Communication system, information processing device, management device, wireless terminal, and program

Abstract

A communication system including an information processing device that functions as a node constituting a blockchain network, wherein the information processing device includes: an assessment unit that is configured to assess, according to a prescribed transaction from a first wireless terminal which is not contracted to a line for connecting a wireless terminal accommodated by a wireless base station to an external network, whether prescribed information is registered to the line in association with an identifier of the first wireless terminal; a change unit that, in cases where the prescribed information is registered to the line, is configured to perform control for changing the state of the line to a state in which connection to the external network by the first wireless terminal is permitted; and a recovery unit that is configured to perform control for returning the state of the line changed by the change unit to the original state at a prescribed timing, the information processing device thereby increasing the number of wireless base stations that can be used by the wireless terminal.

Description

Communication system, information processing device, management device, wireless terminal, and program ,

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[0001] The present invention relates to a communication system, an information processing device, a management device, a wireless terminal, and a program.

[0002] Wireless communication traffic is constantly increasing, and it is important to make various wireless communication systems (wireless NW), including private wireless communication systems, cross - available in order to secure wireless resources.

[0003] Therefore, a technique has been studied in which a wireless terminal appropriately makes a connection contract with a wireless base station of any one of the providers of multiple wireless base stations using a blockchain, so that the wireless terminal can autonomously and dispersedly use various wireless base stations without a centralized control station (Non - Patent Document 1).

[0004] Fukushima et al., "Implementation and Performance Evaluation of a Wireless Base Station Sharing Method Using Blockchain", IEICE Technical Report, NS2022 - 203(2023 - 03)

[0005] However, the technique of Non - Patent Document 1 assumes a network system in which each wireless base station individually communicates with an external network (such as the Internet), like Wi - Fi (registered trademark), and does not assume a network system in which communication with an external network is performed centrally from a wireless base station through the core network of the carrier of that wireless base station, such as a cellular network of each carrier. Therefore, with the technique of Non - Patent Document 1, a wireless terminal contracted with a certain carrier cannot connect to an external network using a wireless base station of another carrier. [[ID=​​To solve the above problems, a communication system including an information processing device that functions as a node constituting a blockchain network includes: a determination unit configured to determine whether predetermined information associated with the identifier of a first wireless terminal is registered on a line for connecting a wireless terminal housed in a wireless base station to an external network, in response to a predetermined transaction from a first wireless terminal that is not subscribed to the line; a modification unit configured to control the state of the line to a state in which the first wireless terminal is permitted to connect to the external network, if the predetermined information is registered on the line; and a recovery unit configured to control the state of the line changed by the modification unit to its original state at a predetermined timing.

[0008] This allows for an increase in the number of wireless base stations that can be used by wireless terminals.

[0009] This figure shows an example of the configuration of the communication system in the first embodiment. This figure shows an example of the hardware configuration of each node 11 constituting the blockchain NW 10 in the first embodiment. This figure shows an example of the functional configuration of the communication system in the first embodiment. This is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of a processing procedure performed in the first embodiment. This is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of a processing procedure performed when the wireless communication system 40 is a cellular network in the first embodiment. This figure shows an example of the configuration of the communication system in the second embodiment. This is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of a processing procedure performed in the second embodiment. This figure shows an example of the configuration of the communication system in the third embodiment. This is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of a processing procedure performed in the third embodiment.

[0010] Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Figure 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a communication system in the first embodiment. Figure 1 shows a plurality of UE30s such as UE30x and UE30y, a wireless communication system 40, an external NW20 and a blockchain NW10. The wireless communication system 40 is connectable to the external NW20 and the blockchain NW10.

[0011] The UE30x and UE30y are wireless terminals used by users of devices such as smartphones, tablet computers, and PCs (Personal Computers).

[0012] External NW20 is an external network that UE30 uses to communicate with its communication partners, such as the Internet.

[0013] The wireless communication system 40 is a network system operated by a carrier (hereinafter referred to as "carrier z") that provides wireless connection services to the external network 20 and the blockchain network 10. In this embodiment, UE30x is not under contract with carrier z's line (core network 43), while UE30y is under contract with carrier z's line (core network 43). The contract referred to here is a contract concerning connection to the external network 20 via the wireless communication system 40 (BS41 and core network 43). For example, a user of contracted UE30y can receive connection services to the external network 20 using UEy30 by paying a predetermined fee on a monthly or other continuous basis. In this embodiment, a method is disclosed that allows UE30x to temporarily connect to the external network 20 using the wireless communication system 40 even though it is not under contract.

