Specification
Description
Title of Invention: INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS,
INFORMATION PROCESSING METHOD, INFORMATION
PROCESSING SYSTEM, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM
PRODUCT
Technical Field
[0001] The present disclosure relates to an information processing apparatus, an information
processing method, an information processing system, and a computer program
product.
Background Art
[0002] Recently, receiver apparatuses capable of receiving wireless signals transmitted from
satellites have been installed in moving bodies such as vehicles, mobile telephones,
and the like. By using GPS (Global Positioning System) positioning, it is possible to
estimate the position of the moving body in which the receiver apparatus is installed.
Such position estimating technology that uses a receiver apparatus is an important base
technology in a wide range of fields such as navigation, security and entertainment.
However, position estimating technology based on GPS positioning requires a long
time at startup for supplementary synchronization and is difficult to use inside
buildings and underground that are out of range for the wireless signals from satellites.
[0003] Also, as disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2008-104029 for
example, a method of estimating the position of a wireless terminal based on the signal
strength at the wireless terminal of wireless signals transmitted from base stations on a
wireless LAN (Local Area Network) has been proposed. More specifically, it is
possible to estimate the position of the wireless terminal based on position information
of respective base stations registered in advance and the distances between the base
stations and the wireless terminal calculated from the respective signal strengths of the
wireless signals. Since base stations on a wireless LAN are also set up inside buildings
and underground, by using this method of estimating, it is possible to carry out position
estimation inside buildings and underground which has been difficult for position e s
timating technology based on GPS positioning.
Citation List
Patent Literature
[0004] PTL 1: JP 2008- 104029A
Summary
Technical Problem
[0005] However, a case can be imagined where, due to movement of the base station or the
like, the registered base station position information is erroneous. Accordingly, there is
concern that the precision of position estimation carried out based on such erroneous
base station position information will fall. Such concern has significantly increased in
recent years due to the spread of mobile base stations that are carried by the user.
[0006] The present disclosure aims to provide a novel and improved information processing
apparatus, information processing method, information processing system, and
program that are capable of progressively updating base station position information to
values with higher reliability.
[0007] According to the present disclosure, an information processing apparatus includes
a base station position estimating unit that estimates position information of a base
station based on signal strength measurement information collected from wireless
signals transmitted from a plurality of base stations;
an estimation result evaluating unit that determines a determined index corre
sponding to reliability of an estimated position information for the base station; and
an information management unit configured to update a stored base station position
information using the estimated position information when the determined index
indicates a higher reliability than a stored index for the base station.
[0008] According to one aspect, the apparatus also includes
a reception unit that receives from a wireless terminal signal strength measurement
information; and
a base station information storage unit that stores for the base station
the stored base station position information, and
the stored index.
[0009] A feature of the apparatus is that
the information management unit is configured to lower the stored index lower to
indicate lower reliability when a difference between the estimated position information
and stored base station position information exceeds a predetermined value.
[0010] According to another aspect the apparatus includes
a measurement information storage unit that stores the signal strength measurement
information received by the reception unit.
[00 11] Another feature is that
the base station position estimating unit refers to the measurement information
storage unit and estimates the estimated position information of the base station based
on magnitudes of signals strengths of wireless signals received by the reception unit.
[00 12] Another feature is that
the estimation result evaluating unit calculates an average of the signal strengths of
the wireless signals.
[0013] The apparatus may also include
a history information storage unit that stores history information for base stations
having changes to the stored index to reflect lowered reliability;
a mobile base station determining unit that determines whether the base station is a
mobile base station based on the history information; and
a mobile base station information storage unit that stores information regarding base
stations that have been determined by the mobile base station determining unit to be
mobile base stations.
[0014] According to another aspect
the mobile base station determining unit determines that the base station is a mobile
base station where the reliability of the stored index has been lowered with a specified
frequency or made higher.
[0015] Optionally the apparatus includes
a terminal position estimating unit that estimates a position of a wireless terminal
based on measurement information received from the wireless terminal and the stored
base station position information, wherein
the terminal position estimating unit estimates the position of the wireless terminal
using measurement results of base stations where the reliability exceeds a prede
termined threshold.
[0016] According to one feature
the terminal position estimating unit estimates the position of the wireless terminal
using measurement results of base stations whose reliability exceeds the threshold and
are not stored as mobile base stations in the mobile base station information storage
unit.
[0017] According to another feature
the information management unit is configured to lower the stored index to the pre
determined threshold or below when a difference between an estimated position of the
base station and a position shown by the base station position information stored in the
base station information storage unit exceeds a set value.
[0018] A method embodiment includes 12
estimating position information of a base station based on signal strength mea
surement information collected from wireless signals transmitted from a plurality of
base stations;
determining with a processor a determined index corresponding to reliability of an
estimated position information for the base station; and
updating in a computer readable storage device a stored base station position in
formation using the estimated position information when the determined index
indicates a higher reliability than a stored index for the base station.
[0019] The method may also include
receiving from a wireless terminal signal strength measurement information; and
storing in a base station information storage unit
the stored base station position information, and
the stored index.
[0020] According to an aspect of the method, the method involves
changing the stored index lower to indicate lower reliability when a difference
between the estimated position information and stored base station position in
formation exceeds a predetermined value.
[0021] According to an aspect of the method, the method involves
the estimating includes estimating the estimated position information of the base
station based on magnitudes of signals strengths described by the signal strength mea
surement information.
[0022] The method also optionally includes
storing history information for base stations having changes to the stored index to
reflect lowered reliability;
determining whether the base station is a mobile base station based on the history in
formation; and
storing information regarding base stations that have been determined to be mobile
base stations.
