antenna module 20.
The first mode is a mode selected when the communication connection with the first base station device 4a is established, but the communication connection with the second base station device 4b is not established. In the first mode, the control unit 42b relays communication between the first base station device 4a with which the communication connection is established and the terminal device 8. That is, in the first mode, the control unit 42b transmits the user data supplied from the terminal device 8 to the first base station device 4a and supplies the user data transmitted from the first base station device 4a to the terminal device 8. ..

The second mode is a mode in which the second antenna module 22 is used to relay communication between the second base station device 4b and the terminal device 8.
The second mode is a mode selected when the communication connection is established with the first base station device 4a and the communication connection is established with the second base station device 4b. In the second mode, the control unit 42b relays communication between the terminal device 8 and the second base station device 4b with which the communication connection is established. That is, in the second mode, the control unit 42b transmits the user data supplied from the terminal device 8 to the second base station device 4b and supplies the user data transmitted from the second base station device 4b to the terminal device 8. .. In the second mode, the control unit 42b exchanges control information necessary for wireless communication between the

base station devices

4a and 4b with the first base station device 4a.

In the second mode, the terminal device 8 can be relayed to both the

base station devices

4a and 4b. Here, generally, in wireless communication using a high frequency, it is easy to secure a wide bandwidth, and it is possible to transmit and receive a larger amount of data as compared with a low frequency. Therefore, in the second mode, the control unit 42b uses the communication with the first base station device 4a for the relay by the communication with the second base station device 4b that uses a higher frequency band. It is executed with priority over the relay, and the control information and the like required for wireless communication is exchanged by communication with the first base station device 4a.

In the first mode, the control unit 42b controls the baseband processing unit 42a so as to generate the first transmission baseband signal from the given user data. Thereby, the user data from the terminal device 8 is wirelessly transmitted to the first base station device 4a by the first antenna module 20.

Further, in the second mode, the control unit 42b controls the baseband processing unit 42a so as to generate the second transmission baseband signal from the given user data. Thereby, the user data from the terminal device 8 is wirelessly transmitted to the second base station device 4b by the second antenna module 22.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of the switching process performed by the control unit 42b.
In FIG. 8, first, the control unit 42b establishes a communication connection with the first base station device 4a (step S10).
The establishment of a communication connection means performing a predetermined process with a specific communication destination to establish a state in which data can be transmitted and received to and from each other.

When the communication connection is established with the first base station device 4a in step S10, the control unit 42b executes the first mode and relays the communication between the first base station device 4a and the terminal device 8 ( Step S11).
In the first mode, the baseband processing unit 42a converts the given user data into a first transmission baseband signal. The user data is converted into the first transmission baseband signal, and then wirelessly transmitted to the first base station device 4a through the first signal processing unit 50 and the first antenna module 20.
Thereby, the control unit 42b uses the first antenna module 20 to relay the communication between the first base station device 4a and the terminal device 8.

Next, the control unit 42b determines whether or not the notification signal including the synchronization signal and the like from the second base station device 4b has been received (step S12).
At this time, the control unit 42b controls the variable phase shifter 32a and the variable phase shifter 32d of the second antenna module 22 to change the pointing direction of the beam of the second antenna module 22 to the azimuth direction. As a result, the second antenna module 22 can appropriately receive the signal coming from the surroundings of the vehicle-mounted communication device 1. The azimuth direction refers to the direction within the horizontal plane when the in-vehicle communication device 1 is used as a reference.

Here, the base station device conforming to the fifth generation mobile communication system performs beam sweeping. The beam sweeping is a process of sequentially transmitting an annunciation signal including a synchronization signal by using beams having different directivities. The terminal device that has received the notification signal transmitted by beam sweeping transmits the identification information of the notification signal included in the notification signal to the base station device, so that the directivity toward the terminal device when viewed from the base station device. Is notified to the base station apparatus.
The broadcast signal includes, in addition to the synchronization signal and the identification information, information necessary for the terminal device 8 receiving the broadcast signal to establish a communication connection with the base station device.

In step S12, the control unit 42b determines whether or not the notification signal is received from the second base station device 4b by beam sweeping.
The control unit 42b refers to the data obtained by demodulating the second reception baseband signal by the baseband processing unit 42a, and determines whether or not the notification signal is received.
When determining in step S12 that the notification signal has not been received, the control unit 42b repeats step S12.

