Radio communication system, communication management device, communication management method, and computer program

The present invention relates to a wireless communication system, a communication management device, a communication management method, and a computer program.

In recent years, it has been studied to carry out observations and surveys in the air using unmanned aircraft. As an unmanned air vehicle, for example, the air vehicle described in Non-Patent Document 1 is known.

<p num="0003"><nplcit num="1"><text>Parrot, "Parrot BEBOP DRONE", [Searched March 24, 2016], Internet &lt;URL: http://www.parrot.com/jp/products/bebop-drone/&gt;</text></nplcit></p>

<p num="0004"> By mounting a wireless LAN access point, which is a base station (access point (AP)) of a wireless LAN (Local Area Network), on the above-mentioned flying object, communication can be relayed in the air. Then, it is conceivable to construct a wide range of wireless LAN service areas by using a plurality of flying objects equipped with wireless LAN access points. However, it has not been easy to control the flight of a plurality of flying objects equipped with a wireless LAN access point to construct a desired wireless LAN service area.</p><p num="0005"> The present invention has been made in consideration of such circumstances, and is a wireless communication system, a communication management device, and a communication management method capable of constructing a desired service area by a plurality of flying objects equipped with access points. , And to provide a computer program.</p>

<p num="0006">(1) One aspect of the present invention includes a plurality of flying objects and a communication management device, and the flying object provides wireless communication between a first communication unit that communicates via a backbone line and a terminal device. An access point relayed via a backbone line, a positioning unit that measures the position of the flying object, a positioning value as a result of the measurement by the positioning unit, and flight area information received by the first communication unit from the communication management device. A flight control unit that controls the flight of the air vehicle based on the above, and the communication management device includes a second communication unit that communicates with the air vehicle via the backbone line, and each of the air vehicles. A flight representing an area to which the flying object flies to each of the flying objects based on the scheduled arrangement information storage unit that stores the planned arrangement information indicating the planned arrangement of the communicable area of the access point and the planned arrangement information. It is a wireless communication system including a remote control unit for transmitting area information. (2) One aspect of the present invention is that in the wireless communication system of the above (1), the access point has a positioning value as a result of measurement by the positioning unit and a flight received by the first communication unit from the communication management device. A wireless communication system that determines whether or not the flying object has entered the area represented by the flight area information based on the area information, and activates a wireless communication relay function when it is determined that the flying object has entered the area. Is. (3) One aspect of the present invention is that in the wireless communication system according to either (1) or (2), the scheduled arrangement information includes the scheduled flight time of the flying object and the planned arrangement of the communicable area. It is a wireless communication system having a set of information. (4) One aspect of the present invention is that in the wireless communication system according to any one of (1) to (3) above, the flying object moves to the flight control unit according to the communication status of its own access point. It is a wireless communication system further equipped with an autonomous control unit that instructs a change in altitude. (5) In one aspect of the present invention, in any of the wireless communication systems (1) to (4) above, the first communication unit indicates a communication status indicating the communication status of the access point of the flying object itself. The communication capable of transmitting information to the communication management device, and the communication management device changes from the planned arrangement of the communicable area based on the communication status information received from the flying object by the second communication unit. The remote control unit further includes a rearrangement change unit that determines the arrangement of the area change, and the remote control unit informs each of the aircrafts the flight area information based on the arrangement of the communicable area change determined by the arrangement change unit. It is a wireless communication system that sends information on changes in.</p><p num="0007">(6) One aspect of the present invention is a plurality of flying objects including an access point that relays wireless communication of a terminal device via a backbone line, a communication unit that communicates via the backbone line, and each of the flying objects. Represents the planned placement information storage unit that stores the planned placement information that represents the planned placement of the communicable area of the access point, and the area in which the flying object flies to each of the flying bodies based on the planned placement information. It is a communication management device including a remote control unit that sends flight area information.</p><p num="0008">(7) One aspect of the present invention is a communication step in which a communication management device communicates wireless communication of a terminal device with a plurality of aircraft including an access point that relays the wireless communication of the terminal device via the backbone line. A scheduled placement information storage step in which the communication management device stores scheduled placement information representing a planned placement of a communicable area of the access point of each of the flying objects, and the communication management device is said to be said of each of the flying objects. A communication management method that includes a remote control step that sends flight area information representing the area in which the flying object flies to each of the flying objects based on the planned placement information representing the planned placement of the access point's communicable area. is there.</p><p num="0009">(8) One aspect of the present invention is a communication function for communicating with a computer via a plurality of aircraft having an access point that relays wireless communication of a terminal device via the backbone line. The aircraft flies to each of the aircraft based on the schedule information storage function that stores the schedule information that represents the schedule arrangement of the communication area of the access point of the aircraft and the schedule information. It is a computer program to realize a remote control function that sends flight area information indicating an area.</p>

