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    • 专利摘要:
    A highly robust communication system capable of stably creating a three-dimensional network over a wide area can be provided, in which a propagation delay is low, a simultaneous connection to a large number of terminals in a wide area and high-speed communication. speed can be performed, and a system capacity per unit area is large, in radiocommunications with terminal devices including devices for IoT, in mobile communications of the fifth generation or similar. The communication system comprises a plurality of radio relay to relay radio communication between a terrestrial base station and a terminal device. The plurality of radio relay stations include a plurality of first radio relay stations capable of communicating with each other, each first radio relay station being provided in a controlled floating object to be located in a floating airspace with a altitude less than or equal to 100 km by an autonomous control or an external control, and a second radio relay station to relay a communication between the plurality of first radio relay stations and the terrestrial base station, the second relay station (...)
    公开号:BR112019023773B1
    申请号:R112019023773-9
    申请日:2018-04-24
    公开日:2021-01-19
    发明作者:Junichi Miyakawa；Kiyoshi Kimura
    申请人:Softbank Corp.；
    IPC主号:
    专利说明:

    TECHNICAL FIELD
    [001] The present invention relates to an inter-HAPS communication and a high capacity multi-cell HAPS, which builds a three-dimensional network of the fifth generation communication. ART FUNDAMENTALS
    [002] It is conventionally known a communication standard called LTE-Advanced Pro (see Non-Patent Literature 2), which was developed from LTE (Long Term Evolution) -Advanced (see Non-Patent Literature 1) from 3GPP which is a communication standard for a mobile communication system. In this LTE-Advanced Pro, specifications for the provision of communications for devices for the IoT (Internet of Things) in recent years have been formulated. In addition, fifth generation mobile communication dealing with a simultaneous connection to a large number of terminal devices (also called "UE (user equipment)", "mobile station", "communication terminal"), such as devices for IoT, a reduction in delay time, etc., is being studied (for example, see Non-Patent Literature 3). LIST OF CITATIONS NON-PATENTATIVE LITERATURE
    [003] Non-Patent Literature 1: 3GPP TS 36.300 V10.12.0 (2014-12). Non-Patent Literature 2: 3GPP TS 36.300 V13.5.0 (2016-09). Non-Patent Literature 3: G Romano, "3GPP RAN progress on" 5G "", 3GPP, 2016. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION TECHNICAL PROBLEM
    [004] In the aforementioned mobile communications of the fifth generation or similar, there is a problem that it is desired to provide a highly robust communication system capable of stably creating a three-dimensional network over a large area, in which a propagation delay is low, a simultaneous connection with a large number of terminals in a wide-area and high-speed communication can be performed, and the capacity of the system per unit area is large, in radio communications with terminal devices including devices for the IoT. SOLUTION TO PROBLEM
    [005] A communication system in accordance with an aspect of the present invention is a communication system comprising a plurality of radio relay stations for relaying radio communication between the terrestrial base station and a terminal device. The plurality of radio relay stations includes a plurality of first radio relay stations capable of communicating with each other, and each of the first radio relay stations is provided in a first floating floating object so as to be located in a floating airspace with an altitude less than or equal to 100 km by an autonomous control or an external control, so that a three-dimensional cell is formed in a predetermined cell-forming airspace between the radio relay station and ground level or sea level.
    [006] In the previous communication system, the first floating object can be a solar plane that comprises a wing provided with a solar energy generation panel to generate an electrical energy to be supplied to the first radio relay station, and a propellant rotatable actionable provided in the wing.
    [007] In the previous communication system, the plurality of radio relay stations may include a second radio relay station to relay a communication between the plurality of radio relay stations and the terrestrial base station, which is anchored to the ground. or at sea, so as to be located in a floating airspace with an altitude less than or equal to 100 km, so that a three-dimensional cell in the airspace target of cell formation predetermined between ground level or sea level . The second floating object may be an airship comprising a battery to supply electrical power to the second radio relay station.
    [008] In the previous communication system, a communication between the second radio relay station and the terrestrial base station can be a wired communication, and a communication between the second radio relay station and the first radio relay station. it can be a communication using microwaves.
    [009] In addition, in the previous communication system, the second floating object can be anchored to be located in an upper air space above a metropolitan area, and the first floating object can be controlled to be located in an upper air space above from a suburban area, a rural area or the sea where the density of terminal devices is lower than that in the metropolitan area.
    [0010] In the previous communication system, the plurality of radio relay stations can form a radio communication network configured with a two-dimensional or three-dimensional mesh topology. In the prior communication system, when any of the plurality of radio relay stations fails, another radio relay station can support and perform radio relay.
    [0011] In the previous communication system, a communication between the plurality of first radio relay stations can be radio communication using a laser light. Here, each of the plurality of first radio relay stations can control a direction and intensity of the laser light according to a change in position relative to another neighboring first radio relay station. Each of the plurality of first radio relay stations can be controlled to switch to another first radio relay station performing communication using the laser light in accordance with a change in position relative to another first neighboring radio relay station. Each of the plurality of early radio relay stations can control to reduce an intensity of laser light over a period of time at night.
    [0012] In the previous communication system, a remote control device can be provided to control a position of the first radio relay station installed on the first floating object, a direction and angle of divergence of a beam formed by the first radio relay station. radio.
