Program, information processing device, and information processing method

Abstract

Provided is a program that causes a computer to execute: a process for acquiring information indicating a context, including the position of a user terminal; and a process for selecting a communication line for connecting the user terminal, such selection being on the basis of the information indicating the context of the user terminal and information indicating communication quality associated with a combination of the context and information indicating the communication line. Due to this configuration, an appropriate communication line can be selected in consideration of communication quality.

Description

Program, information processing device, and information processing method

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a program, an information processing device, and an information processing method.

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a technology that enables a user to select an appropriate wireless line from those provided for each location in a wireless communication system that requires continuous communication while moving.

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2020-14150

[0004] However, in the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, there is room for improvement in the selection of a communication line (wireless line) taking communication quality into consideration, for example.

[0005] In view of the above-mentioned problems, an object of the present disclosure is to provide a technology that can select an appropriate communication line in consideration of communication quality.

[0006] In a first aspect of the present disclosure, a program is provided that causes a computer to execute the following steps: acquiring information indicating a context including a location of a user terminal; and selecting a communication line to which the user terminal will connect based on information indicating communication quality associated with a combination of the context and information indicating a communication line, and the information indicating the context of the user terminal.

[0007] In addition, a second aspect of the present disclosure provides an information processing device having an acquisition unit that acquires information indicating a context including a location of a user terminal, and a selection unit that selects a communication line to which the user terminal is connected based on information indicating communication quality associated with a combination of the context and information indicating a communication line and the information indicating the context of the user terminal.

[0008] In addition, a third aspect of the present disclosure provides an information processing method that executes a process of acquiring information indicating a context including a location of a user terminal, and a process of selecting a communication line to which the user terminal will connect based on information indicating communication quality associated with a combination of the context and information indicating a communication line, and the information indicating the context of the user terminal.

[0009] According to one aspect, an appropriate communication line can be selected in consideration of communication quality.

[0010] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of an information processing device according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a communication system according to an embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of an information processing device according to an embodiment. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of a process of selecting a communication line in the information processing device according to an embodiment. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of information stored in a communication quality DB (database) according to an embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of information stored in a user terminal DB according to an embodiment. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of a process of recommending a communication line to be subscribed to by a user in the information processing device according to an embodiment.

[0011] The principles of the present disclosure will be described with reference to some exemplary embodiments. It should be understood that these embodiments are set forth for illustrative purposes only, to aid those skilled in the art in understanding and practicing the present disclosure, without implying any limitation on the scope of the disclosure. The disclosure described herein may be implemented in various ways other than those described below.

[0012] In the following description and claims, unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure belongs.

[0013] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that each drawing is merely an example for describing one or more embodiments. Each drawing is not related to only one particular embodiment, but may also be related to one or more other embodiments. As will be understood by those skilled in the art, various features or steps described with reference to any one drawing can be combined with features or steps shown in one or more other drawings to create, for example, an embodiment not explicitly shown or described. Not all features or steps shown in any one drawing are necessarily required to describe an exemplary embodiment, and some features or steps may be omitted. The order of steps described in any drawing may be changed as appropriate.

[0014] (First Embodiment) <Configuration> The configuration of an information processing device 10 according to an embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 1. Fig. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the information processing device 10 according to the present disclosure. The information processing device 10 has an acquisition unit 11 and a determination unit 12. These units may be realized by cooperation between one or more programs installed in the information processing device 10 and hardware such as a processor and memory of the information processing device 10.

[0015] The acquisition unit 11 acquires information indicating a context including the location of the user terminal. The determination unit 12 selects a communication line to which the user terminal will connect based on information indicating communication quality associated with a combination of the context and information indicating the communication line and the information indicating the context of the user terminal. This makes it possible to select an appropriate communication line taking communication quality into consideration.

[0016] (Embodiment 2) <System Configuration> Next, a configuration of a communication system 1 according to an embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 2. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example configuration of the communication system 1 according to the present disclosure. In the example of FIG. 2, the communication system 1 includes an information processing device 10. The communication system 1 also includes a user terminal 20A, a user terminal 20B, and a user terminal 20C (hereinafter, when there is no need to distinguish between them, they will also be simply referred to as "user terminals 20"). The communication system 1 also includes communication lines (wireless communication lines, wireless lines) 30-1, communication line 30-2, ..., and communication line 30-N (N is an integer of 2 or more) (hereinafter, when there is no need to distinguish between them, they will also be simply referred to as "communication lines 30").

