Provision of position information regarding communication device connected to communication station

Abstract

A communication control device 3 comprises at least one processor that executes the following: accepting, by means of a position information request accepting unit 31, a request for position information regarding a communication device 2 connected to a communication station CS; and providing, by means of a positioning information provision unit 32, positioning information acquired via a positioning function (namely, a positioning unit 43) included in the communication station CS as the position information regarding the communication device 2 if the request satisfies a specific condition. The positioning information provision unit 32 does not provide the positioning information acquired via the positioning function included in the communication station CS if the communication device 2 can acquire position information about itself via a satellite positioning device included in said communication device 2.

Description

Providing location information about communication stations and connected communication devices

[0001] FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE The present disclosure relates to providing location information regarding communicators connected to a communication station.

[0002] The number, types, and uses of wireless communication devices (hereinafter referred to as communication devices), such as smartphones and Internet of Things (IoT) devices, are steadily increasing, and wireless communication standards are continually being expanded and improved. 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). Efforts are also underway to develop standards for the sixth-generation mobile communication system, or "6G," as the next-generation wireless communication standard following 5G.

[0003] US Patent Application Publication No. 2021 / 0168643

[0004] In mobile communication systems, relay stations that relay communications between base stations and communication devices are sometimes installed for purposes such as expanding communication areas and improving communication quality. Known relay stations include IAB (Integrated Access and Backhaul) nodes that have positioning capabilities equivalent to those of communication devices equipped with GPS (Global Positioning System) modules. By utilizing the positioning capabilities of such relay stations, location information can be obtained regarding the relay station itself and the communication devices connected to the relay station. However, this location information suggests the existence and location of relay stations, which communication carriers often want to keep secret, and therefore, it is expected that active use of this information is not desirable.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made in view of these circumstances, and provides a communication control device and the like that can prevent unlimited use of the positioning function of a communication station.

[0006] A communication control device of one aspect of the present disclosure includes at least one processor that executes the following: accepting a request for location information regarding a communication device connected to a communication station using a location information request receiving unit; and, if the request satisfies certain conditions, providing, using a positioning information providing unit, location information obtained through a positioning function possessed by the communication station as location information regarding the communication device.

[0007] According to this aspect, the use of the positioning function of the communication station can be restricted when a request for location information regarding a communication device connected to the communication station satisfies a specific condition.

[0008] Another aspect of the present disclosure is a communication control method, which is executed by at least one processor to receive a request for location information related to a communication device connected to a communication station, and, if the request satisfies a specific condition, provide, as the location information related to the communication device, positioning information acquired through a positioning function of the communication station.

[0009] Yet another aspect of the present disclosure is a storage medium storing a communication control program that causes at least one processor to receive a request for location information related to a communication device connected to a communication station and, if the request satisfies a specific condition, provide positioning information acquired through a positioning function of the communication station as the location information related to the communication device.

[0010] 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.

[0011] According to the present disclosure, unlimited use of the positioning function of a communication station can be prevented.

[0012] It is a schematic diagram showing an outline of a wireless communication system to which a communication control device is applied. It is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of a wireless communication system to which a communication control device is applied. It is a functional block diagram of a communication control device. It is a flowchart illustrating processing by a communication control device.

[0013] Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings, a detailed description will be given of a form for carrying out the present disclosure (hereinafter also referred to as an embodiment). In the description and / or drawings, the same or equivalent components, members, processes, etc. are designated by the same reference numerals, and redundant description will be omitted. The scale and shape of each part shown in the drawings are set for convenience to simplify the description, and should not be interpreted as limiting unless otherwise specified. The embodiment is an example and does not limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way. All features and combinations thereof presented in the embodiments are not necessarily essential to the present disclosure.

[0014] For convenience, the embodiments are presented by breaking down the embodiments into components for each function and / or each group of functions that realize the functions. However, one component in the embodiments may actually be realized by a combination of multiple separate components, or multiple components in the embodiments may actually be realized by a single integrated component. Furthermore, in describing the wireless communication system in the present embodiments, terminology in existing wireless communication standards such as 5G is used for convenience. This is not intended to limit the present disclosure to 5G or the like, and does not prevent the present disclosure from being applied when a technology similar to the present disclosure is provided under a different name in future wireless communication systems such as 6G.

