Information processing apparatus and information processing method

Abstract

When a failure occurs in a base station, it is suppressed that a terminal cannot communicate in a complementary target area to be complemented by another base station. 【Solution means】The information processing apparatus 1 refers to remaining battery level information indicating the remaining battery level of the batteries 3 provided in each of the plurality of base stations 2 related to wireless communication, and identifies a first base station 2A which is the base station 2 corresponding to the battery 3 whose remaining battery level is below a first threshold value, a second specifying unit 133 that specifies a second base station 2B which is a base station 2 capable of covering a part of a first coverage area which is a coverage area covered by the first base station 2A based on base station position information indicating the positions of the plurality of base stations 2, and an area control unit 134 that controls the coverage area of the second base station 2B so that the coverage area of the second base station 2B covers at least a part of the first coverage area.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus and an information processing method.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, in a communication system composed of a plurality of base stations related to communication of a mobile terminal, when a failure occurs in a base station due to a power outage or a disaster, another base station adjacent to the base station where the failure has occurred complements at least a part of the coverage area of the base station where the failure has occurred. A technique is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the conventional technology, after detecting that a failure has occurred in a base station, the coverage area of the base station where the failure has occurred is complemented. For this reason, in the complement target area covered by another base station among the coverage areas of the base station where the failure has occurred, a problem occurs in that the mobile terminal cannot communicate from when the failure occurs until the area is complemented by another base station.

[0005] Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of these points, and an object thereof is to suppress the terminal from becoming unable to communicate in the complement target area complemented by another base station when a failure occurs in the base station.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The information processing apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention refers to the remaining battery level information indicating the remaining battery level of a storage battery capable of supplying power to each of a plurality of base stations related to wireless communication, and identifies a first base station which is a base station corresponding to a storage battery whose remaining battery level is below a first threshold value, a second identifying unit that identifies a second base station which is a base station capable of covering a part of a first coverage area which is a coverage area covered by the first base station for the wireless communication, based on base station position information indicating positions of the plurality of base stations, and an area control unit that controls the coverage area of the second base station so that the coverage area of the second base station identified by the second identifying unit covers at least a part of the first coverage area.

[0007] The plurality of base stations operate by power supplied from an external power source different from the storage battery, and operate by power supplied from the storage battery when power is not supplied from the external power source. The second identifying unit may identify, as the second base station, a base station from among the base stations capable of covering a part of the first coverage area and to which power is being supplied from an external power source.

[0008] When there is no base station to which power is being supplied from the external power source among the base stations capable of covering a part of the first coverage area, the second identifying unit may identify, as the second base station, a base station from among the base stations capable of covering a part of the first coverage area and having a remaining battery level of a second threshold value or more, where the second threshold value is a threshold value greater than the first threshold value.

[0009] The second identifying unit may identify, based on the base station position information, the distance between the first base station and each of the plurality of base stations capable of covering a part of the first coverage area, and identify the second base station from among the plurality of base stations capable of covering a part of the first coverage area based on the identified distances.

[0010] The second specifying unit specifies the number of connected terminals, which is the number of terminals each communicatively connected to a plurality of base stations capable of covering a part of the first coverage area, and based on the specified number of connected terminals, the second base station may be specified from among the plurality of base stations capable of covering a part of the first coverage area.

[0011] When the remaining charge amount of the storage battery corresponding to the second base station falls below the first threshold value, the base station position information is referred to, and based on the position of the first base station and the position of the second base station, a third specifying unit that specifies a third base station, which is a base station capable of covering a part of the first coverage area, is further provided, and the area control unit may control the coverage area of the third base station so that the coverage area of the third base station specified by the third specifying unit extends toward the coverage area of the first base station.

[0012] The area control unit may reduce the first coverage area over time and control the coverage area of the second base station so that the coverage area of the second base station extends toward the coverage area of the first base station over time.

[0013] When the remaining charge amount of the storage battery corresponding to the second base station falls below the first threshold value, the area control unit may stop the control of expanding the coverage area of the second base station toward the coverage area of the first base station.

[0014] The second specifying unit may specify the position of a mobile station, which is a mobile base station capable of communicating with a terminal, and based on the base station position information and the position of the mobile station, specify the second base station capable of covering an area within the first coverage area that the mobile station cannot cover.

