Patent Description:
A flight vehicle which has an antenna and flies in a stratosphere in order to provide a stratospheric platform has been proposed (for example, see <CIT>).

<CIT> describes reducing the communication traffic over a feeder link that is between a terrestrial or marine communication network and an aerial communication relay device that includes a relay communication station that has been installed in an aircraft; and thereby makes effective use of a radio resource that is used for the feeder link. A communication relay device includes a relay communication station that is installed in an aircraft and relays communications between a terminal device and a communication network, and an information processing unit that performs information processing that uses data that the relay communication station has received from the terminal device and/or data that the relay communication station transmits to the terminal device.

<CIT> describes providing a mobile communication network loop-backing user data in a radio network controller. When a transmission signal from a caller terminal informs a CN <NUM> via an RNC <NUM>, the CN <NUM> carries out CN main processing and when discriminating a called terminal to be under the control of the RNC <NUM>, the CN <NUM> transmits a user data loopback instruction message to the RNC <NUM> and stores the information that the caller terminal and the called terminal make communication under the control of the same RNC <NUM> to a database. When loopback of the user data in the RNC <NUM> is finished, the RNC <NUM> returns an acknowledgement to the CN <NUM>. Then, the CN <NUM> carries out ordinary call processing, and the caller terminal and the called terminal under the control of the same RNC <NUM> are in a speech state. <CIT> discloses a communication device configured to route communications between one or more out-of-coverage communication devices and a base station using one or more proximity services (ProSe). For example, the communication device can be configured as a mobile device-to network relay. The communication device can be configured to route communications between two or more out-of-coverage communication devices that are serviced by the communication device. The communication device can be configured to utilize Layer <NUM> and/or internet protocol (IP) routing. A base station can be configured to route communications between two or communication devices serviced by the base station. The base station can also be communication coupled to another base station via a backhaul communication connection, and be configured to route communications from one or more communication devices serviced by the base station to one or more other communication devices serviced by the other base station via the backhaul communication connection.

<CIT> discloses a method and network device for home VLAN identification for roaming mobile clients.

Specifically, the disclosed method and system detects that the mobile client has roamed away from a first network to a second network, maintains a mapping between a virtual local area network (VLAN) corresponding to the mobile client and a tunnel corresponding to a foreign agent in the second network, and forwards packets to or from the mobile client on the VLAN based on the mapping between the VLAN and the tunnel via which the packets are received. Therefore, the disclosed method and system allows for identification of home VLANs for roaming mobile clients without merging VLAN policy configurations at the home agent and the foreign agent.

Embodiments of the invention are defined by the dependent claims. According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a flight vehicle. The flight vehicle has an antenna for forming a wireless communication area by irradiating beam towards a ground to provide a wireless communication service to a user terminal in the wireless communication area. The flight vehicle includes an FL communication unit which communicates with a core network on the ground via a feeder link. The flight vehicle includes a UP execution unit which executes a user plane function. The flight vehicle includes a communication control unit which performs control such that communication between a first user terminal in the wireless communication area and a second user terminal is relayed without intermediation of the core network by the user plane function.

The communication control unit may perform control such that communication between the first user terminal in the wireless communication area and the second user terminal in another wireless communication area of another flight vehicle is relayed without intermediation of the core network. The communication control unit may perform control such that a closed area network is constructed between the first user terminal in the wireless communication area and the second user terminal in the other wireless communication area of the other flight vehicle. The flight vehicle includes a base station unit which executes a base station function, and a switch unit connected to the base station unit, the UP execution unit, and the FL communication unit, and the communication control unit controls the switch unit such that a closed area network is constructed between the first user terminal in the wireless communication area and the second user terminal in the other wireless communication area of the other flight vehicle. The switch unit may be an L3 switch, and the communication control unit may perform control such that the closed area network is constructed by a VRF. The switch unit may be an L2 switch, and the communication control unit may perform control such that the closed area network is constructed by a VLAN. The communication control unit may perform control such that communication between the first user terminal in the wireless communication area and the second user terminal in the wireless communication area is relayed without intermediation of the core network. The communication control unit may perform control such that a closed area network is constructed between the first user terminal in the wireless communication area and the second user terminal in the wireless communication area. The communication control unit may perform control such that in response to an instruction received from the core network via the FL communication unit, the UP execution unit is caused to activate the user plane function to relay the communication between the first user terminal and the second user terminal without intermediation of the core network by the user plane function. In response to an end of the communication between the first user terminal and the second user terminal, the communication control unit may cause the UP execution unit to stop the user plane function.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a communication management system including the flight vehicle, and a control system arranged in the core network, in which the communication control unit performs control such that in response to an instruction from the control system, communication between a first user terminal in the wireless communication area and a second user terminal is relayed without intermediation of the core network by the user plane function. When the first user terminal and the second user terminal have a contract for performing communication via the flight vehicle without intermediation of a core network, the control system may transmit the instruction to the communication control unit. The control system may have a determination unit which determines whether the first user terminal and the second user terminal are contract user terminals which have the contract. The control system may transmit, to the communication control unit, an instruction for relaying communication between the first user terminal and the second user terminal without intermediation of the core network when the determination unit determines that the first user terminal and the second user terminal are the contract user terminals which have the contract. The communication management unit may include an instruction for activating the user plane function in the instruction. The communication management unit may include an instruction for constructing a closed area network between the first user terminal and the second user terminal in the instruction. The determination unit may further determine whether the first user terminal and the second user terminal belong to a same organization. When the determination unit determines that the first user terminal and the second user terminal are the contract user terminals and also belong to the same organization, the communication management unit may transmit, to the communication control unit, an instruction for relaying communication between the first user terminal and the second user terminal without intermediation of the core network. The communication management unit may include, in the instruction, an instruction for constructing a closed area network corresponding to an organization to which the first user terminal and the second user terminal belong.

