JP2002051006A - Contents distribution method, server and radio channel controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a contents server that efficiently utilizes radio channels so as to distribute the contents when requests of contents distribution from mobile phones are centered on the contents server. SOLUTION: The contents server 30 grasps number of mobile phones 10 awaiting contents distribution by referring to a contents distribution management table 33c. When the contents server 30 finds out contents distribution requests centered on specific contents from the mobile phones 10, the contents server 30 groups the mobile phones 10 and informs a radio channel controller 22 about the grouping. The radio channel controller 22 sets broadcasting radio channels by each base station forming radio zones in which the grouped mobile phones 10 is resident and broadcast-distributes the contents by using the radio channels.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a content distribution method, a server, and a radio line control device for distributing content by wireless communication.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As mobile phones have become more sophisticated, mobile phones capable of receiving various content distribution services such as characters, music, and images have become popular. In addition, with the spread of this type of mobile phone, a business that distributes contents also prepares contents with various tastes in order to meet various needs of consumers. In such a situation, with respect to content popular with consumers, a situation has arisen in which content distribution requests from many consumers are concentrated at the same time.

[0003]

By the way, when a mobile phone performs wireless communication, different wireless channels are allocated to each of the mobile phones, which causes the mobile phone to interfere with other mobile phones. And wireless communication can be performed individually. However,
As described above, when a situation occurs in which distribution requests from a large number of mobile phones are concentrated on specific content, the content to be distributed is common to each of the mobile phones, but each of these phones has its own content. It must be distributed using a number of different assigned channels. In other words, the same content must be distributed using a number of different wireless channels, and in such a distribution form, limited network resources such as wireless channels are used efficiently. I could not say that.

[0004] The present invention has been made under the above-described background. Even when a large number of mobile communication terminals concentrate on content distribution requests, the content can be efficiently utilized by using the wireless channel. It is an object of the present invention to provide a content distribution method, a server, and a wireless channel control device capable of distributing content.

[0005]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention according to claim 1 provides a method for transmitting contents from a server connected to a mobile communication network to a mobile communication terminal accommodated in the network. In the content distribution method to distribute,
A first step of requesting the server to distribute the content, and, when the distribution request for the specific content is concentrated, the mobile communication terminal to which the content is distributed is located in the mobile communication terminal. A second step of grouping for each base station forming a wireless zone to be performed;
A third step of determining a wireless channel for delivering the content for each base station, and a fourth step of transmitting the content from the server to the mobile communication terminal using the determined wireless channel; Characterized by having

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the content distribution method according to the first aspect, in the second step, the server groups the mobile communication terminals to which the content is to be distributed for each content. Performing the step of notifying the mobile communication terminal of the identification information of the mobile communication terminals grouped for each content from the server to the mobile communication network side, and the step of notifying the content based on the notified identification information of the mobile communication terminal. And further grouping the mobile communication terminals grouped for each base station for each base station forming a wireless zone where the terminal is located.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the content distribution method according to the first aspect, the content distribution request is made from the mobile communication terminal to which the content is distributed to the server. It is characterized by.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the content distribution method according to the first aspect, the content is transmitted from the server to the mobile communication terminal that has not normally received the content transmitted from the server. Is retransmitted.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the content distribution method according to the first aspect, when a large number of distribution requests for the specific content are concentrated, the mobile communication as a distribution destination of the content is performed. And transmitting the content to the terminal by using a broadcast wave.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a content distribution method for distributing a content from a server storing the content to a mobile communication terminal accommodated in a mobile communication network in response to a request from the terminal. Transmitting a request signal for requesting distribution of the content from the mobile communication terminal to the server using a packet switching channel, and transmitting the content from the server to the mobile communication terminal through a circuit switching channel; And transmitting using the data.

[0011] The invention according to claim 7 is a server for distributing content to a mobile communication terminal accommodated in a mobile communication network, wherein the server includes identification information of the mobile communication terminal to which the content is to be distributed. Receiving means for receiving a request signal for requesting distribution of the content, and a group for grouping identification information of the mobile communication terminal to which the content is to be distributed when distribution requests for the specific content are concentrated. Identifying means, identification information transmitting means for transmitting the grouped identification information of the mobile communication terminals to a radio channel controller that allocates a radio channel to the mobile communication terminals, and the mobile communication terminal by the radio channel controller. Transmitting means for transmitting the content via the allocated wireless channel.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the server according to the seventh aspect, the receiving means receives a request signal transmitted from the mobile communication terminal.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the server according to the seventh aspect, wherein the mobile communication terminal, which does not normally receive the content transmitted from the server,
It is characterized by comprising resending means for resending the content.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, a plurality of base stations are accommodated, a radio channel is allocated to a mobile communication terminal located in a radio zone formed by the base station, and the mobile station is connected to a mobile communication network. A wireless channel control device that relays content distributed from the server to the mobile communication terminal, receives identification information of the plurality of mobile communication terminals from the server as information designating a distribution destination of the content. Receiving means, grouping means for grouping a plurality of mobile communication terminals corresponding to the received identification information for each base station forming a wireless zone in which the terminal is located, and the grouped mobile communication terminals Channel allocating means for allocating a radio channel for distributing the content to each of the base stations; Using, characterized by a transmitting means for transmitting the content received from the server to the mobile communication terminal.

[0015] The invention according to claim 11 accommodates a plurality of base stations, assigns a radio channel to a mobile communication terminal located in a radio zone formed by the base station, and is connected to a mobile communication network. A wireless channel control device for relaying data communication between the server and the mobile communication terminal, wherein when transmitting a data signal from the mobile communication terminal to the server, allocating a wireless channel of packet exchange, Means for allocating a circuit-switched wireless channel when transmitting a data signal from the server to the mobile communication terminal.

[0016]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment, and various changes can be made within the scope of the technical idea. A: Configuration (1) Overall Configuration of System FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of a content distribution system according to the embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the content distribution system includes a plurality of mobile phones 10-1.
-10 to 10, mobile communication network 20 and content server 30
Composed of

The mobile phones 10-1 to 10-7 are accommodated in a mobile communication network 20, and receive a voice communication service and a data communication service via the network 20.

