Communication control device, communication control method, non-transitory storage medium, and user equipment

Abstract

A communication control apparatus includes a processor configured to perform communication traffic limiting for a plurality of user devices when at least one of a plurality of determinations is made. The plurality of determinations includes: a number of user equipments connected to the base station being equal to or greater than a threshold; the base station is congested; and a traffic jam occurs in the area to which the base station belongs.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a communication control device, a communication control method, a non-transitory storage medium, and a user equipment. Background Art

[0002] There is a processing device that outputs a signal including information for reducing congestion of people within the coverage of a wireless communication line independent of a mobile communication service provided by a telecommunications operator based on UE count information indicating the number of user equipment (UE) equipped with a Subscriber Identify Module (SIM) card and connected to a base station (Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2022-179921 (JP 2022-179921A)). As related technologies, there are technologies described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication (Translation of PCT Application) No. 2017-516381 (JP 2017-516381A) and Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2005-176066 (JP 2005-176066 A)). Summary of the invention

[0003] The present disclosure provides a communication control apparatus, a communication control method, a non-transitory storage medium, and a user equipment capable of reducing power consumption related to communication.

[0004] A first aspect of the present disclosure is a communication control device, characterized in that it includes a processor. The processor is configured to perform communication flow limiting for multiple user equipment when the processor makes at least one of multiple determinations. The multiple determinations include: the number of user equipment connected to the base station is equal to or greater than a threshold; congestion occurs in the base station; and traffic congestion occurs in the area to which the base station belongs.

[0005] In a first aspect, the processor may be configured to reduce the number of user equipments connected to the base station by limiting communication current.

[0006] In a first aspect, the processor may be configured to determine a user equipment to remain connected to a base station based on information indicating one or both of a distance between the base station and each of a plurality of user equipments and a communication quality between the base station and each of the plurality of user equipments.

[0007] In a first aspect, the processor may be configured to reduce a communication frequency between a user equipment subject to communication current limiting and a base station.

[0008] In a first aspect, the processor may be configured to reduce the communication frequency of the first information. The first information may be at least one selected from the following information: information related to an advanced driver assistance system of a vehicle on which the user device is installed; information of low importance or urgency; information of low relevance to a location of the vehicle on which the user device is installed; and information of unimportant freshness.

[0009] In a first aspect, the processor may be configured to give an instruction or request to a first user equipment selected from a plurality of user equipments to reduce a frequency of transmitting information from the first user equipment to a base station.

[0010] In a first aspect, communication flow limiting may be configured to be performed within a range in which a quality of service determined for a user equipment is maintained.

[0011] In a first aspect, the processor may be configured to perform communication current limiting for non-real-time data.

[0012] In a first aspect, the processor may be configured to send, to at least one user equipment remaining connected to the base station through direct communication between multiple user equipments, an instruction or request to send information received from the base station to a user equipment disconnected from the base station.

[0013] A second aspect of the present disclosure is a communication control method. The communication control method includes: when at least one of a plurality of determinations is made, a communication control device performs communication flow limiting for a plurality of user equipments. The plurality of determinations include: the number of user equipments connected to a base station is equal to or greater than a threshold, congestion occurs in the base station, and traffic congestion occurs in an area to which the base station belongs.

[0014] In a second aspect, the communication control method may include: reducing, by a communication control device, the number of user equipments connected to a base station through communication current limiting.

[0015] In a second aspect, the communication control method may include: the communication control device determines the user equipment to be kept connected to the base station based on information indicating one or both of the distance between the base station and each of the multiple user equipment and the communication quality between the base station and each of the multiple user equipment.

[0016] In a second aspect, the communication control method may include: reducing, by a communication control device, a communication frequency between a user equipment subject to communication current limiting and a base station.

[0017] In a second aspect, the communication control method may include: reducing, by the communication control device, a communication frequency of first information. The first information may be at least one selected from the following information: information related to an advanced driver assistance system of a vehicle on which the user device is mounted; information of low importance or urgency; information of low relevance to a location of the vehicle on which the user device is mounted; and information of unimportant freshness.

