Optical spatial communication device, optical spatial communication system, and optical spatial communication method

Abstract

To realize an optical space communication device with improved availability.SOLUTION: An optical space communication device (1) comprises: a plurality of light-transmission / reception units (10); and a communication control unit (20) that controls communication via the plurality of light-transmission / reception units (10). The communication control unit (20) makes two or more light-transmission / reception units (10) among the plurality of light-transmission / reception units (10) transmit the same information by mutually different communication methods in parallel.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an optical space communication apparatus, an optical space communication system, and an optical space communication method. [Background Art]

[0002] As a communication system that implements spatial multiplexing transmission, for example, a system as disclosed in Patent Document 1 is known. In the system of Patent Document 1, a transmitting device includes: a first modulation unit that modulates first transmission data to generate a first modulated signal; a second modulation unit that modulates second transmission data to generate a second modulated signal having a frequency lower than that of the first modulated signal and an amplitude larger than that of the first modulated signal; a signal addition unit that adds the first modulated signal generated by the first modulation unit and the second modulated signal generated by the second modulation unit to generate an added modulated signal; and a light emission control unit that causes the plurality of light sources to emit light based on the added modulated signal generated by the signal addition unit.

[0003] Further, Patent Document 2 discloses a technology in which the same data is transmitted through multiple paths, and a switching processing unit provided on the receiving side selects data from one of the communication paths and outputs the selected data as received data.

[0004] Further, Patent Document 3 discloses a technology in which an optical multiplexed signal optically spatially transmitted between a transmitter and a receiver is wavelength-multiplexed. [Prior Art Documents] [Patent Documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2011-029871 [Patent Document 2] International Publication No. WO2006 / 095411 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2000-124860 [Summary of the Invention] [Problem to be Solved by the Invention]

[0006] In optical spatial communication, fluctuations in the communication environment affect communication. Examples of communication environment factors include weather conditions such as fog or rain. Therefore, there is a need to develop optical spatial communication technologies that are less affected by such fluctuations in the communication environment.

[0007] Therefore, one aspect of the present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and one example of its objective is to provide optical spatial communication technology that is less affected by fluctuations in the communication environment and has higher availability than before. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] An optical spatial communication device according to one aspect of the present invention comprises a plurality of light transmitting and receiving means and a communication control means for controlling communication via the plurality of light transmitting and receiving means, wherein the communication control means causes two or more of the plurality of light transmitting and receiving means to transmit the same information in parallel using different communication methods.

[0009] An optical space communication system according to one aspect of the present invention includes a plurality of optical space communication devices, at least one of the plurality of optical space communication devices comprising a plurality of light transmitting and receiving means and a communication control means for controlling communication via the plurality of light transmitting and receiving means, wherein the communication control means causes two or more of the plurality of light transmitting and receiving means to transmit the same information in parallel using different communication methods.

[0010] An optical spatial communication method according to one aspect of the present invention includes controlling communication via a plurality of light transmitting and receiving means, and controlling the communication includes causing two or more of the plurality of light transmitting and receiving means to transmit the same information in parallel using different communication methods.

[0011] One aspect of the present invention includes a program for operating a computer as the optical space communication device. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] According to one aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide optical spatial communication technology that is less affected by fluctuations in environmental conditions and has higher availability than conventional technology. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0013] [Figure 1] This is a block diagram showing the configuration of an optical space communication system comprising an optical space communication device according to an exemplary embodiment 1 of the present invention. [Figure 2] This figure illustrates the processing flow of an optical spatial communication method according to an exemplary embodiment 1 of the present invention. [Figure 3] This is a block diagram showing the configuration of an optical space communication system comprising an optical space communication device according to an exemplary embodiment 2 of the present invention. [Figure 4] This is a block diagram showing the configuration of the light transmitting and receiving unit included in the optical space communication device according to exemplary embodiment 2 of the present invention. [Figure 5] This figure shows the configuration of the communication control unit of an optical space communication device according to exemplary embodiment 2 of the present invention. [Figure 6] This figure illustrates the processing flow of an optical spatial communication method according to an exemplary embodiment 2 of the present invention. [Figure 7] This is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of a computer, which is one example of an implementation of an optical space communication device according to each exemplary embodiment of the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0014] [Exemplary Embodiment 1] A first exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. This exemplary embodiment is the basic form of the exemplary embodiments described later.

