Communication control device and communication control method

Abstract

This communication control device includes a prediction unit and a provision unit. The prediction unit compares information indicating a setting area, a setting date / time, and desired quality that are set by a user in relation to the use of a wireless communication service, area information indicating an area covered by the wireless communication service, and a supply / demand prediction for communication resources corresponding to the setting area and the setting date / time to predict whether it is possible to provide the wireless communication service so as to satisfy the desired quality at the setting area and the setting date / time. The provision unit provides a prediction result obtained by the prediction unit to the user.

Description

Communication control device and communication control method

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a communication control device and a communication control method.

[0002] In recent years, while services compatible with the fifth generation mobile communication system, so-called 5G (Generation), have become more diverse, there is a demand for effective utilization of resources used for wireless communication services. In response to this situation, for example, techniques for optimizing resources used for wireless communication services have been proposed.

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2022-137294

[0004] However, conventional techniques leave room for improvement in terms of improving the usability of wireless communication services.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above, and has an object to provide a communication control device and a communication control method that can improve the usability of wireless communication services.

[0006] According to one aspect of the embodiment, a communication control device includes a prediction unit and a providing unit. The prediction unit compares information indicating a set area, a set date and time, and a desired quality set by a user for use of a wireless communication service with area information indicating an area covered by the wireless communication service and a supply and demand prediction of communication resources corresponding to the set area and the set date and time, and predicts whether a wireless communication service satisfying the desired quality can be provided in the set area and at the set date and time. The providing unit provides the user with the prediction result.

[0007] According to one aspect of the embodiment, it is possible to improve the usability of wireless communication services.

[0008] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an overview of a communication system according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an overview of information processing executed by a communication control device according to an embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a display example (part 1) of a setting screen displayed on a terminal device according to an embodiment. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a display example of a prediction result according to an embodiment. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a display example (part 2) of a setting screen displayed on a terminal device according to an embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a communication control device according to an embodiment. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an overview of a bandwidth determination table according to an embodiment. FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing procedure of a communication control device according to an embodiment. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an overview of a processing distribution table according to a modified example. FIG. 10 is a hardware configuration diagram illustrating an example of a computer that realizes the functions of a communication control device according to an embodiment.

[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In this specification and drawings, components having substantially the same functional configurations are designated by the same reference numerals, and redundant description will be omitted.

[0010] One or more embodiments (including examples, modifications, and application examples) described below can be implemented independently. However, at least a portion of the embodiments described below may be implemented in appropriate combination with at least a portion of another embodiment. These embodiments may include novel features that are different from one another. Therefore, these embodiments may contribute to solving different purposes or problems and may produce different effects.

[0011] (Embodiments) [1. Introduction] In recent years, with the advent of high-speed communication standards such as 5G, the purposes and uses of mobile wireless networks have become more diverse, and there is a demand for high communication performance, such as connection stability, low latency, high reliability, high throughput, power saving, or low processing load.

[0012] In order to respond to such diversification of purposes and applications, efforts are being made to provide networks with different communication qualities while controlling the network using E2E orchestrator technology that controls the network end-to-end.

[0013] On the other hand, even if a user specifies an area where the user wants to use the network, due to limitations on the various resources required to provide the network, it may be difficult to provide the network quickly depending on the balance of supply and demand. Furthermore, even if a user specifies an area where the user wants to use the network, it is not certain whether the network can be used at the desired service level.

[0014] For example, some users may prioritize using Wi-Fi (registered trademark) even if the area where they can secure the resources necessary to use the network at the desired service level is a little far from the area they want to use.

[0015] In this way, if users can be presented with information such as the areas and times when it is possible to secure the resources necessary to use the network at the desired service level, flexible network use will be promoted, and usability is expected to improve.

[0016] Therefore, the following describes an example of information processing that aims to improve usability by presenting to the user information such as areas and times when it is possible to secure the resources necessary to use the network at the desired service level.

[0017] 2. Overview of the Communication System An overview of the communication system SYS according to the embodiment will be described below with reference to Fig. 1. Fig. 1 is a diagram showing an overview of the communication system SYS according to the embodiment. A communication control method realized by information processing according to the embodiment is realized in the communication system SYS shown in Fig. 1.