[0018] In a second aspect, a communication control method may include: giving, from a communication control device, an instruction or request to reduce a frequency of sending information from the first user equipment to a base station to a first user equipment selected from a plurality of user equipments.

[0019] In a second aspect, communication flow limiting may be performed within a range in which the quality of service determined for the user equipment is maintained.

[0020] In a second aspect, the communication control method may include: a communication control device performing communication current limiting on non-real-time data.

[0021] In a second aspect, the communication control method may include: through direct communication between multiple user devices, sending an instruction or request from a communication control device to at least one user device that remains connected to a base station to send information received from the base station to a user device that is disconnected from the base station.

[0022] A third aspect of the present disclosure is a non-transitory storage medium storing instructions that can be executed by one or more processors and cause the one or more processors to perform a communication control method.

[0023] A fourth aspect of the present disclosure is a user equipment, which includes a processor. The processor is configured to: receive information from a base station, and send the information received from the base station to at least one user equipment among the multiple user equipment that is disconnected from the base station due to communication current limiting through direct communication between the multiple user equipment. When at least one of the multiple determinations is made, the user equipment is selected from the multiple user equipment as the user equipment to be kept connected to the base station. The multiple determinations include: the number of user equipment connected to the base station is equal to or greater than a threshold; congestion occurs in the base station; and traffic congestion occurs in the area to which the base station belongs.

[0024] Other aspects of the present disclosure may include an information processing system including a communication control device, and a program causing a computer to operate as the communication control device.

[0025] According to the above-described aspects of the present disclosure, power consumption associated with communication can be reduced. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] Features, advantages, and technical and industrial significance of exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like symbols represent like elements, and in which: Figure 1 An example of a configuration of a communication system according to an embodiment is shown; Figure 2A An example of a configuration of a communication control device is shown; Figure 2B An example of a configuration of a UE is shown; Figure 3 is a flowchart of an example of processing in a communication control device; and Figure 4 is a flow chart of an example of processing in a UE. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] Embodiments of a communication control device and a communication control method will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The configurations of the embodiments described below are illustrative, and the present invention is not limited to the configurations of the embodiments. Figure 1 An example of a communication system according to an embodiment is shown. The communication system includes: a cellular network 4 composed of a core network 1 and a base station 2; a plurality of user equipments (UE) 10 connected to the base station 2; and an external network 5 connected to the core network 1.

[0028] exist Figure 1 , UE 10a, 10b, 10c, and 10d are shown as examples of UE 10 connected (in a connected state) to the base station 2. Here, it is assumed that the distance between each UE 10c, 10d and the base station 2 is greater than the distance between each UE 10a, 10b and the base station 2 (UE 10c, 10d is located at a position farther from the base station 2 than UE 10a, 10b). In the following description, when UE 10a to 10d are not distinguished from each other, they are simply referred to as "UE 10".

[0029] UE 10 is a terminal of a user (subscriber) of a communication service using a cellular network 4. UE 10 can be connected to a base station 2 to communicate with its communication partner through the cellular network 4. UE 10a to 10d are installed on vehicles 3a, 3b, 3c and 3d, respectively. When vehicles 3a to 3d are not distinguished from each other, they will be simply referred to as "vehicle 3" or "multiple vehicles 3". UE 10 is not necessarily installed on vehicle 3. UE 10 may be installed on vehicle 3, may be detachably installed on vehicle 3, or may be simply placed in vehicle 3.

[0030] The following description takes an example in which the cellular network 4 is a fifth-generation (5G) network. The base station 2 is an access network (Radio Access Network (RAN)) of the core network 1. The base station of 5G is called a gNB. The cellular network 4 can be a wireless local area network (LAN) (including Wi-Fi). In this case, the base station 2 is an access point in the wireless LAN and the core network 1 is a public network.

[0031] The core network 1 is called the 5G core (5G core, 5GC). The core network 1 includes functions related to the control plane (also called entities or network nodes) and functions (entities) related to the user plane. The entities related to the control plane include Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF), Session Management Function (SMF), Policy Control Function (PCF), Network Exposure Function (NEF), Network Repository Function (NRF), Network Slice Selection Function (NSSF), Authentication Server Function (AUSF), Unified Data Management (UDM) and Network Data Analytics Function (NWDAF).

