MOVING OBJECT COMMUNICATION SYSTEM, BASE STATION DEVICE, VEHICLE, TERMINAL DEVICE, COMMUNICATION METHOD, AND PROGRAM

A terminal device; a base station device; an area detection unit configured to detect a position registration area to which the base station device belongs; and a management unit configured to, in a case where the area detection unit detects a change in the position registration area to which the base station device belongs, associate information for specifying a position registration area after change with information for specifying a terminal device connected to the base station device are included.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

An aspect of the present invention relates to a moving object communication system, a base station device, a vehicle, a terminal device, a communication method, and a program.

Description of Related Art

Hitherto, in mobile communication systems, a technique for managing the approximate position of a moving terminal device has become known. A mobile communication system disclosed in, for example, Patent Document 1 includes a position registration processing device that performs a position registration process on a terminal device. The position registration processing device does not execute the position registration process in a case where a request for position registration is accepted from the terminal device, and executes the position registration process on the terminal device in accordance with the acceptance of a request for position registration transmitted from a base station device in a case where the terminal device is located in a position registration area.

PATENT DOCUMENT

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

However, in a case where a base station device is mounted on a vehicle such as a train or a bus, the base station device is assumed to move across a position registration area while maintaining connection with a terminal device. In a case where the base station device moves across a position registration area while continuing connection with a terminal device, a position registration area corresponding to a terminal device registered with a position registration processing device and a position registration area in which a terminal device is present in reality may be different from each other. However, in the position registration process disclosed in Patent Document 1, in a case where the base station device and the terminal device move across a position registration area, a position registration area in which the base station device and the terminal device are present in reality and a position registration area registered with the position registration processing device may be different from each other.

The present invention was contrived in view of the above problem, and an object thereof is to provide a moving object communication system, a base station device, a vehicle, a terminal device, a communication method, and a program which make it possible to shorten a period in which position registration areas are different from each other in a case where a base station device and a terminal device move across position registration areas.

(1) To solve the above-described problem, a moving object communication system according to one aspect of the present invention includes: a terminal device; a base station device; an area detection unit configured to detect a position registration area to which the base station device belongs; and a management unit configured to, in a case where the area detection unit detects a change in the position registration area to which the base station device belongs, associate information for specifying a position registration area after change with information for specifying a terminal device connected to the base station device.

(2) The moving object communication system according to one aspect of the present invention may further include: a control unit configured to request the management unit to associate information for specifying a position registration area after change with information for specifying a terminal device connected to the base station device in a case where a request based on the detection of a change in the position registration area to which the base station device belongs by the area detection unit is accepted.

(3) To solve the above-described problem, a base station device according to one aspect of the present invention includes: a communication unit configured to communicate with a terminal device; an area information acquisition unit configured to acquire information relating to a position registration area to which a host device belongs; a network communication unit configured to communicate with a base station control device that corresponds to the position registration area; and a control unit, wherein in a case where a change in the position registration area to which the host device belongs is detected based on the information acquired by the area information acquisition unit, the control unit is configured to transmit a request for associating a terminal device connected to the host device with a position registration area after change through the network communication unit.

(4) In the base station device according to one aspect of the present invention, the control unit may be configured to transmit the request to the base station control device corresponding to a position registration area after change.

(5) In the base station device according to one aspect of the present invention, the control unit may be configured to transmit the request to the base station control device corresponding to a position registration area before change.

(6) In the base station device according to one aspect of the present invention, the control unit may be configured to transmit a request for association of information for specifying a position registration area after change with information for specifying a terminal device connected to the host device from the base station control device corresponding to a position registration area before change to the base station control device corresponding to a position registration area after change.

(7) To solve the above-described problem, a base station device according to one aspect of the present invention includes: a communication unit configured to communicate with a terminal device; an area information acquisition unit configured to acquire information relating to a position registration area to which a host device belongs; and a control unit, wherein in a case where a change in the position registration area to which the host device belongs is detected based on the information acquired by the area information acquisition unit, the control unit is configured to notify a terminal device connected to the host device of the change in the position registration area through the communication unit.

