JP2019047243A - LEO communication service system, LEO communication terminal, and LEO communication terminal group communication control method - Google Patents

Abstract

To allow management means to easily set communication control of a LEO communication terminal group for each region in a mechanism that collects arbitrary data from the LEO communication terminal group via a LEO satellite constellation.SOLUTION: A LEO communication service system includes: data collection means for collecting arbitrary data collected by a LEO communication terminal group via a LEO satellite constellation; management means for at least designating a representative point designating an arbitrary position; and the LEO communication terminal group for receiving the representative point designated by the management means and autonomously setting a transmission method for transmitting arbitrary data to the data collection means via the LEO satellite constellation on the basis of positional information on its own terminal and the designated representative point.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a LEO communication service system using a LEO satellite constellation constructed of orbiting satellites orbiting a low earth orbit (LEO).

  Recently, satellite communication is used to perform remote monitoring and remote control of various communication terminals on the ground, at sea, and in flight (hereinafter also referred to as terminal devices and terminals, and also called edge devices and terminals). Also, communication terminals using the LEO satellite constellation are called LEO communication terminals or simply LEO terminals. The LEO communication terminal includes, for example, an airplane, a drone, an autonomous vehicle, a mobile phone, a vending machine, and a sensor node.

  An example of remote monitoring and control using satellites is an air traffic control system. The air traffic control system uses satellite based augmentation system (SBAS) to help monitor and control air traffic. The air traffic control system, even with the most extensive service navigation services, has been limited to regional services to North America, Asia and the Pacific, and to Europe, and has never been offered with global scale.

  Another remote surveillance control example is the Iridium satellite telephone system. The Iridium satellite telephone system detects the origination of an Iridium telephone on the earth and calls the Iridium telephone of the destination. The Iridium satellite telephone system is a LEO satellite system, and a satellite constellation is formed by many satellites introduced into the LEO orbit.

  The LEO communication system can construct a constellation with many satellites orbiting low altitude to provide a global communication infrastructure. This LEO communication system can be used as infrastructure for various applications.

  In today's LEO constellation, individual satellites are required to handle LEO communication terminal groups from sparse to huge numbers with flexibility for each grid. For example, when all terminals existing in a certain area (a grid provided on the ground, the sea, or the air) are received, the number of terminals tends to be large in urban areas and sparse in rural areas. Also, in the ocean, the number of terminals tends to be large in the harbor and the bay and sparse in the open ocean.

  Each LEO satellite appropriately receives each communication from the LEO communication terminal group. Each communication from this group of LEO communication terminals may be transmitted from the terminals to the LEO satellite at timings and frequency bands that interfere with each other, unless some appropriate management is performed. It can be said that this communication interference generally occurs as the number of terminals increases. Also, it is assumed that this communication interference is greatly affected by the communication speed of each terminal, the communication method, and the like.

  The LEO satellite constellation is also being considered for use by various service vendors as a communication infrastructure. It is assumed that service vendors prepare their own ground facilities, or rent ground facilities from operators of LEO satellite constellations to construct a LEO communication service system.

  The LEO communication service system is configured to be able to provide various services to users using the LEO satellite constellation. In many cases, in the LEO communication service system, a data collection base is provided on the ground to collect arbitrary data collected by the LEO communication terminal group. In addition, the LEO communication service system is often provided with one or more management units that control the service.

  An invention relating to an LEO communication system (communication service system) is described in Patent Document 1. The data relay system described in this patent document contains arbitrary data transmitted from the LEO satellite group (relay satellite 12 group of the document) from the LEO communication terminal group (ground transmission station 11 group of the document). Radio waves are relayed to the ground facility (ground antenna 13 and analysis station 14 of the document), and the relayed radio waves are separated (analyzed) into arbitrary data respectively transmitted by the ground facility (analysis station 14 of the document). Use.

  Further, another invention related to the LEO communication system (communication service system) is described in Patent Document 2. This document mounts a camera on the LEO satellite and sends a command or pilot signal to the LEO satellite to capture the position of the sensor node, the LEO satellite captures a satellite image of the position of the sensor node, and the ground station together with the sensing results. The LEO communication service system is disclosed.

  The LEO communication service is assumed to have various services in addition to common services such as position coordinate confirmation of terminal devices and fixed point observation of sensor values. For example, transport services by moving objects such as autonomous vehicles and robot ships, ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance) services by moving objects such as drone and unmanned aerial vehicles, exploration rover, remote by fixed unmanned sensors such as meteorological meters and wave height meters Sensing service, remote supply service of beverage and food by vending machine (vending machine), etc. may be mentioned.

  In order to ensure the quality of service, the normal operation of each of the terminal devices used for the service is required. While service vendors and users generally want to know the normal operating status, they may not be required to always know the operating status in real time based on the cost aspect. For example, the service quality per second is excessive for service users who do not mind if it is possible to acquire the operating status and sensing data every hour or every day. In addition, terminals that transmit sensing data every second require transmission power for that amount, which may cause adverse effects such as shortening of operating time.

JP, 2014-204177, A JP, 2016-181862, A

  The LEO satellite constellation (LEO satellite system) can build a global infrastructure for many terminals.

