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

Abstract

According to the present invention, a base station device comprises: a delay notification unit that executes a process of transmitting a notification of information on a communication route after switching or delay information about the communication route, and information about a switching time of the communication route, before the communication route to a user equipment is switched; and a handover execution unit that requests a predetermined switching device to switch the communication route at the switching time. A collection device comprises: a delay collection unit that collects the information about the communication route after switching or the delay information about the communication route, and the information on the switching time of the communication route, before the communication route to the user equipment is switched; and a control unit that controls the user equipment after the switching time by using the delay information associated with the notified communication route information or the notified delay information.

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] A user equipment (UE) (e.g., a drone) performs wireless communication with a base station device while moving under the control of a control unit (control application). The control unit, upon receiving an instruction from the user equipment, remotely controls the user equipment based on information about the user equipment itself and delay information about the communication path leading to the user equipment. Here, as the user equipment moves, a handover may be performed from a base station device at the source of the movement to a base station device at the destination of the movement (see Non-Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Non-patent literature]

[0003] [Non-Patent Document 1] 3GPP TS 36.300, V10.11.0, 2013-09. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] When a handover is performed from a source base station to a destination base station, the communication path to the user equipment is switched. Furthermore, the delay information of the communication path is changed in response to the switching of the communication path. However, if the user equipment is controlled using the delay information before the communication path was switched (old delay information) despite the switching of the communication path, the old delay information used for control differs from the delay information of the actual communication path, which causes a problem of degradation in the control performance of the user equipment.

[0005] In view of the above circumstances, the present invention aims to provide a communication device, a communication system, a notification method, a control method, and a program that are capable of suppressing deterioration of the control performance of a user device even when the communication path to the user device that performs wireless communication with a base station device is switched. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] One aspect of the present invention is a communication device that includes a delay notification unit that performs a process of notifying information about the communication path after switching or delay information about the communication path and information about the switching time of the communication path before the communication path leading to a user device is switched, and a handover execution unit that requests a predetermined switching device to switch the communication path at the switching time.

[0007] One aspect of the present invention is a communication device that includes a delay collection unit that collects information about the communication path after switching or delay information about the communication path and information about the switching time of the communication path before the communication path leading to the user device is switched, and a control unit that controls the user device after the switching time using the delay information associated with the notified information about the communication path or the notified delay information.

[0008] One aspect of the present invention is a communication system comprising: a delay notification unit that executes a process of notifying information about the communication path after switching or delay information about the communication path and information about the switching time of the communication path before the communication path to a user device is switched; a handover execution unit that requests a predetermined switching device to switch the communication path at the switching time; a delay collection unit that collects information about the communication path after switching or delay information about the communication path and information about the switching time of the communication path before the communication path to the user device is switched; and a control unit that controls the user device after the switching time using the delay information associated with the notified information of the communication path or the notified delay information.

[0009] One aspect of the present invention is a notification method executed by a communication device, which includes a step of executing a process to notify information about the communication path after switching or delay information about the communication path and information about the switching time of the communication path before the communication path leading to a user device is switched, and a step of requesting a predetermined switching device to switch the communication path at the switching time.

[0010] One aspect of the present invention is a control method executed by a communication device, which includes a step of collecting, before a communication path leading to a user device is switched, information on the communication path after the switch or delay information on the communication path and information on the switching time of the communication path, and a step of controlling the user device after the switching time using the delay information associated with the notified information on the communication path or the notified delay information.

[0011] One aspect of the present invention is a program for causing a computer to execute a procedure for executing a process of notifying information about the communication path leading to a user device after switching or delay information about the communication path and information about the switching time of the communication path before the communication path is switched, and a procedure for requesting a predetermined switching device to switch the communication path at the switching time.

