Information processing device, information processing method and program

Abstract

To provide an information processing device, method and program for reducing the cost of communication and the occurrence of delay of communication while maintaining a communication quality.SOLUTION: An information processing device 4 in a flying object comprises: a communication section 41 which communicates with the flying object by utilizing any one of a ground communication facility and a communication satellite; an acquisition section 431 which acquires state information for identifying a state of the flying object; an estimation section 432 which estimates an execution time in which the ground communication facility and the communication satellite are switched based on the state of the flying object identified by the state information acquired by the acquisition section and a ground communication quality map; a connection processing section 433 which executes processing for establishing a connection with the other facility which is different from any one facility of the ground communication facility and the communication satellite being utilized for communicating with the flying object on the condition that the present time elapses from a time which is a predetermined period before the execution time which is estimated by the estimation section; and a switching processing section 434 which executes the processing for switching to the other facility on the basis of the execution time which is estimated by the estimation section.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an information processing device, an information processing method, and a program. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, aircraft having communication functions have been known. Patent Document 1 discloses a technique in which an aircraft switches between terrestrial communication via a ground base station and satellite communication via a communication satellite. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 7373259 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] When continuous communication is required as the communication quality for an aircraft, it is considered that the requirement can be met more easily by prioritizing the use of satellite communication over terrestrial communication as a communication method. However, when the communication costs of satellite communication are higher than those of terrestrial communication, it is desirable to use terrestrial communication over satellite communication as a communication method. Furthermore, since satellite communication has a slower communication speed than terrestrial communication and communication delays may occur, it is desirable to use terrestrial communication over satellite communication. Therefore, there is a demand for reducing communication costs and communication delays while maintaining communication quality.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of these points, and aims to reduce communication costs and the occurrence of communication delays while maintaining communication quality. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] An information processing device according to a first aspect of the present invention includes a communication unit that communicates with an aircraft using either a terrestrial communication facility or a communication satellite; an acquisition unit that acquires status information for identifying the status of the aircraft; an estimation unit that estimates an execution time for switching between the terrestrial communication facility and the communication satellite based on the status of the aircraft identified by the status information acquired by the acquisition unit and a terrestrial communication quality map showing the communication quality of the terrestrial communication facility within the flight range in which the aircraft flies; a connection processing unit that executes processing to establish a connection with another facility different from either the terrestrial communication facility currently being used for communication with the aircraft or the communication satellite, on the condition that the current time has passed a time before a predetermined period from the execution time estimated by the estimation unit; and a switching processing unit that executes processing to switch to the other facility based on the execution time estimated by the estimation unit.

[0007] Based on the state of the aircraft identified by the state information acquired by the acquisition unit and the ground communication quality map, the estimation unit may estimate as the execution time either the time when the aircraft enters an area where a ground communication quality value indicating the communication quality of the ground communication equipment is equal to or greater than a predetermined first ground threshold and the area where the ground communication quality value is less than the first ground threshold, or the time when the aircraft enters an area where the ground communication quality value is less than a predetermined second ground threshold and the area where the ground communication quality value is equal to or greater than the second ground threshold.

[0008] The connection processing unit may execute a process for establishing a connection with the other facility while the connection with the one facility is established.

[0009] The information processing device may further have a judgment unit that judges whether a satellite communication quality value indicating the communication quality between the communication satellite and the aircraft is equal to or greater than a predetermined satellite threshold value based on the state of the aircraft identified by the state information acquired by the acquisition unit and a satellite communication quality map indicating the communication quality of the communication satellite within the flight range, and the connection processing unit may execute processing to establish a connection with the communication satellite as the other facility, on the condition that the current time has passed a time before the predetermined period from the execution time corresponding to switching from the terrestrial communication facility to the communication satellite, and the judgment unit judges that the satellite communication quality value is equal to or greater than the satellite threshold value.

[0010] The information processing device may further have a notification unit that notifies an administrator managing the aircraft that switching from the terrestrial communication equipment to the communication satellite is not possible when the current time has passed a time before the predetermined period from the execution time corresponding to switching from the terrestrial communication equipment to the communication satellite and the determination unit determines that the satellite communication quality value is not greater than or equal to the satellite threshold value, and a flight management unit that executes processing to hover the aircraft when the current time has passed a time before the predetermined period from the execution time corresponding to switching from the terrestrial communication equipment to the communication satellite and the determination unit determines that the satellite communication quality value is not greater than or equal to the satellite threshold value.

[0011] The information processing device may further have a flight management unit that, when the current time has passed a time before the predetermined period from the execution time corresponding to switching from the terrestrial communication equipment to the communication satellite and the determination unit determines that the satellite communication quality value is not greater than or equal to the satellite threshold, executes processing to hover the aircraft until the determination unit determines that the satellite communication quality value is greater than or equal to the satellite threshold.

[0012] The information processing device may further have a notification unit that notifies an administrator managing the aircraft that it is not possible to switch from the ground communication equipment to the communication satellite if the determination unit does not determine that the satellite communication quality value is greater than or equal to the satellite threshold value within a predetermined period of time from the time the flight management unit executes processing to hover the aircraft.

[0013] The information processing device may further have a flight management unit that, when the connection processing unit executes processing to establish a connection with the communication satellite, executes processing to slow the flight speed of the aircraft at least below the flight speed of the aircraft before the processing is executed, until the connection with the communication satellite is established.

