Designation of analysis targets in estimating the jurisdiction area of ​​emergency calls

Abstract

This communication control device comprises at least one processor that executes processes for: detecting, using an emergency call detection unit, an emergency call from a communication instrument in a communication cell that includes the competent area of a plurality of emergency response organizations: designating, as objects to be analyzed and using an analysis object designation unit, a time and an area that are different from at least one of the time and the area at which or in which the communication instrument made the emergency call; estimating, using a competent area estimation unit, a competent area where the communication instrument is positioned, on the basis of analysis of at least one of the time and the area to be analyzed; and connecting, using a connection control unit, the emergency call to an emergency response organization in the estimated competent area. The analysis object designation unit designates, as the object to be analyzed, a past time earlier than the time at which the communication instrument made the emergency call, or a future time later than the time at which the communication instrument made the emergency call.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to the designation of an analysis target in the estimation of the jurisdiction area of an emergency report.

Background Art

[0002] The number, types, and uses of wireless communication devices (hereinafter also collectively referred to as communication devices) typified by smartphones and IoT (Internet of Things) devices are constantly increasing, and the expansion and improvement of wireless communication standards are continuing. For example, the commercial service of the fifth-generation mobile communication system known as "5G" started in 2018, but the standard setting is still in progress at 3GPP (Third Generation Partnership Project). In addition, efforts have also begun towards the standard setting of "6G" or the sixth-generation mobile communication system as the next-generation wireless communication standard following 5G.

[0003] When making an emergency report to an emergency response agency such as a police agency or a fire department using a communication device such as a smartphone, the core network that detects the emergency report determines the emergency response agency to which the communication device should be connected. Specifically, the emergency response agency that includes the location of the communication cell where the communication device is located, typically the location of the base station that provides the communication cell, in its jurisdiction area is determined by the core network as the connection destination for the emergency report. For example, when the base station of the communication cell is in Area A, an emergency report from a communication device in the communication cell is connected to Emergency Response Agency A that has Area A as its jurisdiction area.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] While 5G and 6G are exploring satellite communications via communication satellites, the satellite communication cells provided by these satellites can have diameters exceeding 20 km, generally larger than the terrestrial communication cells used in mobile communications such as 5G and 4G (fourth-generation mobile communication systems). In such cases, it is conceivable that the service areas of multiple different emergency response agencies may be included in a single relatively large communication cell. For example, a single large communication cell, such as a satellite communication cell, may include area A, which is under the jurisdiction of emergency response agency A, and area B, which is under the jurisdiction of emergency response agency B. If the communication device making an emergency call in this communication cell is in area B, the emergency call should ideally be connected to emergency response agency B, which has jurisdiction over area B. However, if the base station of that communication cell is in area A, the emergency call will be connected to emergency response agency A, as described above.

[0006] This disclosure is made in light of these circumstances and provides a communication control device, etc., that can connect emergency calls from communication devices to appropriate emergency response agencies. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] A communication control device in one aspect of the present disclosure includes at least one processor that, when an analysis target designation unit detects that a communication cell from which a communication device has made an emergency call includes the jurisdictional areas of multiple emergency response agencies, designates an analysis target for estimating the jurisdictional area in which the communication device is located.

[0008] In this embodiment, for emergency calls from communication devices within a communication cell that includes the jurisdictional areas of multiple emergency response agencies, an analysis target is specified to estimate the jurisdictional area from which the emergency call was made, thereby enabling the emergency call to be connected to the appropriate emergency response agency. While a satellite communication cell was used as an example of a communication cell including the jurisdictional areas of multiple emergency response agencies, a ground communication cell provided by a ground base station (e.g., a so-called macrocell) can also include the jurisdictional areas of multiple emergency response agencies. Therefore, this embodiment is applicable not only to satellite communication cells but also to general ground communication cells.

[0009] Another aspect of the present disclosure is a communication control device. This communication control device includes at least one processor that performs the following: an emergency call detection unit detects an emergency call from a communication device in a communication cell that includes the jurisdictional areas of multiple emergency response agencies; a jurisdictional area estimation unit estimates the jurisdictional area in which the communication device is located based on an analysis of the time and area different from at least one of the time and area in which the communication device made the emergency call; and a connection control unit connects the emergency call to an emergency response agency in the estimated jurisdictional area.

[0010] Another aspect of this disclosure is a communication control method. This communication control method, when it detects that a communication cell from which a communication device has made an emergency call includes the jurisdictional areas of multiple emergency response agencies, performs the task of specifying an analysis target for estimating the jurisdictional area in which the communication device is located.

[0011] Another aspect of this disclosure is a storage medium. This storage medium stores a communication control program that causes a computer to specify an analysis target for estimating the jurisdiction area in which a communication device is located, when the communication device detects that the communication cell from which it made an emergency call includes the jurisdiction areas of multiple emergency response agencies.

[0012] Furthermore, any combination of the above components, as well as any representations thereof converted into methods, apparatus, systems, recording media, computer programs, etc., are also included in this disclosure. [Effects of the Invention]

[0013] According to this disclosure, emergency calls from communication devices can be connected to the appropriate emergency response agency. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0014] [Figure 1] A schematic diagram illustrates the wireless communication system to which a communication control device is applied. [Figure 2] This diagram schematically illustrates how a communication device within a satellite communication cell, currently communicating with a communications satellite, sends an emergency notification to an emergency response agency. [Figure 3]This diagram schematically illustrates the connection process for emergency calls based on ECGI. [Figure 4] This shows the flow of emergency call connection processing based on CGI. [Figure 5] Here is a concrete example of an initial message from the UE. [Figure 6] Figure 5 shows a specific example of user location information included in the initial message from the UE. [Figure 7] This is a functional block diagram of the communication control device. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0015] Figure 1 schematically shows an overview of a wireless communication system 1 to which a communication control device according to an embodiment of this disclosure is applied. The wireless communication system 1 includes a 5G wireless communication system 11, a 4G wireless communication system 12, and a satellite communication system 13. The 5G wireless communication system 11 conforms to the fifth-generation mobile communication system (5G), using NR (New Radio) or 5G NR (Fifth Generation New Radio) as the radio access technology (RAT) and 5GC (Fifth Generation Core) as the core network (CN). The 4G wireless communication system 12 conforms to the fourth-generation mobile communication system (4G), using LTE (Long Term Evolution) or LTE-Advanced as the radio access technology and EPC (Evolved Packet Core) as the core network. The satellite communication system 13 is responsible for satellite communication via a communication satellite 131. Although not shown in the diagram, wireless communication system 1 may include wireless communication systems of generations prior to 4G, wireless communication systems of generations later than 5G (such as 6G), or any wireless communication system that is not related to a generation, such as Wi-Fi (registered trademark).