(8) To solve the above-described problem, a vehicle according to one aspect of the present invention include: the base station device according to the above-described section (3).

(9) To solve the above-described problem, a terminal device according to one aspect of the present invention includes: a reception unit configured to receive information based on a change in a position registration area to which a host device belongs from a base station device connected to the host device; and a request unit configured to request association of information for specifying a position registration area after change with information for specifying the host device based on the information received by the reception unit.

(10) To solve the above-described problem, a communication method, according to one aspect of the present invention, in a moving object communication system includes a terminal device and a base station device, the communication method including: detecting a position registration area to which the base station device belongs; and associating, in a case where a change in the position registration area to which the base station device belongs is detected, information for specifying a position registration area after change with information for specifying a terminal device connected to the base station device.

(11) To solve the above-described problem, a communication method, according to one aspect of the present invention, of a base station device in a moving object communication system includes a terminal device and a base station device, the communication method including: acquiring information relating to a position registration area to which a host device belongs; and transmitting, in a case where a change in the position registration area to which the host device belongs is detected based on the information, a request for associating a terminal device connected to the host device with a position registration area after change to a base station control device corresponding to the position registration area after change.

(12) To solve the above-described problem, a communication method, according to one aspect of the present invention, of a base station device in a moving object communication system includes a terminal device and a base station device, the communication method including: acquiring information relating to a position registration area to which a host device belongs; and notifying, in a case where a change in the position registration area to which the host device belongs is detected based on the information, a terminal device connected to the host device of the change in the position registration area.

(13) To solve the above-described problem, a non-transitory computer readable recording medium, according to one aspect of the present invention, stores a program causing a computer of a base station device in a moving object communication system including a terminal device and a base station device to: acquire information relating to a position registration area to which a host device belongs; and transmit, in a case where a change in the position registration area to which the host device belongs is detected based on the information, a request for associating a terminal device connected to the host device with a position registration area after change to a base station control device corresponding to the position registration area after change.

(14) To solve the above-described problem, a non-transitory computer readable recording medium, according to one aspect of the present invention, stores a program causing a computer of a base station device in a moving object communication system including a terminal device and a base station device to: acquire information relating to a position registration area to which a host device belongs; and notify, in a case where a change in the position registration area to which the host device belongs is detected based on the information, a terminal device connected to the host device of the change in the position registration area.

(15) To solve the above-described problem, a non-transitory computer readable recording medium, according to one aspect of the present invention, stores a program causing a computer of a terminal device in a moving object communication system including a terminal device and a base station device to: receive infonnation based on a change in a position registration area to which a host device belongs from a base station device connected to the host device; and request association of information for specifying a position registration area after change with information for specifying the host device based on the information received.

According to an aspect of the present invention, it is possible to shorten a period in which position registration areas are different from each other in a case where a base station device and a terminal device move across the position registration areas.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, a moving object communication system, a base station device, a vehicle, a terminal device, a communication method, and a program to which the present invention is applied will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a moving object communication system1of an embodiment. The mobile communication system1includes, for example, a plurality of terminal devices100-1to100-8, a plurality of base station devices200-1to200-8, a plurality of base station control devices300-1and300-2, and a management device400. The plurality of base station devices200-1to200-7are base station devices that do not move. The base station device200-8is a base station device that moves across a position registration area.

The base station device200-8is a base station device mounted on a vehicle such as, for example, a train. The base station device200-8moves while maintaining a predetermined positional relationship with the terminal device100which is possessed by a crew member in a vehicle. The predetermined positional relationship refers to a positional relationship between the base station device200and the terminal device100in a state where the terminal device100which is possessed by a crew member in a vehicle is taken aboard the vehicle. Meanwhile, in the following description, the vehicle is described to be a train, but there is no limitation thereto, and the vehicle may be, for example, a means of transportation, such as a bus, which moves with a crew member taken aboard.

