WO2020240921A1

WO2020240921A1 - Wireless communication system, program, system, and communication method

Info

Publication number: WO2020240921A1
Application number: PCT/JP2020/003243
Authority: WO
Inventors: 叔達蔡
Original assignee: Ｈａｐｓモバイル株式会社
Priority date: 2019-05-31
Filing date: 2020-01-29
Publication date: 2020-12-03
Also published as: JP2020198481A; JP7171512B2

Abstract

Provided is a wireless communication system that is mounted on a flying object to provide a wireless communication service to user terminals in a wireless communication area formed by radiating a beam toward the ground. The wireless communication system is provided with: a feeder link establishment unit that establishes a feeder link with a gateway on the ground; an acquisition request transmission unit that transmits an acquisition request for an IP address to a DHCP server on the ground in response to the establishment of the feeder link; and an IP address setting unit that acquires the IP address transmitted by the DHCP server in accordance with the acquisition request, and sets the IP address in the wireless communication system.

Description

Wireless communication systems, programs, systems and communication methods

The present invention relates to wireless communication systems, programs, systems and communication methods.

An air vehicle having an antenna and flying in the stratosphere has been known to provide a stratosphere platform (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
[Prior art literature]
[Patent Document]
[Patent Document 1] Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2002-21146

Problems to be solved

Providing technology that can contribute to maintaining wireless communication by the aircraft even if the aircraft that has established a feeder link with the gateway on the ground moves and changes the gateway. It is desirable to do.

General disclosure

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a radio mounted on an air vehicle, forming a wireless communication area by irradiating a beam toward the ground, and providing a wireless communication service to a user terminal in the wireless communication area. A communication system is provided. The wireless communication system may include a feeder link establishment unit that establishes a feeder link with a gateway on the ground. The wireless communication system may include an acquisition request transmission unit that transmits an IP address acquisition request to a DHCP server on the ground depending on the establishment of the feeder link. The wireless communication system may include an IP address setting unit that acquires an IP address transmitted by a DHCP server in response to an acquisition request and sets it in the wireless communication system.

The wireless communication system is a wireless base station unit that forms the wireless communication area on the ground by irradiating a beam toward the ground, and includes a wireless base station unit having the acquisition request transmission unit and the IP address setting unit. You can. The wireless communication system may include a feeder link establishment unit and a management unit that manages the wireless base station unit. The management unit may transmit an activation instruction and an IP address acquisition instruction to the radio base station unit in response to the establishment of the feeder link by the feeder link establishment unit, and the acquisition request transmission unit may transmit the activation instruction and the IP address acquisition instruction. The acquisition request may be transmitted to the DHCP server in response to the reception of the acquisition instruction by the radio base station unit, and the IP address setting unit may transmit the IP transmitted by the DHCP server in response to the acquisition request. The address may be acquired and set in the radio base station section.

The acquisition request transmission unit transmits the acquisition request to the DHCP server in response to the establishment of the feeder link with the first gateway on the ground by the feeder link establishment unit, and then the feeder link. When the feeder link is established with the first gateway by the establishment unit, the acquisition request is not transmitted and the feeder link is established with the second gateway on the ground different from the first gateway. If so, the acquisition request may be sent to the DHCP server.

The wireless communication system may include an identification information storage unit that stores identification information that identifies the gateway for which the feeder link establishment unit has established the feeder link. When a feeder link is established with a gateway on the ground by the feeder link establishment unit, the acquisition request transmission unit matches the identification information of the gateway with the identification information stored in the identification information storage unit. If so, the acquisition request may not be transmitted, and if they do not match, the acquisition request may be transmitted to the DHCP server.

The wireless communication system may include a reception strength monitoring unit that monitors the radio wave reception strength from the first gateway on the ground where the feeder link is established by the feeder link establishment unit. When the radio wave reception strength is lower than a predetermined threshold value, the feeder link establishment unit may establish a feeder link with a second gateway on the ground different from the first gateway, and obtains the above. The request transmission unit may transmit an IP address acquisition request to the DHCP server in response to the establishment of the feeder link with the second gateway.

The first gateway may be set as the primary cell, the second gateway may be set as the secondary cell, and the feeder link establishment unit may be set when the radio wave reception strength is lower than the predetermined threshold value. , The target for establishing the feeder link may be switched from the first gateway to the second gateway. The wireless communication system may include a gimbal control unit that controls a gimbal that can change the direction of the antenna used by the feeder link establishment unit to establish the feeder link. The feeder link establishment unit may cause the gimbal control unit to control the direction of the antenna toward the second gateway when the radio wave reception intensity is lower than a predetermined threshold value.

The wireless communication system may include a heartbeat execution unit that executes signal transmission / reception via the feeder link in order to confirm the existence of the feeder link established with the first gateway. The feeder link establishment unit is the first when the signal transmission / reception failure by the heartbeat execution unit occurs a predetermined number of times and the radio wave reception intensity is lower than the predetermined threshold value. A feeder link may be established with a second gateway on the ground that is different from the one gateway.