According to a non-claimed example useful for understanding the invention, there is provided a control system arranged in a core network on a ground. The control system may include a determination unit which determines, when a connection request to a second user terminal by a first user terminal present in the wireless communication area of a flight vehicle having an antenna for forming the wireless communication area by irradiating beam towards the ground is received from the flight vehicle, whether the first user terminal and the second user terminal are contract user terminals which have a contract for performing communication via the flight vehicle without intermediation of the core network. The control system may include a communication management unit which transmits, to the flight vehicle, an instruction for relaying communication between the first user terminal and the second user terminal without intermediation of the core network when the determination unit determines that the first user terminal and the second user terminal are the contract user terminals.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a control method executed by a flight vehicle which has an antenna for forming a wireless communication area by irradiating beam towards a ground to provide a wireless communication service to a user terminal in the wireless communication area. The control method may include performing FL communication to communicate with a core network on the ground via a feeder link. The control method may include performing UP execution by executing a user plane function. The control method may include performing communication control by performing control such that communication between a first user terminal in the wireless communication area and a second user terminal is relayed without intermediation of the core network by the user plane function. In addition, according to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a control method executed by a control system arranged in a core network on a ground. The control method may include determining, when a connection request to a second user terminal by a first user terminal present in the wireless communication area of a flight vehicle having an antenna for forming the wireless communication area by irradiating beam towards the ground is received from the flight vehicle, whether the first user terminal and the second user terminal are contract user terminals which have a contract for performing communication via the flight vehicle without intermediation of the core network. The control method may include transmitting, to the flight vehicle, an instruction for relaying communication between the first user terminal and the second user terminal without intermediation of the core network when it is determined in the determining that the first user terminal and the second user terminal are the contract user terminals.

A flight vehicle such as an HAPS (High Altitude Platform Station) which forms a wireless communication area on a ground while flying in a sky, and provides a wireless communication service to a user terminal on the ground has been proposed. A base station mounted to the flight vehicle accesses a core network on the ground via a feeder link. When the base station of the flight vehicle relays communication between a plurality of user terminals via the core network on the ground similarly as in a base station on the ground, the communication is always performed via the feeder link, and a bandwidth of the feeder link is consumed. In addition, with regard to the feeder link, in general, a frequency is high, and a quality tends to deteriorate by an effect of weather. In the communication management system <NUM> according to the present embodiment, when user terminals at locations served by the flight vehicle mutually perform communication, the flight vehicle provides a scheme for relaying the communication between the mutual user terminals without the intermediation of the core network on the ground. Thus, a communication delay can be reduced, and a chance of the deterioration of the quality by the effect of the weather can be reduced.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described through embodiments of the invention, but the following embodiments do not limit the invention according to claims. In addition, not all combinations of features described in the embodiment are essential to the solution of the invention.

<FIG> schematically illustrates an example of a communication management system <NUM>. The communication management system <NUM> may include an HAPS <NUM> and a control system <NUM>.

The HAPS <NUM> may be an example of a flight vehicle. The HAPS <NUM> may function as a stratospheric platform. The HAPS <NUM> forms a feeder link <NUM> with a gateway <NUM> on the ground while flying in a stratosphere, and also forms a wireless communication area <NUM> by irradiating beam <NUM> towards the ground.

The HAPS <NUM> includes a main body section <NUM>, a wing section <NUM>, and a solar panel <NUM>. Electric power generated by the solar panel <NUM> is stored in one or more batteries arranged in at least any of the main body section <NUM> or the wing section <NUM>. The electric power stored in the battery is used by each component included in the HAPS <NUM>.

A flight control device <NUM> and a communication control device <NUM> are arranged in the main body section <NUM>. The flight control device <NUM> controls flight of the HAPS <NUM>. The communication control device <NUM> controls communication of the HAPS <NUM>.

The flight control device <NUM> controls the flight of the HAPS <NUM> by controlling, for example, a rotation of a propeller, an angle of a flap or an elevator, or the like. The flight control device <NUM> may manage various types of sensors included in the HAPS <NUM>. Examples of the sensors include a positioning sensor such as a GPS (Global Positioning System) sensor, a gyro sensor, an acceleration sensor, and the like. The flight control device <NUM> may manage a position, an attitude, a movement direction, a movement speed, and the like of the HAPS <NUM> by outputs of the various types of sensors.

The communication control device <NUM> may form the feeder link <NUM> with the gateway <NUM> by using an FL (Feeder Link) antenna. The communication control device <NUM> may access a core network <NUM> via the gateway <NUM>. The communication control device <NUM> may communicate with the control system <NUM> of the core network <NUM>.