The mobile communication network 20 includes base stations 21-1 to 21-21.
-6, the radio line control devices 22-1 and 22-2 and a communication line connecting them. The mobile communication network 20 provides the above-mentioned voice communication service and data communication service to the mobile phones 10-1 to 10-7 by a circuit switching method or a packet switching method. Also, the mobile communication network 20 uses TDMA as a multiple access method.
(Time Division Multiple Access). Each of the base stations 21-1 to 21-6 forms a wireless zone having a radius of several hundred meters to several kilometers around its own position, and performs wireless communication with the mobile phone 10 located in the wireless zone. I do. The base stations 21-1 to 21-6 are installed at intervals such that each wireless zone completely covers the communication service area of the mobile communication network 20. The radio channel controllers 22-1 and 22-2 each include a predetermined number of base stations 21.
And controls the wireless channel control processing in the base station 21. For example, in the figure, the radio channel controller 21-1 performs a radio channel control process in the base stations 21-1 to 21-3, and the radio channel controller 21-2.
Performs a radio channel control process in the base stations 21-4 to 21-6. More specifically, the control process includes a process of allocating a wireless channel for transmitting a radio signal between each base station 21 and the mobile phone 10, and a process of transmitting and receiving by each of the mobile phones 10-1 to 10-7. Refers to the process of relaying the signal to be transmitted.

The content server 30 is a computer connected to the mobile communication network 20 via a router (not shown). The content server 30 stores various types of content, receives a content distribution request from the mobile phones 10-1 to 10-7 via the mobile communication network 20, and distributes the content in response to the request. ing. Here, the content means information represented by at least one of characters, music, and images, such as news, electronic books, ringtones, audio, video clips, and homepages, and game software. Is a concept including various computer programs.

Here, there is a case where distribution requests for the same content are intensively given to the content server 30 from a large number of mobile phones 10. In such a case, in this content distribution system, the content is not individually distributed using different wireless channels for each of the mobile phones 10, but the content is distributed to a plurality of mobile phones 10 using a common wireless channel as much as possible. Content is distributed on a newsletter basis. Hereinafter, the content server 30 and the radio network controller 2 that function to perform such a distribution process
2 and the configuration of the mobile phone 10 will be described in detail.

(2) Configuration of Content Server 30 FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the content server 30. As shown in FIG.
The communication unit 31 includes a communication unit 31, a control unit 32, a hard disk device 33, and a bus 34 for interconnecting these components.

The communication unit 31 includes a modem, a communication control circuit, and the like (not shown).
It is connected to the. The communication unit 31 is connected to the mobile communication network 20.
And perform data communication with the mobile phone 10 via.

The control unit 32 includes a CPU (Central
Processing Unit), ROM (ReadOnly Memory), RA
It is composed of M (Random Access Memory). RO
M is a program memory for storing a control program, and the CPU controls the entire content server 30 by executing the control program read from the ROM. At this time, the RAM is used as a work area of the CPU.

The hard disk device 33 has three storage areas: a content storage unit 33a, a program storage unit 33b, and a distribution management table 33c. The content storage unit 33 stores content data corresponding to various types of content together with an identification code for specifying the content, and also stores menu data for causing the mobile phone 10 to display a menu of these content titles. I have. Content data includes text data indicating characters and symbols, music data indicating voice and music,
It includes image data representing still images and moving images, computer programs such as game software, and the like. These content data are each compressed in an appropriate format, for example, music data is in MP3 (MPEG Layer3) format, and image data is in GI format.
F (Graphics Interchange Format) format, JPEG (J
oint Photographic Experts Group) or MPEG (M
oving Photographic Experts Group).

The program storage unit 33b stores a content distribution program for receiving a content distribution request transmitted from the mobile phones 10-1 to 10-7 and distributing content data in response to the request.

Next, the contents stored in the distribution management table 33c will be described with reference to the format diagram shown in FIG. As shown in the drawing, the distribution management table 33c includes, in correspondence with an identification code (hereinafter, referred to as C-ID) for identifying each content, the mobile phone 10 that has transmitted the content distribution request. Are stored (hereinafter, referred to as MS-ID) for identifying the.

The control unit 32 executes the content distribution program as described above, thereby
Is distributed to a large number of mobile phones 10
When the distribution requests for the same content are made almost at the same time, or when the amount of content data to be distributed is large, the distribution process takes time. As a result, a situation arises in which the distribution request from the mobile phone 10 has reached the content server 30, but the content has not been distributed yet. In such a case, the distribution management table 33c stores the MS-IDs of the mobile phones 10 that are waiting for the distribution of the content from left to right in the drawing in the order in which the distribution requests arrive. Then, the MS-IDs are sequentially read from the left in the figure,
The content distribution process is executed for the mobile phone 10 indicated by the MS-ID. For example, in FIG. 3, for content corresponding to C-ID “Content # 01”, seven mobile phones 10 corresponding to MS-IDs “MS001” to “MS007” are waiting for distribution. Means Similarly, three mobile phones 10 are waiting for distribution for the content corresponding to “Content # 02”, and are waiting for distribution for the content corresponding to “Content # 03”. Means that it does not exist. Hereinafter, this distribution management table 3
The column of MS-IDs on 3c is called a queue. In this distribution management table 32, when a queue corresponding to a specific content contains a predetermined number or more of MS-IDs, it is determined that distribution requests for the content are concentrated, and these MS-IDs are concentrated. The ID is grouped as a mobile phone indicating the broadcast destination of the content. Hereinafter, this group of MS-IDs is referred to as a broadcast group.

(3) Radio channel controllers 22-1 and 22
Next, the configuration of the radio channel controllers 22-1 and 22-2 will be described. Radio channel controllers 22-1 and 22-2
Is a common configuration. Here, the configuration of the radio channel controller 22-1 will be described as an example with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG.
Is a communication unit 221, a control unit 222, a work memory 223
And a bus 224 interconnecting them.