[0017] The information processing device 10 and the user terminal 20 may be connected to each other so as to be able to communicate with each other via, for example, a communication line 30 and the Internet N. Note that the number of information processing devices 10, user terminals 20, and communication lines 30 is not limited to the example of FIG. 2 .

[0018] The information processing device 10 is, for example, a device such as a server, a cloud server, a personal computer, etc. The information processing device 10 selects a communication line to which the user terminal 20 is connected that meets conditions related to communication quality, depending on, for example, a context such as the location of the user terminal 20.

[0019] The user terminal 20 may be, for example, a mobile object such as a connected car, a drone, a flying car, a bullet train, an autonomous vehicle, or a transport robot. The user terminal 20 may also be, for example, a terminal such as a smartphone or a tablet that is owned by a user.

[0020] Each communication line 30 provides, for example, wireless communication services to the user terminal 20. Each communication line 30 may differ from the other in at least one of the following: a telecommunications carrier, a radio access technology (RAT), a radio frequency band, and a network slice.

[0021] Examples of RATs may include, for example, a mobile communication system, a non-terrestrial network (NTN), a wireless local area network (LAN), and a local 5G system. Examples of mobile communication systems may include, for example, a fifth generation mobile communication system (5G), a sixth generation mobile communication system (6G, Beyond 5G), a fourth generation mobile communication system (4G), and a third generation mobile communication system (3G).

[0022] <Hardware Configuration> Fig. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example hardware configuration of the information processing device 10 according to the present disclosure. In the example of Fig. 3, the information processing device 10 (computer 100) includes a processor 101, a memory 102, and a communication interface 103. These components may be connected via a bus or the like. The memory 102 stores at least a portion of a program 104. The communication interface 103 includes an interface required for communication with other network elements.

[0023] When the program 104 is executed by the processor 101, memory 102, and other components in cooperation with each other, the computer 100 performs at least some of the processing of the embodiments of the present disclosure. The memory 102 may be of any type. As a non-limiting example, the memory 102 may be a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium. The memory 102 may also be implemented using any suitable data storage technology, such as semiconductor-based memory devices, magnetic memory devices and systems, optical memory devices and systems, fixed memory, and removable memory. Although only one memory 102 is shown in the computer 100, several physically different memory modules may be present in the computer 100. The processor 101 may be of any type. The processor 101 may include one or more of a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a microprocessor, a digital signal processor (DSP), and, as a non-limiting example, a processor based on a multi-core processor architecture. The computer 100 may have multiple processors, such as application-specific integrated circuit chips that are time-slaved to a clock that synchronizes the main processor.

[0024] Embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented in hardware or special purpose circuits, software, logic, or any combination thereof. Some aspects may be implemented in hardware, while other aspects may be implemented in firmware or software that may be executed by a controller, microprocessor, or other computing device.

[0025] The present disclosure also provides at least one computer program product tangibly stored on a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium. The computer program product includes computer-executable instructions, such as instructions included in program modules, that execute on a target real or virtual processor or device to perform the processes or methods of the present disclosure. Program modules include routines, programs, libraries, objects, classes, components, data structures, etc. that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types. The functionality of the program modules may be combined or divided among program modules as desired in various embodiments. The machine-executable instructions of the program modules may be executed in local or distributed devices. In a distributed device, the program modules may be located in both local and remote storage media.

[0026] The program code for executing the methods of the present disclosure may be written in any combination of one or more programming languages. These program codes may be provided to a processor or controller of a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus. When the program code is executed by the processor or controller, the functions / acts in the flowcharts and / or implementing block diagrams are performed. The program code may be executed entirely on the machine, partly on the machine, as a stand-alone software package, partly on the machine and partly on a remote machine, or entirely on a remote machine or server.

[0027] The program can be stored and supplied to a computer using various types of non-transitory computer-readable media. Non-transitory computer-readable media include various types of tangible recording media. Examples of non-transitory computer-readable media include magnetic recording media, magneto-optical recording media, optical disk media, and semiconductor memory. Magnetic recording media include, for example, flexible disks, magnetic tapes, and hard disk drives. Magneto-optical recording media include, for example, magneto-optical disks. Optical disk media include, for example, Blu-ray discs, CD (Compact Disc)-ROM (Read Only Memory), CD-R (Recordable), and CD-RW (Rewritable). Semiconductor memory includes, for example, solid-state drives, mask ROM, PROM (Programmable ROM), EPROM (Erasable PROM), flash ROM, and RAM (Random Access Memory). The program may also be supplied to a computer by various types of temporary computer-readable media. Examples of temporary computer-readable media include electrical signals, optical signals, and electromagnetic waves. The temporary computer-readable medium can supply the program to the computer via a wired communication path such as an electric wire or an optical fiber, or via a wireless communication path.

