Communication control system, communication control method, and program

Abstract

To provide a communication control system, a communication control method, and a program for reducing communication costs.SOLUTION: In the communication system 22, the telematics control unit (TCU) 30 is a communication control device provided in a mobile body including a cellular communication unit configured to perform cellular communication and a wireless LAN communication unit configured to perform wireless LAN communication, and the control unit includes a virtual router unit configured to determine whether to route communication to the cellular communication unit or to route communication to the wireless LAN communication unit, and a control unit configured to perform control for prioritizing wireless LAN communication over cellular communication by controlling routing by the virtual router unit.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a communication control system, a communication control method, and a program. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Documents 1 to 6 describe technologies relating to virtual routers. Patent Document 7 describes a technology relating to communication control in a communication control device mounted on a vehicle. [Prior art document] [Patent Documents] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-46538 Patent Document 2: JP 2021-7249 A Patent Document 3: JP 2013-9259 A Patent Document 4: International Publication No. 2013 / 190688 Patent Document 5: JP 2010-4088 A Patent Document 6: JP 2016-208068 A Patent Document 7: JP 2023-118361 A Patent Document 8: JP 2020-181604 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0003] However, there is a problem that communication costs for cellular communications in mobile devices are high. The present application aims to solve this problem by reducing communication costs in mobile devices, thereby contributing to the development of sustainable transportation systems. [Means for solving the problem]

[0004] A first aspect of the present invention provides a communication control device. The communication control device is installed in a mobile object having a cellular communication unit for performing cellular communication and a wireless LAN communication unit for performing wireless LAN communication. The communication control device includes a virtual router unit that determines whether to route communication to the cellular communication unit or the wireless LAN communication unit. The communication control device includes a control unit that controls routing by the virtual router unit to give priority to wireless LAN communication over cellular communication.

[0005] In any of the above communication control devices, the control unit may perform control to perform cellular communication and wireless LAN communication in parallel by controlling routing by the virtual router unit.

[0006] In any of the above communication control devices, the moving body may be a vehicle, and the control unit may control routing by the virtual router unit to route communications other than communications related to driving control of the vehicle to the wireless LAN communication unit with priority over the cellular communication unit.

[0007] In any of the above communication control devices, the moving object may be a vehicle, and the control unit may control routing by the virtual router unit to route communications related to driving control of the vehicle to the cellular communication unit with priority over the wireless LAN communication unit.

[0008] In any of the above communication control devices, the virtual router unit may have a plurality of virtual routers associated with different APN settings.

[0009] In any of the above communication control devices, the virtual router unit may have a plurality of virtual routers associated with different services.

[0010] In any of the above communication control devices, the virtual router unit may include a first virtual router that routes communications only to the cellular communication unit.

[0011] In any of the above communication control devices, the virtual router unit may have a second virtual router that routes communications to the cellular communication unit and the wireless LAN communication unit, and the control unit may control the second virtual router to prioritize wireless LAN communication over cellular communication.

[0012] In any of the above communication control devices, the virtual router unit may include a third virtual router that routes communications only to the wireless LAN communication unit.

[0013] In any of the above communication control devices, when a predetermined event is detected, the control unit may control routing by the virtual router unit to give priority to wireless LAN communication over cellular communication.

[0014] In any of the above communication control devices, the moving object may be a vehicle, and the predetermined event may include at least one of an event indicating that the speed of the vehicle has dropped below a predetermined speed value, an event indicating that a cellular communication state has become poor, and an event indicating that an ignition power supply of the vehicle has been turned off.

[0015] A second aspect of the present invention provides a communication control method. The communication control method is executed by a communication control device provided in a mobile object having a cellular communication unit for performing cellular communication and a wireless LAN communication unit for performing wireless LAN communication. The communication control method includes a step of determining, by a virtual router unit, whether to route communication to the cellular communication unit or to the wireless LAN communication unit. The communication control method includes a step of controlling routing by the virtual router unit to give priority to wireless LAN communication over cellular communication.

