Relay radio wave configuration for controlling relay station via network

Abstract

A communication control device comprises at least one processor that executes: controlling of a relay station, which relays communication between a radio access network and a communication device, by a relay station control unit in the radio access network; providing, to the relay station, configuration information regarding relay radio waves to be transmitted by the relay station, by means of a relay radio wave setting unit in the relay station control unit; and transmitting relay radio waves, based on the configuration information, by means of a relay radio wave transmission unit in the relay station. The relay radio wave configuration unit provides the relay station with configuration information regarding at least one of a coverage range of relay radio waves to be transmitted by a relay station, an assignment to a specific communication device, transmission power, a beam type, a beam width, the number of beams, a beam direction, a frequency, a frequency band, subcarrier spacing, a symbol length, a slot length, a transmission time length, or a transmission pattern (Fig. 2).

Description

Setting relay radio waves for controlling relay stations via network

[0001] The present disclosure relates to setting relay radio waves in network-based control of relay stations.

[0002] The number, types, and uses of wireless communication devices (collectively referred to as communication devices or User Equipment (UE)), such as smartphones and Internet of Things (IoT) devices, are steadily increasing, leading to the continuous expansion and improvement of wireless communication standards. For example, commercial service for the fifth-generation mobile communication system known as "5G" began in 2018, and standardization is still underway at the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). Furthermore, efforts have begun to develop standards for "6G," or sixth-generation mobile communication systems, as the next-generation wireless communication standard following 5G.

[0003] In a mobile communication network, communication is performed between UE and a Radio Access Network (RAN), which includes various base stations such as terrestrial base stations fixedly installed on the ground and non-terrestrial base stations such as communication satellites. To expand the communication cells provided by each base station and improve communication quality, relay stations that relay downlink and uplink communication between the RAN and UE are sometimes used.

[0004] JP 2010-278886 A

[0005] In particular, the relay quality between the RAN and the UE can be improved by utilizing a relay station (hereinafter also referred to as an NCR (Network-Controlled Repeater) or Network-Controlled Relay Station) that can be controlled by the RAN and / or core network (hereinafter also referred to as a radio access network, RAN, network, etc.).

[0006] The present disclosure has been made in view of these circumstances, and aims to provide a communication control device and the like that can further improve the relay quality of a relay station controlled by a network.

[0007] In order to solve the above problem, a communication control device of one embodiment of the present disclosure includes at least one processor that performs the following operations: controlling a relay station that relays communication between the radio access network and a communication device using a relay station control unit in the radio access network; providing the relay station with setting information regarding relay radio waves that the relay station should transmit using a relay radio wave setting unit in the relay station control unit; and transmitting relay radio waves based on the setting information using a relay radio wave transmitting unit in the relay station.

[0008] In this aspect, the relay quality of the relay station is further improved by providing setting information regarding the relay radio waves to be transmitted by the relay station from the network.

[0009] Another aspect of the present disclosure is a communication control method, which includes: controlling, by a radio access network, a relay station that relays communication between the radio access network and a communication device; providing, by the radio access network, to the relay station, configuration information regarding relay radio waves to be transmitted by the relay station; and transmitting, by the relay station, the relay radio waves based on the configuration information.

[0010] Yet another aspect of the present disclosure is a storage medium storing a communication control program that causes a computer to control, via a wireless access network, a relay station that relays communication between the wireless access network and a communication device, provide, via the wireless access network, to the relay station, setting information related to relay radio waves to be transmitted by the relay station, and transmit, by the relay station, the relay radio waves based on the setting information.

[0011] Any combination of the above components, or any conversion of these expressions into methods, devices, systems, recording media, computer programs, etc., are also encompassed within the present disclosure.

[0012] According to the present disclosure, the relay quality of a relay station controlled by a network can be further improved.

[0013] It is a functional block diagram of the communication control device, and an example of setting the coverage area of ​​downlink relay radio waves in an access link is shown in FIG.