[0014] The information processing device may further have a flight management unit that, when the communication unit is communicating with the aircraft using the communication satellite and a satellite communication quality value indicating the communication quality between the communication satellite and the aircraft becomes less than a predetermined satellite threshold, refers to the terrestrial communication quality map and executes processing to fly the aircraft to an area where connection with the terrestrial communication equipment is possible.

[0015] An information processing method according to a second aspect of the present invention includes the steps of: acquiring status information for identifying the status of the aircraft, executed by a computer having a communication unit that communicates with the aircraft using either terrestrial communication equipment or a communication satellite; estimating an execution time for switching between the terrestrial communication equipment and the communication satellite based on the status of the aircraft identified by the acquired status information and a terrestrial communication quality map that indicates the communication quality of the terrestrial communication equipment within the flight range in which the aircraft flies; executing a process for establishing a connection between the terrestrial communication equipment currently being used for communication with the aircraft and another equipment different from either one of the equipment and the communication satellite, on the condition that the current time has passed a time that is a predetermined period before the estimated execution time; and executing a process for switching to the other equipment based on the estimated execution time.

[0016] A program according to a third aspect of the present invention causes a computer having a communication unit that communicates with an aircraft using either terrestrial communication equipment or a communication satellite to function as: an acquisition unit that acquires status information to identify the status of the aircraft; an estimation unit that estimates the execution time to switch between the terrestrial communication equipment and the communication satellite based on the status of the aircraft identified by the status information acquired by the acquisition unit and a terrestrial communication quality map that shows the communication quality of the terrestrial communication equipment within the flight range in which the aircraft flies; a connection processing unit that executes processing to establish a connection between the terrestrial communication equipment currently being used for communication with the aircraft and another equipment different from either one of the equipment and the communication satellite, on the condition that the current time has passed a time that is a predetermined period before the execution time estimated by the estimation unit; and a switching processing unit that executes processing to switch to the other equipment based on the execution time estimated by the estimation unit. [Effects of the Invention]

[0017] According to the present invention, it is possible to reduce communication costs and communication delays while maintaining communication quality. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0018] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an information processing system. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a schematic representation of the positional relationship between each communication facility and an aircraft. [Figure 3] FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating a functional configuration of an information processing device. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a switch from a base station to a communication satellite. [Figure 5] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a switch from a communication satellite to a base station. [Figure 6] 10 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing by the information processing device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0019] [Outline of Information Processing System S] 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of an information processing system S. The information processing system S is a system used to manage communications in communication services provided by a telecommunications carrier. The information processing system S includes a base station 1, a communication satellite 2, an aircraft 3, and an information processing device 4.

[0020] The base station 1 is a ground communication facility for relaying communications in the air vehicle communication network. The base station 1 relays communications between the air vehicle 3 and the information processing device 4.

[0021] The communication satellite 2 is an artificial satellite in orbit around the Earth. The communication satellite 2 is used as a communication facility that provides satellite internet access services. The satellite internet access service is, for example, a service that provides satellite communications to subscribers who have subscribed to the service. The satellite internet access service is, for example, a pay-as-you-go system, and fees are charged according to the amount of data sent and received. The communication satellite 2 relays communications between the flying object 3 and the information processing device 4.

[0022] The aircraft 3 is an unmanned aircraft that flies. The aircraft 3 has a communication function for communicating with the base station 1 and the communication satellite 2. The aircraft 3 is used, for example, as a base station in a communication service.

[0023] The information processing device 4 is a device that manages communication with the flying object 3, and is, for example, a server. The information processing device 4 has a communication function for communicating with the base station 1 and the communication satellite 2. The administrator that manages the flying object 3 and the information processing device 4 is, for example, a telecommunications carrier that provides communication services, and is a subscriber to the satellite internet access service. The information processing device 4 manages a terrestrial communication quality map that indicates the communication quality of the base station 1 in a specified area.

[0024] For communication between the aircraft 3 and the information processing device 4, either the base station 1 or the communication satellite 2 is used. Comparing the base station 1 and the communication satellite 2, the communication satellite 2 has fewer areas where its radio waves cannot reach. Therefore, it would seem that priority should be given to using the communication satellite 2 in order to achieve continuous communication. However, when communicating using the communication satellite 2, fees are charged according to the amount of data sent and received. Therefore, priority should be given to using the base station 1 in order to reduce communication costs. Furthermore, when communicating using the communication satellite 2, the communication speed may be slower than when communicating using the base station 1. Therefore, priority should be given to using the base station 1 in order to reduce communication delays. Therefore, the information processing system S uses the base station 1 to communicate between the aircraft 3 and the information processing device 4 when the aircraft 3 is in an area where the radio waves from the base station 1 can reach, and uses the communication satellite 2 to communicate between the aircraft 3 and the information processing device 4 when the aircraft 3 is in an area where the radio waves from the base station 1 cannot reach.

[0025] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a schematic representation of the positional relationship between each communication facility and an aircraft 3. In the example shown in FIG. 2(a), the aircraft 3 is flying in a direction away from the base station 1a, as indicated by the arrow. The radio wave area A1 is an area that can receive radio waves from the base station 1a. When the aircraft 3 is at position L1, the information processing system S uses the base station 1a to establish communication between the aircraft 3 and the information processing device 4. When the aircraft 3 is at position L3, the information processing system S uses the communication satellite 2 to establish communication between the aircraft 3 and the information processing device 4.

