Communication control device, communication system, communication control program, and communication control method

Abstract

To provide a communication control device capable of improving the utilization efficiency of frequency bands in communication using beams.SOLUTION: A communication control device includes a control unit that controls a communication device. The communication device is capable of communicating with a plurality of communication terminals by irradiating the plurality of communication terminals with a radio wave beam from an antenna. The control unit includes an acquisition unit that acquires control information including terminal location information indicating the locations of the plurality of communication terminals, device location information indicating the location of the communication device, and constraint information including information indicating physical constraints of the antenna, and a determination unit that determines, based on the control information, the directional pattern of the antenna and the allocation of frequency bands to the beam when generating the beam.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a communication control device, a communication system, a communication control program, and a communication control method.

Background Art

[0002] In communication using beams of a plurality of radio waves, in order to prevent radio wave interference from occurring between the beams, a technique of allocating different frequency bands to each beam is known. As an example of the technique of allocating frequency bands, for example, the wireless communication system described in Patent Document 1 can be cited. This wireless communication system includes information notification means in which a radio base station acquires radio environment information and notifies a centralized control station together with base station device information, and parameter control means for controlling an antenna pattern, a transmission power value, a CCA threshold value, an RS threshold value, a channel, and a bandwidth by parameters set by the centralized control station. Then, the centralized control station calculates a first parameter for controlling a communication area by an antenna pattern based on the radio environment information and base station device information notified from a plurality of radio base stations, a second parameter for controlling the communication area by at least one of a transmission power value, a CCA threshold value, and an RS threshold value, and a third parameter for setting a channel and a bandwidth, and includes parameter calculation / control means for setting each parameter in a plurality of radio base stations.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] When irradiating a plurality of beams, the communication device may irradiate beams even in a place where the density of communication terminals is low or a place where a certain communication terminal does not exist to form a cell. At this time, in the wireless communication system described in Patent Document 1, a different frequency band is assigned to the beam forming such a cell with low utilization rate. In this way, the frequency band assigned with great effort will hardly be used, which is a problem from the perspective of efficiency. Further, such a problem also applies to communication by artificial satellites. In particular, Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites orbiting in low orbits have been increasing significantly in recent years, and there is also a situation where the frequency bands of the Ku band and Ka band are becoming congested.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made in view of the above problems, and an exemplary object thereof is to provide a technique for improving the utilization efficiency of frequency bands in communication using beams.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] A communication control device according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure is a communication control device including a control unit that controls a communication device. The communication device can communicate with a plurality of communication terminals by irradiating radio wave beams from an antenna to the plurality of communication terminals. The control unit includes an acquisition unit that acquires control information including terminal position information indicating positions of the plurality of communication terminals, device position information indicating a position of the communication device, and constraint information including information indicating physical constraints of the antenna, and a determination unit that determines a directivity pattern of the antenna and an assignment of a frequency band to the beam when generating the beam based on the control information.

[0007] A communication system according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes a plurality of communication terminals, an artificial satellite orbiting in orbit and communicating with the plurality of communication terminals, and the above communication control device.

[0008] A communication control program according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure is a communication control program for causing a computer to function as the communication control device described above, and causes the computer to function as the acquisition unit and the determination unit described above.

[0009] A communication control method according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure is a communication control method for controlling a communication device. The communication device can communicate with a plurality of communication terminals by irradiating radio wave beams from an antenna to the plurality of communication terminals. A computer performs an acquisition process of acquiring control information including terminal position information indicating positions of the plurality of communication terminals, device position information indicating a position of the communication device, and constraint information including information indicating physical constraints of the antenna, and a determination process of determining, based on the control information, a directivity pattern of the antenna when generating the beam and an allocation of a frequency band to the beam.

Advantages of the Invention

[0010] According to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure, there is an exemplary effect that a technique for improving the utilization efficiency of a frequency band in communication using a beam can be provided.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0011]

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Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0012] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be exemplified. However, the present invention is not limited to the following exemplary embodiments, and various modifications are possible within the scope indicated in the claims. For example, embodiments obtained by appropriately combining the technical means employed in the following exemplary embodiments may also be included in the scope of the present invention. Further, embodiments obtained by appropriately omitting a part of the technical means employed in the following exemplary embodiments may also be included in the scope of the present invention. Also, the effects mentioned in the following exemplary embodiments are examples of the effects expected in those exemplary embodiments and do not define the extension of the present invention. That is, embodiments that do not exhibit the effects mentioned in the following exemplary embodiments may also be included in the scope of the present invention.

[0013] 〔First Exemplary Embodiment〕 A first exemplary embodiment, which is an example of an embodiment of the present invention, will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. This exemplary embodiment is a basic form for each of the exemplary embodiments described later. Note that the scope of application of each technical means employed in this exemplary embodiment is not limited to this exemplary embodiment. That is, each technical means employed in this exemplary embodiment can be employed in other exemplary embodiments included in the present disclosure as long as there are no particular technical obstacles. Also, each technical means shown in the drawings referred to for explaining this exemplary embodiment can be employed in other exemplary embodiments included in the present disclosure as long as there are no particular technical obstacles.

[0014] (Configuration of Communication Control Device) The configuration of the communication control device 1 will be described with reference to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the communication control device 1. As shown in FIG. 1, the communication control device 1 includes a control unit 11. The control unit 11 includes an acquisition unit 111 and a determination unit 112. The control unit 11 controls the communication device 2. The communication device 2 is, for example, an artificial satellite, a wireless base station provided on the ground, an aircraft (e.g., a balloon) constituting a high altitude platform station (HAPS), or the like.

[0015] · Acquisition unit The acquisition unit 111 acquires control information. The control information includes terminal position information, device position information, and constraint information.

[0016] The terminal position information is information indicating the positions of a plurality of communication terminals 3. The communication terminal 3 is a device that communicates with the communication device 2. The communication terminal 3 is, for example, a terrestrial base station, a mobile base station, a general communication terminal (smartphone, tablet, etc.). The acquisition unit 111 may acquire the terminal position information by inter-satellite communication from another artificial satellite orbiting on the same orbit as the communication device 2, or may acquire it in advance from ground facilities (terrestrial base stations). Further, the acquisition unit 111 may acquire the terminal position information obtained by the communication device 2 itself scanning the ground. Further, when the communication terminal 3 is mobile, the acquisition unit 111 may predict the position of the communication terminal 3 when irradiating the beam B based on the current moving speed of the communication terminal 3, and acquire the predicted value as the terminal position information.

[0017] The device position information is information indicating the position of the communication device 2. The acquisition unit 111 may acquire, for example, the device position information calculated by itself based on the beacon received by the communication device 2 from ground facilities.

[0018] The constraint information includes antenna information. The communication device 2 includes an antenna 21 (see FIG. 3). Then, the communication device 2 can communicate with the plurality of communication terminals 3 by irradiating a radio wave beam B from the antenna 21 to the plurality of communication terminals 3. The antenna information is information indicating the physical constraints of the antenna 21 provided in such a communication device 2 (defining the number and shape of sub-arrays that can be formed). Specifically, the constraint information includes the array (N rows × M columns) of antenna elements 211, the array (n rows × m columns) of unit configurations 21a, etc.