When determining in step S12 that the notification signal has been received, the control unit 42b determines whether the received power of the received notification signal is equal to or greater than a predetermined value (step S13). When determining that the received power of the notification signal is not equal to or higher than the predetermined value, the control unit 42b returns to step S12 and repeats steps S12 and S13.
Therefore, the control unit 42b repeats steps S12 and S13 and maintains the first mode until it receives the notification signal and determines that the received power is equal to or higher than the predetermined value.
The predetermined value is set to the minimum power required for the vehicle-mounted communication device 1 to establish a communication connection with the second base station device 4b.

When it is determined in step S13 that the received power of the notification signal is equal to or higher than the predetermined value, the control unit 42b proceeds to step S14 and executes random access processing with the second base station device 4b (step S14).
When the plurality of notification signals are received in step S12, the control unit 42b determines the reception power of the notification signal having the highest reception power among the plurality of notification signals. Thereby, the control unit 42b can determine the reception power of the notification signal transmitted by the beam having the directivity closest to the direction of the vehicle-mounted communication device 1 among the beams from the second base station device 4b.

In the random access process, the control unit 42b transmits the preamble toward the second base station device 4b. At this time, the control unit 42b transmits the preamble by including the identification information of the notification signal having the received power of the predetermined value or more and the highest received power.
The second base station device 4b that has received the preamble transmits a response to the preamble. Upon receiving the response, the control unit 42b transmits a connection request including the ID of the own device and the like to the second base station device 4b. The exchange of such information can be performed by communication between (the control unit 42b of) the in-vehicle communication device 1 and the first base station device 4a.

After that, when the control unit 42b receives the response to the connection request, the control unit 42b establishes a communication connection with the second base station device 4b (step S15).
At this time, the second base station device 4b acquires the direction of the in-vehicle communication device 1 from the identification information of the notification signal notified from the in-vehicle communication device 1. In addition, the control unit 42b acquires the direction of the second base station device 4b based on the beam directing direction of the second antenna module 22.
When the communication connection with the second base station device 4b is established, the control unit 42b switches the mode in the relay processing from the first mode to the second mode and executes the second mode (step S16).

In the second mode, the control unit 42b causes the baseband processing unit 42a to convert the user data into the second transmission baseband signal. The user data is converted into a second transmission baseband signal, and then wirelessly transmitted to the second base station device 4b through the second signal processing unit 52 and the second antenna module 22.
Thereby, the control unit 42b uses the second antenna module 22 to relay the communication between the second base station device 4b and the terminal device 8.

The control unit 42b maintains the communication connection with the first base station device 4a in an established state even while the communication connection with the second base station device 4b is being established.

Next, the control unit 42b determines whether or not to maintain communication with the second base station device 4b (step S17).
When determining that the communication with the second base station device 4b is maintained in step S17, the control unit 42b repeats step S17 again.
The control unit 42b repeats step S17 and maintains the second mode until it determines that the communication with the second base station device 4b is not maintained.

For example, when the control unit 42b determines that the reception power of the notification signal from the second base station device 4b is smaller than the predetermined value, it determines that the communication with the second base station device 4b is not maintained, and the second base station The communication with the station device 4b is disconnected.

When determining in step S17 that communication with the second base station device 4b is not maintained, the control unit 42b returns to step S11, switches the mode in the relay processing from the second mode to the first mode, and executes the first mode. Yes (step S11).

As described above, the control unit 42b starts the random access process based on the reception power of the notification signal (steps S12 and S13), and switches the mode to be executed from the first mode to the second mode (step S16). ..
Further, the control unit 42b switches the mode to be executed from the second mode to the first mode based on the notification signal (step S17).
As described above, in the switching process of the present embodiment, the control unit 42b sets the mode to be executed to the first mode and the first mode based on the reception power (signal quality) of the notification signal obtained from the reception signal by the second antenna module 22. Switch to any of the second modes.
Thereby, the control unit 42b can appropriately select and execute one of the first mode and the second mode based on the notification signal.