[0018] 1, the communication system SYS includes a plurality of terminal devices 10, such as terminal devices 10A, 10B, and 10C, a plurality of service providing devices 20, such as service providing devices 20A, 20B, and 20C, and a communication control device 100. The terminal devices 10, the service providing devices 20, and the communication control device 100 are connected to a wireless network NA and the Internet NB. The terminal devices 10, the service providing devices 20, and the communication control device 100 can communicate with each other via the wireless network NA and the Internet NB.

[0019] The wireless network NA is composed of, for example, a radio access network (RAN) and a core network. The wireless network NA provides a wireless communication environment enabling mobile communication to the user of the terminal device 10 by the devices constituting the radio access network (also called a "mobile network") and the core network operating in cooperation with each other.

[0020] The radio access network is composed of, for example, transmission lines, antenna equipment, base stations, line control devices, etc. The radio access network passes communication data received from the terminal device 10 to the core network.

[0021] The core network is a backbone network that is made up of control devices such as gateways, etc. The core network relays communication data received from the radio access network to the Internet NB.

[0022] The wireless network may support at least one of radio access technologies (RATs) such as LTE (Long Term Evolution), NR (New Radio), and 6G. LTE, NR, and 6G are types of cellular communication technologies that enable mobile communication for terminal devices by arranging multiple areas covered by base stations in the form of cells. Note that the wireless access method used by the communication system 1 is not limited to LTE, NR, and 6G, and may be other wireless access methods such as W-CDMA (Wideband Code Division Multiple Access) and cdma2000 (Code Division Multiple Access 2000).

[0023] NR is the next generation (5th generation) wireless access technology after LTE (4th generation communication including LTE-Advanced and LTE-Advanced Pro). 6G is the next generation cellular communication technology after NR and 5GS (5G system), which are 5th generation mobile communication technologies.

[0024] The base station may be a terrestrial station or a non-terrestrial station. The non-terrestrial station may be a satellite station or an aircraft station. If the non-terrestrial station is a satellite station, the wireless network may be a bent-pipe (transparent) type mobile satellite communication system.

[0025] The terminal device 10 is an information processing terminal used by a user. The terminal device 10 is, for example, a smartphone, a wearable device, a tablet terminal, a notebook PC, a desktop PC, a mobile phone, or a PDA.

[0026] When a user launches an application, the terminal device 10 accesses a specific server device corresponding to the application via the wireless network NA and the Internet NB, acquires data from the specific server device, and displays the acquired data so that the user can view it.

[0027] The terminal device 10 may be configured to connect to a network using a radio access technology (RAT) such as LTE, NR, 6G, Wi-Fi, or Bluetooth (registered trademark). In this case, the terminal device 10 may be configured to be able to use different radio access technologies (wireless communication methods). For example, the terminal device 10 may be configured to be able to use NR and Wi-Fi. Furthermore, the terminal device 10 may be configured to be able to use different cellular communication technologies (for example, LTE, NR, or 6G).

[0028] The service providing device 20 is managed by a business operator that provides various online services to users of the terminal devices 10. Examples of online services provided by the service providing device 20 include a web conference service and a video distribution service.

[0029] The service providing device 20 is typically an application server or a web server. The service providing device 20 may be a PC server, a midrange server, or a mainframe server. The service providing device 20 may be a system in which multiple server devices cooperate with each other, or a cloud system in which server devices and storage devices cooperate with each other.

[0030] The communication control device 100 is, for example, a RAN Intelligent Controller (RIC) and controls connections to a wireless network NA. The communication control device 100 is managed by a telecommunications carrier that manages the wireless network NA and executes information processing according to the embodiment. The communication control device 100 also optimizes network resources (an example of "communication resources"), such as the frequency band of the wireless network NA when the terminal device 10 connects to the Internet NB and computer resources that execute processing to control wireless communication through the wireless network NA, and executes processing to efficiently operate the wireless network NA. The communication control device 100 also works in cooperation with a data center that manages network resources, and manages a network log, which is time-series data such as the communication history and usage status of users who use wireless communication services, in real time.