[0015] FIG. 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, a 4G wireless communication system 12, and a satellite communication system 13. The 5G wireless communication system 11 conforms 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). The 4G wireless communication system 12 conforms 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. The satellite communication system 13 is responsible for satellite communication via a communication satellite 131. Although not shown, 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 (such as 6G), or any wireless communication system that cannot be associated with a generation such as Wi-Fi (registered trademark). Furthermore, the wireless communication system 1 may not include some or all of the 5G wireless communication system 11, the 4G wireless communication system 12, and the satellite communication system 13.

[0016] 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) or UT (User Terminal), 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).

[0017] 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.

[0018] 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.

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

[0020] 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.

[0021] 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.

[0022] 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.

[0023] 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 constituting a terrestrial network (TN) via their respective wireless access technologies, such as 5G NR or LTE, or other wired or wireless access technologies or interfaces. In this way, the gateway 133 connects the non-terrestrial network (NTN) constituted by the communication satellite 131 as a non-terrestrial base station or satellite base station and the TN constituted 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 a 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 a 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.

[0024] 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.

[0025] 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.

[0026] FIG. 2 schematically illustrates the overall configuration of a wireless communication system 1 to which a communication control device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is applied. As illustrated in FIG. 1 , the wireless communication system 1 is typically constructed using terrestrial communication cells 112 and 122 (hereinafter also referred to as fixed communication cells) provided by terrestrial base stations 111 and 121 (hereinafter also referred to as fixed base stations) that are fixedly installed on the ground. However, there are problems in that mobile communication is not possible outside the fixed communication cells, and even within the fixed communication cells, the quality of mobile communication degrades depending on the time and location. The wireless communication system 1 may also include a satellite communication system 13 in which a communication satellite 131 is used as a non-terrestrial base station or a mobile base station. However, it is unrealistic to supplement the terrestrial network of the terrestrial base stations 111 and 121 solely with the communication satellite 131.

[0027] To solve this problem, it is preferable to introduce a communication station CS to supplement the fixed communication cells 112, 122 provided by the fixed base stations 111, 121, as shown in FIG. 2. The communication station CS can provide a static communication cell that does not change spatially and / or temporally, or a dynamic communication cell that can change spatially and / or temporally, to the communication device 2. For example, a communication station CS installed at a fixed location on the ground, such as the terrestrial base stations 111, 121, provides at least a static communication cell that does not change spatially. A mobile communication station CS provides a dynamic communication cell that changes spatially (i.e., moves). Furthermore, a communication station that can be switched between an active state that provides a dynamic communication cell and an inactive state that does not provide a dynamic communication cell is an example of a communication station CS that provides a dynamic communication cell that changes temporally (i.e., is switched on and off).

[0028] The communication station CS may be, for example, a communication station whose operating time is limited to a specific time period, or an on-demand communication station that adaptively switches between a stopped state and an operating state according to communication demands of a communication device, etc. Furthermore, the communication station CS may be a small base station that can independently provide a preferably small communication cell, such as a femtocell or a picocell, without relying on other large base stations, such as terrestrial base stations 111, 121 or a communication satellite 131, or may be a relay station that communicates with an existing base station or parent base station 111, 121, 131 (not shown in FIG. 2 ) to expand the existing communication cell or parent communication cell 112, 122, 132 (not shown in FIG. 2 ). The communication station CS in the examples of FIGS. 2 and 3 is an IAB (Integrated Access and Backhaul) node or MBSR (Mobile Base Station Relay) that functions as a relay station.