[0014] 1 schematically illustrates an overview of a wireless communication system 1 to which a communication control device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is applied. The wireless communication system 1 includes a 5G wireless communication system 11 conforming to a fifth-generation mobile communication system (5G) that uses NR (New Radio) or 5G NR (Fifth Generation New Radio) as a radio access technology (RAT) and 5GC (Fifth Generation Core) as a core network (CN), a 4G wireless communication system 12 conforming to a fourth-generation mobile communication system (4G) that uses LTE (Long Term Evolution) or LTE-Advanced as a radio access technology and EPC (Evolved Packet Core) as a core network, and a satellite communication system 13 that handles satellite communication via a communication satellite 131. Although not illustrated, the wireless communication system 1 may include a wireless communication system of a generation earlier than 4G, a wireless communication system of a generation later than 5G (e.g., 6G), or any wireless communication system not associated with a generation, such as Wi-Fi (registered trademark).

[0015] The 5G wireless communication system 11 includes communication devices 2A, 2B, 2C, and 2D (hereinafter collectively referred to as communication devices 2) such as smartphones that are installed on the ground and are also referred to as UE (User Equipment), and multiple 5G base stations 111A, 111B, and 111C (hereinafter collectively referred to as 5G base stations 111) that can communicate via 5G NR. The base station 111 in 5G is also called a gNodeB (gNB). The communication range or support range of each of the 5G base stations 111A, 111B, and 111C is called a cell, and is illustrated as 112A, 112B, and 112C, respectively (hereinafter collectively referred to as 5G cells 112).

[0016] The size of the 5G cell 112 of each 5G base station 111 is arbitrary, but typically has a radius of several meters to several tens of kilometers. Although there is no established definition, a cell with a radius of several meters to several tens of meters is called a femtocell, a cell with a radius of tens to several tens of meters is called a picocell, a cell with a radius of several tens to several hundred meters is called a microcell, and a cell with a radius of more than several hundred meters is called a macrocell. 5G often uses high-frequency radio waves such as millimeter waves, and because of their high line-propagation ability, the radio waves are blocked by obstacles, shortening the communication distance. For this reason, 5G tends to use smaller cells than 4G and earlier generations.

[0017] A communication device 2 can perform 5G communication if it is located within at least one of multiple 5G cells 112A, 112B, and 112C. In the illustrated example, a communication device 2B located within 5G cells 112A and 112B can communicate with both 5G base stations 111A and 111B via 5G NR. Furthermore, a communication device 2C located within 5G cell 112C can communicate with 5G base station 111C via 5G NR. Communication devices 2A and 2D are located outside all of the 5G cells 112A, 112B, and 112C and are therefore unable to communicate via 5G NR. 5G communication via 5G NR between each communication device 2 and each 5G base station 111 is managed by the 5GC, which is a core network. For example, the 5GC handles data exchange with each 5G base station 111, data exchange with external networks such as EPC, satellite communication system 13, and the Internet, and mobility management of the communication device 2.

[0018] The 4G wireless communication system 12 includes multiple 4G base stations 121 (only one of which is shown in FIG. 1 ) that are installed on the ground and are capable of communicating with the communication device 2 via LTE or LTE-Advanced. The base station 121 in 4G is also called an eNodeB (eNB). Like each 5G base station 111, the coverage area or support area of ​​each 4G base station 121 is also called a cell and is illustrated as 122.

[0019] If the communication device 2 is located inside the 4G cell 122, it can perform 4G communication. In the illustrated example, communication devices 2A and 2B located inside the 4G cell 122 can communicate with the 4G base station 121 via LTE or LTE-Advanced. Communication devices 2C and 2D are located outside the 4G cell 122 and therefore cannot communicate via LTE or LTE-Advanced. 4G communication by LTE or LTE-Advanced between each communication device 2 and each 4G base station 121 is managed by the EPC, which is a core network. For example, the EPC handles the exchange of data with each 4G base station 121, the exchange of data with external networks such as 5GC, the satellite communication system 13, and the Internet, and the mobility management of the communication device 2.

