Radio wave propagation environment measuring apparatus, radio network construction system, and method for measuring radio wave propagation environment

A radio wave propagation environment measuring apparatus comprising:

• an electromagnetic wave transmission means disposed at a site at which a radio network system is planned to be constructed, the electromagnetic wave transmission means being configured to transmit a radio signal;
• an electromagnetic wave measuring means configured to receive the radio signal to obtain an electromagnetic wave measured value at each of a plurality of times;
• a radio control apparatus configured to communicate with and control the electromagnetic wave transmission means and the electromagnetic wave measuring means;
• a three-dimensional structure input means configured to input an electrical property and three-dimensional structure information of a structure included in the site, the three-dimensional structure information including three-dimensional shape information;
• a propagation state estimation unit configured to estimate an electromagnetic wave propagation state between the electromagnetic wave transmission means and the electromagnetic wave measuring means using the three-dimensional structure information to obtain an electromagnetic wave estimated value at each of the plurality of times;
• an estimation error mapping unit configured to make a comparison between the electromagnetic wave measured and estimated values for each of the plurality of times, the electromagnetic wave measured and estimated values being expressed as signal strength, to obtain a time series of error values, to determine where an error value in the time series of error values between the electromagnetic wave measured and estimated values is greater than a reference value, and to obtain a path through which a radio signal from the electromagnetic wave transmission means is received by the electromagnetic wave measuring means, the path being referred to as an electromagnetic wave path;
• a question generation unit configured to re-obtain the electromagnetic wave estimated value when the error value is greater than the reference value by modifying the three-dimensional structure information of an area located on the electromagnetic wave path and to make a comparison between the electromagnetic wave measured value and the re-obtained electromagnetic wave estimated value to modify the three-dimensional structure information so that the error value becomes smaller than the reference value;
• a display apparatus configured to display information related to the three-dimensional structure information of the area located on the electromagnetic wave path on a layout drawing of the structure included in the site at which a radio network system is planned to be constructed;
• and
• a three-dimensional structure information modification means configured to modify a value of the three-dimensional structure information.

A wireless network construction system comprising:

• radio communication apparatuses disposed in positions at a site at which a radio network system is planned to be constructed, the radio communication apparatuses being configured to transmit or receive a radio signal;
• a radio control apparatus configured to communicate with and control the radio communication apparatuses;
• an electromagnetic wave measuring means configured to receive, from the radio control apparatus, radio signals transmitted by the radio communication apparatuses to obtain electromagnetic wave measured values and a position and direction of an antenna of each radio communication apparatus;
• a three-dimensional structure input means configured to receive an electrical property and three-dimensional structure information of a structure included in the site, the three-dimensional structure information including three-dimensional shape information;
• a propagation state estimation unit configured to estimate an electromagnetic wave propagation state between the electromagnetic wave transmission means and the electromagnetic wave measuring means using the three-dimensional structure information to obtain an electromagnetic wave estimated value at each of a plurality of times;
• an estimation error mapping unit configured to make a comparison between the electromagnetic wave measured and estimated values for each of the plurality of times, the electromagnetic wave measured and estimated values being expressed as signal strength, to obtain a time series of error values, to determine where an error value in the time series of error values between the electromagnetic wave measured and estimated values is greater than a reference value, and to obtain a path through which a radio signal from the electromagnetic wave transmission means is received by the electromagnetic wave measuring means, the path being referred to as an electromagnetic wave path;
• a question generation unit configured to re-obtain the electromagnetic wave estimated value when the error value is greater than the reference value by modifying the three-dimensional structure information of an area located on the electromagnetic wave path and to make a comparison between the electromagnetic wave measured value and the re-obtained electromagnetic wave estimated value to modify the three-dimensional structure information so that the error value becomes smaller than the reference value;
• and
• an antenna position instruction means configured to cause the propagation state estimation unit to change the antenna position and estimate propagation on the basis of the modified three-dimensional structure information and to present an antenna position in which there exists a propagation state similar to a desired propagation state of a plurality of propagation states.

A method for measuring a radio wave propagation environment, comprising:

• installing radio signal transmission and reception apparatuses at a site at which a radio network system is planned to be constructed and obtaining an electromagnetic wave measured value of a radio signal between the radio signal transmission and reception apparatuses at each of a plurality of times;
• communicating with and controlling the radio signal transmission and reception apparatuses;
• estimating an electromagnetic wave propagation state of a radio signal between the radio signal transmission and reception apparatuses using an electrical property and three-dimensional structure information of a structure included in the site, the three-dimensional structure information including three-dimensional shape information, to obtain an electromagnetic wave estimated value at each of the plurality of times;
• making a comparison between the electromagnetic wave measured and estimated values for each of the plurality of times, the electromagnetic wave measured and estimated values being expressed as signal strength, to obtain a time series of error values, to determine where an error value in the time series of error values between the electromagnetic wave measured and estimated values is greater than a reference value;
• obtaining, as an electromagnetic wave path, a path between the radio signal transmission and reception apparatuses, of a radio signal received;
• modifying the three-dimensional structure information of an area located on the electromagnetic wave path to re-obtain the electromagnetic wave estimated value when the error value is greater than the reference value;
• and
• making a comparison between the electromagnetic wave measured value and the re-obtained electromagnetic wave estimated value to modify the three-dimensional structure information so that the error value becomes smaller than the reference value.