[0015] When a failure occurs in the first base station, the area control unit acquires flow information indicating the flow of people in the first coverage area, and based on the acquired flow information, identifies the area covered by the second base station among the first coverage areas, and may control the coverage area of the second base station so that the coverage area of the second base station extends to the identified area side.

[0016] The information processing apparatus may further include a notification unit that notifies a terminal connected to the first base station of information indicating that the first base station has become unavailable. The notification unit may notify information indicating that at least a part of the first coverage area is supplemented by the second base station.

[0017] When the remaining charge amount of the storage battery corresponding to the second base station falls below a second threshold value which is a threshold value larger than the first threshold value, the notification unit may notify information indicating that the supplementation of at least a part of the first coverage area has ended. The notification unit may notify information regarding the coverage area of a base station corresponding to a storage battery having a remaining charge amount equal to or greater than the first threshold value and existing within a predetermined range from the first base station.

[0018] An information processing method according to a second aspect of the present invention includes steps of: a computer referring to remaining charge amount information indicating the remaining charge amount of a storage battery capable of supplying power to a base station provided in each of a plurality of base stations related to wireless communication, and identifying a first base station which is a base station corresponding to a storage battery having a remaining charge amount below a first threshold value; identifying a second base station which is a base station capable of covering a part of a first coverage area which is a coverage area covered by the first base station for the wireless communication, based on base station position information indicating the positions of the plurality of base stations; and controlling the coverage area of the second base station so that the coverage area of the identified second base station covers at least a part of the first coverage area.

Advantages of the Invention

[0019] According to the present invention, when a failure occurs in a base station, it is possible to suppress the situation where a terminal cannot communicate in a complementary target area to be complemented by another base station, and thus the effect is achieved.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0020]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0021] [Outline of Information Processing Apparatus 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the outline of the information processing apparatus 1. The information processing apparatus 1 is a computer that controls the range of a coverage area in which a base station 2 related to wireless communication covers wireless communication with a wireless communication terminal such as a mobile terminal. Hereinafter, the wireless communication terminal is simply referred to as a terminal.

[0022] The information processing apparatus 1 is communicably connected to a plurality of base stations 2. Each of the plurality of base stations 2 is a base station related to wireless communication such as LTE (Long Term Evolution), and performs wireless communication with terminals existing around itself. The area where the base station 2 can perform wireless communication with a terminal is called a coverage area. In FIG. 1, examples of the coverage areas of the plurality of base stations 2 are shown by broken lines. Each of the plurality of base stations 2 operates by power supplied from an external power source such as commercial power.

[0023] The information processing apparatus 1 acquires, from each of a plurality of base stations 2, remaining battery level information indicating the remaining battery level of a storage battery 3 provided in each of the plurality of base stations 2. The information processing apparatus 1 refers to the acquired remaining battery level information, and identifies a first base station 2A, which is a base station predicted to become unable to communicate because power is not supplied from an external power source, as the base station 2 corresponding to the storage battery 3 whose remaining battery level is below a first threshold value.

[0024] The information processing apparatus 1 identifies a second base station 2B, which is a base station capable of covering the coverage area of the first base station 2A, based on base station position information indicating the positions of the plurality of base stations. Then, the information processing apparatus 1 controls the coverage area of the second base station 2B so that the coverage area of the identified second base station 2B covers at least a part of the coverage area of the first base station 2A.

[0025] By doing so, when a failure occurs in the base station 2, the information processing apparatus 1 can suppress the terminals from becoming unable to communicate in a complementary target area, which is a coverage area of the base station 2 that can be complemented by other base stations 2.

[0026] [Functional Configuration of Information Processing Apparatus 1] Subsequently, the functional configuration of the information processing apparatus 1 will be described. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the functional configuration of the information processing apparatus 1. The information processing apparatus 1 includes a communication unit 11, a storage unit 12, and a control unit 13.

[0027] The communication unit 11 is a communication interface for transmitting and receiving data to and from the base station 2 via a communication network such as a mobile phone line, the Internet, or a wireless LAN. The storage unit 12 is a storage medium that stores various types of data, and includes a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), a hard disk, an SSD (Solid State Drive), a flash memory, and the like. The storage unit 12 stores the programs executed by the control unit 13. The storage unit 12 stores a program that causes the control unit 13 to function as an acquisition unit 131, a first identification unit 132, a second identification unit 133, an area control unit 134, and a notification unit 135.