[0019] · Determination unit Based on the control information acquired by the acquisition unit 111, the determination unit 112 determines the directivity pattern of the antenna 21 when generating the beam B and the allocation of the frequency band to the beam B. The "directivity pattern" includes the number of beams B, the shape of each beam B, the irradiation angle of each beam B, and the gain of the antenna 21. The "number of beams B" is determined by the number of sub-arrays (equal to the number of sub-arrays). The "shape of each beam B (the cross-sectional shape when the beam B is cut by a plane orthogonal to the irradiation direction)" is determined by the shape of each sub-array. That is, if the shape of the sub-array is square, the shape of the beam B is circular, and if the shape of the sub-array is rectangular, the shape of the beam B is elliptical. The "gain of the antenna 21" has a correlation with the width of the beam B and is determined by the size of each sub-array. That is, if the sub-array is large, the width of the beam B is narrow and the gain is high, and if the sub-array is small, the width of the beam B is wide and the gain is low.

[0020] (Effect of the communication control device) In the communication control device 1 described above, a configuration is adopted in which the frequency band is allocated to each beam B based on the control information including the terminal position information, the device position information, and the constraint information. That is, the frequency band allocated to each beam B is adapted to the number, distribution, etc. of the communication terminals 3. Therefore, according to the communication control device 1 according to the present embodiment, an effect that the utilization efficiency of the frequency band in communication using the beam B can be improved is obtained.

[0021] (Flow of the communication control method) The flow of the communication control method S1 will be described with reference to FIG. 2. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the flow of the communication control method S1. The communication control method S1 is a method for controlling the communication device 2. As shown in FIG. 2, the communication control method S1 includes an acquisition process S11 and a determination process S12.

[0022] · Acquisition process In the initial acquisition process S11, the computer acquires control information. The computer may constitute the communication control devices 1, 1A, 1B, and 1C. Further, the computer may be mounted on each communication device 2 or may be mounted on ground facilities (such as a CU). The computer acquires control information from a communication device 2 that irradiates the communication terminal 3 with the beam B (while communicating with the communication terminal 3). The control information includes terminal position information, device position information, and constraint information, similar to that acquired by the communication control devices 1, 1A, 1B, and 1C.

[0023] · Decision process After acquiring the control information, the process moves to the decision process S12. In the decision process S12, the computer determines the number of beams of the antenna 21, the beam shape, the antenna gain, the beam angle, and the allocation of the frequency band to the beam B based on the control information. When the number of beams is 2 or more, for each of the plurality of beams B for which it is intended to generate each beam shape, the antenna gain, each beam angle, and the allocation of the frequency band to each beam B, a determination is made. When the number of beams is 2 or more, for each of the plurality of beams B for which generation is intended, the same method as that performed by the communication control device 1 can be used for determining the shape directivity pattern and the allocation of the frequency band.

[0024] (Effect of the communication control method) As described above, in the communication control method S1, a configuration is adopted in which the allocation of the frequency band to each beam B is performed based on control information including terminal position information, device position information, and constraint information. That is, the frequency band allocated to each beam B is according to the number, distribution, etc. of the communication terminals 3. For this reason, according to the communication control method S1, an effect can be obtained that the utilization efficiency of the frequency band in communication using the beam B can be improved.

[0025] [Second exemplary embodiment] A second exemplary embodiment, which is an example of an embodiment of the present invention, will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Components having the same functions as those described in the above-described exemplary embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted as appropriate. Note that the scope of application of each technical means employed in this exemplary embodiment is not limited to this exemplary embodiment. That is, each technical means employed in this exemplary embodiment can be employed in other exemplary embodiments included in the present disclosure as long as there are no particular technical obstacles. In addition, each technical means shown in each drawing referred to for explaining this exemplary embodiment can be employed in other exemplary embodiments included in the present disclosure as long as there are no particular technical obstacles.

[0026] (Configuration of the antenna of the communication device controlled by the communication control device) Before entering the description of the communication control device 1A according to this embodiment, the configuration of the antenna 21 included in the communication device 2 controlled by the communication control device 1A will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the antenna 21. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the circuit configuration of the antenna.

[0027] The antenna 21 according to this embodiment is a phased array antenna. That is, the antenna 21 can direct the radio wave beam B in a desired direction by adjusting the phases of radio waves emitted by a plurality of antenna elements. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, for example, the antenna 21 has a plurality of antenna elements 211 arranged in a matrix (row and column). The antenna 21 according to this embodiment has 15 rows × 15 columns of antenna elements 211, but is not limited thereto. That is, the antenna 21 may have fewer or more antenna elements 211 than those illustrated in FIG. 3. In addition, the antenna 21 may have an arrangement in which the number of rows and columns of the antenna elements 211 is different.

[0028] Also, the antenna 21 performs beamforming (BF) in a hybrid manner. Specifically, for example, as shown in FIG. 4, the antenna 21 has a circuit configuration in which a unit configuration 21a for performing a plurality of analog BF is connected to one digital signal processing unit 21b (DSP). The unit configuration 21a includes a predetermined number of antenna elements 211, a BF circuit 212, a DA converter 213, an AD converter 214, and a splitting / combining circuit 215. The BF circuit 212 is connected to the antenna element 211 and adjusts the phase and amplitude of the radio wave emitted by the antenna element 211. The splitting / combining circuit 215 combines the analog signals from each BF circuit 212 and sends them to the AD converter 214, and distributes the analog signals from the DA converter 213 to each BF circuit 212. Note that the antenna 21 may be configured to perform digital BF that performs AD / DA conversion for signals transmitted and received by individual antenna elements for each antenna element.

[0029] In addition, the antenna 21 can form one or more sub-arrays. The sub-array is composed of one or more unit configurations 21a. A predetermined number of antenna elements 211 included in each unit configuration 21a are arranged in a matrix (row-column) shape as shown in FIG. 3. The unit configuration 21a according to the present embodiment has antenna elements 211 arranged in 5 rows × 5 columns, but is not limited thereto. That is, the unit configuration 21a may have fewer or more antenna elements 211 than those illustrated in FIG. 3. Also, the unit configuration 21a may have an arrangement in which the number of rows and columns of the antenna elements 211 is different. Also, the unit configuration 21a is also arranged in a matrix (row-column) shape as shown in FIG. 3. The antenna 21 according to the present embodiment has unit configurations 21a arranged in 3 rows × 3 columns, but is not limited thereto. That is, the antenna 21 may have fewer or more unit configurations 21a than those illustrated in FIG. 3. Also, the antenna 21 may have an arrangement in which the number of rows and columns of the unit configurations 21a is different. By using such a unit configuration 21a alone or combining a plurality of them, one or more sub-arrays are formed in the antenna 21. Hereinafter, the number of sub-arrays in the antenna 21, as well as the size and shape of each sub-array, are collectively referred to as the "sub-array configuration". The antenna 21 irradiates one beam B from one sub-array. That is, the number of sub-arrays formed in the antenna 21 is equal to the number of beams B irradiated from the antenna 21. Also, the antenna 21 irradiates a beam B in a mode (width, shape) corresponding to the size and shape of the sub-array from the sub-array.

[0030] In the antenna 21 according to the present embodiment, when all (9 in the case of the antenna 21 in FIG. 3) unit configurations 21a are combined, for example, as shown on the left side of FIG. 5, one sub-array is formed in the antenna 21. In the case of this sub-array configuration, the antenna 21 irradiates one beam B. The fewer the number of generated beams B, the narrower the width and the higher the gain of the beam B. Also, in the case of this sub-array configuration, since the sub-array is square, the antenna 21 irradiates a beam B having a circular cross-section when cut by a plane orthogonal to the irradiation direction.

[0031] On the other hand, in the antenna 21 according to the present embodiment, when each unit configuration 21a is used alone, for example, as shown in the center of FIG. 5, nine sub-arrays are formed in the antenna 21. In the case of this sub-array configuration, the antenna 21 irradiates nine beams B. The more the number of generated beams B increases, the wider the beam B becomes and the lower the gain. Also, in the case of this sub-array configuration, since each sub-array is square, the antenna 21 irradiates a beam B whose cross-section is circular when cut in a plane orthogonal to the irradiation direction.