[0016] The 5G wireless communication system 11 includes communication devices 2A, 2B, 2C, and 2D (hereinafter collectively referred to as communication device 2), such as smartphones, which are installed on the ground and also called UE (User Equipment), and multiple 5G base stations 111A, 111B, and 111C (hereinafter collectively referred to as 5G base stations 111), which can communicate via 5G NR. In 5G, base station 111 is also called gNodeB (gNB). The communication range or supported range of each 5G base station 111A, 111B, and 111C is called a cell, and is illustrated as 112A, 112B, and 112C (hereinafter collectively referred to as 5G cell 112), respectively.

[0017] The size of the 5G cells 112 of each 5G base station 111 is arbitrary, but typically ranges from a few meters to tens of kilometers in radius. Although there is no established definition, cells with a radius of a few meters to 10 meters are sometimes called femtocells, cells with a radius of 10 meters to tens of meters are called picocells, cells with a radius of tens to hundreds of meters are called microcells, and cells with a radius exceeding hundreds of meters are sometimes called macrocells. 5G often uses high-frequency radio waves such as millimeter waves, and due to their high directivity, radio waves are blocked by obstacles, shortening the communication range. For this reason, 5G tends to use smaller cells more frequently than generations prior to 4G.

[0018] If the communication device 2 is inside at least one of the plurality of 5G cells 112A, 112B, 112C, it can perform 5G communication. In the illustrated example, the communication devices 2B inside the 5G cells 112A and 112B can communicate with either of the 5G base stations 111A and 111B via 5G NR. Also, the communication device 2C inside the 5G cell 112C can communicate with the 5G base station 111C via 5G NR. Since the communication devices 2A and 2D are outside all of the 5G cells 112A, 112B, 112C, they are in a state where they cannot communicate via 5G NR. The 5G communication via 5G NR between each communication device 2 and each 5G base station 111 is managed by the 5GC which is the core network. For example, the 5GC performs the exchange of data with each 5G base station 111, the exchange of data with external networks such as the EPC, the satellite communication system 13, the Internet, etc., and the mobility management of the communication device 2.

[0019] The 4G wireless communication system 12 includes a plurality of 4G base stations 121 (only one is shown in FIG. 1). The plurality of 4G base stations 121 are installed on the ground and can communicate with the communication device 2 via LTE or LTE-Advanced. The base station 121 in 4G is also called an eNodeB (eNB). Similar to each 5G base station 111, the communication range or support range of each 4G base station 121 is also called a cell and is illustrated as 122.

[0020] If the communication device 2 is inside the 4G cell 122, it can perform 4G communication. In the illustrated example, the communication devices 2A and 2B inside the 4G cell 122 can communicate with the 4G base station 121 via LTE or LTE-Advanced. Since the communication devices 2C and 2D are outside the 4G cell 122, they are in a state where they cannot communicate via LTE or LTE-Advanced. The 4G communication via LTE or LTE-Advanced between each communication device 2 and each 4G base station 121 is managed by the EPC which is the core network. For example, the EPC performs the exchange of data with each 4G base station 121, the exchange of data with external networks such as the 5GC, the satellite communication system 13, the Internet, etc., and the mobility management of the communication device 2.

[0021] Focusing on each communication device 2A, 2B, 2C, and 2D, in the illustrated example, communication device 2A is capable of 4G communication with 4G base station 121, communication device 2B is capable of 5G communication with 5G base stations 111A and 111B and 4G communication with 4G base station 121, and communication device 2C is capable of 5G communication with 5G base station 111C. When there are multiple base stations (111A, 111B, 121) that can communicate, as in the case of communication device 2B, one base station deemed optimal in terms of communication quality, etc., is selected under the management of the core network 5GC and / or EPC to communicate with communication device 2B. Furthermore, since communication device 2D is not capable of communicating with any of the 5G base stations 111 and 4G base stations 121, it communicates using the satellite communication system 13 described next.

[0022] The satellite communication system 13 is a wireless communication system that uses a communication satellite 131, which is a low-Earth orbit satellite orbiting in space at an altitude of approximately 500 km to 700 km above the Earth's surface, as a non-terrestrial base station. Similar to the 5G base station 111 and the 4G base station 121, the communication range or support range of the communication satellite 131 is also called a cell and is illustrated as 132. In this way, the communication satellite 131 as a non-terrestrial base station provides a satellite communication cell 132 as a non-terrestrial communication cell to the ground. A terrestrial communication device 2 can perform satellite communication if it is inside the satellite communication cell 132. Similar to the 5G base station 111 in the 5G wireless communication system 11 and the 4G base station 121 in the 4G wireless communication system 12, the communication satellite 131 as a base station in the satellite communication system 13 can wirelessly communicate with the communication device 2 inside the satellite communication cell 132 directly or indirectly via an aircraft or the like. The radio access technology used by the communications satellite 131 for wireless communication with the communication device 2 in the satellite communications cell 132 may be 5G NR, the same as that used by the 5G base station 111; LTE or LTE-Advanced, the same as that used by the 4G base station 121; or any other radio access technology available to the communication device 2. For this reason, the communication device 2 does not need to be equipped with any special functions or components for satellite communications.

[0023] The satellite communication system 13 includes a gateway 133, which is installed on the ground and serves as a ground station capable of communicating with the communication satellite 131. The gateway 133 is equipped with a satellite antenna for communicating with the communication satellite 131 and is connected to 5G base stations 111 and 4G base stations 121, which constitute the terrestrial network (TN). In this way, the gateway 133 connects the non-terrestrial network (NTN), which is composed of non-terrestrial base stations or the communication satellite 131 as a satellite base station, and the TN, which is composed of ground base stations 111 and 121, in a manner that enables mutual communication. When communication satellite 131 communicates with communication device 2 in satellite communication cell 132 via 5G NR, the 5GC connected via gateway 133 and 5G base station 111 (or 5G radio access network) in TN is used as the core network. When communication satellite 131 communicates with communication device 2 in satellite communication cell 132 via LTE or LTE-Advanced, the EPC connected via gateway 133 and 4G base station 121 (or 4G radio access network) in TN is used as the core network. In this way, appropriate coordination is achieved between different wireless communication systems such as 5G communication, 4G communication, and satellite communication via gateway 133.

[0024] Satellite communication via the communications satellite 131 is primarily used to cover areas where ground base stations such as 5G base stations 111 and 4G base stations 121 are not installed or are few in number. In the illustrated example, the communication device 2D, which is outside the communication cells of all ground base stations, communicates with the communications satellite 131. On the other hand, communication devices 2A, 2B, and 2C, which are in good communication with any of the ground base stations, are also able to communicate with the communications satellite 131 because they are inside the satellite communication cell 132. However, in principle, they communicate with the ground base stations rather than the communications satellite 131, which is acting as a satellite base station, thereby saving the limited communication resources (including power) of the communications satellite 131 for the communication devices 2D and others. The communications satellite 131 improves the communication quality with the communication devices 2D by directing the communication radio waves towards the communication devices 2D inside the satellite communication cell 132 using beamforming.