The wireless communication system may include an air vehicle communication unit that executes wireless communication with another control device mounted on another air vehicle. The feeder link establishment unit establishes a feeder link with the first gateway on the ground using an antenna, and then, when the feeder link cannot be established with a gateway other than the first gateway by the antenna, the feeder link The target may be switched from the first gateway to a third gateway on the ground where the other control device has established a feeder link. The acquisition request transmission unit may transmit an IP address acquisition request to the DHCP server in response to the fact that the target of the feeder link is switched to the third gateway.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, a program for making a computer function as the wireless communication system is provided.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, a system including the wireless communication system and the flying object is provided.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, a computer mounted on an air vehicle, forming a wireless communication area by irradiating a beam toward the ground, and providing a wireless communication service to a user terminal in the wireless communication area. Provides the communication method performed by. The communication method may include a feeder link establishment step of establishing a feeder link with a gateway on the ground. The communication method may include an acquisition request transmission step of transmitting an IP address acquisition request to a DHCP server on the ground depending on the establishment of the feeder link. The communication method may include an IP address setting step of acquiring the IP address transmitted by the DHCP server in response to the acquisition request and setting it in the computer.

The outline of the above invention does not list all the necessary features of the present invention. Sub-combinations of these feature groups can also be inventions.

An example of the system 10 is shown schematically. An example of the functional configuration of the wireless communication system 150 is shown schematically. An example of the processing flow by the system 10 is shown schematically. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the switching process of a feeder link by an aircraft body 100. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the switching process of a feeder link by an aircraft body 100. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the switching process of a feeder link by an aircraft body 100. An example of the processing flow by the wireless communication system 150 is shown schematically. An example of the hardware configuration of the computer 1200 functioning as the wireless communication system 150 is schematically shown.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described through embodiments of the invention, but the following embodiments do not limit the inventions claimed. 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 according to the present embodiment includes a flying object 100. The system 10 may include a DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) server 400. The system 10 may include an EMS (Element Management System) 500. The system 10 may include a gateway 300. The system 10 may include a user terminal 200.

The flying object 100 has a main wing portion 101, a main body portion 102, a propeller 104, a skid 106, wheels 108, a solar cell panel 110, an antenna 112, and an antenna 114. The main body 102 includes a wireless communication system 150, a battery (not shown), and a flight control device. The battery stores the electric power generated by the solar cell panel 110. The flight control device controls the flight of the flying object 100. The flight control device flies the flying object 100, for example, by rotating the propeller 104 using the electric power stored in the battery. The wireless communication system 150 and the flight control device may be integrated.

The wireless communication system 150 forms the wireless communication area 120 by irradiating the beam 113 toward the ground using the antenna 112, and provides the wireless communication service to the user terminal 200 in the wireless communication area 120. The wireless communication system 150 may establish a service link 20 with a user terminal 200 on the ground in the wireless communication area 120 by using the antenna 112. The wireless communication system 150 may use the antenna 114 to establish a feeder link 30 with the gateway 300 on the ground.

For example, the aircraft 100 transmits data received from the user terminal 200 in the wireless communication area 120 via the service link 20 to the terrestrial network 50 via the feeder link 30 and the gateway 300. Further, when the aircraft 100 receives data addressed to the user terminal 200 in the wireless communication area 120 via the network 50 and the feeder link 30, for example, the aircraft 100 transmits the data to the user terminal 200 via the service link 20. .. In this way, the air vehicle 100 may provide the wireless communication service to the user terminal 200 by relaying the communication between the user terminal 200 and the terrestrial network 50.

The network 50 may include a core network provided by a telecommunications carrier. The core network may be compliant with any mobile communication system, for example, 3G (3rd Generation) communication system, LTE (Long Term Evolution) communication system, 4G (4th Generation) communication system, and 5G (5th Generation) communication system. Compliant with mobile communication systems after the communication system. The network 50 may include the Internet.

The user terminal 200 may be any terminal as long as it can communicate with the flying object 100. For example, the user terminal 200 is a mobile phone such as a smartphone. The user terminal 200 may be a tablet terminal, a PC (Personal Computer), or the like. The user terminal 200 may be a so-called IoT (Internet of Thing) device. The user terminal 200 may include anything corresponding to the so-called IoT (Internet of Everything).

The flying object 100, for example, flies in the stratosphere and provides a wireless communication service to a user terminal 200 on the ground. The aircraft body 100 may function as a stratospheric platform.

For example, the aircraft body 100 covers the ground area by the wireless communication area 120 while patrolling over the ground area to be covered. Further, the flying object 100 covers the entire ground area by moving over the ground area, for example, while covering a part of the ground area to be covered by the wireless communication area 120.

The flying object 100 may further include a gimbal (not shown) that rotatably supports the antenna 114. The flying object 100 may be able to change the irradiation direction of the beam 115 by rotating the antenna 114 with the gimbal.

The flying object 100 may further include a gimbal (not shown) that rotatably supports the antenna 112. The flying object 100 may be able to change the irradiation direction of the beam 113 by rotating the antenna 112 with the gimbal.

A plurality of user terminals 200 may exist in the wireless communication area 120. The wireless communication system 150 may provide a wireless communication service to a plurality of user terminals 200 in the wireless communication area 120.

There may be a plurality of gateways 300 within the range of the beam 115. The wireless communication system 150 may establish a feeder link 30 with one gateway 300 selected from a plurality of gateways 300 within the range of the beam 115.

In the system 10 according to the present embodiment, the aircraft body 100 can acquire an IP address from the DHCP server 400 on the ground. The DHCP server 400 performs dynamic IP address assignment. The DHCP server 400 dynamically assigns an IP address to the flying object 100 in response to an IP address acquisition request received from the flying object 100, for example. For example, when a feeder link 30 is newly established after departing from the ground and reaching the sky, the aircraft 100 transmits an IP address acquisition request to the DHCP server 400 to acquire the IP address.