[0032] Also, in the antenna 21 according to the present embodiment, when some unit configurations are used alone and the remaining unit configurations are combined, the number of sub-arrays corresponding to the combination method of the unit configurations 21a is formed in the antenna 21. On the right side of FIG. 5, an example is shown in which the three (A, B, C) unit configurations 21a in the first row are each used alone as sub-arrays, the two (D, G) unit configurations 21a in the second row of the first column, and the remaining four (E, F, H, I) unit configurations 21a are combined, but it is not limited to this. In the case of the sub-array configuration shown on the right side of FIG. 5, the antenna 21 irradiates five beams B. The beam B generated from a sub-array composed of two unit configurations 21a has a narrower width and a higher gain than the beam B generated from a sub-array composed of one unit configuration 21a. Also, the beam B generated from a sub-array composed of four unit configurations 21a has a narrower width and a higher gain than the beam B generated from a sub-array composed of two unit configurations 21a. In the case of this sub-array configuration, since the sub-array composed of two unit configurations 21a is a vertically long rectangle, the antenna 21 irradiates a beam B whose cross-section is a horizontally long ellipse when cut in a plane orthogonal to the irradiation direction. This is because the more antenna elements 211 are arranged, the sharper the beam B generated by the antenna 21 becomes in the direction in which the antenna elements 211 are arranged (the width of the beam B becomes narrower in that direction). Note that when the sub-array is a horizontally long rectangle, the antenna 21 irradiates a beam B whose cross-section is a vertically long ellipse. The above is the description of the communication device and the antenna.

[0033] (Configuration of Communication Control Device) The configuration of the communication control device 1A will be described with reference to FIG. 6. FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the communication control device 1A. The communication control device 1A includes a control unit 11A. The control unit 11A includes an acquisition unit 111A, a determination unit 112A, and an irradiation processing unit 113.

[0034] · Acquisition Unit The control information acquired by the acquisition unit 111A according to this embodiment further includes at least one of a required traffic volume, a communication use, a maximum number of beams, a power consumption, and a required quality of service (QoS) in addition to the terminal position information, the device position information, and the constraint information acquired by the acquisition unit 111 according to the first exemplary embodiment.

[0035] The "required traffic volume" is the amount of data to be transmitted and received with the communication terminal 3.

[0036] The "maximum number of beams" is the upper limit value of the number of beams B that can be generated. When the control information includes at least one of the maximum number of beams and the power consumption, the acquisition unit 111 acquires the remaining power. The remaining power is the remaining amount of power that the battery included in the communication device 2 can supply. When the acquisition unit 111 acquires the remaining power, it calculates the maximum number of beams based on the remaining power.

[0037] The "power consumption" is the power required to generate the beam B. When the acquisition unit 111 acquires the remaining power, it may calculate the transmission power based on the remaining power and the power consumption.

[0038] · Determination Unit When determining the directivity pattern of the antenna 21 based on the control information, the determination unit 112A according to this embodiment calculates the beam width and the antenna gain as follows, for example. The determination unit 112A first calculates δ k which is the phase weight added to the k-th antenna element using the steering vector. Next, the determination unit 112A calculates the array factor D(θ) using the following formula (1). A in formula (1)k is the amplitude weight applied to the k-th antenna element.

Number

[0039] Next, the determination unit 112A calculates the sum E of the outputs of the respective antenna elements 211 using the following formula (2). E0 in formula (2) is the received power of the incoming signal at the reference point, and g(θ) is the directivity function of a single antenna element. The absolute value of the sum E calculated here becomes a value indicating the beam width and the antenna gain. SUM Here, E0 in Equation (2) is the received power of the incoming signal at the reference point, and g(θ) is the directivity function of a single antenna element. The sum E calculated here SUM The absolute value of represents the beam width and the antenna gain.

Number

[0040] Also, the determination unit 112A according to the present embodiment determines the frequency band allocation to each beam B based on the positional relationship of a plurality of cells C formed by a plurality of beams B irradiated in each directivity pattern. The "positional relationship of cells C" includes information such as the distance between cells C and whether a part of the cells overlaps. Specifically, for example, as shown in FIG. 7, when the distance d1 between cell C and cell C is less than a predetermined distance or a part of one cell C overlaps with the other cell C, the beams B forming these interfere with each other, so different frequency bands f1 and f2 are allocated to each beam B. On the other hand, when the distances d2, d3, and d4 between cell C and cell C are equal to or greater than a predetermined distance, the beams B forming these do not interfere with each other, so the same frequency band f1 is allocated to each beam B. The determination unit 112A according to the present embodiment selects and allocates the frequency band to be allocated from among a plurality of different frequency bands included in the frequency information. By performing such allocation, the number of frequency bands to be used can be minimized, and the utilization efficiency of the frequency band is improved. Note that the determination unit 112A may be configured to allocate to the beam B a frequency band that is a predetermined number higher or lower than the frequency of the default frequency band without using the frequency information.

[0041] Further, the determination unit 112A calculates an optimization index for each combination of the directivity pattern of the antenna 21 and the frequency band allocation. The "optimization index" may include at least one of a system rate and a quality of service (QoS). The "system rate" is the total communication path capacity required by each of the plurality of communication terminals 3. The "quality of service" is the quality of communication according to the use of communication performed by each of the plurality of communication terminals 3. When the optimization index is, for example, the system rate, the determination unit 112A calculates the optimization index as follows. First, the determination unit 112A calculates the SINR (Signal to Interference plus Noise Raito) of each communication terminal 3 using the following formula (3). P in formula (3) is the received power, I i is the interference power, and N0 is the noise power.

Number

[0042] Next, the determination unit 112A substitutes the calculated SINR (S / N) into the following formula (4) to calculate the communication path capacity C of each communication terminal. B in formula (4) is the bandwidth. Then, the determination unit 112A calculates the system rate by summing up the communication path capacities C for each of the obtained communication terminals 3.

Number

[0043] After calculating the optimization index for all combinations of the directivity pattern and the frequency band allocation, the determination unit 112A selects the combination with the most improved optimization index from all the combinations, and determines it as the directivity pattern and the frequency band allocation when the antenna 21 irradiates the beam B. When the optimization index is the system rate, the determination unit 112A selects the combination with the highest system rate value. When the optimization index is the quality of service (when the control information includes the required quality of service), the determination unit 112A selects the combination of the directivity pattern that can satisfy the required quality of service specified by the control information and the frequency band allocation. Note that when the optimization index is the quality of service and the resources available for communication are insufficient (the required quality of service specified by the control information cannot be satisfied in all communications with each communication terminal 3), the determination unit 112A may refer to the priority of each communication determined by the required quality of service of each communication specified by the control information, and allocate resources in order from the communication with the highest priority. Further, when the acquisition unit 111 is configured to calculate the transmission power based on the remaining power and the power consumption, the determination unit 112A may be configured to optimize the power consumption by performing control such as reducing the transmission power when the remaining power is below a predetermined value, for example.

[0044] Further, the determination unit 112A according to the present embodiment can omit the calculation of the optimization index for the directivity pattern in which the number of generated beams B exceeds the maximum number of beams or the directivity pattern for irradiating the beam B that requires power exceeding the power consumption by referring to the control information. Note that the determination unit 112A may be configured to perform weighting according to the use of communication when calculating the system rate as described above. Further, the determination unit 112A may be configured to calculate the system rate not by using the above formulas (3) and (4), but by referring to, for example, a database in which information on past received power is accumulated.