[0025] The size of the satellite communication cell 132 of the communication satellite 131 as a satellite base station can be arbitrarily set according to the number of beams emitted by the communication satellite 131. For example, by combining up to 2,800 beams, a satellite communication cell 132 with a diameter of approximately 24 km can be formed. As shown in the figure, the satellite communication cell 132 is typically larger than terrestrial communication cells such as 5G cells 112 and 4G cells 122, and may contain one or more 5G cells 112 and / or 4G cells 122 inside. In the above, the communication satellite 131 flying in low Earth orbit at an altitude of approximately 500 km to 700 km above the Earth's surface was used as an example of a flying non-terrestrial base station. However, communication satellites flying in higher Earth orbits such as geostationary orbit, or unmanned or manned aircraft or drones flying in the atmosphere at lower altitudes (e.g., approximately 20 km above the Earth's surface), may be used as non-terrestrial base stations in addition to or instead of the communication satellite 131.

[0026] Figure 2 schematically illustrates how a communication device 2D in a satellite communication cell 132 communicating with a communication satellite 131 makes an emergency call to emergency agencies (emergency response agencies) such as police and fire departments. Examples of emergency calls include calling the emergency telephone numbers of each emergency agency. In Japan, 110 is assigned as the emergency telephone number for police agencies, 119 is assigned as the emergency telephone number for fire departments, and 118 is assigned as the emergency telephone number for the Japan Coast Guard. Notifications made via eCall, an emergency notification system for automobile accidents in Europe, are also an example of an emergency call in this embodiment, and the in-vehicle communication unit that makes emergency notifications of the occurrence of an automobile accident and the location of the vehicle on the wireless communication system 1 corresponds to the communication device 2D shown in the figure. Notifications made via Emergency Services Fallback (ES-FB) and EPS Fallback (Evolved Packet System Fallback), which are defined in the 5th generation mobile communication system, are also examples of emergency calls.

[0027] In the illustrated example, satellite communication cell 132 includes the service areas of multiple different emergency agencies. Specifically, satellite communication cell 132 is divided by boundary line L into service area 132A of emergency agency A and service area 132B of emergency agency B. There may be overlapping areas between service areas 132A and 132B. P is a representative point representing the location of satellite communication cell 132, and in the illustrated example, it belongs to service area 132A. Representative point P can be any point within satellite communication cell 132, but is typically a point near the geographical center of satellite communication cell 132.

[0028] The location information of the representative point P of satellite communication cell 132 can be referenced as the Cell Global Identity (CGI) of satellite communication cell 132 in 5GC, EPC, and other core networks available for satellite communication. CGI is an identifier or ID uniquely assigned to each communication cell in a mobile communication network or wireless communication system 1 including the satellite communication system 13 according to this embodiment. CGI consists of four parts: MCC (Mobile Country Code), MNC (Mobile Network Code), LAC (Location Area Code), and CI (Cell Identification).

[0029] MCC and MNC constitute the PLMN (Public Land Mobile Network) number, which is the identifier for each wireless communication network provided by each telecommunications carrier in each country / region. PLMN (number) and LAC constitute the LAI (Location Area Identity), which is the geographical identifier (also expressed as Geographical Identifier) ​​for each wireless communication network. In the example in Figure 2, by referencing the LAI of satellite communication cell 132 in the core network, the geographical location of its representative point P can be determined, and thus it can be determined that the representative point P belongs to the area 132A under the jurisdiction of emergency agency A. Note that various technologies developed based on CGI, such as CGI+TA, E-UTRAN CGI (ECGI), E-CGI, U-TDOA, ATI, and A-GPS, may be used in place of or in addition to CGI.

[0030] Figures 2(A) and 2(B) show how an emergency call made by a communication device 2D communicating with a communication satellite 131 within a satellite communication cell 132 is connected by the core network based on a representative location P detected by the CGI. In Figure 2(A), the communication device 2D is within the jurisdiction area 132A of emergency agency A, and in Figure 2(B), the communication device 2D is within the jurisdiction area 132B of emergency agency B. In either case, the core network, upon detecting the emergency call from the communication device 2D, detects the geographical location of the representative location P based on the CGI of the satellite communication cell 132 and connects the emergency call to emergency agency A, which includes the representative location P in its jurisdiction area 132A. In Figure 2(A), where the communication device 2D is within jurisdiction area 132A, the emergency call is connected to the correct emergency agency A. However, in Figure 2(B), where the communication device 2D is within jurisdiction area 132B, the emergency call is not connected to the correct emergency agency B, but to the wrong emergency agency A.

[0031] Figure 3 schematically illustrates the connection process for an emergency call based on ECGI. The user of communication device 2 is in communication cell "Cell#1" with "A prefecture, xx city" as the representative point P, and makes an emergency call to the emergency telephone number "110" assigned to Japanese police agencies. The 5GC, EPC, and other core network CN available for satellite communications, which receive the emergency call via ground base stations 111, 121, or satellite base station 131, converts the emergency telephone number "110" in its IMS (IP Multimedia Subsystem) to an actual telephone number of the police agency command center (collectively referred to as a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP)) that has jurisdiction over the emergency call. At this time, the core network CN refers to the ECGI of the communication cell that originated the emergency call (ground communication cell 112, 122, or satellite communication cell 132 provided by ground base station 111, 121, or satellite base station 131) (specifically, the core network CN obtains the ECGI from the base station through a predetermined procedure or process such as "PCC based NPLI retrieval"), and recognizes the location of representative point P, "A prefecture, xx city". As a result, the emergency call telephone number "110" is converted to the actual telephone number "03xxxxxxxx" of "Police A", which has jurisdiction over "A prefecture, xx city". In this way, the emergency call to the emergency call telephone number "110" from the communication device 2 in communication cell "Cell#1" is connected to "Police A", which is the emergency agency with jurisdiction.

[0032] Figure 4 shows the flow of connection processing for an emergency call based on CGI. First, a User Equipment (UE), such as a smartphone, notifies the Radio Access Network (RAN) of the occurrence of an emergency call. The RAN is a radio access network composed of ground base stations 111, 121 or satellite base station 131. When the RAN receives an emergency call, it notifies the core network CN of the occurrence of the emergency call, and in accordance with a predetermined procedure such as "PCC based NPLI retrieval," it provides the core network CN with the CGI of the ground communication cell 112, 122 or satellite communication cell 132 that initiated the emergency call. The RAN also sends an Initial UE Message from the UE to the core network CN.

[0033] Figure 5 shows a specific example of an initial message from a UE. The initial message from the UE is transmitted from the 4G base station eNB(121), the 5G base station gNB(111), the satellite base station communication satellite 131, etc., to the Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF) included in the core network CN. Figure 6 shows a specific example of User Location Information included in the initial message from the UE in Figure 5. Since this user location information includes CGI information such as "E-UTRA CGI" and "NR CGI", the core network CN that receives it can recognize the location of the representative point P of the ground communication cell 112, 122, or satellite communication cell 132, which is the source of the emergency call. The core network CN then connects the emergency call from the UE to an emergency agency whose jurisdiction includes the representative point P.

