Information processing device, information processing method, and program

Abstract

A preferred communication network is presented to the user. [Solution] The information processing device includes a communication management area acquisition unit that identifies one or more wireless communication networks based on communication requirements specified by a user terminal and acquires a communication management area for each of the wireless communication networks corresponding to a target area specified by the user terminal; a communication area generation unit that generates a communication area obtained by combining the acquired communication management area with the target area based on the acquired communication management area; a score calculation unit that calculates a score related to communication quality when the user terminal communicates using the wireless communication network in the generated communication area; and an output unit that outputs the generated communication area and information based on the calculated score.

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] In recent years, terminal devices capable of wireless communication, such as smartphones, have become known. Such terminal devices are not intended to be fixed in a certain location but are portable and intended to be used at various locations. Therefore, to use such terminal devices comfortably in any location, there are cases where users want to know the network quality at each location of a network provided within a specific geographical area. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technology for providing users with a route to a location where wireless communication is available. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2020-030104 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In recent years, various types of wireless communication networks have been provided by various communication carriers. Furthermore, as the functionality of terminal devices has improved, users have begun to use terminal devices for a variety of purposes, and the communication quality required by terminal devices has also become more diverse. In this situation, there is a demand for a method to search for wireless communication networks that satisfy the user's desired communication quality within the range in which the user is considering using the terminal device.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and its object is to provide an information processing device, an information processing method, and a program that are capable of presenting a suitable communication network to a user. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] (1) One aspect of the present invention is to provide a method for determining whether a user terminal is a two a communication management area acquisition unit that identifies the above wireless communication networks and acquires a communication management area for each of the wireless communication networks corresponding to a target area designated by the user terminal; a communication area generation unit that generates a communication area obtained by combining the acquired communication management area with the target area based on the acquired communication management area; and a score related to communication quality when the user terminal communicates using the wireless communication network in the generated communication area. a score based on a value obtained by multiplying the occupancy rate of the communication area of ​​the wireless communication network in the target area by an index indicating the quality of the wireless communication network; and an output unit that outputs information based on the generated communication area and the calculated score. (2) In another aspect of the present invention, in the information processing device of (1) above, the wireless communication networks are networks that use different wireless methods or frequency bands. (3) Also, one aspect of the present invention is the information processing device of (1) above, wherein the wireless communication network is a plurality of slice networks virtually divided from the wireless communication network. ( 4 ) Also, one aspect of the present invention is the above-mentioned ( 1 In the information processing device of ), the index indicating the quality of the wireless communication network is the reciprocal of a value indicating a transmission speed or a delay time within a predetermined time. Determined based on . ( 5 ) Also, one aspect of the present invention is the above-mentioned ( 1 In the information processing device of the present invention, the indicator indicating the quality of the wireless communication network is a signal strength. every time It is determined based on the ( 6 ) Furthermore, one aspect of the present invention is the above-mentioned (1) Information processing device the score calculation unit calculates a scored overall area score in consideration of the area occupancy rate and communication quality of all the wireless communication networks identified by the communication management area acquisition unit. It is something. ( 7 ) Furthermore, one aspect of the present invention is the above-mentioned In any one of the information processing devices (1) to (3), a display control unit is further provided that displays a route along which the user terminal travels and a score corresponding to the route based on the score. It is something. ( 8 ) Also, one aspect of the present invention is the above-mentioned ( 7 In the information processing device of The display control unit displays a plurality of routes and scores corresponding to the routes in a manner that enables communication quality of each route to be recognized by the scores. It is something. ( 9 ) Furthermore, one aspect of the present invention is the above-mentioned (7 )of In the information processing device, The display control unit displays a score corresponding to each of the plurality of routes as a numerical value, or displays the plurality of routes using a color specified by the score corresponding to the route, thereby displaying the communication quality of each route in a manner that can be recognized by the score. It is something. ( 10 ) Furthermore, one aspect of the present invention is the above-mentioned (7) to ( 9 ) In any one of the information processing devices, the display control unit displays, for each of a plurality of routes, a communication available time or a communication cut-off time when traveling along the route. ( 11 ) Furthermore, one aspect of the present invention is the above-mentioned (7) to ( 10 ) In any one of the information processing devices, the display control unit displays, for each of a plurality of routes, a ratio of available communication time to an expected travel time when traveling along the route. ( 12 ) Furthermore, one aspect of the present invention is the above-mentioned (7) to ( 11 ) In any one of the information processing devices, the display control unit displays a section where communication is interrupted for each of a plurality of routes. ( 13 ) Also, one aspect of the present invention is an information processing method performed using a computer, twoa communication management area acquisition step of identifying the wireless communication networks and acquiring a communication management area for each of the wireless communication networks corresponding to a target area designated by the user terminal; a communication area generation step of generating a communication area obtained by combining the acquired communication management area with the target area based on the acquired communication management area; and a score related to communication quality when the user terminal communicates using the wireless communication network in the generated communication area. a score based on a value obtained by multiplying the occupancy rate of the communication area of ​​the wireless communication network in the target area by an index indicating the quality of the wireless communication network; and an output step of outputting information based on the generated communication area and the calculated score. ( 14 ) Also, one aspect of the present invention is to have a computer execute a command based on communication requirements specified by a user terminal. two a communication management area acquisition step of identifying the above wireless communication networks and acquiring a communication management area for each of the wireless communication networks corresponding to a target area designated by the user terminal; a communication area generation step of generating a communication area obtained by combining the acquired communication management area with the target area based on the acquired communication management area; and a score related to communication quality when the user terminal communicates using the wireless communication network in the generated communication area. a score based on a value obtained by multiplying the occupancy rate of the communication area of ​​the wireless communication network in the target area by an index indicating the quality of the wireless communication network; and an output step of outputting information based on the generated communication area and the calculated score. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an information processing device, an information processing method, and a program that are capable of presenting a suitable communication network to a user. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram illustrating an overview of an information processing system according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a series of steps of an information processing method according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a first diagram showing an example of a communication management area acquired by the information processing device according to the present embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a second diagram showing an example of a communication management area acquired by the information processing device according to the present embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a communication area generated by the information processing device according to the embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining a designated area targeted by the information processing device according to the embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a functional configuration diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the information processing device according to the present embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a functional configuration diagram showing a modified example of the functional configuration of the information processing device according to the present embodiment. [Figure 9] 1 is a flowchart showing an example of a series of steps in an information processing method according to the present embodiment. [Figure 10] 1 is a block diagram showing an example of an internal configuration of an information processing device according to an embodiment of the present invention; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] [Embodiment] An information processing device, an information processing method, and a program according to preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to these embodiments and includes various modifications and improvements. In other words, the components described below include those that would be easily conceivable to a person skilled in the art or that are substantially identical, and the components described below can be combined as appropriate. Furthermore, various omissions, substitutions, or modifications of the components can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Furthermore, in the drawings, the scale and number of components may differ from the scale and number of the actual components to make each configuration easier to understand.

