JP5369914B2 - COMMUNICATION CONTROL METHOD, COMMUNICATION CONTROL DEVICE, COMMUNICATION CONTROL PROGRAM, AND TERMINAL DEVICE - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To surely transmit information to a terminal device which is communication disabled of radio communication with a base station. <P>SOLUTION: A communication control method for making a communication controller and the plurality of terminal devices communicate via a network includes a determination step for determining a communication state between the communication controller and each of the plurality of terminal devices; a specifying step of specifying the terminal device shifted from a communicable state to a non-communicable state on the basis of the communication state determined in the determination step; a selection step of selecting another terminal device which communicates with the terminal device specified in the specifying step; and a command step for commanding the other terminal device selected in the selection step so as to communicate with the terminal device specified in the specifying step. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a communication control method for controlling communication, a communication control device, a communication control program, and a terminal device.

  As a communication form represented by a mobile phone, there is a method in which a terminal device transmits and receives information to and from another computer via a base station. In this case, information transmitted from another computer is once transmitted to the base station. Next, the base station transmits the received information to the designated terminal device. The other computers mentioned here are other terminal devices, servers, and the like.

  On the other hand, there are various technologies and ideas for transmitting and receiving information to and from a terminal device via a base station when a disaster occurs. As one of them, there is a technique in which a terminal device transmits information to another computer and confirms safety.

  For example, in Patent Document 1, when the safety confirmation device detects a disaster, the safety confirmation device issues safety confirmation information to the response terminal. A technology for confirming the safety of an individual based on a response from a response terminal is disclosed as a safety confirmation device.

  There is also a technique for transmitting information to a terminal device that cannot wirelessly communicate with a base station.

  For example, in Patent Document 2, when a base unit that has received data from an external line cannot communicate wirelessly with a base unit that is designated as a data transmission destination and the base unit, the base unit receives data from another base unit. Send. A technique is disclosed in which information is transmitted to a designated child device by transferring data to the designated child device after that.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-312879 JP-A-11-27406

  In the technique of Patent Document 1, if the base station and the response terminal cannot communicate wirelessly, information cannot be transmitted and received between the safety confirmation device and the response terminal.

  That is, since it becomes impossible to transmit information from the base station to the terminal device, the terminal device cannot transmit information from another computer such as a safety confirmation device.

  Here, as a case where wireless communication between the base station and the terminal device becomes impossible, there is a case where the communication environment in a place where the terminal device exists is poor. Or the case where the means for carrying out radio | wireless communication with the base station which a terminal device has may be considered.

  Therefore, when the base station and the terminal device cannot perform wireless communication, it is conceivable to transmit and receive information via another computer. For example, it is conceivable to combine the technique of Patent Document 1 with the technique of Patent Document 1.

  However, in the technique of Patent Document 2, it is not possible to select another child device that is highly likely to communicate with the designated child device.

  It is important to select a terminal device that is highly likely to be able to communicate with a terminal device that cannot communicate wirelessly with the base station in the following respects. When transmission / reception of information at the time of disaster occurrence is assumed like patent document 1, the information transmitted to a terminal device from another computer via a base station is information regarding an evacuation place or safety confirmation. . That is, it is necessary to transmit information reliably from the viewpoint of evacuation, lifesaving, and safety confirmation.

  Therefore, the present invention provides a communication control method, a communication control device, a communication control program, and a terminal device that can more reliably perform information transmission to a terminal device that has become unable to wirelessly communicate with a base station. Objective.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, a communication control method disclosed in the present invention includes a determination step of determining a communication state between the communication control device and each of the plurality of terminal devices, and the determination of the determination step. Based on the communication state, a specifying step for specifying a terminal device that has transitioned from a communicable state to a non-communicable state, a selecting step for selecting another terminal device that communicates with the terminal device specified in the specifying step, A command step for instructing the other terminal device selected in the selection step to communicate with the terminal device specified in the specification step.

According to the present invention, it is possible to identify a relay terminal apparatus that is highly likely to be able to perform wireless communication with a terminal apparatus that cannot perform wireless communication with a base station. And information transmission to the terminal device which cannot carry out radio | wireless communication with a base station can be performed more reliably.

It is explanatory drawing supplement of the communication control system in an Example. It is a figure which shows an example of the functional diagram of the communication control system in an Example. It is a figure which shows an example of the data table stored in terminal list DB16 in an Example. It is a figure which shows an example of the data table stored in the memory | storage part 24 of the terminal device 2 in an Example. It is a figure which shows an example of the flowchart of terminal list DB creation processing in an Example. It is a figure which shows an example of the flowchart of the communication control relay process in an Example. It is a figure which shows an example of the functional diagram of the communication control system in another Example. It is a figure which shows an example of the flowchart of the communication control relay process in another Example. It is a figure which shows the hardware constitutions of the communication control apparatus 1 in an Example. It is a figure which shows the hardware constitutions of the terminal device 2 in an Example.

  Detailed examples of the present invention will be described below.

  FIG. 1 is a supplementary diagram for explaining an embodiment of the present invention.

  The communication control system includes a communication control device 1 and a plurality of terminal devices 2A, 2B, and 2C. Hereinafter, the terminal device 2 will be described as a representative of the plurality of terminal devices 2A, 2B, and 2C.

  The communication control device 1 is provided in a base station (not shown), for example. Here, although it demonstrates as the communication control apparatus 1 being provided for every base station, this invention is not limited to this. For example, the communication control apparatus 1 may be connected to a plurality of base stations through a dedicated line and control each base station.

  The communication control device 1 is a device that manages communication performed by the terminal device 2 existing in a range managed by the base station (hereinafter referred to as a wireless communication possible range 100) at least when a disaster occurs. The communication control device 1 recognizes the terminal device 2 that exists in the wireless communicable range 100.

  For example, if the terminal device 2 is a mobile phone, the mobile phone performs location registration. The location registration means that the terminal device 2 that has received a signal from the base station that is the communication control device 1 registers the identification information of the terminal device 2 in the base station. In addition, the base station which is the communication control device 1 registers the identification information of the terminal device 2 in the center (not shown), so that the center which manages a plurality of base stations is under the control of each base station. You can see if it exists.