  On the other hand, in a service that collects arbitrary data from a large number of LEO communication terminals via the LEO satellite constellation, it is assumed that communication control (remote control) is desired to be performed even after installation for a large number of LEO communication terminals. In addition, if the frequency of remote monitoring and the frequency of data transmission are also added to the items of remote control, the range of provided services can be greatly expanded.

  However, when constructing a service for collecting arbitrary data from a large number of LEO communication terminals via the LEO satellite constellation, there is no practical way of knowing how to perform communication control for a large number of LEO communication terminals.

  This is because, for example, when performing communication control individually for each LEO communication terminal using a communication command, the communication resource and management resource for the terminal from the LEO satellite are increased as the number of terminals is increased. Consume. As a result, communication bandwidth may be congested, congestion may decrease, communication speed may decrease, and management resources may increase.

  Further, for example, even when communication control is performed to each LEO communication terminal by a method other than a communication command via a satellite, a method for easily performing communication control of a huge number of terminals is desired.

  By establishing a method for performing this communication control, for example, there is obtained a method for reducing problems such as data transmission from each terminal to the LEO satellite at timings and frequency bands at which communication from the LEO communication terminal group interferes with each other. Be Also, for example, it is possible to obtain a method of adjusting the frequency of transmitting arbitrary data to the LEO communication terminal for each area. Also, for example, service vendors will be able to provide various added value and differentiation by region.

  The LEO communication systems described in Patent Documents 1 and 2 do not particularly mention this point, and do not solve the above problem.

  Therefore, the inventors provide a method for easily setting communication control of a large number of LEO communication terminals.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and, for a mechanism for collecting arbitrary data from the LEO communication terminal group via the LEO satellite constellation, the communication control of the LEO communication terminal group is managed from management means An object of the present invention is to provide an LEO communication service system, an LEO communication terminal, and an LEO communication terminal group communication control method which can be easily set for each region.

  An LEO communication service system according to an embodiment of the present invention specifies at least data collection means for collecting arbitrary data collected by LEO communication terminals through an LEO satellite constellation, and a representative point for specifying an arbitrary position. Receiving the representative point designated by the managing means and the managing means, and transmitting arbitrary data to the data collecting means via the LEO satellite constellation based on the position information of the own terminal and the designated representative point And a LEO communication terminal group for autonomously setting a transmission method.

  The LEO communication terminal of the LEO communication service system according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises a receiving unit for receiving communication waves from each LEO satellite constituting the LEO satellite constellation, and each LEO satellite constituting the LEO satellite constellation. A representative designated by a communication unit including at least a transmitting unit for transmitting a communication wave, a storage unit storing at least position information of the own terminal, and a management unit specifying at least a representative point specifying an arbitrary position When a point is received via the communication unit, a sending method for sending arbitrary data to a predetermined data collection means via the LEO satellite constellation is based on the representative point of the own terminal and the designated point. And a controller configured to set.

  In the LEO communication terminal group communication control method according to the LEO communication service system according to an embodiment of the present invention, at least a representative point for specifying an arbitrary position is specified by the managing means, and collectively notified to the LEO communication terminal group Each of the LEO communication terminals belonging to the LEO communication terminal group notified of the representative point designated by the managing means sends out an arbitrary data to the predetermined data collecting means via the LEO satellite constellation. It is characterized in that it is set based on the location information of the terminal and the designated representative point.

  According to the present invention, the LEO communication terminal group communication control can be easily set for each area from the management means, as opposed to a mechanism for collecting arbitrary data from the LEO communication terminal group via the LEO satellite constellation. A communication service system, an LEO communication terminal, and an LEO communication terminal group communication control method can be provided.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing an LEO communication service system 1 of an embodiment. FIG. 2 is an explanatory view schematically showing an LEO constellation used by the LEO communication service system 1; It is a block diagram showing an example of 1 composition of LEO communication terminal 20 of an embodiment. It is the flowchart which showed the example of a terminal group management setting flow with respect to the LEO communication terminal 20 group. It is the flowchart which showed the example of the data collection flow which collects arbitrary data from the LEO communication terminal 20 group. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of an intra-terminal condition setting flow by the LEO communication terminal 20; It is explanatory drawing which showed the group management setting method by a representative point typically. It is another explanatory view schematically showing a group management setting method by representative points.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described based on the drawings.

First Embodiment
FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing the LEO communication service system 1 of the embodiment. Although one LEO satellite 100 is described as a LEO satellite constellation in FIG. 1 as a representation of the figure, the ground station 10 described later in the present system simultaneously performs LEO communication via a large number of LEO satellites 100 in parallel. It controls the communication method of each of the terminals 20 group.

  FIG. 2 is an explanatory view schematically showing an LEO constellation used by the LEO communication service system 1. The LEO constellation is comprised of a plurality of LEO satellites 100 orbiting the LEO. The number of satellites of the LEO constellation shown in the figure is an example, and the LEO satellites 100 may be smaller or larger than the number of satellites shown in the figure.

  The LEO communication service system 1 in the figure is comprised of a ground station 10 (ground facility) and a group of LEO communication terminals 20. The LEO communication service system 1 is configured to be communicable via an LEO satellite constellation (a communication infrastructure by LEO satellites 100).