[0010] [Information Processing Systems] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an overview of an information processing system according to an embodiment. First, an overview of the information processing system 1 will be described with reference to the diagram. The information processing system 1 includes a plurality of user terminals 20 and an information processing device 10. The diagram illustrates user terminal 20-1 and user terminal 20-2 as examples of the plurality of user terminals 20. In the following description, when one of the plurality of user terminals 20 is not specified, it may be simply referred to as user terminal 20.

[0011] The user terminal 20 is connected to the information processing device 10 via an information communication network NW. The user terminal 20 is a mobile terminal such as a smartphone or a tablet computer (tablet PC). The user terminal 20 requests communication area information from the information processing device 10 via a predetermined information communication network NW. The communication area information includes area data of a wireless communication network and information indicating communication quality within that range. The user terminal 20 presents the communication area information obtained as a result of the request to, for example, a user operating the user terminal 20.

[0012] The information and communication network NW may be a communication network provided by one operator, or may be multiple communication networks provided by multiple operators. The information and communication network NW may be, for example, a mobile phone network using a system (5GSA system) in which wireless communication is performed between communication equipment dedicated to fifth-generation communication (5G) and a 5G base station.

[0013] The information processing device 10 is connected to each of a plurality of user terminals 20 via an information communication network NW. Information communication between the information processing device 10 and each of the user terminals 20 is independent. The information processing device 10 receives a request for communication area information from each of the user terminals 20. In response to the received request, the information processing device 10 generates communication area information and presents the generated communication area information to the user terminal 20 that sent the request.

