JP2004260285A - Communication quality management system and method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a communication quality management system and method for efficiently performing band warranted communication reflecting the band utilizing state in all sections in a network for transferring packets by the label switching system. <P>SOLUTION: An IP network 1 is provided with a band management apparatus 2, an MPLS apparatus 3, and an application server 4. The band management apparatus 2 stores terminal accommodation edge cross-reference information, interval band management information, LSP-edge cross-reference information, and LSP-interval cross-reference information. The application server 4 accepts a communication utilizing request from a terminal 61 and outputs a band assurance request to be utilized by the communication to the band management apparatus 2. The band management apparatus 2 discriminates whether or not the requested band can be assured on the basis of the terminal accommodation edge cross-reference information, the section band management information, the LSP-edge cross-reference information, and the LSP-interval cross-reference information and informs the application server 4 about a result of the discrimination as to whether or not the apparatus 2 permits the communication request from the terminal 61. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a communication quality management system and method for managing communication quality in a network.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Stream-type communication that plays back data in real time while receiving data such as video and audio over an IP network requires that communication quality within the network be maintained at a high level. For quality deterioration due to congestion, etc., application-level quality improvement technology such as retransmission control cannot be expected to have a significant effect, and the network layer secures the bandwidth of the communication bandwidth exclusively used for each communication flow. There is a need to. In the IP network, the communication speed (bit / s) is treated as being synonymous with the communication band. That is, a connection environment with a high communication speed is called a wide band, and a connection environment with a low communication speed is called a narrow band.
[0003]
In order to secure the bandwidth used for each communication flow, the route on the network of each communication flow (which section is used), the bandwidth used (the bandwidth currently used) and the remaining bandwidth in each section are specified. A bandwidth guarantee function that manages (currently available bandwidth) and determines whether to accept a new use request is required. There are two methods: a method performed at the transfer layer (method by autonomous operation of routers and switches) and a method performed at the control layer (method by processing in a server independent of routers and switches). Research is being conducted at
[0004]
In the case where the bandwidth guarantee function is provided in the control layer, the route of each communication flow determined in the transfer layer must collect, calculate, and specify topology information from the transfer layer in the bandwidth management server. Generally, in the transfer layer, routing is performed autonomously by a routing protocol such as OSPF (Open Shortest Path First), and it is necessary to collect such routing information in a bandwidth management server and perform route calculation.
[0005]
For example, Non-Patent Document 1 described below discloses a method in which routing information in a network is collected and stored in a bandwidth management server, and a route is calculated using routing information for each bandwidth securing request at the start of use. I'm taking.
[0006]
However, when performing route control using a routing protocol such as OSPF in a network, the bandwidth management server calculates the route through which each communication flow passes based on topology information, network cost information, and the like collected from the transfer layer. The required processing is required, and there is a problem that as the network scale increases, the load of the arithmetic processing increases.
[0007]
Also, in the OSPF, when a failure occurs in a certain part of the network, a route information update procedure occurs in the transfer layer in order to secure a bypass route for each communication flow. It takes time and the time of communication disconnection becomes longer, so that the serviceability deteriorates. Further, it is difficult to implement traffic engineering in which an administrator explicitly specifies the route of each communication flow.
[0008]
It is considered effective to use MPLS (Multiple Protocol label Switches) that transfers packets by a label switching method, in order to solve the problems that are difficult to be realized by these conventional techniques. In MPLS, a node provided in a network is a router supporting MPLS. MPLS-compatible routers use short fixed-length identifiers called "labels" instead of IP headers. When a packet arrives at a router (edge router) at the entrance to the network, a "label" is added to the routing information in the packet. And forward it to the next router. The next router looks at the "label" on the packet, determines which router to forward to, and sends the packet to the appropriate router. A logical path (transfer path) set on a network by such a “label” is called an LSP (Label Switched Path) (for example, see Non-Patent Document 2).
[0009]
[Non-patent document 1]
Proceedings of the 2002 IEICE Society Conference, Proposal and Specific Example of Resource Management Method Using Management Server in Large-Scale IP Network, Yu Yaguchi, Masahiro Shima, Akira Ichinose, Akira Kurokawa, March 2002 Issued on March 7, B-6-31
[Non-patent document 2]
“Multiprotocol Label Switching Architecture (RFC 3031)”, [Searched on February 24, 2003], Internet <URL: http: // www. ief. org / html. charters / mpls-charter. html>
[0010]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, simply applying MPLS and setting an LSP having a band exclusively reserved for each communication flow to provide a service does not grasp the band use status of each section of the LSP. However, efficient use of network bandwidth is not possible.