[0045] ·Irradiation processing unit The irradiation processing unit 113 controls the antenna 21 (transmits a control signal to the communication device 2) so that the antenna 21 irradiates the beam B with the directivity pattern and frequency band allocation determined by the determination unit 112A. As a result, for example, in a location where a plurality of communication terminals 3 are concentrated at one place (the density of the communication terminals 3 is equal to or greater than a predetermined value) as shown on the left side of FIG. 8, the antenna 21 irradiates a single high-gain beam B. Conversely, for example, in a location where a plurality of communication terminals 3 are widely dispersed (the density of the communication terminals 3 is less than a predetermined value) or where there are no communication terminals, as shown in the center of FIG. 8, the antenna 21 irradiates a plurality of low-gain beams B. Further, for example, in a location where a plurality of communication terminals 3 are densely located and dispersed, as shown on the right side of FIG. 8, the antenna 21 irradiates a plurality of beams B with different gains respectively.

[0046] Also, when irradiating a plurality of beams B, for example, as shown in FIG. 7, for cells C whose mutual distance is equal to or greater than a predetermined distance, the antenna 21 irradiates the beam B to which the same frequency band is allocated. On the other hand, for cells C whose mutual distance is less than a predetermined distance or where a part of one cell overlaps the other cell, the antenna 21 irradiates the beams B to which different frequency bands are allocated respectively.

[0047] Also, the irradiation processing unit 113 controls the antenna 21 so that the antenna 21 changes the irradiation angle of the beam B following the communication terminal 3. As a result, when the movable communication terminal 3 moves, etc., the antenna 21 adjusts the irradiation angle of the beam B so that the communication terminal 3 continues to exist within the cell C.

[0048] (Effect of the communication control device) According to the communication control device 1A described above, similar to the communication control device 1 according to the first exemplary embodiment, an effect can be obtained that the utilization efficiency of the frequency band in communication using the beam B can be improved. Further, in the communication control device 1A described above, a configuration is adopted in which an optimization index is calculated for each combination of the directivity patterns of all antennas and the frequency band allocation based on the control information. Further, in the communication control device 1A, a configuration is adopted in which the directivity pattern of the antenna with the most improved optimization index and the frequency band allocation are adopted. Therefore, according to the communication control device 1A, an effect can be obtained that the most efficient directivity pattern of the antenna and the frequency band allocation can be determined.

[0049] 〔Third Exemplary Embodiment〕 A third exemplary embodiment, which is an example of an embodiment of the present invention, will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Components having the same functions as the components described in the above-described exemplary embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted as appropriate. Note that the scope of application of each technical means adopted in this exemplary embodiment is not limited to this exemplary embodiment. That is, each technical means adopted in this exemplary embodiment can be adopted in other exemplary embodiments included in the present disclosure as long as there are no particular technical obstacles. Further, each technical means shown in each drawing referred to for explaining this exemplary embodiment can be adopted in other exemplary embodiments included in the present disclosure as long as there are no particular technical obstacles.

[0050] (Configuration of Communication Control Device) The configuration of the communication control device 1B will be described with reference to FIG. 6. FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the communication control device 1B. The communication control device 1B according to the present embodiment is different from the communication control device 1A according to the second exemplary embodiment in the method of determining the directivity pattern and the frequency band allocation. The communication control device 1B includes a control unit 11B. The control unit 11B includes a determination unit 112B in addition to the acquisition unit 111A and the irradiation processing unit 113 included in the communication control device 1A.

[0051] · Decision unit The decision unit 112B according to this embodiment performs clustering of a plurality of communication terminals 3 based on the control information acquired by the acquisition unit 111. The decision unit 112B according to this embodiment performs clustering processing S2 in a flow as shown in FIG. 9, for example, using the k-means method.

[0052] In the initial cluster number setting process S21, the decision unit 112B sets the number of clusters. The decision unit 112B according to this embodiment sets the maximum number of beams (control information) acquired by the acquisition unit 111 as the number of clusters. When it is not necessary to consider the remaining battery level of the communication device 2, the decision unit 112B may be configured to set the number of unit configurations 21a of the antenna 21 as the number of clusters.

[0053] After determining the number of clusters, the process proceeds to the initial value setting process S22. In the initial value setting process S22, the decision unit 112B sets initial values of the positions (coordinates) of the centroids of the clusters for the set number of clusters. The initial values of each cluster can be set arbitrarily (but not the same). However, in consideration of the width of the beam B to be irradiated to each cluster, it is preferable to set the values such that the distance between the centroids is at least the width of the beam B.

[0054] After setting the initial values of the centroids, the process proceeds to the allocation process S23. In the allocation process S23, the decision unit 112B allocates a plurality of communication terminals 3 to each cluster based on the set positions of the centroids. Specifically, the distance between the communication terminal 3 and each centroid is calculated, and the communication terminal 3 is allocated to the cluster of the centroid with the smallest distance. This is done for each of the plurality of communication terminals 3.

[0055] After all the communication terminals 3 are allocated to any cluster, the process proceeds to the centroid calculation process S24. In the centroid calculation process S24, the decision unit 112B calculates the positions of the centroids of each cluster.

[0056] Thereafter, the distribution process S23 and the center-of-gravity calculation process S24 are repeated until it is determined that the position of the calculated center of gravity has not changed from the position of the center of gravity calculated in the previous center-of-gravity calculation process S24 (determination process S25: NO). "Not changed" may mean that the difference in the positions of the center of gravity before and after is zero, or that the difference in positions is less than or equal to a predetermined value. Clustering by the k-means method is performed in the flow as described above. Then, the determination unit 112B determines the number of obtained clusters as the number of beams B irradiated by the communication device 2. At this time, the determination unit 112B determines the direction in which the center of gravity of each obtained cluster is located as the irradiation direction of the beam B. In addition, the determination unit 112B determines the shape of each beam B according to the distribution of the communication terminals 3 in each cluster.

[0057] In addition, the determination unit 112B determines the frequency band allocation for each beam B based on the positional relationship of a plurality of cells C that will be formed by a plurality of beams B irradiated toward the center of gravity of each cluster. The determination method is the same as that of the communication control device 1A according to the second exemplary embodiment.

[0058] Note that the determination unit 112B may be configured to perform clustering of a plurality of patterns with different conditions. The "conditions" include the number of clusters, the initial value of the position of the center of gravity, and the like. The initial value of the position of the center of gravity may be changed without changing the width of the beam B (the distance between the centers of gravity), or may be changed after changing the width of the beam B. In this case, the determination unit 112B determines the frequency band allocation each time clustering with different conditions is performed. Note that the determination unit 112B may perform at least a part of clustering of a plurality of patterns with different conditions simultaneously in parallel. Also, in this case, the determination unit 112B calculates an optimization index for the combination of the directivity pattern of the antenna 21 when irradiating the beam B to the center of gravity of each cluster and the frequency band allocation. The content, calculation method, etc. of the calculated optimization index are the same as those of the communication control device 1A according to the second exemplary embodiment.

[0059] Then, the determination unit 112B selects, from among a plurality of sets that are combinations of candidates for the number of beams B, candidates for the shape of beam B, candidates for the angle at which beam B is irradiated, and candidates for the gain of antenna 21 and that are determined based on the results of clustering of a plurality of patterns, the set in which the optimization index is most improved, and determines the number of beams B to be irradiated by communication device 2, the shape of beam B, the angle at which beam B is irradiated, and the gain of antenna 21. Specifically, for the distribution of a plurality of communication terminals 3, for example, assume that the clustering result shown on the left in FIG. 10 (here, the case where all cells C are circular is exemplified) and the clustering result shown on the right in FIG. 10 (here, the case where some cells C are elliptical is exemplified) are obtained. In this case, since the result shown on the right in FIG. 10 has fewer communication terminals 3 that do not fit within cell C and the optimization index is higher, the determination unit 112B adopts the clustering result shown on the right in FIG. 10.