[0014] The range covered by the information processing system 1 according to this embodiment may be a predetermined range, such as the range around a specific facility, or may be a range within which the user terminal 20 can move, such as a road. In the following description, the range covered by the information processing system 1 is not particularly limited, and various ranges will be described. It is preferable that the range can be represented as a set of pixels in image information such as a map.

[0015] [A series of steps in information processing] 2 is a diagram showing a series of steps in the information processing method according to this embodiment. Next, with reference to the same diagram, a series of steps in the information processing method performed by the above-described information processing system 1 will be described.

[0016] (Step S1) First, the user terminal 20 transmits a communication area information request to the information processing device 10. The communication area information request includes a target area and communication requirements in its information elements.

[0017] The target area is information about the area (geographical range) that is the target of the communication area information. The format for expressing the target area may be, for example, a set of coordinates, or a wide variety of other formats that can be converted into a set of coordinates. Specifically, the target area may be a route (which can also be expressed as a set of line segments) including a start point and an end point. The target area may also be any area specified by a graphic such as a circle, rectangle, polygon, or similar shape, or may be a set of coordinates that form the area. The graphic may also represent a predetermined range specified by the user (for example, an area enclosed freehand).

[0018] Furthermore, the target area may be an image in which a designated area having reference point coordinates can be identified. For example, in the case of a map divided into multiple tiles, an image in which a designated area having reference point coordinates can be identified by two-dimensional coordinates in which the upper left point of each tile is (x, y). As a specific example, an area map can be divided into tiles.

[0019] Communication requirements are requirements for communication quality desired by a user. Specifically, communication requirements may include information such as communication quality conditions and wireless access conditions. Specific examples of communication quality conditions include service type, desired quality, minimum quality, and scheduled use time. Communication quality conditions may also be a combination of these. Specific examples of wireless access conditions include, in the case of cellular, the operator name, wireless method (4G or 5G, etc.), and frequency band (800 MHz, 2 GHz, 3.5 GHz, sub6, etc.). In the case of non-cellular, examples include WiFi, Local5G / Private5G, satellite, etc.

[0020] (Step S2) When the communication area information request is received, the information processing device 10 identifies a communication management area corresponding to the target area based on the received communication area information request. A specific procedure for identifying the communication management area will be described below.

[0021] First, the information processing device 10 analyzes a combination of multiple conditions included in the communication requirements based on the communication requirements included in the communication area information request. Based on the analysis results, the information processing device 10 identifies wireless communication networks that constitute the communication requirements. For example, examples of communication quality conditions include a throughput of 30 Mbps (= slice 1), a throughput of 20 Mbps (= slice 2), and a throughput of 10 Mbps (= slice 3). Furthermore, examples of wireless access conditions include, in the case of a single operator, a combination of wireless systems and frequency bands such as 4G (800 MHz), 4G (2 GHz), and 5G (sub6). Furthermore, in the case of a multiple operator, examples of wireless access conditions include, in the case of a combination of operators and wireless systems such as operator X (5G), operator X (4G), operator Y (5G), and operator Y (4G).

[0022] Furthermore, the information processing device 10 specifies a communication management area corresponding to the target area for each target wireless communication network. The communication management area may be specified from unique information possessed by the wireless access provider (e.g., coordinates of the base station to be installed, estimated electric field area, etc.) or from information disclosed by the wireless access provider (e.g., area map, etc.).

[0023] Here, in step S1, the format of the target area provided from the user terminal 20 is not limited in any way in this embodiment, and may be specified by image information, for example. When the target area is specified by an image, the information processing device 10 preferably converts the target area into polygon data in step S2. For the conversion into polygon data, known image processing techniques, coordinate calculations, etc. may be used. Here, the information (area map, etc.) disclosed by the wireless access provider is generally image information. By converting the image information into polygon information in pixel units, for example, subsequent processing can be performed easily.

[0024] Fig. 3 is a first diagram showing an example of a communication management area acquired by an information processing device according to this embodiment. Fig. 4 is a second diagram showing an example of a communication management area acquired by an information processing device according to this embodiment. Both Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 show an example of a communication management area identified in step S2 described above. Specifically, the example shown in the figures shows an example of an area map disclosed by a wireless access provider.

[0025] Both Figures 3 and 4 have expressways as their target areas, and specify the same range. On the other hand, the example shown in Figure 3 is an example of a 5G area map provided by operator X. The example shown in Figure 4 is an example of a 5G (sub6) area map provided by operator Y.