Meanwhile, in the configuration example shown inFIG. 1, one management device400is shown, but a plurality of base station control devices300may be provided with one management device400, and the management device400may be constituted by a plurality of devices. In the following description, in a case where a terminal device need not be distinguished from another terminal device, it is simply referred to as the “terminal device100”, in a case where a base station device need not be distinguished from another base station device, it is simply referred to as the “base station device200”, and in a case where a base station control device need not be distinguished from another base station control device, it is simply referred to as the “base station control device300”.

The base station device200, the base station control device300, and the management device400form a moving object communication system. The base station device200is a base station device with a communication function such as, for example, Long Term Evolution (LTE) or LTE-Advanced, and the terminal device100is a mobile station device (user equipment (UE)) with a communication function such as Long Term Evolution (LTE) or LTE-Advanced. The base station control device300is, for example, a mobility management entity (MME). The management device400is, for example, a home subscriber server (HSS, or home location register (HLR)). Meanwhile, the MME and the HSS may be single devices, and may be systems including one or a plurality of devices serving as the MME and one or a plurality of devices serving as the HSS.

Each of the base station devices200forms a cell. The cell refers to a communication area formed by radio waves which are transmitted by the base station device200. The communication area is also referred to as a coverage area or a coverage. The cell is also used to refer to the base station device itself that forms a cell or the frequency (also referred to as carrier or component carrier) of transmission radio waves.

A cell ID is given to each of the cells. The cell ID refers to an identifier (identification information) for identifying a cell. The cell ID is, for example, a physical cell identifier (PCI), an E-UTRAN cell global identifier (ECGI), an eNB identifier (eNB ID) or the like in LTE.

A cell-1corresponding to the base station device200-1, a cell-2corresponding to the base station device200-2, and a cell-3corresponding to the base station device200-3form a position registration area-1.

A cell-4corresponding to the base station device200-4, a cell-5corresponding to the base station device200-5, a cell-6corresponding to the base station device200-6, and a cell-7corresponding to the base station device200-7form a position registration area-2. A boundary line between the cell-1and the cell-5and a boundary line between the cell-3and the cell-5form a boundary line (area boundary) between the position registration area-1and the position registration area-2. InFIG. 1, the area boundary is shown by a dotted line. The position registration area is an area into which a plurality of cells are grouped. The position registration area is equivalent to a range in which a paging process of the terminal device100is performed in a case where there is an incoming call (call connection request) to the terminal device100. The position registration area-1is equivalent to a range in which a paging process is executed by the base station control device300-1. The position registration area-2is equivalent to a range in which a paging process is executed by the base station control device300-2.

FIG. 2is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the terminal device100. The terminal device100includes, for example, a communication unit110, a storage unit120, and a control unit130. The communication unit110includes a wireless communication interface for transmitting and receiving radio waves. The communication unit110transmits a transmission signal which is input from the control unit130, as radio waves, to the base station device200. The communication unit110receives the radio waves transmitted from the base station device200as a reception signal, and outputs the reception signal to the control unit130.

The storage unit120is constituted by at least one hard disk drive (HDD), a flash memory, an electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM), a read only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM) or the like, or a combination thereof. The storage unit120stores various types of information relating to the terminal device100or programs.

The control unit130controls various functions of the terminal device100. Some or all of the functions of the terminal device100may be realized by one or more processors such as, for example, a central processing unit (CPU) included in the control unit130executing various programs stored in the storage unit120. The control unit130includes, for example, a cell management unit132and a communication control unit134.

The cell management unit132manages the cell ID of a cell to which the terminal device100is connected. The cell management unit132acquires a cell ID which is transmitted by the base station device200as notification information using the communication unit110, and stores the acquired cell ID using the storage unit120.

