WO2024252641A1 - Station placement design device, station placement design method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

The purpose of the present disclosure is to make a station placement design corresponding to the transmission characteristic of a wireless communication system.　For this purpose, in the present disclosure, the invention according to claim 1 relates to a station placement design device for making a design relating to the placement of a base station for wireless communication, the station placement design device having a derivation unit that derives a first design result evaluation value that is a constant value if the value of received power at an evaluation position during the design is greater than or equal to a first predetermined value.

Description

Station placement design device, station placement design method, and program

This disclosure relates to design techniques for installing wireless communication base stations.

Generally, to build a coverage area for wireless communication such as cellular or wireless LAN (Local Area Network), station placement design is carried out to determine the installation location of base stations and the direction of antennas. In station placement design, after selecting the location of the base stations, methods such as the ray tracing method (Non-Patent Document 1) are used to perform a simulation evaluation of the coverage area. This method is based on received power, and the design results are evaluated linearly using the obtained received power values.

However, in reality, the range of transmission speeds that can be obtained when the received power changes is predetermined as the transmission characteristics of the wireless communication method, and when the received power value exceeds a specified upper limit (e.g., -59 dBm), the transmission speed does not increase in proportion to the received power value but reaches a plateau. For this reason, conventional station placement design methods sometimes obtained design results that result in a received power that is greater than the actually required received power. Conversely, when the received power value falls below a specified lower limit (e.g., -82 dBM), communication is impossible regardless of the received power value because radio waves of sufficient strength for communication do not reach the receiving position (evaluation position). For this reason, conventional station placement design methods sometimes obtained design results with a received power that allows communication, albeit unstable, even when communication is actually impossible.

NTT DoCoMo Technical Journal vol.15 no.3<https://www.nttdocomo.co.jp/binary/pdf/corporate/technology/rd/technical_journal/bn/vol15_3/vol15_3_020jp.pdf>

As mentioned above, there was an issue of not being able to design stations to suit actual conditions.

The present invention was made in consideration of the above points, and aims to perform station placement design according to the transmission characteristics of a wireless communication system.

In order to solve the above problem, the invention of claim 1 is a station location design device that designs the installation of a wireless communication base station, and has a derivation unit that derives a first design result evaluation value that is a constant value when the value of the received power at the evaluation position during the design is equal to or greater than a first predetermined value.

As described above, the present invention has the effect of enabling station placement design according to the transmission characteristics of a wireless communication system.

1 is an overall configuration diagram of a communication system according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is an electrical hardware configuration diagram of the station design apparatus according to the embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an electrical hardware configuration of a communication terminal according to the embodiment. FIG. 2 is a functional configuration diagram of a station design device according to an embodiment. FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of an area subject to station placement design. FIG. 13 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a conversion table. FIG. 13 is a graph showing values of a conversion table. 4 is a flowchart showing a station placement design method executed by the station placement design device according to the embodiment.

Below, an embodiment of the present invention will be explained with reference to the drawings.

[System configuration of the embodiment]
First, the overall configuration of a communication system according to an embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 1. Fig. 1 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of a communication system according to the embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 1, the communication system 10 of the embodiment is constructed by a station placement design device 30 and a communication terminal 50. The communication terminal 50 is managed and used by a user. The user refers to the output result of the station placement design device 30 and decides on the next action to be taken.

The station design device 30 and the communication terminal 50 can communicate with each other via a communication network 100 such as the Internet. The connection form of the communication network 100 may be either wireless or wired.

The station placement design device 30 is composed of one or more computers. When the station placement design device 30 is composed of multiple computers, it may be referred to as a "station placement design device" or a "station placement design system." The station placement design device 30 is a device that designs the installation of wireless communication base stations.

The communication terminal 50 is a computer, and FIG. 1 shows a notebook computer as an example. In FIG. 1, a user operates the communication terminal 50. Note that the station design device 30 may perform processing alone, without using the communication terminal 50.

[Hardware configuration]
<Hardware configuration of station design device>
Next, the electrical hardware configuration of the station placement design device 30 will be described with reference to Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a diagram showing the electrical hardware configuration of the station placement design device.

As shown in FIG. 2, the station design device 30 is a computer equipped with a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 301, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 302, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 303, an SSD (Solid State Drive) 304, an external device connection I/F (Interface) 305, a network I/F 306, a media I/F 309, and a bus line 310.

Of these, CPU 301 controls the operation of the entire station design device 30. ROM 302 stores programs used to drive CPU 301, such as IPL (Initial Program Loader). RAM 303 is used as a work area for CPU 301.

