JP7076488B2 - Management equipment, programs, systems and control methods - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to management devices, programs, systems and control methods.

HAPS (High Altitude Platform Station), which provides wireless communication services to terminals by establishing a feeder link with a terrestrial gateway, establishing a service link with a terrestrial terminal, and relaying communication between the gateway and the terminal, is known. (See, for example, Patent Document 1).
[Prior Art Document]
[Patent Document]
[Patent Document 1] Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2019-135823

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a management device is provided. The management device may control an air vehicle that provides a wireless communication service to a user terminal in the ground subarea by irradiating the ground subarea with a beam while flying over the ground subarea in the ground area. The management device covers each of the multiple ground areas with multiple flying objects, and in the situation where the spare flying objects are flying over each of the multiple ground areas, the management device is out of the plurality of spare flying objects. If any of the spare aircraft replaces the cover of one ground subarea with the aircraft covering one of the ground subareas of one of the multiple ground areas. A starting point for a flight from multiple ground areas to fly over as a spare flight from a plurality of ground areas based on the position of one ground area and a standby point indicating the position of the waiting aircraft. A selection unit may be provided for selecting a ground area and an intermediate ground area that is continuous from the starting ground area to one ground area. The management device puts a spare aircraft flying over the starting ground area and a spare aircraft flying over the intermediate ground area over the adjacent ground area along a continuous direction. It may be provided with a flying object control unit to be moved.

The waiting point may indicate the position of the flying object waiting on the ground. The selection unit may select the intermediate ground area that is continuous from the starting point ground area to the one ground area from the plurality of ground areas so that the number of the intermediate ground areas is the smallest. The selection unit adjacents the spare air vehicle flying over the starting point ground area and the spare air vehicle flying over the intermediate ground area along the continuous direction. Select the intermediate ground area that is continuous from the starting point ground area to the one ground area from the plurality of ground areas so that the total movement distance when moving over the above ground area is the shortest. It's okay.

Based on the number of the above-ground sub-areas of each of the above-mentioned plurality of ground areas, the selection unit obtains the above-mentioned intermediate ground area which is continuous from the above-mentioned starting point ground area to the above-mentioned one ground area. You may choose. The selection unit is a continuous intermediate ground area from the starting point ground area to the one ground area based on the communication traffic in the wireless communication service of each of the plurality of ground areas. May be selected. The selection unit is a continuous intermediate from the starting point ground area to the one ground area based on the operating time of the plurality of flying objects covering the ground area in each of the plurality of ground areas. You may select a ground area. The selection unit may select the intermediate ground area that is continuous from the starting point ground area to the one ground area from the plurality of ground areas based on the importance of the plurality of ground areas. The selection unit is a continuous intermediate ground from the starting point ground area to the one ground area based on the types of the plurality of flying objects covering the ground area in each of the plurality of ground areas. You may select an area. The selection unit moves from the starting point ground area to the one ground area based on the type of communication device mounted on the plurality of flying objects covering the ground area in each of the plurality of ground areas. You may select the above intermediate ground area that is continuous toward you.

From the plurality of standby points, the selection unit may select the standby point for moving the waiting aircraft to the starting point ground area based on the position of the one ground area. The selection unit selects the standby point closest to the position of the one ground area among the plurality of standby points as the standby point for moving the waiting aircraft to the starting point ground area. good. The selection unit may select the standby point by giving priority to the standby point having a larger number of waiting objects from the plurality of standby points.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, a program for making a computer function as the management device is provided.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the system is provided. The system may include the management device and the plurality of flying objects.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, a control method is provided. The control method is based on a management device that controls an aircraft that provides wireless communication services to user terminals in the ground subarea by irradiating the ground subarea with a beam while flying over the ground subarea. May be executed. The control method covers each of a plurality of ground areas with a plurality of flying objects, and in a situation where a spare flying object is flying over each of the plurality of ground areas, among the plurality of spare flying objects. If any of the spare aircraft replaces the cover of one ground subarea with the aircraft covering one of the ground subareas of one of the multiple ground areas. Based on the position of one ground area and the position of the takeoff point where the flying object waiting on the ground takes off, the flight object taken off from the takeoff point from multiple ground areas will fly over as a spare flight object. It may be provided with a selection step of selecting a starting point ground area to fly and a continuous intermediate ground area from the starting point ground area to one ground area. The control method is to place a spare aircraft flying over the starting ground area and a spare aircraft flying over the intermediate ground area over the adjacent ground area along a continuous direction. It may be equipped with an air vehicle control stage to be moved.

The outline of the above invention does not list all the necessary features of the present invention. A subcombination of these feature groups can also be an invention.