  Each LEO communication terminal 20 receives one or more representative points from the ground station 10, and reflects the representative point autonomously accepted the transmission method of transmitting arbitrary data to the ground station 10 via the LEO satellite constellation. Is configured to set. Examples of the LEO communication terminal group 20 include an airplane, a drone, an autonomous vehicle, a smartphone, a vending machine, and a sensor node. The LEO communication service system 1 provides the same / different services to a plurality of LEO communication terminals at the same time without being particularly limited to one type of LEO communication terminal group for the LEO communication terminals 20 group providing the service simultaneously. You may do it.

  The ground station 10 includes at least a data collection station 11 and a management station 12. The ground station 10 designates a representative point corresponding to the center of the area designated by the management station 12 for each area where the terminal group is to be subjected to communication control, and receives arbitrary data from the LEO communication terminal 20 existing in that area. It collects in the collection station 11.

  The data collection station 11 is configured to collect arbitrary data generated by the LEO communication terminals 20 through the LEO satellite constellation. The data collection station 11 does not necessarily have to be one site, and it is desirable that the data collection station 11 be appropriately and efficiently arranged within the communicable range with the satellite constellation. Further, when a plurality of data collection stations 11 are provided, it is desirable that the respective data collection stations 11 mutually exchange collected data so that predetermined data are collected in the predetermined data collection station 11.

  The management station 12 is configured to designate a representative point that designates a position indicating the center of one or more arbitrary regions. The LEO communication service system 1 uses this designated representative point to instruct a communication control method to the LEO communication terminal 20 (group) existing near an arbitrary position. In other words, the management station 12 group-controls the LEO communication terminals 20 by designating an arbitrary representative point for each communication control instruction. Under this management, each of the LEO communication terminals 20 transmits an arbitrary data to the data collection station 11 via the LEO satellite constellation based on the position information of the own terminal and the designated representative point. Set the condition autonomously.

  Although the method for the LEO communication terminal 20 to receive the representative points (groups) designated by the management station 12 is not particularly limited, a method for broadcasting and notifying via a satellite constellation may be mentioned. In addition, when installing the LEO communication terminal 20, the terminal may be set as an initial setting. Alternatively, the LEO communication terminal 20 may receive the representative points (groups) set by the management station 12 via another communication means, for example, WiFi (registered trademark) or terrestrial radio waves.

  As for the position information of the own terminal, if the LEO communication terminal 20 can measure the position, it is sufficient to acquire the position information measured periodically or at the time of operation. Further, as the position information, in the case of the fixed installation type LEO communication terminal 20, the position information recorded by the installer in the internal memory may be used at the time of installation. Also, the LEO communication terminal 20 may receive position information from a nearby terminal device by short distance communication or wired communication.

  In the method of sending arbitrary data, several sending conditions are recorded in advance in the LEO communication terminal 20, and among them, the sending conditions are set based on the positional relationship between the position information of the own terminal and the designated representative point. A method of selecting one can be adopted. In addition, a method of selecting individual parameters one by one can be employed.

  Further, as a method of transmitting arbitrary data, it is also possible to adopt a method of determining whether the transmission condition is to be validated based on the positional relationship between the position information of the own terminal and the designated representative point.

  Further, the setting of the sending condition may be accepted each time through the communication line, or may be set at the time of installation.

  In addition, the LEO communication terminal 20 may autonomously set a transmission method for transmitting arbitrary data to the data collection station 11 based on the distance between the position information of the own terminal and the designated representative point.

  In addition, the LEO communication terminal 20 autonomously transmits the arbitrary data to the data collection station 11 based on the position information of the own terminal and the designated representative point and one or more indexes associated with the representative point. It may be set to

  In addition, the LEO communication terminal 20 autonomously transmits a transmission method of transmitting arbitrary data to the data collection station 11 based on the distance between the position information of the terminal and the designated representative point and the index associated with the representative point. It may be set.

  As the index associated with the representative points, any index or coefficient may be set for each representative point. Further, as the indices associated with the representative points, a plurality of different indices or coefficients may be set for each of the representative points. The index associated with the representative point can adopt an index indicating the effective distance from the representative point. Similarly, the index associated with the representative point can adopt an index indicating an invalid distance from the representative point. The effective distance / ineffective distance can be used to activate or invalidate transmission conditions of arbitrary data for a terminal existing within a specified distance from the representative point. Similarly, an indicator that limits the transmission altitude can be adopted. Similarly, the index associated with the representative point can be adopted as an index indicating the priority of the transmission conditions of other representative points. Similarly, the index associated with the representative point can adopt a weighting factor based on the distance from the representative point. This weighting factor can be used for setting the degree of reflection of the transmission condition in one or more stages depending on the distance from an arbitrary representative point to the terminal. In addition, as for the index associated with this representative point, when there are a plurality of representative points, different coefficients may be set for each representative point. In addition, when there are a plurality of representative points of the same content, an index may be provided to indicate that the weighted average of the plurality of representative points is adopted. In addition, an index may be provided to enable communication only in a specific area such as the ground or the sea.