[0029] IAB is a technology developed for 5G that uses wireless backhaul between a base station serving as an IAB donor (parent node) and an IAB node (child node), and / or between parent-child IAB nodes (the IAB node closest to the IAB donor is the parent node, and the IAB node farther from the IAB donor is the child node) to expand the communication cell of the parent node. Here, "expanding the communication cell" not only refers to expanding the area covered by an existing communication cell, but also includes improving the communication quality of at least part of the existing communication cell. Furthermore, "expanding the area covered by a communication cell" not only refers to expanding the horizontal area of ​​the existing communication cell, but also includes expanding the existing communication cell vertically, for example, underground or to the upper and / or lower floors of a building.

[0030] 2 , the communication station CS as an IAB node includes a communication device function unit 41 that functions as a communication device for parent nodes (parent base stations) including the fixed base stations 111 and 121, and a base station function unit 42 that functions as a child base station for the communication device 2 and provides a relay communication cell. In 5G, the communication device function unit 41 is defined as an MT (Mobile Termination) or an IAB-MT, and the base station function unit 42 is defined as a DU (Distributed Unit) or an IAB-DU. Note that, in other wireless communication systems including those of generations after 5G, including a CU (Central Unit) described later, it is assumed that functions similar to IAB, MT, DU, and CU are provided under different names. In this embodiment, such similar functions may be used as IAB, MT, DU, and CU.

[0031] FIG. 2 illustrates two fixed base stations 111 and 121. The first fixed base station 121, which is a 4G base station, provides a first fixed communication cell 122 as a 4G cell, and the second fixed base station 111, which is a 5G base station, provides a second fixed communication cell 112 as a 5G cell. In the example of FIG. 2, the baseband function of each fixed base station 111 and 121 is divided into a centralized unit (CU) on the core network CN side and a distributed unit (DU) on the communication device 2 side. The first distributed unit DU1 of the first fixed base station 121 is provided near radio equipment such as an antenna of the first fixed base station 121, typically in the same base station facility as the radio equipment. The second distributed unit DU2 of the second fixed base station 111 is provided near radio equipment such as an antenna of the second fixed base station 111, typically in the same base station facility as the radio equipment. In the illustrated example, the aggregation unit CU is shared by the first fixed base station 121 (first distributed unit DU1) and the second fixed base station 111 (second distributed unit DU2), but individual aggregation units may be provided for each of the fixed base stations 111 and 121. The aggregation unit CU is connected to the core network CN. The connections between radio devices such as antennas in each of the fixed base stations 111 and 121 and each of the distributed units DU1 and DU2, the connections between each of the distributed units DU1 and DU2 and the aggregation unit CU, and the connections between the aggregation unit CU and the core network CN are typically wired, such as by conductors or optical fibers, but some or all of these connections may also be wireless.

[0032] The communication device function unit 41 (IAB-MT) of the communication station CS can be wirelessly connected to the distributed unit DU of either of the fixed base stations 111 and 121 depending on the location of the communication station CS. In the example of FIG. 2, the communication device function unit 41 is wirelessly connected to the second distributed unit DU2 of the second fixed base station 111. In this case, the communication station CS functions as a child node with the second fixed base station 111 as a parent node (parent base station) or IAB donor, and extends the second fixed communication cell 112 by the second fixed base station 111 as the parent node. Then, the base station function unit 42 (IAB-DU) of the communication station CS provides a relay communication cell (not shown) as an extended communication cell of the second fixed communication cell 112 to the communication device 2. In the example of FIG. 2, two communication devices 2E and 2F connected to the base station function unit 42 of the communication station CS are schematically shown. The first communication device 2E, while being within the first fixed communication cell 122 but outside the second fixed communication cell 112, substantially communicates with the second fixed base station 111 through the communication station CS. The second communication device 2F, while being within the overlapping area of ​​the first fixed communication cell 122 and the second fixed communication cell 112, substantially communicates with the second fixed base station 111 through the communication station CS. Note that the communication station CS as an IAB node may extend a mobile communication cell or a non-terrestrial communication cell, such as a satellite communication cell 132, with a mobile base station or a non-terrestrial base station, such as a communication satellite 131, as a parent base station, as will be described later with reference to FIG.