[0060] Note that when the shape of the beam determined according to the distribution of the communication terminals 3 in the cluster cannot be generated under the physical constraints of the antenna 21 specified by the constraint information, the determination unit 112B according to the present embodiment corrects the cluster or the beam irradiated to the cluster. For example, when a cluster in which the communication terminals 3 are distributed long in the diagonal direction as shown on the left side of FIG. 11 is formed, if an elliptical cell C extending in the diagonal direction as shown by the broken line is formed, a plurality of communication terminals 3 included in the cluster can be accommodated in the cell C. On the other hand, the antenna 21 in which the array of the unit configurations 21a is matrix-shaped as shown in FIG. 3 has a physical constraint that it can only form the elliptical cell C to be long in the array direction of the unit configurations 21a. Therefore, when the distribution direction of the communication terminals 3 is not parallel to the array direction of the unit configurations 21a, the antenna 21 forms an elliptical cell C that is long in the left-right direction or the up-down direction in FIG. 11, and some of the communication terminals 3 cannot be accommodated. In such a case, the determination unit 112B performs correction to divide the cluster into a plurality of clusters, for example, as shown on the right side of FIG. 11. In this way, the divided plurality of clusters can be irradiated with the beam B having a circular cross section. Note that the determination unit 112B may correct the beam B irradiated to the cluster so as to form a large circular cell C that can accommodate the cluster shown on the left side of FIG. 11.

[0061] (Effect of the communication control device) According to the communication control device 1B described above, similar to the communication control device 1 according to the first exemplary embodiment, an effect that the utilization efficiency of the frequency band in communication using the beam B can be improved is obtained. Further, in the communication control device 1B described above, a configuration in which the directivity pattern of the antenna and the allocation of the frequency band are determined using clustering is adopted. Therefore, according to the communication control device 1B, an effect that the directivity pattern of the antenna and the allocation of the frequency band can be determined with less calculation amount and calculation time than the communication control device 1A according to the second exemplary embodiment is obtained.

[0062] [Fourth Exemplary Embodiment] A fourth exemplary embodiment, which is an example of an embodiment of the present invention, will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. For components having the same functions as those described in the above-described exemplary embodiments, the same reference numerals are assigned, and the description thereof will be omitted as appropriate. Note that the scope of application of each technical means employed in this exemplary embodiment is not limited to this exemplary embodiment. That is, each technical means employed in this exemplary embodiment can also be employed in other exemplary embodiments included in the present disclosure as long as there are no particular technical obstacles. In addition, each technical means shown in each drawing referred to for explaining this exemplary embodiment can also be employed in other exemplary embodiments included in the present disclosure as long as there are no particular technical obstacles.

[0063] (Configuration of Communication Control Device) The configuration of the communication control device 1C will be described with reference to FIG. 12. FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the communication control device 1C. The communication control device 1C according to the present embodiment is different from the communication control device 1A according to the second exemplary embodiment in the method for determining the directivity pattern and frequency band allocation. The communication control device 1C includes a control unit 11C and a storage unit 12. The control unit 11C includes a determination unit 112C in addition to the acquisition unit 111A and the irradiation processing unit 113 included in the communication control device 1A.

[0064] · Storage Unit The storage unit 12 stores a learned model 121. The storage unit 12 according to the present embodiment is composed of a semiconductor memory, a hard disk drive, or the like.

[0065] The learned model 121 is a model constructed by machine learning using, as teacher data, a set of past control information obtained in the past, the directivity pattern of the antenna 21 in the communication device 2 when the past control information was obtained, and the frequency band allocation. The learned model 121 according to the present embodiment is obtained by subjecting a data set consisting of a large number of teacher data to machine learning using a convolutional neural network (CNN). The teacher data can be obtained, for example, by exhaustive search performed by the communication control device 1A according to the second exemplary embodiment, or by clustering performed by the communication control device 1B according to the third exemplary embodiment.

[0066] · Decision-making unit The decision-making unit 112C inputs the control information acquired by the acquisition unit 111 into the learned model 121. Then, the decision-making unit 112C determines each predicted value output by the learned model 121 as the directivity pattern of the antenna 21 and the frequency band allocation.

[0067] (Effect of communication control device) According to the communication control device 1C described above, similar to the communication control device 1 according to the first exemplary embodiment, an effect can be obtained that the utilization efficiency of the frequency band in communication using the beam B can be improved. Further, in the communication control device 1C described above, a configuration is adopted in which the directivity pattern of the antenna and the frequency band allocation are determined using the learned model 121. Therefore, according to the communication control device 1C, an effect can be obtained that the directivity pattern of the antenna and the frequency band allocation can be determined with less calculation amount and calculation time than the communication control device 1A according to the second exemplary embodiment.

[0068] 〔Fifth exemplary embodiment〕 A fifth exemplary embodiment, which is an example of an embodiment of the present invention, will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. For components having the same functions as those described in the above-described exemplary embodiments, the same reference numerals are assigned, and the description thereof will be omitted as appropriate. Note that the scope of application of each technical means employed in this exemplary embodiment is not limited to this exemplary embodiment. That is, each technical means employed in this exemplary embodiment can be employed in other exemplary embodiments included in the present disclosure as long as there is no particular technical problem. In addition, each technical means shown in each drawing referred to for explaining this exemplary embodiment can be employed in other exemplary embodiments included in the present disclosure as long as there is no particular technical problem.

[0069] (Configuration of Communication System) The configuration of the communication system 100 will be described with reference to FIG. 13. FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the communication system 100. The communication system 100 according to the present embodiment includes any one of the communication control devices 1, 1A, 1B, and 1C according to the first to fourth exemplary embodiments, a communication device 2, and a plurality of communication terminals 3. Note that FIG. 13 illustrates a case where the communication control device 1 is mounted on the communication device 2 as the communication system 100, but the communication control device 1 may be mounted on ground facilities (for example, a central unit (CU) or the like), or may be independent of the communication device 2 and the ground facilities.

[0070] · Communication Terminal The plurality of communication terminals 3 communicate with the communication device 2 wirelessly. Note that the communication terminal 3 may be provided with an antenna that can have directivity in radio waves so as to be able to follow the communication device 2.

[0071] · Artificial Satellite The communication device 2 communicates wirelessly with a plurality of communication terminals 3. The communication device 2 according to this embodiment is an artificial satellite orbiting in space. The orbit in which the communication device 2 orbits is not particularly limited and may be a low-earth orbit, a medium-earth orbit, or a geostationary orbit. The communication device 2 includes an antenna 21. Then, the communication device 2 can communicate with the plurality of communication terminals 3 by irradiating a radio wave beam B from the antenna 21 to the plurality of communication terminals 3. Note that the communication device 2 is not limited to an artificial satellite. The communication device 2 may be, for example, a wireless base station provided on the ground, an aircraft (such as a blimp) constituting a high altitude platform station (HAPS).

[0072] (Effect of the communication system) In the communication system 100 described above, a configuration including any one of the communication control devices 1, 1A, 1B, and 1C according to the first to fourth exemplary embodiments is adopted. That is, the frequency band assigned to each beam B is adapted to the number, distribution, etc. of the communication terminals 3. Therefore, according to the communication system 100 according to this embodiment, an effect that the utilization efficiency of the frequency band in communication using the beam B can be improved is obtained.