<p num="0010"> According to the present invention, it is possible to obtain an effect that a desired service area can be constructed by a plurality of flying objects equipped with an access point.</p>

<figref num="1">It is a figure which shows the configuration example of the communication system which concerns on one Embodiment.</figref><figref num="2">It is a block diagram which shows an example of the functional structure of the flying object 1 which concerns on one Embodiment.</figref><figref num="3">It is a figure which shows an example of the appearance composition of the flying object 1 which concerns on one Embodiment.</figref><figref num="4">It is a figure of the configuration example of the communication management apparatus 100 which concerns on one Embodiment.</figref><figref num="5">It is a figure which shows the structural example of the planned arrangement information which concerns on one Embodiment.</figref><figref num="6">It is a figure which shows the structural example of the communication possible area information which concerns on one Embodiment.</figref><figref num="7">It is a flowchart which shows the example of the communication management method which concerns on one Embodiment.</figref>

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a communication system according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 1, a plurality of aircraft 1 are connected to the backbone network 200 by a wireless communication line. The backbone network 200 is a backbone network of a mobile phone network of a communication method such as LTE (Long Term Evolution). The communication management device 100 is connected to the backbone network 200 by a communication line. The aircraft 1 and the communication management device 100 communicate with each other via the line (backbone line) of the backbone network 200. The backbone network 200 is connected to the Internet 210 by a communication line.

The aircraft 1 is equipped with a wireless LAN access point, and the wireless LAN access point relays communication in the air. By connecting to the wireless LAN access point of the aircraft 1, the terminal 220 can perform communication via the wireless LAN access point. The wireless LAN access point of the aircraft 1 relays communication between the terminal 220 and the server 240 or the terminal 230 connected to the Internet 210 via the backbone network 200.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the flying object 1 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the appearance configuration of the flying object 1 according to the present embodiment. First, the mechanical configuration of the flying object 1 will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 3, the flying object 1 includes a motor 60 and a rotor RT. The motor 60 gives lift and propulsion to the vehicle 1 by rotating the rotor RT. In this example, the vehicle 1 includes motors 61-64. Motors 61-64 rotate the corresponding rotors RT1-RT4. By controlling the drive current supplied to each of the motors 60, it is possible to control the flight altitude, direction, and traveling direction of the flying object 1.

Aircraft 1 is equipped with a camera 40. The image pickup unit, that is, the camera 40, captures the scenery around the flying object 1. In this example, the imaging direction of the camera 40 and the heading HDG of the aircraft 1 match. In this case, the camera 40 captures the landscape in front of the flying object 1. The camera 40 outputs an image of the captured landscape.

Next, the functional configuration of the aircraft 1 will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 2, the flight body 1 includes a flight control unit 10, a wireless LAN access point 20, a positioning unit 30, a communication unit 50, an autonomous control unit 70, and a power supply unit 80. The functions of each of these parts 10, 20, 30, 50, 70 and 80 may be realized by dedicated hardware, or may be composed of a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and memory. , The functions may be realized by the CPU executing a program for realizing each of these functions.