[0012] One aspect of the present invention is a program for causing a computer to execute the following steps: before the communication path leading to a user device is switched, collect information about the communication path after the switch or delay information about the communication path, and information about the time when the communication path is switched; and after the switching time, control the user device using the delay information associated with the notified information about the communication path or the notified delay information. [Effects of the Invention]

[0013] According to the present invention, even when a communication path to a user device that performs wireless communication with a base station device is switched, it is possible to suppress deterioration of the control performance of the user device. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0014] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a communication system in a first embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a base station device in the first embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram showing an example of the operation of the communication system in the first embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a communication system according to a modified example of the first embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a communication system in a second embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram showing an example of the operation of the communication system in the second embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a communication system in a third embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a base station device in a third embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 11 is a sequence diagram showing an example of the operation of the communication system in the third embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a communication system in a fourth embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a base station device in a fourth embodiment. [Figure 12] FIG. 13 is a sequence diagram showing an example of the operation of a communication system in the fourth embodiment. [Figure 13] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of a communication device in each embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. (First embodiment) Fig. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a communication system 1a in the first embodiment. The communication system 1a is a system that performs wireless communication. The communication system 1a includes a plurality of base station devices 2a, a user device 3, a switching device 4, a collection device 5a, and a communication line 6. In the following, the target to be controlled using wireless communication (wireless section) is the user device 3.

[0016] The time on the base station device 2a and the time on the collection device 5a are synchronized using, for example, the Network Time Protocol. The time on the base station device 2a and the time on the collection device 5a may also be synchronized using, for example, a positioning signal from an artificial satellite. The positioning signal is, for example, a GPS (Global Positioning System) signal.

[0017] The switching device 4 includes a switching communication unit 40 and a switching unit 41. The collection device 5a includes a collection communication unit 50, a storage unit 51, a delayed collection unit 52a, and a control unit 53. The control unit 53 may be provided in an edge server (not shown) under the collection device 5a.

[0018] The base station device 2a is a radio base station device, for example, an evolved Node B (eNodeB). Among the multiple base stations 2a, a source base station device 2a (base station device 2a-1) and a destination base station device 2a (base station device 2a-2) are determined according to the movement (location) of the user equipment 3.

[0019] The source base station device 2a-1 performs wireless communication with the user device 3. The source base station device 2a-1 instructs the user device 3 to measure the power of wireless signals from one or more base stations 2a in the vicinity of the user device 3. The source base station device 2a-1 acquires the measurement results of the power of wireless signals from the user device 3.

[0020] The source base station 2a-1 outputs a request to execute handover to the destination base station 2a-2 in accordance with the movement (location) of the user equipment 3. That is, the source base station 2a-1 selects the destination base station 2a-2 based on the measurement result of the radio signal power. The source base station 2a-1 outputs a request to execute handover to the destination base station 2a-2. The base station 2a-1 outputs an instruction to execute handover to the user equipment 3. As a result, handover from the source base station 2a to the destination base station 2a is executed in accordance with the movement of the user equipment 3.

[0021] When a handover is performed, the communication path to the user device 3 is switched, and the base station device 2a-1 or 2a-2 changes the delay information of the communication path in response to the switch of the communication path to the user device 3. The delay information differs, for example, depending on the length of the communication path. The communication path is, for example, the communication path from the collection device 5a (control device) to the user device 3.

[0022] In the first embodiment, the destination base station 2a-2 notifies the collection device 5a of the occurrence of a communication path switch using a push notification method. Here, the base station 2a-2 notifies the collection device 5a of delay information of the communication path after the switch. Before the communication path to the user device 3 is switched, the base station 2a-2 notifies the collection device 5a of delay information of the communication path after the switch and information on the time of the communication path switch (switching timing).

[0023] The base station device 2a-2 requests the switching device 4 to switch the communication path at the switching time. The base station device 2a-2 executes the communication path switching process in accordance with the control of the switching device 4.

[0024] The user device 3 (mobile terminal) is a communication device that is controlled by a user, such as a drone or an IoT (Internet of Things) terminal. The user controls the user device 3 by giving instructions to the control unit 53. The user device 3 moves in accordance with the control by the control unit 53.

[0025] The user device 3 receives a signal requesting measurement of the power (signal strength) of a radio signal from the source base station 2a-1. When receiving the signal requesting measurement of the power of a radio signal, the user device 3 measures the power of the radio signal for one or more base stations 2a in the vicinity of the user device 3. The user device 3 transmits the measurement result of the power of the radio signal to the source base station 2a-1.

