JP7628925B2 - Information processing device - Google Patents

Description

This disclosure relates to an information processing device.

Patent Document 1 discloses an in-vehicle communication device. The in-vehicle communication device disclosed in Patent Document 1 is an in-vehicle communication device equipped with two or more wireless communication processing means and two or more antennas. The in-vehicle communication device acquires the current position of the vehicle, map information around the current position of the vehicle, and driving information including the vehicle's driving speed. The in-vehicle communication device selects a combination of wireless communication processing means and antennas to be used based on the current position of the vehicle, the map information, and the driving information, and connects the wireless communication processing means and antennas based on the selected combination.

JP 2011-191946 A

The purpose of this disclosure is to provide stable communication regardless of the vehicle's driving conditions.

The information processing device according to the present disclosure includes:
An information processing device mounted on a vehicle,
A first communication device is provided for performing a first communication using a wireless communication line capable of communication within a predetermined area, and a second communication device is provided for performing a second communication using a wireless communication line capable of communication within a predetermined range within the predetermined area,
setting a receiving sensitivity of the second communication device to a first sensitivity when the traveling speed of the vehicle is equal to or lower than a predetermined speed;
setting a receiving sensitivity of the second communication device to a second sensitivity lower than the first sensitivity when the traveling speed of the vehicle is higher than the predetermined speed;
A control unit that executes
The control unit is
When the vehicle's traveling speed is below the specified speed and the wireless communication line is switched from the first communication to the second communication, the channel to be used by the second communication device is determined based on a channel used by a communication device other than the second communication device performing the second communication within the vehicle.

This disclosure makes it possible to provide stable communication regardless of the vehicle's driving conditions.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a communication system according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a communication state of the communication device when the vehicle enters a specific area. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a communication state of the communication device when the vehicle leaves a specific area. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a state in which a vehicle is stopped. FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of a communication device. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a table configuration of scan information. FIG. 7 is a flowchart of the setting process. FIG. 8 is a flowchart of the communication process.

The information processing device according to the present disclosure is an information processing device mounted on a vehicle. The information processing device according to the present disclosure is also an information processing device including a first communication device and a second communication device. Here, the first communication device is a device for performing a first communication using a wireless communication line capable of communication within a specified area. Furthermore, the second communication device is a device for performing a second communication using a wireless communication line capable of communication within a specified range in the specified area.

Since the information processing device is mounted on the vehicle, the information processing device moves along with the vehicle as it travels. At this time, the vehicle may enter a predetermined range, causing the information processing device to be within the predetermined range. In this case, the second communication device in the information processing device is able to perform the second communication. Then, the control unit in the information processing device switches the wireless communication line from the first communication to the second communication. In this way, when the information processing device is within the predetermined range, the information processing device performs the second communication.

On the other hand, even if the vehicle is within the predetermined range, the vehicle may move outside the predetermined range. In this case, the second communication device is unable to perform the second communication. As a result, the information processing device is temporarily unable to perform communication until the wireless communication line is switched from the second communication to the first communication. At this time, it is expected that the faster the vehicle is traveling, the shorter the time from when the vehicle enters the predetermined range to when the vehicle exits the predetermined range. In other words, the faster the vehicle is traveling, the shorter the time during which the information processing device can perform the second communication, and the more likely the second communication is to be disconnected. As a result, there is a risk that the information processing device will not be able to perform stable communication.

The control unit in the information processing device therefore sets the receiving sensitivity of the second communication device to a first sensitivity when the vehicle's traveling speed is equal to or lower than a predetermined speed. Furthermore, the control unit sets the receiving sensitivity of the second communication device to a second sensitivity when the vehicle's traveling speed is greater than the predetermined speed. Here, the second sensitivity is a receiving sensitivity lower than the first sensitivity. The second sensitivity may be a receiving sensitivity at which the second communication device does not receive any radio waves for performing the second communication. In other words, the control unit may set the second communication device not to perform the second communication.