The positioning unit 30 measures the position of the flying object 1 and outputs the positioning value of the measurement result. The positioning value indicates a horizontal position (latitude and longitude) and a vertical position (altitude). The positioning unit 30 includes an altimeter as a means for measuring the position in the vertical direction. For example, GPS (Global Positioning System) may be used as a means for measuring the horizontal position of the positioning unit 30, or a global navigation satellite system (Global) such as a quasi-zenith satellites (QZS). Navigation Satellite System (s): GNSS) may be used.

The communication unit 50 communicates via the backbone network 200. For example, the communication unit 50 communicates with a base station of a mobile phone network of a communication method such as LTE, communicates with a communication management device 100 via a backbone network 200 line of the mobile phone network, or connects to the Internet 210. It communicates with the connected server 240 and terminal 230. The communication unit 50 corresponds to the first communication unit.

The wireless LAN access point 20 is, for example, a wireless LAN access point of the IEEE 802.11 series communication method. The wireless LAN access point 20 communicates with the terminal 220 and relays the communication between the terminal 220 and another device. The wireless LAN access point 20 relays communication with the outside of the wireless LAN of the terminal 220 via the backbone network 200.

The flight control unit 10 controls the flight of the flying object 1 by controlling the drive current supplied to the motor 60. The flight control unit 10 controls the flight of the aircraft 1 based on the positioning value measured by the positioning unit 30 and the flight area information received from the communication management device 100 by the communication unit 50. The flight area information is information representing the area in which the flight object 1 flies. The flight control unit 10 controls the motor 60 so that the aircraft 1 flies in the area represented by the flight area information while comparing the flight area information with the positioning value output from the positioning unit 30. ..

The flight control unit 10 accepts flight control from an external device of the flight body 1 by the communication unit 50, or transmits flight monitoring data indicating the flight status to the external device of the flight body 1. May be good. Examples of flight monitoring data include images captured by the camera 40.

The autonomous control unit 70 instructs the flight control unit 10 to change the altitude according to the communication status of the wireless LAN access point 20. The flight control unit 10 controls the motor 60 so as to change the altitude of the aircraft 1 in response to the altitude change instruction received from the autonomous control unit 70.

The power supply unit 80 includes a battery that is a power source for the aircraft 1 and a power supply monitoring unit that monitors the remaining charge of the battery. The power supply unit 80 notifies the flight control unit 10 of the remaining charge of the battery. The flight control unit 10 executes a predetermined flight control process based on the remaining charge of the battery notified from the power supply unit 80.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration example of the communication management device 100 according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 4, the communication management device 100 includes a communication unit 110, a remote control unit 112, a schedule arrangement information storage unit 114, and an arrangement change unit 116. Each part 110, 112, 114 and 116 is configured so that data can be exchanged. Further, the functions of each part 110, 112, 114 and 116 may be realized by dedicated hardware, or are composed of a CPU and a memory, and the CPU provides a program for realizing each of these functions. The function may be realized by executing it.

The communication unit 110 communicates with the aircraft 1 via the backbone network 200. For example, the communication unit 110 communicates with the communication unit 50 of the aircraft 1 via the backbone network 200 of a mobile phone network of a communication method such as LTE. The communication unit 110 corresponds to the second communication unit.

The scheduled placement information storage unit 114 stores scheduled placement information representing the planned placement of the communicable area of the wireless LAN access point 20 of each aircraft 1. The remote control unit 112 sends flight area information to each aircraft 1 by the communication unit 110 based on the schedule arrangement information stored in the schedule arrangement information storage unit 114.