  As described above, by the location registration, the communication control device 1 can recognize the mobile phone that is the terminal device 2 existing in the wireless communication range 100 of the communication control device 1.

  The terminal device 2 is a computer having a wireless function. For example, the terminal device 2 is a mobile phone, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), a PHS (Personal Handy-phone System), or the like. The terminal device 2 is carried by the user.

  The terminal device 2 includes two wireless communication means. The terminal device 2 includes a wireless communication unit for performing wireless communication using a base station as a first wireless communication unit. Further, the terminal device 2 includes wireless communication means for performing wireless communication as the second wireless communication means without using the communication control device 1 as a base station.

  Here, the second wireless communication unit may be a wireless communication unit that performs communication using a wireless communication method different from that of the first wireless communication unit. For example, the second wireless communication means may be, for example, Bluetooth, Zigbee, UWB (Ultra Wide Band), or the like. Further, the same wireless communication method as that of the first wireless communication unit may be used as long as the second wireless communication unit can perform communication without going through the communication control device 1 which is a base station.

  Wireless communication performed by the terminal device 2 using the first wireless communication means is referred to as first wireless communication. On the other hand, wireless communication performed by the terminal device 2 using the second wireless communication means is referred to as second wireless communication.

  The network 4 may be any communication network as long as the computers can communicate with each other. The network 4 is, for example, the Internet, a mobile phone network, a telephone network, or the like. Here, the first wireless communication between the communication control device 1 and the terminal device 2 is assumed to be performed via the network 4.

  For example, a case where the safety confirmation system 3 transmits information to the terminal device 2B will be described. If the terminal device 2B cannot perform the first wireless communication with the communication control device 1 existing in the base station, the terminal device 2B cannot receive information from the safety confirmation system 3. Therefore, the communication control device 1 in this embodiment controls transmission of information to the terminal device 2B.

  First, the terminal device 2B that has failed to perform the first wireless communication with the communication control device 1 is identified as a communication impossible terminal. Specifically, the terminal device 2B in which the communication state by the first wireless communication unit has changed from the communicable state to the incommunicable state is identified as a terminal that cannot communicate.

  On the other hand, the communication control device 1 receives the responses 5A and 5C from the terminal devices 2A and 2C capable of the first wireless communication with the communication control device 1. Therefore, the communication control device 1 determines that the terminal devices 2A and 2C are responsive terminals, and does not determine that they are non-communication terminals.

  Subsequently, the communication control device 1 specifies a relay terminal that relays information to the terminal device 2B, which is a non-communication terminal, by a process described later. Here, it is assumed that the terminal device 2A is specified as the relay terminal.

  And the communication control apparatus 1 transmits the command 6 which relays communication with the terminal device 2B which is a communication impossible terminal to the terminal device 2A used as the relay terminal. In addition, since the terminal device 2 </ b> A that is a relay terminal and the communication control device 1 can perform the first wireless communication, the terminal device 2 </ b> A and the communication control device 1 perform the first wireless communication via the network 4.

  Subsequently, the terminal device 2 </ b> A that is a relay terminal and the terminal device 2 </ b> B that is a terminal that cannot communicate perform second wireless communication 7. Then, the terminal device 2A transmits information from the communication control device 1 to the terminal device 2B. If the information from the safety confirmation system 3 is included in the information from the communication control device 1, the information from the safety confirmation system 3 is transmitted to the terminal device 2B that is a terminal that cannot communicate.

  Further, the safety confirmation system 3 that distributes information to the terminal device 2B and the terminal device 2B may exist in the wireless communication range 100 of different base stations. In this case, a conventional communication method in which information is transmitted between two base stations is employed.

  Next, functions of each device will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a functional diagram of the communication control system. The communication control device 1 is a computer that controls communication of a terminal device existing in the wireless communication range 100 of the base station. The communication control device 1 includes a communication unit 10, a start determination unit 13, a terminal list creation unit 14, a relay terminal determination unit 15, and a terminal list database (hereinafter referred to as DB) 16.

  The communication unit 10 is connected to the communication line 9. Here, the communication line 9 schematically shows a line for connecting to the network 4 and may be either wired or wireless. Further, the communication unit 10 includes a processing unit including a transmission unit 11 and a reception unit 12.

  The transmission unit 11 is a processing unit that transmits information to another computer via the communication line 9. For example, the transmission unit 11 transmits various commands to the terminal device 2. The receiving unit 12 is a processing unit that receives information from another computer via the communication line 9. For example, the receiving unit 12 receives various responses from the terminal device 2.

  The start determination unit 13 is a processing unit that determines the start of the communication control process. For example, the start of the communication control process is determined based on the disaster occurrence information transmitted from the information providing device 8. The terminal list creation unit 14 is a processing unit that stores various data in the terminal list DB 16. For example, the terminal list creation unit 14 is a processing unit that extracts specific data from information received from the terminal device 2 and stores it in the terminal list DB 16.

  The relay terminal determination unit 15 is a processing unit that determines a relay terminal from the terminal device 2. For example, the terminal device 2 that has transitioned from a communicable state to a communicable state is identified. A relay terminal is selected based on the terminal that cannot communicate and the position information of each terminal device other than the terminal that cannot communicate.

  The terminal list DB 16 is a storage unit that stores information related to terminal apparatuses that exist in the wireless communication range of the base station controlled by the communication control apparatus. For example, information for grasping the communication state between the communication control device 1 and the terminal device 2 is stored.

  The terminal device 2 is a computer that can communicate with the base station via the communication line 9. For the sake of explanation, FIG. 2 separately shows the terminal device 2B. The terminal device 2 includes a first wireless communication unit 20, a control unit 23, a storage unit 24, a second wireless communication unit 25, and a position information acquisition unit 28. The terminal device 2B also includes each processing unit of the terminal device 2 in addition to the second wireless communication unit 30.

  The first wireless communication unit 20 is a processing unit for performing first wireless communication with the communication control device 1. The first wireless communication unit 20 includes a first transmission unit 21 and a first reception unit 22.

  The first transmission unit 21 is a processing unit that transmits information to the communication unit 10 of the communication control device 1. The second receiving unit 22 is a processing unit that receives information from the communication unit 10 of the communication control device 1.