The communication unit 221 includes base stations 21-1 to 21-
3 and to a communication line provided in the mobile communication network 20. This communication unit 221 is connected to the base station 21.
It notifies the wireless channel to be used by the mobile phone 10 through -1 to 21-3, and performs relay processing of signals transmitted and received by the mobile phone 10.

The control unit 222 includes a CPU (not shown) and a ROM (not shown).
And a RAM. The ROM is a program memory for storing a control program, and the CPU is a ROM.
Executing the control program read out from the CPU 11 controls the entire radio line controller 22-1. In this ROM, in addition to a program for assigning a wireless channel to the mobile phone 10, the
A program is stored for relaying content data distributed to the server. The control unit 222 controls the base station 2
For each one, a communication channel T-CH for transmitting a voice signal and a data signal is set, and a control channel C-CH for controlling transmission of a radio signal is set. The communication channel T-CH has six lines set for each base station 21, and is further divided into three lines by the circuit switching system and the packet switching system. When the control unit 32 performs the process of allocating the wireless channel, the wireless channel allocation table 22 for recording the allocation status of the wireless channel.
3a is generated in the work memory 223.

FIG. 5 shows the radio channel assignment table 223.
It is a figure showing an example of the contents recorded on a. For example, as shown in the figure, in the base station 21-1, the circuit-switched communication channel T-CH1 is assigned to the mobile telephone 10 indicated by the MS-ID "MS010", and the packet-switched communication channel T-CH1 is used. CH4 is provided to the mobile telephone 10 indicated by the MS-ID “MS001” and the packet exchange communication channel T
-CH5 is the mobile phone 10 indicated by the MS-ID "MS002"
In addition, the communication channel T-CH6 for packet switching is MS-I
D “MS003” is assigned to the mobile phone 10. Further, the communication channels T-CH2 to T-CH3 are vacant channels not allocated to any mobile phone 10. In the present embodiment,
For the sake of simplicity, it is assumed that six lines are set for each base station 21, but in practice one base station 21 is set with more lines (for example, about several tens of channels). ing. Therefore, the above-described wireless channel assignment table 223a also stores the assignment status of several tens of channels set in each base station 21.

(4) Configuration of Mobile Phones 10-1 to 10-7 Next, the configuration of the mobile phones 10-1 to 10-7 will be described. The mobile phones 10-1 to 10-7 all have a common configuration. Here, the mobile phone 1 will be described with reference to FIG.
A description will be given using 0-1 as an example. As shown in FIG. 1, the mobile phone 10-1 includes a wireless communication unit 11, a control unit 12, and a user interface unit 13.

The radio communication unit 11 comprises an antenna 11a, an antenna sharing unit 11b, a receiving unit 11c, a demodulating unit 11d, a transmitting unit 11e, a modulating unit 11f, a signal processing unit 11g, and a frequency synthesizer 11h. The antenna 11a transmits and receives a radio signal. The antenna sharing unit 11b supplies the reception signal received by the antenna 11a to the reception unit 11c, or transmits the transmission signal supplied from the transmission unit 11e to the antenna 1c.
1a. The frequency synthesizer 11h outputs the same frequency signal as the frequency of the wireless channel allocated by the wireless channel control device 22 to the receiving unit 11c and the transmitting unit 11e. The receiving unit 11c amplifies only the received signal of the same frequency as the frequency signal output from the frequency synthesizer 11h from among the received signals supplied from the antenna sharing unit 11b, and outputs the amplified signal to the demodulation unit 11d. The demodulation unit 11d demodulates the signal output from the reception unit 11c, and uses the demodulated signal as a baseband signal.
Feed 1g. The signal processing unit 11g is a CMOS (Comp
lementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) Processor, A
-It comprises a D conversion circuit, an audio codec circuit and the like. The signal processing unit 11g performs processing corresponding to a signal transmitted by circuit switching and a signal transmitted by packet switching by executing frame synchronization / separation, error detection / correction processing, and the like of the signal. . Modulation unit 11
f modulates the signal supplied from the signal processing unit 11g,
Output to the transmission unit 11e. The transmitting unit 11e includes the modulating unit 11
The signal output from f is converted into a signal having the same frequency as the frequency signal output from the frequency synthesizer, and is amplified and supplied to the antenna sharing unit 11b.

The control unit 12 includes a CPU, a ROM (not shown),
RAM and EEPROM (ElectricErasable and Progr
ammable Read Only Memory) is connected to the bus. R
OM is a program memory, and the CPU loads the program read from the ROM into the RAM and
0 overall control. The programs stored in the ROM include a call program for the user to make a voice call,
A browser for displaying a menu screen or the like provided from the content server 30 is included. EEPROM is
It is a memory for storing content data distributed from the content server 30, telephone directory data registered by the user, and the like.

The user interface unit 13 includes a liquid crystal display unit 13a for displaying text and image contents, a keypad 13b for the user to perform various input operations, a speaker 13c for the user to talk, and a microphone 13 for the user.
d. The music content may be output from the microphone 13d, or may be output from an external speaker connected to an earphone jack (not shown).

A-2: Operation Next, the operation of the embodiment having the above configuration will be described. Hereinafter, (1) reception of a distribution request in the content server 30, (2) distribution of content by the content server 30, (3) relay of content distribution in the wireless channel control device 22, and (4) an operation example of the entire system The description will be made in order.

(1) Reception of Distribution Request in Content Server 30 FIG. 7 shows an operation in which the control unit 32 of the content server 30 executes the above-described content distribution program to receive a distribution request transmitted from the mobile phone 10. It is a flowchart which shows. In the figure, first, the control unit 32 determines whether or not a content distribution request signal has been received from the mobile phone 10 via the mobile communication network 20 (step Sa1). Here, if the distribution request signal has not been received (step Sa1; No), the control unit 32 repeats the processing of step Sa1. On the other hand, when the distribution request signal is received (Step Sa1; Yes), the process proceeds to Step Sa2. Here, the distribution request signal transmitted from the mobile phone 10 to the content server 30 includes the MS-ID of the mobile phone 10 and the C-ID of the content to be distributed. The control unit 32 extracts the MS-ID and the C-ID from the received distribution request signal, and places the MS-ID and the C-ID at the end of the queue corresponding to the C-ID in the distribution management table 33c.
An ID is added (step Sa2). Thereafter, the control unit 3
The process of Step 2 returns to Step Sa1, and repeats the above-described routine.