Based on the communication status information received from the aircraft 1 by the communication unit 110, the arrangement change unit 116 can change the schedule arrangement of the schedule arrangement information stored in the schedule arrangement information storage unit 114 from the schedule arrangement in the communicable area. Determine the placement of area changes. The communication status information received from the aircraft 1 by the communication unit 110 is information indicating the communication status of the wireless LAN access point 20 of the aircraft 1. The remote control unit 112 sends information on the change in flight area information to each aircraft 1 by the communication unit 110 based on the arrangement of the change in the communicable area determined by the arrangement change unit 116.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration example of scheduled layout information according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 5, the planned arrangement information is the association between the identification information (aircraft ID) of the aircraft 1 and the planned arrangement of the communicable area. The planned arrangement of the communicable area associated with the aircraft ID of the aircraft 1 is information representing the area where the communicable area of the wireless LAN access point 20 included in the aircraft 1 is planned to be arranged. For example, the planned communicable area information area1 associated with the aircraft ID "IDairp1" is information representing the area where the communicable area of the wireless LAN access point 20 of the aircraft 1 of the aircraft ID "IDairp1" is located. is there. The planned placement information illustrated in FIG. 5 represents the area where the communicable area of the wireless LAN access point 20 of each aircraft 1 is planned to be placed. A wide range of wireless LAN service areas can be constructed by having the communicable areas of the wireless LAN access points mounted on each of the plurality of aircraft straddle multiple areas.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a configuration example of communicable planned area information according to the present embodiment. The planned communicable area information may include a set of information on the scheduled flight time of the aircraft 1 and the planned arrangement of the communicable area of the wireless LAN access point 20 of the aircraft 1. FIG. 6 shows an example of the planned communicable area information of a certain aircraft 1. In FIG. 6, the planned communicable area information is associated with the scheduled flight time of the aircraft 1 and the partial communicable area information. The planned communicable area partial information associated with the scheduled flight time of the aircraft 1 is the flight of the wide range of wireless LAN service areas constructed by the communicable areas of each wireless LAN access point of the plurality of aircraft. This information represents the area where the communicable area of the wireless LAN access point 20 included in the aircraft 1 is scheduled to be located at the scheduled time. For example, of the planned communicable area information area1 of the aircraft ID "IDairp1", the planned communicable area partial information area1-1 associated with the scheduled flight time "12:00 to 13:00" is scheduled to fly. This information represents the area where the communicable area of the wireless LAN access point 20 of the flight body 1 of the flight body ID "IDairp1" is scheduled to be located at the time "from 12:00 to 13:00". The planned communicable area information illustrated in FIG. 6 represents the area where the communicable area of the wireless LAN access point 20 of the aircraft 1 corresponding to the flight schedule of the aircraft 1 is planned to be located. For example, as a flight schedule of the flight body 1, there is a schedule of events to be held in the flight area of the flight body 1. As a result, it is possible to set the area in which the communicable area of the wireless LAN access point 20 corresponding to the event schedule is to be arranged in the schedule arrangement information.

Next, the operation of the wireless communication system according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 7. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of the communication management method according to the present embodiment.

(Step S11) In the communication management device 100, the remote control unit 112 of each aircraft 1 is based on the schedule information stored in the schedule information storage unit 114 in association with the aircraft ID of each aircraft 1. Acquire the planned layout (latitude range and longitude range) of the communicable area of the wireless LAN access point 20.

The remote control unit 112 generates flight area information corresponding to the planned arrangement of the communicable area of the wireless LAN access point 20 for each aircraft 1. The flight area information is the area (latitude range and longitude range) in which the wireless LAN access point 20 of the aircraft 1 flies in order to realize the planned arrangement of the communicable area of the wireless LAN access point 20. And the range of altitude). The remote control unit 112 sends the flight area information to each aircraft 1 by the communication unit 110.

Each aircraft 1 receives flight area information from the communication management device 100 by the communication unit 50. In the aircraft 1, the communication unit 50 outputs the flight area information received from the communication management device 100 to the flight control unit 10. The flight control unit 10 compares the flight area information received from the communication unit 50 with the positioning value output from the positioning unit 30 so that the flight body 1 flies in the area represented by the flight area information. , Control the motor 60. As a result, each aircraft 1 flies in the area represented by its own flight area information, so that the planned arrangement of the communicable area of the wireless LAN access point 20 of each aircraft 1 is realized.