[0014] The wireless communication system 40 includes one or more BS 41 and a core network 43.

[0015] BS41 is a communication device that functions as a wireless base station, such as a Wi-Fi® wireless base station or a cellular network wireless base station. BS41 connects the UE30 to the core network 43.

[0016] The core network 43 is a network (circuit) owned by carrier z for connecting wireless terminals accommodated by BS41 to the external NW20 and blockchain NW10, and connects to the external NW20 and blockchain NW10. The core network 43 includes a subscriber management server 42.

[0017] The subscriber management server 42 is a device (for example, one or more computers) that stores information (hereinafter referred to as "subscriber information") regarding wireless terminals (UE30y in this embodiment) that are permitted to use the core network 43, and manages the use of the core network 43 (connection to the external NW20 via the core network 43). Managing the use of the core network 43 means permitting or restricting (denying) connections to the external NW20. Wireless terminals permitted to use the core network 43 are wireless terminals that have a contract with carrier z. Therefore, the subscriber information stores subscriber information regarding wireless terminals that have a contract with carrier z, and determines whether or not each wireless terminal is permitted to connect to the external NW20 based on this subscriber information. The subscriber management server 42 also stores pre-registration information for wireless terminals that are temporarily permitted to connect to the external NW20. Pre-registration information is simpler than subscriber information.

[0018] Blockchain NW10 is a blockchain network composed of multiple nodes 11 that record transactions in a ledger in blockchain format. Blockchain NW10 authenticates transactions issued to Blockchain NW10 and adds a new block containing the authenticated transaction to the ledger. The block to be added is determined by various consensus algorithms such as PoW and PoA. In this embodiment, Blockchain NW10 is used to enable UE30x to connect to BS41 (i.e., to use the wireless communication system 40). Specifically, when UE30x connects to BS41, it issues a predetermined transaction to temporarily make the wireless communication system 40 available. This predetermined transaction is transferred to Blockchain NW10 via BS41 and the core network 43 (i.e., the wireless communication system 40). Once the predetermined transaction is approved in Blockchain NW10 based on a predetermined procedure, UE30x can use BS41 (i.e., the wireless communication system 40) to communicate with the external NW20. In other words, in this embodiment, each wireless terminal can communicate using an uncontracted carrier z.

[0019] Figure 2 shows an example of the hardware configuration of each node 11 constituting the blockchain NW 10 in the first embodiment. Each node 11 has a drive device 100, an auxiliary storage device 102, a memory device 103, a CPU 104, and an interface device 105, etc., which are interconnected by bus B.

[0020] The program that enables processing at each node 11 is provided on a recording medium 101 such as a CD-ROM. When the recording medium 101 containing the program is set in the drive device 100, the program is installed from the recording medium 101 to the auxiliary storage device 102 via the drive device 100. However, the program does not necessarily have to be installed from the recording medium 101; it may also be downloaded from another computer via a network. The auxiliary storage device 102 stores the installed program as well as necessary files and data.

[0021] When a program startup command is received, the memory device 103 reads the program from the auxiliary storage device 102 and stores it. The CPU 104 executes the functions related to each node 11 according to the program stored in the memory device 103. The interface device 105 is used as an interface for connecting to the network.

[0022] Furthermore, UE30, BS41, and subscriber management server 42 may also have the hardware configuration shown in Figure 2.

[0023] Figure 3 shows an example of the functional configuration of a communication system in the first embodiment. In Figure 3, the UE30x has a transaction issuing unit 31 and a communication control unit 32. Each of these units is realized by processing that one or more programs installed on the UE30x cause the processor of the UE30x to execute.

[0024] When UE30x begins temporary use of the wireless communication system 40, the transaction issuing unit 31 issues a predetermined transaction (the "connection destination determination transaction" described later) to the blockchain NW10 via one of the one or more wireless base stations that UE30x can connect to (BS41 in the first embodiment).

[0025] When the communication control unit 32 receives a predetermined signal (the "radio release signal" described later) from one of the one or more radio base stations to which the UE30x can connect, in accordance with the control performed by the blockchain NW10 in accordance with a predetermined transaction, it communicates with the external NW20 via the line (core network 43) to which the radio base station belongs.