[0026] (Step S3) Returning to FIG. 2, we continue to explain the sequence of steps in the information processing method performed by the information processing system 1. The information processing device 10 combines the target area with the communication management area to generate communication area information for the target area. In this embodiment, the combination of the target area with the communication management area includes a wide variety of methods, but the following explanation will be given of an example in which the communication management area is superimposed on the target area. Note that the communication area information generated by the information processing device 10 includes communication area data and a communication area score.

[0027] First, the communication area data included in the communication area information will be described. The communication area data includes area data for each wireless communication network that constitutes the communication requirements.

[0028] As an example of communication quality conditions, area data classified into levels such as in-service area and out-of-service area for slice 1 (throughput 30 Mbps), slice 2 (throughput 20 Mbps), and slice 3 (throughput 10 Mbps) can be exemplified. In addition, various slices may be used depending on the combination of communication quality conditions.

[0029] As an example of wireless access conditions, in the case of a single operator, area data classified into levels such as strong, medium, weak, and out of range for 4G (800 MHz), 4G (2 GHz), and 5G (sub6) can be exemplified. In addition, data such as signal quality, wireless congestion, and handover status may be used as parameters for determining the level classification.

[0030] The electric field quality may be the Signal-to-Interference-plus-Noise Ratio (SINR) or Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP) in past communication records or simulations. The wireless congestion status may be statistical data for each base station cell / date and time, such as the resource block (RB) usage rate, the number of connected user equipment (UE), or the number of active UE. The handover status may be the Band / PCI change record in past communication records. Note that handovers generally cause momentary communication interruptions, and the score may be calculated based on the number of interruptions or whether handovers occur frequently in a short period of time.

[0031] An example of wireless access conditions is area data classified into levels such as strong, medium, weak, and out of range for multiple operators, such as operator X (5G), operator X (4G), operator Y (5G), and operator Y (4G). The levels may be based on information disclosed by the wireless access provider, and may distinguish between in-range and out-of-range, for example.

[0032] Next, we will explain the communication area score, which is one of the pieces of information included in the communication area information. The communication area score includes an area score for each wireless communication network that constitutes the communication requirements and a total area score. In the following explanation, the communication area score may also be referred to simply as the score.

[0033] First, the area score for each wireless communication network will be described, which is one of the pieces of information included in the communication area score. The area score for each wireless communication network includes an area occupancy rate. The area occupancy rate may be the occupancy rate of the communication area of ​​the wireless communication network in the target area. Note that the area score for each wireless communication network may also include a coefficient of communication quality.

[0034] The communication quality conditions may be the occupancy rate (%) of slice 1 and a coefficient of the communication quality of slice 1. Similarly, for slices 2 and 3, the occupancy rate (%) of slice 2 and a coefficient of the communication quality of slice 2, and the occupancy rate (%) of slice 3 and a coefficient of the communication quality of slice 3 may be used. Note that the coefficient of the communication quality of each slice may use various indices, but may be the same as the throughput value, for example.

[0035] The wireless access conditions may be, for a certain operator's 5G, the 5G strong field share (%) and the 5G strong field coefficient, the 5G weak field share (%) and the 5G weak field coefficient, etc. The same applies to 4G, etc.

[0036] Next, the overall area score will be described, which is one of the pieces of information included in the communication area score. The overall area score is a score that takes into account the area occupancy rate and communication quality of all wireless communication networks. For example, the overall area score may be a score out of 100 points. The communication quality may specifically be a coefficient of the communication quality of the wireless communication network or a coefficient of the maximum quality.

[0037] As an example of a communication quality condition, when multiple slices are used, it can be calculated as follows: occupancy rate (%) of slice 1 + occupancy rate (%) of slice 2 × (communication quality coefficient of slice 2 / communication quality coefficient of slice 1) + occupancy rate (%) of slice 3 × (communication quality coefficient of slice 3 / communication quality coefficient of slice 1).

[0038] As an example of wireless access conditions, when evaluating the communication area of ​​a certain operator, it is possible to calculate the occupancy rate (%) of 5G strong field + occupancy rate (%) of 5G weak field × (coefficient of 5G weak field / coefficient of 5G strong field) + occupancy rate (%) of 4G strong field × (coefficient of 4G strong field / coefficient of 5G strong field) + occupancy rate (%) of 4G weak field × (coefficient of 4G weak field / coefficient of 5G strong field).