[0026] The switching device 4 (upper node) is a device (network node) that switches the communication path, and is, for example, a mobility management entity (MME) or a serving gateway (S-GW). In the first embodiment, the switching device 4 acquires a request for switching the communication path from the destination base station device 2a-2. In response to the request for switching the communication path, the switching device 4 outputs an instruction to switch the communication path to the destination base station device 2a-2.

[0027] The switching communication unit 40 communicates with each base station device 2a via the communication line 6. The switching communication unit 40 transfers a signal received from the base station device 2a to the switching unit 41. The switching communication unit 40 transfers the signal output from the switching unit 41 to the base station device 2a that is the destination of the signal.

[0028] The switching communication unit 40 communicates with the collection communication unit 50. The switching communication unit 40 transfers the signal received from the collection communication unit 50 to the base station device 2a that performs wireless communication with the user device 3 that is the destination of the signal.

[0029] The switching unit 41 receives a request for switching the communication path from the destination base station device 2a-2. In response to the request for switching the communication path, the switching unit 41 outputs an instruction to switch the communication path to, for example, the destination base station device 2a-2.

[0030] The collecting device 5a is managed by, for example, a communication carrier. The collecting device 5a is a device that collects predetermined information from the base station device 2a. For example, the collecting device 5a collects communication path delay information and switching time information from one or more base station devices 2a. In the first embodiment, the collecting device 5a collects communication path delay information and switching time information from the destination base station device 2a-2. The collecting device 5a remotely controls the user device 3 based on the predetermined information of the user device 3 itself and the delay information of the communication path leading to the user device 3.

[0031] The collection communication unit 50 communicates with the switching communication unit 40. Here, the collection communication unit 50 communicates with the user device 3 via the switching communication unit 40, the communication line 6, and the base station device 2a. The storage unit 51 stores, as a delay information database, information about the user device itself (e.g., identification information), delay information about the communication path leading to the user device, and information about the switching time of the communication path.

[0032] The delay collection unit 52a (collection application) collects information about the user device itself, delay information about the communication path leading to the user device, and information about the switching time of the communication path from the destination base station device 2a via the collection and communication unit 50.

[0033] The control unit 53 (control application) controls the user equipment 3 via the collection communication unit 50, the switching communication unit 40, the communication line 6, and the base station device 2a. Here, the control unit 53 controls the user equipment 3 using the notified delay information (new delay information) after the switching time.

[0034] Next, the base station device 2a will be described. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a base station device 2a in the first embodiment. The base station device 2a includes a transmission path communication unit 20, a signal processing unit 21, a handover execution unit 22, a wireless communication unit 23, an antenna 24, a delay notification unit 25, and a time notification unit 26.

[0035] The transmission path communication unit 20 (transmission path interface) communicates with the switching communication unit 40 via the communication line 6. The transmission path communication unit 20 communicates with the collection communication unit 50 via the communication line 6 and the switching communication unit 40.

[0036] The signal processing unit 21 performs predetermined first baseband signal processing on the electrical signal output from the transmission path communication unit 20. The signal processing unit 21 outputs the electrical signal (baseband signal) to the antenna 24 in accordance with the execution result of the predetermined first baseband signal processing. The signal processing unit 21 performs predetermined second baseband signal processing on the electrical signal output from the antenna 24. The signal processing unit 21 outputs the electrical signal to the transmission path communication unit 20 in accordance with the execution result of the predetermined second baseband signal processing.

[0037] The handover execution unit 22 of the source base station 2a-1 acquires the measurement result of the radio signal power from the user equipment 3 via the antenna 24 and the radio communication unit 23. The handover execution unit 22 selects the destination base station 2a-2 from among the base stations 2a based on the measurement result of the radio signal power. The handover execution unit 22 of the source base station 2a-1 outputs a handover execution request to the destination base station 2a-2 via the transmission path communication unit 20 based on the measurement result of the radio signal power. The handover execution unit 22 of the source base station 2a-1 outputs a handover execution instruction to the user equipment 3 via the radio communication unit 23 and the antenna 24 based on the measurement result of the radio signal power.