    [0013] In the previous communication system, an altitude of the target air space of cell formation can be less than or equal to 10 km. The altitude of the target cell-forming airspace can be greater than or equal to 50 m and less than or equal to 1 km.
    [0014] In the previous communication system, the first floating object provided with the first radio relay station can be located in a stratosphere with an altitude greater than or equal to 11 km and less than or equal to 50 km. ADVANTAGE EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION
    [0015] In accordance with the present invention, in the aforementioned mobile communications of the fifth generation or the like, a highly robust communication system capable of stably creating a three-dimensional network over a wide area can be provided, in which a propagation delay is low, a simultaneous connection to a large number of terminals over a wide range and high-speed communication can be performed, and the system capacity per unit area is large, in radiocommunications with terminal devices including devices for the IoT. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
    [0016] [FIG. 1] FIG.1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an example of a general configuration of a communication system that realizes a three-dimensional network according to an embodiment of the present invention.
    [0017] [FIG. 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an example of HAPS used in the communication system in the modality.
    [0018] [FIG. 3] FIG. 3 is a side view showing another example of HAPS used in the communication system in the modality.
    [0019] [FIG. 4] FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a radio network formed in an upper airspace by a plurality of HAPSs in the modality.
    [0020] [FIG. 5] FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an example of configuring HAPS radio relay stations in the modality.
    [0021] [FIG. 6] FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing another example of configuring HAPS radio relay stations in the modality.
    [0022] [FIG. 7] FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing yet another example of configuring HAPS radio relay stations in the modality.
    [0023] [FIG. 8] FIG. 8 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an example of a general configuration of a communication system that realizes a three-dimensional network according to another modality.
    [0024] [FIG. 9] FIG. 9 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an example of a general configuration of a communication system that realizes a three-dimensional network according to yet another modality.
    [0025] [FIG. 10] FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing an example configuration of a HAPS radio relay station anchored in the communication system of FIG. 9
    [0026] [FIG. 11] FIG. 11 is an explanatory view showing an example of a radio communication network in the modality, in which a plurality of HAPSs like a solar plane and an anchored HAPS for multiple large capacity cells are arranged in upper air spaces over Japan.
    [0027] [FIG. 12] FIG. 12 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an example of a general configuration of a communication system that realizes a three-dimensional network according to yet another modality. DESCRIPTION OF MODALITIES
    [0028] Hereinafter, modalities of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
    [0029] FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an example of a general configuration of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The communication system according to the present modality is suitable for the realization of a three-dimensional network of the fifth generation mobile communication corresponding to a simultaneous connection for a large number of terminal devices (also referred to as "mobile station", "mobile device" or "user equipment (UE)"), low delay method, etc. Note that the mobile communication standard applicable to a communication system, a radio relay station, a base station, a repeater, and a terminal device disclosed in this description, includes the fifth generation mobile communication standard and communication standards next generation mobile phone after the fifth generation.
    [0030] As shown in FIG. 1, a communication system is provided with a plurality of High Altitude Platform Stations (HAPS) (also referred to as "High Altitude Pseudosatellite") 10 and 20 as radio relay devices, and form three-dimensional cells (three-dimensional areas) 41 and 42 as indicated by the hatched areas in the figure in an airspace target of cell formation 40 at a predetermined altitude. Each of HAPSs 10 and 20 is a floating object (for example, solar plane, airship) including a radio relay station mounted on it, which is controlled to be launched and located in a floating airspace (hereinafter also simply referred to as " airspace ") 50 with a high altitude of 100 km or less from ground level or sea level, by an autonomous control or an external control.
    [0031] The airspace 50 in which HAPSs 10 and 20 are located is, for example, a stratospheric airspace with an elevation above 11 km and less than 50 km. The airspace 50 in which HAPSs 10 and 20 are located can be an airspace in the altitude range of 15 km or more and 25 km or less where the weather conditions are relatively stable, and it can be an airspace with an altitude of about 20 km in particular. Each of Hrsl and Hrsu in the figure indicates relative altitudes of the lower and upper extremities of the airspace 50 with reference to the ground level (GL), in which HAPSs 10 and 20 are located.
    [0032] The target air space of cell formation 40 is a target air space to form a three-dimensional cell with one or more HAPSs according to the communication system of the present modality. The airspace target of cell formation 40 is an airspace in a predetermined altitude range (for example, an altitude range of 50 m or greater and 1000 m or less) located between airspace 50 where HAPSs 10 and 20 are located and a cell formation area close to ground level covered by a base station 90, such as a conventional macro cell base station. Each of Hcl and Hcu in the figure indicates relative altitudes of the lower extremity and the upper extremity of the air space target of cell formation 40 with reference to the ground level (GL).
    [0033] Note that the target air space of cell formation 40 where the three-dimensional cell of the present modality is formed can be an air space along the sea, a river or a lake.
    [0034] The radio relay stations of HAPSs 10 and 20, respectively, form beams 100 and 200 for radio communication with the terminal device, which is a mobile station, towards the ground level. The terminal device may be a communication terminal module built into a drone 60 that is an aircraft such as a small helicopter capable of driving remotely, or it may be a user terminal device used by a user on plane 65. The areas through the which the beams 100 and 200 pass in the target cell-forming airspace 40 are three-dimensional cells 41 and 42. The plurality of beams 100 and 200 adjacent to each other in the cell-forming target airspace 40 can be partially overlapped with each other .