[0028] In addition, the storage unit 12 stores base station location information indicating the location of each of the plurality of base stations 2. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the base station location information. As shown in FIG. 3, the base station location information is information associating a base station ID for identifying the base station 2 with the location information of the base station 2. The location information is, for example, information indicating the latitude and longitude of the base station 2. The location information may include information indicating the height at which the base station 2 exists in addition to the information indicating the latitude and longitude of the base station 2.

[0029] The control unit 13 is, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit). The control unit 13 functions as an acquisition unit 131, a first identification unit 132, a second identification unit 133, an area control unit 134, and a notification unit 135 by executing the programs stored in the storage unit 12.

[0030] When explaining the details of each function of the control unit 13, the base station 2 will be described. Each of the plurality of base stations 2 operates by power supplied from an external power source such as a commercial power source different from the battery 3 provided in itself. When power is not supplied from the external power source, each of the plurality of base stations 2 operates by power supplied from the battery 3 provided in itself.

[0031] Further, each of the plurality of base stations 2 acquires the remaining battery level information of the battery 3 from the battery 3. Then, each of the plurality of base stations 2 transmits, at predetermined intervals, the base station ID for identifying the base station 2, the remaining battery level information, and the power status information indicating whether it is operating by the power supplied from an external power source to the information processing device 1 in association with each other.

[0032] Subsequently, details of each function of the control unit 13 will be described. The acquisition unit 131 acquires the remaining battery level information indicating the remaining battery level of the battery 3 provided in each of the plurality of base stations 2 related to wireless communication. For example, the acquisition unit 131 acquires the remaining battery level information corresponding to each of the plurality of base stations 2 by receiving the base station ID and the remaining battery level information transmitted from each of the plurality of base stations 2. Further, the acquisition unit 131 acquires the power status information from each of the plurality of base stations 2 together with the base station ID and the remaining battery level information.

[0033] The first specifying unit 132 refers to the remaining battery level information acquired by the acquisition unit 131 from each of the plurality of base stations 2, and specifies the first base station 2A which is the base station 2 corresponding to the battery 3 whose remaining battery level is below the first threshold value. The first specifying unit 132 refers to, for example, the latest remaining battery level information acquired by the acquisition unit 131 from each of the plurality of base stations 2 at predetermined intervals, and specifies the remaining battery level information whose remaining battery level is below the first threshold value. The first specifying unit 132 specifies the base station 2 indicated by the base station ID acquired by the acquisition unit 131 together with the specified remaining battery level information as the first base station 2A corresponding to the battery 3 whose remaining battery level is below the first threshold value.

[0034] The second specifying unit 133 specifies the second base station 2B which is a base station 2 capable of covering a part of the first coverage area which is the coverage area covered by the first base station 2A in wireless communication, based on the base station position information indicating the positions of each of the plurality of base stations 2. For example, the second specifying unit 133 refers to the base station position information stored in the storage unit 12, and specifies the position of the first base station 2A based on the position information associated with the base station ID of the first base station 2A specified by the first specifying unit 132.

[0035] Further, the second specifying unit 133 refers to the base station location information and specifies a plurality of base station IDs different from the base station ID of the first base station 2A specified by the first specifying unit 132. The second specifying unit 133 specifies the base station IDs of the base stations 2 located within a predetermined distance from the position of the first base station 2A based on the location information associated with the specified plurality of base station IDs. Then, the second specifying unit 133 specifies the base station 2 with the specified base station ID as the second base station 2B that can cover at least a part of the first coverage area.

[0036] Note that the second specifying unit 133 may specify, as the second base station 2B, a base station 2 that is supplied with power from an external power source among the base stations 2 that can cover at least a part of the first coverage area. For example, the second specifying unit 133 specifies, as the second base station 2B, a base station 2 among the base stations 2 that can cover at least a part of the first coverage area, and the acquired power status information indicates that the base station 2 is operating with power supplied from an external power source.

[0037] Here, the second specifying unit 133 may specify a storage battery 3 with a decreasing remaining charge amount based on the remaining charge amount information acquired by the acquisition unit 131 at predetermined intervals corresponding to the base stations 2 that can cover at least a part of the first coverage area, and specify the base station 2 corresponding to the storage battery 3 as the second base station 2B.