[0026] The subscriber management server 42 has a connection control unit 421. The connection control unit 421 is implemented by one or more programs installed on the subscriber management server 42 causing the processor of the subscriber management server 42 to execute a process. The subscriber management server 42 also utilizes a pre-registration information storage unit 422 and a subscriber information storage unit 423. Each of these storage units can be implemented, for example, using an auxiliary storage device of the subscriber management server 42, or a storage device that can be connected to the subscriber management server 42 via a network.

[0027] The pre-registration information storage unit 422 stores pre-registration information for each wireless terminal (UE30x in this embodiment) that is permitted to connect to the blockchain NW10. In this embodiment, the pre-registration information is, for example, a pair of a wireless terminal identifier (hereinafter referred to as "terminal ID") and account information. In this embodiment, account information is included in the pre-registration information to enable billing when an uncontracted UE30x temporarily connects to an external NW20 via the core network 43. However, if billing is to be performed by a method other than withdrawal from an account, information corresponding to that method may be included in the pre-registration information instead of account information.

[0028] The subscriber information storage unit 423 stores subscriber information for carrier z. Generally, the subscriber information can have a similar structure to the information that telecommunications carriers manage regarding their subscribers. For example, the subscriber information includes information that can identify the subscriber (name, address, telephone number, etc.).

[0029] The connection control unit 421 permits only the wireless terminals (UE30y in this embodiment) whose subscriber information is stored in the subscriber information storage unit 423, among the wireless terminals housed in BS41, to connect to the external NW20 via the core network 43. The connection control unit 421 also modifies the subscriber information to allow UEx to use the core network 43, or reverts the modified subscriber information to its original state, in response to a request from the blockchain NW10 that has received a predetermined transaction from UEx.

[0030] Each node 11 has a determination unit 111, a selection unit 112, a modification unit 113, and a recovery unit 114. Each of these units is realized by processing that one or more programs installed on the node 11 cause the processor 104 to execute. Each node 11 also utilizes a ledger storage unit 115. The ledger storage unit 115 can be realized using, for example, an auxiliary storage device 102, or a storage device that can be connected to the node 11 via a network.

[0031] The ledger storage unit 115 stores a ledger in which transactions issued to the blockchain NW10 are recorded in blockchain format.

[0032] The determination unit 111 determines whether predetermined information (pre-registration information) associated with the identifier of the UE30x has been registered in the core network 43 (the subscriber management server 42) in response to a predetermined transaction from an uncontracted UE30x to the line (core network 43) for connecting the wireless terminal connected to BS41 to an external network.

[0033] The selection unit 112 selects one wireless base station from among multiple wireless base stations as the connection destination for the UE30x when there are multiple wireless base stations that the UE30x can connect to.

[0034] The modification unit 113 controls the core network 43 to change its state to one in which the UE30x is permitted to connect to the external network 20, provided that predetermined information is registered in the core network 43 (or its subscriber management server 42). More specifically, the modification unit 113 requests the subscriber management server 42, which manages connections to the external network 20 in the core network 43 to be changed to a state in which the UE30x is permitted to connect to the external network 20, to change the information to allow the UE30x to connect to the external network 20. As a result, the UE30x becomes able to use the wireless communication system 40.

[0035] The recovery unit 114 performs control at a predetermined timing to restore the state of the core network 43, which was changed by the modification unit 113, to its original state (a state in which connection to the external NW20 by UE30x is not permitted). More specifically, the recovery unit 114 requests the subscriber management server 42 to delete the information changed by the modification unit 113.

[0036] The following describes the processing steps performed in the first embodiment to enable the UE30x to connect to the external NW20 via the wireless communication system 40. Figure 4 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of the processing steps performed in the first embodiment.

[0037] In step S101, the communication control unit 32 of UE30x sends a connection establishment request to BS41 to the blockchain NW10 in response to a predetermined operation by the user, for example. A connection establishment request to the blockchain NW10 refers to a message requesting the establishment of a connection to the blockchain NW10.

[0038] In response to the connection establishment request, the wireless communication system 40 establishes a connection for UE30x to the blockchain NW10 via the core network 43 (S102). In this embodiment, each wireless terminal can send a connection establishment request to the BS41 of an uncontracted carrier z, and it is assumed that the BS41 allows each wireless terminal to establish a connection to the blockchain NW10 regardless of whether or not it has a contract.