[0039] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a communication area generated by the information processing device according to this embodiment. The diagram shows an example of communication area data generated in step S3 described above. Specifically, the example shown in the diagram is generated based on the area maps shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 described above. The example shown in the diagram, like FIGS. 3 and 4, has a highway as the target area. In the diagram, the communication requirements are operator X (5G) shown in FIG. 3 and operator Y (5G) shown in FIG. 4. Note that in the example shown in FIG. 5, only 5G is extracted from the information in FIG. 3.

[0040] As shown in FIG. 5, the communication area data can be said to be communication area information superimposed on the target area (highway area, i.e., road portion). In other words, the communication area data shown in the figure indicates the presence and strength of radio waves from each operator at each point on the expressway. By checking this display, the user can confirm, for example, at which points the radio wave strength becomes weak when traveling on the expressway. Furthermore, by checking this display, the user can easily determine which operator to select to obtain a more comfortable network environment when traveling on the expressway.

[0041] The information processing device 10 may display a score together with the display shown in Fig. 5. The score may be a score for each business operator. The score may also be a score for the entire route or a score for each predetermined line segment.

[0042] FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a designated area targeted by the information processing device according to this embodiment. The diagram shows an example in which the target area is a specific range. The example shown in FIGS. 3 to 5 is an example in which the target area is a highway (i.e., a route), but as shown in FIG. 6, the target area may be a predetermined range. The predetermined range is indicated in the diagram by the symbol AR. The symbol AR is, for example, a range that is surrounded by a freehand circle by the user.

[0043] (Step S4) Returning to FIG. 2, the explanation of the series of steps of the information processing method performed by the information processing system 1 continues. Finally, the information processing device 10 presents the communication area information calculated in step 3 to the user terminal 20. The communication area data included in the presented communication area information is used for the next action, such as map projection. The communication area score included in the presented communication area information may be displayed on a GUI (Graphical User Interface) to evaluate the communication area data.

[0044] [Function Configuration] 7 is a functional configuration diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of an information processing device according to this embodiment. With reference to the same figure, an example of the functional configuration of the information processing device 10 will be described. As shown in the figure, the information processing device 10 includes a communication management area acquisition unit 11, a communication area generation unit 12, a score calculation unit 13, and an output unit 14.

[0045] Each of these functional units is realized, for example, using electronic circuits. Each functional unit may also include internal storage means such as semiconductor memory or a magnetic hard disk drive, as necessary. Each function may also be realized by a computer having a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and software. All or part of each functional unit may also be realized by hardware (e.g., circuitry) such as an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), a PLD (Programmable Logic Device), or an FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array). All or part of each functional unit may also be realized by a combination of software and hardware.

[0046] The information processing device 10 may function as a device having the above-described functions by, for example, executing an application installed on the device itself. A specific example of such an application is an application provided to the information processing device 10. Another specific example of such an application is a web browser application. Such an application may be installed in the information processing device 10 in advance, or may be downloaded each time the information processing device 10 is run.

[0047] The communication management area acquisition unit 11 first identifies one or more wireless communication networks based on the communication requirements specified by the user terminal 20. Next, the communication management area acquisition unit 11 acquires the communication management areas of the wireless communication networks corresponding to the target area specified by the user terminal 20. Specifically, the communication management area acquisition unit 11 may acquire the communication management areas from a predetermined storage unit prepared in advance, or may acquire them from a telecommunications carrier or the like on a case-by-case basis.

[0048] Note that the communication management area of ​​each wireless communication network may be different for each telecommunications carrier. Since frequency band allocation differs for each telecommunications carrier, the communication management areas may be different in wireless methods (4G, 5G, etc.) or frequency bands (800 MHz, 2 GHz, 3.5 GHz, sub6, 28 GHz, etc.). In other words, wireless communication networks can be said to be networks with different wireless methods or frequency bands.

[0049] However, this embodiment is not limited to this example, and the communication management area of ​​each wireless communication network may be a slice network obtained by virtually dividing the wireless communication network. In other words, it is possible to imagine a wireless communication network as a plurality of slice networks obtained by virtually dividing the wireless communication network.

[0050] The communication area generation unit 12 generates a communication area based on the communication management area acquired by the communication management area acquisition unit 11. The communication area is obtained by combining the communication management area with the target area. More specifically, the communication area is obtained by superimposing the communication management area on the target area.

