Communication control apparatus, communication control method, communication control program, communication control system, communication relay satellite, and satellite system

A communication control method executed by a communication control apparatus configured to relay communication between a plurality of satellites and other equipment, the communication control method comprising:

• setting a first data rate that is a sum of data communication rates per unit time between the plurality of satellites and a plurality of optical communication units;
• setting a second data rate that is a limit value of a data communication rate per unit time between the other equipment and an equipment communication unit;
• controlling the plurality of optical communication units and the equipment communication unit such that data received by the plurality of optical communication units from the plurality of satellites at the first data rate is relay transferred in parallel to the other equipment at not greater than the second data rate in a case in which the plurality of satellites and the plurality of optical communication units perform optical communication in parallel;
• and
• when controlling the plurality of optical communication units and the equipment communication unit:
• setting a maximum number Nop of the optical communication units able to perform optical communication in parallel with the plurality of satellites,
• the maximum number Nop being a greatest integer that does not exceed a quotient obtained by dividing a limit value RG of the second data rate by a limit value RU of a data rate between one of the satellites and one of the optical communication units,
• the limit value RG being not less than the limit value RU, and
• the optical communication units being controlled such that Nop of the optical communication units are employed at a maximum to perform parallel optical communication in parallel with the plurality of satellites.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a communication relay program including instructions that, when executed by a processor, causes a communication control apparatus configured to relay communication between a plurality of satellites and other equipment to:

• set a first data rate that is a sum of data communication rates per unit time between the plurality of satellites and a plurality of optical communication units;
• set a second data rate that is a limit value of a data communication rate per unit time between the other equipment and an equipment communication unit;
• control the plurality of optical communication units and the equipment communication unit such that data received by the plurality of optical communication units from the plurality of satellites at the first data rate is relay transferred in parallel to the other equipment at not greater than the second data rate in a case in which the plurality of satellites and the plurality of optical communication units perform optical communication in parallel;
• and
• when controlling the plurality of optical communication units and the equipment communication unit:
• setting a maximum number Nop of optical communication units able to perform optical communication in parallel with the plurality of satellites, the maximum number Nop being a greatest integer that does not exceed a quotient obtained by dividing a limit value RG of the second data rate by a limit value RU of a data rate between one of the satellites and one of the optical communication units,
• the limit value RG being not less than the limit value RU, and the optical communication units being controlled such that Nop of the optical communication units are employed at a maximum to perform optical communication in parallel with the plurality of satellites.

A communication control system including a communication control apparatus configured to relay communication between a plurality of satellites and other equipment, the communication control apparatus comprising:

• a plurality of optical communication units that are capable of performing parallel optical communication with the plurality of satellites;
• an equipment communication unit configured to communicate with the other equipment;
• and
• a processor that is configured:
• to set a first data rate that is a sum of data communication rates per unit time between the plurality of satellites and the plurality of optical communication units;
• and
• to set a second data rate that is a limit value of a data communication rate per unit time between the equipment communication unit and the other equipment;
• and
• receive control sequence information in advance, via the other equipment, for controlling the plurality of optical communication units and the equipment communication unit such that, in a case in which the plurality of satellites and the plurality of optical communication units perform optical communication in parallel, data received by the plurality of optical communication units from the plurality of satellites at the first data rate is relay transferred in parallel to the other equipment at not greater than the second data rate,
• wherein the control sequence information including information for setting a maximum number Nop of the optical communication units able to perform optical communication in parallel with the plurality of satellites,
• the maximum number Nop being a greatest integer that does not exceed a quotient obtained by dividing a limit value RG of the second data rate by a limit value RU of a data rate between one of the satellites and one of the optical communication units,
• the limit value RG being not less than the limit value RU, and
• the control sequence information being information for controlling the optical communication units such that Nop of the optical communication units are employed at a maximum to perform optical communication in parallel with the plurality of satellites.