Patent Publication Number: US-2021168190-A1

Title: Communication device, user terminal, communication system, controlling method of same, and program

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a continuation of International Patent Application No. PCT/JP2019/014305 filed Mar. 29, 2019, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     An operator at a remote location may operate and move a vehicle through remote driving techniques. One element with remote driving may be to sufficiently suppress communication delay between an operator device operated by an operator performing remote driving and a user terminal provided in a vehicle. 
     SUMMARY 
     When communication quality is low, remote driving may not be possible. Therefore, communication quality in a traveling direction of a vehicle is acquired in advance, and remote driving is ended before the communication quality deteriorates. The communication quality may vary based on a type of user terminal. 
     According to an aspect of the disclosure, a communication system is provided. The communication system includes: a communication device having a memory storing instruction when executed by a processor causes the processor to transmit a command for requesting a response about communication quality to a specific type of user terminal; and a user terminal having a memory storing instruction when executed by a processor causes the processor to transmit the communication quality in response to the command. 
     According to another aspect of the disclosure, a computer-implemented method of controlling a communication system is provided. The method includes: transmitting by a communication device a command for requesting a response on communication quality to a specific type of user terminal; and receiving by the communication device the communication quality from a user terminal in response to the command. 
     According to another aspect of the disclosure, a user terminal is provided. The user terminal includes a memory storing instruction when executed by a processor causes the processor: to receive information identifying a specific type of user terminal from a communication device; determine whether or not the user terminal is the specific type based on the information; and transmit the communication quality if the user terminal is the specific type. 
     With the aforementioned, communication quality based on a type of user terminal can be acquired. Other features and advantages of the present disclosure will be apparent based on the following description with reference to the attached drawings. Note that in the attached drawings, the same or similar configurations are denoted by the same reference numerals. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The attached drawings are included in and make up a portion of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the present disclosure, and are used along with descriptions thereof to describe aspects of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a communication system according to an exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a user terminal according to an exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 3  is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a wireless base station according to an exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 4  is a sequence diagram illustrating an operation example of a communication system according to an exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 5  is a sequence diagram illustrating an operation example of a communication system according to an exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic diagram illustrating a road as a subject of control for communication quality according to an exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 7  is a flowchart illustrating a method of controlling a remote driving device according to an exemplary embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     Embodiments are described in detail below with reference to the attached drawings. Note that the following embodiments do not limit the disclosure according to the claims, and not all combinations of the features described in the embodiments are essential to the disclosure. Two or more of a plurality of features described in the embodiments may be arbitrarily combined. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a configuration example of a communication system according to an exemplary embodiment. The communication system may comply with any communication standard such as 3G, 4G, 5G, and the like. The communication system includes a plurality of user terminals (UE: user equipment), a wireless base station  130 , a core network  140 , and a remote driving device  150 . The user terminal is a communication device that receives a communication service from the core network  140 , and may also be referred to as a terminal device or simply a terminal. The user terminal may be one of various types of communication devices such as vehicles, mobile phones, and road management cameras. In the exemplary embodiment, a vehicle  110  (specifically, a communication device incorporated in the vehicle or brought into the vehicle) and a management camera  120  are shown as user terminals. The vehicle  110  is an example of a moving body, in other words, a user terminal that performs communication in a condition where a geographical position is not fixed and may be referred to as a mobile user terminal. The management camera  120  is a camera installed along a road to acquire a traffic condition, and may be also referred to as a road management camera or control camera. The management camera  120  is an example of a user terminal that performs communication in a condition where a geographical position is fixed and may be referred to as a fixed user terminal. 
     The wireless base station  130  is a communication device for providing a wireless connection with the user terminal. The wireless base station  130  may be referred to as an eNodeB in a 4G network, and a gNodeB in a 5G network. The wireless base station  130  is connected to the core network  140 . The vehicle  110  and management camera  120  may communicate with the Internet via the wireless base station  130  and core network  140 . 
     The remote driving device  150  is a device for providing a remote driving service to a vehicle having a remote driving function. A remote driving device  150  is positioned remotely from a vehicle to be provided with the remote driving service. For example, the remote driving device  150  provides a remote driving service to the vehicle  110 . 
     A configuration example of a user terminal  200  according to an exemplary embodiment is described while referring to  FIG. 2 . The user terminal  200  includes a processor  201 , memory  202 , inputting part  203 , outputting part  204 , and communicating part  205 . The user terminal  200  may include one or more other elements based on the type of communication device. If the user terminal  200  is the vehicle  110 , the user terminal  200  may further include one or more sensors for acquiring a condition of the vehicle  110 , condition of a driver, or peripheral information of the vehicle  110 , or a travel controlling part (for example, an electronic control unit (ECU) for automatic driving) that automatically controls at least one of steering or acceleration/deceleration of the vehicle  110 . When the user terminal  200  is the management camera  120 , the user terminal  200  may further include an image sensor or the like for imaging a road condition. 