  The control unit 23 is a processing unit that controls the terminal device 2. For example, the control unit 23 starts the second wireless communication with the other terminal device 2B based on the command transmitted from the communication control device 1.

  The second wireless communication unit 25 is a processing unit for performing second wireless communication with the terminal device 2B. The second wireless communication unit 25 includes a second transmission unit 26 and a second reception unit 27. The second transmission unit 26 is a processing unit that transmits information to the second wireless communication unit 30 of the terminal device 2B. The second receiving unit 27 is a processing unit that receives information from the second wireless communication unit 30 of the terminal device 2B.

  The position information acquisition unit 28 is a processing unit that acquires position information of the terminal device 2. For example, the position information acquisition unit 28 measures the current position based on a signal from a GPS (Global Positioning System) satellite. The acquisition of position information is not limited to this, and other techniques can also be applied.

  The storage unit 24 is a storage unit that stores information about the device itself.

  The information providing device 8 is a device that provides disaster occurrence information. The disaster occurrence information is information including the date and time of occurrence, the disaster scale, the occurrence area, and the like. The information providing device 8 is a computer or the like that provides a disaster information providing service used by the Meteorological Agency, local governments, private companies, or the like.

  An example of a data table stored in the terminal list DB 16 is shown in FIG.

  The terminal list DB 16 includes “terminal device ID” 161, “first wireless communication unit address” 162, “second wireless communication unit address” 163, “first response terminal location information” 164, “second response terminal location information”. "165" and "distance between terminals" 166 are stored in association with each other.

  The terminal list DB 16 may include some of these items, and necessary items may be appropriately installed in the embodiment.

  The item “terminal device ID” 161 of the terminal list DB 16 is a data area for storing information for uniquely identifying the terminal device 2. For example, “A” is stored. The item “first wireless communication unit address” 162 of the terminal list DB 16 is a data area in which the address of the first wireless communication unit included in the terminal device 2 is stored. For example, “aaa@ne.jp” is stored.

  The item “second wireless communication unit address” 163 of the terminal list DB 16 is a data area for storing the address of the second wireless communication unit included in the terminal device 2. For example, “11.22.33.44.55” is stored.

  The item “terminal position information at first response” 164 of the terminal list DB 16 is a data area for storing the position information of the terminal device 2 included in the first response. For example, “(X11, Y11)” is stored. Although details of the first response will be described later, the first response is information including a terminal device ID and position information of the terminal device 2 at the time of response transmission.

  Here, coordinates are stored as position information, but the present invention is not limited to this. Moreover, it is good also as managing the positional information on the terminal device 2 not in two dimensions but in three dimensions.

  The item “second response terminal location information” 165 of the terminal list DB 16 is a data area for storing location information of the terminal device 2 included in the second response. For example, “(X21, Y21)” is stored.

  Although details of the second response will be described later, the second response is information including a terminal device ID and position information of the terminal device 2 at the time of response transmission. The second response is a response received from the terminal device 2 by the communication control device 1 after the first response.

  The item “distance between terminals” 166 of the terminal list DB 16 is a data area for storing the distance between the terminal that cannot communicate and the own apparatus. Initially blank. For example, “12m” shown in the brackets in FIG. 3 is stored in a later process. On the other hand, if the device itself is a terminal that cannot communicate, no data is stored in “distance between terminals” 167.

  Further, the “distance between terminals” 166 is prepared in the same number as the number of non-communication terminals. That is, when there are a plurality of terminals that cannot communicate, an item “distance between terminals” is provided for each terminal that cannot communicate, and the distance between each terminal that cannot communicate and its own device is stored.

  Next, an example of a data table stored in the storage unit 24 of the terminal device 2 is shown in FIG.

  The storage unit 24 stores information related to the “terminal device ID” 241, the “first wireless communication unit address” 242, and the “second wireless communication unit address” 243 in association with each other. The storage unit 24 may include a part of these items, and necessary items may be appropriately installed in the embodiment.

  The item “terminal device ID” 241 in the storage unit 24 is a data area for storing information for uniquely identifying the terminal device 2. For example, “A” is stored in the storage unit of the terminal device 2A. The item “first wireless communication unit address” 242 in the storage unit 24 is a data area for storing the address of the first wireless communication unit included in the terminal device 2. For example, “aaa@ne.jp” is stored.

  The item “second wireless communication unit address” 243 in the storage unit 24 is a data area for storing the address of the second wireless communication unit 25 included in the terminal device 2. For example, “11.22.33.44.55” is stored.

  Next, movements related to the processing units illustrated in FIG. 2 of the communication control device 1 and the terminal device 2 will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6. First, processing until the terminal list DB 16 is created will be described. FIG. 5 is a flowchart of the terminal list DB creation process.

  The information providing device 8 transmits the first disaster occurrence information (S81). The first disaster occurrence information is information including a content for notifying a disaster occurrence and a disaster scale. Moreover, it may be information transmitted before the main motion arrives after detecting the initial fine motion, such as an emergency earthquake bulletin notified by the Japan Meteorological Agency. In this case, the first disaster occurrence information includes information on the expected disaster scale and the expected arrival time until the main movement arrives.

  The receiving unit 12 of the communication control device 1 receives the first disaster occurrence information from the information providing device 8 via the network 4 (S101). Then, the receiving unit 12 delivers the received first disaster occurrence information to the start determining unit 13.

  Although omitted in the flow, the start determination unit 13 determines whether to start the communication control process based on the first disaster occurrence information. Specifically, the start determination unit 13 compares the disaster scale included in the first disaster occurrence information with a threshold value.

  The threshold value is information related to the disaster scale that is set in advance by the administrator of the communication control apparatus. For example, if the communication control process is to be started when the seismic intensity is 6 or more, the administrator sets “seismic intensity 6” as the threshold value.

  The communication control process is started when the communication control device 1 detects the occurrence of a disaster equal to or greater than the threshold. If the start determination unit 13 determines not to start the communication control process, the process ends.

  Hereinafter, the case where the start determination unit 13 determines to start the communication control process will be described. The start determination unit 13 generates a first response command. And the transmission part 11 transmits a 1st response command with respect to the 1st receiving part 22 of the terminal device 2 (S102). Here, the transmission part 11 transmits a 1st response command with respect to the terminal device 2 which exists in a radio | wireless communication possible range.