[0026] Here, since it takes several seconds or tens of seconds for the aircraft 3 to establish a connection with the communication satellite 2, if the aircraft 3 starts to connect with the communication satellite 2 when it passes position L3 (when it leaves the radio wave area A1), it will not be able to communicate until the connection is established. Therefore, the information processing system S causes the aircraft 3 to establish a connection with the communication satellite 2 before the aircraft 3 passes position L3.

[0027] For example, the information processing system S causes the aircraft 3 to establish a connection with the communication satellite 2 when the aircraft 3 passes through position L2, i.e., before the aircraft 3 passes through position L3. Then, when the aircraft 3 passes through position L3, the information processing system S switches from the base station 1a to the communication satellite 2 to establish communication between the aircraft 3 and the information processing device 4.

[0028] Next, in the example shown in FIG. 2(b), the aircraft 3 is flying in a direction approaching base station 1b, as indicated by the arrow. Radio wave area A2 is an area where radio waves from base station 1b reach. When the aircraft 3 is at position L4, the information processing system S uses the communication satellite 2 to establish communication between the aircraft 3 and the information processing device 4. When the aircraft 3 passes position L5, the information processing system S causes the aircraft 3 to establish a connection with base station 1b. Then, when the aircraft 3 passes position L6, the information processing system S switches from the communication satellite 2 to base station 1b to establish communication between the aircraft 3 and the information processing device 4.

[0029] In this way, the information processing system S can reduce communication costs and communication delays while maintaining communication quality. The configuration of the information processing device 4 will be described below.

[0030] [Configuration of information processing device 4] FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically illustrating the functional configuration of an information processing device 4. The information processing device 4 includes a communication unit 41, a storage unit 42, and a control unit 43. In FIG. 3, arrows indicate main data flows, and there may be data flows not shown in FIG. 3. In FIG. 3, each functional block indicates a configuration in functional units, rather than a configuration in hardware (device) units. Therefore, the functional blocks shown in FIG. 3 may be implemented in a single device, or may be implemented separately in multiple devices. Data may be exchanged between functional blocks via any means, such as a data bus, a network, or a portable storage medium.

[0031] The communication unit 41 is a communication interface for connecting to a network and has a communication controller for transmitting and receiving data to and from external devices. The communication unit 41 communicates with the aircraft 3 using either the base station 1 or the communication satellite 2. The communication unit 41, for example, constructs a tunnel in the network and communicates with the aircraft 3 through the constructed tunnel. The tunnels include a tunnel for the base station 1 and a tunnel for the communication satellite 2, and the communication unit 41 constructs a tunnel according to the communication equipment to be used and communicates with the aircraft 3.

[0032] Note that the tunnel may be constructed not only by the information processing device 4 but also by an external server. In this case, the external server constructs the tunnel in response to a request from the information processing device 4, and the information processing device 4 communicates with the aircraft 3 via the external server and the tunnel constructed by the external server.

[0033] The memory unit 42 is a large-capacity storage device such as a ROM (Read Only Memory) that stores the BIOS (Basic Input Output System) of the computer that realizes the information processing device 4, a RAM (Random Access Memory) that serves as the working area of ​​the information processing device 4, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or an SSD (Solid State Drive) that stores the OS (Operating System), application programs, and various information referenced when the application programs are executed.

[0034] A terrestrial communication quality map is stored in the storage unit 42. The terrestrial communication quality map is, for example, information indicating terrestrial communication quality values ​​that indicate the communication quality of the base station 1, and indicating areas of the terrestrial communication quality values ​​for each different terrestrial communication quality value.

[0035] The control unit 43 is a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) of the information processing device 4, and functions as an acquisition unit 431, an estimation unit 432, a connection processing unit 433, a switching processing unit 434, a flight management unit 435, a judgment unit 436, and a notification unit 437 by executing programs stored in the memory unit 42.

[0036] (Switching from used facilities to unused facilities) First, we will explain the process that the information processing device 4 executes to switch from a used facility to an unused facility. The used facility is either the base station 1 or the communication satellite 2 currently being used for communication between the aircraft 3 and the information processing device 4. The unused facility is the other facility, different from the used facility, of the base station 1 or the communication satellite 2 currently being used for communication with the aircraft 3.

[0037] The acquisition unit 431 acquires status information for identifying the status of the aircraft 3. The status of the aircraft 3 is, for example, the location where the aircraft 3 is located, the direction in which the aircraft 3 is flying, the speed at which the aircraft 3 is flying, etc. The status information includes, for example, a flight plan of the flight route that the aircraft 3 will fly. The flight plan associates points on the flight route with the scheduled times at which the aircraft 3 will pass those points. The acquisition unit 431 acquires the flight plan of the aircraft 3 from, for example, an administrator who manages the aircraft 3.

[0038] The status information may include measurement information measured by the aircraft 3. The measurement information is information indicating, for example, the position measured by the aircraft 3 (the position where the aircraft 3 is located), the direction in which the aircraft 3 is flying, the speed at which the aircraft 3 is flying, etc. The acquisition unit 431 acquires the measurement information from the aircraft 3, for example, at predetermined intervals.

[0039] Details will be described later, but the estimation unit 432 estimates the execution time to switch from a used facility to an unused facility based on the state of the aircraft 3 identified by the state information acquired by the acquisition unit 431 and a ground communication quality map indicating the communication quality of base stations 1 within the flight range in which the aircraft 3 flies.