[0016] In a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a program. The program causes a computer to function as any one of the communication control devices described above. The program may be stored in a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium.

[0017] The above summary of the invention does not list all of the features of the present invention, and subcombinations of these features may also constitute inventions. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0018] [Figure 1] 1 shows a schematic configuration of a communication system 22 according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] 2 shows an example of a system configuration of a communication system 22. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is an image diagram showing packet routing by the TCU 30. [Figure 4] 10 shows an example of a flowchart relating to a communication control method executed in the TCU 30. [Figure 5] An example of a computer 2000 is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0019] The present invention will be described below through embodiments of the invention, but the following embodiments do not limit the scope of the invention according to the claims. Furthermore, not all of the combinations of features described in the embodiments are necessarily essential to the solution of the invention.

[0020] 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of a communication system 22 according to an embodiment. The communication system 22 is provided in a mobile object 20.

[0021] The mobile object 20 is a mobile device. The mobile object 20 is, for example, a vehicle such as a bus or a train. A vehicle is an example of transportation equipment. The mobile object 20 may be various types of aircraft, including unmanned aerial vehicles.

[0022] The communication system 22 has the function of performing cellular communication and wireless LAN communication. The communication system 22 can communicate with communication devices connected to a communication network 90 via a wireless relay device 110 and a wireless base station 120. The communication network 90 includes a computer network such as the Internet, a cellular communication network, and the like.

[0023] The wireless base station 120 is a cellular communication base station that supports one or more cellular communication methods. The cellular communication methods supported by the wireless base station 120 may be, for example, communication methods used in mobile communication systems such as the fourth generation mobile communication system (4G) and the fifth generation mobile communication system (5G). The wireless base station 120 relays communication between a communication device in the communication system 22 and a communication device connected to the communication network 90.

[0024] The wireless relay device 110 has a function of relaying wireless LAN communications. For example, the wireless relay device 110 has a wireless LAN access point function. The wireless relay device 110 relays communications between a communication device in the communication system 22 and a communication device connected to the communication network 90.

[0025] In this embodiment, the moving object 20 is a vehicle, and the communication system 22 includes a plurality of communication devices connected to a communication network within the vehicle. The plurality of communication devices connected to the communication network within the vehicle includes, for example, an ECU (electronic control unit) provided in the vehicle.

[0026] When cellular communication via the wireless base station 120 and wireless LAN communication via the wireless relay device 110 are both available, the communication system 22 prioritizes wireless LAN communication over cellular communication, thereby reducing communication costs.

[0027] 2 schematically illustrates an example of a system configuration of the communication system 22. The communication system 22 includes a TCU 30, an in-vehicle communication network 70, and a plurality of ECUs including an ECU 50 and an ECU 60. The in-vehicle communication network 70 includes, for example, an Ethernet (registered trademark) bus and an Ethernet (registered trademark) hub.

[0028] The TCU 30 is a telematics control unit and includes a control unit 210, a cellular communication unit 31, and a wireless LAN communication unit 32.

[0029] The cellular communication unit 31 performs cellular communication, and the wireless LAN communication unit 32 performs wireless LAN communication.

[0030] The communication control unit 33 is responsible for overall control of the TCU 30. The communication control unit 33 is an example of a communication control device. At least a part of the communication control unit 33 is realized by an arithmetic processing unit including a processor. The communication control unit 33 may be realized by a computer including a CPU, ROM, RAM, I / O, buses, etc.

[0031] The communication control unit 33 includes a bridge unit 220, a virtual router unit 200, and a control unit 210. The virtual router unit 200 includes a first virtual router 201, a second virtual router 202, and a third virtual router 203.

[0032] The virtual router unit 200 determines whether to route communication to the cellular communication unit 31 or to the wireless LAN communication unit 32. The control unit 210 performs control to prioritize wireless LAN communication over cellular communication. Specifically, the control unit 210 controls routing by the virtual router unit 200 to perform control to prioritize wireless LAN communication over cellular communication.