[0038] Further, when there is no base station 2 supplied with power from an external power source among the base stations 2 that can cover a part of the first coverage area, the second specifying unit 133 specifies, as the second base station 2B, a base station 2 among the base stations 2 that can cover a part of the first coverage area and whose remaining charge amount of the storage battery 3 is equal to or greater than a second threshold value that is a threshold value greater than the first threshold value. By doing so, the time for covering at least a part of the first coverage area can be extended compared to the case where the second base station 2B is not specified.

[0039] In addition, when there are many base stations 2 within a predetermined distance from the position of the first base station 2A, it may not be necessary to identify all the base stations 2 as the second base station 2B. For example, when there are a plurality of base stations 2 that can cover at least a part of the first coverage area in the same direction from the position of the first base station 2A, by designating some of these base stations 2 as the second base station 2B, it is possible to cover the area corresponding to this direction within the first coverage area.

[0040] On the other hand, the second specifying unit 133 may specify the distances between the first base station 2A and each of the plurality of base stations 2 that can cover at least a part of the first coverage area based on the base station position information. Then, the second specifying unit 133 may specify the second base station 2B from among the plurality of base stations 2 that can cover a part of the first coverage area based on the specified distances. For example, when there are a plurality of base stations 2 whose coverable areas overlap among the base stations 2 that can cover at least a part of the first coverage area, the second specifying unit 133 specifies the base station 2 with a relatively short distance from the first base station 2A as the second base station 2B. By doing so, the information processing apparatus 1 can specify the base station 2 with a relatively short distance from the first base station 2A and a relatively wide coverage range as the second base station 2B.

[0041] In addition, the second specifying unit 133 may specify the number of connected terminals, which is the number of terminals communicatively connected to each of the plurality of base stations 2 that can cover a part of the first coverage area. In this case, the acquisition unit 131 acquires the number-of-connected-terminals information indicating the number of connected terminals from each of the plurality of base stations 2, and the second specifying unit 133 specifies the number of connected terminals based on the number-of-connected-terminals information. The second specifying unit 133 specifies the second base station 2B from among the plurality of base stations 2 that can cover a part of the first coverage area based on the specified number of connected terminals.

[0042] For example, when there are a plurality of base stations 2 whose coverable areas overlap and the second specifying unit 133 can cover at least a part of the first cover area, the second base station 2B is specified as the base station 2 with a relatively small number of terminals connected for communication based on the number of connected terminals specified for each of these base stations 2. By doing so, when the second base station 2B covers at least a part of the first cover area, the information processing apparatus 1 can suppress an increase in the number of terminals connected to the second base station 2B and communication congestion.

[0043] Further, the second specifying unit 133 may specify the position of a mobile station which is a movable base station capable of communicating with a terminal. In this case, the acquisition unit 131 acquires mobile station position information indicating the position of the mobile station from the mobile station, and the second specifying unit 133 specifies the position of the mobile station based on the mobile station position information. Then, the second specifying unit 133 may specify, as the second base station 2B, a base station 2 capable of covering an area in the first cover area that the mobile station cannot cover among the base stations 2 capable of covering at least a part of the first cover area based on the base station position information and the position of the mobile station. By doing so, a wide range of the first cover area can be covered by the mobile station and the second base station 2B.

[0044] The area control unit 134 controls the cover area of the second base station 2B so that the cover area of the second base station 2B specified by the second specifying unit 133 covers at least a part of the first cover area. For example, the area control unit 134 transmits instruction information instructing the second base station 2B to perform mechanical tilt control for controlling the angle at which an antenna corresponding to the direction of the first base station 2A among one or more antennas of the second base station 2B faces so that the cover area of the antenna covers at least a part of the first cover area.

[0045] Note that although the area control unit 134 controls the coverage area of the second base station 2B by controlling the angle at which the antenna is directed, it is not limited to this. Instruction information for instructing the second base station 2B to perform electrical tilt control for changing the phase of radio waves output from a plurality of antennas corresponding to the direction of the first base station 2A may be transmitted to the second base station 2B so that the second base station 2B covers at least a part of the first coverage area.