[0028] <Processing> <<Process for Selecting a Communication Line>> Next, an example of a process for selecting a communication line for the information processing device 10 according to the present disclosure will be described with reference to Figs. 4 to 6. Fig. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of a process for selecting a communication line for the information processing device 10 according to the present disclosure. Fig. 5 is a diagram showing an example of information stored in a communication quality DB (database) 501 according to the present disclosure. Fig. 6 is a diagram showing an example of information stored in a user terminal DB 601 according to the present disclosure. Note that the process in Fig. 4 may be executed, for example, periodically for each user terminal 20.

[0029] In step S101, the acquisition unit 11 acquires information (text information) indicating the current context of the user terminal 20. The context information may include, for example, location information of the user terminal 20. The location information of the user terminal 20 may be measured by the user terminal 20 using a satellite positioning system such as a GPS (Global Positioning System). The context information may also include, for example, at least one of the movement speed of the user terminal 20, the altitude of the user terminal 20, the current time, the type of communication data, and the weather around the user terminal 20. The type of communication data may include, for example, remote control, audio, video, web data, etc.

[0030] Next, the determination unit 12 determines (selects) the communication line 30 to which the user terminal 20 is to be connected, based on information indicating communication quality associated with a combination of the context and information indicating the communication line 30 (for example, the communication quality DB 501 in FIG. 5 ) and information indicating the context of the user terminal 20 (step S102). Here, the determination unit 12 may determine, for example, the communication line 30 having the highest communication quality statistics for the context of the user terminal 20 as the communication line 30 to which the user terminal 20 is to be connected.

[0031] Furthermore, the determination unit 12 may determine, for example, a communication line 30 whose communication quality statistics for the context of the user terminal 20 are equal to or greater than a threshold as the communication line 30 to which the user terminal 20 is connected. This makes it possible to select a communication line 30 that can provide communication quality equal to or greater than a threshold (e.g., a MOS value of 3 to 5) based on the communication quality of each region of communication lines 30, such as best-effort type lines, that are already provided. Note that the information indicating the communication line may include, for example, information indicating at least one of the telecommunications service, the RAT (Radio Access Technology), and the frequency band of radio waves.

[0032] In the example of FIG. 5 , the communication quality DB 501 stores information indicating communication quality in association with a combination of a context and a communication line ID. The communication line ID is identification information for the communication line 30. The information indicating communication quality may include, for example, statistics of index values ​​such as radio wave strength, packet loss, delay, error rate, jitter (fluctuation), number of sessions remaining, and network bandwidth. Furthermore, the information indicating communication quality may include, for example, index values ​​necessary for estimating the QoE (Quality of Experience) for each application. The QoE for each application may be, for example, at least one of ToD (Tele-operated Driving) QoE, Web QoE, audio QoE, video-telephone QoE, and video QoE. The information in the communication quality DB 501 may be stored in a storage device internal to the information processing device 10 or in a storage device external to the information processing device 10.

[0033] For example, the determination unit 12 may record information indicating communication quality in association with a combination of a context and a communication line ID, which is accumulated by an application installed in the user terminal 20, in the communication quality DB 501. In this case, the user terminal 20 may upload data such as communication quality from the user terminal 20 to the information processing device 10 or the like at regular intervals, for example.

[0034] The determination unit 12 may refer to the user terminal DB 601 in Figure 6 and select a communication line 30 that corresponds to the context of the user terminal 20 from among the communication lines 30 available to the user terminal 20 as the communication line 30 to which the user terminal 20 will connect.

[0035] In the example of FIG. 6 , contract information is recorded in the user terminal DB 601 in association with a combination of a user terminal ID and a communication line ID. The contract information is information relating to a contract between a user of the user terminal 20 and a carrier of the communication line 30. Note that a direct contract with a carrier of the communication line 30 may be with a carrier that manufactures or sells user terminals such as cars, or a carrier that centrally manages the communication lines of the user terminal. A user may indirectly enter into a contract with a carrier of the communication line 30 by entering into a subscription service contract for the purchase or continued use of a user terminal. The contract information may include, for example, information indicating a fee per unit of communication data volume and a monthly basic fee.