(2) Content Distribution by Content Server 30 Next, the operation of the controller 32 of the content server 30 to distribute content to the mobile phone 10 will be described with reference to the flow shown in FIG. In the figure, first,
The control unit 32 refers to the distribution management table 33c and refers to the C-ID of the first content (here, “Content # 01”).
) Is counted (step Sb1).

Next, the control unit 32 determines the counted MS-
By comparing the number of IDs with a predetermined threshold value, it is determined whether the content should be broadcast-distributed or individual-distributed (step Sb2). This threshold is a value used as a criterion for determining whether or not distribution requests are concentrated on the content. Here, a numerical value of “5” is used. Here, if the counted number of MS-IDs is less than “5” (Step Sb2; No), the control unit 32 determines whether the MS-ID included in the queue is
It is determined that the content should be individually delivered to each of the mobile phones 10 corresponding to, and the process shifts to the individual delivery process described later. On the other hand, the control unit 32 calculates the counted MS-I
If the number of D is “5” or more (Step Sb2; Ye)
s) It is determined that the content should be broadcasted to each mobile phone 10 corresponding to the MS-ID included in the queue, and the process shifts to a broadcast distribution process described later.

First, the individual distribution process described above will be described. The control unit 32 reads out the MS-ID recorded at the head position of the queue from the queue corresponding to the C-ID “Content # 01” (Step Sb3).

Next, the control unit 32 sets the C-ID "Conten
The content data corresponding to “t # 01” is read from the content storage unit 33a, and transmitted to the radio network controller 22 along with the MS-ID read in step Sb3 (step Sb4).

Next, the control unit 32 sets the distribution management table 3
3c, the MS-ID transmitted to the radio network controller 22.
While the MS-ID is replaced with the C-ID “Content #
01 in the RAM (step Sb
5). Here, the MS-ID and C-
The ID means that the content corresponding to the C-ID is being distributed to the mobile phone 10 corresponding to the MS-ID. The control unit 32 sets the MS-ID to C-
At the same time as storing the content in the RAM in association with the ID, a time count for content retransmission determination described later is started.

Next, the control unit 32 controls the distribution management table 3
Referring to 3c, it is determined whether or not the queue corresponding to the C-ID "Content # 01" still contains the MS-ID (step Sb6). Here, the MS-ID is placed in the queue.
Is still included (Step Sb6; Yes), the process returns to Step Sb3, and the above-described processing is repeated. on the other hand,
If the MS-ID is not included in the queue (Step Sb6; No), the control unit 32
It is determined whether or not distribution processing has been performed for all the contents stored in (step Sb7).

Here, if the distribution processing has been performed for all the contents (step Sb7; Yes), the processing of the control unit 32 ends. On the other hand, if there is any content that has not yet been subjected to distribution processing (step Sb7; N
o) After changing the distribution target to the next content (step Sb8), the process returns to step Sb1. Here, the C-ID “Content # 01” is followed by the C-ID “Cont
Since the content corresponding to “ent # 02” exists, the target of the distribution process is changed to the content corresponding to the C-ID “Content # 02”, and the process returns to step Sb1 to perform the distribution process.

Next, the broadcast distribution processing will be described. For example, when the broadcast distribution processing of the content data corresponding to the C-ID “Content # 01” is started, the control unit 32
-MS-I included in the queue with ID "Content # 01"
D is grouped as a broadcast group (step S
b9).

Next, the control unit 32 sets the broadcast group M
The S-ID is transmitted to each radio network controller 22 (step Sb10). Further, the control unit 32 determines that “Content # 0
The content data corresponding to “1” is stored in the content storage unit 3
3a, and transmits to each wireless channel control device 22 (step Sb11).

Next, the control unit 32 sets the distribution management table 3
On 3c, while deleting the MS-ID included in the broadcast group transmitted to the radio network controller 22, the MS-ID included in the broadcast group is replaced with the C-ID "Content # 01".
At the same time, it is temporarily stored in the RAM (step Sb12).
Here, the MS-ID and C-ID stored in the RAM
For the mobile phone 10 corresponding to the MS-ID,
This means that the content corresponding to the C-ID is being distributed. The control unit 32 sets the MS-ID to the C-ID
At the same time, the time count for content retransmission determination described later is started. Thereafter, the control unit 32 proceeds to the process of step Sb7 described above.

(2) —Retransmission Determination Processing at Individual Distribution Next, the operation of the control unit 32 for executing the above-described retransmission determination processing will be described. This process is different between individual distribution and broadcast distribution. Hereinafter, the retransmission determination process at the time of individual distribution will be described first. The control unit 32
As described above, the time counting is started in step Sb5 shown in FIG. Then, when the timeout occurs, the subroutine for re-male determination shown in the flow of FIG. 9 is started. First, the control unit 32 determines whether or not a reception completion notification indicating that the content has been received has been received from the mobile phone 10 during the period from the time count to the timeout (step Sc1). Here, if the control unit 32 does not receive the reception completion notification, the control of the mobile phone 10
Determines that the content has not been received normally (step Sc1; No), and retransmits the content to the mobile phone 10 to save the MS-
ID and C-ID are deleted, and the distribution management table 33c is deleted.
The above MS-ID is added to the end of the queue corresponding to the C-ID (step Sc2). The MS-ID added at the end in this manner is again subjected to content distribution by the control unit 32. On the other hand, when receiving the reception completion notification, the control unit 32 determines that the mobile phone 10 has normally received the content (step Sc1; Yes).
s), MS-ID and C-ID stored in RAM
Is deleted (step Sc4), and the process ends.