An example of the system 10 is shown schematically. An example of a ground area 300 covered by a plurality of HAPS 200s is schematically shown. An example of a spare HAPS 200 flying over each of a plurality of ground areas 300 is schematically shown. An example of the alternate route 400 is shown schematically. An example of the functional configuration of the management device 100 is schematically shown. An example of the alternate route 400 is shown schematically. An example of the alternate route 400 is shown schematically. An example of the hardware configuration of the computer 1200 that functions as the management device 100 is schematically shown.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described through embodiments of the invention, but the following embodiments do not limit the invention within the scope of the claims. Also, not all combinations of features described in the embodiments are essential to the means of solving the invention.

FIG. 1 schematically shows an example of the system 10. The system 10 includes a management device 100. The system 10 may include HAPS200. The system 10 may include a plurality of HAPS200s.

The HAPS 200 may be an example of an air vehicle that provides a wireless communication service to a user terminal 30 in a cell 202 formed by irradiating a beam toward the ground. The HAPS 200 includes an airframe 210, a central portion 220, a propeller 230, a pod 240, and a solar cell panel 250. A flight control device 222 and a communication control device 224 are arranged in the central portion 220.

The electric power generated by the solar panel 250 is stored in one or more batteries arranged in at least one of the airframe 210, the central portion 220, and the pod 240. The electric power stored in the battery is used by each configuration included in the HAPS 200.

The flight control device 222 controls the flight of the HAPS 200. The flight control device 222 controls the flight of the HAPS 200, for example, by controlling the rotation of the propeller 230. Further, the flight control device 222 may control the flight of the HAPS 200 by changing the angle of a flap or an elevator (not shown). The flight control device 222 may include various sensors such as a positioning sensor such as a GPS sensor, a gyro sensor, and an acceleration sensor to manage the position, moving direction, and moving speed of the HAPS 200.

The communication control device 224 uses an SL (Service Link) antenna to form a cell 202 on the ground. The communication control device 224 uses the SL antenna to form a service link with the user terminal 30 on the ground. The SL antenna may be a multi-beam antenna. The cell 202 may be a multi-cell.

The communication control device 224 may form a feeder link with the gateway 40 on the ground by using an FL (Feeder Link) antenna. The communication control device 224 may access the network 20 via the gateway 40.

The communication control device 224 may communicate with the communication satellite 50 by using the satellite communication antenna. The communication control device 224 may access the network 20 via the communication satellite 50 and the satellite communication station 60.

The user terminal 30 may be any communication terminal as long as it can communicate with the HAPS 200. For example, the user terminal 30 is a mobile phone such as a smartphone. The user terminal 30 may be a tablet terminal, a PC (Personal Computer), or the like. The user terminal 30 may be a so-called IoT (Internet of Thing) device. The user terminal 30 may include anything corresponding to so-called IoT (Internet of Everything).

The HAPS 200 relays communication between the network 20 and the user terminal 30 via, for example, a feeder link or a communication satellite 50 and a service link. The HAPS 200 may provide a wireless communication service to the user terminal 30 by relaying the communication between the user terminal 30 and the network 20.

The network 20 includes a mobile communication network. The mobile communication network complies with any of 3G (3rd Generation) communication method, LTE (Long Term Evolution) communication method, 5G (5th Generation) communication method, and 6G (6th Generation) communication method or later. May be good. The network 20 may include the Internet.

The HAPS 200 transmits, for example, the data received from the user terminal 30 in the cell 202 to the network 20. Further, when the HAPS 200 receives the data addressed to the user terminal 30 in the cell 202 via the network 20, for example, the HAPS 200 transmits the data to the user terminal 30.

The management device 100 manages a plurality of HAPS 200s. The management device 100 may communicate with the HAPS 200 via the network 20 and the gateway 40. The management device 100 may communicate with the HAPS 200 via the network 20, the satellite communication station 60, and the communication satellite 50.

The management device 200 controls the HAPS 200 by transmitting an instruction. The HAPS200 may have the HAPS200 swivel over the target area so that the cell 202 covers the target area on the ground. In order for the HAPS200 to cover the target area, turning over the target area may be described as a fixed point flight. The HAPS 200 maintains a feeder link with the gateway 40 by adjusting the directivity of the FL antenna while flying in a circular orbit over the target area, and the cell by adjusting the directivity of the SL antenna. Maintain coverage of the target area by 202.

FIG. 2 schematically shows an example of a ground area 300 covered by a plurality of HAPS 200s. The plurality of HAPS 200s may cover the entire ground area 300 by each covering the ground subarea 302.

The above-ground area 300 and the above-ground sub-area 302 may be any area. The above-ground area 300 and the above-ground sub-area 302 may be units of regional areas such as cities, wards, towns and villages.

In order to maintain a high service utilization rate guaranteed to customers with SLA (Service Level Agreement), it is necessary to promptly switch to a spare machine when a problem occurs in the HAPS200 in operation, but the spare machine goes straight from the airport. It takes too much time to make it. On the other hand, it is possible to deal with this by arranging many spare aircraft in the sky, but this is not efficient due to high cost.

In the system 10 according to the present embodiment, spare machines are appropriately arranged, and for example, even if a continuous failure occurs in the HAPS200 in operation, the spare machine group is managed to maintain a high service operation rate. Run.