     The processor  201  controls operation of the user terminal  200 . The processor  201  functions, for example, as a central processing unit (CPU). The memory  202  stores a program used for operation of the user terminal  200 , temporary data, and the like. The memory  202  is implemented, for example, by a read only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), or the like. Furthermore, the memory  202  may include a secondary storage such as a hard disk drive. The inputting part  203  is used by a user of the user terminal  200  to input to the user terminal  200 . The outputting part  204  is used to output information from the user terminal  200  to the user, and is implemented, for example, by a displaying device (e.g., display) or acoustic device (e.g., speaker). The communicating part  205  provides a function where the user terminal  200  communicates with another device such as the wireless base station  130 , another user terminal, or the like, and is implemented, for example, by an antenna, baseband processor, or the like. 
     The remote driving device  150  may have the same configuration as the user terminal  200 . Furthermore, the remote driving device  150  may include an operating device (for example, steering wheel, access pedal, brake pedal, or the like) for an operator of the remote driving device  150  to control a behavior of the vehicle  110 . 
     A configuration example of the wireless base station  130  according to an exemplary embodiment is described while referring to  FIG. 3 . The wireless base station  130  includes a processor  131 , a memory  132 , an inputting part  133 , an outputting part  134 , and a communicating part  135 . 
     The processor  131  controls operation of the wireless base station  130 . The processor  131  functions, for example, as a CPU. The memory  132  stores a program used for operation of the wireless base station  130 , temporary data, and the like. The memory  132  is implemented, for example, by a ROM, a RAM, or the like. Furthermore, the memory  132  may include a secondary storage such as a hard disk drive. The inputting part  133  is used by the user of the wireless base station  130  to input to the wireless base station  130 . The outputting part  134  is used to output information from the wireless base station  130  to the user, and is implemented, for example, by a displaying device (e.g., display) or acoustic device (e.g., speaker). The communicating part  135  provides a function where the wireless base station  130  communicates with another device such as the vehicle  110 , management camera  120 , entity within the core network  140 , or the like, and is implemented, for example, by an antenna, baseband processor, or the like. 
     A method where the wireless base station  130  acquires the communication quality of a specific type of user terminal  200  in some embodiments is described while referring for  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5 . Each step of the method described in  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5  may be performed, for example, by the processors of the devices (e.g., vehicle  110 , management camera  120 , wireless base station  130 , and the like) executing a program stored in the memory. Alternatively, some or all steps of the method may be implemented in hardware such as an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC). The methods in  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5  may be periodically executed by the wireless base station  130  to acquire the communication quality of the user terminal  200 , or may be executed in response to a request from another device (e.g., remote driving device  150 ). The communication quality of the user terminal  200  may be, for example, a measured value corresponding to a communication delay or a communicable data capacity. 
     In the method in  FIG. 4 , the wireless base station  130  individually transmits a command requesting a communication quality response (hereinafter, referred to as quality response command) to a specific type of user terminal  200 . Specifically, in step S 401 , the wireless base station  130  specifies a specific type of user terminal. A specific type of user terminal is a user terminal subject to communication quality measurement. For example, one specific type of user terminal may be a terminal at a specific geographical position (for example, user terminal within a radius of 50 m from a specific intersection). Additionally or alternatively, another specific type of user terminal may be a fixed user terminal (e.g., management camera  120 ). In some aspects, a list of fixed user terminals may be stored in advance in the memory  132  of the wireless base station  130 . The processor  131  of the wireless base station  130  may specify the specific type of user terminal by referencing the list in the memory  132 . In other aspects, the wireless base station  130  may inquire the user terminals in a cell about a current position, and identify a terminal at a specific geographical position based on the response. 
     In step S 402 , the wireless base station  130  transmits a quality response command to the specified specific type of user terminal. For example, the specific type of user terminal may be a fixed user terminal (e.g., management camera  120 ). In this case, a wireless base station  130  transmits a quality response command to the management camera  120 , and does not transmit a quality response command to the vehicle  110 . 
     In step S 403 , the user terminal  200  (e.g., management camera  120 ) receiving the quality response command transmits the communication quality to the wireless base station  130  in response to the quality response command. In some aspects, the wireless base station  130  may provide the communication quality acquired thereby in response to a request from another device (e.g., remote driving device  150 ). 
     The user terminal  200  may transmit the communication quality to another device in addition to or in place of transmitting the communication quality to the wireless base station  130  in step S 403 . A transmission destination to another device may be set in advance or designated by the quality response command. The user terminal  200  may newly measure and transmit the communication quality after receiving the quality response command, or may transmit the communication quality measured immediately prior to receiving the quality response command. 
