WO2024194984A1 - Communication support to specific user at specific position - Google Patents

Abstract

This network management device has a processor. The processor determines whether or not a specific user or a user device owned by the specific user is at a specific position. If the determination is affirmative, the processor requests an external device for managing slices to allocate, to the user device, a dedicated slice to be used for communication by the user device. Therefore, the present invention can improve the communication quality and throughput of a user device owned by a specific user if the user is at a specific position.

Description

Supporting communication to specific users at specific locations

This disclosure relates to providing communication support to a specific user at a specific location.

In the field of wireless communication, technology has been developed to allocate slices, which are units into which wired resources are divided, to multiple wireless communication terminals (Patent Document 1).

JP 2021-180353 A

In wireless communications, it is useful to be able to improve the communication quality and throughput for a specific user. In other words, if a specific user is in a specific location, and the communication quality and throughput of the user device owned by that user can be improved, that user will be motivated to go to that specific location. In addition, being in a specific location will give preferential treatment, and this will increase the satisfaction of the user at that location.

The present disclosure therefore aims to improve communication quality and throughput for a user device owned by a specific user when that user is in a specific location.

One aspect of the present disclosure provides a network management device. The network management device has a processor. The processor determines whether a specific user or a user device owned by a specific user is in a specific location. If the specific user or the user device is in the specific location, the processor requests an external device that manages slices to assign a dedicated slice to the user device to be used for communication for the user device.

In one aspect of the present disclosure, when a specific user is in a specific location, it is possible to improve communication quality and throughput for the user device owned by that user.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a communication network according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a network management device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of a wireless antenna unit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram of downlink transmit beamforming according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram of uplink receive beamforming according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram of a joint transmission of Coordinated MultiPoint downlink according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 7 is a conceptual diagram of slicing according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 8 is a plan view of a stadium to which an embodiment of the present disclosure is applied. FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a communication control method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a communication control method according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

Below, an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the attached drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, a communication network according to an embodiment of the present disclosure has an eNodeB (mobile phone base station), a backhaul transport network 10, and a switching center 11. For simplicity of explanation, FIG. 1 shows a single eNodeB, but the communication network has multiple eNodeBs. This communication network is a network for a fifth generation (5G) wireless communication system.

Each eNodeB has one CU (Central Unit) 1, multiple DUs (Distributed Units) and multiple RUs (Radio Units). Multiple DUs are connected to CU 1.

CU1 performs radio resource control, operations according to PDCP (Packet Data Convergence Protocol), operations according to SDAP (Service Data Adaptation Protocol), etc. CU1 corresponds to the network management device of this disclosure.

The DU performs user data modulation/demodulation, encoding/decoding, scrambling, media access control, etc.

Multiple RUs are connected to one DU. Each RU is a radio antenna unit having a phased array type antenna device. The phased array type antenna device has a large number of radio antenna elements. Using the antenna device, each RU can wirelessly communicate with multiple UEs (User Equipment).

Uplink user data from the UE is received by at least one RU and transmitted from the RU to the DU and CU1. The CU1 transmits the uplink user data to the switching center 11 via the wired backhaul transport network 10. The switching center 11 transmits the user data to the destination communication device via the Internet 12.

In addition, when the switching center 11 receives user data addressed to a UE, it transmits the user data to the CU1 of the eNodeB in which the UE is located via the backhaul transport network 10. The CU1 transmits the user data as downlink user data to a DU connected to at least one RU with which the UE communicates. The DU transmits the downlink user data to the RU, and the RU transmits the downlink user data to the destination UE.

As shown in Figure 2, CU1 has a CPU (Central Processing Unit) (i.e., a processor), ROM (Read Only Memory), RAM (Random Access Memory), HDD (Hard Disk Drive), and multiple communication interfaces (I/F).

The ROM or HDD stores computer programs required for the operation of CU1. The ROM or HDD also stores data such as parameters required for the operation of CU1.

The CPU executes a computer program stored in the ROM or HDD while using data stored in the ROM or HDD, and operates according to the computer program. Specifically, the CPU transfers the above-mentioned user data, and performs the associated operations according to the PDCP and SDAP. The CPU also controls radio resource control, i.e., the communication settings between each UE and the RU within the range of CU1. For example, as described below, the CPU controls the beamforming settings of the RU.

RAM is used as a work area for the CPU.

The multiple communication interfaces are each connected to the DU and the backhaul transport network 10.

FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of RU 20, which is a radio antenna unit. As shown in FIG. 3, RU 20 has a precoder 22, a transmit beamformer 23, multiple transmit antenna elements 24a to 24n, a postcoder 25, a receive beamformer 26, and multiple receive antenna elements 27a to 27n.

Although not shown in FIG. 3, RU20 has a CPU, i.e., a processor, ROM, RAM, HDD, and a communication interface for performing communications. The ROM or HDD stores computer programs required for the operation of RU20. The ROM or HDD also stores data such as parameters required for the operation of RU20. The CPU executes the computer programs stored in the ROM or HDD while using the data stored in the ROM or HDD, and operates according to the computer programs. Specifically, the CPU controls wireless communication of user data with the UE, and wired communication of user data with the DU. The RAM is used as a work area for the CPU. The communication interface is connected to the DU.