FIG. 3 schematically shows an example of a spare HAPS 200 flying over each of a plurality of ground areas 300. In the system 10 according to the present embodiment, a spare HAPS 200 is arranged above each of the plurality of ground areas 300. The spare HAPS 200, for example, makes a fixed point flight over the ground area 300. Each of the plurality of ground areas 300 is covered by a plurality of HAPS200 cells 202.

When a defect occurs in any of the plurality of HAPS200s covering the ground area 300, the spare HAPS200 replaces the cover of the failed HAPS200 with the cover of the ground subarea 302 covered by the HAPS200. .. In this way, by arranging a spare HAPS 200 above the ground area 300 to be replaced when a problem occurs in any of the plurality of HAPS 200, the time required for the replacement is compared with the case where the spare HAPS 200 is placed on the ground. Can be shortened.

Here, when the defective HAPS200 and the spare HAPS200 are replaced, it is necessary to redeploy the spare HAPS200 above the ground area 300. Normally, the HAPS 200 waiting at the airport 70 will be directed to the above-ground area 300.

However, if the HAPS 200 that has taken off from the airport 70 is made to go straight over the ground area 300, it may take a long time to arrive. In particular, if the distance from the airport 70 to the ground area 300 is long, it may take a very long time. Then, if problems occur consecutively in the plurality of HAPS200s covering the ground area 300, the spare HAPS200 cannot arrive in time, and the wireless communication service in some of the ground subareas 302 is interrupted. There is a risk that it will end up. In the system 10 according to the present embodiment, the optimum aircraft is selected from a plurality of spare HAPS200s and moved like a billiard.

FIG. 4 schematically shows an example of the alternate route 400. In FIG. 4, the above-ground area 310, the above-ground area 320, the above-ground area 330, the above-ground area 340, the above-ground area 350, the above-ground area 360, and the above-ground area 370 are exemplified as the plurality of above-ground areas 300. Here, an example of the alternate route 400 when a defect occurs in the HAPS 200 covering the ground sub-area 372 of the ground area 370 is schematically shown.

As the alternate route 400, the ground area 310, the ground area 320, the ground area 350, the route along the ground area 370, the ground area 310, the ground area 320, the ground area 340, the route along the ground area 370, and the ground area 310, Various routes such as a route along the above-ground area 330, the above-ground area 360, and the above-ground area 370 can be mentioned as candidates.

The management device 100 according to the present embodiment has, for example, the total travel distance of the HAPS 200 in all routes from the start point to the end point, starting from the HAPS 200 waiting at the airport 70 and the end point above the ground area 370 to be replaced. To calculate. The HAPS 200 waiting at the airport 70 may be waiting on the ground or may be waiting above the airport 70. Then, the management device 100 selects the shortest route among the plurality of routes as the alternate route 400. In the example shown in FIG. 4, a route along the ground area 310, the ground area 340, and the ground area 370 is selected as the alternate route 400.

The management device 100 assigns a movement number such as “0 → 1 → 2 ...” to the HAPS 200 from the end point to the start point in the selected alternate route 400. In the example shown in FIG. 4, the HAPS200 flying over the ground area 340 is "0", the HAPS200 flying over the ground area 310 is "1", and the HAPS200 flying over the airport 70. "2" is assigned.

Then, the management device 100 moves / takes off the HAPS 200 with a constant time difference in ascending order of the movement number. The constant time may be parameterized and may be, for example, 0 to 1 hour. In this way, by selecting the shortest route as the alternate route 400 and moving the HAPS 200 like a billiard, the number of alternate aircraft can be minimized and the alternate time can be minimized.

FIG. 5 schematically shows an example of the functional configuration of the management device 100. The management device 100 includes an information storage unit 102, an information receiving unit 104, an air vehicle management unit 106, a selection unit 108, and an air vehicle control unit 110.

The information storage unit 102 stores various types of information. The information storage unit 102 may store information about each of the plurality of ground areas 300. The information storage unit 102 stores, for example, the number of ground subareas 302 included in the ground area 300. The information storage unit 102 stores, for example, the importance of the ground area 300. The importance of the above-ground area 300 is, for example, higher as the above-ground area 300 has a higher population density. Further, the importance of the above-ground area 300 is, for example, as high as the above-ground area 300 including more important facilities.

The information storage unit 102 may store information about each of the plurality of HAPS200s. Information about HAPS200 includes, for example, the type of HAPS200. Information about the HAPS200 may include information about the manufacturer of the HAPS200. Information about HAPS200 may include information about a version of HAPS200. Information about the HAPS200 may include information about the size of the HAPS200.

The information storage unit 102 stores, for example, information about the communication control device 224 mounted on the HAPS 200. The information about the communication control device 224 may include the information of the manufacturer of the communication control device 224. Information about the communication control device 224 may include information about the version of the communication control device 224. Information about the communication control device 224 may include the type of antenna used by the communication control device 224. The information about the communication control device 224 may include whether or not the cell 202 generated by the communication control device 224 is a multi-cell. The information about the communication control device 224 may include the number of cells when the cell 202 generated by the communication control device 224 is a multi-cell.