The communication control unit134performs control relating to communication with the base station device200. The communication control unit134performs communication connection to a base station device200corresponding to a cell ID based on the cell ID stored in the storage unit120. Specifically, the communication control unit134performs, for example, establishment of connection with the base station device200, disconnection therefrom, processing relating to handover, or control processing such as processing relating to transmission and reception of user data.

FIG. 3is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the base station device200-8. The base station device200-8includes, for example, a communication unit210, a network communication unit215, a storage unit220, and a control unit230.

The communication unit210includes a wireless communication interface for transmitting and receiving radio waves. The communication unit210transmits a transmission signal which is input from the control unit230, as radio waves, to the terminal device100.

The communication unit210receives the radio waves transmitted from the terminal device100as a reception signal, and outputs the reception signal to the control unit230.

The network communication unit215includes a wireless communication interface for transmitting and receiving radio waves. The network communication unit215may share a communication interface with the communication unit210, and may be a communication interface different from that of the communication unit210. In addition, the network communication unit215may operate in accordance with the same communication protocol as that of the communication unit210, and may operate in accordance with a communication protocol different therefrom. The network communication unit215communicates with a base station control device300that corresponds to a position registration area. That is, in a case where the position registration area of the base station device200-8has changed, the network communication unit215switches a communication partner from a base station control device300before change to a base station control device300after change. Meanwhile, the network communication unit215performs communication with the base station control device300using wireless connection, but there is no limitation thereto, and it may perform communication with the base station control device300using wired connection.

The storage unit220is constituted by at least one HDD, a flash memory, an EEPROM, a ROM, a RAM or the like, or a combination thereof. The storage unit220stores various types of information relating to the base station device200-8or programs.

The control unit230controls various functions of the base station device200-8. Some or all of the functions of the base station device200may be realized by one or more processors such as, for example, a CPU included in the control unit230executing various programs stored in the storage unit220. The control unit230includes, for example, a cell management unit232, a communication control unit234, an area information acquisition unit236, and a registration unit238. Meanwhile, the base station devices200-1to200-7that do not move are different from the base station device200-8, in that these base station devices do not include the area information acquisition unit236and the registration unit238.

The cell management unit232manages a cell ID which is set in the base station device200-8. The communication control unit234performs control relating to communication with the terminal device100within the coverage area of the base station device200-8. Specifically, the communication control unit234performs establishment of connection with the terminal device100, disconnection therefrom, processing relating to handover, or control processing such as processing relating to transmission and reception of user data. In addition, the communication control unit234transmits the cell ID of the base station device200-8to the terminal device100with the cell ID included in notification information.

The area information acquisition unit236acquires information relating to a position registration area to which a host device belongs.

The area information acquisition unit236is, for example, a global positioning system (GPS) receiver (not shown) included in the base station device200. The control unit230detects a position registration area to which the base station device200-8belongs based on the acquired information. The area information acquisition unit236detects, for example, position information of the base station device200-8. The control unit230detects a position registration area corresponding to the current position of the base station device200-8by comparing the position information detected by the area information acquisition unit236with the position information of a position registration area stored in the storage unit220in advance. Meanwhile, insofar as information relating to a position registration area to which the base station device200-2belongs is acquired, the area information acquisition unit236may be an interface between devices such as the communication unit210that accepts a notification from another device or a universal serial bus (USB) which is not shown.

The area information acquisition unit236may specify the position of a train based on information from an operation management system of a train, and the control unit230may detect a position registration area based on the specified position. The operation management system of a train is a system that manages the operation status (such as the position or route) of a train based on, for example, a plan diagram. The area information acquisition unit236may acquire information indicating a current time, and the control unit230may detect the position registration area of the base station device200-8based on the current time. In this case, the control unit230may associate time information in the operation diagram of a vehicle having the base station device200-8mounted thereon with a position registration area, and detect the position registration area by comparing the current time with the time information.