(2)-Retransmission determination processing at the time of broadcast distribution Next, the retransmission determination processing at the time of broadcast distribution will be described. As described above, the control unit 32 executes step Sb shown in FIG.
At 12, the time count is started. Then, when the timeout occurs, the subroutine for retransmission determination shown in the flow of FIG. 10 is started. First, the control unit 32 determines whether or not a reception completion notification indicating that the content has been received has been received from the mobile phone 10 during the period from the time count to the timeout (step Sd).
1). Here, if the control unit 32 does not receive the reception completion notification from all the mobile phones 10 (step Sd1; N)
o) The process proceeds to step Sd2 in order to resend the content to the mobile phone 10 that has not transmitted the reception completion notification. In step Sd2, the control unit 32
Out of the MS-ID and C-ID stored in the MS-I of the mobile phone 10 that does not transmit the reception completion notification.
D is extracted, and is extracted from the distribution management table 33c.
-Add to the end of the queue corresponding to the ID (step Sd2). MS-ID added at the end in this way
Are subject to content distribution by the control unit 32 again. Thereafter, the MS-ID and C stored in the RAM are stored.
-The ID is erased. On the other hand, when the control unit 32 receives the reception completion notification from all the mobile phones 10 (Step S
d1; Yes), the control unit 32 deletes the MS-ID and the C-ID stored in the RAM (step Sd).
3), the process ends.

(3) Relay of Content in Radio Network Controller 22 Next, the controller 222 of the radio network controller 22 is transmitted from the content server 30 to the mobile phone 10 with reference to the flow shown in FIG. The operation of relaying the content will be described. In the figure, first, the control unit 222
Determines whether the MS-ID of the mobile phone to which the content is to be distributed has been received from the content server 30 (step Se1). Here, the control unit 222 determines whether the MS-
If the ID has not been received (step Se1; No), the processing of step Se1 is repeated.

On the other hand, upon receiving the MS-ID (step Se1; Yes), the control section 222 receives the received MS-ID.
By counting the number, it is determined whether the content is to be individually delivered or broadcast (step Se2). That is, if the number of received MS-IDs is one, it is determined that the distribution is individual distribution (step Se2; individual distribution), and the control unit 22
2 shifts to the individual distribution processing described later. On the other hand, if the number of received MS-IDs is more than one, it is determined that the broadcast is a broadcast described later (step Se2; broadcast delivery) and the control unit 2
22 shifts to the broadcast distribution process.

First, the individual distribution processing will be described. The control unit 222 refers to the wireless channel assignment table 223a and specifies in which wireless zone of the base station 21 the mobile phone 10 of the MS-ID received from the content server 30 is located (Step Se3).

Next, the control unit 222 refers to the radio channel allocation table 223a, specifies an available channel of the circuit switching channel in the base station 21 specified in step Se3, and assigns the channel name to the mobile phone 10
(Step Se4). With this notification, the mobile phone 10 can receive a wireless signal transmitted on the wireless channel of the notified channel name.

Then, the control unit 222 transmits the content data transmitted together with the MS-ID from the content server 30 using the channel notified to the mobile phone 10 (Step Se5). Then, the control unit 222
The process returns to step Se1.

Next, the broadcast distribution processing will be described. First, the control unit 222 sets the radio channel assignment table 223
Referring to a, the broadcast group of the MS-ID of the mobile phone 10 received from the content server 30 is further grouped for each base station 21 (step Se8). This group for each base station is hereinafter referred to as a broadcast group for each base station.

Next, the control unit 222 refers to the radio channel allocation table 223a, extracts an empty channel from the circuit-switched channels of each base station 21, and uses this as a broadcast channel, and uses this as a broadcast channel. Assign each time. Furthermore, the control unit 222 notifies the mobile phones 10 included in each base station-based broadcast group of the channel name of the broadcast channel assigned to the base station-based broadcast group (Step Se9). With this notification, each mobile phone 10 can receive the wireless signal on the broadcast channel notified.

Next, the control section 222 transmits the content data transmitted from the content server 30 following the broadcast group of the MS-ID to the mobile phone 10 using the broadcast channel (step Se10). Then, the process of the control unit 222 returns to Step Se1.

(4) Example of Operation of the Entire System Next, an example of the operation of the entire system will be described with reference to the sequence shown in FIG. In the following, the mobile phones 10-1 to 10-7 shown in FIG.
It is assumed that distribution of the content indicated by the C-ID “Content # 01” has been requested.

First, the operation of requesting content by focusing on the mobile phone 10-1 will be described. By a predetermined operation of the user, the mobile phone 10-1 transmits a call request signal to the content server 30 using the control channel C-CH. This call request signal is received by the base station 21-1 having jurisdiction over the wireless zone where the mobile phone 10-1 is located, and is supplied to the wireless channel control device 22-1 (step Sf1).

When receiving the call request, the radio network controller 22-1 refers to the radio channel assignment table 223a and refers to the communication channel T-channel corresponding to the base station 21-1.
Extract a vacant communication channel from CHs 4 to 6,
The channel name is notified to the mobile phone 10-1 using the control channel C-CH (step Sf2). Here, it is assumed that the radio network controller 22-1 refers to the radio channel assignment table 223a shown in FIG. 13A to notify the communication channel T-CH4. Mobile phone 1
0-1 is set so as to be able to receive the signal on the notified communication channel T-CH4, thereby enabling transmission and reception of packet data. On the other hand, the radio line controller 2
2-1 transmits the call request signal received from the mobile phone 10-1 to the content server 30 (step Sf).
3).

Thus, the communication channel T-CH4 is connected between the mobile phone 10-1 and the content server 30 (step Sf4). Content server 30
Is a communication channel T-CH with the mobile phone 10-1.
When the device 4 is connected, the menu data stored in the content storage unit 33a is transmitted to the mobile phone 10-1.
The mobile phone 10 interprets the received menu data and displays it on the liquid crystal display unit 13a. Thus, the user can select desired content (here,
The content indicated by the C-ID “Content # 01”) can be selected by key input.