[0033] Generally, wireless LAN communication standards are updated at cycles much shorter than the vehicle's lifetime. According to the TCU 30, the virtual router determines whether to route communication to the wireless LAN communication unit 32. Therefore, even if the wireless LAN communication standard changes, the TCU 30 can easily update the virtual router without updating the hardware of the TCU 30 to accommodate the latest wireless LAN communication. Therefore, control that prioritizes wireless LAN communication can be realized throughout the vehicle's lifetime. This allows wireless LAN communication to be used throughout the vehicle's lifetime, thereby reducing communication costs in the vehicle.

[0034] The control unit 210 controls routing by the virtual router unit 200, thereby controlling cellular communication and wireless LAN communication in parallel. In other words, the control unit 210 can perform wireless LAN communication while performing cellular communication. This allows wireless LAN communication to be performed even when cellular communication is possible, if wireless LAN communication is available, thereby reducing the amount of cellular communication traffic. This allows communication costs to be reduced.

[0035] The control unit 210 may control routing by the virtual router unit 200 to route communications other than communications related to vehicle driving control to the wireless LAN communication unit 32 with priority over the cellular communication unit 31. For example, wireless LAN communication may be used with priority for data communications for in-vehicle infotainment (IVI) and / or data communications for using entertainment services. Although wireless LAN communication may have lower security than cellular communication, using wireless LAN communication for data communications for IVI and communications for using entertainment services does not pose a significant security problem.

[0036] The control unit 210 may control routing by the virtual router unit 200, so that communications related to driving control of the mobile object 20 are routed preferentially to the cellular communication unit 31 rather than the wireless LAN communication unit 32. Communications related to vehicle driving control include data communicated over a Controller Area Network (CAN), data on the control system of drive devices such as an engine, error logs, data indicating the vehicle status, and the like.

[0037] The virtual router unit 200 may have multiple virtual routers associated with different APNs. This allows a virtual router to be set for each APN, making it easier to organize routing compared to setting routing for a mixture of multiple APNs. The first virtual router 201 and the second virtual router 202 may be an example of multiple virtual routers associated with different APNs. The first virtual router 201 may be associated with the first APN, and the second virtual router 202 may be associated with the second APN.

[0038] The virtual router unit 200 may have multiple virtual routers associated with different services. The first virtual router 201, the second virtual router 202, and the third virtual router 203 may be examples of multiple virtual routers associated with different services. The security level and communication quality required for each service provided differ, and the selected security level and communication quality may depend on the APN. Therefore, separating virtual routers for each APN often effectively separates virtual routers for each service. In other words, for example, if virtual routers are separated for each APN, specific services can often be aggregated into specific virtual routers, reducing the likelihood of complex virtual router configuration.

[0039] The virtual router unit 200 has a first virtual router 201 that routes communications only to the cellular communication unit 31. The first virtual router 201 is preferably used for routing data related to services that require high immediacy and / or a high level of security. For example, the first virtual router 201 is preferably used for routing vehicle control data, such as data related to driving control of the mobile object 20.

[0040] The virtual router unit 200 has a second virtual router 202 that routes communications to the cellular communication unit 31 and the wireless LAN communication unit 32. The control unit 210 controls the second virtual router 202 to prioritize wireless LAN communications over cellular communications. Because data communications may be performed via wireless LAN communications due to routing by the second virtual router 202, it is desirable that the second virtual router 202 be used for routing data related to services that require a relatively high level of immediacy but also a medium level of security.

[0041] The virtual router unit 200 has a third virtual router 203 that routes communications only to the wireless LAN communication unit 32. The third virtual router 203 is preferably used for routing data that requires relatively low immediacy and a relatively low security level. For example, the third virtual router 203 is preferably used for routing data for IVI and / or data related to entertainment services.