[0046] Further, by transmitting instruction information for instructing the second base station 2B to increase the intensity of radio waves output from the antenna corresponding to the direction of the first base station 2A, the coverage area of the antenna may cover at least a part of the first coverage area. Also, when the second base station 2B can output radio waves of a plurality of frequencies by a plurality of antennas, the area control unit 134 transmits instruction information for causing the second base station 2B to output radio waves from an antenna capable of outputting radio waves of a frequency that the second base station 2B can easily reach far to the second base station 2B, so that the coverage area of the second base station 2B covers at least a part of the first coverage area.

[0047] Here, the area control unit 134 may transmit instruction information for reducing the first coverage area with the passage of time to the first base station 2A, and transmit instruction information for controlling the coverage area of the second base station 2B so that the coverage area of the second base station 2B spreads toward the coverage area of the first base station 2A with the passage of time to the second base station 2B. By doing so, the terminal that has been communicating with the first base station 2A in the first coverage area can be gradually handed over to communicate with the second base station 2B, so that it is possible to suppress the situation where the terminal cannot perform handover and becomes temporarily unable to communicate.

[0048] Further, the area control unit 134 may determine whether the remaining battery level of the battery 3 corresponding to the second base station 2B is below the first threshold value based on the latest remaining battery level information corresponding to the second base station 2B acquired by the acquisition unit 131. Then, when the remaining battery level of the battery 3 corresponding to the second base station 2B is below the first threshold value, the area control unit 134 may stop the control to expand the coverage area of the second base station 2B toward the coverage area of the first base station 2A and return the coverage area of the second base station 2B to the state before expanding it toward the coverage area of the first base station 2A. By doing so, the information processing device 1 can suppress the early depletion of the remaining battery level of the battery 3 corresponding to the second base station 2B and the early loss of communication in the original coverage area of the second base station 2B.

[0049] Further, the area control unit 134 may acquire flow information indicating the flow of people in the first coverage area when a failure occurs in the first base station 2A. In this case, the area control unit 134 transmits the base station ID of the first base station 2A to a management device (not shown) that manages flow information indicating the past flow of people in each of a plurality of areas and the flow of people predicted during a disaster, and acquires the flow information of the area corresponding to the first base station 2A from the management device.

[0050] Then, the area control unit 134 identifies the flow of people in the first coverage area based on the acquired flow information, and based on the identified flow of people, identifies the area in the first coverage area that the second base station 2B should cover, and controls the coverage area of the second base station 2B so that the coverage area of the second base station 2B expands toward the identified area. By doing so, the information processing device 1 can increase the probability that the second base station 2B can cover the area where terminals are predicted to be numerous in the first coverage area.

[0051] The notification unit 135 notifies the terminal connected to the first base station 2A of information indicating that the first base station 2A has become unavailable. For example, the notification unit 135 calculates the remaining time until the first base station 2A becomes unavailable based on the remaining battery level of the battery 3 indicated by the remaining battery level information corresponding to the first base station 2A and the power consumption per unit time of the first base station 2A. Then, the notification unit 135 notifies the first warning information indicating the calculated remaining time to the terminal communicatively connected to the first base station 2A by instructing the first base station 2A to notify the first warning information to the terminal, thereby notifying the first warning information to the terminal.

[0052] Further, the notification unit 135 may notify information indicating that at least a part of the first coverage area is complemented by the second base station 2B. For example, the notification unit 135 identifies a complement area, which is an area covered by the second base station 2B, among the first coverage areas based on the control status of the second base station 2B by the area control unit 134. Then, the notification unit 135 notifies the complement area information indicating the identified complement area to the terminal communicatively connected to the first base station 2A by instructing the first base station 2A to notify the complement area information to the terminal, thereby notifying the complement area information to the terminal. By doing so, the information processing apparatus 1 can prompt the user of the terminal connected to the first base station 2A to move to the complement area to continue communication.

[0053] Further, when the remaining battery level of the battery 3 corresponding to the second base station 2B falls below a second threshold value, which is a threshold value larger than the first threshold value, the notification unit 135 may notify information indicating that the complement of at least a part of the first coverage area is completed. For example, the notification unit 135 calculates the time until the remaining battery level of the battery 3 falls below the second threshold value as the remaining time until the second base station 2B completes the complement of at least a part of the first coverage area based on the difference between the current remaining battery level of the battery 3 corresponding to the second base station 2B and the second threshold value and the power consumption per unit time of the second base station 2B.