When the desired content is selected by the user, the cellular phone 10-1 transmits a distribution request signal for requesting distribution of the content to the content server 30 using the communication channel T-CH4, and Receives this distribution request signal (step Sf
5).

Further, the processes of steps Sf1 to Sf5 are also performed in mobile phones 10-2 to 10-7. That is, the mobile phones 10-2 and 10-3
Transmits a distribution request signal to the content server 30 via the base station 21-1 and the radio network controller 22-1, and the mobile phones 10-4 and 10-5 transmit the distribution request signal to the base station 21-2 and the radio network controller. Content server 3 via 22-1
0 is transmitted. The mobile phone 10-
6 and 10-7 transmit a distribution request signal to the content server 30 via the base station 21-4 and the radio channel controller 22-2. As a result, the content server 30 receives the content distribution request signal from the mobile phones 10-1 to 10-7, and stores the C-ID "Content # 01" in the distribution management table 33c as shown in FIG. In response to the content, the MS-ID “MS00” of the mobile phones 10-1 to 10-7
1 ”to“ MS007 ”are stored. Here, as shown in the wireless channel assignment table 223a of FIG.
The mobile telephone 10-1 corresponding to "MS001" has a communication channel T-CH for packet exchange in the base station 21-1.
4 is assigned to the mobile telephone 10-2 corresponding to the MS-ID "MS002".
-CH5 is assigned, and the mobile telephone 10-3 corresponding to the MS-ID "MS003" is assigned a communication channel T-CH6 for packet switching. MS-ID
The mobile phone 10-4 corresponding to "MS004" has a packet-switched communication channel T-CH in the base station 21-2.
10, and the mobile telephone 10-5 corresponding to the MS-ID "MS005" is assigned the communication channel T-CH11 for packet switching.

Now, five portable telephones 10-, which are equal to or more than the threshold value for the content of C-ID "Content # 01"
Since 1 to 10-7 are in a state of waiting for distribution, the content server 30 shifts to the above-described content distribution processing. First, the content server 30 generates a broadcast group by grouping the MS-IDs of these mobile phones (step Sf6). Next, the content server 30 transmits the generated broadcast group to the radio network controllers 22-1 and 22-2 (step Sf).
7).

Radio channel controllers 22-1 and 22-2
Receives the broadcast group described above and generates a broadcast group for each base station (step Sf8). That is, as schematically shown in FIG. 14, when receiving the broadcast group MS-IDs “MS001” to “MS007”, the radio network controller 22-1 changes the MS-IDs “MS001” to “MS003”. Base station 21-1
Group corresponding to MS-ID "MS004" and "M
S005 "is a group corresponding to the base station 21-2. In addition, the radio line controller 22-2 communicates with the broadcast group MS.
-When the ID “MS001” to “MS007” is received, the MS-ID
“MS006” and “MS007” are groups corresponding to the base station 21-4.

Next, the radio line controllers 22-1 and 22
-2 is the respective wireless channel assignment table 223a
, A broadcast channel is allocated to a broadcast group for each base station from among the circuit-switched channels of the circuit switching of the base station 21 to relay the content, and this is assigned to the mobile phone 1.
0 is notified (step Sf9). For example, as shown in FIG. 13 (c), the radio line controller 22-1 allocates a circuit-switched communication channel T-CH2 to the mobile phones 10-1 to 10-3 as a broadcast channel, and In addition to notifying the mobile phone 10-1 to 10-3 of the broadcast channel name, the mobile phone 10-4 and 10-5 are assigned a circuit-switched communication channel T-CH9 as the broadcast channel and The channel names are notified to the mobile phones 10-4 and 10-5. Also, the wireless channel control device 22-2
Similarly, a broadcast channel is allocated to the mobile phones 10-6 to 10-7, and the broadcast channel name is notified to the mobile phones 10-6 and 10-7. -1 to 10-7 establish a circuit-switched broadcast channel while the initially connected packet-switched packet-switched speech channel remains connected. this is,
As will be described later, both the packet-switching and circuit-switching channels are connected because it is easy to shift to the browsing state by packet switching immediately after the content distribution processing. It should be noted that, since the communication channel of the packet exchange is a metered charge according to the amount of data transmitted, unlike the circuit exchange, the charge is not charged only by connecting the line.

Next, the content server 30 transmits the content data to be distributed to the radio network controllers 22-1 and 22-2.
Send to 2-2. Radio channel controllers 22-1 and 22
-2 transfers the content data using the broadcast channel notified to each of the mobile phones 10-1 to 10-7 (step Sf10).

Cellular phone 1 that has received content data
0-1 to 10-7 transmit a reception completion notification to the content server 30 using the control channel C-CH (step Sf11). When the content server 30 receives the reception completion notification, the content server 30
A broadcast channel release request is transmitted to 2-2 (step Sf12). Each radio line control device 22-1 and 22
-2, upon receiving the release request from the content server 30, releases the broadcast channel with the mobile phone 10 (step Sf13).

Since the communication channel for packet switching remains connected even after the broadcasting channel is released, the cellular phones 10-1 to 10-7 can further display a menu screen and perform browsing ( Step Sf1
4). Then, the user sets the mobile phones 10-1 to 10-1.
When the call termination operation of -7 is performed (step Sf1)
5) The radio line control devices 22-1 to 22-2 disconnect the line with the content server 30 (step Sf16), and perform a packet exchange call with the mobile phones 10-1 to 10-7. Disconnect the channel (step S
f17).

According to the above-described embodiment, when a content distribution request is concentrated on a specific content from a plurality of portable telephones 10, the radio network controller 22 sets the base station 2
Since a common broadcast channel is set for each one and contents are broadcasted using this, the number of radio channels used can be smaller than in the past. In addition, since a channel for circuit switching, not packet switching, is used as a wireless channel for content distribution, the distribution processing time for content with a large data amount is reduced.

C: Modification As described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment.
The following various changes are possible.