[0023] According to a computer readable storage device embodiment having instructions
that when executed by a processor perform a method, the method including
estimating position information of a base station based on wireless terminal signal
strength measurement information of wireless signals transmitted from a plurality of
base stations;
determining with a processor a determined index corresponding to an estimated
position information for the base station; and
updating in a computer readable storage device a stored base station position in
formation using the estimated position information when the determined index
indicates a higher reliability than a stored index for the base station.
[0024] The method may also include
receiving from a wireless terminal signal strength measurement information; and
storing in a base station information storage unit
the stored base station position information, and
the stored index.
[0025] The method may also include
changing the stored index lower to indicate lower reliability when a difference
between the estimated position information and stored base station position information
exceeds a predetermined value.
[0026] One aspect is that according to the method
the estimating includes estimating the estimated position information of the base
station based on magnitudes of signals strengths described by the signal strength mea
surement information.
Advantageous Effects of Invention
[0027] According to embodiments of the present disclosure described above, it is possible to
progressively update base station position information to highly reliable values.
Brief Description of Drawings
[0028] [fig. l]Fig. 1 is a diagram useful in explaining the configuration of an information
processing system according to embodiments of the present disclosure.
[0029] [fig.2]Fig. 2 is a diagram useful in explaining specific examples of measurement in
formation.
[0030] [fig.3]Fig. 3 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of a position e s
timating apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0031] [fig.4]Fig. 4 is a diagram useful in explaining specific examples of base station in
formation stored by a base station information storage unit.
[0032] [fig.5]Fig. 5 is a diagram useful in showing specific examples of measurement in
formation stored by a measurement information storage unit.
[0033] [fig.6]Fig. 6 is a diagram useful in explaining a specific example of estimating a
terminal position.
[0034] [fig.7]Fig. 7 is a diagram useful in explaining the concept of an estimation error.
[0035] [fig.8]Fig. 8 is a diagram useful in explaining the concept of an estimation error.
[0036] [fig.9]Fig. 9 is a diagram useful in explaining one example of measurement in
formation used when calculating the position information and the estimation error of a
base station.
[0037] [fig.l0]Fig. 10 is a diagram useful in explaining one example of measurement in
formation used when calculating the position information and estimation error of a
base station.
[0038] [fig. 1l]Fig. 11 is a diagram useful in explaining an example of updating the base
station information stored by the base station information storage unit.
[0039] [fig. 12] Fig. 12 is a flowchart showing the operation of the position estimating
apparatus according to the first embodiment.
[0040] [fig.l3]Fig. 13 is a diagram useful in showing changes in the measurement information
when a base station has moved.
[0041] [fig. 14] Fig. 14 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of a position
estimating apparatus according to a second embodiment.
[0042] [fig. 15]Fig. 15 is a diagram useful in explaining an example of updating the base
station information stored by the base station information storage unit.
[0043] [fig. 16]Fig. 16 is a flowchart showing a first example operation of the position e s
timating apparatus according to the second embodiment.
[0044] [fig.l7]Fig. 17 is a flowchart showing a second example operation of the position e s
timating apparatus according to the second embodiment.
[0045] [fig.l8]Fig. 18 is a flowchart showing a third example operation of the position e s
timating apparatus according to the second embodiment.
[0046] [fig. 19] Fig. 19 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of a position
estimating apparatus according to a third embodiment.
[0047] [fig.20]Fig. 20 is a sequence chart showing an example operation of an information
processing system according to the third embodiment.
[0048] [fig.21]Fig. 2 1 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of a position
estimating apparatus according to a fourth embodiment.
[0049] [fig.22]Fig. 22 is a diagram useful in showing specific examples of low reliability base
station information stored in a low reliability base station information storage unit.
[0050] [fig.23]Fig. 23 is a diagram useful in showing a specific example of mobile base
station information stored in a mobile base station information storage unit.
[0051] [fig.24]Fig. 24 is a flowchart showing an example operation of a position estimating
apparatus according to the fourth embodiment.
[0052] [fig.25]Fig. 25 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of a wireless
terminal according to a fifth embodiment.
Description of Embodiments
[0053] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in
detail with reference to the appended drawings. Note that, in this specification and the
appended drawings, structural elements that have substantially the same function and
structure are denoted with the same reference numerals, and repeated explanation of
these structural elements is omitted.
[0054] Also, in the present specification and drawings, in some cases a plurality of structural
elements that have effectively the same functional configuration are distinguished from
one another by appending different letters to the same reference numeral. For example,
a plurality of structural elements with effectively the same functional configuration are
distinguished as necessary as the "base stations 30A, 30B, and 30C". However, when it
is not especially necessary to distinguish between the plurality of structural elements
with effectively the same functional configuration, the same reference numeral is used.
For example, the base stations 30A, 30B, and 30C are referred to simply as the "base
station 30" when it is not especially necessary to distinguish between them.
[0055] Embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described in the order indicated
below.
1. Fundamental Configuration of Information Processing System
2. First Embodiment: Updating Base Station Position Information in Accordance
With Comparison Result for New and Old Estimation Errors
2-1. Configuration of Position Estimating Apparatus According to First Embodiment
2-2. Operation of Position Estimating Apparatus According to First Embodiment
3. Second Embodiment: Amendment of Estimation Error
3-1. Configuration of Position Estimating Apparatus According to Second Em
bodiment
3-2. Operation of Position Estimating Apparatus According to Second Embodiment
First Example Operation
Second Example Operation
Third Example Operation
4. Third Embodiment: Position Estimation of Wireless Terminal
4-1. Configuration of Position Estimating Apparatus According to Third Em
bodiment
4-2. Operation of Third Embodiment
5. Fourth Embodiment: Determining Mobile Base Stations
5-1. Configuration of Position Estimating Apparatus According to Fourth Em
bodiment
5-2. Operation of Position Estimating Apparatus According to Fourth Embodiment
6. Fifth Embodiment: Implementing Functions in Mobile Terminal
7. Conclusion
[0056] 1. Fundamental Configuration of Information Processing System
As described in detail below in the "2. First Embodiment" to "6. Fifth Embodiment"
sections for example, the present disclosure has a variety of possible implementations.