[0040] The connection processing unit 433 executes an establishment process to establish a connection with the unused facility on the condition that the current time has elapsed from the execution time estimated by the estimation unit 432 to a time before the connection period. The connection period is, for example, a period determined as the time required for the aircraft 3 to establish a connection with the unused facility. The connection period may be a common period for the base station 1 and the communication satellite 2, or may be different periods for the base station 1 and the communication satellite 2.

[0041] Specifically, as an establishment process, the connection processing unit 433 transmits a connection request to the aircraft 3 to establish a connection with the unused facility. When the aircraft 3 receives the connection request from the information processing device 4, it establishes a connection to the unused facility. Furthermore, as an establishment process, the connection processing unit 433 constructs a tunnel for the unused facility (either a tunnel for the base station 1 or a tunnel for the communication satellite 2) in the network.

[0042] The connection processing unit 433 executes an establishment process for establishing a connection with an unused facility while a connection with a used facility has been established. For example, while the air vehicle 3 and the communication unit 41 are communicating using a tunnel for the used facility, the connection processing unit 433 causes the air vehicle 3 to establish a connection to the unused facility and build a tunnel for the unused facility in the network. In this way, the information processing device 4 can prevent a situation in which communication is temporarily lost between connecting to the unused facility and switching between the used facility and the unused facility.

[0043] The switching processing unit 434 executes a switching process for switching from the used facility to the unused facility based on the execution time estimated by the estimation unit 432. Specifically, as the switching process, the switching processing unit 434 transmits a switching request to the aircraft 3 to cause the aircraft 3 to use the unused facility with which a connection has been established as the used facility. When the aircraft 3 receives the switching request from the information processing device 4, the aircraft 3 communicates with the information processing device 4 using the unused facility with which a connection has been established as the used facility. Also, as the switching process, the switching processing unit 434 switches the tunnel used for communicating with the aircraft 3 from a tunnel for the used facility to a tunnel for the unused facility.

[0044] (Switching from base station 1 to communication satellite 2) Next, a process executed by the information processing device 4 to switch from the base station 1 to the communication satellite 2 will be described.

[0045] The estimation unit 432 estimates the execution time to switch from the base station 1 to the communication satellite 2 based on the state of the aircraft 3 specified by the state information acquired by the acquisition unit 431 and a terrestrial communication quality map indicating the communication quality of the base station 1 within the flight range of the aircraft 3. Specifically, based on the state of the aircraft 3 specified by the state information acquired by the acquisition unit 431 and the terrestrial communication quality map, the estimation unit 432 estimates, as the execution time, the time when the aircraft 3 will move from an area where the terrestrial communication quality value indicating the communication quality of the base station 1 is equal to or greater than a first terrestrial threshold to an area where the terrestrial communication quality value is less than the first terrestrial threshold. The first terrestrial threshold is a predetermined value that is used to determine whether to switch from the base station 1 to the communication satellite 2.

[0046] The estimation unit 432 may, for example, refer to a terrestrial communication quality map and estimate, as the execution time, a time associated with a point on a flight route at which the aircraft 3, located in an area where the terrestrial communication quality value is equal to or greater than the first terrestrial threshold, enters an area where the terrestrial communication quality value is less than the first terrestrial threshold in the flight plan of the aircraft 3 included in the status information. When the status information includes measurement information of the aircraft 3, the estimation unit 432 may estimate the execution time by referring to the terrestrial communication quality map and calculating, based on the position and speed of the aircraft 3 indicated by the measurement information of the aircraft 3, the time at which the aircraft 3, flying in the direction indicated by the measurement information of the aircraft 3, passes a point where it enters an area where the terrestrial communication quality value is less than the first terrestrial threshold.

[0047] When the status information includes both the flight plan of the aircraft 3 and the measurement information of the aircraft 3, the estimation unit 432 may estimate the execution time based on the flight plan of the aircraft 3, the measurement information of the aircraft 3, and the ground communication quality map. The estimation unit 432 estimates the execution time based on, for example, the flight plan of the aircraft 3 and the ground communication quality map, and corrects the execution time by subtracting the time associated with the position of the aircraft 3 (the current position where the aircraft 3 is located) included in the measurement information of the aircraft 3 in the flight plan of the aircraft 3 by the time when the position was measured, and adding the subtracted time to the execution time.

[0048] The connection processing unit 433 executes an establishment process to establish a connection with the communication satellite 2, on the condition that the current time has passed since the execution time estimated by the estimation unit 432 and the time before the connection period. Specifically, as the establishment process, the connection processing unit 433 transmits a connection request to the aircraft 3 to establish a connection with the communication satellite 2. When the aircraft 3 receives the connection request from the information processing device 4, it establishes a connection to the communication satellite 2. Furthermore, as part of the establishment process, the connection processing unit 433 constructs a tunnel for the communication satellite 2 in the network.

[0049] The information processing device 4 may control the flight of the aircraft 3 until a connection is established with the communication satellite 2 in the aircraft 3. Specifically, when the connection processing unit 433 executes the establishment process corresponding to the communication satellite 2, the flight management unit 435 executes a process to slow down the flight speed of the aircraft 3 at least compared to the flight speed of the aircraft 3 before the establishment process was executed until the connection with the communication satellite 2 is established.