  The first response command is information for requesting the terminal device 2 to return a first response. The first response is information including the terminal device ID and the position information of the terminal device 2. Furthermore, the first response command may include a command for starting the second wireless communication unit 25 of the terminal device 2.

  Here, activation of the second wireless communication unit 25 will be described. When the first receiving unit 22 receives a first response command including an activation command, the control unit 23 activates the second wireless communication unit 25. Thereby, the second wireless communication means of the terminal device 2 can perform the second wireless communication with each other.

  The first receiving unit 22 of the terminal device 2 receives the first response command (S201). Then, based on the first response command, the position information acquisition unit 28 acquires position information. And the control part 23 produces | generates the 1st response containing the terminal device ID read from the memory | storage part 24, the 1st wireless communication part address, the 2nd wireless communication part address, and the newest positional information which the positional information acquisition part acquired. .

  And the 1st transmission part 21 transmits a 1st response to the receiving part 12 of the communication control apparatus 1 (S202). Here, since S221 and S222, and S201 and S202 are the same, the description is omitted.

  The receiving unit 12 of the communication control device 1 receives the first response (S103). Then, the reception unit 12 delivers the first response to the terminal list creation unit 14. And the terminal list preparation part 14 extracts information from a 1st response, matches and stores it in terminal list DB16 (S104).

  The terminal list creation unit 14 extracts the “terminal device ID” from the first response and stores it in the terminal device ID 161 of the terminal list DB 16. The terminal list creation unit 14 extracts the “first wireless communication unit address” from the first response and stores it in the first wireless communication unit address 162 of the terminal list DB 16. The terminal list creation unit 14 extracts the “second wireless communication unit address” from the first response and stores it in the second wireless communication unit address 163 of the terminal list DB 16. The terminal list creation unit 14 extracts “position information” from the first response and stores it in the terminal position information 164 at the time of first response in the terminal list DB 16.

  Then, the communication control device 1 stands by (S105). If the first disaster occurrence information is an emergency earthquake warning, the information providing device 8 transmits the second disaster occurrence information to the communication control device 1 after the arrival of the main motion (S82). The second disaster occurrence information is information including the content that the main movement has arrived.

  In this embodiment, the communication control apparatus 1 receives the second disaster occurrence information from the information providing apparatus 8 and transmits the second response command. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the communication control device 1 may transmit the second response command when a preset time has elapsed. Furthermore, the terminal device 2 may transmit the second response to the communication control device 2 when a preset time elapses after receiving the first response command, regardless of the second response command.

  The receiving unit 12 of the communication control device 1 receives the second disaster occurrence information (S106). Then, the start determination unit 13 generates a second response command. Then, the transmission unit 11 transmits a second response command to the first reception unit 22 of the terminal device 2 (S107).

  The first receiving unit 22 of the terminal device 2 receives the second response command (S203). However, it is assumed that the first receiving unit 22 of the terminal device 2B cannot receive the second response command. In the terminal device 2, based on the second response command, the control unit 23 generates a second response including the terminal device ID and the position information.

  Here, the position information included in the second response is the latest position information newly acquired by the position information acquisition unit 28 when the control unit 23 generates the second response. That is, position information that is newer in time than the position information included in the first response is included in the second response.

  And the 1st transmission part 21 transmits a 2nd response to the receiving part 12 of the communication control apparatus 1 (S204). The receiving unit 12 of the communication control device 1 receives the second response (S108). Then, the reception unit 12 delivers the second response to the terminal list creation unit 14.

  The terminal list creation unit 14 extracts “location information” from the second response. Then, in association with the terminal device ID read from the second response, the location information included in the second response is stored in the second response terminal location information 165 of the terminal list DB 16 (S109). Then, the process proceeds to S111 in FIG.

  Here, a part of the flowchart of the terminal list DB creation process of FIG. 5 will be described using an example.

  In FIG. 1, the first receivers 22 of the terminal devices 2A, 2B, and 2C existing in the wireless communicable range 100 of the communication control device 1 receive the first response command (S201, S221). And based on a 1st response command, the control part 23 of each terminal device produces | generates a 1st response.

  For example, the terminal device 2A has a terminal device ID “A”, a first wireless communication unit address “aaa@ne.jp”, a second wireless communication unit address “11.22.33.44.55”, and location information “( X11, Y11) "is generated.

  Then, the 1st transmission part 21 transmits a 1st response to the receiving part 12 of the communication control apparatus 1 (S202). The receiving unit 12 of the communication control device 1 receives the first response (S103). Then, it is stored in association with the terminal list DB 16 (S104).

  The terminal list creation unit 14 extracts the terminal device ID “A” from the first response and stores it in the terminal device ID 161 of the terminal list DB 16. The terminal list creation unit 14 extracts the first wireless communication unit address “aaa@ne.jp” from the first response and stores it in the first wireless communication unit address 162 of the terminal list DB 16. The terminal list creation unit 14 extracts the second wireless communication unit address “11.22.33.44.55” from the first response and stores it in the second wireless communication unit address 163 of the terminal list DB 16. The terminal list creation unit 14 extracts the position information “(X11, Y11)” from the first response and stores it in the first response terminal position information 164 of the terminal list DB 16.

  At the time of S104, no data is stored in the “second response terminal location information” 165 and the “inter-terminal distance” 166.

  For the first responses received from the terminal devices 2B and 2C, each data is similarly extracted and stored in the corresponding item of the terminal list DB 16. Here, it is assumed that the storing step (S104) in the terminal list DB is completed for all the received first responses.

  The receiving unit 12 of the communication control device 1 receives the second disaster occurrence information (S106). And the transmission part 11 transmits a 2nd response command with respect to the 1st receiving part 22 of terminal device 2A, 2B, 2C which exists in terminal list DB16 (S107).

  The first receiver 22 of the terminal device 2A receives the second response command (S203). The first transmission unit 21 of the terminal device 2A transmits a second response including the terminal device ID “A” and the position information “(X12, Y12)” to the reception unit 12 of the communication control device 1 (S204). The receiving unit 12 of the communication control device 1 receives the second response (S108).

