JP2017121009A - Communication relay device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a communication environment more convenient for a user.SOLUTION: A communication relay device comprises: a terminal communication antenna for communicating with a terminal; a relay communication antenna for communicating with a relay line; a communication traffic detection unit for detecting communication traffic of communication with the terminal via the terminal communication antenna; and a flight position control unit for controlling a flight position of the device on the basis of communication capacity of communication with the terminal via the terminal communication antenna or communication capacity of communication with the relay line via the relay communication antenna, and the communication traffic detected by the communication traffic detection unit. The communication relay device is mounted on an aircraft.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

  Embodiments described herein relate generally to a communication relay device.

  Conventionally, a wireless relay device mounted on a flying object is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). This wireless relay device connects other devices to the Internet.

JP 2014-91335 A

  Since the apparatus as described above efficiently obtains and manages information about a desired place with high accuracy, there is a problem in that a communication environment that is more convenient for the user cannot be provided.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a communication environment that is more convenient for the user.

  One embodiment of the present invention is directed to a terminal communication antenna that performs communication with a terminal, a relay communication antenna that performs communication with a relay line, and a communication amount of communication performed between the terminal and the terminal via the terminal communication antenna. The communication volume detection unit detects the communication capacity of communication with the terminal via the terminal communication antenna or the communication capacity of communication with the relay line via the relay communication antenna, and the communication volume detection unit detects And a flight position control unit that controls the flight position of the aircraft based on the communication amount.

  In one embodiment of the present invention, the flight position control unit controls the position of the aircraft in the horizontal direction according to a ratio of the communication amount detected by the communication amount detection unit to the communication capacity.

  Further, in the communication relay device of one embodiment of the present invention, the flight position control unit, when the ratio of the communication amount detected by the communication amount detection unit to the communication capacity does not exceed a predetermined ratio, Control is performed to move the device in the first moving direction in the horizontal direction.

  In the communication relay device according to the embodiment of the present invention, the flight position control unit moves in the first movement direction when the communication amount increases after moving in the first movement direction. Control to continue the movement of the aircraft.

  Further, in the communication relay device according to the embodiment of the present invention, the flight position control unit moves the first movement direction when the communication amount decreases after moving in the first movement direction. Control is performed to move the aircraft in the second moving direction in the horizontal direction, which is different from the direction.

  The communication relay device according to an embodiment of the present invention may further include a terminal number calculation unit that calculates the number of terminals that can communicate with the terminal communication antenna based on information received by the terminal communication antenna from the terminal. The flight position control unit is configured to move in the first movement direction when the number of terminals calculated by the terminal number calculation unit increases after moving in the first movement direction. Control to continue the movement.

  Further, in the communication relay device according to an embodiment of the present invention, when the number of terminals calculated by the terminal number calculation unit decreases after the flight position control unit moves in the horizontal direction, Control is performed to move the device in the second moving direction in the horizontal direction, which is different from the first moving direction.

  Further, the communication relay device of one embodiment of the present invention, based on the terminal location information acquisition unit that acquires the terminal location information indicating the location of the terminal, and the terminal location information acquired by the terminal location information acquisition unit, A region extraction unit that extracts a region having a high density of the terminal among regions around the own aircraft, wherein the flight position control unit is configured such that the communication amount detected by the communication amount detection unit is the communication capacity. In contrast, if the number of the terminals is small, the mobile phone is moved horizontally to a position above the area where the density of the terminals extracted by the area extraction unit is high.

  The communication relay device according to an embodiment of the present invention further includes a movement direction detection unit that detects a movement direction of a terminal that is a communication target of the terminal communication antenna, and the flight position control unit includes the movement direction detection unit. Based on the moving direction of the terminal to be detected, the own device is moved horizontally.

  In the communication relay device according to the embodiment of the present invention, after the flight position control unit raises the position of the aircraft, the ratio of the communication volume to the communication capacity does not exceed a predetermined ratio. In this case, control is performed to move the machine in the horizontal direction.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a communication relay device that can provide a communication environment that is more convenient for the user.

1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration diagram of a communication system 1. FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the external appearance structure of the flying body 20 with which the communication relay apparatus 50 is mounted. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of a communication relay device 50. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing executed by a control unit 60. It is a figure which shows the relationship between the position of the flying body 20, and the communication range of the terminal communication antenna 52. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing executed by the control unit 60 after moving in the horizontal direction. It is a figure which shows an example of the behavior of the own apparatus after the control part 60 moved the own apparatus to the 1st movement direction. It is a figure which shows an example of a function structure of communication relay apparatus 50A of 2nd Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the process performed by the communication relay apparatus 50A of 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of a function structure of the communication relay apparatus 50B of 3rd Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the process performed by the control part 60 of 3rd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of a function structure of 50 C of communication relay apparatuses of 4th Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the process performed by the control part 60 of 4th Embodiment. 4 is a diagram for explaining detection of a moving direction of the mobile terminal device 15. FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the process performed by the control part 60 of 4th Embodiment.

  Hereinafter, the communication system 1 including the flying body 20 on which the communication relay device 50 according to the present embodiment is mounted will be described with reference to the drawings.

(First embodiment)
[Configuration of Communication System 1]
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration diagram of the communication system 1. The communication system 1 includes a base station 8, relay control devices 10-1 to 10-n, mobile terminal devices 15-1 to 15-n, and an aircraft 20 on which the communication relay device 50 is mounted. The flying object 20 communicates wirelessly with the mobile terminal devices 15-1 to 15-n and the relay control device 10. Hereinafter, when the relay control devices 10-1 to 10-n are not distinguished, they are simply referred to as the relay control device 10. Hereinafter, when the mobile terminal devices 15-1 to 15-n are not distinguished, they are simply referred to as the mobile terminal device 15.