[0011]
The present invention has been made in order to solve such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide an efficient bandwidth that reflects the bandwidth usage in all sections in a network that transfers packets by a label switching method. It is an object of the present invention to provide a communication quality management system and method capable of performing guaranteed communication.
[0012]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve such an object, the present invention provides a network including a plurality of MPLS-compatible nodes that transfer packets by a label switching method, and among these nodes, a node accommodating a terminal is an edge node; An MPLS device for setting a packet transfer route between all edge nodes that may be used, and a communication use request from a terminal accommodated in the edge node, and a request for securing a bandwidth of a network used by the communication. And a bandwidth management device that receives a bandwidth securing request from the application server, determines whether the requested bandwidth can be secured, and notifies the application server of the determination result. To the bandwidth management device, Edge-correspondence information storage means for storing the correspondence between edge nodes and terminals accommodated in the edge node as terminal-accommodated edge correspondence information, and all sections that may be used for communication in the network. And section bandwidth management information storage means for storing the usage status of the bandwidth capacity of the section as section bandwidth management information, and, for all transfer paths set by the MPLS device, the transfer path and the originating and destination sides of the transfer path Transfer path edge correspondence information storage means for storing the correspondence with the edge node as transfer path edge correspondence information, and the correspondence between the transfer path and each section in the transfer path for all transfer paths set by the MPLS device. Transfer path section correspondence information storage means for storing the information as transfer path section correspondence information; A bandwidth securing request from the server is received, and it is determined whether or not the requested bandwidth can be secured based on the terminal accommodation edge correspondence information, the section bandwidth management information, the transfer path edge correspondence information, and the transfer path section correspondence information. And a band securing request acceptance determining means for notifying the application server of the result of determining whether to permit the communication request from the terminal.
[0013]
In the present invention, the MPLS device sets a transfer path (LSP) of a packet transferred by the label switching method between all edge nodes that may be used in the network.
The band management device stores the correspondence between all the edge nodes in the network and the terminals accommodated in the edge nodes as terminal accommodation edge correspondence information, and for all sections that may be used for communication in the network, The section and the use status of the bandwidth capacity of the section are stored as section band management information, and for all transfer paths set by the MPLS device, the transfer path and the edge nodes on the originating and destination sides of the transfer path are connected. The correspondence is stored as transfer path edge correspondence information (LSP-edge correspondence information), and for all transfer paths set by the MPLS device, the correspondence between the transfer path and each section in the transfer path is represented by transfer path section correspondence information. (LSP-section correspondence information).
[0014]
Further, in the present invention, the application server receives a communication use request from a terminal accommodated in the edge node, and outputs a request for securing a bandwidth of a network used by the communication.
Upon receiving the bandwidth securing request from the application server, the bandwidth managing device determines whether the requested bandwidth can be secured or not, the terminal accommodation edge correspondence information, the section bandwidth management information, the transfer path edge correspondence information, and the transfer path section. A determination is made based on the correspondence information, and a determination result as to whether to permit a communication request from the terminal is sent to the application server.
[0015]
In the band management device, whether to permit a communication request from a terminal is determined, for example, as follows. First, by searching the terminal accommodation edge correspondence information, the originating edge node and the destination edge node accommodating the originating and destination terminals of the communication are specified. Next, the transfer path set between the specified source edge node and the destination edge node is specified by searching the transfer path edge correspondence information, and each section of the specified transfer path is specified as the transfer path section corresponding to the transfer path section. Identify by searching for information. Then, by referring to the section bandwidth management information, the usage status of the bandwidth capacity of each of the specified sections is confirmed, and if the bandwidth capacity sufficient to cover the bandwidth capacity required for the communication request is left in all sections. The communication request is permitted, and the communication request is rejected if there is no bandwidth capacity sufficient to cover the bandwidth capacity required for the communication request.
[0016]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a communication quality management system according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, 1 is an IP network, 2 is a band management device, 3 is an MPLS device, and 4 is an application server. The bandwidth management device 2, the MPLS device 3, and the application server 4 are interconnected via the network 1. In FIG. 1, for the sake of explanation, the bandwidth management device 2, the MPLS device 3, and the application server 4 are shown independently of the IP network 1.