[0051] The score calculation unit 13 calculates a score related to communication quality when the user terminal 20 communicates using a wireless communication network in the generated communication area. There are various conceivable methods for calculating the score, but for example, it is conceivable to calculate the score by multiplying the occupancy rate of the wireless communication network by an index indicating the network quality. In other words, the score calculation unit 13 can also calculate the score based on the value obtained by multiplying the occupancy rate of the wireless communication network in the communication management area by an index indicating the quality of the wireless communication network.

[0052] The index indicating the quality of the wireless communication network may be a transmission speed within a predetermined time. The transmission speed may be expressed in units such as Mbps (Mega Bits Per Second). Furthermore, the index indicating the quality of the wireless communication network may be the reciprocal of a value indicating a delay time. Specifically, the reciprocal of a value indicating a delay time may be a coefficient such as 1 ms = 1 / 1000 s.

[0053] Furthermore, the index indicating the quality of the wireless communication network may be determined based on the strength of the radio wave and a predetermined threshold. The strength of the radio wave may be expressed in units such as dBm (decibels in milliwatts). For example, the strength of 5G radio waves may be classified into strong and weak signals using a threshold, and the strength of the radio waves may be calculated by multiplying the 5G strong signal share (%) by the coefficient of the 5G strong signal share (%) and the coefficient of the 5G weak signal share (%) by the coefficient of the 5G weak signal share (%). Specifically, the strength of the radio wave may be expressed as the signal-to-interference-and-noise ratio (SINR), reference signal received power (RSRP), or the like.

[0054] The output unit 14 outputs information based on the communication area generated by the communication area generation unit 12 and the score calculated by the score calculation unit 13. As shown in FIG. 1, the output unit 14 may output information based on the communication area and the score (communication area information) to the user terminal 20 that has transmitted a communication area information request.

[0055] FIG. 8 is a functional configuration diagram showing a modified example of the functional configuration of the information processing device according to this embodiment. The functional configuration of the information processing device 10A will be described with reference to the same diagram. The information processing device 10A is a modified example of the information processing device 10. The information processing device 10A differs from the information processing device 10 in that it further includes a display control unit 15. In the description of the information processing device 10A, the same components as those of the information processing device 10 are denoted by the same reference numerals as those of the information processing device 10, and description thereof may be omitted.

[0056] The display control unit 15 controls the display on the user terminal 20 based on the score output by the output unit 14. Specifically, when the target area is a route such as a highway, the display control unit 15 may display the route along which the user terminal 20 will travel and a score corresponding to the route based on the score output by the output unit 14. When there are multiple candidate routes along which the user terminal 20 will travel, the display control unit 15 may display a score for each of the multiple routes. In other words, the display control unit 15 may display the multiple routes and the scores corresponding to the routes in a manner that allows the communication quality of each route to be recognized by the score.

[0057] The scores whose display is controlled by the display control unit 15 may be displayed, for example, as numerical values. When multiple routes exist, the display control unit 15 may display the scores corresponding to each of the multiple routes as numerical values. The scores may also be displayed in a manner that makes it visually easy to distinguish the differences using colors corresponding to the numerical values. That is, the display control unit 15 may display the multiple routes using colors specified by the scores corresponding to the routes, thereby displaying the communication quality of each route in a manner that makes it possible to recognize the communication quality by the score.

[0058] Furthermore, the display control unit 15 may display, for each of the multiple routes, the available communication time or the communication cutoff time when traveling along that route, based on the communication area output by the output unit 14. The calculation process of the available communication time or the communication cutoff time may be performed by the communication area generation unit 12 or by another configuration. Furthermore, the display control unit 15 may display, for each of the multiple routes, the ratio of the available communication time to the expected travel time when traveling along that route. Furthermore, the display control unit 15 may display sections where communication is cut off for each of the multiple routes. By employing such a configuration, the information processing device 10 can present more accurate information to the user.

[0059] 9 is a flowchart showing an example of a series of steps in the information processing method according to this embodiment. With reference to the same figure, an example of a series of steps in the information processing method performed by the information processing device 10 as described above will be described.

[0060] (Step S11) First, the information processing device 10 acquires communication requirements from the user terminal 20. The communication requirements may be received by operating the user terminal 20 by the user.

[0061] (Step S12) Next, the information processing device 10 identifies one or more wireless communication networks based on the acquired communication requirements.