The transmitting antenna elements 24a to 24n form a phased array type antenna device. Downlink signals addressed to multiple UEs and transmitted from the RU are input to the precoder 22. In other words, the number of signals input to the precoder 22 is the number of downlink streams (also called layers or ranks) transmitted from the RU. The precoder 22 performs precoding required for downlink transmit beamforming. Precoding reduces interference between UEs and between streams. The precoder 22 may be a digital precoder, an analog precoder, or a hybrid of the two.

The output of the precoder 22 is supplied to the transmit beamformer 23. The transmit beamformer 23 adjusts the phase and amplitude of the signals provided to the transmit antenna elements 24a to 24n. The transmit beamformer 23 may be a digital beamformer, an analog beamformer, or a hybrid of the two. The number of signals output from the transmit beamformer 23 is the number of transmit antenna elements 24a to 24n.

The receiving antenna elements 27a to 27n form a phased array type antenna device. Signals from the receiving antenna elements 27a to 27n are supplied to the receiving beamformer 26. The number of signals supplied to the receiving beamformer 26 is the number of receiving antenna elements 27a to 27n. The receiving beamformer 26 adjusts the phase and amplitude of the signals supplied from the receiving antenna elements 27a to 27n. The receiving beamformer 26 may be a digital beamformer, an analog beamformer, or a hybrid of both.

The output of the receive beamformer 26 is supplied to the postcoder 25. The postcoder 25 performs postcoding required for uplink receive beamforming and separates uplink signals received from multiple UEs within the range of the RU. In other words, the number of signals output from the postcoder 25 is the number of uplink streams transmitted from the UE to the RU. Postcoding reduces interference between UEs and between streams. The postcoder 25 may be a digital postcoder, an analog postcoder, or a hybrid of the two.

In 5G wireless communication systems, millimeter wave band carriers are used to ensure high transmission throughput. Because the reach of millimeter wave band carriers is short, a Massive-MIMO transmission method that uses multiple antenna elements is adopted, and the reach is effectively extended by using beamforming.

Figure 4 shows the concept of downlink transmit beamforming. As a premise, the RU transmits measured beams in multiple directions (sweeps the measured beams) periodically or upon request from the UE. Each UE measures the received power or quality of signals transmitted by these measured beams, such as CSI-RS (Channel State Information Reference Signal), and reports the measurement results. Based on the measurement result report (Channel State Information Report), the transmit beamformer 23 of the RU forms a downlink transmit beam so that the main lobe 30 is directed toward each UE. The main lobe 30 corresponds to the shape of the beam formed by the cooperative action of multiple transmit antenna elements 24a to 24n as a result of beamforming. In addition, side lobes 31 are also formed as a result of beamforming. Downlink user data to each UE, i.e., data of the PDSCH (Physical Downlink Shared Channel), is carried by the transmit beam to that UE.

The RU performs downlink transmit beamforming individually for each UE. However, a downlink beam for a UE's neighboring UEs interferes with the beam received by that UE, reducing the reception quality of user data at that UE. In other words, a beam for a UE is harmful to beams for other UEs in the same direction. The precoder 22 performs precoding to reduce interference.

Known downlink precoding techniques include, for example, Maximal Ratio Transmission (MRT), Zero-Forcing (ZF), and Minimum Mean Square Error (MMSE).

In MRT precoding, the precoding weights are set to maximize the power that reaches the destination UE (receiving side). In ZF precoding, the precoding weights are set to minimize the mutual interference of beams to multiple UEs. In MMSE precoding, the precoding weights are set taking into account the effects of both interference components at the receiving side and thermal noise components at the receiving side.

Compared to MRT precoding, ZF precoding and MMSE precoding can improve the reception quality at the receiving side (destination UE), for example, the SNR (signal-to-noise ratio) and/or SINR (signal-to-interference plus noise power ratio) of the PDSCH. In other words, ZF precoding and MMSE precoding are technologies that improve the reception quality at the receiving side (UE) in downlink beamforming.

In this embodiment, each RU can execute two precoding techniques. One is ZF precoding or MMSE precoding, which has high reception quality at the UE in downlink beamforming, and the other is MRT precoding, which has low reception quality at the UE in downlink beamforming. To execute the two precoding techniques, each RU may have two precoders 22.

Hereinafter, switching the precoding method for a certain UE to improve the reception quality at that UE (i.e., switching the precoding method from MRT to ZF or MMSE) is referred to as the first precoding adjustment process. Conversely, switching the precoding method for a certain UE to degrade the reception quality at that UE (i.e., switching the precoding method from ZF or MMSE to MRT) is referred to as the second precoding adjustment process.

