Information processing device, information processing method, and program

Abstract

An information processing device, method, and program are provided that reduce communication costs and the occurrence of communication delays while maintaining communication quality. [Solution] The information processing device 4 in the aircraft has a communication unit 41 that communicates with the aircraft using either ground communication equipment or a communication satellite, an acquisition unit 431 that acquires status information for identifying the status of the aircraft, an estimation unit 432 that estimates the execution time for switching between ground 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 ground communication quality map, a connection processing unit 433 that executes processing to establish a connection with the other equipment, either the ground communication equipment or the communication satellite, which is currently being used for communication with the aircraft, 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 434 that executes processing to switch to the other equipment based on the execution time estimated by the estimation unit.

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 a communication function is 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 of an aircraft, it is considered that the above requirement can be met more easily by giving priority to satellite communication over terrestrial communication as a communication method. However, when the communication cost of satellite communication is higher than that of terrestrial communication, it is desirable to give priority to terrestrial communication over satellite communication as a communication method. In addition, since the communication speed of satellite communication is slower than that of terrestrial communication and communication delays may occur, it is desirable to give priority to terrestrial communication. Therefore, it is required to reduce communication costs and communication delays while maintaining communication quality.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of these points, and has an object 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 has 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 a 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 indicating the communication quality of the terrestrial communication facility in the flight range in which the aircraft flies; a connection processing unit that executes processing to establish a connection with the other facility, which is different from either the terrestrial communication facility or the communication satellite currently being used for communication with the aircraft, 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] The estimation unit may estimate, based on the state of the aircraft identified by the status information acquired by the acquisition unit and the ground communication quality map, as the execution time, either the time when the aircraft enters from 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 to an area where the ground communication quality value is less than the first ground threshold, and the time when the aircraft enters from an area where the ground communication quality value is less than a predetermined second ground threshold to an 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 a 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 flying body is equal to or greater than a predetermined satellite threshold value based on the state of the flying body identified by the status information acquired by the acquisition unit and a satellite communication quality map indicating the communication quality of the communication satellite in 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 equipment to the communication satellite and the judgment unit has judged 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 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 value when the current time has passed a time before the specified 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.

[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 a process to establish a connection with the communication satellite, executes a process to slow down the flight speed of the aircraft at least below the flight speed of the aircraft before the process 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 a satellite communication quality value indicating the communication quality between the communication satellite and the aircraft becomes less than a predetermined satellite threshold value 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 in 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 a status of the aircraft, executed by a computer having a communication unit that communicates with the aircraft using either a terrestrial communication facility or a communication satellite; estimating an execution time for switching between the terrestrial communication facility and the communication satellite based on the status of the aircraft identified by the acquired status information and a terrestrial communication quality map indicating the communication quality of the terrestrial communication facility in the flight range in which the aircraft flies; executing a process for establishing a connection between the terrestrial communication facility currently being used for communication with the aircraft and another facility different from either one of the facilities, the communication satellite, on condition that the current time has passed a time before a predetermined period from the estimated execution time; and executing a process for switching to the other facility 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 a terrestrial communication facility or a communication satellite to function as: 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 indicating the communication quality of the terrestrial communication facility in the flight range in which the aircraft flies; a connection processing unit that executes processing to establish a connection between the terrestrial communication facility currently being used for communication with the aircraft and another facility other than either one of the facilities, the communication satellite, on 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. Effect of the Invention

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

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

[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 a communication service provided by a communication 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 transmitted 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 ground communication quality map that indicates the communication quality of the base station 1 in a specified area.

[0024] In the communication between the flying object 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 radio waves cannot reach, so it seems better to use the communication satellite 2 preferentially in order to realize continuous communication. However, when communicating using the communication satellite 2, a fee is incurred according to the amount of data sent and received, so it is considered better to use the base station 1 preferentially in order to reduce communication costs. In addition, when communicating using the communication satellite 2, the communication speed may be slower than when communicating using the base station 1, so it is considered better to use the base station 1 preferentially in order to reduce communication delays. Therefore, when the flying object 3 is in an area where radio waves from the base station 1 can reach, the information processing system S uses the base station 1 to communicate between the flying object 3 and the information processing device 4, and when the flying object 3 is in an area where radio waves from the base station 1 cannot reach, the information processing system S uses the communication satellite 2 to communicate between the flying object 3 and the information processing device 4.