  The representative point and / or the index associated with the representative point set by the management station 12 may be listed and notified to the LEO communication terminals 20 group. Furthermore, arbitrary transmission conditions may be added and listed, and notified to the LEO communication terminals 20 group.

  The LEO communication terminal 20 configured in this way receives the representative point designated by the management station 12, and, based on the position information of the own terminal and the designated representative point, according to the index or coefficient as needed, any A transmission method can be autonomously set to transmit data to the data collection station 11 via the LEO satellite constellation.

  For example, the management station 12 specifies at least the representative point designated by the management station 12 and the weight by specifying at least the weighting index which is an index of the weighting count based on the distance from the representative point together with the representative point. Receiving the index and autonomously setting a transmission method of transmitting arbitrary data to the data collection station 11 via the LEO satellite constellation based on the position information of the own terminal, the designated representative point and the weight index Can.

  Here, one configuration example of the LEO communication terminal 20 will be described. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the LEO communication terminal 20 operating in the LEO communication service system 1 according to the present embodiment.

  The illustrated LEO communication terminal 20 includes a control unit 21, a storage unit 22, and a communication unit 23. In addition to the above configuration, the LEO communication terminal 20 may appropriately include a sensor, a camera, a microphone, a positioning unit, a battery power supply unit, and the like as a data generation unit that collects arbitrary data. For example, if a GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver is mounted as a satellite positioning signal receiver, the positioning unit can acquire position information of the own terminal via the positioning unit. In addition to the GPS waves, a satellite positioning signal receiver may be mounted which receives signal waves of other satellite positioning systems, signal waves of quasi-zenith satellites, and the like.

  The control unit 21 receives one or a plurality of representative points designated by the management station 12, and sends out an arbitrary data to the predetermined data collection station 11 via the LEO satellite constellation, as the position information of the own terminal. And operate based on each representative point. At this time, if there is an index or transmission condition corresponding to the representative point, the control unit 21 autonomously sets the transmission method using the index or the like. This operation is performed autonomously by each LEO communication terminal 20 included in the LEO communication service system 1.

  The storage unit 22 stores position information of the own terminal, a coordinate group (registered representative point group) designated by the management station 12, various indexes, etc., as well as arbitrary data transmitted via the LEO satellite constellation. .

  The communication unit 23 is configured to include at least a transmission unit 23A and a reception unit 23B. The transmitting unit 23A transmits communication waves to the LEO satellites 100 that constitute the LEO satellite constellation. The receiver 23B receives communication waves from the LEO satellites that form the LEO satellite constellation. The communication unit 23 may be provided with an interface for short distance wireless communication / wire communication communication / carrier connection interface as needed in addition to the satellite communication transmission / reception unit.

  By thus configuring the LEO communication terminal 20, each of the LEO communication terminals 20 that receives group management refers to the storage unit 22 as needed by the control unit 21 and the position information of the own terminal, each representative point, and Accordingly, it is possible to read an index or the like, set a transmission method of arbitrary data, and transmit arbitrary data by the set transmission method.

  For example, as the group management control notified from the management station 12, the control unit 21 uses the communication unit 23 via the communication unit 23 as the representative point group and the indicators (the effective distance indicator, the weighted count, the priority) associated with the representative points. At the time of acceptance, while reflecting the priority of the group management control method specified by the representative point, collection based on the distance between the position information of the own terminal, each representative point, and the index associated with each representative point It is possible to autonomously set a transmission method of transmitting the arbitrary data to the data collection station 11 via the LEO satellite constellation.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, communication control of the LEO communication terminal group can be easily performed for each area from the management means with respect to a mechanism for collecting arbitrary data from the LEO communication terminal group via the LEO satellite constellation. It is possible to construct an LEO communication service system that can be configured. Also, it is possible to provide a LEO communication terminal for constructing this LEO communication service system.

  Next, each operation of the LEO communication service system will be shown, and the LEO communication terminal group communication control method will be described.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of a terminal group management setting flow for the LEO communication terminal 20 group. In this flow, representative points (groups) designated by the management station 12 are notified to the LEO communication terminal group in the vicinity of the coordinates of each representative point via the LEO satellite constellation. This notification range is assumed to be one grid, although it depends on the size of the grid. On the other hand, when representative points are set near the boundaries of grids, group management settings to be set by the representative points may be notified to neighboring grids. Also, the notification range may be manually set by the administrator. The same flow can be applied to the case where the indicator related to the representative point and the transmission condition are notified to the LEO communication terminal group in the vicinity of the coordinate of each representative point via the LEO satellite constellation together with the representative point.

  The management station 12 broadcasts representative points (groups) to the group of LEO communication terminals 20 via the communication line such as LEO satellite (F101). An indicator or the like for each representative point may be added to the notification of the representative point (group) to the terminal group, as needed. In addition, it is not necessary to transmit the notification of this representative point (group) to the LEO communication terminals 20 at the same time. For example, the group management setting list (file of the latest version of the representative points of each management range of the corresponding grid) ) May be set at the time of installation of the LEO communication terminal 20, or the latest setting may be performed on the LEO communication terminal 20 by communication means other than the satellite communication line.