[0073] (Flow of the communication control method 1) The flow of the communication control method S1A will be described with reference to FIG. 14. FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the flow of the communication control method S1A. The communication control method S1A is a method for controlling the communication device 2. The communication device 2 to be controlled in this embodiment is an artificial satellite. Also, the communication control method S1A according to this embodiment is a method used when a plurality of artificial satellites are orbiting on the same orbit. As shown in FIG. 14, the communication control method S1A includes an acquisition process S11A, a determination process S12A, a switching process S13, an irradiation process S14, a tracking process S15, and a collection process S16.

[0074] · Acquisition process In the initial acquisition process S11A, the computer acquires control information. The computer may be the one that constitutes the communication control devices 1, 1A, 1B, and 1C described above. Also, the computer may be installed in each communication device 2, or may be installed in ground facilities (such as CU). The computer acquires control information from the communication device 2 that is irradiating the beam B to the communication terminal 3 (while communicating with the communication terminal 3). The control information includes terminal position information, device position information, and constraint information, similar to that acquired by the communication control devices 1, 1A, 1B, and 1C described above.

[0075] · Decision-making process After acquiring the control information, the process proceeds to the decision-making process S12A. In the decision-making process S12A, the computer determines the directivity pattern of the antenna 21 when generating the beam B and the allocation of the frequency band to the beam B based on the control information. The computer uses the control information acquired from the communication device 2 currently in communication to determine the directivity pattern and the allocation of the frequency band when the subsequent communication device 2 (the next one to perform handover) irradiates the beam B. The same method as that performed by any of the communication control devices 1, 1A, 1B, and 1C described above can be used to determine the directivity pattern and the allocation of the frequency band.

[0076] · Switching process After determining the directivity pattern and the allocation of the frequency band, the process proceeds to the switching process S13. In the switching process S13, the communication device 2 that communicates with a plurality of communication terminals 3 is switched (handed over) from the communication device 2 that has been communicating with the communication terminal 3 to the subsequent communication device 2.

[0077] · Irradiation process After switching the communication device 2 that communicates with the communication terminal 3, the process proceeds to the irradiation process S14. In the irradiation process S14, the switched communication device 2 irradiates the beam B of radio waves corresponding to the directivity pattern and the allocation of the frequency band determined by the computer to a plurality of communication terminals 3. As a result, the communication device 2 can communicate with the communication terminal 3.

[0078] · Tracking process After irradiating the communication terminal 3 with the beam B, the process proceeds to the tracking process S15. In the tracking process S15, when the movable communication terminal 3 moves or the like, the antenna 21 of the communication device 2 adjusts the irradiation angle of the beam B so that the communication terminal 3 continues to exist within the cell C.

[0079] · Collection process In parallel with causing the communication terminal 3 to follow the beam B, a collection process S16 is performed. In the collection process S16, the communication device 2 irradiating the beam B or the ground facility collects control information. This control information is sent to the communication control device 1 by the communication device 2 irradiating the beam B (the acquisition process S11 is repeated), and is used to determine the directivity pattern and the frequency band allocation when the subsequent (next handover) communication device 2 irradiates the beam B.

[0080] (Effect of the communication control method) According to the communication control method described above, similar to the communication control method according to the first exemplary embodiment, an effect is obtained in that the utilization efficiency of the frequency band in communication using the beam B can be improved. Further, in the communication control method described above, a configuration is adopted in which the directivity pattern and the frequency band allocation when the subsequent communication device 2 irradiates the beam B are determined using the control information acquired from the currently communicating communication device 2. Therefore, according to the communication control method, an effect is obtained in that the directivity pattern and the frequency band allocation are determined when the communication device 2 is switched, and the switching can be performed smoothly.

[0081] (Flow of the communication control method 2) The flow of communication control method S1B will be described with reference to FIG. 15. FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing the flow of communication control method S1B. Communication control method S1B is a method in which communication device 2 communicates with communication terminal 3 using any one of communication control devices 1, 1A, 1B, and 1C. The communication device 2 to be controlled in this embodiment is an artificial satellite that can obtain position information indicating its own position by scanning the ground. As shown in FIG. 15, communication control method S1B includes acquisition process S11B, determination process S12B, and irradiation process S14B in addition to tracking process S15 included in communication control method S1A related to flow 2 of the above communication control method.

[0082] (Acquisition Process) In the initial acquisition process S11B, the computer acquires control information. The computer may be the one that constitutes the above communication control devices 1, 1A, 1B, and 1C. The computer acquires control information obtained by the communication device 2 (while communicating with communication terminal 3) that irradiates beam B to communication terminal 3 by repeatedly scanning the ground. The computer acquires control information every time the communication device 2 performs a scan. The control information includes terminal position information, device position information, and constraint information, similar to that acquired by the above communication control devices 1, 1A, 1B, and 1C.

[0083] (Determination Process) After acquiring the control information, the process proceeds to determination process S12B. In determination process S12B, the computer determines the directivity pattern of antenna 21 when generating beam B and the allocation of frequency bands to beam B based on the control information. The computer determines the directivity pattern and the allocation of frequency bands when the communication device 2 that has performed the scan (and sent the control information to the computer) irradiates beam B. The computer determines the directivity pattern and the allocation of frequency bands every time it acquires the control information (when the communication device 2 performs a scan). The same method as used by any one of the above communication control devices 1, 1A, 1B, and 1C can be used to determine the directivity pattern and the allocation of frequency bands.

[0084] After determining the directivity pattern and frequency band allocation, the process proceeds to the irradiation process S14B. In the irradiation process S14B, the communication device 2 irradiates a plurality of communication terminals 3 with a radio wave beam B corresponding to the directivity pattern determined by the computer and the frequency band allocation. The computer changes the beam B to be irradiated each time the directivity pattern and frequency band allocation are determined (when the communication device 2 performs scanning) to be in accordance with the directivity pattern and frequency band allocation.

[0085] (Effect of the communication control method) According to the communication control method described above, similar to the communication control method according to the first exemplary embodiment, an effect can be obtained in that the utilization efficiency of the frequency band in communication using the beam B can be improved. Also, in the communication control method described above, a configuration is adopted in which the directivity pattern and frequency band allocation when the communication device 2 irradiates the beam B are determined using the control information obtained by the communication device 2 scanning the ground. For this reason, according to the communication control method, an effect can be obtained in that it is possible to handle the case where there is one communication device 2 or the case where it is not communicating with other communication devices 2. Also, according to the communication control method, an effect can be obtained in that even if there is a communication terminal 3 whose power is newly turned on while the communication device 2 is irradiating the beam B, communication can be immediately established with the communication terminal 3.

[0086] [Example of implementation by software] Some or all of the functions of the communication control devices 1, 1A, 1B, 1C (hereinafter, also referred to as "the above devices") may be realized by hardware such as an integrated circuit (IC chip), or may be realized by software.

[0087] In the latter case, the above devices are realized by a computer that executes program instructions, which are software for realizing each function, for example. An example of such a computer (hereinafter, referred to as computer CP) is shown in FIG. 16. FIG. 16 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the computer CP that functions as the above devices.

[0088] The computer CP includes at least one processor C1 and at least one memory C2. A program P for operating the computer CP as each of the above devices is recorded in the memory C2. In the computer CP, the processor C1 reads and executes the program P from the memory C2, thereby realizing each function of each of the above devices.