Figure 5 shows the concept of uplink receive beamforming. Based on the channel state information reports from each UE, the receive beamformer 26 of the RU forms an uplink receive beam so that the main lobe 40 is directed to each UE. More precisely, the phase and amplitude of the signals provided by the receive antenna elements 27a-27n are adjusted so that the reception quality at the RU of a carrier wave from a certain UE is maximized in the direction of the UE for the RU. Assuming that the multiple receive antenna elements 27a-27n are transmit antenna elements, the main lobe 40 corresponds to the shape of the beam formed by the cooperative action of these transmit antenna elements as a result of beamforming. In addition, side lobes 41 are also formed as a result of beamforming. Uplink user data from each UE, i.e., data on the Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH), is carried by a beam from that UE.

The RU performs uplink receive beamforming separately for each UE. However, uplink beams from neighboring UEs of a UE interfere with the uplink beam of that UE, reducing the reception quality at the RU of user data for that UE. That is, a beam from a UE is harmful to beams from other UEs in the same direction. The postcoder 25 performs postcoding to reduce interference.

As uplink post-coding techniques, for example, the ZF and MMSE methods are known as linear separation, and MLD (Maximum Likelihood Detection) is known as nonlinear separation.

In ZF postcoding, postcoding weights are set so that mutual interference between beams from multiple UEs at the RU (receiving side) is minimized. In MMSE postcoding, postcoding weights are set taking into account the effects of both interference components at the receiving side (RU) and thermal noise components at the receiving side. In MLD postcoding, signal separation is performed based on maximum likelihood precedent.

Compared to ZF postcoding and MMSE postcoding, MLD postcoding can improve the reception quality at the receiving RU, for example, the SNR and/or SINR of the PUSCH. In other words, MLD postcoding is a technology that improves the reception quality at the receiving RU in uplink beamforming.

In this embodiment, each RU can perform two postcoding techniques. One is MLD postcoding, which provides high reception quality at the RU in uplink beamforming, and the other is ZF postcoding or MMSE postcoding, which provides low reception quality at the RU in uplink beamforming. To perform the two postcoding techniques, each RU may have two postcoders 25.

Hereinafter, switching the postcoding scheme for a certain UE to improve the reception quality at the RU of the transmission beam from that UE (i.e., switching the postcoding scheme from ZF or MMSE to MLD) is referred to as the first postcoding adjustment process. Conversely, switching the postcoding scheme for a certain UE to degrade the reception quality at the RU of the transmission beam from that UE (i.e., switching the postcoding scheme from MLD to ZF or MMSE) is referred to as the second postcoding adjustment process.

Figure 6 shows the concept of downlink joint transmission in Coordinated Multi-Point (CoMP) used in 5G wireless communication systems. In joint transmission, multiple RUs cooperate to coherently transmit user data to one UE so that the downlink beams from these RUs do not interfere with each other. In the state shown in Figure 6, the UE is in the overlapping region 32 of the radio wave coverage of two RUs. The two RUs transmit the same user data to the UE so that the gain at the receiving side is increased. In this case, each RU performs downlink transmit beamforming and precoding.

Although 5G standards do not prescribe uplink CoMP, in this embodiment, multiple RUs may cooperate to receive user data from one UE. In this case, each RU performs uplink receive beamforming and postcoding.

Figure 7 shows the concept of slicing according to this embodiment. The available communication resources in Figure 7 include the RAN (Radio Access Network), the backhaul transport network 10 (Figure 1), and the core network. Here, the RAN is the wired fronthaul network in the eNodeB, and the core network is the wired network in the switching center 11.

In this embodiment, the available communication resources are classified into shared slices available for multiple UEs and communication resources available for individual UEs. FIG. 7 shows that a portion of the communication resources available for individual UEs is currently used as dedicated slices for three UEs. The remaining available communication resources are unused slices. The sliced communication resources according to the present disclosure are primarily wired resources, but are not limited to wired resources and may be wireless resources.

As shown in FIG. 1, the switching center 11 has an E2EO (End to End orchestrator), a slice manager, and a UPF (User Plane Function). In this embodiment, the E2EO manages slices. Specifically, in accordance with a request from CU1, the E2EO gives the slice manager an instruction to allocate a dedicated slice for a specific UE or cancel the allocation of the dedicated slice. The slice manager allocates and cancels the dedicated slice in accordance with this instruction. When the slice manager completes the allocation of the dedicated slice, the CU1 and the UPF use communication resources for the corresponding UE in accordance with the dedicated slice allocation. When the slice manager completes the cancellation of the dedicated slice allocation, the CU1 and the UPF control the corresponding UE to use the shared slice in accordance with the cancellation of the allocation.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of a stadium to which an embodiment of the present disclosure is applied. The stadium shown is a baseball stadium.

In the seating area of the baseball stadium, many RUs 20 (20a-20s) connected to one DU are placed at intervals from one another. Information regarding the location of each of these RUs 20a-20s is stored in, for example, an HDD in CU1.

When a 5G-compliant UE enters the spectator seating area, it uses one or more RUs 20 to perform 5G wireless communication. Therefore, when the UE enters the spectator seating area, the RUs 20 in the vicinity of the UE immediately start downlink transmit beamforming and uplink receive beamforming. In this baseball stadium, downlink beamforming typically uses MRT precoding, which has low reception quality at the UE, and uplink receive beamforming typically uses ZF postcoding or MMSE postcoding, which has low reception quality at the RU.