According to the above configuration, either the first mode in which the relay is performed using the first antenna module 20 or the second mode in which the relay is performed using the second antenna module 22 is selectively executed. Even when the wireless communication by the second frequency radio wave using the second antenna module 22 becomes difficult in the second mode due to the accompanying change in the communication environment, the wireless communication is switched from the second mode to the first mode. It can be carried out.
That is, even if the wireless communication by the second antenna module 22 becomes difficult, the relay of the communication of the terminal device 8 in the vehicle 2 is continued by switching the mode to be executed from the second mode to the first mode. be able to. As a result, the service can be appropriately provided without forcing the terminal device 8 in the vehicle 2 to switch the communication.

Further, also in the present embodiment, since the module main body 30 has the frequency conversion unit 36, it is possible to exchange the second transmission signal and the second reception signal of the first frequency with the repeater 24.
That is, the frequency of the signal handled between the second antenna module 22 and the repeater 24 can be the first frequency lower than the second frequency.
As a result, signal attenuation that occurs when the second transmission signal and the second reception signal are transmitted between the second antenna module 22 and the repeater 24 is reduced as compared to the case where the signal is transmitted at the second frequency. be able to.
The frequencies (intermediate frequencies) of the second transmission signal and the second reception signal handled between the second antenna module 22 and the repeater 24 may be frequencies other than the first frequency.

In addition, in the present embodiment, the control unit 42b determines whether the communication connection is established with the first base station device 4a and the communication connection is established with the second base station device 4b. Although the case of selecting the two modes is illustrated, for example, in the case where the communication connection is not established with the first base station device 4a and the communication connection is established only with the second base station device 4b. Alternatively, the controller 42b may be configured to select the second mode.
Even in this case, the service can be appropriately provided without forcing the terminal device 8 in the vehicle 2 to switch the communication.

[Regarding Third Embodiment]
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the vehicle-mounted communication device 1 according to the third embodiment and base station devices around it, and FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the vehicle-mounted communication device 1 according to the third embodiment. is there.
As shown in FIG. 9, the in-vehicle communication device 1 of the present embodiment is a fifth-generation mobile communication system with the third base station device 4c in addition to the first base station device 4a and the second base station device 4b. Performs compliant wireless communication. Although FIG. 9 shows one each of the first base station device 4a, the second base station device 4b, and the third base station, in reality, a plurality of each is installed in a predetermined area.

In the present embodiment, the second frequency, which is the frequency band used by the second base station device 4b for wireless communication, is a frequency higher than 6 GHz.
The third frequency, which is the frequency band used by the third base station device 4c for wireless communication, is a frequency in the frequency band of 6 GHz or lower, which is lower than the second frequency.
The range in which the second base station device 4b and the third base station device 4c can communicate with the mobile station is included in the cell C formed by the first base station device 4a.

As shown in FIG. 10, the in-vehicle communication device 1 of the present embodiment includes the third antenna module 60, which is different from the in-vehicle communication device 1 of the second embodiment in this respect.
The third antenna module 60 includes an external antenna 62 and a module body 64 to which the external antenna 62 is connected. The external antenna 62 is provided outside the vehicle together with the external antenna 6.

The third antenna module 60, like the second antenna module 22, performs wireless communication conforming to the fifth generation mobile communication system. The third antenna module 60 is configured to transmit and receive radio waves of the third frequency. Therefore, the third antenna module 60 performs wireless communication with the third base station device 4c.

The module body 64 has a function related to wireless communication such as amplification and duplex. The module body 64 is connected to the repeater 24. Therefore, the transmission signal (third transmission signal) for causing the third antenna module 60 to transmit is given to the module main body 64 from the repeater 24.
When the third transmission signal is given from the repeater 24, the module main body 64 gives the transmission radio frequency signal having the third frequency to the external antenna 62. The external antenna 62 radiates and transmits the given transmission radio frequency signal to the space as a radio wave.
The frequency of the third transmission signal provided from the repeater 24 is the fourth frequency, which is a lower frequency than the third frequency. Therefore, the module main body 64 outputs the transmission radio frequency signal by frequency-converting the third transmission signal and transmits the radio wave of the third frequency.

Further, the module main body 64 outputs a reception signal (third reception signal) when the external antenna 62 receives a radio wave of the third frequency, and gives it to the repeater 24. The frequency of the third reception signal output by the module body 64 is the fourth frequency. The module main body 64 frequency-converts the reception radio frequency signal obtained by receiving the radio wave of the third frequency, and outputs the third reception signal of the fourth frequency.