The information receiving unit 104 receives various information. The information receiving unit 104 receives, for example, information on the communication status in the wireless communication service of the plurality of ground areas 300 from the core network of the mobile communication system or the like. The information regarding the communication status includes, for example, communication traffic in the wireless communication service of the ground area 300. The information receiving unit 104 stores the received information in the information storage unit 102.

The flight object management unit 106 manages a plurality of HAPS200s. The flight object management unit 106 may control a plurality of HAPS200s so that each of the plurality of ground areas 300 is covered by the plurality of HAPS200s. The flight object management unit 106 instructs each of the plurality of HAPS200s of the destination, the flight path, the route of the fixed point flight, the position and range of the ground subarea 302 to be covered, and the like, thereby providing the plurality of HAPS200s. You may control it.

The flight object management unit 106 may control the plurality of HAPS200s so as to fly the plurality of HAPS200s as spare HAPS200s over each of the plurality of ground areas 300. The flight object management unit 106 controls the plurality of HAPS200s by instructing each of the plurality of HAPS200s of the destination, the flight path, the route of the fixed point flight, the position and range of the target ground area 300, and the like. It's okay.

The flight object management unit 106 may manage the respective states of the plurality of HAPS200. The flight object management unit 106 may manage the state of each of the plurality of HAPS200s by communicating with each of the plurality of HAPS200s on a regular or irregular basis. The flight object management unit 106 manages, for example, whether or not the HAPS 200 is in a normal state. For example, when the HAPS 200 is in a normal state, the management device 100 is notified periodically or irregularly, and when a problem occurs, the management device 100 is notified to that effect. The flight object management unit 106 may manage the continuous operation period of the HAPS 200. The flight object management unit 106 may manage the remaining battery level of the HAPS 200.

When a defect occurs in any of the plurality of HAPS200s covering the ground area 300, the flight object management unit 106 covers the ground subarea 302 covered by the defective HAPS200 on the ground. It will be replaced by a spare HAPS200 flying over area 300.

The selection unit 108 covers each of the plurality of ground areas 300 with the plurality of ground areas 300, and in a situation where the spare HAPS 200 is flying over each of the plurality of ground areas 300, the plurality of spare HAPS 200s. The spare HAPS200 of any of the above covers the HAPS200 covering the ground subarea 302 of one of the ground areas 300 of the plurality of ground areas 300 and the cover of the one ground subarea 302. In the case of a change, the change route is selected based on the position of the one ground area 300 and the waiting point indicating the position of the waiting HAPS200. The selection unit 108 has a starting point ground area and a starting point where the HAPS 200 moved from the plurality of ground areas 300 to fly over as a spare HAPS 200 from the plurality of ground areas 300 based on the position of one ground area 300 and the waiting point. Select a continuous intermediate ground area from the ground area to one ground area. There may be one intermediate ground area or multiple intermediate ground areas.

The standby point indicates, for example, the position of a spare HAPS200 waiting on the ground. The waiting point may indicate the location of the airport 70 where the spare HAPS 200 is waiting. The waiting point may indicate the location of a spare HAPS 200 waiting above the airport 70.

The selection unit 108 selects, for example, an intermediate ground area from a plurality of ground areas 300 so that the number of intermediate ground areas is the smallest. The selection unit 108 continuously transfers, for example, a spare HAPS200 flying over the starting point ground area and a spare HAPS200 flying over the intermediate ground area from the starting point ground area to one ground area 300. An intermediate ground area is selected from a plurality of ground areas 300 so that the total movement distance when moving over the adjacent ground area 300 along the direction of the flight is the shortest. These can contribute to the minimization of the number of alternate aircraft. In addition, these can contribute to the shortening of the shift time.

The flight body control unit 110 controls a plurality of spare HAPS 200s when an alternate route is selected by the selection unit 108. The aircraft control unit 110 may move the HAPS 200 waiting at the standby point to the sky above the starting point ground area. The vehicle body control unit 110 directs the spare HAPS200 flying over the starting point ground area and the spare HAPS200 flying over the intermediate ground area from the starting point ground area to one ground area 300. It may be moved over the adjacent ground area 300 along a continuous direction.

The flight body control unit 110 determines the destination, flight path, fixed-point flight path, position and range of the target ground area 300, etc. for each of the HAPS 200 waiting at the standby point and the plurality of spare HAPS 200. By instructing, the waiting HAPS200 and a plurality of spare HAPS200s may be controlled.

FIG. 6 schematically shows an example of the alternate route 400. When there are a plurality of standby points, the selection unit 108 may select a standby point for moving the standby HAPS 200 to the starting point ground area from the plurality of standby points. FIG. 6 illustrates airport 70 and airport 72 as a plurality of waiting points.