[0031] 3. Overview of Information Processing According to the Embodiment An overview of information processing executed by the communication control device 100 according to the embodiment will be described below with reference to Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a diagram illustrating an overview of information processing executed by the communication control device 100 according to the embodiment.

[0032] As shown in FIG. 2, the terminal device 10 displays a setting screen for accepting from the user the setting of desired conditions for use of the wireless communication service (step S01).

[0033] The setting screen may be a screen displayed by an application program preset for the user to accept various operations related to the wireless communication service, or may be a predetermined web page that accepts various operations related to the wireless communication service. An example of the setting screen displayed on the terminal device 10 will be described below with reference to Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a diagram showing a display example (part 1) of the setting screen displayed on the terminal device 10 according to the embodiment.

[0034] In response to a request from a user, the terminal device 10 acquires information for displaying the setting screen G-1 shown in Fig. 3 from the communication control device 100. The terminal device 10 displays the setting screen G-1 shown in Fig. 3. The setting screen G-1 shown in Fig. 3 has a setting area A-1 and a setting area A-2.

[0035] The setting area A-1 accepts from the user the setting area, which is the desired area set by the user for use of the wireless communication service, and the setting date and time, which is the desired date and time set by the user for use of the wireless communication service. The setting area A-1 may also be configured to allow the user to set a desired route for use of the wireless communication service. The setting area A-2 accepts from the user the setting of the desired quality, which is the service level set by the user for use of the wireless communication service.

[0036] In response to a request from the user, the terminal device 10 transmits a request to use a wireless communication service to the communication control device 100 (step S02). For example, when the terminal device 10 detects a user operation on a button BT-1 provided on the setting screen G-1, the terminal device 10 transmits the request to use a wireless communication service to the communication control device 100. The request to use includes information regarding the use of the wireless communication service set by the user on the setting screen G-1.

[0037] When the communication control device 100 receives the use request from the terminal device 10, the communication control device 100 executes an offer content prediction process for predicting whether or not wireless communication services can be provided under the user's desired conditions (step S03).

[0038] For example, the communication control device 100 compares the set area and set date and time included in the usage settings with area information indicating the communication area covered by the wireless communication service and a supply and demand forecast of network resources corresponding to the set area and set date and time, and predicts whether it is possible to provide a wireless communication service that meets the desired quality included in the usage settings in the set area and set date and time.

[0039] The communication control device 100 can predict whether it is possible to provide a wireless communication service that satisfies the user's desired quality in a set area and at a set date and time using a trained model that has learned the supply and demand relationship of the bandwidth of the wireless network NA and computer resources for each communication area, which is the range over which wireless communication services are provided. The trained model is generated by having the model learn the supply and demand relationship of network resources in each area in a time series, using, for example, network logs, which are time-series data such as the user's communication history and usage status, as training data.

[0040] Furthermore, when the provision content prediction process is completed, the communication control device 100 transmits the prediction result to the terminal device 10 (step S04), thereby providing the prediction result to the user.

[0041] When the terminal device 10 receives the prediction result from the communication control device 100, it displays the received prediction result (step S05). Fig. 4 shows an example of the display of the prediction result displayed on the terminal device 10. Fig. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the display screen of the prediction result displayed on the terminal device 10 according to the embodiment.

[0042] The prediction result displayed on the prediction result display screen G-2 shown in Fig. 4 includes information indicating an available area where the wireless communication service can be used at the desired quality, information indicating the available date and time when the wireless communication service can be used at the desired quality, and information indicating an estimate of the usage fee. Note that the prediction result shown in Fig. 4 is an example, and is not limited to the example shown in Fig. 4, and may not include information indicating an estimate of the usage fee.

[0043] A button BT-2 for accepting a reservation for use of a wireless communication service from a user based on the content presented as a prediction result is provided on the prediction result display screen G-2 displayed on the terminal device 10. When the terminal device 10 detects an operation on the button BT-2, it transmits a reservation request for use of a wireless communication service based on the content presented as a prediction result to the communication control device 100.