[0032] AMF is a service device for UE 10 in 5GC (core network 1). AMF accommodates RAN (base station 2) and performs subscriber authentication, location (mobility) management of each UE 10, etc. UDM provides subscriber information, or obtains, registers, deletes, and changes the status of each UE. SMF manages the Protocol Data Unit (PDU) session and controls the User Plane Function (UPF) to perform Quality of Service (QoS) control and policy control. A PDU session is a virtual communication channel established between UE and UPF for data transmission between UE and a data network (DN) as an external network 5. External network 5 (DN) is a data network outside 5GC (such as the Internet). PCF performs QoS control, policy control, charging control, etc. under the control of SMF. Among them, QoS control is communication quality control, such as priority packet transmission. Communication control based on network or subscriber information, such as QoS, packet transmission processing, and charging, is performed as policy control.

[0033] 5GC includes UPF as an entity (network node) related to the user plane. UPF performs routing and forwarding, detection, and QoS processing of user data packets (user plane data packets transmitted and received by UE 10).

[0034] When the cellular network 4 is a Long-Term Evolution (LTE) (4G) network, the base station 2 is called an eNB. The core network 1 is called an Evolved Packet Core (EPC). The EPC includes entities related to the control plane (network nodes), a Mobility Management Entity (MME), a Serving Gateway (SGW), a Packet Data Network Gateway (PGW), a Home Subscriber Server (HSS), a Policy and Charging Rule Function (PCRF), an Online Charging System (OCS) and an Offline Charging System (OFC).

[0035] MME performs various controls such as subscriber management and device location management (mobility control). SGW is a gateway that accommodates base station 2. PGW is a gateway connected to external network 5. Subscriber information and device location information are registered in HSS. HSS also performs user (UE) authentication. PCRF sets network policies (such as network usage conditions and network operation conditions (e.g., priority control) or charging rules). OCS is an online charging system, while OFCS is an offline charging system.

[0036] For example, UE 10 may be a data communication module (DCM) as an example of an on-board terminal installed in a vehicle. UE 10 may collect information about the vehicle (data about the driving of the vehicle, such as position and speed) from an on-board device (e.g., a car navigation device, a drive recorder, and an electronic control unit (ECU)). UE 10 may also collect data about the communication of the vehicle (on-board terminal). Data (user data) transmitted from UE 10 is transmitted to a predetermined communication partner (e.g., a server device connected to an external network 5) via a cellular network 4.

[0037] The base station 2 and the core network 1 perform communication control such as registering the location of the UE 10, setting a line for data (packet) transmission between the UE 10 and its communication partner, and managing the quality of service (QoS). The base station 2 may be composed of at least one computer configured for wireless communication. The core network 1 may be a computer or a collection (cloud) of two or more computers operating as the above-mentioned entity. Each computer forming the base station 2 and the core network 1 operates as a communication control device 20 that performs various controls related to the communication with the UE 10.

[0038] Figure 2A An example of the configuration of the communication control device 20 (a computer operating as the communication control device 20 ) is shown. Figure 2B An example of the configuration of UE 10 is shown. Figure 2A In the embodiment, the communication control device 20 includes, as an example, a processor 31, a storage device 32, a communication interface (communication IF) 33A, a wireless communication interface (wireless communication IF) 33B, an input device 34, and a display 35. These components of the communication control device 20 are connected to each other via a bus 36.

[0039] The storage device 32 stores various programs and data. The processor 31 is an example of a control unit (controller), and is, for example, a central processing unit (CPU), a digital signal processor (DSP), a graphics processing unit (GPU), or a combination thereof. The processor 31 executes the program stored in the storage device 32, and performs various processes, such as calculation or processing using the data stored in the storage device 32. By executing the program, the communication control device 20 can perform various controls related to the communication with the UE 10. The communication IF 33A is a communication interface circuit for a wired network, and the wireless communication IF 33B is used for wireless communication with the UE 10, etc. The input device 34 is a button, a key, a touch panel, etc. for inputting information, performing settings, etc. The display 35 is used to display information. The wireless communication IF 33B is a component included in the communication control device 20 when the base station 2 includes the communication control device 20. The wireless communication IF 33B may not be included in the communication control device 20 of the core network 1.