The communication control device <NUM> may form the wireless communication area <NUM> by irradiating the beam <NUM> towards the ground by using an SL (Service Link) antenna. The communication control device <NUM> may establish a service link with a user terminal <NUM> in the wireless communication area <NUM>.

The communication control device <NUM> relays communication between the core network <NUM> and the user terminal <NUM> via the feeder link <NUM> and the service link, for example. The communication control device <NUM> may provide the wireless communication service to the user terminal <NUM> by relaying the communication between the user terminal <NUM> and the core network <NUM>.

The HAPS <NUM> may circle in a sky above a target area in order to cover the target area on the ground by the wireless communication area <NUM>. For example, while flying in the sky above the target area in a circular orbit, the HAPS <NUM> maintains the feeder link <NUM> with the gateway <NUM> by adjusting an orientation direction of the FL antenna, and maintains the coverage of the target area by the wireless communication area <NUM> by adjusting an orientation direction of the SL antenna.

The core network <NUM> may be managed by a telecommunications carrier. The core network <NUM> may be compliant to an LTE (Long Term Evolution) communication method. That is, the core network <NUM> may be an EPC (Evolved Packet Core). The core network <NUM> may be compliant to a <NUM> (5th Generation) communication method. That is, the core network <NUM> may be a 5GC (5th Generation Core network). The core network <NUM> may be compliant to a <NUM> (3rd Generation) communication method, or may be compliant to a <NUM> (6th Generation) communication method and subsequent communication methods.

The control system <NUM> may include some functions of the core network <NUM>. In this case, the control system <NUM> includes a part of the core network <NUM>, and the other part of the core network <NUM> is arranged outside the control system <NUM>. The control system <NUM> may include all functions of the core network <NUM>.

For example, when the core network <NUM> is compliant to the LTE communication method, the control system <NUM> includes some or all of an HSS (Home Subscriber Server), an MME (Mobility Management Entity), an SGW (Serving Gateway), a PGW (Packet Data Network Gateway), and a PCRF (Policy and Charging Rules Function).

For example, when the core network <NUM> is compliant to the <NUM> communication method, the control system <NUM> includes a part or all of a UDM (Unified Data Management), an AMF (Access and Mobility Management Function), an SMF (Session Management Function), a PCF (Policy Control Function), an AUSF (Authentication Server Function), and an NSSF (Network Slice Selection Function).

<FIG> is an explanatory diagram for describing relay of communication by an HAPS <NUM>. A user plane function is implemented in the HAPS <NUM> according to the present embodiment. When the core network <NUM> is compliant to the LTE communication method, an SPGW-U may be implemented in the HAPS <NUM>. When the core network <NUM> is compliant to the <NUM> communication method, a UPF (User Plane Function) may be implemented in the HAPS <NUM>.

When a first user terminal <NUM> and a second user terminal <NUM> which are served by the HAPS <NUM> perform communication, the HAPS <NUM> communicates with the core network <NUM> on the ground via the feeder link <NUM> with regard to control data of a control plane, and relays, on the other hand, the communication between the first user terminal <NUM> and the second user terminal <NUM> without intermediation of the core network <NUM> with regard to user data of a user plane.

Thus, the communication delay can be reduced as compared with a case where the user data is relayed via the feeder link <NUM> and the core network <NUM>. In addition, the bandwidth consumption of the feeder link <NUM> can be reduced. In addition, it is possible to avoid the effect from the weather or the like between the HAPS <NUM> and the gateway <NUM> in the relay of the user data.

<FIG> is an explanatory diagram for describing relay of communication by the HAPS <NUM>. Herein, different aspects from <FIG> will be mainly described. The HAPS <NUM> according to the present embodiment may have a function of directly wirelessly communicating with another HAPS <NUM> in the sky. The HAPS <NUM> may communicate with the other HAPS <NUM> via a feeder link <NUM>.

When the first user terminal <NUM> served by the HAPS <NUM> and the second user terminal <NUM> served by the other HAPS <NUM> perform communication, the HAPS <NUM> communicates with the core network <NUM> on the ground via the feeder link <NUM> with regard to the control data of the control plane, and relays, on the other hand, the communication between the first user terminal <NUM> and the second user terminal <NUM> without intermediation of the core network <NUM> with regard to the user data of the user plane.

<FIG> schematically illustrates an example of a functional configuration of the communication control device <NUM>. The communication control device <NUM> includes a communication control unit <NUM>, an FL communication unit <NUM>, a base station unit <NUM>, an UP execution unit <NUM>, and a switch unit <NUM>.

The FL communication unit <NUM> establishes the feeder link <NUM> with the gateway <NUM> on the ground by an FL antenna for communication with the gateway <NUM> on the ground. The FL communication unit <NUM> communicates with the core network <NUM> on the ground via the feeder link <NUM>.

The FL communication unit <NUM> establishes the feeder link <NUM> with the other HAPS <NUM> by an FL antenna for communication with the other HAPS <NUM>. The HAPS <NUM> may include a plurality of FL antennas for communication with the other HAPS <NUM>, and the FL communication unit <NUM> may establish the feeder link <NUM> with each of a plurality of other HAPSs <NUM>. The FL communication unit <NUM> communicates with the other HAPS <NUM> via the feeder link <NUM>.