    [0035] Each of the radio relay stations of HAPSs 10 and 20 is connected to a core network of a mobile communication network 80 through a feeder station (gateway) 70 which is a relay station installed on the ground or at sea . Communication between HAPSs 10 and 20 and feeder station 70 can be performed by radio communication using radio waves such as microwaves, or it can be performed by optical communication using a laser light or the like.
    [0036] Each of the HAPSs 10 and 20 can autonomously control their own floating movement (flight) or processing at the radio relay station, by executing a control program with a control section including a computer or similar incorporated within HAPS . For example, each of the HAPSs 10 and 20 can acquire their own current position information (for example, GPS position information), position control information (for example, flight scheduling information) stored in advance, and position information on the other HAPS located in a peripheral space etc., and autonomously control the floating movement (flight) and processing at the radio relay station based on that information.
    [0037] The floating movement (flight) of each HAPS 10 and 20 and processing in the radio relay station can be controlled by a remote control device 85 from a communications operator, which is arranged in a communication center or the like of the mobile communication network 80. In this case, the HAPSs 10 and 20 can include a terminal communication device for control (for example, a mobile communication module), so that the control information from the remote control device 85 can be received, and the terminal identification information (for example, IP address, phone number, etc.) can be allocated to the terminal communication device to be identified from the remote control device 85. The MAC address of the communication interface communication can be used to identify the communication terminal device for control. Each of the HAPSs 10 and 20 can transmit information related to the floating movement (flight) of the HAPS itself or of the surrounding HAPS and the processing in the radio relay station, and information such as observation data acquired by various types of sensors or the like, to a predetermined destination, such as the remote control 85.
    [0038] In the air space target of cell formation 40, there is a possibility that a space area may occur where the beams 100 and 200 of HAPSs 10 and 20 do not pass, in which the three-dimensional cells 41 and 42 are not formed. In order to spatially complement this area, as shown in the configuration example of FIG. 1, a base station (hereinafter referred to as "ATG station") 30 can be arranged, which forms a three-dimensional cell 43 forming a radial beam 300 from the ground or sea side upwards to form an ATG (air to ground) connection ).
    [0039] Adjusting the positions of the HAPSs 10 and 20 and the angle of divergence (the beam width), etc. of the beams 100 and 200 without the use of the ATG station, the radio relay stations of the HAPSs 10 and 20 can form the beams 100 and 200 covering the entire face of the upper extremity of the cell-forming target airspace 40, so that three-dimensional cells are formed over the entire air space targeted by cell formation 40.
    [0040] Note that the three-dimensional cell formed by HAPSs 10 and 20 can be formed in order to reach ground level or sea level, so that it can also communicate with the terminal device located on the ground or in the sea.
    [0041] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an example of HAPS 10 used in the communication system in the modality. HAPS 10 in FIG. 2 is a solar plane type HAPS. HAPS 10 has a main wing section 101 in which a solar power generation panel (hereinafter referred to as "solar panel") 102 as a photovoltaic power generation section having a photovoltaic power generation function is provided on the surface upper and both end portions in the longitudinal direction are deformed upwardly, and a plurality of motor-driven thrusters 103 as a power system drive bus propulsion device provided at one end of the edge portion of the main wing section 101 in the lateral direction. Cocoons 105 as a plurality of apparatus accommodation sections to accommodate the mission equipment are connected to the two positions in the longitudinal direction of the bottom surface of the main wing section 101 through a plate-like connection section 104. Within each 105 cocoon , a radio relay station 110 as a mission equipment and a battery 106 are accommodated. On the bottom surface side of each pod 105, wheels 107 used at the time of departure and arrival are provided. The electrical energy generated by the solar panel 102 is stored in the battery 106, the motor of the propeller 103 is rotated by the electrical energy supplied by the battery 106, and the radio retransmission processing by the radio retransmission station 110 is performed.
    [0042] The HAPS type solar plane 10 can float with lifting force, for example, performing a surrounding flight or performing a flight along an "8" figure, and can float to stay within a predetermined range in the horizontal direction a a predetermined altitude. It is noted that, the HAPS type solar plane 10 can also fly like a glider when the propeller 103 is not rotated. For example, when the electrical energy of the battery 106 is surplus by the generation of energy from the solar panel 102, such as during the day, the HAPS type solar plane 10 rises to a high position. When electrical power cannot be generated by solar panel 102, such as overnight, HAPS solar plane 10 can stop the power supply from battery 106 to the engine and can fly like a glider.
    [0043] FIG. 3 is a side view showing another example of HAPS 20 used in a communication system in the modality. HAPS 20 in FIG. 3 is an unmanned airship type HAPS, and can mount a large capacity battery as long as the payload is large. The HAPS 20 has a blimp body 201 filled with gas, such as helium, to float by buoyancy, a propeller 202 driven by an engine like a propulsion device for a power system drive bus, and a section of 203 equipment accommodation in which the mission equipment is accommodated. A radio relay station 210 and a battery 204 are accommodated in the equipment accommodation section 203. A motor of propeller 202 is rotated by electrical power supplied by battery 204, and radio relay processing by the radio relay station. radio 210 runs.