[0017]
The IP network 1 includes routers 51 to 57 as MPLS-compatible nodes that transfer packets by a label switching method. In the present embodiment, the router 51 accommodates the terminals 61 and 62, the router 53 accommodates the terminals 64 and 65, the router 54 accommodates the terminal 63, and the router 57 accommodates the terminal 66. The routers 51, 53, 54, and 57 are called edge routers because they are located at ends of the IP network 1 and accommodate terminals. On the other hand, the routers 52, 55, and 56 are located in the middle of the edge router, and are called core routers because they relay data from the edge router.
[0018]
The MPLS device 3 has a function of setting a transfer route (LSP) of a packet to which a label is attached to the route information to the IP network 1 and a function of notifying the band management device 2 of information on the set LSP. I have.
The application server 4 has a function of receiving a communication use request from a terminal accommodated in an edge router in the IP network 1 and outputting a request for securing a band of a network used for the communication to the band management device 2.
The bandwidth management device 2 receives a bandwidth securing request from the application server 4, determines whether the requested bandwidth can be secured, and determines whether or not to permit the communication request from the terminal. It has a function of notifying the server 4.
[0019]
[Terminal accommodation edge correspondence information]
The band management device 2 creates and holds a terminal accommodation edge correspondence information storage table TB1 (see FIG. 2). In this terminal accommodation edge correspondence information storage table TB1, correspondence between all edge routers in the IP network 1 and terminals accommodated in the edge router is written as terminal accommodation edge correspondence information.
[0020]
In this example, the IP address of the terminal and the router name of the edge router in which the terminal is accommodated are input via the terminal information input means 2-1 by the operation of the service administrator or the user via the application server 4. , And the IP address of the edge router as a set, and writes it into the terminal accommodation edge correspondence information storage table TB1 (see FIG. 5).
[0021]
[Section bandwidth management information]
The band management device 2 creates and holds a section band management information storage table TB2 (see FIG. 2). In the section bandwidth management information storage table TB2, for all sections that may be used for communication in the IP network 1, the correspondence between the section and the usage status of the bandwidth capacity (total resources) of the section is defined as the section bandwidth. Written as management information.
[0022]
In this example, the section (which interface and which router of which router and which router) is specified by the collection function (MIB (Management Information Base) by SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol)) of the section information collecting means 2-2. Which interface is connected to this section), the currently used bandwidth capacity (used bandwidth (used resource)) of the section, and the currently available bandwidth capacity (remaining bandwidth (remaining resource)) Are written as a set in the section band management information storage table TB2 (see FIG. 6).
[0023]
The section bandwidth management information storage table TB2 may be written with the bandwidth capacity (total resources) of each section together, or may be written with only the remaining bandwidth (remaining resources). Alternatively, the used resources and the total resources may be written, and the remaining resources may be calculated.
[0024]
[Transfer path edge correspondence information (LSP-edge correspondence information)]
The band management device 2 creates and holds a transfer path edge correspondence information storage table TB3 (see FIG. 3). In the transfer path edge correspondence information storage table TB3, for every transfer path (LSP) set for the IP network 1 by the MPLS device 3, the transfer path and the originating and destination edge routers of the transfer path Is written as transfer path edge correspondence information (LSP-edge correspondence information).
[0025]
In this example, based on the information about the LSP notified from the MPLS device 3, the LSP information creation means 2-3 stores the LSP and the originating edge router and destination edge router of the LSP in the LSP-edge correspondence information storage table TB3. Write the router name as a set (see FIG. 7).
[0026]
[Transfer route section correspondence information (LSP-section correspondence information)]
The bandwidth management device 2 creates and holds a transfer path section correspondence information storage table TB4 (see FIG. 3). In this transfer path section correspondence information storage table TB4, for all transfer paths (LSPs) set for the IP network 1 by the MPLS device 3, the correspondence between the transfer path and each section in the transfer path is transferred. It is written as route section correspondence information (LSP-section correspondence information).
[0027]
In this example, based on the information about the LSP notified from the MPLS device 3, the LSP information creating means 2-3 stores the LSP-section correspondence information storage table TB3 in the LSP and the router specified in the LSP by the connection relationship between the LSP and the router in the LSP. (Which section of which router is connected to which interface of which router) is written as a set (see FIG. 8).
[0028]
[Setting of LSP in MPLS Device and Notification of LSP Information]
As shown in FIG. 3, the MPLS device 3 includes an LSP setting unit 3-1 and an LSP notification unit 3-2.