[0015] (Configuration of the optical space communication system) A configuration of an optical free-space communication system including an optical free-space communication apparatus according to the present exemplary embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an optical free-space communication system 400. The optical free-space communication system 400 includes a plurality of optical free-space communication apparatuses 1, 101, and implements spatial multiplexing transmission by simultaneous connection of a plurality of beams. Although two optical free-space communication apparatuses 1, 101 are illustrated in FIG. 1, the number is not limited to this. Note that, the following description will be given centering on one optical free-space communication apparatus 1, and the other optical free-space communication apparatus 101 will be described as an optical free-space communication apparatus serving as a communication partner of the optical free-space communication apparatus 1; however, these optical free-space communication apparatuses 1, 101 may have the same configuration.

[0016] (Configuration of Optical Free-Space Communication Apparatus) As shown in FIG. 1, the optical free-space communication apparatus 1 according to the present exemplary embodiment includes a plurality of light transmitting and receiving units 10-1 to 10-n, and a communication control unit 20. The plurality of light transmitting and receiving units 10-1 to 10-n and the communication control unit 20 are one implementation example of a light transmitting and receiving means and a communication control means in the claims.

[0017] (Light Transmitting and Receiving Units 10-1 to 10-n) Each of the plurality of light transmitting and receiving units 10-1 to 10-n is configured to be capable of transmitting (light transmission) an optical communication medium and receiving (light reception) an optical communication medium. The optical communication medium transmitted from each of the plurality of light transmitting and receiving units 10-1 to 10-n is received by each of a plurality of light transmitting and receiving units 130-1 to 130-n of the optical free-space communication apparatus 101 on the communication partner side. Conversely, the optical communication medium transmitted from each of the plurality of light transmitting and receiving units 130-1 to 130-n of the optical free-space communication apparatus 101 on the communication partner side is received by each of the plurality of light transmitting and receiving units 10-1 to 10-n of the optical free-space communication apparatus 1.

[0018] The transmitted and received optical communication medium is a directional optical communication medium. Although specific examples do not limit the exemplary embodiments, electromagnetic waves in a high frequency region having a frequency of approximately 10 GHz or higher can be mentioned as an example. Electromagnetic waves in this frequency region can include millimeter waves, submillimeter waves, infrared light, visible light, ultraviolet light, and the like.

[0019] The transmitting and receiving units 10-1 to 10-n are used for communication as a directional optical communication medium by, for example, directing and transmitting electromagnetic waves in the above frequency range within a predetermined angular range. Here, the specific configuration for directing the electromagnetic waves in the above frequency range by the transmitting and receiving units 10-1 to 10-n is not limited to this exemplary embodiment, but as an example, the transmitting and receiving units 10-1 to 10-n are: • Beamforming antennas that direct and transmit millimeter waves and submillimeter waves within a predetermined angular range. • Collimator that collimates infrared, visible, or ultraviolet light. • Laser oscillators that generate infrared, visible, or ultraviolet lasers. • A modulator that modulates a laser by changing the phase of the liquid crystal. The configuration can include the following:

[0020] By directing and transmitting electromagnetic waves in the above frequency range, which constitute the optical communication medium, the transmitting and receiving units 10-1 to 10-n increase the energy density of the optical communication medium, thereby enabling communication with a more distant communication partner using the optical communication medium.

[0021] (Communication control unit 20) The communication control unit 20 controls communication via multiple light transmitting and receiving units 10-1 to 10-n. Specifically, the communication control unit 20 causes two or more of the multiple light transmitting and receiving units 10-1 to 10-n to transmit the same information in parallel using different communication methods. The two or more light transmitting and receiving units may, in one example, be light transmitting and receiving unit 10-1 and light transmitting and receiving unit 10-2, but are not limited to this.