  The base station 8 communicates with mobile terminal devices 15 around the own station. The base station 8 communicates with the relay control device 10. The relay control device 10 communicates with a plurality of base stations 8 or the aircraft 20. The relay control device 10 controls the communication relay device 50 mounted on the base station 8 or the flying body 20 that communicates with the own device. The relay control device 10 is connected to an exchange (not shown). The exchange communicates with a plurality of relay control devices 10.

  The mobile terminal device 15 is, for example, a mobile phone, a smartphone, or a tablet terminal that is carried by a user. The portable terminal device 15 is a communication device that can communicate with each other by voice or text. The portable terminal device 15 can be connected to a communication network (not shown) such as the Internet that can transmit and receive audio information and image information through the same line. The mobile terminal device 15 is connected to the relay control device 10 and the communication network via the communication relay device 50 mounted on the base station 8 or the flying body 20.

[Configuration of Aircraft 20]
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of an external configuration of the flying object 20 on which the communication relay device 50 is mounted. The flying body 20 includes rotors RT1 to RT4, motors 22-1 to 22-4, a GPS receiver 24, a camera 26, a sensor 28, a terminal communication antenna 52, a relay communication antenna 54, and a control unit. 60. A combination of the terminal communication antenna 52, the relay communication antenna 54, and the control unit 60 is an example of a “communication relay device”.

  The rotors RT1 to RT4 are rotating bodies (rotating blades). Hereinafter, the rotors RT1 to RT4 are simply referred to as the rotor RT unless they are distinguished. The motors 22-1 to 22-4 give the flying body 20 lift and propulsion by rotating the rotor RT. In this example, the flying body 20 includes motors 22-1 to 22-4. The motors 22-1 to 22-4 rotate the corresponding rotors RT1 to RT4. The flying body 20 controls the position, direction, and traveling direction of its own aircraft by controlling the drive current supplied to each motor 22. The number of rotors and motors is not limited to four, and may be any number.

  The GPS receiver 24 receives radio waves transmitted by a GPS (Global Positioning System) satellite. The radio wave transmitted by the GPS satellite includes a signal for specifying the position where the radio wave is received, that is, the position of the flying object 20. The GPS receiving unit 24 converts radio waves received from GPS satellites into GPS signals, and outputs the converted GPS signals to the communication relay device 50. In this example, the GPS receiving unit 24 will be described with respect to receiving a radio wave transmitted by a GPS satellite, but is not limited thereto. For example, the GPS receiver 24 may receive radio waves from artificial satellites other than GPS satellites, such as a quasi-zenith satellite with high positioning accuracy.

  The imaging unit, that is, the camera 26 images a landscape around the flying object 20. The camera 26 outputs the captured landscape image to the communication relay device 50 as a peripheral image. In this example, the imaging direction of the camera 26 and the nose direction HDG of the flying object 20 coincide. In this case, the camera 26 images a landscape in front of the own device.

  The sensor 28 is, for example, a gyro sensor, an altitude sensor, a distance measuring sensor, or the like. The gyro sensor detects the attitude of the aircraft 20. The altitude sensor projects a laser beam vertically below the aircraft 20 and receives the reflected light of the projected laser beam. The altitude sensor calculates the altitude of the flying object 20 based on, for example, the phase delay of the received light. Further, the altitude sensor may be a sensor that calculates the altitude from the calculated atmospheric pressure, for example, by calculating the atmospheric pressure at the flight position of the aircraft. The distance measuring sensor projects a laser in the horizontal direction of the airframe 20 and receives the reflected light of the projected laser. The distance measuring sensor detects an object existing around the flying object 20 based on, for example, the phase delay of the received light.

  The terminal communication antenna 52 receives a radio wave transmitted from the mobile terminal device 15 or transmits a radio wave to the mobile terminal device 15. The flying object 20 communicates with the mobile terminal device 15 via the terminal communication antenna 52. The relay communication antenna 54 receives a radio wave transmitted from the relay control device 10 or transmits a radio wave to the relay control device 10. The flying object 20 communicates with the relay control device 10 via the relay communication antenna 54.

[Configuration of Control Unit 60]
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of the communication relay device 50. The control unit 60 of the communication relay device 50 is connected to the motor 22, the GPS receiving unit 24, the camera 26, the sensor 28, the terminal communication antenna 52, and the relay communication antenna 54 described above. The description of the terminal communication antenna 52 and the relay communication antenna 54 is omitted because it has been described above.

  The control unit 60 includes a storage unit 62, an own device position calculation unit 66, a movement control unit 68, a communication control unit 70, a communication amount detection unit 72, and a position determination unit 74. A combination of the movement control unit 68 and the position determination unit 74 is an example of a “flight position control unit”. The storage unit 62 includes a nonvolatile or volatile semiconductor memory. The storage unit 62 stores flight plan information 64. The flight plan information 64 is information indicating the flight plan and destination of the flying object 20. The semiconductor memory may be a portable IC memory that can be removed from the communication relay device 50, or a flash ROM that cannot be removed from the communication relay device 50.

  In addition, in this example, although the communication relay apparatus 50 is provided with the memory | storage part 62 and the flight plan information 64 is memorize | stored in this memory | storage part 62, it demonstrates, but it is not restricted to this. The communication relay device 50 may receive the flight plan information 64 from another device by wireless communication without storing the flight plan information 64 in the storage unit 62 or storing the flight plan information 64 in the storage unit 62. Good. The other device is, for example, an operation controller that is separate from the flying object 20 and can operate the flying object 20.

  The own aircraft position calculation unit 66 calculates the position of the flying object 20, that is, the own aircraft position. The own device position calculation unit 66 calculates the own device position information IP by performing a known calculation based on, for example, the GPS signal SG output from the GPS receiving unit 24. The own aircraft position information IP includes the latitude, longitude, and altitude of the aircraft 20 that is the own aircraft. The own device position calculation unit 66 outputs the calculated own device position information IP to the movement control unit 68.