[0033] A mobile type communication station CS is attached to a mobile body, except when it can move or fly autonomously, such as the communication satellite 131. A mobile body is any mobile object or person, including any vehicle such as a car, train, motorcycle, bicycle, airplane, drone, or ship. The mobile communication station CS may also be a communication device 2 carried by a moving person, such as a communication device 2 having a tethering function or a personal hotspot function. Since such a communication device 2 (communication station CS) generally functions as a wireless LAN access point, the RAT (e.g., 5G NR) used by the expansion source base station (e.g., the second fixed base station 111) and the RAT used by the expansion destination communication station CS may be different.

[0034] FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of the communication control device 3 according to this embodiment. The communication control device 3 includes a location information request receiving unit 31, a positioning information providing unit 32, and a condition storage unit 33. 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 are preferably realized in the core network CN. However, they may also be realized in a centralized or distributed manner by computers and processors provided in a base station (distributed unit DU and / or aggregation unit CU) such as the communication satellite 131, the gateway 133, the communication station CS, or the communication device 2.

[0035] In the example of Fig. 3, the communication device 2 can communicate with a communication satellite 131 as a base station via a communication station CS or a relay station as an IAB node. As described above with reference to Fig. 2, the communication station CS provides the communication device 2 with a relay communication cell (not shown) as an extended communication cell of the satellite communication cell 132 provided by the communication satellite 131, via a communication device function unit 41 functioning as a communicator for the communication satellite 131 as a parent base station and a base station function unit 42 functioning as a child base station for the communication device 2. Note that the base station is not limited to the communication satellite 131, and may be a terrestrial base station 111 or 121 capable of providing a preferably large communication cell such as a macrocell.

[0036] Here, the communication device 2 is geographically or positionally within the satellite communication cell 132, but is within a satellite positioning unavailable region DR where satellite radio waves from the communication satellite 131 and a positioning satellite PS (described later) do not reach sufficiently. Therefore, the communication device 2 cannot communicate directly with the communication satellite 131, and communicates indirectly with the communication satellite 131 via a communication station CS. Note that the communication station CS that communicates directly with the communication satellite 131 is within the satellite communication cell 132 but outside the satellite positioning unavailable region DR.

[0037] 3, examples of satellite positioning unavailable areas DR where satellite radio waves from the communication satellite 131 and the positioning satellite PS cannot reach sufficiently include indoors, underground, at the bottom of a valley, inside a cave, and inside a tunnel. For example, if the communication device 2 is inside a cave, which is the satellite positioning unavailable area DR, the communication station CS may be located near the entrance outside the cave. Furthermore, if the communication device 2 is inside a building, which is the satellite positioning unavailable area DR, the communication station CS may be located in a window, on a roof, or at an entrance or exit of the building.

[0038] 2, the communication station CS has a positioning unit 43 capable of positioning the communication station CS and / or the communication station 2. The positioning unit 43 includes at least one of a satellite positioning unit 431, a communication positioning unit 432, and an electromagnetic wave positioning unit 433.

[0039] The satellite positioning unit 431 is a satellite positioning device such as a GPS module that acquires position information of the communication station CS itself based on a satellite positioning system such as GPS or GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System). Specifically, the satellite positioning unit 431 such as a GPS module receives satellite positioning radio waves from multiple positioning satellites PS that make up the satellite positioning system and calculates position information of the communication station CS based on the respective transmission times, etc. Note that the communication device 2 may also have a similar satellite positioning device. However, since satellite positioning radio waves from the positioning satellite PS cannot reach the communication device 2 within the satellite positioning unavailable area DR, the position information of the communication device 2 cannot be calculated. In other words, the satellite positioning function of the communication device 2 is essentially disabled within the satellite positioning unavailable area DR.

[0040] The communication positioning unit 432 estimates the position information of the communication device 2 based on the communication between the communication station CS (base station function unit 42) and the communication device 2. For example, the time or delay required for communication between the communication station CS and the communication device 2 suggests the distance between the communication station CS and the communication device 2. Furthermore, if the communication station CS has a function such as beamforming, the direction of the antenna of the communication station CS communicating with the communication device 2, and the transmission direction and / or reception direction of the beam suggest the direction in which the communication device 2 is located relative to the communication station CS. The communication positioning unit 432 can estimate the position information of the communication device 2 based on the relative distance and direction of the communication device 2 relative to the communication station CS.