[0034] In the examples in Figures 3 to 6, similar to Figure 2(B), if the UE (communication device 2D in Figure 2(B)) is located within the jurisdiction of another emergency agency (emergency agency B in Figure 2(B)) that does not include representative point P in its jurisdiction, the emergency call will not be connected to the correct emergency agency (B), but will instead be connected to the wrong emergency agency (A) that does include representative point P in its jurisdiction.

[0035] Figure 7 is a functional block diagram of the communication control device 3 according to this embodiment, which can solve the problems of Figures 2 to 6. The communication control device 3 comprises an emergency call detection unit 31, an analysis target designation unit 32, a jurisdiction area estimation unit 33, and a connection control unit 34. Some of these functional blocks can be omitted as long as the communication control device 3 can realize at least some of the operations and / or effects described below. These functional blocks are realized through the cooperation of hardware resources such as the central processing unit, memory, input devices, output devices, and peripheral devices connected to the computer, and software executed using them. Regardless of the type or location of the computer, each of the above functional blocks may be realized with the hardware resources of a single computer, or it may be realized by combining hardware resources distributed across multiple computers. In particular, in this embodiment, some or all of the functional blocks of the communication control device 3 may be realized centrally or distributedly on computers and processors provided in the communication device 2, the RAN including base stations 111, 121, and 131, the gateway 133, and the core network CN.

[0036] In the example shown in Figure 7, the user (not shown) of communication device 2 moves sequentially from the first position P1, the second position P2, the third position P3, the fourth position P4, and the fifth position P5. Furthermore, the user uses communication device 2 to make an emergency call at at least one of the positions P2, P3, or P4.

[0037] In the following, the location or area where the emergency call is made by communication device 2 is represented as "present," the location or area where communication device 2 was before the "present" is represented as "past," and the location or area where communication device 2 is after the "present" is represented as "future." Specifically, when communication device 2 makes an emergency call with the second location P2 as the present location, the first location P1 is the past location, and the third location P3 to the fifth location P5 are future locations. When communication device 2 makes an emergency call with the third location P3 as the present location, the first location P1 to the second location P2 are past locations, and the fourth location P4 to the fifth location P5 are future locations. When communication device 2 makes an emergency call with the fourth location P4 as the present location, the first location P1 to the third location P3 are past locations, and the fifth location P5 is a future location.

[0038] In the illustrated example, the second to fourth locations P2 to P4, to which the communication device 2 makes emergency calls, are all included in a non-terrestrial communication cell NTC such as satellite communication cell 132, provided by a non-terrestrial base station such as the communication satellite 131. Furthermore, when the communication device 2 makes an emergency call at the second to fourth locations P2 to P4, it is assumed to be connected to a non-terrestrial base station such as the communication satellite 131 (even if there is a terrestrial base station nearby, it is not connected). In other words, the communication device 2 within the non-terrestrial communication cell NTC in the illustrated example makes an emergency call to a non-terrestrial base station such as the communication satellite 131.

[0039] Similar to satellite communication cell 132 in the example in Figure 2, the non-terrestrial communication cell NTC includes the jurisdictional areas JA1, JA2, and JA3 of multiple different emergency response agencies. As schematically shown, the second location P2 from which the communication device 2 makes an emergency call is included in the first jurisdictional area JA1 of the first emergency response agency (not shown), the third location P3 from which the communication device 2 makes an emergency call is included in the second jurisdictional area JA2 of the second emergency response agency (not shown), and the fourth location P4 from which the communication device 2 makes an emergency call is included in the third jurisdictional area JA3 of the third emergency response agency (not shown). In this case, it is preferable that the emergency call from the second location P2 is connected to the first emergency response agency, the emergency call from the third location P3 is connected to the second emergency response agency, and the emergency call from the fourth location P4 is connected to the third emergency response agency.

[0040] However, as in the example in Figure 2, processing based solely on the CGI of the non-terrestrial communication cell NTC is insufficient to connect emergency calls to the appropriate first to third emergency response agencies depending on the location P2 to P4 of the communication device 2 within the non-terrestrial communication cell NTC. For example, if the CGI of the non-terrestrial communication cell NTC indicates a location within the second jurisdiction area JA2, the emergency call will always be connected to the second emergency response agency regardless of the location P2 to P4 of the communication device 2 within the non-terrestrial communication cell NTC. Therefore, in this embodiment, as will be described later, the jurisdiction area estimation unit 33 estimates the jurisdiction area (one of JA1 to JA3) from which the communication device 2 made the emergency call, thereby connecting the emergency call to the appropriate emergency response agency that has that jurisdiction area.

[0041] Around or within a non-terrestrial communication cell NTC, such as satellite communication cell 132, smaller terrestrial communication cells TC1, TC2, and TC3 are typically provided by ground base stations (not shown). In the illustrated example, the first terrestrial communication cell TC1 is entirely contained within the first jurisdiction area JA1, and a portion of it overlaps with the non-terrestrial communication cell NTC. In the illustrated example, the second terrestrial communication cell TC2 is entirely contained within the second jurisdiction area JA2, and a portion of it overlaps with the non-terrestrial communication cell NTC (it is contained within the non-terrestrial communication cell NTC). In the illustrated example, the third terrestrial communication cell TC3 is entirely contained within the third jurisdiction area JA3, and a portion of it is located around (outside) the non-terrestrial communication cell NTC.

[0042] As described above, the terrestrial communication cells TC1 to TC3 in the illustrated example are arranged in different ways with respect to the non-terrestrial communication cell NTC. However, the terrestrial communication cells TC1 to TC3 in the illustrated example are common in that they are in close proximity to the non-terrestrial communication cell NTC. Thus, the term "proximity" in this embodiment can refer to "partial overlap" as in the first terrestrial communication cell TC1, "full overlap" as in the second terrestrial communication cell TC2, or "non-overlap" (but in close proximity) as in the third terrestrial communication cell TC3.

[0043] Furthermore, the aforementioned first location P1 is located within the first ground communication cell TC1, and the communication device 2 located at the first location P1 is connected to the first ground communication cell TC1. In addition, the aforementioned fifth location P5 is located within the third ground communication cell TC3, and the communication device 2 located at the fifth location P5 is connected to the third ground communication cell TC3.

[0044] In the illustrated example, while communication device 2, which was connected to the first ground communication cell TC1, moves from the first position P1 to the second position P2, the connection destination of communication device 2 is switched from the first ground communication cell TC1 to the non-ground communication cell NTC. Also, while communication device 2, which was connected to the non-ground communication cell NTC, moves from the fourth position P4 to the fifth position P5, the connection destination of communication device 2 is switched from the non-ground communication cell NTC to the third ground communication cell TC3. As mentioned above, communication device 2 making emergency calls between the second position P2 to the fourth position P4, between the first position P1 and the fifth position P5, is assumed to be connected to the non-ground communication cell NTC (however, while communication device 2 moves from the third position P3 to the fourth position P4, it may be temporarily connected to the second ground communication cell TC2 that it passes through).