There is also a case where the speed of the vehicle is equal to or lower than a predetermined speed and the control unit switches the wireless communication line from the first communication to the second communication. In this case, the control unit
The channel to be used by the second communication device is determined based on the channel being used by a communication device (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as "other communication device") other than the second communication device that is performing the second communication within the vehicle.

As described above, the information processing device according to the present disclosure sets the receiving sensitivity of the second communication device to the second sensitivity when the traveling speed of the vehicle is greater than a predetermined speed. This prevents the second communication device from performing the second communication while the vehicle is traveling at a speed greater than the predetermined speed. As a result, it is possible to prevent the second communication performed by the information processing device from being disconnected. In addition, the information processing device according to the present disclosure determines a channel to be used by the second communication device for the second communication based on a channel used by another communication device for the second communication. This allows the second communication device to perform the second communication using a channel that does not interfere with a channel used by another communication device for performing the second communication within the vehicle. In this way, the information processing device according to the present disclosure makes it possible to provide stable communication regardless of the traveling conditions of the vehicle.

Specific embodiments of the present disclosure are described below with reference to the drawings. The dimensions, materials, shapes, and relative positions of the components described in the present embodiment are not intended to limit the technical scope of the present disclosure unless otherwise specified.

<Embodiment>
(System Overview)
A communication system 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 1 to Fig. 6. Fig. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of the communication system 1 according to the present embodiment. The communication system 1 includes a communication device 100, a first base station 200, and a second base station 300. In the communication system 1, the first base station 200 and the second base station 300 are connected to a network N1. For example, a WAN (Wide Area Network), which is a global public communication network such as the Internet, may be adopted for the network N1.

(Base station)
The first base station 200 is a base station that relays the first communication between the communication device 100 and the network N1. The second base station 300 is a base station that relays the first communication between the communication device 100 and the network N1. A plurality of first base stations 200 are provided in a predetermined area, and the entire predetermined area is an area in which the first communication can be performed by the plurality of first base stations 200. A plurality of second base stations 300 are also provided in the predetermined area. However, it is assumed that the area in which the second communication can be performed by the plurality of second base stations 300 is a part of the predetermined area. Therefore, the communication device 100 communicates with the second base station 300 when the communication device 100 is present in an area in which communication with the second base station 300 is possible by the movement of the vehicle 10 (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as a "specific area").

(Communication device)
The communication device 100 is a communication device mounted on the vehicle 10. The communication device 100 is also a communication device capable of performing a first communication and a second communication. Here, the first communication is a communication using a wireless communication line capable of communication within a specified area. The second communication is a communication using a wireless communication line capable of communication within a specified range within the specified area. The communication device 100 performs the first communication by connecting to a first base station 200. Furthermore, the communication device 100 connects to a second base station 300 when the vehicle 10 (communication device 100) is present within a specific area. In this manner, the communication device 100 performs the second communication.

Here, the first communication is, for example, wireless communication using a mobile communication service such as 3G (3rd Generation) or LTE (Long Term Evolution). The second communication is, for example, wireless communication using a public wireless LAN or the like.

First, the communication state of the communication device 100 when the vehicle 10 enters the specific area will be described with reference to FIG. 2. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the communication state of the communication device 100 when the vehicle 10 enters the specific area. As shown in FIG. 2, the vehicle 10 enters the specific area from outside the specific area. Here, the communication device 100 performs the first communication when the vehicle 10 is outside the specific area. Also, as shown in FIG. 2, when the vehicle 10 enters the specific area, the communication device 100 starts the second communication. Also, at that time, the communication device 100 disconnects the first communication. In this way, when the vehicle 10 enters the specific area, the communication device 100 switches the wireless communication line from the first communication to the second communication. Here, the timing at which the communication device 100 switches the wireless communication line from the first communication to the second communication is the timing at which the communication device 100 can receive radio waves for the second communication from the second base station 300.