The selection unit 108 selects, for example, from a plurality of standby points, a standby point for moving the standby HAPS 200 to the starting point ground area based on the position of one ground area 300 to be replaced. As a specific example, the selection unit 108 selects the standby point closest to the position of one ground area 300 among the plurality of standby points. In the example shown in FIG. 6, the selection unit 108 may select the airport 72 closer to the ground area 370 from the airport 70 and the airport 72. This can contribute to minimizing the number of alternate aircraft. In addition, this can contribute to the shortening of the shift time.

The selection unit 108 may select a standby point by giving priority to a standby point having a larger number of waiting HAPS200s from a plurality of standby points. When, for example, the difference in distance between the plurality of standby points and one ground area 300 to be replaced is shorter than a predetermined threshold value, the selection unit 108 determines that the HAPS 200 is waiting among the plurality of standby points. The waiting point with the largest number is selected as the waiting point for moving the waiting HAPS200 to the starting point ground area. This makes it possible to reduce the possibility that the HAPS 200 waiting at the standby point will not exist. The selection unit 108 moves the waiting HAPS200 to the starting point ground area based on the number of waiting HAPS200s without considering the distance between the plurality of standby points and one ground area 300 to be replaced. It may be selected as a waiting point to be caused.

FIG. 7 schematically shows an example of the alternate route 400. The selection unit 108 may select an alternate route based on various information. The selection unit 108 selects an alternate route based on other information, for example, when the difference in the total travel distances of the plurality of HAPS200s in the plurality of alternate routes is shorter than a predetermined threshold value.

For example, the selection unit 108 selects an intermediate ground area from the plurality of ground areas 300 based on the number of each ground subarea 302 of the plurality of ground areas 300. The selection unit 108 selects, for example, an intermediate ground area from a plurality of ground areas, giving priority to the ground area 300 having a smaller number of ground subareas 302. As a specific example, the selection unit 108 selects the route having the smallest total number of ground subareas 302 in the plurality of alternate routes as the alternate route. As a result, while moving along the alternate route, a defect occurs in the HAPS200 in operation in any of the ground areas 300 in the alternate route, and the time is caused by the replacement of the defective HAPS200 with the spare HAPS200. It is possible to suppress the occurrence of such a situation. It should be noted that the selection unit 108 can be used from the plurality of ground areas 300 based on the number of each ground sub-area 302 of the plurality of ground areas 300 without considering the total travel distance of the plurality of HAPS 200s in the plurality of alternate routes. An intermediate ground area may be selected.

Further, for example, the selection unit 108 selects an intermediate ground area from the plurality of ground areas 300 based on the communication traffic in each wireless communication service of the plurality of ground areas 300. For example, the selection unit 108 selects an intermediate ground area from a plurality of ground areas, giving priority to the ground area 300 having less communication traffic in the ground area 300. As a specific example, the selection unit 108 selects the route having the relatively least communication traffic in the ground area 300 in the plurality of alternate routes as the alternate route. As a result, while moving along the alternate route, a problem occurs in the HAPS200 in operation in any of the ground areas 300 in the alternate route, and temporary wireless communication occurs in the ground subarea 302 covered by the HAPS200. It is possible to reduce the impact when a service interruption occurs. It should be noted that the selection unit 108 can be used from the plurality of ground areas 300 based on the communication traffic in each wireless communication service of the plurality of ground areas 300 without considering the total travel distance of the plurality of HAPS 200s in the plurality of alternate routes. An intermediate ground area may be selected.

Further, for example, the selection unit 108 selects an intermediate ground area from the plurality of ground areas 300 based on the operating time of the plurality of HAPS 200s covering the ground area 300 in each of the plurality of ground areas 300. For example, among the plurality of ground areas 300, the selection unit 108 gives priority to the ground area where the operating time of the plurality of HAPS 200s covering the ground area 300 is shorter, and selects the intermediate ground area from the plurality of ground areas 300. select. As a specific example, the selection unit 108 selects the route having the shortest total operating time of the plurality of HAPS 200s covering the ground area 300 in the plurality of alternate routes as the alternate route. As a result, it is possible to reduce the possibility that the HAPS 200 in operation in any of the ground areas 300 in the alternate route will have a problem due to the prolonged operation time while moving along the alternate route. The selection unit 108 does not consider the total travel distance of the plurality of HAPS200s in the plurality of alternate routes, and is based on the operating time of the plurality of HAPS200s covering the ground area 300 in each of the plurality of ground areas 300. , An intermediate ground area may be selected from a plurality of ground areas 300.

Further, for example, the selection unit 108 selects an intermediate ground area from the plurality of ground areas 300 based on the importance of the plurality of ground areas 300. The selection unit 108 selects, for example, the route having the lowest average value of the importance of the plurality of ground areas 300 in the plurality of alternate routes as the alternate route. As a result, while moving along the alternate route, a problem occurs in the HAPS200 in operation in any of the ground areas 300 in the alternate route, and temporary wireless communication occurs in the ground subarea 302 covered by the HAPS200. It is possible to reduce the impact when a service interruption occurs. The selection unit 108 selects an intermediate ground area from the plurality of ground areas 300 based on the importance of the plurality of ground areas 300 without considering the total travel distance of the plurality of HAPS 200s in the plurality of alternate routes. You may.