[0050] The flight management unit 435, for example, transmits to the aircraft 3, together with the connection request, a flight request to decelerate or hover until a connection with the communication satellite 2 is established. When the aircraft 3 receives the flight request from the information processing device 4, it decelerates or hovers until a connection with the communication satellite 2 is established. Note that when the aircraft 3 receives a connection request from the information processing device 4, it may also decelerate or hover until a connection with the communication satellite 2 is established. In this way, the information processing device 4 can reduce the occurrence of a situation in which the aircraft 3 switches from the base station 1 to the communication satellite 2 before a connection with the communication satellite 2 is established.

[0051] Here, since satellite internet access services are provided by multiple communication satellites 2 moving along the Earth's orbit, there are cases where the radio waves received by the flying object 3 from the communication satellites 2 are temporarily weak. Therefore, the information processing device 4 may execute the establishment process taking into consideration the communication quality of the communication satellites 2 at the flying object 3. Specifically, the information processing device 4 executes the establishment process taking into consideration the communication quality of the communication satellites 2 by executing the following two steps.

[0052] In a first step, the determination unit 436 determines whether or not the satellite communication quality value indicating the communication quality between the communication satellite 2 and the aircraft 3 (for example, the strength of the radio waves from the communication satellite 2 received by the aircraft 3) is equal to or greater than a predetermined satellite threshold, based on the state of the aircraft 3 specified by the state information acquired by the acquisition unit 431 and a satellite communication quality map indicating the communication quality of the communication satellite 2 within the flight range of the aircraft 3. The satellite threshold is a predetermined numerical value that is used to determine whether or not to connect to the communication satellite 2.

[0053] The satellite communication quality map is information output by a predetermined simulator. The predetermined simulator is a program that simulates the range in which communication with the communication satellite 2 can be performed, which changes in accordance with the movement of the communication satellite 2. For example, when information indicating the range and a time are input, the predetermined simulator outputs information indicating the range and the range in which communication with the communication satellite 2 can be performed at that time. The determination unit 436, for example, inputs information indicating the flight range of the aircraft 3 and a time from the execution time to the connection period into the predetermined simulator, and determines whether the satellite communication quality value is equal to or greater than the satellite threshold value using the satellite communication quality map output by the predetermined simulator in response to the input.

[0054] In addition, the status information acquired by the acquisition unit 431 includes the satellite communication quality value measured by the aircraft 3, and the determination unit 436 may use the satellite communication quality value measured by the aircraft 3 after the time before the connection period from the execution time has elapsed to the current time to determine whether the satellite communication quality value is greater than or equal to the satellite threshold value.

[0055] As a second step, the connection processing unit 433 executes the establishment process on the condition that the current time has passed from the execution time corresponding to the switch from the base station 1 to the communication satellite 2 to the time before the connection period, and the determination unit 436 determines that the satellite communication quality value is equal to or greater than the satellite threshold value. In this way, the information processing device 4 can prevent the occurrence of a situation in which the flying object 3 cannot connect to the communication satellite 2.

[0056] If the current time has passed from the execution time to the time before the connection period and the determination unit 436 determines that the satellite communication quality value is not equal to or greater than the satellite threshold, the notification unit 437 may notify the administrator managing the aircraft 3 that switching from the base station 1 to the communication satellite 2 is not possible. Furthermore, if the current time has passed from the execution time to the time before the connection period and the determination unit 436 determines that the satellite communication quality value is not equal to or greater than the satellite threshold, the flight management unit 435 may execute processing to hover the aircraft 3. The flight management unit 435 causes the aircraft 3 to hover, for example, by transmitting a request to hover the aircraft 3. In this way, the information processing device 4 can leave it to the administrator of the aircraft 3 to handle situations in which switching from the base station 1 to the communication satellite 2 is not possible.

[0057] As described above, satellite Internet access services are provided by multiple communication satellites 2 orbiting the Earth, so even if the radio waves received by the aircraft 3 from the communication satellite 2 temporarily become weak, the radio waves received by the aircraft 3 from the communication satellite 2 may become strong after a while. Therefore, if the radio waves received by the aircraft 3 from the communication satellite 2 are weak at the point in time when the time before the connection period has elapsed from the execution time to the current time, the information processing device 4 may hover the aircraft 3 until the radio waves received by the aircraft 3 from the communication satellite 2 become strong.

[0058] Specifically, if the current time has passed from the execution time to the time before the connection period and the judgment unit 436 determines that the satellite communication quality value is not greater than or equal to the satellite threshold, the flight management unit 435 executes processing to hover the aircraft 3 until the judgment unit 436 determines that the satellite communication quality value is greater than or equal to the satellite threshold.

[0059] For example, first, when the current time has passed from the execution time to the time before the connection period, and the determination unit 436 determines that the satellite communication quality value is not equal to or greater than the satellite threshold, the flight management unit 435 causes the aircraft 3 to hover by sending a request to hover the aircraft 3. Then, when the determination unit 436 determines that the satellite communication quality value is equal to or greater than the satellite threshold, the connection processing unit 433 executes the establishment process. Furthermore, the flight management unit 435 causes the aircraft 3 to resume flight (movement) by sending a request to resume flight (movement) to the aircraft 3. In this way, the information processing device 4 can prevent the occurrence of a situation in which the aircraft 3 is unable to communicate using either the base station 1 or the communication satellite 2.