[0022] The communication control unit 20 causes the light transmitting / receiving unit 10-1 and the light transmitting / receiving unit 10-2 to transmit the above information using different communication methods. For example, the communication control unit 20 can employ communication methods with different transmission capacities. For example, a communication method with a high transmission capacity may be one without error correction. On the other hand, a communication method with a low transmission capacity may be one that includes error correction and is easy to retransmit (less likely to be interrupted). By transmitting the same information in parallel using these two types of communication methods, even if transmission using one communication method fails due to the influence of the communication environment, transmission using the other communication method can be completed under the same conditions.

[0023] As described above, the optical space communication device 1 and the optical space communication system 400 including the optical space communication device 1 according to this exemplary embodiment include a plurality of light transmitting and receiving units and a communication control unit that controls communication via the plurality of light transmitting and receiving units. The communication control unit is configured to transmit the same information in parallel from two or more of the plurality of light transmitting and receiving means using different communication methods. Therefore, according to this exemplary embodiment, even if environmental conditions change, information is transmitted using a communication method suitable for the changed environmental conditions. From this, it can be said that the optical space communication device 1 and the optical space communication system 400 including the optical space communication device 1 have high availability.

[0024] (Flowchart of optical space communication method) The flow of the optical space communication method S1 according to this exemplary embodiment will be explained with reference to Figure 2. Figure 2 is a flowchart showing the flow of the optical space communication method S1.

[0025] As shown in Figure 2, the optical space communication method S1 includes a communication control step (S10) that controls communication via a plurality of light transmitting and receiving units. This communication control step (S10) includes causing two or more of the plurality of light transmitting and receiving units to transmit the same information in parallel using different communication methods.

[0026] In other words, in step S10, the communication control unit 20 adjusts the information to be transmitted from two or more light transmitting and receiving units (light transmitting and receiving units 10-1, 10-2) and controls each of the two or more light transmitting and receiving units (light transmitting and receiving units 10-1, 10-2) to transmit the information in parallel using different communication methods.

[0027] As described above, in the optical spatial communication method S1 according to this exemplary embodiment, even if the communication environment changes, information is transmitted using a communication method suitable for the changed communication environment. Therefore, the optical spatial communication method S1 can be said to be a highly available optical spatial communication method.

[0028] [Exemplary Embodiment 2] A second exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Components having the same function as those described in Exemplary Embodiment 1 will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and their descriptions will be omitted as appropriate.

[0029] (Configuration of the optical space communication system) The configuration of the optical space communication system, including the optical space communication device according to this exemplary embodiment, will be described with reference to Figure 3. Figure 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the optical space communication system 400. The optical space communication system 400 is a system that realizes spatial multiplexing transmission, including a first optical space communication device 1 including a plurality of light transmitting and receiving units 10-1 to 10-n, and a second optical space communication device 101 including a plurality of light transmitting and receiving units 130-1 to 130-n corresponding to the plurality of light transmitting and receiving units 10-1 to 10-n. In Figure 3, the first and second optical space communication devices 1 and 101 are shown as examples, but the number of optical space communication devices is not limited to these. In the following description, the first optical space communication device 1 will be described as the main focus, and the second optical space communication device 101 will be described as the communication partner of the first optical space communication device 1. Note that these optical space communication devices 1 and 101 can have the same configuration.

[0030] (First optical space communication device 1) As shown in Figure 3, the first optical space communication device 1 according to this exemplary embodiment comprises a plurality of light transmitting and receiving units 10-1 to 10-n and a communication control unit 20. The plurality of light transmitting and receiving units 10-1 to 10-n and the communication control unit 20 are one example of the light transmitting and receiving means and communication control means as described in the claims.

[0031] (Light transmitting section 10-1 to 10-n) The optical communication medium transmitted and received from each of the multiple transmitting and receiving units 10-1 to 10-n has been described above, so its description is omitted here.