Special seats 51 are provided in the spectator seating area. The special seats 51 may be reserved seats for spectators, or may be press boxes for reporters covering the event. For example, the special seats 51 may be reserved seats for special spectators who have paid a higher admission fee than spectators for other seats of the same rank.

Information regarding the location of special seat 51 is stored in, for example, a HDD of CU1. Information regarding the user who should sit in special seat 51, for example the MAC address and/or IMSI (International Mobile Subscriber Identity) of the UE owned by the user, is also stored in, for example, a HDD of CU1. Hereinafter, the user who should sit in special seat 51 is referred to as a "specific user." When there are multiple specific users and multiple special seats 51, each specific user and the special seat 51 in which that specific user should sit are stored in association with each other in, for example, a HDD of CU1.

FIG. 8 shows a state in which a specific user 50 is approaching a special seat 51. In this embodiment, when the specific user 50 sits in the special seat 51, the communication quality and throughput of the UE owned by the specific user 50 are improved. On the other hand, when the specific user 50 moves away from the special seat 51, the communication quality and throughput of the UE are reduced to the same level as those of the UEs of other spectators. The UE owned by the specific user 50 may be a smartphone or tablet terminal capable of 5G wireless communication, or may be a wearable camera capable of 5G wireless communication.

The communication control method according to this embodiment will be specifically described with reference to FIG. 9. This method is executed by CU1 and starts when a specific user 50 enters the stadium and connects to one of RUs 20a-20s. Immediately after starting, beamforming is initiated for the UE of the specific user 50, and the communication quality and throughput for that UE are comparable to those for the UEs of other spectators.

In step S1, the CPU of CU1 tracks the location of a specific user 50 or a UE of a specific user 50. As described above, for beamforming, the RU sweeps the measured beam in multiple directions periodically or upon request from the UE, so that the UE possessed by the specific user 50 transmits a channel state information report to the RU 20 almost periodically. The RU 20 transfers the channel state information report to the CU1. In step S1, the CPU of CU1 calculates the location of the UE of the specific user 50 based on the location of the RU 20 registered in, for example, an HDD of the CU1 and the channel state information report.

Alternatively, the CPU of CU1 may cause three or more RUs 20 to transmit a beacon addressed to the UE of a specific user 50. Based on the difference between the time the beacon is transmitted and the time the reply is received from the UE to each RU 20, i.e., the RTT (Round Trip Time), and the location of each RU 20, the CPU of CU1 can calculate the location of the UE of a specific user 50.

Alternatively, if a UE in the stadium's seating area is capable of receiving radio waves from a Global Positioning System (GPS), the UE may use GPS positioning to determine its own location and report the UE's location to CU1 via RU20. In this case as well, the CPU of CU1 can determine the location of the UE of a particular user 50.

Alternatively, if multiple surveillance cameras are installed in the spectator seating area of the stadium, the CPU of CU1 compares the images captured by the surveillance cameras with an image of the face of the specific user 50 that has been registered in advance, for example, in the HDD of CU1. When the specific user 50 is captured by a surveillance camera, the CPU of CU1 can identify the location of the specific user 50 based on the position of the surveillance camera that captured the specific user 50 and the captured image.

In step S2, a location determination process is executed. That is, the CPU of CU1 determines whether or not a specific user 50 is in a specific location (special seat 51 in this case). Specifically, it is determined whether or not the location of a UE having a MAC address or IMSI registered in, for example, an HDD of CU1 matches the location of special seat 51 registered in, for example, an HDD of CU1. Or,

If the determination in step S2 is positive, the operation proceeds to step S3, where the CPU of CU1 determines whether a specific location flag, described below, has been set. The specific location flag is used to identify whether a specific user 50 is in a specific location.

If the operation proceeds to step S3 for the first time after a specific user 50 enters the stadium, the specific position flag has not yet been set, so the operation proceeds to step S4.

In step S4, the CPU of CU1 performs a first adjustment process. The first adjustment process includes both the first precoding adjustment process and the first postcoding adjustment process described above.

In the first precoding adjustment process, the CPU of CU1 instructs at least one RU20 (for example, RU20i alone or RU20i and RU20j in FIG. 8) with which the UE of the specific user 50 communicates to switch the precoding method from MRT precoding to ZF precoding or MMSE precoding. The RU20 switches the precoding method in accordance with the instruction. Therefore, in downlink transmission beamforming, interference from other UEs to the UE of the specific user 50 is reduced, and the reception quality at the UE of the specific user 50 is improved. With the improvement in reception quality, the number of automatic repeat requests (ARQ) from the UE is reduced, and as a result, the wireless communication throughput can be increased. Therefore, when the specific user 50 is in the special seat 51, the wireless communication quality and wireless communication throughput can be increased for the UE of the specific user 50.