[0020] Focusing on each of the communication devices 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) with which communication is possible, as with communication device 2B, one base station determined to be optimal in terms of communication quality, etc. is selected under the management of the core network 5GC and / or EPC, and communication with communication device 2B is performed. Furthermore, communication device 2D is not capable of communication with any of the 5G base stations 111 and 4G base station 121, and therefore performs communication via satellite communication system 13, which will be described next.

[0021] The satellite communication system 13 is a wireless communication system that uses a communication satellite 131, a low-orbit satellite that flies 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 coverage or support area 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 the 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 located within 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 within the satellite communication cell 132 directly or indirectly via an aircraft or the like. The radio access technology that the communication satellite 131 uses for radio communication with the communication device 2 in the satellite communication cell 132 may be 5G NR, the same as the 5G base station 111, or LTE or LTE-Advanced, the same as the 4G base station 121, or any other radio access technology that can be used by the communication device 2. Therefore, the communication device 2 does not need to be provided with special functions or components for satellite communication.

[0022] The satellite communication system 13 includes a gateway 133 as a ground station installed on the ground and capable of communicating with a communication satellite 131. The gateway 133 includes a satellite antenna for communicating with the communication satellite 131, and is connected to a 5G base station 111 and a 4G base station 121 as terrestrial base stations that constitute a terrestrial network (TN). In this way, the gateway 133 connects the non-terrestrial network (NTN) formed by the communication satellite 131 as a non-terrestrial base station or satellite base station and the TN formed by the terrestrial base stations 111 and 121 so that they can communicate with each other. When the communication satellite 131 performs 5G communication with the communication device 2 in the satellite communication cell 132 using 5G NR, the 5GC connected via the gateway 133 and the 5G base station 111 (or the 5G radio access network) in the TN is used as the core network, and when the communication satellite 131 performs 4G communication with the communication device 2 in the satellite communication cell 132 using LTE or LTE-Advanced, the EPC connected via the gateway 133 and the 4G base station 121 (or the 4G radio access network) in the TN is used as the core network. In this way, appropriate cooperation is achieved between different wireless communication systems such as 5G communication, 4G communication, and satellite communication via the gateway 133.

[0023] Satellite communication using a communication satellite 131 is primarily used to cover areas where terrestrial base stations such as the 5G base station 111 and the 4G base station 121 are not installed or are few in number. In the illustrated example, a communication device 2D located outside the communication cells of all terrestrial base stations communicates with the communication satellite 131. Meanwhile, communication devices 2A, 2B, and 2C that can communicate satisfactorily with any terrestrial base station are also within the satellite communication cell 132 and can therefore communicate with the communication satellite 131. However, by communicating with the terrestrial base station rather than the communication satellite 131 as a satellite base station, the limited communication resources (including power) of the communication satellite 131 are conserved for the communication device 2D and the like. The communication satellite 131 improves the quality of communication with the communication device 2D by directing communication radio waves toward the communication device 2D within the satellite communication cell 132 using beamforming.

[0024] The size of the satellite communication cell 132 of the communication satellite 131 serving as a satellite base station can be set arbitrarily depending on the number of beams emitted by the communication satellite 131. For example, a maximum of 2,800 beams can be combined to form a satellite communication cell 132 with a diameter of approximately 24 km. As shown in the figure, the satellite communication cell 132 is typically larger than terrestrial communication cells such as the 5G cell 112 and the 4G cell 122, and may include one or more 5G cells 112 and / or 4G cells 122 therein. Note that, although the above example illustrates a communication satellite 131 flying in low orbit at an altitude of approximately 500 km to 700 km above the Earth's surface as a flying non-terrestrial base station, a communication satellite flying in high orbit such as a geostationary orbit, or an unmanned or manned aircraft or drone flying in the atmosphere at a lower altitude (e.g., approximately 20 km above the Earth's surface) such as the stratosphere, may also be used as a non-terrestrial base station in addition to or instead of the communication satellite 131.