[0062] (Step S13) Furthermore, the information processing device 10 acquires a communication management area corresponding to the target area specified by the user terminal 20, based on the identified wireless communication network. If multiple wireless communication networks are identified in step S12, the information processing device 10 acquires a communication management area for each of the wireless communication networks. Note that the process of performing the processes from step S11 to step S13 may be referred to as a communication management area acquisition process or a communication management area acquisition step.

[0063] (Step S14) The information processing device 10 generates a communication area obtained by combining the communication management area acquired in step S13 with the target area. Note that the process performed in step S14 may be referred to as a communication area generation process or a communication area generation step.

[0064] (Step S15) The information processing device 10 calculates a score related to communication quality when the user terminal 20 communicates using a wireless communication network in the communication area generated in step S14. The process performed in step S15 may be referred to as a score calculation process or a score calculation step.

[0065] (Step S16) Finally, the information processing device 10 outputs information based on the communication area generated in step S14 and the score calculated in step S15. Note that the process performed in step S16 may be referred to as an output process or an output step.

[0066] [Internal configuration] FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing an example of the internal configuration of an information processing device according to this embodiment. The computer shown in FIG. 10 illustrates an example of a specific hardware configuration for realizing the information processing device 10. The computer includes a central processing unit (processor) 901, a RAM 902, an input / output port 903, input / output devices 904 and 905, and a bus 906. The computer itself can be realized using existing technology. The central processing unit 901 executes instructions contained in a program read from the RAM 902 or the like. In accordance with each instruction, the central processing unit 901 writes data to the RAM 902, reads data from the RAM 902, and performs arithmetic and logical operations. The RAM 902 stores data and programs. Each element included in the RAM 902 has an address and can be accessed using the address. RAM is an abbreviation for "random access memory." The input / output port 903 is a port through which the central processing unit 901 exchanges data with external input / output devices. The input / output devices 904 and 905 are input / output devices. Input / output devices 904 and 905 exchange data with the central processing unit 901 via an input / output port 903. A bus 906 is a common communication path used within the computer. For example, the central processing unit 901 reads and writes data from and to the RAM 902 via the bus 906. Also, for example, the central processing unit 901 accesses the input / output port via the bus 906. All or part of the information processing device 10 may be realized using hardware such as an ASIC, a PLD, or an FPGA. All or part of each functional unit may be realized by a combination of software and hardware.

[0067] [Summary of the embodiment] According to the embodiment described above, the information processing device 10 includes a communication management area acquisition unit 11, a communication area generation unit 12, a score calculation unit 13, and an output unit 14. The communication management area acquisition unit 11 identifies one or more wireless communication networks based on communication requirements specified by the user terminal 20, and acquires a communication management area for each wireless communication network corresponding to a target area specified by the user terminal 20. The communication area generation unit 12 generates a communication area obtained by combining the acquired communication management area with the target area. The score calculation unit 13 calculates a score related to communication quality when the user terminal 20 communicates using the wireless communication network in the generated communication area. The output unit 14 outputs information based on the generated communication area and the calculated score.

[0068] By adopting such a configuration, the information processing device 10 can present to the user a communication area according to the user's request and a score according to the communication area. The user can select a desired network based on the presented communication area. Therefore, according to this embodiment, a suitable communication network can be presented to the user.

[0069] The above-described embodiment makes it possible to "present a suitable communication network to the user." Therefore, this embodiment can contribute to Goal 9 of the United Nations-led Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which is to "build resilient infrastructure, promote sustainable industrialization, and foster innovation."

[0070] Although an embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail above with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to this embodiment, and design changes and the like are also included within the scope that does not deviate from the gist of the present invention.

[0071] Furthermore, a computer program for implementing the functions of each of the above-described devices may be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium, and the program recorded on the recording medium may be read and executed by a computer system. Note that the term "computer system" may also include hardware such as an OS and peripheral devices. Furthermore, the term "computer-readable recording medium" refers to a storage device such as a flexible disk, a magneto-optical disk, a ROM, a writable nonvolatile memory such as a flash memory, a portable medium such as a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc), or a hard disk built into a computer system.