[0038] The handover execution unit 22 of the destination base station device 2a-2 executes synchronization processing with the user device 3. The handover execution unit 22 transmits a request for switching the communication path to the switching device 4. In response to the switching instruction acquired from the switching device 4, the handover execution unit 22 executes switching of the communication path.

[0039] The wireless communication unit 23 outputs the electrical signal (baseband signal) output from the signal processing unit 21 to the antenna 24. The wireless communication unit 23 outputs a baseband signal corresponding to the electrical signal output from the antenna 24 to the signal processing unit 21.

[0040] The antenna 24 transmits and receives radio signals between the antenna 24 and the user device 3. For example, the antenna 24 transmits a radio signal corresponding to an electrical signal output from the radio communication unit 23 to the user device 3. For example, the antenna 24 transmits an electrical signal corresponding to a radio signal received from the user device 3 to the radio communication unit 23.

[0041] The delay notifier 25 (switching notifier) ​​of the destination base station device 2a-2 changes delay information of the communication path in response to switching of the communication path leading to the user device 3. The delay notifier 25 notifies the collection and communication unit 50 of the delay information of the communication path after switching (delay information of the changed communication path) via the transmission path communication unit 20 using a push-type notification method.

[0042] The time notification unit 26 of the destination base station device 2a-2 changes information about the communication path switching time in response to switching of the communication path to the user device 3. The time notification unit 26 notifies the collection and communication unit 50 of the information about the communication path switching time via the transmission path communication unit 20 using a push-type notification method.

[0043] Next, an example of the operation of the communication system 1a will be described. 3 is a sequence diagram showing an example of operation of the communication system 1a in the first embodiment. The base station device 2a-1 transmits a signal requesting measurement of the power (signal strength) of a radio signal to the user device 3. The user device 3 acquires the signal requesting measurement of the power of the radio signal from the base station device 2a-1 (step S101). The user device 3 transmits the measurement result of the power of the radio signal to the source base station device 2a-1 (step S102).

[0044] Based on the measurement result of the radio signal power, the source base station 2a-1 outputs a request to execute handover to the destination base station 2a-2. The base station 2a-2 receives the request to execute handover (HO request) from the base station 2a-1 (step S103).

[0045] The base station device 2a-2 changes delay information of the communication path in response to switching of the communication path (path) leading to the user device 3. The base station device 2a-2 (first communication device) transmits delay information of the communication path after the switching (delay information of the changed communication path) to the delay collection unit 52a of the collection device 5a (second communication device). The delay collection unit 52a acquires the delay information of the communication path after the switching from the base station device 2a-2 (step S104). The delay collection unit 52a notifies the control unit 53 of the delay information of the changed communication path using an API (Application Programming Interface). The control unit 53 acquires the delay information of the communication path after the switching from the delay collection unit 52a (step S105).

[0046] The base station 2a-1 outputs a handover execution command (HO command) to the user equipment 3. The user equipment 3 receives the handover execution command from the base station 2a-1 (step S106). The user equipment 3 and the base station 2a-2 perform synchronization processing (step S107).

[0047] The base station device 2a-2 transmits a request to switch the communication path to the switching device 4. The switching device 4 acquires the request to switch the communication path from the destination base station device 2a-2 (step S108). The base station device 2a-2 notifies the delay collecting unit 52a of information on the time to switch the communication path. The delay collecting unit 52a acquires the information on the time to switch the communication path from the base station device 2a-2 (step S109).

[0048] The delay collection unit 52a notifies the control unit 53 of information on the time to switch the communication path using an API. The control unit 53 acquires the information on the time to switch the communication path from the delay collection unit 52a (step S110). In response to the request to switch the communication path, the switching device 4 outputs an instruction to switch the communication path to the destination base station device 2a-2. The destination base station device 2a-2 switches the communication path (step S111).

[0049] If the processing speed of the delay collecting unit 52a is high, the notification of delay information (notification of path switching) in step S104 and the notification of information on the switching time of the communication path in step S110 may be executed simultaneously.