The "position estimating apparatus 20" or "wireless terminal 40" according to such em
bodiments includes:
[0057] (1) a base station information storage unit (216, 416) that stores, for each base
station, base station position information and an index (estimation error) showing the
reliability of the base station position information;
[0058] (2) a base station position estimating unit (224, 424) that estimates position in
formation of a base station based on measurement information for the signal strength
of a wireless signal transmitted from the base station;
[0059] (3) an estimation result evaluating unit (estimation error calculating unit 228, 428)
that calculates an index showing the reliability of the position information of a base
station estimated by the base station position estimating unit; and
[0060] (4) an information management unit 232 (232, 234, 432) that updates the base station
position information stored in the base station information storage unit using the
position information estimated by the base station position estimating unit when the
index calculated by the estimation result evaluating unit indicates higher reliability
than the index stored in the base station information storage unit.
[0061] First, the fundamental configuration that is common to the respective embodiments
will be described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2.
Configuration of Information Processing System
[0062] Fig. 1 is a diagram useful in explaining the configuration of an information
processing system 1 according to the embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown
in Fig. 1, the information processing system 1 according to the embodiments of the
present disclosure includes a position estimating apparatus 20 (information processing
apparatus), a plurality of base stations 30, and a wireless terminal 40.
[0063] Each base station 30 controls communication between communication apparatuses
that are spatially distributed. As examples, the base stations 30 are capable of con
trolling wireless communication between the wireless terminal 40 and another wireless
terminal (not shown) that are both located in the respective signal ranges of the base
stations 30 and/or controlling communication between the wireless terminal 40 and a
communication apparatus that is connected by wires to a base station 30. More
specifically, the base stations 30 may be base stations on a wireless LAN (Local Area
Network) based on WiFi (Wireless Fidelity) Standard, LTE (Long Term Evolution)
base stations, GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) base stations, or
Bluetooth (registered trademark) base stations.
[0064] In addition, the base stations 30 form a wireless network by regularly transmitting a
beacon signal, for example. Here, the expression "beacon signal" includes a beacon
signal including a base station ID identifying each base station 30. This means that it is
possible for the wireless terminal 40 to specify the base station 30 that transmitted a
beacon signal that has been received from the base station ID included in the beacon
signal.
[0065] The wireless terminal 40 is capable of wirelessly transmitting and receiving various
data in accordance with control by the base stations 30. For example, the wireless
terminal 40 is capable of receiving content data from a content distribution server (not
shown) and/or transmitting and receiving electronic mail to or from another wireless
terminal via the base stations 30. Note that various data, for example, audio data (such
as music, a performance, or a radio program), image data (such as a movie, a television
program, a video program, photographs, artwork, or drawings), games, and software,
can be given as examples of the content data.
[0066] As examples, the wireless terminal 40 may be an information processing apparatus
such as a PC (personal computer), a home video processing apparatus (a DVD
recorder, video deck, or the like), a mobile telephone, a PHS (Personal Handyphone
System), a mobile music player, a mobile video processing apparatus, a PDA (Personal
Digital Assistant), a home game console, a mobile game console, or a home appliance.
[0067] When a wireless signal (for example, a beacon signal) transmitted from a base station
30 is received, the wireless terminal 40 is also capable of measuring the signal strength
of such wireless signal. The wireless terminal 40 transmits measurement information
including information on the measured signal strength, the base station ID of the base
station 30, and measurement position information showing the measurement position
to the position estimating apparatus 20. A specific example of the measurement in
formation will now be described with reference to Fig. 2.
[0068] Fig. 2 is a diagram useful in explaining a specific example of the measurement in
formation. As shown in Fig. 2, the measurement information includes measurement
position information, a measurement time, and signal strength information for each
base station. Note that in the present specification, for ease of explanation, it is
assumed that the code assigned to each base station and the base station ID are the
same.
[0069] As mentioned earlier, the measurement position information is information showing
a measurement position for wireless signals. When the wireless terminal 40 includes a
position estimating function such as GPS, the measurement position information may
be estimated using such position estimating function. Another conceivable imple
mentation would be for the user of the wireless terminal 40 to input the measurement
position information. As other examples, the measurement position information may
be obtained by a method that uses base station information for mobile telephones or a
method that uses various sensors.
[0070] Although the measurement position information is shown in simplified form in Fig.
2, the measurement position information may be expressed by a format using latitude
and longitude, a format using x and y coordinates, a format using absolute coordinates,
or a format using vectors.
[0071] Also, although an example where the signal strength information is expressed in
"dBm" units is shown in Fig. 2, the embodiments are not limited to the illustrated
example. For example, the signal strength information may be expressed by a value,
such as "40%" or "80%", that is the measured value expressed as a proportion of a set
value (for example, a saturation value for the signal strength).
[0072] The signal strength of the wireless signal transmitted by a base station 30 falls in ac
cordance with a specified rule as the distance from the base station 30 increases. That
is, the signal strength of the wireless signal at the wireless terminal 40 can be
converted into the distance between the base station 30 that transmitted such wireless
signal and the wireless terminal 40. In this way, since the signal strength corresponds
to the distance between the base station 30 and the wireless terminal 40 estimated from
the signal strength, the wireless terminal 40 may treat the distance between the base
station 30 and the wireless terminal 40 estimated from the signal strength as signal
strength information.
[0073] Returning to the description of the information processing system 1 with reference to
Fig. 1, the position estimating apparatus 20 (information processing apparatus)
estimates position information of the respective base stations 30 based on the mea
surement information received from the wireless terminal 40. The position estimating
apparatus 20 stores position information for the respective base stations 30 and updates
the position information for the respective base stations 30 in accordance with e s
timation results based on the measurement information.