Next, the communication status of the communication device 100 when the vehicle 10 leaves the specific area will be described with reference to FIG. 3. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the communication status of the communication device 100 when the vehicle 10 leaves the specific area. As shown in FIG. 3, the vehicle 10 leaves the specific area from inside the specific area. At this time, the communication device 100 disconnects the second communication. Also, the communication device 100 starts the first communication. In this way, when the vehicle 10 leaves the second range, the communication device 100 switches the wireless communication line from the second communication to the first communication. Here, the timing at which the communication device 100 switches the wireless communication line from the second communication to the first communication is the timing at which it is no longer possible to receive radio signals for the second communication from the second base station 300.

In this way, when the vehicle 10 enters the specific area, the communication device 100 may be temporarily present within the specific area. However, the vehicle 10 may leave the specific area. In this case, the second communication being performed by the communication device 100 is disconnected. This makes it temporarily impossible to communicate until the communication device 100 switches the wireless communication line from the second communication line to the first communication line.

Therefore, when the vehicle 10 is stopped, the communication device 100 sets the sensitivity for receiving radio waves for the second communication (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as "reception sensitivity") to the optimal sensitivity. Here, the optimal sensitivity is the reception sensitivity of the communication device 100 that is preset as the optimal sensitivity for performing the second communication. Furthermore, when the vehicle 10 is moving, the communication device 100 sets the reception sensitivity to a sensitivity at which the communication device 100 does not receive any radio waves for performing the second communication. In this way, the communication device 100 performs the second communication in a situation where the vehicle 10 that is present within the specific area does not move outside the specific area.

Figure 4 is a diagram showing an example of a state in which the vehicle 10 is stopped. As shown in Figure 4, the vehicle 10 is stopped. Also, in the example shown in Figure 4, the state of the communication device 100 when the communication device 100 switches the wireless communication line from the first communication to the second communication is illustrated. Also, in the example shown in Figure 4, a terminal 40 other than the communication device 100 is performing the second communication in the vehicle 10. Here, the terminal 40 is, for example, a terminal such as a mobile information terminal used by the user of the vehicle 10. Also, the terminal 40 may be, for example, a communication device other than the communication device 100 mounted on the vehicle 10. If the communication device 100 performs the second communication using the same channel as the channel used by the terminal 40 for the second communication, it is assumed that interference will occur between the radio waves for the second communication of the communication device 100 and the radio waves for the second communication of the terminal 40. Therefore, the communication device 100 determines the channel to be used by the communication device 100 for the second communication based on the channel used by the terminal 40 for the second communication.

In this way, the communication device 100 sets the reception sensitivity based on the driving conditions of the vehicle 10. Also, the communication device 100 sets the channel that the communication device 100 uses for the second communication based on the channel that the terminal 40 is using for the second communication. A detailed description of the method by which the communication device 100 sets the reception sensitivity and the method by which the communication device 100 sets the channel that is used for the second communication will be given later.

The communication device 100 includes a computer having a processor 110, a main memory unit 120, an auxiliary memory unit 130, a first communication device 140, and a second communication device 150. The processor 110 is, for example, a Central Processing Unit (CPU) or a Digital Signal Processor (DSP). The main memory unit 120 is, for example, a Random Access Memory (RAM). The auxiliary memory unit 130 is, for example, a Read Only Memory (ROM). The auxiliary memory unit 130 is, for example, a Hard Disk Drive (HDD) or a CD.
The auxiliary storage unit 130 may be a disk recording medium such as a ROM, a DVD disk, or a Blu-ray disk. The auxiliary storage unit 130 may be a removable medium. Examples of the removable medium include a USB memory and an SD card. The first communication device 140 is a wireless communication device for performing the first communication. The second communication device 150 is a wireless communication device for performing the second communication. The in-vehicle communication interface (in-vehicle communication I/F) 160 is, for example, a communication circuit for connecting the communication device 100 to an in-vehicle bus such as a CAN.

(Functional configuration)
Next, the functional configuration of the communication device 100 constituting the communication system 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 5 and Fig. 6. Fig. 5 is a block diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the communication device 100. As shown in Fig. 5, the communication device 100 includes a control unit 101, a first communication unit 102, a second communication unit 103, and a speed information acquisition unit 104. The control unit 101 has a function of performing arithmetic processing for controlling the communication device 100. The control unit 101 can be realized by a processor 110 in the communication device 100.