[0042] When a predetermined event is detected, the control unit 210 may control routing by the virtual router unit 200 to prioritize wireless LAN communication over cellular communication. For example, when a predetermined event is detected, the control unit 210 may control routing by the second virtual router 202 to prioritize wireless LAN communication over cellular communication. The "predetermined event" may include an event indicating that the communication conditions of the cellular communication have become poor. When the mobile object 20 is a vehicle, the "predetermined event" may include at least one of an event indicating that the speed of the vehicle has fallen below a predetermined speed value and an event indicating that the IG power supply of the vehicle has been turned off.

[0043] 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating packet routing by the TCU 30. In FIG. 3, a first packet 310 is a packet related to a first service, a second packet 320 is a packet related to a second service, and a third packet 330 is a packet related to a third service. As an example, the services are identified by a port number and a packet source.

[0044] The bridge unit 220 is configured to input packets related to the first service to the first virtual router 201, input packets related to the second service to the second virtual router 202, and input packets related to the third service to the third virtual router 203.

[0045] Because the first packet 310 is a packet related to the first service, the first packet 310 is input to the first virtual router 201. The first virtual router 201 is associated with the first APN and is a virtual router that routes communications only to the cellular communication unit 31. Therefore, the first virtual router 201 associates the input packet with the first APN and inputs it to the cellular communication unit 31. The cellular communication unit 31 converts the local IP address of the input first packet 310 into a global IP address assigned by the communication carrier corresponding to the first APN, and transmits the packet. As a result, the first packet 310 is transmitted to a communication path corresponding to the first APN.

[0046] Because the second packet 320 is a packet related to the second service, the second packet 320 is input to the second virtual router 202. The second virtual router 202 is a virtual router that is associated with the second APN and that routes communications to the cellular communication unit 31 or the wireless LAN communication unit 32. Based on a routing table, the second virtual router 202 associates, among the input packets, packets that are to be routed to the cellular communication unit 31 with the second APN and inputs, to the cellular communication unit 31, packets that are to be routed to the wireless LAN communication unit 32, among the input packets, to the wireless LAN communication unit 32. The cellular communication unit 31 converts the local IP address of the input packet into a global IP address assigned by the communication carrier corresponding to the second APN. Therefore, when the routing table is set so that the second packet 320 is routed to the cellular communication unit 31, the second packet 320 is transmitted to a communication path corresponding to the second APN. If the routing table is set to route the second packet 320 to the wireless LAN communication unit 32, the local IP address of the second packet 320 is converted to the IP address assigned to the wireless LAN communication unit 32 and the second packet 320 is sent to the wireless relay device 110.

[0047] Since the third packet 330 is a packet related to the third service, the third packet 330 is input to the third virtual router 203. The third virtual router 203 is a virtual router that routes communication to the wireless LAN communication unit 32. The third virtual router 203 inputs the packet routed to the wireless LAN communication unit 32 to the wireless LAN communication unit 32. The local IP address of the third packet 330 is converted to an IP address assigned to the wireless LAN communication unit 32, and the third packet 330 is transmitted to the wireless relay device 110.

[0048] 3, the first virtual router 201 and the second virtual router 202 are associated with different APNs, so the routing tables in the first virtual router 201 and the second virtual router 202 can be set for the specific APNs. Packets related to specific services are input to the first virtual router 201 and the second virtual router 202, respectively, so the routing tables in the first virtual router 201 and the second virtual router 202 can be set for the specific services. This makes it easier to set the routing tables.

[0049] 3, the communication carrier associated with the first APN may be a different communication carrier from the communication carrier associated with the second APN. In other embodiments, the communication carrier associated with the first APN may be the same communication carrier as the communication carrier associated with the second APN.

[0050] 3, when the control unit 210 controls communication to prioritize wireless LAN communication over cellular communication, the control unit 210 may set communication to prioritize wireless LAN communication over cellular communication by changing the routing table of the second virtual router 202. For example, the control unit 210 may change the routing table so that packets associated with at least some of the services that are set to have packets routed to the cellular communication unit 31 are routed to the wireless LAN communication unit 32.