[0032] Each light transmitting / receiving unit 10-1 to 10-n can be a well-known light transmitting / receiving unit that can be used for optical spatial communication, but in one example, a light transmitting / receiving unit with the configuration shown in Figure 4 is used. Figure 4 shows a configuration in which the transmitting unit 10t that transmits the optical communication medium and the receiving unit 10r that receives the optical communication medium are separate. The transmitting unit 10t is configured to receive a signal from the electrical-to-optical conversion unit 10ta, and the laser light (optical communication medium) emitted from the laser light source 10tb is transmitted to the outside via the collimator lens 10tc. On the other hand, the receiving unit 10r is configured to collect the laser light from the outside with a lens 10ra, receive it with a photodetector element 10rb, and convert it into an electrical signal with an electrical-to-optical conversion unit 10rc.

[0033] (Communication control unit 20) The communication control unit 20 shown in Figure 3 can be one that has the same functions as the communication control unit 20 described in the exemplary embodiment 1 above. Below, the configuration of the communication control unit 20 provided in the optical space communication device 1 in this exemplary embodiment will be explained with reference to Figure 5.

[0034] Figure 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the communication control unit 20. The communication control unit 20 comprises an acquisition unit 21, a communication method determination unit 22, and a transmission / reception light control unit 23.

[0035] The acquisition unit 21 acquires information about the communication environment. This communication environment information includes, for example, noise. Noise is small when the communication environment is good. The acquisition unit 21 can acquire noise using well-known methods.

[0036] The acquisition unit 21 is not limited to acquiring noise. It can employ any well-known method for acquiring information about the communication environment.

[0037] Here, communication conditions can be categorized as either weather or time of day. Regarding weather, good communication conditions may occur when the weather is clear, but are not limited to clear skies. Regarding time of day, good communication conditions may occur at night (especially in the late hours).

[0038] The communication method determination unit 22 determines the communication method for each of the two or more light transmitting and receiving units (for example, light transmitting and receiving unit 10-1 and light transmitting and receiving unit 10-2) based on the communication environment information (hereinafter sometimes referred to as environment information) acquired by the acquisition unit 21. For example, the communication method determination unit 22 can determine the communication method for each of the light transmitting and receiving units 10-1 and 10-2 based on communication capacity, delay time, or retransmission rate. The communication method is, for example, a modulation method. However, it is not limited to this, and the two or more light transmitting and receiving units may include one light transmitting and receiving unit that uses a communication method that performs error correction, and another light transmitting and receiving unit that uses a communication method that performs delay time countermeasures.

[0039] The communication method determination unit 22 adopts a communication method with high transmission capacity if the information acquired by the acquisition unit 21 indicates that there is no noise, or that there is virtually no noise. A communication method with high transmission capacity is one without error correction, such as multi-level modulation or phase modulation. On the other hand, if the information acquired by the acquisition unit 21 indicates that there is noise, the communication method determination unit 22 adopts a communication method with error correction that is easy to retransmit. In this case, the transmission capacity will be smaller, but communication will be less likely to be interrupted. As an example, the communication method determination unit 22 can determine the communication method by referring to past data that associates past communication environments (weather) with communication methods.

[0040] The light transmission / reception control unit 23 causes two or more light transmission / reception units (for example, light transmission / reception unit 10-1 and light transmission / reception unit 10-2) to transmit the same information in parallel according to the communication method determined by the communication method determination unit 22.

[0041] The same information transmitted from the light transmitting / receiving units 10-1 and 10-2, under the control of the light transmitting / receiving control unit 23, is received by any of the light transmitting / receiving units 130-1 to 130-n of the second optical space communication device 101.

[0042] (Second optical space communication device 101) The second optical space communication device 101 includes a plurality of transmitting and receiving units 130-1 to 130-n corresponding to the plurality of transmitting and receiving units 10-1 to 10-n of the first optical space communication device 1. The second optical space communication device 101 also includes a communication control unit 120.