[0050] As described above, before the communication path to the user device 3 is switched, the delay notifier 25 notifies the user device 3 of delay information of the switched communication path and information on the switching time of the communication path. The handover executor 22 requests the predetermined switching device 4 to switch the communication path at the switching time of the communication path. The delay collector 52a collects the notified delay information and information on the switching time. The controller 53 (control application) controls the user device 3 using the notified delay information (new delay information) after the switching time.

[0051] In this way, after the time when the communication path is switched, the delay information that is accurately adjusted according to the communication path is used for controlling the user equipment, thereby making it possible to suppress deterioration of the control performance of the user equipment even when the communication path to the user equipment that performs wireless communication with the base station is switched.

[0052] (First Modification of the First Embodiment) In the first modified example of the first embodiment, the difference from the first embodiment is that the communication system includes a core network between the switching device and the collection device. In the first modified example of the first embodiment, the difference from the first embodiment will be mainly described.

[0053] 4 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a communication system 1b in a first modified example of the first embodiment. The communication system 1b includes a plurality of base station devices 2b, a user device 3, a switching device 4, a collection device 5b, a communication line 6, and a core network 7. The core network 7 includes, for example, one or more switches (not shown). A collection communication unit 50 communicates with a switching communication unit 40 via the core network 7.

[0054] As described above, the communication system 1b includes the core network 7 between the switching device 4 and the collection device 5b. This makes it possible to prevent the control performance of the user device 3 from deteriorating remotely by using the core network, even when the communication path to the user device that performs wireless communication with the base station device is switched.

[0055] (Second Modification of the First Embodiment) The second modified example of the first embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that the base station device 2a does not need to notify the collection device 5a of delay information of the communication path after switching (delay notification). The second modified example of the first embodiment will be described mainly focusing on the differences from the first embodiment.

[0056] It is assumed that the time from when the information about the switching time is notified (step S110 in FIG. 3) to when the communication path is switched (step S111 in FIG. 3) is very short.

[0057] 3, the base station device 2a-2 notifies the collection device 5a in advance of communication path switching information (information on the communication path after switching). Here, since the storage unit 51 stores in advance a delay information database (a database including delay information on the communication path), the communication path switching information only needs to include information on the communication path after switching, and does not necessarily need to include delay information on the communication path after switching.

[0058] In step S105 of Fig. 3, the control unit 53 acquires communication path switching information. The control unit 53 starts a sequence for preparing in advance for execution of communication path switching. Based on the switching information notified in advance in step S105 of Fig. 3, the control unit 53 switches the reference location in the delay information database to the delay information of the communication path after switching at the notified switching time (the time of step S111 of Fig. 3).

[0059] As described above, the base station device 2a-2 notifies the collection device 5a in advance of information about the communication path after switching. The base station device 2a-2 notifies the collection device 5a of information about the switching time. Based on the notified communication path information in advance, the control unit 53 switches the reference location in the delay information database to the delay information about the communication path after switching.

[0060] That is, before the communication path to the user device 3 is switched, the delay notifier 25 executes a process of notifying information about the communication path after switching and information about the switching time of the communication path. The handover executor 22 requests a predetermined switching device 4 to switch the communication path at the switching time of the communication path. The delay collector 52a collects delay information associated with the notified information about the communication path from a delay information database. The delay collector 52a collects information about the switching time from the delay collector 52a. After the switching time, the controller 53 (control application) controls the user device 3 using the delay information (new delay information) of the communication path associated with the notified information about the communication path.

[0061] As a result, when the communication path to the user device 3 performing wireless communication with the base station device 2a is switched, it is possible to suppress deterioration of the control performance of the user device 3 based on the delay information database in the memory unit 51, even if delay information of the communication path is not notified to the control unit 53 from the base station device 2a or the delay collection unit 52a.

[0062] (Second embodiment) The second embodiment is mainly different from the first embodiment in that the source base station device notifies the collection device that a switch (handover) of the communication path will occur. The second embodiment will be described focusing on the differences from the first embodiment.