(Step S12) The rearrangement changing unit 116 determines whether or not the communicable area of the wireless LAN access point 20 has been changed for each aircraft 1. As a result of this determination, if there is a change in the communicable area of the wireless LAN access point 20 for at least one aircraft 1, the process proceeds to step S13, and the communicable area of the wireless LAN access point 20 is changed for all the aircraft 1. If none, the process proceeds to step S14.

(Step S13) The arrangement change unit 116 determines the arrangement of the change of the communicable area for the aircraft 1 determined to be changed from the planned arrangement of the communicable area of the wireless LAN access point 20 in step S12. The rearrangement change unit 116 determines the arrangement of the change of the communicable area (latitude range, longitude range, and altitude range) based on the communication status information received from the aircraft 1 by the communication unit 110.

(Step S14) The communication management device 100 determines whether or not the wireless LAN service has ended. When the wireless LAN service is terminated, the process shown in Fig. 7 is terminated. On the other hand, in the case of continuing the wireless LAN service, the process returns to step S11. In this case, in step S11, the remote control unit 112 determines the arrangement of the change of the communicable area of the wireless LAN access point 20 in step S13. Generate flight area information corresponding to the placement of changes. In step S11 of the operation of the wireless communication system described above, when the planned communicable area information has the planned communicable area partial information associated with the scheduled flight time, the remote control unit 112 flies corresponding to the current time. Acquires the planned arrangement of the communicable area of the wireless LAN access point 20 of the aircraft 1 (latitude range, longitude range, and altitude range) based on the communicable planned area partial information associated with the scheduled time. You may do so.

According to the above-described embodiment, the flight area information based on the respective scheduled arrangement information is sent to the plurality of flight bodies 1, and each flight body 1 flies to the flight area represented by the flight area information. The effect that a desired wireless LAN service area can be constructed by a plurality of flying objects equipped with a wireless LAN access point can be obtained.

[Example of how to determine the placement of changes in the communicable area] An example of a method for determining the arrangement of changes in the communicable area according to the present embodiment will be described. In this example, the arrangement of the communicable area of the wireless LAN access point 20 is changed according to the communication status of the wireless LAN access point 20 of the aircraft 1.

The communication unit 50 of the aircraft 1 transmits communication status information indicating the communication status of the wireless LAN access point 20 of the aircraft 1 to the communication management device 100. For example, the communication status information is one of the number of terminals accommodated by the wireless LAN access point 20, the throughput of the wireless LAN access point 20, the traffic amount of the wireless LAN access point 20, or a combination of any one or more of them. Is.

Whether the arrangement changing unit 116 of the communication management device 100 changes from the planned arrangement of the communicable area of the wireless LAN access point 20 of the aircraft 1 based on the communication status information received from the aircraft 1 by the communication unit 110. Judge whether or not. For example, the aircraft 1 periodically transmits communication status information to the communication management device 100. When the communication status information received from the aircraft 1 indicates that the wireless LAN access point 20 is congested, the rearrangement change unit 116 plans the communicable area of the wireless LAN access point 20 of the aircraft 1. Judge to change from the placement. Alternatively, when the communication status information received from the aircraft 1 indicates that the wireless LAN access point 20 is free, the relocation unit 116 plans the communicable area of the wireless LAN access point 20 of the aircraft 1. Judge that it will be changed from the arrangement of.

In the relocation unit 116, the communication status information received from the aircraft 1 indicates that the number of terminals accommodated by the wireless LAN access point 20 exceeds the threshold, or the throughput of the wireless LAN access point 20 is less than the threshold, or , If the traffic amount of the wireless LAN access point 20 exceeds the threshold, or if any one or more of them is indicated, it is determined that the wireless LAN access point 20 of the aircraft 1 is congested. To do. Further, the relocation unit 116 indicates that the communication status information received from the aircraft 1 indicates that the number of terminals accommodated by the wireless LAN access point 20 is less than the threshold value, or that the throughput of the wireless LAN access point 20 exceeds the threshold value. Or, when the throughput amount of the wireless LAN access point 20 is less than the threshold value, or any one or more of them is indicated, the wireless LAN access point 20 of the aircraft 1 is free. to decide.