[0040] exist Figure 2B 1, as an example, UE 10 includes a processor 131, a storage device 132, a wireless communication IF 133, an input device 134, and a display 135. These components of UE 10 are connected to each other via a bus 136. These components have the same functions as the processor 31, the storage device 32, the wireless communication IF 33B, the input device 34, and the display 35, although they are different in performance and type. The processor 131 is an example of a control unit (controller), and can perform various processes by executing a program stored in the storage device 132.

[0041] exist Figure 1 In the communication system shown in , traffic congestion of vehicles 3 and the like may cause a situation where multiple UEs 10 are connected to a base station 2 located in (belonging to) a traffic congestion area. When a large number (multiple) of UEs 10 are connected to the base station 2, congestion in the base station 2 is caused. This increases the load on the base station 2 and the core network 1, resulting in an increase in power consumption related to communication. In this embodiment, a process that can cut (reduce) power consumption when multiple UEs 10 are connected to the base station 2 will be described.

[0042] Figure 3 It is a flowchart of an example of processing of the base station 2 or the communication control device 20 in the core network 1 . Figure 3 The processing shown in is executed by the processor 31 of the communication control device 20 in the base station 2. However, Figure 3 The processing shown in can be executed by the processor 31 of the communication control device 20 in the core network 1.

[0043] In step S01, processor 31 determines whether the number of UEs 10 connected to base station 2 (in a connected state) is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold. When processor 31 determines that the number of connected UEs 10 is equal to or greater than the threshold, the process proceeds to step S03. Otherwise, the process proceeds to step S02.

[0044] In step S02, the processor 31 determines whether traffic congestion has occurred in the area (geographical area) where the base station 2 is located (belongs to), or determines whether congestion has occurred in the base station 2. For example, the communication control device 20 in the core network 1 monitors whether one or both of the traffic congestion in the area to which the base station 2 belongs and the congestion in the base station 2 exist, and sends information indicating whether the traffic congestion or congestion exists to the base station 2. The processor 31 of the base station 2 stores the information indicating whether the traffic congestion or congestion exists in the storage device 32. In step S02, the processor 31 refers to the information indicating whether the traffic congestion or congestion exists stored in the storage device 32, and determines whether the traffic congestion or congestion has occurred. When the processor 31 determines that the traffic congestion or congestion has occurred, the process proceeds to step S03. Otherwise, the process proceeds to step S06.

[0045] The determination in step S02 may be made in relation to traffic jam or congestion. The order of steps S01 and S02 may be reversed, or one of the steps may be omitted.

[0046] In steps S03, S04, and S05, the processor 31 performs communication flow limiting control on all connected UEs 10. In step S03, the processor 31 performs a process of reducing the number of UEs 10 (vehicles 3) connected to the base station 2. For example, the processor 31 selects a UE 10 that can communicate with the base station 2 based on the distance between the base station 2 and each UE 10 stored in the storage device 32.

[0047] For example, the core network 1 manages the location information of each UE 10 (stored in the storage device 32, etc.). The processor 31 in the base station 2 receives the location information (e.g., location coordinates) of each UE 10 from the core network 1, and uses the location coordinates of each UE 10 and the location coordinates of the base station 2 to calculate the straight-line distance between the base station 2 and each UE 10. The processor 31 divides these distances into several levels based on the length of the distance, and determines those UEs 10 corresponding to the longest distance level as UEs 10 to be subject to communication flow restriction. When the number of remaining UEs 10 is still greater than the predetermined value, the processor 31 determines those UEs 10 corresponding to the second longest distance level as UEs 10 to be subject to communication flow restriction. The processor 31 can reduce the number of UEs 10 to be connected to the base station 2 to below the predetermined value by disconnecting those UEs 10 to be subject to communication flow restriction from the base station 2.