As described above, the frequency of the third transmission signal and the third reception signal exchanged between the module main body 64 and the repeater 24 is the fourth frequency.
The internal structure of the module main body 64 is the same as that of the module main body 30 except that the signals and frequencies to be converted are different, and therefore the description thereof is omitted here.

As shown in FIG. 10, the repeater 24 of this embodiment includes a third signal processing unit 54 in addition to the first signal processing unit 50, the second signal processing unit 52, the communication processing unit 42, and the in-vehicle communication device 44. I have it.

The third signal processing unit 54 is connected between the third antenna module 60 and the communication processing unit 42. The third signal processing unit 54 includes a filter circuit, a frequency conversion circuit, and the like, and performs necessary processing such as frequency conversion on a given signal.
The third signal processing unit 54 converts the frequency of the third reception signal provided from the third antenna module 60 from the fourth frequency to the baseband frequency, and generates the third reception baseband signal. The generated third reception baseband signal is given to the communication processing unit 42.

Further, the third signal processing unit 54 converts the frequency of the third transmission baseband signal (described later) given from the communication processing unit 42 from the baseband frequency to the fourth frequency, and the third transmission signal of the fourth frequency. To generate. The generated third transmission signal is provided to the third antenna module 60.

When the third reception baseband signal of the analog signal is given from the third signal processing unit 54, the baseband processing unit 42a of the present embodiment, like the first reception baseband signal and the second reception baseband signal, receives the digital signal. It is converted into a signal and a digital reception baseband signal is generated. Further, the baseband processing unit 42a demodulates the received baseband signal of the digital signal and generates user data directed to the terminal device 8 and control information necessary for wireless communication as a digital signal.

In addition, the baseband processing unit 42a sets the user data of the terminal device 8 to one of a first transmission baseband signal of an analog signal, a second transmission baseband signal of an analog signal, and a third transmission baseband signal of an analog signal. Convert to. The third transmission baseband signal is a signal given to the third antenna module 60.

When the user data of the terminal device 8 and the control information necessary for wireless communication are given, the baseband processing unit 42a modulates these data to perform the first transmission of the digital signal, the second transmission of the baseband signal, and the second transmission of the digital signal. A baseband signal or a third transmission baseband signal of a digital signal is generated. Further, the baseband processing unit 42a converts these signals into analog signals and generates a first transmission baseband signal, a second transmission baseband signal, and a third transmission baseband signal which are analog signals. The third transmission baseband signal of the analog signal is given to the third signal processing unit 54.

The control unit 42b of the present embodiment adds to the process regarding the communication connection between the first base station device 4a and the in-vehicle communication device 1 and the process regarding the communication connection between the second base station device 4b and the in-vehicle communication device 1. , And has a function of executing processing relating to communication connection between the third base station device 4c and the in-vehicle communication device 1.
Further, the control unit 42b selectively executes any one of the first mode, the second mode, and the third mode in the process when the relay device 24 relays the user data of the terminal device 8. The control unit 42b has a function of executing a switching process relating to mode switching when the relay device 24 relays the user data of the terminal device 8.

The first mode and the second mode are as described above.
The third mode is a mode selected when the communication connection is established with the first base station device 4a and the communication connection is established with the third base station device 4c. In the third mode, the control unit 42b relays communication between the terminal device 8 and the third base station device 4c with which the communication connection is established. That is, in the third mode, the control unit 42b transmits the user data supplied from the terminal device 8 to the third base station device 4c, and supplies the user data transmitted from the third base station device 4c to the terminal device 8. .. Further, in the third mode, the control unit 42b exchanges control information necessary for wireless communication between the

base station devices

4a and 4c with the first base station device 4a.

In the third mode, the terminal device 8 can be relayed to both the

base station devices

4a and 4b. Here, since the communication between the vehicle-mounted communication device 1 and the third base station device 4c is wireless communication conforming to the fifth generation mobile communication system, it is compared with the communication with the first base station device 4a. It is possible to send and receive a larger amount of data. Therefore, in the third mode, the control unit 42b performs the relay by communication between the third base station device 4c and the terminal device 8 with the relay by communication with the first base station device 4a. Is also preferentially executed, and the control information and the like necessary for wireless communication is exchanged by communication with the first base station device 4a.