Further, for example, the selection unit 108 selects an intermediate ground area based on the types of the plurality of HAPS 200s covering the ground area 300 in each of the plurality of ground areas 300. The selection unit 108 selects, for example, a route having a higher proportion of the types of HAPS200 having a low failure rate in the plurality of HAPS200 covering each of the plurality of ground areas 300 in the plurality of alternate routes as the alternate route. As a result, while moving along the alternate route, a defect occurs in the HAPS200 in operation in any of the ground areas 300 in the alternate route, and the time is caused by the replacement of the defective HAPS200 with the spare HAPS200. It is possible to suppress the occurrence of such a situation. The selection unit 108 is based on the type of the plurality of HAPS200s covering the ground area 300 in each of the plurality of ground areas 300 without considering the total travel distance of the plurality of HAPS200s in the plurality of alternate routes. An intermediate ground area may be selected from a plurality of ground areas 300.

Further, for example, the selection unit 108 selects an intermediate ground area based on the type of the communication control device 224 mounted on the plurality of HAPS 200s covering the ground area 300 in each of the plurality of ground areas 300. The selection unit 108 selects, for example, a route having a higher ratio of the HAPS 200 having a low failure rate of the on-board communication control device 224 in a plurality of HAPS 200 covering each of the plurality of ground areas 300 in the plurality of alternate routes. , Select as a replacement route. As a result, while moving along the alternate route, a defect occurs in the HAPS200 in operation in any of the ground areas 300 in the alternate route, and the time is caused by the replacement of the defective HAPS200 with the spare HAPS200. It is possible to suppress the occurrence of such a situation. The selection unit 108 is mounted on the plurality of HAPS 200s covering the ground area 300 in each of the plurality of ground areas 300 without considering the total travel distance of the plurality of HAPS 200s in the plurality of alternate routes. An intermediate ground area may be selected from a plurality of ground areas 300 based on the type of the control device 224.

FIG. 8 schematically shows an example of a hardware configuration of a computer 1200 that functions as a control device 200. A program installed on the computer 1200 causes the computer 1200 to function as one or more "parts" of the device according to the embodiment, or causes the computer 1200 to perform an operation associated with the device according to the embodiment or the one or the like. A plurality of "parts" can be executed and / or a computer 1200 can be made to execute a process according to the above embodiment or a stage of the process. Such a program may be run by the CPU 1212 to cause the computer 1200 to perform certain operations associated with some or all of the blocks of the flowcharts and block diagrams described herein.

The computer 1200 according to this embodiment includes a CPU 1212, a RAM 1214, and a graphic controller 1216, which are interconnected by a host controller 1210. The computer 1200 also includes an input / output unit such as a communication interface 1222, a storage device 1224, and a DVD drive and an IC card drive, which are connected to the host controller 1210 via the input / output controller 1220. The storage device 1224 may be a hard disk drive, a solid state drive, or the like. The computer 1200 also includes a legacy I / O unit such as a ROM 1230 and a keyboard, which are connected to the I / O controller 1220 via an I / O chip 1240.

The CPU 1212 operates according to a program stored in the ROM 1230 and the RAM 1214, thereby controlling each unit. The graphic controller 1216 acquires the image data generated by the CPU 1212 in a frame buffer or the like provided in the RAM 1214 or itself so that the image data is displayed on the display device 1218.

The communication interface 1222 communicates with other electronic devices via the network. The storage device 1224 stores programs and data used by the CPU 1212 in the computer 1200. The IC card drive reads the program and data from the IC card and / or writes the program and data to the IC card.

The ROM 1230 stores in it a boot program or the like executed by the computer 1200 at the time of activation, and / or a program depending on the hardware of the computer 1200. The input / output chip 1240 may also connect various input / output units to the input / output controller 1220 via a USB port, a parallel port, a serial port, a keyboard port, a mouse port, and the like.

The program is provided by a computer-readable storage medium such as a DVD-ROM or IC card. The program is read from a computer-readable storage medium, installed in a storage device 1224, RAM 1214, or ROM 1230, which is also an example of a computer-readable storage medium, and executed by the CPU 1212. The information processing described in these programs is read by the computer 1200 and provides a link between the program and the various types of hardware resources described above. The device or method may be configured to implement the operation or processing of information in accordance with the use of the computer 1200.

For example, when communication is executed between the computer 1200 and an external device, the CPU 1212 executes a communication program loaded in the RAM 1214, and performs communication processing with respect to the communication interface 1222 based on the processing described in the communication program. You may order. Under the control of the CPU 1212, the communication interface 1222 reads and reads transmission data stored in a transmission buffer area provided in a recording medium such as a RAM 1214, a storage device 1224, a DVD-ROM, or an IC card. The data is transmitted to the network, or the received data received from the network is written to the reception buffer area or the like provided on the recording medium.