  Each LEO communication terminal 20 that receives the group management notification autonomously records the group management notification (at least the notification including the representative point) in its own storage unit 22 and causes the control unit 21 to reflect the group management setting. (F102).

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a data collection flow for collecting arbitrary data from the LEO communication terminals 20 group. Flows F201 and F202 in FIG. 5 operate autonomously at each timing according to the role given to each LEO communication terminal 20.

  Each of the LEO communication terminals 20 collects arbitrary data according to the role of its own terminal (F201).

  Each of the LEO communication terminals 20 transmits arbitrary data to the LEO satellite by the transmission method in which the collected arbitrary data is reflected in the terminal group management setting flow (F202).

  After collecting arbitrary data sent from each LEO communication terminal 20 via the LEO constellation, the data collection station 11 stores, analyzes arbitrary data, notifies of data update, notification of errors, etc. according to the service to be provided. Implement as appropriate (F203).

  In this way, by operating the LEO communication terminal group communication control method by the LEO communication service system 1 of the present embodiment, a mechanism for collecting arbitrary data from the LEO communication terminal group via the LEO satellite constellation is disclosed. Communication control of the LEO communication terminal group can be easily set for each area from the management means.

Here, an example of the intra-terminal condition setting flow by the group-managed LEO communication terminal 20 will be described.
FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing an example of an intra-terminal condition setting flow by the LEO communication terminal 20. This flow corresponds to part of the processing operation of F102 in FIG.
The LEO communication terminal 20 (control unit 21) reads the representative points (groups) recorded in the storage unit 22 and the indices of the respective representative points (S101). The representative point group is a representative point (group) set by the management unit 12 for group management.

  Next, the LEO communication terminal 20 (control unit 21) reads its own position coordinates (S102). If the LEO communication terminal 20 is moving, the own terminal position is recorded using the current position acquired in real time by the positioning means, and if the LEO communication terminal 20 is fixed, the own terminal position recorded in the storage unit 22 It may be used.

  Next, the LEO communication terminal 20 (control unit 21) calculates the distance between the representative point and the terminal position coordinate (S103). If there are a plurality of representative points, the distance to each representative point is calculated. If there are multiple representative points of the same group management, weighted average may be calculated and its center may be used as a pseudo representative point.

  Next, the LEO communication terminal 20 (control unit 21) reflects the arbitrary data transmission condition designated by the service vendor in the transmission method (S104). For example, according to the transmission conditions set by the service vendor, an arbitrary data transmission method can be determined according to the distance between the representative point and the terminal position.

  Also, for example, as an arbitrary data transmission condition, the service vendor uses the representative point as a reference coordinate, data transmission frequency, transmission timing, transmission power, LEO satellite used, usable modulation method / coding method / communication protocol Etc. can be determined as appropriate.

  After that, the LEO communication terminal 20 (control unit 21) transmits the collected arbitrary data to the LEO satellite 100 according to the reflected arbitrary data transmission condition.

  By operating the LEO communication terminal 20 in this manner, the LEO communication terminal group communication control method can be made operable. The intra-terminal condition setting flow is an example, and the setting may be reflected in any order as long as the group management method set by the service vendor can be realized by the relationship between the representative point and the own terminal position information. .

  Next, the present LEO communication terminal group communication control method will be described with reference to a specific usage example of representative points (groups).

  In LEO communication, it is generally necessary to take measures against congestion in areas with high density of LEO communication terminal groups such as urban areas. When the congestion countermeasure is not performed, a large number of communication interference and the like may occur, and as a result, the service quality may be degraded.

  Therefore, in the following, a countermeasure against congestion (overall communication efficiency improvement method) for services used in an urban area (high density area of LEO communication terminal group) will be described.

  The management station 12 calculates coordinates serving as the center of the congestion countermeasure for services used in the high density area of the LEO communication terminal group. That is, coordinates of a particularly crowded area within the service provision range are calculated. In addition, if there are a plurality of complicated areas, a plurality of representative points may be set. This coordinate calculation method is not particularly limited and may be determined using an arbitrary method, for example, the amount of communication from the group of LEO communication terminals 20 in the corresponding area, the barycenter of the number of subscribers, the terminal collected in the past You just need to find the distribution. Further, for example, the representative point may be determined by the manager or the user designating arbitrary coordinates. The management station 12 collectively lists one or more registered representative points for each grid, and transmits the list to each grid via a satellite antenna.

  The management station 12 specifies a weighting index that is an index of a weighting factor based on the distance from the representative point, as well as the representative point that designates an arbitrary position. This weight index defines here a weight index that is proportional to the linear distance from the representative point to the terminal coordinates. According to this weight index, for example, in a service where the available communication band is allocated according to the distance from the representative point, the terminal itself autonomously reduces and sets the used communication band as it goes from the representative point to a remote location Do. The weight index may be transmitted together with the representative points (groups) via the satellite antenna or may be transmitted separately. Also, the weight may be recorded in advance as a predetermined setting value candidate in the terminal, and an index indicating which value to use may be used.