[0036] The information in the user terminal DB 601 may be recorded in a storage device inside the information processing device 10, or may be recorded in a storage device external to the information processing device 10. The information in the user terminal DB 601 may be set (registered) in advance by, for example, an administrator (operator) or the like.

[0037] For example, the determination unit 12 may select, as the communication line 30 to be connected to the user terminal 20, the communication line 30 having the highest communication quality for the context of the user terminal 20 from among the communication lines 30 available to the user terminal 20. Furthermore, the determination unit 12 may select, as the communication line 30 to be connected to the user terminal 20, the communication line 30 having the lowest fee (for example, fee per unit amount of communication data) from among the communication lines 30 available to the user terminal 20 and having communication quality for the context of the user terminal 20 equal to or higher than a threshold.

[0038] <<Process for recommending a communication line to be subscribed to by a user>> Next, an example of a process for recommending a communication line to be subscribed to by a user, performed by the information processing device 10 according to the present disclosure, will be described with reference to Fig. 7. Note that, if the user does not directly enter into a contract with a carrier for the communication line 30, the recommendation destination may be either a carrier that manufactures or sells the user terminal, a carrier that centrally manages the communication lines of the user terminal, or the like. Fig. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of a process for recommending a communication line to be subscribed to by a user, performed by the information processing device 10 according to the embodiment.

[0039] In step S201, the acquisition unit 11 acquires context information (planned context information) planned for the user terminal 20. The planned context information may include, for example, a movement plan for the user terminal 20. The movement plan may include information indicating a planned movement area. The planned movement area may be, for example, a geographical area designated by the user of the user terminal 20 where the user terminal 20 plans to perform wireless communication. The information indicating the planned movement area may include, for example, an administrative area such as a city, town, or village. Furthermore, the information indicating the planned movement area may include, for example, the latitude and longitude of a central position, a radius distance, etc.

[0040] The movement plan may also include, for example, an operation plan for the user terminal 20 specified by the user of the user terminal 20. Information indicating the operation plan may include, for example, a planned movement route for the user terminal 20, a planned movement speed for the user terminal 20, a planned altitude for the user terminal 20, and a planned movement time for the user terminal 20.

[0041] Next, the determination unit 12 determines one or more communication lines 30 that the user of the user terminal 20 should subscribe to (make available) based on the information in the communication quality DB 501 and the scheduled context information (step S202). As a result, it is possible to propose to the user a contract with one or more communication lines 30 that can provide communication quality above a threshold (e.g., MOS value 3 to 5) based on the communication quality of the best-effort type communication lines 30 already provided by region, for example.

[0042] Here, when selecting a communication line 30 to which the user terminal 20 is to connect, the determination unit 12 may determine a combination of one or more communication lines 30 that will provide communication quality for the user terminal 20 that is equal to or higher than a specific threshold, for example, based on the information in the communication quality DB 501 and the scheduled context information. Then, the determination unit 12 may display the determined information on the user terminal 20. This allows the user to grasp each communication line 30 whose communication quality will be equal to or higher than a threshold when the movement plan of the user terminal 20 is executed, and to enter into a contract with a telecommunications carrier for each communication line 30.

[0043] The user can set a SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) card or eSIM (embedded Subscriber Identity Module) provided by each telecommunications carrier under a contract in the user terminal 20. Furthermore, if the user has given permission, the SIM card or eSIM of the user terminal 20 can be remotely rewritten by a company that manufactures or sells the user terminal, a company that centrally manages the communication lines of the user terminal, or the like.

[0044] The specific threshold for communication quality may be specified by the user, may be set in advance in the information processing device 10, or may be set for each application type. The specific threshold for communication quality may be specified (set), for example, as a 0.1 percentile QoE (e.g., a MOS (Mean Opinion Score) value) of 3.0 or higher. The 0.1 percentile QoE is a value located at the lowest 0.1 percent when QoEs are sorted in ascending order. For example, assume that the 0.1 percentile QoE expected in a context such as a certain location is 1.0 for a communication line 30 available under a contract with a single telecommunications carrier. According to the present disclosure, the user can identify contracts with multiple telecommunications carriers with which the expected 0.1 percentile QoE in a context scheduled for the user terminal 20 is 3.0 or higher. To maintain a high QoE, the probability of low QoE occurring may be set as the specific threshold. For example, when the lower probability (p) of a cumulative distribution function of QoE is the required QoE (q), the combination of p and q may be set as the specific threshold. However, the specific threshold may be a statistical quantity such as the minimum or average value of QoE, and is not limited to a cumulative distribution function.