[0044] The communication control device 100 may also accept, from the user, information indicating a service to be used using the wireless communication service or a use case of the wireless communication service, i.e., information indicating the intended use of the wireless communication service. In this case, the communication control device 100 provides, as one of the usage settings, information for displaying a setting screen on which the setting of the service or use case can be accepted to the terminal device 10. The terminal device 10 displays the setting screen on which the setting of the service or use case can be accepted. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a display example (part 2) of a setting screen displayed on the terminal device 10 according to the embodiment.

[0045] 5, the setting screen G-1 has a setting area A-3 in addition to the setting areas A-1 and A-2 described above. The setting area A-3 further accepts settings from the user for information indicating services to be used using the wireless communication service or use cases of the wireless communication service.

[0046] In response to a request from a user, the terminal device 10 transmits a request to use a wireless communication service to the communication control device 100. For example, when the terminal device 10 detects a user operation on a button BT-1 provided on the setting screen G-1, the terminal device 10 transmits the request to use a wireless communication service to the communication control device 100. The request to use includes information indicating a service to be used using the wireless communication service set as information regarding the use of the wireless communication service on the setting screen G-1, or a use case of the wireless communication service.

[0047] In this case, when the communication control device 100 receives a usage request from the terminal device 10, it not only obtains the setting area and setting date and time included in the usage request, but also information indicating the service to be used using the wireless communication service or the use case of the wireless communication service, and taking the service or use case into consideration, predicts whether it is possible to provide a wireless communication service that meets the desired quality.

[0048] Furthermore, if the communication control device 100 predicts that a wireless communication service that satisfies the desired quality set by the user will not be available in the set area and at the set date and time, it may change the set area or set date and time set by the user and predict another date and time when a wireless communication service that satisfies the desired quality will be available in the set area, or another area where a wireless communication service that satisfies the desired quality will be available at the set date and time. Furthermore, the communication control device 100 may provide the user with information indicating another date and time when a wireless communication service that satisfies the desired quality will be available in the set area, or information indicating another area where a wireless communication service that satisfies the desired quality will be available at the set date and time, as a prediction result.

[0049] For example, the communication control device 100 changes the set date and time to another date and time without changing the set area, and predicts the date and time that satisfies the user's desired quality. The communication control device 100 predicts the communication quality for each changed date and time while changing the area in any unit such as by hour or day. The communication control device 100 also changes the set area to another area without changing the set date and time, and predicts the area that satisfies the user's desired quality. The communication control device 100 predicts the communication quality for each changed area while changing the area in order, starting from the vicinity of the set area.

[0050] 4. Example of Configuration of Communication Control Device The functional configuration of the communication control device 100 according to the embodiment will be described below with reference to Fig. 6. Fig. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the communication control device 100 according to the embodiment.

[0051] As shown in FIG. 6 , the communication control device 100 according to the embodiment includes a communication unit 110 , a storage unit 120 , and a control unit 130 .

[0052] (Communication Unit 110) The communication unit 110 transmits and receives various types of information to and from other devices. The communication unit 110 is realized, for example, by a communication module or a network interface card (NIC). For example, the communication unit 110 is connected to the Internet NB via a wired or wireless connection. The communication unit 110 transmits and receives information to and from the terminal device 10 via the Internet NB.

[0053] (Storage unit 120) The storage unit 120 stores, for example, programs and data used for control and calculation by the control unit 130. The storage unit 120 may be realized, for example, by a semiconductor memory element such as a random access memory (RAM) or a flash memory, or a storage device such as a hard disk or an optical disk. As shown in Fig. 6, the storage unit 120 stores area information 121, a network log 122, and a supply and demand prediction model 123.

[0054] (Area Information 121) The area information 121 is information indicating an area covered by a wireless communication service provided by a communication carrier that manages a wireless network NA. The area covered by a wireless communication service corresponds to an area covered by a data center that manages network resources such as the bandwidth and computing resources of the wireless network NA. The area information 121 may include the RUs (Radio Units) accommodated and coverage information of the RUs.

[0055] (Network Log 122) The network log 122 is time-series data such as communication history and usage status of a user who uses a wireless communication service.