In a conventional aircraft equipped with a wireless base station, the IP address was set in advance on the ground. In such an operation, let's assume that an IP address is misconfigured due to a work error. After moving to the sky, the aircraft tries to establish a link with EMS500 or MME (Mobile Management Entry), but the link cannot be established due to an incorrect IP address setting. Therefore, for example, it may be necessary to return the aircraft to the ground once in order to correct the IP address. On the other hand, in the system 10 according to the present embodiment, the flying object 100 in the sky can acquire the IP address from the DHCP server 400 on the ground, and the possibility of erroneous setting can be reduced, and tentatively erroneously set. Even if the above occurs, the IP address can be reset in the sky.

EMS500 is a system for managing network devices. The EMS 500 is located, for example, in a network operations center. In this embodiment, the EMS 500 manages the flying object 100. The EMS 500 stores, for example, the configuration information of the wireless communication system 150 included in the flight object 100 to be managed. The configuration information is, for example, the IP address of the wireless communication system 150, the software version, the wireless parameters, the device configuration information, and the like. The radio parameters include, for example, the radio wave output intensity of the antenna 112 of the flying object 100, the radio wave output intensity of the antenna 114, and the like.

The EMS 500 may be able to determine the optimum radio parameters for the radio communication system 150 of the flying object 100 in flight by using AI (Artificial Intelligence) technology. The EMS 500 stores, for example, an estimation model that estimates the attenuation of the beam 115 output by the antenna 114 from the position and altitude of the aircraft 100 and the weather between the aircraft 100 and the gateway 300. The EMS 500 derives the attenuation by inputting it into the estimation model when the position and altitude of the flying object 100 in flight and the weather between the flying object 100 and the gateway 300 are acquired. Then, the EMS 500 derives the radio wave output intensity of the antenna 114 necessary for establishing the feeder link 30 between the antenna 114 and the gateway 300 from the derived attenuation amount.

The estimation model is generated by, for example, EMS500. The EMS 500 includes, for example, the radio wave reception intensity and measurement position of the beam 115 output from the antenna 114 of the flying object 100 in the sky, and the position and altitude of the flying object 100, which are measured on the ground by a worker using a measuring instrument. , The measurement data including the weather between the flying object 100 and the measuring instrument and the radio wave output intensity of the antenna 114 is acquired. The EMS 500 may acquire measurement data of measurements made on a plurality of flying objects 100 by a plurality of workers. Then, the EMS 500 uses a plurality of acquired measurement data to generate an estimation model that estimates the attenuation of the beam 115 output by the antenna 114 of the flying object 100 from the position and altitude of the flying object 100 and the weather. Generated by learning.

The wireless communication system 150 may establish an OM (Operation and Communication) channel with the EMS 500 by using the IP address acquired from the DHCP server 400. The wireless communication system 150 and the EMS 500 may carry out various exchanges via the OM channel. For example, the software version of the wireless communication system 150 is compared with the current software version stored in the EMS 500, and if they do not match, the EMS 500 transmits the current software to the wireless communication system 150. Further, for example, the wireless parameters of the wireless communication system 150 are compared with the wireless parameters determined by the EMS 500, and when they do not match, the wireless parameters determined by the EMS 500 are set in the wireless communication system 150.

In a conventional aircraft equipped with a wireless base station, the configuration work of the configuration information was performed on the ground in advance. When managing an aircraft at multiple bases, configuration work was performed at each of the multiple bases. For this reason, management schemes and costs for managing configuration information at each site have been incurred, and system maintenance and personnel costs for implementing pre-configuration at each site have been incurred. On the other hand, in the system 10 according to the present embodiment, since the configuration work can be executed by accessing the EMS 500 from the flying object 100 in flight, these loads can be significantly reduced.

In the wireless communication system 150 mounted on the air vehicle 100, unlike the conventional radio base station on the ground, the gateway 300 is frequently changed (change of IP address, change of routing information) due to body turning, change of flight area, or the like. Therefore, it is necessary to update the IP address and routing information of the wireless communication system 150 as appropriate. According to the system 10 according to the present embodiment, the wireless communication system 150 can dynamically acquire an IP address from the DHCP server 400, and can dynamically execute the configuration work by accessing the EMS 500. , Such a request can be met.

FIG. 2 schematically shows an example of the functional configuration of the wireless communication system 150. The wireless communication system 150 includes a management unit 160, a feeder link unit 170, a radio base station unit 180, and an aircraft communication unit 190. It is not essential that the wireless communication system 150 includes all of these configurations.

The management unit 160, the feeder link unit 170, the radio base station unit 180, and the aircraft communication unit 190 may be different devices. At least two or more of the management unit 160, the feeder link unit 170, the radio base station unit 180, and the aircraft communication unit 190 may be mounted on one device. The management unit 160, the feeder link unit 170, the radio base station unit 180, and the aircraft communication unit 190 may all be mounted in one device.

The management unit 160 manages the feeder link unit 170, the radio base station unit 180, and the aircraft communication unit 190. The management unit 160 has a storage unit 162. The storage unit 162 stores various information. The storage unit 162 stores, for example, information about the flying object 100. The storage unit 162 stores, for example, position information, altitude information, scheduled flight route information, and the like of the flight object 100. The storage unit 162 may receive and store this information from the flight control device.