[0039] Once a connection to the blockchain NW10 is established, the transaction issuing unit 31 of the UE30x uses the connection to issue a predetermined transaction (hereinafter referred to as the "connection destination determination transaction") to the blockchain NW10 (S103, S104). The connection destination determination transaction is a transaction that requests a connection to the external NW20 with BS41 as a candidate wireless base station to connect to. This transaction includes pre-registration information stored in the UE30x (the terminal ID and account information of the UE30x), a list of identifiers of candidate wireless base stations (hereinafter referred to as "base station IDs") (here, a list that includes only the base station ID of BS41), and the contract period, etc. Hereinafter, this list will be referred to as the "BS list". The base station ID is, for example, a cell ID. Here, it is assumed that there is only one BS41 that the UE30x can connect to, but if the UE30x can also connect to other wireless base stations belonging to the same wireless communication system 40 as BS41 (if it can also receive radio waves from other wireless base stations), the BS list may include the base station IDs of the other wireless base stations. The contract period refers to the length of time during which UE30x connects to the external NW20 using the uncontracted wireless communication system 40. The connection destination determination transaction is transferred to the blockchain NW10 via BS41 and the core network 43.

[0040] The determination unit 111 of any node 11 of the blockchain NW10 (hereinafter referred to as "target node 11") obtains pre-registration information, including the terminal ID included in the connection destination determination transaction, from the pre-registration information storage unit 422 of the subscriber management server 42 corresponding to the base station ID included in the connection destination determination transaction (S105, S106). The subscriber management server 42 corresponding to the base station ID refers to the subscriber management server 42 belonging to the same carrier z as the radio base station related to the base station ID. For example, each node 11 may have correspondence information between base station IDs and subscriber management servers 42 stored in advance, and the determination unit 111 may identify the subscriber management server 42 corresponding to the base station ID included in the connection destination determination transaction based on this correspondence information.

[0041] Next, the determination unit 111 determines whether to approve the connection destination determination transaction (S107). Specifically, the determination unit 111 determines whether pre-registered information has been acquired from the subscriber management server 42 (that is, whether pre-registered information including the terminal ID included in the connection destination determination transaction is registered in the subscriber management server 42), and based on this, determines whether the connection destination determination transaction can be approved. That is, if pre-registered information is acquired from the subscriber management server 42, the connection destination determination transaction is approved; otherwise, the connection destination determination transaction is not approved. The approved connection destination determination transaction is recorded in the ledger stored in the ledger storage unit 115.

[0042] When the connection destination determination transaction is approved (Yes in 3107), steps S111 and subsequent steps are executed; otherwise (No in S107), steps S111 and subsequent steps are not executed.

[0043] In step S111, the change unit 113 of the target node 11 sends a request to change subscriber information to the subscriber management server 42. The change request includes the terminal ID of the UE30x and the base station ID of the BS41 at the connection destination of the UE30x, and means a request to change the subscriber information so that the BS41 related to the base station ID allows the UE30x related to the terminal ID to connect to the external NW20 via the core network 43 that accommodates the UE30x. <{

[0044] The base station ID of the BS41 at the connection destination of the UE30x can be specified based on the BS list included in the connection destination determination transaction. Here, since the BS list includes one base station ID, the base station ID is the base station ID of the BS41 at the connection destination of the UE30x.

[0045] In addition, when a plurality of base station IDs are included in the BS list (that is, when there are a plurality of radio base stations that are connection candidates for the UE 30x), the selection unit 112 may select, as the radio base station to be connected to the UE 30x, a radio base station related to any one of the plurality of base station IDs before transmitting the change request. The method of selecting a radio base station may be, for example, a method based on the accommodation number of each radio base station or the radio wave intensity of each radio base station, or a method disclosed in Non-Patent Document 1, or another method.

[0046] The connection control unit 421 of the subscriber management server 42 records, in the subscriber information storage unit 423, information for permitting connection to the external NW 20 for the UE 30x related to the terminal ID included in the change request in response to the change request (S112). As a result, the state of the core network 43 is changed to a state in which connection to the external NW 20 by the UE 30x is permitted.

[0047] Subsequently, the connection control unit 421 of the subscriber management server 42 instructs the BS 41 related to the base station ID included in the change request to release the connection to the external NW 20 for the UE 30x (S113). Releasing to the external NW 20 means permitting connection to the external NW 20. Note that the connection control unit 421 of the subscriber management server 42 may transmit an instruction to release the connection to the external NW 20 for the UE 30x to all the radio base stations of the radio communication system 40 to which the subscriber management server 42 belongs. In this case, a radio base station to which the UE 30x is not connected may ignore the instruction.