[0041] The electromagnetic wave positioning unit 433 acquires position information of the communication device 2 through positioning electromagnetic waves emitted by either the communication station CS or the communication device 2 to the other. For example, the communication station CS emits positioning radio waves or positioning light, preferably having a wavelength or frequency different from that of the communication radio waves, to the communication device 2. The communication device 2 may notify the electromagnetic wave positioning unit 433 of the time and intensity of the reception of the positioning electromagnetic waves by communicating with the base station function unit 42. The electromagnetic wave positioning unit 433 can calculate position information of the communication device 2 based on the time, transmission intensity, transmission direction, etc. of the positioning electromagnetic waves transmitted by the electromagnetic wave positioning unit 433 in addition to the reception time and reception intensity of the positioning electromagnetic waves transmitted by the communication device 2.

[0042] Conversely, the communication device 2 may emit positioning electromagnetic waves to the communication station CS. The communication device 2 notifies the electromagnetic wave positioning unit 433 of transmission information such as the transmission time, transmission strength, and transmission direction of the positioning electromagnetic waves by communicating with the base station function unit 42. The electromagnetic wave positioning unit 433 can calculate the position information of the communication device 2 based on the transmission information received from the communication device 2, as well as the reception time and strength of the positioning electromagnetic waves. Note that, instead of or in addition to electromagnetic waves, any physical phenomenon that allows non-contact distance measurement, such as sound, vibration, or wave motion, may be used to acquire relative position information of the communication device 2 with respect to the communication station CS.

[0043] The positioning information of the communication station CS and / or the communication device 2 acquired by the positioning unit 43 as described above is provided to the communication satellite 131 and the core network CN (particularly, the positioning information providing unit 32) via the communication device function unit 41.

[0044] The position information request receiving unit 31 receives a request for position information regarding the communication device 2 connected to the communication station CS from the position information requesting entity 5 described later. If the request for position information regarding the communication device 2 received by the position information request receiving unit 31 satisfies a specific condition stored in the condition storing unit 33, the positioning information providing unit 32 provides the positioning information obtained through the positioning function of the communication station CS (i.e., the positioning unit 43) to the position information requesting entity 5 as the position information regarding the communication device 2.

[0045] When the request for position information of the communication device 2 satisfies a specific condition, the positioning information providing unit 32 may provide the position information of the communication station CS itself, acquired through the satellite positioning function of the communication station CS (i.e., the satellite positioning unit 431), to the position information requesting entity 5 as position information related to the communication device 2. The position information provided in this case is typically the position information of a communication station CS in the vicinity of the communication device 2, and is not, strictly speaking, the position information of the communication device 2. Therefore, when providing the position information to the position information requesting entity 5, the positioning information providing unit 32 may add supplemental information indicating that the position information is not, strictly speaking, the position information of the communication device 2, but, strictly speaking, the position information of the communication station CS communicating with the communication device 2, etc.

[0046] When the request for position information of the communication device 2 satisfies a specific condition, the positioning information providing unit 32 may provide the position information requesting entity 5 with position information regarding the communication device 2 estimated by the communication positioning unit 432 based on communication between the communication station CS (base station function unit 42) and the communication device 2. Furthermore, when the request for position information of the communication device 2 satisfies a specific condition, the positioning information providing unit 32 may provide the positioning information of the communication device 2 acquired by the electromagnetic wave positioning unit 433 through electromagnetic waves emitted by one of the communication station CS and the communication device 2 to the other, to the position information requesting entity 5.