In the third mode, the control unit 42b modulates given user data and generates a third transmission baseband signal. Thereby, the user data from the terminal device 8 is wirelessly transmitted to the third base station device 4c by the third antenna module 60.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an example of a connection process performed by the control unit 42b for making a communication connection with the second base station device 4b and the third base station device 4c.
This connection process is the same for the second base station device 4b and the third base station device 4c. Therefore, the case of the second base station device 4b will be described here.

First, in step S21, the control unit 42b determines whether or not the notification signal is received from the second base station device 4b.
When determining in step S21 that the notification signal has not been received, the control unit 42b repeats step S21.

When determining that the notification signal is received in step S21, the control unit 42b determines whether the received power of the received notification signal is equal to or more than a predetermined value (step S22). When determining that the received power of the notification signal is not equal to or more than the predetermined value, the control unit 42b returns to step S21 and repeats steps S21 and S22.
Therefore, the control unit 42b repeats steps S21 and S22 until it receives the notification signal and determines that the received power is equal to or higher than the predetermined value.

When it is determined in step S22 that the received power of the notification signal is equal to or greater than the predetermined value, the control unit 42b proceeds to step S23, executes random access processing with the second base station device 4b (step S23), and then performs the second access. A communication connection with the base station device 4b is established (step S24).
When the communication connection with the second base station device 4b is established, the control unit 42b determines whether to maintain the communication with the second base station device 4b (step S25).
When determining that the communication with the second base station device 4b is maintained in step S25, the control unit 42b repeats step S25 again.
The control unit 42b repeats step S25 until it determines that the communication with the second base station device 4b is not maintained, and maintains the communication connection with the second base station device 4b.

When determining in step S25 that communication with the second base station device 4b is not maintained, the control unit 42b returns to step S21.
The steps S21, S22, S23, S24, S25 are the same as steps S12, S13, S14, S15, S17 in FIG.
The control unit 42b performs the connection process regarding the second base station device 4b and the connection process regarding the third base station device 4c in parallel.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the switching process of this embodiment.
In FIG. 12, first, the control unit 42b establishes a communication connection with the first base station device 4a (step S31).
When the communication connection is established with the first base station device 4a in step S31, the control unit 42b executes the first mode and relays the communication between the first base station device 4a and the terminal device 8 ( Step S32).

Next, the control unit 42b determines whether or not a communication connection is established with the second base station device 4b (step S33).
When determining that the communication connection is established with the second base station device 4b in step S33, the control unit 42b executes the second mode, and the second base station device 4b and the terminal device 8 are connected. Relays the communication (step S34).

Next, the control unit 42b determines whether the communication with the second base station device 4b has been disconnected (step S35).
When determining in step S35 that the communication with the second base station device 4b has not been disconnected, the control unit 42b repeats step S35 again.
The control unit 42b repeats step S35 and maintains the second mode until it determines that the communication with the second base station device 4b is disconnected.
When determining in step S35 that communication with the second base station device 4b has been disconnected, the control unit 42b returns to step S32 and switches from the second mode to the first mode.

When determining that the communication connection with the second base station device 4b is not established in step S33, the control unit 42b proceeds to step S36 and establishes the communication connection with the third base station device 4c. It is determined whether it is established (step S36).
When determining in step S36 that the communication connection is established with the third base station device 4c, the control unit 42b executes the third mode, and the third base station device 4c and the terminal device 8 are connected. Relays the communication (step S37).

Next, the control unit 42b determines whether the communication with the third base station device 4c has been disconnected (step S38).
When determining in step S38 that communication with the third base station device 4c has not been disconnected, the control unit 42b repeats step S38.
The control unit 42b repeats step S38 and maintains the third mode until it determines that the communication with the third base station device 4c is disconnected.
When determining in step S38 that communication with the third base station device 4c has been disconnected, the control unit 42b returns to step S32 and switches from the third mode to the first mode.

When determining in step S36 that the communication connection with the third base station device 4c has not been established, the control unit 42b returns to step S33 and repeats the same processing as above. Therefore, if the communication connection is not established between the third base station device 4c and the second base station device 4b, the control unit 42b maintains the first mode.