The registration unit238performs a registration process in a case where a position registration area detected by the control unit230has changed. The registration process is a process for associating information for specifying a terminal device100with information for specifying a position registration area after change. The information for specifying a position registration area is, for example, an area ID, and the information for specifying a terminal device100is, for example, a terminal ID. Specifically, the registration unit238transmits information indicating the base station device200and the position registration area of a cell in which the terminal device100is located, as position registration information, to the base station control device300through the network communication unit215.

FIG. 4is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the base station control device300and the management device400. The base station control device300includes, for example, a communication unit310, a storage unit320, and a control unit330.

The communication unit310includes a wireless communication interface for transmitting and receiving radio waves. The communication unit210transmits a transmission signal which is input from the control unit330, as radio waves, to the base station device200. The communication unit310receives the radio waves transmitted from the base station device200as a reception signal, and outputs the reception signal to the control unit330. Meanwhile, the communication unit310performs communication with the base station device200using wireless connection, but there is no limitation thereto, and it may perform communication with the base station device200using wired connection.

The storage unit320is constituted by at least one HDD, a flash memory, an EEPROM, a ROM, a RAM or the like, or a combination thereof. The storage unit320stores various types of information relating to the base station control device300or programs.

The control unit330controls various functions of the base station control device300. Some or all of the functions of the base station control device300may be realized by one or more processors such as, for example, a CPU included in the control unit330executing various programs stored in the storage unit320. The control unit330includes, for example, a position registration processing unit332and a paging processing unit334.

The management device400is, for example, a storage function mounted in an HSS. The position registration processing unit332performs a position registration process on the terminal device100using information received from the base station device200. Specifically, the position registration processing unit332stores position registration information in the management device400. Meanwhile, the position registration processing unit332causes the management device400to store an area ID in association with a terminal ID, but there is no limitation thereto, and it may cause the management device400to store a cell ID and an area ID to which the terminal device100belongs in association with a terminal ID.

In a case where the base station device200-8moves across a position registration area, the management device400associates a terminal ID with an area ID after change based on position registration information received from the base station control device300. Thereby, the management device400constructs a database410in which a terminal ID and an area ID are associated with each other. Meanwhile, in the database410, the cell ID of the base station device200to which the terminal device100is connected may be associated with a terminal ID in addition to an area ID.

In the paging processing unit334, paging is requested from the information storage device400in a case where the base station control device300corresponds to a position registration area to which the terminal device100belongs at the time of the generation of downlink data such as an incoming call to the terminal device100. The paging processing unit334simultaneously transmits paging signals to the base station devices200located down the base station control device300in accordance with the acceptance of a request.

FIG. 5is a diagram illustrating an example of a relationship between a base station device, a position registration area, and a base station control device300. The moving object communication system1includes a base station control device300-10corresponding to a position registration area-10, a base station control device300-11corresponding to a position registration area-11, and a base station control device300-12corresponding to a position registration area-12.

A base station device200-10ainstalled at a station-1and base station devices200-10band200-10cmounted on trains are present in the position registration area-10. A crew member who possesses a terminal device100-10ais aboard a train on which the base station device200-10bis mounted, and a crew member who possesses a terminal device100-10bis aboard a train on which the base station device200-10cis mounted.

A base station device200-11ainstalled at a station-2, a base station device200-11binstalled at a station-3, and base station devices200-11cto200-11fmounted on trains are present in the position registration area-11. A crew member who possesses a terminal device100-11ais aboard a train on which the base station device200-11cis mounted, a crew member who possesses a terminal device100-11bis aboard a train on which the base station device200-11dis mounted, a crew member who possesses a terminal device100-11cis aboard a train on which the base station device200-11eis mounted, and a crew member who possesses a terminal device100-11dis aboard a train on which the base station device200-11fis mounted.

A base station device200-12ainstalled at a station-4and base station devices200-12band200-12cmounted on trains are present in the position registration area-12. A crew member who possesses a terminal device100-12ais aboard a train on which the base station device200-12bis mounted, and a crew member who possesses a terminal device100-12bis aboard a train on which the base station device200-12cis mounted.