[0029]
The LSP setting unit 3-1 sets an LSP between all edge routers that may be used in the IP network 1. For example, an LSP is set bidirectionally in a mesh between edge routers accommodating terminals using communication services, video content distribution servers, and the like.
[0030]
The LSP information notifying unit 3-2 performs, for all of the LSPs set by the LSP setting unit 3-1, information on the LSPs (the originating edge router and the destination edge router, and the information between the originating edge router and the destination edge router). , Etc.) is notified to the bandwidth management device 2.
[0031]
[Communication use request from terminal to application server]
The application server 4 is a server that provides a means for using services such as video distribution and audio communication for users who use communication services. The user makes a request to use the desired communication service from the terminal to the application server 4.
[0032]
As shown in FIG. 4, the application server 4 includes a use request receiving unit 4-1 for receiving a communication use request from a terminal, and a network bandwidth used by the communication received by the use request receiving unit 4-1. And a bandwidth securing request unit 4-2 for outputting the securing request to the bandwidth management device 2.
[0033]
In FIG. 4, the user of the terminal 61 receives a video stream content having a bit rate of 6 Mbps from the distribution server of the terminal 66, and makes a use request to the application server 4 for a communication service to be viewed. Shall be. In this case, the use request receiving unit 4-1 of the application server 4 has a Web application server function of providing a list of video contents. When the user selects viewing of a certain content on a Web (HTTP) page displayed on the terminal 61, a communication use request is sent to the application server 4.
[0034]
The use request unit 4-1 of the application server 4 receives a communication use request from the terminal 61, and views the IP address of the terminal 61, the IP address of the terminal 66 (distribution server) from which the content is distributed, and the content. The bandwidth (6 Mbps) which needs to be secured is transmitted to the bandwidth securing requesting means 4-2. The band securing request unit 4-2 requests the band management device 2 to secure a band using the IP address of the terminal 61 and the IP address of the terminal 66 from the use requesting unit 4-1 and the band (6 Mbps) that needs to be secured as parameters. Send.
[0035]
The bandwidth management device 2 is provided with a bandwidth securing request acceptance determination unit 2-1. The band securing request reception determining unit 2-1 receives a band securing request from the application server 4, determines whether the requested bandwidth can be secured, and determines whether to permit the communication request from the terminal 61. The application server 4 is notified of the determination result.
[0036]
[Determining Whether to Allow Communication Request]
The determination as to whether to permit the communication request in the band securing request acceptance determining means 2-1 is performed as follows.
[0037]
First, the band securing request acceptance determining means 2-1 searches the terminal accommodation edge correspondence information storage table TB1 for information, and thereby the originating terminal 66 and the destination terminal 61 of the communication are accommodated. The edge router 57 and the destination edge router 51 are specified.
[0038]
Next, the LSP set between the specified source edge router 57 and destination edge router 51 is specified by searching the LSP-edge correspondence information storage table TB3, and each of the specified LSPs (LSP 72) is searched. The section (two sections of the routers 51-55 and the routers 55-57) is specified by searching the LSP-section correspondence information storage table TB4.
[0039]
Then, by referring to the information in the section bandwidth management information table TB2, the usage status of the bandwidth capacity of each specified section is confirmed. Here, if the bandwidth capacity required for the communication request is left in all sections, the communication request is permitted, and the bandwidth capacity required for the communication request is satisfied. If no data is left in one section, the communication request is rejected.
[0040]
In this example, it is confirmed whether the remaining bandwidth (remaining resource) is equal to or more than 6 Mbps in two sections of the routers 51-55 and 55-57. The determination result of permission (bandwidth OK) is sent to the application server 4. In this case, for the two sections, a newly used bandwidth (6 Mbps) is added to the used bandwidth in the section bandwidth management information. If there is at least one section where 6 Mbps cannot be secured, a determination result (bandwidth NG) indicating that the communication request is not permitted is sent to the application server 4.
[0041]
In the application server 4, the bandwidth securing request unit 4-2 receives the determination result from the bandwidth management device 2, and sends the received determination result to the use request receiving unit 4-1. When the result of the determination from the bandwidth management device 2 is that the reservation of the bandwidth is OK, the use request receiving unit 4-1 sends a use request response to the terminal 61 to permit the communication request. Thus, communication between the terminal 61 and the terminal 66 is started. When the determination result from the band management device 2 is that the band is not guaranteed, the use request receiving unit 4-1 sends a use request response to the terminal 61 to disallow the communication request. As a result, communication between the terminal 61 and the terminal 66 is not started, and the communication service between the terminal 61 and the terminal 66 cannot be used.