[0043] (Transmitting and receiving units 130-1 to 130-n) The configuration of the light transmitting and receiving units 130-1 to 130-n is the same as the configuration of the light transmitting and receiving units 10-1 to 10-n. The same information transmitted from the aforementioned light transmitting and receiving units 10-1 and 10-2 is received by any of the light transmitting and receiving units 130-1 to 130-n. Depending on the communication environment, the information (optical communication medium) from one of the light transmitting and receiving units 10-1 and 10-2 that transmitted the same information (for example, light transmitting and receiving unit 10-1) is received by one light transmitting and receiving unit (for example, light transmitting and receiving unit 130-1). Alternatively, the information from light transmitting and receiving units 10-1 and 10-2 that transmitted the same information is received by two different light transmitting and receiving units (for example, light transmitting and receiving units 130-1 and 130-2).

[0044] (Communication control unit 120) The communication control unit 120 has the same configuration as the communication control unit 20 provided in the first optical space communication device 1. That is, the communication control unit 120 is one example of a communication control means as defined in the claims. The communication control unit 120 controls each component of the light transmitting and receiving unit 130.

[0045] The communication control unit 120 identifies which of the two or more light transmitting / receiving units (light transmitting / receiving unit 10-1 and light transmitting / receiving unit 10-2) has received the information from the light transmitting / receiving unit 130. For example, the acquisition unit 21 (Figure 5) provided in the communication control unit 20 acquires the information received by the light transmitting / receiving unit 130, which allows the light transmitting / receiving control unit 23 (Figure 5) to identify the communication method of the received information. The communication control unit 120 notifies one of the light transmitting / receiving units 10 of the first optical space communication device 1 of the communication method of the received information via one of the light transmitting / receiving units 130. The communication method of this notification is the same as the previous communication method. The communication control unit 20 of the first optical space communication device 1 performs optical space communication from each light transmitting / receiving unit 10 according to the notified communication method.

[0046] In this case, if the same information from two or more light transmitting / receiving units (light transmitting / receiving unit 10-1 and light transmitting / receiving unit 10-2) is received by two or more light transmitting / receiving units (light transmitting / receiving unit 130-1 and light transmitting / receiving unit 130-2), the communication method with the better communication quality will be adopted.

[0047] Even if reception is possible by any of the transmitting / receiving units 130, if the reception quality is not good, the communication control unit 120 will instruct any of the transmitting / receiving units 10 of the first optical space communication device 1 to send information from any of the transmitting / receiving units 130 to change the communication method. In this case, the communication control unit 20 of the first optical space communication device 1, having received the instruction information to change the communication method, will use the communication method determination unit 22 to determine an appropriate communication method from among the communication methods previously determined, based on the environmental information previously acquired by the acquisition unit 21. Then, the above-described communication control process is repeated.

[0048] (Effects of optical space communication devices) In the optical space communication device (first optical space communication device 1 and second optical space communication device 101) and the optical space communication system 400 including these optical space communication devices, a plurality of light transmitting and receiving units and a communication control unit that controls communication via the plurality of light transmitting and receiving units are provided. The communication control unit is configured to transmit the same information in parallel from two or more of the plurality of light transmitting and receiving means using different communication methods. Therefore, according to this exemplary embodiment, even if the communication environment changes, information is transmitted using a communication method suitable for the changed communication environment. From this, it can be said that the optical space communication device 1 and the optical space communication system 400 including the optical space communication device 1 have high availability.

[0049] Furthermore, in the optical space communication device (first optical space communication device 1 and second optical space communication device 101) according to this exemplary embodiment, the communication control unit 20 is configured to determine the communication method for each of the two or more light transmitting and receiving units based on communication capacity, delay time, or retransmission rate. Therefore, according to this exemplary embodiment, it is possible to perform communication using the optimal communication method.

[0050] (Flowchart of optical space communication method) The flow of the optical space communication method S1 according to this exemplary embodiment will be explained with reference to Figure 6. Figure 6 is a flowchart showing the flow of the optical space communication method S1 using the optical space communication system according to this exemplary embodiment.