[0063] 5 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a communication system 1c in the second embodiment. The communication system 1c includes a plurality of base station devices 2c, a user device 3, a switching device 4, a collection device 5c, and a communication line 6. The switching device 4 includes a switching communication unit 40 and a switching unit 41. The collection device 5c includes a collection communication unit 50, a storage unit 51, a delayed collection unit 52c, and a control unit 53. In the second embodiment, the source base station device 2c-1 notifies the collection device 5c that a communication path switch will occur using a push-type notification method.

[0064] 6 is a sequence diagram showing an example of the operation of the communication system 1c in the second embodiment. Steps S201 to S203 are the same as steps S101 to S103 shown in FIG.

[0065] The base station device 2c-1 changes delay information of the communication path in response to switching of the communication path to the user device 3. The base station device 2a-1 transmits delay information of the communication path after the switching to the delay collection unit 52c. The delay collection unit 52c acquires the delay information of the communication path after the switching from the base station device 2c-1 (step S204). Steps S205 to S211 are the same as steps S105 to S111 illustrated in FIG. 3.

[0066] As described above, the source base station 2a-1 transmits delay information of the communication path after switching to the delay collection unit 52c. This makes it possible to suppress deterioration of the control performance of the user device even when the communication path to the user device that performs wireless communication with the base station is switched.

[0067] (Third embodiment) The third embodiment is mainly different from the first and second embodiments in that the base station device notifies the collection device using a pull notification method. The third embodiment will be described focusing on the differences from the first and second embodiments.

[0068] 7 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a communication system 1d according to the third embodiment. The communication system 1d includes a plurality of base station devices 2d, a user device 3, a switching device 4, a collection device 5d, and a communication line 6. The switching device 4 includes a switching communication unit 40 and a switching unit 41. The collection device 5d includes a collection communication unit 50, a storage unit 51, a delayed collection unit 52d, and a control unit 53.

[0069] In the third embodiment, the base station device 2d notifies the collection device 5d of the switching of the communication path using a pull-type notification method. The delay collection unit 52d transmits a signal (handover monitoring packet) requesting notification of delay information of the communication path after the switching to the destination base station device 2d-2 at a predetermined cycle. The delay collection unit 52d may also transmit signals requesting notification of delay information of the communication path after the switching to multiple base station devices 2d that are selected as destination candidates at a predetermined cycle.

[0070] 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a base station device 2d in the third embodiment. The base station device 2d includes a transmission path communication unit 20, a signal processing unit 21, a handover execution unit 22, a wireless communication unit 23, an antenna 24, a delay notification unit 25, a time notification unit 26, and a request acquisition unit 27.

[0071] The request acquisition unit 27 of the destination base station device 2d-2 acquires a signal requesting notification of delay information of the communication path after switching from the delay collection unit 52d. When the signal requesting notification of delay information of the communication path after switching is acquired, the delay notification unit 25 transmits the delay information of the communication path after switching to the delay collection unit 52d every time the signal is acquired.

[0072] Next, an example of the operation of the communication system 1d will be described. 9 is a sequence diagram showing an example of operation of the communication system 1d in the third embodiment. The delay collection unit 52d periodically transmits a signal requesting notification of delay information of the communication path after switching to the destination base station device 2d-2. The base station device 2d-2 acquires the signal transmitted from the delay collection unit 52d at the predetermined period from the delay collection unit 52d (step S301).

[0073] Steps S302 to S304 are the same as steps S101 to S103 illustrated in Fig. 3. When a signal requesting notification of delay information on the post-switching communication path is acquired, the delay notifier 25 transmits the delay information on the post-switching communication path to the delay collector 52d. The delay collector 52d acquires the delay information on the post-switching communication path from the delay notifier 25 (step S305). Steps S306 to S312 are the same as steps S105 to S111 illustrated in Fig. 3.

[0074] As described above, when a signal requesting notification of delay information of a communication path after switching is acquired, the delay notifier 25 transmits the delay information of the communication path after switching to the delay collector 52d. This makes it possible to suppress deterioration of the control performance of the user device even when the communication path to the user device performing wireless communication with the base station device is switched.

[0075] (Fourth embodiment) The fourth embodiment is mainly different from the third embodiment in that the source base station device requests the destination base station device to notify the delay information collection device. The fourth embodiment will be described focusing on the differences from the third embodiment.