C-1: Form of Mobile Communication Terminal In the embodiment, the mobile telephone 10 capable of voice communication and data communication is used as a terminal for performing wireless communication.
However, it is not limited to this. For example, PDA (Personal Digital Assistants) capable of wireless communication and PHS (Personal Handyphone System) dedicated to data communication
And so on.

C-2: Connection between Content Server 30 and Portable Communication Network 20 In the embodiment, the content server 30 is directly connected to the mobile packet communication network 20 by a dedicated line, but is not limited to this. Absent. For example, Internet 3
It may be connected to the mobile communication network 20 via another network such as 0.

C-3: Subject Requesting Content Distribution In the embodiment, the subject requesting the content server 30 to distribute the content is the mobile phone 10 to which the content is to be distributed. However, the content request source may be a communication device different from the distribution destination mobile phone. For example, the requesting source and the distribution destination may be different mobile phones 10. Further, the request source may be a personal computer connected to the content server 30 via the Internet or the like. As described above, when a communication device different from the distribution destination requests content distribution, it is necessary to specify the distribution destination mobile phone 10 by a telephone number or the like to the content server.

C-4: Embodiment of Radio Channel Controller 22 In the embodiment, the radio channel controller 22 accommodates a plurality of base stations and controls the assignment of radio channels in these base stations. However, not limited to this,
The wireless channel control devices 22 are installed corresponding to the respective base stations 21, and each device 22 may control the assignment of the wireless channel in the corresponding base station 21.

C-5: Type of Channel Used In the embodiment, a circuit-switched channel is used as a wireless channel for content distribution. This is because, as described above, circuit switching is more suitable for distribution processing of contents having a large data amount, but is not necessarily limited to such a form, and content distribution is performed using a packet switching channel. May be performed.

In FIG. 12, transmission / reception of a call request signal from the mobile phone 10 to the base station 21 and a control signal such as notification from the base station 21 to the mobile phone 10 are performed using the control channel C-CH. . However, FIG.
The use of the control channel / communication channel in 2 is merely an example of the embodiment, and for example, the control signal as described above may be transmitted using the communication channel T-CH.

In the embodiment, an empty channel is extracted from a group of circuit-switched channels that can be individually assigned to each mobile phone 10, and is used as a broadcast channel. However, the present invention is not limited to this. A broadcast-only channel group dedicated to broadcast may be set. FIGS. 15A to 15C
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a relationship between various channel groups. FIG. 7A is a diagram illustrating a wireless channel group according to the above-described embodiment. That is, there are a group of circuit-switched channels and a group of packet-switched channels, and a vacant channel among these is set as a broadcast channel. FIG.
Is to set a dedicated broadcast channel separately from the circuit-switched channel group and the packet-switched channel group, and to set a vacant channel from the dedicated broadcast channel group as a broadcast channel. is there.

FIG. 13C shows a broadcast dedicated channel using a broadcast wave such as a terrestrial wave or a satellite wave in addition to the broadcast dedicated channel group, the circuit switched channel group, and the packet switched channel group shown in FIG. Are set in advance. In this case, the mobile phone 10 on the content receiving side includes an antenna for receiving and demodulating broadcast waves, a reception control circuit, and the like, in addition to the wireless communication unit 11 described above. In addition, a broadcasting station that broadcasts content according to an instruction from the content server 30 is connected to the mobile communication network 20.
Then, the content server 30 sets the distribution management table 3
MS-ID whose queue on 3c is, for example, 5 or more and less than 20
In the case where the content is included, a broadcast channel is set and content is transmitted as in the above-described embodiment. In addition, 2 in the queue
When a state including 0 or more MS-IDs is included, the content server 30 transmits the content data corresponding to the queue to the broadcast station via the mobile communication network 20, and broadcasts the content data from the broadcast station. I will have it. That is, in the above-described embodiment, when a larger number of distribution requests are concentrated, the content is distributed using broadcast waves.

C-6: Channel Connection at Content Delivery In the embodiment, even if a circuit-switched channel is connected to deliver content, a packet-switched channel connected in advance for browsing is not disconnected. Was left. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and when a circuit switching channel is connected, a previously connected packet switching channel may be disconnected.

C-7: Content Retransmission In the embodiment, the content server 30
When the reception completion notification is not obtained from, the content is retransmitted. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the content may be retransmitted even when there is a retransmission request from the mobile phone 10. Specifically, the mobile phone 10 performs error detection on the data received from the content server 30, and when an error is detected, requests the content server 30 to transmit the same content again.
The content server 30 responds to the retransmission request received from the mobile phone 10 and transmits the content again using the broadcast channel.

C-8: Type of Multiple Access System In the embodiment, TDMA is used as the multiple access system. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and CDMA (Code Division Multip
le Access), FDMA (Frequency Division Multip
le Access). For example, when CDMA is used, the difference from the above-described TDMA embodiment is that the radio channel between the mobile phone 10 and the base station 21 is not determined by a time slot but is a predetermined channel multiplexed with a radio signal. At the point determined by the code. However, whether CDMA or TDMA,
Assignment of an empty channel among the plurality of wireless channels to the mobile phone 10 is still the same. Therefore, CDM
In A, the wireless channel control device 22 groups the mobile phones 10 of the distribution destination for each base station 21 using the same wireless channel assignment table 223a as in the embodiment, and Broadcasting using an available channel can be performed.

[0083]

As described above, according to the present invention, when distribution requests are concentrated on a specific content from a plurality of mobile communication terminals, a radio channel is established for each base station forming a radio zone where the terminals are located. Is set, and the content is broadcasted using this, so that the wireless channel can be used efficiently.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an entire system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a content server in the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a format diagram showing an example of contents stored in a distribution management table in the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a wireless channel control device according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a format diagram showing an example of contents stored in a wireless channel assignment table in the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the mobile phone according to the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an operation of the content server for receiving a distribution request in the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an operation of content distribution of the content server in the embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of content relay of the wireless channel control device according to the embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an operation relating to retransmission processing of the content server in the embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an operation relating to retransmission processing of the content server in the embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a sequence diagram showing an operation example of the entire system in the embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a format diagram showing transition of contents stored in a wireless channel assignment table in the embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram showing MS-IDs grouped for each base station in the embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of a channel group in the embodiment and a modification.