[0051] As shown in Figure 6, the optical spatial communication method S1 includes controlling communication via a plurality of light transmitting and receiving means (communication control step, step S10), and this step S10 includes steps S11, S12, S13, S14, and S15.

[0052] (Step S11) In step S11, the acquisition unit 21 of the communication control unit 20 acquires the communication environment. Details of the acquisition have been described above, so they will not be explained here.

[0053] (Step S12) In step S12, the communication method determination unit 22 of the communication control unit 20 determines the communication method to be used for communication. The details of the determination have been described above, so they will not be explained here.

[0054] (Step S13) In step S13, the same information is transmitted in parallel from two or more light transmitting and receiving units 10-1 and 10-2 according to the communication method determined by the communication method determination unit 22 of the communication control unit 20.

[0055] (Step S14) In step S14, the communication control unit 120 of the second optical space communication device 101 and the communication control unit 20 of the first optical space communication device 1 determine the communication method based on the information transmitted in step S13. This has already been explained in the description of the communication method determination unit 22 above, so the explanation will be omitted here.

[0056] (Step S15) In step S15, communication takes place between multiple light transmitting and receiving units 10-1 to 10-n and multiple light transmitting and receiving units 130-1 to 130-n using the communication method determined in step S14 (multiplex transmission).

[0057] (Effects of optical space communication methods) As described above, the optical spatial communication method according to this exemplary embodiment includes controlling communication via a plurality of light transmitting and receiving means, and the method of controlling the communication includes having two or more of the plurality of light transmitting and receiving means transmit the same information in parallel using different communication methods. According to this method, even if the communication environment changes, information is transmitted using a communication method suitable for the changed communication environment. From this, it can be said that the optical spatial communication method S1 is an optical spatial communication method with high availability.

[0058] [Variation 1] The exemplary embodiments described above are based on the premise that optical spatial communication is performed using a determined communication method and that the communication method is not changed. However, the embodiments are not limited to this, and optical spatial communication is performed using a determined communication method, but the communication method may be changed at some point.

[0059] In this modified example, a control light-receiving unit (e.g., light-receiving unit 10-3) is used, which is different from two or more light-receiving units (e.g., light-receiving units 10-1 and 10-2) that transmit the same information among the multiple light-receiving units 10-1 to 10-n, to notify the light-receiving unit of the second optical space communication device (e.g., light-receiving unit 130-3) of the communication method to be changed and the timing of the change. Here, the communication method to be changed includes cases where the modulation method is not changed, but the error correction rate (coding rate) is changed.

[0060] A certain timing could be when the weather changes, or it could be a specific time of day.

[0061] [Variation 2] In the exemplary embodiment described above, the light transmitting and receiving units that transmit the same information in parallel using different communication methods are one light transmitting and receiving unit 10-1 and one light transmitting and receiving unit 10-2. However, the embodiment is not limited to this, and there may be three light transmitting and receiving units that transmit using one communication method (for example, light transmitting and receiving units 10-1, 10-3, and 10-5) and three light transmitting and receiving units that transmit using another communication method (for example, light transmitting and receiving units 10-2, 10-4, and 10-6).

[0062] In this embodiment, where there are multiple light-transmitting and receiving units that transmit using a certain communication method, the communication control unit 20 may distribute the same modulated signal to each of the multiple light-transmitting and receiving units. This reduces the size of the device compared to the embodiment where the communication control unit 20 provides individually modulated signals to each light-transmitting and receiving unit. The modulation may be in the form of modulating an electrical signal or modulating an optical signal.

[0063] [Examples of implementation using software] Some or all of the functions of the optical space communication devices 1, 101 may be implemented by hardware such as integrated circuits (IC chips) or by software.

[0064] In the latter case, the optical space communication devices 1 and 101 are implemented by a computer that executes instructions for a program, which is software that implements each function. An example of such a computer (hereinafter referred to as computer C) is shown in Figure 7. Computer C comprises at least one processor C1 and at least one memory C2. The memory C2 stores a program P that causes computer C to operate as an optical space communication device 1 or 101. In computer C, the processor C1 reads the program P from the memory C2 and executes it, thereby realizing each function of the optical space communication devices 1 or 101.