[0051] As an example, the control unit 210 may preferentially select at least some services that allow a lower security level from among the services whose packets are set to be routed to the cellular communication unit 31, and change the routing table so that packets associated with the selected services are routed to the wireless LAN communication unit 32. The control unit 210 may preferentially select at least some services that allow a lower immediacy from among the services whose packets are set to be routed to the cellular communication unit 31, and change the routing table so that packets associated with the selected services are routed to the wireless LAN communication unit 32. Each service has predetermined requirement information that indicates the security level and immediacy required to use the service, and the control unit 210 may refer to the requirement information to identify the service whose packets should be routed to the wireless LAN communication unit 32.

[0052] 4 shows an example of a flowchart relating to a communication control method executed by the TCU 30. The processing of this flowchart is started when a predetermined type of event is detected that should increase or decrease communications routed to the wireless LAN communication unit 32. In FIG. 4, an event of a type that should increase communications routed to the wireless LAN communication unit 32 is called a "wireless LAN priority event," and an event of a type that should decrease communications routed to the wireless LAN communication unit 32 is called a "wireless LAN non-priority event."

[0053] In S402, the control unit 210 determines the type of the detected event and determines whether the detected event is a Wireless LAN priority event or a Wireless LAN priority event. Examples of Wireless LAN priority events include at least one of an event indicating that the speed of the mobile object 20 has become equal to or less than a predetermined first speed value, an event indicating that the communication conditions of cellular communication have become poor, an event indicating that the ignition power of the mobile object 20 has been turned off, and an event indicating that the communication conditions of Wireless LAN communication have become good. The first speed value may be, for example, any speed value within a range of 10 km / h to 30 km / h. Examples of Wireless LAN non-priority events may include an event indicating that the speed of the mobile object 20 has become equal to or greater than a predetermined second speed value, and an event indicating that the communication conditions of Wireless LAN communication have become poor. The second speed value may be, for example, a speed value of 40 km / h or greater. The control unit 210 may determine whether the communication state of the cellular communication and the communication state of the wireless LAN communication are good or bad based on RSSI (received signal strength indicator), communication bandwidth, and / or communication speed, etc.

[0054] If it is determined in S402 that the detected event is a wireless LAN priority event, in S404 the control unit 210 increases the number of services whose packets should be routed to the wireless LAN communication unit 32. For example, as described above, the control unit 210 may change the routing table so that packets associated with some of the services whose packets are set to be routed to the cellular communication unit 31 are routed to the wireless LAN communication unit 32. This allows wireless LAN communication to be prioritized over cellular communication when a situation arises in which wireless LAN communication can be used with priority, thereby reducing communication costs.

[0055] If it is determined in S402 that the detected event is a wireless LAN non-priority event, in S406 the control unit 210 reduces the number of services whose packets should be routed to the wireless LAN communication unit 32. For example, the control unit 210 may change the routing table so that packets associated with some of the services whose packets are set to be routed to the wireless LAN communication unit 32 are routed to the cellular communication unit 31.

[0056] As an example, the control unit 210 may preferentially select at least some services requiring a higher security level from among the services whose packets are set to be routed to the wireless LAN communication unit 32, and change the routing table so that packets associated with the selected services are routed to the cellular communication unit 31. The control unit 210 may preferentially select at least some services requiring a higher immediacy from among the services whose packets are set to be routed to the wireless LAN communication unit 32, and change the routing table so that packets associated with the selected services are routed to the cellular communication unit 31. As described above, each service has predetermined requirement information indicating the security level and immediacy required to use the respective service, and the control unit 210 may refer to the requirement information to identify a service whose packets should be routed to the cellular communication unit 31. When a situation arises in which it is not desirable to give priority to wireless LAN communication, the amount of wireless LAN communication traffic can be reduced.

[0057] In the above-described communication system 22, the communication control unit 33 has multiple virtual routers. However, the communication control unit 33 may have a single virtual router. In this case, the control unit 210 may control routing by the single virtual router, thereby giving priority to routing to the wireless LAN communication unit 32 over the cellular communication unit 31. Similarly, the control unit 210 may control routing by the single virtual router, thereby giving priority to routing to the wireless LAN communication unit 32 over the cellular communication unit 31 for each service.