[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 where radio waves from the base station 1a can reach. When the aircraft 3 is at position L1, the information processing system S uses the base station 1a to allow 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 allow 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 a connection 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] The information processing system S establishes a connection between the aircraft 3 and the communication satellite 2 when the aircraft 3 passes through position L2, for example, 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 the base station 1b as indicated by the arrow. The radio wave area A2 is an area where radio waves from the base station 1b can reach. When the aircraft 3 is at position L4, the information processing system S uses the communication satellite 2 to communicate between the aircraft 3 and the information processing device 4. When the aircraft 3 passes position L5, the information processing system S establishes a connection between the aircraft 3 and the base station 1b. Then, when the aircraft 3 passes position L6, the information processing system S switches from the communication satellite 2 to the base station 1b to communicate between the aircraft 3 and the information processing device 4.

[0029] In this way, the information processing system S can reduce communication costs and the occurrence of 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 showing a schematic 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 functional unit configuration, not a hardware (device) unit configuration. 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 an external device. 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, builds a tunnel in the network and communicates with the aircraft 3 through the built tunnel. The tunnels include a tunnel for the base station 1 and a tunnel for the communication satellite 2, and the communication unit 41 builds 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 a terrestrial communication quality value indicating the communication quality of the base station 1, and indicating an area of ​​the terrestrial communication quality value 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 to unused facilities) First, a process executed by the information processing device 4 to switch from a used facility to an unused facility will be described. The used facility is either one of the base station 1 and the communication satellite 2 currently 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 and the communication satellite 2 currently 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 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 status information includes, for example, a flight plan of the flight route on which the aircraft 3 will fly. The flight plan associates points on the flight route with the scheduled times at which the points will pass. The acquisition unit 431 acquires the flight plan of the aircraft 3 from, for example, a manager 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] Although details will be described later, the estimation unit 432 estimates the execution time to switch from a utilized 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 the base station 1 within the flight range in which the aircraft 3 flies.

[0040] The connection processing unit 433 executes an establishment process for establishing a connection with the unused facility on the condition that the current time has passed from the execution time estimated by the estimation unit 432 to the time before the connection period. The connection period is, for example, a period determined as a period required for the flying object 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 the 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 acquires the connection request from the information processing device 4, it establishes a connection to the unused facility. Furthermore, as the 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 when a connection with a used facility is established. For example, when the aircraft 3 and the communication unit 41 are communicating with each other using a tunnel for the used facility, the connection processing unit 433 causes the aircraft 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 the occurrence of a situation in which communication is temporarily disabled between the connection to the unused facility and the switching between the used facility and the unused facility.

[0043] The switching processing unit 434 executes a switching process for switching from the utilized 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 the connection has been established as the utilized facility. When the aircraft 3 acquires 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 the connection has been established as the utilized 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 utilized 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 of switching from the base station 1 to the communication satellite 2 based on the state of the flying object 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 in the flight range in which the flying object 3 flies. Specifically, based on the state of the flying object 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 flying object 3 enters an area in which the terrestrial communication quality value indicating the communication quality of the base station 1 is equal to or greater than the first terrestrial threshold value and is less than the first terrestrial threshold value. The first terrestrial threshold value is a predetermined value and is a threshold value for determining switching from the base station 1 to the communication satellite 2.

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

[0048] The connection processing unit 433 executes an establishment process for establishing a connection with the communication satellite 2, on the condition that the current time has passed 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 for establishing a connection with the communication satellite 2 to the flying object 3. When the flying object 3 acquires the connection request from the information processing device 4, it establishes a connection to the communication satellite 2. Furthermore, as the establishment process, the connection processing unit 433 causes a tunnel for the communication satellite 2 to be built in the network.