  Note that the own device position calculation unit 66 may calculate the own device position information IP based on the peripheral image PIC output from the camera 26 in addition to or instead of the GPS signal SG. In this case, the own device position calculation unit 66 calculates the own device position information IP by comparing the information of the landscape image stored in advance with the peripheral image PIC captured by the camera 26. As a result, the own device position calculation unit 66 can calculate the own device position even in a situation where radio waves from GPS satellites cannot be received. The own device position calculation unit 66 may calculate the position and altitude of the own device based on the detection result of the sensor 28.

  The movement control unit 68 controls the movement of the flying object 20. The movement control unit 68 compares the own position information IP calculated by the own position calculation unit 66 with the coordinates of the destination point of the flying object 20 stored in the flight plan information 64, so that the distance to the destination is reached. Calculate the flight route. Further, the movement control unit 68 controls the drive current DC of the motor 22 by a known calculation so that the flying object 20 flies along the calculated flight route. The motor 22 rotates based on the control of the movement control unit 68. Thereby, the flying body 20 flies along the flight route toward the destination.

  The communication control unit 70 transfers information included in the radio wave received by the terminal communication antenna 52 from the mobile terminal device 15 to the relay control device 10 via the relay communication antenna 54. Further, the communication control unit 70 transfers information included in the radio wave received by the relay communication antenna 54 from the relay control device 10 to the mobile terminal device 15 via the terminal communication antenna 52.

  The communication amount detection unit 72 detects the communication amount of communication performed with the mobile terminal device 15 via the terminal communication antenna 52. The communication amount detection unit 72 detects the communication amount of communication performed with the relay control device 10 via the relay communication antenna 54.

  The position determination unit 74 detects the communication capacity with the mobile terminal device 15 via the terminal communication antenna 52 or the communication capacity of communication with the relay line via the relay communication antenna 54, and the communication amount detection unit 72 detects. The flight position of the aircraft is determined based on the traffic. The position determination unit 74 determines the horizontal direction of its own device according to the ratio of the communication amount detected by the communication amount detection unit 72 to the communication capacity of communication with the mobile terminal device 15 or the communication capacity of communication with the relay control device 10. Determine the position. The communication capacity is an amount indicating the upper limit of data that can be communicated per predetermined time. The communication capacity may be an upper limit artificially set in advance, or may be an upper limit limited by the specifications of the apparatus.

[Operation 1 of Control Unit 60]
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing executed by the control unit 60. First, the position determination unit 74 acquires the communication amount detected by the communication amount detection unit 72 (step S100). Next, the position determination unit 74 calculates the ratio of the communication amount to the communication capacity (step S102). The communication capacity is a communication capacity for communication with the mobile terminal device 15 via the terminal communication antenna 52 or a communication capacity for communication with the relay line via the relay communication antenna 54.

  Next, the position determination unit 74 determines whether or not the communication amount calculated in step S102 is equal to or greater than a predetermined ratio (step S104). When the communication amount calculated in step S102 is less than the predetermined ratio, the position determination unit 74 determines a direction in which the own device is moved in the horizontal direction (step S106). The direction to move in the horizontal direction (first direction) may be set in advance or may be an arbitrary direction.

  If the communication amount calculated in step S102 is equal to or greater than the predetermined ratio, the position determination unit 74 determines to maintain the current position without moving the own device in the horizontal direction (step S108). Next, the movement control unit 68 controls the own apparatus to move in the direction determined in step S106. Alternatively, the movement control unit 68 controls the own device to maintain the current position as determined in step S108 (step S110). Thereby, one routine of this flowchart is completed. In step S106, it is determined that the own apparatus is to be moved in the horizontal direction, and the process shown in FIG.

[Specific Operation 1 of Aircraft 20]
When the altitude of the flying object 20 is constant, the terminal communication antenna 52 transmits radio waves having a constant communication range toward the ground. The communication range is a range in which the flying object 20 provides a service to the mobile terminal device 15, for example. The service is to connect the mobile terminal device 15 to the network. For example, the terminal communication antenna 52 transmits a conical radio wave having the terminal communication antenna 52 as a vertex or a fan-shaped radio wave toward the ground.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the relationship between the position of the flying object 20 and the communication range of the terminal communication antenna 52. In the figure, the vertical axis represents the flight altitude, and the horizontal axis represents the distance (communication range diameter). In the illustrated example, the radio wave transmitted by the terminal communication antenna 52 will be described as having a conical shape. When the ratio of the communication amount to the communication capacity is less than the predetermined ratio, the control unit 60 moves the own device in the horizontal direction (first movement direction). As the flying object 20 moves in the horizontal direction, it is possible to search for a position that increases the amount of communication with the mobile terminal device 15 at the current position. In addition, even when the ratio of the communication volume to the communication capacity is less than the predetermined ratio, the control unit 60 is such that the communication volume is rapidly decreased in a short time and the ratio becomes less than the predetermined ratio. In this case, there is a possibility that the amount of communication will increase immediately, so that the own device may be stopped.

  In the illustrated example, the description will be made assuming that the communication amount when the flying object 20 is located at the position P1 is larger than the communication amount when the flying object 20 is located at the position P. When the flying object 20 exists at the position P, if the ratio of the communication amount to the communication capacity is less than the predetermined ratio, the flying object 20 moves to the position P1 by the above-described processing. Thereby, the communication amount which the communication relay apparatus 50 of the flying body 20 communicates increases. As described above, when the ratio of the communication amount to the communication capacity is less than the predetermined value, the flying object 20 moves in the horizontal direction, so that, for example, communication with more mobile terminal devices 15 can be performed. As a result, the communication relay device 50 can provide a communication environment that is more convenient for the user.