     In the method in  FIG. 5 , the wireless base station  130  broadcasts a command requesting a communication quality response along with information identifying a specific type of user terminal  200 . Specifically, in step S 501 , the wireless base station  130  broadcasts a quality response command to user terminals  200  included in a cell along with information identifying the specific type of user terminal  200 . 
     In step S 502 , each user terminal  200  determines whether or not its own type is the specific type based on the information received along with the quality response command. For example, the information identifying the specific type of user terminal may indicate a fixed user terminal (e.g., management camera  120 ). In this case, the management camera  120  determines that its own type is the specific type, and the vehicle  110  determines that its own type is not the specific type. 
     In step S 503 , the user terminal  200  (specifically, management camera  120 ) determining that its own type is the specific type transmits the communication quality to the wireless base station  130  in response to the quality response command. The user terminal  200  (specifically, vehicle  110 ) determining that its own type is not the specific type does not respond to the quality response command. 
     In either of the methods of  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5 , the wireless base station  130  transmits the quality response command to the user terminal  200  of a specific type. Therefore, the wireless base station  130  may acquire the communication quality from only the user terminal  200  of the specific type. 
     In the methods of  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5 , the wireless base station  130  is the communication device that transmits a quality response command to the specific type of user terminal. Alternatively, a communication device other than the wireless base station  130  may transmit a quality response command to the specific type of user terminal. For example, another communication device that may transmit a quality response command may be a device within the core network  140  such as a mobility management entity (MME) or a server device providing a predetermined service (e.g., remote driving device  150 ). 
     An example of a specific type of user terminal  200  is described while referring to  FIG. 6 . A road  601  is a road associated with whether or not a predetermined operating mode (e.g., automatic driving mode, remote driving mode) may be executed in a moving body (e.g., vehicle  110 ) moving on the road. For example, the road  601  may be a road associated with whether or not a remote driving mode may be executed in the vehicle  110 . Alternatively, the road  601  may be associated with whether or not an automatic driving mode may be executed, or the road  601  may be associated with whether or not another operating mode may be executed. Furthermore, the concept of a road may include a part of the road. 
     The road  601  associated with whether or not a remote driving mode can be executed may be a road where the vehicle  110  is scheduled to execute the remote driving mode. The road scheduled for executing the remote driving mode may, for example, be a road having a lane dedicated to remote driving based on traffic regulations or the like. For example, the remote driving device  150  may provide a high-precision remote driving service by acquiring the communication quality from the user terminal  200  associated with the road  601  (e.g., management camera  120  provided along the road  601 ). Therefore, the remote driving device  150  sets the road  601  as a specific area and monitors or manages the communication quality of the specific area. Specifically, the remote driving device  150  acquires the communication quality from the user terminal  200  associated with the specific area. The user terminal  200  associated with the specific area may be a user terminal (e.g., management camera  120 ) used in a condition fixed at a specific geographical position (e.g., a geographical position along the road  601 ). 
     An example of a method of controlling the remote driving device  150  is described while referring to  FIG. 7 . The method may be performed by a processor of the remote driving device  150  executing a program stored in the memory. Alternatively, some or all steps of the method may be executed in a dedicated circuit such as an ASIC. With the former case, the processor is a component for a specific operation, and with the latter case, the dedicated circuit is a component for a specific operation. The controlling method in  FIG. 7  is repeatedly executed while the remote driving device  150  provides a remote driving service to the vehicle  110 . While the remote driving device provides a remote driving service, may include a condition where the remote driving device  150  operates the vehicle  110  and a condition where the remote driving device  150  may operate the vehicle  110  (for example, a situation where a condition of the vehicle  110  is monitored). 
     In step S 701 , the remote driving device  150  acquires the communication quality on the road  601 . Specifically, the remote driving device  150  executes the method of  FIG. 4  or  FIG. 5  to acquire the communication quality from the user terminal  200  associated with the road  601  (e.g., management camera  120  provided along the road  601 ). In this manner, the remote driving device  150  manages the communication quality of the road  601 . In other words, the remote driving device  150  includes a quality managing part that manages the communication quality of the road  601 . Furthermore, the remote driving device  150  controls an operation of the vehicle  110 . Therefore, the remote driving device  150  further includes a vehicle controlling part that controls an operation of the vehicle  110 . 
     In step S 702 , the remote driving device  150  determines whether or not a value of the communication quality on the road  601  is higher than a threshold value. When the value of the communication quality is higher than the threshold value (“YES” in step S 702 ), the remote driving device  150  transitions the process to step S 703 . In other cases (“NO” in step S 702 ), the remote driving device  150  transitions the process to the step S 704 . The threshold value may be the communication quality required for providing a remote driving service with a predetermined accuracy. 
     In step S 703 , the remote driving device  150  permits execution of the remote driving mode on the road  601 . Therefore, the vehicle  110  may travel on the road  601 . On the other hand, in step S 704 , the remote driving device  150  limits execution of the remote driving mode on the road  601 . Therefore, the vehicle  110  cannot travel on the road  601 . 