[0056] (Supply and demand prediction model 123) The supply and demand prediction model 123 is a trained model that has learned the supply and demand relationship of the bandwidth of the wireless network NA and computer resources for each communication area, which is the range in which wireless communication services are provided. The supply and demand prediction model 123 is generated by, for example, using the network log 122 as training data and having the model learn the relationship between the supply and demand of network resources in each area in time series.

[0057] (Control unit 130) The control unit 130 is a controller that executes various processes. The control unit 130 can be realized by a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), an MPU (Micro Processing Unit), or the like, which executes various programs stored in a storage device inside the communication control device 100 using RAM as a working area.

[0058] Furthermore, the control unit 130 may be realized by an integrated circuit such as an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), or a GPGPU (General Purpose Graphic Processing Unit).

[0059] As shown in FIG. 6, the control unit 130 has a prediction unit 131, a provision unit 132, and a collaboration unit 133, and these units realize or execute the functions and actions of the information processing described below.

[0060] (Prediction unit 131) The prediction unit 131 compares information regarding usage settings, including the set area, set date and time, and desired quality set by the user regarding the use of the wireless communication service, area information indicating the area covered by the wireless communication service, and a supply and demand prediction of communication resources corresponding to the set area and set date and time, and predicts whether or not a wireless communication service that satisfies the desired quality can be provided in the set area and set date and time.

[0061] The prediction unit 131 may further acquire, as information related to the usage settings, information indicating a service to be used using the wireless communication service or a use case of the wireless communication service, and may predict whether or not a wireless communication service satisfying the desired quality can be provided, taking into account the service or use case indicated in the acquired information. That is, the prediction unit 131 may further acquire information indicating the purpose or use of the wireless communication service, and may predict whether or not a wireless communication service satisfying the desired quality can be provided, taking into account the acquired purpose or use. This allows a mobile network operator (MNO) that manages the communication control device 100 to expect the effect of optimizing dynamic allocation of network resources according to the user's purpose or use of the network.

[0062] An example of a method for determining a frequency band according to a service or use case will be described below with reference to Fig. 7. Fig. 7 is a diagram showing an overview of a band determination table according to an embodiment. The band determination table shown in Fig. 7 is set arbitrarily by a telecommunications carrier that provides a wireless communication service.

[0063] 7, the band determination table is configured by associating the items "service or use case" with the items "frequency band." Based on the band determination table, the communication control device 100 distributes the number of users connected to one frequency band as much as possible according to the purpose and application of the users, thereby making effective use of the frequency band.

[0064] For example, if the purpose or use of the wireless communication service set by the user involves data streaming, such as viewing video content, a high frequency band such as "3.9 GHz" or "2.1 GHz" is expected to be set in the band determination table.

[0065] Furthermore, if the purpose or use of the wireless communication service set by the user does not involve data streaming, such as transmitting image data captured by a surveillance webcam that takes fixed-point shots, the bandwidth determination table is expected to set a frequency band such as "1.5 GHz" or "900 MHz," which is a lower frequency band than when data streaming is involved.

[0066] The prediction unit 131 determines a frequency band corresponding to a service or use case set by a user in accordance with the correspondence relationship shown in Fig. 7. Then, the prediction unit 131 predicts the supply and demand situation of the frequency band corresponding to the user's service or use case in the set area and at the set date and time.

[0067] In addition, if the prediction unit 131 predicts that it is not possible to provide a wireless communication service that satisfies the desired quality, it may change the set area or the set date and time and predict another date and time when a wireless communication service that satisfies the desired quality can be provided in the set area, or another area when a wireless communication service that satisfies the desired quality can be provided at the set date and time.

[0068] (Providing Unit 132) The providing unit 132 provides the user with the prediction result by the predicting unit 131. For example, the providing unit 132 provides the user with information indicating the prediction result by the predicting unit 131, such as information indicating an available area where the wireless communication service can be used with the desired quality, information indicating the date and time when the wireless communication service can be used with the desired quality, and information indicating an estimate of the usage fee, by transmitting the information to the terminal device 10 via the communication unit 110. Note that the providing unit 132 may provide the user with an optimal route according to the supply and demand result, based on the prediction result by the predicting unit 131.