[0074] Also, a position estimating apparatus 20-3 according to a third embodiment and a
position estimating apparatus 20-4 according to a fourth embodiment are capable, on
receiving signal strength information for each base station 30 as a position estimation
request from the wireless terminal 40, to estimate position information for the wireless
terminal 40 based on the signal strength information and position information of the re
spective base stations 30 that have been stored in advance.
[0075] In addition, when estimating the position of the wireless terminal 40, the position e s
timating apparatus 20-3 according to the third embodiment and the position estimating
apparatus 20-4 according to the fourth embodiment are also capable of selectively
using position information of highly reliable base stations 30 to improve the precision
of the position estimation. Such embodiments are described in detail later in this speci
fication.
2. First
Embodiment: Updating Base Station Position Information in Accordance With
Comparison Result for New and Old Estimation Errors
2-1. Configuration
of Position Estimating Apparatus According to First Embodiment
[0076] Fig. 3 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of a position e s
timating apparatus 20- 1 according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. As
shown in Fig. 3, the position estimating apparatus 20-1 according to the first em
bodiment includes a communication unit 212, a base station information storage unit
216, a measurement information storage unit 220, a base station position estimating
unit 224, an estimation error calculating unit 228, and an information management unit
232.
[0077] The communication unit 212 is an interface for transmitting and receiving in
formation to and from a wireless terminal 40. As one example, the communication unit
212 includes a function as a reception unit that receives measurement information from
the wireless terminal 40. Note that the communication unit 212 may communicate with
the wireless terminal 40 via a communication network that includes wired or wireless
transfer paths. More specifically, the communication network may include a public
network such as the Internet, a telephone network, or a satellite communication
network, various types of LAN (Local Area Network) including Ethernet (registered
trademark), a WAN (Wide Area Network), and the like. The communication network
may also include a dedicated network such as an IP-VPN (Internet Protocol- Virtual
Private Network).
[0078] The base station information storage unit 216 stores base station information, which
is made up of position information and an estimation error, for each base station 30.
Here, the estimation error is an index showing the reliability of the position in
formation of the base station 30 and is set so that the higher the estimation error, the
lower the reliability of the position information and the lower the estimation error, the
higher the reliability of the position information. Specific examples of the base station
information stored in the base station information storage unit 216 will now be
described with reference to Fig. 4.
[0079] Fig. 4 is a diagram useful in explaining specific examples of the base station in
formation stored by the base station information storage unit 216. As shown in Fig. 4,
the base station information of a base station includes a base station ID that identifies
such base station, position information, and an estimation error. As one example, the
base station information of the base station 30A includes the base station ID "30A", the
"position information A", and the estimation error "45m". Note that the concept and
calculation method of the estimation error included in the base station information will
be described later with reference to Figs. 6 to 8.
[0080] The measurement information storage unit 220 stores measurement information
received by the communication unit 212 from the wireless terminal 40. As described
above with reference to Fig. 2, each piece of measurement information includes mea
surement position information, a measurement time, a base station ID, signal strength
information, and the like. As shown in Fig. 5, such measurement information is ac
cumulated in the measurement information storage unit 220. Note that the transmission
source (i.e., provider) of the measurement information is not particularly limited to the
wireless terminal 40. For example, the terminal that transmitted the measurement in
formation including "measurement position information 1" and the terminal that
transmitted the measurement information including "measurement position information
2" shown in Fig. 5 may be the same terminal or may be different terminals. The mea
surement information may also include a measurer attribute indicating whether the user
of the wireless terminal 40 is walking, riding in a vehicle, or the like.
Position Estimation for Base Station
[0081] The base station position estimating unit 224 estimates the position information of a
given base station 30 based on a plurality of pieces of measurement information
relating to such base station 30. For example, the base station position estimating unit
224 may apply a weighting in accordance with the magnitude of the signal strength of
the respective measurement information to the respective pieces of measurement
position information included in measurement information relating to such base station
30 and use a center of gravity of the weighted measurement position information as an
estimate of the position information of the base station 30. The method of estimating
the position information of a base station 30 will now be described in more detail with
reference to Fig. 6.
[0082] Fig. 6 is a diagram useful in explaining a method of estimating the position in
formation of a base station 30. Here, a case is considered where the position of the base
station 30A is estimated based on the two pieces of measurement information shown in
Fig. 5. In this case, the base station position estimating unit 224 applies weightings in
accordance with the magnitudes of the signal strengths to the measurement position PI
and the measurement position P2 when finding the center of gravity of the mea
surement position PI shown by the measurement position information 1 and the mea
surement position P2 shown by the measurement position information 2.
[0083] Note that it is possible to convert the respective signal strengths to distances. For this
reason, in Fig. 6, an example is shown where the signal strength "-90dBm" of the base
station 30A at the measurement position PI has been converted to the distance "80m"
and the signal strength "-70dBm" of the base station 30A at the measurement position
P2 has been converted to the distance "60m". In this case, the base station position e s
timating unit 224 may apply weightings in accordance with the converted distance
values "80m" and "60m" to the measurement position PI and the measurement
position P2.
[0084] As a result, the base station position estimating unit 224 can estimate a position EP1
found by dividing the gap between the measurement position PI and the measurement
position P2 in accordance with 4:3 that is the ratio of "80m" to "60m" as the position of
the base station 30A. In addition, it is possible for the base station position estimating
unit 224 to estimate the position of the base station 30 based on a plurality of pieces of
measurement information in accordance with the generalized mathematical formulas
shown below.