[0065] Processor C1 can include, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), GPU (Graphic Processing Unit), DSP (Digital Signal Processor), MPU (Micro Processing Unit), FPU (Floating Point Number Processing Unit), PPU (Physics Processing Unit), microcontroller, or a combination thereof. Memory C2 can include, for example, flash memory, HDD (Hard Disk Drive), SSD (Solid State Drive), or a combination thereof.

[0066] Computer C may also be equipped with RAM (Random Access Memory) for loading program P at runtime and for temporarily storing various data. Furthermore, computer C may be equipped with communication interfaces for sending and receiving data with other devices. Additionally, computer C may be equipped with input / output interfaces for connecting input / output devices such as keyboards, mice, displays, and printers.

[0067] Furthermore, program P can be recorded on a non-temporary, tangible recording medium M that is readable by computer C. Such a recording medium M could be, for example, tape, disk, card, semiconductor memory, or programmable logic circuitry. Computer C can acquire program P via such a recording medium M. Program P can also be transmitted via a transmission medium. Such a transmission medium could be, for example, a communication network or broadcast waves. Computer C can also acquire program P via such a transmission medium.

[0068] [Additional Note 1] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the claims. For example, embodiments obtained by appropriately combining the technical means disclosed in the embodiments described above are also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

[0069] [Additional Note 2] Some or all of the embodiments described above may also be described as follows. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described below.

[0070] (Note 1) Optical space communication device, Multiple light transmission and reception means, The system includes a communication control means for controlling communication via the plurality of light transmitting and receiving means, The communication control means causes two or more of the plurality of light transmitting and receiving means to transmit the same information in parallel using different communication methods. An optical spatial communication device characterized by the following features.

[0071] According to the above configuration, even if the communication environment changes, information will be transmitted using a communication method suitable for the changed communication environment. Therefore, it is possible to provide an optical space communication device with higher availability than before.

[0072] (Note 2) The optical space communication apparatus according to Appendix 1, characterized in that the communication control means determines the communication method of each of the two or more light transmitting and receiving means based on communication capacity, delay time, or retransmission rate.

[0073] According to the above configuration, it is possible to respond to fluctuations in the communication environment.

[0074] (Note 3) The optical space communication device according to Appendix 1, characterized in that the communication control means changes the communication method of each of the two or more light transmitting and receiving means at a predetermined timing and transmits the change via a light transmitting and receiving means different from the two or more light transmitting and receiving means.

[0075] (Note 4) The communication control means causes any of the multiple light transmitting and receiving means to transmit the same information using one of the communication methods among the different communication methods. The optical space communication device according to Appendix 1, characterized in that the communication control means distributes the same signal to any of the plurality of light transmitting and receiving means.

[0076] According to the above configuration, the size of the device can be reduced compared to a configuration in which each of the multiple light transmitting and receiving means is provided with its own dedicated communication control means in order to distribute the same signal.

[0077] (Note 5) The optical spatial communication device according to Appendix 1, characterized in that the communication method is a modulation method.

[0078] According to the above configuration, it is possible to support different communication environments.

[0079] (Note 6) The two or more light transmission and reception means include a light transmission and reception means using a communication method that performs error correction, and a light transmission and reception means using a communication method that performs delay time countermeasures. The optical space communication device described in Appendix 1, characterized by the features described herein.

[0080] (Note 7) Includes multiple optical space communication devices, Of the aforementioned plurality of optical space communication devices, at least one of the optical space communication devices is Multiple light transmission and reception means, The system includes a communication control means for controlling communication via the plurality of light transmitting and receiving means, The communication control means causes two or more of the plurality of light transmitting and receiving means to transmit the same information in parallel using different communication methods. An optical spatial communication system characterized by the following features.

[0081] According to the above configuration, even if the communication environment changes, information will be transmitted using a communication method suitable for the changed communication environment. Therefore, it is possible to provide an optical spatial communication system with higher availability than before.