ZF precoding and MMSE precoding use channel state information reports from multiple UEs to reduce mutual interference between multiple UEs. Therefore, for multiple other UEs in the vicinity of a specific user 50, RU 20 switches from MRT precoding to ZF precoding or MMSE precoding. As a result, the reception quality of multiple other UEs in the vicinity of a specific user 50 is also improved.

In the first postcoding adjustment process, the CPU of CU1 instructs at least one RU20 (e.g., RU20i alone or RU20i and RU20j in FIG. 8) with which the UE of the specific user 50 communicates to switch the postcoding method from ZF postcoding or MMSE postcoding to MLD postcoding. The RU20 switches the postcoding method in accordance with the instruction. Therefore, in uplink reception beamforming, interference from other UEs to the UE of the specific user 50 is reduced, and the reception quality at the RU of the transmission beam from the UE of the specific user 50 is improved. With the improvement in reception quality, the number of automatic repeat requests from the RU is reduced, and as a result, the wireless communication throughput can be increased. Therefore, when the specific user 50 is in the special seat 51, the wireless communication quality and wireless communication throughput can be increased for the UE of the specific user 50.

In step S5, the CPU of CU1 requests E2EO to allocate a dedicated slice to a specific user 50's UE to be used for communication for that UE. In response to the request, E2EO issues a command to the slice manager to allocate the dedicated slice to that UE. Thus, when the specific user 50 is in the special seat 51, the communication quality and throughput can be improved for the UE of the specific user 50.

In step S6, the CPU of CU1 sets a specific position flag in the RAM of CU1 so that it can be identified that the specific user 50 is in the special seat 51.

After step S6, the operation returns to step S1. After this, if the specific user 50 continues to stay in the special seat 51, the determination in step S2 is positive, and the determination in step S3 is also positive. In this case, the UE of the specific user 50 continues to be given preferential treatment in both beamforming and dedicated slices. If the determination in step S3 is positive, the operation returns to step S1.

If the determination in step S2 is negative, the operation proceeds to step S7. In step S7, the CPU of CU1 determines whether the UE of the specific user 50 is within the range of the DU. In other words, it determines whether the UE is communicating with any of the RUs 20a to 20s in the stadium. If the determination in step S7 is negative, it means that the specific user 50 has left the stadium. In this case, the operation ends. If the specific user 50 re-enters the stadium, the operation resumes and step S1 is executed.

If the determination in step S7 is positive, the specific user 50 is in the stadium but not in the special seat 51. In this case, the operation proceeds to step S8, where the CPU of CU1 determines whether the specific position flag has been set. If the determination in step S8 is negative, the operation returns to step S1.

If the determination in step S8 is positive, the operation proceeds to step S9, where the CPU of CU1 performs a second adjustment process. The second adjustment process includes both the second precoding adjustment process and the second postcoding adjustment process described above.

In the second precoding adjustment process, the CPU of the CU1 instructs at least one RU20 (for example, RU20i alone or RU20i and RU20j in FIG. 8) with which the UE of the specific user 50 communicates to switch the precoding method from ZF precoding or MMSE precoding to MRT precoding. The RU20 switches the precoding method according to the instruction. Therefore, in downlink transmission beamforming, interference from other UEs to the UE of the specific user 50 increases, and the reception quality at the UE of the specific user 50 decreases. That is, the UE receives a downlink beam that has been MRT precoded, just like other UEs. As the reception quality decreases, the number of automatic repeat requests from the UE increases, and as a result, the wireless communication throughput decreases. Therefore, when the specific user 50 is not in the special seat 51, the wireless communication quality and wireless communication throughput decrease for the UE of the specific user 50.

The ZF precoding and MMSE precoding performed immediately before use channel state information reports from multiple UEs to reduce mutual interference between multiple UEs. Therefore, RU 20 also performs ZF precoding or MMSE precoding for multiple other UEs in the vicinity of specific user 50. Therefore, when switching the precoding scheme for the UE of specific user 50 to MRT precoding, RU 20 also switches the precoding scheme to MRT precoding for multiple other UEs in the vicinity of specific user 50. As a result, the reception quality of multiple other UEs in the vicinity of specific user 50 also deteriorates.

In the second postcoding adjustment process, the CPU of CU1 commands at least one RU20 (for example, RU20i alone or RU20i and RU20j in FIG. 8) with which the UE of the specific user 50 communicates to switch the postcoding method from MLD postcoding to ZF postcoding or MMSE postcoding. The RU20 switches the postcoding method in accordance with the command. Therefore, in uplink reception beamforming, interference from other UEs to the UE of the specific user 50 increases, and the reception quality at the RU of the transmission beam from the UE of the specific user 50 decreases. As the reception quality decreases, the number of automatic repeat requests from the RU increases, and as a result, the wireless communication throughput decreases. Therefore, when the specific user 50 is not in the special seat 51, the wireless communication quality and wireless communication throughput decrease for the UE of the specific user 50.