The SSD 304 reads and writes various data according to the control of the CPU 301. Note that a HDD (Hard Disk Drive) may be used instead of the SSD 304.

The external device connection I/F 305 is an interface for connecting various external devices. In this case, the external devices include a display, a speaker, a keyboard, a mouse, a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory, and a printer.

The network I/F 306 is an interface for data communication via the communication network 100.

The media I/F 309 controls the reading and writing (storing) of data to a recording medium 309m such as a flash memory. Recording media 309m includes DVDs (Digital Versatile Discs) and Blu-ray Discs (registered trademarks).

The bus line 310 is an address bus, a data bus, etc., for electrically connecting each component such as the CPU 301 shown in FIG. 2.

<Hardware configuration of communication terminal>
Next, the electrical hardware configuration of the communication terminal 50 will be described with reference to Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a diagram showing the electrical hardware configuration of the communication terminal.

As shown in FIG. 3, the communication terminal 50 is a computer and includes a CPU 501, a ROM 502, a RAM 503, an SSD 504, an external device connection I/F (Interface) 505, a network I/F 506, a display 507, an input device 508, a media I/F 509, and a bus line 510.

Of these, CPU 501 controls the overall operation of communication terminal 50. ROM 502 stores programs used to drive CPU 501, such as IPL. RAM 503 is used as a work area for CPU 501.

The SSD 504 reads and writes various data under the control of the CPU 501. Note that a HDD (Hard Disk Drive) may be used instead of the SSD 504.

The external device connection I/F 505 is an interface for connecting various external devices. In this case, the external devices include a display, a speaker, a keyboard, a mouse, a USB memory, and a printer.

The network I/F 506 is an interface for data communication via the communication network 100.

Display 507 is a type of display means such as liquid crystal or organic EL (Electro Luminescence) that displays various images.

The input device 508 is a keyboard, pointing device, etc., and is a type of input means for selecting and executing various instructions, selecting a processing target, moving the cursor, etc. When the user uses a keyboard, the pointing device function may be turned off.

The media I/F 509 controls the reading and writing (storing) of data from and to a recording medium 509m such as a flash memory. Recording media 509m includes DVDs and Blu-ray Discs (registered trademarks).

The bus line 510 is an address bus, a data bus, etc., for electrically connecting each component such as the CPU 501 shown in FIG. 3.

[Functional configuration of the embodiment]
FIG. 4 is a functional configuration diagram of a station design device according to the embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 4, the station design device 30 has an input unit 31, a candidate extraction unit 33, a derivation unit 35, a selection unit 37, and an output unit 39. Each of these units has a function that is realized by an instruction from the CPU 301 in FIG. 2 based on a program. The station design device 30 also has a storage unit 41 constructed from a RAM 303 or an SSD 304.

<Input section>
The input unit 31 inputs design environment information and design condition information from the communication terminal 50 .

The "design environment information" includes information showing the size of the area for which the station is designed, the size and location of structures, whether or not there is obstruction, a 3D map of the area, etc.

The "design condition information" includes information indicating the type of wireless communication method (5G, Wi-Fi, etc.) to be installed as a base station, the number of base stations that can be installed (inventory number, etc.), the positions (candidate base station installation positions) and directions in which base stations can be installed within the area targeted for station design, and the evaluation positions for communication quality (signal strength) within the area targeted for station design. Note that in this embodiment, the "wireless communication method" may also be simply referred to as the "communication method."

The area for which station placement is designed may, for example, be one floor of a building or a location section of an outdoor exhibition hall. Also, for example, one floor may be divided into multiple areas, with different modes set for each area. The information included in the design environment information and the design condition information may be other than the examples given above.

<Candidate Extraction Unit>
The candidate extraction unit 33 calculates (evaluates) what level of communication quality will be achieved when a wireless communication device is installed at a candidate installation position within a target area for station placement design, based on the design environment information and design condition information acquired from the input unit 31, thereby calculating multiple (i=1, 2, ..., I) station placement design result candidates.

Here, the station placement design target area will be described using FIG. 5. FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram of the station placement design target area. In FIG. 5, an indoor area is described, but an outdoor area may also be used. As shown in FIG. 5, within the station placement design target area, multiple installation position candidates c1 to c6 are set at various points on the ceiling, radio wave quality evaluation positions e1 at various points on the floor, and structures s1, etc.