The feeder link unit 170 manages the feeder link 30. The feeder link unit 170 includes a feeder link establishment unit 172, a gimbal control unit 174, a reception intensity monitoring unit 176, and a heartbeat execution unit 178. It is not essential that the feeder link unit 170 has all of these configurations.

The feeder link establishment unit 172 establishes the feeder link 30 with the gateway 300 on the ground by irradiating the beam toward the ground using the antenna 114. The feeder link establishment unit 172 establishes the feeder link 30 with the gateway 300 in response to receiving, for example, the establishment instruction of the feeder link 30 from the management unit 160.

When the feeder link 30 is established with the gateway 300, the feeder link establishment unit 172 may transmit the gateway identification information that identifies the gateway 300 to at least one of the management unit 160 and the radio base station unit 180. The gateway identification information may be any information as long as the gateway 300 can be identified. For example, the gateway identification information includes a code for identifying a business operator that manages the gateway 300 and a code for identifying an area in which the gateway 300 is arranged. The management unit 160 may store the received gateway identification information in the storage unit 162. The storage unit 162 may be an example of the identification information storage unit.

The feeder link establishment unit 172 can switch the gateway 300 that is the target for establishing the feeder link 30. For example, when the feeder link 30 is established with the first gateway 300, the feeder link establishment unit 172 sets the gateway 300, which is the target for establishing the feeder link 30, of the beam 115, depending on the situation. Switch to another gateway 300 located within range.

The gimbal control unit 174 controls a gimbal that can change the direction of the antenna 114. The gimbal control unit 174 may control the gimbal according to the instruction from the feeder link establishment unit 172. For example, when the feeder link establishment unit 172 establishes the feeder link 30 with the first gateway 300, the gimbal control unit 174 causes the gimbal control unit 174 to change the direction of the antenna 114 according to the situation, and the feeder link is established. The gateway 300, which is the target for establishing 30, is switched to another gateway 300, which was located outside the range of the beam 115 before the change.

The reception strength monitoring unit 176 monitors the radio wave reception strength from the gateway 300 in which the feeder link 30 is established by the feeder link establishment unit 172. The feeder link establishment unit 172 determines that the feeder link 30 needs to be switched, for example, when the radio wave reception intensity from the first gateway 300 monitored by the reception intensity monitoring unit 176 is lower than a predetermined threshold value. Therefore, the feeder link 30 is established with the second gateway 300 different from the first gateway 300.

When the feeder link establishment unit 172 determines that the feeder link 30 needs to be switched, the feeder link establishment unit 172 selects the second gateway 300 from the plurality of gateways 300 located within the range of the beam 115, and selects the second gateway 300. A feeder link 30 may be established with. For example, the feeder link establishment unit 172 selects the second gateway 300 based on the flight schedule route information of the aircraft 100 stored in the storage unit 162. As a specific example, the feeder link establishment unit 172 selects the gateway 300 located on the scheduled flight direction side of the flying object 100 as the second gateway 300 among the plurality of gateways 300 located within the range of the beam 115. As a result, the target for establishing the feeder link 30 can be the gateway 300 located within the range of the beam 115 for a longer period of time.

Further, the feeder link establishment unit 172 sets the target for establishing the feeder link as the secondary cell, for example, when the radio wave reception intensity from the first gateway 300 set as the primary cell is lower than a predetermined threshold value. Switch to the set second gateway 300. The settings of the primary cell and the secondary cell are, for example, targeting a plurality of gateways 300 located within the range of the beam 115, the radio wave reception intensity, the traffic status of the gateway 300, the load status of the gateway 300, and the aircraft 100 and the gateway 300. It is performed based on the positional relationship with and.

When the feeder link establishment unit 172 determines that the feeder link 30 needs to be switched, the feeder link establishment unit 172 selects the second gateway 300 from the plurality of gateways 300 located outside the range of the beam 115, and selects the second gateway 300 from the second user terminal. The feeder link 30 may be established with the 200. For example, the feeder link establishment unit 172 gimbal controls so that the direction of the antenna 114 is directed to the direction of the second gateway 300 when the radio wave reception intensity from the first gateway 300 is lower than a predetermined threshold value. The unit 174 is controlled.

The feeder link establishment unit 172 selects the second gateway 300 from the plurality of gateways 300 by referring to the gateway position information in which the positions of the plurality of gateways 300 are registered, for example. The gateway position information may be stored in the storage unit 162. The feeder link establishment unit 172 may select the second gateway 300 based on the scheduled flight route information of the aircraft 100 stored in the storage unit 162. As a specific example, the feeder link establishment unit 172 selects the gateway 300 located on the planned flight direction side of the aircraft 100 as the second gateway 300 among the plurality of gateways 300. Then, the feeder link establishment unit 172 may specify the direction of the second gateway 300 by using the position information of the selected second gateway 300.

The feeder link establishment unit 172 determines that the feeder link 30 needs to be switched when the period in which the radio wave reception intensity from the first gateway 300 is lower than the preset threshold value is longer than the preset switching determination time window. You may. The switching determination time window may be arbitrarily set and may be changeable. For example, as the switching determination time window, a value can be set so that the ping-pong phenomenon does not occur due to the switching of the gateway 300.