[0048] Subsequently, the BS 41 transmits a radio release signal indicating release to the external NW 20 to the UE 30x (S114).

[0049] When receiving the radio release signal, the communication control unit 32 of the UE 30x transmits a connection establishment request to the external NW 20 to the BS 41 (S115).

[0050] In response to the connection establishment request, the wireless communication system 40 establishes a connection for UE30x to the external network 20 (S121). As a result, UE30x becomes able to communicate with the external network 20 via BS41 and the core network 43 (S122-S124). The method of this communication conforms to the specifications of the wireless communication system 40, but the subscriber management server 42 may check whether the packets related to the communication can be communicated to the external network 20 on a case-by-case basis or periodically. Whether or not communication with the external network 20 can be communicated can be determined based on whether or not information for allowing connection to the external network 20 is stored in the subscriber information storage unit 423 for UE30x, which is the source of the packets.

[0051] Subsequently, when the contract period included in the connection destination determination transaction expires, the recovery unit 114 of the target node 11 sends a change request to the subscriber management server 42 to restore the subscriber information to its state before the change in step S112 (S125). Specifically, this change request includes the terminal ID of the UE 30x and means a request to delete the information that was added to the subscriber information storage unit 423 to allow connection to the external NW 20 for the UE 30x related to that terminal ID.

[0052] The connection control unit 421 of the subscriber management server 42 responds to the change request by deleting the information recorded in the subscriber information storage unit 423 in step S112 for the UE 30x related to the terminal ID included in the change request (S126). As a result, the connection of the UE 30x to the external NW 20 via the wireless communication system 40 is blocked.

[0053] Next, we will explain an example of a processing procedure that embodies the processing procedure shown in Figure 4, assuming that the wireless communication system 40 is a cellular network.

[0054] Figure 5 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of a processing procedure performed when the wireless communication system 40 is a cellular network in the first embodiment. In Figure 5, the same step numbers as in Figure 4 are used, and their explanations are omitted.

[0055] In Figure 5, steps S102 and S121 in Figure 4 are replaced by steps S102x and S121x.

[0056] In step S102x, the wireless communication system 40 allocates slice #1 to the core network 43 in order to establish a connection for UE30x to the blockchain NW10 via the core network 43. A slice is a virtual network (a path on the physical network (a collection of physical links)) formed by allocating a bandwidth to the physical network (core network 43) that can connect both ends of a communication with a predetermined communication quality. The two ends of slice #1 are UE30x and the blockchain NW10.

[0057] Therefore, step S103 is performed using slice #1. Note that slice #1 may be deleted after step S103 is performed.

[0058] Furthermore, in step S121x, the wireless communication system 40 assigns slice #2 to the core network 43, with the UE30x and the connection point to the external NW20 in the core network 43 as its endpoints, in order to establish a connection for the UE30x to the external NW20. Therefore, subsequent communication between the UE30x and the external NW20 (S122 to S124) is performed using slice #2.

[0059] In Figure 5, the SIM information of the UE30x may be used as the terminal ID.

[0060] As described above, according to the first embodiment, by changing the subscriber information stored in the subscriber management server 42 and logically switching the communication path (switching slices), UE30x can temporarily connect to the external NW20 via BS41 even if it does not have a contract with carrier z. In other words, even in a wireless communication system 40 that centrally manages authentication at multiple wireless base stations, temporary use using the blockchain NW10 can be made possible. Therefore, the number of wireless base stations available to wireless terminals can be increased.

[0061] Next, a second embodiment will be described. The differences between the second embodiment and the first embodiment will be described. Points not specifically mentioned in the second embodiment may be the same as in the first embodiment.

[0062] Figure 6 shows an example of the configuration of the communication system in the second embodiment. In Figure 6, the same reference numerals are used for parts that are the same as in Figure 1, and their descriptions are omitted as appropriate.