[0025] FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the communication control device 3 according to this embodiment. The communication control device 3 includes a relay station control unit 31, a relay radio wave transmission unit 32, a network-side relay quality providing unit 33, and a relay quality providing unit 34. As long as the communication control device 3 can achieve at least some of the functions and / or effects described below, some of these functional blocks may be omitted. These functional blocks are realized by the cooperation of hardware resources, such as a computer's central processing unit, memory, input devices, output devices, and peripheral devices connected to the computer, and software executed using these resources. Regardless of the type and location of the computer, each of the above functional blocks may be realized by the hardware resources of a single computer or 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 in a centralized or distributed manner by computers and processors provided in the communication device 2 (UE), the relay station (NCR), the base stations 111, 121, and 131 constituting the RAN, the gateway 133, and the core network.

[0026] The main control targets of the communication control device 3 according to this embodiment are at least one of a radio access network (RAN), a relay station (NCR), and a communication device (UE). In the following, a gNB (5G base station 111) is exemplified as a representative configuration of a RAN. The following description of the gNB also applies to any other base station, for example, a 4G base station 121 (eNB) or a communication satellite 131.

[0027] A relay station (NCR) is a repeater that relays downlink and uplink communications between a gNB (Radio Access Network) and a UE under the control of a network (RAN and / or core network). A relay station control unit 31 in the network controls the NCR that relays communications between the gNB and the UE. The NCR decodes control information from the relay station control unit 31 and performs processes such as communication timing control on a symbol-by-symbol basis, communication beam control such as beamforming, and on / off control of communication resources.

[0028] Downlink communication is communication relayed by the NCR with the gNB as the transmitter and the UE as the receiver. Uplink communication is communication relayed by the NCR with the UE as the transmitter and the gNB as the receiver. Downlink communication and uplink communication are performed, for example, using the Time Division Duplex (TDD) method. In TDD mobile communication, the transmission timing and reception timing, and / or downlink communication timing and uplink communication timing are time-divided in each of the gNB, NCR, and UE, which are the communication (transmission and reception) entities.

[0029] In downlink communication, the gNB, which is the transmitting entity, transmits one or more communication units (communication data) to the NCR and / or UE at a predetermined downlink transmission timing (schematically shown in Figure 2 by the dotted arrow from the gNB to the NCR). Examples of communication units include frames, subframes, slots, symbols, etc., but in the following examples, frames are mainly used as communication units.

[0030] The NCR, which is a relay station, receives one or more downlink frames transmitted by the gNB. The NCR processes the downlink frames received from the gNB based on control information from the gNB (relay station control unit 31). The relay wave transmitter 32 in the NCR transmits downlink (DL) relay waves and transmits the processed downlink frames to the UE. The UE, which is the receiving entity in downlink communication, receives one or more downlink frames (downlink relay waves) transmitted by the NCR.

[0031] In uplink communication, the transmitting UE typically transmits one or more uplink frames to the NCR and / or gNB at a predetermined uplink transmission timing in response to a downlink frame received from the NCR (schematically shown in Figure 2 by a dotted arrow pointing from the UE to the NCR).

[0032] The NCR, which is a relay station, receives one or more uplink frames transmitted by the UE. The NCR processes the uplink frames received from the UE based on control information from the gNB (relay station control unit 31). The relay radio wave transmission unit 32 in the NCR transmits uplink (UL) relay radio waves to transmit the processed uplink frames to the gNB. The gNB, which is the receiving entity in uplink communication, receives one or more uplink frames (uplink relay radio waves) transmitted by the NCR.