The rearrangement change unit 116 determines the arrangement of the change of the communicable area of the wireless LAN access point 20 for the aircraft 1 determined to be changed from the planned arrangement of the communicable area of the wireless LAN access point 20. For example, the relocation unit 116 changes the arrangement of the aircraft 1 that is determined to be congested by the wireless LAN access point 20 by shifting the latitude or longitude of the communicable area of the wireless LAN access point 20 by a predetermined amount. To decide. The direction in which the latitude or longitude of the communicable area is shifted by a predetermined amount may be any direction, may be predetermined, or may be a wireless LAN among other aircraft 1 in the adjacent communicable area. The access point 20 may be in the direction of the vacant aircraft 1. By shifting the communicable area of the wireless LAN access point 20, it is possible to try to eliminate the congestion of the wireless LAN access point 20.

Alternatively, the relocation unit 116 decides to relocate the area where the altitude of the communicable area of the wireless LAN access point 20 is lowered by a predetermined amount for the aircraft 1 determined that the wireless LAN access point 20 is congested. You may. By lowering the altitude of the communicable area of the wireless LAN access point 20, the altitude of the flight area of the aircraft 1 is lowered, so that the communicable area of the wireless LAN access point 20 is narrowed. It leads to the solution.

Further, for example, the rearrangement changing unit 116 changes the area where the latitude or longitude of the communicable area of the wireless LAN access point 20 is shifted by a predetermined amount with respect to the aircraft 1 which is determined that the wireless LAN access point 20 is vacant. Decide on the placement. The direction in which the latitude or longitude of the communicable area is shifted by a predetermined amount may be any direction, may be predetermined, or may be a wireless LAN among other aircraft 1 in the adjacent communicable area. The access point 20 may be in the direction of the congested flying object 1. By shifting the communicable area of the wireless LAN access point 20, it is possible to try to eliminate the vacancy of the wireless LAN access point 20.

Alternatively, the relocation unit 116 determines the relocation of the aircraft 1 that is determined to have the wireless LAN access point 20 vacant, in which the altitude of the communicable area of the wireless LAN access point 20 is raised by a predetermined amount. You may. By increasing the altitude of the communicable area of the wireless LAN access point 20, the altitude of the flight area of the aircraft 1 increases, so that the communicable area of the wireless LAN access point 20 becomes wider, so the free space of the wireless LAN access point 20 It leads to the solution.

The wireless LAN access point 20 of the aircraft 1 determines whether it is congested or vacant, and the communication unit 50 provides communication status information indicating "congested" or "vacant" as a result of this determination. It may be transmitted to the communication management device 100.

Further, the wireless LAN access point 20 of the aircraft 1 may transmit the communication status information after the arrangement of the change of the communicable area is carried out to the communication management device 100 by the communication unit 50. The arrangement change unit 116 of the communication management device 100 is based on the communication status information after the arrangement of the change of the communicable area of the wireless LAN access point 20 of the aircraft 1 is carried out, and the wireless LAN access point of the aircraft 1 is based on the communication status information. The 20 coverage areas may be further changed. Further, the arrangement changing unit 116 of the communication management device 100 is based on the communication status information after the arrangement of the change of the communicable area of the wireless LAN access point 20 of the flying object 1 is carried out, and the wireless LAN of the flying object 1 is carried out. The communicable area of access point 20 may be returned to its original position.