[0045] The emergency call detection unit 31 detects emergency calls from communication devices 2 within a non-terrestrial communication cell NTC, including the jurisdictional areas JA1 to JA3 of multiple different emergency response agencies, via the communication satellite 131 or the like that provides the non-terrestrial communication cell NTC. In the illustrated example, the emergency call detection unit 31 detects an emergency call from a communication device 2 located at one of the second to fourth positions P2 to P4 within the non-terrestrial communication cell NTC. As mentioned above, since the communication device 2 making an emergency call at one of the second to fourth positions P2 to P4 is connected to the non-terrestrial communication cell NTC, it is preferable that the main function of the emergency call detection unit 31 receiving emergency calls from the communication device 2 be implemented in a core network such as 5GC available in the satellite communication system 13 or the like that provides the connected non-terrestrial communication cell NTC.

[0046] The analysis target designation unit 32, when it detects that the communication cell from which the communication device 2 made an emergency call includes the jurisdictional areas of multiple emergency response agencies, designates the analysis target for estimating the jurisdictional area where the communication device 2 is located. Specifically, the analysis target designation unit 32 designates as the analysis target a time and area different from at least one of the time and area in which the communication device 2 made the emergency call. For example, for an emergency call made by the communication device 2 at a second location P2, the analysis target may be a past time before the emergency call at the second location P2, a future time after the emergency call, and / or an area different from the second location P2 (for example, an area including at least one of the first location P1 or third locations P3 to fifth locations P5). For an emergency call made by communication device 2 at the third location P3, the analysis targets are designated to include past time before the emergency call at the third location P3, future time after the emergency call, and / or an area different from the third location P3 (for example, an area including at least one of the first location P1 to the second location P2 or the fourth location P4 to the fifth location P5). For an emergency call made by communication device 2 at the fourth location P4, the analysis targets are designated to include past time before the emergency call at the fourth location P4, future time after the emergency call, and / or an area different from the fourth location P4 (for example, an area including at least one of the first location P1 to the third location P3 or the fifth location P5).

[0047] The analysis target designation unit 32 is preferably implemented in the core network CN and may consist of various network functions in the core network CN, such as IMS (IP Multimedia Subsystem), AMF (Access and Mobility Management Function), AF (Application Function), and P-CSCF (Proxy-Call Session Control Function) (hereinafter also referred to as NF (Network Function)).

[0048] When the analysis target designation unit 32 designates an area different from the area where the emergency call was made as the analysis target, it may designate other communication cells adjacent to the communication cell from which the communication device 2 made the emergency call, and which include the area under the jurisdiction of a single emergency response agency, as the analysis target. As described above, in the example of this embodiment, the communication cell from which the communication device 2 makes the emergency call is always a non-terrestrial communication cell NTC, regardless of the second position P2 to the fourth position P4. Examples of other communication cells adjacent to the non-terrestrial communication cell NTC include, as described above, the first terrestrial communication cell TC1 which has a "partial overlap" relationship with the non-terrestrial communication cell NTC, the second terrestrial communication cell TC2 which has a "full overlap" relationship with the non-terrestrial communication cell NTC, and the third terrestrial communication cell TC3 which has a "non-overlapping" (but adjacent) relationship with the non-terrestrial communication cell NTC. As described above, all of these "adjacent" communication cells TC1 to TC3 include the area under the jurisdiction of a single emergency response agency JA1 to JA3. In other words, for each "proximity" communication cell TC1-TC3, each jurisdictional area JA1-JA3 is uniquely determined.

[0049] As described above, in this embodiment, the analysis target designation unit 32 may designate at least one of the other terrestrial communication cells TC1 to TC3 adjacent to the non-terrestrial communication cell NTC from which the emergency call was made as the analysis target. For example, regardless of the second position P2 to the fourth position P4, all terrestrial communication cells TC1 to TC3 adjacent to the non-terrestrial communication cell NTC from which the emergency call was made may be designated as the analysis target.

[0050] Alternatively, among the multiple terrestrial communication cells TC1 to TC3 adjacent to the non-terrestrial communication cell NTC from which the emergency call was made, only those within a predetermined distance from each of the locations P2 to P4 from which the emergency call was made may be designated as the target of analysis. For example, for an emergency call from the second location P2, only the first terrestrial communication cell TC1 adjacent to the second location P2 may be designated as the target of analysis. For an emergency call from the third location P3, only the second terrestrial communication cell TC2 adjacent to the third location P3 may be designated as the target of analysis. For an emergency call from the fourth location P4, only the third terrestrial communication cell TC3 adjacent to the fourth location P4 may be designated as the target of analysis.

[0051] Furthermore, the designation of the analysis target area by the analysis target designation unit 32 is preferably done at the communication cell level, which is also the basic management unit in the core network CN, as described above. However, the analysis target designation unit 32 may also designate an analysis target area of ​​any shape or range (for example, a roughly circular area within a predetermined distance from each location P2 to P4 where the communication device 2 made an emergency call) by geographical boundaries that can be arbitrarily set regardless of the boundaries of communication cells.

[0052] As described above, in order to specify the analysis target (ground communication cells TC1 to TC3) according to the locations P2 to P4 where the emergency call was made, the analysis target designation unit 32, typically located in the core network CN, needs to recognize the approximate location where the emergency call was made. For this reason, it is preferable for the analysis target designation unit 32 to acquire various location information that suggests the location of the communication device 2 that made the emergency call from the communication device 2 itself, the RAN, the core network CN, etc.

[0053] For example, the analysis target designation unit 32 may acquire past or present positioning information from a GPS-based positioning sensor installed on the communication device 2 that made the emergency call. Furthermore, the analysis target designation unit 32 can estimate the movement and current location of the communication device 2 by referring to various activity histories of the communication device 2 recorded in the core network CN, such as the history of communication cells to which the communication device 2 has connected up to the present. It is also conceivable that the location information of the communication device 2 described above may be collected and / or analyzed by an AI / ML function such as NWDAF, as described later, with respect to the jurisdiction area estimation unit 33. In such cases, all or part of the functions of the analysis target designation unit 32 described above may be implemented by the jurisdiction area estimation unit 33, which can be realized by an AI / ML function such as NWDAF. In particular, if all of the functions of the analysis target designation unit 32 are implemented by the jurisdiction area estimation unit 33, there is no need to provide the analysis target designation unit 32.

[0054] The designation of the analysis target time and / or analysis target area by the analysis target designation unit 32 as described above is preferably performed based on management information such as tables prepared in advance in the IMS or the like in which the analysis target designation unit 32 is implemented. Specifically, in designating the analysis target time, past time periods before the emergency call and future time periods after the emergency call are designated in advance in the management information. For example, past and / or future time periods of a predetermined length or range, such as "1 hour before the emergency call" or "30 minutes after the emergency call," are designated in advance in the management information as the analysis target time. As in this example, the analysis target time defined in the management information may also be fixed past and / or future time periods relative to the time or time period in which the emergency call was made. However, as will be described later, these fixed time periods can be flexibly updated based on the estimation results of the jurisdiction area estimation unit 33, etc.