[0085]
[Math.l]
i
(Mathematical Formula 1)
[0086] [Math.2]
n = 1
distS(EP,Pi)
(Mathematical Formula 2)
[0087] [Math.3]
V = Vi
i
(Mathematical Formula 3)
[0088] Note that "Pi" in Formula 1 shows the 1th measurement position information. Ac
cordingly, when the measurement position information is expressed by longitude and
latitude, the base station position estimating unit 224 applies Formula 1 to both the
longitude and the latitude. Also, as shown in Formula 2, Vi is a weighting coefficient
obtained based on distS (EP,Pi) showing the distance between the wireless terminal 40
and the base station 30 estimated from the signal strength. As shown in Formula 3, V is
the sum of the weighting coefficients Vi.
Calculation of Estimation Error
[0089] As described earlier, the estimated position of a base station 30 is found by the base
station position estimating unit 224 estimating the position based on the measurement
information. However, in reality a base station 30 will not always be located at the
estimated position, and the estimated position is assumed to include some degree of
error. Such estimation error will now be described with reference to Figs. 7 and 8.
[0090] Figs. 7 and 8 are diagrams showing the concept of the estimation error. As shown in
Fig. 7, even if the position EP1 of the base station 30 has been estimated by the base
station position estimating unit 224, such position EP1 is thought to include an error
within the range shown by the broken line, for example.
[0091] In the same way, as shown in Fig. 8, in another conceivable case, the position EP2 of
a base station 30 is found as an estimate based on the signal strength at the mea
surement position Px (the converted distance value "40m") and the signal strength at
the measurement position Py (the converted distance value "30m"). In such case also,
in the same way as the example shown in Fig. 7, the position EP2 is thought to include
an error within the range shown by the broken line in Fig. 8, for example.
[0092] However, as shown in Fig. 8, it is thought that the error included in the position EP2
is smaller than the error included in the position EP1 shown in Fig. 7. This is because
the signal strengths at the measurement position Px and the measurement position Py
shown in Fig. 8 are greater than the signal strengths at the measurement position PI
and the measurement position P2 shown in Fig. 7, and therefore conceivable to narrow
down the position of the base station 30 further.
[0093] In this way, the reliability of the position information of the base station 30 estimated
by the base station position estimating unit 224 is higher the greater the signal
strengths of the signals used for estimation. That is, the estimation error of the position
information of the base station 30 estimated by the base station position estimating unit
224 is smaller the greater the signal strengths of the signals used for estimation.
[0094] For this reason, the estimation error calculating unit 228 calculates the estimation
error of the position information produced by the base station position estimating unit
224 based on the signal strengths of the signals used in estimation or converted
distance values calculated from the respective signal strengths. As examples, the e s
timation error calculating unit 228 may calculate an average of the converted distance
values as the estimation error, calculate a median value of the converted distance
values as the estimation error, or may treat a largest value out of the converted distance
values as the estimation error.
[0095] When the average of the converted distance values is calculated as the estimation
error, in the example shown in Fig. 7, "70m" that is the average of the converted
distance values "80m" and "60m" is calculated as the estimation error. Meanwhile, in
the example shown in Fig. 8, "35m" that is the average of the converted distance values
"40m" and "30m" is calculated as the estimation error.
[0096] Note that although an example where the base station position estimating unit 224
and the estimation error calculating unit 228 calculate the position information and the
estimation error of the base station 30 in question based on two pieces of measurement
information has been described above, the present embodiment is not limited to such
example. For example, as shown in Fig. 9, the base station position estimating unit 224
and the estimation error calculating unit 228 may calculate the position information
and the estimation error based on the most recent five pieces of measurement in
formation relating to the base station 30 in question. In addition, the measurement in
formation used by the base station position estimating unit 224 and the estimation error
calculating unit 228 may be limited to measurement information from a specified
recent period (for example, within the last three months).
Updating the Base Station Information
[0097] The information management unit 232 updates the base station information (i.e., the
position information and estimation error) stored in the base station information
storage unit 216 in accordance with the estimation result produced by the base station
position estimating unit 224 and the calculation result produced by the estimation error
calculating unit 228.
[0098] More specifically, the information management unit 232 compares the reliability of
the position information relating to the base station 30 stored in the base station in
formation storage unit 216 and the position information estimated by the base station
position estimating unit 224. That is, the information management unit 232 compares
the estimation error relating to the base station 30 in question stored in the base station
information storage unit 216 and the estimation error calculated by the estimation error
calculating unit 228.
[0099] If it has been determined that the new estimation error calculated by the estimation
error calculating unit 228 is the smaller, that is, if the reliability of the new position in
formation estimated by the base station position estimating unit 224 is the higher, the
information management unit 232 updates the position information and the estimation
error stored in the base station information storage unit 216 for the base station 30 in
question using the new position information and estimation error. Here, the in
formation management unit 232 may replace the position information and the e s
timation error relating to the base station 30 in question that are stored in the base
station information storage unit 216 with the new position information and estimation
error or may update the stored information to intermediate values or the like for both
the new and old values. The updating process carried out by the information
management unit 232 will now be described in detail with reference to Fig. 4 and Figs.
9 to 11.
Specific Example of Updating Process
[0100] Next, consider a case where the "position information A" and the estimation error
"45m" shown in Fig. 4 are stored in the base station information storage unit 216
relating to the base station 30A and the base station position estimating unit 224 and
the estimation error calculating unit 228 calculate the position information and the e s
timation error based on measurement information relating to the five base stations 30A
shown in Fig. 9.
[0101] In this case, the base station position estimating unit 224 estimates the position EP1
of the base station 30A in accordance with Formula 1 given above, for example. The
estimation error calculating unit 228 calculates the average value "50m" of the re
spective converted distance values as the estimation error.
[0102] In addition, the information management unit 232 compares the new estimation error
"50m" calculated by the estimation error calculating unit 228 and the estimation error
"45m" stored in the base station information storage unit 216. In this case, it is de
termined that the estimation error "45m" stored in the base station information storage
unit 216 is the smaller, that is, the "position information A" stored in the base station
information storage unit 216 has higher reliability. For this reason, the information
management unit 232 does not update the "position information A" and the estimation
error "45m" relating to the base station 30A.