[0048] Alternatively, the processor 31 may select a predetermined number of UEs 10 to remain connected to the base station 2 in ascending order of distance from the base station 2. Figure 1 Among the UEs 10a to 10d shown in FIG, UEs 10a and 10b can remain connected to the base station 2, while UEs 10c and 10d, which are at a greater distance from the base station 2 than UEs 10a and 10b, can be disconnected from the base station 2 (their connections with the base station 2 can be terminated). By reducing the number of connected UEs 10 in this way, power consumption can be reduced. The greater the distance from the base station 2, the greater the power consumption required for proper communication. Therefore, disconnecting those UEs 10 determined to be located far from the base station 2 can increase the amount of reduction in power consumption.

[0049] Instead of distance, information indicating communication quality can be used. For example, the processor 31 obtains information indicating the communication quality of each UE 10. The processor 31 can select those UEs 10 that are to remain connected to the base station 2 or those UEs 10 that are to be disconnected from the base station 2 based on the information indicating the communication quality. For example, the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) can be used as information indicating the communication quality. However, the information indicating the communication quality can be information other than the SNR. Usually, the transmission power is increased in order to obtain suitable communication quality. Therefore, disconnecting those UEs 10 with poor communication quality (low SNR) from the base station 2 can increase the amount of power consumption reduction. Those UEs 10 to be subject to communication current limiting can be selected based on a combination of distance-based determination and communication quality-based determination.

[0050] Step S04 may be performed in parallel with step S03 or may be performed selectively with step S03. In step S04, processor 31 reduces the frequency of communication of a specific type of information (an example of first information) about those UEs 10 that remain connected to base station 2.

[0051] The specific type of information is, for example, information related to an Advanced Driver-Assistance System (ADAS) of the vehicle 3 on which the UE 10 is installed. The specific type of information may include information of low importance or urgency, information that is not sensitive to vehicle location information (information with low relevance to the vehicle location), and information whose freshness is not important (e.g., weather information and service-related information). The specific type of information is not limited to these examples.

[0052] For example, it is assumed here that a PDU session (first session) for sending and receiving specific types of information and a PDU session (second session) for sending and receiving information other than specific types of information have been established between the UE 10 and the external network 5 (DN). In this case, the processor 31 performs bandwidth control (bandwidth limiting: reducing the communication speed or data transmission volume) on the first session. Therefore, the communication (data transmission) frequency of the specific type of information can be reduced. Since the communication frequency of the first session is reduced, the processing volume related to the communication is reduced, thereby reducing power consumption.

[0053] The reduction of the communication frequency can be achieved by reducing the communication (downlink communication) frequency in the transmission direction from the communication partner to the UE 10 via the cellular network 4, or by reducing the communication (uplink communication) frequency in the transmission direction from the UE 10 to the communication partner via the cellular network 4. Alternatively, both the frequency in the downlink direction and the frequency in the uplink direction can be reduced. The processor 31 of the base station 2 can give (send) an instruction or request to reduce the frequency of sending information from the first UE to the base station 2 to each UE 10 (first UE 10) selected from a plurality of UEs 10 to be subject to communication current limiting. The first UE reduces the frequency of sending information in response to the instruction or request. Therefore, the power consumption of the cellular network 4 and the UE 10 can be reduced.

[0054] For example, the frequency (rate) of transmitting ADAS-related information (information about other vehicles and objects around the vehicle detected by the vehicle 3) from the vehicle 3 to the cellular network 4 can be reduced. This is because, when there is a traffic jam of vehicles 3, the cellular network 4 can fully grasp the situation in the area with traffic jam even if it does not obtain data from each vehicle 3 in the traffic jam.

[0055] The specific type of information may be non-real-time data. For example, it is assumed here that a PDU session for non-real-time data and a PDU session for real-time data have been established between the UE 10 and its communication partner. In this case, the processor 31 performs bandwidth flow limiting on the PDU session for non-real-time data in parallel with step S04 or instead of step S04. Such communication flow limiting (frequency reduction) for non-real-time data may be performed.