[0033] The relay radio wave setting unit 311 in the relay station control unit 31 (gNB) provides the NCR with setting information regarding the relay radio waves (downlink relay radio waves and / or uplink relay radio waves) that the NCR should transmit. The relay radio wave transmission unit 32 in the NCR transmits the relay radio waves (downlink relay radio waves and / or uplink relay radio waves) based on the setting information provided from the relay radio wave setting unit 311. The relay radio wave transmission unit 32 (NCR) includes an amplifier 321 that amplifies the relay radio waves to a desired transmission power or intensity based on the setting information provided from the relay radio wave setting unit 311. Although not shown, the relay radio wave transmission unit 32 (NCR) includes various components such as an antenna and a high-frequency circuit required to transmit relay radio waves in any mode based on the setting information provided from the relay radio wave setting unit 311.

[0034] The relay radio wave setting unit 311 provides the relay radio wave transmitting unit 32 (NCR) with setting information regarding at least one of the coverage area of ​​the relay radio waves (downlink relay radio waves and / or uplink relay radio waves) to be transmitted by the NCR, allocation to a specific communication device, transmission power, beam type, beam width, number of beams, beam direction, frequency, frequency band, subcarrier spacing, symbol length, slot length, transmission time length, and transmission pattern.

[0035] The coverage range setting information sets the coverage range of the relay radio waves to be transmitted by the NCR. Figure 3 schematically shows an example of setting the coverage range of downlink relay radio waves in the communication device side relay link (hereinafter also referred to as the access link) between the NCR and the UE. Note that the network side relay link between the NCR and the gNB is also referred to as the backhaul link. In this example, based on the coverage range setting information by the gNB (relay radio wave setting unit 311), the NCR (relay radio wave transmission unit 32) transmits two types of downlink relay radio waves within the coverage ranges set for each.

[0036] The first downlink relay beam, shown as a "wide beam" in FIG. 3, is a beam that covers a wide area where a large number of UEs typically exist. Such a wide beam may be used primarily to notify UEs within the wide area of ​​the presence of an NCR. Thus, the wide beam defines the effective coverage of the NCR.

[0037] The second downlink relay beams, shown as "Narrow beams" in FIG. 3, are beams that cover a narrow range where a small number of UEs (e.g., one) are typically present. Such narrow beams may be used primarily for communication with a specific UE within the narrow range. In other words, the narrow beams are dedicated to a specific UE.

[0038] In a typical case, the UE first recognizes the existence of the NCR through a wide-range beam (strictly speaking, the UE cannot recognize the existence of the NCR, but recognizes the NCR as a gNB). After an initial connection is established between the UE and the NCR (and the gNB), a dedicated narrow-range beam for the UE is set by the gNB (relay radio wave setting unit 311) according to communication needs such as communication volume.

[0039] The setting information regarding allocation to a specific communication device assigns at least some of the beams of the relay radio waves to be transmitted by the NCR to the specific communication device. This setting information may set the allocation to the specific communication device together with the coverage area, such as the narrow beam shown in Figure 3.

[0040] The setting information on the transmission power sets the transmission power or intensity of each beam or beam group of relay radio waves to be transmitted by the NCR. The relay radio wave setting unit 311 may provide the setting information on the transmission power to the NCR as setting information on the amplifier gain of the amplifier 321 in the NCR.

[0041] The beam type setting information sets the type or type of each beam or beam group of relay waves to be transmitted by the NCR. Examples of beam types include a wide-area beam, such as the one shown in Figure 3, which determines the maximum coverage area of ​​the NCR, and a narrow-area beam, such as the one shown in Figure 3, which is assigned to a specific UE.

[0042] The beam width setting information specifies the width of each beam or group of beams of the relay radio waves to be transmitted by the NCR. For example, the width of the wide-area beam shown in Figure 3 is set wide, and the width of the narrow-area beam shown in Figure 3 is set narrow.

[0043] The setting information regarding the number of beams sets the number of beams in each beam group of relay radio waves to be transmitted by the NCR. For example, the number of beams in the wide-area beam group shown in Figure 3 is set to be large, and the number of beams in the narrow-area beam group shown in Figure 3 is set to be small (e.g., one).