The heartbeat execution unit 178 executes signal transmission / reception via the feeder link 30 in order to confirm the existence of the feeder link 30 established with the gateway 300 on the ground. The feeder link establishment unit 172 is, for example, a case where the heartbeat execution unit 178 fails to transmit and receive a signal a predetermined number of times, and the radio wave reception strength from the gateway 300 on the ground where the feeder link 30 is established. Is lower than a predetermined threshold value, a feeder link is established with a terrestrial gateway different from the gateway 300.

The feeder link establishment unit 172 establishes a feeder link with a gateway on the ground different from the gateway 300 when a failure of transmission / reception of a signal by the heartbeat execution unit 178 occurs a predetermined number of heartbeat interruptions. You may do so. The number of heartbeat breaks may be arbitrarily set and may be changeable. For example, the number of heartbeat breaks may be set to a value such that the ping-pong phenomenon does not occur due to the switching of the gateway 300.

For example, the radio base station unit 180 is not activated in the initial state, and is activated in response to receiving an activation instruction from the management unit 160. For example, the management unit 160 transmits an activation instruction to the radio base station unit 180 in response to the arrival of the aircraft 100 in the sky and the establishment of the feeder link 30 by the feeder link unit 170, and the radio base station unit Start 180. The radio base station unit 180 may not be activated in response to receiving an activation instruction from the management unit 160, but may be activated, for example, according to an operation by a worker on the ground.

The radio base station unit 180 has an acquisition request transmission unit 182, an information acquisition unit 184, an IP address setting unit 186, and an information management unit 188.

The acquisition request transmission unit 182 transmits an IP address acquisition request to the DHCP server 400. The acquisition request transmission unit 182 transmits, for example, an IP address acquisition request to the DHCP server 400 in response to the establishment of the feeder link 30 by the feeder link establishment unit 172. The acquisition request transmission unit 182 transmits, for example, an IP address acquisition request to the DHCP server 400 via the feeder link 30.

The acquisition request transmission unit 182 transmits an IP address acquisition request to the DHCP server 400 in response to receiving an IP address acquisition instruction from the management unit 160, for example. The management unit 160 transmits, for example, an IP address acquisition instruction to the radio base station unit 180 in response to the fact that the feeder link 30 has been established by the feeder link establishment unit 172. When the radio base station unit 180 is not activated, the management unit 160 may transmit an activation instruction and an IP address acquisition instruction to the radio base station unit 180.

When the feeder link 30 is established by the feeder link establishment unit 172, the management unit 160 does not send an IP address acquisition instruction when the target is the same gateway 300 as the previous time, and the target is different from the previous time. If it is the gateway 300, the IP address acquisition instruction may be transmitted. For example, when the feeder link 30 is established with the gateway 300 by the feeder link establishment unit 172, the management unit 160 has the gateway identification information of the gateway 300 and the previous feeder link stored in the storage unit 162. If the gateway identification information of the gateway 300 that has established 30 matches, the IP address acquisition instruction may not be transmitted, and if they do not match, the IP address acquisition instruction may be transmitted to the DHCP server 400. As a result, it is possible to prevent an IP address acquisition instruction from being unnecessarily transmitted when the feeder link 30 is reestablished with the same gateway 300 and the IP address does not need to be changed. ..

When the feeder link 30 is established by the feeder link establishment unit 172, the acquisition request transmission unit 182 does not transmit the IP address acquisition request when the target is the same gateway 300 as the previous time, and the target is the previous time. If the gateway 300 is different from the above, the IP address acquisition request may be transmitted. The acquisition request transmission unit 182, for example, transmits an IP address acquisition request to the DHCP server 400 in response to the establishment of the feeder link 30 with the first gateway 300, and then the first gateway 300. When the feeder link 30 is established with and, the acquisition request is not transmitted, and when the feeder link 30 is established with the second gateway 300 different from the first gateway 300, the DHCP server 400 The acquisition request is sent to it. As a result, when the feeder link 30 is reestablished with the same gateway 300 and it is not necessary to change the IP address, an IP address acquisition request is unnecessarily transmitted to the DHCP server 400. It can be prevented from being lost.

When the feeder link 30 is established with the gateway 300 by the feeder link establishment unit 172, the acquisition request transmission unit 182 includes the gateway identification information of the gateway 300 and the previous feeder link stored in the storage unit 162. If the gateway identification information of the gateway 300 that has established 30 matches, the IP address acquisition request may not be transmitted, and if they do not match, the IP address acquisition request may be transmitted to the DHCP server 400.

The information acquisition unit 184 acquires the IP address transmitted by the DHCP server 400 in response to the acquisition request of the IP address transmitted by the acquisition request transmission unit 182. The information acquisition unit 184 transmits the acquired IP address to the IP address setting unit 186. The IP address setting unit 186 sets the IP address received from the information acquisition unit 184 to the radio base station unit 180. After the IP address setting is completed, the wireless base station unit 180 establishes a service link 20 with the user terminal 200 in the wireless communication area 120 by using the antenna 112, and provides the wireless communication service to the user terminal 200. May be provided.

The information management unit 188 manages information related to the wireless communication system 150. The information management unit 188 may establish an OM channel with the EMS 500 and exchange various information with the EMS 500. The information management unit 188 transmits an OM channel establishment request to the EMS 500 in response to the IP address being set in the radio base station unit 180 by the IP address setting unit 186, and receives an acknowledgment from the EMS 500, for example. Establish an OM channel with the EMS500.

The information management unit 188 may establish an OM channel with the EMS 500 and update the information regarding the wireless communication system 150. Whether or not the information regarding the wireless communication system 150 needs to be updated is determined by comparing the information managed by the EMS 500 with the information managed by the information management unit 188. The comparison may be made by the information management unit 188 or by the EMS500.