Further, the CPU 1212 makes it possible for the RAM 1214 to read all or necessary parts of a file or database stored in an external recording medium such as a storage device 1224, a DVD drive (DVD-ROM), an IC card, etc., on the RAM 1214. Various types of processing may be performed on the data. The CPU 1212 may then write back the processed data to an external recording medium.

Various types of information such as various types of programs, data, tables, and databases may be stored in recording media and processed. The CPU 1212 describes various types of operations, information processing, conditional judgment, conditional branching, unconditional branching, and information retrieval described in various parts of the present disclosure with respect to the data read from the RAM 1214. Various types of processing may be performed, including / replacement, etc., and the results are written back to the RAM 1214. Further, the CPU 1212 may search for information in a file, database, or the like in the recording medium. For example, when a plurality of entries each having an attribute value of the first attribute associated with the attribute value of the second attribute are stored in the recording medium, the CPU 1212 is the first of the plurality of entries. The attribute value of the attribute of is searched for the entry that matches the specified condition, the attribute value of the second attribute stored in the entry is read, and the attribute value of the second attribute is changed to the first attribute that satisfies the predetermined condition. You may get the attribute value of the associated second attribute.

The program or software module described above may be stored on a computer 1200 or in a computer readable storage medium near the computer 1200. Further, a recording medium such as a hard disk or RAM provided in a dedicated communication network or a server system connected to the Internet can be used as a computer-readable storage medium, whereby the program can be transferred to the computer 1200 via the network. offer.

The blocks in the flowcharts and block diagrams of this embodiment may represent the stage of the process in which the operation is performed or the "part" of the device responsible for performing the operation. Specific steps and "parts" are supplied with a dedicated circuit, a programmable circuit supplied with computer-readable instructions stored on a computer-readable storage medium, and / or with computer-readable instructions stored on a computer-readable storage medium. It may be implemented by the processor. Dedicated circuits may include digital and / or analog hardware circuits, and may include integrated circuits (ICs) and / or discrete circuits. Programmable circuits include logical products, logical sums, exclusive logical sums, negative logical sums, negative logical sums, and other logical operations, such as, for example, field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), programmable logic arrays (PLAs), and the like. , Flipflops, registers, and reconfigurable hardware circuits, including memory elements.

The computer readable storage medium may include any tangible device capable of storing instructions executed by the appropriate device, so that the computer readable storage medium having the instructions stored therein may be in a flow chart or block diagram. It will be equipped with a product that contains instructions that can be executed to create means for performing the specified operation. Examples of the computer-readable storage medium may include an electronic storage medium, a magnetic storage medium, an optical storage medium, an electromagnetic storage medium, a semiconductor storage medium, and the like. More specific examples of computer-readable storage media include floppy (registered trademark) disks, diskettes, hard disks, random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), and erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or flash memory). , Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory (EEPROM), Static Random Access Memory (SRAM), Compact Disc Read Only Memory (CD-ROM), Digital Versatile Disc (DVD), Blu-ray® Disc, Memory Stick , Integrated circuit cards and the like may be included.

Computer-readable instructions are assembler instructions, instruction set architecture (ISA) instructions, machine instructions, machine-dependent instructions, microcode, firmware instructions, state-setting data, or object-oriented programming such as Smalltalk, JAVA®, C ++, etc. Includes either source code or object code written in any combination of one or more programming languages, including languages and traditional procedural programming languages such as the "C" programming language or similar programming languages. good.

Computer-readable instructions are used to generate means for a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, or the processor of another programmable data processing device, or a programmable circuit, to perform an operation specified in a flowchart or block diagram. General purpose computers, special purpose computers, or other programmable data processing locally or via a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN) such as the Internet, etc. to execute such computer-readable instructions. It may be provided to the processor of the device or a programmable circuit. Examples of processors include computer processors, processing units, microprocessors, digital signal processors, controllers, microcontrollers and the like.

Although the present invention has been described above using the embodiments, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the scope described in the above embodiments. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes or improvements can be made to the above embodiments. It is clear from the description of the claims that the form with such changes or improvements may be included in the technical scope of the present invention.

The order of execution of each process, such as operation, procedure, step, and step in the apparatus, system, program, and method shown in the claims, specification, and drawings, is particularly "before" and "prior to". It should be noted that it can be realized in any order unless the output of the previous process is used in the subsequent process. Even if the scope of claims, the specification, and the operation flow in the drawings are explained using "first", "next", etc. for convenience, it means that it is essential to carry out in this order. It's not a thing.