[0063] Figure 6 shows two wireless communication systems 40 (wireless communication system 40a and wireless communication system 40b). Wireless communication system 40a and wireless communication system 40b are wireless communication systems 40 with different carriers. Specifically, wireless communication system 40a is a wireless communication system 40 with carrier a, and wireless communication system 40b is a wireless communication system 40 with carrier b. The configuration of each wireless communication system 40 is the same as in Figure 1. However, the code of the components of wireless communication system 40a is suffixed with "a", and the code of the components of wireless communication system 40b is suffixed with "b". In the second embodiment, it is assumed that UE30x is able to connect to both BS41a and BS41b, which have different carriers (a situation in which it is receiving radio waves from both wireless base stations (BS20a and BS20b)). Note that UE30x is not subscribed to either carrier a or carrier b.

[0064] The functional configuration of each subscriber management server 42 may be the same as in Figure 3. However, when distinguishing between the components of subscriber management server 42a and subscriber management server 42b, the letter "a" or "b" is added to the end of the code for each component (pre-registration information storage unit 422, subscriber information storage unit 423, connection control unit 421).

[0065] Figure 7 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of a processing procedure performed in the second embodiment. In Figure 7, steps identical to or corresponding to those in Figure 4 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and their descriptions are omitted as appropriate.

[0066] In step S101, UE30x sends a connection establishment request to blockchain NW10 to one of the connectable wireless base stations (BS41a and BS41b) (for example, the wireless base station with the highest received power). Figure 7 shows an example where a connection establishment request is sent to BS41a. In this case, steps S102 to S104 are executed between UE30x and the wireless communication system 40a. The BS list included in the connection destination determination transaction issued in step S103 includes the base station ID of BS41a and the base station ID of BS41b.

[0067] The subsequent steps S105 and S106 are performed for each wireless communication system 40 corresponding to each base station ID included in the BS list. Here, steps S105a and S106a are performed for the subscriber management server 42a of the wireless communication system 40a corresponding to the base station ID of BS41a, and steps S105b and S106b are performed for the subscriber management server 42 of the wireless communication system 40b corresponding to the base station ID of BS41b. Therefore, the determination unit 111 retrieves pre-registration information including the terminal ID of UE30x if it is stored in the pre-registration information storage unit 422a of the subscriber management server 42a, and retrieves pre-registration information including the terminal ID of UE30x if it is stored in the pre-registration information storage unit 422b of the subscriber management server 42b. As a result, a maximum of two pieces of pre-registration information are retrieved.

[0068] In step S107, the determination unit 111 determines whether to approve the connection destination determination transaction based on whether or not pre-registration information has been obtained from at least one of the subscriber management servers 42. That is, if pre-registration information is obtained from both or either of the subscriber management servers 42a and 42b, the connection destination determination transaction is approved; otherwise, the connection destination determination transaction is not approved. The approved connection destination determination transaction is recorded in the ledger stored in the ledger storage unit 115.

[0069] If the connection destination determination transaction is approved (Yes in 3107), the selection unit 112 selects a wireless base station corresponding to one of the base station IDs from among the base station IDs corresponding to the subscriber management server 42 from which the pre-registration information was obtained as the wireless base station to which the UE30x will connect (S108). The method for selecting the wireless base station may be, for example, a method based on the capacity of each wireless base station or the radio wave strength of each wireless base station, or a method disclosed in Non-Patent Document 1, or any other method. However, if there is only one base station ID corresponding to the subscriber management server 42 from which the pre-registration information was obtained, the selection unit 112 selects the wireless base station corresponding to that base station ID as the connection destination for the UE30x.

[0070] In Figure 7, it is assumed that BS41b is selected as the connection destination for UE30x. In this case, the modification unit 113 of the target node 11 sends a request to the subscriber management server 42b to change subscriber information (S111). Therefore, steps S112 and later are executed in the wireless communication system 40b. As a result, UE30x is permitted to connect to the external NW20 via the wireless communication system 40b, and the connection is terminated when the contract period expires.

[0071] As described above, according to the second embodiment, UE30x can connect to a wireless base station of any one of the multiple uncontracted wireless communication systems 40 to temporarily connect to an external NW20. Therefore, the number of wireless base stations available to the wireless terminal can be increased.

[0072] Next, a third embodiment will be described. The differences between the third embodiment and the first or second embodiment will be described. Points in the third embodiment that are not specifically mentioned may be the same as in the first embodiment.

[0073] Figure 8 shows an example of the configuration of the communication system in the third embodiment. In Figure 8, the same reference numerals are used for parts that are the same as those in Figure 6, and their descriptions are omitted.