[0042]
As described above, in the present embodiment, in the IP network 1 that transfers packets by the label switching method by the cooperative operation of the bandwidth management device 2, the MPLS device 3, the application server 4, the routers 51 to 57, and the terminals 61 to 66. Thus, efficient bandwidth guaranteed communication reflecting the bandwidth usage status in all sections is provided. As a result, the network operator and the communication service operator can more efficiently provide users with higher quality communication services and earn more revenue.
[0043]
Further, according to the present embodiment, since it is possible to specify a route using MPLS, the band management device 2 performs a route calculation process after collecting routing information such as OSPF for specifying a route. No need to do. For this reason, even when the network scale is increased, there is no problem that the processing load increases.
[0044]
[Response when a failure occurs]
When notifying the LSP information from the MPLS device 3 to the band management device 2, information indicating which LSP is to be switched to which LSP in the event of a failure is also notified at the same time. To keep. By doing so, when a failure occurs, it is possible to instantaneously switch the communication to the bypass route and continue the bandwidth guarantee.
[0045]
[Realization of traffic engineering by the will of the administrator]
The provision of bandwidth-guaranteed communication using MPLS allows a network service manager to explicitly specify a route from a terminal accommodated in a certain edge router to a terminal accommodated in a certain edge router. It becomes possible. As a result, it is possible to provide a high-quality communication service with guaranteed bandwidth while efficiently using network resources according to the intention of a network service manager.
[0046]
【The invention's effect】
As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, in a network in which a packet is transferred by the label switching method by the cooperative operation of the band management device, the MPLS device, the application server, the node and the terminal, the band in all the sections is transferred. It is now possible to perform efficient bandwidth guaranteed communication reflecting the usage status, and network and communication service providers can provide higher quality communication services to users more efficiently and generate revenue. It is possible to give.
Further, according to the present invention, since it is possible to specify a route using MPLS, it is necessary for the bandwidth management device to perform a route calculation process after collecting routing information such as OSPF for specifying the route. In addition, even if the network scale is increased, there is no problem that the processing load increases.
Further, according to the present invention, when notifying the LSP information from the MPLS device to the bandwidth management device, information indicating which LSP is to be switched to which LSP in the event of a failure is also notified at the same time. It is also possible to secure a band at the same time, and by doing so, when a failure occurs, it is possible to instantaneously switch the communication to a bypass route and continue the band guarantee.
In addition, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide bandwidth guaranteed communication using MPLS, so that network resources can be efficiently used at the will of a network service manager while ensuring high quality with guaranteed bandwidth. Communication service can be provided.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a communication quality management system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating information input to a band management device of the communication quality management system.
FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining setting of an LSP in an MPLS device of the communication quality management system and notification of LSP information to a band management device.
FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining processing at the time of starting communication in the communication quality management system.
FIG. 5 is a diagram exemplifying terminal accommodation edge correspondence information created and held in a band management device;
FIG. 6 is a diagram exemplifying section band management information created and held in the band management device;
FIG. 7 is a diagram exemplifying LSP-edge correspondence information created and held in a band management device;
FIG. 8 is a diagram exemplifying LSP-section correspondence information created and held in the band management device;
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... IP network, 2 ... Band management apparatus, 2-1 ... Terminal information input means, 2-2 ... Section information collection means, 2-3 ... LSP information creation means, 3 ... MPLS apparatus, 3-1 ... LSP setting means 3-2 LSP information notifying means, 4 application server, 4-1 use request receiving means, 4-2 bandwidth securing request means, 51-57 router, 61-66 terminal, 71-74 LSP (Transfer path), TB1 ... terminal accommodation edge correspondence information storage table, TB2 ... section band management information storage table, TB3 ... transfer path edge correspondence information storage table (LSP-edge correspondence information storage table), TB4 ... transfer path section correspondence information Storage table (LSP-section correspondence information storage table).