[0049] The information processing device 4 may control the flight of the aircraft 3 until a connection with the communication satellite 2 is established in the aircraft 3. Specifically, when the connection processing unit 433 executes an establishment process corresponding to the communication satellite 2, the flight management unit 435 executes a process for slowing 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 a 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 for decelerating or hovering until a connection with the communication satellite 2 is established. When the aircraft 3 acquires 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 acquires a connection request from the information processing device 4, it may 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, the radio waves of the communication satellites 2 received by the flying object 3 may temporarily become weak. Therefore, the information processing device 4 may execute the establishment process taking into consideration the communication quality of the communication satellites 2 in 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] As a first step, the determination unit 436 determines whether or not a 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, and, for example, when information indicating the range and a time are input, outputs information indicating the range and the range in which communication with the communication satellite 2 can be performed at the time. The determination unit 436, for example, inputs information indicating the flight range of the flying object 3 and a time from the execution time to the connection period to 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 a 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 current time has passed from the execution time to the time before the connection period to determine whether the satellite communication quality value is equal to or greater than the satellite threshold value.

[0055] As a second step, the connection processing unit 433 executes the establishment process under 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] In addition, 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 notification unit 437 may notify the manager who manages the aircraft 3 that switching from the base station 1 to the communication satellite 2 is not possible. In addition, 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 may execute a process to hover the aircraft 3. For example, the flight management unit 435 causes the aircraft 3 to hover by transmitting a request to the aircraft 3 to hover. In this way, the information processing device 4 can leave it to the manager of the aircraft 3 to handle a situation in which switching from the base station 1 to the communication satellite 2 is not possible.

[0057] As described above, since satellite Internet access services are provided by multiple communication satellites 2 flying along the Earth's orbit, 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 determination 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 determination 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 transmitting a request to the aircraft 3 to hover. 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. In addition, the flight management unit 435 causes the aircraft 3 to resume flying by transmitting a request to the aircraft 3 to resume flight (movement). In this way, the information processing device 4 can prevent the occurrence of a situation in which the aircraft 3 cannot communicate using either the base station 1 or the communication satellite 2.

[0060] In addition, when 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 the time when the flight management unit 435 executes the process to hover the aircraft 3 until the standby period has elapsed, the notification unit 437 may notify the person in charge of management of 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 wave from the communication satellite 2 becomes weak to when it becomes strong. In this manner, the information processing device 4 can leave it to the person in charge of management of 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. When the aircraft 3 acquires the switching request from the information processing device 4, it communicates with the information processing device 4 using the communication satellite 2 with which the connection has been established as the utilization facility. Also, 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 showing a schematic diagram of switching from a base station 1 to a communication satellite 2. In the example shown in FIG. 4(a), an aircraft 3 is flying in a direction away from a base station 1c, as shown by an arrow. FIG. 4(b) shows radio waves received by the aircraft 3 from the base station 1 or the communication satellite 2. Communication using 4(b) is a graph showing quality values. The vertical axis of the graph shown in FIG. 4(b) shows quality values, and the horizontal axis shows time. beside The axis may be the position of the flying object 3. The value E1 is Corresponding communication The value E2 indicates the quality of the communication satellite 2. Corresponding communication The quality value of the threshold T1 indicates the first ground threshold. The time C1 indicates a time before the connection period from the execution time. The time C2 indicates 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 quality value of the radio waves from the communication satellite 2 has increased after time C1 has passed as a result of the aircraft 3 establishing a connection with the communication satellite 2. Then, the switching processing unit 434 executes the process of switching from the base station 1c to the communication satellite 2 when the current time passes time C2.

[0064] When the radio waves from the communication satellite 2 received by the aircraft 3 become weak after switching from the base station 1 to the communication satellite 2, the information processing device 4 may execute a process for switching 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 value, the flight management unit 435 refers to the terrestrial communication quality map and executes a process for flying 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 transmits 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 for switching from the communication satellite 2 to the base station 1 after the connection processing unit 433 causes 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, in a flight plan, a flight route that takes into account the communication quality between the flying object 3 and the communication satellite 2 may be set.