[0044] The beam direction setting information sets the direction of each beam or group of beams of the relayed radio waves to be transmitted by the NCR, and may also set the boresight direction of one or more antennas (not shown) in the NCR.

[0045] The setting information for frequency or frequency band sets the frequency or frequency band of each beam or beam group of relay radio waves to be transmitted by the NCR. The setting information for subcarrier spacing, symbol length, and slot length sets the subcarrier spacing, symbol length, and slot length of each beam or beam group of relay radio waves to be transmitted by the NCR. As is well known, in 5G, the symbol length (duration of one symbol) and slot length (duration of one slot (containing 14 OFDM symbols)) are variable depending on the subcarrier spacing.

[0046] The setting information regarding the transmission time length sets the time length of relay radio waves that the NCR can transmit per transmission or the unit time length of relay radio waves that the NCR can transmit. The transmission time length here may be set based on standard time lengths defined in 5G, such as symbol length, slot length, subframe length, or frame length, or it may be an arbitrary time length. The setting information regarding the transmission pattern sets the timing pattern during which the NCR can transmit relay radio waves. The transmission pattern here is set on a symbol-by-symbol basis, a slot-by-slot basis, a subframe-by-subframe basis, or a frame-by-frame basis. For example, the transmission pattern set on a symbol-by-symbol basis specifies which symbols of the 14 symbols in each slot the NCR can use to transmit relay radio waves, using a bitmap of "0" (unusable) and "1" (usable). In this case, the NCR transmits relay radio waves only using symbols set to "1" in the transmission pattern.

[0047] The above-mentioned various setting information (coverage range, allocation to specific communication devices, transmission power, beam type, beam width, number of beams, beam direction, frequency, frequency band, subcarrier spacing, symbol length, slot length, transmission time length, transmission pattern, etc.) may be set in advance as an appropriate combination for each expected typical case. The relay radio wave setting unit 311 can select a set of setting information that matches the current situation or state of the relay link recognized based on relay link quality information etc. obtained from the network-side relay quality providing unit 33 and / or relay quality providing unit 34 described later, and provide this to the relay radio wave transmitting unit 32.

[0048] As described above, the gNB (relay radio wave setting unit 311) can directly set the relay radio waves to be transmitted by the NCR (relay radio wave transmitting unit 32), thereby indirectly controlling the number of UEs that can connect to or communicate with the NCR. For example, by intentionally restricting the coverage area, transmission power, beam width, number of beams, frequency band, etc. of the relay radio waves, it is possible to set an upper limit on the number of UEs that can connect to or communicate with the NCR.

[0049] The provision of setting information from the relay radio wave setting unit 311 to the relay radio wave transmitting unit 32 as described above may be performed periodically, may be performed when the NCR is first connected to the gNB, or may be performed when there is a significant change in the quality information of the relay link obtained from the network side relay quality providing unit 33 and / or relay quality providing unit 34 described below.

[0050] The network-side relay quality providing unit 33 in the NCR provides the gNB with information about the quality of the backhaul link (network-side relay link) between the NCR and the gNB. Specifically, like a general UE, the NCR has a function as a communication device that measures the communication quality between the gNB (also referred to as MT (Mobile Termination) or NCR-MT. Also, the function of the NCR to relay or forward communication between the gNB and the UE is also referred to as Fwd or NCR-Fwd). Such an NCR provides the measurement results of the communication quality of the backhaul link to the gNB (relay radio wave setting unit 311) via the backhaul link (link between the NCR-Fwd and the gNB) and / or a control link (link between the NCR-MT and the gNB) used for communication of control information by the relay station control unit 31.

[0051] The relay quality providing unit 34 in the UE provides information on the quality of the relay link (a combination of the access link on the UE side and the backhaul link on the gNB side) via the NCR between the UE and the gNB to the gNB. Specifically, the UE measures the communication quality with the gNB (via the NCR) and provides the result to the gNB (relay radio wave setting unit 311).