In step S9, the CPU of CU1 requests E2EO to cancel the allocation of the dedicated slice for the UE of the specific user 50. In response to the request, E2EO issues a command to the slice manager to cancel the allocation of the dedicated slice to the UE. Thus, when the specific user 50 is not in the special seat 51, the communication quality and throughput for the UE of the specific user 50 is degraded.

In step S10, the CPU of CU1 resets the specific position flag in the RAM of CU1 so that it can be identified that the specific user 50 is not in the special seat 51.

After step S10, the operation returns to step S1. If the specific user 50 continues to move away from the special seat 51 even if he or she is in the stadium, the determination in step S2 is negative, and the determination in step S8 is also negative. In this case, the UE of the specific user 50 is not given preferential treatment in either beamforming or dedicated slices, and is treated equally to other UEs.

As described above, according to this embodiment, as long as the specific user 50 is staying in the special seat 51, the communication quality and throughput of the UE owned by the specific user 50 are improved. If the specific user 50 is not staying in the special seat 51, the UE of the specific user 50 is treated equally to other UEs. Therefore, the specific user 50 is given an incentive to stay in the special seat 51, and as long as he or she stays in the special seat 51, the specific user 50's satisfaction with wireless communication is increased.

A communication control method according to another embodiment of the present disclosure will be specifically described with reference to FIG. 10. This method is also executed by CU1 and starts when a specific user 50 enters the stadium and connects to one of RUs 20a-20s. Immediately after starting, beamforming is initiated for the UE of the specific user 50, and the communication quality and throughput for that UE are comparable to those for the UEs of other spectators.

In step S21, a position determination process is executed. That is, the CPU of CU1 determines whether or not a specific user 50 is in a specific position (here, special seat 51). In step S21, a human presence sensor installed in special seat 51 may determine whether or not a person is seated in special seat 51. However, in this case, it is not certain that the person seated in special seat 51 is specific user 50.

Alternatively, if a surveillance camera is installed with the special seat 51 in its field of view, the CPU of CU1 compares the image captured by the surveillance camera with an image of the face of the specific user 50 that has been registered in advance, for example, in the HDD of CU1. This comparison may be used to determine whether the specific user 50 has sat in the special seat 51.

The operation waits until the determination in step S21 is positive. When the determination in step S21 is positive, the operation proceeds to step S22, where the CPU of CU1 performs a first adjustment process. The first adjustment process in step S22 is the same as the first adjustment process in step S4 in FIG. 9. Therefore, it is possible to improve the wireless communication quality and wireless communication throughput for the UE of a particular user 50.

In step S23, the CPU of CU1 requests E2EO to allocate a dedicated slice to a specific user 50's UE to be used for communication for that UE. The request in step S23 is the same as the request in step S5 in FIG. 9. Therefore, the communication quality and throughput for the specific user 50's UE can be improved.

Next, in step S24, a position determination process is executed. That is, the CPU of CU1 determines whether or not the specific user 50 is in a specific position (special seat 51 in this case). The determination method in step S24 is the same as the determination method in step S21. The operation waits until the determination in step S21 is negative. Therefore, as long as the specific user 50 is present in the special seat 51, the UE of the specific user 50 continues to be given preferential treatment in both beamforming and dedicated slices.

If the determination in step S24 is negative, the operation proceeds to step S25, where the CPU of CU1 performs a second adjustment process. The second adjustment process in step S25 is the same as the second adjustment process in step S9 in FIG. 9. Therefore, the wireless communication quality and wireless communication throughput for the UE of the specific user 50 decrease.

In step S26, the CPU of CU1 requests E2EO to cancel the allocation of the dedicated slice for the UE of the specific user 50. The request in step S26 is the same as the request in step S10 in FIG. 9. Therefore, the communication quality and throughput for the UE of the specific user 50 are degraded.

Next, in step S27, the CPU of CU1 determines whether the UE of the specific user 50 is within the range of the DU. In other words, it determines whether the UE is communicating with any of the RUs 20a to 20s in the stadium. If the determination in step S27 is negative, this means that the specific user 50 has left the stadium. In this case, the operation ends. If the specific user 50 re-enters the stadium, the operation resumes and step S21 is executed.

If the determination in step S27 is positive, it means that the specific user 50 is in the stadium but not in the special seat 51. In this case, the operation returns to step S21. If the specific user 50 subsequently stays away from the special seat 51 even though he is in the stadium, the determination in step S21 is negative. In this case, the UE of the specific user 50 is not given preferential treatment in either beamforming or dedicated slices, and is treated equally to other UEs.

As described above, according to this embodiment, as long as the specific user 50 is staying in the special seat 51, the communication quality and throughput of the UE owned by the specific user 50 are improved. If the specific user 50 is not staying in the special seat 51, the UE of the specific user 50 is treated equally to other UEs. Therefore, the specific user 50 is given an incentive to stay in the special seat 51, and as long as he or she stays in the special seat 51, the specific user 50's satisfaction with wireless communication is increased.

Although the present disclosure has been illustrated and described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, those skilled in the art will understand that changes in form and detail may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims. Such changes, modifications and alterations are intended to be within the scope of the present disclosure.