    [0044] It is noted that, a solar panel having a function of generating photovoltaic energy can be provided on the top surface of the body of the airship 201, and an electrical energy generated by the solar panel is stored in the battery 204.
    [0045] FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a radio network formed in an upper airspace by the plurality of HAPSs 10 and 20 in the modality. The plurality of HAPSs 10 and 20 are configured to be able to communicate with each other (inter-HAPS communication) in the upper airspace, and form an excellent radio network in robustness that is capable of stably creating a three-dimensional network over a wide area . The radio communication network can also function as an ad hoc network by dynamic routing according to various types of environment and information. The radio communication network can be formed so as to have various types of two-dimensional or three-dimensional topologies, and it can be, for example, a mesh-type radio communication network, as shown in FIG. 4.
    [0046] FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an example of configuration of radio relay stations 110 and 210 of HAPSs 10 and 20 in the modality. Radio relay stations 110 and 210 in FIG. 5 are examples of a repeater-type radio relay station. Each of the radio relay stations 110 and 210 includes a 3D cell forming antenna section (three-dimensional cell), a transmit / receive section 112, a feeder antenna section 113, a transmit / receive section 114, a repeater section 115, a monitoring control section 116 and a power supply section 117. In addition, each of the radio relay stations 110 and 210 includes an inter-HAPS communication section 125 and a control section of beam 126.
    [0047] The 3D cell forming antenna section 111 has antennas to form radial beams 100 and 200 towards the target air space of cell forming 40, and forms three-dimensional cells 41 and 42 in which a communication with the terminal device can be performed. The transmit / receive section 112 has a transmit / receive duplexer (DUP: DUPlexer) and an amplifier, etc., and transmits radio signals to terminal devices located in three-dimensional cells 41 and 42 and receives radio signals from the terminal apparatus via section 111 of 3D cell-forming antenna.
    [0048] The feeder antenna section 113 has a directional antenna for radio communication with feeder station 70 on the ground or at sea. The transmit / receive section 114 has a transmit / receive duplexer (DUP: DUPlexer) and an amplifier, etc., and transmits radio signals to feeder station 70 and receives radio signals from feeder station 70 via section 111 of 3D cell formation antenna.
    [0049] The repeater section 115 retransmits signals from the transmit / receive section 112, which are transmitted to and received from the terminal apparatus and signals from the transmit / receive section 114, which are transmitted to and received from the feeder station 70 Repeater section 115 may have a frequency conversion function.
    [0050] The monitoring control section 116 is configured with, for example, a CPU and memory, etc., and monitors the operation processing status of each section and controls each section in HAPSs 10 and 20, by executing the pre-installed program. The power supply section 117 provides an electrical energy emitted by batteries 106 and 204 for each section in HAPSs 10 and 20. The power supply section 117 can have the function of storing an electrical energy generated by the solar power generation panel. , etc. and an electrical energy supplied from the outside in batteries 106 and 204.
    [0051] The inter-HAPS communication section 125 communicates with other neighboring HAPSs 10 and 20 through a radiocommunication medium, such as a laser light or a microwave. This communication allows dynamic routing that dynamically retransmits radio communication between the mobile communication network 80 and a terminal device such as drone 60, and can improve the robustness of the mobile communication system by supporting and performing radio retransmission by other HAPSs when a of HAPSs fail.
    [0052] Although various types of radio communication means, such as a laser light or a microwave, can be used as a radio communication medium for inter-HAPS communication, the radio communication medium can be selected according to the altitude at which HAPS is located. For example, when HAPSs 10 and 20 are located at a relatively high altitude, where the influence of clouds is small, laser light can be used for inter-HAPS communication. When HAPSs 10 and 20 are located at a low altitude, where the influence of clouds is large, microwaves that are not easily affected by clouds can be used for inter-HAPS communication.
    [0053] The beam control section 126 controls a beam's direction and intensity, such as a laser or microwave light used for inter-HAPS communication, and performs a control in order to switch another HAPS (relay station) radio) that performs communication via a beam, such as a laser light or a microwave, according to a change of position in relation to another neighboring HAPS (radio relay station). This control can be performed based, for example, at a position and altitude of the HAPS itself, at a position of the neighboring HAPS, etc. Information about the position and altitude of the HAPS itself can be acquired based on the output of a GPS receiver, a gyroscope sensor, an acceleration sensor, etc. embedded in the HAPS and information about the position of the neighboring HAPS can be acquired from the remote control device 85 or another HAPS management server provided on the mobile communication network 80.
    [0054] FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing another example configuration of radio relay stations 110 and 210 of HAPSs 10 and 20 in the modality. Radio relay stations 110 and 210 in FIG. 6 are examples of a base station type radio relay station. It is noted that, in FIG. 6, configuration elements similar to those of FIG. 5 are indicated by the same reference numerals and their explanation will be omitted. Each of the radio relay stations 110 and 210 in FIG. 6 further includes a modem section 118 and a base station processing section 119 instead of repeater section 115. In addition, each of the radio relay stations 110 and 210 includes an inter-HAPS communication section 125 and a section beam control 126.