  The terminal list creation unit 14 extracts the position information “(X12, Y12)” and associates it with the terminal device ID “A” included in the second response to the second response terminal position information 165 in the terminal list DB 16. Store (S109).

  Here, the position information stored in the second response terminal position information 165 is more temporally new than the position information stored in the first response terminal position information 164. The same processing is performed for the second response received from the terminal device 2C.

  On the other hand, if the receiving unit 12 of the communication control device 1 does not receive the second response from the terminal device 2B, no information is stored in the second response terminal location information of the terminal device ID “B”. As described above, the terminal device 2B in which the first wireless communication with the communication control device 1 is disabled between the first response reception (S103) and the second response reception (S108) is regarded as a communication impossible terminal.

  Next, communication control relay processing will be described. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a flow of communication control relay processing. In the present embodiment, the communication control device 1 executes S109 of FIG. 5 and advances the processing to S111.

  The relay terminal determination unit 16 of the communication control device 1 refers to the terminal list DB 16 and determines whether there is a terminal that cannot communicate (S111). Specifically, the relay terminal determination unit 16 compares the first response terminal location information 164 and the second response terminal location information 165 in the terminal list DB 16. Information is stored in the first response terminal location information 164, and a terminal device in which information is not stored in the second response terminal location information 165 is detected as a non-communication terminal.

  If there is no non-communication terminal, the communication control process is terminated. On the other hand, when there is a terminal device 2B that is a non-communication terminal, the relay terminal determination unit 16 refers to the terminal list DB 16 and calculates an inter-terminal distance (S112).

  The relay terminal determining unit 16 stores the position information stored in the first response terminal position information 164 of the terminal device 2B that is a non-communication terminal and the second response terminal position information 165 of each terminal device. The inter-terminal distance between the terminal-incapable terminal 2B and each terminal device 2 is calculated based on the position information. The calculated inter-terminal distance is stored in the inter-terminal distance 166 of the terminal list DB 16 by the terminal list creation unit 14.

  Subsequently, the relay terminal determination unit 15 refers to the terminal list DB creation unit 16 and extracts a terminal device having the smallest inter-terminal distance as a relay terminal (S113). In the following description, it is assumed that the terminal device 2A is determined as a relay terminal.

  Then, the relay terminal determination unit 16 reads the first wireless communication unit address of the terminal device 2A that has become the relay terminal, and the transmission unit 12 transmits a relay command to the first reception unit 22 of the terminal device 2A (S114). ). The first receiver 22 of the terminal device 2A, which is a relay terminal, receives the relay command (S211).

  The relay command is information including the second wireless communication unit address of the terminal device 2B that is a non-communication terminal and the content for starting the second wireless communication with the terminal device 2B. In addition, when information specified by another computer as the transmission destination of the terminal device 2B exists in the base station, the information may be included in the relay command.

  Further, the relay information includes a command for starting the second wireless communication unit 25 of the terminal device 2A that is the own device and information for starting the second wireless communication unit 25 of the terminal device 2B that is a non-communication terminal. It's also good.

  When receiving a relay command including a command to activate the second wireless communication unit 25 of the terminal device 2A that is the own device, the control unit 23 of the terminal device 2A activates the second wireless communication unit 25 of the own device.

  Further, a case will be described in which the terminal device 2A that is a relay terminal receives a relay command that includes information for activating the second wireless communication unit 25 of the terminal device 2B that is a non-communication terminal.

  Prior to transmission of relay information, the terminal device 2A activates the second wireless communication unit 25 of the terminal device 2B. That is, the second wireless communication unit 25 of the terminal device 2A controls activation of the second wireless communication unit 25 of the terminal device 2B using information for activating the second wireless communication unit 25 of the terminal device 2B.

  And the 2nd transmission part 26 transmits relay information to the 2nd receiving part 26 of the terminal device 2B which is a communication impossible terminal (S212). The relay information includes information to be transmitted to the terminal device 2B that is a non-communication terminal, information for controlling the functional unit of the terminal device 2B, and the like.

  As the former, for example, an instruction for an evacuation route, a notification of a disaster situation, a response request regarding safety, or the like can be given. On the other hand, as the latter, information for allowing the terminal device 2A, which is a relay terminal, to control the terminal device 2B, which is a non-communication terminal, so as to acquire the latest position information of the terminal device 2B can be considered.

  Subsequently, the second receiving unit 26 of the terminal device 2B that is a non-communication terminal receives the relay information (S223). Then, the second receiving unit 26 passes the relay information to the control unit 23. Then, the control unit 23 generates a relay information reception response. And a relay information reception response is transmitted with respect to the 2nd receiving part 27 of 2 A of terminal devices which are relay terminals (S224).

  The relay information reception response includes information indicating that reception of relay information has been completed. Further, the relay information reception response may include information transmitted from the terminal device 2B, which is a communication impossible terminal, to the communication control device 1. For example, the relay information reception response includes a reply to the relay information, information on the location information of the terminal device 2B that is a terminal that cannot communicate, and information on a rescue request.

  And the 2nd receiving part 27 of 2 A of terminal devices which are relay terminals receives an intermediate information reception response (S213).

  S212 and S213, S223, and S224 are executed using the second wireless communication unit of terminal device 2A that is a relay terminal and terminal device 2B that is a terminal that cannot communicate. Therefore, even when communication with the communication control device 1 by the first wireless communication unit of the terminal device 2B that is a non-communication terminal is impossible, there is a high possibility that information from the communication control device 1 is transmitted.

  Here, since the terminal device 2A, which is a relay terminal, and the terminal device 2B, which is a non-communication terminal, perform communication using the second wireless communication unit, relay is performed to the terminal device 2A existing near the terminal device 2B. This increases the possibility that information can be transmitted.

  Subsequently, the control unit 23 of the terminal device 2A that is a relay terminal generates relay result information. The relay result information is information including the content that the second wireless communication between the terminal device 2B and the terminal device 2A, which are non-communication terminals, has been successful. Further, the relay result information may include information transmitted from the terminal device 2B that is a non-communication terminal included in the relay information reception response.

  And the 1st transmission part 21 of 2 A of terminal devices which are relay terminals transmits relay result information to the receiving part 12 of the communication control apparatus 1 (S214). And the receiving part 12 of the communication control apparatus 1 receives relay result information (S116).