[0076] 10 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a communication system 1e in the fourth embodiment. The communication system 1e includes a plurality of base station devices 2e, user devices 3, a switching device 4, a collection device 5e, and a communication line 6. The switching device 4 includes a switching communication unit 40 and a switching unit 41. The collection device 5e includes a collection communication unit 50, a storage unit 51, a delayed collection unit 52e, and a control unit 53. In the fourth embodiment, the method by which the base station device 2e notifies the collection device 5e of switching of the communication path is a pull-type notification method.

[0077] 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a base station device 2e in the fourth embodiment. The base station device 2e includes a transmission path communication unit 20, a signal processing unit 21, a handover executing unit 22, a wireless communication unit 23, an antenna 24, a delay notifying unit 25, a time notifying unit 26, a request obtaining unit 27, and a notification requesting unit 28.

[0078] The delay collection unit 52e periodically transmits a signal to the source base station device 2e-1 requesting notification of delay information of the communication path after the switching. The base station device 2e-1 periodically acquires the signal transmitted from the delay collection unit 52e from the delay collection unit 52e. When the signal requesting notification of delay information of the communication path after the switching is acquired, the notification request unit 28 of the source base station device 2e-1 requests the destination base station device 2e-2 to notify the delay information collection device 5e. For example, the notification request unit 28 transmits a signal to the destination base station device 2e-2 requesting notification of delay information of the communication path after the switching.

[0079] The delay notifier 25 of the base station device 2e-2 receives a signal requesting notification of delay information of the communication path after switching from the base station device 2e-1 as a notification request. When the signal requesting notification of delay information of the communication path after switching is received, the delay notifier 25 transmits the delay information of the communication path after switching to the delay collector 52d.

[0080] Next, an example of the operation of the communication system 1e will be described. 12 is a sequence diagram showing an example of operation of the communication system 1e in the fourth embodiment. The delay collection unit 52e periodically transmits a signal requesting notification of delay information of the communication path after switching to the source base station device 2e-1. The base station device 2e-1 periodically acquires the signal transmitted from the delay collection unit 52e from the delay collection unit 52e (step S401).

[0081] Steps S402 to S404 are the same as steps S302 to S304 illustrated in Fig. 9. When a signal requesting notification of delay information for the communication path after switching is acquired, notification request unit 28 of source base station device 2e-1 requests destination base station device 2e-2 to notify delay information collection device 5e (step S405). Steps S406 to S413 are the same as steps S305 to S312 illustrated in Fig. 9.

[0082] As described above, when a signal requesting notification of delay information of a post-switching communication path is acquired, the notification request unit 28 of the source base station device 2e-1 requests the destination base station device 2e-2 to notify the delay information collecting device 5e. When a signal requesting notification of delay information of a post-switching communication path is acquired (when notification of delay information is requested), the delay notification unit 25 of the destination base station device 2e-2 transmits the delay information of the post-switching communication path to the delay collection unit 52d.

[0083] This makes it possible to suppress deterioration of the control performance of the user equipment even when the communication path to the user equipment that performs wireless communication with the base station apparatus is switched.

[0084] (Example of hardware configuration) FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of the hardware configuration of a communication device in each embodiment. The communication device 10 corresponds to at least one of a user device, a base station device, a switching device, and a collection device in each embodiment. The communication device 10 includes a processor 11. The processor 11, such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), executes a program stored in a storage device 13 having a non-volatile recording medium (non-transitory recording medium) and a memory 12, thereby realizing the communication device 10 as software. The program may be recorded on a computer-readable non-transitory recording medium. Examples of computer-readable non-transitory recording media include portable media such as a flexible disk, a magneto-optical disk, a ROM (Read Only Memory), and a CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read Only Memory), and storage devices such as a hard disk built into a computer system. The communication unit 14 executes predetermined communication processing.

[0085] At least a part of each functional unit of the communication device 10 may be an analog circuit or a digital circuit. The signal processing device may be realized using hardware including an electronic circuit using, for example, an LSI (Large Scale Integrated circuit), an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), a PLD (Programmable Logic Device), an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), or the like.