[0056] The reduction in communication frequency can be achieved not only by performing bandwidth limiting on a session-by-session basis, but also by queuing packets flowing through a session (pending packet transmission). For example, the following configuration can be used: Configuration Example 1

[0057] A plurality of transmission queues corresponding to information types are provided in the UE 10 or its communication partner, and the processor 31 increases the reading interval from the transmission queue storing the specific type of information (data packet). In this case, the type of information can be identified using an identifier stored in a packet header (e.g., a Class of Service (CoS) in a VLAN, or a Type of Service (ToS) (Differentiated Services Code Point (DSCP)) field in an Internet Protocol (IP) packet header). Configuration Example 2

[0058] A dedicated session (communication channel) for transmitting a specific type of information is periodically established in UE 10 or its communication partner to transmit the specific type of information. Processor 31 reduces the frequency of establishing the dedicated session (increases the interval).

[0059] Configuration Example 3A of Relaying Specific Type Information A node (UPF, SGW, etc.) identifies specific type information from an identifier attached to the header information and increases the residence time of such data packets.

[0060] The reduction in the communication frequency can be achieved by reducing the allocation frequency of radio resources (Physical Resource Blocks (PRBs)) used for communication between the UE 10 subject to the communication current limit and the base station 2 .

[0061] Communication flow limiting such as bandwidth flow limiting may be performed within a range in which QoS set for communication (session) between UE 10 and its communication partner is maintained in a state in which communication flow limiting is not performed.

[0062] In step S05, the processor 31 sends downlink information to those UEs 10 selected in step S03 (i.e., UEs 10a, 10b that remain connected to the base station 2). The processor 31 selects UE 10 (e.g., UE 10a) from the UEs 10 (UEs 10a, 10b) that remain connected to the base station 2 as the source (representative) of direct communication between UEs. Direct communication between UEs is wireless communication performed between UEs 10 without passing through the base station 2, and may include vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication and vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication. The processor 31 sends an instruction or request to disseminate (transmit) the downlink information received from the base station 2 to one or more UEs 10 (e.g., UEs 10c, 10d) located around the UE 10a and disconnected from the base station 2 in step S03. The instruction or request to disseminate the downlink information may be sent at the same timing as the downlink information, or may be sent at a timing different from the downlink information. For example, the processor 31 may send the instruction or request by adding flag information to the downlink information to be sent to the representative UE 10, the flag information meaning "this information should be disseminated (shared) to surrounding vehicles through direct communication between UEs (vehicle-to-vehicle communication)". After step S05, the process returns to step S01.

[0063] In step S06, when the communication current limiting control (communication current limiting) of steps S03 to S05 is currently being executed, processor 31 performs processing to stop the communication current limiting, and the processing returns to step S01.

[0064] Figure 4 is a flowchart of an example of processing in UE 10 . Figure 4 The process shown in is executed by the processor 131 of the UE 10a, for example. In step S101, the processor 131 receives information transmitted from the base station 2.

[0065] In step S102, the processor 131 determines whether an instruction or request for disseminating downlink information has been added to the information received from the base station 2. When the processor 131 determines that an instruction or request for disseminating downlink information has been added to the information received from the base station 2, the process proceeds to step S103. Otherwise, Figure 4 The processing is finished.

[0066] In step S103 , the processor 131 determines the surrounding UEs 10 to which the information is to be disseminated. For example, the processor 131 may detect other UEs 10 (eg, UEs 10c and 10d) located near the UE 10a as receiving UEs 10 using a Proximity Service (ProSe) Direct Discovery process.

[0067] In step S104, the processor 131 of the UE 10a sends the information to be sent to the UEs 10 through direct communication between UEs (vehicle-to-vehicle communication). For example, the V2X communication process in broadcast mode via the PC5 reference point can be used for direct communication between UEs.

[0068] The receiving UEs (UE 10c, 10d) each determine a destination layer-2ID (destination layer-2ID) for broadcasting received information. The transmitting UE (UE 10a) determines a source layer-2ID (source layer-2ID) and a destination layer-2ID. At this time, UE 10a determines the destination layer-2ID determined by UE 10c, 10d. UE 10a uses the source layer-2ID and the destination layer-2ID to send a broadcast message containing V2X data (information to be sent). UE 10c, 10d receive the V2X data in the broadcast message based on the destination layer-2ID in the broadcast message. In this way, UE 10a can spread the information received from the base station 2 to UE 10c, 10d that are disconnected from the base station 2.