  Here, the flow up to the relay command transmission of FIG. 6 will be described using an example.

  The relay terminal determination unit 16 of the communication control device 1 refers to the terminal list DB 16 and determines that there is a terminal device 2B that is a terminal that cannot communicate (YES in S111).

  The relay terminal determination unit 15 includes the position information “(X12, Y12)” stored in the first response terminal position information 164 of the terminal device 2B that is a non-communication terminal, and the second response time terminal of the terminal device 2A. Based on the position information “(X21, Y21)”, a distance “12 m” between the terminals is calculated. The relay terminal determination unit 15 similarly calculates the inter-terminal distance “600 m” with the terminal device 2B that is a terminal that cannot communicate with the terminal device 2C having the terminal device ID “C”.

  Subsequently, the relay terminal determining unit 15 refers to the terminal list creating unit 16 and determines the terminal device 2A having the smallest inter-terminal distance as a relay terminal (S113). Then, the first wireless communication unit address “aaa@ne.jp” of the terminal device 2A that has become the relay terminal is read, and the transmission unit 12 sends a relay command to the first receiving unit 22 of the terminal device 2A that has become the relay terminal. Transmit (S114).

  Further, the relay command includes the second wireless communication unit address “22.33.44.55.56” of the terminal device 2B that is a terminal that cannot communicate. Through the subsequent processing, the terminal device 2A that is a terminal that cannot communicate with the terminal device 2A that is a relay terminal performs second wireless communication and exchanges information.

  Here, a case where there are a plurality of terminals that cannot communicate will be described. The distance between terminals is calculated for each terminal that cannot communicate. And about each terminal which cannot communicate, the terminal device with the shortest distance between terminals is determined as a relay terminal.

  The relay command transmitted from the communication control device 1 to the relay terminal includes the second wireless communication unit address of the incommunicable terminal with which the relay terminal should execute the second wireless communication.

  In the present embodiment, the terminal device 2 that is closest to the terminal device 2B that is a non-communication terminal is determined as one relay terminal. However, it is not limited to this. For example, a plurality of devices may be determined as relay terminals so that information can be transmitted more reliably.

  With the configuration as described above, it is possible to identify a relay terminal that is highly likely to be able to reliably perform wireless communication with a terminal that cannot communicate. The relay terminal communicates with a terminal that cannot communicate, thereby enabling transmission of information when a disaster occurs between the base station and the terminal apparatus that cannot communicate.

  Further, the fact that the terminal that cannot communicate with the first wireless communication means that the first wireless communication means is out of order due to the collapse of the building or the like. Therefore, it is assumed that the user carrying the non-communication terminal 2 is in a state where the user cannot move, for example, under a rubble.

  Therefore, according to the above configuration, when a user carrying a non-communication terminal is not moving, it is possible to identify a relay terminal that may be closest to the non-communication terminal.

  Hereinafter, the second embodiment will be described. In the second embodiment, the terminal device 2 determines whether or not the terminal device 2 should operate as a relay terminal. FIG. 7 shows a functional diagram of the communication control device 1 and the terminal device 2 in the second embodiment.

  The communication control device 1 includes a communication unit 10, a start determination unit 13, a terminal list creation unit 14, a terminal list DB 16, and a non-communication terminal search unit 17. The terminal device 2 includes a first wireless communication unit 20, a storage unit 24, a second wireless communication unit 25, a position information acquisition unit 28, and a relay determination unit 29.

  The processing units with the same numbers as those in FIG. 2 perform the same processing as the processing units in FIG. The communication disabled terminal search unit 17 of the communication control device 1 is a processing unit that searches whether there is a communication disabled terminal. The relay determination unit 29 of the terminal device 2 is a processing unit that determines whether or not the own device operates as a relay terminal. For example, the determination is performed based on the location information of the terminal that cannot communicate and the location information of the device itself.

  Next, movements related to the processing units illustrated in FIG. 7 of the communication control device 1 and the terminal device 2 will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 8. Since FIG. 5 is a processing flow similar to that of the first embodiment, description thereof is omitted. After S109 in FIG. 5 ends, the process proceeds to S121 in FIG.

  The non-communication terminal search unit 17 of the communication control device 1 refers to the terminal list DB 16 and identifies a non-communication terminal (S121). If there is no non-communication terminal, the communication control process is terminated. On the other hand, when there is a terminal device 2B that is a non-communication terminal, the transmission unit 11 transmits a terminal list to the terminal device 2 by the first wireless communication (S122). And it waits (S123).

  Moreover, you may transmit the information transmitted to the terminal device 2B which is a communication impossible terminal with a terminal list. For example, information to be transmitted to the terminal device 2B, which is a non-communication terminal, includes an evacuation route instruction, a disaster situation notification, or a safety response request.

  The terminal list is information including information on communication status and position information. For example, the terminal list is “terminal device ID” 161, “first wireless communication unit address” 162, “second wireless communication unit address” 163, “first response terminal location information” in the data table of the terminal list DB 16 of FIG. 164 and “second response terminal location information” 165.

  Furthermore, it is good also as including the information for starting the 2nd radio | wireless communication part 25 of the terminal device 2. FIG. Details are as described above, and will be omitted.

  The first receiving unit 22 of the terminal device 2 receives the terminal list (S231). The first receiving unit 22 passes the terminal list to the relay determining unit 29. The relay determination unit 29 searches for terminals that cannot communicate. That is, the relay determination unit 29 searches for a terminal device that stores information in the first response terminal location information 164 and does not store information in the second response terminal location information 165.

  Then, based on the position information stored in the first response terminal position information 164 of the terminal device 2B that is a non-communication terminal and the second response terminal position information of each terminal device, the distance between the terminals Is calculated. Then, the relay determination unit 29 determines whether or not the distance between the terminals of the own device is the smallest (S232).

  If it is not the minimum (NO in S232), the communication control relay process is terminated. On the other hand, if it is the minimum (S232 YES), the relay determination unit 29 determines that the own apparatus operates as a relay terminal. Then, the second transmission unit 26 of the terminal device 2A that has determined to operate as a relay terminal transmits the relay information to the second reception unit 27 of the communication impossible end 2B (S233).