The base station unit <NUM> executes a base station function. The base station unit <NUM> forms the wireless communication area <NUM> by irradiating the beam <NUM> towards the ground by using the SL antenna. The base station unit <NUM> may establish a service link with the user terminal <NUM> in the wireless communication area <NUM>. The base station unit <NUM> functions as an eNB (eNodeB), for example. In addition, the base station unit <NUM> functions as a gNB (gNodeB), for example.

The UP execution unit <NUM> executes the user plane function. The UP execution unit <NUM> may be able to execute the user plane function as software. The UP execution unit <NUM> may be able to activate or stop the user plane function.

The switch unit <NUM> is connected to the FL communication unit <NUM>, the base station unit <NUM>, and the UP execution unit <NUM>. The switch unit <NUM> is a physical switch. The switch unit <NUM> is, for example, an L3 switch. In addition, the switch unit <NUM> is, for example, an L2 switch.

The communication control unit <NUM> may perform control such that communication between a plurality of mutual user terminals <NUM> in the wireless communication area <NUM> is relayed without intermediation of the core network <NUM> by the user plane function of the UP execution unit <NUM>. In addition, the communication control unit <NUM> may perform control such that communication between the user terminal <NUM> in the wireless communication area <NUM> and the user terminal <NUM> in the wireless communication area <NUM> of the other HAPS <NUM> is relayed without intermediation of the core network <NUM>.

The communication control unit <NUM> causes the UP execution unit <NUM> to activate the user plane function in response to an instruction received from the control system <NUM> of the core network <NUM> via the FL communication unit <NUM>. Then, the communication between the plurality of mutual user terminals <NUM> in the wireless communication area <NUM> is relayed or the communication between the user terminal <NUM> in the wireless communication area <NUM> and the user terminal <NUM> in the other wireless communication area <NUM> of the other HAPS <NUM> is relayed by the user plane function.

The control system <NUM> stores information of the user terminal <NUM> in advance which has a return communication contract, for example. The return communication contract may be a contract for performing, when the user terminal is present in the wireless communication area <NUM> of the HAPS <NUM> and performs communication via the HAPS <NUM>, communication via the HAPS <NUM> without intermediation of the core network <NUM>. The control system <NUM> may store the information of the user terminal <NUM> which has the contract for each of organizations for which communication lines are desirably partitioned from a security point of view. Examples of the organizations include an enterprise, an institution, and the like, but may also be an organization constituted regardless of such a partition.

For example, when a connection request from the first user terminal <NUM> present in the wireless communication area <NUM> of a first HAPS <NUM> to the second user terminal <NUM> present in the wireless communication area <NUM> of a second HAPS <NUM> is received via the first HAPS <NUM>, the control system <NUM> confirms whether the first user terminal <NUM> and the second user terminal <NUM> have the return communication contract.

When it is determined that the user terminals have the return communication contract, the control system <NUM> transmits an instruction for activating the user plane function to each of the first HAPS <NUM> and the second HAPS <NUM>. Then, the control system <NUM> causes the first HAPS <NUM> and the second HAPS <NUM> to construct a closed area network between the first user terminal <NUM> and the second user terminal <NUM>. The control system <NUM> may cause the first HAPS <NUM> and the second HAPS <NUM> to construct a closed area network corresponding to an organization to which the first user terminal <NUM> and the second user terminal <NUM> belong. For example, when communication between a third user terminal <NUM> and a fourth user terminal <NUM> which belong to an organization different from that of the first user terminal <NUM> and the second user terminal <NUM> is to be relayed, the control system <NUM> may cause the first HAPS <NUM> and the second HAPS <NUM> to construct a closed area network corresponding to the organization to which the third user terminal <NUM> and the fourth user terminal <NUM> belong.

When the control system <NUM> determines that the user terminals do not have the return communication contract, the communication between the first user terminal <NUM> and the second user terminal <NUM> is executed via the HAPS <NUM> by the user plane function on the ground.

The communication control unit <NUM> may perform control such that the UP execution unit <NUM> is caused to activate the user plane function in response to an instruction received from the core network <NUM> via the FL communication unit <NUM>, and the communication between the first user terminal <NUM> and the second user terminal <NUM> is relayed without intermediation of the core network <NUM> by the user plane function. The communication control unit <NUM> may cause the UP execution unit <NUM> to stop the user plane function in response to an end of communication between the first user terminal <NUM> and the second user terminal <NUM>. Thus, the electric power consumption can be appropriately reduced.

After causing the UP execution unit <NUM> to activate the user plane function in response to an instruction from the control system <NUM>, the communication control unit <NUM> controls the switch unit <NUM> such that a closed area network is constructed between the first user terminal <NUM> and the second user terminal <NUM>. When the switch unit <NUM> is an L3 switch, the communication control unit <NUM> may construct the closed area network by a VRF (Virtual Routing and Forwarding). When the switch unit <NUM> is an L2 switch, the communication control unit <NUM> may construct the closed area network by a VLAN (Virtual Local Area Network).

For example, when a connection request from the first user terminal <NUM> present in the wireless communication area <NUM> of the first HAPS <NUM> to the second user terminal <NUM> present in the wireless communication area <NUM> of the first HAPS <NUM> is received via the first HAPS <NUM>, the control system <NUM> similarly confirms whether the first user terminal <NUM> and the second user terminal <NUM> have the return communication contract.