    [0055] Modem section 118, for example, performs demodulation processing and decoding processing for a received signal received from feeder station 70 through feeder antenna section 113 and transmit / receive section 114, and generates a data signal to be sent to the base station processing section 119. The modem section 118 performs an encoding processing and a modulation processing for the data signal received from the base station processing section 119, and generates a transmission signal to be transmitted to the feeder station 70 through the feeder antenna section 113 and the transmit / receive section 114.
    [0056] The base station processing section 119, for example, has a function as an e-Node B that performs baseband processing based on a method in accordance with the LTE / LTE-Advanced standard. The base station processing section 119 can process in a method that conforms to a future standard of mobile communication, such as the fifth generation or the next generation after the fifth generation onwards.
    [0057] The base station processing section 119, for example, performs demodulation processing and decoding processing of a received signal received from a terminal apparatus located in three-dimensional cells 41 and 42 through antenna section 111. 3D cell formation and the transmit / receive section 112, and generates a data signal to be output to the modem section 118. The base station processing section 119 performs an encoding processing and a modulation processing for the signal data received from the modem section 118, and generates a transmission signal to be transmitted to the terminal apparatus of the three-dimensional cells 41 and 42 through the 3D cell forming antenna section 111 and the transmit / receive section 112.
    [0058] FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing yet another example of configuration of radio relay stations 110 and 210 of HAPSs 10 and 20 in the modality. Radio relay stations 110 and 210 in FIG. 7 are examples of a high performance base station radio relay station having a cutting edge computing function. It is noted that, in FIG. 7, configuration elements similar to those of FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 are indicated by the same reference numerals, and their explanation will be omitted. Each of the radio relay stations 110 and 210 in FIG. 7 further includes a cutting edge computing section 120 in addition to the configuration elements of FIG. 6.
    [0059] The cutting edge computing section 120 is configured with, for example, a compact computer, and can perform various types of information processing related to a radio retransmission, etc., at the radio relay stations 110 and 210 of the HAPSs 10 and 20, running a pre-installed program.
    [0060] The cutting edge computing section 120, for example, determines a destination for transmitting a data signal based on a data signal received from a terminal device located in three-dimensional cells 41 and 42, and performs a process switching a retransmission destination of the communication based on the result of the determination. More specifically, in the case where the transmission destination of the data signal emitted from the base station processing section 119 is a terminal device located in the three-dimensional cells 41 and 42 themselves, instead of passing the data signal to the modem section 118, the cutting edge computing section 120 returns the data signal to the base station processing section 119 and transmits the data signal to the transmitting destination terminal apparatus located in the three-dimensional cells 41 and 42 themselves. On the other hand, in the case where the transmission destination of the data signal transmitted from the base station processing section 119 is a terminal device located in a cell other than the three-dimensional cells 41 and 42 themselves, the cutting edge computing section 120 passes the data signal to modem section 118 and transmits the data signal to feeder station 70, and transmits the data signal to the terminal apparatus of the local transmission destination used in the other cell of the transmission destination via the mobile communication network 80.
    [0061] The cutting edge computing section 120 can perform a process of analyzing the information received from a large number of terminal devices located in three-dimensional cells 41 and 42. This analysis result can be transmitted to the large number of terminal devices located in three-dimensional cells 41 and 42, and can be transmitted to a server, etc. of the mobile communication network 80.
    [0062] The uplink and downlink duplex methods for radio communication with a terminal device through radio relay stations 110 and 210 are not limited to a specific method, and can be, for example, a division duplex method time (Duplexing by Time Division: TDD) or a method of duplexing by frequency division (Duplexing by Frequency Division: FDD). An access method for radio communication with a terminal device via radio relay stations 110 and 210 is not limited to a specific method, and can be, for example, the FDMA method (Frequency Division Multiple Access), TDMA method ( Time Division Multiple Access), CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) or OFDMA (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access) method. In the aforementioned radio communication, a MIMO (Multiple Inputs and Multiple Outputs) technology can be used, which has diversity / encoding functions, transmission beam formation, spatial division multiplexing (SDM: Space Division Multiplexing), etc., and wherein a transmission capacity per unit of frequency can be increased using simultaneously a plurality of antennas for both transmission and reception. MIMO technology can be a SU-MIMO (single user MIMO) technology in which a base station transmits a plurality of signals to a terminal device at the same time / same frequency, and can be a MU-MIMO (multiple user MIMO) technology ) where a base station transmits signals to a plurality of different terminal communication devices at the same time / same frequency or a plurality of different base stations transmit signals to a terminal device at the same time / frequency.
    [0063] FIG. 8 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an example of a general configuration of a communication system that realizes a three-dimensional network according to another modality. It is noted that, in FIG. 8, the parts common to those of FIG. 1 described above are indicated by the same reference numerals and a description of them is omitted.
    [0064] In the embodiment of FIG. 8, a communication between HAPSs 10 and 20 and the feeder station 70 is performed via an artificial satellite 72. In that case, a communication between the artificial satellite 72 and the feeder station 70 can be performed by radio communication using radio waves such as like microwave, or can be performed by optical communication using a laser light or the like. In addition, a communication between HAPSs 10 and 20 and artificial satellite 72 can be performed by radio communication using radio waves, such as microwaves, or it can be performed by optical communication, using a laser light or the like.