  The relay information includes information transmitted from the communication control device 1 to the terminal device 2B that is a non-communication terminal received together with the terminal list. Furthermore, the relay information may include information for allowing the terminal device 2A, which is a relay terminal, to control the terminal device 2B, which is a non-communication terminal, to acquire the latest position information of the terminal device 2B.

  S233 to S235 in FIG. 8 are the same as S212 to S214 in FIG. 6, S225 to S226 in FIG. 8 are the same as S223 to S224 in FIG. 6, and S124 in FIG. 8 is the same as S116 in FIG. Will be omitted.

  Here, the flow up to the relay command transmission of FIG. 8 will be described using an example.

  The start determination unit 13 of the communication control device 1 refers to the terminal list DB 16 and determines that there is a terminal device 2B that is a terminal that cannot communicate (YES in S121). And the transmission part 11 transmits a terminal list with respect to the terminal device 2 (S122). Then, the communication control device 1 stands by (S123).

  The first receiving unit 22 of the terminal device 2A receives the terminal list (S231). The relay determination unit 29 of the terminal device 2A receives the position information “(X12, Y12)” stored in the first response terminal position information 164 of the terminal device 2B that is a non-communication terminal, and the second of the terminal device 2A. Based on the response terminal location information “(X21, Y21)”, the inter-terminal distance “12 m” is calculated.

  The relay determination unit 29 of the terminal device 2A also includes the position information stored in the first response terminal location information 164 of the terminal device 2B that is a non-communication terminal and the second response terminal location information of the terminal device 2C. Based on 165, the inter-terminal distance “600 m” is calculated.

  Subsequently, the relay determination unit 29 of the terminal apparatus 2A determines whether or not the terminal-to-terminal distance “12 m” of the terminal apparatus 2A is the smallest (S232). Since it is the minimum compared to the distance between terminals of other terminal devices (YES in S232), it is determined that the own device 2A operates as a relay terminal.

  And the 2nd radio | wireless communication part 25 of 2 A of terminal devices which are relay terminals performs 2nd radio | wireless communication with respect to the 2nd radio | wireless communication part address of the terminal device 2B which is a non-communication terminal (after S233). A description of the subsequent processing is omitted.

  With the configuration as described above, it is possible to identify a relay terminal that is highly likely to be able to reliably perform second wireless communication with a terminal that cannot communicate. The relay terminal communicates with a terminal that cannot communicate, thereby enabling transmission of information when a disaster occurs between another computer and a terminal that cannot communicate.

  Since the relay terminal and the incommunicable terminal communicate with each other using the second wireless communication unit, there is a high possibility that information can be transmitted by relaying to a terminal device that exists closer to the incommunicable terminal. Become.

  Further, when a disaster occurs, communication requests are concentrated on the base station, and the base station itself may not function. Or the base station may collapse and stop functioning. Since it is not known when the base station will stop functioning, it is better for the communication control device 1 existing in the base station to transmit information regarding the terminal that cannot communicate to the terminal device 2 as soon as possible.

  In the present embodiment, the communication control device 1 enters a standby state as soon as the terminal list is transmitted (S122). That is, even if the base station does not function thereafter, the second wireless communication with the terminal that cannot communicate can be executed based on the determination on the terminal device 2 side. Therefore, it is more likely that information can be transmitted to a terminal that cannot communicate.

  The embodiment of the present invention is not limited to the above.

  In the following, a communication control device 1 and a computer that executes a communication control program having functions similar to those of the communication control device 1 described in the above embodiment will be described as an example with reference to FIG. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the communication control device 1.

  The communication control device 1 includes a CPU 101, a ROM 102, a RAM 103, a communication unit 104, an HDD 105, an input unit 106, a medium reading unit 107, and a display unit 108, and these units are connected to each other via a bus 109. Data can be transmitted and received with each other under the control of the CPU 101.

  The CPU 101 is a central processing unit that controls operation of the communication control apparatus 1 as a whole. The communication unit 104 receives a signal from another computer and passes the content of the signal to the CPU 101. Further, the communication unit 104 transmits a signal to another computer in response to an instruction from the CPU 101.

  The HDD 105 stores a program for causing the computer to execute at least each process in the communication control device 1 of FIG. 6 or FIG. 8 as a program for causing the computer to perform the same function as the communication control device 1 described in the above embodiment. ing.

  Then, the CPU 101 reads out and executes this program from the HDD 105, thereby functioning as the start determining unit 13, the terminal list creating unit 14, the relay terminal determining unit 15 shown in FIG. 2, or the incommunicable terminal searching unit 17 shown in FIG. To come. This program may be stored in the ROM 102 or the RAM 103 accessible to the CPU 101.

  Further, the terminal list DB 16 shown in FIG. 2 is stored in the HDD 105 under the control of the CPU. Similar to the program, the DB may be stored in the ROM 102 or the RAM 103 accessible to the CPU 101. The input unit 106 receives data input under the control of the CPU 101.

  The program describing the processing content shown in the flowchart can be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium. Examples of the computer-readable recording medium include a magnetic recording device, an optical disk, a magneto-optical recording medium, and a semiconductor memory. Examples of the magnetic recording device include an HDD, a flexible disk (FD), and a magnetic tape (MT).

  Examples of the optical disc include a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc), a DVD-RAM, a CD-ROM (Compact Disc-Read Only Memory), and a CD-R (Recordable) / RW (ReWriteable). Magneto-optical recording media include MO (Magneto-Optical disk). When this program is distributed, for example, a portable recording medium such as a DVD or CD-ROM in which the program is recorded may be sold.

  In the computer that executes the program, for example, the medium reading unit 107 reads the program from a recording medium that records the program describing the processing contents shown in the flowchart. The CPU 101 stores the read program in the HDD 105, the ROM 102, or the RAM 103. Then, the computer reads the program from the HDD 105, ROM 102, or RAM 103, which is its own storage device, and executes processing according to the program.

  Subsequently, the computer that executes the communication control program having the same function as the terminal device 2 and the terminal device 2 described in the above embodiment will be described as an example with reference to FIG. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the terminal device 2.