When it is determined that the user terminals have the return communication contract, the control system <NUM> transmits an instruction for activating the user plane function to the first HAPS <NUM>. Then, the control system <NUM> causes the first HAPS <NUM> to construct a closed area network between the first user terminal <NUM> and the second user terminal <NUM>. The control system <NUM> may cause the first HAPS <NUM> to construct a closed area network corresponding to an organization to which the first user terminal <NUM> and the second user terminal <NUM> belong.

After causing the UP execution unit <NUM> to activate the user plane function in response to an instruction from the control system <NUM>, the communication control unit <NUM> controls the switch unit <NUM> such that a closed area network is constructed between the first user terminal <NUM> and the second user terminal <NUM>. When the switch unit <NUM> is an L3 switch, the communication control unit <NUM> may construct the closed area network by a VRF. When the switch unit <NUM> is an L2 switch, the communication control unit <NUM> may construct the closed area network by a VLAN.

<FIG> schematically illustrates an example of a functional configuration of the control system <NUM>. The control system <NUM> includes a registration unit <NUM>, an information management unit <NUM>, a communication unit <NUM>, a communication management unit <NUM>, a terminal location identification unit <NUM>, and a determination unit <NUM>.

The registration unit <NUM> registers information of the user terminal <NUM>. The registration unit <NUM> registers various types of contract information related to the user terminal <NUM>. The registration unit <NUM> registers the return communication contract of the user terminal <NUM>, for example. The information management unit <NUM> manages the information of the user terminal <NUM> which is registered by the registration unit <NUM>.

The communication unit <NUM> executes various types of communication. The communication unit <NUM> communicates with the HAPS <NUM> via the core network <NUM> and the gateway <NUM>, for example. In addition, the communication unit <NUM> communicates, via the HAPS <NUM>, with the user terminal <NUM> present in the wireless communication area <NUM> of the HAPS <NUM>. The communication management unit <NUM> manages communication performed by the communication unit <NUM>.

The terminal location identification unit <NUM> identifies a location of the user terminal <NUM>. For example, the terminal location identification unit <NUM> identifies in which one of a plurality of the HAPSs <NUM> the user terminal <NUM> is present.

When a connection request to the second user terminal <NUM> by the first user terminal <NUM> present in the wireless communication area <NUM> of the HAPS <NUM> is received from the HAPS <NUM>, the determination unit <NUM> determines whether the first user terminal <NUM> and the second user terminal <NUM> are contract user terminals which have the return communication contract.

For example, when a connection request to the second user terminal <NUM> present in a second wireless communication area <NUM> different from a first wireless communication area <NUM> by the first user terminal <NUM> present in the first wireless communication area <NUM> is received, the determination unit <NUM> determines whether the first user terminal <NUM> and the second user terminal <NUM> are contract user terminals which have the return communication contract. When the determination unit <NUM> determines that the first user terminal <NUM> and the second user terminal <NUM> are the contract user terminals, the communication management unit <NUM> may transmit, to the HAPS <NUM> which forms the first wireless communication area <NUM> and the HAPS <NUM> which forms the second wireless communication area <NUM>, an instruction for relaying the communication between the first user terminal <NUM> and the second user terminal <NUM> without intermediation of the core network <NUM>. The communication management unit <NUM> may include an instruction for activating the user plane function in the instruction. The communication management unit <NUM> may include an instruction for constructing a closed area network between the first user terminal <NUM> and the second user terminal <NUM> in the instruction. When the determination unit <NUM> determines that at least any of the first user terminal <NUM> or the second user terminal <NUM> is not the contract user terminal, the communication management unit <NUM> may perform control such that the communication between the first user terminal <NUM> and the second user terminal <NUM> is performed by the user plane function on the ground.

The determination unit <NUM> may further determine whether the first user terminal <NUM> and the second user terminal <NUM> belong to a same organization. When the determination unit <NUM> determines that the first user terminal <NUM> and the second user terminal <NUM> are the contract user terminals and also belong to the same organization, the communication management unit <NUM> may transmit an instruction, to the HAPS <NUM> which forms the first wireless communication area <NUM> and the HAPS <NUM> which forms the second wireless communication area <NUM>, for relaying the communication between the first user terminal <NUM> and the second user terminal <NUM> without intermediation of the core network <NUM>. The communication management unit <NUM> may include, in the instruction, an instruction for constructing a closed area network corresponding to the organization to which the first user terminal <NUM> and the second user terminal <NUM> belong.

In addition, for example, when a connection request to the second user terminal <NUM> present in the first wireless communication area <NUM> by the first user terminal <NUM> present in the first wireless communication area <NUM> is received, the determination unit <NUM> determines whether the first user terminal <NUM> and the second user terminal <NUM> are contract user terminals which have the return communication contract. When the determination unit <NUM> determines that the first user terminal <NUM> and the second user terminal <NUM> are the contract user terminals, the communication management unit <NUM> may transmit an instruction for relaying the communication between the first user terminal <NUM> and the second user terminal <NUM> without intermediation of the core network <NUM> to the HAPS <NUM> which forms the first wireless communication area <NUM>. The communication management unit <NUM> may include an instruction for activating the user plane function in the instruction. The communication management unit <NUM> may include an instruction for constructing a closed area network between the first user terminal <NUM> and the second user terminal <NUM> in the instruction. When the determination unit <NUM> determines that at least any of the first user terminal <NUM> or the second user terminal <NUM> is not the contract user terminal, the communication management unit <NUM> may perform control such that the communication between the first user terminal <NUM> and the second user terminal <NUM> is performed by the user plane function on the ground.