FIG. 6is a diagram illustrating an example of a database410A. In a case where the base station device200and the terminal device100belong to a position registration area as shown inFIG. 5, the management device400stores the database410A as shown inFIG. 6. In the database410A, the terminal ID=10aof the terminal device100-10aand the terminal ID=10bof the terminal device100-10bare associated with the area ID=10of the position registration area-10. The terminal ID=11aof the terminal device100-11a, the terminal ID=11bof the terminal device100-11b, the terminal ID=11cof the terminal device100-11c, and the terminal ID=10dof the terminal device100-10d are associated with the area ID=11of the position registration area-11. The terminal ID=12aof the terminal device100-12aand the terminal ID=12bof the terminal device100-12bare associated with the area ID=12of the position registration area-12.

FIG. 7is a diagram illustrating an example of a status in which the base station device moves across the position registration area. A vehicle having the base station device200-10cmounted thereon is assumed to have moved from the position registration area-10to the position registration area-11. In this case, the management device400changes the area ID of the position registration area corresponding to the terminal ID of the terminal device100-10bto the area ID of a position registration area after movement.

FIG. 8is a diagram illustrating an example of a database410B. In a case where the vehicle having the base station device200-10cmounted thereon has moved from the position registration area-10to the position registration area-11as shown inFIG. 7, the management device400updates the database410A to the database410B. Specifically, the management device400associates the terminal ID=10cwith the area ID=11, and erases the terminal ID=10cassociated with the area ID=10.

Hereinafter, a position registration process of the terminal device100in the moving object communication system1will be described.FIG. 9is a diagram illustrating an example of a sequence in the moving object communication system1. Meanwhile, in the following description, the base station device200is assumed to be a base station device that moves, and the terminal device100is assumed to be possessed by a crew member of a vehicle. For example, in a case where the power supply of the terminal device100is turned on, the terminal device100performs a cell search, and transmits an attachment request (S1) to the base station device200of a cell detected by the cell search. The attachment request may be replaced by a position registration request. The attachment request is transmitted to the base station control device300-10through the base station device200.

The base station control device300-10performs a user authentication process, a data concealment process or the like (step ST1). Thereafter, the base station control device300-10transmits a position registration request (S2) including position registration information to the management device400. The management device400associates the area ID of a position registration area to which the terminal device100belongs with the terminal ID of the terminal device100based on the position registration information. Thereafter, the management device400transmits a position registration response (S3) to the base station control device300-10. Thereafter, the moving object communication system1performs an attachment completion process including the remaining process of the attachment process or the like (step ST2).

The base station device200is assumed to detect movement from the position registration area-10to the position registration area-11(step ST3). In this case, the base station device200transmits a base station registration request (S4) to the base station control device300-11which is a movement destination. The base station control device300-11associates the cell ID of the base station device200with the area ID of a position registration area in accordance with the base station registration request. The base station control device300-11transmits a base station registration response (S5) to the base station device200.

The base station device200transmits a request (S6) for position registration of all the terminal devices100connected to the base station device200to the base station control device300-11through the network communication unit215in accordance with the reception of the base station registration response (S5). In this case, the base station device200includes the terminals ID of all the terminal devices100connected thereto in the position registration request. The position registration request (S6) is equivalent to a request for associating the terminal device100connected to the base station device200with a position registration area after change.

The base station control device300-11transmits a position registration request (S7) to the management device400in accordance with the reception of the position registration request (S6). The management device400associates the terminals ID of all the terminal devices100connected to the base station device200with the area ID of a position registration area after movement in accordance with the reception of the position registration request (S7). The management device400transmits a position registration response (S8) to the base station control device300-11.

As described above, according to the moving object communication system1, the position registration process for the terminal device100can be completed based on the request (S6) for position registration of all the terminal devices100transmitted from the base station device200to the base station control device300-11.