The first communication unit 102 has a function for connecting the communication device 100 to the network N1 by the first communication. In this case, the first communication unit 102 connects the communication device 100 to the first base station 200, thereby connecting the communication device 100 to the network N1. The first communication unit 102 can be realized by the first communication unit 140 in the communication device 100.

The second communication unit 103 has a function for connecting the communication device 100 to the network N1 by the second communication. In this case, the second communication unit 103 connects the communication device 100 to the second base station 300, thereby connecting the communication device 100 to the network N1. The second communication unit 103 also has a function for scanning the channel that is being used by the terminal 40 for the second communication within the vehicle 10. The second communication unit 103 can be realized by the second communication device 150 in the communication device 100.

The speed information acquisition unit 104 has a function of acquiring the traveling speed of the vehicle 10. The speed information acquisition unit 104 can be realized by the in-vehicle communication I/F 160 in the communication device 100. The control unit 101 acquires speed information related to the traveling speed of the vehicle 10 from the vehicle 10 via the speed information acquisition unit 104. The control unit 101 determines whether the vehicle 10 is stopped or not based on the acquired speed information. Specifically, the control unit 101 determines that the vehicle 10 is stopped when the traveling speed of the vehicle 10 is 0. When the control unit 101 determines that the vehicle 10 is stopped, it sets the reception sensitivity to the optimal sensitivity. Also, when the control unit 101 determines that the vehicle 10 is not stopped (is moving), it sets the reception sensitivity to no sensitivity.

When the control unit 101 determines that the vehicle 10 is stopped based on the speed information, the control unit 101 executes a scan (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as a "channel scan") of the channel that the terminal 40 is using for the second communication within the vehicle 10, by the second communication unit 103. Then, the control unit 101 acquires the result of the channel scan as scan information.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a table configuration of scan information. As shown in FIG. 6, the scan information has a channel field and a usage status field. In the channel field, a channel used in the second communication is input. In the usage status field, whether or not each channel input in the channel field is being used by a terminal 40 other than the communication device 100 is input. In the usage status field, if the channel input in the channel field is being used by a terminal 40, "in use" is input. In addition, in the usage status field, if the channel input in the channel field is not being used by a terminal 40, "unused" is input. Note that, if there are multiple terminals 40 performing the second communication in the vehicle 10, "in use" is input in the usage status field corresponding to the channel used by each terminal 40. In addition, if there is no terminal 40 performing the second communication in the vehicle 10, "unused" is input in the usage status field corresponding to each channel.

By acquiring the scan information, the control unit 101 can ascertain the channel that the terminal 40 is using for the second communication. Therefore, the control unit 101 determines the channel that the communication device 100 will use for the second communication (hereinafter, may be referred to as the "used channel") based on the channel that the terminal 40 is using for the second communication. The control unit 101 determines, as the used channel, a channel that does not interfere with the channel that the terminal 40 is using to perform the second communication. For example, the control unit 101 determines, as the used channel, a channel other than the channel that the terminal 40 is using to perform the second communication. Then, the control unit 101 starts the second communication using the used channel by the second communication unit 103.

(Setting process)
The setting process executed by the control unit 101 in the communication device 100 in the communication system 1 will be described with reference to Fig. 7. The setting process is a process for setting the reception sensitivity of the communication device 100. Fig. 7 is a flowchart of the setting process. The setting process is repeatedly executed at a predetermined interval.

In the communication process, first, in S101, speed information is acquired from the vehicle 10. Next, in S102, it is determined whether or not the vehicle 10 is stopped based on the speed information. If a negative determination is made in S102, the receiving sensitivity is set to no sensitivity in S103. As a result, the communication device 100 will not perform the second communication. Then, the communication process is temporarily terminated. Also, if a positive determination is made in S102, the receiving sensitivity is set to the optimal sensitivity in S104. As a result, the communication device 100 can start the second communication when the vehicle 10 is present in a specific area. Then, the communication process is temporarily terminated.