As a result of the comparison, if the information managed by the information management unit 188 matches the latest information managed by the EMS 500, it is determined that the update is not necessary, and if it does not match, it is determined that the update is necessary. Will be done. When it is determined that the information needs to be updated, the information management unit 188 acquires the latest information from the EMS 500 by using, for example, a file transfer protocol (File Transfer Protocol; FTP).

The aircraft communication unit 190 executes wireless communication with another wireless communication system 150 mounted on the other aircraft 100. The aircraft communication unit 190 executes wireless communication with the other wireless communication system 150, for example, via an antenna for directly executing wireless communication with the other wireless communication system 150. The direction of the antenna may be changed by a gimbal, and by adjusting the direction as appropriate, wireless communication between the aircraft communication unit 190 and another wireless communication system 150 can be executed.

The feeder link establishment unit 172 establishes a feeder link with the gateway 300 using the antenna 114, and then uses the antenna 114 to other than the gateway 300, for example, because there is no other gateway 300 within the range of the beam 115. When the feeder link with the gateway cannot be established, the target of the feeder link is switched from the gateway 300 to the terrestrial gateway to which the other wireless communication system 150 has established the feeder link. In this case, the air vehicle 100 may communicate with the network 50 via another wireless communication system 150. The acquisition request transmission unit 182 requests the DHCP server 400 to acquire an IP address in response to the fact that the target of the feeder link is switched to the gateway on the ground where the other wireless communication system 150 has established the feeder link. You may send it.

FIG. 3 schematically shows an example of the processing flow by the system 10. Here, a state in which the feeder link establishment unit 172 of the flying object 100 in the sky establishes the feeder link 30 with the gateway 300 on the ground will be described as a start state.

In step 102 (the step may be abbreviated as S) 102, the management unit 160 has the gateway identification information of the gateway 300 that established the feeder link 30, and the previous feeder link stored in the storage unit 162. Compare with the gateway identification information of the gateway 300 that has established 30. Here, the explanation will be continued assuming that they do not match. If they match, it is not necessary to change the IP address, so it is not necessary to acquire the IP address.

In S104, the management unit 160 transmits an activation instruction and an IP address acquisition instruction to the radio base station unit 180. The radio base station unit 180 is activated according to the activation instruction. In S106, the radio base station unit 180 transmits an IP address acquisition request to the DHCP server 400 according to the acquisition instruction received in S104.

In S108, the DHCP server 400 dynamically assigns an IP address to the radio base station unit 180 of the aircraft 100 in response to the IP address acquisition request received in S106, and transmits the IP address to the radio base station unit 180. The information acquisition unit 184 transmits the received IP address to the IP address setting unit 186 and stores it in the storage unit 162. The IP address setting unit 186 sets the received IP address in the radio base station unit 180.

In S110, the information management unit 188 transmits an OM channel establishment request to the EMS 500. In S112, the EMS 500 determines whether or not the OM channel can be established with the wireless communication system 150 based on the OM channel establishment request received in S110. If the OM channel can be established, the EMS 500 sends an acknowledgment to the radio base station 180. As a result, an OM channel is established between the wireless communication system 150 and the EMS 500. In S114, the information management unit 188 compares the managed information with the EMS500, and updates the information as necessary.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the feeder link switching process by the flying object 100. Here, a process will be described when the aircraft 100 that has established the feeder link 31 with the gateway 310 moves and establishes the feeder link 32 with the gateway 320.

In the example shown in FIG. 4, when the flying object 100 moves, the gateway 310 is removed from the range of the beam 115, and the feeder link 31 is disconnected. The feeder link establishment unit 172 establishes the feeder link 32 with the gateway 320 located within the range of the beam 115 after the feeder link 31 is disconnected.

The acquisition request transmission unit 182 identifies the gateway identification information of the gateway 320, which is the target of the feeder link 32, and the gateway identification of the gateway 310, which is the target of establishing the feeder link 31, in response to the establishment of the feeder link 32. Compare information. In this example, since the gateway identification information does not match, the acquisition request transmission unit 182 transmits an IP address acquisition request to the DHCP server 400. The information acquisition unit 184 acquires the IP address transmitted by the DHCP server 400 in response to the acquisition request, and the IP address setting unit 186 sets the IP address.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the feeder link switching process by the flying object 100. Here, in response to the occurrence of a rain cloud 70 between the aircraft 100 and the gateway 330 in a situation where the aircraft 100 has established a feeder link 33 with the gateway 330 set as the primary cell. The process for switching the target for establishing the feeder link from the gateway 330 to the gateway 340 set as the secondary cell will be described.

For the generation of the feeder link, millimeter waves such as the 45 GHz band can be used as a frequency that can be used globally, but millimeter waves are easily affected by rain and rain clouds and have a large rainfall attenuation. There is. Therefore, due to the generation of the rain cloud 70, the radio wave reception intensity from the gateway 330 monitored by the reception intensity monitoring unit 176 decreases. The feeder link establishment unit 172 determines that the feeder link 33 needs to be switched according to the period when the radio wave reception intensity is lower than the preset threshold value becomes longer than the preset switching determination time window. Then, the feeder link establishment unit 172 disconnects the feeder link 33 and establishes the feeder link 34 with the gateway 340.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the feeder link switching process by the flying object 100. Here, in a situation where the aircraft 100 establishes a feeder link 35 with the gateway 350, the feeder link is established in response to the occurrence of a rain cloud 70 between the aircraft 100 and the gateway 330. The process when the target is switched from the gateway 350 to the gateway 360 which is not located within the range of the beam 115 will be described.