[0074] Figure 6 shows a wireless communication system 40c instead of wireless communication system 40b. Wireless communication system 40c belongs to a different carrier a than carrier a and is a wireless communication system 40 that does not include the core network 43 and subscriber management server 42. Therefore, BS41c, which is the wireless base station of wireless communication system 40c, connects directly to the blockchain NW10 and the external NW20. For example, Wi-Fi® is given as an example of wireless communication system 40c. In the third embodiment, we assume a situation in which UE30x can connect to both BS41a and BS41c, which belong to different carriers (a situation in which it receives radio waves from both). Note that UE30x is not under contract with either carrier a or carrier c.

[0075] Figure 9 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of a processing procedure performed in the third embodiment. In Figure 9, steps that are the same as or corresponding to those in Figure 4 or Figure 5 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and their descriptions are omitted as appropriate.

[0076] In step S101, UE30x sends a connection establishment request to blockchain NW10 to one of the connectable wireless base stations (BS41a and BS41c) (for example, the wireless base station with the highest received power). Figure 9 shows an example where a connection establishment request is sent to BS41a. In this case, steps S102 to S104 are executed between UE30x and BS41a. The BS list included in the connection destination determination transaction issued in step S103 includes the base station ID of BS41a and the base station ID of BS41c. The base station ID of BS41c is, for example, the SSID.

[0077] Next, steps S104 and S105 are performed only for the wireless communication system 40a and not for the wireless communication system 40c. This is because the wireless communication system 40c does not have a subscriber management server 42. In other words, the correspondence information between the base station ID of BS41c and the subscriber management server 42 is not stored in the target node 11. Therefore, the determination unit 111 of the target node 11 retrieves pre-registration information, including the terminal ID of UE30x, if it is stored in the pre-registration information storage unit 422a of the subscriber management server 42a.

[0078] In step S107, the determination unit 111 determines whether to approve the connection destination determination transaction based on whether pre-registration information has been obtained or whether the base station ID of a wireless base station belonging to a wireless communication system 40 that does not have a subscriber management server 42 is included in the BS list of the connection destination determination transaction. That is, even if pre-registration information cannot be obtained, if the base station ID of a wireless base station belonging to a wireless communication system 40 that does not have a subscriber management server 42 is included in the BS list, the connection destination determination transaction is approved. In the third embodiment, the wireless communication system 40c is a wireless communication system 40 that does not have a subscriber management server 42. Also, the BS list of the connection destination determination transaction includes the base station ID of BS41c belonging to the wireless communication system 40c. Therefore, the connection destination determination transaction is approved. Note that for the base station ID of BS41a, correspondence information with the subscriber management server 42a is stored in each node 11, but for the base station ID of BS41c, information indicating that there is no subscriber management server 42 may be stored in each node 11 instead of the correspondence information. Based on the information, the determination unit 111 may determine that a given base station ID belongs to a wireless communication system 40 that does not have a subscriber management server 42.

[0079] If the connection destination determination transaction is approved (Yes in 3107), the selection unit 112 selects a radio base station corresponding to one of the base station IDs from the BS list, from the base station IDs corresponding to the subscriber management server 42 from which pre-registration information has been obtained, and the base station IDs of radio base stations belonging to the wireless communication system 40 that does not have a subscriber management server 42, as the radio base station to which UE30x will connect (S108). The selection method may be the same as the method described in the second embodiment. If BS41a is selected, the same processing procedure as in step S111 onwards in Figure 4 is executed. Here, it is assumed that BS41c is selected.

[0080] If BS41c belonging to a wireless communication system 40c that does not have a subscriber management server 42 is selected, the modification unit 113 of the target node 11 sends a release request to BS41c for UE30x to the external NW20 (S111c). This release request includes, for example, the terminal ID of UE30x and the contract period included in the connection destination determination transaction.

[0081] In response to the release request, BS41c executes a process to release (connect) UE30x to the external NW20. Specifically, BS41c transmits a wireless release signal to UE30x indicating release to the external NW20 (S114c). Upon receiving the wireless release signal, UE30x transmits a connection establishment request to BS41c to the external NW20 (S115c). In response to the connection establishment request, BS41c establishes a connection for UE30x to the external NW20 (S121c). As a result, UE30x becomes able to communicate with the external NW20 via BC41c (S122c, S124c). Subsequently, when the contract period included in the release request expires, BS41c disconnects UE30x from the external NW20 (S126c).