[0045] The determination unit 12 may cause the user terminal 20 to display the combination with the highest score (degree of recommendation, priority) among the combinations of multiple communication lines 30 that will cause the communication quality of the user terminal 20 to be equal to or higher than a specific threshold in the scheduled context. Furthermore, the determination unit 12 may cause the user terminal 20 to display a specific number of combinations in descending order of score among the combinations that will cause the communication quality of the user terminal 20 to be equal to or higher than a specific threshold in the scheduled context, and the fee (cost) for each combination. The determination unit 12 can execute the following score calculation methods in appropriate combinations.

[0046] For example, the determination unit 12 may determine a higher score for a specific combination when the number of carriers of the communication lines 30 included in the specific combination (the number of required contracts) is smaller. This can reduce the effort required for signing contracts and increase the possibility of reducing usage fees, for example.

[0047] Furthermore, the determination unit 12 may determine a higher score for a specific combination, for example, the lower the usage fee for the communication line 30 included in the specific combination. This allows, for example, combinations in which the communication quality is equal to or higher than a specific threshold and the usage fee is low to be preferentially proposed to the user. In this case, for example, if there is a discount for using contract options with the same telecommunications carrier, the determination unit 12 may calculate the usage fee for the communication line 30 based on the usage fee resulting from the discount. Examples of contract options with the same telecommunications carrier may include, for example, discounts for limiting the use of 4G-only SIMs, 5G-only SIMs, sub-brand SIMs, high-frequency-priority SIMs, low-frequency-priority SIMs, etc. Examples of contract options with the same telecommunications carrier may also include, for example, discounts for the same user subscribing to multiple SIMs.

[0048] Furthermore, for example, if a specific combination includes a communication line 30 of a specific telecommunications carrier, the determination unit 12 may determine a higher score value for the specific combination. As a result, for example, if a carrier that operates the user terminal 20 has a capital or contractual relationship with the specific telecommunications carrier, combinations that include the communication line 30 of the specific telecommunications carrier can be preferentially proposed to the user. Note that information about the specific telecommunications carrier may be specified by the user, for example.

[0049] Furthermore, for example, when a specific combination includes a specific type of communication line 30, the determination unit 12 may determine a higher score value for the specific combination. This allows, for example, combinations including a type of communication line 30 specified by the user or the like to be preferentially proposed to the user.

[0050] Furthermore, for example, when the user terminal 20 performs communication using a plurality of communication data types, the determiner 12 may determine a higher score value for a combination in which the communication quality for each communication data type is equal to or higher than a specific threshold. As a result, for example, when the user terminal 20 performs remote control and passenger video viewing, the user terminal 20 can simultaneously use the first communication line 30 whose Tele operated Driving QoE is equal to or higher than a threshold and the second communication line 30 whose video QoE is equal to or higher than a threshold.

[0051] Furthermore, the determiner 12 may determine a higher score for a specific combination in a travel plan, for example, the fewer the number of times the communication lines 30 included in the specific combination are switched in order to make the communication quality equal to or higher than a specific threshold. This allows, for example, combinations that can reduce the processing load, etc., due to switching of the communication lines 30 to be preferentially suggested to the user.

[0052] Furthermore, the determiner 12 may determine a higher score for a specific combination in a travel plan, for example, the fewer the number of handovers (switching of base stations or frequencies used for communication). This allows, for example, combinations that can reduce the processing load due to handovers to be preferentially suggested to the user.

[0053] <Modifications> The information processing device 10 may be a device contained in a single housing, but the information processing device 10 of the present disclosure is not limited to this. Each unit of the information processing device 10 may be realized, for example, by cloud computing configured with one or more computers. Furthermore, the information processing device 10 and the user terminal 20 may be housed in the same housing and configured as an integrated information processing device. Furthermore, at least some of the processing of each functional unit of the information processing device 10 may be performed by the user terminal 20. Such information processing devices 10 are also included as examples of the "information processing device" of the present disclosure.

[0054] Although the present disclosure has been described above with reference to the embodiments, the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments. Various modifications that can be understood by those skilled in the art can be made to the configuration and details of the present disclosure within the scope of the present disclosure. Furthermore, each embodiment can be combined with other embodiments as appropriate.