[Explanation of symbols]

10-1 to 10-7: mobile phone (mobile communication terminal), 11: wireless communication unit, 12: control unit, 13: user interface unit, 20: mobile communication network (mobile Communication network), 21-1 to 21-6: base station, 22-1, 22-2: wireless channel control device, 221: communication unit (receiving means, transmitting means), 222 ... Control unit (grouping unit, channel allocation unit, retransmission unit), 223 wireless channel allocation table (channel allocation unit), 30 content server (server), 31 communication unit (receiving unit, identification Information transmitting means, transmitting means, retransmitting means) 32 control unit (grouping means, retransmitting means) 33 hard disk device 33a content storage unit 33b program storage unit 33 c: Delivery management table.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI theme coat ゛ (Reference) H04M 3/42 H04M 3/487 3/487 H04L 11/18 H04Q 7/38 H04Q 7/04 D (72) Inventor Yoji Kanada 2-1-1 Nagatacho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Inside NTT Docomo (72) Inventor Yoshinori Goto 2-1-1 Nagatacho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo NTT Co., Ltd.・ T.Docomo (72) Inventor Kimihiro Okubo 2-1-1, Nagatacho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan NTT Docomo Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Hiroharu Saito 2-chome, Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo No. 1-1 NTT Advanced Technology Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Takaaki Konishi 1-1-1, Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo・ T-Advanced Technology Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Tokuaki Tsuchiya 2-1-1 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo NTT Advanced Technology Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 5K015 AB01 AF02 AF05 AF08 5K024 AA05 AA76 BB05 CC11 DD02 5K030 HA04 JL01 JT09 KX28 LA01 LC11 LD06 LD07 5K067 AA11 BB02 BB21 CC08 CC14 DD15 DD17 DD51 EE02 EE10 EE16 EE61 FF02 GG01 GG11 HH05 HH11 HH23

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. A content distribution method for distributing content from a server connected to a mobile communication network to a mobile communication terminal accommodated in the network, wherein a first requesting the server to distribute the content is provided. And when the distribution requests for the specific content are concentrated, the mobile communication terminals to which the content is distributed are grouped for each base station forming a wireless zone in which the terminal is located. Step 2, a third step of determining a wireless channel for distributing the content for each base station, and transmitting the content from the server to the mobile communication terminal using the determined wireless channel. And a fourth step. 2. The content distribution method according to claim 1, wherein the second step comprises: grouping the mobile communication terminals to which the content is to be distributed in the server for each content; Notifying the mobile communication network side of the identification information of the mobile communication terminals grouped into: the server, based on the notified identification information of the mobile communication terminal, Grouping mobile communication terminals for each base station forming a wireless zone in which the terminal is located, the method comprising: 3. The content distribution method according to claim 1, wherein the request for distribution of the content is made from a mobile communication terminal to which the content is distributed to the server. . 4. The content distribution method according to claim 1, further comprising a step of retransmitting the content from the server to the mobile communication terminal that has not normally received the content transmitted from the server. A content distribution method, characterized in that: 5. The content distribution method according to claim 1, wherein, when a large number of distribution requests are concentrated on the specific content, a broadcast wave is transmitted to the mobile communication terminal to which the content is distributed. And transmitting the content by using the content distribution method. 6. A content distribution method for distributing the content in response to a request from a server that stores the content to a mobile communication terminal accommodated in a mobile communication network, wherein the mobile communication terminal transmits the content to the server. Transmitting a request signal for requesting the distribution of the content using a packet switching channel, and transmitting the content from the server to the mobile communication terminal using a circuit switching channel. A content distribution method, comprising: 7. A server for distributing content to a mobile communication terminal accommodated in a mobile communication network, the server including identification information of the mobile communication terminal to which the content is to be distributed, and requesting distribution of the content. Receiving means for receiving a request signal to be transmitted; grouping means for grouping identification information of the mobile communication terminals to which the content is to be distributed when distribution requests for the specific content are concentrated; Identification information transmitting means for transmitting the identification information of the mobile communication terminal to a wireless channel control device that allocates a wireless channel to the mobile communication terminal; and a wireless channel allocated to the mobile communication terminal by the wireless channel control device. Transmitting means for transmitting the content by using a server. 8. The server according to claim 7, wherein the receiving unit receives a request signal transmitted from the mobile communication terminal. 9. The server according to claim 7, further comprising retransmission means for retransmitting the content to the mobile communication terminal which has not normally received the content transmitted from the server. Features server. 10. A mobile communication terminal accommodating a plurality of base stations, allocating a radio channel to a mobile communication terminal located in a radio zone formed by the base station, and transmitting the mobile communication terminal from a server connected to a mobile communication network. A wireless line control device that relays content distributed to the mobile terminal; a receiving unit configured to receive, from the server, identification information of a plurality of the mobile communication terminals as information specifying a distribution destination of the content; Grouping means for grouping a plurality of mobile communication terminals corresponding to identification information for each base station forming a wireless zone in which the terminal is located; and distributing the content to the grouped mobile communication terminals Channel allocating means for allocating a radio channel for each base station to the base station, and using the allocated radio channel, To a transmitting means for transmitting the content received in the mobile communication terminal from the radio network controller according to claim. 11. A mobile communication terminal which accommodates a plurality of base stations, allocates a radio channel to a mobile communication terminal located in a radio zone formed by the base station, and a server connected to a mobile communication network and said mobile communication terminal. A wireless channel control device for relaying data communication between the mobile communication terminal and the mobile communication terminal, wherein when transmitting a data signal from the mobile communication terminal to the server, means for allocating a packet-switched wireless channel; Means for allocating a circuit-switched wireless channel when transmitting a data signal to the wireless channel controller.