[0052] The relay radio wave setting unit 311 can recognize the communication quality of the backhaul link (network-side relay link) through the network-side relay quality providing unit 33. Furthermore, the relay radio wave setting unit 311 can recognize the communication quality of the entire relay link, which is a combination of the access link and the backhaul link, through the relay quality providing unit 34. Therefore, the relay radio wave setting unit 311 can also recognize the communication quality of the access link (communication device-side relay link) that corresponds to the difference between the communication quality of the entire relay link and the communication quality of the backhaul link.

[0053] In this way, the relay radio wave setting unit 311 can grasp the communication quality of the backhaul link, access link, and entire relay link, and provide the NCR with appropriate setting information regarding the relay radio waves that the NCR should transmit to the UE and / or gNB.

[0054] For downlink communication, the relay radio wave setting unit 311 grasps the communication quality of at least one of the backhaul link, the access link, and the entire relay link, and then provides appropriate setting information regarding downlink relay radio waves that the NCR should transmit to the UE on the access link to the relay radio wave transmission unit 32. For uplink communication, the relay radio wave setting unit 311 grasps the communication quality of at least one of the backhaul link, the access link, and the entire relay link, and then provides appropriate setting information regarding uplink relay radio waves that the NCR should transmit to the gNB on the backhaul link to the relay radio wave transmission unit 32.

[0055] According to the present embodiment described above, the relay quality of the NCR can be improved by providing setting information regarding the relay radio waves (downlink relay radio waves and uplink relay radio waves) that the NCR (relay radio wave transmitter 32) should transmit from the gNB (relay radio wave setting unit 311).

[0056] The present disclosure has been described above based on the embodiments. Various modifications are possible to the combinations of the components and processes in the exemplary embodiments, and it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that such modifications are included within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0057] The configuration, operation, and function of each device and method described in the embodiments can be realized by hardware resources, software resources, or a combination of hardware and software resources. Examples of hardware resources include processors, ROM, RAM, and various integrated circuits. Examples of software resources include operating systems, applications, and other programs.

[0058] This disclosure may be expressed in the following terms:

[0059] Item 1: A communication control device comprising at least one processor that executes the following: controlling a relay station that relays communication between the radio access network and a communication device, using a relay station control unit in the radio access network; providing to the relay station, using a relay wave setting unit in the relay station control unit, setting information regarding relay waves to be transmitted by the relay station, and transmitting, using a relay wave transmitting unit in the relay station, relay waves based on the setting information. Item 2: The communication control device according to Item 1, wherein the at least one processor executes, using a network-side relay quality providing unit in the relay station, providing to the radio access network, information regarding the quality of a network-side relay link between the relay station and the radio access network, and the relay wave setting unit provides to the relay station, setting information regarding downlink relay waves to be transmitted by the relay station to the communication device, in accordance with the information regarding the quality of the network-side relay link. Item 3: The communication control device according to Item 2, wherein the relay wave setting unit provides to the relay station, setting information regarding uplink relay waves to be transmitted by the relay station to the radio access network, in accordance with the information regarding the quality of the network-side relay link. Item 4: The communication control device according to Item 2 or 3, wherein the at least one processor executes a relay quality providing unit in the communication device to provide the wireless access network with information regarding the quality of a relay link via the relay station between the communication device and the wireless access network, and the relay radio wave setting unit provides the relay station with setting information regarding downlink relay radio waves that the relay station should transmit to the communication device, in accordance with information regarding the quality of a communication device-side relay link between the relay station and the communication device, which corresponds to a difference between information regarding the quality of the relay link via the relay station and information regarding the quality of the network-side relay link.Item 5: The communication control device according to any one of items 1 to 4, wherein the relay radio wave setting unit provides the relay station with setting information regarding at least one of a coverage area of ​​relay radio waves to be transmitted by the relay station, allocation to a specific communication device, transmission power, beam type, beam width, number of beams, beam direction, frequency, frequency band, subcarrier spacing, symbol length, slot length, transmission time length, and transmission pattern. Item 6: The communication control device according to item 5, wherein the relay radio wave setting unit provides the relay station with setting information regarding the transmission power as setting information regarding an amplifier gain in the relay station. Item 7: A communication control method comprising: controlling a relay station that relays communication between the radio access network and a communication device, by a radio access network; providing the relay station with setting information regarding relay radio waves to be transmitted by the relay station, by the radio access network; and transmitting relay radio waves based on the setting information, by the relay station. Item 8: A storage medium storing a communication control program that causes a computer to execute the following operations: controlling, via a wireless access network, a relay station that relays communication between the wireless access network and a communication device; providing, via the wireless access network, to the relay station, setting information regarding relay radio waves that the relay station should transmit; and transmitting, by the relay station, relay radio waves based on the setting information.