[0047] The position information of the communication device 2 and / or the communication station CS itself measured by the positioning function of the communication station CS (i.e., the positioning unit 43) as described above is preferably provided by the positioning information providing unit 32 only when the satellite positioning function of the communication device 2 is substantially disabled. This is because if the satellite positioning function of the communication device 2 is enabled and can provide sufficient quality position information through its own satellite positioning device such as a GPS module, there is little advantage to using the positioning function of the communication station CS in combination. Rather, using the positioning function of the communication station CS increases the risk of revealing the existence and location of the communication station CS, which telecommunications carriers often want to keep secret. Therefore, it is preferable to limit the use of the positioning function of the communication station CS as much as possible.

[0048] For example, even if the request for position information of the communication device 2 satisfies a specific condition, if the position information of the communication device 2 itself can be acquired through the satellite positioning device possessed by the communication device 2, the positioning information providing unit 32 does not provide the positioning information acquired through the positioning function of the communication station CS (i.e., the positioning unit 43) to the position information requesting entity 5, or disables the positioning unit 43. Furthermore, even if the request for position information of the communication device 2 satisfies a specific condition, if the position information of the communication device 2 itself acquired through the satellite positioning device possessed by the communication device 2 satisfies a predetermined positioning quality standard, the positioning information providing unit 32 does not provide the positioning information acquired through the positioning function of the communication station CS (i.e., the positioning unit 43) to the position information requesting entity 5, or disables the positioning unit 43.

[0049] In this way, only when the satellite positioning device of the communication device 2 cannot generate positioning information or when the generated positioning information is of low quality, the position information of the communication device 2 and / or the communication station CS itself measured by the positioning function of the communication station CS (i.e., the positioning unit 43) is provided by the positioning information providing unit 32. The communication device 2 in the example of Fig. 3 falls into such a limited case because it is located in a satellite positioning unavailable region DR where satellite positioning radio waves from the positioning satellite PS cannot reach.

[0050] Furthermore, the positioning information providing unit 32 provides the position information of the communication device 2 and / or the communication station CS itself, measured by the positioning function of the communication station CS (i.e., the positioning unit 43), to the position information requesting entity 5 only when the request for position information of the communication device 2 accepted by the position information request accepting unit 31 satisfies specific conditions stored in the condition storage unit 33.

[0051] The specific condition stored in the condition storage unit 33 may be that the request for location information of the communication device 2 accepted by the location information request acceptance unit 31 is related to a related communication device 51 that has a predetermined relationship with the communication device 2. For example, if the request is from a related communication device 51 that is used by a related party such as a family member, friend, colleague, or member of the same organization or team of the user of the communication device 2 for which location information is requested, the positioning information providing unit 32 provides the related communication device 51 with the location information of the communication device 2 and / or the communication station CS itself, which is measured by the positioning function of the communication station CS (i.e., the positioning unit 43).

[0052] The specific condition stored in the condition storage unit 33 may be that the request for location information of the communication device 2 accepted by the location information request accepting unit 31 is related to an emergency communication for the communication device 2. For example, if the request is from a public emergency agency 52 such as a police agency, a fire department, or the Japan Coast Guard and / or a non-public emergency agency 52 pre-registered with the communication device 2, such as a security-related company, the positioning information providing unit 32 provides the emergency agency 52 with location information of the communication device 2 and / or the communication station CS itself measured by the positioning function of the communication station CS (i.e., the positioning unit 43). Furthermore, when the public emergency agency 52 notifies the communication device 2 of an emergency (e.g., earthquake, tsunami, fire, explosion, crime, serious incident) that has occurred in the area where the communication device 2 is located (distributes emergency information), the positioning information providing unit 32 may provide the emergency agency 52 with location information of the communication device 2 and / or the communication station CS itself measured by the positioning function of the communication station CS (i.e., the positioning unit 43).

[0053] According to the present embodiment described above, the use of the positioning function of the communication station CS (i.e., the positioning unit 43) can be restricted when a request for location information regarding the communication device 2 connected to the communication station CS satisfies specific conditions.

[0054] 4 is a flowchart illustrating the processing performed by the communication control device 3 according to this embodiment. "S" in the flowchart denotes a step or a process.