[0054] Then, the notification unit 135 notifies the second warning information indicating the calculated remaining time to the terminal communicatively connected to the first base station 2A by instructing the first base station 2A to notify the second warning information to the terminal. By doing so, the information processing apparatus 1 can prompt the user of the terminal connected to the first base station 2A to complete the communication necessary until at least a part of the first coverage area is supplemented.

[0055] Also, the notification unit 135 may notify the peripheral coverage area information regarding the coverage area of the base station 2 corresponding to the storage battery 3 whose remaining storage amount is equal to or greater than the first threshold value and that exists within a predetermined range from the first base station 2A. For example, the notification unit 135 notifies the peripheral coverage area information to the terminal communicatively connected to the first base station 2A by instructing the first base station 2A to notify the peripheral coverage area information to the terminal. By doing so, the information processing apparatus 1 can prompt the user of the terminal connected to the first base station 2A to move to the peripheral coverage area in order to continue the communication.

[0056] Also, the notification unit 135 may notify the terminal connected to the second base station 2B of information regarding a decrease in communication quality in the coverage area of the second base station 2B. For example, the notification unit 135 notifies the information indicating that the quality of communication via the second base station 2B has decreased to the terminal communicatively connected to the second base station 2B by instructing the second base station 2B to notify the information to the terminal. In this case, the notification unit 135 may also notify the peripheral coverage area information regarding the coverage area of the base station 2 corresponding to the storage battery 3 whose remaining storage amount is equal to or greater than the first threshold value and that exists within a predetermined range from the second base station 2B. By doing so, the information processing apparatus 1 can prompt the user of the terminal connected to the second base station 2B to move to the peripheral coverage area in order to continue the communication.

[0057] [Operation flow] Subsequently, the flow of the process related to the information processing apparatus 1 will be described. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of the process related to the information processing apparatus 1.

[0058] First, the acquisition unit 131 acquires remaining battery capacity information indicating the remaining battery capacity of the storage batteries 3 provided in each of the plurality of base stations 2 (S1). Subsequently, the first specifying unit 132 specifies a first base station 2A, which is a base station 2 whose remaining battery capacity is below the first threshold value, from among the plurality of base stations 2 based on the remaining battery capacity information acquired by the acquisition unit 131 from each of the plurality of base stations 2 (S2).

[0059] Subsequently, the second specifying unit 133 specifies a second base station 2B, which is a base station 2 capable of covering a part of the first coverage area, which is the coverage area of the first base station 2A, based on the base station location information stored in the storage unit 12 (S3).

[0060] The area control unit 134 starts tilt control of the antenna of the second base station 2B so that the coverage area of the second base station 2B specified in S3 covers at least a part of the first coverage area (S4).

[0061] Subsequently, the acquisition unit 131 acquires remaining battery capacity information corresponding to each of the first base station 2A and the second base station 2B (S5). Subsequently, the area control unit 134 determines whether the first remaining battery capacity, which is the remaining battery capacity of the storage battery 3 corresponding to the first base station 2A, exceeds the first threshold value based on the remaining battery capacity information of the first base station 2A acquired in S5 (S6). If the area control unit 134 determines that the first remaining battery capacity exceeds the first threshold value, that is, it is determined that power is supplied to the first base station 2A from an external power source and the first base station 2A can cover the first coverage area alone (YES in S6), the process proceeds to S8 and the tilt control of the antenna of the second base station 2B is terminated. If the area control unit 134 determines that the first remaining battery capacity does not exceed the first threshold value (NO in S6), the process proceeds to S7.

[0062] Subsequently, based on the remaining battery level information of the second base station 2B acquired in S5, the area control unit 134 determines whether the second remaining battery level, which is the remaining battery level of the battery 3 corresponding to the second base station 2B, is below the first threshold value (S7). When the area control unit 134 determines that the second remaining battery level is below the first threshold value, that is, when power supply from an external power source to the second base station 2B stops and the second base station 2B can no longer cover the first coverage area (YES in S7), the process proceeds to S8, and the tilt control of the antenna of the second base station 2B is terminated. When the area control unit 134 determines that the second remaining battery level exceeds the first threshold value (NO in S7), the process returns to S5.