The determination unit <NUM> may further determine whether the first user terminal <NUM> and the second user terminal <NUM> belong to a same organization. When the determination unit <NUM> determines that the first user terminal <NUM> and the second user terminal <NUM> are the contract user terminals and also belong to the same organization, the communication management unit <NUM> may transmit, to the HAPS <NUM> which forms the first wireless communication area <NUM>, an instruction for relaying the communication between the first user terminal <NUM> and the second user terminal <NUM> without intermediation of the core network <NUM>. The communication management unit <NUM> may include, in the instruction, an instruction for constructing a closed area network corresponding to the organization to which the first user terminal <NUM> and the second user terminal <NUM> belong.

<FIG> schematically illustrates an example of a configuration of the communication control device <NUM> and the control system <NUM>. Herein, the communication control device <NUM> and the control system <NUM> are compliant to the LTE communication method, and a state is exemplified in which a first communication control device <NUM> establishes a feeder link with each of a Feeder Link GW <NUM> on the ground and a second communication control device <NUM>.

The communication control device <NUM> includes a Feeder Link <NUM>, an eNB <NUM>, an SPGW-U <NUM>, and an L2/<NUM> SW <NUM>. The Feeder Link <NUM> may be an example of the FL communication unit <NUM>. The eNB <NUM> may be an example of the base station unit <NUM>. The SPGW-U <NUM> may be an example of the UP execution unit <NUM>. The L2/<NUM> SW <NUM> may be an example of the switch unit <NUM>.

The control system <NUM> includes an HSS <NUM>, an MME <NUM>, an L2/<NUM> SW <NUM>, an SPG-C <NUM>, a terminal location identification unit <NUM>, a Uplane automatic arrangement <NUM>, and an NW automatic setting for tenant <NUM>. The HSS <NUM> may be an example of the information management unit <NUM>. The terminal location identification unit <NUM> identifies a location of the user terminal <NUM>. The terminal location identification unit <NUM> may be an example of the terminal location identification unit <NUM>.

The Uplane automatic arrangement <NUM> automatically arranges a user plane for each of a plurality of the HAPSs <NUM> based on a location of the user terminal <NUM> which is managed by the terminal location identification unit <NUM>, a contract situation of the user terminal <NUM> which is managed by the HSS <NUM>, and a communication situation of the user terminal <NUM> which is managed by the SPG-C <NUM>. For example, when communication between the first user terminal <NUM> present in the first wireless communication area <NUM> formed by the first communication control device <NUM> and the second user terminal <NUM> present in the second wireless communication area <NUM> formed by the second communication control device <NUM> is to be performed and also when the first user terminal <NUM> and the second user terminal <NUM> are the contract user terminals, the Uplane automatic arrangement <NUM> causes the SPGW-U <NUM> of the first communication control device <NUM> and the SPGW-U <NUM> of the second communication control device <NUM> to be activated.

The NW automatic setting for tenant <NUM> causes a closed area network to be constructed between the first user terminal <NUM> and the second user terminal <NUM>. The NW automatic setting for tenant <NUM> causes a closed area network corresponding to an organization to which the first user terminal <NUM> and the second user terminal <NUM> belongs to be constructed between the first user terminal <NUM> and the second user terminal <NUM>. The NW automatic setting for tenant <NUM> may cause a closed area network to be constructed by controlling the L2/<NUM> SW <NUM> of the first communication control device <NUM> and the L2/<NUM> SW <NUM> of the second communication control device <NUM>. The NW automatic setting for tenant <NUM> causes the closed area network to be constructed by the VRF, for example. In addition, the NW automatic setting for tenant <NUM> causes the closed area network to be constructed by the VLAN, for example.

<FIG> schematically illustrates an example of the configuration of the communication control device <NUM> and the control system <NUM>. Herein, the communication control device <NUM> and the control system <NUM> are compliant to the <NUM> communication method, and a state is exemplified in which the first communication control device <NUM> establishes the feeder link with each of the Feeder Link GW <NUM> on the ground and the second communication control device <NUM>. Herein, different aspects from <FIG> will be mainly described.

The communication control device <NUM> includes the Feeder Link <NUM>, a gNB <NUM>, a UPF <NUM>, and the L2/<NUM> SW <NUM>. The gNB <NUM> may be an example of the base station unit <NUM>. The UPF <NUM> may be an example of the UP execution unit <NUM>.

The control system <NUM> includes a UDM <NUM>, an AME <NUM>, an SMF <NUM>, the terminal location identification unit <NUM>, an NSSF <NUM>, and the NW automatic setting for tenant <NUM>. The UDM <NUM> may be an example of the information management unit <NUM>.