Due to the occurrence of the rain cloud 70, the radio wave reception intensity from the gateway 350 monitored by the reception intensity monitoring unit 176 decreases. The feeder link establishment unit 172 determines that the feeder link 35 needs to be switched according to the period when the radio wave reception intensity is lower than the preset threshold value becomes longer than the preset switching determination time window.

In the example shown in FIG. 6, there is no gateway other than the gateway 350 within the range of the beam 115. Therefore, the feeder link establishment unit 172 identifies the position of the gateway 360 by referring to the gateway position information stored in the storage unit 162. Then, the feeder link establishment unit 172 causes the gimbal control unit 174 to change the direction of the antenna 114 so that the gateway 360 is included in the range of the beam 115, and establishes the feeder link 36 with the gateway 360.

FIG. 7 schematically shows an example of the processing flow by the wireless communication system 150. Here, a state in which the flying object 100 in the sky establishes a feeder link 30 with the first gateway 300 on the ground by using the beam 115 will be described as a start state.

In S202, the feeder link establishment unit 172 determines whether or not the radio wave reception intensity from the gateway 300 monitored by the reception intensity monitoring unit 176 is lower than a predetermined threshold value. If it is determined to be low, the process proceeds to S204.

In S204, the feeder link establishment unit 172 determines whether or not there is another gateway 300 capable of establishing the feeder link within the range of the beam 115. The feeder link establishment unit 172 determines that the other gateway 300 exists within the range of the beam 115, and the party determines that the other gateway 300 exists when the radio wave reception intensity from the other gateway 300 is higher than a predetermined threshold value.

The feeder link establishment unit 172 determines, for example, that if there is no other gateway 300 within the range of the beam 115, there is no other gateway 300 capable of establishing a feeder link. Further, the feeder link establishment unit 172 sets the feeder link when, for example, another gateway 300 exists within the range of the beam 115, but the radio wave reception intensity from the other gateway 300 is lower than a predetermined threshold value. It is determined that there is no other establishable gateway 300. If it is determined that it exists, the process proceeds to S206, and if it is determined that it does not exist, the process proceeds to S208.

In S206, the feeder link establishment unit 172 switches the target for establishing the feeder link to another gateway 300. In S208, the feeder link establishment unit 172 sets the target for establishing the feeder link through wireless communication with the other wireless communication system 150 of the other aircraft body 100 by the aircraft communication unit 190. 150 switches to another gateway 300 for which a feeder link has been established. As a result, for example, even when entering the sky above the sea or desert where it is difficult to install a gateway in the middle of a flight, wireless communication to the user terminal 200 can be performed by communicating with the network 50 via another aircraft 100. Communication services can be continued.

FIG. 8 schematically shows an example of a hardware configuration of a computer 1200 that functions as a wireless communication system 150. A program installed on the computer 1200 causes the computer 1200 to function as one or more "parts" of the device according to the present embodiment, or causes the computer 1200 to perform an operation associated with the device according to the present embodiment or the one or more. A plurality of "parts" can be executed and / or a computer 1200 can be made to execute a process according to the present embodiment or a stage of the process. Such a program may be executed by the CPU 1212 to cause the computer 1200 to perform a specific operation 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 connected to each other 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 an IC card drive, which are connected to the host controller 1210 via an 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 the programs 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 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 an 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 according to 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 on 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 the transmission data stored in the transmission buffer area provided in the recording medium such as the RAM 1214, the storage device 1224, or the IC card, and sends the read transmission data to the network. The received data transmitted or received from the network is written in the reception buffer area or the like provided on the recording medium.

Further, the CPU 1212 allows 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 or an IC card, and performs various types of processing on the data on the RAM 1214. May be executed. 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, and is specified by the instruction sequence of the program. 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, a 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 first attribute satisfying the predetermined condition is selected. 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. In addition, 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. provide.

The blocks in the flowchart and the block diagram in this embodiment may represent the stage of the process in which the operation is executed or the "part" of the device having a role of executing the operation. Specific stages and "parts" are supplied with dedicated circuits, programmable circuits supplied with computer-readable instructions stored on computer-readable storage media, and / or computer-readable instructions stored on computer-readable storage media. 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 ORs, negative logical products, 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 is in a flow chart or block diagram. It will include a product that contains instructions that can be executed to create means for performing the specified operation. Examples of computer-readable storage media may include electronic storage media, magnetic storage media, optical storage media, electromagnetic storage media, semiconductor storage media, 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 card 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 the computer readable instructions. It may be provided in the processor of the device or in 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 claims that the form with such modifications or improvements may also be included in the technical scope of the invention.

The order of execution of each process such as operation, procedure, step, and step in the device, system, program, and method shown in the claims, description, 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 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. is not.