[0060] In addition, if the determination unit 436 does not determine that the satellite communication quality value is equal to or greater than the satellite threshold value during the period from when the flight management unit 435 executes processing to hover the aircraft 3 until the standby period has elapsed, the notification unit 437 may notify the person in charge of managing the aircraft 3 that switching from the base station 1 to the communication satellite 2 is not possible. The standby period is a period determined as the period from when the strength of the radio waves from the communication satellite 2 weakens to when it strengthens again. In this way, the information processing device 4 can leave it to the person in charge of managing the aircraft 3 to deal with a situation in which switching from the base station 1 to the communication satellite 2 is not possible.

[0061] The switching processing unit 434 executes a switching process for switching from the base station 1 to the communication satellite 2 based on the execution time estimated by the estimation unit 432. Specifically, as the switching process, the switching processing unit 434 transmits a switching request to the aircraft 3 to cause the aircraft 3 to use the communication satellite 2 with which the connection has been established as the utilization facility. Upon receiving the switching request from the information processing device 4, the aircraft 3 communicates with the information processing device 4 using the communication satellite 2 with which the connection has been established as the utilization facility. Furthermore, as the switching process, the switching processing unit 434 switches the tunnel used for communicating with the aircraft 3 from the tunnel for the base station 1 to the tunnel for the communication satellite 2.

[0062] FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically illustrating switching from base station 1 to communication satellite 2. In the example shown in FIG. 4(a), aircraft 3 is flying in a direction away from base station 1c, as indicated by the arrow. FIG. 4(b) is a graph showing quality values ​​indicating the strength of radio waves received by aircraft 3 from base station 1 or communication satellite 2. The vertical axis of the graph shown in FIG. 4(b) represents the quality value, and the horizontal axis represents time. Note that the vertical axis of the graph shown in FIG. 4(b) may also represent the position of aircraft 3. Value E1 represents the quality value of radio waves from base station 1c. Value E2 represents the quality value of radio waves from communication satellite 2. Threshold T1 represents the first ground threshold. Time C1 represents the time before the connection period from the execution time. Time C2 represents the execution time.

[0063] In this case, the connection processing unit 433 executes the process of establishing a connection to the communication satellite 2 when the current time passes time C1. As shown by the value E2 in FIG. 4(b), it can be confirmed that the radio wave quality value of the communication satellite 2 has increased after time C1 has passed, as the flying object 3 has established a connection with the communication satellite 2. Then, the switching processing unit 434 executes the process of switching from base station 1c to the communication satellite 2 when the current time passes time C2.

[0064] If the radio waves received by the aircraft 3 from the communication satellite 2 become weaker after switching from the base station 1 to the communication satellite 2, the information processing device 4 may execute processing to switch the means of communication with the aircraft 3 from the communication satellite 2 to the base station 1. Specifically, first, when the communication unit 41 is communicating with the aircraft 3 using the communication satellite 2 and the satellite communication quality value indicating the communication quality between the communication satellite 2 and the aircraft 3 becomes less than the satellite threshold, the flight management unit 435 refers to the terrestrial communication quality map and executes processing to fly the aircraft 3 to an area where connection with the base station 1 is possible.

[0065] The flight management unit 435, for example, refers to a ground communication quality map, identifies a point from the current position of the aircraft 3 where the ground communication quality value of the base station 1 is equal to or higher than the ground threshold, and sends information indicating the identified point to the aircraft 3, thereby flying the aircraft 3 to that point. Then, the switching processing unit 434 executes processing to switch from the communication satellite 2 to the base station 1 after the connection processing unit 433 has caused the aircraft 3 to establish a connection with the base station 1. In this way, the information processing device 4 can shorten the period during which it is unable to communicate with the aircraft 3.

[0066] In the above, an example has been described in which the information processing device 4 controls the flying object 3 based on the communication quality between the flying object 3 and the communication satellite 2, but this is not limiting. For example, a flight route may be set in the flight plan taking into account the communication quality between the flying object 3 and the communication satellite 2.

[0067] (Switching from communication satellite 2 to base station 1) Next, a process executed by the information processing device 4 to switch from the communication satellite 2 to the base station 1 will be described.

[0068] The estimation unit 432 estimates the execution time for switching from the communication satellite 2 to the base station 1 based on the state of the aircraft 3 identified by the state information acquired by the acquisition unit 431 and a terrestrial communication quality map indicating the communication quality of the base stations 1 within the flight range of the aircraft 3. Specifically, based on the state of the aircraft 3 identified by the state information acquired by the acquisition unit 431 and the terrestrial communication quality map, the estimation unit 432 estimates, as the execution time, the time at which the aircraft 3 will move from an area where the terrestrial communication quality value is less than the second terrestrial threshold to an area where the terrestrial communication quality value is equal to or greater than the second terrestrial threshold. The second terrestrial threshold is a predetermined value used to determine whether to switch from the communication satellite 2 to the base station 1. The first terrestrial threshold and the second terrestrial threshold may be the same value or different values.

[0069] The connection processing unit 433 executes an establishment process to establish a connection with the base station 1 on the condition that the current time has elapsed from the execution time estimated by the estimation unit 432 to the time before the connection period. Specifically, as the establishment process, the connection processing unit 433 transmits a connection request to the aircraft 3 to establish a connection with the base station 1. When the aircraft 3 receives the connection request from the information processing device 4, it establishes a connection to the base station 1. Note that the aircraft 3 may establish a connection to the base station 1 upon receiving radio waves from the base station 1. Furthermore, as the establishment process, the connection processing unit 433 constructs a tunnel for the base station 1 in the network.