[0055] Similarly, when designating the area to be analyzed, areas different from the area where the emergency call was made (e.g., non-terrestrial communication cell NTC or locations P2-P4) (e.g., terrestrial communication cells TC1-TC3) are pre-specified in the management information. For example, with respect to the non-terrestrial communication cell NTC, which is the communication cell from which the communication device 2 made the emergency call, other communication cells (e.g., terrestrial communication cells TC1-TC3) designated as the area to be analyzed by the analysis target designation unit 32 may be pre-defined in the management information. Specifically, as in the example above, regardless of the second location P2 to the fourth location P4, all terrestrial communication cells TC1-TC3 adjacent to the non-terrestrial communication cell NTC from which the emergency call was made may be pre-specified in the management information as the area to be analyzed or the communication cells to be analyzed.

[0056] Alternatively, for emergency calls from an area including the second location P2, only the first ground communication cell TC1 adjacent to that area may be pre-designated in the management information as the area or communication cell to be analyzed. For emergency calls from an area including the third location P3, only the second ground communication cell TC2 adjacent to that area may be pre-designated in the management information as the area or communication cell to be analyzed. For emergency calls from an area including the fourth location P4, only the third ground communication cell TC3 adjacent to that area may be pre-designated in the management information as the area or communication cell to be analyzed.

[0057] As shown in the example above, the analysis target area or analysis target communication cell defined in the management information may be a fixed area or communication cell adjacent to the location or area where the emergency call was made. However, as will be described later, these fixed areas or communication cells can be flexibly updated based on the estimation results of the jurisdiction area estimation unit 33, etc.

[0058] As described above, in the management information such as tables that the analysis target designation unit 32 can refer to when specifying the analysis target time and / or analysis target area, past and / or future fixed time periods may be associated with the "current" time or time period in which the emergency call was made, and / or nearby fixed areas or communication cells may be associated with the "current" location or area in which the emergency call was made. The analysis target designation unit 32, which can refer to such tables, can quickly specify analysis target times and / or analysis target areas different from those detected by the emergency call detection unit 31, based on the "current" time and / or area of ​​the emergency call.

[0059] The jurisdiction area estimation unit 33 estimates the jurisdiction area in which the communication device 2 that made the emergency call detected by the emergency call detection unit 31 is located, based on an analysis of at least one of the analysis target time (past and / or future time) and analysis target area (nearby area and / or nearby communication cell) specified by the analysis target designation unit 32.

[0060] For example, the jurisdiction area estimation unit 33 may include geographical information regarding the jurisdiction area where the communication device 2 that made the emergency call detected by the emergency call detection unit 31 is located, based on an analysis of at least one of the analysis target time and analysis target area specified by the analysis target designation unit 32. Here, the geographical information regarding the jurisdiction area may be a geographical identifier (or geographical identifier indicator) of a representative point in the jurisdiction area (for example, the location of the emergency response agency that has jurisdiction over the jurisdiction area), or a geographical identifier (or geographical identifier indicator) of the geographical location of the communication device 2 that made the emergency call within the jurisdiction area. Furthermore, some of this geographical information regarding the jurisdiction area may be provided to the jurisdiction area estimation unit 33 by the analysis target designation unit 32 for the purpose of deriving or estimating the jurisdiction area by the jurisdiction area estimation unit 33.

[0061] The jurisdiction area estimation unit 33 is preferably implemented in the core network CN and may consist of various artificial intelligence (AI) / machine learning (ML) functions in the core network CN, such as the Network Data Analytics Function (NWDAF) introduced in 5GC. The NWDAF is responsible for collecting and analyzing data on the network, including 5G. Specifically, the NWDAF collects and stores activity history information, movement information, measurement information, etc., of a large number of communication devices 2 and other objects connected to the mobile communication network, and utilizes the analysis results for, for example, traffic control on the mobile communication network. The function of analyzing movement information of a large number of communication devices 2 and other objects provided by the NWDAF is also referred to as mobility analytics. It is conceivable that similar functions to NWDAF may be provided under different names in other wireless communication systems, including wireless communication systems of generations later than 5G, but in this embodiment, such similar functions may be used in place of or in addition to NWDAF.

[0062] When the jurisdiction area estimation unit 33 is configured by NWDAF, at least a portion of the following standardized information is provided from the analysis target designation unit 32, which is configured by IMS, etc. • Analytics ID: In this embodiment, "UE Mobility" is specified for the analysis of the movement information of communication device 2 (UE) (which made the emergency call). • Target of Analytics Reporting: Specifies whether the communication device 2 that made the emergency call was "single" or "multiple". For example, if an emergency call is made from multiple communication devices 2 almost simultaneously in a crowded accident, "multiple" is specified. • Area information: The current location of the communication device 2 that made the emergency call, and the past or future area of ​​interest and / or visited area of ​​interest (Area of ​​Interest and / or Visited AOI) designated by the analysis target designation unit 32 accordingly are specified. • Time information: The analysis target period (Analytics Target Period) in the past or future is specified by the analysis target designation unit 32.

[0063] For example, if an emergency call is made at the second location P2, the analysis target designation unit 32 designates the first ground communication cell TC1 adjacent to the second location P2 as the analysis target area and designates the past time period of "one hour before the emergency call" as the analysis target time. The jurisdiction area estimation unit 33 then analyzes the first ground communication cell TC1 designated as the analysis target by the analysis target designation unit 32 over the past time period of "one hour before the emergency call". If, as a result of this analysis, it is found that the communication device 2 that made the emergency call at the second location P2 was connected to the first ground communication cell TC1 within "one hour before the emergency call", then it is highly likely that the communication device 2 is still in the first jurisdiction area JA1, which includes the first ground communication cell TC1. Therefore, the jurisdiction area estimation unit 33 can estimate that the jurisdiction area where the communication device 2 that made the emergency call is located is the first jurisdiction area JA1.

[0064] For example, if an emergency call is made at the third location P3, the analysis target designation unit 32 designates the first ground communication cell TC1 and the second ground communication cell TC2, which are adjacent to the third location P3, as the analysis target area, and designates the past time period of "30 minutes before the emergency call" and the future time period of "30 minutes after the emergency call" as the analysis target time. The jurisdiction area estimation unit 33 then analyzes the first ground communication cell TC1, which has been designated as an analysis target by the analysis target designation unit 32, over the past time period of "30 minutes before the emergency call," and analyzes the second ground communication cell TC2, which has been designated as an analysis target by the analysis target designation unit 32, over the future time period of "30 minutes after the emergency call." Based on this analysis, if it is estimated that the communication device 2 that made the emergency call at the third location P3 was not connected to the first ground communication cell TC1 within "30 minutes before the emergency call" and was connected to the second ground communication cell TC2 within "30 minutes after the emergency call", then it is highly likely that the communication device 2 is in the second jurisdictional area JA2, which includes the second ground communication cell TC2 to which it is estimated to be connected in the future. Therefore, the jurisdictional area estimation unit 33 can estimate that the jurisdictional area where the communication device 2 that made the emergency call is located is the second jurisdictional area JA2.