[0055] Some or all of the above embodiments may be described as, but are not limited to, the following supplementary notes. Note that some or all of the elements (e.g., configurations and functions) described in each supplementary note subordinate to supplementary note 1 may also be subordinate to independent supplementary notes in other categories in a similar subordinate relationship. Some or all of the elements described in any supplementary note may be applied to various hardware, software, and recording means, systems, and methods for recording software. (Supplementary note 1) A program causing a computer to execute the following steps: acquiring information indicating a context including the location of a user terminal; and determining a communication line to which the user terminal will connect based on information indicating communication quality associated with a combination of the context and information indicating a communication line and the information indicating the context of the user terminal. (Supplementary note 2) The program described in supplementary note 1, wherein the information indicating the communication line includes information indicating at least one of a telecommunications service, a RAT (Radio Access Technology), and a radio wave frequency band. (Supplementary Note 3) The program according to Supplementary Note 1 or 2, wherein the information indicating the context of the user terminal includes at least one of a moving speed of the user terminal, an altitude of the user terminal, a current time, and weather around the user terminal. (Supplementary Note 4) The program according to Supplementary Note 1 or 2, wherein the determining process determines, as the communication line to be connected to by the user terminal, a communication line with the highest communication quality statistics for the context of the user terminal, or a communication line with a communication quality statistics for the context of the user terminal that is equal to or greater than a threshold. (Supplementary Note 5) The program according to Supplementary Note 1 or 2, wherein the information indicating the context of the user terminal includes at least one of a planned region and a planned travel route of the user terminal, and when selecting a communication line to be connected to by the user terminal based on information indicating communication quality associated with a combination of the context and information indicating a communication line, and the information indicating the context of the user terminal, outputs information indicating a combination of multiple communication lines with a communication quality equal to or greater than a threshold.(Supplementary Note 6) The program according to Supplementary Note 5, wherein, in the output process, for each combination of communication lines that results in communication quality by the user terminal being equal to or higher than a threshold, the lower the number of operators and / or usage fees of the communication lines included in the specific combination, the higher the output priority of the specific combination is determined to be. (Supplementary Note 7) The program according to Supplementary Note 5, wherein, in the output process, for each combination of communication lines that results in communication quality by the user terminal being equal to or higher than a threshold, the higher the output priority of the specific combination is determined to be if the specific combination includes a communication line of a specific telecommunications operator and / or includes a communication line of a specific type. (Supplementary Note 8) The program according to Supplementary Note 5, wherein, in the output process, the lower the number of times that communication lines included in the specific combination are switched to achieve communication quality equal to or higher than a specific threshold, and the lower the number of times that base stations or frequencies used for communication are switched, in a movement plan for the user terminal. (Supplementary Note 9) The program according to Supplementary Note 5, wherein, in the output process, if the user terminal communicates with a plurality of communication data types, a higher score value is determined for a combination in which the communication quality for each communication data type is equal to or higher than a specific threshold. (Supplementary Note 10) An information processing device having: an acquisition unit that acquires information indicating a context including a position of a user terminal; and a selection unit that selects a communication line to be connected to by the user terminal, based on information indicating communication quality associated with a combination of the context and information indicating a communication line and the information indicating the context of the user terminal. (Supplementary Note 11) An information processing method that executes: a process of acquiring information indicating a context including a position of a user terminal; and a process of selecting a communication line to be connected to by the user terminal, based on information indicating communication quality associated with a combination of the context and information indicating a communication line and the information indicating the context of the user terminal.

[0056] This application claims priority based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2024-154559, filed September 9, 2024, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.

[0057] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 communication system 10 information processing device 11 acquisition unit 12 determination unit 20 user terminal 30 communication line

Claims

1. A program that causes a computer to execute the following processes: a process of acquiring information indicating a context including the location of a user terminal; and a process of determining a communication line to which the user terminal will connect based on information indicating communication quality associated with a combination of the context and information indicating a communication line, and the information indicating the context of the user terminal.

2. The program according to claim 1, wherein the information indicating the communication line includes information indicating at least one of a communication service, a RAT (Radio Access Technology), and a radio frequency band.

3. The program according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the information indicating the context of the user terminal includes at least one of the moving speed of the user terminal, the altitude of the user terminal, the current time, and the weather around the user terminal.