For example, in the above embodiment, the first adjustment process (step S4 in FIG. 9 and step S22 in FIG. 10) has both a first precoding adjustment process and a first postcoding adjustment process. Correspondingly, the second adjustment process (step S9 in FIG. 9 and step S25 in FIG. 10) has both a second precoding adjustment process and a second postcoding adjustment process. Therefore, when a specific user 50 is in a special seat 51, the wireless communication quality of the UE of the specific user 50 is improved in both downlink transmission and uplink transmission. However, there may be users who wish to receive preferential treatment only for downlink transmission, or users who wish to receive preferential treatment only for uplink transmission.

Therefore, as an option, when a specific user 50 is in a special seat 51, the wireless communication quality may be increased only for downlink transmission. Specifically, only the first precoding adjustment process may be executed in the first adjustment process. As a result, only the second precoding adjustment process is executed in the second adjustment process.

Optionally, conversely, when a specific user 50 is in a special seat 51, the wireless communication quality may be increased only for uplink transmission. Specifically, only the first post-coding adjustment process may be executed in the first adjustment process. As a result, only the second post-coding adjustment process is executed in the second adjustment process.

MRT precoding, ZF precoding, and MMSE precoding are given as examples of precoding techniques for downlink beamforming. MRT precoding is given as an example of a normal precoding technique (a precoding technique executed after the second precoding adjustment process), and ZF precoding and MMSE precoding are given as examples of precoding techniques that result in high reception quality (precoding techniques executed after the first precoding adjustment process).

However, other precoding techniques may also be used. In that case, the precoding technique that results in high reception quality at the UE is executed as a result of the first precoding adjustment process, and the precoding technique that results in low reception quality at the UE is executed as a result of the second precoding adjustment process.

ZF postcoding, MMSE postcoding, and MLD postcoding are exemplified as postcoding techniques for uplink beamforming. ZF postcoding and MMSE postcoding are exemplified as normal postcoding techniques (postcoding techniques executed after the second postcoding adjustment process), and MLD postcoding is exemplified as a postcoding technique that results in high reception quality (postcoding technique executed after the first postcoding adjustment process).

However, other postcoding techniques may be used. In that case, the postcoding technique that results in high reception quality at the RU is executed as a result of the first postcoding adjustment process, and the postcoding technique that results in low reception quality at the RU is executed as a result of the second postcoding adjustment process.

In the above embodiment, with regard to downlink beamforming, the CPU of the CU1 instructs the RU20 to switch the precoding method in the first precoding adjustment process and the second precoding adjustment process. However, instead of switching the precoding method, the CPU of the CU1 may instruct the RU20 to input a reception power or reception quality lower than the reception power or reception quality of the channel state information report reported to the RU20 from the UE of the specific user 50 in the first precoding adjustment process to at least one of the precoder 22 and the transmission beamformer 23 of the RU20. By inputting a reception power or reception quality lower than the actually measured reception power or reception quality to at least one of the precoder 22 and the transmission beamformer 23, the reception quality in the UE of the specific user 50 is improved. With the improvement in reception quality, the number of automatic repeat requests from the UE is reduced, and as a result, the wireless communication throughput can be increased. Therefore, when the specific user 50 is in the special seat 51, the wireless communication quality and wireless communication throughput can be increased for the UE of the specific user 50. In this case, the precoding method of RU 20 does not change, so the reception quality of multiple other UEs in the vicinity of a specific user 50 does not improve.

In this case, the CPU of CU1 instructs RU20 to input the reception power or reception quality of the channel state information report reported to RU20 from the UE of specific user 50 to the precoder 22 of RU20 in the second precoding adjustment process. By inputting the actually measured reception power or reception quality to the precoder 22, the reception quality at the UE of specific user 50 decreases (returning to the reception quality during normal downlink beamforming). As the reception quality decreases, the number of automatic repeat requests from the UE increases, and as a result, the wireless communication throughput decreases. Therefore, when specific user 50 is not in special seat 51, the wireless communication quality and wireless communication throughput decrease for the UE of specific user 50.

The CPU of CU1 may instruct RU20, with which the UE of specific user 50 communicates, in the first precoding adjustment process or instead of the first precoding adjustment process, to allocate more PDSCH resource blocks (and thus resource elements) for the UE of specific user 50 than usual. In accordance with the instruction, RU20 allocates more resource blocks to the UE of specific user 50 than usual. Therefore, when specific user 50 is in special seat 51, the downlink wireless communication throughput for the UE of specific user 50 can be increased.

The CPU of CU1 may instruct RU20, with which the UE of specific user 50 communicates, in the second precoding adjustment process or instead of the second precoding adjustment process, to return the number of allocated PDSCH resource blocks (and hence resource elements) for the UE of specific user 50 to normal. In accordance with the instruction, RU20 returns the resource blocks allocated to the UE of specific user 50 to normal. Therefore, when the specific user 50 is not in the special seat 51, it is possible to reduce the downlink wireless communication throughput for the UE of specific user 50.