  The LEO communication terminal 20 reflects the group management of the congestion countermeasure designated by the management station 12 by setting the communication speed based on the representative points (groups) notified from the management station 12. This communication speed may be, for example, a PN code (Pseudo random Noise code) used within a predetermined period (one hour, one day, one week) or the like, the number of time slots, the transmission frequency of data, transmission timing, coding It can set by changing a method etc. suitably. Thereafter, when the condition for transmitting the arbitrary data to the data collection station 11 is satisfied, the LEO communication terminal 20 transmits a communication wave including the arbitrary data to the LEO satellite at the set communication speed.

If one setting method of the communication speed is expressed by a formula, an algorithm for setting the communication bandwidth amount to be used may be incorporated into the control program of the LEO communication terminal 20 and operated as follows.
b = ((Xx) ^ 2 + (Yy) ^ 2) ^ 0.5 * a (1)
X: representative point X coordinate, Y: representative point Y coordinate, x: terminal position X coordinate, y: terminal position Y coordinate, a: weight index, b: communication band coefficient
In addition, in the case of group management in the air, the Z axis may be added.

  The LEO communication terminal 20 can reflect the group management based on the representative point designated by the management station 12 by setting the communication speed based on the communication band coefficient b.

  7 and 8 are explanatory views schematically showing a group management setting method by representative points.

  In FIG. 7, only one representative point is shown in one grid. On the other hand, FIG. 8 shows a plurality of representative points in one grid. Only four LEO communication terminals 20 are illustrated. Circles in FIG. 7 are concentric circles having different distances.

  The representative point A in FIG. 7 is a coordinate set by the management unit 12 as the center coordinate of the area where the congestion countermeasure is set. Each LEO communication terminal 20 (terminals A to D) notified of this representative point A is an arbitrary data based on the position information of the own terminal and the distance obtained from the received representative point and the weight index corresponding to the distance. The transmission frequency and communication speed within a predetermined period, which is a transmission method used when transmitting to the data collection unit 11, are set. In the arrangement shown in FIG. 7, according to the distance from the representative point A, the terminal A autonomously sets a higher communication speed than the terminals B, C and D, and the terminal D corresponds to the terminals A, B, The communication speed lower than that of the terminal C is autonomously set, and the terminals B and C autonomously set the communication speed.

  On the other hand, FIG. 8 shows representative point groups of a plurality of different group management methods. Each circle in FIG. 8 indicates the maximum effective range (each area range) of each representative point. Each LEO communication terminal 20 adjusts the setting of the transmission frequency, the communication time zone designation range, and the communication non-permission range as a transmission method. In addition, the representative point A in the figure is coordinates defined for group management of the area to adjust the transmission frequency within a predetermined time. Similarly, representative point B is coordinates defined for group management of a communication time range designation range that sets an area in which there is a good time zone for communication, and representative point C is a communication non-permission range that sets an incommunicable area It is the coordinates defined in. In area designation such as representative point B and representative point C, an effective range / ineffective range may be notified as an index, or a value for determining the range may be set in advance as a prescribed value.

  Each LEO communication terminal 20 that has received the notification of these three representative points sends the arbitrary data to the data collection unit 11 based on the position information of the own terminal and the distance obtained from the received representative points for each group management method. Set the method of sending arbitrary data used when sending.

  In the illustrated arrangement, all terminals are group managed by the representative point A, and only the terminal C is represented by the representative point B by causing the terminal A to the terminal D to reflect the transmission conditions of the representative point A to the representative point C in its setting. Affected by group management. Group management by representative point C does not affect any terminal. On the other hand, if there is a terminal that has entered the area set using representative point C, that terminal will not perform communication because it is set to not perform communication.

  Although the present invention has been described from various points of view as described above, the LEO communication terminal group communication control method according to the present invention is substantially equivalent to the necessary resources of the management station 12 even if the number of terminals is sparse or an enormous number. Terminal groups can be managed with freedom for each area in the grid without change. In addition, various group management can be realized by the same mechanism.

  That is, the LEO communication service system to which the present invention is applied has a mechanism for collecting arbitrary data from the LEO communication terminal group via the LEO satellite constellation, while performing communication control of the LEO communication terminal group It can be easily configured.

  Each part of the LEO communication terminal may be realized using a combination of hardware and software of the computer system. The computer system includes one or more processors and memory tailored to the desired configuration. Further, in the form of this computer system, each part develops the LEO communication management program in the above-mentioned memory, and operates hardware such as one or more processors with the execution instruction group and code group based on this program. If it will be realized. At this time, if necessary, this program may realize each part in cooperation with an operating system, a micro program, a function provided by software such as a driver, and the like. In addition, some or all of the parts of the computer system may be replaced with hardware or firmware (for example, one or more LSIs: large-scale integration, FPGA: field programmable gate array, combination of electronic elements). Similarly, only a part of each part may be replaced with hardware or firmware.

  Also, this program may be recorded non-temporarily on a recording medium and distributed. The program recorded on the recording medium is read into a memory through a wired, wireless, or recording medium itself to operate a processor or the like.

  In the present specification, recording media also include storage media, memory devices, storage devices and the like of similar terms. Examples of this recording medium include an optical disk, a magnetic disk, a semiconductor memory device, a hard disk device, and a tape medium. Further, it is desirable that the recording medium be non-volatile. Further, a combination of a volatile module (for example, RAM: Random Access Memory) and a non-volatile module (for example, ROM: Read Only Memory) may be used as the recording medium.