    [0065] FIG. 9 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an example of a general configuration of a communication system that realizes a three-dimensional network according to yet another modality, and FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing an example of a radio relay station 210 configuration of an airship-type HAPS anchored 21 in the communication system of FIG. 9. Note that, in FIG. 9, the parts common to those of FIG. 1 described above are denoted by the same reference numerals and a description thereof is omitted. In FIG. 10, configuration elements similar to those in FIG. 5 are denoted by the same reference numerals and a description of them is omitted. At a radio relay station of FIG. 10, similar to FIG. 6 described above, modem section 118 can be further eliminated, and base station processing section 119 can be eliminated instead of repeater section 115, and in a similar manner to FIG. 7, cutting edge computing section 120 can be further eliminated.
    [0066] In FIG. 9, a communication system of the present modality is provided with an anchored airship type HAPS (hereinafter referred to as “anchored HAPS") 21 for multiple large capacity cells, which is configured with an anchored type airship that has no driving force and is anchored by an anchor line 25 that extends from the ground to an area of airspace above a predetermined altitude (for example, altitude from the ground up to about 5 km) above a metropolitan area. As long as the anchored HAPS 21 has a large payload (for example, 1 tonne or greater), in which a large capacity battery can be installed and electrical power can be supplied from the ground, with an electrical power cable provided along with the anchor line 25, long service life can be achieved.
    [0067] Since a section of communication cable 127 of FIG. 10 can communicate with a fixed base station on the ground through a communication cable made of a high-capacity or similar optical fiber provided together with the anchoring line 25, is capable of relaying communications between a large number of terminal devices existing in an urban and ground area, or relay communications between a plurality of HAPSs configuring the aforementioned radio communication network.
    [0068] It is noted that, although FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 show the case where the anchored HAPS floating object 21 is an airship, the anchored HAPS floating object may be a balloon.
    [0069] In addition, in the communication system in this modality, the plurality of HAPSs like solar plane 10 are controlled to fly over suburban and rural areas (or the sea) where the density of terminal devices is lower than that in metropolitan areas. At least one of the plurality of HAPSs 10 can perform radio communication with the anchored HAPS mentioned above 21 using microwaves or the like that are not easily affected by a 905 cloud. Inter-HAPS communication of the plurality of HAPSs 10 can be performed using a laser light as described above, for example. The plurality of HAPSs 10 is able to build an ad hoc network in which HAPS moves to an upper airspace above a necessary location and retransmits radio communication from terminal devices according to the presence or density of terminal devices, such as drones 60 and land-based user devices in suburban and rural areas, or a period of time etc.
    [0070] FIG. 11 is an explanatory view showing an example of a radio communication network in the modality, in which a plurality of HAPS type solar plane 10 and an anchored HAPS 21 of an anchored airship type are arranged in upper air spaces over Japan. Note that , FIG. 11 illustrates an example of an arrangement of the HAPSs type solar plane 10 and the anchored HAPS 21, the number and positions of the HAPSs type solar plane 10 and the anchored HAPS 21 are not limited to those illustrated. Although FIG. 11 show an example in which a radio communication network configured with the plurality of HAPSs (HAPSs 10 and anchored HAPS 21) is built in the upper airspace over Japan, the radio communication network configured with the plurality of HAPSs can be built in upper air spaces above foreign areas other than Japan, can be built in the upper air spaces above general areas across Japan and foreign areas, or can be built in the upper air spaces above the sea.
    [0071] In FIG. 11, the airship-type anchored HAPS 21 anchored to a large capacity and multiple cells is anchored and arranged in the upper air spaces above the metropolitan areas (Sapporo, Sendai, Tokyo, Osaka, Fukuoka) of the Hokkaido area, Tohoku area Kanto-Koshinetsu, Chubu-Hokuriku-Kinki area and Kyushu area. The plurality of solar aircraft type HAPSs 10 are flying in order to complement HAPS anchored 21 in the upper airspace above suburban and rural areas located between HAPSs anchored 21 in these multiple metropolitan areas. In addition, in the example in the figure, the anchored HAPS 21 is also anchored and arranged in the upper airspace above the remote island of Okinawa. With these multiple solar airplane type HAPSs 10 and anchored HAPSs 21, a radio communication network configured with a topology, such as a type of three-dimensional mesh is built in the upper airspace above Japan. With the radio communication network in the upper airspace above the Japan, in mobile communications of the fifth generation or similar, in a radiocommunication with terminal devices including devices for IoT, the three-dimensional network with a low propagation delay, simultaneous connection with a large number of terminals, high-speed communication and a great system capacity per unit area can be stably realized over a wide area. In particular, by building the radio communication network configured with the topology such as three-dimensional mesh type, the robustness of the three-dimensional network can be improved.
    [0072] FIG. 12 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an example of a general configuration of a communication system that realizes a three-dimensional network according to yet another modality. It is noted that, in FIG. 12, the parts common to those of FIG. 9 described above are indicated by the same reference numerals and a description of them is omitted.
    [0073] In the embodiment of FIG. 12, a communication between HAPS 10 and anchored HAPS 21 and the core network of the mobile communications network 80 is performed through the feeder station 70 and the artificial satellite 72. In this case, a communication between the artificial satellite 72 and the feeder station 70 it can be performed by radio communication using radio waves, such as microwaves, or it can be performed by optical communication, using laser light or the like. In addition, communication between HAPSs 10 and 21 and artificial satellite 72 can also be performed by radio communication using radio waves, such as microwaves, or can be performed by optical communication, using laser light or the like.