[0069] In addition, the providing unit 132 may provide the user with information indicating another date and time when wireless communication services that satisfy the desired quality can be provided in the set area, or information indicating another area where wireless communication services that satisfy the desired quality can be provided at the set date and time, as a prediction result by the prediction unit 131.

[0070] The providing unit 132 may calculate an estimate of the usage fee when providing the prediction result to the user. The control unit 130 may include a calculation unit that calculates the estimate of the usage fee.

[0071] (Collaboration unit 133) When the collaboration unit 133 receives a reservation for use of a wireless communication service from a user based on the content presented as a prediction result, it registers the reservation. The collaboration unit 133 also collaborates with each device constituting the wireless network NA so as to provide wireless communication services in an available area and on a date and time that are available with the quality desired by the user. The collaboration unit 133 may also register the reservation for use based on a policy, such as prioritizing paying users, when making a reservation for use.

[0072] 5. Processing Procedures by Communication Control Device The processing procedures of the communication control device 100 according to the embodiment will be described below with reference to Fig. 8. Fig. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of the processing procedures of the communication control device 100 according to the embodiment. The processing procedures shown in Fig. 8 are executed by the control unit 130 included in the communication control device 100.

[0073] As shown in FIG. 8, the prediction unit 131 acquires usage setting information, which is information relating to usage settings of wireless communication services, from the user (step S101).

[0074] The prediction unit 131 also acquires the area information 121 stored in the storage unit 120 (step S102).

[0075] The prediction unit 131 also acquires the supply and demand prediction model 123 stored in the storage unit 120 (step S103).

[0076] In addition, the prediction unit 131 compares the setting area, setting date and time, and desired quality included in the usage setting information with the area information and the supply and demand prediction of communication resources corresponding to the setting area and setting date and time, and predicts whether it is possible to provide a wireless communication service that satisfies the desired quality in the setting area and setting date and time (step S104).

[0077] For example, the prediction unit 131 predicts whether or not it is possible to provide a wireless communication service that satisfies the user's desired quality in a set area and at a set date and time, using the supply and demand prediction model 123 stored in the storage unit 120. Specifically, the prediction unit 131 inputs the set area and the set date and time into the supply and demand prediction model 123, thereby obtaining a network resource supply and demand prediction output from the supply and demand prediction model 123. The prediction unit 131 then compares the obtained network resource supply and demand prediction with the user's desired quality, and determines whether or not it is possible to provide a wireless communication service with the user's desired quality.

[0078] Also, in step S104, if the prediction unit 131 predicts that it is not possible to provide wireless communication services with the user's desired quality, it may change the set area or set date and time set by the user and predict another date and time when wireless communication services that meet the desired quality can be provided in the set area, or another area when wireless communication services that meet the desired quality can be provided at the set date and time.

[0079] The providing unit 132 transmits the prediction result by the prediction unit 131 to the terminal device 10 via the communication unit 110, thereby providing the result to the user (step S105), and the processing procedure shown in FIG. 8 ends.

[0080] 6. Modifications (6-1. Processing distribution according to the purpose of use of wireless communication services, etc.) In the above embodiment, if the user is evaluated as having low demands for responsiveness, according to the purpose of use of wireless communication services set by the user, the communication control device 100 may distribute processing to network resources in an area different from the user's set area. Fig. 9 is a diagram showing an overview of a processing distribution table according to a modification.

[0081] The processing distribution table shown in Fig. 9 is configured by associating the items "Setting Area", "Service / Use Case", and "Data Center". The "Data Center" item is set to a data center to which processing is distributed. The data center to which processing is distributed is selected based on the distance from the setting area set by the target user and the allowable delay amount calculated in advance according to the service / use case set by the target user.

[0082] If "low latency" is not specified as the desired quality set by a user, the communication control device 100 determines that user as a target user with low requirements for responsiveness. Then, the communication control device 100 distributes the processing of wireless communication services for the target user according to the processing distribution table shown in Fig. 9. For example, the communication control device 100 identifies a distribution destination data center based on the target user's set area and service / use case, and distributes the processing of wireless communication services corresponding to the target user to the identified other communication control devices.