  The present invention has been described by exemplifying the embodiment. However, the specific configuration of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and any changes without departing from the scope of the present invention are included in the present invention. For example, modifications such as separation and merging of block configurations and replacement of procedures in the above-described embodiment are free as long as the purpose of the present invention and the functions to be described are satisfied, and the above description does not limit the present invention.

  Also, some or all of the above embodiments may be described as follows. The following appendices do not limit the present invention at all.

[Supplementary Note 1]
Data collection means for collecting arbitrary data collected by a LEO communication terminal group via a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite constellation;
Management means for specifying at least a representative point for specifying an arbitrary position;
It autonomously receives a representative point specified by the management means, and sends out arbitrary data to the data collection means via the LEO satellite constellation based on position information of the own terminal and the specified representative point. LEO communication terminals to be set to
An LEO communication service system comprising:

[Supplementary Note 2]
Each LEO communication terminal included in the LEO communication terminal group groups arbitrary data via the LEO satellite constellation based on the distance between the position information of the own terminal and the designated representative point and the index associated with the representative point. The LEO communication service system as set forth in claim 1, wherein a sending method to be sent to said data collection means is autonomously set.

[Supplementary Note 3]
The management means specifies at least a weight index which is an index of weighting based on a distance from the representative point, together with the representative point,
Each LEO communication terminal included in the LEO communication terminal group receives the representative point and the weight index designated by the management means, and based on the position information of the own terminal, the designated representative point and the weight index, The LEO communication service system according to any one of Appendices 1 or 2, characterized by autonomously setting a transmission method for transmitting arbitrary data to the data collection means via a LEO satellite constellation.

[Supplementary Note 4]
The representative point and / or the index related to the representative point designated by the management means is notified to the LEO communication terminal group in the vicinity of the coordinate of the representative point via the LEO satellite constellation. The LEO communication service system according to one of the claims.

[Supplementary Note 5]
Data collection means for collecting arbitrary data collected by LEO communication terminals via the LEO satellite constellation;
A management point for specifying at least a weighting index that is an index of a weighting factor based on a representative point specifying an arbitrary position and a distance from the representative point;
When receiving the representative point designated by the managing means and the weight index, and sending arbitrary data to the data collecting means via the LEO satellite constellation based on the position information of the own terminal and the designated representative point Group of LEO communication terminals for setting the communication speed within a predetermined period,
Including
Each LEO communication terminal receives an index based on the representative point specified by the management means and its distance, and based on the position information of the own terminal and the distance obtained from the received representative point and the weight index corresponding to the distance, Setting a communication speed within a predetermined period, which is used when transmitting arbitrary data to the data collecting means via the LEO satellite constellation;
A LEO communication service system characterized by transmitting a communication wave including the arbitrary data to the LEO satellite at a set communication speed when the condition for transmitting the arbitrary data to the data collection means is satisfied.

[Supplementary Note 6]
A communication unit including at least a reception unit for receiving communication waves from each LEO satellite constituting the LEO satellite constellation, and a transmission unit for transmitting communication waves toward the LEO satellites constituting the LEO satellite constellation;
A storage unit storing at least position information of the own terminal;
Arbitrary data is sent to a predetermined data collection means via the LEO satellite constellation when the representative point specified by the management means for specifying at least a representative point specifying an arbitrary position is received through the communication unit. A control unit that sets a sending method based on position information of the own terminal and a designated representative point;
LEO communication terminal equipped with.

[Supplementary Note 7]
When the control unit receives, via the communication unit, a representative point and an index associated with the representative point, the control unit determines the position information of the own terminal, the distance between the designated representative point, and the index associated with the representative point. 7. The LEO communication terminal according to claim 6, wherein a transmission method for transmitting arbitrary data to said data collection means via a LEO satellite constellation is autonomously set based on the LEO communication terminal.

[Supplementary Note 8]
When the control unit receives a weighting index, which is an index of weighted counting based on the distance from the representative point, as an index associated with the representative point and the representative point, the control unit designates the position information of the own terminal The LEO according to appendix 6 or 7, wherein a sending method for sending arbitrary data to the data collecting means via the LEO satellite constellation is autonomously set based on the designated representative points and the weight index. Communication terminal.

[Supplementary Note 9]
Equipped with a satellite positioning signal receiver,
The position information of the own terminal recorded in the storage unit is acquired via the satellite positioning signal receiver.
24. The LEO communication terminal according to any one of supplementary notes 6 to 8.

[Supplementary Note 10]
Designating at least a representative point at which an arbitrary position is designated by the management means, and collectively notifying the LEO communication terminal group,
Each of the LEO communication terminals belonging to the LEO communication terminal group notified of the representative point designated by the managing means sends out an arbitrary data to the predetermined data collecting means via the LEO satellite constellation. An LEO communication terminal group communication control method comprising setting based on terminal position information and a designated representative point.

[Supplementary Note 11]
Each LEO communication terminal included in the LEO communication terminal group groups arbitrary data via the LEO satellite constellation based on the distance between the position information of the own terminal and the designated representative point and the index associated with the representative point. The communication control method for LEO communication terminal group according to claim 10, wherein a transmission method to be transmitted to said data collection means is autonomously set.