[0065] For example, if an emergency call is made at the fourth location P4, the analysis target designation unit 32 designates the third ground communication cell TC3, which is adjacent to the fourth location P4, as the analysis target area, and designates a future time period of "one hour after the emergency call" as the analysis target time. The jurisdiction area estimation unit 33 then analyzes the third ground communication cell TC3, which has been designated as the analysis target by the analysis target designation unit 32, over the future time period of "one hour after the emergency call". If, as a result of this analysis, it is estimated that the communication device 2 that made the emergency call at the fourth location P4 will connect to the third ground communication cell TC3 within "one hour after the emergency call", then it is highly likely that the communication device 2 is in the third jurisdiction area JA3, which includes the third ground communication cell TC3 to which it is estimated to connect in the future time. Therefore, the jurisdiction area estimation unit 33 can estimate that the jurisdiction area where the communication device 2 that made the emergency call is located is the third jurisdiction area JA3.

[0066] As described above, even if the non-terrestrial communication cell NTC from which the emergency call was made includes multiple jurisdictional areas JA1 to JA3, the jurisdictional area estimation unit 33, which is composed of NWDAF and the like, can estimate the jurisdictional areas JA1 to JA3 from which the emergency call was made based on an analysis of past and / or future analysis time and geographically adjacent analysis areas. The connection control unit 34 connects the emergency call detected by the emergency call detection unit 31 to the first to third emergency response agencies of the jurisdictional areas JA1 to JA3 estimated by the jurisdictional area estimation unit 33.

[0067] Furthermore, for each location P2-P4 and communication cell (non-terrestrial communication cell NTC) where the communication device 2 made an emergency call, other communication cells (terrestrial communication cells TC1-TC3), etc., designated as analysis targets by the analysis target designation unit 32 may be updated based on the estimation results of the jurisdiction area estimation unit 33. In other words, management information such as tables referenced by the analysis target designation unit 32 when specifying the analysis target time and / or analysis target area may be updated as needed based on feedback such as estimation results from the jurisdiction area estimation unit 33. In addition, management information such as tables referenced by the analysis target designation unit 32 when specifying the analysis target time and / or analysis target area may be updated based on mobility analytics results unrelated to emergency calls (i.e., during normal times) that can be obtained from NWDAF.

[0068] In the embodiments described above, the NWDAF, in which the jurisdiction area estimation unit 33 is implemented, performs analysis according to the analysis target time and analysis target area specified externally, in accordance with the current 3GPP standard. To identify the origin of the emergency call as described above, it is also possible to input the emergency call detected by the emergency call detection unit 31 directly into the NWDAF, but in this case, the analysis target time and analysis target area will be the "current" time and area. For this reason, for an emergency call made in a non-terrestrial communication cell NTC that includes multiple jurisdiction areas JA1 to JA3, as in the example in Figure 7, it is not possible to appropriately estimate the jurisdiction areas JA1 to JA3 from which the emergency call originated based solely on the "current" pinpoint analysis target time and analysis target area.

[0069] In contrast, in this embodiment, the analysis target designation unit 32, which is composed of IMS or the like, designates the analysis target area that is geographically close to the analysis target time in the past and / or future. Therefore, the jurisdiction area estimation unit 33, which is composed of NWDAF or the like, can appropriately estimate the jurisdiction area JA1 to JA3 of the origin of the emergency call by analyzing the behavior of the communication device 2 before (past) and / or after (future) the emergency call.

[0070] Furthermore, the current 3GPP standard may extend the functionality of the NWDAF, which requires external specification of the analysis target time and area, to allow the NWDAF to specify the analysis target time and area itself. For example, if the analysis target specification unit 32 lacks sufficient specification of the analysis target (analysis target time and / or analysis target area), the jurisdiction area estimation unit 33, which is composed of the NWDAF, may compensate for the deficiency and estimate the jurisdiction area JA1 to JA3 where the communication device 2 that made the emergency call is located, based on the analysis of the analysis target it has specified. Alternatively, all of the functions of the analysis target specification unit 32 may be incorporated into the jurisdiction area estimation unit 33, which is composed of the NWDAF, etc. In this case, the jurisdiction area estimation unit 33 can estimate the jurisdiction area JA1 to JA3 where the communication device 2 is located, based on the analysis of a time and area different from at least one of the time and area in which the communication device 2 made the emergency call.

[0071] The present disclosure has been described above based on embodiments. Various modifications are possible for each component and each combination of processes in the exemplary embodiments, and it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that such modifications are included in the scope of the present disclosure.

[0072] The configuration, operation, and function of each device and method described in the embodiments can be realized by hardware resources or software resources, or by the cooperation of hardware resources and software resources. Hardware resources include, for example, processors, ROMs, RAMs, and various integrated circuits. Software resources include, for example, operating systems and application programs.

[0073] This disclosure may be expressed as follows:

[0074] Item 1: A communication control device comprising at least one processor that, when an analysis target designation unit detects that a communication cell from which a communication device has made an emergency call includes the jurisdictional areas of multiple emergency response agencies, designates an analysis target for estimating the jurisdictional area in which the communication device is located. Item 2: The communication control device according to item 1, wherein the analysis target designation unit designates a time and area different from at least one of the time and area in which the communication device made the emergency call as the analysis target. Item 3: The communication control device according to item 2, wherein the analysis target designation unit designates a past time before the time the communication device made the emergency call or a future time after the time the communication device made the emergency call as the analysis target. Item 4: The communication control device according to item 2 or 3, wherein the analysis target designation unit designates other communication cells adjacent to the communication cell from which the communication device made the emergency call, and which include the area under the jurisdiction of one emergency response agency, as the analysis target. Item 5: The communication control device described in item 4, wherein, with respect to the communication cell from which the communication device made the emergency call, the other communication cells designated as targets for analysis by the analysis target designation unit are predetermined. Item 6: The communication control device according to any one of items 2 to 5, wherein the analysis target designation unit designates other areas within a predetermined distance from the area where the communication device made the emergency call as the analysis target. Item 7: The aforementioned analysis target designation unit is a communication control device described in any of items 1 to 6, which is composed of an IMS (IP Multimedia Subsystem). Item 8: The at least one processor is The emergency call detection unit detects emergency calls from communication devices within a communication cell that includes the service areas of multiple emergency response agencies, The jurisdiction area estimation unit estimates the jurisdiction area in which the communication device is located based on an analysis of at least one of the time and area of ​​the subject of analysis, The connection control unit connects the emergency call to the emergency response agency in the estimated jurisdiction area, A communication control device described in any of items 2 to 7 that performs the following actions. Item 9: The communication control device according to item 8, wherein the jurisdiction area estimation unit includes geographical information relating to the jurisdiction area where the communication device is located in the estimation result, based on an analysis of at least one of the time and area of ​​the subject of analysis. Item 10: The analysis target designation unit designates other communication cells adjacent to the communication cell from which the communication device made the emergency call, and which include the area under the jurisdiction of one emergency response agency, as the analysis target. With respect to the communication cell from which the communication device made the emergency call, the other communication cells designated as targets for analysis by the analysis target designation unit are updated based on the estimation results of the jurisdiction area estimation unit. A communication control device as described in item 8 or 9. Item 11: If the analysis target designation unit fails to specify an analysis target, the jurisdiction area estimation unit estimates the jurisdiction area in which the communication device is located based on the analysis of the analysis target specified after supplementing the deficiency, according to any of items 8 to 10. Item 12: The aforementioned jurisdiction area estimation unit is a communication control device according to any one of items 8 to 11, which is composed of an NWDAF (Network Data Analytics Function). Item 13: The communication cell, which includes the jurisdictional areas of multiple emergency response agencies, is provided by a communications satellite orbiting in space, as described in any of items 1 to 12. Item 14: The emergency call detection unit detects emergency calls from communication devices within a communication cell that includes the service areas of multiple emergency response agencies, The jurisdiction area estimation unit estimates the jurisdiction area in which the communication device is located based on an analysis of times and areas that are different from at least one of the times and areas in which the communication device made the emergency call. The connection control unit connects the emergency call to the emergency response agency in the estimated jurisdiction area, A communication control device comprising at least one processor that performs the following. Item 15: A communication control method that, when a communication device detects that a communication cell from which an emergency call has been made includes the jurisdictional areas of multiple emergency response agencies, specifies an analysis target for estimating the jurisdictional area in which the communication device is located. Item 16: A storage medium that stores a communication control program that, when a communication device detects that the communication cell from which it made an emergency call includes the jurisdictional areas of multiple emergency response agencies, causes a computer to specify an analysis target for estimating the jurisdictional area in which the communication device is located.