The NSSF <NUM> automatically arranges a user plane for each of a plurality of the HAPSs <NUM> based on a location of the user terminal <NUM> which is managed by the terminal location identification unit <NUM>, a contract situation of the user terminal <NUM> which is managed by the UDM <NUM>, and a communication situation of the user terminal <NUM> which is managed by the SMF <NUM>. For example, when communication between the first user terminal <NUM> present in the first wireless communication area <NUM> formed by the first communication control device <NUM> and the second user terminal <NUM> present in the second wireless communication area <NUM> formed by the second communication control device <NUM> is to be performed and also when the first user terminal <NUM> and the second user terminal <NUM> are the contract user terminals, the NSSF <NUM> causes the UPF <NUM> of the first communication control device <NUM> and the UPF <NUM> of the second communication control device <NUM> to be activated.

The NW automatic setting for tenant <NUM> causes a closed area network to be constructed between the first user terminal <NUM> and the second user terminal <NUM>. The NW automatic setting for tenant <NUM> causes a closed area network corresponding to an organization to which the first user terminal <NUM> and the second user terminal <NUM> belongs to be constructed between the first user terminal <NUM> and the second user terminal <NUM>. The NW automatic setting for tenant <NUM> may cause a closed area network to be constructed by controlling the L2/<NUM> SW <NUM> of the first communication control device <NUM> and the L2/<NUM> SW <NUM> of the second communication control device <NUM>. The NW automatic setting for tenant <NUM> may cause a closed area network to be constructed between the first user terminal <NUM> and the second user terminal <NUM> by using a network slicing function.

<FIG> schematically illustrates an example of a hardware configuration of a computer <NUM> functioning as the communication control device <NUM> or the control system <NUM>. Programs installed in the computer <NUM> can cause the computer <NUM> to function as one or more "units" of the device according to the above described embodiment or can cause the computer <NUM> to execute operations associated with the devices according to the above described embodiment or the one or more "units", and/or can cause the computer <NUM> to execute a process according to the above described embodiment or steps of the process. Such a program may be executed by a CPU <NUM> to cause the computer <NUM> to perform specific operations associated with some or all of the blocks in the flowcharts and block diagrams described in the specification.

The computer <NUM> according to the present embodiment includes a CPU <NUM>, a RAM <NUM>, and a graphics controller <NUM>, which are connected to each other via a host controller <NUM>. In addition, the computer <NUM> includes input/output units such as a communication interface <NUM>, a storage device <NUM>, and a DVD drive and an IC card drive, which are connected to the host controller <NUM> via an input/output controller <NUM>. The storage device <NUM> may be a hard disk drive, a solid-state drive, and the like. The computer <NUM> also includes a ROM <NUM> and a legacy input/output unit such as a keyboard, which are connected to the input/output controller <NUM> via an input/output chip <NUM>.

The CPU <NUM> operates according to the programs stored in the ROM <NUM> and the RAM <NUM>, thereby controlling each unit. The graphics controller <NUM> obtains image data which is generated, by the CPU <NUM>, in a frame buffer or the like provided in the RAM <NUM> or in itself so as to cause the image data to be displayed on a display device <NUM>.

The communication interface <NUM> communicates with other electronic devices via a network. The storage device <NUM> stores a program and data used by the CPU <NUM> in the computer <NUM>. The IC card drive reads the program and data from an IC card, and/or writes the program and data to the IC card.

The ROM <NUM> stores therein a boot program or the like executed by the computer <NUM> at the time of activation, and/or a program depending on the hardware of the computer <NUM>. The input/output chip <NUM> may also connect various input/output units via a USB port, a parallel port, a serial port, a keyboard port, a mouse port, or the like to the input/output controller <NUM>.

A program is provided by a computer readable storage medium such as the DVD-ROM or the IC card. The program is read from the computer readable storage medium, installed into the storage device <NUM>, RAM <NUM>, or ROM <NUM>, which are also examples of a computer readable storage medium, and executed by the CPU <NUM>. Information processing written in these programs is read by the computer <NUM>, and provides cooperation between the programs and the various types of hardware resources described above. A device or method may be constituted by realizing the operation or processing of information in accordance with the use of the computer <NUM>.

For example, in a case where a communication is performed between the computer <NUM> and an external device, the CPU <NUM> may execute a communication program loaded in the RAM <NUM> and instruct the communication interface <NUM> to perform communication processing based on a process written in the communication program. The communication interface <NUM>, under control of the CPU <NUM>, reads transmission data stored on a transmission buffer region provided in a recording medium such as the RAM <NUM>, the storage device <NUM>, the DVD-ROM, or the IC card, and transmits the read transmission data to a network or writes reception data received from a network to a reception buffer region or the like provided on the recording medium.

In addition, the CPU <NUM> may cause all or a necessary portion of a file or a database to be read into the RAM <NUM>, the file or the database having been stored in an external recording medium such as the storage device <NUM>, the DVD drive (DVD-ROM), the IC card, etc., and perform various types of processing on the data on the RAM <NUM>. Then, the CPU <NUM> may write the processed data back in the external recording medium.

