Control device, system, and control method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12265170-B2
Application number	US-202217843348-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 17, 2022
Priority date	Sep 2, 2021
Publication date	Apr 1, 2025
Grant date	Apr 1, 2025

Abstract

To estimate a positional relationship between devices having transmitted and received signals with higher accuracy.
A control device includes a control unit that compares reliability parameters that are indexes indicating a degree of whether or not a signal is appropriate as a processing target for estimating a positional relationship between each of the plurality of communication devices and the other communication device, calculated on the basis of the signals received from the other communication device by the communication device, and performs control for estimating the positional relationship on the basis of a signal transmitted and received between the communication device that has received a signal that is more appropriate as a processing target for estimating the positional relationship and the other communication device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A control device comprising:
a control unit configured to perform control for estimating a positional relationship between a plurality of communication devices each having three or more antennas and another communication device on the basis of signals transmitted and received between the plurality of communication devices and the other communication device, wherein
the control unit is configured to compare reliability parameters that are indexes indicating a degree of whether or not a signal is appropriate as a processing target for estimating a positional relationship between each of the plurality of communication devices and the other communication device, calculated on the basis of the signals received from the other communication device by the communication device, and perform control for estimating the positional relationship on the basis of a signal transmitted and received between the communication device that has received a signal that is more appropriate as a processing target for estimating the positional relationship and the other communication device.

2. The control device according to claim 1 , wherein
the control unit is configured to compare basic statistics based on reliability parameters estimated for the respective three or more antennas or for respective antenna pairs of each of the plurality of communication devices, and perform control for estimating the positional relationship on the basis of a signal transmitted and received between the communication device that has received a signal that is more appropriate as a processing target for estimating the positional relationship, determined on the basis of a result of the comparison, and the other communication device.

3. The control device according to claim 2 , wherein
the basic statistics include at least one of an average value, a maximum value, a minimum value, and a median value.

4. The control device according to claim 1 , wherein
the three or more antennas are four or more antennas, and
the control unit is configured to select three antennas out of the four or more antennas from each of the plurality of communication devices on the basis of the reliability parameters, compare the reliability parameters calculated on the basis of the signal received by each of the three selected antennas, and perform control for estimating the positional relationship on the basis of a signal transmitted and received between the communication device that has received a signal that is more appropriate as a processing target for estimating the positional relationship on the basis of a result of the comparison and the other communication device.

5. The control device according to claim 1 , wherein
the three or more antennas are four or more antennas, and
the control unit is configured to select an antenna in which the reliability parameter satisfies a specified criterion among the four or more antennas from each of the plurality of communication devices, compare reliability parameters for the plurality of respective communication devices, calculated on the basis of a signal received by each of the selected antennas, and perform control for estimating the positional relationship on the basis of a signal transmitted and received between the communication device that has received a signal that is more appropriate as a processing target for estimating the positional relationship on the basis of a result of the comparison and the other communication device.

6. The control device according to claim 5 , wherein
the control unit is configured to estimate a two-dimensional position or a three-dimensional position of the other communication device as the positional relationship between the communication device and the other communication device on the basis of the arrival angle of the signal.

7. The control device according to claim 1 , wherein
the control unit is configured to estimate an arrival angle of the signal received by the communication device from the other communication device as the positional relationship between the communication device and the other communication device.

8. The control device according to claim 1 , wherein
the reliability parameters include at least one of an index indicating a magnitude of noise of a signal received by at least one of the communication device and the other communication device, or an index indicating a validity that the signal is based on a direct wave.

9. The control device according to claim 1 , wherein
the communication device is mounted on a moving object.

10. The control device according to claim 9 , wherein
the other communication device is carried by a user who is using the moving object.

11. The control device according to claim 1 , wherein
the signals include a wireless signal compliant with ultra-wideband wireless communication.

12. A system comprising:
a plurality of communication devices each of which has three or more antennas;
another communication device that has one or more antennas; and
a control device configured to perform control for estimating a positional relationship between the plurality of communication devices and the other communication devices on the basis of signals transmitted and received between the plurality of communication devices and the other communication devices, wherein
the control device is configured to compare reliability parameters that are indexes indicating a degree of whether or not a signal is appropriate as a processing target for estimating a positional relationship between each of the plurality of communication devices and the other communication device, calculated on the basis of the signals received from the other communication device by the communication device, and perform control for estimating the positional relationship on the basis of a signal transmitted and received between the communication device that has received a signal that is more appropriate as a processing target for estimating the positional relationship and the other communication device.

13. A control method executed by a computer, comprising:
transmitting and receiving signals between a plurality of communication devices each of which has three or more antennas and another communication device; and
performing control for estimating a positional relationship between the plurality of communication devices and the other communication device on the basis of the transmitted and received signals, wherein
the performing control for estimating a positional relationship between the plurality of communication devices and the other communication device includes
comparing reliability parameters that are indexes indicating a degree of whether or not a signal is appropriate as a processing target for estimating a positional relationship between each of the plurality of communication devices and the other communication device, calculated on the basis of the signals received from the other communication device by the communication device, and performing control for estimating the positional relationship on the basis of a signal transmitted and received between the communication device that has received a signal that is more appropriate as a processing target for estimating the positional relationship and the other communication device.

Assignees

• Tokai Rika Co Ltd

Inventors

• Oishi Yoshiki
• Koga Kenichi
• Koike Tatsuya
• Mori Satoshi
• Kataoka Kento

Classifications

• G01S5/0244 Primary

  Accuracy or reliability of position solution or of measurements contributing thereto · CPC title

• G01S3/48

  the waves arriving at the antennas being continuous or intermittent and the phase difference of signals derived therefrom being measured · CPC title

• G01S3/46

  using antennas spaced apart and measuring phase or time difference between signals therefrom, i.e. path-difference systems · CPC title

• G01S5/02213

  Receivers arranged in a network for determining the position of a transmitter · CPC title

• G01S5/0242

  Determining the position of transmitters to be subsequently used in positioning (G01S5/0289 takes precedence) · CPC title