[0082] As described above, according to the third embodiment, even if the UE30x is not subscribed to a wireless communication system 40c that does not have a subscriber management server 42, such as Wi-Fi®, it can temporarily connect to an external NW20 via BS41c. Therefore, the number of wireless base stations available to the wireless terminal can be further increased.

[0083] In each of the above embodiments, UE30x is an example of a first wireless terminal.

[0084] Although embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to these specific embodiments, and various modifications and changes are possible within the scope of the gist of the present invention as described in the claims.

[0085] 10 Blockchain Network 11 Node 20 External Network 30x UE 30y UE 40 Wireless Communication System 41 BS 42 Subscriber Management Server 43 Core Network 31 Transaction Issuance Unit 32 Communication Control Unit 100 Drive Device 101 Recording Medium 102 Auxiliary Storage Device 103 Memory Device 104 Processor 105 Interface Device 111 Determination Unit 112 Selection Unit 113 Change Unit 114 Recovery Unit 115 Ledger Storage Unit 421 Connection Control Unit 422 Pre-registration Information Storage Unit 423 Subscriber Information Storage Unit B Bus

Claims

1. A communication system including an information processing device that functions as a node constituting a blockchain network, wherein the information processing device comprises: a determination unit configured to determine whether predetermined information associated with the identifier of a first wireless terminal is registered on a line for connecting a wireless terminal housed in a wireless base station to an external network, in response to a predetermined transaction from a first wireless terminal that is not subscribed to the line; a modification unit configured to perform control to change the state of the line to a state in which the first wireless terminal is permitted to connect to the external network, if the predetermined information is registered on the line; and a recovery unit configured to perform control to restore the state of the line changed by the modification unit to its original state at a predetermined timing.

2. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein the blockchain network is connected to a plurality of lines for connecting to an external network via wireless base stations, the predetermined transaction includes a list of a plurality of wireless base stations, the determination unit is configured to determine for each of the plurality of wireless base stations whether the predetermined information is registered in association with the identifier of the first wireless terminal in the line for connecting a wireless terminal housed in the wireless base station to an external network, the information processing device has a selection unit configured to select one wireless base station from among the wireless base stations determined to have the predetermined information registered to connect to the first wireless terminal, and the modification unit is configured to perform control to change the state of the line relating to the selected wireless base station to a state in which connection by the first wireless terminal to the external network is permitted.

3. The communication system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the modification unit is configured to request a management device that manages connections to the external network in a line that changes to a state in which a connection by the first wireless terminal to the external network is permitted, to change the information for permitting a connection by the first wireless terminal to the external network.

4. An information processing device that functions as a node constituting a blockchain network, comprising: a determination unit configured to determine whether predetermined information associated with the identifier of a first wireless terminal is registered on a line for connecting a wireless terminal housed in a wireless base station to an external network, in response to a predetermined transaction from a first wireless terminal that is not subscribed to the line; a modification unit configured to perform control to change the state of the line to a state in which the first wireless terminal is permitted to connect to the external network, if the predetermined information is registered on the line; and a recovery unit configured to perform control to restore the state of the line changed by the modification unit to its original state at a predetermined timing.

5. A management device that stores information about wireless terminals that are permitted to use a line for connecting wireless terminals housed in a wireless base station to an external network, comprising: a connection control unit configured to modify the information so that the first wireless terminal is permitted to use the line in response to a request from a blockchain network that has received a predetermined transaction from a first wireless terminal connected to the wireless base station.

6. A wireless terminal comprising: a transaction issuing unit configured to issue a predetermined transaction to a blockchain network via one of one or more wireless base stations to which the wireless terminal can connect; and a communication control unit configured to communicate to an external network via the line to which the wireless base station belongs when it receives a predetermined signal from one of the one or more wireless base stations through control performed by the blockchain network in response to the predetermined transaction.

7. A program for causing an information processing device, which functions as a node constituting a blockchain network, to execute: a determination procedure that determines whether predetermined information is registered in the line associated with the identifier of a first wireless terminal in response to a predetermined transaction from a first wireless terminal that is not contracted for a line connecting a wireless terminal housed in a wireless base station to an external network; a modification procedure that controls the state of the line to change it to a state in which the first wireless terminal is permitted to connect to the external network if the predetermined information is registered in the line; and a recovery procedure that controls the state of the line to revert it to its original state as changed by the modification procedure at a predetermined timing.

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