4. The program according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the determination process determines the communication line to which the user terminal will connect as the communication line having the highest communication quality statistics for the context of the user terminal, or the communication line having a communication quality statistics for the context of the user terminal that is equal to or greater than a threshold value.

5. The program described in claim 1 or 2, wherein the information indicating the context of the user terminal includes at least one of the area in which the user terminal plans to move and the route in which the user terminal plans to move, and causes the computer to execute a process of outputting information indicating a combination of multiple communication lines in which the communication quality of the user terminal is above a threshold when selecting a communication line to which the user terminal will connect based on information indicating the communication quality associated with a combination of the context and information indicating a communication line and the information indicating the context of the user terminal.

6. The program of claim 5, wherein in the output process, for each combination of communication lines for which the communication quality of the user terminal is above a threshold, the lower the number of operators or the usage fees of the communication lines included in a specific combination, the higher the output priority for the specific combination is determined to be.

7. The program described in claim 5, wherein in the output process, for each combination of communication lines for which the communication quality of the user terminal is above a threshold, if the specific combination includes a communication line of a specific telecommunications carrier and / or includes a communication line of a specific type, a higher output priority is determined for the specific combination.

8. The program described in claim 5, wherein in the output process, the lower the number of times that the communication lines included in a specific combination are switched in the user terminal's movement plan to ensure that the communication quality is above a specific threshold, and the lower the number of times that the base station or frequency used for communication is switched, the higher the output priority for the specific combination is determined to be.

9. The program according to claim 5, wherein in the output process, when the user terminal communicates using multiple types of communication data, a higher score value is determined for a combination in which the communication quality for each type of communication data is above a specific threshold.

10. An information processing device having an acquisition unit that acquires information indicating a context including the location of a user terminal, and a determination unit that selects a communication line to which the user terminal will connect based on information indicating communication quality associated with a combination of the context and information indicating a communication line, and the information indicating the context of the user terminal.

11. The information processing device according to claim 10, wherein the information indicating the communication line includes information indicating at least one of a communication service, a RAT (Radio Access Technology), and a radio wave frequency band.

12. An information processing device according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the information indicating the context of the user terminal includes at least one of the moving speed of the user terminal, the altitude of the user terminal, the current time, and the weather around the user terminal.

13. An information processing device as described in claim 10 or 11, wherein the determination unit determines the communication line with the highest communication quality statistics for the context of the user terminal, or the communication line with the communication quality statistics for the context of the user terminal that is equal to or greater than a threshold, as the communication line to which the user terminal will connect.

14. An information processing device as described in claim 10 or 11, wherein the information indicating the context of the user terminal includes at least one of a planned travel area and a planned travel route of the user terminal, and when selecting a communication line to which the user terminal will connect based on information indicating communication quality associated with a combination of the context and information indicating a communication line and the information indicating the context of the user terminal, outputs information indicating a combination of multiple communication lines that will provide communication quality for the user terminal that is above a threshold.

15. The information processing device of claim 14, wherein in the output process, the determination unit determines that for each combination of communication lines for which the communication quality of the user terminal is above a threshold, the lower the number of operators or the usage fees of the communication lines included in the specific combination, the higher the output priority for the specific combination.

16. The information processing device of claim 14, wherein, in the output process, the determination unit determines that, for each combination of communication lines for which the communication quality of the user terminal is equal to or higher than a threshold, the output priority for the specific combination is higher if the specific combination includes at least one of a communication line of a specific telecommunications carrier and a communication line of a specific type.

17. The information processing device of claim 14, wherein the determination unit, in the output process, determines the output priority for a specific combination to be higher the fewer the number of times that the communication lines included in the specific combination are switched in the user terminal's movement plan to ensure that the communication quality is above a specific threshold, and the fewer the number of times that the base station or frequency used for communication is switched.

18. The information processing device according to claim 14, wherein, in the output process, when the user terminal communicates using multiple types of communication data, the determination unit determines a higher score value for a combination in which the communication quality for each type of communication data is equal to or higher than a specific threshold.

19. An information processing method that executes the following processes: a process of acquiring information indicating a context including the location of a user terminal; and a process of selecting a communication line to which the user terminal will connect based on information indicating communication quality associated with a combination of the context and information indicating a communication line, and the information indicating the context of the user terminal.

20. The information processing method according to claim 19, wherein the information indicating the communication line includes information indicating at least one of a communication service, a RAT (Radio Access Technology), and a radio wave frequency band.

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