[Operation 2 of control unit 60]
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing executed by the control unit 60 after moving in the horizontal direction. This process is a process executed after the process of step S110, for example, when it is determined in step S106 in FIG.

  First, the position determination unit 74 acquires the communication amount detected by the communication amount detection unit 72 (step S120). Next, the position determination unit 74 calculates the ratio of the communication amount to the communication capacity (step S122). Next, the position determination unit 74 determines whether or not the ratio calculated in step S122 has increased the ratio of the communication amount to the previously calculated communication capacity (step S124). The ratio of the communication amount to the previously calculated communication capacity is, for example, the ratio of the communication amount to the most recently calculated communication capacity. That is, the ratio of the traffic volume calculated in step S102 of FIG. 4 or the ratio of the traffic volume calculated in the process of step S122 of FIG. 6 one routine before.

  When the ratio of the communication amount to the communication capacity increases in step S124, the position determination unit 74 determines the movement direction of the own device as the first movement direction (step S126). When the ratio of the communication amount to the communication capacity has not increased in step S124, the position determination unit 74 determines the moving direction in the horizontal direction (second moving direction) different from the first moving direction of the own device (second moving direction). Step S128). The second moving direction may be a horizontal moving direction different from the first moving direction, may be set in advance, or may be an arbitrary direction. In addition, when the ratio of the communication amount with respect to the communication capacity has not changed in step S124 (or has changed only within the range of the predetermined ratio), the position determination unit 74 maintains the current apparatus at the current position. It may be determined, or it may be determined that the own device is moved in the first movement direction or the second movement direction. In addition, when the ratio of the communication amount to the communication capacity increases in step S124, the position determination unit 74 may determine that the own device is maintained at the current position.

  Further, the position determination unit 74 may determine whether or not to move the own device based on the connection time between the communication relay device 50 and the mobile terminal device 15. For example, the control unit 60 acquires the identification information of the mobile terminal device 15 connected to the communication relay device 50 from the mobile terminal device 15 and stores the acquired identification information in the storage unit 62. The position determination unit 74 determines the connection time between the same mobile terminal device 15 and the relay communication device 50 based on the information stored in the storage unit 62 and the connection state between the communication relay device 50 and the mobile terminal device 15. If the predetermined time has been exceeded, it is determined that the aircraft is not moved and is maintained at the current position. As described above, when the same mobile terminal device 15 and the communication relay device 50 are connected for a predetermined time, the user possessing the mobile terminal device 15 is ensured to use the communication, so that the user Convenience can be improved. On the other hand, the position determination unit 74 determines the connection time between the relay communication device 50 and the mobile terminal device 15 based on the information stored in the storage unit 62 and the connection state between the relay communication device 50 and the mobile terminal device 15. When it is determined that there is no mobile terminal device 15 exceeding the predetermined time (or when it is determined that the number is equal to or less than the predetermined number), it is determined that the own device is moved in the first movement direction or the second movement direction. .

  Next, the movement control unit 68 controls and moves the own device in the direction determined in step S126 or step S128 (step S130). Thereby, one routine of this flowchart is completed.

  In the above-described processing, the position determination unit 74 determines whether or not the ratio of the communication amount to the communication capacity has increased in step S124, but whether or not the communication amount has increased from the most recently detected communication amount. May be determined. For example, the position determination unit 74 proceeds to step S126 when the communication amount increases from the most recently detected communication amount, and proceeds to step S128 when the communication amount does not increase from the most recently detected communication amount. In this case, the position determination unit 74 omits the process of calculating the ratio of the communication amount to the communication capacity in step S122.

[Specific operation 2 of the flying object 20]
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of the behavior of the own device after the control unit 60 has moved the own device in the first movement direction. The description of the overlapping part with the description of FIG. In the example shown in the figure, the behavior after the ratio of the communication amount to the communication capacity is less than the predetermined ratio, and the flying object 20 moves in the first movement direction and is positioned at the position P1 will be described. After the flying object 20 moves in the first movement direction, when the ratio of the communication amount to the communication capacity increases, the flying object 20 continuously moves in the first movement direction (see steps S126 and S130). Thereby, the flying body 20 moves to the position P2.

  After the flying object 20 continuously moved in the first movement direction (for example, after moving to the position P2), the ratio of the communication amount to the communication capacity did not increase in the processing of the next routine (in the example shown in the figure). If it has decreased, the flying object 20 moves in a second movement direction different from the first movement direction (see steps S128 and S130). Similarly, when the ratio of the communication amount to the communication capacity does not increase after the flying object 20 moves to the position P1 after the processing of step S106 and step S110 in FIG. 4 (step S124: NO), the flying object 20 Move in the second movement direction.

  As described above, after the flying object 20 moves in the first movement direction, the first movement is performed when the ratio of the communication volume to the communication capacity is not higher than the ratio of the communication volume to the recently calculated communication capacity. The flying object 20 moves in the second moving direction different from the direction. Accordingly, the communication relay device 50 mounted on the flying object 20 searches for a position where communication with more mobile terminal devices 15 can be performed, for example. As a result, the communication relay device 50 can provide a communication environment that is more convenient for the user by communicating with the mobile terminal device 15 at the searched position.

  For example, it is preferable to fly the flying object 20 equipped with the communication relay device 50 in a facility where many people gather, such as a concert venue or an event venue. For example, in concert venues and event venues, many people (users) who have the mobile terminal device 15 gather, and the positions of the users are fluid. For example, when the horizontal position of the flying object 20 is fixed and the communication range is fixed, the mobile terminal device 15 may not exist in the communication range. On the other hand, the communication relay device 50 determines the position of the flying body 20 in the horizontal direction based on the communication capacity and the communication amount. The communication relay device 50 controls the position of the flying object 20 in the horizontal direction so that the communication amount approaches the communication capacity. As a result, the communication relay device 50 can provide a communication environment that is more convenient for the user. Further, the communication relay device 50 can use communication facilities more efficiently.