[0103] After this, assume that the base station position estimating unit 224 and the e s
timation error calculating unit 228 calculate the position information and the e s
timation error based on the five pieces of measurement information at the measurement
positions P2 to P6 shown in Fig. 10.
[0104] In this case, the base station position estimating unit 224 estimates the position EP2
of the base station 30A in accordance with Formula 1 given above, for example. The
estimation error calculating unit 228 also calculates the average value "40m" of the re
spective converted distance values as the estimation error.
[0105] In addition, the information management unit 232 compares the new estimation error
"40m" calculated by the estimation error calculating unit 228 and the estimation error
"45m" stored in the base station information storage unit 216. In such case, it is de
termined that the new estimation error "40m" calculated by the estimation error cal
culating unit 228 is the smaller, that is, the new estimated position EP2 estimated by
the base station position estimating unit 224 has higher reliability. For this reason, the
information management unit 232 updates the "position information A" and the e s
timation error "45m" relating to the base station 30A to the "estimated position in
formation 2" showing the new estimated position EP2 and the new estimation error
"40m" as shown in Fig. 11.
[0106] With this configuration, the information management unit 232 is capable of pro
gressively updating the position information of each base station 30 stored in the base
station information storage unit 216 to values with higher reliability. As a result, when
position estimation of the wireless terminal 40 is carried out based on position in
formation of the respective base stations 30 stored in the base station information
storage unit 216, it is possible to improve the precision of the position estimation of the
wireless terminal 40.
2-2. Operation of
Position Estimating Apparatus According to First Embodiment
[0107] The configuration of the position estimating apparatus 20-1 according to the first em
bodiment of the present disclosure has been described above. Next, the operation of the
position estimating apparatus 20- 1 according to the first embodiment will be described
with reference to Fig. 12.
[0108] Fig. 12 is a flowchart showing the operation of the position estimating apparatus 20-1
according to the first embodiment. First, as shown in Fig. 12, the base station position
estimating unit 224 of the position estimating apparatus 20-1 estimates the position in
formation of the base station 30 in question based on the measurement information
stored in the measurement information storage unit 220 for such base station 30
(S304).
[0109] Next, or alternatively in parallel with the position estimation by the base station
position estimating unit 224 shown in S304, the estimation error calculating unit 228
calculates an estimation error of the position information estimated by the base station
position estimating unit 224 based on the measurement information used in the
position estimation by the base station position estimating unit 224 (S308).
[0110] In addition, the information management unit 232 searches the base station in
formation storage unit 216 for the estimation error relating to the base station 30 in
question (S3 12) and compares the found estimation error and the new estimation error
calculated by the estimation error calculating unit 228 in S308 (S3 16).
[0111] After this, if the new estimation error is the smaller, the information management
unit 232 updates the position information and the estimation error stored in the base
station information storage unit 216 using the new position information estimated by
the base station position estimating unit 224 in S304 and the new estimation error
calculated by the estimation error calculating unit 228 in S308 (S320). Note that if the
new estimation error is larger, the information management unit 232 does not update
the position information and the estimation error stored in the base station information
storage unit 216.
[0112] As described above, according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure, it is
possible to progressively update the position information of a base station 30 to a more
suitable value based on the reliability (i.e., estimation error) of newly estimated
position information relating to such base station 30.
3. Second
Embodiment: Amendment of Estimation Error
[0113] Next, before describing the second embodiment of the present disclosure, the de
velopment behind the second embodiment of the present disclosure will be explained.
[0114] In recent years, movement of base stations has increased due to the spread of mobile
base stations carried by users and the presence of base stations installed in high speed
trains. Also, even a base station installed in the user's home could conceivably move,
such as when the user moves house. When a base station 30 moves in this way, as
shown in Fig. 13, the measurement information relating to such base station 30 also
changes.
[0115] Fig. 13 is a diagram useful in explaining a change in the measurement information
when the base station 30 has moved. As shown in Fig. 13, when a base station 30
located in the Tokyo area has been moved to the Osaka area, the measurement in
formation relating to such base station 30 also changes. For example, as shown in Fig.
13, measurement information is obtained at the measurement positions P4 to P8 before
movement of the base station 30 and measurement information is obtained at the mea
surement positions P9 to P13 after movement of the base station 30.
[0116] In such case, since the base station 30 has actually moved to the Osaka area, it is
preferable to update the position information EP3 of the base station 30 to the position
information EP4 for the Osaka area based on the measurement information at the mea
surement positions P9 to PI3.
[01 17] Here, the estimation error calculated from the measurement information at the mea
surement positions P4 to P8 before movement is "20m" and the estimation error
calculated from the measurement information at the measurement positions P9 to P13
after movement is "50m". This means that with the method described above in the first
embodiment, since the estimation error before movement is the smaller, the position
information EP3 of the base station 30 will not be updated to the position information
EP4 for the Osaka area. That is, according to the method described above in the first
embodiment, once the position information of the base station 30 has been estimated
with a small estimation error, it will be difficult for the position information to be
updated when the base station 30 has moved.
[0118] For this reason, the second embodiment of the present disclosure that focuses on this
situation was conceived. According to the second embodiment of the present
disclosure, it is possible to appropriately update the position information of a base
station 30 in keeping with movement of the base station 30. This second embodiment
of the present disclosure will now be described in detail.
3-1. Configuration
of Position Estimating Apparatus According to Second Embodiment
[0119] Fig. 14 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of a position e s
timating apparatus 20-2 according to the second embodiment. As shown in Fig. 14, the
position estimating apparatus 20-2 according to the second embodiment includes the
communication unit 212, the base station information storage unit 216, the mea
surement information storage unit 220, the base station position estimating unit 224,
the estimation error calculating unit 228, and an information management unit 234.