(Communication processing)
Next, the communication process executed by the control unit 101 in the communication device 100 in the communication system 1 will be described with reference to Fig. 8. The communication process is a process for the communication device 100 to start the second communication. Fig. 8 is a flowchart of the communication process. The communication process is repeatedly executed at a predetermined interval when the vehicle 10 is stopped (i.e., when the reception sensitivity is set to the optimal sensitivity).

In the communication process, first in S201, it is determined whether or not the second communication is possible. Specifically, it is determined whether or not the second communication is possible based on whether or not the communication device 100, whose reception sensitivity is set to the optimal sensitivity, can receive radio waves for the second communication from the second base station 300. If a negative determination is made in S201, the communication device 100 cannot perform the second communication, and the communication process is temporarily terminated.

If a negative determination is made in S201, a channel scan is performed in S202, and scan information is obtained. Next, in S203, the channel to be used is determined based on the scan information. That is, in S203, when the vehicle 10 is stopped and the communication device 100 switches the wireless communication line from the first communication to the second communication, the channel to be used is determined based on the scan information. Next, in S204, the second communication is started using the channel to be used. Then, the communication process is temporarily terminated.

As described above, in the communication system 1, the receiving sensitivity is determined based on whether the vehicle 10 is stopped or not. This makes it possible to prevent the communication device 100 from performing the second communication while the vehicle 10 is traveling. As a result, it is possible to prevent the second communication from being disconnected when the vehicle 10 enters a specific area and then exits the specific area. Furthermore, in the communication system 1, the channel to be used is determined based on the channel used by the terminal 40 for the second communication. This makes it possible for the communication device 100 to perform the second communication using a channel that does not interfere with the channel used by the terminal 40 to perform the second communication within the vehicle 10. In this way, in the communication system 1, it is possible to provide stable communication regardless of the traveling state of the vehicle 10.

(Modification)
In the present embodiment, the communication device 100 determines the reception sensitivity based on whether or not the vehicle 10 is stopped. However, the communication device 100 does not necessarily have to determine the reception sensitivity based on whether or not the vehicle 10 is stopped.

Here, the faster the traveling speed of the vehicle 10, the shorter the time from when the vehicle 10 enters the specific area to when the vehicle 10 leaves the specific area. In other words, the faster the traveling speed of the vehicle 10, the shorter the time during which the communication device 100 can perform the second communication, and the more likely the second communication is to be disconnected. This may cause the communication device 100 to be unable to stably perform the second communication. Therefore, the communication device 100 may determine the receiving sensitivity based on the traveling speed of the vehicle 10.

Specifically, the communication device 100 sets the receiving sensitivity to the optimal sensitivity when the traveling speed of the vehicle 10 is equal to or lower than a predetermined speed. Also, the communication device 100 sets the receiving sensitivity to no sensitivity when the traveling speed of the vehicle 10 is higher than the predetermined speed. The predetermined speed is set, for example, as the speed at which the vehicle 10 moves slowly within a facility. This allows the communication device 100 to perform the second communication even when the vehicle 10 is moving within the facility, for example, when the vehicle 10 is in a facility in which the second base station 300 is provided and the facility is a specific area. Also, in this case, when the traveling speed of the vehicle 10 is equal to or lower than a predetermined speed and the wireless communication line is switched from the first communication to the second communication, the communication device 100
The channel to be used is determined based on the channel information. In this manner, stable communication can be provided regardless of the driving conditions of the vehicle 10.