[0058] According to the above-described communication system 22, when cellular communication through the wireless base station 120 and wireless LAN communication through the wireless relay device 110 are available, the communication system 22 can prioritize wireless LAN communication over cellular communication, thereby reducing communication costs.

[0059] 5 shows an example of a computer 2000 in which multiple embodiments of the present invention may be embodied in whole or in part. A program installed on the computer 2000 may cause the computer 2000 to function as the communication system 22 according to an embodiment, or each part of the system, or various devices such as the TCU 30, or each part of the devices, perform operations associated with the system, each part of the system, or each device, and / or perform processes or steps of the processes according to an embodiment. Such programs may be executed by the CPU 2012 to cause the computer 2000 to perform specific operations associated with some or all of the processing procedures and block diagram blocks described herein.

[0060] The computer 2000 according to this embodiment includes a CPU 2012 and a RAM 2014, which are interconnected by a host controller 2010. The computer 2000 also includes a ROM 2026, a flash memory 2024, a communication interface 2022, and an input / output chip 2040. The ROM 2026, the flash memory 2024, the communication interface 2022, and the input / output chip 2040 are connected to the host controller 2010 via the input / output controller 2020.

[0061] The CPU 2012 operates according to programs stored in the ROM 2026 and RAM 2014, thereby controlling each unit.

[0062] The communication interface 2022 communicates with other electronic devices via a network. The flash memory 2024 stores programs and data used by the CPU 2012 in the computer 2000. The ROM 2026 stores a boot program and the like executed by the computer 2000 upon activation, and / or programs dependent on the hardware of the computer 2000. The input / output chip 2040 may also connect various input / output units such as a keyboard, mouse, and monitor to the input / output controller 2020 via input / output ports such as a serial port, a parallel port, a keyboard port, a mouse port, a monitor port, a USB port, an HDMI (registered trademark) port, etc.

[0063] The programs are provided via a computer-readable storage medium such as a CD-ROM, a DVD-ROM, or a memory card, or via a network. The RAM 2014, the ROM 2026, or the flash memory 2024 are examples of computer-readable storage media. The programs are installed in the flash memory 2024, the RAM 2014, or the ROM 2026 and executed by the CPU 2012. Information processing described in these programs is read by the computer 2000, and causes cooperation between the programs and the various types of hardware resources described above. An apparatus or a method may be configured by implementing operations or processing of information in accordance with the use of the computer 2000.

[0064] For example, when communication is performed between the computer 2000 and an external device, the CPU 2012 may execute a communication program loaded into the RAM 2014 and instruct the communication interface 2022 to perform communication processing based on the processing described in the communication program. Under the control of the CPU 2012, the communication interface 2022 reads transmission data stored in a transmission buffer processing area provided in a recording medium such as the RAM 2014 or flash memory 2024, transmits the read transmission data to a network, and writes received data received from the network to a reception buffer processing area or the like provided on the recording medium.

[0065] The CPU 2012 may also cause all or a necessary portion of a file or database stored on a recording medium such as the flash memory 2024 to be read into the RAM 2014, and perform various types of processing on the data on the RAM 2014. The CPU 2012 then writes the processed data back to the recording medium.

[0066] Various types of information, such as various types of programs, data, tables, and databases, may be stored on the recording medium and subjected to information processing. The CPU 2012 may perform various types of processing on data read from the RAM 2014, including various types of operations, information processing, conditional judgment, conditional branching, unconditional branching, information search / replacement, etc., as described herein and specified by the instruction sequences of the programs, and write the results back to the RAM 2014. The CPU 2012 may also search for information in a file, database, etc. on the recording medium. For example, if multiple entries each having an attribute value of a first attribute associated with an attribute value of a second attribute are stored on the recording medium, the CPU 2012 may search for an entry that matches a condition specified by the attribute value of the first attribute from among the multiple entries, read the attribute value of the second attribute stored in the entry, and thereby obtain the attribute value of the second attribute associated with the first attribute that satisfies a predetermined condition.