[0055] In S1, the location information request receiving unit 31 receives a request for location information regarding the communication device 2 connected to the communication station CS from the location information requesting entity 5. In S2, the positioning information providing unit 32 and the like determine whether the positioning function of the communication device 2 itself, which is the target of the request in S1, is available. For example, if the communication device 2 is outside the satellite positioning unavailable area DR and a satellite positioning device such as a GPS module can operate normally, the determination in S2 is "Yes" and the process proceeds to S3. In S3, the positioning information providing unit 32 provides the location information of the communication device 2, measured by the positioning function of the communication device 2 itself, to the location information requesting entity 5.

[0056] On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3 , if the communication device 2 is in a satellite positioning unavailable area DR and a satellite positioning device such as a GPS module cannot operate normally, S2 is judged as “No” and the process proceeds to S4. In S4, the positioning information providing unit 32 determines whether the request for position information of the communication device 2 accepted in S1 satisfies a specific condition stored in the condition storage unit 33. For example, if the requester for position information of the communication device 2 accepted in S1 is neither the related communication device 51 nor the emergency agency 52, S4 is judged as “No” and the process proceeds to S5. In S5, the positioning information providing unit 32 does not (cannot) provide the positioning information of the communication device 2 and the communication station CS to the position information requesting entity 5. In this case, the positioning information providing unit 32 may provide an error message to the position information requesting entity 5, such as “The requested position information could not be obtained.”

[0057] On the other hand, if the requester of the location information of the communication device 2 accepted in S1 is the related communication device 51 and / or the emergency organization 52, the determination in S4 is "Yes" and the process proceeds to S6. In S6, the positioning information providing unit 32 provides the positioning information acquired through the positioning function (i.e., the positioning unit 43) of the communication station CS to the location information requester 5 as the location information of the communication device 2.

[0058] 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.

[0059] 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.

[0060] The present disclosure may be expressed as follows:

[0061] Item 1: A communication control device comprising at least one processor that executes the following: receiving, via a location information request receiving unit, a request for location information related to a communication device connected to a communication station; and providing, via a positioning information providing unit, location information acquired through a positioning function of the communication station as location information related to the communication device, if the request satisfies a specific condition. Item 2: The communication control device according to item 1, wherein the positioning information providing unit does not provide the positioning information acquired through the positioning function of the communication station, if location information of the communication device itself can be acquired through a satellite positioning device possessed by the communication device. Item 3: The communication control device according to item 2, wherein the positioning information providing unit does not provide the positioning information acquired through the positioning function of the communication station, if location information of the communication device itself acquired through the satellite positioning device satisfies a predetermined positioning quality standard. Item 4: The communication control device according to any one of items 1 to 3, wherein, when the request satisfies a specific condition, the positioning information providing unit provides position information of the communication station itself, acquired through a positioning function of the communication station, as position information related to the communication device. Item 5: The communication control device according to item 4, wherein the position information of the communication station itself is acquired through a satellite positioning device owned by the communication station. Item 6: The communication control device according to any one of items 1 to 5, wherein, when the request satisfies a specific condition, the positioning information providing unit provides position information related to the communication device estimated based on communication between the communication station and the communication device. Item 7: The communication control device according to any one of items 1 to 6, wherein, when the request satisfies a specific condition, the positioning information providing unit provides positioning information acquired through electromagnetic waves emitted by one of the communication station and the communication device toward the other, as position information related to the communication device. Item 8: The communication control device according to any one of items 1 to 7, wherein the specific condition is that the request relates to a related communication device that has a predetermined relationship with the communication device. Item 9: The communication control device according to any one of items 1 to 8, wherein the specific condition is that the request is related to an emergency communication to the communication device.Item 10: The communication control device according to any one of items 1 to 9, wherein the communication station is a relay station that relays communication between a base station and the communication device. Item 11: The communication control device according to item 10, wherein the relay station is an IAB (Integrated Access and Backhaul) node including an MT (Mobile Termination) that functions as a communication device for the base station and a DU (Distributed Unit) that functions as a base station for the communication device. Item 12: The communication control device according to item 10 or 11, wherein the base station is an airborne non-terrestrial base station. Item 13: The communication control device according to item 12, wherein the non-terrestrial base station is a communication satellite that flies in outer space. Item 14: A communication control method executed by at least one processor: accepting a request for location information regarding a communication device connected to a communication station; and if the request satisfies a specific condition, providing positioning information acquired through a positioning function of the communication station as position information regarding the communication device. Item 15: A storage medium storing a communication control program that causes at least one processor to execute the following steps: accepting a request for location information regarding a communication device connected to a communication station; and, if the request satisfies certain conditions, providing positioning information obtained through a positioning function possessed by the communication station as location information regarding the communication device.