[0075] This application claims priority based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2023-001294, filed on January 6, 2023, which is incorporated herein by reference to the entire contents of the basic application. [Industrial applicability]

[0076] This disclosure relates to the designation of the scope of analysis in the estimation of the jurisdiction area of ​​an emergency call. [Explanation of symbols]

[0077] 1 Wireless communication system, 2 Communication device, 3 Communication control device, 11 5G wireless communication system, 12 4G wireless communication system, 13 Satellite communication system, 31 Emergency call detection unit, 32 Analysis target designation unit, 33 Jurisdiction area estimation unit, 34 Connection control unit, 111 5G base station, 112 5G cell, 121 4G base station, 122 4G cell, 131 Communication satellite, 132 Satellite communication cell, 133 Gateway, JA1 First jurisdiction area, JA2 Second jurisdiction area, JA3 Third jurisdiction area.

Claims

1. When a communication device detects that the communication cell from which it made an emergency call includes the service area of ​​multiple emergency response agencies, it is equipped with an analysis target designation unit that designates the analysis target for estimating the service area in which the communication device is located. The analysis target designation unit designates as the analysis target a time and area that is different from at least one of the time and area in which the communication device made the emergency call. An emergency call detection unit that detects emergency calls from communication devices within a communication cell that includes the service areas of multiple emergency response agencies, A jurisdiction area estimation unit estimates the jurisdiction area in which the communication device is located based on an analysis of at least one of the time and area of ​​the subject of analysis, A connection control unit that connects the emergency call to the emergency response agency in the estimated jurisdiction area, Equipped with, The analysis target designation unit designates other communication cells adjacent to the communication cell from which the communication device made the emergency call, and which include the area under the jurisdiction of one emergency response agency, as the analysis target. Regarding the communication cell from which the communication device made the emergency call, the other communication cells designated as targets for analysis by the analysis target designation unit are updated based on the estimation results of the jurisdiction area estimation unit.

2. The communication control device according to claim 1, wherein the analysis target designation unit designates a past time before the time the communication device made the emergency call or a future time after the time the communication device made the emergency call as the analysis target.

3. The communication control device according to claim 1, wherein the analysis target designation unit designates other communication cells adjacent to the communication cell from which the communication device made the emergency call, and which include the area under the jurisdiction of one emergency response agency, as the analysis target.

4. The communication control device according to claim 3, wherein, with respect to the communication cell from which the communication device made the emergency call, the other communication cells that the analysis target designation unit designates as targets for analysis are predetermined.

5. The communication control device according to claim 1, wherein the analysis target designation unit designates other areas within a predetermined distance from the area where the communication device made the emergency call as the analysis target.

6. The communication control device according to claim 1, wherein the analysis target designation unit is configured by an IMS (IP Multimedia Subsystem).

7. The communication control device according to claim 1, wherein the jurisdiction area estimation unit includes geographical information relating to the jurisdiction area where the communication device is located in the estimation result based on an analysis of at least one of the time and area of ​​the subject of analysis.

8. If the analysis target designation unit has insufficient designation of analysis targets, the jurisdiction area estimation unit estimates the jurisdiction area in which the communication device is located based on the analysis of the analysis targets designated by supplementing the insufficient designation.

9. The communication control device according to claim 1, wherein the jurisdiction area estimation unit is configured by an NWDAF (Network Data Analytics Function).

10. The communication control device according to claim 1, wherein the communication cell, which includes the jurisdictional areas of multiple emergency response agencies, is provided by a communications satellite orbiting in space.

11. If a communication device detects that the communication cell from which it made an emergency call includes the service areas of multiple emergency response agencies, it will perform the following: specify the target of analysis to estimate the service area in which the communication device is located. Specifying the target of analysis means specifying a time and area different from at least one of the time and area in which the communication device made the emergency call, Detecting emergency calls from communication devices within a communication cell that includes the service areas of multiple emergency response agencies, Based on the analysis of at least one of the time and area of ​​the subject of the analysis, the jurisdictional area in which the communication device is located is estimated. Connecting the emergency call to the emergency response agency in the estimated jurisdiction area, Execute, Designating the subject of analysis means designating other communication cells adjacent to the communication cell from which the communication device made the emergency call, and which include the area under the jurisdiction of one emergency response agency, as the subject of analysis. A communication control method in which, with respect to the communication cell from which the communication device made the emergency call, designates the other communication cells designated as the target of analysis, and updates the other communication cells designated as the target of analysis based on the estimated results of the jurisdictional area.

12. If a communication device detects that the communication cell from which it made an emergency call includes the service areas of multiple emergency response agencies, it will instruct the computer to specify the target of analysis for estimating the service area in which the communication device is located. Specifying the target of analysis means specifying a time and area different from at least one of the time and area in which the communication device made the emergency call, Detecting emergency calls from communication devices within a communication cell that includes the service areas of multiple emergency response agencies, Based on the analysis of at least one of the time and area of ​​the subject of the analysis, the jurisdictional area in which the communication device is located is estimated. Connecting the emergency call to the emergency response agency in the estimated jurisdiction area, The computer is made to execute the above, Designating the subject of analysis means designating other communication cells adjacent to the communication cell from which the communication device made the emergency call, and which include the area under the jurisdiction of one emergency response agency, as the subject of analysis. For the communication cell from which the communication device made the emergency call, the other communication cells designated as targets for analysis are a communication control program that is updated based on the estimated results of the jurisdictional area.

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