[0120] Since the communication unit 212, the base station information storage unit 216, the
measurement information storage unit 220, the base station position estimating unit
224, and the estimation error calculating unit 228 are the structural elements described
in the first embodiment, detailed description thereof is omitted here.
Meanwhile the information management unit 234 according to the second em
bodiment is a structural element where additional functions have been implemented in
the information management unit 232 described in the first embodiment. The in
formation management unit 234 according to the second embodiment will now be
described in detail.
[0121] The information management unit 234 determines whether the difference between
the estimated position of a base station 30 based on the measurement information
received from the wireless terminal 40 and the position shown by the position in
formation stored in the base station information storage unit 216 for such base station
30 exceeds a set value. Here, it is believed that the difference between both positions
will exceed the set value when the position information stored in the base station in
formation storage unit 216 has become erroneous due to movement or the like of the
base station 30 in question.
[0122] Here, if the difference between both positions exceeds the set value, the information
management unit 234 lowers the reliability of the position information stored in the
base station information storage unit 216 for the base station 30 in question. That is, if
the difference between both positions exceeds the set value, the information
management unit 234 increases the value of the estimation error stored in the base
station information storage unit 216 for the base station 30 in question.
[0123] As one example, since the range of WiFi signals is normally said to be around 300m,
the information management unit 234 may amend the estimation error stored in the
base station information storage unit 216 to a larger value than 300m, such as 600m or
lKm.
[0124] According to this configuration, if the base station 30 has moved after the position
information of the base station 30 has been estimated with a small estimation error, the
estimation error will be corrected to a larger value by the information management unit
234. As a result, since it becomes easier for a new estimation error calculated by the
estimation error calculating unit 228 after movement to be the smaller of the compared
values, it becomes possible for the information management unit 234 to update the
position information of the base station 30 stored in the base station information
storage unit 216 to new position information estimated by the base station position e s
timating unit 224 after movement.
Specific Example of Amendment of Estimation Error
[0125] Here, a specific example of amendment of an estimation error by the information
management unit 234 will be described with reference to Figs. 13 and 15.
[0126] Here, consider a state where, as shown in Fig. 15, "position information 3 (Tokyo)"
showing the estimated position EP3 of a base station 30 and the estimation error "20m"
are stored in the base station information storage unit 216 due to the measurement in
formation for the base station 30 at the measured positions P4 to P8 shown in Fig. 13.
If, in this state, the base station 30 is moved from the Tokyo area to the Osaka area and
measurement information relating to the base station 30 is obtained at the measurement
position P9, the base station position estimating unit 224 will estimate the position of
the base station 30 based on the measurement information at the measured positions P5
to P9.
[0127] In this case, due to the measurement position P9 being very far from the other
measured positions P5 to P8, the difference between the position of the base station 30
estimated by the base station position estimating unit 224 and the position shown by
"measurement information 3 (Tokyo)" exceeds the set value. For this reason, as shown
in Fig. 15, the information management unit 234 amends the estimation error of the
base station 30 to "5000m", for example. Note that the information management unit
234 does not change the position information of the base station 30 at this time.
[0128] After this, once the measurement information at the measurement positions P9 to P13
shown in Fig. 13 has been obtained, based on such measurement information, the base
station position estimating unit 224 estimates the position EP4 of the base station 30
and the estimation error calculating unit 228 calculates the estimation error "50m".
[0129] Here, the estimation error "50m" newly calculated by the estimation error calculating
unit 228 is smaller than the estimation error "5000m" stored in the base station in
formation storage unit 216. For this reason, the information management unit 234
updates the position information stored in the base station information storage unit 216
for the base station 30 to "position information 4 (Osaka)" showing the position EP4
and updates the estimation error to "50m".
[0130] In this way, according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure, when a
base station 30 has moved, it is possible to update the position information stored in
the base station information storage unit 216 for the base station 30 to a suitable value
based on measurement information at positions near the new position after movement.
3-2. Operation of
Position Estimating Apparatus According to Second Embodiment
[0131] The configuration of the position estimating apparatus 20-2 according to the second
embodiment of the present disclosure has been described above. Next, example op
erations of the position estimating apparatus 20-2 according to the second embodiment
will be described with reference to Figs. 16 to 18.
First Example Operation
[0132] Fig. 16 is a flowchart showing a first example operation of the position estimating
apparatus 20-2 according to the second embodiment. First, as shown in Fig. 16, the
base station position estimating unit 224 of the position estimating apparatus 20-2
estimates the position information of a base station 30 based on the measurement in
formation stored in the measurement information storage unit 220 for the base station
30 (S324).
Next, or alternatively in parallel with the position estimation by the base station
position estimating unit 224 shown in S324, the estimation error calculating unit 228
calculates an estimation error of the position information estimated by the base station
position estimating unit 224 based on the measurement information used in the
position estimation by the base station position estimating unit 224 (S328).
[0133] In addition, the information management unit 234 searches the base station in
formation storage unit 216 for the position information and the estimation error
relating to the base station 30 in question (S332) and compares the found estimation
error and the new estimation error calculated by the estimation error calculating unit
228 in S328 (S336).
[0134] After this, if the new estimation error is the smaller, the information management
unit 234 updates the position information and the estimation error stored in the base
station information storage unit 216 using the new position information estimated by
the base station position estimating unit 224 in S324 and the new estimation error
calculated by the estimation error calculating unit 228 in S328 (S340).
[0135] Meanwhile, if the new estimation error is the larger (S336), the information
management unit 234 determines whether the positions shown by the position in
formation estimated in S324 and the position information found in S332 are further
apart than the set value (S344). If the positions shown by both pieces of position in
formation are further apart than the set value, the information management unit 234
amends the estimation error relating to the base station 30 stored in the base station in
formation storage unit 216 to a sufficiently large value (S348).