    [0074] Note that the process steps and configuration elements of the radio relay station of the radio relay device, the feeder station, the remote control device, the terminal device (user device, mobile station , communication terminal) and the base station described in the present description can be implemented with various means. For example, these process steps and configuration elements can be implemented with hardware, firmware, software or a combination of them.
    [0075] With regard to the implementation of hardware, means such as processing units or the like used to establish the previous steps and configuration elements in entities (for example, radio relay station, feeder station, base station apparatus, radio relay station apparatus, terminal apparatus (user apparatus, mobile station, communication terminal), remote control apparatus, hard disk drive apparatus or optical disk drive apparatus) may be implemented in one or more of an application specific IC (ASIC), a digital signal processor (DSP), a digital signal processing device (DSPD), a programmable logic device (PLD), a field programmable port arrangement (FPGA), a processor , a controller, a microcontroller, a microprocessor, an electronic device, another electronic unit, computer or a combination of them, which are designed to perform a function described in this specification.
    [0076] Regarding the implementation of firmware and / or software, means such as processing units or the like used to establish the previous configuration elements can be implemented with a program (for example, code such as procedure, function, module, instruction , etc.) to perform a function described in this specification. In general, any computer / processor-readable means of materializing the firmware and / or software code can be used to implement means such as processing units and so forth to establish the previous configuration steps and elements described in the present specification. For example, on a recording device, the firmware and / or software code can be stored in memory and executed by a computer or processor. The memory can be implemented inside the computer or processor, or outside the processor. In addition, the firmware and / or software code can be stored in, for example, a medium capable of being read by a computer or processor, such as a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM) , a non-volatile random access memory (NVRAM), a programmable read-only memory (PROM), an electrically erasable PROM (EEPROM), a FLASH memory, a floppy disk (trademark), a compact disk (CD), a digital versatile disc (DVD), a magnetic or optical data storage unit, or the like. The code can be executed by one or more computers and processors, and a certain aspect of the features described in the present specification can be executed by a computer or processor.
    [0077] The description of the modalities disclosed in the present specification is provided so that the present disclosures can be produced or used by those skilled in the art. Various modifications of the present disclosures will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art and the general principles defined in this specification can be applied to other variations without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosures. Therefore, the present disclosures should not be limited to the examples and drawings described in the present specification and should be recognized as being in the broadest scope corresponding to the innovative principles and resources disclosed in the present specification. LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS
    [0078] 10, 11, 12 HAPS (solar plane type) 20 HAPS (airship type) 21 HAPS (anchored airship type) 25 anchoring line 30 ATG station 40 air space target cell formation 41, 42, 43 three-dimensional cell 50 airspace where HAPS is located 60 drone 65 plane 70 feeder station 72 artificial satellite 75 microwave power supply station 80 mobile communication network 85 remote control device 86 server device 100, 200, 300 beam 101 section main wing 102 solar panel (solar power generation panel) 103 propeller 104 connection section 105 cocoon 106 battery 107 wheel 108 energy receiving cocoon 110, 210 radio relay station 111 three-dimensional cell-forming antenna section (3D) ) 112 transmit / receive section 113 feed antenna section 114 transmit / receive section 115 repeater section 116 monitoring control section 117 power supply section 118 modem section 119 process section base station use 120 cutting edge computing section 125 inter-HAPS communication section 126 beam control section 127 communication cable section
    权利要求:
    Claims (24)
    [0001]
    1. Communication system comprising a plurality of radio relay stations (110, 210) for relaying radio communication with a terminal apparatus characterized by the fact that the plurality of radio relay stations (110, 210) includes: a plurality of first radio relay stations (110) capable of communicating with each other by direct radio communication or indirect radio communication between the first radio relay stations (110), each of the first radio relay stations (110) being installed in a first floating object (10) controlled so as to be located in a floating airspace (5) with an altitude less than or equal to 100 km by an autonomous control or an external control so that a three-dimensional cell capable of performing radio communication with a terminal device is formed in a predetermined air space targeting a predetermined cell (40) above a ground level (GL) or a sea level; and one or more second radio relay stations (210) installed on a second floating object (20) controlled so as to be located in a floating airspace with an altitude less than or equal to 100 km by an autonomous control or a control external so that a three-dimensional cell capable of radiocommunicating with a terminal device is formed in an air space target of predetermined cell formation (40) above a ground level (GL) or a sea level, and in which the second floating object (20) comprises a large capacity battery (204) to supply electrical power to the second radio relay station (210), is located at a lower altitude than the first floating object (10) in a space overhead above a high-density area where the density of terminal devices is high, and is controlled to form a three-dimensional cell towards the high-density area and relay a communication. between the first radio relay station (110) on the first floating object (10) and a fixed station (90) connected with a mobile communication network on the ground by the second radio relay station (210); and in which the first floating object (10) comprises a battery (106) to supply electricity to the first radio relay station (110), it is located in an upper airspace above a low density area in which a density of terminal apparatus is inferior to that in the high density area and is controlled in order to complement the second floating object (20) and form a three-dimensional cell towards the low density area by the first radio relay station (110).