[0086] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to these embodiments, and designs within the scope of the gist of the present invention are also included. The embodiments may be combined. The embodiments and their modifications may be combined. [Industrial Applicability]

[0087] The present invention is applicable to wireless communication systems. [Explanation of symbols]

[0088] DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d, 1e...communication system, 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e...base station device, 3...user device, 4...switching device, 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d, 5e...collection device, 6...communication line, 7...core network, 10...communication device, 11...processor, 12...memory, 13...storage device, 14...communication unit, 20...transmission path communication unit, 21...signal processing unit, 22...handover execution unit, 23...wireless communication unit, 24...antenna, 25...delay notification unit, 26...time notification unit, 27...request acquisition unit, 28...notification request unit, 40...switching communication unit, 41...switching unit, 50...collection communication unit, 51...storage unit, 52a, 52b, 52c, 52d, 52e...delay collection unit, 53...control unit

Claims

1. A delay notification unit that executes a process of notifying the collection device of delay information of the communication path after switching and information on the switching time of the communication path before the communication path is switched in accordance with the selection of the communication device by the other communication device so as to reach the user device via a collection device, a switching device, the communication device, and the communication device selected from other communication devices as the destination of the user device; a handover execution unit that requests the switching device to switch the communication path at the switching time; A communication device comprising:

2. A communication device, a switching device, a delay collection unit that collects delay information of the communication path after switching and information on the switching time of the communication path from the selected base station device before the communication path is switched in accordance with the selection of the base station device by the other base station device so as to reach the user device via the base station device and the selected base station device as the destination of the user device, a control unit that controls the user equipment using the notified delay information after the switching time; Equipped with the delay collection unit transmits a signal requesting notification of the delay information to the selected base station device at a predetermined interval. Communication equipment.

3. A communication system comprising a collection device, a switching device, a base station device, and another base station device, The base station device a delay notification unit that executes a process of notifying the collection device of delay information of the communication path after switching and information on a switching time of the communication path before the communication path is switched in accordance with the selection of the base station device by the other base station device so as to reach the user device via the collection device, the switching device, the base station device, and the base station device selected from the other base station devices as a movement destination of the user device; a handover execution unit that requests the switching device to switch the communication path at the switching time, The collection device a delay collection unit that collects, before the communication path is switched in response to the selection of the base station device by the other base station device, delay information of the communication path after switching and information on a switching time of the communication path from the selected base station device; a control unit that controls the user device using the notified delay information after the switching time, Communication system.

4. A notification method executed by a communication device, comprising: a step of executing a process of notifying the collecting device of delay information of the communication path after switching and information on the switching time of the communication path before the communication path is switched in accordance with the selection of the communication device by the other communication device so as to reach the user device via a collecting device, a switching device, and the communication device selected from the communication device and other communication devices as the movement destination of the user device; requesting the switching device to switch the communication path at the switching time; Notification methods, including:

5. A control method executed by a communication device, collecting, from the selected base station device, delay information of the communication path after switching and information on the switching time of the communication path before the communication path is switched in accordance with the selection of the base station device by the other base station device so as to reach the user device via the communication device, the switching device, the base station device, and the selected base station device as the destination of the user device; controlling the user equipment using the notified delay information after the switching time; Including, the collecting step includes transmitting a signal requesting notification of the delay information to the selected base station device at a predetermined interval. Control method.

6. On the computer, a procedure for executing a process of notifying the collection device of delay information of the communication path after switching and information on the switching time of the communication path before the communication path is switched in accordance with the selection of the communication device by the other communication device so as to reach the user device via the collection device, the switching device, the communication device, and the other communication devices selected as the destination of the user device; a step of requesting the switching device to switch the communication path at the switching time; A program to execute.

7. On the computer, a step of collecting, before a communication path is switched in accordance with the selection of a base station device by the other base station device so as to reach the user device via a communication device, a switching device, the base station device, and the base station device selected from the other base station devices as a destination of the user device, delay information of the communication path after the switching and information on a switching time of the communication path from the selected base station device; a step of controlling the user equipment using the notified delay information after the switching time; Execute the collecting step includes transmitting a signal requesting notification of the delay information to the selected base station device at a predetermined period. program.

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