[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 of switching from the communication satellite 2 to the base station 1 based on the state of the flying object 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 in the flight range in which the flying object 3 flies. Specifically, based on the state of the flying object 3 specified by the state information acquired by the acquisition unit 431 and the terrestrial communication quality map, the estimation unit 432 estimates the time when the flying object 3 enters an area in which the terrestrial communication quality value is equal to or greater than the second terrestrial threshold as the execution time. The second terrestrial threshold is a predetermined value and is a threshold for determining switching 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 for establishing a connection with the base station 1 on the condition that the current time has passed from the execution time estimated by the estimation unit 432 to the time before the connection period. Specifically, the connection processing unit 433 transmits a connection request to the aircraft 3 for establishing a connection with the base station 1 as the establishment process. When the aircraft 3 acquires 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 causes a tunnel for the base station 1 to be built in the network.

[0070] The switching processing unit 434 executes a switching process for switching from the communication satellite 2 to the base station 1 based on the execution time estimated by the estimation unit 432. 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 base station 1 with which the connection has been established as the utilization facility. When the aircraft 3 acquires 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 utilization facility. Also, as the switching process, the switching processing unit 434 switches the tunnel used for communicating 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 showing a schematic diagram of 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 a base station 1d, as shown by an arrow. FIG. 5(b) shows radio waves received by the aircraft 3 from the base station 1 or the communication satellite 2. Communication using 5(b) is a graph showing quality values. The vertical axis of the graph shown in FIG. 5(b) shows quality values, and the horizontal axis shows time. beside The axis may be the position of the flying object 3. The value E2 is the position of the communication satellite 2. Corresponding communication The value E3 indicates the quality value of the base station 1d Corresponding communication The quality value of the connection is shown in Table 1. Threshold T2 indicates a second ground threshold. Time C3 indicates a time period before the connection period from the execution time. Time C4 indicates the execution time. Time C5 indicates the disconnection time.

[0072] In this case, the connection processing unit 433 executes the process of establishing a connection to the 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 the base station 1d has increased after the time C3 has passed as a result of the aircraft 3 establishing a connection with the base station 1d. Then, the switching processing unit 434 executes the process of switching from the communication satellite 2 to the base station 1d when the current time passes time C4.

[0073] Furthermore, the connection processing unit 433 executes a disconnection process to disconnect communication with the communication satellite 2 when the current time passes time C5. As the disconnection process, the connection processing unit 433 transmits a request to disconnect communication with the communication satellite 2 to the flying object 3, thereby causing the flying object 3 to disconnect communication with the communication satellite 2. Furthermore, the connection processing unit 433 causes the tunnel for the communication satellite 2 to be deleted. In this manner, the information processing device 4 can prevent the occurrence of a situation in which charges increase due to data being transmitted to and received from 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 aircraft 3 (S1).

[0075] The estimation unit 432 estimates the execution time for switching from the utilized facility to the unused facility based on the state of the flying object 3 specified 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). When the connection processing unit 433 determines that the current time has not passed the connection time (NO in S3), the process returns to before S3.

[0076] On the other hand, when the connection processing unit 433 determines that the current time has passed the connection time (YES in S3), it executes an establishment process for establishing 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). When 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 for switching 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 a process for establishing a connection with the unused facility on the condition that the current time has passed from the estimated execution time to the time before the connection period, and executes a process 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 occurrence of 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 to "build resilient infrastructure, promote industry, innovation and infrastructure."