[0063] [Modification Example] In the above-described embodiment, when the remaining battery level of the battery 3 corresponding to the second base station 2B is below the first threshold value, the area control unit 134 terminates the tilt control of the antenna of the second base station 2B and terminates covering at least a part of the first coverage area. However, the present invention is not limited to this.

[0064] For example, when the control unit 13 functions as a third specifying unit and the remaining battery level of the battery 3 corresponding to the second base station 2B is below the first threshold value, the control unit 13 may refer to the base station position information and specify a third base station, which is a base station 2 capable of covering a part of the first coverage area, based on the position of the first base station 2A and the position of the second base station 2B. For example, the control unit 13 may refer to the base station position information and specify a third base station, which is a base station 2 capable of covering, for example, an area of a part of the first coverage area that was covered by the second base station 2B, based on the position of the first base station 2A and the position of the second base station 2B.

[0065] Then, the area control unit 134 may control the coverage area of the third base station so that the coverage area of the third base station specified by the control unit 13 extends toward the coverage area side of the first base station 2A. By doing so, the information processing apparatus 1 can extend the period of covering the first coverage area.

[0066] [Effect by Information Processing Apparatus 1] As described above, the information processing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment refers to the remaining battery level information indicating the remaining battery level of the storage batteries 3 provided in each of the plurality of base stations 2 related to wireless communication, identifies the first base station 2A which is the base station 2 corresponding to the storage battery 3 whose remaining battery level is below the first threshold value, and based on the base station location information, identifies the second base station 2B which is a base station 2 capable of covering a part of the first coverage area which is the coverage area covered by the first base station 2A with wireless communication, and controls the coverage area of the identified second base station 2B so that the coverage area of the second base station 2B covers at least a part of the first coverage area. By doing so, when a failure occurs in the base station, the information processing apparatus 1 can suppress the terminal from being unable to communicate in the complementary target area to be complemented by another base station.

[0067] Note that according to the present invention, it becomes possible to contribute to Goal 9, "Build the infrastructure for industry and innovation", of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) led by the United Nations.

[0068] As described above, the present invention has been described using the embodiments. However, 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. For example, all or part of the device can be functionally or physically distributed and integrated in any unit. Also, new embodiments resulting from any combination of a plurality of embodiments are included in the embodiments of the present invention. The effects of the new embodiments resulting from the combination have the effects of the original embodiments combined.

Description of Reference Numerals

[0069] 1 Information processing apparatus 11 Communication unit 12 Storage unit 13 Control unit 131 Acquisition unit 132 First identification unit 133 Second identification unit 134 Area control unit 135 Notification unit 2 Base station

Claims

1. A first specifying unit that refers to remaining battery level information indicating the remaining battery level of a storage battery capable of supplying power to each of a plurality of base stations related to wireless communication, and specifies a first base station that is a base station corresponding to a storage battery whose remaining battery level is below a first threshold value; A second specifying unit that specifies a second base station that is a base station capable of covering a part of a first coverage area that is a coverage area covered by the first base station based on base station position information indicating the positions of the plurality of base stations; An area control unit that controls the coverage area of the second base station so that the coverage area of the second base station covers at least a part of the first coverage area by transmitting instruction information instructing to control the direction of the plurality of antennas by electrical tilt control that changes the phase of radio waves output from the plurality of antennas of the second base station specified by the second specifying unit to the second base station; having The area control unit acquires flow information indicating the flow of people in the first coverage area when a failure occurs in the first base station, specifies an area covered by the second base station among the first coverage areas based on the acquired flow information, and controls the coverage area of the second base station so that the coverage area of the second base station spreads to the specified area side. An information processing apparatus.

2. The plurality of base stations operate with power supplied from an external power source different from the storage battery, and operate with power supplied from the storage battery when power is not supplied from the external power source. The second specifying unit specifies, as the second base station, a base station among the base stations capable of covering a part of the first coverage area that is supplied with power from an external power source. The information processing apparatus according to Claim 1.

3. When there is no base station supplied with power from the external power source among the base stations capable of covering a part of the first coverage area, the second specifying unit selects, as the second base station, a base station among the base stations capable of covering a part of the first coverage area whose remaining battery level is equal to or greater than a second threshold value that is a threshold value greater than the first threshold value. The information processing apparatus according to Claim 2.