[0136] Note that the information management unit 234 may amend the estimation error
relating to the base station 30 stored in the base station information storage unit 216 to
a value in keeping with the magnitude of the difference between the positions shown
by both pieces of position information. Also, if the positions shown by both pieces of
position information are not further apart than the set value, the content of the base
station information storage unit 216 is not changed.
Second Example Operation
[0137] Fig. 17 is a flowchart showing a second example operation of the position estimating
apparatus 20-2 according to the second embodiment. In this second example operation,
S324 to S332 are the same as in the first example operation, but the order in which the
determinations are made differs to the first example operation.
[0138] More specifically, as shown in Fig. 17, once the processing S324 to S332 has been
carried out, the information management unit 234 determines whether the positions
shown by the position information estimated in S234 and the position information
found in S332 are further apart than the set value (S352). If the positions shown by
both pieces of position information are further apart than the set value, the information
management unit 234 amends the estimation error relating to the base station 30 stored
in the base station information storage unit 216 to a sufficiently large value (S356).
[0139] Meanwhile, if the positions shown by both pieces of position information are not
further apart than the set value, the information management unit 234 compares the e s
timation error found in S332 and the new estimation error calculated by the estimation
error calculating unit 228 in S328 (S360).
[0140] After this, if the new estimation error is the smaller, the information management
unit 234 updates the position information and the estimation error stored in the base
station information storage unit 216 using the new position information estimated by
the base station position estimating unit 224 in S324 and the new estimation error
calculated by the estimation error calculating unit 228 in S328 (S364).
[0141] In this way, even if the order of the branch points in S336 and S344 of the first
example operation is interchanged, it is possible to obtain the same effect as the first
example operation.
Third Example Operation
[0142] Fig. 18 is a flowchart showing a third example operation of the position estimating
apparatus 20-2 according to the second embodiment. This third example operation
greatly differs to the other example operations in that the position for which the deter
mination of whether the difference with the position shown by the position information
stored in the base station information storage unit 216 exceeds a set value is made is
not the position estimated by the base station position estimating unit 224 based on the
measurement information.
[0143] More specifically, as shown in Fig. 18, the information management unit 234
searches the base station information storage unit 216 for position information and an
estimation error of a base station 30 relating to new measurement information (S372).
After this, the information management unit 234 determines whether the position
shown by measurement position information included in such measurement in
formation and the position shown by the position information for such base station 30
found in S372 are further apart than a set value (S376).
[0144] If the positions shown by both pieces of position information are further apart than
the set value, the information management unit 234 amends the estimation error
relating to the base station 30 stored in the base station information storage unit 216 to
a sufficiently large value (S380). In this way, since it is not necessary for the base
station position estimating unit 224 and the estimation error calculating unit 228 to
estimate the position and to calculate the estimation error if the positions shown by
both pieces of position information are further apart than the set value, it is possible to
reduce the load of the position estimating apparatus 20-2.
[0145] Meanwhile, if the positions shown by both pieces of position information are not
further apart than the set value (S376), the base station position estimating unit 224
estimates the position information of the base station 30 in question based on the mea
surement information stored in the measurement information storage unit 220 relating
to the base station 30 (S384). The estimation error calculating unit 228 also calculates
the estimation error of the position information estimated by the base station position
estimating unit 224 based on the measurement information used in position estimation
by the base station position estimating unit 224 (S388).
[0146] Next, the information management unit 234 compares the estimation error found in
S372 and the new estimation error calculated by the estimation error calculating unit
228 in S388 (S392). After this, if the new estimation error is the smaller, the in
formation management unit 234 updates the position information and the estimation
error stored in the base station information storage unit 216 using the new position in
formation estimated by the base station position estimating unit 224 in S384 and the
new estimation error calculated by the estimation error calculating unit 228 in S388
(S396).
[0147] As described above, according to the third example operation, by treating a position
shown by measurement position information included in the measurement information
as an estimated position of a base station 30, it is possible to achieve the same effects
as the other example operations while reducing the load of the position estimating
apparatus 20-2.
4. Third
Embodiment: Position Estimation of Wireless Terminal
[0148] The second embodiment of the present disclosure has been described above. Next, a
position estimating apparatus 20-3 according to a third embodiment of the present
disclosure will be described in detail with reference to Figs. 19 and 20.
4-1. Configuration
of Position Estimating Apparatus According to Third Embodiment
[0149] Fig. 19 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of the position e s
timating apparatus 20-3 according to the third embodiment. As shown in Fig. 19, the
position estimating apparatus 20-3 according to the third embodiment includes the
communication unit 212, the base station information storage unit 216, the mea
surement information storage unit 220, the base station position estimating unit 224,
the estimation error calculating unit 228, the information management unit 234, and a
terminal position estimating unit 240.
[0150] Since the communication unit 212, the base station information storage unit 216, the
measurement information storage unit 220, the base station position estimating unit
224, the estimation error calculating unit 228, and the information management unit
234 are the structural elements described in the second embodiment, detailed description
thereof is omitted here.
[0151] The terminal position estimating unit 240 estimates position information of a wireless
terminal 40 in accordance with a position estimation request transmitted from such
wireless terminal 40. The communication unit 212 then transmits the position in
formation of the wireless terminal 40 estimated by the terminal position estimating unit
240 to the wireless terminal 40.
[0152] Here, the position estimation request transmitted from the wireless terminal 40
includes signal strength information for each base station 30 obtained by signal
strength measurements made at the wireless terminal 40. For example, in the position
estimation request, base station IDs and signal strength information are associated with
one another.
[0153] The terminal position estimating unit 240 estimates position information for the
wireless terminal 40 based on such position estimation request and the position in
formation of the respective base stations 30 stored in the base station information
storage unit 216. As one example, the terminal position estimating unit 240 estimates
the position O of the wireless terminal 40 according to the mathematical formulas
shown below.
[0154] [Math.4]
0 = -
Documents