[0067] The above-described programs or software modules may be stored in a computer-readable storage medium on or near the computer 2000. A recording medium such as a hard disk or RAM provided in a server system connected to a dedicated communication network or the Internet can be used as the computer-readable storage medium. The programs stored in the computer-readable storage medium may be provided to the computer 2000 via a network.

[0068] A program installed in computer 2000 and causing computer 2000 to function as TCU 30 may, when executed by the computer, act on CPU 2012, etc., to cause computer 2000 to function as each unit of TCU 30. When the information processing described in these programs is loaded into computer 2000, computer 2000 functions as each unit of TCU 30, which is a specific means formed by software and the various hardware resources described above working together. These specific means then perform calculations or processing of information according to the intended use of computer 2000 in this embodiment, thereby constructing a specific TCU 30 according to the intended use.

[0069] Various embodiments have been described with reference to block diagrams. In the block diagrams, each block may represent (1) a stage of a process where an operation is performed or (2) a portion of an apparatus responsible for performing the operation. Particular stages and portions may be implemented by dedicated circuitry, programmable circuitry provided with computer-readable instructions stored on a computer-readable storage medium, and / or a processor provided with computer-readable instructions stored on a computer-readable storage medium. Dedicated circuitry may include digital and / or analog hardware circuitry, and may include integrated circuits (ICs) and / or discrete circuits. Programmable circuitry may include reconfigurable hardware circuitry including logical AND, logical OR, logical XOR, logical NAND, logical NOR, and other logic operations, flip-flops, registers, memory elements such as field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), programmable logic arrays (PLAs), and the like.

[0070] A computer-readable storage medium may include any tangible device capable of storing instructions that are executed by an appropriate device, such that the computer-readable storage medium with instructions stored thereon constitutes at least a portion of an article of manufacture containing instructions that can be executed to provide means for performing the operations specified in a process or block diagram. Examples of computer-readable storage media may include electronic storage media, magnetic storage media, optical storage media, electromagnetic storage media, semiconductor storage media, etc. More specific examples of computer-readable storage media may include floppy disks, diskettes, hard disks, random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or flash memory), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), static random access memory (SRAM), compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), digital versatile disc (DVD), Blu-ray disc, memory stick, integrated circuit card, etc.

[0071] The computer readable instructions may include either assembler instructions, instruction set architecture (ISA) instructions, machine instructions, machine-dependent instructions, microcode, firmware instructions, state-setting data, or source or object code written in any combination of one or more programming languages, including object-oriented programming languages ​​such as Smalltalk®, JAVA®, C++, etc., and conventional procedural programming languages ​​such as the “C” programming language or similar programming languages.

[0072] The computer-readable instructions may be provided to a processor or programmable circuitry of a programmable data processing apparatus, such as a computer, locally or over a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN) such as the Internet, etc., and the computer-readable instructions may be executed to provide means for performing the operations specified in the described procedures or block diagrams.

[0073] Here, the computer may be a computer such as a PC (personal computer), tablet computer, smartphone, workstation, server computer, or general-purpose computer, or may be a computer system in which multiple computers are connected. Such a computer system in which multiple computers are connected is also called a distributed computing system, and is a computer in the broad sense. In a distributed computing system, the multiple computers collectively execute a program by each executing a part of the program and passing data between the computers as needed during program execution.

[0074] Examples of processors include computer processors, central processing units (CPUs), processing units, microprocessors, digital signal processors, controllers, microcontrollers, etc. A computer may have one or more processors. In a multiprocessor system with multiple processors, each processor executes a portion of a program and passes data between processors as needed during program execution, allowing the multiple processors to collectively execute the program. For example, in multitasking, each of the multiple processors may execute a portion of each task in small chunks by switching tasks at time slice intervals. In this case, which portion of a program each processor executes changes dynamically. Alternatively, which portion of a program each of the multiple processors executes may be statically determined by multiprocessor-aware programming.