[0089] As the processor C1, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a GPU (Graphic Processing Unit), a DSP (Digital Signal Processor), an MPU (Micro Processing Unit), an FPU (Floating point number Processing Unit), a PPU (Physics Processing Unit), a TPU (Tensor Processing Unit), a quantum processor, a microcontroller, or a combination thereof can be used. As the memory C2, for example, a flash memory, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), an SSD (Solid State Drive), or a combination thereof can be used.

[0090] Note that the computer CP may further include a RAM (Random Access Memory) for expanding the program P during execution and temporarily storing various data. Also, the computer CP may further include a communication interface for transmitting and receiving data to and from other devices. Also, the computer CP may further include an input / output interface for connecting input / output devices such as a keyboard, a mouse, a display, and a printer.

[0091] Also, the program P can be recorded on a non-transitory tangible recording medium M that can be read by the computer CP. As such a recording medium M, for example, a tape, a disk, a card, a semiconductor memory, or a programmable logic circuit can be used. The computer CP can acquire the program P via such a recording medium M. Also, the program P can be transmitted via a transmission medium. As such a transmission medium, for example, a communication network or a broadcast wave can be used. The computer CP can also acquire the program P via such a transmission medium.

[0092] [Supplementary Note 1] The present disclosure includes the technologies described in the following supplementary notes. However, the present invention is not limited to the technologies described in the following supplementary notes, and various modifications are possible within the scope indicated in the claims.

[0093] (Supplementary Note 1) A communication control device including a control unit for controlling a communication device, wherein the communication device can communicate with a plurality of communication terminals by irradiating radio wave beams from an antenna to the plurality of communication terminals, and the control unit acquires control information including terminal position information indicating positions of the plurality of communication terminals, device position information indicating a position of the communication device, and constraint information including information indicating physical constraints of the antenna, and based on the control information, determines a directivity pattern of the antenna when generating the beam, and an allocation of a frequency band to the beam, and a determination unit for determining A communication control device comprising.

[0094] (Supplementary Note 2) The determination unit determines the allocation of the frequency band to each of the beams based on the positional relationship of a plurality of cells to be formed by the plurality of beams. The communication control device according to Supplementary Note 1.

[0095] (Supplementary Note 3) The determination unit performs clustering of a plurality of communication terminals based on the control information, determines the number of obtained clusters as the number of beams irradiated by the communication device, and determines the shape of each of the beams according to the distribution of the communication terminals in each cluster. The communication control device according to Supplementary Note 1 or 2.

[0096] (Supplementary Note 4) The determination unit performs clustering of a plurality of patterns with different conditions respectively, selects, from among a plurality of sets that are combinations of candidates for the number of the beams, candidates for the shape of the beams, candidates for the angles at which the beams are irradiated, and candidates for the gain of the antenna and that are determined based on the results of the clustering of the plurality of patterns, the set in which the optimization index is most improved, and determines the number of the beams irradiated by the communication device, the shape of the beams, the angles at which the beams are irradiated, and the gain of the antenna. The communication control device according to Supplementary Note 3.

[0097] (Supplementary Note 5) The optimization index is at least one of the system rate which is the sum of the communication channel capacities required by each of the plurality of communication terminals and the quality of service according to the use of the communication performed by each of the plurality of communication terminals. The communication control device according to Supplementary Note 4.

[0098] (Supplementary Note 6) If the shape of the beam determined according to the distribution of the communication terminals in the cluster cannot be generated under the physical constraints of the antenna specified by the constraint information, the determination unit corrects the cluster or the beam irradiated on the cluster. The communication control device according to supplementary note 4 or 5.

[0099] (Supplementary note 7) The control information The maximum number of beams, which is the upper limit of the number of beams that can be generated, The power consumption required to generate the beam, further includes at least any one of The communication control device according to any one of supplementary notes 1 to 6.

[0100] (Supplementary note 8) The acquisition unit acquires the remaining power, which is the remaining amount of power that can be supplied by the battery provided in the communication device, and calculates at least any one of the maximum number of beams and the power consumption based on the remaining power. The communication control device according to supplementary note 7.

[0101] (Supplementary note 9) The determination unit inputs the control information into a learned model constructed by machine learning using a set of the past control information obtained in the past, the directivity pattern of the antenna and the frequency band allocation in the communication device when the past control information was obtained, as teacher data, and determines each predicted value output by the learned model as the directivity pattern of the antenna and the frequency band allocation. The communication control device according to any one of supplementary notes 1 to 8.

[0102] (Supplementary note 10) A plurality of communication terminals, and an artificial satellite that orbits in orbit and communicates with the plurality of communication terminals. A communication control device according to any one of Appendices 1 to 9, and a communication system including the same.

[0103] (Appendix 11) A communication control program for causing a computer to function as the communication control device according to any one of Claims 1 to 9, the communication control program for causing a computer to function as the acquisition unit and the determination unit.

[0104] (Appendix 12) A communication control method for controlling a communication device, wherein the communication device can communicate with a plurality of communication terminals by irradiating radio wave beams from an antenna to the plurality of communication terminals, and a computer acquires control information including terminal position information indicating positions of the plurality of communication terminals, device position information indicating a position of the communication device, and constraint information including information indicating physical constraints of the antenna, in an acquisition process; and the computer determines, based on the control information, a directivity pattern of the antenna when generating the beam, and an allocation of a frequency band to the beam, in a determination process, the communication control method including the above. (Appendix 13) In the determination process, based on a positional relationship of a plurality of cells to be formed by a plurality of beams, an allocation of the frequency band to each of the beams is determined. The communication control method according to Appendix 12.

[0105] (Appendix 14) In the determination process, clustering of a plurality of communication terminals is performed based on the control information, and the number of obtained clusters is determined as the number of beams irradiated by the communication device, Determine the shape of each of the beams according to the distribution of the communication terminals in each cluster. The communication control method according to Appendix 12 or 13.

[0106] (Appendix 15) In the determination process, Perform clustering of a plurality of patterns with different conditions respectively, Among the combinations of the candidate number of the beams, the candidate shape of the beams, the candidate angle for irradiating the beams, and the candidate gain of the antenna, select the combination with the most improved optimization index from among the plurality of combinations determined based on the results of the clustering of the plurality of patterns, and determine the number of the beams irradiated by the communication device, the shape of the beams, the angle for irradiating the beams, and the gain of the antenna. The communication control method according to Appendix 14.

[0107] (Appendix 16) The optimization index is The system rate which is the sum of the communication channel capacities required by each of the plurality of communication terminals, The quality of service according to the use of the communication performed by each of the plurality of communication terminals, including at least any one of The communication control method according to Appendix 15.

[0108] (Appendix 17) In the determination process, if there is a cluster in which some of the communication terminals do not fit in the cell formed by the beam that the antenna can irradiate among the obtained clusters of the communication terminals, correct the cluster or the beam irradiating the cluster. The communication control method according to Appendix 15 or 16.

[0109] (Appendix 18) The control information is The maximum number of beams which is the upper limit value of the number of the beams that can be generated, The power consumption required to generate the beams, further including at least any one of The communication control method according to any one of Appendices 12 to 17.

[0110] (Appendix 19) In the acquisition process, acquire the remaining power, which is the remaining amount of power that can be supplied by the battery included in the communication device, calculate at least one of the maximum number of beams and the power consumption based on the remaining power. The communication control method according to Appendix 18.

[0111] (Appendix 20) In the determination process, input the control information into a learned model constructed by machine learning using, as teacher data, a set of past control information obtained in the past, the directivity pattern of the antenna and the frequency band allocation in the communication device when the past control information was obtained, and determine each predicted value output by the learned model as the directivity pattern of the antenna and the frequency band allocation. The communication control method according to any one of Appendices 12 to 19.