FIG. 10is a diagram illustrating another example of the sequence in the moving object communication system1. The moving object communication system1may complete the position registration process for the terminal device100based on a position registration request from a base station control device300which is a movement source to a base station control device300which is a movement destination.

In a case where movement from the position registration area-10to the position registration area-11has been detected (step ST3), the base station device200transmits a base station registration request (S4#) to the base station control device300-10which is a movement source. The base station device200includes the terminals ID of all the terminal devices100connected thereto in the base station registration request (S4#). The base station control device300-10which is a movement source transmits the base station registration request (S4#) to the base station control device300-11which is a movement destination. Meanwhile, the base station device200may transmit the base station registration request (S4#) to the base station control device300-10which is a movement source and the base station control device300-11which is a movement destination. The base station control device300-11associates the cell ID of the base station device200with the area ID of a position registration area in accordance with the base station registration request. The base station control device300-11transmits a base station registration response (S5#) to the base station control device300-10which is a movement source and the base station device200. Meanwhile, the base station control device300-11which is a movement destination may transmit the base station registration response (S5#) to the base station control device300-10which is a movement source and the base station device200.

The base station control device300-10which is a movement source transmits a request (S6#) for position registration of all the terminal devices100connected to the base station device200to the base station control device300-11in accordance with the reception of the base station registration response (S5#).

The base station control device300-11transmits a position registration request (S7) to the management device400in accordance with the reception of the position registration request (S6#). The management device400associates the terminals ID of all the terminal devices100connected to the base station device200with the area ID of a position registration area after movement in accordance with the reception of the position registration request (S7). The management device400transmits a position registration response (S8) to the base station control device300-11.

The base station control device300-11which is a movement destination transmits a position registration response (S9) to the base station control device300-10which is a movement source in accordance with the reception of the position registration response (S8). Thereby, the base station control device300-10which is a movement source can recognize that the position registration process has been completed with respect to all the terminal devices100connected to the base station device200. Meanwhile, the management device400may not transmit the position registration response (S9).

In the above-described sequence, the terminal device100is not notified that a position registration area has changed. The base station device200may notify the terminal device100that the base station device200has moved across the position registration area.FIG. 11is a block diagram illustrating another example of the base station device. The base station device200includes a notification unit240instead of the registration unit238.

FIG. 12is a diagram illustrating another example of the sequence in the moving object communication system1.

In a case where movement from the position registration area-10to the position registration area-11has been detected (step ST3), the base station device200transmits the base station registration request (S4) to the base station control device300-11which is a movement destination, and receives the base station registration response (S5). The notification unit240of the base station device200transmits an area change notification (S10) to all the terminal devices100connected to the base station device200through the communication unit210in accordance with the reception of the base station registration response (S5).

The terminal device100transmits a position registration request (S11) to the base station device200in accordance with the reception of the area change notification (S10). The base station device200transmits the position registration request to the base station control device300-11which is a movement destination in accordance with the reception of the position registration request (S11).

The base station control device300-11transmits the position registration request (S7) to the management device400in accordance with the reception of the position registration request based on the position registration request (S11). The management device400associates the terminal ID of the terminal device100having transmitted the position registration request (S11) with the area ID of a position registration area after movement in accordance with the reception of the position registration request (S7). The management device400transmits the position registration response (S8) to the base station control device300-11.

According to the moving object communication system1that executes such a sequence, in a case where the base station device200has moved across a position registration area, the terminal device100is notified of an area change notification, a processing load of the base station device200can be dispersed to the terminal device100.

According to the moving object communication system1described above, in a case where a change in a position registration area to which the base station device200belongs has been detected, an area ID for specifying a position registration area after change can be associated with a terminal ID for specifying the terminal device100connected to the base station device200. Thereby, according to the moving object communication system1, in a case where the base station device200and the terminal device100have moved across position registration areas, it is possible to shorten a period in which the position registration areas are different from each other.