4. The second specifying unit specifies the distances between the first base station and each of a plurality of base stations capable of covering a part of the first coverage area based on the base station location information, and based on the specified distances, specifies the second base station from among the plurality of base stations capable of covering a part of the first coverage area. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1.

5. The second specifying unit specifies the number of connected terminals, which is the number of terminals communicatively connected to each of a plurality of base stations capable of covering a part of the first coverage area, and specifies, as the second base station capable of covering a part of the first coverage area, a base station among the plurality of base stations with a relatively small specified number of connected terminals. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1.

6. When the remaining charge amount of the storage battery corresponding to the second base station falls below the first threshold value, with reference to the base station location information, based on the location of the first base station and the location of the second base station, it further has a third specifying unit that specifies a third base station, which is a base station capable of covering a part of the first coverage area. The area control unit controls the coverage area of the third base station so that the coverage area of the third base station specified by the third specifying unit extends toward the coverage area of the first base station. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1.

7. The area control unit reduces the first coverage area over time, and controls the coverage area of the second base station so that the coverage area of the second base station extends toward the coverage area of the first base station over time. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1.

8. When the remaining charge amount of the storage battery corresponding to the second base station falls below the first threshold value, the area control unit stops the control of expanding the coverage area of the second base station toward the coverage area of the first base station. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1.

9. The second specifying unit specifies the location of a mobile station, which is a movable base station capable of communicating with a terminal, and based on the base station location information and the location of the mobile station, specifies the second base station capable of covering an area within the first coverage area that the mobile station cannot cover. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1.

10. It further has a notification unit that notifies a terminal connected to the first base station of information for notifying the user of the terminal that the first base station will become unavailable. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1.

11. The notification unit notifies information indicating that at least a part of the first coverage area is supplemented by the second base station. The information processing apparatus according to claim 10.

12. When the remaining charge amount of the storage battery corresponding to the second base station falls below a second threshold value which is a threshold value larger than the first threshold value, the notification unit notifies information indicating that the supplementation of at least a part of the first coverage area is completed. The information processing apparatus according to claim 10.

13. The notification unit notifies information regarding the coverage area of a base station corresponding to a storage battery having a remaining charge amount equal to or greater than the first threshold value and existing within a predetermined range from the first base station. The information processing apparatus according to claim 10.

14. A first specifying unit that refers to remaining charge amount information indicating the remaining charge amount of a storage battery capable of supplying power to the base station provided in each of a plurality of base stations related to wireless communication, and specifies a first base station which is a base station corresponding to a storage battery whose remaining charge amount is below a first threshold value; A second specifying unit that, based on base station position information indicating the positions of the plurality of base stations respectively, specifies a second base station which is a base station capable of covering a part of a first coverage area which is a coverage area covered by the first base station for the wireless communication; An area control unit that controls the coverage area of the second base station so that the coverage area of the second base station covers at least a part of the first coverage area by transmitting, to the second base station, instruction information for instructing to control the direction of the antenna of the second base station specified by the second specifying unit; A notification unit that calculates, for a terminal connected to the first base station, the remaining time until the second base station completes the supplementation of at least a part of the first coverage area, and notifies the terminal connected to the first base station of information for notifying the user of the terminal of the calculated time; An information processing apparatus having the above.

15. Executed by a computer, A step of referring to remaining charge amount information indicating the remaining charge amount of a storage battery capable of supplying power to the base station provided in each of a plurality of base stations related to wireless communication, and specifying a first base station which is a base station corresponding to a storage battery whose remaining charge amount is below a first threshold value; A step of, based on base station position information indicating the positions of the plurality of base stations respectively, specifying a second base station which is a base station capable of covering a part of a first coverage area which is a coverage area covered by the first base station for the wireless communication; By transmitting instruction information for instructing the second base station to control the directivity of the plurality of antennas by changing the phase of the radio waves output from the plurality of antennas of the specified second base station, the coverage area of the second base station is controlled so as to cover at least a part of the first coverage area. When a failure occurs in the first base station, obtaining crowd flow information indicating the crowd flow in the first coverage area, and based on the obtained crowd flow information, identifying the area of the first coverage area covered by the second base station, and controlling the coverage area of the second base station so that the coverage area of the second base station extends toward the identified area side. An information processing method having the above.

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