[0075] Although the present invention has been described above using embodiments, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the scope described in the above embodiments. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and improvements can be made to the above embodiments. It is clear from the claims that such modifications and improvements can also be included within the technical scope of the present invention.

[0076] It should be noted that the execution order of each process, such as operations, procedures, steps, and stages, in the devices, systems, programs, and methods shown in the claims, specifications, and drawings is not specifically stated as "before," "prior to," etc., and that the processes can be performed in any order unless the output of a previous process is used in a subsequent process. Even if the operational flow in the claims, specifications, and drawings is described using "first," "next," etc. for convenience, this does not mean that the processes must be performed in this order. [Explanation of symbols]

[0077] 20 Mobile 22 Communication Systems 30 TCU 31 Cellular Communications Department 32 Wireless LAN communication section 33 Communication control section 50 ECU 60 ECU 70 In-vehicle communication network 90 Communication Network 110 Radio repeater 120 wireless base stations 200 Virtual Router 210 Control Unit 220 Bridge section 201 First Virtual Router 202 Second virtual router 203 Third Virtual Router 310 1st packet 320 2nd Packet 330 3rd Packet 2000 Computer 2010 Host Controller 2012 CPU 2014 RAM 2020 Input / Output Controller 2022 Communication Interface 2024 flash memory 2026 ROM 2040 Input / Output Chip

Claims

1. A communication control device provided in a mobile object having a cellular communication unit that performs cellular communication and a wireless LAN communication unit that performs wireless LAN communication, a virtual router unit that determines whether to route communications to the cellular communication unit or the wireless LAN communication unit; a control unit that controls routing by the virtual router unit to give priority to wireless LAN communication over cellular communication; A communication control device comprising:

2. The control unit controls routing by the virtual router unit, thereby performing control to perform cellular communication and wireless LAN communication in parallel. The communication control device according to claim 1 .

3. the moving body is a vehicle, The control unit controls routing by the virtual router unit, thereby routing communications other than communications related to driving control of the vehicle to the wireless LAN communication unit with priority over the cellular communication unit. The communication control device according to claim 1 or 2.

4. the moving body is a vehicle, The control unit controls routing by the virtual router unit, thereby routing communications related to driving control of the vehicle to the cellular communication unit with priority over the wireless LAN communication unit. The communication control device according to claim 1 or 2.

5. The virtual router unit has a plurality of virtual routers associated with different APN settings. The communication control device according to claim 1 or 2.

6. The virtual router unit has a plurality of virtual routers associated with different services. The communication control device according to claim 1 or 2.

7. The virtual router unit has a first virtual router that routes communications only to the cellular communication unit. The communication control device according to claim 1 or 2.

8. the virtual router unit has a second virtual router that routes communications to the cellular communication unit and the wireless LAN communication unit, The control unit controls the second virtual router to perform control to give priority to wireless LAN communication over cellular communication. The communication control device according to claim 1 or 2.

9. The virtual router unit has a third virtual router that routes communication only to the wireless LAN communication unit. The communication control device according to claim 1 or 2.

10. When a predetermined event is detected, the control unit controls routing by the virtual router unit to perform control to give priority to wireless LAN communication over cellular communication. The communication control device according to claim 1 or 2.

11. the moving body is a vehicle, The predetermined event includes at least one of an event indicating that the speed of the vehicle has fallen below a predetermined speed value, an event indicating that the communication state of cellular communication has become poor, and an event indicating that the ignition power of the vehicle has been turned off. The communication control device according to claim 10.

12. A communication control method executed by a communication control device provided in a mobile object having a cellular communication unit that performs cellular communication and a wireless LAN communication unit that performs wireless LAN communication, comprising: determining by a virtual router whether to route communications to the cellular communication unit or the wireless LAN communication unit; a step of controlling routing by the virtual router unit to give priority to wireless LAN communication over cellular communication; A communication control method comprising:

13. A program for causing a computer to function as the communication control device according to claim 1 or 2.

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