[0070] The switching processing unit 434 executes switching processing to switch from the communication satellite 2 to the base station 1 based on the execution time estimated by the estimation unit 432. As part of the switching processing, the switching processing unit 434 transmits a switching request to the aircraft 3 to cause the aircraft 3 to use the base station 1 with which the connection has been established as the facility to be used. Upon receiving the switching request from the information processing device 4, the aircraft 3 communicates with the information processing device 4 using the base station 1 with which the connection has been established as the facility to be used. Furthermore, as part of the switching processing, the switching processing unit 434 switches the tunnel used to communicate with the aircraft 3 from the tunnel for the communication satellite 2 to the tunnel for the base station 1.

[0071] FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically illustrating switching from a communication satellite 2 to a base station 1. In the example shown in FIG. 5(a), an aircraft 3 is flying in a direction approaching base station 1d, as indicated by the arrow. FIG. 5(b) is a graph showing quality values ​​indicating the strength of radio waves received by the aircraft 3 from base station 1 or communication satellite 2. The vertical axis of the graph shown in FIG. 5(b) represents the quality value, and the horizontal axis represents time. Note that the vertical axis of the graph shown in FIG. 5(b) may also represent the position of the aircraft 3. Value E2 represents the quality value of radio waves from communication satellite 2. Value E3 represents the quality value of radio waves from base station 1d. Threshold T2 represents the second ground threshold. Time C3 represents the time before the connection period from the execution time. Time C4 represents the execution time. Time C5 represents the disconnection time.

[0072] In this case, the connection processing unit 433 executes the process of establishing a connection to base station 1d when the current time passes time C3. As shown by the value E3 in FIG. 5(b), it can be confirmed that the radio wave quality value of base station 1d has increased after time C3 has passed because the aircraft 3 has established a connection with base station 1d. Then, the switching processing unit 434 executes the process of switching from the communication satellite 2 to base station 1d when the current time passes time C4.

[0073] Furthermore, when the current time passes time C5, the connection processing unit 433 executes a disconnection process to disconnect communication with the communication satellite 2. As the disconnection process, the connection processing unit 433 transmits a request to disconnect communication with the communication satellite 2 to the aircraft 3, thereby causing the aircraft 3 to disconnect communication with the communication satellite 2. The connection processing unit 433 also deletes the tunnel for the communication satellite 2. In this way, the information processing device 4 can prevent an occurrence of a situation in which charges increase due to data being sent and received to a communication satellite 2 that is not being used as a means of communication.

[0074] [Processing of information processing device 4] Next, a description will be given of the flow of processing executed by the information processing device 4. Fig. 6 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing by the information processing device 4. This processing starts when the acquisition unit 431 acquires status information of the flying object 3 (S1).

[0075] The estimation unit 432 estimates the execution time for switching from the used facility to the unused facility based on the state of the flying object 3 identified by the state information acquired by the acquisition unit 431 and the ground communication quality map stored in the storage unit 42 (S2). The connection processing unit 433 determines whether the current time has passed the connection time, which is the time before the connection period from the execution time estimated by the estimation unit 432 (S3). If the connection processing unit 433 determines that the current time has not passed the connection time (NO in S3), it returns to the process before S3.

[0076] On the other hand, if the connection processing unit 433 determines that the current time has passed the connection time (YES in S3), it executes an establishment process to establish a connection with the unused equipment (S4). The switching processing unit 434 determines whether the current time has passed the execution time estimated by the estimation unit 432 (S5). If the switching processing unit 434 determines that the current time has not passed the execution time (NO in S5), it returns the process to before S5.

[0077] On the other hand, if the switching processing unit 434 determines that the execution time has passed the current time (YES in S5), it executes switching processing to switch from the used facility to the unused facility (S6).

[0078] [Effects of this embodiment] As described above, the information processing device 4 estimates the execution time for switching from the used facility to the unused facility based on the state of the aircraft and the ground communication quality map, executes processing for establishing a connection with the unused facility on the condition that the current time has passed the time before the connection period from the estimated execution time, and executes processing for switching to the unused facility based on the estimated execution time. In this way, the information processing device 4 can reduce communication costs and communication delays while maintaining communication quality.

[0079] Furthermore, this invention will make it possible to contribute to Goal 9 of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which is "Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization, and promote innovation and resilience."

[0080] The present invention has been described above using embodiments, but the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the scope described in the above embodiments, and various modifications and changes are possible within the scope of the gist of the present invention. For example, all or part of the device can be configured by functionally or physically distributing or integrating any unit. Furthermore, new embodiments resulting from any combination of multiple embodiments are also included in the embodiments of the present invention. The effects of the new embodiments resulting from the combination also have the effects of the original embodiments. [Explanation of symbols]

[0081] 1 base station 2. Communications satellites 3. Flying Objects 4. Information processing equipment 41 Communications Department 42 Storage section 43 Control Unit 431 Acquisition Department 432 Estimation Department 433 Connection Processing Unit 434 Switching Processing Unit 435 Flight Management Department 436 Judgment section 437 Notification Department S Information Processing System

Claims

1. a communication unit that communicates with the aircraft using either ground communication equipment or a communication satellite; an acquisition unit that acquires status information for identifying the status of the aircraft; an estimation unit that estimates an execution time for switching between the terrestrial communication facility and the communication satellite based on a state of the aircraft identified by the state information acquired by the acquisition unit and a terrestrial communication quality map that indicates the communication quality of the terrestrial communication facility within a flight range in which the aircraft flies; a connection processing unit that executes a process to establish a connection between the ground communication facility currently being used for communication with the flying object and the communication satellite, on the condition that the current time has passed a time before a predetermined period from the execution time estimated by the estimation unit; and a switching processing unit that executes a process for switching to the other facility based on the execution time estimated by the estimation unit; and An information processing device having the above.