[0112] [Appendix Item 2] The present disclosure includes the technologies described in the following appendices. However, the present invention is not limited to the technologies described in the following appendices, and various modifications are possible within the scope shown in the claims. (Appendix 1) Comprising at least one processor, the at least one processor controls a communication device capable of communicating with a plurality of communication terminals by irradiating beams of radio waves from an antenna to the plurality of communication terminals, acquires acquisition processing for acquisition processing including terminal position information indicating positions of the plurality of communication terminals, device position information indicating a position of the communication device, and constraint information including information indicating physical constraints of the antenna, and control information including the same. Based on the control information, the directivity pattern of the antenna when generating the beam, and the allocation of frequency bands to the beam, and a determination process for determining the above, A communication control device characterized by the above. Note that the communication control device may further include a memory. Also, a program for causing the at least one processor to execute each process may be stored in the memory.

[0113] (Appendix 2) The at least one processor In the determination process, based on the positional relationship of a plurality of cells that will be formed by a plurality of beams, determine the allocation of the frequency band to each of the beams. The communication control device according to Appendix 1.

[0114] (Appendix 3) The at least one processor, in the determination process, Based on the control information, perform clustering of a plurality of communication terminals, Determine the number of obtained clusters as the number of beams irradiated by the communication device, Determine the shape of each beam according to the distribution of the communication terminals in each cluster. The communication control device according to Appendix 1 or 2.

[0115] (Appendix 4) The at least one processor, in the determination process, Perform clustering of a plurality of patterns with different conditions respectively, A set of candidates for the number of the beams, candidates for the shape of the beams, candidates for the angles at which the beams are irradiated, and candidates for the gain of the antenna, and selects, from among a plurality of sets determined based on the result of clustering of the plurality of patterns, a set in which the optimization index is most improved, and determines the number of the beams irradiated by the communication device, the shape of the beams, the angles at which the beams are irradiated, and the gain of the antenna. The communication control device according to Supplementary Note 3.

[0116] (Supplementary Note 5) The optimization index is a system rate that is the total of the communication channel capacities required by each of the plurality of communication terminals, a quality of service corresponding to the use of communication performed by each of the plurality of communication terminals, and includes at least any one of The communication control device according to Supplementary Note 4.

[0117] (Supplementary Note 6) In the determination process, when the shape of the beam determined according to the distribution of the communication terminals in the cluster cannot be generated under the physical constraints of the antenna defined by the constraint information, the at least one processor corrects the cluster or the beam irradiated to the cluster. The communication control device according to Supplementary Note 4 or 5.

[0118] (Supplementary Note 7) The control information is a maximum number of beams that is an upper limit value of the number of the beams that can be generated, the power consumption required to generate the beams, and further includes at least any one of The communication control device according to any one of Supplementary Notes 1 to 6.

[0119] (Supplementary Note 8) In the acquisition process, the at least one processor acquires the remaining power that is the remaining amount of power that can be supplied by the battery included in the communication device. Calculating at least one of the maximum number of beams and the power consumption based on the remaining power The communication control device according to Supplementary Note 7

[0120] (Supplementary Note 9) In the determination process, the at least one processor inputs the past control information obtained in the past, the directivity pattern of the antenna and the frequency band allocation in the communication device when the past control information was obtained, and inputs the control information into a learned model constructed by machine learning using the set as teacher data, and determines each predicted value output by the learned model as the directivity pattern of the antenna and the frequency band allocation The communication control device according to any one of Supplementary Notes 1 to 8

Explanation of Reference Signs

[0121] 100 Communication system 1, 1A, 1B, 1C Communication control device 11, 11A, 11B, 11C Control unit 111, 111A Acquisition unit 112, 112A, 112B, 112C Determination unit 113 Irradiation processing unit 12 Storage unit 121 Learned model 2 Communication device 21 Antenna 21a Unit configuration 211 Antenna element 212 BF circuit 213 DA converter 214 AD converter 215 Splitter / combiner circuit 21b Digital signal processing unit 3 Communication terminal B Beam C Cell CP Computer C1 Processor C2 Memory

Claims

1. A communication control device comprising a control unit for controlling a communication device, wherein the communication device is capable of communicating with a plurality of communication terminals by irradiating radio wave beams from an antenna to the plurality of communication terminals, the control unit obtains control information including terminal position information indicating the positions of the plurality of communication terminals, device position information indicating the position of the communication device, and constraint information including information indicating physical constraints of the antenna, an acquisition unit for acquiring the control information, based on the control information, a directivity pattern of the antenna when generating the beam, and an allocation of a frequency band to the beam, a determination unit for determining the above, a communication control device comprising the above.

2. The determination unit determines the allocation of the frequency band to each of the beams based on the positional relationship of a plurality of cells to be formed by the plurality of beams. The communication control device according to claim 1. The communication control device according to claim 1.

3. The determination unit performs clustering of a plurality of communication terminals based on the control information, determines the number of obtained clusters as the number of beams irradiated by the communication device, and determines the shape of each of the beams according to the distribution of the communication terminals in each cluster. The communication control device according to claim 1 or 2. The communication control device according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The determination unit performs clustering of a plurality of patterns with different conditions respectively, selects a set in which the optimization index is most improved from among a plurality of sets determined based on the results of the clustering of the plurality of patterns, the set being a combination of a candidate for the number of beams, a candidate for the shape of the beam, a candidate for the angle at which the beam is irradiated, and a candidate for the gain of the antenna, and determines the number of beams, the shape of the beam, the angle at which the beam is irradiated, and the gain of the antenna to be irradiated by the communication device. The communication control device according to claim 3. The communication control device according to claim 3.

5. The optimization index is at least one of a system rate which is the sum of communication channel capacities required by each of the plurality of communication terminals, and a quality of service according to the use of communication performed by each of the plurality of communication terminals. The communication control device according to claim 4. The communication control device according to claim 4.

6. When the shape of the beam determined according to the distribution of the communication terminals in the cluster cannot be generated under the physical constraints of the antenna specified by the constraint information, the determination unit corrects the cluster or the beam irradiated to the cluster. The communication control device according to claim 4. The communication control device according to claim 4.

7. ​ The control information is a maximum number of beams which is an upper limit value of the number of beams that can be generated, and the power consumption required to generate the beams, and further includes at least any one of them, The communication control device according to claim 1 or 2.

8. The acquisition unit acquires remaining power which is the remaining amount of power that can be supplied by a battery included in the communication device, and calculates at least any one of the maximum number of beams and the power consumption based on the remaining power. The communication control device according to claim 7.

9. The determination unit inputs the control information to a learned model constructed by machine learning using a set of the past control information obtained in the past and the directivity pattern of an antenna and the frequency band allocation in the communication device when the past control information was obtained as teacher data, and determines each predicted value output by the learned model as the directivity pattern of the antenna and the frequency band allocation. The communication control device according to claim 1 or 2.

10. A plurality of communication terminals, and an artificial satellite that orbits and communicates with the plurality of communication terminals, and the communication control device according to claim 1, A communication system comprising.

11. A communication control program for causing a computer to function as the communication control device according to claim 1, the communication control program for causing a computer to function as the acquisition unit and the determination unit.

12. A communication control method for controlling a communication device, wherein the communication device can communicate with the plurality of communication terminals by irradiating beams of radio waves from an antenna, and a computer performs an acquisition process of acquiring control information including terminal position information indicating positions of the plurality of communication terminals, device position information indicating a position of the communication device, and constraint information including information indicating physical constraints of the antenna, and a determination process in which the computer determines a directivity pattern of the antenna and a frequency band allocation to the beam based on the control information. A communication control method comprising. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

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