[0083] (6-2. Recommending Usage Settings Based on Predicted User Behavior) In the above embodiment, the communication control device 100 may predict the behavior of a user who uses a wireless communication service, and based on the predicted behavior, predict the area, time period, and desired quality of the wireless communication service to be used, and recommend the service to the user. For example, the communication control device 100 predicts the user's daily behavior based on time-series data representing the transition of the user's (i.e., terminal device 10) location as determined by base stations constituting the wireless network NA and the content of the service to which the user is connected. Then, based on the predicted user behavior, the communication control device 100 dynamically sets conditions for the use of wireless communication services corresponding to the user's behavior. For example, if the communication control device 100 predicts that the target user's behavior is to watch videos in a specified area from 11:00 to 12:00 Monday through Friday, the communication control device 100 proposes to the target user the use of a wireless communication service with high reliability and low latency in the specified area from 11:00 to 12:00.

[0084] 7. Hardware Configuration Example An example of the hardware configuration of the communication control device 100 according to the embodiment will now be described. The communication control device 100 according to the embodiment may be realized, for example, by a computer 1000 having a configuration as shown in Fig. 10. Fig. 10 is a hardware configuration diagram showing an example of a computer that realizes the functions of the communication control device 100 according to the embodiment.

[0085] The computer 1000 includes a CPU 1100 , a RAM 1200 , a ROM 1300 , a HDD 1400 , a communication interface (I / F) 1500 , an input / output interface (I / F) 1600 , and a media interface (I / F) 1700 .

[0086] The CPU 1100 operates and controls each unit based on programs stored in the ROM 1300 or the HDD 1400. The ROM 1300 stores a boot program executed by the CPU 1100 when the computer 1000 starts up, programs that depend on the hardware of the computer 1000, and the like.

[0087] The HDD 1400 stores programs executed by the CPU 1100 and data used by such programs. The communication interface 1500 receives data from other devices via a predetermined communication network and sends it to the CPU 1100, and transmits data generated by the CPU 1100 to other devices via the predetermined communication network.

[0088] The CPU 1100 controls an output device such as a display and an input device such as a keyboard via the input / output interface 1600. The CPU 1100 acquires data from the input device via the input / output interface 1600. The CPU 1100 also outputs generated data to the output device via the input / output interface 1600.

[0089] Media interface 1700 reads a program or data stored in recording medium 1800 and provides it to CPU 1100 via RAM 1200. CPU 1100 loads the program or data from recording medium 1800 onto RAM 1200 via media interface 1700 and executes the loaded program. Recording medium 1800 is, for example, an optical recording medium such as a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) or a PD (Phase Change Rewritable Disc), a magneto-optical recording medium such as an MO (Magneto-Optical disk), a tape medium, a magnetic recording medium, or a semiconductor memory.

[0090] For example, when the computer 1000 functions as the communication control device 100 according to the embodiment, the CPU 1100 of the computer 1000 executes a program loaded onto the RAM 1200 to implement the functions of the control unit 130. That is, the CPU 1100, which is a computing device, implements the processing of the communication control device 100 according to the embodiment in cooperation with a program (for example, a program that provides a function for executing information processing according to the embodiment) loaded onto the RAM 1200, which is a primary storage device. The CPU 1100 of the computer 1000 reads and executes these programs from the recording medium 1800, but as another example, these programs may be obtained from another device via a predetermined communication network.

[0091] [8. Other] In the above embodiment, the communication control device 100 allocates network resources by using network slicing technology that virtually divides the wireless network NA. This enables the communication control device 100 to efficiently allocate a portion of the frequency band of the wireless network NA to services suitable for high speed and large capacity, and allocate the other portion to services suitable for high reliability and low latency.

[0092] A network slice is identified by S-NSSAI (Single Network Slice Selection Assistance Information). S-NSSAI is used as an identifier across 5G System (5GS), 5G-RAN, and User Equipment (UE). In network slicing technology, a terminal device 10, i.e., User Equipment (UE), can have up to eight S-NSSAIs.