[0062] FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE The present disclosure relates to providing location information regarding communicators connected to a communication station.

[0063] 1 Wireless communication system, 2 Communication device, 3 Communication control device, 5 Location information request subject, 11 5G wireless communication system, 12 4G wireless communication system, 13 Satellite communication system, 31 Location information request reception unit, 32 Positioning information provision unit, 33 Condition storage unit, 41 Communication device function unit, 42 Base station function unit, 43 Positioning unit, 51 Related communication device, 52 Emergency agency, 111 5G base station, 112 5G cell, 121 4G base station, 122 4G cell, 131 Communication satellite, 132 Satellite communication cell, 133 Gateway, 431 Satellite positioning unit, 432 Communication positioning unit, 433 Electromagnetic wave positioning unit.

Claims

1. A communication control device having at least one processor that executes the following: receiving a request for location information regarding a communication device connected to a communication station through a location information request receiving unit; and providing, through a positioning information providing unit, positioning information obtained through a positioning function possessed by the communication station as location information regarding the communication device if the request satisfies certain conditions.

2. A communication control device as described in claim 1, wherein the positioning information providing unit does not provide positioning information obtained through a positioning function possessed by the communication station when location information of the communication device itself can be obtained through a satellite positioning device possessed by the communication device.

3. A communication control device as described in claim 2, wherein the positioning information providing unit does not provide positioning information obtained through the positioning function possessed by the communication station when the position information of the communication device itself obtained through the satellite positioning device satisfies a predetermined positioning quality standard.

4. A communication control device as described in claim 1, wherein the positioning information providing unit provides, when the request satisfies certain conditions, position information of the communication station itself obtained through a positioning function possessed by the communication station as position information related to the communication device.

5. The communication control device according to claim 4, wherein the position information of the communication station itself is acquired through a satellite positioning device possessed by the communication station.

6. The communication control device according to claim 1, wherein the positioning information providing unit provides location information regarding the communication device estimated based on communication between the communication station and the communication device if the request satisfies a specific condition.

7. A communication control device as described in claim 1, wherein the positioning information providing unit provides, when the request satisfies certain conditions, positioning information obtained through electromagnetic waves emitted by one of the communication station and the communication device to the other, as location information regarding the communication device.

8. The communication control device according to claim 1, wherein the specific condition is that the request is related to a related communication device having a predetermined relationship with the communication device.

9. The communication control device according to claim 1, wherein the specific condition is that the request is for an emergency communication to the communication device.

10. The communication control device according to claim 1, wherein said communication station is a relay station that relays communication between a base station and said communication device.

11. The communication control device according to claim 10, wherein the relay station is an IAB (Integrated Access and Backhaul) node having an MT (Mobile Termination) functioning as a communication device for the base station and a DU (Distributed Unit) functioning as a base station for the communication device.

12. The communications control device of claim 10, wherein the base station is an airborne non-terrestrial base station.

13. The communication control device according to claim 12, wherein the non-terrestrial base station is a communication satellite flying in outer space.

14. A communication control method, executed by at least one processor, comprising: accepting a request for location information regarding a communication device connected to a communication station; and, if the request satisfies specific conditions, providing positioning information obtained through a positioning function possessed by the communication station as position information regarding the communication device.

15. A storage medium storing a communication control program that causes at least one processor to execute the following steps: accepting a request for location information regarding a communication device connected to a communication station; and, if the request satisfies certain conditions, providing positioning information obtained through a positioning function possessed by the communication station as position information regarding the communication device.

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