Claims (6)

A network including a plurality of MPLS-compatible nodes that transfer packets by a label switching method, and a node that accommodates a terminal among the nodes as an edge node;
An MPLS device that sets a transfer route of the packet between all edge nodes that may be used in the network;
An application server that receives a communication use request from a terminal accommodated in the edge node and outputs a request for securing a bandwidth of a network used by the communication;
A band securing request from the application server is received, it is determined whether or not the requested bandwidth can be secured, and a result of determining whether to permit a communication request from the terminal is notified to the application server. A communication quality management system including a band management device,
The band management device,
Terminal accommodation edge correspondence information storage means for storing correspondence between all edge nodes in the network and terminals accommodated in the edge nodes as terminal accommodation edge correspondence information,
For all sections that may be used for communication in the network, a section band management information storage unit that stores, as section band management information, a correspondence between the section and the use state of the band capacity of the section,
Transfer path edge correspondence information storage means for storing, as transfer path edge correspondence information, the correspondence between the transfer path and the source and destination edge nodes of the transfer path for all transfer paths set by the MPLS device;
Transfer path section correspondence information storage means for storing, as transfer path section correspondence information, the correspondence between the transfer path and each section in the transfer path for all transfer paths set by the MPLS apparatus;
A band securing request from the application server is received, and the terminal accommodating edge correspondence information, the section band management information, the transfer path edge correspondence information, and the transfer path section correspondence indicate whether or not the requested band securing is possible. A communication quality management system, comprising: a band securing request acceptance determining unit that makes a determination based on information and notifies the application server of a result of determining whether to permit a communication request from the terminal. The communication quality management system according to claim 1,
The band securing request acceptance determination means,
By receiving a bandwidth securing request from the application server and searching for the terminal accommodation edge correspondence information, the originating edge node and the destination edge node accommodating the originating and destination terminals of the communication are identified, and this identification is performed. The transfer path set between the originating edge node and the destination edge node is specified by searching the transfer path edge correspondence information, and each section of the specified transfer path is searched for the transfer path section correspondence information. By referring to the section bandwidth management information to determine whether or not the requested bandwidth can be secured in each of the identified sections, and determine whether to permit a communication request from the terminal. A communication quality management system for notifying the application server of a determination result. In the communication quality management system according to claim 2,
The band securing request acceptance determination means,
For each of the identified sections, refer to the section bandwidth management information to check the usage status of the bandwidth capacity of the section, and the bandwidth capacity that can cover the bandwidth capacity required for the communication request is left in all sections. If the communication request is permitted, the application server sends a determination result to the application server that the communication request is not permitted if the bandwidth capacity required for the communication request is not left even in one section. A communication quality management system for notifying. A communication quality management method applied to a network including a plurality of MPLS-compatible nodes for transferring a packet by a label switching method and having a node accommodating a terminal among the nodes as an edge node, the method being applicable to the network. Setting a transfer route of the packet between all possible edge nodes;
A second step of receiving a communication use request from a terminal accommodated in the edge node and outputting a request for securing a bandwidth of a network used by the communication;
A third step of storing the correspondence between all the edge nodes in the network and the terminals accommodated in the edge nodes as terminal accommodation edge correspondence information;
A fourth step of storing, for all sections that may be used for communication in the network, the correspondence between the section and the usage status of the band capacity of the section as section band management information;
A fifth step of storing, for all the transfer paths set in the first step, the correspondence between the transfer path and the originating and destination edge nodes of the transfer path as transfer path edge correspondence information;
A sixth step of storing, for all the transfer paths set in the first step, the correspondence between the transfer path and each section in the transfer path as transfer path section correspondence information;
Accepting the bandwidth securing request output in the second step, and determining whether or not the requested bandwidth securing is possible; the terminal accommodation edge correspondence information, the section bandwidth management information, the transfer path edge correspondence information, and the transfer; Determining based on the route section correspondence information and notifying the application server of the determination result. In the communication quality management method according to claim 4,
In the seventh step,
By receiving a bandwidth securing request from the application server and searching for the terminal accommodation edge correspondence information, the originating edge node and the destination edge node accommodating the originating and destination terminals of the communication are identified, and this identification is performed. The transfer path set between the originating edge node and the destination edge node is specified by searching the transfer path edge correspondence information, and each section of the specified transfer path is searched for the transfer path section correspondence information. By referring to the section bandwidth management information to determine whether or not the requested bandwidth can be secured in each of the identified sections, and determine whether to permit a communication request from the terminal. A communication quality management method, wherein a determination result is notified to the application server. The communication quality management method according to claim 5,
In the seventh step,
For each of the identified sections, refer to the section bandwidth management information to check the usage status of the bandwidth capacity of the section, and the bandwidth capacity that can cover the bandwidth capacity required for the communication request is left in all sections. The application server determines that the communication request is permitted if the bandwidth is sufficient to cover the required bandwidth capacity for the communication request even if one section is not left even in one section. A communication quality management method, characterized in that the communication quality is managed.

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