10 systems, 20 networks, 30 user terminals, 40 gateways, 50 communication satellites, 60 satellite communication stations, 70 airports, 72 airports, 100 management devices, 102 information storage units, 104 information reception units, 106 air vehicle management units, 108 selections. Unit, 110 Aircraft Control Unit, 200 HAPS, 202 Cell, 210 Aircraft, 220 Central Department, 222 Flight Control Device, 224 Communication Control Device, 230 Propeller, 240 Pod, 250 Solar Battery Panel, 300, 310, 320, 330, 340, 350, 360, 370 Ground Area, 302 Ground Sub Area, 372 Ground Sub Area, 400 Alternate Paths, 1200 Computers, 1210 Host Controllers, 1212 CPUs, 1214 RAM, 1216 Graphic Controllers, 1218 Display Devices, 1220 I / O Controllers, 1222 communication interface, 1224 storage device, 1230 ROM, 1240 input / output chip

Claims (16)

It is a management device that manages an air vehicle that provides a wireless communication service to a user terminal in a cell formed by irradiating a ground sub-area of the ground area while flying over the ground area.
In a situation where each of the plurality of ground areas is covered by the plurality of the flying objects and the spare aircraft is flying over each of the plurality of ground areas, the plurality of the spare aircraft are used. One of the spare aircraft covers the ground subarea of one of the ground areas of the plurality of ground areas and the cover of the ground subarea. From the plurality of ground areas to the flying object moved from the waiting point based on the position of the one ground area and the waiting point indicating the position of the waiting object when it is replaced. A selection unit that selects a starting point ground area to fly over as a spare flying object and a continuous intermediate ground area from the starting point ground area toward the one ground area.
The spare air vehicle flying over the starting point ground area and the spare air vehicle flying over the intermediate ground area are adjacent to each other along the continuous direction in the ground area. A management device equipped with an air vehicle control unit that moves the aircraft over the sky. The management device according to claim 1, wherein the standby point indicates the position of the flying object waiting on the ground. The selection unit selects the intermediate ground area which is continuous from the starting point ground area to the one ground area from the plurality of ground areas so that the number of the intermediate ground areas is the smallest. The management device according to 1 or 2. The selection unit adjacents the spare air vehicle flying over the starting point ground area and the spare air vehicle flying over the intermediate ground area along the continuous direction. Select the intermediate ground area that is continuous from the starting point ground area to the one ground area from the plurality of ground areas so that the total movement distance when moving over the ground area is the shortest. , The management device according to claim 1 or 2. Based on the number of the above-ground sub-areas of the plurality of above-ground areas, the selection unit obtains the intermediate above-ground area continuous from the plurality of above-ground areas toward the one above-ground area from the starting point above-ground area. The management device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, which is selected. The selection unit is a continuous intermediate ground area from the plurality of ground areas to the one ground area based on the communication traffic in the wireless communication service of each of the plurality of ground areas. The management device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the control device is selected. The selection unit is a continuous intermediate from the starting point ground area toward the one ground area based on the operating time of the plurality of flying objects covering the ground area in each of the plurality of ground areas. The management device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, which selects a ground area. The selection unit selects the intermediate ground area which is continuous from the starting point ground area to the one ground area from the plurality of ground areas based on the importance of the plurality of ground areas. The management device according to any one of 7 to 7. The selection unit is a continuous intermediate ground from the starting point ground area toward the one ground area based on the types of the plurality of flying objects covering the ground area in each of the plurality of ground areas. The management device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, which selects an area. The selection unit moves from the starting point ground area to the one ground area based on the type of communication device mounted on the plurality of flying objects covering the ground area in each of the plurality of ground areas. The management device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein a continuous intermediate ground area is selected. The selection unit selects the waiting point from the plurality of waiting points to move the waiting aircraft to the starting point ground area based on the position of the one ground area. The management device according to any one of the above. The selection unit selects the standby point closest to the position of the one ground area among the plurality of standby points as the standby point for moving the waiting aircraft to the starting point ground area. The management device according to claim 11. According to any one of claims 1 to 12, the selection unit selects the standby point by giving priority to the standby point having a larger number of waiting objects from the plurality of standby points. The management device described. A program for operating a computer as the management device according to any one of claims 1 to 13. The management device according to any one of claims 1 to 13.
A system comprising the plurality of flying objects. It is executed by a management device that controls an air vehicle that provides a wireless communication service to a user terminal in the ground subarea by irradiating the ground subarea with a beam while flying over the ground subarea in the ground area. Control method
In a situation where each of the plurality of ground areas is covered by the plurality of the flying objects and the spare aircraft is flying over each of the plurality of ground areas, the plurality of the spare aircraft are used. One of the spare aircraft covers the ground subarea of one of the ground areas of the plurality of ground areas and the cover of the ground subarea. From the plurality of ground areas to the flying object moved from the waiting point based on the position of the one ground area and the waiting point indicating the position of the waiting object when it is replaced. A selection stage for selecting a starting point ground area to fly over as a spare aircraft and a continuous intermediate ground area from the starting point ground area to the one ground area.
The spare air vehicle flying over the starting point ground area and the spare air vehicle flying over the intermediate ground area are adjacent to each other along the continuous direction in the ground area. A control method with an air vehicle control stage that moves it over the sky.

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