In the above embodiment, with regard to uplink beamforming, the CPU of the CU1 instructs the RU20 to switch the postcoding scheme in the first postcoding adjustment process and the second postcoding adjustment process. However, instead of switching the postcoding scheme, the CPU of the CU1 may instruct the RU20 to input, in the first postcoding adjustment process, a reception power or reception quality lower than the reception power or reception quality of the channel state information report reported to the RU20 from the UE of the specific user 50 to at least one of the postcoder 25 and the reception beamformer 26 of the RU20. By inputting a reception power or reception quality lower than the actually measured reception power or reception quality to at least one of the postcoder 25 and the reception beamformer 26, the reception quality of the transmission beam from the UE of the specific user 50 at the RU is improved. With the improvement in reception quality, the number of automatic repeat requests from the RU is reduced, and as a result, the wireless communication throughput can be increased. Therefore, when a specific user 50 is in a special seat 51, the wireless communication quality and wireless communication throughput can be improved for the UE of the specific user 50. In this case, the post-coding method of the RU 20 does not change, so the reception quality at the RU of the transmission beam from multiple other UEs in the vicinity of the specific user 50 does not improve.

In this case, the CPU of CU1 instructs RU20 to input the reception power or reception quality of the channel state information report reported to RU20 from the UE of specific user 50 to at least one of the postcoder 25 and the receiving beamformer 26 of RU20 in the second postcoding adjustment process. By inputting the actually measured reception power or reception quality to at least one of the postcoder 25 and the receiving beamformer 26, the reception quality of the transmission beam from the UE of specific user 50 at the RU decreases (returning to the reception quality during normal uplink beamforming). As the reception quality decreases, the number of automatic repeat requests from the RU increases, and as a result, the wireless communication throughput decreases. Therefore, when the specific user 50 is not in the special seat 51, the wireless communication quality and wireless communication throughput decrease for the UE of specific user 50.

The CPU of CU1 may instruct RU20, with which the UE of specific user 50 communicates, in the first post-coding adjustment process or instead of the first post-coding adjustment process, to allocate more PUSCH resource blocks (and thus resource elements) for the UE of specific user 50 than usual. In accordance with the instruction, RU20 allocates more resource blocks to the UE of specific user 50 than usual. Thus, when specific user 50 is in special seat 51, the uplink wireless communication throughput for the UE of specific user 50 can be increased.

The CPU of CU1 may instruct RU20, with which the UE of specific user 50 communicates, in the second post-coding adjustment process or instead of the second post-coding adjustment process, to return the number of PUSCH resource blocks (and therefore resource elements) allocated to the UE of specific user 50 to normal. In accordance with the instruction, RU20 returns the resource blocks allocated to the UE of specific user 50 to normal. Therefore, when the specific user 50 is not in the special seat 51, it is possible to reduce the uplink wireless communication throughput for the UE of specific user 50.

A baseball stadium is shown as an example of an environment in which an embodiment of the present disclosure may be implemented. However, the present disclosure may also be applied to soccer stadiums, athletics stadiums, parks, gymnasiums, other covered buildings, and other facilities. Even in these environments, when a specific user is in a specific location, there is an advantage in improving communication quality and throughput for the UE possessed by that user.

In the embodiment of the present disclosure, a special seat 51 in a stadium is exemplified as the specific location where a specific user 50 should be. However, the specific location may be other locations, such as a press area in a stadium, a seat in a restaurant in a building, or a bench in a park.

The above embodiments and variations may be combined as long as they are not inconsistent.

Aspects of this disclosure are also described in the numbered clauses below:

[1] a location determination process for determining whether a specific user or a user device carried by the specific user is in a specific location;
an allocation request process for requesting an external device that manages slices to allocate to the user device a dedicated slice to be used for communication for the specific user or user device when the specific user or user device is in the specific location;
A network management device comprising a processor executing:

[2] The processor,
The network management device according to claim 1, further comprising an allocation cancellation request process for requesting the external device to cancel the allocation of the dedicated slice when the specific user or the user device moves away from the specific location.

[3] determining whether a specific user or a user device carried by the specific user is in a specific location;
requesting an external device to allocate to the user device a dedicated slice to be used for communication for the particular user or user device when the particular user or user device is in the particular location;
A communication control method comprising:

1...CU (network management), 20 (20a-20s)...RU (radio antenna unit), 50...specific user, 51...special seat (specific position)

Claims (3)

a location determination process for determining whether a specific user or a user device carried by the specific user is in a specific location;
an allocation request process for requesting an external device that manages slices to allocate to the user device a dedicated slice to be used for communication for the specific user or user device when the specific user or user device is in the specific location;
A network management device comprising a processor that executes: The processor,
The network management device according to claim 1, further comprising an allocation cancellation request process for requesting the external device to cancel the allocation of the dedicated slice when the specific user or the user device moves away from the specific location. determining whether a particular user or a user device carried by said particular user is in a particular location;
requesting an external device to allocate to the user device a dedicated slice to be used for communication for the particular user or user device when the particular user or user device is in the particular location;
A communication control method comprising:

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