[0069] The communication control device 20 according to the present embodiment includes a processor 31 (control unit). The processor 31 performs communication flow restriction for the plurality of UEs 10 when the processor 31 makes at least one of the following determinations: the number of the plurality of UEs 10 connected to the base station 2 is equal to or greater than a threshold, congestion occurs in the base station 2, and traffic congestion occurs in the area to which the base station 2 belongs. Communication flow restriction can reduce power consumption in the base station 2 and the like.

[0070] The communication control device 20 (processor 31) can reduce the number of UEs connected to the base station 2 by limiting the communication current. Reducing the number of UEs can reduce the load related to communication, thereby reducing power consumption.

[0071] The communication control device 20 (processor 31) can determine those UEs to remain connected to the base station 2 based on information indicating one or both of the distance between the base station 2 and each UE 10 and the communication quality between the base station 2 and each UE 10 (for example, SNR).

[0072] The communication control device 20 (processor 31) can reduce the communication frequency between each UE 10 subject to communication current limiting and the base station 2. For example, the processor 31 can reduce the communication frequency of the first information including information related to the advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) of the vehicle 3 on which the UE 10 is mounted.

[0073] The communication control device 20 (processor 31) may give (send) an instruction or request to reduce the frequency of transmitting information from the first UE (UE 10a) to the base station 2 to a first UE (e.g., UE 10a) selected from a plurality of UEs 10 connected to the base station 2.

[0074] The communication flow limiting may be configured to be performed on the UE 10 within a range in which the quality of service (QoS) determined for the UE 10 is maintained.

[0075] The communication control device 20 (processor 31) may perform communication flow limiting for non-real-time data.

[0076] The communication control device 20 (processor 31) can send an instruction to send information received from the base station 2 to the UE 10 (e.g., UE 10c, 10d) disconnected from the base station 2 to at least one UE 10 (e.g., UE 10a) that remains connected to the base station 2 through vehicle-to-vehicle communication. In response to the instruction, the processor 31 (control unit) of the UE 10a can send the information received from the base station 2 to the UE 10c, 10d as instructed. This allows those UEs 10 disconnected from the base station 2 (whose connection with the base station 2 has been terminated) to obtain information.

[0077] The above embodiments and modifications are merely illustrative, and the present disclosure may be appropriately modified without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. As long as no technical contradiction occurs, the processes and means described in the present disclosure may be combined as needed.

[0078] Processing described as being performed by a single device may be performed by a plurality of devices in a distributed manner. Processing described as being performed by different devices may be performed by a single device. In a computer system, the hardware configuration (server configuration) that implements the functions can be flexibly changed.

[0079] The present disclosure can also be implemented by supplying a computer program that implements the functions in the above-mentioned embodiments to a computer and causing one or more processors of the computer to read and execute the computer program. Such a computer program can be provided to the computer by a non-temporary computer-readable storage medium that can be connected to the system bus of the computer, or can be provided to the computer through a network. Examples of non-temporary computer-readable storage media include: any type of disk or disc, such as a disk (floppy disk (registered trademark), hard disk drive (Hard Disk Drive, HDD), etc.) and an optical disk (Compact Disc Read-Only Memory (Compact Disc Read-Only Memory, CD-ROM), Digital Versatile Disc (Digital Versatile Disc, DVD), Blu-ray Disc, etc.); and any medium suitable for storing electronic instructions, such as read-only memory (Read-Only Memory, ROM), random access memory (Random Access Memory, RAM), erasable programmable read-only memory (Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory, EPROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory, EEPROM), magnetic card, flash memory and optical card.

Claims

1. A communication control device, characterized in that: The method includes a processor configured to perform communication current limiting for multiple user equipments when at least one of multiple determinations is made, the multiple determinations including: The number of user equipment connected to the base station is equal to or greater than a threshold; The base station is congested; and Traffic congestion occurs in the area to which the base station belongs.