As described above, the control unit 42b determines the reception of the notification signal obtained from the reception signals by the second antenna module 22 and the third antenna module 60 (steps S21 and S22 in FIG. 11), and the second base station device. By connecting to either 4b or the third base station device 4c by communication (step S24 in FIG. 11), the mode to be executed is switched (steps S33 and S36 in FIG. 12).
That is, also in the present embodiment, the control unit 42b sets the mode to be executed to the first mode, the second mode, and the mode to be executed based on the notification signal obtained from the received signals by the second antenna module 22 and the third antenna module 60. Switch to any of the third modes.

As described above, generally, in wireless communication with a high frequency, it is easy to secure a wide bandwidth, and it is possible to transmit and receive a larger amount of data as compared with a low frequency. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the second mode in which relay is performed with the second base station device 4b that uses the second frequency that is the highest frequency band among the three base station devices 4 is given priority over other modes. Configured to run.
In this way, the control unit 42b can select an appropriate mode from the first mode, the second mode, and the third mode, thereby ensuring a good communication environment in the terminal device 8. be able to.

In addition, in the present embodiment, the control unit 42b exemplifies a case where the connection processing regarding the second base station apparatus 4b and the connection processing regarding the third base station apparatus 4c are performed in parallel, but the second base station apparatus is provided nearby. If it is clear that 4b or the third base station device 4c does not exist, the control unit 42b stops the execution of the connection process for the second base station device 4b or the connection process for the third base station device 4c, and The operation of the two-antenna module 22 or the third antenna module 60 may be stopped.
The control unit 42b acquires the position information of the second base station device 4b and the third base station device 4c by wireless communication using the first antenna module 20, and based on the position information, the second antenna module 22 or The operation of the third antenna module 60 can be stopped.
As a result, power consumption can be reduced by stopping the antenna module that has no possibility of transmitting and receiving.

In addition, in the present embodiment, when the control unit 42b establishes a communication connection with the first base station apparatus 4a and a communication connection with the third base station apparatus 4c, Although the case of selecting the 3 mode is illustrated, for example, in the case where the communication connection is not established with the first base station device 4a and the communication connection is established only with the third base station device 4c. Alternatively, the controller 42b may be configured to select the third mode.
Even in this case, the service can be appropriately provided without forcing the terminal device 8 in the vehicle 2 to switch the communication.

It should be understood that the embodiments disclosed this time are exemplifications in all points and not restrictive.
In the above embodiment, the case where the frequency (intermediate frequency) of the second transmission signal and the second reception signal handled between the second antenna module 22 and the repeater 24 is set to the first frequency is exemplified. The intermediate frequency may be lower than the first frequency. In this case, the first antenna module 20 also includes a frequency conversion unit for processing a signal having a frequency lower than the first frequency.
The fourth frequency, which is the frequency of the third transmission signal and the third reception signal handled between the third antenna module 60 and the repeater 24, may be lower than the third frequency and is the same as the first frequency. It may be a frequency or a frequency lower than the first frequency.

In the above embodiment, the configuration in which the second antenna module 22 includes the frequency conversion unit 36 has been described, but the second antenna module 22 does not include the frequency conversion unit 36, and the frequency conversion unit 36 includes the second antenna module 22. The configuration may be provided between the relay device 24 and the relay device 24.
Similarly, the third antenna module 60 may not include the frequency conversion unit, and the frequency conversion unit may be provided between the third antenna module 60 and the repeater 24.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the in-vehicle communication device 44 communicates with the terminal device 8 by the wireless LAN communication is illustrated, but the in-vehicle communication device 44 is not limited to the wireless LAN communication, and ZigBee (registered trademark) or Bluetooth( It may be configured to communicate with the terminal device 8 by another short-range wireless communication such as a registered trademark).

In the above embodiment, the module main body 28 of the first antenna module 20 does not include the frequency conversion unit, and the frequency conversion is not performed on the first transmission signal and the first reception signal. , A frequency conversion unit that performs frequency conversion of the reception radio frequency signal obtained by receiving the radio wave of the first frequency and frequency conversion of the first transmission signal provided from the repeater 24 to the first antenna module 20. May be.
In this case, the first antenna module 20 can also convert the frequencies of the first transmission signal and the first reception signal.