     In the examples in  FIG. 6  and  FIG. 7 , the road  601  is a road dedicated to remote driving, and therefore, the remote driving device  150  determines whether or not the remote driving mode for a vehicle  110  may be executed on the road  601 . Alternatively, when the road  601  is a road dedicated to automatic driving, the vehicle  110  may determine whether or not to execute the automatic driving mode for the vehicle on the road  601 . 
     According to one embodiment of the disclosure, a communication system includes: a communication device ( 130 , S 402 , S 501 ) comprising a memory storing instruction when executed by a processor causes the processor to transmit a command for requesting a response on communication quality to a specific type of user terminal ( 120 ), and a user terminal ( 120 , S 403 , S 503 ) comprising a memory storing instruction when executed by a processor causes the processor to transmit the communication quality in response to the command. With this embodiment, the communication quality based on a type of user terminal may be acquired. 
     The communication system according to the above embodiment, where the communication device processor broadcasts information identifying the specific type of user terminal and the command (S 501 ), and the user terminal processor determines whether or not the user terminal is the specific type based on the information (S 502 ) and transmits the communication quality if the user terminal is the specific type (S 503 ). With this embodiment, whether or not a user terminal responds to a command may be determined. 
     The communication system according to any one of the above embodiments, further including a driving device ( 150 ) comprising a memory storing instruction when executed by a processor causes the processor to control communication quality of a specific area ( 601 ), where the communication device processor specifies a user terminal associated with the specific area as the specific type of user terminal. With this embodiment, the communication quality in a specific area may be acquired. 
     The communication system according to any one of the above embodiments, where the specific type of user terminal includes at least one of a user terminal in a specific geographical position and a user terminal used in a condition where a geographical position is fixed. With this embodiment, the communication quality of a specific type of user terminal may be acquired. 
     The communication system according to any one of the above embodiments, where the specific type of user terminal includes a user terminal used in a condition fixed at a specific geographical position. With this embodiment, a stable communication quality at a specific position may be acquired. 
     The communication system according to the above embodiment, where the specific geographical position is a position associated with a specific road ( 601 ). With this embodiment, the communication quality on a specific road may be acquired. 
     The communication system according to the above embodiment, where the specific road is a road ( 601 ) associated with a predetermined operating mode in a moving body moving on the road. With this embodiment, the communication quality on a road associated with a predetermined operating mode may be acquired. 
     The communication system according to the above embodiment, further including a driving device ( 110 ,  150 ) comprising a memory storing instruction when executed by a processor causes the processor to control an operation of the moving body, where the driving device determines whether or not to execute the predetermined operating mode in the moving body on the specific road based on the communication quality response from the user terminal (S 702 ). With this embodiment, whether or not an operating mode may be executed may be determined based on the communication quality. 
     The communication system according to the above embodiment, where the driving device ( 150 ) is provided in a device that manages the communication quality of a specific area. With this embodiment, a device managing communication quality may control an operation of a moving body. 
     The communication system according to the above embodiment, where the driving device is provided in the moving body. With this embodiment, a moving body may control its own operation based on the communication quality. 
     The communication system according to any one of the above embodiments, where the communication device is a wireless base station ( 130 ). With this embodiment, a wireless base station may acquire the communication quality. 
     According to a second embodiment of the disclosure, a computer-implemented method of controlling a communication system including: transmitting by the communication device ( 130 ) a command for requesting a response on communication quality to a specific type of user terminal ( 120 ) (S 402 , S 501 ), and receiving by the communication device ( 120 ) the communication quality in response to the command from a user terminal (S 403 , S 503 ). With this embodiment, the communication quality based on a type of user terminal may be acquired. 
     A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing instructions that when executed by a processor of a computer, cause the computer to perform the method according to the above embodiment. According to this embodiment, the aforementioned embodiments may be implemented in a program form. 
     According to a third embodiment of the disclosure, a communication device ( 130 ) including a memory storing instruction when executed by a processor causes the processor to transmit a command for requesting a response on communication quality to a specify type of user terminal ( 120 ). With this embodiment, the communication quality based on a type of user terminal may be acquired. 
     According to a fourth embodiment of the disclosure, a user terminal ( 110 ,  120 ) including a memory storing instruction when executed by a processor causes the processor to: receive (S 501 ) information identifying a specific type of user terminal ( 120 ) from a communication device ( 130 ); determine (S 502 ) whether or not the user terminal is the specific type based on the information; and transmit (S 503 ) the communication quality if the user terminal is the specific type. With this embodiment, the communication quality based on a type of user terminal may be acquired. 
     The present disclosure is not limited to the aforementioned embodiments, and various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Therefore, the following claims are attached to publish the scope of the present disclosure.