[0082] (Note 8) A method of optical space communication, This includes controlling communication via multiple light transmitting and receiving means, To control the aforementioned communication, This includes having two or more of the aforementioned plurality of light transmitting and receiving means transmit the same information in parallel using different communication methods. A method of optical space communication characterized by the following features.

[0083] According to the method described above, even if the communication environment changes, information will be transmitted using a communication method suitable for the changed communication environment. Therefore, it is possible to provide an optical space communication environment with higher availability than before.

[0084] (Note 9) A program for operating a computer as an optical space communication device as described in any one of the appendices 1 to 6, characterized in that the computer functions as each of the means described above.

[0085] (Note 10) An optical space communication device having at least one processor, The aforementioned processor, Communication processing that performs communication via multiple light transmission and reception means, The communication control process that controls the aforementioned communication is executed, In the aforementioned communication control process, An optical spatial communication device that performs a process of transmitting the same information in parallel from two or more of the aforementioned plurality of light transmitting and receiving means using different communication methods.

[0086] Furthermore, this optical space communication device may also be equipped with memory, and this memory may store a program for causing the processor to perform each of the aforementioned processes. This program may also be recorded on a computer-readable, non-temporary, tangible recording medium. [Explanation of symbols]

[0087] 1 Optical space communication device (optical space communication device) 10, 10-1 to 10-n light transmitting and receiving unit (light transmitting and receiving means) 20, 120 Communication control unit (communication control means) 21 Acquisition Department 22 Communication method determination unit 23 Transmit / receive control unit 101 Optical space communication device (Optical space communication device of the communication partner) 130, 130-1~130-n Transmitting and receiving unit (transmitting and receiving means of the optical space communication device of the communication partner) 400 Optical Space Communication Systems

Claims

1. Optical space communication device, Multiple light transmission and reception means, The system includes a communication control means for controlling communication via the plurality of light transmitting and receiving means, The communication control means causes two or more of the plurality of light transmitting and receiving means to transmit the same information in parallel using different communication methods. The communication control means changes the communication method of each of the two or more light transmitting and receiving means at a predetermined timing, and transmits the change via a light transmitting and receiving means different from the two or more light transmitting and receiving means. Optical space communication device.

2. The communication control means determines the communication method for each of the two or more light transmitting and receiving means based on communication capacity, delay time, or retransmission rate. The optical space communication device according to claim 1.

3. The communication control means causes any of the multiple light transmitting and receiving means to transmit the same information using one of the communication methods among the different communication methods. The communication control means distributes the same signal to any of the plurality of light transmitting and receiving means. The optical space communication device according to claim 1.

4. The aforementioned communication method is a modulation method. The optical space communication device according to claim 1.

5. The two or more light transmission and reception means include a light transmission and reception means using a communication method that performs error correction, and a light transmission and reception means using a communication method that performs delay time countermeasures. The optical space communication device according to claim 1.

6. Includes multiple optical space communication devices, Of the aforementioned plurality of optical space communication devices, at least one of the optical space communication devices is Multiple light transmission and reception means, The system includes a communication control means for controlling communication via the plurality of light transmitting and receiving means, The communication control means causes two or more of the plurality of light transmitting and receiving means to transmit the same information in parallel using different communication methods. The communication control means changes the communication method of each of the two or more light transmitting and receiving means at a predetermined timing, and transmits the change via a light transmitting and receiving means different from the two or more light transmitting and receiving means. Optical space communication system.

7. A method of optical space communication, This includes controlling communication via multiple light transmitting and receiving means, Controlling the aforementioned communication means Two or more of the aforementioned plurality of light transmitting and receiving means transmit the same information in parallel using different communication methods. This includes changing the communication method of each of the two or more light transmitting and receiving means at a predetermined timing, and transmitting the change via a light transmitting and receiving means different from the two or more light transmitting and receiving means. Optical space communication method.

8. A program for operating a computer as an optical space communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, the program for causing the computer to function as each of the means.

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