2. The communication control device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The processor is configured to reduce the number of user equipments connected to the base station through the communication current limiting.

3. The communication control device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The processor is configured to determine a user equipment to remain connected to the base station based on information indicating one or both of a distance between the base station and each of the plurality of user equipments and a communication quality between the base station and each of the plurality of user equipments.

4. The communication control device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The processor is configured to reduce the communication frequency between the user equipment subject to the communication current limiting and the base station.

5. The communication control device according to claim 4, characterized in that: The processor is configured to reduce the communication frequency of the first information; and The first information is at least one selected from the following information: information related to an advanced driver assistance system of a vehicle on which the user device is installed; Information of low importance or urgency; information having a low correlation with the location of a vehicle on which the user device is mounted; as well as Information whose freshness is not important.

6. The communication control device according to claim 4, characterized in that: The processor is configured to give an instruction or request to a first user equipment selected from the plurality of user equipments to reduce a frequency of transmitting information from the first user equipment to the base station.

7. The communication control device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The communication flow limiting configuration is performed within a range in which the quality of service determined for the user equipment is maintained.

8. The communication control device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The processor is configured to perform the communication current limiting for non-real-time data.

9. The communication control device according to claim 3, characterized in that: The processor is configured to send, to at least one user equipment remaining connected to the base station, an instruction or request to send information received from the base station to a user equipment disconnected from the base station through direct communication between the plurality of user equipments.

10. A communication control method, characterized in that: include: When at least one of the multiple determinations is made, the communication control device performs communication current limiting for the multiple user equipments, the multiple determinations comprising: The number of user equipment connected to the base station is equal to or greater than a threshold; The base station is congested; and Traffic congestion occurs in the area to which the base station belongs.

11. The communication control method according to claim 10, characterized in that: Also includes: The communication control device reduces the number of user equipment connected to the base station through the communication current limiting.

12. The communication control method according to claim 11, characterized in that: Also includes: The communication control device determines the user equipment to be kept connected to the base station based on information indicating one or both of the distance between the base station and each of the multiple user equipments and the communication quality between the base station and each of the multiple user equipments.

13. The communication control method according to claim 10, characterized in that: Also includes: The communication control device reduces the communication frequency between the user equipment subject to the communication current limiting and the base station.

14. The communication control method according to claim 13, characterized in that: Also includes: The communication control device reduces the communication frequency of the first information, wherein: The first information is at least one selected from the following information: information related to an advanced driver assistance system of a vehicle on which the user device is installed; Information of low importance or urgency; information having a low correlation with the location of a vehicle on which the user device is mounted; as well as Information whose freshness is not important.

15. The communication control method according to claim 13, characterized in that: Also includes: From the communication control device, an instruction or a request is given to a first user equipment selected from the plurality of user equipments to reduce a frequency of transmitting information from the first user equipment to the base station.

16. The communication control method according to claim 13, characterized in that: The communication flow limiting is performed within a range in which the quality of service determined for the user equipment is maintained.

17. The communication control method according to claim 10, characterized in that: Also includes: The communication control device performs the communication current limiting on non-real-time data.

18. The communication control method according to claim 12, characterized in that: Also includes: An instruction or request to transmit information received from the base station to a user equipment disconnected from the base station is transmitted from the communication control device to at least one user equipment remaining connected to the base station through direct communication between the plurality of user equipments.

19. A non-transitory storage medium storing instructions, wherein the instructions are executable by one or more processors and cause the one or more processors to execute the communication control method according to claim 10.

20. A user equipment, characterized in that The invention comprises a processor, wherein the processor is configured to: Receive information from a base station, and The information received from the base station is sent to at least one user equipment among the multiple user equipments that is disconnected from the base station due to communication current limiting through direct communication between the multiple user equipments, wherein: selecting a user equipment from the plurality of user equipments as the user equipment to remain connected to the base station when at least one of a plurality of determinations is made, the plurality of determinations comprising: the number of user equipments connected to the base station is equal to or greater than a threshold; The base station is congested; and Traffic congestion occurs in the area to which the base station belongs.

Images