[0060] This application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2022-177462, filed on November 4, 2022, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference.

[0061] The present disclosure relates to setting relay radio waves in network-based control of relay stations.

[0062] 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 Relay station control unit, 32 Relay radio wave transmission unit, 33 Network side relay quality providing unit, 34 Relay quality providing unit, 111 5G base station, 112 5G cell, 121 4G base station, 122 4G cell, 131 Communication satellite, 132 Satellite communication cell, 133 Gateway, 311 Relay radio wave setting unit, 321 Amplifier.

Claims

1. Controlling a relay station that relays communication between the wireless access network and a communication device by a relay station control unit in the wireless access network; Providing the relay station with setting information regarding relay radio waves to be transmitted by the relay station by a relay radio wave setting unit in the relay station control unit; Transmitting relay radio waves based on the setting information by a relay radio wave transmitting unit in the relay station; A communication control device that executes the above.

2. Executing providing the wireless access network with information regarding the quality of the network-side relay link between the relay station and the wireless access network by a network-side relay quality providing unit in the relay station; The relay radio wave setting unit provides the relay station with setting information regarding downlink relay radio waves to be transmitted by the relay station to the communication device according to the information regarding the quality of the network-side relay link. The communication control device according to Claim 1.

3. The relay radio wave setting unit provides the relay station with setting information regarding uplink relay radio waves to be transmitted by the relay station to the wireless access network according to the information regarding the quality of the network-side relay link. The communication control device according to Claim 2.

4. Executing providing the wireless access network with information regarding the quality of the relay link via the relay station between the communication device and the wireless access network by a relay quality providing unit in the communication device; The relay radio wave setting unit provides the relay station with setting information regarding downlink relay radio waves to be transmitted by the relay station to the communication device according to information regarding the quality of the communication device-side relay link between the relay station and the communication device, which corresponds to the difference between the information regarding the quality of the relay link via the relay station and the information regarding the quality of the network-side relay link. The communication control device according to Claim 2.

5. The relay radio wave setting unit provides the relay station with setting information regarding at least any one of the coverage range of the relay radio waves to be transmitted by the relay station, assignment to a specific communication device, transmission power, beam type, beam width, number of beams, beam direction, frequency, frequency band, subcarrier interval, symbol length, slot length, transmission time length, and transmission pattern. The communication control device according to Claim 1.

6. The relay radio wave setting unit provides the relay station with setting information regarding the transmission power as setting information regarding the amplifier gain in the relay station, according to the communication control device of claim 5.

7. Controlling, by a radio access network, a relay station that relays communication between the radio access network and a communication device; Providing, by the radio access network, the relay station with setting information regarding relay radio waves to be transmitted by the relay station; Transmitting, by the relay station, relay radio waves based on the setting information; A communication control method for performing the above.

8. Controlling, by a radio access network, a relay station that relays communication between the radio access network and a communication device; Providing, by the radio access network, the relay station with setting information regarding relay radio waves to be transmitted by the relay station; Transmitting, by the relay station, relay radio waves based on the setting information; A communication control program for causing a computer to execute the above.