    [0002]
    2. Communication system, according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the second floating object (20) is located in an upper air space above a metropolitan area, and in which the first floating object (10) is located in an upper airspace above a suburban area, rural area or the sea where the density of terminal devices is less than that in the metropolitan area.
    [0003]
    3. Communication system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by the fact that the first floating object (10) is a solar plane comprising: a wing (101) provided with a solar energy generation panel (102) to generate an electrical energy to be supplied to the first radio relay station (110); and a rotatable actuator (103) provided on the wing (101).
    [0004]
    4. Communication system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by the fact that the second floating object (20) is an aircraft or a balloon.
    [0005]
    Communication system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by the fact that the plurality of radio relay stations (110, 210) forms a radio communication network configured with a two-dimensional mesh topology or three-dimensional.
    [0006]
    6. Communication system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by the fact that the plurality of radio relay stations (110, 210) form an ad hoc network for relaying radiocommunications from terminal devices that move to an upper airspace above a necessary place according to the presence or density of the terminal devices, or a period of time.
    [0007]
    Communication system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that when any of the pluralities of radio relay stations (110, 210) fails, another radio relay station supports and performs a radio retransmission.
    [0008]
    Communication system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the second radio relay station (210) or at least one of the first radio relay stations (110) communicate with one gateway station (70) on the ground or at sea.
    [0009]
    Communication system according to claim 8, characterized in that the second radio relay station (210) and the first radio relay station (110) are capable of performing radio communication with each other.
    [0010]
    10. Communication system according to claim 8 or 9, characterized by the fact that a communication between the plurality of first radio relay stations (110) is a radio communication using laser light.
    [0011]
    11. Communication system according to claim 10, characterized by the fact that each of the plurality of first radio relay stations (110) controls a direction and intensity of the laser light according to a change in the position relative to another first neighboring radio relay station (110).
    [0012]
    Communication system according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that each of the plurality of first radio relay stations (110) controls the switching of another first radio relay station (110) to perform a communication using laser light according to a change in position relative to another first neighboring radio relay station (110).
    [0013]
    13. Communication system according to any one of claims 10 to 12, characterized by the fact that each of the pluralities of the first radio relay stations (110) controls the reduction of an intensity of the laser light in a period of time at night.
    [0014]
    Communication system according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that it additionally comprises a remote control device for remotely controlling at least one of the floating movement of the floating object (10, 20) and the station radio relay (110, 210).
    [0015]
    15. Communication system, according to claim 14, characterized by the fact that the remote control device controls a position of the first radio relay station (110) installed on the first floating object (10), a direction and angle of divergence of a beam formed by the first radio relay station (110).
    [0016]
    16. Communication system according to any one of claims 1 to 15, characterized by the fact that an altitude of the target cell-forming air space (40) is less than or equal to 10 km.
    [0017]
    17. Communication system, according to claim 16, characterized by the fact that the altitude of the target air space of cell formation (40) is greater than or equal to 50 m and less than or equal to 1 km.
    [0018]
    18. Communication system according to any one of claims 1 to 17, characterized in that an altitude of an upper end of the target cell-forming airspace (40) of the first radio relay station (110) is higher than an upper end of the target cell-forming airspace (40) of the second radio relay station (210).
    [0019]
    19. Communication system according to any one of claims 1 to 18, characterized by the fact that the first floating object (10) provided with the first radio relay station (110) is located in a stratosphere with a higher altitude than or equal to 11 km and less than or equal to 50 km.
    [0020]
    20. Communication system according to any one of claims 1 to 19, characterized in that the radio retransmission station (110, 210) comprises a cutting-edge computing section (120) to determine a transmission destination for a data signal based on the data signal received from a terminal device located in the three-dimensional cell and performing a process of switching a communication relay destination based on the result of the determination.
    [0021]
    21. Communication system according to any one of claims 1 to 19, characterized by the fact that the radio relay station (110, 210) comprises a cutting-edge computing section (120) to perform a data analysis process information received from multiple terminal devices located in the three-dimensional cell.
    [0022]
    22. Communication system according to any one of claims 1 to 21, characterized by the fact that the second floating object (20) is a floating object of the anchored type, anchored to the ground in order to be located in the upper airspace above of the high density area.
    [0023]
    23. Remote control device characterized by the fact that it remotely controls at least one of a floating movement of the floating object (10, 20) and the radio relay station (110, 210) in the communication system defined in any of the claims 1 to 22.
    [0024]
    24. Remote control device according to claim 23, characterized in that the remote control device controls a position of the first radio relay station (110) installed on the first floating object (10), a direction and angle divergence of a beam formed by the first radio relay station (110).
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    法律状态:
    2020-09-01| B07A| Technical examination (opinion): publication of technical examination (opinion) [chapter 7.1 patent gazette]|
    2020-12-22| B09A| Decision: intention to grant [chapter 9.1 patent gazette]|
    2021-01-19| B16A| Patent or certificate of addition of invention granted|Free format text: PRAZO DE VALIDADE: 20 (VINTE) ANOS CONTADOS A PARTIR DE 24/04/2018, OBSERVADAS AS CONDICOES LEGAIS. |
    2021-06-15| B25G| Requested change of headquarter approved|Owner name: SOFTBANK CORP. (JP) |
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