Note that the installation position candidates c1 to c6 are collectively referred to as "installation position candidates c." The evaluation position e1 and the like are collectively referred to as "evaluation position e." Furthermore, the structure s1 and the like are collectively referred to as "structure s." Furthermore, the numbers of installation position candidates c, evaluation positions e, and structures s shown in FIG. 5 are merely examples, and are not limited to the numbers shown in FIG. 5.

The station placement design device 30 of the embodiment selects one or more optimal installation position candidates c for the 5G base station from the multiple installation position candidates c. The station placement design device 30 may also select one or more optimal installation position candidates c for the Wi-Fi base station from the multiple installation position candidates c.

Next, returning to FIG. 4, the candidate extraction unit 33 estimates the received power (radio wave intensity) by performing radio wave propagation estimation (simulation) such as ray tracing using a 3D model. Specifically, the candidate extraction unit 33 estimates the received power at each evaluation position for each combination by performing radio wave propagation estimation for each evaluation position at which 5G radio waves can be received from each base station related to each combination of 5G antennas of a predetermined type when installed in a predetermined installation direction at a predetermined installation position candidate based on the design environment information and design condition information. Alternatively, the candidate extraction unit 33 estimates the received power at each evaluation position for each combination by performing radio wave propagation estimation for each evaluation position at which Wi-Fi radio waves can be received from a base station related to each combination of AP devices of a predetermined type when installed in a predetermined installation direction at a predetermined installation position candidate based on the design environment information and design condition information. For example, if there are six ceiling installation position candidates, four installation directions, two types of 5G antennas, and ten floor evaluation positions, the candidate extraction unit 33 estimates the reception power by performing 480 (=6×4×2×10) calculations. If there are six ceiling installation position candidates, four installation directions, three types of AP devices, and ten floor evaluation positions, the candidate extraction unit 33 estimates the reception power by performing 720 (=6×4×3×10) calculations.

In addition, when the radio wave propagation estimation unit 32 calculates the throughput instead of the received power, the throughput may be predicted from a conversion table of received power and throughput that is prepared in advance by acquiring experimental data or by link level simulation, for example.

<Outlet part>
The derivation unit 35 uses the evaluation function f to derive a design result evaluation value by using a conversion table corresponding to each wireless communication method based on the estimated received power value of each wireless communication method included in the design result candidate d _i according to the following (Equation 1).

r _i = f(d _i )...(Formula 1)
Then, the derivation unit 35 calculates the sum of the design result evaluation values at each evaluation position for each design result candidate _di . Instead of calculating the sum, the minimum value of the design result evaluation value at each evaluation position may be derived for each design result candidate di.

Here, we will explain the conversion table using Figure 6.

(Conversion table)
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a conversion table for each wireless communication method. Each conversion table is stored in the storage unit 41. The wireless communication methods include Wi-Fi (wireless LAN) standards such as 2.4 GHz band, 5 GHz band, and 6 GHz band, and cellular standards such as 4G, 5G, and 6G. In each conversion table, the reception power range and the design result evaluation value r _i are associated and managed. Therefore, when different bands are used even if the same standard is used, such as a conversion table for the Wi-Fi standard in the 2.4 GHz band and a conversion table for the Wi-Fi standard in the 5 GHz band, the derivation unit 35 refers to different conversion tables. In addition, for example, when the number of antennas of the base station is different even if the cellular standard is the same 5G, the present embodiment treats them as different wireless communication methods, and the conversion tables are also different.

In Figure 6, as an example, a conversion table for a Wi-Fi standard with a reception power range of 2.4 GHz is shown.

FIG. 7 is a graph of the values in the conversion table. In FIG. 7, the solid line indicates the values according to the proposal of this embodiment (present proposal), and the dashed line indicates the values according to the conventional technology.

As shown in Figure 7, when the received power falls below a lower limit specified value (e.g., -82 dBm), the design result evaluation value becomes a constant value of -∞. When the received power is -82 dBm or higher, a single design result evaluation value corresponds to each of the predetermined ranges that differ in stages. Then, when the received power is above the upper limit specified value (e.g., -59 dBm), the design result evaluation value corresponds to a constant value of 78 Mbps.

The upper limit specified value is an example of a first specified value, and the corresponding design result evaluation value is an example of a first design result evaluation value. The lower limit specified value is an example of a second specified value, and the corresponding design result evaluation value is an example of a second design result evaluation value.

<Selection section>
4, the selection unit 37 selects as design results a top predetermined number of design result candidates _di having the highest sum of the design result evaluation _{value ri} from among the design result candidates di extracted by the candidate extraction unit 33. Note that when the derivation unit 35 derives the minimum value of the design result evaluation value without calculating the sum of the design result evaluation value, the selection unit 37 selects the design result having the largest minimum value of the design result evaluation value.