In addition, in this embodiment, the communication device 100 sets the reception sensitivity to no sensitivity when the vehicle 10 is not stopped. However, the communication device 100 does not necessarily have to set the reception sensitivity to no sensitivity when the vehicle 10 is not stopped. For example, when the vehicle 10 is not stopped (when the vehicle 10 is moving), the communication device 100 may set the reception sensitivity to a specific sensitivity. Here, the specific sensitivity is a sensitivity lower than the optimal sensitivity. In this case, the communication device 100 performs the second communication when it receives a radio wave from the second base station 300 that has a strength that can be received by the specific sensitivity. In other words, the communication device 100 performs the second communication when it receives a radio wave from the second base station 300 that is sufficiently strong for the communication device 100 with the specific sensitivity. In this case, the communication device 100 can stably perform the second communication by the radio wave with sufficient strength.

On the other hand, the communication device 100 does not receive weak radio waves (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as "weak radio waves") that are radio waves transmitted from the second base station 300 and do not have an intensity that can be received by a specific sensitivity. In this way, the communication device 100 does not receive weak radio waves while the vehicle 10 is running, so that the second communication is prevented from being performed by the communication device 100 while the vehicle 10 is running. This makes it possible to prevent the second communication from being disconnected due to the communication device 100 performing the second communication using weak radio waves while the vehicle 10 is running. Even in this way, it is possible to provide stable communication regardless of the running conditions of the vehicle 10.

In addition, in this embodiment, when the communication device 100 determines that the vehicle 10 is stopped, it performs a channel scan of the terminal 40 that is being used for the second communication. However, the communication device 100 does not necessarily have to perform a channel scan of the terminal 40 that is being used for the second communication when it determines that the vehicle 10 is stopped. The communication device 100 may perform a channel scan while the communication device 100 is traveling, for example, and store the scan information in the auxiliary storage unit 130 of the communication device 100. In this case, when the communication device 100 determines that the vehicle 10 is stopped in the communication process, it acquires the scan information from the auxiliary storage unit 130.

<Other embodiments>
The above-described embodiment is merely an example, and the present disclosure may be modified as appropriate without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Furthermore, the processes and means described in the present disclosure may be freely combined and implemented as long as no technical contradiction occurs.

In addition, a process described as being performed by one device may be shared and executed by multiple devices. Or, a process described as being performed by different devices may be executed by one device. In a computer system, the hardware configuration (server configuration) by which each function is realized can be flexibly changed.

The present disclosure can also be realized by supplying a computer program that implements the functions described in the above embodiments to a computer, and having one or more processors of the computer read and execute the program. Such a computer program may be provided to the computer by a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium that can be connected to the system bus of the computer, or may be provided to the computer via a network. Non-transitory computer-readable storage media include any type of medium suitable for storing electronic instructions, such as, for example, a magnetic disk (such as a floppy disk or a hard disk drive (HDD)), an optical disk (such as a CD-ROM, a DVD disk, or a Blu-ray disk), a read-only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), an EPROM, an EEPROM, a magnetic card, a flash memory, or an optical card.

Reference Signs List 1: Communication system 10: Vehicle 100: Communication device 101: Control unit 102: First communication unit 103: Second communication unit 104: Speed information acquisition unit 110: Processor 120: Main memory unit 130: Auxiliary memory unit 140: First communication device 150: Second communication device 160: Communication I/F
200: First base station 300: Second base station 40: Terminal

Claims (1)

An information processing device mounted on a vehicle,
A first communication device for performing a first communication using a wireless communication line capable of communication within a predetermined area, a second communication device for performing a second communication using a wireless communication line capable of communication within a predetermined range within the predetermined area , a control unit, and a storage unit ,
The control unit is
setting a receiving sensitivity of the second communication device to a first sensitivity when the vehicle is stopped ;
When the vehicle is moving , setting a receiving sensitivity of the second communication device to a second sensitivity lower than the first sensitivity;
When switching a wireless communication line from the first communication to the second communication while the vehicle is stopped, acquiring channel information including whether the channel is in use or not by scanning channels used by communication devices other than the second communication device performing the second communication within the vehicle while the vehicle is running ;
storing the channel information in the storage unit;
When it is determined that the vehicle is stopped, acquiring the stored channel information;
determining a channel to be used by the second communication device from among channels that do not interfere with channels in use based on the acquired channel information ;
Run
Information processing device.

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