According to the above-mentioned example of the method of determining the arrangement of the change of the communicable area, the communication management device 100 arranges the communicable area of the wireless LAN access point 20 according to the communication status of the wireless LAN access point 20 of the aircraft 1. By changing, it is possible to improve the adjustment capacity of the wireless LAN service area. Here, the case where the aircraft 1 periodically transmits the communication status information to the communication management device 100 has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this example. For example, when it is determined that the number of terminals accommodated or the amount of communication is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value, the flying object 1 may transmit the amount of communication or the like to the communication management device 100. By doing so, it is possible to change the communicable area at an early stage as a trigger from the aircraft 1. Further, the case where the arrangement of the communicable area of the wireless LAN access point 20 is changed according to the communication status of the wireless LAN access point 20 of the aircraft 1 has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this example. For example, the camera 40 of the flying object 1 takes an image of the surroundings and transmits it to the communication management device 100. The communication management device 100 may determine the congestion of people and change the arrangement by using the image received from the flying object 1.

[Example of trigger for activation of relay function of wireless LAN access point] An example of the trigger for activating the relay function of the wireless LAN access point 20 according to the present embodiment will be described. In this example, when the aircraft 1 enters the flight area represented by the flight area information, the relay function of the wireless LAN access point 20 is activated.

The wireless LAN access point 20 of the aircraft 1 is located in the area represented by the flight area information based on the positioning value measured by the positioning unit 30 and the flight area information received by the communication unit 50 from the communication management device 100. Determine if Aircraft 1 has entered. As a result of the determination, the wireless LAN access point 20 activates the relay function of wireless communication when it is determined that the aircraft has entered the area. As a result, the relay function of the wireless communication of the wireless LAN access point 20 can be activated in the planned communicable area, so that the power consumption of the wireless LAN access point 20 can be saved.

[Example of autopilot function of flying object] An example of the autopilot function of the aircraft 1 according to the present embodiment will be described. In this example, the altitude of the aircraft 1 is automatically changed according to the communication status of the wireless LAN access point 20.

The autonomous control unit 70 of the aircraft 1 receives a communication status notification from the wireless LAN access point 20. For example, the wireless LAN access point 20 determines whether it is congested or vacant, and notifies the autonomous control unit 70 of communication status information indicating "congested" or "vacant" as a result of this determination. For example, is the wireless LAN access point 20 congested based on one of its own terminal capacity, its own throughput, its own traffic amount, or a combination of any one or more of them? Or determine if it is free.

The autonomous control unit 70 instructs the flight control unit 10 to lower the altitude of the aircraft 1 by a predetermined amount when the communication status information notified from the wireless LAN access point 20 is "congested". The flight control unit 10 controls the motor 60 so as to lower the altitude of the flying object 1 by a predetermined amount in response to an instruction to lower the altitude received from the autonomous control unit 70 by a predetermined amount. As the altitude of the flying object 1 decreases, the communicable area of the wireless LAN access point 20 becomes narrower, which leads to the elimination of the congestion of the wireless LAN access point 20.

The autonomous control unit 70 instructs the flight control unit 10 to raise the altitude of the aircraft 1 by a predetermined amount when the communication status information notified from the wireless LAN access point 20 is "vacant". The flight control unit 10 controls the motor 60 so as to raise the altitude of the flying object 1 by a predetermined amount in response to an instruction to raise the altitude received from the autonomous control unit 70 by a predetermined amount. As the altitude of the aircraft 1 rises, the communicable area of the wireless LAN access point 20 becomes wider, which leads to the elimination of the vacancy of the wireless LAN access point 20. Further, the flying object 1 may randomly fly in the planned area to search for a position with a large amount of communication, or may move in a direction in which people are crowded in the image taken by the camera 40.

According to the above-mentioned example of the autonomous control function, the flying object 1 can autonomously change the altitude according to the communication status of the wireless LAN access point 20 to improve the adjustment ability of the wireless LAN service area.

[Example of remote control function of an aircraft] An example of the remote control function of the flying object according to the present embodiment will be described. This example is an example when the remaining charge of the battery which is the power source of the aircraft 1 is insufficient.

The power supply unit 80 of the aircraft 1 monitors the remaining charge of the battery, which is the power source of the aircraft 1, and notifies the flight control unit 10 of the remaining charge. When the remaining charge of the battery notified from the power supply unit 80 is less than a predetermined amount, the flight control unit 10 notifies the communication management device 100 of the remaining charge of the battery by the communication unit 50.