<Output section>
The output unit 39 outputs the final design result. Examples of the output include displaying on a display connected to the station design device 30, printing on a printer or the like connected to the station design device 30, or transmitting to the communication terminal 50 via the communication network 100.

[Processing or Operation of the Embodiment]
Next, the process or operation of the station placement design device 30 will be described with reference to Fig. 8. Fig. 8 is a flowchart showing a station placement design method executed by the station placement design device according to the embodiment.

S10: The input unit 31 inputs design environment information and design condition information from a communication terminal 50 or the like.

S11: The candidate extraction unit 33 extracts multiple (i=1, 2, ..., I) design result candidates based on the design environment information and design condition information.

S12: The derivation unit 35 derives each design result evaluation value _ri based on the value of the received power included in the design result candidate d _i using the evaluation function f, and calculates the sum of the design result evaluation _values ri at each evaluation position for each design result candidate d _i .

S13: The selection unit 37 selects, as design results, a top predetermined number of design result candidates d _i having high design result evaluation values r _i from among the extracted design result candidates d _i .

S14: The output unit 39 outputs the setting result.

[Effects of the embodiment]
As described above, according to this embodiment, it is possible to perform station placement design in accordance with the transmission characteristics of a wireless communication system.

〔supplement〕
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and may have the following configurations or processes (operations).

(1) The station design device 30 can be realized by a computer and a program, but this program can also be recorded on a (non-temporary) recording medium or provided via the communication network 100.

(2) In the above embodiment, a notebook computer is shown as an example of a communication terminal 50, but this is not limited thereto. For example, the communication terminal 50 may be a desktop computer, a tablet terminal, a smartphone, a smartwatch, a car navigation device, a refrigerator, a microwave oven, etc.

(3) Each CPU 301, 501 may be multiple, not just single.

(4) In each of the above embodiments, the candidate extraction unit 33 estimates the received power at each evaluation position e by radio wave propagation estimation (simulation) such as ray tracing using a 3D model, but this is not limited to this. The radio wave propagation estimation unit 32 may, for example, actually measure and predict the received power (radio wave intensity) by calibrating the radio wave propagation estimation result based on actual measurement data at each evaluation position (part of it).

10 Communication system 30 Station design device 31 Input unit 33 Candidate extraction unit 35 Derivation unit 37 Selection unit 39 Output unit 41 Storage unit

Claims (8)

A station placement design device for designing the placement of a wireless communication base station,
The station design device has a derivation unit that derives a first design result evaluation value that is a constant value when a value of received power at an evaluation position during the design is equal to or greater than a first predetermined value. The station placement design device according to claim 1,
a storage unit that stores a conversion table that indicates a relationship between the range of the received power and the design result evaluation value, and that manages the first design result evaluation value in association with a value of the received power equal to or greater than the first predetermined value;
The derivation unit derives the design result evaluation value by using the conversion table.
Station placement design device. A station placement design device for designing the placement of a wireless communication base station,
The station design device has a derivation unit that derives a second design result evaluation value that is a constant value when the value of the received power at the evaluation position during the design is less than a second predetermined value. The station placement design device according to claim 3,
a storage unit that stores a conversion table that indicates a relationship between the range of the received power and the design result evaluation value, and that manages the second design result evaluation value in association with the value of the received power being less than the second predetermined value;
The derivation unit derives the design result evaluation value by using the conversion table.
Station placement design device. A station placement design device for designing the placement of a wireless communication base station,
a derivation unit that derives a first design result evaluation value that is a constant value when the value of the received power at the evaluation position during the design is equal to or greater than a first predetermined value, and derives a second design result evaluation value that is a constant value lower than the first design result evaluation value when the value of the received power at the evaluation position during the design is less than a second predetermined value that is lower than the first predetermined value. The station placement design device according to claim 5,
a storage unit that stores a conversion table that indicates a relationship between the range of the received power and the design result evaluation value, and in which, when the value of the received power is equal to or greater than the first predetermined value, the first design result evaluation value is associated and managed, and when the value of the received power is less than the second predetermined value, the second design result evaluation value is associated and managed,
The derivation unit derives the design result evaluation value by using the conversion table.
Station placement design device. A station placement design method executed by a station placement design device that designs installation of a wireless communication base station,
the station design device derives a first design result evaluation value that is a constant value when a value of received power at an evaluation position during the design is equal to or greater than a first predetermined value. A program for causing a computer to execute the method according to claim 7.

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