[0072] Furthermore, the term "computer-readable recording medium" also includes a storage medium that stores a program for a certain period of time, such as a volatile memory (e.g., DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory)) within a computer system that serves as a server or client when the program is transmitted via a network such as the Internet or a communication line such as a telephone line. The program may also be transmitted from a computer system that stores the program in a storage device or the like to another computer system via a transmission medium or by transmission waves within the transmission medium. Here, the "transmission medium" that transmits the program refers to a medium that has the function of transmitting information, such as a network (communication network) such as the Internet or a communication line (communication line) such as a telephone line. The program may also be a program that realizes part of the aforementioned functions. Furthermore, the program may be a so-called differential file (differential program) that can realize the aforementioned functions in combination with a program already stored in the computer system. [Explanation of symbols]

[0073] 1...information processing system, 10...information processing device, 20...user terminal, 30...vehicle, 11...communication management area acquisition unit, 12...communication area generation unit, 13...score calculation unit, 14...output unit, 15...display control unit, NW...information communication network

Claims

1. a communication management area acquisition unit that identifies two or more wireless communication networks based on communication requirements specified by a user terminal, and acquires a communication management area for each of the wireless communication networks corresponding to a target area specified by the user terminal; a communication area generation unit that generates a communication area obtained by combining the acquired communication management area with the target area; a score calculation unit that calculates a score related to communication quality when the user terminal communicates using the wireless communication network in the generated communication area, the score being based on a value obtained by multiplying the occupancy rate of the communication area of ​​the wireless communication network in the target area by an index indicating the quality of the wireless communication network; an output unit that outputs information based on the generated communication area and the calculated score; An information processing device comprising:

2. The wireless communication networks are networks using different wireless methods or frequency bands. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

3. The wireless communication network is a plurality of slice networks obtained by virtually dividing the wireless communication network. The information processing device according to claim 1.

4. The index indicating the quality of the wireless communication network is determined based on the reciprocal of a value indicating a transmission speed or a delay time within a predetermined time. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

5. The indicator indicating the quality of the wireless communication network is determined based on the strength of radio waves. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

6. the score calculation unit calculates a scored overall area score in consideration of the area occupancy rate and communication quality of all the wireless communication networks identified by the communication management area acquisition unit; The information processing device according to claim 1 .

7. a display control unit that displays a route along which the user terminal will travel and a score according to the route based on the score; The information processing device according to claim 1 .

8. the display control unit displays a plurality of routes and scores corresponding to the routes in a manner that enables communication quality for each route to be recognized by the scores.

8. The information processing device according to claim 7.

9. the display control unit displays a score corresponding to each of the plurality of routes as a numerical value, or displays the plurality of routes using a color specified by the score corresponding to the route, thereby displaying the communication quality of each route in a manner that allows the communication quality to be recognized by the score.

8. The information processing device according to claim 7.

10. the display control unit displays, for each of a plurality of routes, a communication available time or a communication cutoff time when traveling along the route; 8. The information processing device according to claim 7.

11. the display control unit displays, for each of a plurality of routes, a ratio of available communication time to an expected travel time when traveling along the route; 8. The information processing device according to claim 7.

12. the display control unit displays a section where communication is interrupted for each of a plurality of routes.

8. The information processing device according to claim 7.

13. An information processing method performed using a computer, a communication management area acquisition step of identifying two or more wireless communication networks based on communication requirements specified by a user terminal, and acquiring a communication management area for each of the wireless communication networks corresponding to a target area specified by the user terminal; a communication area generation step of generating a communication area obtained by combining the acquired communication management area with the target area; a score calculation step of calculating a score related to communication quality when the user terminal communicates using the wireless communication network in the generated communication area, the score being based on a value obtained by multiplying the occupancy rate of the communication area of ​​the wireless communication network in the target area by an index indicating the quality of the wireless communication network; an output step of outputting information based on the generated communication area and the calculated score; An information processing method comprising:

14. On the computer, a communication management area acquisition step of identifying two or more wireless communication networks based on communication requirements specified by a user terminal, and acquiring a communication management area for each of the wireless communication networks corresponding to a target area specified by the user terminal; a communication area generation step of generating a communication area obtained by combining the acquired communication management area with the target area; a score calculation step of calculating a score related to communication quality when the user terminal communicates using the wireless communication network in the generated communication area, the score being based on a value obtained by multiplying the occupancy rate of the communication area of ​​the wireless communication network in the target area by an index indicating the quality of the wireless communication network; an output step of outputting information based on the generated communication area and the calculated score; A program that executes the following.

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