Various types of information, such as various types of programs, data, tables, and databases, may be stored in the recording medium to undergo information processing. The CPU <NUM> may execute, on the data read from the RAM <NUM>, various types of processing including various types of operations, information processing, conditional judgement, conditional branching, unconditional branching, information retrieval/replacement, or the like described throughout the present disclosure and specified by instruction sequences of the programs, to write the results back to the RAM <NUM>. In addition, the CPU <NUM> may retrieve information in a file, a database, or the like in the recording medium. For example, when a plurality of entries, each having an attribute value of a first attribute associated with an attribute value of a second attribute, are stored in the recording medium, the CPU <NUM> may search for an entry whose attribute value of the first attribute matches a designated condition, from among the plurality of entries, and read the attribute value of the second attribute stored in the entry, thereby obtaining the attribute value of the second attribute associated with the first attribute satisfying a predetermined condition.

The programs or software module described above may be stored on the computer <NUM> or in a computer readable storage medium near the computer <NUM>. In addition, a recording medium such as a hard disk or a RAM provided in a server system connected to a dedicated communication network or the Internet can be used as the computer readable storage medium, thereby providing the program to the computer <NUM> via the network.

Blocks in flowcharts and block diagrams in the present embodiments may represent steps of processes in which operations are performed or "units" of devices responsible for performing operations. A specific step and "unit" may be implemented by dedicated circuitry, programmable circuitry supplied along with a computer readable instruction stored on a computer readable storage medium, and/or a processor supplied along with the computer readable instruction stored on the computer readable storage medium. The dedicated circuitry may include a digital and/or analog hardware circuit, or may include an integrated circuit (IC) and/or a discrete circuit. The programmable circuitry may include, for example, a reconfigurable hardware circuit including logical AND, logical OR, logical XOR, logical NAND, logical NOR, and other logical operations, and a flip-flop, a register, and a memory element, such as a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) and a programmable logic array (PLA).

The computer readable storage medium may include any tangible device capable of storing an instruction performed by an appropriate device, so that the computer readable storage medium having the instruction stored thereon constitutes a product including an instruction that may be performed in order to provide means for performing an operation specified by a flowchart or a block diagram. An example of the computer readable storage medium may include an electronic storage medium, a magnetic storage medium, an optical storage medium, an electromagnetic storage medium, or a semiconductor storage medium. More specific examples of computer readable storage media may include a floppy (registered trademark) disc, a diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), a static random access memory (SRAM), a compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), a digital versatile disk (DVD), a BLU-RAY (registered trademark) disc, a memory stick, an integrated circuit card, etc..

The computer readable instruction may include an assembler instruction, an instruction-set-architecture (ISA) instruction, a machine instruction, a machine dependent instruction, a microcode, a firmware instruction, state-setting data, or either of source code or object code written in any combination of one or more programming languages including an object oriented programming language such as Smalltalk (registered trademark), JAVA (registered trademark), and C++, and a conventional procedural programming language such as a "C" programming language or a similar programming language.

The computer readable instruction may be provided to a general purpose computer, a special purpose computer, or a processor or programmable circuitry of another programmable data processing device locally or via a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN) such as the Internet or the like in order that the general purpose computer, the special purpose computer, or the processor or the programmable circuitry of the other programmable data processing device performs the computer readable instruction to provide means for performing operations specified by the flowchart or the block diagram. Examples of the processor include a computer processor, a processing unit, a microprocessor, a digital signal processor, a controller, a microcontroller, and the like.

In the above described embodiment, the description has been provided where the HAPS <NUM> is used as an example of the flight vehicle which has the antenna for forming the wireless communication area by irradiating the beam towards the ground to provide the wireless communication service to the user terminal in the wireless communication area, but the example is not limited to this. Examples of the flight vehicle include unmanned aerial vehicles such as a balloon, an airship, a plane, and a drone which can form the wireless communication area.

While the present invention has been described with the embodiments, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the above described embodiments. It is apparent to persons skilled in the art that various alterations and improvements can be added to the above described embodiments. It is also apparent from the scope of the claims that the embodiments added with such alterations or improvements can be included in the technical scope of the present invention.

The operations, procedures, steps, and stages of each process performed by a device, system, program, and method shown in the claims, embodiments, or diagrams can be performed in any order as long as the order is not indicated by "prior to," "before," or the like and as long as the output from a previous process is not used in a later process. Even if the process flow is described using phrases such as "first" or "next" in the claims, embodiments, or diagrams, it does not necessarily mean that the process must be performed in this order.

Claim 1:
A flight vehicle which has an antenna for forming a wireless communication area by irradiating beam towards a ground to provide a wireless communication service to a user terminal in the wireless communication area, the flight vehicle comprising:
an FL communication unit (<NUM>) arranged to communicate with a core network on the ground via a feeder link;
a UP execution unit (<NUM>) which executes a user plane function; and
a communication control unit (<NUM>) which performs control whereby communication between a first user terminal in the wireless communication area and a second user terminal in another wireless communication area of another flight vehicle is relayed without intermediation of the core network by the user plane function of the flight vehicle, characterized in that the flight vehicle comprises:
a base station unit (<NUM>) arranged to execute a base station function; and
a switch unit (<NUM>) connected to the base station unit (<NUM>), the UP execution unit (<NUM>), and the FL communication unit (<NUM>), wherein
the communication control unit (<NUM>) is arranged to control the switch unit (<NUM>) whereby aclosed area networ corresponding to an organization to which the first user terminal and the second user terminal belong is constructed between the first user terminal in the wireless communication area and the second user terminal in an other wireless communication area of the other flight vehicle.