  According to the first embodiment described above, the communication relay device 50 communicates with the mobile terminal device 15 via the terminal communication antenna 52 or communicates with the relay control device 10 via the relay communication antenna 54. By controlling the flight position of the aircraft based on the communication capacity and the communication amount detected by the communication amount detection unit 72, it is possible to provide a communication environment that is more convenient for the user.

(Second Embodiment)
Hereinafter, the second embodiment will be described. Here, the difference from the first embodiment will be mainly described, and description of functions and the like common to the first embodiment will be omitted. In the first embodiment, the control unit 60 of the flying object 20 controls the position of the flying object 20 according to the ratio of the communication amount detected by the communication amount detection unit 72 with respect to the communication capacity. On the other hand, in 2nd Embodiment, the control part 60 controls the position of the flying body 20 based on the number of the portable terminal devices 15 in the state which the terminal communication antenna 52 can communicate.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of the communication relay device 50A according to the second embodiment. The communication relay device 50A according to the second embodiment includes a terminal number acquisition unit 73 instead of the functional configuration according to the first embodiment. The terminal number acquisition unit 73 acquires the number of portable terminal devices 15 in a state where the terminal communication antenna 52 can communicate based on the information received by the relay communication antenna 54. The control unit 60 transmits the communication result between the terminal communication antenna 52 and the mobile terminal device 15 to the relay control device 10 via the relay communication antenna. The base station 8 transmits the communication result between the mobile station and the mobile terminal device 15 to the relay control device 10. The relay control device 10 monitors the number of mobile terminal devices 15 in the communication range of the base station 8 controlled by the own device or the number of mobile terminal devices 15 in the communication range of the communication relay device 50A. The relay control device 10 transmits information indicating the number of mobile terminal devices 15 in the communication range of the communication relay device 50A to the communication relay device 50A. The position determination unit 74 determines the position of the flying object 20 based on the number of mobile terminal devices 15 acquired by the terminal number acquisition unit 73.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing executed by the communication relay device 50A of the second embodiment. First, the terminal number acquisition unit 73 acquires the number of mobile terminal devices 15 in which the terminal communication antenna 52 is communicable based on the information received by the relay communication antenna 54 (step S200). Next, the position determination part 74 determines whether the number of the portable terminal devices 15 acquired by step S200 is more than predetermined number (step S202). When the number of the portable terminal devices 15 is less than the predetermined number, the position determination unit 74 determines a direction in which the own device is moved in the horizontal direction (step S204). The direction to move in the horizontal direction (first direction) may be set in advance or may be an arbitrary direction.

  When the number of the mobile terminal devices 15 is equal to or greater than the predetermined number, the position determination unit 74 determines to maintain the current position without moving the own device in the horizontal direction (step S206). Next, the movement control unit 68 controls the own device in the direction determined in step S204. Alternatively, the movement control unit 68 controls the own machine to maintain the current position as determined in step S206 (step S208).

  Next, the terminal number acquisition unit 73 acquires the number of mobile terminal devices 15 in which the terminal communication antenna 52 is communicable based on the information received by the relay communication antenna 54 (step S210). Next, the position determination unit 74 determines whether or not the number of mobile terminal devices 15 acquired in step S210 has increased compared to the number of mobile terminal devices 15 acquired in step S200 (step S212). .

  When the number of the mobile terminal devices 15 acquired in step S210 is not increased as compared with the number of the mobile terminal devices 15 acquired in step S200, the position determination unit 74 first moves the device itself in the horizontal direction. A direction (second movement direction) different from the movement direction is determined (step S214). The second moving direction may be a horizontal direction different from the first moving direction, may be set in advance, or may be an arbitrary direction.

  When the number of the mobile terminal devices 15 acquired in step S210 increases as compared with the number of the mobile terminal devices 15 acquired in step S200, the position determination unit 74 changes the movement direction of the own device to the first movement direction. Determine (step S216). The first movement direction in this process is the movement direction determined in step S204. Next, the movement control unit 68 controls the own apparatus to move in the direction determined in step S214. Alternatively, the movement control unit 68 controls the own device to maintain the current position as determined in step S216 (step S218). Thereby, one routine of this flowchart is completed.

  Note that the terminal number acquisition unit 73 may acquire the number of mobile terminal devices 15 in which the terminal communication antenna 52 is communicable from the storage unit 62. In this case, the storage unit 62 stores the number of mobile terminal devices 15 in a state where the terminal communication antenna 52 can communicate, identification information of the mobile terminal device 15, and the like. The communication relay device 50A acquires the number of mobile terminal devices 15, identification information, and the like from the relay control device 10, and stores the acquired information in the storage unit 62. Further, the terminal number acquisition unit 73 may calculate the number of the mobile terminal devices 15 based on the communication result between the terminal communication antenna 52 and the mobile terminal device 15.

  According to the second embodiment described above, the communication relay device 50A controls the position of the flying object 20 based on the number of the mobile terminal devices 15 in which the terminal communication antenna 52 can communicate. It is possible to provide a communication environment that is more convenient for the user.

  Note that the communication relay device 50 </ b> A may include a traffic detection unit 72 and a mobile terminal acquisition unit 73. In this case, the position determination unit 74 refers to, for example, a preset priority or a preset condition, and the mobile terminal device 15 acquired by the communication amount detected by the communication amount detection unit 72 or the terminal number acquisition unit 73. The position of the aircraft may be determined based on the number of Moreover, although 1st Embodiment and 2nd Embodiment were demonstrated as different embodiment, you may implement combining 1st Embodiment and 2nd Embodiment. For example, the processes after step S210 described above may be executed after the process of step S110 of the first embodiment.