[0080] Although the present invention has been described above using the embodiments, 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 distributing or integrating functionally or physically in any unit. In addition, new embodiments resulting from any combination of multiple embodiments are also included in the embodiments of the present invention. The effect of the new embodiment resulting from the combination combines the effect of the original embodiment. [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 a ground communication facility or a communication satellite; An acquisition unit that acquires status information for identifying a status of the aircraft; an estimation unit that estimates an execution time to switch from the terrestrial communication facility to the communication satellite based on a state of the aircraft specified by the state information acquired by the acquisition unit and a terrestrial communication quality map that indicates communication quality of the terrestrial communication facility in a flight range in which the aircraft flies; a determination unit that determines whether a satellite communication quality value indicating a communication quality between the communication satellite and the aircraft is equal to or greater than a predetermined satellite threshold value based on a state of the aircraft specified by the state information acquired by the acquisition unit and a satellite communication quality map indicating a communication quality of the communication satellite within the flight range; a flight management unit that, when the current time has passed a time that is a predetermined period before the execution time estimated by the estimation unit and the determination unit determines that the satellite communication quality value is not equal to or greater than the satellite threshold value, executes a process to hover the aircraft until the determination unit determines that the satellite communication quality value is equal to or greater than the satellite threshold value; a connection processing unit that executes a process for establishing a connection with the communication satellite on condition that a current time has passed a time before the predetermined period from the execution time estimated by the estimation unit and the determination unit has determined that the satellite communication quality value is equal to or greater than the satellite threshold value; a switching processing unit that executes a process for switching to the communication satellite based on the execution time estimated by the estimation unit; An information processing device having the above configuration.

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

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

4. The information processing device includes: a notification unit that notifies an administrator that manages the flying object 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; the flight management unit executes a process for hovering 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 facility to the communication satellite; The information processing device according to claim 1 .

5. 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 during a predetermined period of time from the time when the flight management unit executes a process for hovering the aircraft. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

6. When the connection processing unit executes a process for establishing a connection with the communication satellite, the flight management unit executes a process for slowing down the flight speed of the aircraft at least below the 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 .

7. When a satellite communication quality value indicating a communication quality between the communication satellite and the aircraft becomes less than a predetermined satellite threshold value while the communication unit is communicating with the aircraft using the communication satellite, the flight management unit refers to the terrestrial communication quality map and executes a process for flying the aircraft to an area where a connection with the terrestrial communication equipment is possible. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

8. A computer having a communication unit that communicates with an aircraft using either a ground communication facility or a communication satellite executes the acquiring status information for identifying a status of the aircraft; estimating an execution time for switching from the ground communication facility to the communication satellite based on a state of the aircraft identified by the acquired state information and a ground communication quality map indicating communication quality of the ground communication facility within a flight range in which the aircraft flies; determining 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 a state of the aircraft identified by the acquired state information and a satellite communication quality map indicating the communication quality of the communication satellite in the flight range; when the current time has passed a time before a predetermined period from the estimated execution time and it is determined that the satellite communication quality value is not equal to or greater than the satellite threshold, executing a process for hovering the aircraft until it is determined that the satellite communication quality value is equal to or greater than the satellite threshold; executing a process for establishing a connection with the communication satellite on condition that the current time has passed a time before the predetermined period from the estimated execution time and the satellite communication quality value is determined to be equal to or greater than the satellite threshold value; executing a process for switching to the communications satellite based on the estimated execution time; An information processing method comprising the steps of:

9. A computer having a communication unit that communicates with an aircraft using either a ground communication facility or a communication satellite, an acquisition unit that acquires status information for identifying a status of the aircraft; an estimation unit that estimates an execution time to switch from the terrestrial communication facility to the communication satellite based on a state of the aircraft specified by the state information acquired by the acquisition unit and a terrestrial communication quality map indicating communication quality of the terrestrial communication facility in a flight range in which the aircraft flies; a determination unit that determines 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 a state of the aircraft specified 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; a flight management unit that, when the current time has passed a time that is a predetermined period before the execution time estimated by the estimation unit and the determination unit determines that the satellite communication quality value is not equal to or greater than the satellite threshold value, executes a process to hover the aircraft until the determination unit determines that the satellite communication quality value is equal to or greater than the satellite threshold value; a connection processing unit that executes a process for establishing a connection with the communication satellite on condition that the current time has passed a time before the predetermined period from the execution time estimated by the estimation unit and the determination unit has determined that the satellite communication quality value is equal to or greater than the satellite threshold value; and a switching processing unit that executes a process for switching to the communication satellite based on the execution time estimated by the estimation unit; A program to function as a

Images