10 systems, 20 service links, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36 feeder links, 50 networks, 70 rain clouds, 100 flying objects, 101 main wings, 102 main body, 104 propellers, 106 skids, 108 wheels, 110 solar cell panel, 112 antenna, 113 beam, 114 antenna, 115 beam, 120 wireless communication area, 150 wireless communication system, 160 management unit, 162 storage unit, 170 feeder link unit, 172 feeder link establishment unit, 174 gimbal control unit 176 Reception strength monitoring unit, 178 Heartbeat execution unit, 180 Radio base station unit, 182 Acquisition request transmission unit, 184 Information acquisition unit, 186 IP address setting unit, 188 Information management unit, 190 Air vehicle communication unit, 200 User terminal, 300, 310, 320, 330, 340, 350, 360 gateway, 400 DHCP server, 1200 computer, 1210 host controller, 1212 CPU, 1214 RAM, 1216 graphic controller, 1218 display device, 1220 I / O controller, 1222 communication interface, 1224 Storage device, 1230 ROM, 1240 input / output chip

Claims

A wireless communication system mounted on an air vehicle that forms a wireless communication area by irradiating a beam toward the ground to provide wireless communication services to user terminals in the wireless communication area.
A feeder link establishment unit that establishes a feeder link with a gateway on the ground,
An acquisition request transmission unit that transmits an IP address acquisition request to a DHCP server on the ground in response to the establishment of the feeder link.
A wireless communication system including an IP address setting unit that acquires an IP address transmitted by the DHCP server in response to the acquisition request and sets it in the wireless communication system.
A radio base station unit that forms the wireless communication area on the ground by irradiating a beam toward the ground, and has the acquisition request transmission unit and the IP address setting unit.
It is equipped with the feeder link establishment unit and the management unit that manages the radio base station unit.
The management unit transmits an activation instruction and an IP address acquisition instruction to the radio base station unit in response to the establishment of the feeder link by the feeder link establishment unit.
The acquisition request transmission unit transmits the acquisition request to the DHCP server in response to the reception of the acquisition instruction by the radio base station unit.
The wireless communication system according to claim 1, wherein the IP address setting unit acquires an IP address transmitted by the DHCP server in response to the acquisition request and sets it in the wireless base station unit.
The acquisition request transmission unit transmits the acquisition request to the DHCP server in response to the establishment of the feeder link with the first gateway on the ground by the feeder link establishment unit, and then the feeder link. When the feeder link is established with the first gateway by the establishment unit, the acquisition request is not transmitted and the feeder link is established with the second gateway on the ground different from the first gateway. The wireless communication system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the acquisition request is transmitted to the DHCP server when the configuration is performed.
The feeder link establishment unit includes an identification information storage unit that stores identification information that identifies the gateway that has established the feeder link.
When a feeder link is established with a gateway on the ground by the feeder link establishment unit, the acquisition request transmission unit matches the identification information of the gateway with the identification information stored in the identification information storage unit. The wireless communication system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the acquisition request is not transmitted, and if they do not match, the acquisition request is transmitted to the DHCP server.
A reception strength monitoring unit for monitoring the radio wave reception strength from the first gateway on the ground where the feeder link is established by the feeder link establishment unit is provided.
When the radio wave reception intensity is lower than a predetermined threshold value, the feeder link establishment unit establishes a feeder link with a second gateway on the ground different from the first gateway.
Any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the acquisition request transmission unit transmits an IP address acquisition request to the DHCP server in response to the establishment of the feeder link with the second gateway. The wireless communication system according to the first paragraph.
The first gateway is set as the primary cell and the second gateway is set as the secondary cell.
5. The feeder link establishment unit switches the target for establishing the feeder link from the first gateway to the second gateway when the radio wave reception intensity is lower than the predetermined threshold value. The wireless communication system described.
The feeder link establishment unit includes a gimbal control unit that controls a gimbal that can change the direction of the antenna used to establish the feeder link.
According to claim 5, the feeder link establishment unit causes the gimbal control unit to control the direction of the antenna toward the second gateway when the radio wave reception intensity is lower than a predetermined threshold value. The wireless communication system described.
A heartbeat execution unit that executes transmission / reception of a signal via the feeder link is provided in order to confirm the existence of the feeder link established with the first gateway.
The feeder link establishment unit is the first when the failure of transmission / reception of a signal by the heartbeat execution unit occurs a predetermined number of times and the radio wave reception intensity is lower than the predetermined threshold value. The wireless communication system according to any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein a feeder link is established with a second gateway on the ground different from the gateway of 1.
Equipped with an aircraft communication unit that executes wireless communication with other wireless communication systems mounted on other aircraft.
The feeder link establishment unit establishes a feeder link with a first gateway on the ground using an antenna, and then when the antenna cannot establish a feeder link with a gateway other than the first gateway, the feeder link establishment unit of the feeder link. The target is switched from the first gateway to a third gateway on the ground where the other wireless communication system has established a feeder link.
Any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the acquisition request transmission unit transmits an IP address acquisition request to the DHCP server in response to the switching of the feeder link target to the third gateway. The wireless communication system according to the section.
A program for making a computer function as a wireless communication system according to any one of claims 1 to 9.
The wireless communication system according to any one of claims 1 to 9.
A system including the flying object.
A communication method that is mounted on an air vehicle, forms a wireless communication area by irradiating a beam toward the ground, and is executed by a computer that provides a wireless communication service to a user terminal in the wireless communication area.
The feeder link establishment stage to establish a feeder link with the gateway on the ground, and
An acquisition request transmission stage in which an IP address acquisition request is transmitted to a DHCP server on the ground in response to the establishment of the feeder link, and
A communication method comprising an IP address setting step of acquiring an IP address transmitted by the DHCP server in response to the acquisition request and setting the IP address in the computer.