MODIFICATION EXAMPLE

In the above-described embodiment, it is detected in the base station device200that the base station device200has moved across a position registration area, but there is no limitation thereto, and devices other than the base station device200may detect a change in a position registration area.FIG. 13is a block diagram illustrating a modification example.

In the modification example, a vehicle control device500mounted in a vehicle includes an area information acquisition unit510. The area information acquisition unit510specifies the current position of a vehicle based on, for example, position information of the vehicle received from the operation management system of the vehicle or information from a GPS. The vehicle control device500performs speed control or the like of a vehicle based on, for example, the position of the vehicle. The area information acquisition unit510compares position information of a position registration area which is set in advance with the current position of a vehicle to detect that the vehicle has moved across the position registration area.

Meanwhile, a program operating in the terminal device100, the base station device200, the base station control device300, and the management device400in an aspect of the present invention may be a program (program causing a computer to function) for controlling, one or a plurality of processors such as a CPU so as to realize functions shown in each of the embodiments and modification examples relating to an aspect of the present invention. Information which is handled in each of these devices may be temporarily accumulated in a RAM during processing of the information, be stored in various storages such as a flash memory or an HDD thereafter, be read out by a CPU as necessary, and be corrected or written.

Meanwhile, some or all of the base station control devices300and the management devices400in each of the embodiments and modification examples described above may be realized by a computer including one or a plurality of processors. In that case, a program for realizing this control function may be recorded in a computer readable recording medium, and be realized by causing a computer system to read and execute the program recorded in this recording medium.

Meanwhile, the term “computer system” as used therein is a computer system built into the terminal device100, the base station device200, the base station control device300, and the management device400, and is assumed to include an OS or hardware such as peripheral devices. In addition, the term “computer readable recording medium” refers to a portable medium such as a flexible disk, a magneto-optic disc, a ROM, or a CD-ROM, and a storage device such as a hard disk built into the computer system.

Further, the “computer readable recording medium” may also include recording mediums that dynamically hold a program during a short period of time like networks such as the Internet or communication lines in a case that a program is transmitted through communication lines such as a telephone line, and recording mediums that hold a program for a certain period of time like a volatile memory inside a computer system serving as a server or a client in that case. In addition, the above-mentioned program may be a program which is used for realizing a portion of the aforementioned functions, and may be a program which is capable of realizing the aforementioned functions by a combination of programs previously recorded in the computer system.

In addition, some or all of each of the terminal device100, the base station device200, the base station control device300, and the management device400in each of the embodiments and modification examples described above may be typically realized by an LSI such as an integrated circuit, and may be realized by a chip set. In addition, each functional block of the terminal device100, the base station device200, the base station control device300, and the management device400in each of the embodiments and modification examples described above may be individually formed as a chip, and some or all of the functional blocks may be integrated and be formed as chips. In addition, a method of forming an integrated circuit may be realized using a dedicated circuit and/or a general-purpose processor without being limited to an LSI. In addition, in a case where an integrated circuit forming technique for replacement with an LSI appears with the development of semiconductor technology, it is also possible to use an integrated circuit formed using the technique.

Hereinbefore, each of the embodiments and modification examples has been described in detail as an aspect of this invention with the accompanying drawings, but specific configurations are not limited to each of the embodiments and modification examples, and also include a change in design and the like without departing from the scope of this invention. In addition, an aspect of the present invention can be changed variously in the scope shown in claims, and embodiments obtained by appropriately combining technical means disclosed in each different embodiment are also included in the technical scope of the present invention. In addition, configurations in which elements that are described in each of the embodiments and modification examples and exhibit the same effect are replaced with each other are included in the technical scope.

For example, an aspect of the present invention may be realized by combining some or all of the embodiments and modification examples.

EXPLANATION OF REFERENCES

200Base station device

236Area information acquisition unit

300Base station control device

332Position registration processing unit

400Information storage device