  The terminal device 2 includes a CPU 201, a ROM 202, a RAM 203, a first wireless communication unit 204, an HDD 205, an input unit 206, a display unit 207, and a second wireless communication unit 208, and these units are connected to each other via a bus 209. ing. Data can be transmitted and received with each other under the control of the CPU 201.

  The CPU 201 is a central processing unit that controls operation of the entire terminal device 2. The first wireless communication unit 204 receives a signal from another computer via the network and passes the content of the signal to the CPU 201. Further, the first wireless communication unit 204 transmits a signal to another computer via a network in response to an instruction from the CPU 201. FIG. 10 shows the communication control apparatus 1 as an example of another computer.

  The second wireless communication unit 208 receives a signal from another computer by a communication method different from the network used by the first wireless communication unit 204, and passes the content of the signal to the CPU 201. Further, the second wireless communication unit 204 transmits a signal to another computer without going through the network in response to an instruction from the CPU 201. In FIG. 10, the terminal device 2 is shown as an example of another computer.

  The HDD 205 stores a program for causing the computer to execute at least each process of the terminal device 2 of FIG. 6 or FIG. 8 as a program for causing the computer to perform the same function as the terminal device 2 described in the above embodiment. .

  The CPU 201 reads out this program from the HDD 205 and executes it to function as the relay determination unit 29 shown in FIG. This program may be stored in the ROM 202 or RAM 203 accessible to the CPU 201.

  Further, the storage unit 24 illustrated in FIG. 7 is stored in the HDD 205 under the management of the CPU 201. Similar to the program, the storage unit 24 may be stored in the ROM 202 or the RAM 203 accessible to the CPU 201. The input unit 206 receives data input under the control of the CPU 201.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Communication control apparatus 10 Communication part 11 Transmission part 12 Reception part 13 Start determination part 14 Terminal list preparation part 15 Relay terminal determination part 16 Terminal list DB
17 Incommunicable terminal search unit 2 Terminal device 20 First wireless communication unit 21 First transmission unit 22 First reception unit 23 Control unit 24 Storage unit 25 Second wireless communication unit 26 Second transmission unit 27 Second reception unit 28 Position Information acquisition unit 29 Relay determination unit 101 CPU
102 ROM
103 RAM
104 Communication unit 105 HDD
106 Input Unit 107 Medium Reading Unit 108 Display Unit 109 Bus 201 CPU
202 ROM
203 RAM
204 First wireless communication device 205 HDD
206 Input unit 207 Display unit 208 Second wireless communication unit 209 Bus

Claims (8)

A communication control method in which a communication control device and a plurality of terminal devices communicate via a network,
A reception step of transmitting a response command from the communication control device to the plurality of terminal devices and receiving a response including position information of the terminal device based on the response command from the plurality of terminal devices;
A determination step of determining a communication state between the communication control device and each of the plurality of terminal devices based on the response ;
Based on the communication state determined in the determination step, a specifying step for specifying a terminal device that has transitioned from a communicable state to a non-communicable state;
A selection step of selecting another terminal device in a communicable state located at the shortest distance from the terminal device based on the terminal device specified in the specifying step and the received position information ;
An instruction step for instructing the other terminal device selected in the selecting step to communicate with the terminal device specified in the specifying step.   Following the command step, based on the command, the communication control device and the plurality of terminals between the other terminal device selected in the selection step and the terminal device specified in the specifying step The communication control method according to claim 1, further comprising a communication start step of starting communication of a method different from communication with each device. A communication control device that communicates with a plurality of terminal devices via a network,
A first response command is transmitted from the communication control device to the plurality of terminal devices, a response including position information of the terminal device based on the first response command is received from the plurality of terminal devices, and the response based on the response A grasping means for grasping a communication state with each of a plurality of terminal devices;
Based on the communication state grasped by the grasping means, a specifying means for identifying a terminal device that has transitioned from a communicable state to a communication impossible state;
Selecting means for selecting another terminal device in a communicable state located at the shortest distance from the terminal device based on the terminal device specified by the specifying means and the received position information ;
Command means for instructing the other terminal device selected by the selection means to communicate with the terminal device specified by the specifying means;
A communication control apparatus comprising: The grasping means includes
Wherein for a plurality of terminal devices each include a first response instruction means for performing the first response command via said network,
A first response storage means for storing a first response including the position information of the terminal device received from each of the plurality of terminal devices by the first response command;
A second response command means for performing a second response command after the first response command via the network for each of the plurality of terminal devices;
A second response storage means for storing a second response including position information of the terminal device received from one or more terminal devices of the plurality of terminal devices according to the second response command;
The specifying means is:
Comparing means for comparing the first response and the second response stored in the first response storage means and the second response storage means;
Detecting means for detecting, by the comparison means, a terminal device that has become unable to receive the location information stored in the second response storage means among the plurality of terminal devices as a terminal device that has transitioned to the incommunicable state; The communication control apparatus according to claim 3.   5. The communication control apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the first response command means and the second response command means are the same response command means. The selection means includes
A location information storage unit that receives and stores location information of each of the plurality of terminal devices through communication between the communication control device and each of the plurality of terminal devices;
Extracting means for extracting the other terminal device in a communicable state located closest to the position of the terminal device specified by the specifying means based on the position information stored in the position information storage unit; The communication control device according to claim 3, wherein the communication control device is provided. The command means includes
The other terminal device selected by the selection unit is controlled to start a communication unit having a communication method different from a communication method between the communication control device and each of the plurality of terminal devices. The communication control device according to any one of claims 3 to 6. A communication control program to be executed by a computer that communicates with a plurality of terminal devices via a network,
In the computer,
A reception step of transmitting a response command from the communication control device to the plurality of terminal devices and receiving a response including position information of the terminal device based on the response command from the plurality of terminal devices;
A determination step of determining a communication state between the communication control device and each of the plurality of terminal devices based on the response ;
Based on the communication state determined in the determination step, a specifying step for specifying a terminal device that has transitioned from a communicable state to a non-communicable state;
A selection step of selecting another terminal device in a communicable state located in the shortest distance from the terminal device based on the terminal device specified in the specifying step and the position information ;
An instruction step for instructing the other terminal device selected in the selecting step to communicate with the terminal device specified in the specifying step.

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