(Third embodiment)
Hereinafter, a third embodiment will be described. Here, the difference from the first embodiment will be mainly described, and description of functions and the like common to the first embodiment will be omitted. In the first embodiment, the control unit 60 of the flying object 20 controls the position of the flying object 20 according to the ratio of the communication amount detected by the communication amount detection unit 72 with respect to the communication capacity. On the other hand, in 3rd Embodiment, the control part 60 moves an own machine to a horizontal position to the sky position of the area | region where the density of the portable terminal device 15 is high.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of the communication relay device 50B according to the third embodiment. The communication relay device 50B according to the third embodiment includes a terminal position information acquisition unit 80 and further includes a region extraction unit 82 instead of the communication amount detection unit 72 according to the first embodiment. The terminal location information acquisition unit 80 acquires the number of mobile terminal devices 15 in which the terminal communication antenna 52 can communicate based on the communication result between the terminal communication antenna 52 and the mobile terminal device 15.

  Furthermore, the terminal position information acquisition unit 80 detects the position of the mobile terminal device 15 based on the communication result between the terminal communication antenna 52 and the mobile terminal device 15. In the present embodiment, the radio wave transmitted from the mobile terminal device 15 includes, for example, position information of the mobile terminal device 15. The mobile terminal device 15 includes a position specifying unit such as a GPS receiver. The terminal location information acquisition unit 80 acquires the location of the mobile terminal device 15 based on the location information acquired from the mobile terminal device 15.

  The area extraction unit 82 acquires position information indicating the position of the mobile terminal device 15 from the terminal position information acquisition unit 80. The region extraction unit 82 detects the density of the mobile terminal device 15 in a region around the own device for each predetermined region based on the acquired position information. The predetermined area is an area obtained by arbitrarily dividing an area around the own device. The area extraction unit 82 extracts an area where the density of the mobile terminal device 15 is high from the area around the own device. The area extraction unit 82 outputs information indicating the extracted area of the mobile terminal device 15 to the position determination unit 74. The position determination unit 74 determines a position above the area where the density of the mobile terminal device 15 is high as a position to move the own device in the horizontal direction.

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of processing executed by the control unit 60 according to the third embodiment. First, the position determination unit 74 acquires the communication amount detected by the communication amount detection unit 72 (step S300). Next, the position determination unit 74 calculates the ratio of the communication amount to the communication capacity (step S302). The communication capacity is a communication capacity for communication with the mobile terminal device 15 via the terminal communication antenna 52 or a communication capacity for communication with the relay line via the relay communication antenna 54.

  Next, the position determination unit 74 determines whether or not the communication amount calculated in step S302 is equal to or greater than a predetermined ratio (step S304). If the communication amount calculated in step S302 is equal to or greater than the predetermined ratio, the position determination unit 74 determines to maintain the current position without moving the own device in the horizontal direction (step S306).

  When the communication amount calculated in step S302 is less than the predetermined ratio, the terminal position information acquisition unit 80 acquires the position of the mobile terminal device 15 (step S308). Next, based on the position of the mobile terminal device 15 acquired in step S308, the region extraction unit 82 extracts a region in which the mobile terminal device 15 is present from a region around the own device (step S310). ). Next, the position determination unit 74 determines a position to move the own apparatus in the horizontal direction based on the extraction result of step S310 (step S312). Next, the movement control unit 68 controls the own apparatus to move in the direction determined in step S306. Alternatively, the movement control unit 68 controls and moves the own device to a position above the high density area where the mobile terminal device 15 exists determined in step S312 (step S314). Thereby, one routine of this flowchart is completed.

  Further, the terminal position information acquisition unit 80 may acquire information indicating the position of the mobile terminal device 15 from the camera 26. In an example of this embodiment, the terminal location information acquisition unit 80 acquires an image captured by the camera 26 and outputs the acquired information to the region extraction unit 82. The region extraction unit 82 may extract a region where the mobile terminal device 15 exists and has a high density based on the image captured by the camera 26. For example, the region extraction unit 82 analyzes an image captured by the camera 26. The region extraction unit 82 compares the feature amount extracted based on the analysis result with the feature amount included in the person model stored in the storage region in advance, so that the number of people in the image captured by the camera 26 is increased. Is detected. The region extraction unit 82 extracts a region having a high human density based on the number of people in the image captured by the camera 26. In this case, the region extraction unit 82 estimates a region with a high human density as a high-density region where the mobile terminal device 15 exists. In addition, the flying object 20 may detect a high-density area where the mobile terminal device 15 exists based on the result of flying in an arbitrary direction without considering the communication amount. In this case, when the flying object 20 flies over an arbitrary area, the communication relay device 50B moves the flying object 20 over an area where the number of portable terminal devices 15 connected to the own apparatus is large.

  According to the third embodiment described above, the communication relay device 50B extracts a region where the density of the mobile terminal device 15 is high among regions around the own device, and the amount of communication detected by the communication amount detection unit 72 is high. When the communication capacity is small, the mobile device 15 is moved horizontally to a position above the high density area of the mobile terminal device 15 to provide a more convenient communication environment for the user. be able to.

(Fourth embodiment)
Hereinafter, a fourth embodiment will be described. Here, differences from the first and third embodiments will be mainly described, and descriptions of functions and the like common to the first and third embodiments will be omitted. In the first embodiment, the control unit 60 of the flying object 20 controls the position of the flying object 20 according to the ratio of the communication amount detected by the communication amount detection unit 72 with respect to the communication capacity. On the other hand, in the fourth embodiment, the control unit 60 detects the moving direction of the mobile terminal device 15 and moves the own device in the horizontal direction based on the detected moving direction of the mobile terminal device 15.

  FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of the communication relay device 50C according to the fourth embodiment. The communication relay device 50C according to the fourth embodiment includes a terminal position information acquisition unit 80 instead of the communication amount detection unit 72 according to the first embodiment, and further includes a movement direction detection unit 84. As described above, the mobile terminal device 15 transmits the location information specified by the location specifying unit and the identification information of the own device to the communication relay device 50C as the mobile terminal location information. The terminal location information acquisition unit 80 of the communication relay device 50C acquires the mobile terminal location information of the mobile terminal device 15 from the mobile terminal device 15 at predetermined time intervals. The terminal position information acquisition unit 80 outputs the mobile terminal position information to the movement direction detection unit 84. The mobile terminal location information is information in which the location information of the mobile terminal device 15 acquired by the terminal location information acquisition unit 80 from the mobile terminal device 15 and the identification information are associated with each other.

  The movement direction detection unit 84 acquires portable terminal position information from the terminal position information acquisition unit 80. The movement direction detection unit 84 detects a temporal change in the position of the mobile terminal device 15 based on the mobile terminal position information acquired by the terminal position information acquisition unit 80 at predetermined intervals. The movement direction detection unit 84 detects the movement direction of the mobile terminal device 15 based on the detected temporal change in the position of the mobile terminal device 15. The position determination unit 74 determines a direction in which the own device is moved in the horizontal direction based on the movement direction of the mobile terminal device 15 detected by the movement direction detection unit 84.

  FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of processing executed by the control unit 60 according to the fourth embodiment. First, the terminal position information acquisition unit 80 acquires the position of the mobile terminal device 15 at predetermined time intervals (step S400). Next, the moving direction detector 84 detects the moving direction of the mobile terminal device 15 based on the position of the mobile terminal device 15 acquired at predetermined time intervals (step S402). Details of the moving direction detection method will be described later. Next, the position determination part 74 calculates the most movement direction among the several movement directions in which the portable terminal device 15 detected by step S402 is moving (step S404). Next, the position determination unit 74 determines a position to move the own apparatus in the horizontal direction based on the movement direction calculated in step S404 (step S406). Next, the movement control unit 68 controls and moves the own device to the horizontal position determined in step S406 (step S408). Thereby, one routine of this flowchart is completed.

  FIG. 14 is a diagram for explaining the detection of the moving direction of the mobile terminal device 15. The illustrated example is an overhead view when the ground is viewed from the sky, and shows the communication range (A and A1 in the figure) of the communication relay device 50 at different times. The moving direction detection unit 84 is based on the position of the mobile terminal device 15 (A) detected at a certain time and the position of the mobile terminal device 15 (A1) detected after a predetermined time from the certain time. A movement vector V indicating 15 movement directions is generated. The movement direction detection unit 84 detects the direction of the generated movement vector V as the movement direction of the mobile terminal device 15. In the illustrated example, the number of movement vectors V in the plus X direction is larger than the number of movement vectors in the minus X direction. The position determination unit 74 calculates the movement vector in the plus X direction as the movement direction with the largest number of movement directions of the mobile terminal device 15.

  The position determination unit 74 determines a position where the moving mobile terminal device 15 is within the communication range of the communication relay device 50, for example. The position determining unit 74 calculates the moving speed of the mobile terminal device 15 based on the detection result of the moving direction detecting unit 84, for example. The position determination unit 74 determines a position where the mobile terminal device 15 is within the communication range of the communication relay device 50 based on the calculated moving speed of the mobile terminal device 15. For example, when there are a plurality of mobile terminal devices 15 that are moving, the position determination unit 74 determines a position where more mobile terminal devices 15 are within the communication range of the communication relay device 50. In the example shown in the drawing, the position determination unit 74 determines a position in the sky that is the communication range A1 based on the detection result of the movement direction detection unit 84. Thereby, the flying body 20 moves in the horizontal direction from the sky position that becomes the communication range A to the sky position that becomes the communication range A1. As a result, the communication relay device 50 mounted on the flying object 20 can communicate with a larger number of mobile terminal devices 15 and can provide a user with a more convenient communication environment.

  For example, it is preferable to fly the flying object 20 equipped with the communication relay device 50 in a facility where many people gather, such as a concert venue or an event venue. The communication relay device 50 determines the position of the flying object 20 so as to follow the moving direction of the mobile terminal device 15 as described above. For example, a person (user) carrying the mobile terminal device 15 may move from the event venue toward the station after the event ends. In this case, since the flying body 20 follows the moving user, it is possible to provide a more convenient communication environment for the user who participated in the event. Also, in events such as exhibitions, users may be intermittently moving from the station to the exhibition hall, moving within the exhibition hall, or moving from the exhibition hall to the station. is there. In this case, since the flying body 20 follows the direction in which the mobile terminal device 15 moves more frequently, it is possible to provide a more convenient communication environment for the user.

  According to the fourth embodiment described above, the communication relay device 50 moves the user's own device in the horizontal direction based on the moving direction of the mobile terminal device 15 detected by the moving direction detection unit 84, thereby enabling the user. Can provide a more convenient communication environment.

(Fifth embodiment)
The fifth embodiment will be described below. Here, differences from the first to fourth embodiments will be mainly described, and description of functions and the like common to the first to fourth embodiments will be omitted. In the first embodiment, the control unit 60 of the flying object 20 controls the position of the flying object 20 according to the ratio of the communication amount detected by the communication amount detection unit 72 with respect to the communication capacity. On the other hand, in the fifth embodiment, after raising the position of the own device, the control unit 60 keeps the own device horizontal when the communication amount does not exceed a predetermined ratio with respect to the communication capacity. Move in the direction.

  The position determination unit 74 of the fourth embodiment determines the flight altitude in addition to the function of the position determination unit 74 of the first to fourth embodiments. The movement control unit 68 controls the aircraft at the flight altitude determined by the position determination unit 74. The terminal communication antenna 52 transmits a radio wave having a wider communication range toward the ground as the flying altitude of the flying object 20 increases.

  FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of processing executed by the control unit 60 according to the fifth embodiment. First, the position determination unit 74 determines the flight altitude of its own aircraft (step S500). Next, the movement control unit 68 controls the aircraft at the flight altitude determined in step S500 (step S502). Next, the position determination unit 74 acquires the communication amount detected by the communication amount detection unit 72 (step S504). Next, the position determination unit 74 calculates the ratio of the communication amount to the communication capacity (step S506).

  Next, the position determination unit 74 determines whether or not the ratio calculated in step S504 is equal to or greater than a predetermined ratio (step S508). When the ratio calculated in step S508 is less than the predetermined ratio, the position determination unit 74 determines a direction in which the own device is moved in the horizontal direction (step S510). If the ratio calculated in step S504 is equal to or greater than the predetermined ratio, the position determination unit 74 determines to maintain the current position without moving the own apparatus in the horizontal direction (step S512). Next, the movement control unit 68 controls the own apparatus to move in the direction determined in step S510. Alternatively, the movement control unit 68 controls the own device to maintain the current position as determined in step S512 (step S514). Thereby, one routine of this flowchart is completed.

  According to the fifth embodiment described above, the communication relay device 50, after raising the position of the own device, when the communication amount does not exceed a predetermined ratio with respect to the communication capacity, By moving in the horizontal direction, it is possible to search for an area where the mobile terminal device 15 exists. As a result, the communication relay device 50 can provide a communication environment that is more convenient for the user by communicating with the mobile terminal device 15 at the searched position.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention and its deformation | transformation were demonstrated, these embodiment and its deformation | transformation were shown as an example and are not intending limiting the range of invention. These embodiments and modifications thereof can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and modifications thereof are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and at the same time, are included in the invention described in the claims and equivalents thereof.

  Each of the above devices has a computer inside. The process of each device described above is stored in a computer-readable recording medium in the form of a program, and the above-described processing is performed by the computer reading and executing the program. Here, the computer-readable recording medium means a magnetic disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a DVD-ROM, a semiconductor memory, or the like. Alternatively, the computer program may be distributed to the computer via a communication line, and the computer that has received the distribution may execute the program.

The program may be for realizing a part of the functions described above.
Furthermore, what can implement | achieve the function mentioned above in combination with the program already recorded on the computer system, what is called a difference file (difference program) may be sufficient.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Communication system, 10 ... Relay control apparatus, 15 ... Portable terminal device, 50 ... Communication relay apparatus, 52 ... Terminal communication antenna, 54 ... Relay communication antenna, 50 ... Communication relay apparatus, 62 ... Memory | storage part, 66 ... Self Machine position calculation unit, 68 ... movement control unit, 72 ... communication amount detection unit, 73 ... terminal number acquisition unit, 74 ... position determination unit, 80 ... terminal position information acquisition unit, 82 ... area extraction unit, 84 ... movement direction detection Part

Claims (10)

A terminal communication antenna for communicating with the terminal;
A relay communication antenna that communicates with the trunk line;
A traffic detection unit that detects the traffic of communication performed with the terminal via the terminal communication antenna;
Based on the communication capacity of communication with the terminal via the terminal communication antenna or the communication capacity of communication with the relay line via the relay communication antenna, and the communication volume detected by the traffic detection unit, A flight position control unit for controlling the flight position of the aircraft,
And a communication relay device mounted on a flying object. The flight position controller is
Controls the position of the own device in the horizontal direction according to a ratio of the communication amount detected by the communication amount detection unit to the communication capacity.
The communication relay device according to claim 1. The flight position controller is
When the ratio of the communication volume detected by the communication volume detection unit to the communication capacity does not exceed a predetermined ratio, control is performed to move the own device in the first moving direction in the horizontal direction.
The communication relay device according to claim 1 or 2. The flight position controller is
When the communication amount increases after moving in the first moving direction, control is performed to continue the movement of the own device in the first moving direction.
The communication relay device according to claim 3. The flight position controller is
When the communication amount decreases after moving in the first moving direction, control is performed to move the own device in the second moving direction in the horizontal direction different from the first moving direction. Do,
The communication relay device according to claim 3 or 4. Based on information received by the terminal communication antenna from the terminal, the terminal communication antenna further includes a terminal number calculation unit that calculates the number of terminals that can communicate with the terminal communication antenna,
The flight position controller is
When the number of terminals calculated by the terminal number calculation unit increases after moving in the first movement direction, control is performed to continue the movement of the own device in the first movement direction.
The communication relay device according to claim 3. The flight position controller is
If the number of terminals calculated by the number-of-terminals calculation unit decreases after moving in the horizontal direction, the terminal moves to a second moving direction in the horizontal direction that is different from the first moving direction. Control to move the machine,
The communication relay device according to claim 6. A terminal position information acquisition unit for acquiring terminal position information indicating the position of the terminal;
Based on the terminal location information acquired by the terminal location information acquisition unit, an area extraction unit that extracts an area having a high density of the terminal among areas around the own device;
Further comprising
The flight position controller is
When the communication amount detected by the communication amount detection unit is smaller than the communication capacity, the own device is horizontally moved to a position above the region where the density of the terminal extracted by the region extraction unit is high. ,
The communication relay device according to any one of claims 1 to 7. A moving direction detecting unit for detecting a moving direction of a terminal to be communicated by the terminal communication antenna;
The flight position controller is
Based on the movement direction of the terminal detected by the movement direction detection unit, the own machine is moved horizontally,
The communication relay device according to any one of claims 1 to 8. The flight position controller is
After raising the position of the own device, if the ratio of the communication amount to the communication capacity does not exceed a predetermined ratio, control to move the own device in the horizontal direction,
The communication relay device according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

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