[0093] By setting the S-NSSAI in advance for each component, it is possible to change the S-NSSAI for each application. In other words, it is possible to establish a PDU (Packet Data Unit) session by changing the S-NSSAI for each application, as we have seen so far.

[0094] However, in actual operation, it is required that the UE be able to use the network slice without being aware of such settings. To meet such requirements, a function called URSP (User Equipment Route Selection Policy) can be used. URSP is a function that automatically selects a network slice to be used depending on the application being used.

[0095] The URSP rule structure is defined in 3GPP TS 23.503 6.6.2.1. URSP rules are transferred from the Policy Control Function (PCF) to the UE via the Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF). URSP maps specific user data traffic to PDU session connection parameters. The SSC Mode Selection Policy (SSCMSP) associates matching applications with Session and Service Continuity (SSC) modes. The Network Slice Selection Policy (NSSP) associates matching applications with S-NSSAIs. The Data Network Name (DNN) session policy associates matching applications with DNNs. The PDU session type policy associates matching applications with PDU session types. The Non-Seamless Offload Policy determines whether a matching application is seamlessly offloaded to a non-3GPP access (i.e., outside a PDU session). The Access Type preference indicates the preferred access type if the matching application needs to be established with a PDU session.

[0096] With URSP, when the UE starts communication (i.e., "Registration"), the 5GC (5G Core, i.e., core network) side can notify the UE of the S-NSSAI to be used in each application.

[0097] Although the present invention has been described above using the embodiments, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the scope described in the above embodiments. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and improvements can be made to the above embodiments. It is clear from the claims that such modifications and improvements can also be included within the technical scope of the present invention.

[0098] It should be noted that the execution order of each process, such as operations, procedures, steps, and stages, in the devices, systems, programs, and methods shown in the claims, specifications, and drawings is not specifically stated as "before," "prior to," etc., and that the processes can be performed in any order unless the output of a previous process is used in a subsequent process. Even if the operational flow in the claims, specifications, and drawings is described using "first," "next," etc. for convenience, this does not mean that the processes must be performed in this order.

[0099] SYS Communication system 10 Terminal device 20 Service providing device 100 Communication control device 110 Communication unit 120 Storage unit 121 Area information 122 Network log 123 Supply and demand prediction model 130 Control unit 131 Prediction unit 132 Provision unit 133 Collaboration unit

Claims

1. A communication control device having: a prediction unit that compares information indicating a set area, set date and time, and desired quality set by a user regarding the use of a wireless communication service, area information indicating the area covered by the wireless communication service, and a supply and demand forecast of communication resources corresponding to the set area and the set date and time, and predicts whether the wireless communication service that satisfies the desired quality can be provided in the set area and at the set date and time; and a provision unit that provides the user with the prediction result made by the prediction unit.

2. The communication control device described in claim 1, wherein the prediction unit further acquires information indicating a service to be used using the wireless communication service or a use case of the wireless communication service as information set by the user regarding the use of the wireless communication service, and predicts whether the wireless communication service that satisfies the desired quality can be provided taking into account the service or the use case.

3. A communication control device as described in claim 1 or 2, wherein, when the prediction unit predicts that the wireless communication service satisfying the desired quality cannot be provided, the prediction unit changes the set area or the set date and time and predicts another date and time when the wireless communication service satisfying the desired quality can be provided in the set area, or another area where the wireless communication service satisfying the desired quality can be provided at the set date and time, and the provision unit provides the user with information indicating another date and time when the wireless communication service satisfying the desired quality can be provided in the set area, or information indicating another area where the wireless communication service satisfying the desired quality can be provided at the set date and time, as the prediction result.

4. A communication control method executed by a computer, comprising: a prediction step of comparing information indicating a set area, set date and time, and desired quality set by a user regarding the use of a wireless communication service, area information indicating an area covered by the wireless communication service, and a supply and demand forecast of communication resources corresponding to the set area and the set date and time, and predicting whether the wireless communication service that satisfies the desired quality can be provided in the set area and at the set date and time; and a provision step of providing the user with the prediction result obtained by the prediction step.

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