The remote control unit 112 of the communication management device 100 calculates the return time of the aircraft 1 based on the remaining charge of the battery notified from the aircraft 1. This calculation formula is set in advance. When the return time of the calculation result comes, the remote control unit 112 instructs the return to the aircraft 1 by the communication unit 110. Upon receiving a return instruction from the communication management device 100, the flight control unit 10 of the flight body 1 controls the flight of the flight body 1 so as to return to the original place where the flight started.

The remote control unit 112 replaces the communicable area that the wireless LAN access point 20 of the 1st Air Division 1 was in charge of for the other 2nd Air Division 1 that replaces the 1st Air Division 1 that ordered the return. The flight area information to be in charge is transmitted by the communication unit 110. The flight control unit 10 of the second aircraft 1 controls the flight of the second aircraft 1 so as to head toward the flight area represented by the flight area information received from the communication management device 100 by the communication unit 50. When the second aircraft 1 arrives at the flight area represented by the flight area information and the wireless LAN access point 20 activates the relay function, the wireless LAN access point 20 of the first aircraft 1 is in charge. The communicable area is realized by the wireless LAN access point 20 of the second aircraft 1.

In addition, the remote control unit 112 is a flight in which the second aircraft 1 is represented by the flight area information with respect to the other third aircraft 1 flying in the area adjacent to the flight area of the first aircraft 1. Until arriving at the area, the communication unit 110 may transmit flight area information for taking charge of a part or all of the communicable area that the wireless LAN access point 20 of the first aircraft 1 was in charge of. .. The flight control unit 10 of the third aircraft 1 controls the flight of the third aircraft 1 so as to head toward the flight area represented by the flight area information received from the communication management device 100 by the communication unit 50. Until the third flight object 1 arrives at the flight area represented by the flight area information and the wireless LAN access point 20 activates the relay function until the second flight object 1 arrives at the flight area. It is possible to supplement the communicable area that the wireless LAN access point 20 of the first aircraft 1 was in charge of.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to this embodiment, and design changes and the like within a range not deviating from the gist of the present invention are also included.

Further, a computer program for realizing the functions of the aircraft 1 or the communication management device 100 described above is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium, and the program recorded on the recording medium is read into the computer system and executed. You may do so. The "computer system" referred to here may include hardware such as an OS and peripheral devices. The "computer-readable recording medium" is a writable non-volatile memory such as a flexible disk, a magneto-optical disk, a ROM, or a flash memory, a portable medium such as a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc), or a built-in computer system. A storage device such as a hard disk.

Furthermore, a "computer-readable recording medium" is a volatile memory inside a computer system that serves as a server or client when a program is transmitted via a network such as the Internet or a communication line such as a telephone line (for example, DRAM (for example, DRAM ). It shall include those that hold the program for a certain period of time, such as Dynamic Random Access Memory)). Further, the program may be transmitted from a computer system in which this program is stored in a storage device or the like to another computer system via a transmission medium or by a transmission wave in the transmission medium. Here, the "transmission medium" for transmitting a program refers to a medium having a function of transmitting information, such as a network (communication network) such as the Internet or a communication line (communication line) such as a telephone line. Further, the above program may be for realizing a part of the above-mentioned functions. Further, a so-called difference file (difference program) may be used, which can realize the above-mentioned functions in combination with a program already recorded in the computer system.

1 ... Air vehicle, 10 ... Flight control unit, 20 ... Wireless LAN access point, 30 ... Positioning unit, 40 ... Camera, 50, 110 ... Communication unit, 60 ... Motor, 70 ... autonomous control unit, 80 ... power supply unit, 100 ... communication management device, 112 ... remote control unit, 114 ... scheduled placement information storage unit, 116 ... placement change unit, 200 ... backbone network, 210 ... internet, 220, 230 ... terminals, 240 ... servers