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

1 In-Vehicle Communication Device 2 Vehicle 2a Roof 4 Base Station Device 4a First Base Station Device 4b Second Base Station Device 4c Third Base Station Device 6 External Antenna 6a Antenna Element 8 Terminal Device 10 In-Car Antenna 12 Car Camera 14 Car Camera 20 Car 1 Antenna Module 22 2nd Antenna Module 24 Repeater 26 Antenna 28 Module Body 30 Module Body 32 Transmitter/Receiver Circuit

32a Variable Phaser

32b Power Amplifier 32c Low Noise Amplifier

32d Variable Phaser

32e Changeover Switch

32f Changeover Switch 34 Distribution Combiner 36 Frequency Converter Unit 36a Oscillator 36b Mixer 36c Oscillator 36d Mixer 40 Switching unit 40a Switching unit 40b Signal processing unit 42 Communication processing unit 42a Baseband processing unit 42b Control unit 44 In-vehicle communication device 44a Relay control unit 50 First signal processing unit 52 Second signal processing Unit 54 third signal processing unit 60 third antenna module 62 external antenna 64 module body C cell

Claims

A mobile radio communication device mounted on a vehicle and capable of radio communication with a plurality of base station devices located outside the vehicle,
The plurality of base station devices are a first base station device that performs radio communication using a radio wave of a first frequency, and a second base station device that performs radio communication using a radio wave of a second frequency that is higher than the first frequency. Including,
The mobile wireless communication device,
A first antenna module capable of transmitting and receiving radio waves of the first frequency to and from the first base station device;
A second antenna module capable of transmitting and receiving radio waves of the second frequency to and from the second base station device;
A first mode in which the first antenna module is used to relay communication between the first base station device and a terminal device located in the vehicle, and the second base station is used in which the second antenna module is used. A mobile radio communication device, comprising: a relay unit that selectively executes one of the second modes for relaying communication between the device and the terminal device.
The second mode is a mode for relaying communication between the second base station device and the terminal device while relaying communication between the first base station device and the terminal device. The mobile radio communication device described.
The mobile radio communication according to claim 1, wherein the second mode is a mode for relaying communication between the second base station device and the terminal device using the first antenna module and the second antenna module. apparatus.
The relay unit sets a mode to be executed to one of the first mode and the second mode based on a reception signal output from the second antenna module in response to reception of the radio wave of the second frequency. The mobile radio communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a switching control unit.
At least one of the first antenna module and the second antenna module performs frequency conversion of a received radio frequency signal obtained by receiving the radio wave of the first frequency or the radio wave of the second frequency, The mobile radio communication device according to claim 1, further comprising a frequency conversion unit that performs frequency conversion of a transmission signal provided from the relay unit to the first antenna module or the second antenna module.
The second antenna module outputs a reception signal in response to reception of the radio wave of the second frequency,
The frequency conversion unit included in the second antenna module outputs the reception signal having an intermediate frequency lower than the second frequency by performing frequency conversion of the reception radio frequency signal, and outputs the transmission signal having the intermediate frequency. The mobile radio communication device according to claim 5, wherein the mobile radio communication device outputs a transmission radio frequency signal transmitted as a radio wave of the second frequency by frequency conversion.
The mobile radio communication device according to claim 6, wherein the intermediate frequency is the first frequency or a frequency near the first frequency.
When the output from the terminal device is given, the relay unit has a preset priority according to at least one of an attribute of the given output and a communication method between the relay unit and the terminal device. The mobile radio communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising: a relay control unit that controls an order of relaying the given outputs based on the relay control unit.
The mobile radio communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the second antenna module includes an array antenna capable of beamforming.
The plurality of base station devices further include a third base station device that performs wireless communication using a radio wave having a third frequency lower than the second frequency,
The mobile wireless communication device,
Further comprising a third antenna module capable of transmitting and receiving the radio wave of the third frequency to and from the third base station device,
The relay section is
Selectively executing any one of the first mode, the second mode, and a third mode for relaying communication between the third base station apparatus and the terminal apparatus using the third antenna module. The mobile radio communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 9.
The relay unit acquires position information of the second base station device and the third base station device, and stops operation of either the second antenna module or the third antenna module based on the position information. The mobile radio communication device according to claim 10, wherein the mobile radio communication device is provided.
The first frequency is a radio frequency compatible with a fourth generation mobile communication system, and the second frequency and the third frequency are radio frequencies compatible with a fifth generation mobile communication system. 11. The mobile wireless communication device according to item 11.
The mobile radio communication device according to claim 12, wherein the third frequency is 6 GHz or less.
A vehicle equipped with the mobile radio communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 13.