2. The estimation unit estimates, based on the state of the aircraft specified by the state information acquired by the acquisition unit and the terrestrial communication quality map, as the execution time either a time when the aircraft will move from an area where a terrestrial communication quality value indicating the communication quality of the ground communication equipment is equal to or greater than a predetermined first terrestrial threshold to an area where the terrestrial communication quality value is less than the first terrestrial threshold, or a time when the aircraft will move from an area where the terrestrial communication quality value is less than a predetermined second terrestrial threshold to an area where the terrestrial communication quality value is equal to or greater than the second terrestrial threshold. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

3. the connection processing unit executes a process for establishing a connection with the other facility while the connection with the one facility is established. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

4. The information processing device further includes a determination unit that determines whether a satellite communication quality value indicating communication quality between the communication satellite and the aircraft is equal to or greater than a predetermined satellite threshold value based on the state of the aircraft specified by the state information acquired by the acquisition unit and a satellite communication quality map indicating communication quality of the communication satellite within the flight range, the connection processing unit executes a process for establishing a connection with the communication satellite as the other facility, on condition that the current time has passed a time before the predetermined period from the execution time corresponding to the switch from the terrestrial communication facility to the communication satellite, and the determination unit determines that the satellite communication quality value is equal to or greater than the satellite threshold value. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

5. The information processing device includes: a notification unit that notifies an administrator that manages the aircraft that switching from the terrestrial communication equipment to the communication satellite is not possible when the current time has passed a time before the predetermined period from the execution time corresponding to switching from the terrestrial communication equipment to the communication satellite and the determination unit determines that the satellite communication quality value is not equal to or greater than the satellite threshold value; and a flight management unit that executes a process to hover the aircraft when the determination unit determines that the satellite communication quality value is not equal to or greater than the satellite threshold value when the current time has passed a time before the predetermined period from the execution time corresponding to the switch from the ground communication equipment to the communication satellite; further comprising The information processing device according to claim 4 .

6. The information processing device further includes a flight management unit that, when the current time has passed a time before the predetermined period from the execution time corresponding to switching from the ground communication equipment to the communication satellite and the determination unit determines that the satellite communication quality value is not equal to or greater than the satellite threshold, executes processing to hover the aircraft until the determination unit determines that the satellite communication quality value is equal to or greater than the satellite threshold. The information processing device according to claim 4 .

7. The information processing device further includes a notification unit that notifies an administrator who manages the aircraft that switching from the ground communication equipment to the communication satellite is not possible when the determination unit does not determine that the satellite communication quality value is equal to or greater than the satellite threshold value within a predetermined period of time from the time the flight management unit executes processing to hover the aircraft. The information processing device according to claim 6 .

8. The information processing device further includes a flight management unit that, when the connection processing unit executes a process for establishing a connection with the communication satellite, executes a process for slowing the flight speed of the aircraft to at least a flight speed of the aircraft before the process is executed, until the connection with the communication satellite is established. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

9. The information processing device further includes a flight management unit that, when a satellite communication quality value indicating the communication quality between the communication satellite and the aircraft becomes less than a predetermined satellite threshold while the communication unit is communicating with the aircraft using the communication satellite, refers to the terrestrial communication quality map and executes processing to fly the aircraft to an area where connection with the terrestrial communication equipment is possible. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

10. A computer having a communication unit that communicates with an aircraft using either a ground communication facility or a communication satellite executes the program. acquiring status information for identifying a status of the aircraft; a step of estimating an execution time for switching between the terrestrial communication facility and the communication satellite based on a state of the aircraft identified by the acquired state information and a terrestrial communication quality map indicating communication quality of the terrestrial communication facility within a flight range in which the aircraft flies; executing a process for establishing a connection between the ground communication facility currently being used for communication with the flying object and another facility different from either one of the ground communication facility and the communication satellite, on the condition that the current time has passed a time before a predetermined period from the estimated execution time; executing a process for switching to the other facility based on the estimated execution time; An information processing method comprising:

11. A computer having a communication unit that communicates with an aircraft using either ground communication equipment or a communication satellite, an acquisition unit that acquires status information for identifying the status of the aircraft; an estimation unit that estimates an execution time for switching between the terrestrial communication facility and the communication satellite based on a state of the aircraft identified by the state information acquired by the acquisition unit and a terrestrial communication quality map that indicates communication quality of the terrestrial communication facility within a flight range in which the aircraft flies; a connection processing unit that executes a process for establishing a connection between the ground communication facility being used for communication with the flying object and another facility different from either one of the ground communication facility and the communication satellite, on the condition that the current time has passed a time before a predetermined period from the execution time estimated by the estimation unit; and a switching processing unit that executes a process for switching to the other facility based on the execution time estimated by the estimation unit; A program to function as a

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