[Supplementary Note 12]
The management means specifies at least a weight index which is an index of weighting based on a distance from the representative point, together with the representative point,
Each LEO communication terminal included in the LEO communication terminal group receives the representative point and the weight index designated by the management means, and based on the position information of the own terminal, the designated representative point and the weight index, 10. The communication control method for LEO communication terminal group group according to claim 10, wherein a transmission method for transmitting arbitrary data to said data collection means via a LEO satellite constellation is autonomously set.

[Supplementary Note 13]
The representative point and / or the index related to the representative point designated by the management means is notified to the LEO communication terminal group in the vicinity of the coordinate of the representative point through the LEO satellite constellation. The LEO communication terminal group communication control method according to claim 1.

1 LEO communication service system 10 ground station 11 data collection station (data collection means)
12 Management station (management means)
20 LEO Communication Terminal 21 Control Unit (Control Means)
22 Storage unit (storage means)
23 Communication unit (communication means)
100 LEO satellites

Claims (10)

Data collection means for collecting arbitrary data collected by a LEO communication terminal group via a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite constellation;
Management means for specifying at least a representative point for specifying an arbitrary position;
It autonomously receives a representative point specified by the management means, and sends out arbitrary data to the data collection means via the LEO satellite constellation based on position information of the own terminal and the specified representative point. LEO communication terminals to be set to
An LEO communication service system comprising:   Each LEO communication terminal included in the LEO communication terminal group groups arbitrary data via the LEO satellite constellation based on the distance between the position information of the own terminal and the designated representative point and the index associated with the representative point. The LEO communication service system according to claim 1, wherein a sending method to be sent to said data collection means is autonomously set. The management means specifies at least a weight index which is an index of weighting based on a distance from the representative point, together with the representative point,
Each LEO communication terminal included in the LEO communication terminal group receives the representative point and the weight index designated by the management means, and based on the position information of the own terminal, the designated representative point and the weight index, The LEO communication service system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a transmission method for transmitting arbitrary data to the data collection means via the LEO satellite constellation is autonomously set.   4. The LEO communication terminal group in the vicinity of the coordinates of the representative point is notified of the representative point and / or an index related to the representative point designated by the management means, via the LEO satellite constellation. The LEO communication service system according to any one of the above. Data collection means for collecting arbitrary data collected by LEO communication terminals via the LEO satellite constellation;
A management point for specifying at least a weighting index that is an index of a weighting factor based on a representative point specifying an arbitrary position and a distance from the representative point;
When receiving the representative point designated by the managing means and the weight index, and sending arbitrary data to the data collecting means via the LEO satellite constellation based on the position information of the own terminal and the designated representative point Group of LEO communication terminals for setting the communication speed within a predetermined period,
Including
Each LEO communication terminal receives an index based on the representative point specified by the management means and its distance, and based on the position information of the own terminal and the distance obtained from the received representative point and the weight index corresponding to the distance, Setting a communication speed within a predetermined period, which is used when transmitting arbitrary data to the data collecting means via the LEO satellite constellation;
A LEO communication service system characterized by transmitting a communication wave including the arbitrary data to the LEO satellite at a set communication speed when the condition for transmitting the arbitrary data to the data collection means is satisfied. A communication unit including at least a reception unit for receiving communication waves from each LEO satellite constituting the LEO satellite constellation, and a transmission unit for transmitting communication waves toward the LEO satellites constituting the LEO satellite constellation;
A storage unit storing at least position information of the own terminal;
Arbitrary data is sent to a predetermined data collection means via the LEO satellite constellation when the representative point specified by the management means for specifying at least a representative point specifying an arbitrary position is received through the communication unit. A control unit that sets a sending method based on position information of the own terminal and a designated representative point;
LEO communication terminal equipped with.   When the control unit receives, via the communication unit, a representative point and an index associated with the representative point, the control unit determines the position information of the own terminal, the distance between the designated representative point, and the index associated with the representative point. 7. The LEO communication terminal according to claim 6, wherein a transmission method for transmitting arbitrary data to said data collection means via an LEO satellite constellation is autonomously set based on the data.   When the control unit receives a weighting index, which is an index of weighted counting based on the distance from the representative point, as an index associated with the representative point and the representative point, the control unit designates the position information of the own terminal The method according to claim 6 or 7, wherein a transmission method for transmitting arbitrary data to the data collection means via the LEO satellite constellation is autonomously set based on the representative points and the weight index. LEO communication terminal. Equipped with a satellite positioning signal receiver,
The position information of the own terminal recorded in the storage unit is acquired via the satellite positioning signal receiver.
The LEO communication terminal according to any one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that: Designating at least a representative point at which an arbitrary position is designated by the management means, and collectively notifying the LEO communication terminal group,
Each of the LEO communication terminals belonging to the LEO communication terminal group notified of the representative point designated by the managing means sends out an arbitrary data to the predetermined data collecting means via the LEO satellite constellation. An LEO communication terminal group communication control method comprising setting based on terminal position information and a designated representative point.

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